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Clara watched as the Jolly Roger slid into its place on the port. She couldnât make out any faces from this distance but she already knew the figures. There was no mistaking Xaria, otherwise known as Captain Hook. In her days as a lost boy Xaria would haunt Claraâs nightmares. It was hard to understand what Xaria stood to gain beyond an eternity to live out the same cycle over and over and yet she seemed gleeful to do so every time.
Leaning forward as she manipulated some of the shrubbery to part, Clara squinted hoping to focus her gaze when a flash of pink and violet light flew past her face. Most would have the instinct to swat but Clara was well used to this, only leaning back to follow the lights as they swirled around her hiding spot before joining her under her veil of branches.
âTulip, Echo - what are you two doing here?â Clara whispered, their twinkles delivering all the sass she needed to understand. They were only two among the faeries who treated Clara as an equal, often helping with whatever dirty work the faeries delegated to her.
âThis isnât collecting mandrake root, you two are exposing yourselves by being here.â Clara held out her hands, the two faeries floating to land in her palm. Echo already had her hands on her hips, she didnât need to say a word Clara could hear her insisting. They did do everything together but Clara couldnât risk them being in danger.
Sensing Claraâs apprehension, Tulip floated towards Claraâs face reaching a reassuring hand against the tip of her nose. The corner of her lip pressed together, conflicting emotions evident in her expression. As much as Clara wanted to prove herself to the faeries she had to admit that she did better with her friends at her side.
âYou know I want you two to come but-â Her words were cut short by the ring of Echoâs bells. Gliding across the sky it was the unmistakable figure of Pan flying towards the Jolly Roger. Before Clara even had a moment to react Echo already began darting after. Tulip and Clara looked at one another in mild defeat, not bothering to call after as they followed knowing that Echo wouldnât turn around.
Though they glowed in the night, Echo and Tulip were able to navigate under the coverage of the vegetation to stay out of sight. Clara remained low, her faux wings forged from branches she had manipulated together affixed to her back providing camouflage. As they flew up the side of the Jolly Roger, Clara spotted people through a gunport that had been left open. The canon had been rolled to the side allowing a full view into the interior of the ship.
It was them, the siblings. Clara had seen the same thing many times before, always three. She felt something tug her hair, looking up to see Echo staring down at her impatiently. It wasnât her business anymore, she knew that. These games were for pirates or lost boys and girls, of which Clara was neither. Looking back, she gave a low whistle to get their attention. Whether they saw her or not she couldnât tell, tossing a makeshift stone dagger in their direction. She couldnât stay but that didnât mean she had to leave them defenseless.
Echo and Tulip were already peeking over the deck when Clara reached them. Pan was standing facing Xaria, surrounded by armed pirates. It may have been years since Clara had spoken to Pan or any of the lost ones, they hadnât even seen her in her new form - as far as they knew she was still in a 9 year old boyâs body, and probably dead. Still seeing Pan in danger it ignited the most primal part of Clara that felt the need to protect her. Her fingers clutched the deck, trying to hold herself in place.
"I just want to talk things through. And after, if you still wish to kill me, then so be it. I am yours to kill, and I won't fight you. But you can feel it. We all can...Neverland is dying, and so are we..."
Clara tensed, unsure what would happen next. Pan reached for a small pouch on their hip. She and the faeries worked along the side of the deck to get a better angle peering between the windows of the crewâs legs as Pan placed the pouch on the ground. "She died two weeks ago...My magic is failing because of it."
Clara looked to Tulip and Echo with a look of concern, both of them seemingly horrified. She was scared to say her suspicions aloud but she was unable to see what Pan pulled from the pouch. Before she could try to get another angle Tulip had already shot up above to get a birds eye view, immediately darting back down twinkling in hysterics. Clara didnât have to understand what Tulip said to know, her emotional state was proof enough. She landed on Claraâs shoulder, slumped over in sobs.
âEcho - no!â Clara whispered urgently as the pink faery light flew right onto deck.
âWhat have you done?!â Echo transformed into her full form in front of Pan. Clara flew to her side, Tulip still atop her shoulder.