The doctor stumbled on a large stump, sprawling across an apparent bugs nest. Grateful for once for the captain's insistence on leading the way, he scrambled up quickly before she had a chance to turn around and see the mess he was in. "Undignified" he mumbled to himself. Thankful also for the loud forest insect life, he managed to pull himself together before she heard any rustling from his small misadventure.

"Doctor!" She called over her shoulder, "do you have any reason to believe we may be headed towards Jim and the crew?" Fully rearranged now, he straightened and replied,

"No, ma'am. From a strictly scientific viewpoint, we have passed no signs of disturbance from any outside intruders!"

The deafening screech of an owl... Or what was vaguely similar to an owl... echoed loudly and clearly in the distance, managing to over-reach the pool of forest life sounds. In fact- the doctor realized with a chill- the screech silenced the forest.

Silently and frozen, they listened. Seconds past, then a full minute, before Amelia began to whisper,

" Perhaps it is time to..."

The last thing the doctor saw was Amelia dropping to the ground.

...

She jerked up, suddenly conscious and aware of a sense of vulnerability. Frantically, she attempted to stand. As she noticed the ropes binding her wrists, she heard the doctors gentle voice.

"Easy, Miss. Quietly."

"Doctor Doppler, please tell me you know where we've been removed to."

"No, Miss. Not yet. I have determined that we are back on a ship, but I've no idea yet, who's." Shifting her weight frantically to face him, she barely kept her voice steady. Yet, with an odd characteristic dignity, she said,

"This is disastrous, doctor. Until we get back to your young charge, we have no way of knowing if the map is safe. And the longer that is the case, the more likely it is to fall into the wrong hands. We must acquire more information about our current situation NOW." Despite his awareness of his inability to do so, the doctor automatically attempted to reach out to calm her.

"Good gracious, woman. Are you even aware of your injuries?"

"Injuries! Mr. Doppler, I assure you I am perfectly in working order." To prove this, she made an awkward attempt to stand. She quickly realized the foolishness of this when the already dark room started to blacken. Urgently, the doctor hissed,

"With all due respect, Captain, SIT DOWN. I cannot catch you, bound as we are." Woozily, she obeyed. She was quiet for a good while. At first, he thought she was regaining her composure, so he remained silent. After a few minutes though, he peered through the darkness to make out her expression, worried as he was about her. Her face was blank, but after a moment he realized she was thinking. He was suddenly overwhelmed with concerned for her in a way he had never experienced before. Scooting closer, he kneeled in front of her.

"Captain, you must consider your own safety. You're no good to anyone, anywhere if you don't. Please, can you tell me what hurts?" Several moments passed, and he began to wonder how conscious she really was. But then, she looked up at him, all defenses lowered for once, and whispered faintly,

"My head. I think it got hit by something."

"Let me see." As he rose to inspect the injury, he attempted to comfort her troubled thoughts- and his own- by saying,

"At least Jim is comparatively safe with your crew, and the map is behind locked doors."

...