There weren't many rules after James told her nearly everything, Mara would able to remember them all and keep them in her mind at all times. She can't wander off alone, Mermaid Lagoon and the West side where the line was were off limits, she also can't climb up the mountain because it was strict, when there's training, they all must train until Pan says it's over, and of course, they must obey whatever Pan says.
They met Tootles near the stream, found him seated by the waters as he was scrubbing off brown stain off his trousers on one of his knee parts, he looked rather moody. "You alright there, Tootles?" James crouched down inches from the water.
"I tripped on a boar's dung!" Tootles grumbled, "I was right behind you two but not even five steps I took when I ran"
Mara could smell that foul reek from the dung stain on Tootle's pants while she stood seven feet from him. She had the white flag around her hands and wrists before pulling it off, "If it makes you feel better," she walked to his side, "least we won't be the losers and that means you're a winner"
Tootles had his eyes widen in surprise then flashed a smile as he grabbed the flag then stood up, "No way! You guys caught it! I thought the boar had crossed the Native line!"
James half laughed, "It did" he then told Tootles about what happened when he and Mara encountered the Natives.
"Whoa" Tootles seemed amazed, "I mean, glad that neither of you two got killed and I'm surprised Pan is not that mad to punish you, Mara"
"He was actually" James said, he wrapped the pointy tip of his staff with a cloth and tied it with a lace he got from his garb. "If only I decided I don't say anything, girl would've been either in a cage or the pit by now"
"Curly and Slightly might be in their way back to camp now, I reckon they're jumping and joy at the moment" Tootles tossed the flag at Mara and she caught it.
The three lost children walked across the stream and made their way back to the camp. Tootles mentioned to Mara that one of the Natives once shot him in the leg because he was about to trespass their land without his knowledge.
"Ace, Nibs, Thomas and the Twins wanted me to fetch Ace's arrow from the other side of the line" Tootles mumbled, "they thought it was funny, I didn't get in trouble but rather those boys did and retrieved punishments from Pan"
"Those bastards" Mara murmured.
"Eh, it was a long time ago" Tootles shrugged. It seemed that they were almost at the camp.
"How long have you been here in Neverland?" She asked the clumsy boy.
He shrugged again, "I honestly have no idea because the longer you're here, you starting to lose counting days and years, but I'm guessing over a decade. Feels like it"
Forever days left until she gets off Neverland, most likely she'll never leave but still a shred of hope she might. Not tomorrow, not in few days or weeks or months or a year but somehow she has to one day. Someday she will get used to this place, maybe in a month or so. The question is when she gets used to this place, would she still want to leave?
When they arrived at the camp, they weren't the first group that arrived but as the third group, there was Thomas's group and Felix's. Some of the boys' looked almost surprised to see her and her group as if they were betting that she would be the ones who never caught the flag.
"Yeah, we caught one!" Tootles blurted as he raised the flag.
"Sit your arse down!" James hushed as he gave him a smack on the back with his staff. Mara half smiled at Tootles's enthusiasm and she already liked the boy as James because he seemed too innocent.
A boy named Nibs walked toward them but stopped midways, "Where's Pan?"
James and Tootles both shrugged while Mara answered, "I don't know, did you check the kitchen? Usually you can find one in there"
James snorted as Tootles laughed. Nibs frowned "Funny" he walked back to his group.
They only waited several moments when Slightly and Curly ran into the camp before finding Mara, James and Tootles.
"Nice one, boys--" Curly smiled, "--and girl. We were just about to chase the other boar until Pan appeared out of nowhere to inform us that you caught the flag. Boy, I'm so relieved"
"Thanks to Mara" Tootles said, "They ran into Natives while at it"
Curly was suddenly interested and eager to hear what happened, Tootles told them everything James explained.
"You actually asked them for the flag?" Curly laughed at Mara. "And they actually gave it to you"
"Sometimes asking politely works" Mara shrugged.
"Never heard you saying 'please'" James reminded, "Perhaps Tiger Lily only pitied you"
"Tiger Lily?" Mara was confused but she immediately recalled when Pan called the girl 'Lily'.
"The girl, she happens to be the Chief's daughter" James replied.
"As known as the Princess" Curly added, "but she'd scalp me right now if she were here to hear me calling her that, she hates it"
"Princess" Mara repeated.
"Not really but it's just some of us Lost Boys liked to tease her by calling her that. She finds it rather offensive" Curly explained, "it was actually Pan who started it, calling Lily 'Princess' as a nickname"
"And look who got the last flag" Slightly was standing and leaning against the tree trunk as he gazed across the camp.
Mara looked over, seeing a group of six boys walking into the camp, she couldn't forget one of the boys' face who she constantly catches the boy's gaze ever since yesterday, Ace and his group caught the last flag.
"So that leaves the Twins' group" Tootles said, "I wonder what's the loser prize"
As every Lost child awaited for the last group and their leader to be back. Peter Pan was the first to come back who congratulate the group half-heartedly, "All of you can take a free time for the rest of the day, and while at it, you can all go to the waterfalls and wash up"
All of the Lost Boys half cheered in celebration, even Mara's group, she was almost as happy that she has free time, that means no training or anything she has to worry, but she wondered about the Twins' group, not that she cared, she was only curious.
The boys seemed preparing to leave to what Mara thinks they were all off to the waterfalls to clean up, she guessed she had to stay put so she didn't bother preparing as the rest of them.
"Don't worry, girl" James gave a nudge on her back with his knee, "I'm sure you'll get a turn and be on your own to clean yourself up"
"Go have fun swimming" she gestured him to go.
James half laughed, "We'll see you later"
"See ya, Mara" Curly followed Tootles and Slightly, her group followed the rest of the boys out of the camp and watched them disappear into the woods.
She still heard their footsteps and laughs leaving and became distantly. Not all of them left, Pan had stayed behind too and she was left alone with him.
"You're not going with them?" Pan asked, smiling.
Mara frowned at him, "Don't tell me I have to"
"I was only joking" he flashed a smug.
"Wow, you're hilarious" she responded sarcastically and flashed a mock smile.
Neither of them said anything, Mara would leave for a walk but knew she can't because of the rules, she can't wander off alone or without any guidance despite it was her free time. While she was sharpening a stick with a knife she found where Curly sat.
The almost silence nearly drove her mad, any moment she could just storm off into the wilderness, instead she uttered a question "What happened to the losing team? . . . The Twins' team, where are they?"
He didn't looked at her, his eyes remained on the small object in his hands as he examined it closely. "Taking care of our pets" he replied.
Mara furrowed her brows in confusion. "Pets? You've got pets?... like dog pets?"
Pan chuckled, "No... a panther and a jaguar"
She was nearly stunned, "Aren't they dangerous?"
"Exactly why they're better than dogs"
"And they can't be tamed" she added.
"Makes them more dangerous, they might be useful one of these days"
"And what if they escape?" She asked, "that would puts us all in danger"
"Not me anyway" he looked toward her way, "then I guess one of you and the Lost Boys become their chew toy"
Mara rolled her eyes, "Clearly you don't care for anyone or if anything bad happens to them"
"Why do you?" Pan shot back. "You clearly care about anyone even those you barely even know... but not even yourself"
She said nothing, she stared at him for a long second, she pursed her lips, shrugged in response before walking away and went into her tent. What he said was the reason why she ended up stuck here in Neverland, maybe if she had a cold heart like Pan, she never would've end up stuck here in the first place and would've continued her adventures by now.
***