BtS--Book 1, Chapter 6

It was the coolest, scariest thing that Jocelyn had ever done.

Capture the Flag was such a simple game. Get the other team’s flag while guarding your own. The Lost Boys were guarding the flag with slingshots and the oddest combination of ammo. She wasn’t sure how effective feathers would be, but since the rest of the team trusted them, she would trust them to. It was just a game after all.

***

It was hard. Harder than Jocelyn had expected. Having never been in Neverland before, she lacked an understanding of the landscape. For what felt like forever she’d been running through the woods. Hiding behind a tree, she gasped for air. This is all wrong, she thought. I know this, I know this. She looked up into the branches, an idea sparking.

“Get to the highest spot, it’ll give you the greatest view.” Her trainer’s voice echoed through her memory. So she climbed and as she climbed, she found she could breathe easier and think more clearly.

Moments after her ascension, a pirate approached the tree. Taking shallow breaths, Jocelyn froze, keeping an eye on the enemy. Taking a swipe at the tree, the pirate pulled his sword from the bark and moved on.

This was always tricky. It had to be so perfectly planned, so well-timed. Jocelyn descended quickly, trying not to disturb anything that could bring that or any other pirate to her location. Checking the footprints, Jocelyn started following them. However she realized her own were two visible. Part of her wanted to go all ninja on the trail, the other wanted to just run after the footprints. Ahh dilemma.

She didn’t get time to decide. The sharp crack of wood caused her to disappear into the bushes. She gave up the ninja idea as soon as two pirates became visible. She backed away and ran from the scene.

It was fitting in a place called Neverland for there to be a Neverending supply of rocks, twigs and thorns. Thankfully not all of Neverland was covered. There were flower patches, berry patches, briar patches and dead patches. The water was a gorgeous mix of blue and green, clear and deep. There were ponds scattered throughout, a waterfall here rand there and the great Crocodile River that flowed through the island.

Jocelyn hadn’t heard a horn blow so she knew the game was still afoot. Why was this so difficult? She’d been trained in this, trained for this. Excelling in unfamiliar landscapes was what she’d spent a year of her life pursuing.

As she scanned the area, her breathing becoming more controlled, she felt the calm she had once felt in trairning. It was just a game, just playtime. Taking deep breaths, she started moving again when Aladdin crossed her path. Well more crashed into her.

“What are you doing here?” He helped her off the ground.

“What am I doing here, what are you doing here?” She brushed dirt off her pants.

“I’m trying to find the flag.”

“Well so am I.”

“Then let’s-“ His words dropped off as a dagger whizzed by his head. They both looked in the direction it had come from and saw a pirate racing towards them. Jocelyn grabbed Aladdin’s wrist.

“Run!”

****

At the pirate’s prison, Jasmine and Ariel were lounging on the grass. “It’s nice being captured sometimes. You can relax while others get the flag.” Ariel drowsily spoke.

“I don’t know, I feel like I should be helping.” Jasmine rolled over onto her stomach.

“It’s just a game. Al’s never judged you for being bad at a game. He still loves you.”

“Yes…yes, I guess you’re right.” Ariel didn’t see the concern that flickered across her face.

****

Jocelyn and Aladdin hid behind some boulders. She scanned the area behind them when Aladdin spotted the familiar skull and crossbones flag.

“I don’t see anyone right now. You want here, I’ll grab the flag and we’ll head back to the final spot.” He started moving when she grabbed his shirt sleeve.

“Wait, take this.” She removed a black cloth from beneath her top.

“What?”

“Switch this for the flag. It’ll take us a good 10-15 minutes to get back, if that, might as well keep them unaware.”

“Where did you-“

“In the treehouse, go now!” She kept watch as he made his way. Her ears remained sharp, listening for any sign that the pirates would return. Finding the pirate flag at her feet, she stuffed it under her top and they disappeared into the forest.