The Hideout Tree

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Lost Boy Rule: Lost Boys stick together. We never go out on our own, but always with at least one friend. That way, if attacked two boys are better than one. This rule is also a rule that Hook likes to capatilaze on. He prefers to capture multiple boys at once but is not often successful because lost boys are ferocious and amazingly skilled fighters. Thanks Peter. 

The Hideout Tree was just like any other beautiful, and perfect climbing tree. It was, as Peter explained, a moving tree that appeared in different places in Neverland each morning. The lost boys had to be home by the time the Crocodile Clock struck 10 in the evening or they risked being left behind when the Hideout Tree moved. 

The sprawling oak seemed to welcome them with generous open arms. Peter pressed a knot and a hidden entry exposed itself. 

"Ladies first" Pan said with a flourishing bow. He had been in a much better mood since their adventure under the sea. He was so changeable. 

Lizzy crept forward to the opening and realized it was a slide. She felt a hard push from behind and gave a squeak of protest as she whizzed down face first into the bowels of the Hideout. She landed with a fairly graceful summersault. Not far behind Jack followed laughing uproariously. Peter took up the rear.  

Lizzy got up and looked around. This was a place she had always dreamed about as a kid reading stories of Neverland. It lived up to expectation. The tree was bigger on the inside with countless room-sized nooks and crannies. There were windows and balconies higher up and the entire space was a blaze with light, but not from candles or the sun. The lights weren't electric as far as Lizzy could tell, they simply seemed to be glassy rocks that gave off light. 

She wandered around the main level and noticed long dining table but, no kitchen to speak of. She could see each boy had his own space or 'room' as they would refer to it, though only some of them had four walls and a roof. 

Peter stood proudly as she examined the place, her face beaming with delight.  

"How many lost boys are there at present?" she asked

"Twelve as of yesterday." Peter joked. 

Lizzy raised an eyebrow and Peter explained, "Well, Neverland is a pretty dangerous place. Boys go missing sometimes." Lizzy raised her other eyebrow and Peter quickly added, "but we go rescue them if its not too late, promise!" 

Jack chuckled and Peter gave him a hard glare. Then he continued, "You'll meet them soon. You are probably the most grown up person to have entered the hideout in over a hundred years. Consider yourself a honored adult."

Lizzy only nodded then asked, "Where am I to sleep?"

"That is the very best part!" shouted Peter in delight, "The Hideout Tree always provides exactly for its inhabitants. I told it you were coming and it really came through in a big way! You're gonna love it!" 

Peter guided Lizzy up a spiral stair that opened to a balcony, there was a ladder on the balcony which they climbed that led to a platform and on that platform was her room. There was a vibrant hammock strung between two vertical branches for her to sleep on. There was a portion that was enclosed for her to change, it even had a bathroom. The ceiling was retractable, so she could have it up when it stormed and have it open to sleep under the stars. It was just what she would have hoped for. 

The sun was setting and all three began to hear a hubbub below so they all descended. There at the dining room were seven of the twelve Lost boys talking, playing, eating and roughhousing. Jack and Peter came down first and were greeted with raucous accord. When Lizzy descended there fell a reverent hush. 

"Men, this is the Lady I told you about, Princess Elizabeth of the Lily." Peter announced. Lizzy waved again and some of the less shy boys waved back and grinned. " She will be staying with us and will need your help and loyalty as we embark on the most dangerous adventure yet: Operation Help Put the Princess back on her throne."

They gave a rallying cheer and immediately began talking at once. Each boy introduced himself. There was present: Curly, Strider, Monk, Ben, Indi, Leaf and Tommy. Ben and Tommy were the little boys, maybe eight or nine. Indi and Strider were the ones who waved back. Indi was sixteen and Strider fifteen. Curly, Monk, and Leaf were in their early teens maybe thirteen, fourteen at most and were very shy of strangers at the moment.

She had yet to meet Doc, Liam, Hunt, Lucky and Ryan and was assured that she would probably meet them fairly soon. Doc and Liam were brothers and ran the infirmary. Doc and Liam were trained by the healers of the Wind People themselves. There are no better healers in all the realms. On inconsistent and unpredictable days, the brothers made their way to the Camp of the Wind People to continue to master the healing craft. 

Hunt, Lucky, and Ryan were on a mission for Peter and he didn't expect them back until the very last minute. 

Dong.....Dong...Dong.... Lizzy heard a clock chime the hour, it was already six in the evening. 

"We can hear the Crocodile clock good today." piped up Tommy. 

"Yeah, Sometimes we can't hear it if the Hideout moves to the other side of Neverland." added Ben. 

Lizzy had already adopted those little boys. They were so like the children she taught and she knew how to communicate with them. She would have her work cut out for her with the three shy ones but the older two she already had good rapport with as well. 

"You hungry?" a voice asked in her ear. It was Monk he shyly offered her a plate. 

Lizzy smiled and asked, "What's for dinner?" 

Monk grinned a real grin as he replied, "Anything you want." 

Peter then grabbed the plate out of her hands, closed his eyes and seemed to be thinking hard about something. A moment later Lizzy's favorite meal at that time, spiced roasted vegetables with jalapeño cheddar sausage appeared on the plate. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. The little boy giggled with delight and thought their own dinners into existence. One had macaroni and cheese, the other pepperoni pizza. All the boys began to eat their dinners with gusto. 

"The best part," Strider said between mouthfuls, "Is the dishes clean themselves when we're done and we can eat as much as we want!" 

A veritable boys paradise. They ate with their fingers and had no manners to speak of but Lizzy didn't mind. She lifted the much loved morsels into her mouth and smiled. 




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