"I'm youth, I'm joy, I'm a little bird"

littlebirdpeter:

      He was about to order a rowboat lowered again to investigate, but the words caught in his throat. The same dread that always followed hearing that sound gripped his chest, and already small pupils shrank further. He was silent, gaze flicking about in an attempt to spot the source, but failing to find it.

      Try to block it out, he told himself, try to focus… “Well, there’s hardly any point in my collecting an empty bag,” the pirate observed, mustache twitching once. “You’re closer and in the air, is there any sign of where she went?”

Peter flew about the tree, but didn’t see much of anything.  “It’s kinda hard to make anything out with all the crocodile prints in the mud.” He said, floating back to the ship with the empty bag.  At closer inspection it could be noted it looked like it hadn’t so much been torn as chewed.

This whole time the ticking noise had been getting closer and closer till eventually even Peter finally noticed it.  He poked his head over the side of the ship and raised an eyebrow at what was below.  A small sleeping mouse on the back of the infamous crocodile.  “Heh, I Found her.”

littlebirdpeter:

      As with the previous trip, Hook mostly ignored the flighty youth until they had reached the destination his hints had implied, or rather close to to mouth of the river, as he did not want his ship to run aground from shallower waters.

      Noticing Pan had decided to land, blue eyes shortly followed his gaze and rested on a sack similiar to the previous one. Only it appeared emptier. Pupils narrowed and a growl entered his throat as he snarled, “What did you do with the other, y’ impudent brat?!”

“Hey, that one was right there when I left!” Peter said, sounding rather confused.  He flew over to where the bag was hanging from a tree and picked at it a little. “It’s got a hole in the bottom! Something must have torn it!” He called back.

It was about this time a certain familiar ticking noise could be heard rather quietly at first, but slowly getting louder as it got closer.  After all, this was Crocodile creek.

smalladventurer :

      “You will help me most if I am not trying to ensure yer safety,” the pirate rumbled, tone lower than usual. Hook would not have argued further even if the mouse had tried; he had already made a decision and would not be changing it.

      Glancing down with a tilt of his head, he noted that his plan to sooth and then escape the grabby hands of the tiny mouse seemed to be working. Once Walt seemed soundly snoozing, the man slowly set him down on his mattress, and lightly covered him with two layers of sheets. Or rather, he folded a sheet twice before laying it over the small creature.

       Hook quietly made his way to the cabin’s door, and out of it soon afterward, before taking the wheel from Starkey to navigate the rest of the way to Cannibal Cove, followed by the mouth of Crocodile Creek flowing into it.

Peter had taken to carving silly drawings up on the highest points of the masts while waiting for Hook to re-emerge, having given up trying to pull pranks on the crew.  Moody group these ones were, honestly no wonder Hook was always such a grump...maybe there should be kid pirates someday?  That might be fun!

As the sailed into Crocodile Creek, Peter finally lighted back down to the deck after noticing something rather odd.  The burlap sack that should be holding the next ‘key’ was oddly looking a little.....flat. “Huh, wouldja look at that?” he said with a tilt of his head.

The little critter in the bag shivered as Hook picked up the bag and gave off a small terrified squeak.  Once opened it would reveal not just what looked like half a key split down the long way, but also a very familiar tiny mouse with sapphire blue eyes, who’s first response to seeing the pirate was to droop his tiny ears.  “I-I’m s-sorry Unca’ Hook” Walt said with a sniffle and big teary eyes. “I-I didn’t know it was a secret..I-I don’t wanna play treasure hunt anymore. P-Peter doesn’t play fair!”

   Stunned momentarily by what was responsible for the bag’s movements, the pirate was frozen briefly, conflicted between displaying his temper and calming the mouse without showing too much gentleness (or else the flying boy may have thought he had grown soft). The later won, so the small Toon was shushed gently as the pirate’s hook shifted to metallic fingers and the mammal was carefully lifted from the bag. Unfastening the upper portion of his crimson coat, he tucked the little one into it so Hook could use both of his hands to climb back down… and perhaps so he could curl against his chest without it appearing as obvious that the Captain was allowing such. He then slipped the half of a key into one of his justacorps’ pockets.

      When the man’s gaze rested on Pan, his pupils had shrunk, and his mustache twitched as he somewhat contained his  r a g e  to avoid startling the tiny creature further. That did not keep contempt from his voice, however, “You said nothing of any except Mickey being involved, y’ brat. Did you include Elena too? And if so. Where. Is. She.”

“Did you like the first key?” Peter asked as he curiously watched Hook climb back out. It was so funny seeing him all riled up! “You didn’t ask.” Peter said with a shrug, still comfortably perched on a nearby ledge. “But I can give you the next clue so you can find her!”

He leaned over the edge. “For the next key, you must tread carefully, and head to the farthest south.  It’s just out of reach, nearish the beach, just watch out for a big hungry mouth!” He said with a little laugh.

      Considering Hook had ignored him most of the trip, he was not all that surprised when Pan ignored his question. The pirate only grumbled, “I’m assuming yes, because not doing so wouldn’t be as annoying.” And when had the boy ever missed an opportunity to aggravate him?

      Gathering some of the rope in the dingy once it was close enough to step from rowboat to gray stones, Hook was shortly crossing the various rocks and crevices. He only paused when he could see the left cavern that resembled an eye socket above him. The Captain then set down most of the rope, all except a short section connected to a grapnel, which he then began to spin, not unlike how one would a lasso. It was then hurled, and after hearing a clink, James tugged on it to see if it had caught hold.

      It had not, and he dodged to avoid letting it land on his head on the way back down. Cue irritable mumbling as he tried again… And again. Three seemed to be a charm in this instance, as this time it snagged, and then the pirate began to climb. He is still gruffly grumbling to himself about this entire ordeal on the way up.

Peter just grinned as Hook talked. “You call it annoying, I call it fun!” He said as he flew just out of reach while Hook crossed the rocks, “And it’s so very fun to bother you, you know?” 

He couldn’t help but laugh as the first try with the grapnel fell and nearly hit Hook’s head, but he frowned after the second try and was about to go help make it stick when it finally stayed put on the third.  So he figured he’d perch on a nearby overhang to watch the scenario unfold.  Was it possible the little bag Hook was heading for, was....squirming?

      Sails were lowered and soon gathered wind as Hook reached the helm. Eyes narrowed at the floating child once again when he spoke. “My intelligence is far higher than you often cause it to appear to be in front of others,” the reply is instant and sharp as his hand and hook spun the Jolly Roger’s wheel. She swerved, already having begun to move due to her sails, and continued to gather speed. Thus the ship was off and on her way to the skull-shaped rocks jutting up from the Neversea.

      James said nothing to the boy, even after a time had passed and the anchor was lowered near their intended destination. A rowboat was then prepared, and Hook ensured there was rope and grapnels loaded into it as well, as not everyone can fly like a bird to reach upper heights, he would be climbing. Smee joined him without invitation before the boat was lowered, and the smaller man then began to row them the short distance to the mouth of the skeletal resembling rock face.

      “Are you going to oversee all of my progress throughout this.. adventure you’ve arranged?” the man exhaled along the way, presumably directed at the boy, even if he did not look at him as he spoke.

Peter nearly fell off the railing he’d perched on when the ship swerved. But spent his time kicking his legs trying to trip Smee as they sailed towards Skull rock and chattering to Hook about how brilliant this treasure hunt would be, and how he was so clever to have come up with it.

As they got closer Peter decided to fly instead of sit in the little rowboat, flying inside the rock formation for a moment and then back out, obviously having checked on the key.  And there it was, right in the left eye, a cloth bag with a note dangling from an overhanging rock inside.  One that seemed to be wiggling a little.

     The pirate Captain took note of each hint, but did not attempt to hide his surprise that the boy had actually been able to create a poetic riddle. “I never would have thought you capable of forming some resemblance of poetry,” grunted the man before he proceeding down the stairs to the main deck, avoiding the boy’s presence a few minutes as he Hook entered his quarters to retrieve a map of the primary Neverland island, and shut the door behind him so he could examine it in peace. Recalling and sorting the key descriptions of his riddle, it did not take him long to pin point the most obvious conclusion.

      The map was then rolled and remained in his hand as he departed from his cabin again, and met the gaze of a somewhat confused crew (normally they would have been ordered to shoot at Peter or such by now). “Prepare to set sail for Skull Rock.” Although still confused, they complied to the order, and Hook made his way to the ship’s wheel. He is still not amused with Peter though and has not chosen to say anything to him.

“Well of course, only the best clues and riddles rhyme!” Peter said with a grin.  He followed Hook till the door was shut in his face and just leaned against the wall till the pirate came back out.  Obviously he was having too much fun with it, even more so that the crew looked so confused at his presence.

Peter grinned hearing the Captain had figured out the first clue, and perched himself on a nearby railing.  “This’ll be a great treasure hunt!  Hope that wasn’t too hard for a first clue?”

      The mention of ‘friend’ more than once caused blue eyes to widen slightly, trying to guess who would have told him such a notion, or was it really so obvious? Had he really begun to show softness more than he realized toward the select few he cared for? Pupils shrinking once against, Hook huffed irritably, “No words can describe my loathing of you, Pan.”

      After a short time of silent glaring, he eventually exhaled, “…. Well, what is your first clue? Or do you expect me to beg, which I won’t. You can simply keep him.”

Peter just grinned, happy that Hook had decided to play along after all.  “To first find the key, it’s not in the sea, but to the North you must go.  It’s in the left eye, and up rather high, and not at all very low.” He said very proudly, as if he’d spent a lot of time learning some great speech.

     The pirate scowled at the response, but listened rather than interrupting as further description was given. Glare fading briefly as he curtly realized who fit these details. “You didn’t…” What was he saying, of course he would if it was considered an interesting game. “Blast it boy, he is important to the world and does not need to get himself harmed. You’ve no idea how accident-prone he is.” The man’s only hand is now resting on his face with his complaining.

“Oh don’t be such a worrywort, the treasure is plenty secure, nobody’s gonna find him by accident.” Peter said, as if that was the only worry.  “A little bird told me you’d found a friend, and aren’t friends the best treasure?” He said, floating above Hook.  “So I thought, why not have a treasure hunt with the best treasure at the end?”

      Hook grunted at the first remark, arms folding over his chest and glare never fading. He then growled, “I am interested in nothing you–” There was a pause, head tilting and eyes narrowing in vague confusion. “‘Squeaky’? No inanimate treasure squeaks, what are you implying this treasure is suppose to be?”

Peter grinned.  “Well if I told you everything it wouldn’t be a very good scavenger hunt would it?  But I can tell you it’s going to be worth more than most jewels to you, and is pretty fuzzy! I do have the first clue if you want to find it...course I can tell the treasure you don’t want to find him...” He said, absentmindedly picking the dirt from under his nails with the tip of his dagger. “So are you in?”

      The volume of his growl increased at the insult, and the mixture of sharp responses he could make blended together enough that he could not select only one to express. Instead, the man held his ground, before taking a sharp breathe and shoving his left arm in attempt to get the youth out of his face.

Peter laughed a bit as he was pushed back, tumbling freely in the air.  “Aww, there’s the old captain I know.” He said, finally righting himself to give an excited grin.  “Actually, I’ve heard some rumors of a very special treasure somewhere on the island that I think you’d be interested in. A rather squeaky one at that.”

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      Rough growl surfacing, his hostile glare remained on the youth. Rather than giving a verbal answer first, he lunged, iron claw lashing at him. “Not hardly.” Hook’s snarl was unfading; once again, this boy had managed to spark his temper within moments and little effort.

Peter swiftly pulled out his small dagger and took floating step backward to land as he blocked the hook. “You’re getting slow Captain!  Got all rusty without me around.” He said as he pushed back.

I’ll get you for this, Pan, if it’s the last thing I do!

Peter slipped from his perch, just narrowly missing the chair. He couldn’t help but laugh seeing the chair fly past!   “Is that the best you got you old codfish?” He said as he hovered in front of the pirate.