The Truth

Tiger Lily walks with Pan through the Village, both Tiger Lily and Pan waving back as people said hello to them. After about a ten minute walk, they reached the northern tip of the peninsula. Tiger Lily sighed softly as she walked along the sandy shores, looking out towards the waters. Pan walked behind her, still trying to figure out why she would bring him here.

They both stayed quiet as they walked along the shore, heading to where Pan's boat had landed. The wind rustled through the leaves, the sun finally deciding to break out of the clouds cage. The sun danced on the water, the water smacked the lip of the shore and made the air smell of salt.

The calls of birds as they flew overhead and the low groans of the creatures of the oceans all echoed through the water. The soft crunching sound of the sand, filled their ears as they walked. Tiger Lily finally broke the silence as she walked alongside Pan. "Have you ever thought about the future?" Pan looked towards her curiously before looking down at his feet.

He didn't know how to answer her question, he thought about both the past and the future. He thought about the past and how things used to be before Hook had a change of heart before Pan even met Hook. But then there are also times where he thought about the future, what would happen if he failed or if Neverland would change if he succeeded.

He exhaled loudly before answering her question. "All the time, though it isn't the only thing I think about, why do you ask?" Tiger Lily looked down towards her feet as she slowed down, both of them coming to a stop. "I fear for the future, with the way things are going, Neverland is going to have a rough winter, especially those of us who are having trouble finding food"

She wrapped her arms around herself, looking out towards the ocean. "I fear for the safety of my people. Pan, we almost didn't make it through Hook's last raid..." Tiger Lily made eye contact with Pan, fear and agony filled her gaze, along with tears. Pan looked at her, bringing her in for a hug as she started to sob. Tiger Lily gripped onto Pan's shoulder, staying close to his body as she collapsed, Pan going down with her as their knees hit the soft sand.

Pan had only ever seen her break down like this once before and it was after her father passed away. It had been about six years since he had passed, the people spent seven days mourning the death of their chief. Tiger Lily had run to the Hangman's tree during that time and stayed with Pan, talking about her future, like she was now.

She was always one to think about the future and not about the past. After half an hour, Tiger Lily calmed down, sitting about a foot away from Pan as she hugged her knees, drawing circles in the sand. Pan lay down, looking up towards the sky, trying to figure out a way to break the awkward silence between them.

Pan was never good at sharing how he felt, he didn't want anyone to worry for him because that was his job. He was the protector, the worrier, the saviour. Pan stayed silent, looking over towards Tiger Lily who had drawn a picture of one of the great gods of old. It was one of Ti's favourites, the God of Nature's New, Tabaldak.

In the stories that have been passed down for aeons, it was said that Tabaldak created the first clan out of stone. As they lived and grew as a clan, Tabaldak noticed that they had hearts colder than ice. He broke the people into tiny pieces and scattered them across Neverland. One thousand years later he tried again, only this time he decided to use wood which created Le Clan de L'Aura Radieuse.

Tabaldak was the person who originally named the clan, for the radiant aura all the children gave when their cries rang through the woods. It was the same as when the wind blew through the trees carrying the seeds of the wormwood tree to every end of the island. The wind carrying the joy of life along its winding path, as it travels to its destination, wherever that may be.

Tiger Lily along with the simple drawing drew symbols of tribute to Tabaldak. She quietly praying as she placed her hands together, moving onto her knees as she closed her eyes. She mumbled under her breath for a few minutes before raising her hands to the sky, lifting her head up and opening her eyes. She drew the symbols of tribute with her finger across her thighs before finishing her prayer.

Tiger Lily looked over towards Pan, who had respectfully gotten on his knees and joined in her prayer. He finished praying after her, tracing the symbols of tribute with his finger across his thighs before looking towards Ti. A soft smile on her face as she bowed her head slightly, looking back up towards Pan. "Always so respectful..." She looked back towards the sky, the sun had slowly started to set behind them, the shadows behind them, the outlines of everything slowly clawed at their backs.

Pan sighed softly as he laid back down on his back, looking at the sky, Tiger Lily looked towards Pan curiously, something seemed to be bothering him. She looked towards the water before speaking. "May I ask what is wrong?" She never broke her gaze from the sea as she waited for Pan's answer.

Pan stayed silent for a moment before speaking, his tone sombre as he watched the sky change color from burnt orange, to peach, to blues and purples. "I fear that this war was started because of me, and I fear that I may not be able to fix it..." A tremble in his voice as he held back tears of agony.

Tiger Lily looked at him in shock, he was always so honest but he was hurting. She sighed softly before looking back towards the sea. "You are the Prince of Neverland. You will find a solution to the problem, just like you always do, whether it's tomorrow or in 100 years. I believe that you will be able to fix what's been started by the gods that plan to purge our lands..." Pan sighed softly, though her words weren't going to deter his thoughts, he thanked her for her words.

They sat in silence as the last rays of the day, disappeared and the waves starting to hit their feet. Pan got up, stretching out a hand to pull Tiger Lily up, Ti smiling softly before grabbing his hand and standing up. As they started walking back a hollow, resonant sound echoed from the front of the camps. Tiger Lily's eyes widened before she started towards the camp, Pan following behind her as they ran. Screams echoing through the woods as the fires of the Clan burned brightly on this dark night.