"Well, my parents were right, and my sister was wrong. This has been a good day." I say, after it was determined that there were no immediate threats in the vicinity, as I'm having a look around the glade we arrived in. There's a small pedestal Daniel tells me is what they call a 'dial home device', and a path leading to what I think is the West.
"How were your parents right?" Daniel asks.
"And how is that a good thing?" Jack adds.
"My parents always said Tylers don't die easily." I say, inspecting a tree with a suspicious scorch mark on it.
"What kind of screwed up thing is that to tell a kid?!" Jack cries apparently absolutely appalled at the prospect of talking to kids about death.
"The kind of thing you tell 'em when you want 'em to be prepared to do anything. At least that's what my uncle said." I say as honestly as humanly possible.
"Oh." Jack says.
"So are we going after that Jaffa or what?" I ask.
"We'll keep an eye out, but we're basically looking for signs of civilization." Daniel says still focusing on looking for things connected to people.
"Ah. Better plan than mine. So which way?" I say.
"You're a little impatient, aren't you?" Sam says, as she and Daniel continue surveying the area.
"Excited, really. Impatience is just a product of that." I say, catching sight of something just as out of the ordinary as the scorch mark. "Hey anyone notice this?" I walk over to the tree with a burn and tug at what appears to be a slippered foot hanging from a low branch.
"Uhh, no. What?" Daniel asks, as I look up to see if there is anyone attached to the small foot. There was, and she was a little blonde - apparently human - blue-eyed girl, no older than seven years old.
"Hello." I say, as Daniel, Sam, and Jack walk over to me . "My name's Kelly. What's you're name?"
"Landra." She says softly, still sort of trying to hide behind her branch.
"Landra. That's a pretty name. Do you want some help getting down?" I say, Landra nods. I consider the situation for a second and decided how to get her down. "Okay, just hang on." I say, taking off my pack.
"Kelly, how - " Sam starts to ask.
"You'll see." I say, as I rub my palms together. I jump up, grab onto the base of a branch, and swing myself up. I pick up Landra and turn her towards me. "Hang on to my neck, all right." She wraps her arms around my neck I shield her head with my chin, set my grip, and, since I had been straddling the branch, swing one leg to the other side, the rest of my body following. I drop to the ground and set the girl down. "Are you all right?"
"Yes." Landra says.
"Were you out here all alone?" I ask thinking carefully about what to say to get any useful information out of her without traumatizing her.
"No, my Momma and I were picking fruit."
"Oh." I say, considering the possibilities of where her mom could be.
"Can you take me home? My Daddy says I shouldn't be out here alone." Landra says sweetly.
"Let me talk with my friends and I think we'll go." I say, Landra nods and I turn towards the others. "Well?"
"The girl - " Jack starts.
"Landra." I interrupt him.
"Landra leads." Jack says, I nod and turn back to Landra.
"Landra, these are my friends. This is Jack," I say, Jack nods towards her, "and Samantha."
"Hi." Sam says, with a small wave and a smile.
"That's Teal'c, and Daniel."
"Hello, Landra." Daniel says, as Teal'c is about as readable as a statue.
"Hi." Landra says shyly.
"Can you take us back to your home?" Sam asks, as I put my pack back on.
"Yes." Landra says, reaching out a hand, which Sam took. "This way."
We walk out of the clearing heading - by my best guess - West, Sam and Landra leading with Jack and Teal'c following closely behind and Daniel and I taking up the rear.
"That was pretty cool." Daniel says, after a few minutes, causing me to look up at him and think about precisely what he meant. "The way you got Landra down."
"Really?" I ask, considering it a moment. "Hmph. Then you should see me scale a wall."
"Climbed a lot of trees as a kid?" He says, half-smiling as he brushed his knuckles on my bare arm, sending shivers all through my shoulders and my back.
"Not really, but my high school had a gymnastics team." I say, playing with his hand.
"Ah." Daniel says, as Jack slows down to walk beside us.
"Kelly, could I talk to you a second?" Jack asks coldly.
"I'm gonna go talk to Teal'c." Daniel says quickening his pace a little, obviously taking the cues he's learned from knowing Jack for so long.
"What do you know about him?" Jack asks in ice-cold interrogation style, as soon as Daniel was out of earshot.
"Not much."
"What have you told him of yourself?"
"The honest answer to every question he's asked me. Why do you ask?"
"Because I don't know you, but I know you're dangerous. Because Daniel's my friend."
"Then he has a good friend, but I don't have any intention of hurting Daniel or any of you in any way. Believe me or not, it's the true."
"I'll choose to believe you." Jack says lightening up a little for that moment. "For now." He hurries ahead of me to walk with Daniel and I walked ahead to walk with Landra.
"So, Landra, who is at home." Sam asks, after a little while.
"Just Mommy, Daddy, and Moke and me. We live in town so it really isn't that strange to have travelers around." Landra says quietly.
"Is Moke your brother?" Sam asks.
"Yes." Landra says. We walk a little further and come to a set of large apparently formidable gates. A middle-aged man in metal armor walks through the gates towards us.
"Stop where you are and release the child!" The man calls, Landra had been holding Sam's hand, but promptly let go when the guard had told Sam to let her go. "Landra! What have these people done with your mother?"
"They didn't do anything with her, Pali. Some Bad Men hurt her and took her away. My momma put me in a tree. Kelly got me down." Landra says, still standing with us.
"Who?"
"Excuse me. I am Kelly Tyler. These are my friends, Samantha Carter, Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c. We mean no harm, we are simply travelers." I say, and then I look to Jack to see if he approved, which - by the look on his face that appeared to be 'oh, great, now he's gonna shoot us' - I don't think I get.
"Travelers? You're just looking for lodging then?"
"Actually, our main purpose was to make sure that Landra got home all right." Jack says, quickly. "Lodging was a secondary priority."
"Ah, then I'll let you pass, and suggest the White Flame Inn. Welcome to Evermoon."
"Thanks." Jack says as we start forward.
"This way." Landra says cheerfully, leading us off again. We follow her through the city and never take our eyes off of our surroundings. Through out the trip people were trying to sell things and just do their business. A few minutes later, Landra leads us up to a house with a low barn and a fence.
"Come on in, I'll get Daddy." Landra says, leading us through the gate.
"Alright." I say, we lag behind as she runs ahead into the house. She comes back out very quickly dragging a guy by the wrist.
"Daddy, this is Kelly, and her friends Daniel, Samantha, Jack, and Teal'c. Kelly got me out of the tree Momma put me in before the Bad Men took her." Landra says, walking back up to us, still tugging on her father's wrist.
"Oh?" Landra's father says, looking at me suspiciously. "I am Cale, and I thank you for saving my daughter and bringing her home. I am in your debt."
"You're welcome, but that isn't necessary. I'm just glad Landra isn't still in the tree." I say.
"Why's that?" Cale asks, picking up Landra and holding her.
"She led us to the city. I have a suspicion that if we hadn't found her, we'd still be walking around the woods."
"Ah, I see. Well, at least let me offer you and your friends a meal." Cale says, I look to Jack and he gestures for me to accept.
"Looks like we'll accept your offer." I say.
"Good, Landra, go get your brother. Come. Let's go inside." Cale says, leading the five of us into the house as Landra hits the ground and runs to get her brother. "It's not much, but make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you." Daniel says, as Sam and I smile before I could stay the same.
Read from here.
"Anyone else think he's gonna ask us to go find Landra's mother?" I ask quietly after most of us had been seated in the living room, a little while after Cale had gone into the kitchen.
"Occurred to me." Daniel says, quietly.
"Seems logical enough." Sam says, following suit and keeping her voice relatively low.
"Oh of course." Jack says sarcastically.
"So are we gonna give it a shot?" I ask, looking around.
"Do we have a reason not to?" Sam asks.
"Yes, that is precisely our mission here. Find missing children and save kittens." Jack says sarcastically.
"Actually, isn't it in our manifesto to provide humanitarian aid when requested?" Daniel says.
"I knew that was gonna come back and bite me in the ass" Jack says.
"Great. I'm gonna shut up so someone else cant take over. Deal?" I day, not looking at anyone in particular.
"Deal." Daniel after Jack and Sam both look to him. Just then, a young man - maybe seventeen - comes in carrying Landra on his shoulders, Landra laughing happily.
"Moke, go wash." Cale says, walking out from the kitchen.
"Yes, father." Moke says, taking Landra off of his shoulders and putting her down.
"The food shall be along shortly." Cale says easily.
"You're staying then?" Landra asks.
"For a little while, yes." Daniel says, as I look to him.
"Landra, where's the hand towel?" Moke calls, walking back into the room. "Oh, I didn't know we had guests."
"Hello. I'm Daniel Jackson, this is Kelly Tyler, Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, and Teal'c."
"Hello." I say.
"Oh, so you are the friends Landra met in the woods. I'm her older brother Moke."
"Nice to meet you." Daniel says.
"Likewise. Uh…" Moke says, looking down at his still wet hands. He runs into the kitchen for a second and emerges drying his hands on a towel. "Are you all staying for dinner?"
"Uh, yeah." Daniel says, as Moke shakes his hand.
"You're in for a real treat, then. My father is the finest cook in the entire province." Moke says proudly.
"Moke! You used up the last of the water in the washroom!" Landra calls from the washroom.
"Excuse me." Moke says, heading for the washroom.
"Okay, I gotta say it; these people just seem too comfortable considering that Landra's mother is missing." Jack says quietly.
"Agreed." I say, as Cale comes out from the kitchen with some plates and silverware.
"Landra set the table, please." Cale calls, setting the dinnerware on the table. "I believe we have some things to discuss." He says to us, motioning for us to come into another room.
"Oh? All right." Jack says, as we all stand and head to the door he indicated. We walk into a study and wait for Cale to start. I look around as Jack and Teal'c survey Cale. I recognize Scrolls, scroll cubbies, and paintings, there's some furniture, but nothing really extravagant.
"You've heard Landra's story, no doubt." Cale says, and a few of us nod. "Who she calls 'Bad Men' are who we call 'Snake Warriors'. The city Pali have been fighting them off, but barely. The Pali have recovered most people who had been abducted by the snake Warriors, but I don't think they will go after my wife, Merrique."
"Why?" Daniel asks, as I walk around to stand off to the side between Cale and Daniel.
"Merrique was a Din'Ival," Cale says. "She used herbs and potions to cure people of their illnesses and make charms for a merchant's prosperity, or bountiful harvest." He explains, seeing the blank expressions on our faces.
"Oh." Daniel says still not fully comprehending.
"A witch." I whisper softly to him, and he nods as it clicks into place.
"It was only a matter of time before they tried to kill her. If you could return her to me, I could pick up the kids and get out of town." Cale says, as Jack and I visibly relax - but not much.
"If we had any help finding the base of the Snake Warriors we would at least give it a shot," Jack says.
"Moke can take you! Will you really try?" Cale says thoughtfully.
Jack looks to everyone for opinions. Sam nods, Daniel and I just look at him as if the say 'you can guess our opinions' - Daniel standing with his arms crossed over his chest, me with my thumbs hooked in my belt loops on my hips - and Teal'c simply raises an eyebrow. "Yes, we will try to recover your wife while trying not to get your son killed." Jack says rather resignedly.
"Thank you so much. Is there anything you'll need? It is a three-day journey." Cale says, as I catch a scent of something meat-like.
"Beyond food and water? No." Jack says, apparently back to his usual sarcastic, laid back self.
"At least let me buy some extra equipment. Not that yours doesn't appear as sturdy as anything I could offer." Cale says, going over to a desk near a wall.
I glance around the room to get a feeling of everyone else's opinion. Sam is glancing around uneasily while Jack appeared surprised and Daniel and Teal'c look completely indifferent. "Well, we don't want to put you through any trouble." I say diplomatically.
"Oh, it's no trouble. We can discuss this in more detail later. Now, I believe dinner is ready." Cale says, going back over to the door. We all exit the room and take seats at the table Moke and Landra had set as Cale goes into the kitchen to bring out the meal. I sit next to Landra, who is to the right of the head of the table, Moke to the left across from her. On my other side are Daniel and Teal'c, Daniel being directly next to me. Across from me are Sam and Jack and I notice that whenever possible they choose to be next to each other.
"This really is a lovely home." I say doing my best impression of my mother being nice, as Cale comes back into the room and sets a few side dishes on the table.
"Thank you." Cale says, as Moke rises from his seat and goes into the kitchen. Moke returns with what looks like a large roast beast, which almost immediately puts bits and pieces of 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' floating around in my head. It is apparent custom that the host or head of the family serves everyone him-or-her-self. So as everyone is served everyone else makes small talk. Occasionally my left hand slips from my lap and - since we are on benches - taps against Daniel's thigh, and so about the fifteenth time this happens he casually reaches down and gently squeezes my hand, very quickly, laying it down on the bench between us.
After the meal, it is apparently very late, even though my watch only puts us at seven-thirty, Jack and Daniel follow Cale into the study to discuss the details of the task ahead. Sam and I are given some money for two rooms and sent to procure them at the White Flame Inn. We thank him profusely and Sam, Teal'c and I depart after Landra is put to bed. We have little trouble finding the inn and when we do, I arrange for two rooms directly across from each another. I pay the innkeeper and he shows us to our rooms.
"These 're it. Enjoy yer stay." The innkeeper says, taking the keys out of the doors and handing one to Sam and one to Teal'c.
"Thank you." Sam says, as the innkeeper walks off down the hall.
"I'm going to wait for Jack and Daniel downstairs." I say, as they unlock the doors.
"Are you going to be all right by yourself?" Sam asks, as I take off my pack.
"Sure. I know how to handle myself in a bar." I say, as Teal'c - unexpectedly - takes my pack.
"Okay. See you later." Sam says hesitantly, going into the room on my left - the room without the window - as Teal'c goes into the room on my right - the one with the window. I go back down the hall the way I came.
I plant myself close to the wall opposite the door to watch for Daniel and Jack without anyone bothering me. Nonetheless, a few minutes after I sit down, I feel something brush by my leg. My hand shoots down from the tabletop, nails bared, to catch the foreign object near my hip.
"Hey!" A high-pitched man squeaks, as I dig my nails into his wrist. I look down and a small man with long, curly black hair and big toffee colored eyes is staring up at me. "P-p-p-please don't hurt me?" He squeaks.
'A dwarf, maybe? No. No, perhaps a halfling.' I think silently. "Why in the world would I do that? Who are you and why were you trying to steal from me?" I ask quietly.
"Quickest way to make a buck to buy food?"
"Doesn't tell me who you are." I say dangerously.
"Oh. I'm called Vep."
"I see. Well, did you actually take anything from me?" I say thoughtfully.
"No." Vep says, as I plop my chin into my propped up hand while I consider how much money I have left, since I had already let Vep's wrist go.
"Let me see what I can do to get you some dinner." I say, as Jack and Daniel walk through the door. "Just a moment."
"Thank you!" Vep says, hopping onto a chair at my table as I get up to greet Daniel and Jack.
"Guys." I say, waking up to Daniel as he's looking away and startling him. "Any problems?"
"Uh, yeah." Daniel says.
"We were robbed on the way over." Jack says.
"Umm, that could be a problem. How 'robbed' were you? You still have everything in your packs?" I say quietly, but urgently.
"They just took Cale's money." Daniel says.
"I see. Well, what do you want to do? Sam and I got two rooms. I'm not averse to sharing." I say.
"I think I'll turn in." Jack says.
"All right, this way." I say, heading for the stairs. I lead them both to the rooms, not realizing that Vep is following me up. "Which room? Sam's in the right hand room, Teal'c the left."
"Where are you sleeping, Tyler?" Jack asks.
"Wherever there's room." I say, shrugging.
"Left room, then." Jack mutters, knocking on Sam's door. "See you in the morning."
"What's - " Sam starts to ask, after opening her door as Jack gently pushes past her.
"They got robbed." I say.
"Mind sharing a bunk?" Jack asks from inside.
"Sure." Sam says.
"I'm gonna go watch the business downstairs for a little bit." I say, as Sam looks to me curiously.
"I think I will, too." Daniel says, and Sam nods and closes her door.
"You want me to go find your robber? I can get your money back." Vep says, as Daniel and I turn to leave, almost tripping over him.
"Who?" Daniel asks me.
"I made a friend apparently. This is Vep." I tell Daniel. "Would this get you in trouble with the city Pali, if you were to be caught?" I ask Vep quietly.
"Oh, no. Pali don't interfere with the thieves guilds." Vep says.
"I see." I say, and the three of us head back downstairs. Once there, I find a waitress, ask if the kitchen's still open - which it is, -- order Vep a small dinner and resume my position near the back of the bar with Daniel and Vep at my side.
"So why are we buying dinner for Vep?" Daniel asks quietly a moment later.
"Because I told him I would." I answer softly.
"All right." Daniel says, nodding.
"Thank you again for the meal. Is there something you are all in town for? I might be able to help, you know." Vep says, polishing off his plate.
"Well, uh…" I say, glancing at Daniel who is clearly taken off guard by the question.
"You there, woman!" A thick, slurred, male baritone calls loudly from across the room suddenly, catching Daniel's attention.
"He's talking to you, I think." Daniel whispers, and I casually glance in the general direction of the noise.
"Hmm. His mistake then." I say, watching the very fat drunkard heading our way, and Vep starts to hide.
"Woman! I'm talkin' ta you." The drunkard cries, stumbling closer.
"That's Rodrod, town thug." Vep whispers to me from his hiding spot - between Daniel and I - under the table.
"Certainly is not talking to me, then." I say, softly, as Rodrod approaches, nearly shoving Daniel backward from the table as he pulls up a chair.
"Yer new 'ere." Rodrod says, falling very ungracefully into the chair. "Care to take da most probular ride in town?" He slurs, slobbering with a disgusting, leering smile.
"Ha-ha!" I say, sounding very amused. "Not in your century." I deadpan.
"Well we'll jusht habe ta shee 'bout nhat." He slobbers, still grinning.
His left hand reaches for my right knee and I burst into action. I maneuver my legs out of the slob's reach, grab his left wrist with my left hand, and let my right hand wrap around the hilt of my knife as I dig my unusually sharp nails into his greasy wrist, never letting my face show anything but insane serenity.
"No, we will NOT." I say quietly, my voice like ice. "You will go back over to your place at the bar, and if I even think you're looking at me, I will remove this hand. Understood?" I say, and he nods slowly. I release his wrist and he scrambles away as I wipe my hand on a nearby napkin.
I suddenly realize everyone is staring at me, including Daniel and Vep. I arch an eyebrow, glance around - Rodrod is being very careful to not look in my direction, I note - and shrug as I casually toss the napkin on the table. A second or two later, the normal noise of the bar resumes.
"How did you? What did? Wha?" Daniel stammers disconcertedly.
"What? I've spent time in bars, I know how things work." I say, becoming aware of a slight pressure on my upper abdomen.
"Yes, but - " Daniel starts, confused.
"Problem Vep?" I ask, looking down to see Vep with his arms wrapped around my midsection in a tight hug.
"I've never had a hero before, let alone the pleasure of seeing Rodrod knocked down a few pegs." Vep says, still not letting go of me.
"Yes, well… Neither of you have met anyone like me before." I say, prying Vep off of me.
"Can I come with you and your friends?" Vep asks.
"Well, can you handle yourself or would I have to keep goin' back and taking care of you?" I ask, thinking about the task ahead.
"I'm pretty good with a short sword." Vep says.
"What do you think?" I ask Daniel.
"I think you should ask Jack." Daniel says hesitantly.
"Alright." I say.
"Whatever you're in town for is pretty dangerous then?" Vep asks, resuming his seat.
"You could say that…" Daniel says.
"Well I hope so! Since I just did." Vep says.
"He meant that we expect it to be a very dangerous undertaking indeed." I say, smiling a bit at Daniel's vexation.
"Oh. Well then," Vep says with a yawn, "I suppose I should turn in."
"As should we if we want to be out of town by noon." Daniel says.
"Right. Got your own room, Vep?" I say.
"Yeah, kind of." Vep says, and I look at him questioningly. "I have a friend who's letting me room with him."
"Alright." I say to Vep, and turn to Daniel. "Let's go."
"Sure." Daniel says, as we stand up. Daniel and I head up one set of stairs while Vep heads up another, and I lead us up to the rooms.
"Where are you gonna be?" I ask, as Daniel and I stand outside the rooms.
"I thought I'd room with you since Jack's rooming with Sam." He says.
"All right, sounds good to me." I say, and he opens the door on my left. We go in, Daniel takes off his pack and jacket and stretches while I get the door to close.
"One bed." Daniel says, stating the obvious.
"So? Problem with sharing?" I ask taking off my jacket.
"Not at all."
"Good. Should I be worried about whatever he's doing?" I say, noticing Teal'c sitting cross-legged and perfectly still on the floor, as I sit down on the edge of the bed and take off my boots.
"Ah, no. He just doesn't sleep like we do."
"Oh. Goodnight." I say, laying down on the bed and rolling onto my left side.
"Sweet dreams." Daniel says, after lying down on the other side of the bed.