Saving Peter

Chapter 21: Hook

I meet Tink on the beach. What now? I thought we covered that these meetings were a waste of time the last time I was dragged down here. Why am I being summoned here again, and only a day later? This had better be good. 

"You called?" I try to show how unamused I am by the situation through my tone and expression. But this is Tink, she isn't the best at reading humans. 

"Yes. Tiger Lily called a meeting. She has urgent information." Tink answer in short, matter of fact sentences. 

I roll my eyes. "Of course she does." Why exactly the little princess couldn't just send a messenger to deliver this information is beyond me. I guess she just enjoys forcing us to do whatever she wants. 

"She sounded upset." Tink tries to continue to persuade me. I recognize that, for Tink at least, this is progress. But I would consider this a weak attempt at persuasion from anyone else. 

"Really?" I ask. "And you would know? Actually, I didn't think anything could upset her. So let's go. I want to see what's got her braid in a knot." 

Tink tilts her head, trying to understand my commentary. I don't give her any explanation to help. I just motion for her to lead the way. And she does. She turns on her heel and glides elegantly through the landscape, leading me towards our destination. I decide now is not the time for playful banter on our journey so the walk is a silent one. 

When we reach our destination she stops. I sigh once I realize that one, we are nowhere near the camp and two, the princess is not here. "Lovely, she summons us and she doesn't even have the decency to be on time." 

"Patience is a virtue, Captain." 

"So is punctuality." I snap. I lean against a tree and try to find something to pass the time. Eventually I decide to try to teach Tink a simple game while we wait. She doesn't really understand it, but it's amusing to watch her attempt at it.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Captain. But I had urgent matters that needed my attention. It couldn't be avoided." Tiger Lily's voice breaks through our conversation. A moment later she materializes from the trees. 

I turn to face her. "Ah, the princess decides to show herself." I know I should appreciate the fact that she at least attempted to apologize. But I don't. She somehow still manages to annoy me even when she's being polite. 

Tiger Lily rolls her eyes at me but doesn't engage in my taunting. "Wendy broke into my territory. She stole important information, regarding the location of the door to the Fae realm." 

I raise my brow at her words. "How is that even possible? The only way to even get into your lands is to be led in by a scout or a Fae." I point out the obvious hole in her story. 

She purses her lips in displeasure. "We are not sure how she got into our territory. We are even less sure how she managed to go unnoticed for so long. And how she managed to get away with such important documents." 

"It sounds like you have some serious security problems princess." I say in a slightly smug tone. 

She growls at my taunting. "We will find out how she managed this and fix any security breaches. That is part of the reason why I was so late. As a  leader yourself I would think you would understand that responsibility." 

I smile smugly. "Sure, but my ship didn't have a security breach. You did. And wasn't the whole point of you demanding us meeting here instead of on my ship because you supposedly had better security? I guess you were wrong."  

She takes an aggressive step towards me. I ignore this and remain in my position leaning against the tree behind me. Without her guards, she really isn't that intimidating. Tink steps between us before anything more can get started. "Can we get back to the problem? You said she got away with the location of the door to the Fae realm." 

Tiger Lily nods, back to business. "Unfortunately yes. It is written in riddles and not the most straight forward in wording, but it does give the location of the door to the Fae realm." 

"This is disastrous." 

I shrug. "Only if she actually manages to get out of the territory." 

They both look at me. "What?" 

I roll my eyes and push off from the tree I have been leaning on. "We all know that anyone can wander into the lands but the mists make it practically impossible to get to the camp unless they're led. Somehow she got to the camp. Maybe she followed us into the lands. She broke in last night, right? But without someone to lead her out she'll be lost in the mists. People could be lost in there for ages. Chances are, she'll never make it out on her own. Just have your scouts be on the look out for her in the mists and be ready to take it back from her if they get the chance. I say we take her poor decision and turn it into our advantage." 

There's a stunned silence as they both stare blankly at me. Tiger Lily breaks the silence first. "You might be right. We shouldn't panic before we know she actually got away with the information and can use it. It would be in vain to panic prematurely." 

"Perhaps, but that information could lead to my people. It could lead to untold damage and harm to my realm and my people." Tink insist. I could be imagining it, but it almost sounds like worry is lacing her voice. 

I raise my eyebrows at Tink's sudden insistence. If I didn't know better I would think she was showing concern or desperation? That is very unlike a Fae. I put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Tink, I understand your concern. But there is not much we can do until she is either found or it is confirmed that she escaped." 

"The pirate is right," Tiger Lily agrees with me, much to my shock. I catch myself before I manage to show it on my face. 

"Would you be saying that if it was your people in danger?" Tink asks both of us seriously. 

I sigh. No, I wouldn't be as willing to just stand by if I was in her position. And I know that Tiger Lily, as cold as she can be at times, would not like standing by if she knew her people could be in danger. It is one of the hardest things I have to do. To tell my friend that she has to just stand by and wait for now. "Tink, I understand. Believe me, I do. But Tiger Lily and her people will do everything they can to try and track her down while she is still in her lands. But as long as Wendy is still in her lands, there is hope. You can't lose hope. Just remember that, okay? We'll do what we can to help protect your people." 

Tink looks at me with her unwavering gaze and solid color eyes that are normally very unnerving but I have long since gotten used to them. Eventually she nods. "Alright, I trust you. I know that you will do everything in your power to protect my people." 

I smile encouragingly at her. "Of course, it's my job after all." 

We conclude our meeting quickly and Tink leads me back to the beach. I reassure her one last time before I get back into my dingy and row back to my ship. It pains me to see my steadfast friend struggle with this. I will do what I can to help. But it's as I said, the chances of Wendy getting out of the mists on her own are very slim.