Runners of Neverland

The Glade

The sun dappled through the trees in the Glade, as Minho had called it. The air buzzed with activity. Some boys were working on activities such as building and farming, and others were engrossed in games.

The glade resembled a small makeshift village. It was dotted with wonky buildings that looked sturdy and like they'd topple over any second at the same time. The wind rustled through the tall trees on the far end of the glade, filling the air with a satisfying crackling sound. Y/n shuffled after Newt and Minho into the glade. The sun was at its zenith and was casting a glow that was the slightest bit too hot. As she surveyed her surroundings, she suddenly remembered how she was supposedly the first and only female glader in Neverland. Y/n wondered how people were going to take that news. 

"We're going to introduce ya to Alby," Newt said, pulling me from my thoughts.

"He's the leader, right?" Y/n inquired, remembering a conversation from earlier. 

"Yep."

She began to examine the people around her, they were all boys, but they seemed to range from twelve to around eighteen. Some people had stopped their work and were staring with expressions of absolute confusion. 

Y/n felt strange under the examination of the gladers, no matter how far away they were at the moment. She wasn't used to examination. Back at Serenity House, she tried her best not to be noticed, and it was easy, as long as you didn't do anything too memorable. After all, being noticed back at the orphanage was always, without exception, a bad thing. You never wanted a matron to notice you, even for a positive thing. They'd call you a suck-up if you ever did anything too well, and a slacker if you... well, slacked. That didn't stop her and Emily from playing pranks on the matrons. 

Y/n understood why people stared now. If a boy were to join the orphans back at Serenity House, she'd be sure they'd stare too. It didn't make it any less uncomfortable though. Wouldn't there be other female beings in Neverland, like the mermaids? She didn't think she was worth staring at, anyway.

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They eventually arrived at what seemed to be the social centre, though it didn't seem to be used. There was a bonfire pit, and some seating areas. Several boys were perched on benches around the area, and in the middle, a dark-skinned boy stood. Y/n sensed an air of authority about him. This must be Alby, Y/n thought. His expression shifted into one of mild surprise as Newt, Minho, and I approached, but his eyes stayed intense and evaluating.

"Alby," Minho greeted, "We got the Greenie."

"She's a girl," said Alby, who seemed as if he was suppressing surprise.

"Um, yes I am," Y/n said, feeling as if she needed to say something, "I'm Y/n, by the way. Pleasure."

"Well I'll be damned," said Alby, "Never thought I'd see the day." 

Minho slid passed the greenie map to Alby, who pocketed it.

"A girl glader? Fascinating..." Alby mused, his brown eyes flicking back and forth between Y/n, Newt, and Minho. "What's her name?" He asked Minho and Newt.

"It's Y/n," she muttered, slightly annoyed Alby hadn't asked her directly. It's not as if she couldn't understand.

Alby turned to her with a steady gaze, his expression unreadable. "Welcome to the glade, Y/n."

"Thank you," she gave Alby an awkward half-smile, attempting to be polite. "Nice to meet you."

At this, he returned the half smile. "Likewise, Y/n. Now I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but they'll have to wait. We need to get you settled in. Newt, show her around. Minho, go tell Jack and Hank to prepare a sleeping space for Y/n, and you should probably tell the builders to begin working on her own room, cos she's a girl. When you're done with that, you can get back to your duties. Keepers, back to your stations."