A/N: Sorry it has taken me so long to update this story, but I got stuck and decided to revamp the beginning. The basic plot is still the same but some of the point of view has changed. I hope this is an improvement from the other version, instead of a step in the other direction. Hope you all enjoy.

Teyla and her captor sat in the mouth of the cave waiting for the others to return. Yet even sitting in the shade with the cool air from below ground at their backs did little to stifle the dry heat beating down on them from everywhere else. Staring out into the forest, they sat in silence. The large giant of a man appeared to be waiting for something as the Athosian on SGA-1 turned to get a good look at her abductor. From head to toe he was caked in a mud substance, probably meant to counter act the sun's radiation. On top of that his cloths were ratty and torn.

But there in the middle of Ronon's upper arm was what appeared to be a bandage. It wouldn't have been so strange if it hadn't been for the great care exhibited in its skilled wrapping, and because it appeared to be the cleanest area on his visible body. However it was still the gun pointed at her side that held Teyla's attention. Looking at the weapon, "This is not necessary, you know." For a moment, Dex studied his captive. Making a show of lowering the blaster, the savage man conceded. "How long have you been on the run?"

"Seven years."

"And you have been on your own all that time?"

Suddenly there was a soft thud in the distance drawing everyone's attention to a piece of fruit rolling towards the mouth of the cave. Seconds after it stopped, a strange bird-like call sounded somewhere off in the distance. Teyla looked around confused, but Ronon just grinned wickedly. "Clear," he called to the empty forest. There was silence for a moment, before a different call sounded. "Safe," Dex growled, clearly growing agitated. Again silence fell as the runner scanned the horizon.

There was a long pause, an unnerving stillness settled in just prior to a hooded figure practically materializing from thin air before the Athosian's eyes. Cautiously it approached, stopping just short of the cave mouth. "You know this person?"

Shrugging off the question, the giant man grumbled a single syllable answer and rolled his eyes at the new comer. Reaching out, Teyla offered her hand in greeting. "I'm Teyla Emmogan. My friends have agreed to take the tracking device out of your friend." Taking a step backward, the hooded figure just ignored her and scribbled something in the dirt, waving its hands around frantically at the same time. From head to foot the figure was completely obscured by a long cloak made from some kind of fur Teyla didn't recognize, yet two things did stick out. One the feet were completely bare. Even still they were tattooed with some kind of tribal markings, and two the mysterious figure wore strange fingerless gloves.

Just then a gust of wind brushed the fur just far enough back that the SGA-1 team member got a good look at the new comer's face. It took her by surprise seeing a young woman wearing heavily tented goggles and a rather skeptical look on her face. As the hostage watched in amazement, the other girl seemed to be arguing without uttering a single word. Yet out of everything Teyla observed about this woman, she seemed even less trusting then the man with the gun. "Not your choice." Ronon growled. "It's done," again the gloved hands moved in more gestures the Atlantis inhabitant didn't understand; only stopping long enough to scribble something in the dirt. "Didn't ask," the giant paused at the scoffing sound his friend made. With a smirk, Dex shook his head at the obviously sarcastic look she gave him.

Underneath the hood something moved just before the wind stopped, letting the hood once again obscure the silent woman's face. The smirk on the brute's face seemed to only irritate the cloaked figure even more. But she remained still and Teyla assumed this was the young woman's way of biting her tongue. "Make yourself useful, go hunting." The large man made a motion towards his left eye. For a long moment, the strange woman didn't move a muscle. Mimicking the flora around her, the she simply stared. However because of the dark goggles and the fur hood, what she stared at couldn't be determined. Ronon's smirk turned mischievous in the silence, but said nothing when she abruptly turned and left.

Just like the quiet woman had come, so did she disappear into the greenery around them. Once out of sight, it almost appeared as if she'd never been there in the first place. In fact, if Teyla hadn't seen the shadow like figure with her own eyes, even the Atlantis inhabitant might not believe someone could stand before them and not leave a trace. "How long have you two traveled together," she asked breaking yet another awkward silence.

"About a year, maybe."

"Who is she?"

"Aria?"

Sighing at the man's continuing short answers, Teyla was resolved to continue trying. Deciding to change the subject, "So the two of you fight the Wraith that hunt you?" She watched as the man returned to watching the deathly quiet forest.

He shrugged, "Yeah."

"Why do you think they do it?"

With a heavy sigh, the large brute answered "I don't know. Sport, training, learn how we fight, measure our will to survive. You said you heard stories about others like me?" This time he finally looked at his captive.

"Yes. I have heard of Runners my whole life, but I've never met one. I did not even believe it was true." For a second Teyla paused, but decided to take advantage of his loose tongue. "Why was Aria so nervous?"

Finally Ronon moved from his seat in the cave's entrance. The woman on SGA-1 watched as he traced the faint foot prints his friend had left behind, a distant look clouded his features as his mind flashed back to some of their first days together. They had been about to part ways, when a band of hunters had attacked the hooded figure seemingly for no reason. She'd fought well, but it had been dirty. As the memory ended, the large man simply shrugged, "Doesn't like strangers."

"And you two have been alone all this time?"

Returning to his seat Ronon simply stated, "Not much choice."

"Afraid of bringing the Wraith down on anyone you were with?"

Dex looked at the ground, then back at his captive. "Can't go home; can't stay in one place for too long." He paused. "Before her, I accidentally came across a planet with a village near the ring."

"What happened?"

"I stayed - one night- had a real meal for a change. I went away the next day. Didn't matter, I later heard the whole village ..." He let his voice trail off.

"What about your friend? Is she a runner as well?"

"No, just stubborn."

As Teyla was about to change the subject, the radio suddenly sprang to life. Sheppard's voice could be heard loud and clear on the other end, "Teyla, this is Sheppard, come in?"

Picking it up, the runner handed the earth device to the Athosian woman. "Go ahead, Colonel."

After hearing his teammate's voice, the first words out of the military leader's mouth were "You ok?" Smiling at the man's concern, she insisted they were both fine. "I'm here with Doctor Beckett. He's coming in."

"Unarmed," Ronon reminded.

"Ronon would like me to remind you that Doctor Beckett remain unarmed."

End Chapter 1