He kept forgetting that those who had lingered longer in this place and among Pan had outgrown what he had considered 'reality' a while ago. Not only were they more rigid, but their injuries healed comparatively faster... they were also more agile in their movements, and some were stronger than they appeared, despite their harmless appearance. This was not true for all of them, but he had to fight with the right ones. Peter's confidants were not only the moral compass, guide, and advisor when Pan was away from camp- they were also responsible for maintaining order in the chaos of the loss when something or someone threatened to get out of control.

Jake was nothing more than a rebellious newcomer to them. And as such, he was in no way unique or deserving of special treatment in the eyes of the Lost. It wasn't his first raid, and he had undoubtedly done an excellent job-no doubt Peter would welcome him to the Lost for that. But... he was still way down in the pecking order. Time spent here might not be a measure of rank, and some were here only a fraction of the years others had already spent in Hangman's Tree. 

What made one special here, drew the eye of the more significant people to one, were the adventures. The stories and events in which one could distinguish oneself in one way or another, or even after many years, disappear like a grain of sand in the mass of little marginal figures. Of course, this was always connected with a particular risk because there were no adventures without putting one's life on the board at stake. But such was life here; one had to be prepared to pay that price or perish in the mass of little grains of sand.

"Calm down!" Crow's voice sounded dark, honed by harsh sounds that had once marked his speech of a different form.With their striking speckles of golden dust around the irises, the near-black eyes fixed the frothing newcomer warningly. He would not be the first to disobey the rain... and what the punishment for that looked like would certainly not be to his liking. So far, as always, they had all ensured that the newcomers were initially... well, well treated. They were slowly introduced to the true face of the island, but they had to be able to bear the grimace behind it. If they weren't, they eventually ended up in the coral blood fields or at the old Tree on the mountaintop as a rotting warning.

The Natives had been in this place long enough to get an eye for the Special Lost Ones, just like Peter. With the right tools, those stones could well be polished into something significant. He had seen that in Jake and Luke, too, and.... it would be a real pity if these gems were now shattered too soon before they could develop their potential. But Crow realized even before Jake also pushed him against his chest and away from him that the other could not be so quickly calmed.

"You hypocrites!" Jake accused the lost men, seething with anger as his gaze slid from one to the other and back again. "You claim to be family-or brothers!" he growled, clenching his hands into fists until his nails pressed painfully into his palms. That was the big, important word in this place. Family. For all those who had never had one or had left the rotten structure that called itself such but had never earned the title. But... "You have no idea what that means! A family NEVER abandons each other! And especially Luke would not hesitate for you! And I'm going to go find my brother whether you like it or not!" he blathered on, and Crow sighed before seemingly shaking his head in pity and resignation.

He would have claimed to understand Jake, yes. But probably only one sibling part could comprehend that bond. And he couldn't deny that some decisions might seem heartless. Many years in Neverland, they had undoubtedly jaded the older Lost-and they had to. Neverland was dangerous, and many lost people came and... disappeared.

Forgetting was a blessing because it took away the crushing burden of death and loss from the children. And for that - whether Jake understood it or not - they were immensely grateful and accepted this gift with open arms. That's the way it had always been...

"What a touching speech," Crow told Jake after two more heartbeats while some guys exchanged silent glances.

It could be quickly dismissed as sarcasm if one didn't know that the Indian wasn't the type for such jibes, unlike others.

"Go on then, big brother." Nibs gave with a challenging grin, earning a sharp look from Crow, who wordlessly suggested the other might prefer to mind his own business.

He was as helpful here as a breeze, which only drove into the coals and fanned them again instead of cooling them down-so not at all. Ever since the siblings had arrived with Peter, Nibs had had them on edge. Few could guess where the dislike of Nibs for the two - and especially Luke - came from. Crow himself would have claimed to have a clue for such matters. The prodigal with short brown-black hair and piercing amber eyes had adored Peter. Sure - they all admired Peter. But Nibs was... more special. He wanted to be like Peter, loved the leader of the Lost, and perhaps enjoyed his attention a little TOO much. Most of all, he was quick to be jealous and bitter when Peter bestowed those on another Lost. Even before, it was annoying, but as they grew older, Crow began to find it almost disturbing.

But the Indian also knew that sometimes it was better to keep quiet and let things take their course. It only caused more trouble than solved by revealing some people's feelings and thoughts too lightly. Moreover, this matter was not new, nor would those who had been here a long time stab each other in the back. Nibs had always been a complicated mind. His thought processes were confused, and his temper was easily irritable, but he was loyal to Peter in an extraordinary way. That, however, was undoubtedly also precisely the problem: Crow was sure that Nibs' dislike of the recent newcomers stemmed from the fact that Peter's attention had, after all, unusually often been on the twins, even though they were not yet part of the community but insignificant pipsqueaks. No doubt, therefore, his words were merely the provocative yapping of an irritable dog seeking to stir up trouble. His fear that Jake might jump at it in his present condition caused the natives' lip line to crumble into an unpleased line.

But unlike what he expected, Jake turned with a snort, leaving the distinguished group of elderly lost with their opinions as he followed a narrow trail behind the veil of dense trees. He didn't want to waste more time with words and discussion when concern for his younger brother drew him away. Crow rubbed his tense neck muscles as his eyes followed the silhouette that had disappeared toward the island cliff. He didn't turn his head as a branch broke quietly, groaning under the boot beside him, and a silhouette joined him.

"Well?" sounded Slightly beside Crow, whose gaze drifted sideways to the other after a heartbeat. His right eyebrow rose a little higher, the unspoken question in his features already forming its answer at the edge of his mind.

On the other hand, Slightly continued to keep his gaze straight ahead, tugging his dark green cloak a bit and then tapping the earth with the toe of his boot in a rumpled fashion as the slanted grin dug slightly dimples into his cheeks.

"Bow or rapier?"

A soft sigh was the Indian's reply as he wiped back a few strands of black hair from his features adorned with beads and feathers.

"Bow." agreed Crow without much hesitation.

"He's crazy. Just like his brother." Growled next to them while Fog rubbed his aching chin.... but only glanced briefly at his twin before both nodded and strode ahead onto the same trail, Jake trailing behind.

Crow let out a snort of silent approval - which Slightly joined in with a short, mirthless laugh.... before the two of them went the same way. They had made their opinion known: presumably, Luke was dead. That didn't mean they didn't hope otherwise, nor did it mean they wouldn't help Jake.

Crow's lips pulled apart a little. Yes, they had already made the decision, after all. Each to his own, by turning to Jake in the first place. Even if the lost one did not yet understand the signs of hidden attention, cool indifference could also have prevailed, for here in the camp; no one was forced to do anything. They followed whoever and whenever they wanted (except Peter, whose word was ALWAYS law), and no one would stop Jake if he wanted to leave. It was every man for himself if he went his own way and moved away from the protection of the Tree. 

But... ah, weren't the most exciting adventures usually just the ones that spontaneously ignited in small circles? However, they had to hurry. Soon the stone paths would be flooded, and then they would have to spend the night in the woods. A danger that they all would have approached in the past with a merry laugh, but today filled even the older ones with a not groundless uneasiness. Nothing was as simple as it used to be.

If Luke had made it into the woods...they would find him. With luck, only injured, hopefully alive... if not... Jake at least deserved to know. Still, the unpolished, sharp-edged stone wasn't just in his stomach. Fear for his sister rose inexorably higher like the tide rushing to reclaim more and more of Neverland. 

As if they were a small, conspiratorial community, the handful of the lost slipped away from the fire to leave the sprawling feast relatively unnoticed under darkness. At least... that was probably the plan. For this reason, too, his heart stopped for a moment, and the lost man staggered back a bit when a tall figure stepped out of the shadows and the protection of the scrub into their path. Hunted glances fearfully peered into the darkness, muscles tensed, and heartbeats quickened. Nearly invisible one moment in an unnatural way, an unmistakable glow seemed to surround those the next, causing Jake's stumbling heart to break free from shock and stumble excitedly ahead.

"Peter!" groaned Jake with undisguised relief, striding considerable toward the leader of the Lost. Usually, he might have treated the leader a little more respectfully, especially after he had been expected to prove himself that night.But he just couldn't think about that right now - his only concern was finding Luke. Alive! Consequently, his hurried gaze settled on Pan with a... unveiled hope for Pan. Maybe...

"Peter, have you seen Luke?!" Jake's voice sounded breathless and strained, and his fingers twitched in a restrained reflex to reach for Peter like a lifeline. "We already had Hook's coat and fled into the woods... But... he didn't arrive at the camp!"