Saving Peter

Chapter 6: Wendy

I wake up to the loud racket of many young and unruly children. I can tell it's early morning without seeing the sun outside. Annoyed, I open my eyes and sit up. The Lost Children are all rushing around the room causing a commotion. 

Things are being thrown around. The Lost Children are shouting excitedly. The entire room is a picture of chaos. 

"What is going on?" I mutter to myself. 

"Peter likes to start the fun early. The earlier the start, the more fun you can have," Tink explains. 

I jump. I didn't even notice her right next to me. I'm not sure if that's because of the chaos around me or because she has a habit of just appearing. 

"Is it always like this?" My gaze wanders around the chaos before me. There is too much going on to focus on just one thing. 

Tink shrugs, "Most days, yes. Yesterday you didn't notice because he started showing you around the island and took you to the ship." 

I look around the room in thought, nodding. "And today?" 

"I believe Peter has plans for the three of you again." I turn to look at her. "Come on, we should not keep him waiting." 

Tink gestures to the exit. I assume Peter is up top and outside already. I head towards the exit and notice her following me. 

Peter is outside waiting for us. He smiles when he sees us exit the hideout. "Good morning. What a great morning for fun, isn't it?" 

I blink to adjust to the morning sunlight. "A little early isn't it?" 

"Never! It's never too early for fun! Besides, the sooner you start the more fun you can have." Peter's excited attitude threatens to be infectious. 

I smile as brightly as I can, trying to make it seem like I am excited as well. "Could you possibly show us more of the island today? I would love a full tour." 

Peter scrunches his face in confusion and possibly annoyance. "Why would we do that? That doesn't seem like fun." 

I shrug. "Maybe not. But I'm sure you can find a way to make it fun. Maybe we can play a game while you show us around." I do my best to seem innocent in my request and manipulation. Peter seems to buy it, but I can feel Tink's suspicious eyes boring into me. 

"Okay. We can go on a tour of the island. But we're going to play a game while we do." Peter calls my brothers over. He explains the game to them and what he plans for the day for us. Then he tells the Lost Children that they can have fun on their own until he gets back. With a wide smile he gestures for us to follow him. 

I pay close attention to his commentary on the island as he shows us around. Drawing a detailed mental map of the island as he shows us around. 

When we stop by the lagoon the splashing of water and giggling of wind chime like voices carry across the distance, but each time I look at the waves I don't see anything. I know from the stories that mermaids frequent the lagoon. I don't know much about them, but I notice Tina's perfect mask twitch when she looks out at the lagoon. Interesting. I'm not sure what it means, but I make a note of it. 

Next Peter takes us to the beach. Nothing all that interesting. In the distance the pirate ship is clearly visible. It's too far away to see what is going on on the ship, but a flurry of activity is constant and shouts, calls, and even jovial singing carries across the waves to them. I guess I was right about them after all. Further down the beach we see a rock outcropping in the distance that is big enough to be its own mini-island. It has a unique shape. Even from this distance it looks like a skull. Peter calls it Skull Rock. Tink very skillfully and quickly shuts down any questions about the place and ushers us further along the tour. I make note of this as well. After all, anything that makes Tink nervous, seems like something I should be interested in. 

Next Peter says he is going to show us the native territory. We march through the woods along the path. The boys play their game on the way. I don't really pay attention to them unless Peter mentions something about the island or where we are. 

"Stop right there, Pan." A strong, authoritative female voice comes to us from the trees. 

We all stop in our tracks. I look around, suddenly uneasy. As if there are a dozen pairs of eyes watching me, but I can't see a single person. That is until a native girl who looks to be about thirteen years old steps into view from the trees around her. Her tan skin glows in the patterned sunlight that filters through the trees. Her long, straight black hair is pulled and twisted into an intricate braid design on her head. Her brown eyes are hard and calculating as she looks between each of us. Her clothes are tanned hide, but fashioned into a stylish dress that not only shows off her strength but allows her a wide range of motion. Small splashes of color added to her dress and her image in general with natural elements such as feathers and handmade beads, and dyes. Even with these design elements that are clearly meant to soften her look, she still appears fierce and unrelenting. A force to be reckoned with. 

"Tiger Lily!" Peter calls cheerfully and tries to step forward to greet the girl. 

She holds up a hand and fixes him with her piercing gaze. "Stop. This is not the time for pleasantries. You know the rules, Pan. You are not allowed in our territory without permission. And I do not give my permission. Not when I have learned that you have allowed two mainland children to come to Neverland who have no place here." 

Peter doesn't shrink under her gaze. I'm not sure if it's because he's not afraid of this girl, or because he's seriously that obliviously innocent to the powerful person in front of him. Peter continues to grin and shakes his head. "It's not a problem. They just want to keep their little brother company." 

Tiger Lily tilts her head at his words and continues to stare us all down. John and Michael start to fidget under her scrutiny. But I don't bend so easily. I match her gaze defiantly out of instinct. I realize too late that this is probably a mistake when I see her lips twitch and her eyebrows tick up slightly. 

"Are you positive that is their only agenda?" The question is directed at him, but her eyes do not leave me. 

A simmering heat starts to boil up inside me at her words. How dare she imply so bluntly that I am less than honest in my intentions? She's right in her suspicions, but still, I'm severely offended. I take a step towards her, trying to get my temper under control so I don't give myself away. "Excuse me, but we really do just want to take care of our little brother. I don't see what the problem is with that. I don't even know how it's any of your concern." 

Two more tan skinned, well built natives step out of the trees and stand behind her on either side. Like bodyguards seeing my step towards her as a threat and giving a show of force as a response. Tiger Lily holds up a hand to them to stop any further advances from them. "I am Tiger Lily. Daughter to the chief, Princess to the tribe. My people have lived here for generations. We protect the secrets of the island. From people like you, who don't belong here." 

I bristle with her harsh tone and blunt words. I want to respond, to defend myself, but she doesn't give me a chance. She turns, effectively ignoring me, and looks towards Tink. 

"You know better. How could you allow this, Fae?" 

Tink returns the hard gaze with an unblinking one of her own. "I allowed nothing. My people are forbidden to interfere. We observe, we advise, but we do not take action." 

The princess clenches her jaw and turns instead to Peter. "You know the rules. You know them clearly and you still broke them You are not permitted in our territory. And none of your people are either. Not until this issue is resolved." 

Peter sighs, clearly defeated. "Alright, we're going." He starts to lead us away. I look behind us and notice the three figures still standing there watching us.