Ya boy is back! Many, many apologies for the lack of updates. I went through a loss of motivation and writer's block, and I just needed to focus on life. Anyway, I think the wait as been long enough, let's power on through.
Chapter 24 In the Forest of the Night
Lauren stared down at the distressed looking little girl whom had just asked for help. Without a pause for consideration, the Doctor, clearly on confused auto pilot mode, gestured his hand to the general direction of right and dismissively said, "It's that way."
Lauren stood there. Only able to utter the phrase "Um," before the Doctor shut the door on the little girl, only to immediately open it again and stare in disbelief at the apparent forest where London should be.
"Are those trees?" he asked, perplexed, his brain finally caught up with his surroundings and current situation.
Lauren's eyes went wide, "Like something out of a book," she breathed, pushing the Doctor aside to crane her neck out to stare in awe of the forest covering London. Seeing it for real, it was like something out of a fairy tale.
"I need the Doctor. Are you the Doctor?" Maebh spoke again, her question breaking both the Doctor and Lauren's attention away from the newly sprouted forest, to her again.
"Yes." the Doctor answered, bending down until he was at eye level with the girl, giving her his full attention now. "Do you have an appointment? You need an appointment to see the Doctor?" he questioned gently. He had immediately changed his normal demeanour to interact with her.
"Please. Something's chasing me." Maebh said, glancing behind her frantically as if what was chasing her was going to appear and catch her, before looking back at the Doctor and Lauren.
The Doctor indicated with a jerk of his head that she could step inside his box.
"Come in, we've got plenty of room in here," Lauren said, moving aside to allow her in.
Maebh stepped inside and gasped. She looked at her new surroundings in wonder. The Doctor immediately started explaining the concept of the TARDIS in a way a child would grasp. "When you drink a glass of Coke, it's only this big," he said, gesturing with his hands the rough size of a Coke can, "but it's actually got," he stretched his arms out wide, palms and fingers reaching outwards, "this much sugar in it. It works a bit like that." He let his arms fall to his sides.
"What does?" Maebh said, curiously taking everything in.
The Doctor started up the steps leading to the upper level, with his gallery of books and chalkboards, Maebh follows him up. Lauren stayed by the rotor, watching the little girl follow the Doctor around.
He has no excuses now for pretending to be a grump all the time, Lauren mused.
"The TARDIS." the Doctor said. "It's bigger on the inside than the outside, or did you not notice?" he smirked. It appeared a more 'child friendly' version of this particular Doctor emerged. It seemed even the Doctor now knew he had to tone himself down. As he strode, he picked up a map stuffed in between several books and started unfolding it.
"I just thought it was supposed to be bigger on the inside, so I didn't say anything." Maebh answered.
The Doctor, still unfolding the rather large map, "Well, of course it's supposed to be bigger. Most people are confused by that," he said with a frown as he turned the map the right way up.
"I find everything confusing, nearly. So, I don't say anything. That's how come I'm in the woods. I thought Miss Oswald told me to find the Doctor. But it wasn't her. It was just in my head."
That isn't weird at all Lauren thought to herself. Despite knowing this episode, this little girl really confused her, and she was pretty sure, almost everybody else too. She still doesn't know what the deal was with Maebh and that weird ending her sister.
Lauren idly poked at the console, but not pressing anything, listening to the conversion while trying to muster up the courage to say 'Yes' to the Doctor as part of their new rule arrangements. Technically she hasn't stepped foot off the TARDIS so she was in the clear for the moment. Wait until they go out to explore, she thought.
"Miss Oswald?" the Doctor had stopped and turned to Maebh at the mention of the name. "Dark hair? Highly unpredictable? Surprisingly round face?"
Maebh frowned at the Doctor's unusual description of her teacher. "Everyone says she's in love with Mister Pink."
The Doctor immediately scoffed at the mention of Danny. "The PE teacher," he said with a hint of distaste.
"Maths." Maebh corrected, and unaware of the Doctor's dislike for the man, continued, "I really like him. I was in his group."
"Mister Pink was looking after you? Well, that explains why you're lost." he remarked, discarding the map and heading back down to the console.
"It doesn't surprise you that I know all about your school?" the Doctor asked, curious at the girl who was taking it all in her stride.
Maebh frowned, something Lauren noted, the little girl seemed to do a lot. "Everyone seems to know everything about everything, apart from me."
"That's not quite true. I, for instance," the Doctor turned and made a gesture towards Lauren as he spoke, "have no idea how she," he flicked her nose, ignoring Lauren's protests, "crossed from her dimension seemly unaided to here nor how she seems to know everything about everything, except when she doesn't. Eh?" he quirked an eyebrow at Lauren, who glared back at him.
Maebh eyed Lauren curiously as he spoke, not understanding.
The Doctor continued, pressing a few buttons on the console panel and activating the terrestrial navigation. "I also have no idea why, when the terrestrial navigation –" he thumps the console as he noticed Maebh was about to touch a button. "The terrestrial navigation starts up, it closes down all other systems."
"You should ask somebody who knows."
The Doctor hummed, "That's another of the drawbacks of being the last of your species. No one to ask when your TARDIS won't start." He tries to start the timeship, the rotor starts moving but stops almost immediately.
"You have reached your destination." A monotone female voice sounded clear from the navigation system.
"No, we haven't. We're supposed to be in the middle of London." the Doctor argues, clearly annoyed at the navigation system.
"Well," Lauren began.
"You have reached your destination." The well heard of, somewhat annoying sounding voice associated with Sat-Navs, declared again, interrupting Lauren.
"Oh, stop saying that!" the Doctor half shouted towards the ceiling.
"She's only saying it because it's true. We are in the middle of London." Maebh spoke up.
"We are in the middle of a forest." the Doctor argued.
"Come and see." Maebh says, realizing this man won't be convinced unless he sees for himself. She takes his hand and starts leading him out. "You can come see too." Maebh looks back at Lauren as she walks with a slightly startled looking Doctor.
Lauren eagerly follows them out, Maebh leading the oblivious Doctor to directly where Nelson's Column stands.
"Nelson's Column. Do you like it?"
"Do I – Sorry, what?" the Doctor said, seemingly more startled that she was holding his hand, unused to the contact.
"Do you like the forest being in Trafalgar Square? I think it's lovely." Maebh smiles. That is when the Doctor finally looks up with her to see the famous column covered with ivy and a lush green forest amongst central London.
"I mean, it is rather pretty," Lauren agreed, although with quick pointed look from the Doctor that implied this situation was now clearly serious, she quickly added, "considering…"
There was a moment of silence as the three of them took in their surroundings. Lauren took a breath in, trying not to let the beauty distract her. Say it now, tell him now, the little voice in her head reminded her.
As the Doctor started to steer Maebh and her back into the TARDIS muttering about needing to do scans, she hesitated, falling back slightly. Lauren suddenly found herself feeling nervous, why was she feeling so nervous? she thought.
"Yes!" she blurted out before she could over think it. She halted on the spot and nervously looked up at the Doctor as he held the door open for Maebh to step inside. He turned to her, looking slightly bemused. "Yes…" she repeated quietly.
The Doctor's eyes light up with realization at what she meant. He stood there for a second taking her in, eyeing her demeanour, Lauren felt herself holding her breath. She didn't have as much of a problem before telling him, but since the new arrangement between them, this was the first time actively admitting her foreknowledge of an episode to him. The Doctor nodded and Lauren awkwardly nodded back. He held the door open further and Lauren took her cue to step inside as well. He closed the door behind them and darts straight to the monitor, starting scans and bring up the local news.
The Doctor started contemplating to himself for a while. Maebh sat on one of the jump seats looking rather distracted as time went on, like she was seeing something around her they couldn't. Lauren hovered around the console, idly pacing around, not really knowing what to do with herself.
Just follow the rules and he can't be angry with you.
Nobody dies in this adventure if she recalls. Lauren let out a relieved sigh, a least favourite episode might end up being a blessing for her now in the real world she thought. She laughed softy at the absurd thought, the real world. Referring to the Doctor's world as the real world now, and this switch in attitude of sometimes enjoying adventures that she didn't like watching back in her world, and sometimes hating adventures she enjoyed watching back in her world has really shook up her viewpoint. It was one thing to watch, behind the comfort of a screen, and another to experience the events unfold.
The Doctor suspiciously eyed Lauren as he heard her laugh, the sound having broken his contemplated silence. Lauren stopped, looking apologetically at him.
"Sorry, I – " she fumbled, not knowing how to explain herself. "Ignore me." She murmured lamely.
The Doctor narrowed his eyes at her. Lauren stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do under the Doctor's wary gaze. Her paranoia slowly kicked in again; he will be watching everything she does now. Lauren reminded herself that nobody dies in this adventure, so she won't be doing anything the Doctor would consider stupid or dangerous. He will see that she can be trusted. This should be easy, nothing to worry over she thought.
The Doctor eventually sat down on the jumper seat across from Maebh. He ran a hand over his face before deciding to voice his thoughts. "They're already blocking roads and railway lines. So no food is being delivered. No medical supplies, plus they're still growing. So it's only a question of time before the roots cut through the power lines, the water mains. Water, electricity, and wood. Great combination." the Doctor sighed. "If it wasn't a forest, it would be a very effective weapon." he hissed.
Lauren had paused while he was still talking. She didn't think of that. Of any of that. The Doctor was right, she realised, this was a pretty big threat, even though she knows it works out and the forest is here to save the Earth, if it had turned out to be sinister, (and from the Doctor's perspective it currently was), it would be a matter of urgency to solve this in those regards. How many people right now are being cut off from lifesaving support? Lauren wondered.
Just as the Doctor pauses in his little monologue and Lauren was pondering his words, Maebh interrupts, "Shh! Stop talking. Leave me alone."
The Doctor and Lauren both frowned, looking at the little girl in puzzlement.
"Oh. Not you." Maebh said to the Doctor as she realized it sounded like she was telling him to be quiet. "I was talking to myself."
Lauren blinked, honestly baffled by this girl in general. She didn't know what to say to that.
The Doctor on the other hand, handled her weird behaviour surprising well, immediately replying, "Well, I was talking to myself, but you interrupted."
Suddenly Maebh started flailing her hands in the air, as if something was swarming around her face. "It's coming," she yelled, repeatedly. The Doctor sat there, unsure of what she was doing or referring to.
Lauren stepped closer to the Doctor and leaned down to whisper in his ear, "I really don't understand this kid. She kinda of freaks me out."
"I know the feeling." he whispered, his eyebrows twitched. Lauren glowered at him as he gave her a look.
I walked straight into that one
Just as Lauren aimed to hit his arm the sound of a phone rang through the room.
"Clara Oswald," the Doctor declared as he stood up and pressed a button on the monitor, the voice of Clara filled the console room.
"Hello? Doctor. Have I got some news for you!" she happily proclaimed. Her voice echoing around them.
"Oh?" the Doctor uttered, raising an eyebrow.
"You're always showing me amazing things. Well, I, Doctor, have finally got something amazing to show you." Clara gleefully boasted.
"Yes, well, there are some things I've never seen, but that's usually because I've chosen not to see them. Even my incredibly long life is too short for Les Miserables." the Doctor said.
Lauren hadn't seen Les Miserables either.
"Oh, Doctor," Clara breathed, thinking she was going to impress him. "You're going to love this."
"Well, when you come to collect this child, you can tell me then."
There was a pause on her side. "Huh? What child?" Clara demanded, now very confused.
"Young female human. Standard defenceless little girl. Your friend Mister Pink was supposed to be looking after her."
"She probably has a name," Clara reminded him.
"Good point," the Doctor said, as if the idea of her having a name didn't even occur to him. He walked over to the little girl and pointed at her. "You. Have you got – "
"Maebh." Lauren answered without thinking. Damn it! Having automatically been referring to Maebh mentally my name, she just naturally said it out loud in response.
Maebh looked surprised at her, the Doctor turned to her, and Lauren suddenly found her shoes fascinating to look at. They needed at bit of a clean if she was honest.
"Do the thoughts come to you as well?" Maebh randomly said.
Clara thankfully chimed in, "What? Maebh? Where are you?"
"Trafalgar Square. I found her wandering around the brand-new forest." the Doctor said, his gaze lingering briefly on Lauren.
"Brand new forest?" Clara repeated.
"Yes. It's like the new forest, except even newer."
"Is that the forest that's covering London?" Clara asked, feeling her previous joy from the thought of being able to impress the Doctor slowly fade.
"Was that the amazing thing you were going to show me?" the Doctor said, having guessed from her deflated tone of voice. "It is amazing," he agreed before adding, "but I saw it first."
Lauren rolled her eyes at their competitive natures. When she was usually stuck between them playing that game, it was both annoying and endearing at the same time for her.
Clara decided to change the subject, "Look, is she all right? Will you bring her over?"
"No, I can't bring her over. I'm a Time Lord, not a childminder." the Doctor argued.
"You've got a spaceship," Clara retorted, "All we've got are Oyster cards."
"And I've got a global rapid afforestation crisis to deal with." he said, ending the call with Clara.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Doctor spent some time examining the surrounding trees. Currently, he was standing on one of the lion's plinth on Nelson's Column, while Maebh was watching the local news on her phone. Lauren was aimlessly pacing around a few feet away from them, keeping to herself. She offhandedly heard the Doctor complain about getting no readings on his sonic screwdriver because trees were, of course, made of wood. Maebh becomes interested in his screwdriver and strikes up conversation that Lauren drowns out.
Lauren feels rather unneeded at present. In fact, she wonders if she could just take it easy on this whole adventure. Although the Doctor's little monologue did give her pause for concern of the welfare of people in disadvantage around the world, she wasn't able to do anything, and everything sorts itself out in the end. It would be very boring, Lauren does like that bit of adrenaline even if she won't admit it, but maybe she could take a back seat. That would be nice. To be honest, she rather likes staring at the scenery…..
"Gallifrey to Lauren…Are you there?"
The Doctor's voice droned in, the sound of clicking fingers in front of her face snapped Lauren out of her daze. She startled at the sight of the Doctor suddenly scowling down at her. "Yeah – what? Sorry, I'm here," she stuttered.
The Doctor tutted at her. "Can the all 'Seeing Eye' pay a bit of attention yeah?" he asked, seemingly annoyed.
Lauren frowned at the irritating nickname. "Sorry." she mumbled.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his annoyance shifting to concern.
"I'm fine," Lauren replied. Catching the look on his face, she added, "I'm not planning on doing anything stupid. Don't worry about me."
There was a beat as the Doctor simply looked at her, before he quietly spoke, "I do worry about you. Constantly."
The Doctor held her gaze for a moment longer before walking back to where Maebh was standing. There was the sound of rowdy school children in the distance, soon to be approaching them. Lauren let out a breath, wondering what the hell that display from the Doctor was all about.
It wasn't long before the sound of footfalls came closer, excited voices of young school children became clearer and louder. Then, there was a rumble, Lauren was caught off-guard, Nelson's column swayed and threatened to fall. Lauren heard yells coming from the children on the other side of them, but thankfully the tremor stopped as quickly as it happened.
The Doctor spotted Clara's group and crept up unnoticed by them.
"Look, sir." a young girl said, one of Clara's group, "No rings. Trees usually have rings to tell you how old they are. This one's got no rings. Why's that then, sir?" she asked Danny.
"The rings mark the years of growth," the Doctor answered, appearing behind a tree. The children whipped their heads round, surprised at the mysterious man's sudden appearance. "One ring for each year. This grew up overnight. That whole tree is the result of just one night's growth, and they're still growing."
Lauren stepped out and made her way towards Clara. Clara quickly introduced everyone to the Doctor and assured them that he would sort everything out. Then they appeared to play a game Lauren was becoming accustomed to: The Doctor claiming to not have a plan, or no solution, Clara spurs him on, appealing to his cleverness, getting him to think, playing for time until an idea kicks in.
As an idea took hold he runs back into the TARDIS, Clara follows suit, and Lauren beckons Danny and the rest of the children inside.
"…So, you're saying it's an act of aggression?" Clara said.
"By trees?" the Doctor frowned at her, stopping what he was doing at the console and scoffing at the absurd thought of what Clara said.
"Er, trees clean the air," Ruby interjected into the conversation, invading their space.
"Exactly. Well done, Ruby," Clara praised. "Someone or something who's trying to scrub the atmosphere before colonising or…invading." Clara reasoned, until she noticed the look on the Doctor's face as he saw all the children coming in behind Lauren. Immediately they started wandering around.
"Ah, yes, Doctor. Ahem," Clara quickly clears her throat. "This is Coal Hill Year Eight Gifted and Talented Group," she introduces.
"What are the round bits for?" a boy asks, practically sticking his whole face up against one of the round things on the wall on the upper level.
"Ask your teacher," the Doctor shouts as he runs up to him and bellows, "Come on! Down from there! Hey! Away from the console. Come on. That's an antique. Get away from there! Don't touch that!" he ran around chasing all the children poking at the console and pressing everything that they shouldn't.
He shoos them all down the stairs, Clara follows with them. Lauren stays by the console, she notices Danny slowly make his way still from the doors. He was a lot more cautious about the Doctor and being in his ship. Lauren then spots Clara's pile of yellow school books that she left on-board from marking, sitting on the jump seat. She hastily darted to gather all of them up in her arms before Danny could also spot them.
"Haven't any of you been struck by the fact that it's, look, it's bigger on the inside?" the Doctor tries to get all the children's attention. He is though, rather miffed that none of Clara's school group seemed overly surprised at his ship. Despite any situation, the Doctor always wants to hear those words.
"There wasn't forest. Then there was a forest. Nothing surprises us anymore." Ruby explained to him. Clara quickly comes back up the stairs to gently grab Ruby by the shoulders and guide her down to the lower level with her and the rest of the children.
"These trees all appeared at once. That wasn't a coincidence. There's no such thing as an arboreal coincidence. Something, someone has coordinated this. To coordinate, you need to communicate –"
As the Doctor was speaking, Lauren was gracelessly trying to sneak Clara's school books up to the upper level unnoticed. However, in her haste climbing the stairs, the books on the top of the pile tumbled. Danny saw this and had helpfully (unhelpfully for Lauren) picked up one of them before frowning; recognizing the type of book as he peered at the pages. He picks up another fallen one as Lauren quickly tries to gather the rest up. Danny flicks through the pages, studying a drawing of an 'angry sun' sending zig zags bolts towards trees.
" – Every communication channel on the TARDIS is open, and nothing." the Doctor notices the drawing Danny is looking at in the exercise book. "Except," he whispers, "Let me see that," he said, grabbing the book from Danny and flipping through the pages.
"Homework books. Why are these here?" Danny asks, looking back and forth between the Doctor and Lauren. He eyes Lauren as she dumps the books back on the jump seat again, he noticed the girl looked rather uncomfortable when she spotted him staring at her.
Lauren wonders if Clara ever actually explained her to Danny. As far as he was concerned, she was a short-lived student at his school now always seen in the Doctor's company.
The Doctor checks the name on the cover.
Maebh Arden
That's when Lauren remembers that Maebh did a runner earlier. And she didn't realise. She had forgotten about her, how could she forget? It seemed however, it wasn't just her, everyone forgot she was meant to be with them.
"Maebh Arden." he realises, and starts calling her name, "Maebh Arden. Which one is Maebh Arden?" The Doctor runs down to where the children and Clara where, looking at all the children's faces in turn. "Which one's Maebh? Maebh? Maebh? Maebh? Maebh? Maebh? Maebh?
"Oh, my god. Maebh's gone. Maebh's lost in the forest. Maebh's going to die!" Ruby cried.
The Doctor let out a panicked yell and Clara stepped in, telling Ruby enough was enough and brings the Doctor back to attention.
"We've got to find her!" the Doctor said, running back up the stairs to towards Lauren, looking almost expectantly at her. "You with me, come on!"
Clara quickly interjected, "Yes, I know that we have to find her. Doctor listen to me," she moved to stand in front of him, looking up at him imploringly, "Her sister went missing last year. She's on medication. The child is barely functioning. She hears voices. She's very vulnerable."
That caught the Doctor's attention, "What do the voices say?" he demanded.
Clara's brow furrowed, she never considered to ask that question, felt too personal. "I don't know. She takes tablets and they stop."
The Doctor sighed angrily. "You people. You never learn. If a child is speaking, listen to it."
"Oh, like you listened to her?" Danny interrupts, accusingly at the Doctor.
There was a pause as the Doctor briefly glanced at Danny, taking in his words before turning away to the monitor now displaying the sun, flaring.
"He's right." the Doctor admits softly. "She was trying to tell me something and I ignored her. Maebh Arden is tuned to a different channel. She can lead us to the source, to the heart of the forest. We have to listen to her. We have to find her." He has his screwdriver in hand at the ready.
"Not everything can be fixed with a screwdriver. It's not a magic wand." Clara exclaims.
"Does she have a phone?" the Doctor said without missing a beat.
"Well, yes, she does." Clara said, slightly flustered.
"Have you got the number?"
"Err, yep." Clara said, not understanding what he was planning on doing.
The Doctor, with a swift, almost lazy flick of his hand, sonics Clara's phone. Without breaking eye contact with her, he says, deadpan, "Maebh Arden. Five hundred yards south east of here. I'll go get her."
He looks back to Lauren and cocks his head, indicating her to come with him and she follows him quickly out of the ship. Lauren briefly hears Clara and Danny argue over which of them to go with the Doctor also before she exits.
As Lauren caught stride with the Doctor he almost immediately stops and puts an arm out in front, stopping her to. Lauren frowned at him before he said, "One moment," and rushed back into the TARDIS to warn the children not to touch anything. He came back out and they started walking in tow. The doors creak and Clara comes rushing out to catch up to them. She was not one to be missing out.
"Gifted and talented? Really?" the Doctor remarks to Clara as she fell in stride with Lauren.
"Furious, fearful, tongue-tied. They're all superpowers if you use them properly." Clara responses. "Are they going to be all right?" she worriedly bit her lip.
"They're in the TARDIS, the safest place on the planet." the Doctor reassured her.
Just then there was another rumble, the ground shook, a thunderous crack echoed from above. They staggered to a stop, peering up at the famous statue, only to see that the column was beginning to topple.
"Oh shit!" Lauren said, as the column's structure began cracking and collapsing at an alarming rate due to the trees and vines overtaking it. Scarcely having a second to get themselves out of the way, Lauren, Clara and the Doctor threw themselves to the forest floor, the falling remains barely missing them. The dust of the debris and leaves coated the air and Lauren coughed and spluttered several times.
The Doctor pushed himself up on his arms, craning his head round to look at the rubble at their feet. "If this is an invasion," the Doctor said hoarsely to Clara.
"What?" Clara whispered almost soundlessly. She tried to catch her breath.
"It's over. They're here, they're won. What do they want?" he asked, looking at Clara with wide eyes.
As they steadily got to their feet, the Doctor caught Lauren's eye, however she averted her gaze. Lauren felt weird suddenly, butterflies in her stomach weird. He knows that she knows something of what was happening now, it still felt strange knowing that he knows now. Did he wish her to say something, do something? Is he annoyed that she does know something? She didn't want to get into trouble again, so Lauren kept quiet, it seemed like a good bet. Or maybe he was suspicious because she was keeping quiet…
Why can't I stop overthinking everything!
They kept going on their search of Maebh, eventually coming across her phone. Hansel and Gretel trail.
"I'm actually frightened. I never get frightened. Why am I frightened?" Clara admits to the Doctor.
"You just lost a little girl."
"Yes, that is a worry, but I know you'll find her." Clara then shook her head, "No, no, no. This is not a worry, this is a dread. Maebh!" she began calling for the little girl.
"You're pursuing a little lost girl through a mysterious forest. The path has disappeared. You find yourself with a strangely compelling masculine figure…" the Doctor said that last part slowly, almost smug, before calling out for Maebh.
Lauren stared at him, speaking up in what felt like ages, "Strangely compelling masculine figure," she repeats, amused, then giving him a playful doubtful look. "Like Danny?"
If looks could kill, Lauren thought at the expression on the Doctor's face that he was giving her was indeed one.
Payback Lauren thought with a smirk, staring up at him, ensuring he knew she was joking but daring him to retaliate.
"Any minute now we're going to find a gingerbread cottage with a cannibal witch inside." Clara breathed, ignoring their banter. "Maebh!" Clara called.
"Exactly. The forest. It's in all the stories that kept you awake at night. The forest is mankind's nightmare." the Doctor stated. Apparently, he wasn't going to give Lauren her satisfaction of a response.
Soon they happen upon a pink pencil case, Clara confirms it's Maebh's. Then they are confronted by a person wearing a type of hazmat suit. Several similar clad people are gathered in this area, flame throwers in hand. The one Clara nearly smacked into tells them to stay back, and the trio watch as one starting using a flame thrower to burn the trees. However, to the amazement of everyone, the trees don't catch fire nor burn.
The Doctor decides he's seen enough and gestures for Lauren and Clara to move along. He starts questioning, theorizing, what sort of forest has it own in built fire extinguisher? Why now, why is the whole natural order turning against this planet? The Doctor takes out Maebh's exercise book that he had stuffed into his pocket and shows Clara the drawings.
"How did she know this?" the Doctor said. He was starting to get rather overwhelmed and frustrated at the apparent fact there now seemed to be two girls with some form of foreknowledge on what was going on.
Clara grabs the book off him to get a better look at the drawings, "What is it?" she said, looking puzzled.
"This is a massive solar flare headed for Earth," the Doctor explained, tapping a finger on the 'angry sun' drawing. "Like the one that destroyed the Bank of Karabraxos. I've got an entire TARDIS and I didn't notice this. Then there's you," he gestured at Lauren, indicating the unspoken foreknowledge she held, "But she knew. How?" he spoke to Clara again.
Clara glanced between the Doctor and Lauren, very much confused as it was at this point at everything, and asked the most pressing question that was going on in her head, "This is Maebh's. Where did you get this?" she demanded.
"You left your marking in the TARDIS." the Doctor said calmly.
Again, Lauren mentally added to the end of his sentence.
"Oh, great, right, well, that's just brilliant, isn't it...you don't think Danny saw this, do you?"
Lauren cleared her throat, gaining her attention. "Um, sorry, but yeah," she said, grimacing, "Can I just say though," she hastily added as Clara looked deflated, "I did try, I mean, um, I saw you left them on the jump seat and tried hide them before Danny could see..."
The Doctor just stared at the pair of them, utterly baffled at their sense of priority. "I've just informed you that a solar flare is going to wipe out your planet," he said slowly, focusing on Clara, "And you're worried about a row with your boyfriend." He turned away from them, running a hand over his face before turning back to them, deciding there was no more time to waste. "How did she know this? She even put the date on it!" he said, almost exasperated, waving the book in hand.
"I always make them date their homework," Clara remarked offhandedly.
"It's today's date," he cried.
That made Clara stop in her tracks. She stared at the Doctor who gazed back at her earnestly.
"Well," Clara paused, eyes darting over to Lauren, "There must be a way?"
"Don't look at me," Lauren said, "That part I don't know." She shrugged at Clara. Behind her, the Doctor frowned warily, filing that comment away in his mind.
"They want something. They're saying something. If there is a way, the way is Maebh Arden." he concluded.
"OK, you know they're not really gifted and talented, don't you? I just tell them that to male them feel good." Clara hurriedly explained as the Doctor began walking off, resuming the search Maebh.
"She's lost someone. People who've lost someone, they're always listening, always looking, always hoping. So, they notice more. They hear more –"
Lauren lowers her head, feeling an ache in her chest as the Doctor was talking; her mind having immediately drifted to the thought of Theodore and her mum at his words.
A wolf howls.
The sound breaks the Doctor off mid-sentence, and Lauren out of her thought. All three of them stop dead in their tracks.
Clara nervously peeks over her shoulder, "Was that a howl?" she whispers almost disbelievingly.
Another howl answers the first.
Thanks to the forest, the barriers and gates of London's zoo had been mangled by the trees, allowing the wolves to roam free. Then a scream echoes close by, the terrified scream of a little girl. They run to the source, coming across the wrought iron fence and Maebh on the other side, along with the wolves. Clara attempts to boost herself up, Maebh however was quick to spot the gate and run through to their side. The Doctor tries to talk to Maebh, to get her to tell him what she knows, but she appears to be in a constant state of distraction and distress, waving her hands in the air. The wolves bare their teeth at them. They bundle together to make themselves look big as possible, so they're too much of a bother to eat. That is until, the wolves jump over the iron fence, scarpering away. Afraid, but not by them.
"What are wolves frightened of?" A low growl answers the question that falls from Clara's lips. A fully-grown tiger emerges from the dense trees. Doing a wonderful display of showing off it's magnificent canine teeth.
"There are very good solid scientific reasons for being really quite frightened just now," the Doctor whispers, staring wide eyed at the tiger.
"Never turn your back to a tiger," Lauren gulped, she read that somewhere once.
A bright light is shone on the tiger's eyes. There was a short, tense moment as the tiger growled and hissed, as the flashlight blinded it, the tiger retreats from its potential prey and goes back where it came from. Danny steps out, flashlight in hand, the rest of the children behind him cheer. Clara jogs over to him, wowed and impressed, thanking him.
The celebratory moment is broken when Maebh once again frantic, but even more so this time; waving her arms again, and the Doctor looks at her curiously, this really was not a nervous tic, she didn't need her medication, he didn't want her to stop talking, he needed to know, the Doctor stated as he tried once again to appeal to the little girl. As the Doctor and Danny argue, Maebh attempts to runs off. Everyone calls and runs after her. The rag tag group follow Maebh into an open area of the forest. Little parts of London poking through the greenery.
"It's coming. It's coming for everyone, and I can't unthink it." Maebh cries out.
The rest of the children with Clara stand back. The Doctor approaches Maebh. Lauren says back with Clara. Let the Doctor handle this.
"Maebh," the Doctor whispers, "Maebh, this forest is communicating. With you. Nobody else. No technology can hear what it's saying, but you can. Tell us what it wants. Where it came from. Just tell me who did this." He pleas with her. Very slowly the little girl turns to look at him.
"It was me. I did this. I did these trees." Maebh cries.
Lauren felt heartbroken for her. She understood her sense of guilt. She wanted to speak up, but the Doctor beat her to it.
"No, Maebh," he said gently. "You didn't make a global forest appear overnight. How could you do that?" he tried to reason.
"Thoughts come to me. Ever since Annabel went missing, I look for her everywhere. I don't find her, but I find thoughts. The big forest was one. I thought everyone would love it. The thoughts! The thoughts! They go so fast." Maebh looks around her, frowning, trying to make sense of what she sees.
Clara speaks up, "Maebh, can you see something that we can't see?" she questions, noticing her behaviour and moments.
"Nearly. Too fast. Everywhere," Maebh swats her hands around the air, as if to catch the thoughts flying past her.
"Everything's subject to gravity. If I can create a little local increase," the Doctor explains, and ignoring the protests of Danny, brandishes his sonic screwdriver. A buzz and suddenly little golden lights appear in the air, dancing and whizzing like little fairies and it's honestly like a Peter Pan moment for Lauren.
It was beautiful. And Maebh thought so too.
"They're lovely!" she said, gasping in delight, then she frowned in pain. "They don't like it when you're holding them. They want you to let them go."
But the Doctor persisted, he needed answers to his questions.
The voice of the forest suddenly speaks through Maebh, in a very deep voice that drowns out Maebh's as they, as one, speak. They give their message. The forest came to the call of the sun, the sun that creates and destroys, nothing more, nothing less. The Doctor, with reluctance, lets 'Them' or whatever it truly was go, the pain too much for them. The golden lights fade. Danny and the Doctor rush to Maebh as she falls to her knees, it clearly took a lot out of her.
"Maebh, you came looking for the Doctor. Think. Who sent you for the Doctor?" he asks, the one question that bugged him, in the back of his mind, he hoped she wasn't another Lauren.
"It was just a thought. It was just a thought that came. I think it came from Miss." Maebh exclaimed.
Danny glanced at Clara, who in turn looked confused.
There was a pause.
"They're gone. Why does everything have to go?" Maebh said sadly. The Doctor doesn't have a response. Instead he gets up and walks to the edge of the clearing.
Clara immediately goes to him. His head low, shoulders slump, a hand over his brow. Clara stands to face him, stares hard at him, with fire in her eyes, that hint of fear.
"This really is going to happen, isn't it?" Clara half asks, half demands of him. She eyes Lauren as she cautiously makes her way over to them. She has been behaving awfully distance, Clara thinks to herself.
"Stars implode. Planets grow cold. Catastrophe is the metabolism of the universe. I can fight monsters. I can't fight physics." the Doctor grits his teeth.
"Why would trees want to kill us? We love trees?" Clara argues.
"You've been chopping them down for furniture for centuries," he sounded exasperated. "If that's love, no wonder they're calling down fire from the heavens," he growls at them.
"But we saw the future. Lots of futures," Clara looks at Lauren as she said this, "Earth's futures," she counters.
"They're about to be erased," the Doctor whispers, sounding almost hopeless.
"Lauren," Clara said, that teacher voice again, gaining the other girl's attention. "If there is anything, anything you know or see, just anything that can help us fight this," she takes a breath, and there's that never giving up look. "Please tell us," she pleas.
Lauren lowered her gaze and stares at her feet. Follow the rules she desperately thinks as she refrains herself from saying anything. Lauren could feel Clara's gaze burning holes into her. Danny starts leading the children back the way they came through the forest. And for a moment there is this bubble around the three of them. Just a moment of only them. Lauren spares a glance up at the Doctor, who was already looking down at her. Clara lets out a frustrated sigh as it appears Lauren will not answer her. It's the Doctor who must ask.
Clara looks between the pair of idiots, a term she has started mentally referring to them as, when something clicks in her head. "Is this about those stupid rules he's making you follow," Clara suddenly says to Lauren.
"They're not stupid," the Doctor interjects sharply.
"You're scared," she realizes, "Scared you'll ask her about it, and she'll confirm were doomed."
"And you're not?" the Doctor raises an eyebrow, remaining stoic.
"Of course I am!" Clara said. "But you're a stubborn – "
I'm standing right here! Lauren thinks as they continue to argue like this. She decides she's had enough of this and starts to walk off to catch up with Danny and the children.
They don't need my help. It doesn't matter if I say anything, the Doctor will eventually stop being dumb and realize it works out for itself. They can argue and debate over me all they want!
She can't help but feel like she's back in foster with one of her numerous pairs of foster parents arguing over her, making her feel like she was walking on egg shells around them.
"Hey, hey! Lauren!" Clara calls, making a start towards the other girl.
"What?" Lauren shouted. She didn't tend to, but she was getting rather pissed off.
"What do you know?" the Doctor finally asks Lauren.
Lauren turns to him, briefly looking shocked. She stands there, pondering what to say to such a big yet vague question. Finally, though, she realizes it's an easy one.
"Everything." she simply answers.