The Neverland Girl

by Dash Hoffman

  “You are in the Neverland. Use your imagination.” The voice whispered in her mind.

  Emma frowned. “Use my… imagination. Hm.” She thought hard for a moment and closed her eyes tight, doing her best to imagine a way out for the Lost Boys.

  When she opened her eyes again, she saw that a big bubble had formed all around her, and that it had floated out a short way into the shallows off the beach. She gasped excitedly, jumping up and down with joy. As she did so, the bubble popped, and she found herself knee deep in sea water. A heavy sigh streamed from her.

  “Try again.”

  Emma drew in a long breath and held it, working her mind as best she could. “I am not going to fail them. I’m not. I am determined to save those boys. I can do better, and I will do better. Right now!”

  Chapter Five

  Quest for the

  Neverland Compass

  Emma imagined as hard as she could, and as she did so, a thick mist began to swirl around her, enveloping her and everything close to her. The thicker it grew, the quieter things within the reach of the mist became, and even the dancing waves at her knees grew still.

  An emerald green turtle the size of a small car swam slowly up to her and stopped beside her.

  She blinked in surprise and tilted her head at him. “I imagined the mist… and you… and now, there you are! You’re so beautiful! May I ride you, Sir?” She asked politely, and the turtle nodded slowly and turned so that she could climb up onto his back.

  Continuing to work her imagination as much as she could, she sat on the turtle and he swam to the side of the ship, all the while surrounded by the sea mist that hid them, and every sound they made. They stopped just underneath the big rope net that held the Lost Boys and the Indian over the water.

  The boys quieted their hollering and fist waving to stare down at her and the turtle. She motioned for them to keep silent and they did.

  Thinking hard, and screwing her face up tight as she did so, she imagined a rope ladder extended from the net above. Not a moment later, one dropped down through the mist and hung before her, reaching from the net to the turtle.

  Emma further imagined a sharp knife in a sheath on her leg, and that too appeared. Elation filled her completely as she realized that she was creating her own parts of the Neverland, and that in doing so, she was going to be able to save the boys.

  She climbed carefully up the rope ladder and when she reached the bottom of the net, she drew the sharp knife from its sheath on her leg and warned the boys to stay clear of it as she began to cut away at the thick ropes that held them.

  After finally managing to get the knife through a few of the ropes, the bottom of the net began to give way somewhat. She was determined not to fail. With more hard work and diligent cutting, Emma finally made the hole big enough for the boys, but just as they were about to come through it, the weight of all of them on the broken net split more of the ropes apart, and the hole in the bottom tore wide open.

  All of the boys and Emma tumbled down to the back of the big green sea turtle, and she rolled off of it into the sea.

  Cool water surged around her as she held her breath and twisted in circles, trying to find which way was up. Bubbles swirled, and somehow light and dark seemed to mix together. Emma’s hands and feet flailed through the water and her fingers grasped here and there, searching for anything she could hold fast to, but there was nothing. Fear clutched at her heart, but she gritted her teeth and pushed it back. She could not fail.

  She knew she should try to relax, and then she might float to the surface. Letting her body go still, it began to rise and after a few tense moments, she found herself bobbing in the waves. She reached for the turtle, gasping for air and sputtering saltwater as she dragged herself up onto it.

  Two of the boys grabbed her and helped to haul her onto the back of the turtle. Once she was sitting on its shell, she caught her breath and gave the animal a pat. “Let’s go!” She urged it quietly, and the great turtle swam far from the ship, around the rocks to the next cove where it stopped at a beach and let them all off.

  Emma thanked the sea turtle and watched incredulously as it turned and vanished into the waves, swimming for the depths. She had created a new creature in the Neverland, and the magic of it exhilarated her.

  “Well that was a jolly good save!” One of the boys stated happily, planting his hands on his hips.

  Emma turned and took a good look at all of them. There were ten boys standing around her. Nine of them looked like Lost Boys, and the tenth was clearly an Indian. He wore deerskin pants, moccasins, and a beaded shirt. In his hair there were big feathers tied to his long black braids, and on his face he wore colorful paint.

  “I am Turtle Dove.” He told her, giving her a nod. “Thank you for rescuing us. The boys and I were out on a hunting party when that villainous Captain Hook and his band of pirates captured us. We are grateful to be free.”

  Emma smiled at him and nodded. “Of course! I’m really happy to help you all!”

  The smallest of the boys, who looked to be about seven, had a head of soft, straight, blond hair that framed his big brown eyes. He looked at her curiously. “Are you a mother?” He asked with more than a hint of hope.

  Emma laughed and shook her head. “No, I’m not a mother. I’m a friend! I’m Emma.”

  “Hello, Emma.” The boy replied with a sweet smile. “I’m Shortly.”

  The boy next to him was the biggest of them all; a head and a half taller than Shortly. He seemed to be all muscle; strong and confident. He had short sandy brown hair that curled loosely around his head, and he too had brown eyes. He appeared to be ten or eleven.

  “I’m Firefly.” He announced happily. “And these are the Lost Boys. That’s Pip.” He said, indicating the boy on his other side. Pip’s skin was dark, and small black curls of hair crowned his head. His eyes were black, and his smile was wide and bright. He was only a few inches shorter than Firefly, and about the same age.

  Firefly continued his introductions. “That’s Chance,” he began, but Chance frowned at him slightly.

  “I can meet her on my own.” He lifted his chin with some defiance and looked at Emma. “I’m Chance.” He stated, extending his hand to her. She shook it and he gave her a nod. He had dark brown hair and green eyes. Though he was smaller than Firefly, it was clear that he was older; maybe eleven or twelve.

  “I’m Patches.” Said a boy only slightly bigger than Shortly. Patches was a round boy with a round face, who had a tuft of red hair all over his head, and big blue eyes. He looked to be about eight. His clothes were covered in patchwork. Emma smiled at him and waved. It was easy to see where he got his name.

  The boy next to him, of the same age, had dark bronzed skin and black hair. “I’m Pockets.” He said shyly, looking at Emma through thickly lined eyelashes, with eyes as black as his hair. He had pockets all over his clothes, from the vest he wore, to his shirt, and especially his pants. It seemed to Emma that all of his pockets were full of one thing or another, and in some pockets, several things.

  Emma turned her head to look at the last three boys.

  The smallest spoke first, with a wry smile. “I’m Bandit.” Soft blond curls hung low over his big brown eyes, and the curls continued to his shoulders. He seemed to be about seven years old.

  “That’s Tumbles.” One of the two last boys spoke up, pointing at his mate beside him. Tumbles, who might be nine years old, had dark skin and long, black dreadlocks that were braided to the middle of his back. He was the thinnest of the boys, though wiry and strong. He gave Emma and easygoing, friendly smile.

  “That’s Scout.” Tumbles introduced the boy who had introduced him. They seemed to be the same age, though Scout looked a few months older. His long, straight hair hung at an angle over half his face, and from beneath the partial veil of it, Emma could see that he had clear, sky blue eyes.

  “Well, Turtle Dove, Firefly, Shortly, Chance, Pip, Scout, Tumbles, Bandit, Pockets, and Patche
s, it’s very nice to meet you all.” She grinned at them. “I’ve so been looking forward to it!”

  “Thank you for saving us!” Pip gave her a grateful smile.

  “Yes!” Added Firefly and the others, in total agreement.

  “You were brilliant!” Patches declared happily.

  “Quite clever!” Chance added.

  “You saved all our lives. Hook was going to do us all in! Or try to!” Pockets sighed with relief.

  Shortly just smiled at her and his cheeks turned pink. “Are you lost?” Bandit asked, considering her thoughtfully.

  Emma shook her head. “No. I’m not lost. I came on purpose, just to visit and to meet you.”

  “How did you get to Neverland?” Scout asked curiously, looking her over. “Did Peter bring you? Is he back?”

  Emma brightened. “Oh! No, I haven’t met Peter yet. It was a friend of mine who helped me get here, and she gave me the Neverland Compass to find my way. You see, it isn’t the real Neverland Compass, but it had some Neversand and pixie dust in it, and we knew it would do in a pinch. This is it.”

  She reached her hand to her neck for the string to show the compass to the boys, but her fingers found nothing there.

  Looking down aghast in panic, she groped her neck for a moment just to be sure that it was gone, and she found that it was. She searched about them anxiously, her eyes moving quickly over the ground around her, and the boys all helped to look.

  “Oh no! It’s gone!” Her head shot up and she looked back out at the sea. “It must have come off when I landed in the water by the ship! How will I ever get home?”

  “You say you had a compass like the Neverland Compass? With Neversand and pixie dust in it?” Turtle Dove asked.

  Emma nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “I did, but it’s gone now. I don’t know how I will ever get back to my home!”

  Turtle Dove lifted his chin and crossed his arms firmly over his chest. “We will go on a quest!” He declared.

  “A quest!” Firefly perked up.

  “Oh yes!” Pip added. “Capital idea!”

  Chance frowned and leveled his gaze at them seriously. “What kind of quest?”

  Turtle Dove smiled in anticipation and excitement. “The quest of the Neverland Compass! The real one has been hidden away in Neverland for many moons, but I know where it is, and I will lead all of you there to get it! It will be a reward to our friend Emma for saving us. I will present her with the compass, and then we shall feast in celebration!”

  Patches brightened. “A feast? I’m ready for that part right now!” He rubbed his hand over his round belly.

  Pockets glanced about and spoke quietly. “I’d like to go on this quest!”

  “Me too! Me too! I want to go!” Shortly insisted excitedly, and Bandit agreed adamantly.

  Tumbles turned to Scout. “I’m in if you are!”

  Scout nodded. “Then you’re in!”

  “Fantastic! Thanks, Scout!”

  Turtle Dove faced Emma and lifted his chin. “Well, friend? What say you to the quest?”

  Emma nodded emphatically. “I say we do it!”

  Firefly punched his solid fist into the air excitedly. “We go! Lead on, Turtle Dove!”

  “We will go, but we need to stop at one of the weapons stashes along the way. The pirates took all our weapons!” Chance scowled.

  “Not all of them!” Bandit winked and giggled, slipping three knives, two slingshots, a short length of rope, and a bow with a quiver of arrows from the folds of his clothes.

  “My bow and arrows!” Turtle Dove came forward, taking them.

  “Hey, that’s my slingshot!” Patches held his hand out for it.

  The remainder of the weapons were distributed to their owners, and Emma marveled at the small boy.

  “How did you ever hide all of that in your clothes?”

  He only shrugged. “I’ve got good hiding places, and no one ever catches me!”

  Turtle Dove turned and disappeared along a path that led them into the forest and away from the beach. Firefly was hot on his heels, with Pip right behind them. Patches and Pockets went next, and Shortly tramped along with Bandit in their wake. Emma followed, while Scout, Tumbles, and Chance brought up the tail of the party.

  Shortly looked over his shoulder at her with a serious expression. “We go Indian style, in single file, so we can hide our numbers.”

  “That’s clever!” Emma felt as if she might be on some wild safari through the far flung jungles of Africa, or the exotic recesses of Peru. Everything around them was so strange and breathtaking that it sent excitement coursing through her whole body; so much so that she nearly trembled as they marched on through the thick forest growth.

  She wondered for a moment if they might get lost in all the layers of it, but the boys seemed to know the area around them.

  Emma was fascinated by the forest. Trees and flowers, bushes and vines, all grew in abundance about them, and though they could see a short way through the trees, it was only a short way, for no matter where they stood or hiked, nothing beyond fifteen or twenty feet was visible due to the thick growth, even in the bright morning sunlight that shone down on them.

  Neverbirds flew here and there and nestled in trees, unfamiliar sounds echoed in the wood on every side, small animals scurried now and then to get out of the path of the troop, and all the while Emma took in every single thing about it, eager to see and experience it.

  The boys made a quick stop at a tall stand of trees. Tumbles vaulted up the side of the tree with the dexterity of squirrel, zipping from branch to branch, swinging here to there, and even leaping once from a precarious place quite far from the ground.

  “Oh no! Be careful!” Emma called up to him when a few twigs sailed down around the group from the branch Tumbles had been on.

  Scout shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, he’s fine. He’s the best of us all at getting around anything. You should see him climb the mountain!”

  “Look out below!” Tumbles voice sounded from some unseen lofty place.

  The boys all scrambled to get out of the way, dragging Emma with them. From out of the branches and leaves overhead, a large net fell with a crash and a thump to the ground.

  In an instant, the Lost Boys were on top of it, pulling it open, and drawing out one weapon after another; a sword here, an arrow there, more slingshots, and even a few things that Emma didn’t recognize at all.

  Tumbles slipped easily from the lowest branch of the tree he had climbed, and landed as quietly and softly as a bird on the grass beside the group.

  Turtle Dove whistled, and everyone fell right back into line, marching on as if they’d never stopped.

  After a while, when the sun was high in the sky, they came to a river shrouded in bushes and trees. Turtle Dove turned to face them all.

  “This is the Mysterious River. We will take the river to the sea. There are seven other smaller islands around the big island of Neverland. We call those the Matariki islands.” He explained.

  Emma perked up. “I saw those! I saw them from the sky when I came to the Neverland.”

  Turtle Dove nodded. “I have never seen them from the sky, but I have sailed to all of them and I have explored all of them. Many, many moons ago, the Neverland Compass was hidden on one of them, to keep it safe, especially from the degenerate Captain Hook!”

  “Boo!” Pockets grumbled.

  “Down with Hook!” Pip agreed adamantly.

  “Indeed!” added Chance with a dark look.

  “How will we find it? Do you know where it is?” Emma asked, focused hard on the young Indian brave before her.

  “I have a canoe hidden here. We can take it and sail out to the island, for I do know where it is. I found it on one of my excursions to the Matariki islands, and I have never told anyone about it.” He looked evenly at Emma.

  “You have saved our lives, so I believe that you have earned it. If the legends about it are true, it will get you home.” He
gave another brief nod of his head, and she smiled and folded her hands together in front of her.

  “Thank you!”

  Turtle Dove turned and moved to a place where the overgrowth near the bank was thick. Crawling halfway into the mass of it, he emerged fully again a moment later, tugging on the end of a wooden canoe, carved from a great tree.

  Chance, Pip, and Firefly launched themselves feet first into the river, and went splashing knee deep to the canoe. Scout and Tumbles were right behind them.

  “Wait for me!” Shortly yelled, and jumped in after them; though the water came to his waist. Bandit followed him immediately.

  Firefly stopped suddenly and turned to glance back at the bank where Pockets, Patches, and Emma still stood. “We have to be gentlemen and take the boat to the lady!” He insisted. “She’ll get her dress wet!”

  Before Emma could argue that her nightgown had already been soaked when she’d fallen into the sea, the boys had the canoe right up against the bank.

  Firefly and Shortly both held out dripping hands to help her in.

  “Thanks!” She grinned, getting in and taking a seat in the middle.

  It was long and narrow, with room for only one person in each seat, so that everyone was lined up in a tidy row by the time they had all gotten into it.

  Turtle Dove, who sat in the front, passed oars carved from wide tree branches to everyone.

  “Steady as she goes!” Scout called to them from the back.

  They pushed off from the grassy bank, and the current swept them onward as they paddled down the Mysterious River toward the sea.

  Because they moved silently through the forest along the surface of the river, they did not disturb the wildlife around them nearly as much as they had when they were tramping through the brush and bushes. For that reason, they saw a good deal more of the creatures of Neverland as they sailed along.

  Neverbirds tended to their nests, and other smaller birds flitted and zipped about. Without a sound, Turtle Dove pointed out a wolf mother and her pack of whelps. Everyone craned their necks to get a good look.