Meanwhile
Doc takes a cautious step forward. then another and another untill he finds himself within sight range of the newly formed hole in his precious bedroom/the hostpital. Frowning, his nose detects the damp smell emanating from the hole and he imagines the underground river or lake that must be lying beyond and the prosperity it should bring. Instead he notices the spiders crawling every which way out of the hole. Peering into the darkness of the hole with his candle, the candle sputters and flickers from the moisture and breeze splurging out of the hole. Despite the moisture he hears no rushing water, must be a lake then, even better! Finally they can stop relying on the surface rescources out there in this hellhole, or at least stay away from the vermin and blood gnats from above.
just then, his daydreaming is interrupted by a sudden movement and he startles and recoils from the hole just in time. A sharp beak from a large creature snaps at his candle with blinding speed, all feathers and sinew, the beak slashes at docs hand and hurls the candle from his grasp. He looks down at his hand with the last moments of light from the rapidly snuffing out candle, the end of his pinkie is missing and another finger bends at an unnatural angle. Doc curls his hand and looks up at the creature that flails and flutters on the other side of the oppening. Their eyes meet and the horrible thing stops and cocks its beaked and horned head sideways before brayying like a diseased hag at Doc. Should Doc Panic? or pick up the pick and strike back?