My name is Liesbeth Revvie, and this is the story of how I met the Doctor.
My name is Tegan Jovanka, and this is the story of how an idiot named Turlough almost got us killed… Again.
He was the light in the darkness. A bright sun driving out all the shadows until there was nothing left but goodness.
It was like he couldn't do anything right. Even after he was freed of the Black Guardian's power, he was constantly getting us into trouble and putting us in danger.
He was impossible, and I loved him.
What a selfish and confusing child. I still can't believe it.
The Doctor kept promising to take me home and, like the fool that I was, I kept hoping and believing him, even though I knew it was never going to happen. Turlough told me to grow up whenever I complained about it. I so badly wanted to slap him, but the Doctor was always around and that would have been awkward.
The Doctor was genuinely trying to land on Earth, I'm sure. But he was unable to control the TARDIS, which made no sense because he had been flying that old thing around for hundreds of years. Yet again, things went wrong. He suddenly he slapped the console and shouted at it, making me jump.
"No, no, no! This isn't EARTH. Can't you just get it right for once, you impossible machine?" He sighed and looked embarrassed by his outburst, not because Turlough and I had witnessed, but because the TARDIS had. He patted the controls gently and turned to the viewing screen.
"Well, it looks like Earth," Turlough said, shrugging.
"Atmosphere like earth," the Doctor said. "A little low on gravity. This should be fun."
I couldn't tell if he was sarcastic or not, but either way, he opened the TARDIS doors and went out. Turlough and I followed, curious to see what he meant about the gravity.
The moment I stepped out of the TARDIS, I understood. I felt like I had just stepped off of an elevator and my stomach churned a little. I took a step forward and found it hard to stay upright. I waved my arms about to regain my balance and accidentally socked Turlough in the face.
"Oops," I said, barely concealing a smile. "Sorry."
"Watch it," he frowned and gave me a shove. I toppled into the bushes. Thankfully, gravity was kind and I didn't fall very hard. I was up in a second. The Doctor glanced back and rolled his eyes. I pushed my way through the plants and bushes, passing Turlough with a huff and catching up with the Doctor.
"Do you think anyone even lives here?" I asked, looking dubiously at the wildlife. There was nothing except endless trees in every direction.
"There's definitely intelligent life here," the Doctor said. "Though how intelligent, I'm not sure. There were a few ropes hanging from trees back there and the scanner showed some technology."
It was dusk, and the sky was growing dark. A cold breeze blew through the trees and rustled the leaves. I shivered and rubbed my arms to bring some warmth to them.
"I'm going to go back to the TARDIS to get a jacket," I told the men.
"Why don't we stop and build a fire?" the Doctor suggested.
"Won't that attract the creatures living here?" I asked, looking around and the darkening forest. It was beginning to look sinister.
"Yes, and what better way to get to know what kind of planet this is?" The Doctor pulled a device from his pocket and held it in the air. It had a large screen and several knobs sticking out of it. He twisted them and turned around and around, listening as the device bleeped repeatedly.
"You two go and find some firewood," the Doctor said. "I'm checking the weather and checking for other… things." His voice faded as he was engrossed by what he was doing.
"Come on, Tegan," Turlough said, stepping over a plant with long leaves. I followed him, taking twists and turns among the trees. He kept his head down, searching the forest floor for dry sticks that could be used as firewood.
"Don't try to pull any branches off of the trees. They'll be too green and the fire won't catch. They'll only make a lot of smoke."
"I know," I told him. "I've made a campfire before."
"Alright, I didn't know if you had. You don't seem like the kind of human who would do a lot of camping."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded.
"Nothing at all," Turlough said in a way that made me think it meant a lot more than nothing. I threw a stick at him and he turned around just in time to catch it.
I looked down again, searching for another branch to add to my collection, and saw some footprints and a little trail of blood in the leaves.
"Turlough, look at this," I said, crouching down to get a better look. "Something came this way not very long ago, and it was wounded."
I followed the trail, my curiosity growing with every step. It was still cold and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself to keep warm. Turlough kept pace with me, pointing out the trail when I lost track of it. Eventually, it led to a clearing in a circle of trees. Within the clearing was a smaller circle, about two meters in diameter, formed out of little toadstools.
"Don't go in there," I found myself warning Turlough. The clearing gave me a funny feeling.
"Why not?" He asked.
Deep within my subconscious, an old memory awoke of stories I'd heard at bedtime as a child. Stories of fairies and elves, enchantments and curses. Without knowing exactly why, I told Turlough about them. "There are stories on Earth about the circles of toadstools. They're said to be places of great magic and evil enchantments."
"You don't mean to tell me you seriously believe all that nonsense?" he asked loudly.
"No," I admitted. But I couldn't take my eyes off of the circle. There was something wrong about it.
"Well then there's no reason not to go in."
"Would you just listen to me?" I barked. "I don't have to explain why, I just don't think it's a good idea."
"Look," he said slowly, "I'll show you that it's fine." And he had to have his own way.
"Turlough, no!" I cried, but it was too late. He stepped into the circle and was caught up in a rope that wrapped tightly around his ankle, dragging him upward, feet first.
"You can be so stupid sometimes," I said. I sounded angry, but really, I was afraid. "Just don't move. I'm going to fetch the Doctor."
"As if I could," he said, crossing his arms.
I spun around and nearly impaled myself on a semi-circle of spears pointed down at me. Before I could cry for help, two impossibly tall humanoids grabbed me, placing a hand over my mouth. I kicked, trying to break free, but they were so much stronger than I that it was impossible. Turlough kicked and spun around, but he could not escape the rope.