~We need to return, my Queen.~

In a gesture reminiscent of her father, Alabaster turned and gazed at Ember, cocking her head to the side. ~What has happened?~

Silver ponytail sweeping over his shoulder as he bent forward, the cleverman offered a bow before answering. ~It seems there are missing children from the village. It is Dr. Keller's conjecture also that Darling may be with them.~

~But we cannot be certain?~

~No,~ Ember agreed. ~We cannot. But...~ he trailed off and met her gaze. ~The boy has been lonely, and it does make sense as he had human playmates before whilst you were...~

Lost. The unspoken word hung between them, and Alabaster nodded. This much was true. She and Darling had relied upon the company of humans, their goodwill, for many years, even learned to relish their company. Since leaving Atlantis, Darling missed Torren hugely, and though he did not complain about his isolation, she knew he felt it keenly. Besides, as theories went, it did have a certain appeal. The undeniable truth was that, so far, the search here yielded nothing except despair.

After persevering through so much, losing Darling was not an option, and the very thought cut to the quick. Alabaster ruthlessly focussed on the belief they would find him well. ~What information have you that makes you believe the validity of such an argument?~

~None,~ the cleverman admitted, and Alabaster bared teeth in the face of such a stark comment. ~Other than the Lantean shows genuine understanding and affection for the boy, and she is to be trusted in such matters.~

~In this respect particularly, cleverman?~ The nod Alabaster got in response made her huff with amusement.

Ember rocked on his heels a little, and qualified his agreement. ~Dr. Keller has compassion, and sees only the child, not his species.~ Compassion, yes, a quality the Lantean female had in great quantity, and an ability to empathise, even when placed in situations that would surely challenge the hardiest of souls. Though perhaps Jennifer did not always exhibit the wisest of judgement... Alabaster's musing came to an abrupt halt with Ember's next revelation. ~Guide has informed us that Dr. Keller and Sprint have gone to search for the boy.~

Stunned, Alabaster was at a loss, struck mute. How could the human undertake such a dangerous and reckless escapade, when only her safety stood between the well-being of Wraith and the overweening interest of Earth? If she came to harm, was injured in any way, how would they report it to Atlantis, to John Sheppard, and Mr. Woolsey? Worse, Teyla Emmagan held Jennifer in close friendship, and to earn Steelflower's disapproval, even though Guide's Queen was long gone, would surely serve no good purpose? Alabaster jibbed at the idea, and turned on her heel to pace the length of the shelter. If Guide had had a hand in pushing the woman into a show of bravado, and knowing her father as well as she did, Alabaster could not doubt the supposition...

Furious, she rounded on Ember, who bowed in the face of her anger, his hands spread in submission. Suspicion filled her voice. ~Where is my father?~

~He goes in search of the Lantean, and Sprint, my Queen.~

~And Bonewhite...?~

~He has gathered what drones there are and followed after Guide.~

~And who is it that is taking care of our interests with the Nova?~ she asked, brittle as dry sticks, lashing her anger to a place where it could be more properly dealt with when appropriate.

Helplessly, Ember murmured, ~Queen Waterlight and Bronze - ~

~A child, and her unproven Pallax?~ Alabaster could not help herself. Much as Waterlight was Queen in her own right, she was as yet a child, and not fully aware of everything at stake. ~An infant is left to parley with seasoned Commanders, who will take advantage of this situation if they believe our inner council is in discord?~

~It is Guide's opinion that Burn will choose to press his suit with you rather than attempt a coup, my Queen.~

Drawing up very straight, Alabaster's lip curled with scorn. ~Guide has chosen to speak to you of this, rather than me?~

Rattled, Ember dropped into another low bow, radiating anxiety. ~My Queen, I meant no insult.~

~And I have taken none, my cleverman,~ she purred, and drew closer to him so she might bring him up from his bow. Truth sat in the words, Alabaster had not taken slight from Ember, but she banked another fire for Guide, one she would deal with once this... débâcle reached its conclusion. Time now she took a Consort, and well past time her father stepped into the shadows to behave as a blade should. She graced the distressed cleverman with a thin smile, ~Recall Wintersong, and the search party. I will wait for them on the cruiser.~

~xxXXxx~

Beneath his claws rock crumbled, and Sprint stared up at the edge of the pit, calculating the possibility he could reach that far. Edging round the narrow shelf, he spotted another small bank of harder rocks jutting from the sandy walls. If he could get there, then the leap up would be no more than three metres, and at least they gave him purchase of a sort from which he could add momentum. Firmly placing all concern for Jennifer into a box, he crouched, muscles tense, and pushed off fast, legs wind-milling as he propelled himself by sheer determination to get to the outcrop.

Breath whooshed out in a massive grunt as he collided with the stone, clinging to a tiny finger hold, shoulder straining with effort as he dangled, a fish on a hook, and pain roared along his hand. Bones and claws crunched together, and Sprint hissed while he made a few torturous adjustments to get a better grip. Lifting his body weight, he clamped down a groan, straining to get a knee into contact with the uneven surface, desperation driving him on. Somehow he managed to get there and, relieved, Sprint growled, allowed a few seconds to catch his breath and to orientate. Then careful as a tightrope walker, he pushed himself up along the wall face, grasping at a solitary root breaking free just above his head. Grateful for any support, Sprint wrapped his feeding hand round the thick stem, and only then spared a glance at his off hand. Every talon had torn free, blood oozing from the nail bed to leave his hand streaked with crusty dark green. It would heal.

~Sprint... wha-at's happen-ing?~

~Nothing... to... worry... about, Darling...~ Even the effort to mind-speak the boy fractured much needed concentration for the next leg of his ascent. ~We will get to... you... soon.~

With the help of the root and a massive lunge, Sprint got both feet on the rocks, and pushed off, upward and forward, so he would land clear of the rim. For a second, mid-flight, he thought he had miscalculated, but he landed half a metre short, and grabbed at a thick clump of grass, agony shooting the length of his damaged hand, managing to catch himself before he started to slide backwards.

Scrambling to his knees, Sprint took just long enough to leap at Bluewater, bringing both his rival and Jennifer down to the ground. As they fell he heard something crack, and from the scream that echoed round him, he guessed the force of the fall had hurt the Fair One, but he didn't have time to find out because his head was snapped back as a heavy hand wrapped itself in his hair.

~You overstep your authority, cleverman,~ Bluewater roared, his face looming so close spittle sprayed Sprint's cheek.

Twisting, Sprint forced the blade to take a step back over Jennifer's prone body, and he pushed up onto his feet. ~My authority,~ he hissed, ~comes from Guide, and Alabaster, and the Lantean is charged to my care.~

Tilting his head, Bluewater bared teeth, and grinned. ~A pity you have failed then.~

~She lives,~ Sprint affirmed, because although the woman was unconscious as far as he could tell, he thought he heard a faint moan.

~At the moment,~ the blade said, and threw Sprint backwards in an effort to get him back in the sinkhole, but failed miserably as the cleverman coiled in his grasp and freed himself, gritting his teeth against the pain that poured molten lead through his nerves when a piece of scalp came away from his skull. He leapt backwards away from Bluewater, ignoring the blood which leached down his neck, thick and hot. ~As do you. But not for long...~

The blade followed, swift, deadly, a slim knife in one hand, and Sprint moved with him, astonished at the vitriol Bluewater expressed, his determination to kill. True, they had no love for each other, but still, they were from the same hive, they were crèche mates, surely that counted for something? And this... wish to destroy Jennifer? What could he hope to gain?

~Why?~ he asked, hoping to buy some time, as well as understanding.

~The human is nothing, food, a pet... it is abomination she brings to Wraith -~

~You always were... a fool,~ Sprint spat, and ducked as Bluewater brought the dagger towards his throat with a furious slash meant to slit his neck from ear to ear. ~Shortsighted... an idiot...~

Hissing with fury, Bluewater stepped up the attack and whirled towards the cleverman, knife leading, a sliver of light in the gloom. Throwing up an arm, Sprint blocked the thrust, parried the reach of off hand and grabbed the blade's wrist, slipped under and away. Bluewater lunged, leather skirts flying, blurred as he made a killing stroke, hoping to connect to Sprint's intestines, but missed, leaving only a cut across leather as the cleverman evaded the attack again. Sprint cast about for something he could use as an impromptu weapon, a defensive stance just would not do, and a thick branch caught his eye. Turning, he fled towards it, crashed through the entangled bushes, and grabbed the heavy thing up. As he spun round, he brought it down low, the shock and surprise on Bluewater's face ample repayment for all the times he had been a victim to his malice, sweeping it at the blade's knees to hamstring him. A gratifying crunch indicated success, and Sprint continued his onslaught, whipping the heavy object round to connect with the side of Bluewater's head. The blade fell like a brick, blood spraying across bark and through the air to cover Sprint's clothes in vivid emerald splatters. Another smack round the head made certain he stayed down. Satisfied, Sprint gazed at his handiwork before tending to Jennifer.

Coming down to one knee, he placed his off hand on her chin, and carefully moved her head to one side so he could examine the seeping, red lump on her forehead, scarlet clots clinging to her hair. Further scrutiny showed a clear feeding mark between her breasts, and he hissed, dismayed. Gently, all too aware how delicate humans were, Sprint brought her onto her side, and ran a check down the length of her body. One of her ankles sat at an unusual angle, the flesh already puffy, vivid black and blue, and when he took her pulse, it seemed thready. All the injuries together with the feeding placed her at greater risk, he knew, but right now, he had other responsibilities...

~xxXXxx~

The cleverman was agitated, but Guide picked up a clear picture of the task he contemplated and, disturbingly, an image of Jennifer lying prone on the ground. Torn loyalties flooded Guide as Sprint wrestled with his instinct to serve the female first, despite her species, locked by his heritage to respond as all his kind were want. The effort to ignore that conditioning impressed Guide, and he could not help but approve of the youth's decision to assist the children. The cleverman had done all he could for the Fair One, and now he had to hope help would arrive.

A few landmark details stood out as a clear reference, and Guide headed through the trees, following clues he had picked out from the jumbled imagery. Correlation came in the form of the narrow path leading through rocks, and he tore up the bank when he spotted a tell-tale sign of recent activity – slip marks in the mud, and a footprint, too small to belong to a male. When he finally broke through to the clearing, Sprint had disappeared into the pothole, and left Jennifer and Bluewater lying close to its mouth. A rope lashed tightly to a stump strained, groaning as fibres unravelled in response to an unseen weight attached to it.

Bending over Jennifer, Guide checked her injuries himself, the anger he had pushed to one side turning ice cold. However, the bleeding from the wound at her head seemed to have stopped, and although she was far too white, cool to the touch, she breathed easily enough. Removing his coat, he wrapped it round her so she would not get any colder, and he made his way over to the unconscious blade. Certain Bluewater was not about to wake, Guide snatched up the bag he had brought with him from beside Jennifer, and removed a coil of rope from its depths, making his way to the lip of the hole. As the cleverman was nowhere to be seen, Guide guessed he had already gone through the gap at the bottom.

~Darling... Sprint...?~

A hue and cry started, which was speedily hushed. ~Commander?~ The cleverman's voice held surprise, but he recovered fast. ~ My Lord, did you bring assistance?~

~I brought a better rope,~ Guide responded, dryly, ~and the Hive Master is on his way.~ An angry buzzing at the periphery of his mind, sharp as hornets, allowed Guide to fully appreciate that ones ire. ~I will pull the children up one by one.~

~One of the human children is injured...~

More injured? A Wraith healer with intimate knowledge of human physiology would be extremely useful given the circumstances; Guide hoped Alabaster would arrive soon. ~Send the uninjured up first, and hurry.~ A tug on the end of the rope indicated Sprint had complied with the order, and Guide braced himself, using the stump as a fulcrum, the first child appeared rapidly.

Dragging him to firm ground, and untying the rope, Guide growled, "Sit there, and do not move."

"Yes, Lord." Meek, the boy sat obediently, and hugged his knees, huddled in a small damp ball of misery.

Working in unison meant it did not take them long to get the remaining youngsters out, and the healthy children, including his get, managed to look anywhere but at him, palpable waves of shame, and wretchedness percolating from them. Unimpressed, Guide hunkered down to their level while Sprint made the sick lad as comfortable as he could. In response, Darling lifted his chin, and stared past Guide's shoulder, only a flicker of his eyes showed that he registered his grandsire's presence.

~What you did was an act of idiocy,~ Guide said, and indicated the unconscious boy. ~He might die for the sake of your... escapade.~

It stung a retort out of the boy. ~My mother will save him.~

~If she gets here in time,~ Guide said, mollified a little by the guilt and concern that crossed Darling's face. ~Which is by no means certain.~

Swallowing, Darling's gaze then fixed on Jennifer, and he went paler still, looked ill. ~Commander... the Fair One... will she... is she...?~

~She is in need of care which, hopefully, Alabaster can provide once she arrives.~

Eagerly, Darling nodded. ~ Grandfather... you will see. Mother is - ~

With a chop of his hand, Guide silenced the boy, his mouth in a thin line of disapproval. ~Until such time that our Queen arrives, you will contemplate on a nonsense that could have brought about the death of you all. I trust you will have something with which to astound me once we return to Bright Venture.~

Darling ducked his head, and seemed about to say something, but thought better of it when the eye of the red-haired lad caught his. Letting loose a long breath, he nodded. ~Yes, Lord.~

Rising to his feet, Guide took the few steps to stand next to Jennifer, and stooped down. At least her temperature had stabilised, and she was not nearly so white as before. Torn between anger and relief, he wondered how this would affect the hive and its delicate balance, whether the Council would deem it better for all that the Lantean was far too much trouble, and that she should go back to Atlantis? A rare emotion stung him, and Guide took her small hand in his. It would be just that little bit lonelier, and emptier, if she did leave.