Chapter 5
Wren felt almost as if she did not have eyes enough to take in what was all around her. She had never seen a forest before, having been asleep the entire trip to Alazranda, and all she could do was stand in awe of it. The trees that surrounded her on all sides, the minds of the animals she could sense all around, the wondrous beautiful scent: it was all nothing short of amazing.
Is this how you feel among the stars? She asked the Doctor. Like everything in your own little section of the universe is so right, you just want to explode with the rightness of it? Like you know in your bones this is where you’ll be happy for eternity?
The Doctor looked back at Wren, and at the enraptured look on her face. He smiled.
“Yes,” he said fondly. “That’s it.”
Then I understand now.
Listening to this exchange, Davon chuckled.
“You’re just like Fabian,” he said. “Most Alazarin have a fondness for the woods, but he takes it to a new level. He lives out here days at a time, talking with animals and listening to the trees. I think if he could, he might live here all the time.”
When we get back I’m spending as much time here as possible! Wren said enthusiastically. Both Davon and the Doctor paused, looked at the small girl jumping up and down excitedly behind them and laughed.
The peculiar little band continued through the forest, and the mood was generally light all around. However, as soon as they had left the woods Wren was abruptly reminded of their mission, for the faint outline of the academy was visible in the distance. Suddenly the joyful feeling from the woods dissipated as fast as super heated ethanol and was replaced by a cold and heavy feeling of dread. Sensing her uneasiness, Davon slowed his pace in order to walk beside her.
“Are you okay ?” he asked, a look of genuine concern on his face.
I’ll be fine, Wren replied, trying to smile. Her face more resembled the sort of grimace one wears after tasting spoiled food. She could tell that Davon was having none of it, so she attempted to explain further. I just never thought I’d have to come back here so soon.
“There’s work to be done,” Davon said. “They need our help.” The boy reached out and took Wren’s hand in his and squeezed it gently. Surprised, Wren looked up at him. Their eyes and met, and Wren slowed to a stop. She felt an odd feeling come over her, like none that she had ever experienced before and looking into Davon’s eyes it only seemed to intensify. However she was abruptly brought back to the moment when the sound of the Doctor hollering up ahead pierced her consciousness.
“MOVE!”
Davon listened and ran, but Wren panicked and her legs froze to the spot. She didn’t understand what was happening, and by the time she realized it was too late. A great dark ship was overhead, closing in.
“Wren, run!” the Doctor continued to yell. “RUN!”
Finally Wren’s legs kicked in, but there was nothing she could do to outrun the airship. She could feel it closing in behind her, like the sick feeling impending doom. This was it; she was never going to escape. Then there was a deafening boom and Wren felt her body being flung. And when she hit the ground, everything went black.
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Wren was floating in a great ball of white light. There was no sound, just all encompassing whiteness. Wren found that as she extended her feet there was ground beneath them, and she touched down lightly.
“Where am I?” she said aloud, and then realizing she had spoke, touched her fingers to her lips in shock. Suddenly she could hear something faintly behind her that sounded an awful lot like her own name. Wren turned quickly. “Who’s there?” she asked the whiteness.
“Wren,” said the voice, this time slightly clearer. “Wake up.”
“Who are you? What do you mean wake up?” Wren asked.
“Wren you have to wake up please. Don’t die.”
Wren opened her eyes abruptly. The world came into focus. She could see now she was in another dark cell of some sort, and the voice had belonged to Davon. She tried to see if she could still speak, but found her vocal chords were still incapable of making anything more than random warbling noises. Still, hearing her Davon jumped and looked over.
“You’re alive!” he exclaimed. Then Wren noticed the Doctor in the corner, propped up against the cell wall and staring at the opposite with an almost bored expression on his face. He rolled his eyes.
“Told you she’d pull through,” he said. Davon didn’t seem to hear.
“Are you okay?” the other Alazarin asked. “You’re not terribly hurt, are you? I thought that thing had gotten you for sure.”
No, Wren said hazily, sitting up. No, I’m fine. But… where exactly are we?
“In a cell below the Academy,” the Doctor said not looking away from the wall.
“The Doctor said allowing ourselves to be captured was the best way to get into the Academy without too much risk.”
But you have the Sonic Screwdriver, right? I mean they didn’t take it—
“Oh, no,” the Doctor said half laughing, half scoffing. “No of course not.”
Then what are we waiting for? Wren asked, standing. The Doctor smiled and stood as well, revealing why he had been sitting. He had to bend awkwardly to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling, and he looked on the whole both uncomfortable and ridiculous.
“You to wake up of course,” he said with a smirk and then used the Screwdriver to open the door to the cell. The Doctor pushed the door open and gestured to the two young Alazarin. “After you my young horned ones,” he said and smiled. Wren caught his eye and giggled.
Davon was the first to exit the cell, followed by Wren and then finally the Doctor. Glad to be free of the cell and able to stand upright once again, the Doctor stretched his limbs and cracked his neck.
“All right then,” he said, clapping his hands together once he had finished stretching. “Now onto our valiant rescue. Wren, do you have any idea where we are?”
Finally, Wren was able to get a bearing on their surroundings. They were in a dim hallway with steel grey walls and cells every few feet. There was a door at each end of the hall, but Wren noticed that one door in particular seemed to emanate the same foreboding feeling that the other door had.
No, I have no idea, she responded slowly. But I’m pretty sure it’s that way. Wren pointed down to the door and the Doctor frowned.
“All right, that way it is then,” he said.
“There’s pain behind that door,” Davon said simply. “And lot’s of it.”
“Yeah, well chances are that’s our door then. All right Davon… Wren… let’s be on our way.”
Davon nodded grimly and started down the hallway. The Doctor and Wren followed a few paces behind.
“You know,” the Doctor said to Wren in undertone. “I think Davon might be interested in you.” Wren glanced up at the Doctor who was wearing an amused smile and glanced away quickly.
What makes you think that? she replied, directing her thoughts at him only, but trying not to look at him. The Doctor merely laughed.
“Hovered over you like his life depended on it the whole time we were in that cell. Such devotion… it’s truly quite touching. And Wren… you know you might do with someone like that, don’t you think?” The Doctor leaned over and tried to look Wren in the eye, but the Alazarin girl continued to turn her face away. “Hey, come off it. What is it now? Embarrassed?”
Wren slowed to a stop and then finally looked up at the Doctor, her violet eyes filled with sadness. The Doctor frowned, almost as if he knew what was coming.
I want someone like you.
The Doctor’s face became like stone, emotionless and unreadable, but Wren could feel the regret and loneliness well up inside him.
“No, you don’t want that,” was all he said. The Time Lord then quickened his pace and Wren found herself standing in the hallway feeling as if her heart might explode.
