Narrator

  Now for a brief moment, I must bring you back to the present, as it seems James and his crew have noticed a change in the air.

  Rarely is there calm in Neverland, but this is an unexpected stirring, and it causes a reasonable feeling of unease.

  Smee

  There was something different about today. Smee scanned the ship’s deck carefully. Unlike his captain and his troublesome brother, Smee didn’t have a connection to Neverland, but after spending so long on its shores he had gained a knowing.

  An instinct honed by the island’s whims, he could feel when danger was about and could sense a storm hours before it hit.

  Smee fiddled with his hat and pushed his glasses up. Yes, something was different, there was a sense of anticipation in the air. Looking around he found his captain already out of his room, James stood proudly at the helm of the ship next to Jonathan who kept a steady hand on the wheel.

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  Hurrying over Smee fidgeted nervously. “Captain, somethings in the air today.”

  James nodded slowly. “Yes, I can feel it. How are the stores, are we stocked up?” He asked and turned away from the sea.

  “Yes, I checked them last night. Also, the lads are nearing perfect health. I reckon another week or two and they’ll be ready to go.” Smee reported and checked another box on his mental list.

  “Also Lornsen is nearing 20 now, 16 days to go.” James raised a brow and hummed. “Is that so, time passes quickly.”

  Jonathan snorted quietly and Smee tried not to show his discomfort. “Yes,” he murmured, “It does.”

  “Right, call him to my office then. And Jonathan get your brothers out as well. Smee’s right something’s different about today and we don’t want to get caught unaware.” James ordered and then left.

  Smee sighed, the weight of the years may not show upon his captain’s face but he could still see it in the way the man walked.

  “It will be okay Smee, Captain’s got it all handled,” Jonathan grunted. “Call my brothers for me, will ya?”

  “Of course,” Smee nodded and made his way to the crew quarters below.