Pan howled as he ran toward the Hangman's Tree, similar howls coming from the distance. Bell smiled softly and ran behind him, making sure not to drop any more vegetables. As they grew closer, they were met with the continuous and excited howls of the boys. Pan stretched his arms out, palms to the sky as a wide beam spread over his face.
He chuckled as he was attacked with hugs from all angles, wrapping his arms around the boys. "Welcome back Peter!" A shrill voice from within the pile of boys called out. Pan looked around for the voice and sighed softly. "Glad you're all alive and well! And camp??" He said playfully, placing his hands on his hips as all the boys backed up, looking up at Pan.
One of the boys, tall and lanky saluted and stood almost at attention. "The camp has been safely secured and safely played in!" The other boys looked towards Pan and nodded. Pan chuckled softly and crossed his arms, closing his eyes. Bell shook her head and watched as Pan interacted with the boys.
Sometimes it was sad to watch, Pan always worked so hard to keep everyone around him safe. Even if it meant injuring himself so others could live. Pan sighed softly and smiled brightly. "Who's ready for some Garoni!?" The boys cheered and carefully took the bag from Tink, making their way towards the tree.
The tree stood at about 1,400 feet tall and was probably one of the biggest trees in the region. At the foot of the tree, the boys had strung along tents, though on colder nights or when there was danger nearby they slept inside the tree. The tree was actually quite nice, with an intricate system on the inside, even if someone managed to find the entrance. They wouldn't be able to figure out the system on the inside.
The state of the rooms never changed, where they were inside the tree did. The tree was always growing, which meant everything about the tree was always changing. If your bedroom was at the bottom of the tree one day, the next it could be in the middle, or all the way at the top! Pan took the Garoni out of the bag and carried it over to the small tables.
He used his dagger to cut each of the Garoni vegetables in half, handing each of the boys one Garoni and a Bowa Fruit. Most of the younger boys excitedly took the Bowa Fruit and sat at the tables. Once everyone had food he offered some to Bell, but she gratefully declined. Pan put the rest of the food away in the storage, making sure that the fruits and vegetables were in the right bins.
He sighed softly, looking at their supplies, grabbing a few bandages before meeting Bell at one of the empty tables near the other boys. He sighed softly, handing Bell the bandages. "I'd do it myself, but I can't really...reach." He chuckled softly, smiling as he untied the rope that held the now wilted flower. He tossed the wilted flower to the side, the flower almost combusting, leaving a new sprout.
Bell nodded and quickly got to work, on helping mend his wound. He crossed his legs up onto the seat and dug his hands into the folds of his legs. Bell took the cotton Pan had put on the table, soaking it in the juices from a brand new Aaslard flower. She gently dabbed it into the cut, Pan groaning slightly as pain tingled down his arm before growing numb. Bell sighed softly before she spoke. "You should have been more careful-"
She was quickly interrupted by Pan who groaned loudly, flopping his head to the side."Yeah, Yeah... I know, but if it wasn't me who was getting hurt, it was going to be you. And I can't let that happen, you know that Bell" Bell glared at Pan, almost smacking him, but she decided not to. She scoffed and shook her head as she started to wrap the wound in bandages.
He was right though, if she were to get injured badly she could disappear. That was the final curse of put on the fairies of Pixie Hollow. Those who resided in Pixie Hollow during the great massacre would be sent to an eternity of mortality. Which made most of the fairies susceptible to getting infections quickly and even dying if fatally wounded.
When she was done Pan looked towards his shoulder curiously, rolling his shoulder around before smiling. "Thanks, Bells!" Bell looked at Pan and sighed softly nodding. "It's the least I can do to help around here..." She looked towards the ground before cleaning up. Pan looked towards Bell curiously, he quickly got up and grabbed her wrist before she walked off. "Tell me what's bothering you..." Bell looked towards the ground, sighing softly.
She looked towards him and started signing, quickly and furiously. "I feel of no use around here. I am used to telling stories of your adventures or to healing wounds. I clean up after everyone and yet I am not allowed to help protect the boys with you and when I go you always end up getting hurt!" She looked at him angered, scoffing softly as she waited for a response.
While it was true that she was doing jobs that were easier than most, it was quite helpful. Though, that's probably not the response she was looking for. Pan sighed softly and looked at her, unwaveringly. "Bell, while it may not seem of help, you are greatly helping out the entire camp." He took the supplies out of her hands, placing them on the table before holding her hands in his.
"While there is a literal war being waged out there, you are in here calming the boys with your stories...While I go out and make sure it is safe you are making sure they are safe and protected here." He tightly grasped Tinks hands, not hurting her. "I let you come with me today because I could tell you were growing tired of being stuck in here with the boys, but it's for the protection of our peoples...not just the ones here at camp..."
She sighed softly, calming her nerves as she nodded, looking at Pan. "I understand, though I expect some of the boys to start helping out with the cleaning!" She playfully pouted, placing her hands on her hips as she looked to the side. Pan smirked softly and pet the top of her head, ruffling her hair a little. "Thank you for understanding Tink..."
Tink met his gaze, though he smiled, she could tell that he was saddened by the entire situation. She wasn't the only one around here going through a rough time and she needed to come to terms with their situation. Pan nodded and looked towards the boys as they started to run off, some of them getting ready for the night. "Please finish cleaning up and then you may rest, I'll take first watch..."
He nodded and smiled softly. Bell who was now motivated, nodded before skipping off. Pan chuckled softly before he headed towards the watchtower, which just happened to be an old tree. As everyone settled in for the night, the camp grew very quiet. The calls from creatures surrounding them rang like alarms as the boys slept the night away.