"CARLA!" The Doctor yelled as he jumped into the TARDIS. He spun around and grabbed Carla's hand as she reached out to jump in after him. The Doctor's and Carla's momentums caused both her and the Doctor to fall on the floor of the TARDIS. The Doctor flipped onto his back and kicked the TARDIS door shut.
"Alright!" he yelled as he jumped up off the floor and whisked off to start up his ship for another adventure. Carla lay on the floor laughing, half attempting to get up.
"Was that really necessary?" she gasped out between laughs. "I'd like to see you think of any other way to get rid of the Alooh!" he exclaimed feigning indignation.
"A watergun! Of all things!" she exclaimed as she got up and skipped up the stairs to the console.
"Waterguns are brilliant things to have. They aren't real guns, but they are great for bluffing. Surprisingly not many aliens know about fake guns."
"Where to next?"
"I was thinking something a little more legendary," the Doctor glanced at his companion, eyebrows raised, expectant for delight to spread across her face.
She couldn't help smiling, "And what sort of legend, Doctor? After all there are quite a few, and many of them involve or are about you."
The Doctor smiled mischievously, "Oh this one will top the cake of legends."
Carla tried to keep her building excitement and curiosity down so as not to satisfy the Doctor. The TARDIS lurched. The Doctor fiddled around with a few of the knobs and levers on the console and gestured towards the door. Carla glanced at the Doctor and ran down to open the door. Light streamed into the TARDIS. They had landed in a large meadow surrounded by the greenest trees Carla had ever seen. Carla breathed in and gasped, "This is the cleanest air, I've ever smelled! Where and when are we?" she turned around to look at the Doctor who had just jumped out of the TARDIS.
"Oh, about 600 AD!" The Doctor sighed, leaning against his TARDIS. Carla spun around.
"No way! You don't mean -" Carla exclaimed. The Doctor smiled. Carla jumped in delight, she was hopeless at containing her excitement when medieval matters were involved. "C'mon, let's go!"
"Allons-y! After, of course, we change into more respectable clothing." The Doctor replied. After changing, Carla and the Doctor bounded away.
"Ugh what's that smell!" Carla wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"That would be the pleasant smell of peasants hard at work."
"I knew it would smell bad, but not this bad!"
The two emerged from the woods and spied a small village at the bottom of the hill. The women were tending the animals, feeding them some sort of slop, while the younger children were running around. The teenage girls of the village were either helping their mothers or bringing in water and other foods for cooking. It didn't seem like there were many men in the village, there were a few older men who looked retired and some younger men who looked injured.
"Are these the only men in this century?" Carla leaned over and whispered to the Doctor.
"Nah! You'll see the real men in a bit, see the women are preparing meals." The Doctor pointed to a house, where Carla could see some young girls and their mother preparing the fireplace and cutting up meats and vegetables.
"Oi!" cried a voice.
"And that'll be the interim leader, while the true leader is out in the fields." The Doctor whispered.
"Who are you and what is your business here?" the man said after he caught up to the two.
"I am The Doctor and this is my companion, Carla. We're just passing through." The man looked between the two suspiciously.
"You came from the woods, yeah?" The Doctor nodded. The man backed up a couple of paces.
"You'd best be on your way right quick then, strangers aren't too welcome around here, especially the ones that come from the woods."
The Doctor knitted his brows. "Why? What comes from the woods? Are you in danger?"
The man's eyes flitted around as if checking to see if anyone was watching. "The leader ain't got no time for strangers like you."
The Doctor looked up at the setting sun. "Actually, we were hoping for a place to stay. It's getting a bit dark, and I don't think we will be able to reach our destination in time."
"No, you can't stay here. You need to leave. The leader won't be as merciful as me, please, leave." The man gave them both a stern look and walked back to his house. The Doctor and Carla both noticed everyone else running back into their homes.
"What are we going to do now, Doctor?" The Doctor gave Carla a look.
"I think it's best we stay here and find out what's troubling these people." The Doctor and Carla stood waiting in the middle of the street watching the sun set. After a little while, figures began to appear on the horizon. Carla moved forward, shielding her eyes from the sun, and squinted her eyes to see if she could get a better look.
"Must be the men back from hunting or whatever they were doing." The Doctor murmured.
"Do you have a plan, Doctor?" Carla turned back to the Doctor to try to read his expression. "Well, we'll just have to play it out." He raised his eyebrows at her and smiled. Soon the men were close enough to distinguish and they could be heard laughing and yelling at one another. The women had lit candles in the houses and laid out dinner. As the men got closer they noticed the Doctor and Carla standing in the middle of the village and began to quiet down, slowing down to allow the leader to step in front of the rest to distinguish his significance as leader. Carla and the Doctor exchanged glances. The Doctor stepped forward as the group of men finally approached them. The leader looked the Doctor up and down while the Doctor did likewise. Then the leader started laughing, the Doctor smiled and laughed with him.
"C'mere you!" the Doctor cried opening his arms to hug an old friend. The leader of the men bear hugged the Doctor while the men stood there looking dazed and completely bewildered. The leader man stepped back out of the hug and put his hand on the Doctor's shoulder, "Been a long time gone, Doctor. Strange things've been happening at night. Why'nt ya come inside; have a bite to it whilst I tell you a little story."
"Sounds good to me Rick. It's good to see you got this village started up and running so well."
"That'll be part of the story." Rick turned his attention back to the group of men behind him.
"It's alright boys I got this. Everyone get home and lock up. Good work today, we'll get back to it tomorrow." The group of men quickly dissipated. "Ah and who is this young lass?" Rick noticed Carla standing behind the Doctor.
"Rick, Carla." The Doctor swept his arm in front of Carla.
"Nice to meet you." Carla waved and smiled.
"Hehe, just like the rest of 'em." Rick chuckled and started leading the Doctor and Carla to a large house; large in the village standards, near the middle of the village. Carla and the Doctor followed Rick into a spacious dirt floor one story house, the rooms were separated by thin pieces of cloth. The furniture was all clearly hand carved and all the clothing and cloth-like material looked like it was hand sewn, or knit. Rick led them into what seemed like the dining area. The dining area was a small table in the middle of the "room". Rick indicated that they take a seat and disappeared behind one of the cloths, presumably into the kitchen area. The Doctor and Carla heard some clinking and low voices and soon Rick reemerged with a couple bowls of some steaming concoction and a woman followed after him with another two bowls of the concoction. Rick gave his bowls to the Doctor and Carla, while his wife set down the other bowls and disappeared behind the curtain once more. Rick indicated that they eat. The woman reentered the dining room with cups of water for everyone and took a seat at the table.
"This is my wife, Martha." Rick gestured to the woman as he introduced her between sips of the stew. Martha smiled and nodded at the Doctor and Carla.
"Martha this is the Doctor, and his companion, Carla." Rick indicated to each of them. "Now before I get into my story, let's all dig in to this fine supper." They ate in silence for a little while, quietly sipping at there respective dishes. Rick finished very quickly; downing the rest of his in one gulp after a few test sips. "Ah, that hits the spot, it does." Rick put his hand on his stomach and leaned back in his chair. "Well, I suppose I'll begin where you left me, Doctor."
