A/N: I'm hoping that by writing little by little when I get the chance (which is 2-3 out of the week) that I'll have each chap finished by Sunday (I may update every 2 weeks if I'm really busy.). I now have another OC and that makes 4 people who will appear in my books. How do y'all like Peter and Mari? Are their any questions that need to be addressed? And before I forget yes, I am aware of spelling errors (I think we've been over this before, but I feel like I need to address it again) and when this story is finished it will be edited. Please just bare with me. Comments are very appreciated (They nourish my writing juices O.O).
Mari's P.O.V
Things just started happening after that relaxing bath. All of the sudden I was caught up in a whirl of action. Mari needs new clothes, Mari needs to learn the language, Mari needs to start her lessons, Mari needs to learn her etiquette, Mari needs to meet everyone, Mari needs more clothes, Mari can't get an ounce of rest when she is awake! It wasn't bad but it was so much! I enjoyed everything (especially the new clothes) but goodness! I needed a break. Flora knows when I'm going to meltdown and usually rescues me, and Ina is sweet and understanding about it all. Takoda just...ignores me? He doesn't really talk to me (which confuses me) but I am grateful that he is. It stings a little to have him completely ignore me when we are alone (he only acknowledges me if he absolutely has to) but at least Pan won't be that upset about me being here.
Not that he is here to see anything. I haven't seen him since the day I was inducted into the family. No messages, no Pan, no nothing. For the first few nights I would dream about his lips lingering over mine but that was so long ago...How long had it really been? The days had blurred together, but it was starting to get colder and the village was finally showing signs of the season changing (while the rest of Neverland seemed to have started earlier.) and now I once again needed a whole other wardrobe. My clothes were overly extravagant compared to some of the other girls that I saw (but didn't really talk to.). Ina wanted to spoil me rotten but from what I can tell, Flora and Takoda get the extra nice things too (is that what mothers do?).
At the moment I actually had a moment of peace and I began to trek through the fields and head to my own spot. Flora and Takoda had both figured out that the best way to cope with their hectic life was to escape from it once in a while. I found out because I was practically forced too. I needed peace just for a few moments, completely by myself. I found myself a little clearing by a small pool of water, that was made by a stream, (the pool was at the end of the stream.), with a large gray rock to sit on. The gray reminded me of Pan's eyes. Hard and solid, stable. I approached the rock, perching on it so that I could stare into the pool. Autumn leave were floating in the clear blue water swirling in delicate patterns.
The sky had the prettiest mix shade of light violets and blues, with touches of soft tangerines at the very bottom. A pinkish hue where it mixed in with the blues...Pink like the color of Chestnut's cheeks when he would look at me. I blinked hard. I hadn't thought of him after the initial few days. How was he? Who was cooking for him? And everyone else? What about Jason? Was he upset still upset with me? A tight feeling welled up in my throat, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. Had I really forgotten about them in the blur of moving here?
I never even said anything to Chestnut...The last time he saw me he had put me to bed, expecting to see me again in the morning. How long ago was that? Weeks...at least. I hadn't said anything, hadn't even attempted to. Had Peter- I mean Pan- told him? Did he tell Jason? How could I have forgotten the first friend I ever really had?! I needed to see him. To at least tell him I was sorry about not saying anything. To say goodbye...
Standing up I began to run (something that I am not meant to do) through the forest, for the first time lamenting that I had chosen such a hidden place to relax in. When I finally reached the house I burst through. Only Takoda was there, sitting on the floor, popping berries into his mouth. Once again he didn't even acknowledge that I had entered even though I knew that he knew I was there.
"Where's Ina?" I panted. Silence. "Takoda, please. It's important." Just more silence. I didn't have time for this! Without another I stomped over to where he sat, and crouched, putting my hands on his shoulders. He immediately stiffened and blinked those lashes at his into my face, looking at me head on (well...not really looking.).
"Look I don't know what your problem is, but guess what? GET OVER IT! GET OVER YOURSELF! You are not God, and this whole silent treatment is annoying and immature. I thought you were smarter then that," Irritation flashes over his face (giving him that frightening look that he and Ina have mastered.) but I'm on a roll. We are gonna fix this right now! "But I guess I was wrong. I'm your sister now and I want to be treated as such. I don't have time to deal with you and whatever issues you got going on so just tell me where Ina is!" There is a slight flush on his cheeks, that is not from happiness. I'm pretty sure he's gonna hit more or something just judging by the look on his face (it spells D-E-A-T-H).
"Leksi's."
"What?" I choked. I hadn't expected him to speak.
"She is at Uncle's."
"Oh..." I release his shoulders which I now realize I was gripping a littler harder then I had thought. I awkwardly pat him. "Well then...Nice talk." I stood and walked out of the house, trying to walk as fast as I could without making him pounce on me (I swear he had this look on his face that just wasn't natural. It was like pure evil was gonna rain down on me.). I walked swiftly to Ina's brother's home. He was nice and friendly and he had welcomed with me with open arms (albeit they were a little stiff at first but he has warmed up a lot toward me.). But he is a worrier so I don't know how he will take this request. But it isn't that bad, is it?
I walked in to find Leksi, Ina, and Flora all sitting sipping at some steaming drink.
"Mari!" Flora beamed at me when she saw me, and held up a hand. I obligingly went to her and bent down allowing her to pinch my cheek softly.
"Hello," I sat down next to her, across from Ina and Leksi. They smiled happily at me and once again I was amazed at how easily I seemed to fit into the family.
"Ina, Leksi, I have something to ask you..."
"Yes?" Ina began to dig around in her bag. The noise of shuffling things disorientated me. What if they said no? What would I do then? I had to go.
"Um...well..." I began to fidget uncontrollably with the sleeve of my dress. "I...uh..." Unconsciously I put my fingers to my lips and began to nibble.
"Don't bite your nails, Chikala." Ina gently admonished me without even looking up from her bag. How did she know? "What did you want?"
"What did I want? Um...you see..." I stared at my fingers which I had interlaced in my lap.
"Mari?" I glanced up at Ina, who still wasn't looking at me.
"Um...I would like to ask you something..."
"So you've said but I've yet to hear anything." She teased me, all the while digging in that annoyingly noisy bag.
"I would like to...thank you," She had finally found what she was looking for and poured me some of the hot liquid they were drinking. I lifted it to my lips and found that I was drinking some type of tea. It smelled faint but the taste was soft and rolled onto my tongue smoothly. "I would like to...go visit..."
"What?" For the first time Leksi spoke. He sounded incredulous.
"Well I-"
"Really?" Flora peered at me from over her cup, blinking her green eyes at me.
"I had one friend there...And I never said goodbye. He didn't even know that I was leaving."
Ina frowned thoughtfully at me. "Is this necessary? We really need to get you up to speed on lessons as fast as we can. And the weather is changing, your wardrobe isn't finished. And what if you were to get sick? I wouldn't be there to-"
"Please. This was the first friend I ever had and I feel so bad about just disappearing on him." Again she frowned. My stomach fluttered nervously in my stomach as the frown continued to deepen as she apparently thought of different diseases that would strike me down as soon as I left the village.
"How long would it take?" Leksi spoke quietly, bringing his tea up to his lips.
Now it was my turn to say what. "What?" He raised his eyebrows at me and I realized that I was questioning him while he was trying to give me a chance. "I mean...I don't know. 3 days?"
"3 days!" Ina's eyes widen and I knew it was over. She was going to say no.
"Makawee, let the girl go. She needs to repay her friend for his kindness, right? We'll just send an able courier with her to make sure that she is taken care of. She should still have accommodations at her previous home. I trust Pan to take care of her."
"I don't! Look what happened before when he was taking care of her!" I was tempted to mention that technically it wasn't him it was Jason but why bother? She obviously didn't want me to leave, but why?
"Makawee, listen to reason. It will only be 5 days, 6 at the most. She'll be back before the first snow." Leksi argued confidently for me, while Ina tried her hardest to tell him that it was dangerous and deadly. "Makawee," He chuckled slightly. "She's not a little girl. And with the training that you are putting her through, she will be fit to survive anything. Relax and let her go." That dangerous look passed over her face like a cloud. Oh, God! Please don't let her get Leksi! She turned her intensely dark gaze on me.
"Is it necessary?"
"Oh, absolutely!" I nodded vigorously. She sighed the dark cloud clearing off her face (I exhaled too...but out of relief.).
"Fine...I suppose you can go. But I want you back as soon as possible so you leave tonight...No never mind. The wolves might be out."
"If I go with her we won't be bothered." Both Ina and Leksi started to protest immediately but Flora just listened patiently.
"Flora, you know I don't trust those animals! It's nearing winter and they will be hungrier then usual."
"Flora, what are you thinking? You still have studies as well."
"Cunks, it's so cold. What if you get sick?"
"You have never escorted anybody!" She let them go on and on like this for a while. Then she spoke.
"Mother, you have seen how the wolves react around me. I was able to keep you safe, wasn't I?" Ina attempted to interject but Flora continued on hurriedly. "I have been trained and after living here for so long as think I have experienced plenty of colds and know how to handle them. And so I miss a few lessons? I can always catch right back up. And Leksi! You sat here in this very room not 10 minutes ago and told me and Ina that I was a very able young girl. You said you trusted me completely. Can you not trust me to simply escort Mari to Pan and back?" They started talking over each other again trying to prove their point.
"But you are still growing! You could get sick."
"You should take your studies more seriously!"
"You have always been easily chilled."
"I meant that in a future tense. I didn't think that I would have to depend on you so fast...or have you use it against me." Again she let them get their arguments out.
"Mother, Leksi, it is 6 days at the very most. Only 6. We will be fine. Please give us this chance." Ina and Leksi gave each other side-long glances. Ina sighed dejectedly.
"Fine...but you must leave right now! It's not yet dark so you two will make a lot of progress getting to him and back."
"Wait," She raised her eyebrows at me. "You know the way back? Well, Flora do you know the way?"
Flora blinked her green eyes at me. "Of course I do." Okay...from the look on her face I guess it was obvious that she would know where it was. All righty then...
"Ina, Leksi, we will be back soon!" Flora beams happily at them then turns to me. "Let's go! We need to pack." She rushed out leaving me behind. I looked at Ina and Leksi. Ina had pulled her eyebrows low over her eyes and Leksi did the same, their expressions remarkably similar.
"Good bye..." Leksi turned to look at me and Ina's head snapped toward me. Without a word she literally pounced on me giving me a hug.
"Be safe. Don't talk to strangers," What strangers? "Be sweet polite and listen to Flora. She knows her way around. Tell Pan that we will have another meeting soon." She whispered this furiously into my ear. Then she pulled away straightening her dress. I looked at Leksi and he opened his arms, offering a hug. I happily obliged allowing him to wrap me in his arms. He did the same thing that Ina did (except more excessive and paranoid.) , giving me orders and telling me precautions as if I were sailing far away.
When I finally escaped back home Flora was already done packing our things (wow she's fast.) and she was saying good bye to Takoda. They were embracing when I walked but both looked calm which was a total difference from Ina's and Leksi's minor panic attacks. Maybe that was why Flora had rushed out...
Takoda turned when he heard me walk in, releasing Flora and walking swiftly toward me. He's walking a bit fast isn't he...And he has the oddest look on his face...Is he still mad at me from before? I unconsciously start walking backward until I hit the wall. He raises his arm...Oh GOD! Please don't let him kill me! I squeeze my eyes shut as he nears me. Stiffening I'm surprised by the sudden warmth I feel. Is he...hugging me? I open my eyes and stiffly wrap my arms around him as well. It wasn't uncomfortable physically but I hadn't hugged anyone but Pan for a while now... The thought of Pan's hugs makes me blush a little as we pull away from each other.
"Be safe on your trip." I smile works it's way onto my face. So he finally excepted me as his sister, although he was slow about it. He walks away, toward the door and Flora smiles encouragingly at us as she grabs some bags. "Oh," He stops at the doorway, grabbing his thin walking stick from the edge of it. "And don't let Pan touch you. I don't want my little sister hurt." Okay now he's moving fast! Flora snickers as he walks away.
"I second that!" She turns toward me. "You ready?" I nod.
…..
I will never EVER underestimate Flora again. When she mentioned how the wolves "react" to her, I hadn't considered it to be like this. No, my only thought about the wolves had been "Please stay away!".
We had been walking for awhile, at least an hour. Flora had stopped trying to keep up a conversation with me when she realized I was too busy trying to breath. I'm asthmatic and winter is on the way (me and cold air don't mix well.). So I'm wheezing and Flora is just talking about stuff that doesn't require me to respond when all of the sudden she just stops walking. I'm thinking (more like praying) that she's decided to take a break but she turns around with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Wolves," She points to our right. "They know we're here."
"Well," I pant a little. "Shouldn't we...keep going? And avoid...them?"
"Well, I guess we should but where's the fun in that?" Gee, maybe in surviving?! But I don't say that out loud but I give her a look that pretty much sums it up.
"Mari!" She laughs loudly. "Don't worry so much. I've got it covered." I tensed up when I began to hear barks not to far away. "They won't attack you when your with me."
"Why?" I questioned as I nervously edged closer to her. The yips and barks were getting ever closer. Please don't let me die now. It can't be possible to survive wolves twice.
"It's a long story but just don't seem nervous or aggressive. And don't be shy either. Their smarter then they look," Four wolves jumped out of the bushes, the large silver one from before, a gray wolf, and two brown. They all stopped, staring at us and sniffing the air. They seemed wary to come any closer.
"Their very pretty..." I murmured. The Silver Wolf turns his clear blue eyes and I freeze in shock. Last time I had seen him he'd had blood dripping from his muzzle and looked like he was still hungry. His ears twitch as he watches me.
"See?" Flora nudges me. "He knows your talking about him."
"Oh...you...meet with them a lot?"
"Yea, and I've named them all too! The big silver one is Blood." Wonder how she got that name...
"When he eats he makes it as bloody as possible." Had I said that out loud? "I used to say it in a scolding manner but in reality that's the only I can think of calling him that fits. The others are Hani," She point to the slimmer gray wolf, then lifts to fingers at the brown wolves. " Hiha and Wakina." I recognize both of the last names as Owl and Thunder. All of wolves ears twitched as their names were called and almost immediately their stances changed. They became more relaxed and their tongues lolled out happily. Before I could even react I was on the ground, being sniffed and licked by Hiha. Flora laughs and I struggle to turn a little and see her face. I know their big, but how much can a wolf weigh?
She is running her hands all along Blood's fur while he sits contentedly in front of her. Wakina finally lets her curiosity get the better of her and comes near me. Hani just lays down as if we weren't worth her time.
"Hey...Flora," I try to wiggle my out from underneath Hiha. "Flor...Flora...FLORA!"
"Haha, what?" It's now obvious that she absolutely adores the wolves particularly Blood. And I'll admit it. Their rubbing off on me too. But I really need to get to Chestnut as soon as possible.
"Shouldn't we -get off me- keep going?"
"Well, yes I guess so...They'll follow us though."
"I'm okay with that as long as we are moving."
"Alright then." Flora stands and starts to pick up our stuff.
"Um...Flora?"
"What?"
"Get him off of me, please."
"Hmm? Hiha, come here!" Hiha immediately gets off and I hurriedly stand before Wakina can get me. Stooping I grab my bag, raising my eyes to look for Flora. Instead I lock eyes with Blood. It's not uncomfortable to look at him but I'm wary of him. And he's wary of me (which is fine by me.). Standing up straight, I turn to look at Flora.
"Ready?"
"Yep."
….
We walked for what seemed like another eternity. Flora had been right when she'd said that the Pack would follow us but after awhile something made them leave us. Flora explained to me that they were most likely hungry, so I was very relieved that they had left us alone. We walked in silence except for my puffing. But after awhile my legs began to feel like they were going to give out. The moon was high up in the sky and even though we were safe from the wolves, what else lurked in these forests?
"Flora, how long til we get there? Two days?"
"What? No! We're almost there."
"Really? Then why is the trip supposed to take 6 days?"
"Because you want to have enough time to talk to him right?"
"Yea..."
"Plus, Pan said that he would need to talk to you about The Orb. You have ample time to talk to both."
"Oh...So we are going to set up camp now?"
"We're almost there," How could she tell? I couldn't see anything and was walking by only following the sound of her feet.
"How close?"
"A few minutes."
"Wait, really?!"
"Yea, we've walked for hours. I'm exhausted..." So it wasn't just me... I pick up the pace a little, anticipating laying down. All of the sudden Flora stopped walking and dug around in her bag.
"Got it!"
"Got what?"
"This," I can't really see but it looks like she's showing me a ball. "It's a signal used between my tribe and The Lost Boys. But first blindfold yourself. They won't come if they know we can see." She gives me a strip of soft material and I tie it tight over my eyes. I hear a soft thud then silence.
"They should come soon..." Not even two minutes later we hear a quiet voice.
"State your business."
"We are here to speak to Pan." Flora starts talking before I can even mention Chestnut. I trust her though, after all we've been through.
The voice doesn't say anything but someone grabs my hand.
"Flora?"
"Their just leading the way."
"Oh...so how are you?"
"Me?" She sounds incredulous.
"Well, no... Um... who are you guys?" Silence. "Come on, I know you can speak. I used to live here too." Still no reply. "I was the chef-"
"Will you cook while your here?"
"I love your food!" Two voices. I guess that makes sense. One to lead me and one for Flora. I laugh a little at their eagerness.
"Yea, I'll try!" Everyone relapses into silence as Flora and I shuffle downward (I think). But it's not awkward like it had been before. I feel a gush of air on my face and then my hand is released.
"You guys can take off your blindfolds." I pull anxiously at my blindfold and when I free my eyes I blink in surprise. I had expected to be lead to a meeting room or something. Not standing right in front of Pan's door. One of the boys (the one who was leading Flora) knocks softly on the door. There was no answer. Every few minutes he just gives off a few soft taps to the door.
Irritation is flashing angrily on Flora's face and I'm feeling the same thing.
"Knock harder." She instructs the boy but he just shoots a scowl in her direction. "Knock harder." She tries again. But he just waits quietly in front of it.
Flora suddenly grabbed my hand and shoved the boys out of the way. And she starts to pound on Pan's door. The boys look horrified and I'm going to admit it and say that I was kinda worried myself. I mean what if he was sleeping? I've seen Pan when he is agitated and it's something you want to experience (even if I only saw like a second of it.). Flora finally stopped banging and we stood waiting. Still no answer.
"Hmm...maybe he isn't inside," She mused out loud. She raised her hand again and got to loud bangs on the door before it flew open. There stood Pan, gray eyes flashing. His dark hair was wet and curled rebelliously around his face. One drop of water dripped off his nose and I watched it fall.
Holy. Crap.
Where's his shirt?!
A/N: Sorry for the late update but I really don't have a schedule going for my life let alone a book update. Please review and let me know what you think. The song is Animal by Neon Trees.
END OF RANT