A/N: This is the second in a series about Rose becoming a werewolf. The first story is Leader of the Pack.
Chapter One
"Aha! We've landed," the Doctor said to everyone in the console room.
"And where have we landed?" Victoria asked.
The Doctor bent down and stared at his monitor.
"Luna. Nice name for a planet of werewolves," he said.
"So, is this one of the planets where the moon always shines?" Ian asked.
"Dunno, never been here before, this is something the TARDIS found. Having said that, I want to come with you and make sure it's acceptable. My TARDIS is magnificent but she can also be unpredictable at times. Follow me then."
"Unpredictable?" Max said to Rose. "I don't like the sound of that, Pretty."
"Nah, I'm sure it's fine," Rose said, hoping it really was.
The Doctor hurried down the ramp and opened the door. Sunlight flooded the ramp as he looked out.
"So it's no on the perpetual moonlight then," Max said while they followed him.
They followed the Doctor outside and noticed they had landed near a forest. In the distance was a small village and what looked like a bazaar on the outskirts of it. The houses in the village were wooden. Most of them were painted white with brown wood slats spaced evenly on the front. The roofs were made of brown shingles. The village also had a few shops and a church whose spire towered above everything. They could see people moving around, most of them dressed like they were in Medieval England.
"Wait, we're on another planet?" Max said to the Doctor. "The people look like they've stepped out of Robin Hood."
"Well, this might be this particular planet's past. There are many humanoid like species of alien, case in point," he said, pointing to himself. "They might not be humans or they might be humans that have been kidnapped or came from Earth at some point and settled here."
"So, is this a werewolf community then?" Rose said.
The Doctor shrugged.
"One way to find out," he said, shutting the TARDIS door.
"Wait," Rachel said, pointing to her t-shirt and jeans, "we're not dressed like them."
"Never stopped me before. Come on, they'll probably think you're just travelers. Let's go check out this village," the Doctor said, beckoning to everyone.
They walked across a grass field to the bazaar. The booths were all wooden and everyone was dressed in medieval outfits which made Rose feel a bit out of place. She glanced at the Doctor and saw he was unconcerned as they walked between two booths and looked around. Most of the vendors were selling food or clothes or jewelry. They were calling to the people passing by to stop and look at their wares. Rose noticed the Doctor was looking at a booth near the end and she followed him when he suddenly made a beeline for it. Max and his pack watched them for a moment before following.
The Doctor stepped up to the booth and noticed an array of amulets and charms laid out for display. A plump man with balding brown hair and grey eyes walked up to the wooden counter while the Doctor picked up a small medallion and examined it. Rose leaned in and her eyebrow raised when she saw a wolf's head etched into the bronze disc.
"What is this for?" the Doctor said.
"That is for protection from werewolves. Keeps them from coming near you," the vendor said.
Max and his pack shared a look while the Doctor put the medallion on. Rose giggled when he pressed up against her, watching her expectantly to see if she would flee. Rose shrugged when nothing happened and the Doctor took the medallion off and set it back on the counter. His eyes passed over the other medallions and charms.
"So, are all these for werewolf protection?" he asked the vendor.
"No, they're for different supernatural creatures. Why? Do you need protection from werewolves?"
"Well…not really. I actually find them fascinating," the Doctor said, scratching his cheek.
"So you've been to Howling Hallow then?" the man said.
"Um…no, where's that?" the Doctor said.
"Not sure but that's where werewolves live," the man said. "But no one knows how to get to it. No mortal anyway. It's said that a true werewolf can find and enter their secret lair."
"Really?" the Doctor said while Rose shared a look with her friends. "How fascinating. So, no one here has ever found it?"
"No. We're all terrified of the beasts. They do nothing except kill," the man said.
Rose put a hand on Max's chest when she sensed his anger at that. The Doctor was about to say something when the man suddenly looked around and then ducked down. He brought up a small wooden chest, glanced around again and then took a small key out of his pocket. The Doctor, intrigued with the sudden subterfuge, leaned in to see what was inside. The man unlocked the chest, reached in and took out a long strip of brown fur that had been made into a belt. He showed it to the Doctor.
"What's this then?" the Doctor said.
"Wolf pelt. If you're interested in finding Howling Hallow, buy this. You wear it like a belt and when the full moon rises, you'll become a werewolf. If you want to become mortal, take it off and you'll transform back to your normal self."
Rose shared a dubious glance with the others but the Doctor was intrigued. He asked the price and when the vendor said it was twenty credits, he took a credit stick out of his trouser pocket and handed it to the vendor.
"Seriously? You're gonna buy that?" Rose said, pointing to the pelt.
"Just out of scientific curiosity," the Doctor said with a shrug.
The man scanned his stick and thanked him while he put the pelt back in the chest and handed it and the key to the Doctor.
"By the way, do you have anything that'll keep a werewolf from changing during a full moon?" the Doctor asked.
The man ducked under the counter again.
"Wow, he has everything," the Doctor said to Rose.
But when he came back up, he had a piece of parchment and an inkpot and quill. The Doctor watched while he dipped the sharpened tip of the quill in the ink and wrote something on the parchment. The Doctor leaned in, trying to see what he was writing. It was in an alien language that he knew would translate eventually so he straightened up.
"There is an old sorceress that lives in those woods over there," he said, pointing towards the woods. "Her name is Alphaga and she might be able to help you. I have written directions to her cottage."
"Much obliged," the Doctor said, taking the parchment when he finished writing on it.
"And you are coming to fair tonight, I take it?" the man said.
"Fair?" the Doctor said.
"Yes, it hasn't set up yet but they're just starting and it'll be ready by nightfall. It's our annual country fair. It'll be in the field behind these booths," the man said, pointing.
"What sort of things will they have?" the Doctor said.
"Oh, performers, acrobats, things like that. They may have a captive werewolf or vampire or some sort of magical creature, they usually do."
"I see," the Doctor said. "Then we'll have to attend and see this magical creature for ourselves."
"I think you'll enjoy it. I won't guarantee that a magical creature will be on display but most of the time they manage to find one. Good luck and…oh…do you need anything else? Defense against the undead, spell for getting rid of goblins?"
"No, I'm good. Have a nice day," the Doctor said.
The man nodded and the Doctor glanced at his friends before all of them hurried away from the booth.