She never got the chance to.

Someone grabbed her from behind and clamped a hand tightly over her lips, preventing the cry from escaping her throat.

A split second later the hot white light of the bolt vanished and left them once more under the cover of darkness. The dim glow of the distant floodlights outside provided little illumination but Rose's eyes adjusted quickly and it wasn't very difficult to make out the terrifying bulk of the alien creature the soldiers had been searching for all day.

It had found them in the end.

"Nobody move." A steady voice whispered. "Nobody speak."

It was Peter. It was his hand that was wrapped over Rose's mouth.

Had she not been so paralysed with fear, she might have found it impressive how quickly he had responded to both the creature and her reaction. In light of what they were facing, his voice was scarily calm.

Rose could not say the same of herself. She could hear the creature now.

Long, laboured breaths indicated that it had been running. It was impossible to make out the finer details of what it looked like, but she could see four legs and a rather wide head that was pointed down towards the ground.

It was sniffing them out.

How long before it detected the potent stench of their terror and came slicing through the thin material with its ferocious claws? Tom Richardson's mutilated body swam across Rose's eyes and she could only hope that it had been a quick death at the very least.

BOOM!

Pressed up against the lieutenant as he continued to hold onto her, she felt him flinch in reaction to a third bolt as it tore across the sky above.

The shadow was lost to them in the blinding light, and this time it did not come back.

Perhaps it had all been a terrible trick. The warped reflection of something entirely normal which had been made to look horrifying against the raging storm outside.

An impossible notion given that five people had all just seen the same thing.

"Peter, where's it gone?" Stefan hissed. "Where the hell has it gone!?"

Wriggling herself free of his grip as the lieutenant removed his hand from her mouth, Rose turned around to face him. She was surprised to see that he did not look quite so gathered as his voice had sounded just a few seconds ago.

His face was the coloured of ash and had an expression of complete disbelief spread across it.

"I don't…" He tried to say. "I've lost it."

"In weather like this, I'm surprised you knew it was there at all." The Doctor remarked. "But it's followed you back from the cave, lieutenant. That or it's been out there this whole time, running circles around you."

It wasn't meant as an insult this time. The urgency in the Time Lord's voice instead called for action.

"What about the others?" Rose realised. "We have to warn them!"

There was no way of telling where the creature had gone. It could still be right outside, waiting to pounce upon them the moment they stepped out. But at least they were aware of its presence and could proceed with relevant caution.

The same could not be said for the five soldiers who made up the rest of the team. They would be slaughtered if caught unawares by it.

The realisation of this dawned upon Peter and sprung him from his trance.

Drawing out his gun, he cocked it back so that it was ready to fire. Kensington and Stefan took this as a cue to retrieved their weapons before they waited upon his instruction.

"Form up. Keep the Doctor and Miss Tyler boxed in." He told them. "Status zero. Prepare for immediate contact."

The Doctor and Rose found themselves being hemmed into the middle of a tight triangle as the trio of soldiers started to advance towards the entrance of the tent. Peter was at the front and kept his gun held up as he tentatively pulled back the flap, hesitating for a moment as he did so.

When nothing presented itself, however, he led them out into the stormy night.

The base was empty. No one was around and the only audible noise was coming from above as the distant rumbles of thunder continued to set the abeyance for the grim situation they were in.

Rose felt a shiver travel up her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

"Where is it?" She whispered. "It was right here."

Blindly, she took hold of the Doctor's hand. The sensation of his warm grip was comforting against the idea that something so dangerous could be close at hand.

Peter and his men were pivoting around on the spot. Keeping their arms and guns pointed out straight ahead of them, their index fingers were all in position and just a tiny squeeze away from pulling the trigger.

"It's toying with us." Kensington hissed. "Any moment now it'll…"

A loud, terrifying scream cut through the silence. It was coming from the mess tent less than several paces away from them.

"That's Davidson!" Peter shouted, sounding panicked. "It's gone after Davidson!"

He was already running.

Vanishing into the tent with his men following closely behind him, the Doctor was only slightly slower in reacting to the terrible cry for help.

Slipping on the mud as she took off after him, Rose launched herself headlong into the tent.

"Oh, that is beautiful!" She heard the Doctor gasp. "Stunning!"

Beautiful and stunning were not the two words Rose would have chosen to describe the creature that was stood before her.

It was at least two meters tall and had a surprisingly lightweight frame. Standing almost ape-like on all fours, it was covered in a black leathery skin that was completely hairless.

The head was the widest part of its body and reminded her of a bat. No eyes, with ears right in the centre of the skull. Three-inch claws protruded out from each of its four toes whilst its serrated teeth wound around its mouth, just like on a shark.

Two ivory white fangs curved down the side of its powerful jaw.

"Help me! Oh my god!"

To her horror, Rose saw that a man was lying at the creature's feet.

Davidson, the soldier who had been taking inventory of the boxed cargo, hadn't even heard the creature coming until it had been too late. His gun was still holstered and the bloodstained clipboard lying on the ground nearby showed how little of a chance he'd had in defending himself.

The first strike had come from behind.

Davidson had been grabbed hold of and flung clean across the tent, knocking over several chairs and one of the tables in the process. He had desperately tried to scramble away from it. Lying on his back, it was clear that he had already been badly wounded.

The trail of blood stood out against the muddy brown earth and it was coming from his left leg where a large tear in his trousers indicated the severity of his injury.

It was a miracle that he hadn't already been killed.

The thick material of Davidson's protective vest was riddled with claw marks, but it had been enough to save his life. The creature had also not gone in for the kill straight away, preferring instead to enjoy hunting down its newfound prey.

But now that the thrill of the chase was over, it was time to finish him off.

Just meters away from the defenceless man, it had hunkered itself down low and was growling softly as it readied itself for one final attack.

"Enemy in sight. Contact direct forward!" Peter bellowed. "Open fire! Shoot to kill!"

The creature had just enough time to turn its ugly head in his direction before it was pummelled by a barrage of bullets as the three soldiers discharged their weapons.

The noise was simply deafening.

Rose felt the boom of each gunshot course through her as dozens of rounds flew out of the barrels. Clamping her hands over her ears, she hoped that they were all expert marksmen given the creature's proximity to Davidson.

She needn't have worried. Each shot hit the creature either directly in the chest or head.

Staggering and swaying from the force of the multiple blows that should have obliterated it, the alien gave a sharp whine of protest before it fell back and sank to its knees.

But it did not go down for long. It wasn't even wounded.

The gunfire had not even scratched its toughened hide of black skin. If anything, the bullets had done nothing serve to but enrage it. Reclaiming its feet, the alien roared in protest of the assault.

"It's bloody bulletproof!" Kensington shouted out rather obviously. "What do we do?"

They had no other weapons on them. Even if the creature could be taken down by other means, there was no time in which they could retrieve what they needed. Watching with bated breath, knowing that one wrong move would mean death, Rose didn't even dare take her eyes off the alien as it stared back at them with cold, soulless black eyes.

With a snort that could have been interpreted as confident, it turned back towards Davidson. Drawn in by the scent of his blood and fear, it was going to finish him off with them all stood there watching.

"Hey!"

The volume in which Peter shouted was unnecessarily loud and aggressive. But it was enough to draw the creature's attention away from Davidson and onto him as he took a decisive few steps forward.

To the lieutenant's immediate right was one of the upturned chairs. The plastic back had cracked right down the middle, but the four metal legs were still intact and attached to it. Each one was about the length of Rose's arm and were only one or two centimetres thick.

Peter Argent broke one of them clean off with a single kick of his boot.

Holding the rod firmly in his hand like a baton, he made sure that his intention was clear to the creature as he edged a little closer towards it. Sensing the threat he now possessed, the alien turned and snarled at him viciously as it warned not to come any closer.

"Be careful, lieutenant." The Doctor cautioned. "It might be intelligent. You could try and reason with it?"

The creature snarled at him again and Peter responded in kind by bashing the metal bar against the table next to him, creating a loud clanging noise that reverberated around the tent.

"It's attacked without provocation, Doctor." He retorted. "Time it learned some manners."

The frightened soldier curled up on the ground and the sheer level of destruction already caused made for a valid point. But still, there were many species in the universe who actually possessed great wisdom despite outwardly primitive appearances.

"Well, yes. But we -"

The creature let out a bellowing roar as Peter took another step forward.

It started to move towards him, its head almost touching the ground in preparation of launching itself as its lethal claws impatiently dug up the soft ground.

"Guys, drag Davidson clear as soon as you can," Peter instructed Kensington and Stefan, not daring to take his eyes off of the creature. "I'll keep it distracted."

"Distracted!?" Kensington spat. "The Doctor's right! You're going to get yourself killed!"

With his back turned to all but Davidson, no one but the injured soldier saw the flicker of a grin cross the lieutenant's lips as he took another step forward.

The creature leapt without warning.

Springing like a pouncing cat, the huge alien threw itself at Peter with all of its strength. Almost as tall as he was even whilst stood on all fours, its lightweight frame made it fast and surprisingly agile for something so horrifically ungainly to look at.

Convinced she was about to see the officer be torn apart where he stood, Rose closed her eyes and prepared herself for the worst.

The thud of metal striking bone filled the air.

When no screams of agony followed, she willed herself to look and saw the creature stumbling away from Peter, whining and clutching its head where it had been hit hard enough to open up a deep cut.

"So you do bleed," Peter told it mockingly. "Well, maybe that'll teach you something."

But the creature was far from giving up. The wound it had received was minor compared to the damage it had already inflicted upon Davidson, not to mention what it could do to Peter if given the chance.

With another snarling growl, it stayed where it was for the moment as it began to assess him.

This gave Kensington and Stefan their chance as they swiftly crept forward and made their way successfully over to Davidson. Without hesitation, the soldier was grabbed underneath his arms and hauled back to where the Doctor and Rose were stood.

As his injured leg was dragged across the ground, the man let out a sharp yelp of pain.

This attracted the creature's attention. It was if it knew that it had just been cheated out of its prize and now wanted it back.

Peter was the only thing standing in its way.

"Boss, back the hell off," Kensington called out. "It'll tear you apart!"

There was movement at the other side of the tent as all of the remaining soldiers came running into the tent. Rose remembered that Becker had been sent to gather them all together and brief them of their new assignment.

They stopped dead in their tracks, however, the moment they saw what was in front of them.

"Oh my god!" Thompson shouted, "What the…"

Cursing very loudly, his broad Scottish accent carried over the din of the creature's growls and it turned its head curiously in his direction.

"Oi!" Peter shouted at it. "Keep your eyes on me. I'm not finished with you."

It was one of the most reckless, idiotic and brave things Rose had seen anyone do. Armed just with a metal stick and a loud voice, Peter was actually provoking it into attacking him.

Somehow it reminded her of the Doctor.

Convinced the first encounter had just been a lucky shot, the creature went for Peter again.

But he was ready for it. Stood in a defensive position with his makeshift weapon held just a few inches away from his face, he swiftly able to launch a counterattack.

Swiping it upwards like a sword, he hit the alien underneath the jaw and sent its head reeling back. With its huge body exposed, he then drove the jagged edge of the rod straight into the creature's chest. It dug in a good few inches, enough for it to stick in as the creature roared with pain.

Peter then lashed out with his foot again and struck the creature's left front leg. A bone broke. Rose heard the sickening snap from where she was stood on the other side of the tent.

She almost felt sorry for it as it backed away from him, whimpering with pain. Clearly, it was not used to attacking someone who could fight back.

"That's enough!" The Doctor called out. "You said you'd end this peacefully."

Peter risked looking back at him.

"I also said I would stop this thing any way I had to." He responded harshly. "But by all means, Doctor. You take on the giant killer bat whilst I stand there and pass judgement."

The Doctor's face lit up as an idea occurred to him.

"Bat!" He repeated quite cheerfully. "Yes, it does resemble one somewhat, doesn't it?"

He had already pulled out the sonic screwdriver, and he smiled as he held the small metal tube out in front of him and pressed down on the button.

A high pitched screech emitted from the small device and the effect it had was instantaneous.

Just like a bat, the creature had a hypersensitive set of ears that would amplify the frequency to an almost unbearable volume. Sure enough, it was clutching its head with its unbroken front limb as it writhed and tossed around in discomfort.

Just a few seconds more and it would pass out from the…

"Doctor, stop it right now!"

Stefan's arm swooped down and knocked the sonic screwdriver out of the Time Lord's hand. The noise stopped at once as it fell to the ground, leaving them all with a slight ringing sensation in their ears.

"No, why did you..."

But the Doctor stopped when he saw what else had happened as a result of his actions.

Peter had dropped to his knees and was knelt on the ground, bent over with his hands held firmly over his ears. By the look of it, he had been affected by the sound just as much as the creature had.

How this was possible, the Doctor did not know. Had he somehow got the frequency completely wrong? No, nobody else had reacted to it in the same way. Perhaps the lieutenant was wearing a hearing aid or even a concealed earpiece? The Doctor hadn't seen either, but technology in this century would make them tiny enough to remain….

"Ah! What the hell!?"

Rather unsteadily, Peter had managed to regain his feet. But he could no longer hear a thing as the disorientating blast of sound continued to blast through his ears, making him dizzy and unable to focus on anything.

"Peter, watch your back!"

Stefan took a step forward as he shouted out his warning. But it came a moment too late.

The lieutenant saw his friend's reaction and knew at once that he was in danger. He had made the mistake of turning away from the creature and had not seen it stand back up, this time rising up to its full height as it pulled the metal bar from out of its own chest.

It was still dripping with its blood as the alien took it in its hand and swung it at him.

Smack!

Peter turned right into the path of the rod. It slammed into the side of his head and sent him spinning through the air. It was like being hit by a brick wall. Peter felt every bone in his body rattle as white light exploded behind his eyes.

He came crashing down spectacularly hard on the ground.

But he had no time to react to this as the creature made to pounce upon him. Instinctively, Peter rolled aside and blindly managed to get himself underneath the table which had remained standing.

It was the worst of hiding places but it was enough to keep him alive for the…

CRASH!

The table groaned in protest as the colossal weight of the creature landed on top of it. The metal buckled almost instantly as the lightweight frame bent out of shape.

The legs gave way and the whole thing, creature included, landed on top of Peter.

Rose could no longer see him at all and gasped in horror as she watched the creature try to reach the soldier that was now lying pinned down underneath the table. It was protecting him, yes, but the sheer mass was surely going to squash him to death way before the alien got to him.

"Doctor, he'll be crushed!" She shouted. "Use the sonic screwdriver again."

The Time Lord already had it held out in front of him, ready to once again emit the screech that had been so effective in driving away the creature.

The solid thwack of the crossbow bolt impaling the creature's skull was deafening.

Blood so dark it was almost black splattered itself all the way up the canvas wall and even reached the roof as its head was reduced to a mushy mess of bone and brain matter.

The alien had been killed instantly.

Its huge body went limp and fell onto the table. The two-inch thick arrow shaft was still sticking out of its half-intact cranium.

"Well, that certainly did the trick." Becker's booming voice announced. "Good shot, private."

"Thank you, sir."

Private Hart still had the hefty crossbow aimed at the creature.

Purposely designed to fire much larger arrows than any normal counterpart, the opened trunk nearby made it obvious where he had got such an unconventional weapon from.

"Gordon, get to Davidson first. He's bleeding out." Stefan ordered. "Sarge, the boss is still pinned down."

The soldiers reacted at once.

Gordon had rather sensibly brought with him his medical kit and reached Davidson in a few short strides. With the help of Thompson and Kensington, he began to expertly stem the flow of blood that was seeping out from the man's leg.

But what about Peter?

Stefan, Becker and Hart were already straining to pull the heavy creature off the table. There was no movement from anywhere underneath, and Rose feared the worst as she and the Doctor ran over to help.

"Hold on, boss," Becker called out reassuringly. "We're coming."

Between the five of them, they managed to heave the body over and roll it onto the ground next to the table where it landed with a definitive thud. The table was easy after that, and the moment it was lifted up Rose was both astounded and relieved to hear a sudden burst of wheezing coughs coming from underneath it.

The side of Peter's head was covered in blood from where he'd been struck. Gasping for oxygen, the lieutenant managed to roll over onto his side as he continued to fight for his breath.

Kneeling down next to him, Stefan laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy, mate." He told him gently. "You're alright. Breath nice and slow, that's it."

Slowly, Peter was able to regain control. Lying quite still for a moment with his eyes closed, he groaned loudly and winced as his hand travelled up towards his head.

"Ouch, that really hurt." He mumbled. "Hell of a swing."

Taking his hand away, he saw that it was covered in blood.

"You bleeding boss?" Becker asked. "Or is that -"

"Creature's blood, yeah," Peter said quickly. "Didn't even scratch me."

Moving onto his back, he tried to sit himself up. With a cry of pain, however, he instantly fell back as he clutched the side of his chest.

"Take it easy, lieutenant." The Doctor told him. "You've probably cracked a rib or two. Let me take a look."

Crouching down beside him, the Time Lord only got the sonic screwdriver halfway up before Stefan aggressively batted it away again.

"Haven't you done enough damage with that thing!?" He snapped at him. "You almost got him killed."

There was some truth to this. For whatever reason Peter had reacted badly to the device and it had distracted him long enough for the creature to quite literally turn the tables on him.

"Yes, okay. My bad." He admitted. "But I'm just going to scan him and see -"

"No, you're not." The corporal insisted. "He doesn't need it, so back off."

"Enough," Peter told them both. "Stefan, help me up."

Risking a lot of pain again, the lieutenant took hold of his arm and allowed himself to be pulled up into a sitting position. Still clutching his side, he took a steadying few breaths as he looked around the tent.

Stefan remained beside him, a protective hand hovering behind his friend's back just in case he fell again.

"You good?" He asked. "That was quite a hit you took."

Peter managed a flicker of a smile.

"I'm still alive." He replied. "What about Davidson?"

Gordon was still treating the soldier but he looked at his commanding officer and gave a thumbs up. The man himself was still lying on the ground, but he was conscious and no worse off aside from the large wound on his leg.

"Cat B, boss," Gordon replied. "You're a lucky man, Davidson."

"Lucky!?" The man gasped. "You need to read a bloody dictionary, Gordon!"

Gordon laughed at this.

"That thing was one nasty bat." He admitted. "Didn't expect it to be so big either. How did we miss it? Where did it come from?"

"No idea, but Hart put an end to it," Kensington said, nodding with approval at the private. "You saved their lives, well done."

"Fair shot too," Thomas added humorously as he pointed at the crossbow. "Nice to see that beauty in action at long last."

Hart hummed back but did not say anything. He'd become quite pale all of a sudden as he eyed the alien he'd just impaled with the weapon.

Peter looked up at him empathetically.

"The first one is always the hardest." He said. "But you did everything right, and it was the only option available. You followed your training perfectly. Hart, you did good."

The younger man seemed reassured by this.

"Thanks, boss." He mumbled. "Just glad you and Davidson are okay."

If okay was the operative word then Rose had a very different definition of it. Both men had barely escaped with their lives, and Peter seemed to be completely ignorant of that fact as he began joking about the situation with Stefan and Becker.

"That thing nearly had you." She pointed out. "You sure you're fine?"

Once again, she regretted saying anything as he frowned at her moodily.

"Well, it didn't, Miss Tyler." He told her. "Not that you would have been any help if it had."

It was impossible not to feel insulted by this, but Rose resisted the urge to smack him straight across his handsome face. Regardless of how rude he was to her, he had just risked his life protecting them all against a monster.

Despite his pretence too, he had been hurt.

With the help of Stefan and Becker, he got back onto his feet. Hissing from the pain, he held onto his side again for a few minutes. Waving away the concerned hands of his colleagues, he took a few deep breaths as he steadied himself.

"That was a brave thing you did." The Doctor told him. "But if you're hurt, then -"

"I've had worse, Doctor." He told him. "These men are my concern and responsibility. I'd risk far more to ensure their safety."

The Doctor nodded in agreement.

Gordon, however, was less than pleased to see Peter up and about on his feet.

"Not that I'm touched, boss." He told him. "But take a seat at least. Let me take a look at you in a second."

"No, stay with Davidson." Peter firmly insisted. "Stefan can examine me in my tent. There's another kit in there."

Casting his expert medical eye over Peter, Gordon hesitated for a moment and looked as though he wanted to protest. But against the order and his boss' reassurance, he yielded to his superior's request. Discharging him to Stefan's care with a nod, he turned his attention back to Davidson.

The Doctor, however, was not so easily convinced and held out an arm as Stefan started to escort Peter away.

"Whoa, hang on a moment." He said. "Maybe Gordon should take a look at him."

"Doctor, I've completed my team medic course five times now. Which is five times more than you." The corporal told him. "Besides, Peter's mother is a nurse and my wife is a paramedic. Between my training and them, I know how to check for concision and a few bruises."

"Okay, but maybe I should -"

"Doctor," Peter interrupted. "Stefan can handle me. But these creatures need to be our priority."

"Creatures?" Rose stated, noticing the plural. "What did you mean?"

Quite seriously, the soldier pointed down at the dead creature.

"This thing didn't kill Tom Richardson." He said. "It has two fangs, not one."

He was right.

The jaw of the alien was still intact and it was plain to see that it still had both of its curved fangs. The one responsible for the horrific murder had left one of its in the throat of its victim.

"Another one did," Rose whispered, shuddering. "It's still out there."

"We need to go down into that cave." The Doctor stated. "Find it and the missing woman it took."

"That's exactly what I'm going to do," Peter stated. "But first, Doctor, I need to know what that thing is. Before I lead my team anywhere, I want to know what it is we're up against."

Sensing his opportunity, the Time Lord smiled at him.

"I could find out for you?" He volunteered. "Make myself useful?"

The lieutenant still didn't look pleased with the idea of him sticking around, but it seemed as though he no longer had a choice in the matter.

"Fine." He agreed grudgingly. "Just don't wreck my base any more than it already is."

The Doctor's smile broadened as he nodded.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

It was the first time the officer had asked him to do anything apart from leave, and he didn't want to give him a reason to change his mind now things were finally getting interesting.

But, as he watched Peter limp out the tent with Stefan, the Doctor already knew that examining the creature lying dead at his feet was only going to be the start of solving what was truly going on deep within the heart of the New Forest.