It was yet another lovely day in Neverland. The sky was blue, the wind was cool, and the sun filled the island with warmth and light. The sounds of yet another battle between mortal man and child were gone, and peace returned to most of the inhabitants of the land. But for the combatants, chaos still ruled as both sides looked to their own to ask: What the hell is going on?

Slightly stared at the ground, unwilling to look into the livid face of his leader. “It’s not what you think, Peter,” he said weakly, too hurt to find the energy to defend himself.

“Well, what ELSE could it be? How long have you been a traitor, Slightly?” Pan snarled. The other Lost Boys just stared in shock, wishing Wendy was here to intervene.

“I never betrayed you!” Slightly cried, “Billy is my friend, but he’s a pirate and I’m a Lost Boy…”

“No, you’re not,” Peter said coldly.

“What?” all the boys gasped together.

“You’re banished, Slightly,” Peter continued. “You lied to me, made the pirates your allies and proved yourself untrustworthy. You’re no longer a Lost Boy!”

Slightly felt himself grow faint, stunned by Peter’s decision. He stared in shock at the boy he’d always considered his oldest friend. “Peter, no,” he moaned and held out his hands pleadingly.

“Peter, he’s hurt!” Nibs cried, seeing the blood covering the boy’s right hand.

The anger in Peter gave way to concern and he stepped closer to see. “Slightly? What happened? Where are you hurt?”

Slightly looked at the blood on his hand, then tucked it back under his vest and recovered the gash in his side. “It’s just a scratch,” he lied as he became angry. “Why do you care? I’m slightly not a Lost Boy anymore!”

“You’re our friend,” Nibs began, but Slightly cut him off.

“Friends don’t turn on you because they slightly dislike your other friends! Captain Hook clipped me when I pushed Tootles out of the way, and that’s why Billy helped me. But slightly none of you cared to ask. You saw me and Billy together in the fight and assumed I betrayed you.” Slightly paused to catch his breath and swayed a bit as he began to feel dizzy.

Peter and Nibs continued to approach, worried now that they could see the blood seeping through the boy’s vest. “Slightly, calm down and sit. We have to stop your bleeding,” Peter said softly.

“Stay away!” Slightly yelled as he backed up. He was too angry to be reasoned with and too hurt emotionally by his friends’ complete lack of faith in him. “You don’t want me, fine! Don’t pretend anymore that you care, just leave me alone!” He turned and ran heedlessly into the forest.

“Slightly!” Curly called and looked at Peter. “What do we do?”

“Let him go to his pirate friends, for all I care!” Peter yelled. Then his eyes fell on the drops of blood on the grass and fear filled him again. “I didn’t mean it. We have to find him. He’s hurt and upset and he could get in worse trouble.” The boys flew into the trees to find Slightly.

An hour or so later, Slightly staggered to the edge of the river and stopped. He stared at the fast-flowing water and thought, trying to figure out what to do. He faintly heard his name being called and looked up, frowning. He’d been hiding and dodging Peter and the boys all this time, and he was tired. He knew he probably should let them help him, that he was injured, but he was still angry and really didn’t want to talk to any of them right now.

I need to get across. They won’t look for me over there. Not too far after that and I’ll be in the Indian village, he thought. He was just above Forget-Me-Not Falls, and the water was too swift to wade in. But there were lots of boulders protruding above the surface, so he figured he could jump from rock to rock. I slightly wish I could fly, but Peter stopped that when he banished me. He took a deep breath and leapt to the first boulder, then to the next.

“Slightly!” came a call, and the boy looked up to see Peter on the bank. “Leave me alone, Peter,” Slightly called back, struggling to keep his balance.

“I’m sorry, Slightly, I was wrong. Please let me help you and we’ll talk,” Peter offered, drifting towards him.

Peter Pan is apologizing? Slightly thought in disbelief. “That’s two slightly impossible things today,” the boy mused, “my family disowns me and you admit you’re wrong.”

“I don’t understand how you and Jukes are friends, but I want to. I shouldn’t have gotten mad. Please, take my hand and lets go home,” Peter said as he floated before Slightly and held out his hands.

Slightly stared for a moment and then nodded. He was tired and he wanted his friends back. He held out his hands, leaning forward to reach, and cried out as he lost his footing on the slick rocks and fell into the icy water.

“Slightly, no!” Peter called. He tried to catch the boy, but Slightly’s hand was slick with blood and he couldn’t hold him. He darted over the water, looking for a sign, but the boy didn’t resurface.

The falls! he thought and raced to the waterfall. He crowed loudly, summoning the other boys and any allies within hearing, and continued his search. But Slightly, alive or dead, was nowhere to be seen.

End Chapter 1