Mara promptly got on her feet, kept her eyes on the Natives, it wasn't the first time she seen Natives, she had met a different tribe back in the Enchanted Forest as she was travelling and they helped her by offering food while she was hungry and ran out of food.

These Natives seemed different than the ones she met over a year ago, these people looked fierce and stern. Two of them are men, Mara noticed, I thought there were only children in Neverland. She didn't thought James meant only Native children but there were definitely adults on the island.

One man was exclaiming in an unfamiliar language with his scowling eyes shooting at Pan. The boy had a peevish look as he locked eyes with the Native man. James then approached forward and stopped beside Pan while uttering out the same language which surprised Mara acknowledging the fact that James can speak their language.

The man was arguing back at James, they both uttered in a strange language back at each other, James pointed once at Mara, he sounded like he was trying to explain the situation, it seemed he was explaining that they were only playing a game and Mara was trying to chase the boar.

Mara realized the line keeping the Natives and the Lost Boys from each other, it was like a treaty, crossing the line would violate the treaty, she now understood what was happening. She felt like she wanted to say something but the Natives wouldn't understand the common language.

"She was unaware of the line" Pan suddenly spoke, would they understand anyway? "She's new to the island, only arrived few days prior" he was glancing toward the Native girl.

The girl eyed at Mara, with a hint of confusion on her look then looked at Pan again and spoke in Native language.

"Few days is a long time," James translated "you could've mentioned it to her, but you failed. This is the third time this month. I said the last time if any of the Lost Boys crosses--"

"She isn't a boy, as you notice" Pan didn't let James finish translating, "Like you said last time, if another Lost Boy crosses the line, which she isn't but a Lost Girl, wouldn't count it as a rule right now since we haven't agreed on that little part"

The girl replied back in a same of her language. Mara wondered why speaking in Native language if this girl seems to understand what Pan was saying.

"Lost Girl, Lost Boy," James continued to translate "both same as Lost children, your people, it's the same thing, she crossed the line"

"She didn't cross it" Pan argued, "I stopped her from touching the line, she nearly did but I stopped her, no rule had been broken. If you could count the boar as my people" he seemed sarcastic at the last sentence.

The older Native boy, nearly a man was looking at the ground where the line might be, crouched down, removing the leafs then looked left to right side. Everything quieted down for a few moments as the Native boy seemed to be examining and investigating the ground. He then stood up, and spoke to the girl in their Native language.

James sighed in relief which hinted that it was all good. "She didn't cross it, almost did anyway but everything's good"

They all spoke as if Mara wasn't even standing there. The Native girl spoke out as they prepared to leave the site.

"Don't come near next time, otherwise my brother will shot her or the Lost Boys even if it's almost" James muttered as he translated.

Before they left, Mara didn't even think but only the game they were playing, "What about the flag?!" Immediately regretted for speaking out.

"Mara" James groaned quietly.

The Native girl did stop and turned to them and looked at Mara. She needed to explain herself, she wanted to say never mind and just part ways but since she knew this girl understands their language, she said in a nervous and awkward tone "The white sheet ... that is tied on the boar's leg...mind if you give us the white sheet only?" She paused for a few seconds, "...i--it belongs to us...can't have anything that belongs to us on your home, can you?"

She saw Pan staring at her in the corner of her eye, even he could hear James sighing.

The girl didn't seem to respond for a few moments until gesturing one of her people to go on. At first, Mara thought they could careless about what she had said until several moments later, one of her people came back with the flag then tossed it over the line and landed couple feet from her.

She reluctantly walked towards it then grabbed it. The Native girl was still standing there until the boy behind her walked away. "Good seeing you again, Lily" Pan said before the girl walked off.

"Hmph" she scoffed at him then left with the boy.

As they disappeared into the forest, that's when Pan began walking back, followed by James who nudged Mara's shoulder and she followed both boys back.

"Not even a week you've been here, and you've nearly gotten yourself killed more than twice" said Pan as he was leading them to wherever they going.

"How was I supposed to know that there was a treaty between you and the Natives when you failed to mention it to me?!" Mara exclaimed.

"Actually, my fault" James responded in a calm tone. "I know I was supposed to tell you everything yesterday even I had a chance to tell you about it when I mentioned Natives"

"Good job, James" Mara murmured sarcastically.

"You could have stopped back there--" Pan halted then turned around and faced Mara, "--James shouted at you to stop and you failed to listen"

"Sorry, I was too focused on winning your stupid game rather than to think about the rules which I have no knowledge of them all, maybe you could tell me all the rules before something like back there happens" Mara argued, James was standing between her and Pan.

He said nothing back for a moment but stared sternly at her before he could say something, instead James spoke "Like she said, she hasn't known everything about this place, it's not her fault and you know it. But starting today as of right now, I'll tell her everything so nothing like that will ever again" James was defending, "And also, like you said, she's new and it's been barely a week she's been here, would be too soon for any harsh punishments, don't you think? I really don't think it would be fair"

Pan paused for several seconds, he pursed his lips before smirking "You're right, I suppose" he then glanced at Mara around James's shoulder, "I'm giving you a chance, Mara and keep in mind that there will not be another one"

She said nothing but watched him walking away, Mara guessed he was leaving the two. James sighed, "Come on, we're heading back to the camp"

"You didn't need to do that, defending me and all, I could've handle it myself" she muttered.

"Trust me, you wouldn't" he started to walk forward, "You were only making it worse"

She went and followed James and they made their way back to the camp.

During the walk back to the camp, questions filled in Mara's thoughts, mostly about the Natives.

"So, why the whole bargaining between the Lost Boys and the Natives?" She asked.

"I truly do not know the full story between Pan and the Natives" James admitted, "All I know is that they were already here before he arrived in Neverland. I heard once from Felix that they were friends before and then Pan did something that angered them which caused the bargain to begin between him and the Natives."

She didn't know what else to say but then asked another question, "You speak Native tongue, how?"

"I was raised by a Native" he began, "she was similar as the same ones you saw, she had their language and she taught me how to speak it throughout my childhood. It's the biggest reason why Pan was interested and took me in from Captain Blackbeard"

"But that girl back there, she understands what we say in our language, how come she didn't speak back?"

"Our language is complicated for them to learn, especially when they speak it, she understands because she was taught by Pan long time ago" he explained, "Whenever she attempts to, all we could hear from her are only couple of words enough for us to understand what she's saying, so she doesn't bother whenever I'm around"

Mara was almost confused but thinks she fully understands. She almost forgot the flag in her hand, "Despite what happened, least there's a silver-lining--" she raised the flag as James looked at her, "--we got the flag"

He softly laughed in response.

"So anyways, anything else I should know about this place before I get myself killed next time?" She asked.

***

I had my book cover updated which was made by the brilliant TheLittleMissShadow  who happens to be the best graphic designer I've known in both Wattpad and Quotev ^_^

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter :)