Neverland

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

The boys started stumbling out of their tents, groggily. “Morning, boys!” I shouted as they congregated around the fire. Kate sniffed the air, “What on earth are you cooking?” she asked wrinkling her nose.

“Breakfast.”

“I don’t know about you, but my breakfast doesn’t usually consist of burnt bits of… whatever that is.”

“I think it’s some sort of rodent,” said Socks.

I rolled my eyes, “Oh, like you could do it better.”

“Well, actually I can.”

I handed her the bucket of raw meat, “Ok then, off you go.” She took one look at it, and said, “Alright, I’m going to need some rosemary, sage, and lemongrass.” She looked up to blank stares. Ask us to rig a snare or shoot an acorn off a tree, and we’d jump at the chance, but collecting spices? That was another thing entirely. “My mum was a gardener,” one of the boys, Jethro, spoke up, “I know what they look like.” I was impressed, “Alright, well Jethro, take someone with you, and find some.”

By the time they’d come back, Kate already had a mouthwatering scent wafting through the camp. The boys jumped up into line with their newly washed bowls, and Kate ladled what she had cooked into a stew into each one. I was last in line, and she filled my bowl with the last bits of it. I frowned, “What about you?” “I’m allergic to rosemary,” she shrugged. “Well then why’d you put it in the stew?” “Because it makes it taste good,” she said it simply.

“Pan! A ship’s been sighted off the shore! It’s coming in fast.” Felix panted as he sprinted in with his patrol. “Alright, boys!” I shouted over the ruckus, “Off to the tree lines! And don’t forget your bows! That’s right, Socks, I’m looking at you.” The boys took off into the forest, their green cloaks pulled over their heads. “Kate, hop on my back,” I said, turning to her. “No.” she said, simply, “ don’t do people carrying me, I can keep up with you. “Kate, I’m taking you back to your tree house, but we’ll never make it there on time if we run, now get on my back if you want to live.” “what do you mean by ‘if we run’?” “Just do it!” I shouted. She hopped on my back. “Hold on tight,” she wrapped her arms around my neck, and I leapt into the air. “Oh my God,” she whispered, “Oh my God I’m going to plummet to my death.”

Ok. Not exactly the reaction I was expecting.

I flew as fast as I could, and dropped her off in the tree house. “Stay, here,” I told her, when she had wobbled shakily onto the cot in the middle of the room, “keep the door closed. If you hear anyone start coming up, hide in the closet, and pray that they don’t find you.” I handed her the pipes from around my neck, “If they do find you. Blow these. I’ll hear them and come for you.” She nodded shakily. It dawned on me that she hadn’t yet realized that I was one of the, so to say, ‘bad guys’.” I looked at her, almost sadly before flying away. Whatever happened, by the end of tonight, she’d never see me the same way.

Kate’s POV

As a kid, I’d always enjoyed the idea of flying, and dreamed of it like any other kid, but today, I finally got a taste of it.

Never. Again.

I followed Pan’s orders and shut the door. I lay on my cot, and tried to think about what was going on, but for some reason, I really wasn’t scared. I cocked my crossbow and laid it across my chest. While Pan seemed to think it so, I wasn’t completely defenseless.

Without the heat of a flat iron, my hair had curled back into tight, auburn curls that fell messily around my shoulders. I had to tie it back because of the humidity, but even then it just looked like I had a frizzy ball stuck to the back of my head.