6: Stance on Fighting

Under normal circumstances, when one ventures into the unknown, they experience the whimsical feeling that often accompanies travel. It is the fact that nothing is known that sparks a fire from within. However, if you are in Neverland, that feeling is overshadowed by the dark fear that something bad is looming. 

When I exited the tent, my green eyes scanned for any sign of the demon. I did not see him anywhere and instead turned my attention to the camp itself. It was a basic layout and each location had something prominent to distinguish it. Boys under brown hoods wandered about doing their business. 

Some spared a few glances my way, but the rest paid no attention to me. That suited me just fine. I catch sight of a sword in the distance and decide that my small dagger would not be as effective. Just as my hand grasps the handle of the weapon, a hand grips my wrist and I hissed out in pain. 

"What are you doing?" The Lost Boy asked. 

I met a set of dark eyes and pushed him away from me, "Why do you care?"

"Why must there be a girl in camp?" The boy wondered aloud to no one in particular, "Not like we need to cater to your every need, spoiled brat."

Fury fuelled my next actions as I punched that smirk from his face. That caught the attention of the other Lost Boys. My green eyes flared in anger, "Don't you ever call me a spoiled brat."

The boy just let out a challenging grin, "Why should I? You are after all just a girl."

The boys hollered around us and I pointed my blade towards him, "And you are just a pig."

I saw a spear come towards me and without straying my eyes from the Lost Boy on the ground, I caught the weapon in mid-air3. The boys let out a collective gasp and now the boy was on his feet. I tossed the sword to the side and pointed to the boy's weapon, "If you still would like to be taught a lesson from a girl, I challenge you to a duel. I'll even use your little weapon."

The boy held his weapon out towards me, "Are you sure about that, sweetheart? Or are you afraid to ruin your hair?"

He laughed and in that time I had swung my spear at him for him to barely block it in time. I stepped back and yawned, "Are you just going to continue blabbering nonsense or are we going to fight?"

"She told you off, Devin," One of the Lost Boys said. 

"Shut it, Slightly," Devin barked at the boy.

His eyes travelled back to me as the other Lost Boys surrounded us. My green eyes observed the boy and anticipated his next movement. I danced around him and elbowed the back of his head. He yelped and I laughed. Our weapons clashed and while he was taller than me, I refused to back down. I could hear the Lost Boys talk amongst themselves.

"Who is she?"

"She is on par with Devin and he isn't even the strongest boy here."

"You think she has the potential to best Pan?"

"No one can beat Pan. Anyone who's tried ends up facing punishment."

"Guys look, the girl won."

"What?!"

Indeed, while they were talking, I managed to stand over Devin. My foot was on top of his chest pinning him down. The poisoned tip lance was at his throat. My eyes flashed dangerously, "Do you accept defeat?"

"I concede," Devin let out. 

I moved my foot and the boy had his head hung in shame. 

"Don't underestimate me just because I am a girl," I warned the Lost Boy cooly, "I could be a lot worse."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an oncoming attack. I blocked with the spear and came face to face with Felix. He had a lazy grin on his face before raising his club. What I didn't expect was to be kicked in the stomach. 

I crashed into the trees and hissed in pain. I spat out blood and wiped the remnants with my hand. 

"That was dirty," I addressed. 

"All's fair in this game, love," Peter stood beside Felix, "I can't very well let you upstage me."

I got to my feet and stretched my arms out, "Looks like I'll be taking the both of you on."

I hurled the spear and both boys dove to the side as the weapon embedded itself into the wooden structure. The other boys made the circle around us bigger. I picked up the sword and watched the blade gleam before pointing towards the demon and his second, "En garde."

Felix and Peter circled me like hawks circling a mouse. Unfortunately for me, I was that mouse. I kept my eyes trained on both of them until Felix pounced. I ducked to avoid a blow to the head. I responded by swiping the sword to create distance between us. 

Peter attacked holding a weapon of his own when I used Felix as a shield. Peter stopped short of Felix's face as he could not attack his second. Once I was behind Felix, I kicked his back sending both boys crashing into the side of the camp. 

"I don't know about you," I poised myself for another attack, "But I don't like when people lie to me and kidnap me against my will."

I yawned and my reflexes kicked in. The Lost Boys released gasps when I held the shaft of a Dreamshade-tipped arrow just before it entered my chest. My green eyes find Peter who lowered the crossbow. In a fit of rage, he threw it to the side and looked at me. 

"Well how about that?" Peter smirked, "Doesn't she have fire, boys? Perhaps she is a Lost Girl after all."

He didn't have much time to laugh until I pinned him against the tree. Immediately the other boys took out their weapons and aimed them at me. I didn't have to move to know that one wrong move and I'd face death. Peter called them off and vanished. I widened my eyes and stumbled back. 

As quickly as I did, an arm snaked around my neck and I found myself in a chokehold.  The forest scent of the demon filled my nose. His lips found my ear and whispered, "There is no defeating me, love."

He tightened his hold until I started to see black specks in my vision. When he let go, my body started to fall until he caught me. He lifted one of my arms and proclaimed to the other boys, "A fitting show from the Rookie. For the girl who defeated the fiendish Finn of the Jolly Roger, she did not disappoint. What a show. I think we should celebrate. What do you think boys?"

The boys let out a warrior cry and a few of them trekked deep into the jungle. 

"They're off to get a meal for us," Peter informed her, "Some of them won't make it back."

"You're a monster for sending them off to their deaths," I seethed. 

"Neverland is not a place for the weak," Peter simply replied, "If they die out there, then they were not strong enough to call themselves a Lost Boy."

"You brought them here," I state, "I would think that you would have some level of care for them."

"To me, they are just a means to an end," Peter said coldly. 

"You truly are a monster," I shook my head. 

"It takes one to know one," Peter grabbed my face and I was staring into his green eyes, "Don't think I don't see it, Jessica Mallory. The pain. The hurt. The darkness. We all share the same look. You being here was not a mistake."

He looked at me a minute too long until Felix coughed behind him. Peter sighed, "This had better be important, Felix."

"It is Pan," Felix commented, "Another boy has been brought to the island. It requires your attention."

"Of course," Peter responded, "I shall check it out momentarily."

Felix left the camp and it was just Peter and I. Peter smirked, "Where were we?"

"There is no we," I snapped, "Just you."

"I will be out," Peter ignored my earlier remark, "Don't leave the camp."

Before I could say a witty remark back, the boy had vanished. I cursed out loud and took a seat on a tree stump. 

Later that night, everyone returned. The new boy was named Charlie and was the newest addition. He was one of the younger ones and according to rumours, wasn't the one Peter was looking for. It made me curious, why was Peter looking for a certain boy?

They began cooking dinner and I watched the beast being roasted over the open fire by two Lost Boys. Others place seafood onto skewers and grill them. It was a small community and when preparations were complete, Peter was the first to grab food. 

The boys watched nervously as he took a bite of each dish. He swallowed and looked at the Boys, "Not bad."

The boys let out relieved breaths making me curious as to what would occur should the meal be disastrous. I was too busy in my thoughts when a plate of food was shoved in front of my face. 

"Try some, love," Peter coaxed. 

"I can feed myself," I pushed his hand away. 

"Nonsense," Peter smirked, "You are the guest of honour for tonight."

Sensing I wouldn't win this fight, I opened my mouth and ate a piece of fish. I chewed slowly and Peter asked, "How is it?"

"It is good," I say humbly. 

Truth be told, it didn't taste like a five course meal, but in a jungle filled with beasts and boys who don't grow up, it would suffice. I took the rest of the food from Peter and ate in silence. 

While I ate, my eyes travelled to the boys. They were of all ages from as young as five to their late teens. Some had cuts and bruises from past battles. For others, their cheerful grins did not reach their eyes. It made my heart go out to them. As the night went on, the boys were going into tents. As I was about to head to a hammock, Peter pulled me back towards him. 

"Just where are you going, Lost Girl?"

I pointed to the hammocks, "As far from you as I can."

"I don't think so," Peter dragged me across the camp to the tent I woke up in, "Since you are a crafty little escape artist, you'll be staying in my tent until I can trust you won't slit our necks."

My eyes became saucers as I processed his words. His tent? At my horrified look, Peter laughed, "Love, my tent is not the worst place in the world."

"I would much prefer the hammocks if you don't mind."

"Oh, but I do mind," Peter's eyes filled with mischief. 

I entered the tent and raised my eyebrows at him, "No chain this time?"

"Only if you want it," Peter said.

"I'm good without."

Peter disappeared and I was left lying on the bed to my thoughts. Time passed and Peter had not yet returned. I left the tent and glanced around. The Lost Boys were fast asleep. Where could Peter be? 

Not wasting any time, I ventured deep into the jungle determined to distance myself from the Lost Boys. I wouldn't rest until I figured out a way off this island. The rustling of the bushed reminded me of the beasts that lurked in the darkness. I had yet to see any and did not want that to start now. 

I approached a clearing and found myself standing on a cliff. I let out a frustrated sigh. There was no other option but to turn back. However, there was one other one. Before I could even consider that option, a hand covered my mouth. 

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