Jane swallows her argument, and boosts Timothy ahead of her onto the rock. Once he has a hold, she scrambles up after him. As she pulls herself onto the flat ledge, a thought strikes her. What if, all this time, her mother’s stories really were about her, the Clever Tailor, and the time she spent in a magical land?

The thought frightens her, and Jane pushes it away, turning so she’s facing outward again. At least they can still see most of the cave from here. The faint orange glow seems to come from a place where the ground slopes downward. Whatever the source, it’s in the part of the cave that’s hidden.

“Wendy!” Peter’s shout comes from the direction of the cave entrance. Jane tenses, pressing herself flat against the stone. She should have known Peter would find them here, but is he calling her, or her mother?

“It’s—” Timothy starts, his voice too loud. Jane slaps a hand over his mouth, pulling him back into the shadows of the rock overhang.

Timothy squirms, and Jane hisses in his ear.

“Hush.”

When he stills, Jane lets go. His breathing remains fast, his eyes wide in the dark. Peter must know by now that she stole Timothy, and now he’s come looking for them both.

“I wish we had a weapon.” Jane tries not to move her lips as she speaks.

“I have this.” Timothy pulls a slingshot from the pocket of his ragged trousers, holding it out to her.

“You’re brilliant.” Jane would hug him, but the movement would be awkward on their platform. She settles for patting his shoulder. She still has the arrowhead she picked up from the path tucked into her sleeve. It fits perfectly into the leather sling, and she draws the weapon taut, sighting along her arm. She’s never fired a slingshot before, but how hard can it be? Peter’s boys surely aren’t trained hunters, and yet she saw them take down a wild boar. The rules in Neverland are different, and so it stands to reason that Jane can be a marksman too, if she tries.

There’s just enough light from the orange glow to allow Jane to see her mother standing with her hands on her hips, facing the entrance to the cave. She can’t see Tiger Lily anymore, but Jane is certain she must be nearby. Shouts echo, bouncing around the stone, then Peter bursts through the crack in the wall followed by Arthur, and a boy whose name Jane can’t remember. All three boys are armed with swords, but all three draw up short at the sight of her mother. Peter recovers first, jabbing an accusing finger in her direction.

“What are you doing here? You’re not allowed.”

“Yes, I am.” Her mother’s voice is steady. Jane edges forward, bracing Timothy’s slingshot against the rock. “You invited me.”