I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to any of you expecting a cookie. I must admit that it was just a fancy promise to lure you into my story until you became hooked, wondering when the plot was going to kick in, and what the hell was going on.
It wasn't my place to use anyone's sweet tooth to my advantage, and I hope you can all forgive me. I ate all of the cookies, and even drank all of the milk. Chrissy, you get no cookies. So there. (Phht).
Excuse me, I now have to go hide before she kills me. In place of a cookie, you can all have hot chocolate with itty bitty marshmallows. (Except Chrissy. You get nothing.) :D
Don't burn yourself, it's still pretty hot.
And no, the hot chocolate is not a bribe for more reviews. The fact that the reviewers got more marshmallows is just a coincidence. Promise.
=^..^=
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Roxton left the room around daybreak. Keira was still sleeping soundly. The night had been uneventful. Challenger was already awake, and preparing breakfast.
"Good-Morning Roxton." Challenger called to his friend cheerfully. "How is our little visitor?"
"Quite strange, if you ask me." Roxton admitted. "But, fine I suppose. Where are the others?"
"Oh, Veronica and Malone went out to milk the goat, and I do believe that Marguerite is still fast asleep." Challenger supplied.
"No surprise there." Roxton noted as he grabbed a piece of toast.
"Yes, well, I suppose she had a long night. I could hear her moving around in the kitchen for a good hour after you relived her of the watch."
"Maybe I should go wake her up." Roxton offered.
"Don't you think it's a bit early to be starting a fight with Marguerite?" Challenger raised a single eyebrow.
"Somebody call me?" Marguerite asked as she entered the kitchen.
"No, we were just talking." Roxton told her.
"About me? Isn't that a bit rude?" Marguerite questioned as she grabbed a piece of fruit.
"If you two don't stop picking at the food, we aren't going to have a breakfast." Challenger scolded them.
"All right, sorry." Marguerite sighed. "Is Keira awake yet?"
"She was still asleep the last time I checked." Roxton paused. "Marguerite.. last night.. did she say anything strange to you?"
"Strange how?" Marguerite replied, her eyes capturing Roxton's.
"Strange, as if she could see right into your soul and read what was written there." Roxton explained, a small chill claiming him as he remembered the child's intense gaze.
"Ah, so it wasn't just me." Marguerite smiled slightly. "What did she tell you?"
"Uh.. nothing important." Roxton lied. "It just bothered, that's all."
Luckily, The elevator came to life at that moment, giving Roxton an excuse to leave the room before Marguerite had a chance to press the issue. He had never seemed so eager to help carry milk in before.
~*~*~*~
Over breakfast, Keira told everyone the same story that she had told Marguerite. They were all eager to help her return to her rightful place as ruler of her people. At Keira's insistence that time was growing short, they decided to set out as soon as they got together some supplies. Food, weapons.. the essentials.
And so, two days later, they found themselves thick into the jungle, with Keira leading them towards her people.
"Another four days and we should be there." Keira told Malone, after he had asked how far away her home was.
"How long until we start seeing your people on the trails?" Veronica asked.
"A few of them chased me this far, so they might re-appear at any time. But, hopefully, we won't run into anyone."
"The ones that chased you.. they work for your brother?" Veronica pressed the subject.
"Yes, They do." Was all Keira said.
The young princess stopped as she looked around, and then finally up at the sky.
"It's getting late, isn't it?" She asked Roxton.
"Don't worry, we still have at least another couple of hours before the sun sets." He assured her.
"Shouldn't we stop for the night? There is a cave only a few moments from here, it's more than large enough to fit all of us. I hid there briefly before." Keira explained.
"We should get as far as we can before we have to camp. Especially if we have such a long way to go." Roxton shook his head.
"But, there are no more caves after this." Keira argued. "at least this way we can be sure that no one is sneaking up on us. There is only one entrance."
"It does sound appealing, John." Challenger spoke.
Roxton sighed.
"All right, if it means that much to you." He caved under Keira's intense gaze.
At his agreement, the small girl visibly brightened.
"Thank you." She exclaimed. "It's over here."
Roxton hung back while the others followed Keira into the jungle.
"Come on." Marguerite insisted as she passed him.
But Roxton didn't budge. With a sigh, Marguerite stopped walking.
"What is it?" She demanded.
"I just think it's a bit strange. We could have gotten quite a bit farther before we would have had to stop and make camp. What's so special about this cave that we have to stop here for the night?" Roxton voiced his concern.
"Oh, you're just being paranoid." Marguerite told him. "You're seeing alternate motives where there is just a girl who wants the security a cave can offer."
"Maybe." Roxton admitted.
"You don't actually think she might be a threat, do you?"
"No. I just think she's been acting a bit strange all day. Like she's waiting for something. Marguerite, she's been acting like a gazelle that knows a lion is watching."
"You heard her, the people that tried to kill her are still out there. Isn't that reason enough to be on edge?" Marguerite asked.
Roxton regarded the heiress.
"Maybe you're right." He admitted.
"Of course I'm right." Marguerite smiled at him. "Now let's go see this cave."
~*~*~*~
"What do you think?" Keira asked.
"Well, it's certainly large enough." Challenger noted.
Actually, the cave was big enough to hold the entire party, and had enough room left over for a few elephants and a rhino.
"Are you sure there isn't any other entrance?" Veronica asked.
"I checked it twice while I was hiding here. I'm sure." Keira told her.
"You never said what you were hiding from." Malone spoke.
"The men that were hunting me." Keira explained.
"This is some cave." Marguerite said as she and Roxton joined the others.
"We were wondering what happened to you." Challenger told them.
"Just stopping to smell the flowers." Marguerite offered.
"Well, as long as it's still light out, Ned and I can collect some fire wood." Veronica volunteered.
"That sounds like a good idea." Challenger agreed. "I think I'll go gather some of those berries I spotted outside."
And so, Marguerite, Roxton, and Keira were left alone in the over-sized cave.
"It's not too bad, is it?" Keira asked.
"No, it's a good place to stop for the night." Roxton replied.
"You've been watching me all day." Keira regarded him. "What do you think I'm going to do? Lead you into a sand pit?"
"You've just been acting strange, that's all." Roxton defended himself.
"So, you're just waiting for me to get all of you killed then." Keira bristled.
"Look, it's been a long day." Marguerite interrupted before Roxton could add his two cents. "And I enjoy a good argument as much as the next woman, but don't you think the two of you are being a bit childish?"
"You're one to talk." Roxton muttered.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Marguerite demanded.
"Really, Marguerite. You've got to be the most childish of us all. You and all of your little mind games."
Marguerite glared at him, and Roxton cursed himself for taking his frustration out on her. Without another word, Marguerite turned and walked out of the cave, leaving Roxton and Keira to stare after her.
'Damnit, why do I always do that?' Roxton cursed himself silently.
"Because you can't help it sometimes." Keira spoke aloud, reading his thoughts. "Because yelling at her is easier than admitting just how much you love her."
Roxton gave Keira an angry look.
"I didn't ask your opinion." He snapped. "And stay out of my thoughts."
With that, Roxton followed Marguerite's lead and left the cave. Deciding that Veronica and Malone probably needed some help with the firewood.
Keira shivered as an imaginary chill made it's way around her spine. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Maybe she'd be better off returning home alone.
The princess sighed. She would worry about it later. Right now, she had someone to find. He was supposed to be waiting at the cave, but he hadn't been there when Keira had first entered. And to make things worse, she couldn't find any evidence that he had been in the cave at all.
As Keira made her way from the cave, into the jungle to search for the man who should have been waiting for her, she couldn't help but think that maybe Roxton had reason to watch her. After all, there was so much she wasn't telling them..
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aren't you just going 'ooh'? lol. How much do they really know about this girl? Not enough, if you ask me. But anyway, I think I've finally decided where I'll be taking this, so rejoice. From now on there might actually be a plot! Yay!
Thank you all for your kind reviews. I am glad to say that I haven't had need to break out the marshmallows just yet. It might be a little while before I create the next chapter. I don't really like this chapter, so there isn't any reason any of you have to like it too. But I promise, I'll try my best to make up for it in the next chapter.
Until then, Dai Stiho. Review, and let me know what you think. TLW characters still don't belong to me, incase anyone is upset I don't have a disclaimer every chapter. Good news though, I've added a pack of skittles to my offer! I think they are starting to weaken! lol. But, like I said..
Dai stiho.
~CrimsonCat~
It wasn't my place to use anyone's sweet tooth to my advantage, and I hope you can all forgive me. I ate all of the cookies, and even drank all of the milk. Chrissy, you get no cookies. So there. (Phht).
Excuse me, I now have to go hide before she kills me. In place of a cookie, you can all have hot chocolate with itty bitty marshmallows. (Except Chrissy. You get nothing.) :D
Don't burn yourself, it's still pretty hot.
And no, the hot chocolate is not a bribe for more reviews. The fact that the reviewers got more marshmallows is just a coincidence. Promise.
=^..^=
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Roxton left the room around daybreak. Keira was still sleeping soundly. The night had been uneventful. Challenger was already awake, and preparing breakfast.
"Good-Morning Roxton." Challenger called to his friend cheerfully. "How is our little visitor?"
"Quite strange, if you ask me." Roxton admitted. "But, fine I suppose. Where are the others?"
"Oh, Veronica and Malone went out to milk the goat, and I do believe that Marguerite is still fast asleep." Challenger supplied.
"No surprise there." Roxton noted as he grabbed a piece of toast.
"Yes, well, I suppose she had a long night. I could hear her moving around in the kitchen for a good hour after you relived her of the watch."
"Maybe I should go wake her up." Roxton offered.
"Don't you think it's a bit early to be starting a fight with Marguerite?" Challenger raised a single eyebrow.
"Somebody call me?" Marguerite asked as she entered the kitchen.
"No, we were just talking." Roxton told her.
"About me? Isn't that a bit rude?" Marguerite questioned as she grabbed a piece of fruit.
"If you two don't stop picking at the food, we aren't going to have a breakfast." Challenger scolded them.
"All right, sorry." Marguerite sighed. "Is Keira awake yet?"
"She was still asleep the last time I checked." Roxton paused. "Marguerite.. last night.. did she say anything strange to you?"
"Strange how?" Marguerite replied, her eyes capturing Roxton's.
"Strange, as if she could see right into your soul and read what was written there." Roxton explained, a small chill claiming him as he remembered the child's intense gaze.
"Ah, so it wasn't just me." Marguerite smiled slightly. "What did she tell you?"
"Uh.. nothing important." Roxton lied. "It just bothered, that's all."
Luckily, The elevator came to life at that moment, giving Roxton an excuse to leave the room before Marguerite had a chance to press the issue. He had never seemed so eager to help carry milk in before.
~*~*~*~
Over breakfast, Keira told everyone the same story that she had told Marguerite. They were all eager to help her return to her rightful place as ruler of her people. At Keira's insistence that time was growing short, they decided to set out as soon as they got together some supplies. Food, weapons.. the essentials.
And so, two days later, they found themselves thick into the jungle, with Keira leading them towards her people.
"Another four days and we should be there." Keira told Malone, after he had asked how far away her home was.
"How long until we start seeing your people on the trails?" Veronica asked.
"A few of them chased me this far, so they might re-appear at any time. But, hopefully, we won't run into anyone."
"The ones that chased you.. they work for your brother?" Veronica pressed the subject.
"Yes, They do." Was all Keira said.
The young princess stopped as she looked around, and then finally up at the sky.
"It's getting late, isn't it?" She asked Roxton.
"Don't worry, we still have at least another couple of hours before the sun sets." He assured her.
"Shouldn't we stop for the night? There is a cave only a few moments from here, it's more than large enough to fit all of us. I hid there briefly before." Keira explained.
"We should get as far as we can before we have to camp. Especially if we have such a long way to go." Roxton shook his head.
"But, there are no more caves after this." Keira argued. "at least this way we can be sure that no one is sneaking up on us. There is only one entrance."
"It does sound appealing, John." Challenger spoke.
Roxton sighed.
"All right, if it means that much to you." He caved under Keira's intense gaze.
At his agreement, the small girl visibly brightened.
"Thank you." She exclaimed. "It's over here."
Roxton hung back while the others followed Keira into the jungle.
"Come on." Marguerite insisted as she passed him.
But Roxton didn't budge. With a sigh, Marguerite stopped walking.
"What is it?" She demanded.
"I just think it's a bit strange. We could have gotten quite a bit farther before we would have had to stop and make camp. What's so special about this cave that we have to stop here for the night?" Roxton voiced his concern.
"Oh, you're just being paranoid." Marguerite told him. "You're seeing alternate motives where there is just a girl who wants the security a cave can offer."
"Maybe." Roxton admitted.
"You don't actually think she might be a threat, do you?"
"No. I just think she's been acting a bit strange all day. Like she's waiting for something. Marguerite, she's been acting like a gazelle that knows a lion is watching."
"You heard her, the people that tried to kill her are still out there. Isn't that reason enough to be on edge?" Marguerite asked.
Roxton regarded the heiress.
"Maybe you're right." He admitted.
"Of course I'm right." Marguerite smiled at him. "Now let's go see this cave."
~*~*~*~
"What do you think?" Keira asked.
"Well, it's certainly large enough." Challenger noted.
Actually, the cave was big enough to hold the entire party, and had enough room left over for a few elephants and a rhino.
"Are you sure there isn't any other entrance?" Veronica asked.
"I checked it twice while I was hiding here. I'm sure." Keira told her.
"You never said what you were hiding from." Malone spoke.
"The men that were hunting me." Keira explained.
"This is some cave." Marguerite said as she and Roxton joined the others.
"We were wondering what happened to you." Challenger told them.
"Just stopping to smell the flowers." Marguerite offered.
"Well, as long as it's still light out, Ned and I can collect some fire wood." Veronica volunteered.
"That sounds like a good idea." Challenger agreed. "I think I'll go gather some of those berries I spotted outside."
And so, Marguerite, Roxton, and Keira were left alone in the over-sized cave.
"It's not too bad, is it?" Keira asked.
"No, it's a good place to stop for the night." Roxton replied.
"You've been watching me all day." Keira regarded him. "What do you think I'm going to do? Lead you into a sand pit?"
"You've just been acting strange, that's all." Roxton defended himself.
"So, you're just waiting for me to get all of you killed then." Keira bristled.
"Look, it's been a long day." Marguerite interrupted before Roxton could add his two cents. "And I enjoy a good argument as much as the next woman, but don't you think the two of you are being a bit childish?"
"You're one to talk." Roxton muttered.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Marguerite demanded.
"Really, Marguerite. You've got to be the most childish of us all. You and all of your little mind games."
Marguerite glared at him, and Roxton cursed himself for taking his frustration out on her. Without another word, Marguerite turned and walked out of the cave, leaving Roxton and Keira to stare after her.
'Damnit, why do I always do that?' Roxton cursed himself silently.
"Because you can't help it sometimes." Keira spoke aloud, reading his thoughts. "Because yelling at her is easier than admitting just how much you love her."
Roxton gave Keira an angry look.
"I didn't ask your opinion." He snapped. "And stay out of my thoughts."
With that, Roxton followed Marguerite's lead and left the cave. Deciding that Veronica and Malone probably needed some help with the firewood.
Keira shivered as an imaginary chill made it's way around her spine. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Maybe she'd be better off returning home alone.
The princess sighed. She would worry about it later. Right now, she had someone to find. He was supposed to be waiting at the cave, but he hadn't been there when Keira had first entered. And to make things worse, she couldn't find any evidence that he had been in the cave at all.
As Keira made her way from the cave, into the jungle to search for the man who should have been waiting for her, she couldn't help but think that maybe Roxton had reason to watch her. After all, there was so much she wasn't telling them..
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aren't you just going 'ooh'? lol. How much do they really know about this girl? Not enough, if you ask me. But anyway, I think I've finally decided where I'll be taking this, so rejoice. From now on there might actually be a plot! Yay!
Thank you all for your kind reviews. I am glad to say that I haven't had need to break out the marshmallows just yet. It might be a little while before I create the next chapter. I don't really like this chapter, so there isn't any reason any of you have to like it too. But I promise, I'll try my best to make up for it in the next chapter.
Until then, Dai Stiho. Review, and let me know what you think. TLW characters still don't belong to me, incase anyone is upset I don't have a disclaimer every chapter. Good news though, I've added a pack of skittles to my offer! I think they are starting to weaken! lol. But, like I said..
Dai stiho.
~CrimsonCat~
