Forever Neverland(39)

Her other best friend was Lean Wolf, an opposite to Panther in every way except for his honesty. Lean Wolf was true to his name, tall and thin as a reed. He was no good with a bow, as Panther was, but luckily for him, he was very good at hand-to-hand combat and was very sneaky. What Panther and Tiger Lily could not take care of from a distance, Lean Wolf could finish off up close.

Now, Lean Wolf knelt to join Tiger Lily, who had been sitting at the center of her Teepee, gathering arrows into her quiver. When they were eye to eye, he addressed her softly.

“Princess, the Great Peter Pan made a promise to see to the welfare of the Lost Boys. We know this. That is why he does not come.”

“And yet the sun rises. It would not rise if Peter had not returned.” Tiger Lily told him. She stood then, grasping her bow in one hand as she did. Lean Wolf rose with her and respectfully took a step back.

“My father has given us permission to hunt,” Tiger Lily told them both. “We will also find Peter Pan,” she added. “And we will leave at once.”

*****

“Tink!” Peter sat up in bed, his eyes flying open, his arms flailing out at either side.

Tinkerbell was beside him at once. “It’s okay, Peter! I’m here! Calm down; you were dreaming.”

“Tink, he has her! He has Wendy and her brothers! We have to go after him!” Peter looked around himself, his expression wild. Then he looked down and noticed the bandage around his wrist. He shoved his covers aside. There was another around his knee… And around his ribs. All he wore was a pair of black shorts and those bandages.

“What happened, Tink?” he asked softly.

“Well, Peter…” Tinkerbell fidgeted, biting her lip. “You sort of… fell.”

Peter’s brow furrowed as it began to come back to him. Everything. From his first meeting with John and then Wendy – to Wendy falling onto Hook’s ship and then Hook kicking Peter off of it.

“I fell,” Peter whispered. “I couldn’t fly, Tink.”

“He took your happy thoughts, Peter,” Tinkerbell explained.

From behind Tinkerbell, another voice said, “But you’ll get them back, Peter.”

Peter looked over Tinkerbell’s shoulder to find a very large teenage boy standing against the wall, his hands nervously shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. He looked familiar. Peter squinted and sat up a little straighter to get a better look. And then his eyes widened.

“Tootles?” he asked, blinking to make certain he was seeing things clearly.

“Yeah, it’s me, Peter. Tink found me when you got hurt.” Tootles moved away from the wall to walk towards Peter’s bed.

“Wow…” Peter whispered, “you’ve changed.”

“Said the pot to the kettle,” Tootles laughed. It was contagious because Peter laughed then too. And Tinkerbell grinned, relief flooding her pixie features.

“It’s good to hear you laugh, Peter,” she said softly.

Peter turned to her and their green gazes locked. Then Peter did something he had never done before. He raised his hand and gently placed it to Tinkerbell’s cheek. His thumb brushed her skin as he smiled a tender smile.

“I’m sorry, Tink,” he said. “You saved me. I owe you my life.”

Tinkerbell blinked furiously, her pale flesh blushing a bright pink. She pulled away from him and turned to face the other direction. Peter’s hand dropped to the covers on the bed. He looked questioningly at Tootles.

Tootles shrugged.

In a few moments, Tinkerbell seemed to compose herself and she turned back around to face him once more. Her blush was gone, but there was a twinkle in her green eyes that had not been there before.

“Well, boys, I guess I’ll go and get us something to eat. Peter, stay in bed. You’re not completely healed yet.”

Peter’s expression turned to one of frustration. “How long ‘till I can fight again?”

Tinkerbell pulled her jacket down from the hook against the wall and shrugged it on. “A few more days, maybe. I made you some tea. Drink it and rest.” She nodded toward a tea set on a nearby table and then opened the front door. “Tootles, make sure he stays put.”

“Okay, Tink,” Tootles replied dutifully. Tink left and closed the door behind her.

“Traitor,” Peter accused as he tried to sit up a little more.

Tootles shrugged again. “She’s a pixie, man. What do you want me to do? She could turn me into a tree if I don’t do what she says.” He came forward and helped Peter lean up against the wall behind his bed. He adjusted the pillows around him and then stepped back again. “Is what you said true? Did Hook really take Wendy and her brothers?”