Once Upon a Time Lord

Chapter Eight

                 
Illustration by Karlie, Savannah, and Moi

Slowly the outline of an island appeared on the horizon as the boys approached on their mermaid-powered rowboat.  It was nearly noon now, but firelight flickered from the center of the island.  The nearer they drew, strange chanting and the heavy beat of drums became louder and louder.  The mermaids began to slow down as they reached the island, and finally dropped them off under and overhanging cliff.

"The Amazons are dangerous," Maya warned.

"We know," the Doctor said.  "But they've taken something of mine and we have to retrieve it."

"You're going to fight them?" Ally asked with wide eyes.  Killian nodded.

"Oh!  You're so brave!" they swooned.

"Shh, my dears," Peter said, holding a finger to his lips.  "We must be quiet."

...

Lucy awoke without opening her eyes, and felt a pain in her wrists.  He tried to rub them, but her wrists were bound, somehow.  It was then that her memories came back to her.

Her eyes flew open and her first sight was a set of bars.  She swiveled her head around, taking in every aspect of her surroundings, which appeared to be a cage.  Where is Jane? She wondered frantically.  She jerked at the rope binding her wrists which triggered a dull moan that didn't come from her.  She turned as far to the left as she could and saw some tell-tale strands of Jane's brunette hair. 

"Jane," Lucy whispered.  "Jane, wake up."

Jane stirred, and Lucy felt her tug at the ropes they were bound together with.  There was a pause before she tugged again, harder.  "Shoot," Jane whispered.

"Jane it's me," Lucy said, feeling odd not looking at her while she spoke.

"Lucy?" Jane asked.  "Where are we?"

"I don't know," Lucy said.  "But we have to..."

She trailed off at the sound of a door creaking open.  Slow, heavy footsteps thudded on the cold floor.

"You're awake," a deep voice commented.  A second set of footsteps, these ones lighter, entered the room and circled around so that she stood facing the sides of Lucy and Jane.  Lucy twisted, trying to see her, and recognized the newcomer as a seventeen-year-old Amazon girl.  The girl noticed Jane and glared.  Without a word, the girl turned to the man who had entered before her and nodded, leaving the room.  The man opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off when a different Amazon woman came in and spoke to him in a hushed tone.  At this, the man turned and hurried outside.

...

Killian, Peter, and the Doctor his behind a teepee.  "Where is it?" the Doctor whispered.

"We'll find it," Peter said.  "Do you all remember the plan?"  They nodded.  "Good.  Let's go."

The Doctor walked out from behind the teepee.  Immediately he was noticed and shouts began to come from around the camp.  The Doctor raised his hands to show he meant no harm, his expression calm.  "I come in peace," he said.  Even to him, the line was cheesy.

One of the more muscular warriors stepped forward.  Her hair was done in an elaborate braid, and her face was smeared in war paint.  "What name?" she asked in broken English.

"Doctor," he said.  "Healer.  Medicine."

Braid Girl nodded.  You come.  Why?"

"Searching," the Doctor said, holding his hand above his eyes as if to shield them from the sun.  "Box.  Blue."  He pointed to his vest to indicate the blueness of it.  "Have you seen it?"