Hi folks! Sorry for taking a while to post this, I've been rather busy. Here comes another chapter, there is going to be a couple of backstory/build-up chapters before the real action starts.

Disclaimer: I still own absolutely nothing except the storyline itself. Nothing too graphic in any sense in this chapter, maybe a couple of swearish words.

"You did WHAT?", Raven thundered, staring daggers at Clarke. Bellamy "Bell" Blake, their helicopter pilot nodded his head sympathetically, agreeing wholeheartedly with Ravens sentiment.

"Oh calm down you two, you know what it's like. Our sponsors, remember the guys giving us money so we can do this, are demanding that we let the media in to see what we are doing here", Clarke defended

"Yeah, but we have always agreed that journalists are a pain in the neck, and a waste of our time, Clarke", Bellamy whined.

"How are we going to be able to meet the most hectic period, in the middle of the drought when more rhinos then ever need our help, and move out to the bush camp to run the rehabilitation programme, with some sissy journalist to take care of as well?" Raven countered.

Clarke looked at her two closest friends seriously, letting them know that she wholeheartedly aggreed with their statements, before explaining;

"It was an absolute demand this time. 'Allow for media exposure or we cut the funding'. I had no choice. One of the sponsors also have stakes in Polis magazine, so they are going to be the ones running the story. I know you read them, Raven", Clarke added with a wink.

"Besides, if we are lucky they might choose not to run the story. I told them they had to be here by Friday because we are leaving for the bush camp. I'd like to see even the Indra Porter getting somebody from Manhattan to Kruger in two days".

Lexa woke with a start. Checking the display on her cellphone, she found that the time was 2.30 am. She jolted awake and out of bed, and nearly fell over her open suitcase on the floor. I must have fallen asleep while packing, she mused. Then she cursed Indra again for sending her to freaking Africa on 20 hours notice, and cursed her some more for booking her a 5 am transatlantic flight. Damn you, Porter.

She shoved her long brunette curls out of her eyes, and peered at the contents of the suitcase. Removing a few items, she made room for a book, some sunscreen and, after some consideration, her favourite summer dress. Probably silly. But her sister Anya had given her that dress, and Lexa had never found an occasion to wear it. It was long and black, with a slit up to her thigh and a generous view of her cleavage. Not something she could wear to work, and Lexa Woods was always working.

Closing up the suitcase, she packed her laptop, passport and another book as hand luggage, and then went to order a cab to the airport. Having confirmed the cab to arrive in 20 minutes, she grabbed the clothes she intended to travel in and slid into the shower.

Clarke closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. The discussion from befor with her teammates still annoyed her. None of them get it, she thought, do they even know how hard it is to get funding for anything these days? Of course they didn't. Clarke was handling that part of the operation.

Raven was the technician, making sure all their equipment ran smoothly, and together with Bellamy's younger sister Octavia she was also in charge of gathering information from the many safari guides operating in the park as they were often the first to notice poached rhinos. Clarke was also the veterinarian among them, in charge of rehabilitating the severely wounded rhinos that had managed not to die even after being shot, or any living calfs left behind like today, and having their horns dug out from their faces.

Usually, Clarke would go out with Raven or Octavia, much like today, to take a look at any observed animals. If they found a live rhino that they thought they could save they would call Bellamy with the helicopter and have the wounded animal transported back to camp where Clarke would patch them up the best she could. The rhinos would then stay in camp, sometimes for months, until they healed. Before release, Raven would equip them with a GPS-tracking collar so they could observe how the animals managed in the wild.

The last one in their little "family" was Octavia's long-term boyfriend Lincoln. An ex-millitary, he was now a park ranger and frequently went out with Bellamy in the helicopter looking for poachers. What he did when he encountered them, Clarke did not know. Neither Lincoln nor Bellamy spoke much of those tours, and everyone knew better than to ask. Truth be told, Clarke was not sure she even cared. She had seen too many rhinos with craters in their heads, left by poachers to die a slow and painful death.

Her thoughts having wandered, Clarke forced her attention back to the problem at hand. Even though she had stated earlier that there was a possibility that Polis wouldn't be able to send someone on such short notice, Indra Porter was not known to admit defeat. Clarke knew there was an overwhelming likeliness that she would have a journalist on her hands come Friday morning, and she needed to make the preparations for bringing them to the bush camp for a month.

She quickly went through the budget, adding extra funding for one more person. She would send the bill to ms. Porter later. Then she updated the rations list to accommodate the extra mouth to feed; Octavia, Lincoln and Bellamy would go out shopping for supplies in the morning.

Then there was the issue of accommodation. Clarke sighed. The bush camp only had three tents, and she really couldn't justify buying another one just for this. So she would have to come up with sleeping arrangements. Lincoln and Octavia usually shared, so did Clarke and Raven, leaving Bellamy with a tent all of his own. Well, not this time, Bell.

Lexa browsed the menu provided by the flight attendant. At least Indra had booked her a business seat, that was something. Still, two transfers before being picked up for a four-hour drive was not something Lexa was ever going to be happy about. Even sitting in her plush seat sipping complimentary champagne which, Lexa snorted, was just plain ridiculous at 6 am. Deciding on breakfast, Lexa leaned back in her seat and grabbed the remote for the in-flight entertainment system. I wonder if they have "Lion King?".