The ground shook with rapid tremors, the rust-colored walls of the caves making disconcerting crunching noises as they trembled. Two people moved swiftly through the tunnels, one a woman and the other an old man. The woman was a creature of magnificent grace and beauty; her sleek dark hair fell to the small of her back and was held with a net of gemstones, and her eyes were lined with black kohl. A fine wrap dress clothed her body and fluttered about her as she hurried along the passage. The man had grey hair and beard, his chest mostly bare. He wore a robe of many colors with a golden belt at his waist. He led the woman with even greater speed, belying his age, and his ancient eyes were full of worry.

"Akiva, I don't understand. Do you know what these creatures are?" asked the woman, panting slightly as she kept apace with the man.

"I am the king's head scholar, Naftali. I spend my present in the past, and I can tell you with certainty that this enemy is not new to these lands," said the man, speaking rapidly.

Naftali paused, staring at him in disbelief. "These monsters have been here before?"

"And they should have learned their lesson," he said gravely. He took her hand in his, gently but firmly. "Come, girl, there is no time to waste."

"Akiva, you're hardly making any sense. What are they and why have they come back?"

"I know not their names, for he never told those who were present. He came in his moving palace and banished them from this place. They should have learned!"

"But who is he?"

Akiva finally stopped in the deepest cave, one whose walls were coated in the rough images of events long past. He raised a gnarled finger, pointing to a picture of a blue rectangle with a bright light at the top. Beside the box stood a man. He was tall, but thin as a twig, and with short hair that stood on end. "The Doctor."

Naftali failed to see the significance. What good was a skinny man with a box? "It's hardly a palace," she protested doubtfully.

"Those who were there told of how his palace was massive on the inside, but small to the passing viewer. It makes his house easier to transport, you see?" He turned to the girl as another tremor shook the earth, grabbing her hands. "Naftali, we cannot wait for him to come to us this time. We must send someone to find him, and I've chosen you."

"How in Marduk's name am I supposed to find a skinny man with a moving palace?" she demanded.

"He left us with a gift, a medallion." Akiva knelt to the floor and withdrew a bronze dagger from his belt. The point was driven into the dirt, and he used it to dig a sizable chunk out of the ground. Beneath, he unearthed a necklace like nothing Naftali had ever seen. It was a long chain and on it hung a large blue stone set in a ring made some sort of speckled metal. Akiva put it around her neck with reverence, as though this was a holy relic. "Press the stone, and it will take you to him."

"Is this man a god?"

"It would behoove us to treat him so. Last his wrath was witnessed here, the monsters who now ravage our city turned tail and fled."

"But why me?" she asked, holding the pendant gingerly.

His eyes became gentle and he rested a hand on her shoulder. "You are smart, Naftali, smarter than many other women. There is no telling where you might find our savior, and of anyone, I know you will withstand whatever may come." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Good luck, child."

Her heart was racing. She had never been far from home, and now there was no certainty as to where she would end up. This was all happening so quickly.

Another rumble shook the ground and she knew time was running out. With an unwilling goodbye to the ancient scholar, she stopped thinking about her fear and squeezed the pendant