The SGC group was in particularly good mood that day. Not only had the prodigal team SG-1 return, but now that Dr. Jackson was here they might learn exactly what the stupid festival was about. The men of SG-1 were checked out by Dr. Fraiser, who said they were suffering from exhaustion but not much else. They agreed to get some sleep on one condition. That they be allowed to stay in the infirmary with Sam. Janet was dumbfounded. Something really bad, much worse than a cave-in must have happened for them to want to stay in the infirmary just to be near Sam. Daniel was still being Daniel though, and although he was concerned about Sam, he wanted to talk to Hdeon to learn about The Festival.

Partly out of her own curiosity and partly because she knew he wouldn't sleep until he had, she let him go talk for twenty minutes. That was over an hour ago. She might have gotten worried if she hadn't insisted Colonel Webber go with him. Besides, right now she had other problems. Sam's temperature was slowly rising. It was now at 102.7. Not much of a change, but without the wonders of modern medicine she had come to rely on any bad change was, well, bad. She was hooking up a new bag of antibiotics when Daniel came back.

"You'll never believe what's going on Jack."

"Ah let me guess, the festival."

"Well, yes, but you won't believe what it's about. It's like I thought, more of a..."

"Hold on there a minute Danny. Let's let General Hammond get here before you explain, that way you won't have to say it twice."

"Let General Hammond get here so he won't have to say what twice Colonel?"

"General, Danny here was just about to explain to us all the hoopla about the festival."

"Well in that case, go ahead Dr. Jackson. I've been dying to hear this part."

"Well General, like I thought it's more of a social event than a religious one. A long time ago Hdeon's race lived on this planet. This is where they evolved. But for some reason, the atmosphere started changing. Their historians think it was mostly their own doing. They say that their early ancestors basically razed the planet, taking whatever they wanted and not trying to maintain the homeostasis of the planet. Because of this, the planet started changing, mostly the atmosphere. They need a different concentration of gases in the atmosphere, more Nitrogen or Helium and less Oxygen, or something like that to survive. Anyway, by the time they realized what was going on, they couldn't do anything to stop it, it kind of created a chain reaction."

"Like the Greenhouse effect."

"Yea something like that Janet. Anyway, the only thing they could do was search for a new place to live. They found a new planet but they felt guilty about killing their old one through neglect. This guilt helped them become a much more environmentally concerned people, or as Hdeon put it 'they started down a new path.' The technology was adapted or new technology was developed to replace the older 'uncaring' ones. The general attitude of the whole society changed, which is pretty remarkable in and of itself."

"That's great Danny, but what does this have to do with the festival?"

"Well, like I said some pretty remarkable attitude changes came from the planet dying. Eventually one of the beliefs that came about this was that they didn't kill the planet, but that the planet sacrificed itself for them. The idea is that the planet was alive and saw what a lesser species they were. It sacrificed itself to help them find their way to become a greater species. The Festival is a way for them to honor this sacrifice."

"So, it is indeed a religious event."

"It might have started out that way Teal'c, but I think it is more of a social event now. Like Christmas in our own society. It started out as a religious event but more and more it is becoming a social one."

"So Daniel, what's with all the animals that have been brought here. We've already had a few run-ins with them."

"They're for The Festival. Hdeon said something to you about bringing the most prized possessions?" Both General Hammond and Janet nodded. "Well if you think about it, what would be more prized to a group of environmentalist than life. Animals became the status symbol in their society over the generations. Just like our house or car are status symbols on Earth. During The Festival, they bring the most exotic or rarest animals to show off how well they're doing."

"Not to put a dampener on your theory Danny, but all the animals I've seen so far don't look very rare or exotic."

"The rare animals aren't here yet. These are just the everyday, ordinary citizen's offering. I mean let's face it, a Ferrari wouldn't be that great if everyone has one. Hdeon say's that once all the common offerings are through, the rest of the people who want to come to The Festival will come through. Then all the leaders and upper class people who want nothing more than to show of their wealth will come through, making as big of a spectacle as they can. That's when you see the really rare animals."

"As interesting as this is Dr. Jackson, what does this have to do with the festival?"

"General, this part of The Festival is called the Scattering. They basically let all the animals wander around free. It's symbolic to show that they are trying to give life back to the planet. Once all the animals are here, the Scattering is over. The food being left out for the animals will stop and they will be left to fend for themselves. Three days after that the Gathering will start. The Gathering is symbolic of the planet accepting the gift of life and giving back to the people. From what I can tell, the Gathering is basically a big hunting party. They hunt all the animals they brought until most of them are dead. They use the traditional tools of their ancestors, that's why you see a bunch of spears and bows and arrows. After the hunt is over, they have a big party for everyone who survived."

"Survived?!?"

"Apparently the three days between the Scattering and the Gathering, and the Gathering itself, are particularly dangerous."

"If people have died, why do they not simply restrain the animals and then kill them?"

"Because that's not the natural way Teal'c. Apparently it is one of the most honorable ways to die in their society."

"So any idea when the bad parts start happening."

"Hdeon said that once the rare animals start showing up it usually takes about a day for the Scattering to finish."

"And the rare animals would be coming.."

Jack's question was interrupted by the radio. "Sir, this is Captain Williams. Something that I can only describe as a dragon just exited the Stargate."

"I think it's safe to say the rare animals would be coming now, Jack."