The Legacy of Peter Pan

Chapter 10: A Treehouse for Wendy

Wendy was awake at the glittering break of dawn, sliding on her bedroom shoes, and tiptoeing as quietly as possible about the hideout. Michael had his arm slung over his eyes and was peacefully snoozing with a stringy line of drool dripping from his mouth, reaching across his cheek. Wendy simply shook her head at this as she padded over to the bearskin carpet curtain. She carefully pulled it back, expecting to see Peter in a deep slumber on his hammock. The girl was a bit surprised to find that this was not the case.

Her interest now piqued, Wendy slipped out of the hideout into the forest which was bathed in golden morning light. The sky held not a cloud in sight, the grass was still coated in reflective droplets of dew, and the birds sang from the tree canopies. It was truly a gift to be able to wake up in Neverland. But she still didn't have any idea where Peter had gotten off to. Wendy was about to head deeper into the woods when she heard a rustling coming from the leaves of Hangman's Tree, right above her.

"TinkerBell? Is that you?" Wendy called, shielding her eyes from the Sun's bright rays as she looked up. It was not TinkerBell who dropped down from the greenery, but Peter Pan himself, hanging upside down from a branch!

Wendy grinned. "Good morning, Peter."

"You won't believe what I found!" He exclaimed, pulling himself back up into the tree. Wendy craned her neck, trying to get a peek at what he could possibly be talking of. Peter dropped to his feet, but not before performing a swift flip as he fell from the tree to ensure that he didn't land on his back. In his hands were a bundle of ripe oranges. Wendy's mouth watered at the sight. "I haven't had these in forever." Peter realized with just a twinge of gloom in his tone at how many years he'd lost being away. But it immediately vanished as he handed Wendy an orange. "Back at at the cave I ate things like Tangrolps and Sourbegs."

Peter shuddered and Wendy decided it was best not to question what those strange foods were. They did not sound very delectable. Instead she asked, "The cave?"

He nodded as he plopped crossed legged on the ground, peeling back the skin of the orange. Wendy sat on her knees beside him. "I lived in this cave when Neverland was sick. It was a nasty, wet old place. But there was a clear pond that I liked to sit by when it wasn't cloudy. Sometimes a few flowers would bloom in the Spring. Pink, yellow, and," Peter cleared his throat, catching how Wendy was paying attention so closely with that cerulean gaze of hers. He wasn't used to anyone solely focusing on everything he said unless he was in the middle of getting onto the Lost Boys. "-blue ones." He finished, looking back down at his orange. "I could take ya there if you like."

"Really? Do you think there would be flowers there this time of the year?"

"I suppose there could be." Peter popped one of the orange slices into his mouth. He and Wendy could go to the cave while...well, the Lost Boys would need something to do while he was gone wouldn't they? His eyes flicked up to the bare treehouse balancing amongst the branches of Hangman's Tree. It was bereft of a roof, not suitable for housing anyone. Peter suddenly lit up with an idea. While Wendy and he were gone, the boys could finish up the treehouse and surprise Wendy when they came back! What a clever idea, he praised himself. "Yes, I'll take you to the cave today, Wendy. Michael and The Lost Boys can stay here. They have a um, certain project to work on."

"Don't they need help?"

"No, they'll be alright. Didn't ya say ya wanted to go see the flowers?"

"That would be very nice." Wendy's cheeks turned rosy as she thought of a day alone with Peter.

The moment Wendy announced that she was going inside to change (which was taking much longer than Peter expected.), Peter corralled the drowsy Lost Boys and Michael, who'd all just awoken from a heavy night's sleep, outside of the entrance to the hideout. Slightly sleepily rubbed his eyes as he asked, "Why did you bring us out here again?"