DT on 'Tooth and Claw': "I love the Doctor and Rose's relationship in that because they start to fall in love with each other again, as Rose begins to trust the new bloke, and I love the way that Russell pushes that so that they're almost enjoying themselves too much."
A/N: Can I just say...Doctor Who is the most successful medicine in the world. In more ways than one. How can it be, that I don't watch an episode for a few days, and when I stop to continue, I can't help grinning all the time. How can those same episodes just never get old? ;D I love Tooth and Claw.
An even pumping sound of the TARDIS echoed inside the console room as the Doctor was walking casually around, Rose taking care of her rucksack as she had just changed into denim mini-dungarees.
"What do you think of this? Will it do?" she asked him with all seriousness. Rose considered putting on a more suitable wear for 1879, but quickly dismissed the thought. It would certainly look weird for the supposedly planned trip to Sheffield and would just be in the way of the running from the werewolf.
"In the late 1970s? You'd be better off in a bin bag," he spilled in a blithely voice. "Hold on, listen to this." As he put a CD into the Tardis player. And from the very first accord his face lip up in a huge smile.
"Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Number One in 1979." Both him and Rose were walking or half dancing in circles around the console.
"You're a punk," Rose teased him with a grin.
"It's good to be a lunatic," he sang, uttering each word.
"That's what you are. A big old punk with a bit of-" Rose gestured with her hand. "Rockabilly thrown in." The Doctor grinning, as he was watching something on the console.
"Would you like to see him?" he suggested, looking at her.
"A concert?" Rose asked him with a soft smile. She sighed inwardly. They never got to that concert in the end. Shame.
"What else is a Tardis for?" the Doctor asked like it was the obvious while continuing to rush around the console in rhythm to the music, Rose skipping around the same way.
"I can take you to the Battle of Trafalgar, the first anti-gravity Olympics." He started boasting. "Caesar crossing the Rubicon or Ian Dury at the Top Rank, Sheffield, England, Earth, 21st November, 1979. What do you think?" he asked her suggestively, already knowing the answer.
"Sheffield it is." She beamed at him, with both of them stopping in their tracks, locking their gazes across the console.
"Hold on tight." As the Doctor pressed the last lever, making the two passengers stagger from the shuddering inside. But the Doctor thought it needed more impact. And soon enough, he was beating the rhythm of the song on the console, madly at that, yelling out like a tarzan.
Rose was laughing the entire time, as she watched him.
And with the last beat they were thrown on the floor, both rolling on the floor, laughing hysterically. Oh, that was happiness.
"1979," the Doctor exclaimed as he briskly stood up. "Hell of a year." He offered Rose his hand to help her out, making her stand in a spilt of a second. She always wondered how did he do that. But now, she could answer it. They were just so much in synchrony. She was always drawn into his energy. And after all those years, she was now just as bad as him.
"China invades Vietnam." He skipped towards a coral to take his coat. "The Muppet Movie. Love that film." He told her fondly while walking backwards, towards the exit. "Margaret Thatcher. Urgh." He grimaced with one hand in the coat. "Skylab falls to Earth-" He turned to face the doors. "With a little help from me," he said innocently, as he turned back to Rose, who was just grinning at him. "Nearly took off my thumb," he stated nonchalantly as he opened the doors.
"And I like my thumb. I need my thumb." He was talking seriously. "I'm very attached to my thumb. "His voice was barely audible at the last words.
Rose stopped right in her tracks, her mouth and eyes wide as she followed him outside.
"Now, that's, that's-" The Doctor began to chuckle. "That's a good reaction." He pointed a finger at her playfully.
"I can't believe it!" she exclaimed. "We are in Sheffield. Blimey." She breathed the sight in. The huge crowd dancing and singing along with Ian Dury right on the spotlight.
"We're here." Rose giggled, covering her mouth.
"Told you." The Doctor bumped her shoulder playfully, grinning at her. "Come on." As he took her hand to draw them closer to the scene. Rose skipped along, as she was still in utter shock. They actually made it this time round.
"Didn't they hear the TARDIS?" she asked him, leaning to his ear.
"With this genius music going around? No chance." He grinned at her, while moving in rhythm urging her too.
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll playing on.
They played around; dancing there for quite a while, when Rose got thirsty and offered to go get something.
"Don't bump into trouble." The Doctor bumped into her playfully.
"You're enough trouble yourself." She poked at him meaningfully, while walking backwards and with the last smile she turned around to skip to the bar.
As she ordered their drinks, she leaned with her arms on the bar, facing the crowd. This was really a bliss. They never had a chance to really go somewhere like that without some kind of alien invasion going around in the background. She grinned when she spotted the Doctor looking at her suggestively, urging her to come back.
"Stop it," she mouthed, chuckling, as she turned her head, not being able to watch him any longer. The song was ending at the same time, the lights getting dimmer and dimmer until the new song's accords were heard faintly, lights getting back. And they were getting brighter at a relatively high speed, almost making it too bright, Rose noted. Her face was starting to lose the grin. She felt something coming.
And with that, light blinded her completely, making her to close her eyes.
She felt shivers go through her body and her slowly backing away. She heard cries of a person and something being torn apart. She would have done anything but to open her eyes right now, but she felt like her life kinda depended on it. So she did open them.
Her eyes shot up wide at the sight. She let out a strangled yell, her eyes fixed on the beast devouring the man.
"Rose?" A familiar voice was heard from inside the room. She couldn't move, she was standing still as a statue, as she felt two firm arms wrapping around her, pulling her inside the room.
"Barricade the door." Another familiar voice could be heard. Rose was breathing heavily, still being unable to move properly as she saw a group of people work on barricading the doors.
"Wait a minute. Shush, shush, wait a minute," the man whispered and then Rose knew who he was for sure. She shot a glance at him to see the Doctor cautiously listening to the lonely howl of a wolf.
Rose exhaled. A wolf. A werewolf. But how? Weren't they just at the Ian Dury concert? In Sheffield. She grimaced. What the hell was going on?
"It's stopped," the Doctor whispered, one ear on the door. With one gentle movement he lifted himself up to listen to the wolf sniffing at the door, leaving just after that.
"It's gone," the Doctor stated, looking at Rose.
She looked at him nervously. What was gone? The wolf? But more importantly, where was she gone?
They heard the footsteps of the creature echoing around the room. "Listen," Rose breathed.
"Is this the only door?" the Doctor whispered faintly, as he stepped from the chair to the ground.
"Yes," Robert exhaled. "No!" he exclaimed and the group rushed towards the next door to barricade them too.
The noises continued outside the walls, the Queen shivering with horror filled eyes.
"I don't understand," Rose breathed.
"Something inside this room is stopping it. What is it? Why can't it get in?" The Doctor looked confused, as he was pacing around the room.
Rose took a deep breath. To hell with that.
"I'll tell you what, though," Rose stated, walking towards him.
"What?" the Doctor turned around to face her urgently.
"Werewolf," Rose said meaningfully.
"I know," the Doctor sang, beaming at her, as they drew themselves into a hug. "You all right?" he asked her while still holding onto her.
"I'm okay, yeah," she breathed, shutting her eyes. "Just that, somehow my head is a bit of a blur after the Ian Dury concert."
"Yeh, I know." The Doctor grimaced. "It's a pity we didn't get to be there."
"Yeh..." Rose trailed off. Then her eyes shot up at him. "What did you say?" she asked faintly.
"Maybe next time." He smiled at her innocently. Rose eyed him suspiciously. Did she dream it? The concert?
No.
There was something else different. There was something there.
And then it clicked her.
It was his eyes. They were not the same. As they watched her, there were no doubt in them. Rose held her breath, as she exhaled the question.
"Do you know Madcap-y?"
The Doctor looked at her with interest, when after a few blinks he stated. "That's the word for slightly bit crazy people, isn't it?" He looked at her, waiting for an answer. She just stared at him. Blinking herself.
What?
"What?" he asked her a bit confused. "It isn't?"
"N-no. It is. Yeh," Rose stammered, ducking her gaze.
"Rose, you sure you're alright?" The Doctor looked at her in concern.
No. She was sure she was not.
She swayed a bit to the side, closing her eyes shut.
"Rose?" A voice could be heard.
She felt her head spin. She clenched on her temple.
"Rose!" The voice became more frantic.
She did not answer and she felt arms shaking her. "Rose! Wake up."
And with that, her eyes shot open.
She was panting heavily, as she looked at the man holding her shoulders. His face with concern, it slowly changing into a grin. "There you go."
Rose formed a faint smile. "Yeh, sorry. Must be the wo-" she began, when her eyes spotted something brown. She grabbed onto it.
"Your coat!" she exclaimed. "When did you put it back on?" she asked him. The Doctor looking at her questioningly.
"Okay. You sit here, while I look what's going on in here." He told her as he picked himself up to walk over the console.
The console?
Rose took her surroundings and, indeed, she was inside the TARDIS. "Oh, I'm so loosing it," she muttered, making a nervous laugh.
"Don't worry. You're still sane. Weeell. Mostly. Not that you've ever been, really," he spilled.
"Rude," Rose said, laughing.
"Just stating the truth," he exclaimed, as he was rushing about the console.
"So what's going on?" Rose asked. She then made her way towards the console, sitting on the jump seat.
"Not sure. Something's wrong with the timelines. I can feel it!" he exclaimed, while making one step away from the console to make his point. Rose felt shivers down her spine.
Was the cat finally out of the bag?
"There is something something wrong," he muttered. "It's like we're messing with the fixed point in time." He furrowed his brows. "But that can't be possible. There must be something else." He was talking while working frantically on the readings of the monitor.
"Doctor?" Rose called softly.
"Mm?" he answered absentmindedly.
"How did we leave the..." Rose breathed. Maybe for once she would get it right. "The concert?" She tried cautiously.
"Oh, that's when it all started!" he exclaimed, walking around the console. "A rush of energy pulled us inside the TARDIS with a huge force and threw us back into the Time Vortex. And now!" He looked at her. "We're going to crash somewhere." He grinned at her. Rose laughing nervously.
With a big thud they landed, making Rose lean backwards in her seat and the Doctor gripping on the console. When everything became steady his face fell into a grin. "Let's check where we should have been." Offering her his hand to drag her along.
They found themselves... in a closet. And filled with clothes, it was very cramped in there.
"Always closets with you," Rose joked.
"Not my fault." He defended himself, pushing the doors open.
They found themselves in a candle lit room, with a standing mirror on one side and a double bed filling half the room.
"Hold on. That's-" Rose began, but cut herself short. She recognised the room.
"1879," the Doctor stated. "Same difference." He shrugged.
"So what's the plan now?" she asked, while taking in her surroundings.
"Let's go and find out." He started walking towards the doors.
A bit slow to catch up with him, Rose had to run forwards to get to him.
"This place looks quite a bit well off." She turned in turns to get a better look around. "D'you think someone important lives here?" she asked innocently.
The Doctor pressed his lips together casually. "Could be. But you might want to lower your voice. Just in case," he whispered to her.
"What for?" Rose asked lightly.
"There could be guards," he sang.
"Like that has ever stopped you." She giggled, as she tugged on his arm, the Doctor just shaking his head while smiling.
They came to a stop near a huge window at the end of the corridor. Outside it, they could see a carriage stop with the woman in a black dress stepping out of it, greeted by a man with his staff.
Queen Victoria. Rose's breath hitched.
"Hmm..." The Doctor peered out the window. "That lot seems to have just arrived. Hold on..." He narrowed his eyes, staring deeply at their muted conversation. "What're they saying?"
"Torchwood," she exhaled, gaining a look from the Doctor.
"I... read their lips?" She weakly pointed out towards the group gathered bellow.
The Doctor continued on with his stare for a minute longer but then gave up on the intensity of it. "Okey doke. Let's go and meet the lords and masters of the Torchwood Estate, then," he clipped cheerily. A moment later he began walking downstairs.
"Meet the neighbours," she sighed. "But hold on. Aren't we supposed to bring gifts. When going to meet new neighbours?"
"Oh, right." Realisation downing on his face. "Well, but I could always offer them a fair share of air of my lungs. Superior Respiratory bypass, that could shower half the city with gifts."
Rose chuckled. "They're not exactly made of wood," she sang.
"You'd be surprised how close scientists stretch the trees and a human life."
"What, seriously?" she asked in disbelief.
"Oh, well. We'll just tell them we've thrown our manners out of the window," he spilled in defeat. "And I have...one certain why to not get thrown out for that." He waved his psychic paper with a grin on his face. And with that, he opened the Estate doors with his both hands, grandly. Like he owned the place, really.
It made everyone outside stop talking for a moment, as they took in the two strangers, who were steadily making their way forwards.
"Your staff?" The Queen gestured.
"No, I have never seen them before," Robert breathed.
At once Victoria's guards surrounded the pair, pointing guns at them. Both the Doctor and Rose stopped in their tracks, hands held up in defence.
"You will explain your presence. And the nakedness of this girl," one commanded.
"Are we in Scotland?" the Doctor exclaimed all happy, now in Scottish accent.
"How can you be ignorant of that?" The guard pointed his gun more dangerously at them.
"Oh, I'm, I'm dazed and confused. I've been chasing this, this wee naked child over hill and over dale. Isn't that right, ya timorous beastie?" He looked at Rose.
"Och, aye! I've been oot and aboot." Rose played along.
"No, don't do that." The Doctor chided her in a lower voice, shaking his head.
"Hoots mon." Rose tried some more.
"No, really don't. Really." He looked at her seriously. Rose had to suppress a giggle.
"Will you identify yourself, sir?" the guard asked again, more demanding.
"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon, from thee-" He trailed of, thinking of a city. "Township of Balamory. I have my credentials." He waved his psychic paper and the guard just nodded.
"As you can see, a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh." He showed the paper around, in all kind of sides, as they were surrounded. "I trained under Doctor Bell himself."
"How did you get inside?" Robert asked.
"We came through the back door," the Doctor stated like it was the obvious.
"Apologies." Rose bowed, trying to fix the rude behaviour of the Doctor.
"Make way." The Queen commanded to the men in front of her, blocking the pair inside.
"I don't think that's wise, ma'am," the guard warned Her Majesty.
"Make way," Victoria repeated, and with that, the men scattered to the sides, making way for the Queen to look at the pair.
"You will approach the Queen, and show all due deference," the guard stated. The Doctor making an "understood" gesture, as they approached her.
"Rose," the Doctor said in a soft voice. "Might I introduce Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith."
"Rose Tyler, Ma'am." She bowed slightly. "And my apologies for being so naked." She chuckled.
"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me. But you, Doctor. How did you come into presence of her?" She eyed him suspiciously. "Show me these credentials." As she was extending her hand.
"She's a-" the Doctor began, already handing her the psychic paper.
"His cousin," Rose stated, smiling slightly. She only caught a moment of the Queen's expression when she heard the Doctor speak up once more.
"My cousin's wife," he said with an ease. Rose sprung her head in his direction, clearly taken by surprise. "Good ol' Frankie, trusts me like his own limb. Even if it was an arranged marriage. It was her or an Elephant Man, so." By the end of his speech Rose could only gape at him, but not before catching his subtle wink in her direction.
"Why didn't you say so immediately?" Victoria's face lip up at once. "It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector. With your cousin's wife as your greatest right hand."
"Does it?" He looked at Rose, who was just coming out of her shock, then at the psychic paper. "Yes, it does. Good. Good." He nodded in understanding.
"I may have been delayed a bit. There was a tree on the train line."
"An accident?" he asked in a calm voice.
"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned," the Queen announced.
"An assassination attempt?" the Doctor asked softly.
"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun," she half-joked. "Now, shall we go inside?" Victoria was eager to get inside. "And please excuse the naked girl."
"Sorry." Rose smiled in an apology.
"She got herself into a wee bit of trouble with one of the patients," the Doctor stated nonchalantly, Rose raising an eyebrow at him. "It's all she tends to do really." He shook his head lightly, smiling.
"Thinks he's funny but I'm so not amused. What do you think, Ma'am?" Rose asked softly.
"It hardly matters. Shall we proceed?" Victoria dismissed them lightly.
"What're you doing?" the Doctor asked her with half of his mouth, still facing the crowd.
"What do you think?" Rose looked at him seriously.
The Doctor looked at her for a second then he seemed to get it. "Oh. You're trying to get her to say her famous phrase," he exclaimed all happily.
"Caught on, didn't you?" She smiled at him with her tongue. "I bet you 5 quid I can make her say that."
"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of traveller in time." The Doctor looked around nonchalantly.
"Ten quid?" Rose suggested.
"Done," the Doctor agreed at once, as everyone stepped inside the Estate.
"This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour." The Queen breathed the sight of a massive bronze telescope, once the group reached the observatory.
"All my father's work. Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession. He spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself," Robert explained.
"I wish I'd met him. I like him," the Doctor said beaming. "That thing's beautiful. Can I?" he gestured to the object in question.
"Help yourself," Robert replied softly.
"What did he... model it on?" the Doctor asked while already inspecting the telescope, Rose standing near the angle adjuster. Should she adjust it some in advance? No. She couldn't. Those bald men were standing right there. She would get into trouble like that.
"I know nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little, shall we say, eccentric. I wish now I'd spent more time with him and listened to his stories," Robert stated with regret.
"It's a bit rubbish," the Doctor stated, furrowing his brows, as he was watching inside it. Rose already grinning. "How many prisms has it got? Way too many," he continued while standing up straight and walking around it. "The magnification's gone right over the top. That's stupid kind of-" he nearly said something stupid, when just before that, he turned to Rose.
"Am I being rude again?" he whispered to her.
"Yep." She nodded, grinning.
"But it's pretty," the Doctor announced at once, facing the group. "It's very... pretty." He was nodding to make his point across or more like to get away with his rude remarks. Rose tapped his arm, smiling in understanding.
"And the imagination of it should be applauded." Victoria stepped in.
"Mm," Rose began. "Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty. Stargazing." She uttered the word meaningfully. "Isn't that a bit fanciful?" she asked lightly, feeling the Doctor's gaze on her. "You could easily not be amused, or something?" she asked with a hope in her voice, even thought she knew what Her Majesty's answer would be like. But it all goes according to her plan.
Each step is important.
"No?" she ended lightly, facing the Doctor, who was rubbing on his eye while shaking his head with a smile, as he put his lips together to stifle the laugh.
"This device surveys the infinite work of God. What could be finer?" Victoria stated solemnly. "Sir Robert's father was an example to us all. A polymath, steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairytales," she ended proudly.
"Stars and magic. I like him more and more," the Doctor said in an amused voice.
"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company. Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions." Victoria stepped forward to face Rose. "Coming as he did from Saxe Coburg."
"That's Bavaria," the Doctor whispered in Rose's ear.
"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported." Now the Queen was facing Robert.
"What's this wolf?" the Doctor asked, intrigued, standing just behind Rose, his hands behind his back.
"It's just a story." Robert shrugged.
"Then tell it." The Doctor urged him.
"It's said that-" he began, but was interrupted by one of the bald men. Clearly they didn't want their plan destroyed at this point, did they?
"Excuse me, sir," he called out. Rose shot him a glare. "Perhaps her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark."
Robert shifted on his feet, but then put on a smile. "Of course. Yes, of course." He walked up to face the Queen.
"And then supper." Victoria seemed too oblivious to the situation. "And could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler?" she ended while turning her head to face Rose.
"I'm tired of nakedness." Rose moved a bit uncomfortably. That woman really could make a person feel bad. Not like she was naked in any, sane-person-understanding way.
"It's not amusing, is it?" she mocked, getting a half-glare from the Queen.
"Stop it," the Doctor mouthed to Rose, her slapping on his chest playfully, grinning.
"Sir Robert, your wife must have left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven, and talk some more of this wolf," Victoria announced, the Doctor looking all excited to hear the story while Rose getting ready for the fight. She moved her shoulders a bit, trying to make her tension go away.
"After all, there is a full moon tonight."
"The room is upstairs, 3rd on the left." Robert gestured for Rose.
Rose hesitated a bit. Should she stay? Not like she would get clothed either way. She frowned.
"Go on." The Doctor urged her, pushing her slightly.
No. She couldn't. Or everyone down there would be devoured. She had to get caught. With the last resolve she formed a reassuring smile at the Doctor, as she turned towards the stairs. Towards her fate.
Once inside the room, she came to a pause. She just stood there, collecting her thoughts. She glanced towards the wardrobe where she knew Flora would be at. Wardrobe.
Thump
TARDIS! Wasn't it where it was parked? She started to panic. And with that, her time for a planned strategy ceased to exist.
She opened the doors of the wardrobe, revealing Flora, looking frantically at her. Rose furrowed her brows even more. Panic taking her whole. There was no TARDIS there. It was certainly the same room, but there was no TARDIS. Or did she get it wrong again? Wouldn't be a surprise, really. With everything that's going on around her, and her mind playing tricks from time to time. She still didn't know how she got to that wolf just after the concert. And the Doctor being from her original timeline.
Her face hardened at that.
She would have stood there for ages with her hand on the door knob, looking at the distance, if a whimper wouldn't have distracted her.
"Please, please don't hurt me," Flora whispered faintly.
Rose shot a glance at the young girl. Hurt her? "Why?" she asked, confused. And she didn't notice how wrong that sounded.
"I-I won't tell... anyone. Just let me go. Please." She was shaking. Rose blinked at her.
"No no." Rose shook her hands before her, making Flora sweat some more at the words. "I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm here to help. Really." Rose smiled at the girl in reassurance, offering her hand to stand up. She hesitated, but gradually took it.
As Flora told Rose the story, she tried to reassure the girl that they're going to be alright. Although, she couldn't tell her that she was going to let them get caught now and get a hell of a scare along the way.
They walked towards the door, Rose's hand on the knob, when it clicked her. She turned to the girl.
"Can you get unnoticed to the dinner room?" she asked the housemaid softly.
"Bu-but there are those men out there, posing as the staff..." the girl stammered.
Rose looked at the girl's pleading eyes. She wanted to make it more simple, and she would just have gotten along with everything as it was the previous time if it was a week ago or before that. But now. She couldn't have that anymore. Not since Cassandra managed to upgrade her Psychograft and trap her in the air. Those people could have an advanced plan all the same. For once she was feeling like she was losing charge of the situation. So she had to turn to the man, to whose hands she always put her life into.
"You managed to hid in the cupboard. Surely you could tip toe there, somehow, no?" Rose asked the girl with hopeful eyes.
"I-I'll try, miss." With that, Rose walked towards the candle, pricking her finger on the sharp edge of it, a bit of blood coming through it. She heard a gasp come out of the girl's mouth.
"I'm gonna need to borrow this," Rose half-joked, as she picked the girl's apron. She turned it around and wrote on the inside of it. "Show this to the man in pinstripes suit. He'll know what to do," Rose said and went out of the room.
Flora could hear some muffling sounds and of someone being dragged. She could only place her hands on her mouth to stifle the yell.
"Your companion begs an apology, Doctor." The bald man came inside the dinning room. Flora was already watching everything from the side doors. "Her clothing has somewhat delayed her," he announced.
The Doctor licked his finger of something he was just eating. "Oh, that's all right. Save her a wee bit of ham," the Doctor joked.
"Your cousin's wife is a very wild child," Victoria stated. "She almost looks like someone to eat it raw."
"Oh, that she could. Frankie is a bit of wild man himself," the Doctor teased with a wink. An unsettled feeling passed right through him at the thought of Rose and another man but he quickly shrugged it off. "Besides, we're all waiting on Sir Robert." The Doctor dropped his napkin on the table in anticipation. "Come, sir. You promised us a tale of nightmares," he whispered meaningfully.
"Indeed. Since my husband's death, I find myself with more of a taste for supernatural fiction," Victoria said a bit sadly.
"You must miss him," the Doctor stated.
"Very much," Victoria agreed softly. "And that's the charm of a ghost story, isn't it? Not the scares and chills, that's just for children, but the hope of some contact with the great beyond... Come." She urged. "Begin your tale, Sir Robert. There's a chill in the air. The wind is howling through the leaves. Tell us of monsters."
"The story goes back three hundred years. Every full moon, the howling rings through the valley." Sir Robert began his story. "The next morning, livestock is found ripped apart and devoured." He paused. "But sometimes a child goes missing. Once in a generation, a boy will vanish from his homestead."
"Are there descriptions of the creature?" the Doctor asked.
"Oh, yes, Doctor," Robert breathed. "Drawings and woodcarvings. And it's not merely a wolf. It's more than that. This is a man who becomes an animal," he announced shakily.
The Doctor leaned in on the table. "A werewolf?" An intrigued smile crossing his face.
"The Wolf. There is something of the Wolf about you," the werewolf stated.
"I don't know what you mean." Rose tried to play innocence.
"You burn like the sun, but all I require is the moon," he spat dangerously.
Flora saw how a bald man left his rightful place and was walking towards the window, like a hypnotised being. She decided it was her chance. She tip-toead from the side doors, crawling on the floor, as she reached the table with pinstriped man sitting on the chair.
"My father didn't treat it as a story. He said it was fact," Robert continued.
Flora tugged on the Doctor's suit, making him briefly turn his face to see a housemaid under the table. He didn't say anything, as he saw the girl placing a finger on her lips, so he just casually turned his face to watch Sir Robert again.
"He even claimed to have communed with the beast, to have learned its purpose. I should have listened." Robert was talking. "His work was hindered. He made enemies. There's a monastery in the Glen of Saint Catherine. The Brethren opposed my father's investigations."
Angelo, the bald man, started chanting lupus deus est just then.
"Perhaps they thought his work ungodly," Victoria added. And it took the men's on the table attention, except the Doctor's, who glanced downwards, under the table to see the housemaid hold her apron with red words painted on it.
"That's what I thought-" Robert was still talking but the Doctor heard nothing more of that. His heart-rate quickened, as he took in the words written. Not only the fact that it was written in blood. But the meaning of them.
"What if they turned from God and worshipped the wolf?" Robert asked them urgently, trying to make his point.
"And what if they were with us right now?" the Doctor stated darkly. The words echoing in his mind.
Bad Wolf at cellar.
to be continued...
Reviews would be helpful, with whatever you are thinking.
P.s. in the show, Rose was supposedly out of any Time Vortex in her. So how in the world did the werewolf sense it?