Stars (Wendy Darling #1)(31)

He put down a plate filled with fruit and what looked like misshapen biscuits. The Darlings grabbed at the food, even Wendy, who wolfed down two biscuits faster than a proper lady should. She had no idea she was starving until the food touched her lips, but then it was gone, and she wished she had more.

Michael had done the same. “Are there any more biscuits, Mister Oxley?”

“No, sir. Food is a precious commodity here. Everyone else only got one biscuit.” Oxley stretched, his body short but stocky and strong. Wendy noticed that he had scars on his hands as well, lines of black dots that curved up his palms. The more she looked at them, the more beautiful they became. What would her parents think of her admiring the scars of an African?

“Wendy and Michael, if you wouldn’t mind getting dressed, then I can start your tour.”

“The tour?”

“Oh, yes. Peter had some business to attend to this afternoon, so he ordered me to give you an informal tour of Pan Island. After that, we will celebrate your arrival!”

“That sounds wonderful.”

Oxley opened up the ratty bag that was slung across his shoulders, right under a bow and quiver of arrows.

“Is that real?” Michael whispered.

“Yes. So be careful.”

Michael ran a finger over an arrow tip. “Wow.”

“Here are some clothes for you both.” Oxley raised his dark brown pupils to look at Wendy. “Unless of course you want to wear a dress for climbing a tree.”

“No, thank you,” she politely replied.

He laid out a brown pair of pants for her and a long white lacy shirt with a strange fluttery neck. She looked at it quizzically. “This is interesting—where did you get this?”

He shrugged. “Peter probably stole it from a pirate. I’ll be waiting outside.”

As he turned his back, Wendy picked up the pants and the shirt, as well as a belt that had tumbled out of the bag. Michael was already practically naked, pulling on a long brown tunic adorned with maroon leaves.

“I look just like Peter now, Wendy!”

“You do.”

Wendy was pulling on pants. Pants. She frowned, immediately missing her dresses back at home. Pants were so boyish. They pulled uncomfortably at her hips. The lacy shirt fit better, and cinching it with a belt made it less revealing at the neck. She slipped her feet back into her black shoes and tied her hair up with a blue ribbon. “What do you think?”

Michael was prancing around the room, pretending he was Peter. “I’m Peter Pan! I can fly!”

“You two Darlings coming?” Oxley called from outside.

“Yes!” Wendy and Michael ran to one of the many openings of Wendy’s hut and peered out. Huge branches snaked down from the room, some as wide as a man. Wendy looked helplessly down. She had very little experience climbing trees aside from one time in the park, when she made it about halfway up the tree before ripping her pinafore. Her mother had been furious. Wendy paused, resting her hand on one of the cool greenish branches. Her mother, what had she looked like? Before she could focus in on that thought, she saw Oxley strapping Michael to his back with a leather strap. Michael was laughing, sticking his feet in Oxley’s face.

“What are you . . .?” Wendy began to ask.

“Follow me!” he cried with a smile. “Do what I do!” The Lost Boy put his hands on either side of the branch and then wrapped his body around it. Without warning, he pushed away from the small platform outside Wendy’s door and quickly slid down the branch, disappearing without a breath into the leaves below. Wendy gasped. With shaking hands, she reached out for the branch. It was cool beneath her clean fingernails. She hugged herself against the tree and then reached out with one leg, instantly pulling back when her balance shifted. Hesitating, she looked down at the ground, so far below her, and then back at the branch in front of her.

“Be brave,” she whispered to herself. “Be brave.” That reminded her of someone . . . who?

Wendy reached for the tree, and with determination and a small cry of terror, she leapt into the air, wrapping herself around the branch, her feet leaving the secure, safe wooden platform. She screamed out loud as her body slid down the tree, ever gaining speed as her tiny hut disappeared above her into a quilt of leaves. Faster and faster, she was sliding, her hands becoming lacerated with tiny slivers. I’m going to hit the ground, she thought with a rush of fear. Oh dear, how does one stop? But then she was yanked off the tree by a strong arm and set on her feet. She took a breath and burst out laughing before turning to Oxley.

“Well, that was terrifying.” She paused. “And fun!”

Wendy heard padded steps approaching behind her.

“Ah, your brother is here, so we can start the tour!”

Wendy spun around and saw John standing silently behind her, arms crossed. He looked angry, as always.

“JOHN!” Michael squealed, launching himself at his brother. “Where did you sleep? Why didn’t you sleep with Wendy and me?”

Wendy watched her brother’s face as it finally bowed to the unleashing of love from Michael. Oxley cracked a sly smile.

“John was up with the Generals, going over the beginning plans for a raid!”

“A raid?” Wendy asked. Her eyes narrowed. “John will be participating in a raid? But he doesn’t know anything about that.”