We cross a stream, then pass through a little meadow of tiny yellow flowers that smell like cinnamon with each step. A bird calls from a tree on our right.
Tootles stops. “Wait.”
I look around. “What?”
He puts his hands to his mouth and makes the same call as the bird.
Movement ahead catches my eye, and I grab Tootles and point.
“You were supposed to stay in the cave.” Coy steps out from behind one of the trees, amusement and irritation mixing in his tone.
“Peter told her we should come with you.” Tootles strides up to him.
“That so, Moira?” Coy asks, sarcasm dripping from his words.
“Does it matter? We’re out here now. You may as well let us go with you.”
Slightly and Nibs walk up behind Coy, both of them shaking their heads.
I kick my chin up. “Ugh, I’m coming with you. Get over it.”
“I don’t agree with this, Coy.” Nibs frowns. “Peter wouldn’t want her out of the cave.”
Tootles steps forward. “But Peter told her?—”
Nibs puts up a hand, stopping Tootles in his tracks. “You’ve done enough, Tootles. Sit the rest of this one out.”
Even though I got Tootles into this mess, I don’t want him taking the blame. “It was my idea.”
“We’re aware,” Coy says dryly.
“In that case, glad we’re all agreed. I’m ready to go. Let’s fly.” I take his arm.
Slightly snorts a laugh.
“Oh, Moira, Moira, Moira.” Coy smirks and pats my hand. “We’ll be footing it to town. Tinker Bell isn’t exactly free with her fairy dust. Peter gets all he wants. The rest of us, not so much.”
“Oh, so itisthe fairy dust that makes her fly. And you, too, I guess. I couldn’t remember that specific part of Wendy’s story.” I let go of his arm and try to swallow the foolishness I feel.
“Yeah. Peter keeps a stash on him. We tend to use ours up as soon as we get it, eh, Nibs?”
Nibs fixes his glasses on his nose and peers off through the forest. “Pretty much, yes. Also, I’d like to reiterate that I don’t agree with this plan.” He adjusts the bow he has slung across his back, the quiver full of feathered arrows.
“Reiterate?” Slightly shakes his head. “Whatareyou on about, Nibs?”
“Peter isn’t going to appreciate us taking Moira with us.” Nibs raises his voice, and I could swear I almost see him as a pudgy, red-faced child. “She should stay in the cave.”
“No way.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not going to sit around in the cave when there’s all of Neverland to explore. That’s bullshit, Nibs.”
Coy and Slightly snicker. Tootles, the sweetheart, just looks confused.
I mean every word. If I’m already this deep in the delusion, I want to see all of it I can. But that thought also brings an echo of pain, a memory of how I lost my mom to a world she kept locked inside her head. I have to remind myself this isn’t the same. I won’t let it be. This is something I can come back from. Iwillcome back from it.
Coy scans the trees. “Come on. Let’s get moving. Maybe we can have her back in the cave before Peter comes home. Then it’ll be all good.”
Slightly points to a tree with a rough mark cut into its bark. “That way. We should go before the forest decides to change the path on us.”
“Wait. That’s a thing?” I ask, unable to keep the incredulity from my tone.
