Into the Wilds

Puck was always one to jump at the chance to help the doctor. Honestly they would do anything for him! Has done anything for him. So what's a little diving into the wilds between scientist and assistant? 

Nothing and absolutely everything. 

Puck gets to the edge, the darkness of the Night deepening further ahead. A shiver runs down their spine and they can't tell if it was from apprehension or the sudden wind that seems to be pushing them onward. They pull their coat tighter around them and adjust their suddenly too small backpack.

Perhaps, this is possibly too much to be asked of them. 

Before they can process this flicker of doubt any farther the insistent wind demands their progression and they stumble across the edge into the Wilds. 

They gasp and turn regretting their acceptance of this task but the wind has turned up the snow they can't see their way anyway but forward now. 

They try to calm their hurried breath knowing if they kept like this they were bound to freeze their lungs. 

Once calm they summon their Geiger counter. Its soft glow comforting in the dark snowy Night that surrounds them. Puck twists some dials and pushes some buttons until the device makes a soft clicking sound. This was why the Doctor requested them for this task after all. Only they, Puck! Could achieve this. Or well anyone with a Geiger counter they suppose, but they were the only one in the lab with one right now, so only them. That was special and that was why they were needed. They nod to themselves, satisfied and reignited in their mission. 

There was apparently some very rare materials here in the wilds that were easier found by tracking their radiation levels and that was what they needed. The Doctor had at one point mapped out their location but, the last time he had come out looking for them they had seemed to be … moved? The Doctor was unsure of what that meant but was far too busy to come with Puck this time. So they were to document any and all of their findings. 

Now if only they could see more than a few inches in front of their face. 

Puck presses forward listening for any changes in the soft clicking of their device. The device starts screaming suddenly and Puck jumps back startled fumbling to turn it off before remembering they can just desummon it. They do, their heart thundering in their throat, holding their breath, waiting to see if that attracted any unwanted attention. 

The wind and snow also come to a stop as if holding their breath alongside them. As it clears they realize they were inches from walking straight off a cliff. They scramble back some more just to be safe then stares at their hand wondering if that was why their device might have gone crazy. 

Puck chews their lip considering resummoning their counter but worried it will be loud again. They summon a tiny one, easily muffled they hope. It phases into existence clicking softly away, if a little faster pointing down a shallow incline to their left.

Puck lets out a soft laugh. At least it was looking out for them if nothing else it seems. 

They make their way down the incline and the clicking of the Geiger counter quickens steadily as they descend. It clicks very insistently at the entrance of a cave and Puck takes a moment to refer to the map the Doctor sent them with.

It does very little good when they know exactly nothing about where they are. It all looks so different from the map. Though truth be told, Puck has never been the best at reading maps.

They shrug and put it back in their backpack digging out a flashlight. They turn it on just in the entrance of the cave and seemingly a million pairs of shiny eyes look back at them. 

They gasp and turn off the light. 

Perhaps, these materials just no longer exist, you know, they weren't where the doctor looked last time. Also their Geiger counter has been acting very strange. Probably should head back home before they get too lost. Puck is sure the doctor will understand.