Mitchell dug the poles into the show with a violent force, pushing his body forward through the stubborn piles of snow. Here, away from the well-traveled trenches, made by hundreds, if not thousands of tourists, the snow was packed thick and deep. He could feel his palms burning - he had to take the gloves off, so he could grab his side-arm.
A scream, muffled by the snow around him, sounded somewhere not too far away. Mitchell pressed on, hoping that he wasn't too late. He heard the noise of breaking branches behind him - it must be Teal'c, trying to catch up to him. It's been a while, since Mitchel had chance to ski, and his body was letting him know this. His lungs burned, his nose was running, and his legs were getting ready to give out.
Another scream, closer this time, more desperate. Mitchell stopped for a second to look around, and saw the deep trench, made by someone, or something dragging the body of the hapless tourist away from the path and into the woods.
Another push, but the movement stopped. Mitchel tried side stepping awkwardly - one of his skis found a root of a tree. He tried pushing himself with the poles, lifting the right foot to free it, but it was lodged, making him feel like an animal that was caught in a trap. Another push with the poles. Bad mistake, he thought, as he felt his other leg propel forward, leaving him splayed on the ground. The snow enveloped him like a cocoon, as he helplessly flailed his arms, trying to stand up. He heard more branches breaking - closer to him this time, and a few seconds later, Teal'c's face appeared above him. His friend said nothing, but extended his large arm to help Mitchell up.
The two men feverishly worked to get Mitchell's foot free.
"Just go, I heard the man screaming somewhere, maybe 50-70 feet away, straight ahead" - he waved, sitting, helplessly in the snow.
"I do not think it's wise to get separated, ColonelMitchell." - Teal'c said, still trying to dig under the snow to free the ski.
"Whatever it is, it's busy with the poor guy. I'll be fine. Go!"
Teal'c took off in the direction, leaving Mitchell struggle with his skis alone. Finally, giving up, and cursing for not trying this before, the Colonel undid the binding clamps, liberating his foot. Pulling the ski from it's snare was easy now. Mitchell hobbled over to a clear spot, and placing his skis into Teal'c freshly-made grooves, reattached his boot. The chase resumed.
The snow changed color - bright red streaks seeped into the drag-trench. He was too late! He saw Teal'c bending over a colorful pile on the ground. The forest was quiet, too quiet. Mitchell pull out his 9mm and looked around.
The tourist, who was dragged off the trail just a few minutes ago was dead - Mitchell didn't have to check for the pulse. The large puddle of blood, that the remains were laying in, the shredded bright green snow suit - that was enough to make this assessment. Teal'c listened around and said, quietly:
"The blood is still warm. Whatever creature that killed this man is still nearby."
"No doubt about that. I can practically feel it."
Teal'c drew his zat-gun, scanning the forest. Mitchell did the same, hoping to catch a glimpse of the creature. He unclasped his boots, freeing himself from the skis. There was no doubt in his mind that the weren't chasing a human, and whatever it was - was definitely not a bear. They have heard the reports of two recent deaths around these parts, but both of them were attributed to black bears. The tourist season was in full swing, so the local park rangers and the sheriff's department were all too happy to attribute it all to some bears.
Mitchell swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath. The steam from his mouth was making it hard to see, distracted him. He could feel something watching them, but the forest was silent. It was eerily silent. No birds, no voices, nothing but the haunting sound of the pines, creaking in the wind like the masts of long-dead ships.
A pile of snow whooshed down through the branches above, crashing a couple of feet away from Mitchell. With one swift motion, Mitchell pointed his gun up towards the sky, and there he saw it. His brain took a few milliseconds to recognize what he was looking at, but right away, it knew that something was not what it should be. Something did not belong up there. And IT was there - looking straight at him. It took only a second for the Colonel's eyes to connect with the creature's bright yellow ones, and his trained finger was already pressing on the trigger. The shot was deafening.
Teal'c, following Mitchell shot with a zat twice. The creature tore through the forest, grasping the branches of the trees, leaping away. Large piles of snow rained down in it's wake. They tried following it, but it was obvious that the creature was long gone - the sound of crashing branches was too far to follow now.
"Dammit to hell!" - Mitchell said. "Missed it"
"It appears to be so. But at least we can tell for sure that it was not a black bear" - Teal'c said, making an emphasis on "black".
"Not a bear at all. There is no bear that can move this fast, especially through the trees. It looks more like an orangutan. I think. Didn't really get a good look."
"Neither did I, catch a good look at it, but the creature's overall appearance and behavior reminded me of a Daikhon." - Teal'c said, coming back to the torn up body on the ground.
Mitchell stared at him for a second.
"Like a radish?"
"I am not familiar with that animal." - said Teal'c.
"Daikon radish, its a vegetable."
"Ah, similar word, different things. A Daikhon, a beast that lives in the forests of Bangala'lo. You might know it as PS-922. Although, I cannot be certain that this was exactly what we have encountered, I am merely suggesting a likeness to a creature that I have seen before."
"Well, my guess would be a Yeti."
"I am not familiar with that animal."
"It's mythical, for the most part. Although supposed sightings of one, or creatures similar to it, have been reported from around the world. Chances are, it's a Yeti, or something that science hasn't accounted for yet."
"It could also be of an extra-terrestrial origin."
"Very likely. Only I know nothing like that had ever escaped SGC." - Mitchell bend down to examine the body.
The poor tourist was in worse shape than Mitchell imagined. As a soldier, he had seen things, but even this made him clench his jaws. Worse yet, this was a civilian, some innocent guy who woke up this morning, took off for a leisurely stroll through a forest, and ended up gutted in the forest by a Yeti. The tried not to disturb the scene too much, as they would still have to alert the local law enforcement.
A sound of branches breaking made the two men jump, their weapons drawn. The sound was coming from Daniel Jackson, who looked winded and visibly exhausted. He stopped near them, bending over, breathing heavily.
"Sorry...I'm afraid skiing is not something my body is used to. I tried to catch up, but…" - he sput on the ground, then stopped breathing. The blood was inching closer to him, still spreading from the body. - "Oh, dear God…"
He unclasped his boots, coming over closer. Gently, he tried to move the body, that was curled up in the fetal position. It flipped over like a rag doll, revealing a gaping wound on the stomach, or what was left of it. It looked to be eaten out, intestines ripped out with a brutal force, the remnants of the organs still oozing blood unto the ground. The man's eyes were open, his face now a frozen mask of helpless terror and agony.
Daniel turned away, bending over. He started to retch, eventually falling to his kneed in the snow. Mitchell and Teal'c did not interfere. The Colonel tested his cellphone.
"No signal. We'll have to get closer to the resort. Someone will need to stay with the body, in case the Yeti returns."
"The Yeti?" - Daniel got up, wiping his mouth and straightening his glasses. He looked embarrassed.
"Or the Daikhon" - Teal'c said knowingly.
"The radish?" - Daniel glanced over at the body one last time, and hurriedly turned his gaze away.
"A creature that I believe might be responsible for this savagery, DanielJackson, bears no resemblance or biological connection to the vegetable."
"I still say it's a Yeti." - Mitchell said, still trying to get the signal on his phone. "Ok, no go on the phone. Jackson, are you going to be able to find your way to the main trail from here? Me and Teal'c will stick around, in case the Yeti... " - Mitchell gave Teal'c a defiant glance. - "...decides to come back."
"Sure. On my way. Are you two going to be Ok?" - Daniel said, clicking the clasps of his skis closed.
"Between a zat and a 9mm, I think we can handle it."
The doctor headed away from them, following the tracks that their chase created, leaving Teal'c and Mitchell to guard the body.
