The Girl From the Sea

2 - Codfish

(Serina's point of view)

I took off running through the thick jungly forest that made up Neverland. Vines and leaves were swatting at my ankles making them sting. Sure we had a path to the other side of the island, but it'd take a day longer to go that way considering you'd have to go around different lakes and mermaid infested waters. Where I was going was the tunnels. The tunnels would be the best way to get around the island...if they weren't overrun by hallowhooks which are big flesh eating bat type things. We usually avoided the tunnels at all costs but I had to take them if I was going to get to Peter in time.

I slowed my running as I came to the entrance of the first tunnel, a shiver running down my spine as I looked into the darkness of the gaping entrance. I looked around and grabbed a branch that would be great for a torch. My eyes focusd on the top on the branch, concentrating until after a few seconds sparks flew from it and a little fire started to emerge. I smiled satisfied at my work. That's right, I had magic. Very very little magic and I kept it a secret from everyone even Peter... especially Peter. I was hardly ever able to use it and didn't know exactly where the source of my small magic came from. Peter had a lot more power than me anyways but he'd still be dashed to learn another person on the island had even a speck of his power, so I kept it to myself.

I looked around and saw some jee tea berries. I grabbed some and spread them across my face and arms. They stunk horribly! I was hoping the high heaven stank would be enough to help me not smell human as the hallowhooks were blind and hunted with their incredible sense of smell. I then took my magic lit torch and slowly crept into the tunnel. My heart starting to race.

I began this tunnel in the early morning but now I'm sure it was evening and getting close to dusk with all the hours that had past. Everything had been going well and I was avoiding most of the hallowhooks and I was starting to see the light from the end of the tunnel. That's when I heard it.

A horrid shriek coming from the dark abyss of another tunnel. I gasped covering my ears at the nails on chalkboard sound. I quickly ducked behind a large rock just as a hallowhook flew around the corner pausing and putting it's nose in the air to sniff the area. My hands became clamy and my heart pounded as the hallowhook came up beside me and sniffed me putting it's huge nose on my face. I stayed perfectly still, petrified of what was going to happen. The hallowhook opened its mouth and I saw rows and rows of sharp daggered teeth. I started to ever so slowly reach for my bow. My pulse sounded in my ears. Another screech sounded out from down a different tunnel. Another hallowhook. The hallowhook took it's large nose off of me perking both it's ears up at the screeching, then took off flying down the other tunnel towards the sound.

I finally let the breath out that I had been holding in that entire time and started to bolt to the end of the tunnel.

(Peter's Point of view)

I had used my magic to dissapear and reappear in different locations bringing me closer to the other side of the island and closer to that half-witted one handed pirate. I still hadn't mastered the reappearing bit and this is why I had to do it several times over to get close to the other side of the island. Magic also took its toll on me when I used it too often. When I became weary from its use I would run or use our intricate vine path up in the trees. We usually used that path if we didn't want to leave a trace of ourselves anywhere. I was bordering exhaustion when finally I reached the shoreline, finding their ship just about to board on the beach.

"He'll be lucky if I let him leave alive this time" I growled under my breath. I then looked at the ship and vanished into smoke reappearing on top of one of the massive mast lines of the Jolly Roger. I took a comfortable position propping myself causually on the side of the main mast, looking down I saw the murderous pirate.