The Changing Man (Doctor Who Fan Story)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

It was a magnificent clearing surrounded by the trees and was a few miles wide at least. The blood orange sun was able to reach its warming light onto the grassland, filled with a variety of different wild flowers and rock formations, a small stream started at one end and filled various pools dotted around the clearing. In the distance, I could see, hear and smell herds of animals who were grazing at ease on the lush green grass, they had 6 powerful looking legs that could probably propel them at great speed and have two magnificent lilac horns and sandy coloured pelts. Looking at them made my throat burn and my stomach howl, the instinct to chase them pulsed within me but I suppressed it, feeling unsure and confused. I tried to wriggle off The Master's back but he held on, squeezing my thighs gently.

"Not yet, let me get you over there before I let you loose" he nodded towards a rock formation that looked like a little cave on a small hill covered in white flowered vines and the stone floor was covered in soft grass and moss. He set me down onto my feet and felt a sharp pain stab into the sole of my foot and I fell down on my bottom with a thud. The Master knelt down beside me instantly, obviously sensing my pain.

"Ow, I think I got a thorn in my foot from earlier..." I said as I inspected my foot, and sure enough, the little sharp devil was poking out just beneath my big toe.

"Here, let me get it out" the Master reached over to grab my foot but i moved it as soon as I saw what he was going to do.

"N-n-no, no! Don't touch my feet, i'm ticklish! I-I can do it myself" I stammered nervously

His eyebrows rose in surprise and a wide smile cracked on his face showing his pearly white fangs.

"Haha, are you? Well your going to have to trust me. Don't worry, I am the Master at pulling out thorns.." With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he carefully grabbed my foot, making sure not to tickle the sensitive parts and licking his thumb and index finger, quickly tugged the thorn out whole.

"See not so bad" he then released my foot without question.

"Thank you" i smiled meekly but looked away quickly as my stomach yet again growled impatiently.

"Now let me sort that out, stay here, I will be back with some grub" he got to his feet and looked at me for a few moments before descending down the little hill and changed into that large winged cat, the one that protected me from Jake and the one I saw in my sleepless dreams, and he launched himself up into the sky and out of sight.

With the absence of the Master, I began to feel cold again as my damp and cold clothes clung to my skin, making me shiver uncontrollably. Thinking of what the Master said earlier, I decided to follow his advice, hoping he would be gone long enough. So behind a large boulder and in the sunlight, I took my long-sleeved red cotton shirt off and spread it out on the side of the rock boulder and lay on my back, in my black bra and let the sun do it's magic of warming my damp and cold skin.

I must have dozed for a few moments as above the light rustling sound of wind on grass, I heard him clear his throat, his hearts beating steadily. My eyes snapped open and blood rushed to my cheeks as I locked eyes with the the Master, who stood a few feet away from me, his arms hanging down by his sides, mouth opened an inch and I heard his ever so slightly uneven heavy breathing hiss out between his teeth. Behind him, I saw a large carcass of one of the herbivores I saw earlier, deep gouges to the throat allowed the thick blood to seep out onto the rock. Normally this would repulse me, seeing a dead animal that looks like it had been brutally killed, but my throat and stomach said otherwise. I quickly grabbed my now dry cotton shirt and pulled it on, my cheeks getting redder, almost as red as my shirt. Turning back round, I narrowed my eyes at him as he was still staring, like he was a statue. His imagination was also as wild as mine.