The two females crashed together with enough force to knock them to the ground. They tumbled over a few times and leaped apart. Miraculously, neither appeared to be injured as they began to circle around each other.
"How good of a warrior is Greer?" Daniel asked Dagmar.
She glanced quickly at him, her eyes as unreadable as any Aelfir's. "She is the best pack leader among our Community. A pack leader from the southern coast Community defeated her once during Renewal, but that's all."
Shale attacked again, but this time Greer slipped aside, dancing out of the reach of Shale's claws. The Daemos hissed angrily and whirled to face the younger Aelfir. After another minute of sizing each other up, Shale moved into a blinding series of blows, which Greer parried easily, taking care to avoid Shale's claws. Except for the last one, which left three lines of blood against Greer's milk-white cheek.
Daniel swallowed painfully. "Uh, how good a warrior is Shale?" he asked quietly.
"The best among the Daemos, or she would not be strigoi," Reen said grimly, never taking his eyes from the conflict.
Daniel sighed faintly and his shoulders slumped. "That's what I was afraid of."
*****
Sam jumped agilely up onto the low dirt wall that surrounded the Icenii village to get a better look at the perimeter. Krayn had said they would have at least until sunrise before the first attack. The full moon, large and unnaturally red, seemed stuck at its zenith. It wouldn't set for another three days. She looked down from the moon and surveyed their work. The defenses were crude at best, but with the advantage of firepower, Sam was confident they would be able to protect the village. She had considered asking for a .50 cal machine gun, but Teal'c pointed out that the Aelfir will be fighting the Daemos hand-to-hand. It would be hard to distinguish ally from enemy with a machine gun.
She nodded with satisfaction and jumped down. They were as ready as they'd ever be. She walked toward the center of the village. Janet fell in step beside her. "Are you worried about Daniel?" the doctor asked.
"A little," Sam admitted. "But Daniel's received training. He can take care of himself. Besides, it's not like he's by himself."
"Do you trust the Aelfir?" Janet asked softly.
Sam sighed faintly. "Daniel does. That's enough for me."
*****
Shale fumbled slightly as Greer slipped out of her grasp—again. "Stop this coward's play and fight!" the Daemos shrieked at her opponent. Greer only snarled in reply.
"What is she doing?" Daniel asked Reen.
"Buying time," he replied. "The longer the lo'mar takes, the more time the others have to prepare for the Hunt."
Daniel chewed on his lower lip and wished he was anywhere but here. Shale was tiring of Greer's dance and was growing increasingly agitated. She feinted to the left and went right, landing a bruising punch in Greer's midsection. Greer stumbled backwards, the breath knocked out of her. Shale leaped at her, pummeling and slashing with all her strength.
The Aelfir tensed while the Daemos cheered. Or at least Daniel assumed the undulating cries were cheers. Daniel bit down on his lip until he tasted blood. He really, really didn't want to stand here and watch his new friend die.
Greer suddenly lashed out, raking Shale across the chest. The Aelfir and Daemos seemed to be immune from their paralytic venom because it didn't slow either of them down at all.
The combatants retreated to opposite sides of the arena to nurse their wounds and glare at each other. Daniel couldn't take his eyes off of Greer. Through the rends in her leather clothing, he could see blood smeared over pale skin. Beside him, Dagmar glanced at the sky. The second sun balanced on the horizon, and the stars were beginning to appear. The Blood Moon hung swollen and heavy in the sky like a huge eye watching the lo'mar. Daniel shivered. Right now, he had to agree with Jack; this place was creepy.
This time, Greer made the first move. She bounded across the arena, leaped into the air, aiming an impressive spinning kick to Shale's head. Shale arched her back to allow Greer to pass harmlessly by, but the Aelfir had planned on that. She twisted impossibly in midair, changing her trajectory and falling squarely on Shale's shoulders. They tumbled again to the ground, rolling over and over. Greer finally ended up on top and she pinned Shale's arms down. Then she bared her fangs and lunged for Shale's throat.
Shale writhed out of the way just in time, and Greer buried her teeth in the Daemos' shoulder. What followed next happened to fast for Daniel to see. The next instant, Greer was on on her back, Shale kneeling on her chest, claw tips at the Aelfir's throat.
Dagmar made a sound like a strangled sob and turned her face away. Reen watched stonily, his jaw clenched. Daniel couldn't tear his eyes from the scene, expecting any second to see Shale rip Greer's throat out.
The combatants seemed frozen in time, staring at each other with identical, black eyes. Then Shale leaned down to whisper something in Greer's ear. Daniel saw Greer's expression change to one of horror and fury, and with a shriek of rage, she launched herself from the sand towards Shale.
The Daemos slapped Greer full across the face, leaving deep gouges across her cheeks. Greer stumbled backwards, reaching up to feel the wounds. Shale turned and sprinted away from Greer as the waiting Daemos bounded down from the bleachers towards the lone Aelfir.
For a moment the Aelfir seemed immobile with shock at the Daemos' betrayal. Then Greer spun around and ran towards her people waiting on the other side of the amphitheater. The Aelfir ran to meet her, but the Daemos were too close. Even as Krayn's boots hit the sand, the forefront Daemos reached out to throw Greer down.
A sharp report cracked through the snarls and cries and the first Daemos was flung to the ground, writhing in pain and clutching the bleeding hole in his stomach. All eyes were instantly fixed on Daniel, who stood on the lowest bleacher, his M9 in one hand. He calmly switched his aim to the next Daemos.
"Back off," he ordered, his voice as calm as his expression.
The Daemos snarled and hissed at him, but they did as he ordered, leaving their wounded behind. As soon as the Daemos had retreated out of the arena, Yani rushed to Greer's side.
"You're bleeding," the older Aelfir said, taking Greer's head in both hands. She proceeded to lick the scratches across Greer's face, lapping up the blood and closing the wounds.
Reen stomped past the others toward the Daemos mewling on the sand. For a moment he stood staring down at his enemy, and then he stooped and slashed his claws across the creature's throat. Daniel looked away, sick to his stomach.
"There's no time," Greer panted, pushing Yani away. "It was a trap. Shale has already mobilized the Daemos. The hunt has begun."