Danger On Safari

Jess,

I chewed on the Jelly Bear whilst Steve offered them around to everyone else. A man walked up to our group.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Poulson. I believe you are my tour group." I nodded and stood up to shake his hand.

"Yes we are." I gestured to the four standing with me.

"Is this all of you?"He asked. I glanced back at the reception desk, there were still a couple of people from our bus signing forms.

"There are a couple more." Steve said standing next to me.

"They best hurry up, we've a lot to see. We have a week camping out in the bush. Everyone up for tents?" Mr. Poulson laughed. Steve smiled and nodded.

"Tents are cool," he said.

"Who have we got here then?" Mr. Poulson asked.

"I'm Steve and this is Jess." Steve indicated me. Mark stepped forward.

"I'm Mark."

"Alec" said Alec shaking Mr. Poulsons hand.

"Oh, and this is Beth." I said indicating her.

"Cool, I'm Jake." Steve looked surprised and Jake laughed at him. "A lot of us are English here. I'm from England, I have just picked up the local accent. Our receptionist is too." Jake laughed. Steve nodded.

"I know, it's just weird, I was expecting more locals."

Mark

"I know, it's just weird, I was expecting more locals." He said. I knew right off I didn't like this guy. I knew when I did or didn't like people, and he was one I didn't like. He was so....fake... I guess was the right word, like people on comercials, who don't give an inkling what they are saying.

I repeat my thoughts to Steve, he laughs loudly and says, "that just made my day, Mark, that made my day."

"What?" Alec asks. I tell him what I told Steve, and he laughs as well, but doesn't comment.

"Who is ready to go?" Jake asked.

"...to hell." I added under my breath to Steve, he chuckled quietly.

Most of the others said they were. We got on the bus and I grabed the seat next to Steve and across from Alec. This was going to be fun

Vera~~

I was late, oh so very late, my backpack bounced violently against my back as I ran out in the direction that the receptionist had pointed. The bus was already moving, slowly but it was still quicker that my limber body.

"Stop!!!" I yelled toward the bus, "Stop please!!!"

At first the bus kept moving amblely along, making no hint that another person might be running after it. It then screeched to a quick halt, the bus's brakes squealing under the pressure. I breathed heavily as I stepped onto the bus and plopped down next to some one.

"That was most fun I had had all day!!!" I smiled wide.

Jess,

I was sat next to Steve on the bus. The new girl was in front of me, I tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hi, I'm Jess." I said shaking her hand awkwardly over the back of the seat.

"Vera." She said smiling. I could tell that she was going to be the smily type. I glanced out of the window. We were beginning to leave the compound and I was really excited. I was training to work on Safari as a vet, this trip had come out of my own pocket but it was said to be the best Safari in the world. Steve waved a hand infront of my face and I realised that I had drifted off to dream land.

"Hello in there..." he joked. I laughed, I was beginning to like Steve. He was very open-minded but that didn't bother me. Jake slowed the bus down a little, we were well clear of the compound now and we passed through a large set of gates.

"Ok everyone, we are now in animal spotting country. If you would like to stop and get a closer look at some of the animals please say so, but I may have to refuse your request if its too dangerous. You can wind down the windows now, but you must wind them up if I tell you too." I was really excited now and I wound the window down quickly leaning out to try and see something. Steve took my hand and turned me to face him.

"Calm down." He said seriously, I looked shocked, was my excitement really that obvious? He burst out laughing at my expression. "You just look like your going to go mad with excitement."

"I am going mad with excitement." I said letting go of his hand gently and leaning back a little so that he could see out of the window.

Steve Dawn

I looked out the window with a smile strapped wide across my face. This was gon'a be a laugh whatever way it turned out. And Jess seemed pretty nice. So did the others, infact it was kind of the perfect set. It was like a muffin that had one little chocolate chip and that bite would top them all.

"I reckon, Mr. Sir Jake, we should have a little sing-song, no?" I laughed.

"Er, but the tour? And I guess inbetween it could work," He mumbled.

"Ah, don't you worry Jake. I was jokin'. If we all started singing "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round", we might look a little odd, haha."

Jake laughed weirdly in return and got back to talking all things safari.

I delved into my backpack and produced a six pack of blueberry muffins. And I noticed Jess looking at me unusually.

"What?" I said, "They're for the lions."

She laughed hysterically, "The lions? You're going to feed the lions muffins?"

"I love muffins," I said, "And thus I'm pretty sure the lions will too." I lifted my head proudly but in a jokey way and grinned uncontrollably.

"The lions aren't going to go for your muffins, Steve," Jess said, "They'll go for your flesh!" She made a little act of a lion biting my arm and I laughed.

"You are truly excited aren't you?" I asked.

"Yep!" She shouted, joyously.

"Well, lion-lady, want a blueberry muffin?" I said, gesturing to the open top pack of them.

**Beth Massen**

I sat down in my seat, in front of Steve and Jess. I sat alone, just like I wanted, until a girl ran up and sat next to me.
Why must I sit next to the late girl? I though to myself. It seemed everyone was from England, except me, the Arizona girl... and the guide, there was no way he was truly British. I checked my camera, batteries were good. I looked over at the girl who sat next to me.
"Hey." I greeted.
"That was most fun I had all day!" She huffed, smiling wide with excitement.
"Really?" I joked sarcastically.
"I'm Vera." She out-stretched her hand.
"I'm Beth." I shook her hand.
I looked out the window as the bus rolled onward. I heard Steve mention muffins behind me, God I shouldn't have skipped breakfast. I glanced behind me.
"You sharing those?" I asked.
"Only if you are a lion-lady." He laughed.
I roared like a lion and brought up my hands like claws, bursting out laughing after my charade.
"OK, you've earned it!" He laughed as he handed me a muffin.
"Thanks!" I giggled as I received my reward.

*Rebbecca-Anne*

I sat quietly at the back of the bus, so quiet that nobody knew I was here. I kinda wished someone would notice but I was too shy to speak up. I just sat watching the beautiful landscape outside the window of the bus.

Jess,

I took a muffin from Steve and laughed along at Beth's mad lion display. I noticed Vera looking a little left out. I nudged Steve and whispered. "Offer one to Vera!" He nodded and offered the packet.

"I don't believe we have officially met, I'm Steve."

Vera smiled and tooked a muffin. "Vera's the name. Oh and thanks." She said waving the muffin.

I turned back to look out of the window. "Oh my God look!" I cried pointing. Steve turned abruptly around.

"What? What?" The bus slowed down and Jake turned around to talk to us all.

"Yes, well spotted umm Jess was it?" I nodded. "If you can see through that clump of trees just there, theres a female rhino and her baby." Jake said.

Steve leaned across me and pulled out a pair of binoculars, putting them up to his eyes. My binoculars were hanging around my neck. I raised them to my eyes as well and gasped in awe.

"Wow, would you look at that," Steve whistled under his breath.

Suddenly from the back of the bus a girl came running down to get a better look. I hadn't noticed her before. Everyone turned their attention away from the rhino to look at her. She flushed bright pink. I realised that she was the shy type, that was probably why I hadn't noticed her before. Steve stood up and offered her a muffin. She looked at him as though he was insane and shook her head refusing one.

"No thanks," she said quietly. I stood up to stand beside Steve who looked miffed.

"I'm Jess," I said smiling.

"Rebecca-Anne" she replied brightening a little.

Steve Dawn

"And I'm Steve," I said, smiling.

She looked at me again but a little less bewildered and gave a shy nod. I sat back down and looked out at the rhinos again.

"I think the angry vegetarians might like one of my muffins."

Jess laughed.

"What?" I said.

"You're going to go out there and try and give a rhino and her baby a muffin? You're out of your mind!" She laughed.

"Ah, I guess you're right. I only have 1 left, and rhinos don't particularly share!"

She slapped me on the arm jokily. "I didn't mean it like that!"

I smiled and looked around the bus. This was gon'a be a good ride.

Mark

those muffins didn't look particularily good to me, to many carbs. I go back and sit beside the girl who seemed a bit shy. Jess was already there.

"Hi, I am Mark." I say, shaking her hand.

"Oh, um, I am Rebecca-Anne."

"Nice to meet you, Becky." I usually gave people nicknames if they were to long for me to bother trying to say.

She just gave a little nod.

"Oh perk up a bit." Jess said, enthusiasum radiating from every bone in her body, "this is going to be great."

"I can't wait to watch Steve try and feed those lions." I say.

"That is going to be the highlight of the trip." Jess said.

"If he survives." I mumbled.

"Whats this about me battiling lions and winning?" Steve asked.

Steve Dawn

Jake told us we were heading into the monkey enclosure next, which was going to be unusual in the safari, but apparently these few lucky bodgers weren't even imported.

"Can you really get desert monkeys, Jake?" I said and laughed with Mark and Jess.

"Yep," Jake said. He was clearly growing with confidence. I liked that, it meant I could have more of a laugh.

"Shame I didn't bring any bananas," I said, looking gingerly around my bag.

Jess started giggling. I could swear she was flirting, but then again, could just be being friendly. I ignored the thought and just assumed I might appear to be doing the same. She was nice though.

We entered the enclosure of the sand monkeys.

"That one looks a little like Elton John," I joked.

Tori Cherie

I pedaled my bike furiously, trying to catch up with the bus. My form flapped from where it was clenched between my teeth. As the bus stopped to let some ducks cross the road, I wheeled up and pounded on the door. A man, who I assumed was the guide, opened the door.
"Hey. I'm Tori. Sorry I'm late." I explained, handing him the form and wheeling my bike aboard.
"Jake." Said the guide in a very fake accent. "Take a seat."

I sat in the back next to a very quiet girl."Hi," I offered. She looked at me oddly. A boy up front asked if I liked Elton John. I yelled back that I did. He threw me a muffin.

Name: Tori Cherie



Age: 15



Gender: female



Personality: Very nerdy, but you wouldn't guess that by looking at her. She's quite bubbly if you get to know her.



Appearance: Medium height, short dirty-blonde hair. She usually wears glasses, but recently switched to contacts.



Survival Skill: She knows tons of stuff about survival because she reads survival books. Always comes prepared, with a backpack loaded with books and a magnifying glass.



Other: Is incredibly scared of spiders,which tends to get a little annoying.

Jess

Another new person joined our tour group and already Steve was throwing her a muffin.

"Well that takes care of the last muffin. At least the rhinos won't fight over it anymore," Steve said. I laughed at him.

"Has everyone seen enough of the rhinos?" Jake asked. "I would let you get closer but they can be dangerous when they are with their young." Everyone yelled back yes and Jake hit the gas. The bus rolled forwards.

"What's with the ducks?" Steve asked and I followed his gaze. There was a group of ducks waddling off into the bush. I shrugged and Jake laughed from the front of the bus.

"They choose to come here, they can fly off anytime." I nodded.

"They must be adventuress ducks," Steve joked. The new girl from the back of the bus shouted down.

"I'm Tori everyone by the way," she said smiling and waving.

"Hi Tori," everyone chorused. She smiled and then screamed.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! Is that a spider. Get it away from me!"

The bus swerved, Tori's scream had taken Jake by surprise. He slammed on the breaks and walked to the back of the bus to see what the kerfuffle was about.

Haha, "kerfuffle"

Steve Dawn

Everyone on this safari trip was a hell of a character and I'd already become good friends with Jess. We could laugh together and I loved that.

The ducks were most perculiar, but the thought was shattered by the screams of Tori at the back of the bus. I instantly shot up and walked infront of Jake, making my way to the back of the bus to see what all the kerfuffle was about.

"Spider!" She shouted in terror and I looked down to see a nice little black spider.

I was about to pick it up when Jake interrupted me, "Don't touch it, could be deadly, specially around here."

I looked at the spider again. "Don't you worry your cotton socks, Jacob, this thing couldn't hurt a fly."

I picked it up and made my way out of the front of the bus, placing the spider on the sandy ground outside.

"Done 'n' dusted," I said, walking back into the bus. "I expect that spider's had one hell of a field day."