CHAPTER NINE: BACKWAYS AND BYWAYS

Ford motioned Teyla down, and she instantly complied, kneeling down next to a tree, watching as the lieutenant scoped out the clearing ahead of them. He turned, holding up a couple of fingers, demonstrating two Wraith ahead, and she nodded.

It was the second time they'd almost walked into the monsters. With a grimace, she looked behind her, searching another way around.

Ford backed up, staying low, and she indicated off to the right.

He nodded, and she got up smoothly, lightly disappearing in that direction. A moment later, he followed.

Eventually, they hit another rough path in the woods, and Teyla stopped, peering in both directions down the obviously worn route. Dancing across it, she moved deeper into the trees, keeping her feet to the mossier ground and rocks, attempting to keep the footfalls as quiet as possible. Ford imitated her, but both were somewhat hampered by the heavy combat boots.

When they reached another clearing, Teyla stopped, staring up at the sky above, peering at the single sun to determine distance and location.

She sighed, turning to look at Ford.

"It's almost as if they are looking for us," he whispered darkly. She nodded. It did seem that way now. The Wraith really had no other reason to be around every corner, unless they were trying to stop someone from getting to the stargate, and the villagers would have no reason to try and escape through it now.

"Think someone gave us up?" Ford asked morosely, "Trying to buy their lives?"

"I hate to think so," she replied, equally as dark, "but we are strangers, and the Wraith...are what they are."

"Yeah," Ford sighed, leaning his back against a roughly fir-like tree. He reached up, grabbing a tuft of pine needles, then let it go, watching the flexible branch bobble foe a second. Teyla was looking at the ground. Mentally, both were trying to figure out their next step.

A noise to the left instantly put guns in both their hands, and Teyla quickly faded from sight as Ford knelt down behind his tree, using it as cover.

Seconds ticked by, and Ford forced himself to breathe slowly, with the wind. The sound of feet trying to walk silently through the woods was more obvious now.

Ford's eyes narrowed, as the figures came into sight. Two of the villagers—a man and a woman who had helped them escape. She was tall, with insane blond hair and dark green eyes, both of which made her seem a little wild. He was even taller, with a square blocked chin covered in copper colored stubble and reddish hair, streaked lightly with silver. Both moved with confidence.

The woman walked further into the clearing, her eyes on the ground. Not far from the place where the lieutenant was hidden, she stopped and knelt, her fingers touching the mossy earth, near the edge of a boot heel mark. She watched as its wetness started to dry out.

"They were here," she told the man with her, "recently."

"Then they are still free," the man sighed, "thank Adrah. But we must find them, before the Wraith do. They can not be far off."

"I still can not believe Aive did this," the woman muttered.

"She was worried for her babes, Scathach."

"I know, but it was still wrong. Those people brought hope, Conor; surely she saw that? Maybe not right now, but...." She trailed off, shaking her head again. "I just pray we are not too late to help them—"

"You're not too late," Ford said, standing up and showing himself. Conor instantly lifted his crossbow, while Scathach touched her hand to the knife at her thigh. Seeing him, though, both dropped their weapons, but Ford simply pointed the P90 more at their legs than their heads.

"We came to warn you," Conor said, twisting the crossbow back behind his back by its long strap.

"Yeah," Ford nodded, "I gathered that."

Scathach shook her head, "My sister Aive told the Wraith you were here, and that there are also two more in the Temple. They will be exploring the Temple's main entrance and the Gate. Luckily for you," she sighed, "the Wraith ships had already returned through the Stargate before they got to her, along with...a number of our people and some of the guards." Her eyes closed, forcing the tremble out of her voice that had crept in, then opened them again, her jaw more firmly set, "But the remaining Wraith on foot are still out looking for you and your friends."

Ford grimaced, "How many Wraith are left?"

"I think," she shrugged, "about eight?"

The lieutenant looked down. Eight Wraith soldiers—that wasn't good. Too many just for the four Atlanteans, even if they did get to McKay and Sheppard first. It usually took a whole troop just to take down four.

"Okay," he sighed, looking up, a grimace on his face, "How can you help us?"

Conor nodded, "The Temple has several entrances. Perhaps we can reach your friends first. Then...I don't know how to get you through the Gate. Perhaps you can get around them?"

"We'll find a way," Teyla said, materializing behind them. Both of the villagers jumped, Scathach's knife in her hand even as the Athosian woman smiled at them. Conor rested a hand on his wife's shoulder, and she managed to smile back at Teyla as she put the knife away. Teyla nodded at them, then looked at Ford. "No one follows them; they are alone. I believe them to be true."

The two villagers both raised their eyebrows at each other, then looked over at Ford.

The lieutenant tilted his head, "Okay then," he said to them, "lead the way."

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A/N – By the way, if you're wondering, the names I've used in this so far are from Irish mythology. They're a reference to the Tain, and the story of Cu Chulainn (nee Sentata). Scathach was the most famous female warrior at the time, and she ran a military academy of sorts. She is the one who taught Cu Chulainn to fight. Her sister was Aiofe (which I changed to Aive, to make it easer for people to pronounce in their heads). Conor was the king of Ulster. I have no excuse for picking on Irish mythology, except that when I was dreaming up the axe, I was reminded of the Gae-Bolg, which is the magical spear that, until he threw it in a battle, kept Cu Chulainn undefeated even against entire armies by himself. So...that's where the names come from. Conla, in the next chapter, was Cu Chullainn's son.

A/N 2 – thank you for the reviews everyone! You know how to keep me happy!