Happy Thoughts || Peter Pan

Chapter 7

With loud twittering the seagulls flew out of their way as Peter and Avery skimmed across the water at high speed, leaving waves in their wake. The waves glistened in the sunlight, as Avery twisted her body so she could touch the water and feel the salty water against her fingers. Peter held on to her tightly. The sun was slowly sinking into the water, turning the sky above bright red and the sea seemed awash with gold. It all seemed so unreal to Avery.

'Oh, look!' As if she recognised the place as home, she pointed to the high cliff, between which the river flowed into the sea and sprang into a waterfall. Large stones breached the surface of the water in front of it. Dried algae dangled from the stones above the waves. 'Is that the Mermaid Lagoon? Can we go there?'

'I don't know if...-' Peter looked at her. For a moment it seemed he was about to tell her otherwise, but then he nodded and flew towards the Lagoon. He carefully lowered her onto the largest stone and landed right next to her. Avery had to get used to the ground beneath her feet and she was glad she could lean on Peter for a while longer. When her legs had finally stopped shaking she looked around. She searched for scaly tails and long hairs decorated with shells and samphire. Surely the mermaids had to be somewhere? 

She loved the scenes in the book about mermaids, about how their singing could get any man to walk overboard, how their beauty would surpass that of any other. She was curious about these extraordinary creatures. She expected -hoped- that they were friendlier than in the book, since she wasn't looking forward to being drowned. However, Avery discovered that wherever she looked, there was no mermaid to be found.

'Can you call them, Peter? They always come when you play, right?' She walked towards the edge of the rock, but when Avery looked into the water, she was roughly pulled back by Peter, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist and his fingertips pressing into her ribs.

'Don't get too close to the edge,' he warned. His deep voice hummed in her ears. He looked at her sternly and Avery swallowed. Heat raced through her as she suddenly became very aware of his touch.

'What is it ?' She looked at the water. The waves were gently crashing against the stones, splashing upwards, attacking her feet. He let go of her again, but remained impassive. His dark eyes scanned the surroundings, but he did not seem to be searching as she just did. No enthusiasm could be read from his face, just vigilance.

Avery frowned. He suddenly seemed so different. His energetic, happy energy had completely faded away. As if the waves had taken it with them. Something began to stir in her lower abdomen.

'Peter, what is going on?'

His face turned her way while his eyes remained focused on the sea. Then his eyes followed and he looked at her for a few moments. Then he suddenly laughed and crossed his arms in front of his chest, rising a little. 'You should've seen your face!'

Avery felt the heat rising to her head, but she continued to stare at him with a stern gaze until he lowered himself back onto the rock and sighed. 'They don't like to show themselves much. We'll try again later.' He held out his hand, Avery looked down at it frowning. Her eyes found his face again. The stern look had disappeared from his face and he smiled amiably, causing Avery to blush. She grabbed his hand and let herself be carried away by him again.

'Where are we going now?' Avery asked. They were now flying over the dense forests, where all sorts of animals hid among the branches and she could see streams through the leaves in which large trout swam. It had been a long time since she saw a stream of water as clear as this one. The more she saw of the island, the greater her desire to explore it all, every nook and cranny.

'We're going to my hideout,' Peter replied.

'Oh! The Gallows Tree?' Although she actually felt she might be too old to look forward to the slide that would lead her deep under the tree's roots, she could not push back the excited feeling in her stomach. Neverland brought out the child in her, as it did for everyone.

'That was the old hiding place,' Peter said, 'The tree died a long time ago and I had to find a new place.'

Avery looked down at the green forest. Would the dead tree be visible from here? 'Can we at least pass by? I understand the tree is dead, but I would so like to see it with my own eyes.'

His eyes turned sideways, and then he focused his gaze forward again and quickened his pace. Avery didn't ask about it again. Perhaps the thoughts about it hurt him. She knew it was stupid to bring it up. Who knows how many years Peter had spent there with the Lost Boys, the memories he had there must have died with the tree. For the rest of the flight, Avery stayed quiet and looked forward to seeing the new hideout.

They flew further across the forest, towards the high mountains, where thick fog banks hid their peaks. Avery gazed over Peter's shoulder at the view below her. A wide river traversed the valley, occasionally disappearing between patches of forest. A skittish deer looked up startled as it quenched its thirst by the water and disappeared among the trees. Soft starry moss climbed up the mountain walls high above the tree belt. 

Peter flew up along the wall, until Avery saw a strange orb hanging in the hollow of a mountain. It looked like a bird's nest held together with strong bamboo stalks and ropes. Peter landed on the plateau just in front of the little door and let Avery in. Inside, it was dark until Peter pulled a string that lifted a cloth above an oil lamp. Fireflies fluttered around behind the thin glass.

Avery took in the space. The dark, circular space was filled with a warm, golden light and it was exactly how she had always imagined camping would be. At the back of the sphere, two hammocks hung underneath each other and on the left hung a floating chair made of vines, containing a blanket and a pillow. She wondered where he got them from, as they seemed almost brand new.

In the centre of the room was a small table with a half-melted candle on it, next to a piece of paper and a quill. And in a corner was an empty tub, with a bucket of fresh water beside it. The nest smelled wonderfully fresh and woody, as if she were in the middle of a tree trunk. It felt so cosy and inviting.

Peter flew over her and took a seat on the swinging chair, which spun a few rounds and then came to a halt again. 'Welcome to The Nest!'

Avery could not help but smile, to which Peter gave her a wink. He unhooked his pan flute from his belt and started playing a tune, while Avery discovered his hiding place. Avery felt his eyes pursuing her wherever she went.

'Is this hammock for me?' she pointed to the bottom hammock and he nodded without separating his lips from the pan flute. Avery swung her leg over the hammock, but almost lost her balance as she tried to climb into it. She heard Peter laughing through the flute as the tunes suddenly became false.

She dropped forward into the swaying hammock and made herself comfortable. Avery stared at the ceiling and listened to Peter's music. A deep sigh rolled over her lips. The sound was almost hypnotic and she noticed her eyes getting heavier. It must be very late in London by now. Would her parents already know she was gone? Were they missing her? She turned around. They probably hadn't even walked into her room yet and it wouldn't be until the morning, nay, the following evening that they discovered their daughter had disappeared. Peter was right. Why would she want to go back to that world where no one would miss her when she could also stay here in paradise; Neverland, the land of all her childhood dreams.