Characters: Eight, Charley, C'rizz
Rating: T
Spoilers: BFA Eight/Charley audios post Zagreus

A Shred of Solace - written for hoshinekoyasha

She hated having to face the Kro'ka.

The way he had to get his sticky little claws into your mind and refused to let you go until the time suited him. What was worse was the effect he had on the Doctor. Every time they faced an interzone, he paled slightly even if he did mumble something about taking it with good grace. Charley was certain that every time he faced it, that the Doctor felt like he was losing a little piece of his mind to him, though she would never ask. It felt too personal.

This time, however, it almost felt worth it.

The Doctor and C'rizz had gone on ahead and she had only just emerged onto the soft grass of their destination and the sights had taken her breath away. The sky was an explosion of colour and Charley didn't even care about the scientific implausibility, never mind the explanations. She grinned. If she closed her eyes, she felt like she was back in an English countryside, back home. She took a deep breath; she could even smell the wildflowers on that oh so tempting breeze. If only her companions would shut up for five seconds so she could enjoy the peace as well as the sun beating down on the back of her neck.

Ah. That's better. Whoever came up with the phrase silence is golden really knew their stuff.

C'rizz called her. They couldn't stay. They never could, could they? It was always a case of moving ever onwards. This place, barring the sky, had reminded her so much of home. Maybe that was why she had wanted to stay still? She sighs and traipses after them.

Hopefully, this peaceful place wouldn't cause them the problems every other zone had done in the past. And hopefully, they'd find the TARDIS soon. Then maybe, just maybe, they'd find their way home.

end