I really have no excuse for not writing. Just laziness, which is human nature. I hope you can forgive me. Anyway here is part two to the Doctor's and Andy's trip on Ferrum Gerit. It was some violence so I'd recommend you skip it if you are EXTREMELY squeamish. But if not then enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who but I do own Andy, all other original characters and the plot.
The Birds
It had been a day into our jungle expedition on Ferrum Gerit when everyone in the group had succeeded in irritating the hell out of me. While trekking through the jungle to get to the safe house, one man created so much noise that a pack of wild wolves chased us until one the leaders, Sabor, shot most of them and scared away the rest. I had not seen anything else but an orange toad since then. I made it widely known of my hatred for the idiot, Bridole, while he sulked off in a corner not conversing. Not like anyone would want to talk to him so no loss there.
It was sweltering hot. The heat was getting to everyone. The amount of insults flying around the safe house was comical. The heat brought out the worst in people.
We were resting after walking ten miles to the safe house. We all had blisters and bug bites on our necks. I had a thin sheet of sweat on my skin and fanned myself with my hand before smacking my deck of cards on the table. Another man copied me then scooped up his winnings. I huffed in annoyance then got up to take another cold shower. It would be my second since we got there. Everyone was stinking up the place. All the windows were open but the wind was still, so it provided little comfort. The ones dressed in silk were drenched in sweat and stayed close to the windows, staking their claim. Most of the children played at the doors dressed only in their undergarments because it was too hot for them to put on any real clothes. I would do the same if I was their age.
I was watching the next card game when a black bird flew in and landed on the last winner's head. The woman next to him let out a small scream then swatted at it. It bit her hand and she fell out of her chair in shock. Her husband rushed forward, grabbing the bird by the neck. It lay dead on the floor. A scientist named Paso brought it to another room to examine but not before shooting the husband a cold glare. The rest of us stood in silence as the wife cried in her husband's arms, refusing to have her hand looked at.
A pair of black birds flew in and went right for the hugging couple. The wife screamed and hid behind her husband. They pecked at him and he tried to grab them but his hands were covered in red.
A loud bang frightened us; another bird fell to the floor. The other was flying around the room in circles. A steady stream of black came through the windows and we flew into action. Grabbing anything in sight, we swung at the birds watching them wiggle on the ground. I smacked one with a nearby book when it pecked at my head. The Doctor yelled for help closing the windows. I bashed away the oncoming birds with a frying pan I picked up while he closed the windows. A massive flock was sitting on the tress surrounding the safe house. There was still about 20 in the safe house. More gunshots. I only started hearing them after meeting the Doctor.
A thud echoed in my ears followed by a familiar scream. The screamer's husband lay on the wood floor. His face was deep with cuts and blood was pouring out of his eyes. His side bled from the bullet lodged into it. His wife pressed her hands against the wound. He was either dead or nearly but she tried to stop the bleeding. She wiped his face with her silk scarf then simply flicked her wrist at the bird that was pecking at her. Sabor stood over the husband's body with his shotgun clutched in his hands, still ready to shoot any more birds.
At that moment, a body lying on the ground was the least of our concerns. The birds incessant pecking at the windows was going to have us smothered in feathers and blood any minute. The Doctor gathered everyone up in the middle of the living area.
"Okay, so, the birds are going to break through those windows soon and infest this entire house. When that happens, we need to be out of here and run. Just run." He waited for everyone's nods of approval before putting a finger to his lips. We collected anything we could carry, while keeping our weapons of choice close.
We waited until we heard the sound of the birds bursting through the glass before bolting out the doors. Some of us tripped over the furniture and tumbled over each other to get there. The doorway was stuffed with bodies squirming to get through. The smaller of us, mainly the children were able to slip through easily. I shoved my way out and was met with a black beak. I smacked it with the frying pan as well as others who joined the party.
Soft groans of pain were behind me. I glanced back to see Paso about a foot away.
My eyes widened as a giant red bird flew straight for me. It had a wingspan twice that of an eagle and a beak as sharp as a knight's sword.
I brought Paso down with me as I ducked. My relief was short-lived as I saw the bird circle around. I rolled over Paso, he propped himself up a second before the bird plunged its beak into his neck. It split in two and his head rolled off his shoulders. Blood spurted out like a fountain and I closed my eyes.
The bird left was tearing off Paso's arms as I crawled away. Sabor shot it down.
Miranda urged me up. The woman whose husband had died first was screaming for someone to help her with his body. I ran over and told her there was no time. Her shoulders sagged with defeat, her bloody scarf still clenched in her hand. I took it from her and wrapped it around her neck. She gave a weak smile and sniffled.
I peered inside the now infested house. Screams of pain ripped through the air as the stragglers fought against the birds.
I saw everyone running away from the house and out further into the jungle. Grabbing the widow's hand, we started running with them but she dragged behind, slowing me down.
After running nonstop for what seemed like an hour but was probably only a few minutes we came to a clearing.
There was a terrified silence among the group. The only sounds were that of our breathing.
The Doctor marched up to me.
"What do you think you are doing?" His voice was low.
"Um-I," I stuttered out.
"You had another person killed!" he shouted in my face.
I flinched.
"I-I didn't. It was a mistake. I tried to save him but-"he cut me off.
"You used him as a human shield! I saw you. We all saw you,"
he gestured towards the group. I avoided everyone's eyes and stared straight ahead.
"Well what did you want me to do, have that bird skewer me instead? You'd be shopping for a new companion soon."
I knew that was the wrong thing to say when his eyes flashed with anger.
"You're not worthy to be my companion. I guess it's a good thing we came here then. I now know the person you truly are."
He paused for a moment. Bridole took the opportunity to butt in.
"I'd hate to interrupt this lover's quarrel, but we've got more pressing matters to deal with. Like how the bloody hell we're gonna get out of here."
The Doctor nodded three times.
"He's right. After this though, Brando I'm taking you back to earth." He walked over to where Sabor, the other leaders and scientists were.
"How far away from the city?" the Doctor asked.
"About 12 miles. But we can't go back the way we came, they'll be waiting for us. We'll have to circle round which will take longer, but it might be a safer route," Sabor answered.
"Or there might be more waiting. Or maybe we finally run into those animals that idiot scared," Oaks, one of the scientists, pointed to Bridole. Bridole had a dumb expression on his face.
"Well what do you want us to do then smart guy? Walk round the entire planet until we stumble on the city? No. We'll circle round like I said and find the flower field so we can wait for a helicopter to come get us. What's left of us. Got it?" Sabor was a no-nonsense kind of guy.
"And what if I don't want to? Going to that field will put a target on our heads. At least with the trees we have some sort of cover from the birds."
Sabor and Oaks had a stare off.
Sabor flared his nostrils and shot some hot air in Oak's face.
"Fine we will go to the field but we should change our paths a few times to throw them off and stay close to the trees with dense tops."
"Great. Glad you'll be joining us Oaks. Get ready everyone we'll be leaving in three."
Miranda, Marty and Johnny came over to me.
"Oh Andy are you okay? We saw what happened and we don't blame you. It's only human to want to protect yourself," Miranda reassured me. She rubbed my arm.
"Thanks Miranda, but I think the Doctor is sick of humans right now. Is it okay if I walk with you guys? I'll understand if you don't feel comfortable with it."
Miranda and Marty nodded.
"Of course you can Andy. Don't let what the Doctor said get to you."
I half-smiled.
Johnny held out his hand for me to hold. I gave him a toothy grin and grabbed it.
"Watch out little man, she might use you as her next shield," Bridole said.
We ignored him and followed the others as they made their way out of the clearing. We stopped abruptly as the swan I saw earlier landed in front of us.
"You should get of here now," it said.
The only swan I ever heard talk was the one from Swan Lake.
"Another bird! Kill it! Kill it now!" shrieked some old bat.
"Quiet," commanded the Doctor. He crouched down in front of the swan.
"Why are the other birds attacking us? Did we do something wrong?" the Doctor questioned.
The swan didn't answer for a while.
"They are angry. That is all you need to know," it finally said.
"Why aren't you angry with us?" the Doctor pressed.
"I have no reason to be. But get out of here as quickly as possible. Or else you'll be all dropping like flies." With that, it flew off. We stood around bewildered after we couldn't see it anymore.
We kept close to the thicker of the trees like Oaks said. It got very humid and exhaustion kicked in. Half of our water supply was drained after five miles of twists and turns through the jungle. Oaks said we should only take a few sips an hour but people were barely able to keep on their feet. Sweat poured down our bodies, into our eyes, nose and mouths. I took off my camouflage long sleeve shirt and tied it around my waist. I used it to wipe the sweat off my face but soon it was soaked and did nothing.
Delusion was creeping into the group. Some stumbled on with their eyes closed and hand clasped in someone else's, too tired to keep them open. Two more miles and three dropped to the ground. We couldn't help them, not when they hallucinated about the birds pecking at their brains. They were too heavy to carry anyway.
When we came across another clearing, the wolves attacked.
Some didn't put up much of a fight as the wolves tore at their bodies.
I gave Johnny over to Marty and held the dented frying pan. It wouldn't do much damage to them but at least it was something.
A wolf charged straight for Bridole who was next to me with no weapon. He grabbed my shoulders and shoved me in front of him. His grimy mails dug into my skin drawing blood.
"Your turn," he whispered.
I panicked and kicked his shin. He cried out with obscenities. I dove out-of-the-way before the wolf jumped on top of him.
The wolf bit, clawed and tore apart Bridole. His entire body was mutilated. The wolf stared into my eyes before dragging Bridole's body into the jungle.
My entire body shook and I wasn't able to get up.
Miranda, Perker and Marty with Johnny in his arms ran over to me.
"Andy! Andy darling are you hurt? Oh, that bastard got what was coming to him. Can you stand?" Miranda asked.
I shook my head. Nausea swept over me as Bridole's half-eaten face flashed in my head. I was having that panic attack.
"Of course she can't! Poor girl is shaken," Perker exclaimed.
A silence fell as Miranda rubbed my back. Maybe the Doctor was right. I'm definitely not suited to be his companion.
"Andy?"
It was the Doctor. He squatted down.
"It's alright, just breathe. Breathe nice and deep for me." He looked stupid making more gestures with his hand. I calmed down after a minute.
"Come on. You can walk with me." I took his outstretched hand. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders to steady me.
Two hours later, we were near the flower field. I could see it hundreds of feet ahead of us. Sabor said the helicopter wouldn't be there for another hour. We just had to survive until then. People slammed their bodies on the flowerbeds wanting to take a nap; all those miles had worn them out.
I thought back to the aftermath of the wolves' attack. The swan had appeared yet again, warning us to leave now. Marty had yelled at it, enraged. It calmly warned us again then flew off.
Every time more of us died, the swan appeared. I didn't like it and neither did the Doctor. He didn't think it was a good idea to stay in the flower field but most didn't listen. He said the birds would be able to pick at us better out in the open.
The Doctor, Miranda, Marty, Perker, Johnny, Oaks and I stayed close to the trees to wait. There was about 15 of us left at that point.
When the helicopter was ten minutes away, Johnny said he wanted to wait for it out in the field. We tried to change his mind but he argued back. He ran out into field and I chased after him. I caught up to him about halfway across.
"Come back! They're here!" roared Marty.
It was too late though. The birds flocked around us then struck.
We ran as fast as we could but we tripped over the sleeping body of one of the others. We clambered to our feet as the birds started swarming.
Our arms flailed trying uselessly to defend. I hugged Johnny to my chest, he sobbed into my tank top.
The birds nipped and bit at me. My knees caved in under me. I fell to the ground with Johnny still covered by my body. My tank was sticking to the wounds from the fresh blood and sweat.
Suddenly I felt nothing. The birds had stopped. I looked to see the last of the birds fly away from the flower field. The Doctor, Marty, Miranda and Perker were standing right there, relieved.
The helicopter came then. The Doctor healed my back and shoulders with the sonic. When we got back to the city, the Doctor and I didn't stick around. We said our goodbyes to the remaining nine who survived. Sabor didn't make it. Oaks said he deserved it for accidentally shooting that man, because it was reckless.
I showered on the TARDIS. When I was done, my clothes were folded on the bathroom sink.
I joined him in the control room two hours later.
"What took you so long?" the Doctor asked.
"I had to dry my hair. Can't go home with wet hair," I said with no emotion.
The Doctor rubbed his face.
"Listen Andy, I'm sorry about what I said before you're a great companion. But what you did was stupid and selfish. I can't have a companion that jeopardizes others' lives like that."
I nodded in agreement.
"You don't have to leave if you don't want to."
"Well, I do. I want to go home. I need some time to rest after that ordeal."
"Of course."
"But I'll stay on as your companion. I'd love to see more of the universe."
The Doctor finally smiled.
"And I'm sorry about what I did. It won't happen again. I promise," I said.
"Great, great. Let's take you home then."
When the TARDIS landed a few blocks away from my house, I jumped up to leave.
"Wait! When's the next time for another adventure?" the Doctor asked.
"I think a week is good. Next Tuesday. I hate Tuesday so you can make my day. Or ruin it."
"Alright. Tuesday. Every Tuesday?"
"Every Tuesday. Unless I say so. But next time can we please go somewhere peaceful? With no monsters or evil birds. I felt like I was in a Hitchcock movie."
"Don't you love them? But of course. How bout you pick?"
"Okay, goodbye Doctor." I waved.
"Goodbye Andy. See you Tuesday."
Yay they made up! Well not really but for the most part. This chapter was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds. If you're into old movies I suggest you watch it. The next chapter will be Halloween themed. Hopefully I'll post it sometime next week, but no promises. Until next time :)