⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ⊹ ۪ 𖥔 ˑ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ
( One - War of hearts )

"IF IT'S ANOTHER lost boy, why does he have such long hair?" Grey questioned.

"You mustn't assume someone's gender, Grey." River informed, "They may not even have a gender!"

"Woah, that's so cool River! I never knew that!" Elijah exclaimed.

"Why would Pan bring another, after what happened?" Blythe bitterly remarked.

"True, it's almost like he's trying to replace Wen-" Wyatt's voice was cut off.

"Tsk Tsk Eli! We're not meant to speak of her!"

"Speak of who?" Autumn propped herself up weakly on both her elbows. Curiosity was all that invaded her mind.

Furrowing her eyebrows, she watched as the band of boys scurried closer together. They all stared, pupils filled with wonder.

"For your information, I am a girl. . ." Her outgoing expression dropped, "Hang on, I don't know you guys. I don't even know myself! What's my name? Where am I? What kind of country am I in? God, what happened to my clothes? My hair? Have I lost my mind? Am I dreaming?" Autumn pinches herself, then immediately whelped when it was not true.

The boys turned their backs on her, some were amused, others' breaths were taken by the female who stood just a meter away from them. Their attention was completely wrapped around the puzzling girl.

Blythe slowly scratched his head, "Did Pan give you any orders on what to do with her?" He scanned all their faces, and vigorously they shook their heads. "That's just great isn't it? Why don't we try to put her back to London. We don't want history to repeat itself now do we?"

"But what if Pan sent her here for a reason?" River suggested.

Through slitted eyes, Blythe examined Autumn. "Perhaps."

"Do any of you recognise her?" He asked. Blythe brought his attention down to the younger children, and sighed when they all shook their heads once again.

Brambles scattered amongst them, iridescent flowers bloomed in bushes. Perfumes of fruits littered the forest.There were colours Autumn had never seen before. They encircled her, and caused her to do double-takes at them all. It caused a head ache to form in her skull, too much was happening at once.

The youngest within the group, had the most curiosity. With his head full of awe, he noticed how Autumn stooped low to admire some flowers. Grey laced his fingers around a stem and plucked one off.

"Hullo miss . . ." He wholeheartedly reached his hand out.

Autumn cooed, hand flying to her chest, and adored her welcome gift. "Oh I remember my name! My names, Autumn, my names Autumn! Thank you so much, it's beautiful." She ruffled his hair, and pulled him into an embrace.

Carefully, Bylthe's eyes trained on her, never letting her out of his sight. "What do you suggest we do with her Blythe?" Wyatt looked up to him, tapping him lightly on the arm.

"We wait, 'till Pan recommends an idea-" Sighing dramatically he rolled his eyes. They all watched as Autumn began to leg it through the orange pathway. "Actually no, I think we all know what happens when someone tries to escape Neverland."

Wyatt whimpered, fearing the worse for the girl.

However, there was one boy who knew she would be okay. Just, something within River knew, that harm could never lay a finger on her.

With the small gift flopping about in her left pocket, she sprinted. Unfamiliar sightings of trees with meandering lanes crossed her vision. There were leaves scattered before her, with a colour palette of fire. Water droplets of rain dripped onto her hair, they fell from the skeletal branches.

Decreasing her momentum, her boots heavily trudged. Finding a dry spot in between two trees, Autumn decided to have a rest. The land seemed infinite, and with the sun dipping low, there was no way she could escape in time.

Despair seared across her chest. The burden of not knowing where she was too much. She didn't even know who she was. Autumn felt out of place- she stuck out like a sore thumb, even the nature around her could see that.

She covered her face with both her palms, weeping silently into them, soaking the grass beneath her. Autumn didn't realise how her tears planted pretty plants into the ground. They bloomed beside her. But, sadness took a toll over her mind, she didn't realise it at all.

"It's okay let it all out, Autumn."

Autumn abruptly sat up, dazed. "How did you find me? And, how do you know my name?"

River simply shrugged, "Grey told me, the little boy who gave you that lisianthus flower. Might I say, those flowers are my favourite. I came here too, when I first arrived in Neverland." he shifted his weight from the side of the tree to his right leg.

Her eyes softened at the name of the sweet boy who welcomed her with such a gift. "Neverland? Is that where we are?"

"I'm afraid so." River hung his head low, uncomfortably kicking a pebble. "Once you're here you can't get out, Pan's orders." Skipping closer to her, he offered his hand.

She gratefully took it. "That's awful! Who's Pan? Why would someone name their child Pan?" Stumbling slightly, she flicked away any signs of her weeping.

He chuckled, "You ask a lot of questions. But, it's good, questions are fun. Though, you may have to be careful with your questions." River warned, fully facing the girl.

"Why?"

"Because questions lead to answers, and answers lead to hope. Hope is a dangerous thing to hold on to, because once you loose it, the soul can be completely shattered by reality."

Autumn's eyes widened, her heart pulsing quickly due to how truthful his words were. "You seem to speak from experience?"

"Quite so, though, I can't seem to remember why I know this piece of advice." Being lost in thought, he scavenged for an answer. But, nothing was found.

"Anyways, enough of that talk. I've realised I never introduced myself. I'm River. I have a feeling we'd be great friends. It's good to make friends here, making enemies would be unnecessary stress." He extended a palm for her to shake.

She took it, "Why hello River! It's a pleasure to meet you. Even though, I am absolutely petrified, I look forward to meeting the others." Autumn returned a grateful smile, it was quickly replaced with a frown. She sniffed her clothing, God she smelt awful, "Uh River, by any chance do you have somewhere to wash around here?"

"Oh yes, that's where we're heading right now, you'll see."

Following after him, Autumn's eyes brightened at every passing butterfly. Her worries were beginning to clear. Though it felt wrong to have hope, she had just a smear of it, just within her heart.