Again In Neverland

Chapter 20: Risk

"We're not afraid of risking what was our success yesterday in order to explore some new field. We're adventurous. We like the challenge of unknown territory, unknown artistic field, and that's what stimulates us." - Guy Laliberte

LIL'S POV:

"Jonathan!" I scream as I run to him. The camp goes silent.

My hands are on his face, looking for a sign of life. A singular line of blood is beginning to pour from his nose. I frantically say his name as I shake his chest, "Jonathan! Jonathan!"

Peter is over in an instant, pushing the Lost Boys out of the way.

"What's happening?" I cry.

Peter turns Jonathan onto his side and lifts his shirt. It takes me a minute to understand the disgusted look on Peter's face.

There's a gaping cut in Jonathan's lower back. I can't tell how deep it is, but it looks bad, and wide. The blood around and in it has crusted over with yellow and orange goo. The wound festered under the afternoon sun.

"He must've hurt himself." Peter concludes as he gently rests Jonathan on his back.

I look at Wendi, who's on Jonathan's other side, and ask

"Did anything happen on your way here?"

Her eyes go blank and I can see her searching for a memory, "No. Nothing. We swam to shore and wandered into the forest. That was it. Jonathan didn't do anything that could have gotten himself hurt. I... I don't understand how this happened!"

Tears began spilling out of her hazel eyes and they rested on Jonathan's pale face.

"We need to help him!" I yelled at Peter.

Peter shook his head, "The boy's can try treating it, but it seems infected. We don't have that type of medicine."

This time I shook my head, "I don't care! You need to try. You need to do something. Anything!"

The Lost Boys had formed a circle around us. Most with grim looks on their faces, a few looked plain frightened. Mike was standing near Jonathan's feet and when he caught my eye, I couldn't help the tears that leaked down my cheeks.

I tightened my grip on Jonathan and lifted his head higher onto my lap. I tested my courage by sneaking a quick look at the wound on his back, and could have sworn it looked even worse.

I let out a small cry at the sight of it, and beside me Wendi covered her face with her hands.

"Peter. Please." I begged.

He looked at Jonathan for a long while, contemplating something I would never know, then made a sharp clicking noise with his mouth. Three Lost Boys emerged from the crowd and approached us.

"They're going to take him up to the hideout and try to treat him."

The Boys bent down and, carefully, placed their hands under Jonathan. They hoisted him up onto their shoulders and the sea of Lost Boys parted as they walked through. I stood up and promptly wiped my dress with my hands. I dragged the back of my sleeve across my nose and tried to wipe my eyes dry.

Peter walked in front of me, "You should call for Alina. She might know something else to do."

"What about Tink?" I wondered, "Wouldn't she also know?"

Peter grinned and scrunched his nose, a signature move.

"Tink's not the helpful type."

"Oh. Right." I remembered.