Chapter 7
The Doctor and Clara soon arrived back at Mud, tired out.
Tobias and Jessica hurried out of their house and ran out to meet them.
"Oh, you're back! We were getting worried!" they exclaimed, Jessica hugging Clara
"As always," Clara muttered, under her breath.
"So, they're gone then?" Tobias asked "Forever?"
"Well," Clara grinned, smugly, "Not completely…"
Just then, the purple dragon (who Clara had named 'Pride') came out of the TARDIS and rested his head on Clara's shoulder. Clara stroked Pride's muzzle calmly, "Let me introduce you to Pride!" she smiled, "He's going to be your sentinel and guard the village from… um… wolves and… things... Take good care of him, won't you?"
She talked like a proud mother does of her child.
Jessica and Tobias thought her a tad weird after this, but still gave The Doctor and Clara the farewell gifts they had bought.
The Doctor got a new bow-tie (because bow-ties are cool) and Clara received an Indian-style dress (somehow Jessica had correctly guessed her dress size…)
On the day of Clara and The Doctor's leaving, Jessica and Tobias called all of the village residents together to bid them goodbye.
"Well, thanks for having us," Clara smiled at the crowd, she was amazed at how many people could fit into the little town, "The Doctor and I are going to leave you be… um… take care of yourselves… and Pride!" she added, blushing. She didn't perform well in front of crowds of people.
The Doctor rested a hand on her shoulder,
"Yes," he said calmly "So goodbye, then, and farewell!"
The villagers cheered"Are the people cheering because we're leaving them?" Clara wondered "Or because they liked what we said?"
Anyway, as The Doctor and Clara were heading back to the TARDIS, Verity ran up to them and handed The Doctor something pointy
"It's Pride's tooth," Verity said, "He wanted you to have it to remember him by."
The Doctor didn't know how Verity knew Pride wanted him to have his tooth, but he just kind of accepted it and thanked Verity anyway before watching her head back to Mud. Clara watched her go, too.
"So did you enjoy our little week out, Clara?" The Doctor asked.
"Apart from me getting injured as always, yeah, it was alright!" Clara smiled.
"Any one last place you'd like to go before we head home?"
"Well… there might be one place…" Clara mused…
As Clara sat, hugging her knees, looking out of the TARDIS' doorway, she pulled the quilted blanket tighter over her shoulders.
The planet of Dragoromus shone below her.
Her hands burned against the coffee cup she was holding.
"It's beautiful…" She sighed.
"Yep," The Doctor nodded "Nothing more beautiful than dragons playing in moonlight! Home, then?" he asked.
Clara nodded,
"Homeward bound," She agreed, almost sad to have to leave. She could sit watching those dragons for the rest of her life if she was given the chance.
But they left the winged reptiles to their lives and left for Earth…
THE END