"It's gone," exclaimed Fossil his voice going a little high.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry master."
"You will be punished for this-,"
"Ah-h'a," declared the Doctor, coming out from his hiding place. "I should have known."
"Doctor?"
"As a transient metamorph you do get around a lot."
"Who's this guy boss? Do you want me to sort him out," asked Fossil.
"Quiet you foolish little man," snapped the creature. "Now Doctor, where is my little attack dog?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out. And don't even try your mind tricks-,"
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"Aw, man," exclaimed Vince. "That was way too scary and it ate my hat."
"No one cares about your stupid hat," snapped Howard.
"We just have to hope the Doctor does as well as we have," said Rose.
"Look at it sleeping like a baby."
"Baby! That thing tried to eat me."
"What wouldn't eat you?"
"I didn't notice you volunteering to be chased by a slobbering monster."
"That's because I'm the brains of the operation. I'm a thinker not a practical man. You're the one who does the leg work because you're a practical person."
"I'm a practical person then am I?"
"Yeah. You see a hat you go out and get it, me I think about it."
"You two-," said Rose urgently.
"In a moment," replied Howard.
"No now. Look," she pointed at the Hoix, it had woken up.
"Oh s-,"
"Ditto."
The creature leant forward and roared.
"I don't want to die," whimpered Howard, "I've got too much to give."
"Run!"
"So what is it this time Bendicray," asked the Doctor staring down his foe. "I noticed you've chosen an aquiline form."
"Yes, I'm rather proud of myself," it replied. "And you are-,"
He paused as he heard cries approaching their position. They all turned to see Rose, Vince and Howard running towards them Hoix in pursuit.
"Argh," exclaimed Fossil diving into the now empty cage and pulling the door shut. "Ha! Now I'm safe."
Suddenly the group split apart one to the left the other two to the right the Doctor joined Rose. Leaving Bendicray standing in the middle on his own. The Hoix saw his captor and tormentor. There was a heart rending scream.
"Well that's that sorted out," said the Doctor as they banged the final nails into the crate containing a sleeping and sated Hoix. "Just got to take this little feller home."
"Thanks for helping out mate," said Vince.
"Just doing my job," he said pushing the crate on the trolley into the TARDIS. "Bye."
"Yeah, bye," agreed Rose, following him in.
The sound of the TARDIS dematerializing rent the air as it disappeared into the ether.
"Of course if it hadn't been for me Howard Moon it might not have turned out so well."
"You liar. You didn't do anything."
"Oh really. I think you will find I-,"
"Moon! Noir! Please you got to let me out! I don't belong here," shouted Fossil.
"So, are we going to let him out," asked Vince as they walked past the cage.
"Nah. I think he needs time to consider what he's done."
"Oh come on! Please let me out. I promise I'll be good."
"No."
"That lion is giving me the evil eye!"
"We don't have any lions….wait we don't have any lions especially ones with glowing red eyes."
"Howard," said Vince nudging his friend. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That the 'evil' monster is still here in the zoo-,"
"No that I should have bought a jacket instead."
"You strange, vain little man."
"I'm not little-," his jaw dropped. "Argh!"
"There's no need to over react. You-,"
"No, look behind you."
Howard turned round and saw the metamorph change from a lion into a hideous monster.
"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Run!"
The End.