I've had this rolling about in my mind for quite a while now; I finally decided to write it. Please R&R! Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Anyala.


"Find anything yet?" Roxton called to Challenger as he approached their meeting place, a pleasant clearing in the woods.

"Nothing," Challenger called back, mopping his brow with his pocket- handkerchief. "You?"

Roxton shook his head. "You'd think there'd be plenty of game on an Amazonian plateau. Do you think we ought to—" He stopped suddenly, cocking his head.

"What is it?" Challenger asked in an undertone.

Roxton beckoned him to follow, and scrambled down a bank into some trees. Challenger followed suit. In a moment, he saw a young woman break into the clearing. She was running, but her strength seemed to be flagging. She was breathing hard, and was covered in scratches. With a glance behind her, she suddenly scrambled down the bank as well, only a few yards from where Challenger and Roxton hid. She didn't see them.

In another moment, two men ran into the clearing. Thinking the girl had run on into the forest, they didn't pause, but ran on. The young woman lay very still for a minute, then as Challenger and Roxton watched, she slowly and painfully climbed back up the bank and into the clearing. Her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees, panting.

Holding a finger to his lips, Roxton climbed quietly up the bank, Challenger behind him. The girl still didn't see them; kneeling on the ground with her head bowed and her chest heaving, she crowed for air.

Even when Roxton and Challenger were so close that their shadows fell on her, the girl didn't look up. Roxton trained his rifle on her. "Who are you?"

The girl leaped back from them in fright, her dazed eyes squinting up at them in the bright sun.

"Who are you? Why were those men chasing you?" Roxton asked again, slowly.

"I'm... They're..." the girl gasped, then her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Challenger crouched over her. She was dressed in dark blue, with sturdy-looking boots. Her clothing was of good quality, although at the moment it was rather muddy and a little torn. As was the girl. There were smudges of dirt and blood on her cheek and forehead, and her long brown hair was matted. Beneath the grime, her skin was pale and she looked a trifle green.

"She doesn't have any weapons," Roxton said, swinging his rifle over his shoulder.

"She's defenseless," Challenger agreed. "And who knows when those men will be back? We should take her to the treehouse."

"Do you really want to get involved in this?" Roxton asked.

"Well, we can't just leave her to the raptors. Besides, what harm can she do?" Challenger stood.

Roxton handed him his rifle and scooped up the girl. "With the kinds of people we meet on the plateau? The mind boggles."

"You've counted those diamonds too many times," Malone said, making Marguerite jump. "You know you'll always come up with the same number every time you count them, right?"

"I just like to be sure," Marguerite said with a smile and turning back to her work. Malone reached to touch one of the rough gems. Marguerite smacked the back of his hand. "I wish Veronica were here to keep you out of my hair."

"Well, you'll just have to wait a few days until she returns from visiting Asai," Malone retorted.

The elevator began to rise. "That must be Challenger and Roxton," he commented.

"And a guest," Roxton added, as they came into sight.

"Oh, no," Marguerite said, running over to them. "You didn't shoot another innocent passerby?!"

"No, I didn't," Roxton answered irritably. "For your information, this is merely a mission of mercy."

"Very alliterative. Are you sure this is a good idea?" Malone asked as Roxton carried the girl to Veronica's room and laid her on the bed.

"She's unarmed," Challenger answered. "She was being chased by two men; she's most likely a harmless victim."

"Around here, no one's harmless," Marguerite said under her breath.