Coy nods. “The island has a mind of its own. Okay, Slightly, you lead. Then Tootles. Nibs next. Then Moira. I’ll watch your back.” Coy positions himself behind me.
We start walking, a faint path in the undergrowth helping us navigate through the vines and bushes that dot the forest floor.
A thought strikes me as we climb a short rise. “So why does Tink have wings if she uses fairy dust to fly?”
Nibs stops so fast I bump into him. “What?”
“If Tinker Bell doesn’t need wings to fly, then why does she have wings? I don’t get it.”
“I’ve …” Nibs turns and looks at me, his eyes wide behind his glasses. “I’ve never thought about that before.”
“Why do you ask so many questions?” Coy’s breath tickles across my ear as he gives me a playful push. “Keep moving.”
The moon is thicker now but not quite a half circle. It barely shines through the clouds that seem to lay on the island like gray blankets. It feels colder without the twinkling stars overhead, but I think it’s just my imagination. My semi-clean sweatshirt and jeans are warm enough. Not to mention I’m eyeing the pathas it meanders between trees and across creeks, giving me a clear view of all the exercise I’m about to get. Great.
“Wait.” Coy’s voice drops. “Everyone down.” His hand grips my shoulder, and he pulls me to the forest floor, all of us on our haunches.
I turn to look at him. “What?”
He puts his finger to his lips and whispers “Shhh.”
Slightly pulls a knife from his boot, and Nibs nocks an arrow.
The attack comes so fast I don’t even have time to scream.
Chapter
Eleven
There were, however, many adventures which she knew to be true because she was in them herself …
“Fucking hell, Geo!” Coy shouts as he shoves me behind him.
The Lost Boy from the Nevertree steps out of the shadowy woods, several other men at his back.
“Didn’t expect to see you out here tonight. What’s going on?” His gaze moves to me and stays there. “And with the little Darling, no less.”
“Weren’t you supposed to be patrolling the Bayou Bog?” Coy stays in front of me so I have to peek around to get a look at all the Lost Boys gathered around us. At least a dozen.
“Patrolled it. Nothing there except some snakes and a few pirate bones.”
Yuck.
An uncomfortable silence falls between the men, and I can’t quite figure out why there’s animosity between the Lost Boys. They’re all on the same team, after all. Does it have to do with the shadows Geo was asking about when I visited the tree with Peter?
The standoff continues, both Coy and Geo coiled and ready to strike.
“We’re, uh …” Tootles breaks the silence. “We’re headed to town.”
Coy shoots him an irritated look.
Geo snorts. “Town, eh? I reckon we can accompany you. We’re not doing anything, are we lads?”
The men shake their heads.
“No. You have your patrol orders. Get to it.”
“No sharing then?” Geo grins, his eyes still on me. “Peter keeping it all for himself and his favorites, is he?”
