Claimer: I own Deanna, Ms Fox, and Robert not to mention this whole story line. So please no copying.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, or any of its story's or characters. So don't sue cause I never said I did and you'll lose.

Author's Pre Notes: I hope you like this it's kinda short but it lays the background for some things. I love all of your reviews, and please don't freak about the things I said before. I understand perfectly, and thank you for informing me. I will try to do better in the future.

AND NOW –READY-SET- READ!!

"Come on sleepy head"

Marguerite heard the familiar voice as she then was hit with a pillow on the head.

"OH!" she groaned rolling over covering her head with said pillow.

"Oh no you don't" said Deanna laughing pulling the covers back. "Do you want to go to the village or not."

"Not" came Marguerite's muffled voice from the pillows.

'That's not true, you just want to go when you feel like it, well that's not going to happen" Deanna teased ripping the pillow from Marguerite's grasp.

"Hey!" she protested.

"Come on, they got some traders" she tried to persuade

"Yeah" Marguerite snapped

"With some valuable things" she said a seductive tone, eyeing her and motioning for her to get out of bed so they could get going.

"Oh fine!" she said grumpily, but fancying on the thought of valuable things.

"Wear this," she said handing her a vest. It was made of some dinosaurs hide and was quite handsome looking.

"But it's so heavy" she said looking at her.

"Just put it on"

"Ok" said Marguerite confused, putting that on and the other clothes they had taken from Deanna's closet.

They ate breakfast Deanna having her fifth cup of coffee Marguerite her third, they packet up and walked out the door.

Robert was outside with three fine-looking looking horses.

Deanna walked over to a large black one.

"Hey there doll" she said rubbing its neck.

"Yours?" Marguerite asked

"Not legally but I like to think so. They all came from the village, the chiefs horses you know."

"He has too many I think" Robert commented

"Which one is mine?" Marguerite said looking at the horses.

"Abel, the gray one"

She nodded and walked over; Robert helped her mount the great horse. It was almost the same color as her eyes she mused.

Robert fastened her crutch onto the saddle. Then went over and mounted his steed.

Marguerite looked and fancied that the horse was almost the same color as Deanna's hair. She chuckled to herself about this as they set off.

"I think we should look for that hole first," said Robert

"Right then we can circle back through the village and up to the house. " Deanna responded

"Whatever," said Marguerite.

Soon they had ridden to the clearing.

"Geez" said Robert looking up into the hole. "I can't even see-well- anything"

"So climbing up it out of the question" said Deanna from her horse.

"I would say so dear"

She ignored the reference, "alright Marguerite, I guess we'll have to go to plan b."

"Which is?"

"To make up a plan c" she said and kicked her horse riding off toward the village.

"Great" Marguerite said kicking with her good leg and following.

They stopped and hour or so later to rest the horses.

Robert dismounted first offering to help Deanna who just leapt off the horse.

"A little help over here would be nice!' said Marguerite getting inpatient.

"Hold your horses" Deanna chuckled pun clearly intended.

"Ha-ha now help me!"

Robert helped Marguerite off the horse; she limped over to a rock by the water and sat closing her eyes in thought.

As mush as she didn't want to see Roxton, and as much as she loved her new friends she wanted to go home. To know everything was all right, so they knew she was all right. It had disappointed her greatly when they didn't find an easy way back to her home. Her home? Had she just thought that,' have I thought of the tree house as my home before? I suppose I have but I don't think I've ever meant it so much.'

Deanna was refilling hers and Marguerite's canteens when she heard something.

She didn't move her head, just her eyes, and scanned the area.

"Blake" she said

He recognized the serious tone in her voice.

He moved closer to Marguerite, who then came out of her daze.

"What" she whispered

"I think we're about to find out," said Deanna hand slipping to the handgun at her back.

There was complete silence.

Then Deanna spun around and shot a man right out of the air.

The rest of the intruders sprang forth upon them.

One man jumped onto Deanna's back holding her on the ground.

She flung her head back, took the knife from her boot and cut him.

He screamed out and jumped away.

Deanna heard Marguerite cried out.

A large warrior had her by her hair and was pulling her to her feet from the ground and twisting backward.

"Hands off buddy!" she yelled throwing the knife and hitting him in the throat.

She ran over to her, "Some men are such animals, you ok?"

"Yeah you?"

"Peachy"

"Thanks" said Marguerite holding her throat.

"No problem" She said before pulling them out of the way of and ax.

Deanna reached for her missing rifle. She felt the barrel she grabbed it.

Robert flipped a man over his shoulder and rammed two others into each other, He couldn't see Deanna or Marguerite this was worrying him. It distracted him and two men grabbed him from behind, forcing him to kneel, holding his shoulders back and forcing his head down.

"Robert!" Marguerite yelled "Deanna" she said notifying her friend, who'd eyes jumped in alarm. Then Marguerite turned and hit a man with her gun, knocking him out.

Deanna quickly looked around, and then saw what she was looking for, a man with an amulet around his neck, as the amulet moved she could see the burned mark of the symbol underneath it.

'To dressy not to be the leader' she thought.

She smirked, and stalked up behind him, she hit him in the head with her rifle as he turned; this knocked him to his knees. He rolled his knee to move and push up to knock her over, but she jabbed him with the butt of the gun, between his shoulder and knee, breaking his collarbone with a sickening snap.

He screamed out in pain and leaning foreword on the ground, She leaned on him a knee bent pressing on his back. She shot into the air once getting everyone's attention. Then put the barrel to the back of the man's neck.

She had one what her close relations would call her business face, what really was her power face. She was completely focused, secure and stiff. Her senses on fire, her skills completely honed. Intimidating wasn't even a fitting expression to describe her at these times.

All the warriors looked up and stepped back, as they saw their young leader panting and moaning in pain on the ground at the feet of the woman.

"Now let him go," she boomed

They did

"I thought the Kati had an agreement with the Cyzan and myself"

"You?" questioned one of the men looking at her, and then his face changed a mask over horror covering his features.

"You-you are the demon"

"More or less" she said waving her hand casually as if that wasn't the point.

"A demon" Marguerite chuckled

"I'll tell you later, Miss Krux," she said rolling her eyes.

"Now why are you in this territory attacking us. This could bring war upon your village." She growled at the warriors.

"I a-apologize for my men, we did not know. We go where we are ordered" The man at her feet sputtered.

"You are new warriors?"

"Yes"

"Why didn't he warn you?" she hissed

"He told us you looked different and were in the west."

"Well he was wrong," she stated angrily.

"Haiton has deceived you for what reason I know not, but he has. Eventually his selfishness will lead you to war and to an gory end." She said shoving the man foreword toward his fellow men, which picked him up.

"Warn others this is my territory and my friends, you don't come here no matter what Haiton says, if you value your lives."

"Over our believes" a young man protested

"Over your fear" she hissed back, "Now get out of here"

They picked up their leader and walked off back into the jungle.

"Who were they?" asked Marguerite looking after the warriors.

Deanna was helping Robert off the ground. Her face was still hard.

He smiled at her, her face softened and she nodded to him.

"They were the misled warriors of the Kati" she said a disgusted tone in her voice.

"Who is Haiton?" said Marguerite replacing her gun to her holster.

"Blak! He's their leader, their bloodthirsty, lust filled, vindictive leader"

"I sense a past their"

"Lets say he's like a ex-who just won't put never before my name, if you know what I mean"

Robert gave a very disapproved look.

"Ah the lust filled part," said Marguerite pretending to reminisce like it was an all to familiar memory.

"M-hmm" she said a distasteful look on her face.

"Well" said Robert a stern tone in his voice, "I think it's time we move on" and he brushed past them.

They remounted and this time, still stern Blake took the point.

The two girls watched him looking at each other confused glances on their faces.

Deanna shrugged and they rode off after him.

They reached the village by dark, and the children ran about around the horses as they road in.

A crowd of the children jumped up at Robert him swinging them around and leading the horse into the village.

Deanna smiled proudly watching after him and looking around at all the welcoming faces.

Marguerite looked around feeling a bit out of place. It was a bit like the Zanga village and made her feel a little homesick, but happy for the familiar like surroundings.

Deanna dismounted a few of the children swarming around her.

"Who is your friend?" asked a little girl about six years old.

Deanna kneeled down smiling.

"Her name is Marguerite, Marguerite Krux"

Hearing her name Marguerite looked over from her horse.

"She's pretty," the little girl said shyly, twiddling her feet not looking up then running off with the others when she saw Marguerite looking at her.

She smiled slightly; Deanna looked back at her that proud smile on her face.

Then Marguerite heard a thundering voice of a large man, she looked up to see a tall and broad man, a little over weight, smile wrinkles spreading his older face. He was dark skinned, with long black graying hair.

He seemed to have a cheerful disposition, but Marguerite could see how you would never want to fight him.

This man swept Deanna into a huge hug, picking her off the ground. She laughed out, but quickly lost her breath crushed in the death hold.

"Oh!" laughed he out looking at Marguerite in surprise and delight.

Her eyes widened slightly.

He released Deanna.

"Who is your lovely friend?" he said kissing Marguerite's hand, bowing and laughing.

"This is Marguerite Krux, Chief "

"Nice to make your acquaintance" he said bowing again and laughing.

"And yours" said Marguerite chuckling nervously a bit, at the mix of humor and civility.

He helped her down from her horse.

Deanna handed her, her crutch.

She nodded and followed them into the village.

The children ran around laughing and playing, watching as Deanna and her friend walked through the village.

Robert rejoined them, his cheerful nature restored, they all sat down by a fire pit in front of the Chief's hut.

They all were served drinks and food, which was graciously accepted.

"Now Cheify," said Deanna "This is wonderful, but I'm afraid I have to talk shop for a short while."

"Yes?" he said looking attentive

"We were met quite rudely by some Kati by the watering hole" she said calmly sipping her drink.

The chief's face changed and he became serious.

"Was it an act of war?"

"I don't think so, the warriors were newly trained, and sorry to say we killed many of them. They thought we were in the west, that I was in the west."

"Haiton" the chief asked or rather implied

"Most likely"

"Most defiantly" said Robert sternly breaking his silence

"Was anyone hurt? Is that how-" he began motioning toward Marguerite leg.

"OH no" Marguerite said, "It-it was a raptor" she said smiling slightly to assure him

"Oh, well you should be rewarded for your bravery" he chuckled.

"Oh no" said Marguerite trying to be modest but still thinking of valuable things.

"Wait what?" Deanna laughed as the Chief turned to go into his hut.

"I don't get rewards," she laughed

"Oh hush, you get your share"

She smirked sitting back down.

The chief came back form the tent with a ring.

He handed it to her, "you are one of us," he smiled and she took the ring. Her eyes a lit at the shiny gift.

It was gorgeous not very valuable but gorgeous all the same, it was a white gold band and a hematite slim diamond shaped stone, it had long slivers of Alexandrite flowing from the stone to the band.

"Thank you, thank you" she said accepting the gifts and a place as "member" of the tribe. Deanna had told her before she and Robert were one of them to.

The tribe who had been listening cheered, and Marguerite looked around, blushing slightly.

'Why was it she felt so accepted here with strangers and not with her own friends. Was that wrong of her to think such things?' she thought as she looked around.

Later that night. .

She had a hut next to Roberts, the hut that had been Deanna's when she lived at the village so long ago.

Deanna was sound asleep on the floor.

Marguerite looked over at her from her cot.

'I swear that woman can sleep anywhere, which is particularly ironic considering she has a king size bed at home.' She chuckled to herself.

She stared up at an open flat in the ceiling. Deanna had opened it because she said it was so hot.

Marguerite stared up at the stars, some covered by clouds that were painted lilac by the set sun.

"Roxton told me once he loved doing this," she said out loud

Deanna just murmured something like," that's nice" and turned over.

"Yes," she continued serenely as if having a revelation, "Sitting out under the stars, staring up into them as if their shining eyes peered right into your own soul. Yes- that's the only way a person can know themselves is if they can star into their own star blazed eyes and be content with their life at that moment-at that moment." She repeated and thought of all the things, she didn't know, about her friends, she thought about how much they didn't know about her. She tried to rationalize that it was better for them. But really it was better for her at least for now. How did I become such good friends with Deanna so quickly, it's almost frightening, is it because she saved my life, no Roxton does that everyday. Because, I just don't know. I know more about her than, I know about Malone or any of them, even Roxton. And maybe if I don't know, they knew more about me they wouldn't make me so mad.'

"OH Deanna why can't they understand like you?" she asked

Again she murmured in her sleep, "I'm the Fox" she murmured and Marguerite chuckled uncontrollable.

"There never is a straight answer to anything," she laughed trying to muffle her laughter, as she slowly fell asleep. Visions of her friends, new and old floating through her mind.



Author's notes: Ok the ready set read thing was lame, but I couldn't think of anything. Sorry. So you know review please, tell me what you like, what you hope happens or whatever!! Just reviews

Remember reviews are motivating . . . . .