Zoe shook her head as the roar of a sports exhaust rippled the quiet South African air, she looked out of the window in the surgery to see the Mercedes, the one that belonged to the not so delightful Peter Beale, skidded to a stop. She smirked as she heard the slam of a door, someone was grumpy.
The radio began to crackle loudly; David looked up from the papers that he was filling in.
"I'll get it." Zoe mumbled putting down the scalpel she'd been cleaning, she picked up the radio. "Hello?"
"Zoe?"
"What's up Mirandoni?" Zoe asked as she heard the voice of the head ranger. He began to fill in details on how the elephants had knocked down the fence nearest to the town and how the lions had escaped. "Damn it! We'll get some help, see you soon." She grabbed all the essentials and her Jeep keys.
"You go as many vets as you can, I'll alert the rangers round here now. You best get Beale an'all." David told her.
"Thanks." Zoe teased before reverting back to the seriousness of the situation, she grabbed a couple of guns, one tranquiliser and one shot gun... she wasn't taking any risks. Suddenly her mind sprang to Lyndon.
"Leopards Den come in." Zoe spat into the radio, throwing stuff into her Jeep before running off to find Peter.
"Sup Zoe?" Matt asked, she could hear the roar of his engine, Lyndon in the background.
"Matt get back to Leopards Den, do not take Lyndon to school! There's animals on the loose in town! Just get back!" Zoe told him.
"What?" Matt asked.
"Just do it! We've alerted all the buildings, but we want as many people out of there as possible!" Zoe told him, "See you soon!"
She finally found Peter talking to some guests.
"Peter, dump the designer jacket and grab a gun, you've got some work to do!" Zoe told him, "We have a serious situation and we need all the help we can get!"
"Do you mind? I'm talking to..." Peter began.
"Oh will you shut up and get a move on, you won't be talking to anyone..." She lowered her voice so the guests didn't hear. "Our animals are rampaging through town!"
"WHAT?" Peter asked in shock running after her, he unlocked his Mercedes.
"You can leave that mate, come with me!" Zoe told him, "Just drop by Leopards Den, we need all the help we can get."
"No way." Peter ordered, crossing his arms as Zoe put her foot down, he quickly grabbed the seat. He wasn't used to this way of driving, he cruised, he didn't do fast, he didn't do emergencies, he did luxury.
"Yes way, they have three vets, two of which can track pretty good and Matt's getting up there, then they have Dupe who's the best tracker in this area... he's better than a machine!" Zoe told him, "In an emergency Mr Beale, you forget your stupid little quarrels."
"What kind of place do you people live in?" Peter asked quietly, Zoe turned to face him for a moment. It was then she realised something about him, he didn't understand this way of life...
"Peter, you're used to the harsh life of the city. Where it's every man for himself, everyone's out to get each other. Yes this place has problems, but you have to get along with everyone. You need all the contacts you can get, this place is remote, and because of that there's a huge community spirit."
"Then how does a newcomer fit into that?" Peter asked bitterly.
"Hey, I haven't lived here all my life... neither has Alice, Matt, even Danny. We're all newcomers really, you just have to fit in, pull your weight... you've not done the best of jobs there have you?" Zoe sighed as she pulled off the road into the Leopards Den drive.
"Not really... but how can I get in?" Peter asked.
"Make sure you don't fall out with Fatani, the bar is one place for making contacts. Don't rush people, and show you're willing to muck in. Also, I wouldn't be flashing that car around of yours. Get a four wheel drive out a bit more often! Anyway, sure those potholes aren't good for those cars!" Zoe laughed; she suddenly pulled the car to a halt and ran through the halls of Leopards Den leaving Peter to think about her words.
Alice was sat down at the kitchen table having a five minute break when she saw a red faced Zoe running through the halls.
"Alice, grab a couple of guns and your essentials, we have animals on the loose!" Zoe told her. "Is Danny about?"
"He's in the Study... I think he's trying to get through to Rowan for me..." Alice sighed as she sprang into action. "You go get what guns I'll need and my boxes, I'll tell Danny to follow on with Matt and grab Dupe."
Zoe nodded as Alice ran off in the opposite direction. Alice opened the door to the Study and saw Danny frowning, the phone pressed to his ear. She ran up to him.
"Danny, honey, I'm going with Zoe, there's animals running loose round town. Can you follow on with Matt if we radio co-ordinates! I think Zoe's taking tranqs and lives." Alice told him quickly.
"Yeh sure thing Alice, I'll get ready now, what about Lyndon?" Danny asked.
"Ask Nomsa or Caroline... we have to sort this one Danny!" Alice told him passionately.
"Be careful then, I love you." Danny told her.
"Love you too." Alice replied as they kissed quickly. He watched Alice run off and meet Zoe, before snapping into vet mode, and running off to sort things out.
"Move." Zoe told Peter signalling to the back of the truck.
"What?" Peter asked.
"I said move. I want Alice in front, you and Dupe in the back." Zoe told him as she jumped in the driver's seat.
"But I'm..." Peter began.
"Incapable of shooting an animal at speed... I want Alice in the front, she can use a gun and besides, she is a woman... now remember your manners and move your arse." Zoe told him, he did so and Alice jumped in the front. As Zoe set off, a cloud of dust rose.
"Live or tranq Zoe?" Alice asked.
"Live." Zoe replied. "If we get attacked whilst moving we need to be safe. Just try and shoot em down Alice, only kill if necessary."
"Why don't you just kill it?" Peter asked.
"Because that's not the way we do things round here." Alice replied giving him an icy glare. She grabbed her seat with one hand as Zoe steered off road. She was driving quickly over the rough terrain. Suddenly she hit some mud, the Jeep began to skid.
"Put it in low box Zoe!" Alice said.
"It is in bloody low. We wouldn't be moving through a swamp would we if it weren't?" Zoe replied.
"Love to see you in the snow in a two wheel drive car then." Alice laughed.
"Hah! Yeh, god, you should have seen me in the Suzuki Jeep I had. Donuts in the snow and everything! Got anywhere that little thing." Zoe smiled.
"God, you are mad!" Alice laughed.
"Erm, have you looked at yourself?" Zoe asked, a grin on her face. "Wheeee!" She giggled as the Land Rover slid sideways, she expertly drove straight into the skid and immediately had the Jeep back on track. Alice looked at her open mouthed.
"Where did you learn...?" Alice asked in shock.
"You seen where my horses were Alice? Bloody hell, talk about snow!" She laughed, "I was driving up that hill in the snow when I was 10!"
"Isn't that illegal?" Dupe asked.
"Yes." Zoe laughed. "God, the things we used to do."
"The things you still do!" Alice chuckled.
"Hey! Going sledging on the sandy hill was not just my idea!" Zoe argued, remembering one of her and Alice's not so bright ideas. "I broke my finger cos of you!"
"HAH! Well who was the one who tried to fly?" Alice replied as she toyed with the gun.
"I was drunk!" Zoe replied, "Oh shit." She mumbled as the Jeep began to slide once more, this time it was a lot harder for Zoe to drive out of, she just about managed.
"Right! Can you not go on normal land? This is dangerous!" Peter squeaked. "I fear my life."
"No, we're going the quickest route. No one else is scared. Are you scared Alice?" Zoe asked.
"No... only of what torture you have in store for me." Alice teased.
"Dupe?" Zoe asked.
"Course not woman, man's bloody soft! Only a bit of sliding, not as if a tree's coming through the window." He laughed, suddenly Alice's head dropped. Her eyes diverted, her body tensed as she remembered the storm. Zoe touched Alice's hand quickly before grabbing the wheel once more. Alice swiped at her eyes, suddenly Dupe realised what he said. "Oh Alice! I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"No, it's ok Dupe." She said quietly before turning round and patting his hand. "Honestly, I'm fine."
"I can't believe I didn't think..." Dupe mumbled sadly.
"Dupe, don't fret." Alice told him. "I just remembered for a minute, I haven't thought about it for a while... I'm glad someone brought it up. Cos the longer I leave it, the worse it gets."
"In other words Dupe, she and Danny haven't had any fun times!" Zoe laughed.
"ZOE!" Alice exclaimed, going slightly red.
"OH! ITS TRUE!" Zoe laughed as they finally hit another track.
"I'm not even going to answer! It's none of your business!" Alice told her sister, "Anyway, you've been a mood... unresolved sexual tension Zoe?"
"Oh, you wanna go there?" Zoe asked turning to Alice. Both sets of blue eyes glistened as they needled one another.
"Not really, ewww!" Alice giggled.
"Not there! Eurgh, no way, Danny can go there on my behalf!" Zoe said dryly, "I'll charge you for my therapy sessions, you trying to scar me woman?"
"You know I pity Danny and Matt when you two are like this!" Dupe chuckled.
"Right we are here, Dupe you ready to track?" Zoe asked.
"No problem." Dupe replied jumping out the Jeep.
"Peter you go with Dupe, you need to learn some skills." Zoe nodded. "Me and Alice will drive behind."
A/N – Bit of a filler... but some clues to what lies in store!