Chapter 12

Tinkerbell was flying through the forest as fast as her wings could carry her. Swopping and swerving hastily between the tree's foliage towards the hideaway tree. She had to get there as fast as she could. The sun was still low in the sky meaning that the forest was still dark with shadows from the night and the trees seemed larger and more menacing in the early morning. Tinkerbell hated the forest at this time of day and had always tried to avoid travelling through it alone but today she had no choice, the last she had seen of Peter he had disappeared with Tiger Lily leaving her alone. After realising it might be a while before he returned, she had decided to fly home. It was on her way that she spotted the Pirate ship. There had been something unusual about it however, the pirates had seemed excited about something. It hardly taken her anytime at all, sat on the mast and listening to the pirate's conversation to work out exactly what was going on.

After Peter had left the lost boys had been left unsure of what to do with themselves. Peter usually left them clear instructions but today he had just said that they could spend the morning pleasing themselves. And without Peter to follow the boys were completely lost.
"He's no fun anymore," Tootles complained. "All he seems to care about is Tiger Lily."
The others nodded in agreement.
"What should we do?" One of the twins asked.
Peter had always been the one to lead them, without him the boys were all looking at each other for someone else to take the lead.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light like a shooting star and a loud tinkering noise flew across the room.
"Tinkerbell!" the boys coursed.
"What's up Tink?" Slightly asked.
Tinkerbell circled the bare but comfortable room several times looking frantically for Peter when she finally decided that he wasn't there, and she was to late she stopped abruptly in the middle of the room and glared down at the boys as though this was all their fault.
The lost boys looked at each other confused. They had never seen Tink like this. What was up with her? She seemed agitated. Was Peter in trouble?

Tinkerbell, now panic stricken, screamed at the boys to follow her and dived out of the hideaway tree. The boys glancing at each other in confusion followed her, glad that at least they had someone to follow, but equally worried about what could have possibly happened to Peter to make Tinkerbell act like this.

The boys followed Tinkerbell through the forest, towards the Indian camp, as fast as they could. "Tink, what's going on?" Slightly called. "What's happened to Peter?"
As they continued through the forest Tinkerbell explained to the boys what she had overheard on the Jolly Rodger. The news caused the boys to panic even more. They had to get to the Indian camp and find Peter before it was too late.

Tinkerbell and the boys reached the Indian Camp panting and out of breath it was obviously clear to them as soon as they reached it that Peter and Tiger Lily were not there. It was busy with the normal hustle and bustle as the Indians went about their everyday business but Tink and the lost boys knew that Peter always brought a spark of excitement and adventure were ever he went. It was clear that the spark was not present here. Tink and the boys searched the camp anyhow, looking for any clue of Peter's whereabouts and asking every Indian they met if they knew where Tiger Lily had been planning on taking him. After a half hour of searching with no result. They knew there was only one thing to do, they would have to split up and cover the coast searching for the Jolly Rodger.

Tootles and Curly were making their way down to the beach. They knew they didn't have a lot of time to find Peter for all they knew they could already be too late, but they had to try. As they franticly scrambled through the undergrowth Slightly heard it. It was if someone was following them. He stopped suddenly holding his finger to his lips, indicating to Curly to be silent. The boys listened intently. Curly could hear it too, someone stomping through the undergrowth towards them. Grabbing Curly's arm Slightly pulled him behind a tree where they listened intently. They were closer now. They could hear them stomping around behind them. The loud confident footsteps showed they were making no effort to hide. Slightly silently drew the dagger from his belt, Curly followed his example. Suddenly, "Slightly! Curly!" called a familiar voice. "Peter!" the boys chorused.