"Pan is helping me," Cora said, smiling as she looked at them. "You never will be strong enough to kill me, Rumplestiltskin, but you will always be a thorn in my side. Unless I get rid of you first."

Tina tensed at that, having gotten to her feet as well.

"As I recall, Cora, I'm not the one who came off worse in our last encounter," Gold pointed out, moving a bit so he was in front of Tina. "Now tell me, what did Pan ask for in exchange for this so-called power?"

"You dead," Cora said pleasantly. "He seems to think like I do; you've made quite a few enemies over the years."

"Unfortunately for you both, dying isn't in my plans," Gold said. "And I like to think I'm remarkably good at not dying." He began to gather his magic, waiting for the opportune moment to take Cora down.

Cora looked at him. "It might not be in your plans, but it will happen," she said. "You've left yourself vulnerable." She was gathering her magic as well, watching him. Him and Rachel.

Gold noticed.

"Now what could you want with her, I wonder?" he said. "Barely trained, hardly a threat." An understatement, but he needed to make Cora think Rachel was helpless. If Cora was only focused on him, he could concentrate on just taking her down.

"Untrained? With you around? Now, now, I know better," Cora said. "She could be a threat. She might not know much, but she could. I won't take that risk."

"I think you're becoming paranoid in your old age, dearie," Gold said with a bit of a smirk.

"Paranoid? Or smart?" Cora shook her head, lifting one hand. "Perhaps you've simply become too arrogant."

Gold had several spells at the ready, in order to deflect, intercept, reflect, or otherwise interrupt whatever Cora had planned. No matter what else she had learned, he had taught her most of what she knew, and he knew how she was likely to act.

"Anyone who makes deals with Peter Pan is paranoid and desperate, dearie," he said. "No smart person would do such a thing."

Cora just smiled, refusing to rise to his bait. Perhaps now wouldn't be the best time. She'd have to see about separating them first.

"Anyone on the island is here until Pan lets them leave. I have all the time I want." Abruptly she dropped her hand and vanished.

Gold didn't release the magic he'd gathered until he was sure Cora was far away.

"That makes things problematic," he said as he dusted his hands a bit.

"Yes." Hook shook his head, glancing at Gold. "She just wants to kill you two?" he asked, shifting so he could get his arm around Rachel.

Rachel cuddled closer to Killian, seeking comfort.

"Indeed," Gold replied. "Cora hates competition. Given the chance, she would be the Dark One herself." He was quiet for a moment. "However, if we manage to survive long enough that she turns her attention on Pan..."

Hook pulled her closer, rubbing her back.

"What, you think she'll turn on him?" Tina asked, frowning.

"I'm hoping they turn on each other," Gold said as he prodded the fire. "I don't doubt that Pan will double-cross her the first chance he gets. I'm just hoping she realizes that he's just as much of a threat as we are, if not moreso."

Tina cautiously settled down again, waiting to see what would happen next.

Everything was quiet for a few more hours. The first sign something was wrong was an arrow landing solidly between the two couples.

Hook got to his feet quickly, pulling Rachel up with him with a quiet curse.

Gold also pulled Tina away, glancing up at the trees to see if he could find the shooter. He already hated the Lost Boys; if he found this one, he wouldn't be at all broken up about flambeing him.

Rachel was also looking towards the trees, trying to find where the arrow came from. Because that was definitely not something she wanted aimed at her next, or at Killian.

The next arrow landed at Gold's feet, two more landing near Hook and Rachel. More than one of them, then. Hook backed up a bit, trying to find them.

When one arrow nearly hit Tina, the feathers brushing her arm and leaving a little cut, she backed up behind a tree, tempted to bolt.

Gold moved with Tina, although he was reluctant to split the group up. He was not at all confident that Rachel could defend herself against Cora. It didn't seem like they had a choice, however, and Gold took Tina into the tree cover.

"We should get out of here," Rachel said to Killian. "Find somewhere a bit safer."

Hook nodded and pulled her with as he moved into the tree line, away from Tina and Gold. Which he didn't realize until he'd stopped a little bit later, after they'd stopped being shot at.

Tina noticed the same thing when she stopped. It had been a few minutes since anyone had shot at her, which she counted as a plus. At least Gold was with her.

Rachel realized it at about the same time.

"This is probably not a good thing," she murmured, casting a bit of fire so they could see. It was getting dark quickly under the trees.

"Damn," Gold muttered when he realized. "They split us up."

"It's not," Hook said, his eyes narrowed. "It was intentional, I'm sure." He looked around. "We'll not be able to find them tonight, I'm afraid."

"Yeah." Tina shivered briefly. "Probably want us split up. You're okay, but the rest of us aren't so well prepared."

"Yeah, I didn't think so," Rachel said. She moved a bit closer to Killian. "We'll have to find somewhere to settle for the night."

"The pirate's been here before," Gold said. "He should be able to take care of Rachel for one night." He nudged Tina a bit. "Come along, we should find shelter."

"Right." Hook started walking again, looking for a sheltered little place for them. Fortunately it didn't take him long, and he ushered her under the natural shelter of a tree.

Tina nodded and followed him, looking around as the temperature dropped and it got dark. She followed Gold a little more closely than necessary.