Chapter 13: The Massacre Begins

Tarok stared hungrily at the sky, licking the sweat off his lips. Karok could only feel the shudders ripple through his body as he too stared upwards. His mind was almost willing the incoming vessel to stay away. His pendant felt lighter around his neck as he felt it feeding off this fear.

They were knelt in the middle of a cluster of trees, using the great plants to shield the human's eyes from them. Blue sky was filtering through the small tree canopy, like shaped snippets of the atmosphere above.

Karok glanced over at his brother. His eyes seemed distant, glazed over with a trance, yet the yellow orbs still shimmered from the great power that was hidden beneath them. It was as though looking through muddy water for gold. Tarok still remained away in his own peace; letting Karok lets his own thoughts drift into uncertainty and anxiety.

The smooth images of Tarok at the throne were repeated over and over again. The great silver grown, with the egg sized emerald in the centre lay on top of his neatly brushed mane, a fanged smile on his clean face and a great staff clutched in his greasy paws. He saw all his people, looking at him with the same worry and hatred in their eyes as they stared on the present King. Could it really be possible? Would Tarok really become a new tyrant?

Tarok suddenly was drawn out of his dreams and back at Karok. Karok snapped up, looking worriedly at the sky and then back at Tarok.

"No more shall we wait..." He muttered. "The time is coming closer." Karok flicked his eyes back up again, before frowning. Tarok's hand suddenly grasped his own.

"Brother, the time is coming!" He whispered, a wide smile slipping across his face. "The time, the time of the great wait is over. We can begin!"

"Begin? What do you intend to begin, Tarok?" Karok asked nervously, his paws sinking deeper into the moist earth.

"I intend to do many beginnings, but only one beginning shall lead to an end!" He said, hoarsely, as though there was some other being with them, listening, their ear dedicated to their conversation. "Now, brother, now we begin where the plan begins."

"You are crazed, Tarok," Karok said slowly, "You are making no sense! What is the beginning of this great plan?"

"The beginning of my plan, the ending of another. Now, Karok, now the race that lives here, will be the slaves. They will be the sacrifice. No, the offering. It begins! The Massacre begins!"

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How are you feeling?

Rose paused for a minute, unsure of what to answer. Yes or no, would be too basic. But, would she lie to him to stop him from worrying.

"Yeah...I'm fine." Even then, she could almost see that frown on his face; see the intense brown eyes suddenly stiffen with concern. The pause was unbearable, seeming to last hours instead of seconds. The silence was stabbing her with a thousand knives. It was pure relief when he finally said, trying so hard to keep his voice from being so stern,

I'll be there soon. It's just going to take a while...

"How long?" Rose suddenly blurted out, unable to stop it from slipping from her lips. She could almost picture that grin.

Not as long as you're thinking, obviously.

"That's really helpful..." Rose muttered sarcastically, enjoying the moment.

Patience, my dear yellow and pink friend. Like in most episodes of some London based soap; patience is a virtue. Replied the voice is an all-knowing tone.

"What on earth are you on about?"

Or is it "What in TARDIS are you on about?"

"Please, now you're disturbing me."

There's no harm to some old fashioned saying, you know, Rose. They do come in handy...Sometime...Can't recall when they've helped me, but 900 years does ruin the memory.

"Or does that mean, in all of the 900 years of your life, not one of those sayings has done anything for you?"

Could be both.

"Thought so."

There was a sudden silence between them, as though their minds were buzzing. Rose's ears were ringing with the no noise and suddenly a feeling of dread stabbed at the happiness that had seemed to have fluttered inside her moments ago.

"You...will get back, won't you?" She asked suddenly.

Why, worried about having to stand here hour upon hour against a wall?

"No...I'm just...worried, that's all."

I know you are. But, you just have to trust me, like you always do. At least I hope you do.

"I trust you with my life, Doctor...You know that." Rose's voice was almost pleading. The Doctor seemed to be considering this, as though it was sudden blow. He thought about all of his recent companions, all dancing around in his vast mind. They had trusted in him with their lives, but now they were all gone in the past. The curse seemed to be getting to him. The curse that stopped him from everything. The curse of the Time Lords.

"Doctor?" He suddenly snapped back to life and began to speak, but then he felt a sort of tugging. It was time to go.

Rose...I need to leave. I need to begin getting back into my body. Look after Tess for me, don't go outside and please...Don't touch anything...

Rose tutted, but she felt a sense of dread as he began to slip out of her mind. She could only hope, with one last wish, that it wouldn't be the last time she had heard his voice.

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Garella snarled bitterly, bringing her fist hard down on the stone table. Cracks bit into the rock and spread like sudden cold wildfire, sending splinters flying into the air and toppling down around her. Her eyes blazed with rage as he claws flew from her fingers, digging deep into her palm and creating a small trickle of blood. She felt like unleashing a powerful roar and tearing her mate into shreds.

She knew better. That would be stooping to his level. She brought her hand up to the light, examining the deep cuts and watching the blood glisten grimly in the light. What had become of her? If her mother could see her now, she would be stricken and furious. The once, calm, kind and placid Garella had been consumed by Boren, turning her into a female replica of him, twisting her hopes and dreams into doubt and nightmares. What life was she to lead further with this King?

Garella went over to a basin of water and plunged her hand into the icy cold. The blood plumed, staining the crystal clear water with a crimson cloud. Her hand felt suddenly sore, but she could feel the water lapping at her wounds, cleaning them with purity beyond all medicines. She clenched and clenched before bringing her hand back out, using a robe to mop the blood away.

The silky green material absorbed the blood, suddenly blooming red. She removed it, letting it fall gracefully to the floor with a muffled flutter as it curled up on the floor. She peered at her hand again. The flesh around the wounds was turning a rose pink and she could still see blood trying to break free. The pain was bad, but she didn't want to let it show. It could only allow others too see the pain that she had hidden for so long...

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in..." Garella murmured as she gathered the green robe quickly off the ground and wound it round her hand. The door creaked open and a child's face peered in. Garella raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"Noko? What are you doing here?" She asked. Noko's violet eyes gleamed with tears. She rushed in, her small hoofed feet pattering on the floor as she dived into her aunt's arms. Her tail wriggled sadly and her ears her fat, next to her stubs of beginning horns.

"Whatever is the matter, young one?" Garella asked quietly as she picked up the small cub off the ground and hugged her to her chest.

"Mother says that... the King is going to kill you one day!" She spluttered, fighting hard to keep the tears from dripping down her furry cheeks. "I don't want you to die!" Garella chuckled softly and hugged Noko tight.

"Don't worry, your Uncle wouldn't dare." She cooed softly, stroking her soft, fuzzy hair with her unharmed hand. "He's just...having difficulties at this time." Noko gazed up at her aunt with admiration, grinning a little, her tiny fangs in sight.

"Is it because of brother Valhalla?" She asked quietly. Garella shook her head, but didn't answer. It had been over 3 seasons since she had sent Valhalla, Tarok and Karok down to Earth. She glanced down at Noko, gazing into those violet orbs full of such worry and curiosity. She would never be a warrior. She would be a mage. A mage of such power that she would control the army with a blink of an eye. Garella's sister was not of such power, but her Noko's father was by far the best mage. But he was dead, after an incident with his power.

Noko nudged her aunt.

"Aunt?"

"Yes, Noko?"

"Why is Uncle leaving?"

"He is?"

"The Grand Ship is starting, Aunt! He is leaving." Garella's eyes widened with fear and she put Noko quickly on the ground again.

"Noko, go and find your mother. Now please." She said hurriedly, grabbing her spear from the side.

"But Aunt..."

"Noko, go now!" Garella snapped. Noko silenced immediately and scampered out of the room. Garella stared after her. She would make it up to her later, but right now, she had a husband to stop and perhaps a planet to save.

Hey Readers!

Sorry for the age long wait and the crap chapter. I've been having problems with my story recently, a.k.a Writers Block, but I've gotten over that now and the story has been updated as you can see.

I apologise in advance if there is another delay in the next chapter. This is because of writing time in my life is very limited, seeing as I have amounts of homework which is complete and utter torture, especially from a midget teacher I won't mention.

Thanks for reading, please please please review. I'm quite low on confidence for writing, due to a change with my english teaching, so please please review! Reviewing is available to memebers and non-menmbers on this story, so if you're looking round FanFic and have read my story to up here, please feel free to submit a review!

Next Chapter will be up soon! I hope...

TheNextTitan