She knew that it was rude to stare - but Rose couldn't help it. Tails were something new. Especilly when in every other respect the Harkuns looked more or less Human. Well maybe not in every way, their eyes she noticed, instead of being brown or blue or green, were yellow, pink and orange. She quite liked the orange.
They were an attractive race, slim and athletic looking with thick unruly dark brown hair. They were dressed (just about) in what looked like a combination of woven cloth and leather and wore soft hand-sewn leather shoes. Another thing she noticed that was different was that their bodies were painted, daubed with streaks of muted natural colours. Infact she was so taken with how attractive they all looked, she almost forgot about the spears. Almost.
The Doctor clenched his right hand into a fist, and as Rose watched in bewilderment he first struck his chest on the left then the right, at the exact position of each of his two hearts. As he did so he spoke the words - 'Sound and True', in a clear strong vioce, then he dropped his hand to his side and waited.
Dumbfounded, Rose stared at him, then cautiously looked to the Harkuns. For some reason that Rose didn't understand they seemed even more taken aback than she was. But as she watched, a strange thing happened. Gradually, one by one, spears began to be lowered, and albeit reluctantly - each of the group returned the salute of 'Sound and True' to the Doctor. That is all but one.
From what Rose could make out he was in charge of the group who stood before them, as the others had all looked to him, almost for guidance, before they had chosen to acknowledge the Doctor. Rose thought him to be roughly her own age, which would make him perhaps a little older than the rest, taller too. His eyes were a striking yellow which flashed with an occasional glint of gold, and made Rose wonder if perhaps she rather prefered yellow to orange.
He came forward, looking into the Doctors face, as if to un-nerve him. Seconds passed by far too slowly, until at last he spoke.
"That is an ancient greeting." He said with reverance. "How is it that you speak it.?"
The Doctor did not flinch, indeed he seemed to grow even more sure of himself, and when he answered, it was not to this one man, but to all who stood with their breath bated.
"I speak it because It was created in my honour. An oath, to be passed down through generations and become part of your history." He paused and returned his stone cold gaze to this one man who stood before him, still half challenging his presence there. "I am the Doctor."
At these words, heads bowed respectfully and the Harkuns weapons were instantly dropped at their feet. All thought of menace was gone, replaced by almost an air of admiration.
As Rose watched the face of the Harkun who stood with the Doctor she saw that he had been surprised by his answer. For as much as he tried to hide it away in the depths of his yellow eyes, Rose could see he was struggeling to accept what he had heard. But others had heard the Doctors words too, and they seemed far more willing, perhaps even eager, to believe.
"Owler.?" A sudden voice disturbed the strained silence, as the group parted to allow an old man who walked with a heavy wooden staff, to come forward. It seemed to Rose that the arrival of this weathered old man amongst them, had removed all of the of younger mans authority, as he became at once like the others, with respectful head bowed.
The old mans vibrant pink eyes glanced quickly from the Doctor to Rose, before coming to rest upon the young man at his side.
"What is the meaning of this, Owler.?" His voice was calm but filled with the strength of a leader. "Am I to understand that weapons have been drawn in the Tree Temples.?"
The younger man, Owler, appeared tortured by his own thoughts, as he struggled to give his reply. "My Sage... we came only to protect the Temples from the strangers. We have spilt no blood."
"You have spilt no blood." The old man shook his head with regret. "These words do not redeem your folly Owler. The Tree Temples are sacred and pure, yet you and your...companions, have seen fit to attempt to taint all with poison."
"My Sage..." Owler pleaded, apparently traumatised by the old mans words. "We meant only to keep the Temples safe...when we learnt of the strangers arrival we gathered arms only to..."
"I have heard enough."
"So have I." Said the Doctor. As to Roses alarm, he strode forward toward the old man, until he was staring him square in the face. "Is this any way to greet an old friend, Ibroc.?"
For what seemed an eternity, both men stood stone faced and almost nose to nose. Rose half thought it was as if they were challenging the other to blink first. But then almost at the very same moment they each broke into wide warm smiles, and in the next they were laughing and slapping eachother on the back. Rose leant against the rope bridge in growing bewilderment. The Doctor never failed to surprise her.
Ibrocs attention flickered to Rose. "You are travelling with the Doctor.?" He asked.
Rose moved forward. "Um, yeah." Cautiously she offered her hand in greeting, (hoping that it wasn't an insult to do so, as it had been on Turnak 4.) "Rose Tyler, pleased to meet you."
Ibroc glanced to the Doctor, a look of approval in his pink eyes, before taking Roses hand in his and raising it to his lips, brushing a mere hint of a kiss to her fingers.
"Welcome to Harku, Rose Tyler. I offer you my most humble apologies for the way you have been treated thus far. Please know that you and the Doctor are our honoured guests."
With this, Ibroc turned to gaze out across the expanse of trees, and as Rose looked, she saw that on every bridge that she could see, stood more and more Harkuns, their attention firmly fixed on the old man. Ibroc held up the wooden staff he walked with and called out to all those who could hear his words.
"My sons. My daughters. Fill your hearts with gladness and joy. The Great Goddess has seen fit to steer the path of our friend the Doctor to our world once again. This is a day of celebration for all, and tonight we will hold a feast to welcome and honour our worthy guests."
A great chorus of cheers errupted at Ibrocs announcement, and it reverberated throughout the forest, until its riot of noise disturbed the bird like creatures that were roosting in the highest branches, setting them into flight, so that when Rose looked up, she was lost for a moment in the rainbow of colours that swept and soared through the turquoise sky.
When she looked back to the Doctor, she could not help but return his brash bold smile. Looking around she saw smiles on the faces of everyone - men, women and children, who were waving and cheering and whooping. But in the midst of all of this she also saw the look of melancholy that resided in Owlers downcast eyes.
Ibroc turned to face Rose and the Doctor again. "Come with me to the Village. You must both treat my home as your own."
"Village.?" Rose frowned at the Doctor, then wispered. "I thought they lived in trees."
The Doctor rolled his eyes. Then, (louder than Rose would of liked) he said. "Of course they don't live in trees. They have tails Rose, not feathers.!" He shared a smile with Ibroc, which Rose translated as 'women eh?'. Then pointing into the distance, he added. "It's over that way, to the left. You'll love it."
The Doctor and Ibroc set off along the length of the bridge, deep in conversation. Rose was left half way between irritation and confusion, but before she could make her mind up as to which side she was going to come down on, she decided she had better catch up to the Doctor sooner rather than later.
They had crossed the length of five or six of the bridges before they finally stopped, apparently at a dead end - a giant tree. It was much larger than any of the others Rose had seen. But from where Rose stood she couldn't see a ladder. She made her way forward but still couldn't see it.
"Doctor where's the ladder.?"
The Doctor glanced over his shoulder to her and gave her a carefree grin. "There isn't one, we're waiting for the lift."
"The lift.?" Rose repeated, and then. "You made me climb up a soddin ladder and all along there was a..." She stopped talking, wishing she hadn't started. He was pulling her leg. He had to be. Wasn't he?
She moved forward, pushing past the Doctor so that she could see what he could see.
"Bloody Hell."
It was a wheel - of sorts. Like the big wheel at a fairground, but much bigger. From what Rose could make out it was made of rope and wood, and instead of the rocking seats of a ferris wheel it had wooden platforms, each one suspended by several thick ropes. The wheel itself seemed to be connected to another much smaller wheel which was powered by... the waterfall.
Rose stared at the Doctor. "You have got to be kidding.!"
The first platform appeared infront of them and as Rose watched, Ibroc stepped out onto it, grasping hold of one of the securing ropes. He smiled at them as the wheel turned, lowering the platform away from them, on its way to the ground. Rose looked up. Above her there was another platform, slowly moving down towards them. An uneasy feeling began to grow in the pit of her stomach.
"You sure these things are safe.?"
"Course - they've been using them for hundreds of years." He stepped out onto the platform, then turned to look at her.
"That's what worries me."
The Doctor held out his hand and Rose took it. Stepping forward.
"Better.?" He asked. His lips softly brushing the word against her forehead.
Rose looked up into his eyes, knowing only that he was holding her in his arms again. "Yeah." She said.
Moving closer still, into the safety of his shadow, she rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes so that she could better hear the beat of his hearts.
"Loads."