TAoP Chapter 23

Lost

Penny pushed Max out of the way, as she dived for cover. Midnight followed her as the animal stomped towards them. Penny heard what the elephant was saying, but only slightly.

"Oh, gotta warn Tarzan! A boat! Here! I hope I'm not too late!" he used his long nose to push tree branches out of his way. He stepped on the crates without noticing and continued up the path.

Penny and Midnight came out to stare as the elephant nearly destroyed everything in its path.

What's his rush? Penny asked. She gasped when she saw the crates, "The fruit!"

Max picked himself up as Penny came to help, "That must've been Tantor." He brushed the leaves from his pants. "He's probably freaking out about the ship."

"He was talking about the ship. And Tarzan."

"Guess it was only a matter of time. We should visit the camp where he lives. Maybe he has some information from other travelers."

"But what about the fruit?" Midnight ate some of the smashed fruit as he searched for some survivors.

"If we are lucky, maybe Tarzan will have some." Max went to communicate with Jayden and Illiana while Penny mourned over the loss of food.

You just ate. How can you be hungry? Midnight asked.

I'm always hungry. Shouldn't you know this by now? And since I apparently used magic, I have to make sure I get some of it back! And so I need food.

"Hmmm…it seems that Jayden has met up with some one. Anyways, how faint is that string?" Max asked standing next to her.

"Er…pretty faint, but I wager it is somewhere over there," Penny pointed toward the path the elephant made.

"Good, we'll follow that until Tarzan comes," Max took out his sword and started walking. Penny followed suit along with Midnight. It felt good to have her sword in her hand, but she hoped she didn't have to use magic. She made a note to beg Jayden to teach her more no matter what.

"By the way, I've been meaning to ask, what is skateboarding? Jayden said you were the best at it."

"Ah skateboarding. It's where you have a long piece of wood with four wheels. You stand on it while it moves," Max tried to explain.

"That's it? Sounds easy to do."

"Okay Miss Confident, you also have to do tricks on it while it moves. I'll show you sometime."

"Deal! What's a university?"

"Boy, you're full of questions aren't ya?"

"I'm curious. So what is it?"

Max took awhile before he answered, "It's where you go for school. The last place you go before you get a job and work for the rest of your life."

"School? Jobs?" Penny asked even more confused.

"A place to learn. You would learn to read and write. Plus, math, science, and other things. I went to the university for awhile before I became a knight. The letters I got were from my best buddies, Pj and Bobby."

"Oh…do you miss them?"

"Yea I do. But I like this better than sitting in classes."

Suddenly something—or someone—jumped in front of them. Max jumped back with his sword out in front of him, but immediately dropped it. In front of them was a tall man wearing practically nothing but a loincloth.

"Tarzan?" Max asked, a little unsure now.

"Goofy?" the man grunted coming closer.

"Uh…no actually I'm his son, Max. But we would like to see if anyone left a message."

"Come with me."

After a long time of walking in silence, the small group finally made it to their destination. Past a clump of trees was a free space with a campsite, complete with tents, charts, tables, campfire, and a scientist set. In the campsite was Jayden talking to a small man, practically Penny's height and the elephant standing nervously to the side. There were also some gorillas on the outskirts of the camp as if standing guard.

"Oh, Tarzan, there you are. This boy is from that traveling warriors group. Do you have any news from any others?" the little man asked as they came into view.

"Ask Jane. She might know." Penny had a flash of yellow-green come to mind.

"Jane?" she asked causally, walking around the campsite and picking up fruit that was lying around.

"She's my wife," Tarzan said.

"And she's my daughter. We came here to study the gorillas and we have decided to live here. Of course, it is great to have people visit us, especially from the homeland."

"And where is that?" Penny mumbled around the banana.

"Why England. Aren't you from there? You have a slight accent."

Penny tilted her head confused, much like what Midnight does, when Max intervened.

"Hey, uh, where's Illiana?"

"Oh right. Umm…she may or may not be lost," Jayden said, fiddling with his glasses.

Max looked at him. "How did you lose her? Have you tried the necklace?"

"Uh…we got separated and she went ahead of me. I think she took off her necklace."

"Where did you lose her?"

"What's with all the questions? What, you think it's my fault?" Jayden's temper flared. "She's the one that walked away from me! Sorry that I don't have all the answers, oh Great Leader!"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Penny jumped between them as Max walked over towards him with a frown. Midnight pulled on Max's shirt from behind. "He was only asking questions, Jay. But it has been a long day for all of us. We haven't been home in awhile, but we've never acted this way before. We can't be fighting each other."

"Well, it's all your fault anyways, Penny! None of this would've happened if you never came!" Jayden looked at her.

"Hey! Don't blame Penny for your stupid mistake, whatever it is! She's not the problem!" Max yelled as Penny looked shocked and hurt.

"What did I do wrong?" She asked quietly as Midnight growled slightly.

Don't listen to him. He's only trying to find someone else to blame.

"Everything! Everything was fine until we found you! Dammit!" Jayden stared to walk away.

Penny's own temper flared as Porter tried to step in, "Now children, please. There is no reason to fight." But everyone ignored him.

"Well, maybe I never wanted to go on this stupid journey anyways! I've always wanted to go home! I don't know what is going on with you, but it taking me back will solve it, then that's what I will do!" Penny ran out of the campsite without another glance.

Wait, Penny! Midnight tried to catch up, but she grabbed a tree branch and swung herself into the jungle. He lost her. Plus she was blocking him from her mind.

"Great, now we lost her too! Is this your plan?" Max accused Jayden.

"Don't pin this on me! Like you don't regret coming with us instead of staying at the university!" Jayden yelled back.

Before Max could retort, Tarzan finally stepped in, "Enough! You are friends. You are family. Family don't fight. Must stay in each other's hearts."

Both the boys glared at one another until it was Jayden who walked away.

Penny landed heavily on the tree branch almost out of breath. She reached for her necklace and ripped it off so no one could talk to her. She nearly threw it out of the tree, but something held her back. As she looked at it, she remembered a happy memory of them laughing and smiling. Instead of throwing it, she looped it over a tree branch that was above her head.

Penny looked out into the horizon and saw the entire jungle. Birds flew all over the tree tops as the occasional monkey swung the vines. The sun was going down, leaving some of the areas dark and mysterious. She had landed in the tree that had the tree house built in it and after a quick look around, she discovered it was empty. Well, for now. It had currently some clothes she guessed belonged to the father-daughter duo. She sensed the Heart was here, but was now traveling towards the campsite.

Does every world have a Heart? She asked herself.

Even as she tried to focus on the view, her thoughts drifted to what Jayden said.

"Is it really my fault?" She asked out loud as if someone would give her the answer. Star then came out of her pocket to cheer the girl up. She was hiding in there when the Big People started yelling. They really hurt her ears.

Starlight chimed gently to her.

"But think on it, they are on this journey because of me. If I had never left Neverland, everything would've been fine. I should've stayed."

That's not true! Penny, this all happened for a reason, Minnie's voice sounded in her head.

Minnie…

Penny, I'm glad to have met you! You made the palace seem brighter and interesting, Jasmine added.

if you had never came to the castle, I would still be having my nightmares haunt me, Belle joined in the conversation.

Yes, and I'm sure your teammates feel the same about you as you towards them, Amelia pointed out.

I wish they did but Jayden accused me of being at fault, Penny explained after she tried to block them. She wasn't in the mood to talk to them.

Explain to me what happened, Minnie requested.

I guess Jayden talked to Illiana and now they aren't talking? Maybe? Who knows. Jayden didn't really explain anything really. I'm only just guessing.

Oh, Penny. I think I understand now. Have you ever heard of love?

Love? Is it contagious?

The Hearts laughed, No dear, it's when a man feels for a woman…, Jasmine tried to explain, but failing.

Maybe she is too young to understand, Amelia said.

Penny frowned, Why does everyone treat me like a child? I can understand things!

She took the beads out of her hair so they can't talk to her. She sat there, sulking as the sun left the sky.

"Damn…" Penny whispered in the dark.