2/5/07

Title: The Care and Feeding of Flying Boys

Author: Squeezynz

Chapter: Seventeen - Who's Rescuing Who?

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The Lost Boys were finally reunited with their missing brothers just after dawn the next morning. Harry, Grub, Stretch and Squid arrived footsore and hungry with the sun just rising, their small party accompanied by Tinkerbell and a lone female wolf with a striking pattern of brown and white fur. Crate saw them first and gave a shout, alerting Top Hat and Rat to their friends arrival. Their reunion was noisy and boisterous, Tink and the she-wolf standing to one side while the boys rolled in the dust and whooped fit to bust. At last they settled down to resume their interrupted breakfast amid many grumbles from the Indian's roused from their beds by the ruckus. Harry waved to the wolf who ambled over and settled down beside Grub, the boys' hands instantly delving into the thick fur around the animals neck.

"This is Diz, she's one of the wolves...isn't she pretty?" Grub lisped around a mouthful of porridge.

"Tink says she's the daughter of Lupa, and she's going to be a pet for the Wendy lady." Harry informed the others.

"Since when do wolves become lap dogs?" Crate sneered, casting the wolf a leery grin. In reply the wolf lifted her muzzle and bared her impressive set of teeth, a soft growl issuing from her throat.

"Diz knows what your sayin' Crate," Squid informed his fellow Lost Boy, grinning when Crate shifted slightly to put himself further away from where the wolf lay.

"As if we ain't got enough to feed," Crate grumbled, turning resolutely away and concentrating on his own bowl. Harry handed Grub a bowl of the thick pottage and he in turn placed it in front of the wolf. Diz lapped at the mixture then gulped it down, the boys laughing when she finally raised her head, the mixture liberally smeared all around her muzzle. With a long pink tongue, Diz cleaned herself up then rose to her feet, yipping softly at Grub before padding away towards the center of the village.

"Where's she off to?" asked Top Hat, bending sideways to see around Crate and follow the wolf's progress through the village.

"Diz said she 'as to see the Chief about summit,"Grub informed them, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his incredibly dirty shirt.

"Has Peter found Wendy yet?"asked Stretch, his question leading to a swift updating of events since Peter had left the boys making their way down the mountain.

"And you say Jack Flash is no longer Blackhearted Jack?" Squid asked with some amazement.

"That's a fact," Crate confirmed. "Lost his memory, according to Peter, and doesn't remember any of his time with the pirates."

"Nor when he went all screwy neither!" Rat added, smiling at his mates. "E's just as he always was."

Harry leant forward and asked in a whisper, "what about Tiger Lily?"

"Oh she wanted to gut him, no doubt about that," Top Hat informed the others, tapping the side of his nose dramatically. "But I saw him go after her, and they must 'ave made up, 'cos she came back smiling."

"Cor...really?" Stretch asked, "I always said she was sweet on him."

"Hah!" Crate snorted, "I reckons it's just a ruse to fool us all into trusting him."

"Do you think so?" asked Top Hat with some surprise. "But surely Peter and the Chief wouldn't be taken in?"

"Peter's got nuffin on his mind but finding this Wendy of his. Hook 'imself could try and pass 'imself off as the King of Spades and they'd think him a jolly good chap!"

"You're funny Crate...the King of Spades...that's a good one!" Stretch laughed, the others joining in and spoiling the effect Crate was looking for. Instead he scowled at his fellow Lost Boys and jumped to his feet.

"It's true, you bunch of block-heads, just you wait an' see." Angry at them and himself, Crate stomped off, the boys scrambling to their feet and following.

"Hey wait Crate...when do you expect Peter to come back? Did he leave us any orders?"

Crate swung around to address the boys, Tink hovering over their heads and listening in.

"Peter said to meet him at Cannibal Creek come morning, so that's what I'm goin' to do. Coming?"

A chorus of assent greeted his query, the boys suddenly rejuvenated with the thought of seeing Peter again and going on another adventure. Tink hovered overhead and watched as the boys loaded up with weapons and food for the trek, her thoughts torn between staying with the boys or flying immediately to Cannibal Creek to see if Peter was there already. In the end she stayed with the Lost Boys, intrigued in spite of herself to see Jack Flash again and try to figure out if he truly was a reformed person or just putting on an act, as Crate suggested.

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Diz reached the tent of Chief Talagumpa and scratched at the skin door, the braves on either side keeping a wary distance, their weapons held at the ready. Relations between the animals and humans on Neverland were sometimes strained, the wolves often competing with the Indian's for game, the pack usually winning the kill if it came down to a standoff. The tent flap flew back and the Chief stepped out, apparently not surprised to find a female wolf at his door.

"Welcome, daughter of the moon, I have been expecting you." Talagumpa reached out his hand for the wolf to sniff, Diz performing the greeting before growling and barking at the Indian leader. Talagumpa tilted his head and waved his hand. "Walk with me, and we will discuss what you have been sent to tell me." Waving away his guards, the Chief started to walk away, the she-wolf trotting to catch up then walking at his side, her muzzle turned towards him, the sound of muted whines and barks accompanying them. The Chief's guards stared after their leader then looked at each other, shrugging their acceptance before resuming their posts outside the tepee once more.

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From the doorway of another tepee, Jack watched the wolf lope off beside Talagumpa and wished he was privy to the conversation. Not that he would have been any the wiser, not being fluent in Wolf himself, but he still would have liked to know what the animal was telling the Chief. He had been awoken by the arrival of the remaining Lost Boys, their noisy breakfast reminding him how long it had been since his meal the night before. Scrambling out of his bedroll, Jack padded across the short distance to the Lost Boy's campfire, helping himself to the last of the pot while he waited for the boys to return. In the distance he saw Tiger Lily emerge from one of the women's tepee's, her long plaits swinging as she straitened up and stretched. As if sensing his regard, she turned her head briefly, pinpointing his locations before tilting her nose into the air and turning her back on him. Jack had to laugh, chuckling to himself as he spooned the last of the pottage into his mouth. It seemed that he didn't have to fear a knife in his back anytime soon, but it behooved him to keep a wary eye on the Princess, nonetheless. He could hear the boys returning and got to his feet, turning to face the newest arrivals who would be curious about him. It was still strange to him that he was looked upon as being an enemy, rather than a friend, his age and maturity somehow advanced in his time spent as Hook's apprentice. For him no time had passed, but it was clear from the looks on the boys faces, that Jack Flash had earnt himself distrust and fear as a pirate. The four latecomers stood back as the others swarmed about the small campfire and gathered up their belongings in readiness for the trek to come. They stared at Jack as if he'd grown an extra head, their eyes wide and curious – in the case of Harry and Grub – suspicious and wary – in the case of Squid and Stretch.

"Hello boys," Jack greeted them, "nice to see you all together again."

"Hi Jack...so...um...what they said is true?" asked Harry.

"Depends on what they said, Harry," Jack slid a glance at the others, who were busy sorting their belongings.

"They said you was back to being Jack Flash," Grub piped up, sticking a grubby thumb in his mouth and staring at Jack with huge eyes. " ain'tcha a pirate any more?"

"No...I'm not."

"But you got big." Harry pointed out, tilting his head on one side and appraising Jack's height.

"Nearly as tall as Peter," said Jack, smiling at his former friends. Grub smiled back, as did Harry, but the older boys still regarded their former friend with a degree of reserve. Jack sighed and folded his arms across his chest. "Whatever you think, I guessing you're getting ready to meet Peter at Cannibal Creek."

"That's right," Squid answered shortly. "Are you coming?"

"Yes. But don't you boys want to rest before we leave? You've been out all night."

"We'll go for a bit longer, won't we lad's?" Stretch looked at the two younger boys, Grub stifling a yawn behind his hand before nodding, along with Harry.

"Sure Stretch...no problem."

"Good. Then let's get moving, the sun's already well up and Peter is expecting us." Crate hoisted a pack on his back and glared at the others to hurry them up. Jack took the hint and returned to his own tent to collect what few belongings he had. Then he joined the others as they tramped out of the Indian camp and started down the track, Tink keeping pace and fluttering overhead. Not far down the track they were joined by Diz, the she-wolf appearing out of the undergrowth and padding silently along beside them. Rat and Grub raced each other to either side of the wolf, the boys each ruffling the thick fur at the animals neck while glaring at each other in the process.

"Diz is with me," Grub declared, glaring at Rat, who gleefully stuck out his tongue and remained where he was. Diz allowed the boys to fight over her for a few minutes before turning her head and nipping both of them, scolding them with several short barks before carrying on. Jack was bringing up the rear and didn't see the figure waiting for them at the turn of the path. Only when one of the boys hailed Tiger Lily did his head come up and he took notice of what was ahead. The Indian Princess was leaning against a stout tree, her slender brown arms folded over her chest as she waited for the Lost Boys to catch up to her. Crate was in the lead and didn't pause when he drew abreast of her.

"I suppose you want to come too," he groused, not stopping but stomping past her, scowling horribly. Tiger Lily ignored him, instead exchanging morning greetings with the others as they passed, only joining the party of boys just in front of Jack.

"Good morning Lily," said Jack, puffing out his chest and grinning at the back of her head. Tiger Lily ignored him, her head held high and her hips swinging. Jack drank in the view and had to chuckle to himself. If it was her idea to torment him into insanity, she was going about it the right way. "To what do we owe the pleasure of ya company?" He finally asked, the silence having stretched for several minutes. Tiger Lily glanced at him over her shoulder.

"I would have thought that was obvious. I'm here to see what's happened to my friend, Wendy."

"Oh...of course. And Chief Talagumpa approved this? I mean after your last run in with Hook and his pirates, I'd have thought your father would want to keep you close, not let you go gallivanting off into the jungle with just a pack of boys."

"But I have you to protect me Jack. Don't I? A big strapping pirate like yourself should be more than enough to see off any of Hook's crew," Tiger Lily replied, still with her back to him. Just ahead of her, Rat and Grub exchanged a meaningful glance and rolled their eyes, acknowledging the strange conversation behind them. Jack sighed and shook his head.

"Oh no Princess. I think I'd rather fight a hundred pirates than face ya father's wrath when he finds out ya snuck out of the village without him knowing. Why don't you save us all a great deal of trouble and just turn around and go home?" Well aware that he was about to get an earful, Jack stuck his fingers in his ears in preparation. True to form, Tiger Lily rounded on him and opened her mouth to give him a scathing retort, only to start laughing at the sight of him walking along the track with his fingers firmly planted in his ears, at the same time grinning at her like a Cheshire Cat.

"You're impossible, Jack Flash...and I can't be bothered talking to you any more." Turning back to follow the Lost Boy's, she marched ahead, Jack letting out a chuff of laughter, echoed by the birds chattering overhead. The morning tramp through the jungle to Cannibal Creek was accomplished in good time, an hour or two later finding them all sitting on the banks of the sluggishly flowing stream, dabbling their feet and munching on apples supplied by Tiger Lily. Harry and Grub were curled up like puppies, fast asleep, with Squid and Stretch not far away, noisily snoring their heads off. Crate had decided, after a short rest, to go further down the creek to see if Peter was waiting for them, but it was suspected it was more to remove himself from having to listen to Jack and Lily bicker any more.

The sun slowly crept across the sky, the morning passing in to afternoon with still no sign of Peter. Crate had returned and sat running a whetstone up and down his sword with a rasping noise that competed with the birds overhead to make the most noise. Jack sat with his eyes closed leaning against a tree, a bee buzzing sleepily around his head for several circuits before flying an erratic path away into the jungle. The sound of the whetstone suddenly stopped and Jack opened one eye to see Crate sheathing his weapons and hauling on his back pack.

"Goin' somewhere Crate?"

"To find out what's happened to Peter. He was going to ask the Mermaids what's going on, so I reckon I'll go and ask them as well."

"Sounds like a plan, I'll wake the others." Getting to his feet, Jack approached the still sleeping Lost boy's and toed them awake. With everyone on their feet, they marshaled their small band in to a column and started off once more, this time following the bank of Cannibal Creek until it emptied into the ocean. Tink had disappeared for a short time while the others rested, but she was back now and flitted overhead through the branches, occasionally directing a tinkling query at one of the boys. Diz had also disappeared for a short while, returning at length with a kill which she then devoured, ignoring the looks of disgust on the faces of those who saw her. Now the she-wolf padded behind Crate, the two youngest trotting to keep up and still competing for her attention. Tiger Lily had dropped back and was walking once more ahead of Jack, her supply of fruit half gone from her pack which hung limply down her back. In her hand she carried her bow, the quiver hung from a strap about her waist. Jack eyed the elegant weapon with respect, well aware that Lily was quite possibly the best in her tribe for hitting a target, whether moving or still. Unconsciously he reached down and rubbed a place at the top of his thigh, an old wound there reminding him just how good she was at hitting what she aimed at.

At length they stood on the beach beside the inlet which spilled out it's muddy contents into the bay, clouding the blue water and turning it green. Mangroves had sprouted in the shallow delta, their green branches spreading out and into the equally shallow lagoon, making the shore difficult to navigate with anything other than a canoe. Crate was already pulling the canvas covers of two canoes half buried in the sand, the others quickly helping to reveal the large skin-covered water craft with their paddles tucked away inside.

"I reckon we paddle around to Mermaid Lagoon and ask them what they told Peter."

"How will that help us Crate?" Stretch asked, never the brightest. Crate snorted and started to pull the canoe towards the lapping waves.

"Then we'll know what Peter knows, won't we."

"Yeah...but..." Stretch scratched his head, still mystified. This time Jack answered as Crate looked about ready to throw something at the boy.

"Then it figures that whatever they told him, is where he'll be...see?"

Stretch still looked blank. Jack rolled his eyes. "Just get in the boat Stretch, let us do the thinking."

"Right you are," said Stretch, happy lending his weight to pushing the canoe into the water. "But what if Peter comes here, expecting us to be here...and we ain't."

"He has a point," said Tiger Lily, putting her bow and arrows into the canoe nearest and climbing aboard. "We should leave someone here to tell Peter what and where we've gone." To forestall anyone suggesting her, the Princess settled herself into the hull and picked up a paddle. The others looked at Crate and Jack.

"She's right. You and you stay here and watch out for Peter." Crate stabbed a finger at Grub and Rat, who both protested loudly at missing out on all the fun and adventure. In the end Harry elected to stay on the beach, Diz barking and growling and sitting down on the hot sand beside the Lost Boy, obviously deciding to stay as well.

"That's sorted then. Everyone loaded?" Crate called out a head count. Himself, the Princess, Top Hat and Rat in one boat, Jack, Stretch, Squid and Grub in the other. "Grab a paddles and let's go!"

The small flotilla paddled out across the calm lagoon, heading for the headland and beyond, Harry waving from the beach until they were out of sight. Then he sat down again, the wolf at his side. For a long moment Harry just sat there, one hand buried in the thick fur of the wolf who'd lain down, its pink tongue lolling. Looking down, the boy scratched the animal behind the ears then clambered to his feet.

"Looks like we'll be here awhile. Don't suppose you could catch another of whatever you caught before?" Harry asked Diz, shucking his pack and weapons onto the sand. Diz lifted her muzzle and looked at the boy, her head tilted as if to ask a question. "'Cos I want to get a fire going, and a rabbit would go real nice on a spit for supper." Harry informed the wolf, bending down and starting to gather sticks. Diz woofed and rose to her feet, nudging the boy before loping off towards the jungle, giving a parting yip over her shoulder before the greenery swallowed her up.

"Hope that meant yes," Harry muttered, dumping his load of sticks and looking around for rocks to build the fire.

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