The Next Adventure (2003 Peter Pan fanfiction)

"A new era begins..."

THE NEXT ADVENTURE: Chapter 18

I was now walking about the main island towards the mermaid lagoon. Mist and fog had filled the empty spaces between the trees by now from the storm. It was terribly hard to know where I was going. I haven't heard any Indian tribes yet around and neither have I seen any. When I'd look up at the sky, it would just be terribly cloudy and gray. Often times while I walked I would question whether it was to be storming again or not. The moistness in the air stunk of rain and earth, but I was grateful. Back in London, all I'd usually smell was dirt and smoke as well as the smoke from cigars and nearly suffocate in ladies perfume. The wet ground chilled my bare feet.

But I was not cold at all. It was because my head was warmed by my coon hat. I learned that when your head is warm it makes your body warm too, and it did. That's why I had made a coon hat to begin with. But for some reason, when I was warm, my arms would itch. Beneath the braided brown vines that were wrapped around my biceps especially would itch. Right now in fact they were itching. I slid my fingers beneath my brown vines and scratched real quick when suddenly a noise came off in the distance.

I stopped in my tracks and listened. It came again sounding much like a bird call but it was different, more thick and exotic. Pulling out my bow and arrows, I followed the noise. Quietly, I allowed the noise to lead me into a meadow. I then found a tree centered in the meadow and my eyes trailed up the trunk till I saw--perched confidently on a branch, there was a somewhat large black bird with midnight purple and blue wings that had white lines going across it. Dangerous white eyes it looked like, the bird had a long and narrow beak that was orange and purple.

Atop it's head was a tall fluff of dark purple and blue--with white...feathered hair.

I hid myself behind a tree to observe the bird some more. It also seemed to have a slouched back. The bird made no noise as I waited. But then it's wide wings spread and for a moment, I thought it was going to fly away but instead it opened it's long beak revealing sharp white teeth and called. My eyes then widened at the teeth in surprise. Never was it often a bird would have sharp teeth and I can remember the lost boys had always wanted to see a bird with sharp teeth.

I then thought about it...maybe I could shoot the bird and bring it to the lost boys. That would make their day, I know that for a fact. They always got so excited about things.

Then, without thinking more about it, I slowly prepared my bow and arrow. Bringing the two up, set up, I carefully aimed. Focusing now on just the bird, I counted to three in my head. But suddenly before I could finish--from the opposite side of the meadow came another arrow flying out of the trees as if it aimed for the bird as well. I hesitated. The arrow struck the bird and it cried out.

Quickly, I released my own arrow to end the animal's suffering. Feeling like I was competing, as soon as my arrow hit the bird taking it to the ground, I dashed for it. Instantly from out of the woods came what looked like a light skinned Indian. They got to the bird in seconds before me and snatched it up running back to the trees it came from. In slight anger, I raced after them.

Entering the trees far behind them, I keep my eyes on their heels carefully watching every leap so I wouldn't trip. "Hey!! Give me that bird!!" I yelled after them. They had stole it from me and I wasn't going to let them get away. The Indian kept running, it's long braid flying behind them wildly. "Hey!!! Stop!!!" I yelled after them again. They suddenly dashed around a bend in the trees throwing me off and I leaped far into a wide hole of mud. The cold muck splattered my legs while my toes instantly jabbed into the front of the inside of the mud hole. From the sudden stop, I was starting to fall when I tried to harden my shins against a log that was in the way to stop myself, but then terribly failing and then falling over the log.

Laying on the ground now, my toes throbbing, I then was about to take the time to wallow in my pain when I remembered the Indian and quickly shot up.

I gasped and flew into a tree to observe the world below in hopes of spotting the Indian not too far away. When I did, I then flew to the tree above them. They had stopped and were looking around to probably see if they had lost me. In anger, I didn't hesitate to tumble down on them--but not wanting to fall on the ground, I had grabbed their shoulders and in prevention of trying to stop them from falling, I accidentally slammed them against the tree trunk too hard--but saving myself.

Now I looked down upon the Indian's face. Their bright purple eyes were wide and lashy. I then realized this pale Indian was a girl. Their raven colored braid had flung over my wrist when I had slammed them against the tree and it hung a foot past it. Instant guilt welled within my stomach as I looked at the girl. She was dressed like an Indian but had light skin. I then eyed the bright orange tiger lily flower tucked above her right ear. It had deep purple spots dashing out from the inside of the flower at which matched her hair and eyes.

Fear dancing across her face as I continued holding her by her arms, the midnight bird still hung from the grip of her left hand. I didn't want to take the bird at all anymore. Because I treated a lady so poorly, that was enough to let her go but not before I at least got an answer out of her as to why her skin was so light. "Are you a native?" I asked. She tilted her head.
"Pan?" She asked.
"What?" I was confused just enough to lose my grip on the girl and she escaped, obviously taking advantage of me. Instantly lifting my hand after her--about to say something, my words caught in my throat and I stopped in guilt. Watching as the little piece of enchantment disappeared through foggy trees ahead, I thought more about her face. Freckles had lightly dotted her pale face I remembered, and her lips were pink and soft. She was definitely shorter then me and couldn't be that much younger either. But what stood out was her eyes. Being purple, they reminded me much of a fairies kind of eye color. In all honesty, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise she had an unnatural eye color because this was Neverland.

I could only imagine what my eyes might've looked to the girl...boring and formal, not very different or adventurous. Her eyes certainly stunned me. She was somewhat of an adventurous soul, and she was strong and wild...I could see it. Every bit of purple in her eyes said that, and her long raven black hair that had been so tightly controlled and strained in a braid was wild as well, and probably soft.

For some reason, I began to think of Wendy and her hair and eyes...then I missed her. I wanted to frown. From behind just then, I heard some leaves move.

Turning around, I squinted through the fog struggling to see who was coming out of the trees across from me. Finally, I made out the two figures. My heart stopped, it was Hook and one of of his pirates.