The Old King ~OUAT Panfiction (Book 3)

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            Anne lay on a small bed in the supply tent, holding a moist rag on her forehead. She had one knee poised up, the other partially hanging off the bed, ready to prod her to her feet in any given moment. When the sounds of boys returning from their hunt, came just outside. They were conversing, laughing and busying themselves with preparing lunch. The lost girl shot up, rag falling into her hand, and shadows passed through the small crack of the tent entrance. Anne perked up, pulling back the flap of the entrance and peered into the camp of bustling lost boys. Jacob, a red-haired, freckle-faced lost boy that was expected to monitor the tent, had left. Anne debated whether or not this was her chance, her chance to flee in avoidance of facing either Chester, or Pan after humiliating herself on the climbing wall.

The lost girl wouldn't waste another second. With Chester and Pan nowhere to be seen, Anne stole out of the tent and disappeared into the forest. There was haste in her step, but not enough to escape the outskirts of the camp. A small boy stepped in front of her. He had wild blonde hair and suspicious brown eyes. "Hey, what are you doing outside of the camp?" He interrogated, brows pulling into a furrow and his arms crossed over his chest. Anne guessed he had to be nine or ten. He would surely run off and tell on her, unless she thought of something to distract him.

"Uh..." She crouched down in front of the small boy and dug in her pockets, pulling out a button she found on the ground on her way to the camp, that morning. "You want to see something?" She held up the multi-colored button between her thumb and index finger, flashing a convincing smile. His eyes lit up curiously. "What's your name, kid?" She inquired.

The little boy shrugged. "I don't have one."

Anne mentally cursed herself for forgetting the little detail that the smaller boys didn't remember their name. "You want this?" She changed the subject, turning the little button in her fingers.

The boy grinned softly, before nodding. "Yes." He went to grab it, until she closed it within her palm.

"Hey, wait a minute. What do you say we make it a game?" She prodded.

The boy frowned in disgruntlement. "What kind of game?" He quirked a brow.

"Hide and seek?" Anne suggested, seemingly just as unsure about it as he was.

His eyes narrowed hard, lips pursing. There was an agonizing silence, before his features brightened. "Okay!"

A smile spread across Anne's lips and she straightened up. "What do you say, you count while I go hide – then if you find me, I'll give you this button here. Alright?"

"I want the button first," the boy protested.

Anne's brows raised high. She debated whether or not to trust that smirk on his lips, dripping with smugness. Such a bargaining trick had to come from Pan. Damn, Anne thought. He was already being trained. "Alright then, fine," Anne forced herself to comply, offering the button. The boy swiftly took it and grinned, bolting passed the girl. Anne panicked, standing up and her eyes followed him. He ran to the other boys, showing off his newly acquired button. The older ones began to look in Anne's direction and she tensed, before she turned to flee – only to come face-to-face with Chester. Judging by the expectant look in his sea blue eyes, Anne knew what had just happened. She then turned back toward the camp of boys, spotting the one that had stolen the button from her. He was snickering and pointing with the other, smaller boys. "Oh that's rich, kid," Anne protested. "That's just rich," she groused, then turned toward the attractive blond before her.

"Going somewhere?" He raised a brow.

Anne groaned, then narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest.