Walt Disney College

Chapter 49~ Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily arrived in Neverland, unscathed. Well, of course she would be unscathed, but her father seemed to think that one second away from the island and she was in immediate danger.

It wasn't his fault. It was Captain Hook's.

"Some captain," Tiger Lily mumbled as of her father's men brought her stuff to the Indian Camp.

Her mother, greeted her with a hug, while the Indian Chief checked for injuries.

"For the last time Father, I'm fine."

Tiger Lily sighed as her father went through the procedure, and then put her arms down.

"All clear. How was school?" he asked.

"Normal," Tiger Lily answered, leaving a lot of information out.

"Any boys? You need to get married soon Lily my dear." Her mother smiled.

Lily and her father both glared at her mother.

"Until I die, my daughter is not touching anyone!"

Tiger Lily placed her hands on her hips. "Um, I have a few things to say about that—but Mother, I'm only fourteen! How can you be talking about marriage?"

Her mother shrugged innocently, and picked up the firewood for that evening.

"You won't age anyway, you're in Neverland."

"But with all this leaving, they probably will age! And that's what I'm worried about," the Chief said.

"Why are you so worried about me growing up? I need to make my own choices and decisions if you ever want me to be my own person!"

"Let's not have this talk now, Tiger Lily. Run off and play with the lost boys. But whatever you do, don't leave this island!"

Lily took a deep breath, and stormed off into the forest. She kicked at the ground and rocks and mumbled angrily to herself.

"Little girl, I'm always a little girl! Never to have any life of her own because—"

"Oh, hiya Princess!" Nibs waved at Lily.

"Oh, sorry for bumping into you Nibs. Where are the rest of the lost boys?" she asked.

"We're playing hide and seek!" Cubby popped out of a tree. "Darn it, I guess I lost!"

Nibs laughed and ran off to find the others, and Cubby scrambled after him.

Tiger Lily sighed and slumped against a tree. She picked up a pinecone and threw it at a bush.

"Ow!"

Tiger Lily jumped, and grabbed another pinecone. She threw it, and there it was again.

"Owww!"

Tiger Lily hid behind her tree, ready to attack whoever appeared. To lure them out, she got ready to throw another pinecone, but someone snatched it out of her hands.

"Lily, would you cut that out!" Peter snapped and threw the pinecone at her jeans.

"Oh, it's just you." Tiger Lily crossed her arms.

"I see the Chief didn't force you into your traditional tribe wear," he smirked, looking her over.

"I wouldn't have listened anyway. This is comfortable."

"Ooh, being a little rebel now are we? I thought you had the bonfire tonight."

"I do."

"Then you might want to change, unless you want the Chief to become angry," Peter warned her.

"I am his child! It is my job to make him angry!"

Slightly sprouted from the bushes. "What are we talking about?"

Tootles appeared not too far behind him, and so did the Twins, Nibs and Cubby.

"Lily isn't going to change into her dress for the bonfire. Her Dad will be furious, then I'll say I told you—"

"Oh shut up Peter, you only like seeing me in it," she said and whacked him with her braids.

Tootles tugged on the hem of Tiger Lily's shirt.

"What is it Tootles?" she asked.

"Why would you want to make the Chief mad?"

Tiger Lily scoffed. "He won't be mad. He's just angry that I'm growing up."

The lost boys gasped. That word was almost foreign to them. Peter glanced at Lily, then took a look at himself too.

"We both are," he whispered.

"No Peter, you're in Neverland, you can't grow up!" Slightly reminded him.

Peter shook his head. "If you're constantly leaving Neverland, it doesn't have that effect anymore."

The lost boys all exchanged looks with one another.

"Then stop going to college. Both of you," Cubby said.

"I—we can't do that." Tiger Lily held Tootles in her arms, sighing.

"Why?" one of the twins asked.

"Yeah, why?" the other repeated.

"Well, leaving my friends at college would almost be like just leaving you guys," Peter explained.

"They can visit! Just don't grow up!" Nibs clung on to both of then desperately, and so did Cubby.

"Well...maybe I want to grow up. It really isn't as bad as you think." Tiger Lily shrugged.

"Hey, we don't have to decide just yet, right guys?" Peter spat in his hand and stuck it out.

The rest of the lost boys did the same, and they seemed to wait for Tiger Lily.

"You know I find this extremely unsanitary...but fine."

She spat as well and they all shook hands, then Tiger Lily grimaced.

◈▣◈

Tiger Lily had changed into her traditional Indian tribe dress, even though she told Peter she wouldn't. She did it for her mother though, not her father.

"I see you changed, Tiger Lily." Her father nodded his approval.

Her mother lit the fire, and Tiger Lily watched it burn. Peter flew down beside her, giving his stupidest smirk.

"I thought you said you weren't going to wear the dress?" he asked smugly.

"I wore it only because you show up just to see me dance," she smirked back, teasing him.

"Righttt."

The drums began to play, and even though she wanted to stay moody, Tiger Lily couldn't help but sway with the rhythm.

"Oh Lily, get up and dance! You know you want to."

"If you don't dance, I don't see why I should." She stuck her tongue out at Peter, and stayed put.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Fine. Come on, let's dance."

Tiger Lily used his hand to stand herself up, then started to twirl around. Peter and the lost boys danced in a line along with her, and so did other people from the tribe.

Tiger Lily's mother shook her head at a little girl. "No dance. Get firewood."

The little girl sulked, but went off to fetch the wood anyway.

Peter flew around Lily, with his signature eagle headband.

"Eagle! Eagle!" the lost boys chanted, as Peter whooped.

Tiger Lily clapped along with the beat, and her worried about Hiro and her father melted away, along with the night.