Sorry for the delay. I was updating my fanfics. :)
*.*.*
Minutes passed without delay.
Eretria flew close to the mountain, landing on one of the snow-capped terrains. She looked down at Peter as he flew towards the bottom of the slope. She huffed, determined to get this job done and over with.
"Well, there's no shame in hiding out now," she said, jumping off the mountain and descending further down the slope. As soon as she landed, she and Peter were back on the ground, right in the thick of the jungle. Something about this place didn't feel right. Why was she acting so strangely?
"Well," Peter cried in delight, "I suggest we move forward. The cave's not far! About a quarter of a mile!" He smiled. "I suggest we fly and get closer to the cave!"
"You've been here before," Eretria said, not enjoying this. "Listen, whatever you game is, we have to stop and rest. Now, I don't like it here any more than you do, but I need to get home."
"Home? You are home," Peter said, confused. He gestured, flying away. "Come on! We'd better get moving. Hook'll be here any minute."
"Oh, you had better be leading me to some gold," Eretria sneered, taking off into the air. They hadn't gone far when the visions started. Memories. There was a scarred red dragonoid fighting off an entire clan of dragonoids. They were mostly dead. There was the panpipe, stolen by a Dalmatian. It wasn't in the same bloodline as in hers. Something was definitely off!
At last, she landed in front of Peter and the cave. No way. It was the same cave she had seen in her vision! She felt her forehead, knowing this was the place! It must be! Why else would she be here?
"You could have stayed," Peter smiled, "but I would have taken you with me."
"What are you talking about?" Eretria asked, confused. "Why would you have taken me? I've done nothing to you!"
"We're related," Peter said, startling her. Eretria pulled out her dagger at the same time as the blond-haired boy. "Now miss, don't you be doing something you'll soon regret!"
"Tell me why we're related! I've never seen you before," Eretria said, running into the cave. She didn't look back to see Peter follow her. She didn't need to. The boy followed her anyway. She stopped as soon as he landed in front of her, shushing her.
"If we don't make it in and out of here now, we'll awaken the spirit animals," Peter said, taking her hand. "This way." He led her through the cave, surprised at his own echoes. There was the beast in the water! Crocodiles. Massive crocodiles, the likes of which he and Eretria hadn't seen before. And there was a stone bridge, not too far away. He looked on, letting go of her hand, staring at the pedestal that carried the panpipe. "We have to do this right. Only two people whose descendants come from the ancient bloodline can cross." He faced her, smiling. "You and me, we're in this together."
"I don't want anything to do with you," Eretria warned him.
"Too late now!" Peter flew over the bridge, straight to the other side. The bridge teetered a bit as he reached the end. He gestured to the black-haired woman, telling her, "It's all right! It's safe to cross! Come on!"
"Okay. I can do this. I can fly," Eretria said, making a running start. She thought of Wil and the kiss they shared. She thought of Cogline and how he helped her out in Safehold. The trick worked, thanks to Tinkerbell spraying pixie dust on her. She landed on the other side. The bridge stopped moving.
The panpipe was in their grasp.
"Now, we just need to take it," Eretria said, eyeing the panpipe.
"Let's grab it!" Peter said, rushing towards the pedestal. He observed the panpipe, with a gold letter P painted on the wood. He admitted freely, "Only one of us is allowed to keep the panpipe. Youth, beauty, innocence. That's all me! I'm the best!"
"I'm surprised you are," Eretria said, rationally. "Well, take it! It's yours!"
"I will!" Peter said, grabbing the panpipe from the pedestal. The golden-hued light stopped, the cave shook, sending small rocks bouncing off the walls. It was over, the tremors stopped. Only the bridge collapsed, forcing them to fly. They landed on the other side, safe and sound. He looked at Eretria, smiling. "See? I told you we could make it."
"Whatever. Just…" she had enough of these games, "…let's get out of here." She ran forward, heading through the tunnel and out to the jungle. She listened to the waterfall, trekking her way towards it, as Peter stowed the panpipe on his belt.
"There! Now no one can take it!" Peter said, enthralled.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," a pirate captain, wearing a red jacket and a dark plume hat, said, laughing. "Hand it over!"
"Not a chance, Hook!" Peter said, flying and brandishing his dagger.
"Stay away from him!" Eretria ran forward, hoping to catch the pirate off guard. She was too late! Hook slapped her hard across the face with her hook. She fell, tumbling close to the waterfall until she stopped.
The last thing she remembered, before fainting, was seeing Hook and Peter fight. She remembered no more.