Author's note: sorry for the length between posts, I have a few chapters that I can post today for you. Please review and remember that SG1 do not belong to me and the rest of the characters do.

Chapter Eleven: New Creatures

Jack and Zale walked quietly through the forest, trying to make it to the shore closest to the Vannas Island so someone could find them easily with some directions. Zale was focused on the area around them, listening to possible sources of danger. There was still the screeches every once in a while but it seemed those creatures were willing to leave Jack and Zale alone.

He wanted to hold his son's hand but he wanted to have both free for possible attacks. After learning the damage Xylander was delivering to Zale's mind, Jack wanted to have a hand on him so the love he felt for Zale could seep into his son's skin and into his mind but the sooner he got them home, the sooner Daniel and he could rework the feelings he'd been forced to live with for weeks.

For now though Jack jerked to a stop when the screech of unknown animals came even closer and Jack found he was on the edge of a clearing with a several large trees that could have been home to some very large birds. Then with a flutter of wings, several creatures landed in front of Jack and he stared at them in shock. He'd seen so many things since coming to the Vannas Island; he'd been so sure he couldn't be surprised anymore.

He'd been clearly mistaken.

"Papa, what is that?"

Jack shushed Zale since he didn't know what the grand beast was going to do. Jack watched as the great eagle head swung from side to side before focusing on Jack and Zale, only to have his gaze pulled further down the body to the wings and the body of a lion. It was a griffon, a creature born only in legends as far as Jack knew but as with every other myth he'd watched become a reality in the world. It screeched and the familiar sound from the previous evening and this morning was suddenly understood. This island must have been home to more than one of these creatures; maybe the island was specifically made into a griffon preserve. All Jack cared about right now was if it was going to attack him and his son.

"Papa something else is coming," Zale whispered and Jack looked at the boy for a moment but when he lost eye contact with the creature it screeched again and started lunging forward. Jack pulled the hatchet from his belt and aimed to throw the weapon when a shimmer settled down on the ground between Jack and the griffon. It was about the size of a small dog and looked more reptilian and it had wings larger than its body, which was a shimmering gold instead of green. Then as they were watching it grow and shifted into a man about Jack's height but his skin retained the golden shimmer. Jack moved away from the shape shifting creature even as it turned around and showed its mostly human face, only with some fangs peeking out between its thin lips and four fingers instead of five.

It turned back and there was some kind of hissing communication happening between the two creatures before the griffon took off for the trees and the golden man-beast turned back to Jack and Zale.

"I must ask your forgiveness, my griffons do not appreciate strangers. Where have you come from?"

Jack frowned at the polite little speech, "The Island of Vannas, we were trying to get back but our power fizzled out getting us here. I apologize for trespassing on your island," Jack said, figuring he should take a card from Daniel's book with the griffon still above their heads somewhere and clearly under the control of the new creature in front of them.

"Well I sense your people coming for you now and since you have been such gracious guests I believe I should travel with you and meet the mysterious Queen that wishes to unite my people with yours."

Jack nodded because he didn't really know what else to say, "Can I call you something? Your name? Mine is Jack O'Neill and this is my son Zale."

The golden creature bowed a little with hands—paws pressed in front of his thin chest in a praying position, "I am called Oeric, I am pleased to meet such interesting people like you."

"Likewise Oeric," Jack said slowly, trying his name on for size.

Then Adrian appeared from the dense forest, looked from Oeric to Jack and Zale before he walked up to them slowly. "Jack? Are you unharmed?" Jack's young friend was holding his staff and a dagger, looking ready to fight or injury anything that would harm Jack and Zale.

"Yeah Adrian, this is Oeric. He would like to request an audience with Queen Zarkina if that is okay?" Jack responded.

Adrian frowned, "I thought you were in danger, came rushing to your rescue! Do you make friends wherever you go or something?"

Jack shrugged, "He saved us, I figured I owed him the courtesy of meeting Akina who I know has been trying to make contact with all the islands' inhabitants."

"I am serious, how do you do that endearing others to you thing?"

"Been hanging out with Daniel long enough for something to stick. Clearly I can play diplomat when I want to," Jack responded. Then Zale grabbed Jack's hand and he turned to lift his son into his arms, struggling a little under his lanky weight, which was more problematic with all his limbs than actually being too heavy for Jack.

"We're going home baby," Jack whispered and hugged Zale tight as Adrian's hand touched Jack's shoulder and with a vertigo inducing moment they were somewhere else. Jack looked up from Zale's neck to find himself in the throne room of the Sky Castle. "This isn't my home Adrian."

"You can run home, I cannot have a new creature roaming the island without express permission from the Queen," he turned to Oeric, "No offense intended of course."

"I would do what must be done to protect my people so no offense taken."

Adrian nodded then turned back to Jack, "I am glad you are home safe, both of you. Of course you both are going to be in trouble with Daniel and that is going to be some fight. You did not tell him you were going off island with Akina."

Jack cursed under his breath; he didn't even realize that Daniel hadn't known. They weren't really into telling each other every little thing they did but there was no way he forgot to tell Daniel that he was going off island but he didn't doubt Adrian. Jack cringed when he realized he was going home to a hug and a kiss closely followed by a pretty epic fight.

"Well thanks for getting us back home Adrian, you can plan my funeral when Daniel gets done with me."

Adrian laughed then walked away with Oeric. Jack put Zale down and they started walking home. This was going to be a scene.