(no subject)
It's been cloudy on and off for a week now, and Gwen's peering critically up at the sky as she walks down familiar jungle paths. Being used to overcast skies at home doesn't translate to being used to them here, and she's wondering when they'll get one solidly sunny day again.
The idea this morning is to pop by the treehouse, because try as she might she never does seem able to stay away. Hopefully she'll run into Jack or the Doctor instead of House, because she has yet to have what she considers a pleasant meeting with the last. Hands in her pockets and gaze skyward, her thoughts have drifted, and she isn't noticing much except that it's another warm, humid morning but she's not sorry to be out in it.
From her right there comes a sound, almost like a curious bird, and when Gwen later remembers turning her head to locate the source, it will seem to have happened in slow motion.
It takes her a full five seconds to realize what is staring back at her, and she doesn't know what to do.
For one slim moment, she thinks it will leave her alone, that it if she stands still enough, if she is uninteresting enough, it will move on. But the knot of fear in the pit of her stomach is growing, and when it takes one slow step forward out of the brush and she sees those long, arcing claws on its feet, she's certain that she is going to die.
Standing still had been a very poor idea, because this is not a t-rex, this is a raptor, and it's smart and it's all too aware that she's there. When it lunges, she is a fraction of a second too slow, but it's not until she's running at breakneck speed through the underbrush with branches whipping across her skin that she realizes she's bleeding.
Going to die, going to die, oh my God, I am going to die. Her mind knows nothing else coherent.
Her feet are pounding, carrying her as fast as she can manage, and she's always been a fast runner, has always been able to outrun the boys, but she doesn't know where she's going and she doesn't know if she can outrun what's chasing her, if she can get somewhere -- Anywhere -- in time.
A familiar flash of blue, and a surge of hope accompanies the adrenaline, and she's running running running, because if she can just get inside, just get there-
When she screams, she doesn't even realize it's herself, the sound is so raw and primal.
She hits the TARDIS running, bloody hands slipping frantically against the door, trying to pull it open and failing. "Ohgodohpleaseohgod," she whimpers, shoulders shaking as her fingers slip. "LET ME IN!" she howls, fists pounding, but there is no answer, and she has no key. "LetmeinletmeinohgodpleaseIdon'twanttodie," she sobs, but it's no use.
Behind her, a screech sounds, and Gwen turns, her eyes wide with fear and whole body shaking, back flat against the TARDIS, blood dripping in a sticky trail down the length of her left arm as she faces down the raptor. There's blood on it's snout, and with horror she realizes it's her own.
There's nowhere to go, nowhere, and why- why- why hasn't-
"J-J-JAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!" she screeches, the sound wrenched from her, loud enough that the dinosaur actually starts, blinking back at her in what could only be described as surprise. It's an opportunity for her to run again, but she doesn't get far, and when she hits the ground and rolls over to see those flashing eyes in the second it takes to lift her arms to instinctively cover her face-
Mum Dad Gram Rhys Mum Andy Rhys Mum Jack Ianto Mum Tosh Owen Suzie Jack Mum Jack The Doctor Jack Peter Jack Jack Jack
-she knows this time he isn't coming.