[ There's a larger, more menacing minotaur lurking somewhere beyond them, the Doctor is well aware. And wherever that creature happens to be at the present moment, he certainly hasn't helped in keeping their whereabouts a secret - that, at least, he's also aware of. But things happen quickly in moments of great duress, split second decisions that can't be mulled over at length. He's drawn attention to them, but he's kept Red safe; given the choice again, he'd do the very same thing. The beast that comes for them may be big enough to fill this labyrinth entirely, but its size would be minuscule by comparison to the Doctor's rage, were any harm to come to Red or Vanessa.

Here again, he must make a choice - tend to Red, tend to the whimpering beast. But why does he have to choose? He can help them both. It intended to harm his friend, yes, but it was weeping as it approached them. Why? Does it fear the larger beast, as they do? Was it compelled to seek them out? To set them as bait and trap for its kin? It begs to be hidden, cowers in fear.

As always with the Doctor, these many thoughts and questions swirl around in his mind as quickly as one draws breath. He wastes no time at all mulling it over, but by his nature, he has to consider every possibility.

Red is his first priority and as she's helped to her feet by both himself and Vanessa, he spares a moment to briefly cradle her cheek in his hand. A fraction of a second, a chance to meet her eyes, to study, to assess, to make sure she's...well, as okay as she can be at the moment. He leans in, kissing her forehead briefly, a moment to betray his own fear, yet to assure himself of her well-being at the same time. He trusts Vanessa to keep an eye on her now as he turns his focus to the minotaur in front of them.

Holding his hands out, palms up, he approaches slowly and cautiously, making sure to keep himself solidly between Vanessa and Red, and the minotaur. ]

I'm sorry, I am, but you were hurting my friend. He forced you to do it, didn't he? Your brother. You're afraid of him, too, we all are, and we can help each other. Let me help you, first, with this. [ Still taking it slow, he approaches, his hands held out in a gesture of innocence as he reaches for the axe. He's moving slowly enough, talking softly enough, that it seems amenable for the moment. Anything in enough pain would be, probably, and so the Doctor carefully dislodges the axe, tossing it aside in the water. ]

I'm the Doctor and I'm very glad to meet you. None of us want to be here, do we? Dreadful place, really, not my scene. Can I know your name? [ The two heads just keep crying while the third seems to...vaguely understand what he's saying, yet offers no name. To which, the Doctor simply claps and then rubs his hands together, offering the creature a gentle smile. ]

No name? That's okay! We all have to start somewhere. You look like - Theodore. Teddy! Had a good friend called Teddy once. And I don't leave friends behind. Will you come with us? Help us?

[ If he could communicate telepathically with Red and Vanessa right now, he'd be telling them to run, to take this opportunity with the distraction he's created, and just go. Where, is the question, but they could get a headstart down a different path at least. As it is, he glances over his shoulder for a moment at both of them, his eyes briefly flickering with a look that almost begs, if they catch what he's trying to silently say. Immediately, though, he puts a smile back on his face and turns back to the minotaur. ]

We can all get out of here together, Teddy. You don't deserve to be trapped here anymore than we do. Show us the way out, eh?