CHAPTER 7

He was grinning like a fool and he knew it. He didn't care. Alive! Both of them! He met Teyla's eyes and saw she was grinning like a fool too.

"Alive." She breathed, the hard, painful knot inside her unfurling and dissolving. She'd have the chance to be annoyed with them when they acted foolish; the chance to do something unexpectedly nice and win an honest smile from Rodney.

"Apparently, thanks to Rodney." Sheppard said, brimming over with happiness.

"Ronon will hate that."

Sheppard chuckled. "Yes, he will. Let's get to the beach."

They began loping through the woods keeping a sharp eye out for the ugly beasties. The creatures were some kind of cross between wolves and grizzlies with a little bit of something utterly alien that make his skin crawl. Dark bodies and orange eyes and the absolute silence – he shuddered. He thought of those creatures finding Rodney alone and broke into a run.

The full moon filtered through the trees giving them enough light to maneuver without tripping or running into anything.

Occasionally, they would see the large beasts weaving between the trees; yet, they did not attack. Sheppard halted as he realized they were being herded.

"What is it?" Teyla asked as she scanned their surroundings.

"Are they forcing us further away from the cliffs?"

Teyla paused and thought about their trip down the mountain. She pressed her lips together crossly. "I believe they are."

They corrected course and refused to be pushed in the other direction. Rounding a huge boulder, they came to a sudden stop. Five of the beasties were ranged across the path, silently snarling. Raising their weapons, they let loose a barrage of bullets, spraying the creatures with firepower.

They finally broke through the foliage and out onto the white sandy beach. They spun around staring into the night searching for the firelight. White sand stretched out in both directions. The gentle shoosh of the water breaking on the shore was the only sound except for their breathing.

Sheppard growled in frustration. Where were they? Come on, Rodney! He turned in a circle. "Come on, McKay."

"I believe they fell from over there." Teyla pointed in the direction of a large, rugged cliff on the far side of a cove.

"So we go in that direction." Their trip down the mountain and flight from the beasties had put them some distance from where Rodney and Ronon had fallen.

They hurried down the beach. Their boots sinking into the soft sand making walking difficult. At times, they'd round a bend and the sandy beach would disappear and they had to scramble over rugged, rocky terrain.

They scrambled down the rocks and back onto white sand. Ahead was another curve of the shoreline.

His legs were burning with strain and fatigue by the time they turned the corner and saw the fire burning on the beach.

"Rodney!" Sheppard shouted, scanning the beach for his friend. He hit the transmit on the radio. "Rodney!"

At first there was no answer, then the radio crackled to life. "Hairy beasts. In the rocks."

Rodney's voice was a mixture of panic and relief and distraction. The faint whine of Ronon's blaster could be heard over the surf. A flash of light darted between the rocks on the far side of the cove.

"We're coming."

Sheppard and Teyla took off at a run across the beach. The sand gave beneath their boots making it difficult to move fast. Sheppard grit his teeth against the pain of abused muscles and kept moving forward. He'd not let them die again.

Silent shadows moved through the huge rock formations. Sheppard fired from his waist as he ran. Let the beasts know death was coming, he thought grimly. A shadow went down and stayed. Several others separated and moved toward him and Teyla.

Automatic weapons fire shattered the night. The beasts dropped to the ground, dead. Sheppard and Teyla ran past them without a glance.

Nearing the rocks, they slowed down. Now they would have to pick targets and aim. A ricocheting bullet could kill a friend.

The steady whine and fire of the blaster was loud and clear now. A shadow moved and two muzzles lifted, two triggers were depressed. The beast fell dead.

Eventually, no more shadows moved.

"Rodney?"

"Yes?"

"We're coming in."

"Do not shoot us."

Sheppard and Teyla made their way warily through the maze of boulders watching for beasts that might be still alive.

They reached the entrance to the cave and saw Rodney standing just inside the opening, swaying. The blaster hung from his hand just barely out of the water.

"It's about time," he muttered and collapsed.

"Passed."