Defiance Has Its Cost... by PsiGen

"It can't be!" Muttered the Doctor, in disbelief as the TARDIS materialised.
He made to move forward, but was yanked back into the clawed arms of his captors. He let out a hiss of pain, as they drew blood but otherwise remained defiant.

As soon as the doors opened, and he saw she was alright he tried to call out.
"Go back inside Rose! It isnt safe!" He yelled, and was struck across the forehead by an overzealous Cheetah.

Mickey too struggled to go to Rose, and what for him was the comparable safety of the TARDIS to the hostile aliens. He too was swiftly restrained.

"Oh look... the girlfriend came to visit. Come here girl, or watch a Time Lord bleed to death!" Hissed Palos, raising his claw.

"ROSE TYLER, LISTEN TO ME - GO BACK INSIDE THAT TARDIS RIGHT NOW!" Bellowed the Doctor.

Rose stood frozen, taking in the scene. Then she stepped forward with a boldness she didnt feel really, and said in her hardest and coldest tone of voice "Let him go, NOW. Before I get really mad."

The Cheetahs looked at each other, mildly surprised, then entertained. One by one they began to laugh.
"Way to go Rose.. whaddya trying to do, give them a hernia laughing!" Snapped the Doctor still wrestling with his guards.
Blood poured down into one eye, making it difficult to make out what was going on. But knowing Rose, as he did, it probably was best that he couldnt.
He didnt particularly want to watch his best friend and partner being skewered.

"Shut it! I'm trying to rescue you!" Yelled back Rose.

Rose thought back to the rare nights she'd actually watched nature programs. Cats - big cats, were terroritorial right.. which meant they fought alot... and challenged alot! That was it!
The Doctor was always challenging other races by ancient rites and malarky. Well, so could she!

"I Challenge you by right... er by ... by combat!" She yelled.

Mickey Smith blanched. Surely she couldnt be serious! Surely the Cheetah's would just laugh her challenge out of sight.
But Palos was looking differently at Rose now. He'd stopped laughing.

"You challenge us for right of ownership of this Time Lord." He asked her, coming close to the human, and wrinkling his nose at her exotic scent.
"Yeah I do. Thats right." She gulped, trying not to be too intimidated.

"Rose, no! I forbid it!" Cried the Doctor, eyes wide in alarm at the prospect of his Rose in the arena with a Cheetah.
Something hard clubbed him in the back of his head, and the compound spun. He saw multiple Rose's, and Mickey's and Palos's spin crazily and then the world went black as he pitched forward onto the sand, unconscious.
"Doctor!" Screamed Rose, and tried to run to his side. She was held back, by a female Cheetah this time.

"Oh no, my pretty. We have a date you and I. In the arena." She said, stroking Rose's hair predatorially.
She laughed when Rose jerked her head back out of reach.

"To the death!" She cried and let loose a howl which was echoed by the others in the arena.
More cries joined hers, and Rose was left standing in the semi circle of hunters, one small human.

Alone.