Disclaimer: I do not own anything at all. Not even my cat, who keeps pawing at the keyboard.
Chapter Two
The Doctor knew that the fastest way to find River was to look anywhere something exciting was happening. That left him with only one option. He dumped the picnic basket and headed into the city with only mild trepidation. Unlike River, he did not blend in at all.
He stood out like a sore thumb, which was a weird saying. Anyway, in his tween and braces, people paid him glances of mild confusion. They had seen off-worlders before but it was fairly rare and none of them dressed in such a way. Whispers followed him until he went to a shop that sold weapons. River might stop there first. If she had stopped at all.
The woman running the shop glared at him as though he didn't belong. "Excuse me," he said when she didn't speak. "I'm looking for a woman."
She raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you all?"
He took a minute to absorb the sarcasm. Then he laughed shortly and said, "No. A specific woman. My height, lots of blonde, curly hair. Carries a gun. I don't really like it but what can you do? Have you seen her?"
"She a local?" the arms mistress asked.
"Uh, well, no."
"Nope. No off-worlders, no guns. Whatever they are."
The Doctor frowned. "You don't have guns? None at all?"
"We have swords and staffs." She gestured around the room which was filled with sharpened metal, wood and colorful stones and orbs for magic weapons. "You interested?"
"Uh, no, not really."
"Then get out." She moved away to polish a sword currently sitting on the counter.
"Right." The Doctor left quickly, running hands through his hair. He wandered back into the street. More people were starting to stare. He tried to ignore it, walking along and whistling a tune.
Then he heard someone bellow, "Thief! Thief!" The Doctor blinked slowly in exasperation. Then he ran headlong in the direction of the cries. By the time he caught up, all he could see was a man in a red tunic scrounging about in his coin purse.
He approached. "Pardon me, who's the thief?"
The man looked at him sourly. "What's it to you off-worlder?"
"Well, it's just…a friend of mine wandered off and she's got a lot of bad habits. Blonde? Lots of curls? Unfamiliar weaponry?"
He nodded stiffly. "She's being charged."
"Ooh, any chance we can avoid that?" He looked pleadingly at the man.
"Out of my hands," he said gruffly. He looked off and noticed the guards. They weren't dragging the woman but appeared to be holding on to either arm and heading toward the palace. "Odd," he murmured.
The Doctor followed his gaze, catching sight of all that hair, he ran a hand through his own and dashed off after them. He turned back, still running and yelled, "Sorry she caused trouble!" Then he turned back and sped up.
To be continued…
Back to River in the next chapter. Please review. I do so adore them.
Thanks for reading!