"Well, that was fun." Marguerite noted sarcastically.
She, Veronica and Roxton were on their way home after a rather long day spent searching for some flower or another Challenger had sent them to find.
"Next time, Challenger can find his own blasted flower." She muttered angrily.
"It wouldn't have been so bad if the T-Rex hadn't tried to make a meal of us." Roxton commented. "And at least we know where the flower can be found."
"Next to a T-Rex nest. Yes, very helpful." Marguerite snapped.
"Wait." Veronica stopped. "Did you hear that?"
"Don't tell me the blasted thing is following us." Marguerite glanced around.
"No, it sounded like a raptor."
"Even better." Roxton joked as he shifted his gun.
A scream pierced the air around them. A human scream.
"Over there." Roxton exclaimed.
And they were off.
~*~*~*~*~
Luckily, there were only two raptors, and the three were able to kill
them rather quickly.
"Raptor steak. We haven't had that in awhile." Marguerite smiled as she put her hand gun away.
"That's not all we've found." Veronica exclaimed.
Roxton and Marguerite made their way over to her, curious as to what Veronica was talking about.
It was a teenage girl with tan skin, and long dark brown hair. She was unconscious, with a rather large cut on her head.
"So, that is what the raptors were after." Marguerite spoke.
"Let's get her back to the Treehouse." Roxton said as he lifted the small girl into his arms.
~*~*~*~*~
"Did you find the flower?" Challenger called as the elevator rose.
"Right next to a T-Rex nest. You can go get it yourself." Marguerite informed him.
"Look what else we found." Roxton spoke.
The elevator had finished its climb by now, and the three of them were stepping out of it.
"What happened to her?" Malone asked as he entered the room.
"Raptors almost got her." Veronica told them. "She must have tripped and hit her head."
"Yes, that is quite a nasty cut." Challenger nodded. "Bring her in here."
Roxton placed the girl upon the spare bed gently, and Veronica got to work cleaning out the gash on her head.
"She should be waking up soon." Challenger spoke. "It doesn't look like she was hurt too badly."
"Any idea who she is?" Malone questioned.
"Her clothes don't seem to belong to any of the tribes in this area." Veronica noted.
She was wearing a regal looking dark blue gown. The material resembling silk. A long skirt with slits up the sides, and a cropped top, without sleeves. Around her waist was a silver chain, decorated with little silver stars and moons. And around her neck was what looked like an entwined star and moon carved in gold and silver.
"Well, look at this." Marguerite murmured as she reached for the girl's necklace.
As her fingers brushed against it, the girl's hand shot up and grabbed Marguerite's wrist. Her eyes flying open as she sat up.
"Where am I?" She demanded as she glanced around the room quickly, her dark blue eyes wide.
Marguerite pulled her arm out of the girl's grasp, massaging her wrist with her other hand.
"Girl's got quite a grip." She tried to laugh it off.
"It's all right." Challenger assured the frightened girl. "You're safe. We won't hurt you."
She scanned the room once more, and then finally seemed to relax.
"Safe." She whispered. Seemingly testing how the word felt. "For now, maybe." She turned her attention back to the people surrounding her. "Who are you?"
"Lord John Roxton, Marguerite Krux, Veronica, Professor George Challenger, and I an Ned Malone." Malone introduced them, pointing at each in turn.
"I.. I am Keira." She introduced herself.
"And what were you doing in the jungle all by yourself, Keira?" Veronica asked her gently.
Keira shuddered at the memory.
"I was, ah.. Looking for berries for the pie my mother was going to make." She lied.
But they seemed to believe her.
"Where is your mother now?" Challenger pressed.
"Dead." Keira spoke softly. "They.. they killed her. They're going to kill me." She inhaled deeply. "I have to get out of here. They'll kill you too."
Keira moved to get out of the bed, but Challenger held her back.
"Don't worry, you're safe here. We won't let them harm you." He assured her.
"I can take care of myself." The teenage girl snapped.
"Where have I heard that before?" Roxton muttered, sneaking a glance at Marguerite.
Marguerite just glared at him.
"We can't let you go out there by yourself, Keira. It's already getting dark, and you're too young to be roaming the jungle." Malone told her.
"I'm 15 years old, and I already told you, I can take care of myself." Keira insisted. "Thank you for saving me, but I cannot stay here."
"Just stay the night." Roxton pressed. "And in the morning, we'll figure out what to do."
Keira sighed. She *was* tired..
"Fine." She agreed sullenly. "But what if they show up during the night?"
"Then we'll protect you." Roxton assured her. "Like Challenger said, you're safe here."
The small girl nodded as she absently fingered her necklace.
~*~*~*~*~
"Who do you think is after her?" Challenger asked as he, Roxton, and Marguerite left the room.
"Who knows. She doesn't seem like she wants to talk about it." Roxton noted.
"We can't leave her alone." Challenger insisted. "She might decide to leave halfway through the night."
"I can stay with her." Marguerite shrugged.
The two men regarded her, seemingly shocked.
"What?" Marguerite demanded.
"Nothing." Challenger assured her quickly.
Marguerite's gaze was colder than ice.
"So, it's settled then. Marguerite will take the first watch. I can take second." Roxton volunteered.
"Don't think I can handle it?" Marguerite asked sharply.
"No, I just thought you might like to get *some* sleep tonight." Roxton smiled slightly.
~*~*~*~*~
"That should do it." Veronica smiled as she finished cleaning Keira's cut.
"Good as new." Malone agreed.
"Thanks." Keira smiled weakly.
Marguerite entered the room, and Malone got up to talk to her.
"I'll be taking first watch." Marguerite explained. "Roxton's taking the second."
"Sounds good. She looks like she might flee at any second." Malone nodded towards the girl.
Marguerite nodded her agreement as Malone left.
Veronica gathered the bandages and walked towards the door.
"Sweet dreams." She spoke before exiting.
Keira stood, and walked towards the window. Her eyes scanning the ground below.
"You know, I could get you something more comfortable to sleep in, if you would like." Marguerite said as she on the edge of the bed.
Keira smoothed out the front of her skirt.
"No, I'm fine, Thank you." She declined.
"If I had an outfit that nice, I wouldn't want to change out of it either." Marguerite smiled.
Keira turned to face her.
"You don't have to stay with me. I won't run away."
"I know. I just though you might like the company." Marguerite offered.
Keira joined Marguerite on the bed, absently tucking her hair behind her ear.
"So, what really happened out there?" Marguerite asked gently.
"What do you mean?" Keira asked, evasively.
"I don't believe for a second that you were out picking berries. We have a saying where I come from. You can't kid a kidder."
"My people.. they live a good week from here. My father died about a month ago, and it was decided that I would be the one to take his place as ruler. Since I am older than my brother, I mean."
"Ah, a princess." Marguerite exclaimed.
"I almost became a queen. But, my brother, and the rebels he leads.. they attacked during my coronation. There aren't words for what they did to my mother." Keira inhaled deeply. "I escaped, and I have been running for such a long time.."
Tears spilled over her lashes, and she quickly wiped them away.
"I thought that if I could find someone who would help me, I would be able to return to my home and free my people from my brother's wicked rule."
"We'll help you any way we can." Marguerite assured her.
Keira nodded.
"Yes, I know."
~*~*~*~*~
Two hours later, Marguerite was standing at the window, admiring the stars. They were so clearer here than they ever were back in London.
She turned around just in time to see Keira bolt upright.
The teenager's breathing was faster than usual, to the point where she was almost gasping for air.
"What is it?" Marguerite asked.
"Just a Nightmare." Keira told her. "I keep seeing my mother as they are ripping the flesh from her bones.." Keira sobbed.
"Hey, it's all right." Marguerite assured her as she sat next to her on the bed. "We'll make them pay for what they did."
Keira nodded absently as she placed her head on Marguerite's shoulder.
"Just, try to think of something else." She advised.
After a moment of silence, Keira spoke.
"Is it hard for you?" She asked. "Never having known your parents, I mean."
Marguerite pulled away from the girl, shocked.
"Excuse me?" She forced a laugh. "What are you talking about?"
"I can read people's emotions.. sometimes their thoughts. One of my gifts." Keira explained. "That's why you stayed, isn't it. Because you know what it's like to be without parents."
Marguerite sighed, and relaxed again.
"Try to get some more sleep." She avoided the questions. "It'll be a long day tomorrow."
Keira placed her head in Marguerite's lap and closed her eyes.
"It must be hard." She murmured. "Being two different people.. Appearing so cold hearted.. it must kill you."
She could feel Marguerite inhale sharply.
"Isn't it so much easier to be yourself?" She asked.
"Time.. it does strange things to people." Marguerite replied softly. "And sometimes, even though something appears easier, it isn't always so."
"Or maybe you're just afraid." Keira yawned. "But it's all right. Even Queens get frightened."
And with that, Keira fell asleep once more.
Marguerite blinked back her tears. The child spoke too much.. knew too much for her liking.
She, Veronica and Roxton were on their way home after a rather long day spent searching for some flower or another Challenger had sent them to find.
"Next time, Challenger can find his own blasted flower." She muttered angrily.
"It wouldn't have been so bad if the T-Rex hadn't tried to make a meal of us." Roxton commented. "And at least we know where the flower can be found."
"Next to a T-Rex nest. Yes, very helpful." Marguerite snapped.
"Wait." Veronica stopped. "Did you hear that?"
"Don't tell me the blasted thing is following us." Marguerite glanced around.
"No, it sounded like a raptor."
"Even better." Roxton joked as he shifted his gun.
A scream pierced the air around them. A human scream.
"Over there." Roxton exclaimed.
And they were off.
~*~*~*~*~
Luckily, there were only two raptors, and the three were able to kill
them rather quickly.
"Raptor steak. We haven't had that in awhile." Marguerite smiled as she put her hand gun away.
"That's not all we've found." Veronica exclaimed.
Roxton and Marguerite made their way over to her, curious as to what Veronica was talking about.
It was a teenage girl with tan skin, and long dark brown hair. She was unconscious, with a rather large cut on her head.
"So, that is what the raptors were after." Marguerite spoke.
"Let's get her back to the Treehouse." Roxton said as he lifted the small girl into his arms.
~*~*~*~*~
"Did you find the flower?" Challenger called as the elevator rose.
"Right next to a T-Rex nest. You can go get it yourself." Marguerite informed him.
"Look what else we found." Roxton spoke.
The elevator had finished its climb by now, and the three of them were stepping out of it.
"What happened to her?" Malone asked as he entered the room.
"Raptors almost got her." Veronica told them. "She must have tripped and hit her head."
"Yes, that is quite a nasty cut." Challenger nodded. "Bring her in here."
Roxton placed the girl upon the spare bed gently, and Veronica got to work cleaning out the gash on her head.
"She should be waking up soon." Challenger spoke. "It doesn't look like she was hurt too badly."
"Any idea who she is?" Malone questioned.
"Her clothes don't seem to belong to any of the tribes in this area." Veronica noted.
She was wearing a regal looking dark blue gown. The material resembling silk. A long skirt with slits up the sides, and a cropped top, without sleeves. Around her waist was a silver chain, decorated with little silver stars and moons. And around her neck was what looked like an entwined star and moon carved in gold and silver.
"Well, look at this." Marguerite murmured as she reached for the girl's necklace.
As her fingers brushed against it, the girl's hand shot up and grabbed Marguerite's wrist. Her eyes flying open as she sat up.
"Where am I?" She demanded as she glanced around the room quickly, her dark blue eyes wide.
Marguerite pulled her arm out of the girl's grasp, massaging her wrist with her other hand.
"Girl's got quite a grip." She tried to laugh it off.
"It's all right." Challenger assured the frightened girl. "You're safe. We won't hurt you."
She scanned the room once more, and then finally seemed to relax.
"Safe." She whispered. Seemingly testing how the word felt. "For now, maybe." She turned her attention back to the people surrounding her. "Who are you?"
"Lord John Roxton, Marguerite Krux, Veronica, Professor George Challenger, and I an Ned Malone." Malone introduced them, pointing at each in turn.
"I.. I am Keira." She introduced herself.
"And what were you doing in the jungle all by yourself, Keira?" Veronica asked her gently.
Keira shuddered at the memory.
"I was, ah.. Looking for berries for the pie my mother was going to make." She lied.
But they seemed to believe her.
"Where is your mother now?" Challenger pressed.
"Dead." Keira spoke softly. "They.. they killed her. They're going to kill me." She inhaled deeply. "I have to get out of here. They'll kill you too."
Keira moved to get out of the bed, but Challenger held her back.
"Don't worry, you're safe here. We won't let them harm you." He assured her.
"I can take care of myself." The teenage girl snapped.
"Where have I heard that before?" Roxton muttered, sneaking a glance at Marguerite.
Marguerite just glared at him.
"We can't let you go out there by yourself, Keira. It's already getting dark, and you're too young to be roaming the jungle." Malone told her.
"I'm 15 years old, and I already told you, I can take care of myself." Keira insisted. "Thank you for saving me, but I cannot stay here."
"Just stay the night." Roxton pressed. "And in the morning, we'll figure out what to do."
Keira sighed. She *was* tired..
"Fine." She agreed sullenly. "But what if they show up during the night?"
"Then we'll protect you." Roxton assured her. "Like Challenger said, you're safe here."
The small girl nodded as she absently fingered her necklace.
~*~*~*~*~
"Who do you think is after her?" Challenger asked as he, Roxton, and Marguerite left the room.
"Who knows. She doesn't seem like she wants to talk about it." Roxton noted.
"We can't leave her alone." Challenger insisted. "She might decide to leave halfway through the night."
"I can stay with her." Marguerite shrugged.
The two men regarded her, seemingly shocked.
"What?" Marguerite demanded.
"Nothing." Challenger assured her quickly.
Marguerite's gaze was colder than ice.
"So, it's settled then. Marguerite will take the first watch. I can take second." Roxton volunteered.
"Don't think I can handle it?" Marguerite asked sharply.
"No, I just thought you might like to get *some* sleep tonight." Roxton smiled slightly.
~*~*~*~*~
"That should do it." Veronica smiled as she finished cleaning Keira's cut.
"Good as new." Malone agreed.
"Thanks." Keira smiled weakly.
Marguerite entered the room, and Malone got up to talk to her.
"I'll be taking first watch." Marguerite explained. "Roxton's taking the second."
"Sounds good. She looks like she might flee at any second." Malone nodded towards the girl.
Marguerite nodded her agreement as Malone left.
Veronica gathered the bandages and walked towards the door.
"Sweet dreams." She spoke before exiting.
Keira stood, and walked towards the window. Her eyes scanning the ground below.
"You know, I could get you something more comfortable to sleep in, if you would like." Marguerite said as she on the edge of the bed.
Keira smoothed out the front of her skirt.
"No, I'm fine, Thank you." She declined.
"If I had an outfit that nice, I wouldn't want to change out of it either." Marguerite smiled.
Keira turned to face her.
"You don't have to stay with me. I won't run away."
"I know. I just though you might like the company." Marguerite offered.
Keira joined Marguerite on the bed, absently tucking her hair behind her ear.
"So, what really happened out there?" Marguerite asked gently.
"What do you mean?" Keira asked, evasively.
"I don't believe for a second that you were out picking berries. We have a saying where I come from. You can't kid a kidder."
"My people.. they live a good week from here. My father died about a month ago, and it was decided that I would be the one to take his place as ruler. Since I am older than my brother, I mean."
"Ah, a princess." Marguerite exclaimed.
"I almost became a queen. But, my brother, and the rebels he leads.. they attacked during my coronation. There aren't words for what they did to my mother." Keira inhaled deeply. "I escaped, and I have been running for such a long time.."
Tears spilled over her lashes, and she quickly wiped them away.
"I thought that if I could find someone who would help me, I would be able to return to my home and free my people from my brother's wicked rule."
"We'll help you any way we can." Marguerite assured her.
Keira nodded.
"Yes, I know."
~*~*~*~*~
Two hours later, Marguerite was standing at the window, admiring the stars. They were so clearer here than they ever were back in London.
She turned around just in time to see Keira bolt upright.
The teenager's breathing was faster than usual, to the point where she was almost gasping for air.
"What is it?" Marguerite asked.
"Just a Nightmare." Keira told her. "I keep seeing my mother as they are ripping the flesh from her bones.." Keira sobbed.
"Hey, it's all right." Marguerite assured her as she sat next to her on the bed. "We'll make them pay for what they did."
Keira nodded absently as she placed her head on Marguerite's shoulder.
"Just, try to think of something else." She advised.
After a moment of silence, Keira spoke.
"Is it hard for you?" She asked. "Never having known your parents, I mean."
Marguerite pulled away from the girl, shocked.
"Excuse me?" She forced a laugh. "What are you talking about?"
"I can read people's emotions.. sometimes their thoughts. One of my gifts." Keira explained. "That's why you stayed, isn't it. Because you know what it's like to be without parents."
Marguerite sighed, and relaxed again.
"Try to get some more sleep." She avoided the questions. "It'll be a long day tomorrow."
Keira placed her head in Marguerite's lap and closed her eyes.
"It must be hard." She murmured. "Being two different people.. Appearing so cold hearted.. it must kill you."
She could feel Marguerite inhale sharply.
"Isn't it so much easier to be yourself?" She asked.
"Time.. it does strange things to people." Marguerite replied softly. "And sometimes, even though something appears easier, it isn't always so."
"Or maybe you're just afraid." Keira yawned. "But it's all right. Even Queens get frightened."
And with that, Keira fell asleep once more.
Marguerite blinked back her tears. The child spoke too much.. knew too much for her liking.
