A/N – Writer's Choice

Ashes

Rodney was tense, where he stood in the centre of a large shell of a building. Sweeping gothic pillars and light brown stonework surrounded him and most of the roof had been torn away by years of relentless gales and pounding rain.

The wind sweeping through the remaining rafters sounded like a thousand ghosts howling at him in eternal torment. He grimaced as his heart pounded in fright and glanced around at the rest of his team. They appeared to be as unsettled as he was and that made him even more fearful.

He hesitantly walked further into what had probably once been the most magnificent building in the Pegasus Galaxy. It was the only structure still standing in the town they had found.

The whole world was dead with nothing but the wind carrying the haunted cries and ashes of the long gone inhabitants through the air.

The very earth itself spoke of death and hid silent memories of untold love and joy, overcome too soon by misery and horror.

Ronon kicked a small stone and the sound of it clanking against the cold dusty floor pulled at Rodney's heart almost painfully as it echoed. He could imagine the human screams of those who had once resided on the planet. But they had now perished, with only this ruin to mark their transient existence and passing.

"We are too late," Teyla said.

"Whatever happened was over centuries ago," John added with a disappointed look at a nearby block of smooth, weatherworn stone.

Rodney knew that it would only take a few more hundred years before even the mighty ruin wherein they stood would be reduced back to dust from whence it came. Then the blusterous wind would scatter the particles both near and far to mingle with the ashes and remnants of its creators.

Ronon grumbled, "There's nothing here."

Rodney had to agree. The rest of his team turned around to head back to the gaping entrance they had come in. The door had long since been torn away and destroyed like everything else.

It was unclear whether it had been the Wraith who had killed everyone as there was no evidence. But it was hard to imagine anything else destroying a whole settlement so thoroughly.

Rodney stood still for a moment as another strong gust blew through the top of the walls around him and crows flew across the white sky visible above. They were jet black against the clouds and cried in discomfort at the gale as they glided along uncontrollably in the air currents.

Rodney drew in a deep breath and furrowed his brow as he looked upwards. He felt a crushing grief and sadness settle over his heart. What had the people been like? What had happened to them? There was no one left to tell the tale. There were no writings, only voiceless slabs within a solitary crumbling ruin.

He lowered his head and saw that his team were waiting for him. Sheppard was frowning curiously back at him and Ronon appeared to be impassive at first, but his face was stony where he resolutely buried all of his emotions. When Rodney met Teyla's eyes, he saw understanding in them and something akin to the grief that was tearing him apart inside his own chest.

He sighed and nodded, "I just needed a minute. I'm coming."

Teyla drew alongside him in silent support as they trekked back to the gate and went home.