Five hours after their last discussion, SG-1 was ready to go. They had managed to get Sam back to sleep for a few hours. When she woke up, the guys had everything packed. They quickly sat down and ate a small breakfast, they even managed to get Sam to eat something. Not very much, but it was better than nothing, and she would need all the strength she could get. After breakfast, they helped her stand up and test her leg. They silently agreed that one of them would walk next to her at all times. Since they couldn't carry her out of here, the least they could do was give her a shoulder to lean on, literary.
Teal'c gave her his staff weapon to use as a crutch and after walking around for a minute, Sam declared she was ready to go. Daniel and Teal'c made one last water run while Jack offered Sam some Tylenol for the pain, surprised when she gratefully accepted. That told him she was in more pain than she was admitting to, and he was again amazed at the strength she had. With that done, they started their trek through the caves. At first, they tried to get Sam to engage in small talk, in an effort to keep her mind away from the pain. They soon abandoned their efforts, though, when it became obvious that Sam was barely listening to them. She was concentrating so much on putting one foot in front of the other that she couldn't respond to her friends. Slowly but surely they started making their way out of those caves.
Jack was extremely worried about Sam. They had decided to keep their pace slow, not wanting to tire Sam out or cause her anymore pain than necessary. They also decided to take a fifteen minute break every hour, to let Sam rest while they tried to get food, water, and medicine into her. Jack could tell that Teal'c and Daniel were also concerned. Teal'c was walking next to her, offering her support when she needed it. Daniel kept looking back at them, concern and guilt plainly visible on his face. They stopped for a moment as the cave split in two directions. Jack decided to scout out one direction, while Teal'c took the other one. Daniel was going to stay behind with Sam. They would go explore for fifteen minutes, come back and compare notes, and then decide which way to go. It would help them find the exit faster and give Sam some much needed rest.
As soon as she heard Jack and Teal'c leave, Sam slumped to the floor. Daniel came over and sat down next to her. He handed her the canteen, but all she could drink was a sip or two. She heard Daniel mumbling about how far they had come, but the screaming in her body drowned out his voice. Every muscle in her body screamed out in pain, it was all she could do to not cry out loud. She had a monster headache, and everything around her seemed fuzzy. She was having a hard time breathing, and she was so hot. She wished for nothing more than to curl up and sleep, but she knew she couldn't. The Colonel was right about these caves. Sometimes there was barely enough room for them to stand upright, let alone for them to carry her. Plus they simply didn't have the time for them to drag her through the caves. Every second they were in here was another second a cave-in could happen. She would never forgive herself if they got hurt because she was to slow.
Daniel was trying to comfort Sam. He came over and sat by her, noting the beads of sweat that lined her forehead. Thinking that it was just from the exertion that they had been forced to put her through, he quickly gave her some water while making positive sounds about how far they had come. When he saw the pained expression on her face, he immediately reached in the first aid kit for the morphine. He couldn't believe it when she refused, saying that she was fine and morphine would only slow her down. Daniel was going to force her to take them, but quickly abandoned the idea. He did get her to compromise on some Tylenol, but nothing stronger, when Jack and Teal'c showed up. Teal'c had found the proverbial 'light at the end of the tunnel.' He watched as Sam painfully pulled herself up and started hobbling towards Teal'c. Daniel just hoped they got out of here soon.
Teal'c quickly led the other members of his team to his discovery. A small tunnel connected two caves. At the back of the second cave, a small amount of natural light could be seen. When they saw the light in the other cave, Colonel O'Neill decided that was the best way out. He quickly started crawling through the tunnel. The only problem was it was a very small tunnel. Colonel O'Neill had to literally crawl on his hands and knees to make it through. He turned back towards Major Carter. She was having a hard time staying on her feet. He knew she would have an even harder time crawling through the tunnel. Daniel Jackson, being the smallest of the three volunteered to help Major Carter through the tunnel. Teal'c would follow them through and offer assistance if it was required.
Sam was in the tunnel right behind Daniel. He had no idea how she managed to crawl through there, he had a hard time with it, and he wasn't hurt. Daniel would never get too far ahead of her, and would always wait for her to catch up before he moved again. It was a very slow process, but they were almost within sight of the exit. He could hear Jack encouraging them, heard Teal'c urging them forward, and heard Sam as she unsuccessfully tried to muffle her cries of pain. They were almost there. Suddenly he heard Teal'c cry out. He glanced back and saw that Sam had passed out. He quickly backtracked to where she lay. Teal'c started pushing, while Daniel started pulling. He had no idea how, but somehow they managed to get her out of the tunnel.
Jack could almost see Daniel. He was almost out, then Sam, and then Teal'c. They were almost home free. Suddenly Daniel turned around. What was he doing? After a couple of minutes he was able to see Daniel again, and he saw why he had stopped. Sam was unconscious again. Somehow Daniel and Teal'c had managed to get her out of that stupid tunnel. He bent down to help Daniel move Sam out of the way. When he went back to help Teal'c, a dark red stain caught his attention. Blood. Teal'c slowly crawled out of the tunnel and they immediately rushed to Danny's side. He was already checking Sam out. Then he saw it, fresh blood on her bandages. Crap! Her leg wound had opened up again.
Daniel Jackson and Colonel O'Neill immediately began tending to Major Carter. While they were trying to stop the blood flow, O'Neill ordered Teal'c to check out the exit. He quickly ran down the cave. As he neared the cave entrance, he paused to allow his eyes to adjust. Then Teal'c stepped cautiously to the opening, his heart sinking in his chest at the sight. They had indeed found a way out of the caves, but Teal'c did not think this was what his friends had in mind. The cave opened in the middle of a cliff, the entrance thirty meters from the ground. What appeared to be a river of lava flowed directly beneath. The sky was overcast with the promise of a storm. And there was no sight of the Stargate. They were indeed having a bad day.
General Hammond stood in front of SG-15. Lieutenant Rodgers had been released several hours ago, and Hammond was thinking about what Dr. Fraiser said. While he wasn't about to send a whole SG team after the stray SG-1, he did want them here now more than anything. Hdeon said that The Festival would be starting soon. He wanted SG-1 here before that happened, so he compromised with himself.
"As all of you are aware, SG-1 was supposed to be here when we arrived. It has been two days, and they still have not come. Now because of the uniqueness of our situation here, I can't spare a SG team to go looking for them. I am willing, however, to allow two men to go retrieve them. If they are in trouble, the odds of those two men coming back are slim. For that reason, I will not order any one to go. It will be a voluntary assignment. Any one who would like to volunteer to go rescue SG-1 step forward." Hammond smiled as SG-15 took a step forward as one. "Very well. Decide amongst yourselves who will be going and who will be staying. Whoever you decide to go, prepare to depart in one hour. Dismissed."
"Thank you sir." Janet spoke for the first time.
"I just hope they bring them back in one piece." One hour later General Hammond, Dr. Fraiser, and the two SG-15 team members who were going started heading out to the Stargate. As they neared the Stargate, they saw Hdeon and his group chanting. Suddenly the Stargate started to spin. As soon as the wormhole stabilized, a group of what they could only describe as a cross between a lion and a wolf came charging through. Scattering every way they could they quickly dissolved into the surrounding forests, only to be replaced by another group of animals.
"Hdeon, what is going on here?" the General demanded as the Stargate shut down.
"It is The Festival. The time of The Scattering has arrived."
"The What!?!"
"The Scattering. It is when my people first arrive. They bring their most prized possessions and scatter them across the land."
Hammond looked at the Stargate, which again had formed a stable wormhole. This time several large and dangerous looking birds were flying out of the wormhole. In a solemn voice he spoke to the group he was traveling with. "The rescue mission is off until further notice. Return to camp and begin defensive procedure."