Author's Note: This is my first attempt at a non-Potter fic, so I don't know how it'll do. It's all told from Jane's POV. She's a little more self-sufficient than the Jane in the Disney Tarzan and Edgar Rice Burrough's original version, but there'll still be some damsel moments to come.


The cool night air blew a few loose strands of hair into my face but I didn't bother to brush them away. The wind, the clear night sky, the sound of the waves slapping against the side of the boat far below me, and the black, silhouetted landscape across the water was all mesmerizing. It was as if I was put under hypnosis. If I was, it was self-inflicted. Since Dad told me about the trip a year before, I was anxious to come to Africa. I'd be able to help him study and observe gorillas. It had always been his dream since he was younger than me, but as soon as he had his degree he made good on his promise to marry Mom, then I came along and postponed that dream even further. Mom died when I was really young and that almost made him forget about it all together, but his work brought that dream back to life and he finally made the arrangements when he thought I'd be able to mostly handle myself in the jungle.

We were so close now. Only one boat ride to shore and we'd be on the beach at the edge of the jungle. I sighed in content at the thought.

"Enjoying the night sky, Ms. Porter?" a heavily accented voice said from another part of the deck. I turned my head and watched a dark figure approach me. I nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Zuma," I replied with a nod of the head. Mr. Zuma was a guide and one of the sailors on the ship. "Among other things." I smiled and turned my head back to look toward the shore.

"So anxious to go to such a terrible place," he remarked, shaking his head. "The jungle is not a safe place, Ms. Porter. You must take care inside there."

I nodded. "I know. Dad explained it all to me. I'll have a tranquilizer gun, and a flare gun, and a hunting knife. I think I'll be safe enough. Plus, I do plan on staying with the group. No wandering off for me." Zuma grinned.

"That's what I like to hear, Ms. Porter. You should go below deck now. Professor Porter wants to speak with you."

I nodded and the two of us turned to go below deck when an awful, piercing animal noise echoed to us across the water. It was very faint, but still loud enough for us to hear distinctly. Animals within the jungle screamed in response in some sort of off-key chorus. Zuma laughed and clapped me on the shoulder.

"Looks like you won't have any trouble finding those gorillas!" he said. I smiled a little before going down below deck. Zuma followed.

Dad was in a cabin where the crew usually played card games. Besides myself and Zuma in the room, there was, Dad, Mr. Philander-a fellow colleague-, Dad's T.A. Will Clayton, Will's friend Luke Canler, a friend of Zuma's named Petrus and his son Cyril, my Aunt Esme, and several crew members that would be coming along to assist. When I came in, Will stood up and held out his chair for me. I reluctantly accepted the gesture. He was only doing it to show off to my Dad and keep him on his good side. I don't know why he was bothering to go to college, anyway. He was already the heir to the Greystoke business. All he had to do was be born.

"Ah, Jane!" Dad exclaimed when I sat down. Will pulled another chair a little too close for comfort. "Mr. Ghazi here was about to show us where we will be making camp." I nodded and kicked Will in the shin as hard as I could. He deserved it.

"There's a little clearing just up the beach from where we'll land," Ghazi said, pointing to the shore on the map. "My men and I cleared a path last month wide enough for us to move efficiently through it. We will be taking turns during the night guarding the camp."

"Remember what I told you about that!" Dad interrupted. Ghazi sighed.

"We remember. We are not to shoot if it's a gorilla unless we are in true physical danger." When my Dad nodded, he continued. "We'll spend tomorrow setting up the camp. The captain and the rest of the crew will remain on the ship offshore for a few days but they'll go back to port until this expedition of yours is over. We should then try travelling north and see if we get any luck with spotting them."

Half an hour later, we all called it a night and went to get dinner. I managed to avoid Will, but not Luke. Where Will was annoying, Luke was…never mind, they were both annoying.

"Hey, Jane," he said as he sauntered up to my side.

I rolled my eyes. "I've told you and Will before: I hate you and if I didn't, it'd be illegal. I'm still seventeen."

"I wasn't going to say that, but since you're offering…" I punched him in the gut. He grunted in pain. Wimp.

"I was just going to say," he continued, "that I'm willing to stand guard at your tent all night. I'm sure I can keep those gorillas away barehanded."

"You know, I think you could too!" I said sincerely.

"Because you know I'm just that strong?" he asks, puffing out his chest.

"No, because you're just that ugly," I retorted. "Not even a gorilla would come that near your face. Ugh," I shuddered. Then I shoved past him to get my dinner. I brought it back to my cabin so I could eat in relative peace. I shared the room with my Aunt Esme and I'd be sharing a tent with her on land. While I ate, I took out my sketch pad and drew the best that I could of the dark landscape that was so short a distance away. I was excited to start out tomorrow. Though, I could do without finding out which gorilla made the call I heard earlier. If that happened, I'd be happy and lucky.