8/04/07

Title: The Care and Feeding of Flying Boys

Author: Squeezynz

Chapter: Thirteen - Lost and Found

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Peter stood in the mouth of the cave, his expression thunderous. Not only was there no sign of Wendy, there was no sign of anyone, his voice hoarse from shouting for Walbassa. He turned around and glowered instead at the sun setting theatrically behind the volcano, affectionately known as Old Belcher, because it still sent up occasional puffs of smoke. Maybe the wolves were wrong and it wasn't Wendy who they took to the cave, maybe it was someone else. But that couldn't be right, he'd followed her tracks from beyond the village all the way here. If she wasn't in the cave of Dreams, where was she? Thoroughly annoyed, Peter scuffed at the ground, his brows drawn together in a heavy scowl. The sun was gone and the sky turning pink before any sign of movement came from behind him. The rattle of stone against stone snapped his head around, the hint of movement at the back of the cave enough to cause him to draw his sword. He squinted to see more in the shadows, but he had to wait until the person reached the entrance to the cave, the glow of the sunset painting the young man in muted color as he stepped out into the light.

"Jack!?" Peter barked, his temper starting to rise. "It was you that took Wendy?"

Black Jack blinked at Peter, his expression one of puzzlement and some surprise. "Peter? What are you doing here?" Jack walked forward but stopped abruptly with Peter's sword point at his throat.

"What trick is this?" Peter snarled.

"Trick? I don't know what you mean?" Jack held out his hands defensively, raising one finger to push away the blade but finding it immovable and unwavering. "I thought you'd agreed we'd go hunting tonight? Has that been changed?"

"Hunting? What are you talking about? Where's Wendy?" Peter pressed the point of his sword home, pinking Jack when he swallowed.

"Hey...Peter...Captain...I would love to be able to tell you, but I think there's some confusion here. I don't know any Wendy...is that a girls name? I just found myself at the back of this cave and a saw you standing at the entrance. I thought you were waiting for me."

Peter passed a hand over his face, lowering the blade as it became apparent that Jack had no recollection of what he'd become. "You don't remember, do you?"

Jack had been as close to Peter as a brother, the two of them near in age and physical ability, only Peter's flying giving him the advantage. In looks they were like night and day, Peter fair while Jack was dark, both boys blessed with handsome faces and healthy physiques. When Peter tired of being Captain, Jack was his lieutenant, leading the pack of younger boys on adventures while Peter flew off to amuse himself elsewhere. There had never been a day of discord between them until the day Jack had returned from a hunt. No one knew what he'd seen or done that day, only that from that day onwards Jack changed. He became morose and brooding, no longer taking Peter's orders without an argument ensuing, the two boys coming to blows over the most trivial of matters. The Lost Boys could only watch and wonder, unsettled and unsure as their two leaders fought battle after battle. In the end it came down to the final confrontation, Jack challenging Peter to a duel to the death. Of course, no one took him entirely seriously. Battles were never to the death, only until someone landed a good facer, or caused the other one to bleed from a cut or bloodied nose. When Jack and Peter faced off everyone knew that this was potentially a lethal fight, both boys almost crackling with suppressed energy, their eyes flashing fire and they circled each other.

As battles go, it was short, bloody and without dissension as to who had won. Peter was victorious but it was a hollow victory, the loss of his best friend and blood brother a blow to his pride and his heart. Jack had taken his loss hard, spouting vile words that shocked those that heard them before taking himself off, vowing never to face his former friend except on the point of a blade, sworn enemies from that day forth.

Now that self same boy, grown to a young man, stood before him, similar in height and breadth, once more night to his day. To complicate matters Jack seemed to have lost his memory from the time before he changed.

"Damn," Peter swore, slamming his sword back in its scabbard and turning his back on Jack.

"Remember what? And why am I dressed like a pirate, am I playing Hook again?" Jack held his arms out, looking down at his black on black outfit, his eye wide and without guile. Peter swung around to face him a rueful twist to his lips.

"You could say that. Your not pretending to be a pirate...you are a pirate. Blackhearted Jack to be precise, right hand man to Hook, turncoat and kidnapper and enemy to everyone on Neverland."

Jack stared at Peter for a beat before bending over, convulsed with laughter. "Oh God, you had me going there for awhile...me..." he pointed to himself, his eyes dancing, "me...a pirate? That's a good one!"

Peter crossed his arms over his chest while his former friend continued to laugh, the sound echoing back from the cave behind them and sending birds flying out of the tree tops nearby.

"Seriously Peter...what are we doing here, and why am I dressed like this?"

"Seriously Jack...you're a pirate. You abducted my Wendy and I'm here to get her back." Peter's perfectly serious tone and expression stopped Jack's laughter in its tracks.

"You really mean that, don't you?" He waited for Peter to nod in agreement. "What the hell happened to turn me to piracy?"

"Nobody knows. One day you were Jack...the next...we don't know what happened. You came back from a hunt and were never the same again. Eventually we fought, you lost and you left to join Hook's crew. You've been a pirate ever since."

Peter watched his friends face, every emotion clearly visible as Jack tried to wrestle with the notion that he'd been a pirate, was even considered by every one he knew to be one. Worse, it appeared he'd fought Peter and severed all ties with the Lost Boy's, his family.

"I don't know what to say," Jack held his hands wide, bewilderment in his dark eyes. "I can't imagine what caused that all to happen. I would never...hell Peter...I just wouldn't." He stared at Peter, no hint of his former self in his expression, only a growing fear that all he'd known was now gone. Peter took pity on him and reached out to grasp his shoulder.

"I can't tell you what has happened, only that now you're not who you were...and I have my friend back." For a long moment the two young men held each others gaze, Peter's clearing of their suspicion and anger, Jack's no longer so fearful.

Peter broke the spell by tilting his lips in a crooked smile.

"Damn shame you don't remember, you could have told me quite a bit about the pirates and Hook. That would have been useful, next time we ambush them." Removing his hand, Peter held it out, Jack only hesitating a second before grasping it strongly in his own, shaking it up and down vigorously. "Welcome back Jack."

Jack grinned, his features looking years younger with that simple act. "Well, from my point of view I never left."

Peter raised a eyebrow and gave him a quizzical look. "No...I suppose you didn't. But now I'm left with what has happened to Wendy?"

"Who is this Wendy? You were never one to fuss much over girls."

"Wendy is not an ordinary girl Jack...she's..." Peter paused, his eyes giving far more away to his friend than he realized "You'll understand when you meet her. Wendy is everything I could ever want...and more."

"Damn ya eyes...I never would have believed it." Jack clapped him on the shoulder, a wicked grin splitting his face. "Don't tell me you've been bitten by the bug?"

"Bug?" Peter asked.

"Love, you great oaf. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were in love with the girl!"

"Actually...yes," Peter smiled self consciously, "I guess I am. She's the first and only girl I've wanted to stay here, in Neverland, forever with me."

"And she's agreed to this?" Jack asked, falling in to step with Peter as they started down the hillside.

"I was sure she'd come around...but then you kidnapped her and I had to go on a rescue mission, and I haven't had a chance to ask her again."

"Rescue mission?"

"Hook had snatched Tiger Lily and taken her to Skull Rock...I realize now it was just a diversion to keep me out of the way while he sent his men to take my Wendy. But then you stepped in and took off with her, stealing her away from Hook."

"I did?" Jack shrugged and looked sheepish. "Sorry, I don't remember any of that...I don't even know what this Wendy looks like...is she pretty?"

"Blue eyes the color of the sea, golden brown hair so long you want to wrap it around yourself...skin so soft..." Peter's voice tailed off, his eyes unfocused as he cataloged Wendy's charms. Jack just shook his head and chuckled at his Captain's obvious preoccupation.

"Boy, you have it bad. Never thought I'd live to see the day Peter Pan gave all this up for a girl."

"Wendy is more than just a girl...she's the only girl, there'll never be another."

"So where is this paragon?"

"According to the wolves, they led you both to the Cave of Dreams...but so far, only you've come out, and Walbassa is avoiding me."

"Maybe she's still in there," Jack made to turn back but Peter snagged his arm and pulled him forward.

"No...don't ask me how I know, but I just do. She's not there any more. If she was, Walbassa would have come out and played his mind games on me. He can't resist testing out his riddles and having fun at my expense."

"So, if she's not here...where is she?"

Peter shot Jack a look, his eyes unable to hide the worry eating away at him. "That is what I have to find out. Here, turn around." Peter put his hand into the pouch at his belt and pulled out a handful of fairy dust, throwing it over his dark haired companion who sneezed when he breathed it in by mistake. "Now...think happy thoughts and we'll return to the Indian camp and make our plans from there."

"Will the others accept that I'm no longer a pirate, as easily as you have Peter?"

"No. But you'll be with me, so they'll likely pause before they attempt to gut you. That should give me enough time to explain matters and keep your scalp for you."

Jack ran both hands over his head of long, black hair. "I'd really rather keep this, if it's all the same."

"Just stay behind me and keep that mouth shut. I don't need you adding one of your idiot remarks to what will be a difficult situation."

"Mum's the word Peter." Jack pantomimed sewing his lips together but spoiling the effect by grinning when he realized his feet were no longer on the ground. "Hey, that wasn't so hard. I'm flying!"

"Floating more like. Do you remember how to fly?" Peter asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he floated upwards. Jack grinned wider and cocked an impudent eyebrow at his friend.

"Race you to the village, slow poke. Last one there is a rotten cod fish!"

With a whoop and holla the two boys were off, Jack almost invisible against the darkening sky, only the faint trail of spent fairy dust marking their passage away from the Cave of Dreams and towards the Indian village.

On the hillside below the cave, a dark shadow moved and slunk off down the slope, the creatures dark eyes gleaming in the faint light, it's black fur a perfect camouflage among the shadows. As he trotted home, the wolf grinned to himself and thought of how Ferru would react once he learnt what had taken place just now. It would seem that the leader of the wolves had sadly miscalculated the outcome of his latest plot against Peter Pan. Not only had Walbassa gone back on his word and not killed the boy, Jack ,when he had the chance, but also the girl had somehow been put beyond everyone's reach, including Peter's. Now Peter had his friend and ally back and would be stronger than ever once he'd convinced the Indian's that Jack was to be trusted again, further eroding what Ferru had expected to happen. Now a new plan would have to be hatched, and Ferru was not going to take the news well.

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...tbc