I do not own SG-1 Characters, and Ryer belongs to Jennifer Bauman
Crossing Paths (Aryion II)
"So you all know what we're doing here?" Jack asked after stepping onto X49-P34 (Aryion).
"Searching for wraith, Goa'uld, and orcs that are said to be hiding in these wooded areas." Teal'c answered.
"How often did they say that these raids occur?" Daniel asked, surveying the woods.
"Every year." O'Neil answered. "Is that all you need to know?" he said sarcastically. "Alright, spread out! Meet back here at sunset."
Sam, Jack, Daniel and Ryer headed to different parts of the woodland. Ryer had been part of the team for 7 years now, since a very young age, after being found on a Goa'uld deserted planet.
This planet, it's so familiar. Ryer thought as she made her way through the woods. The trees, rocks, and smells – everything seemed to trigger her memory.
She pressed on for two hours without any sign of enemy encampment.
Meanwhile, Daniel roamed north of the gate. He had seen no sign of civilization. He pushed through some brush, then squinted at an unnatural object ahead.
It was a small hut, formed from dead branches held together by mud and covered by moss. It didn't look like an enemy's shelter, and appeared empty, so he stepped inside. One small window let in light, and he could make out a pile of blankets in a corner, a rock with some berries on top of it, and…he jumped. Glassy eyes stared at him, but he realized that they only belonged to a wild looking dog with a wrapped paw.
Daniel turned to leave, and froze. A woman stood staring at him. She had curls of dark blond hair, falling freely about her shoulders. Her dress was almost of the shoulders, and made of gathered light-blue, now faded, fabric with snares and rips here and there. Her bare feet and legs from the knee down showed her un-tanned skin. Her blue-green liquid eyes held his with fear, then she darted and ran off before he could say a word.
The SG team met back at the Stargate. "Find anything?" Jack asked.
"No sign of the enemy, sir, but I found the town and made arrangements to stay in an unused cabin." Sam answered.
"I too found nothing, O'Neil." Teal'c answered.
"Daniel?" Jack probed.
"Ditto." Daniel replied. He felt that somehow he should not tell about this girl just yet, but Ryer's eyes read him doubtingly.
"What's wrong?" Sam turned to Ryer as they got ready for bed that night. "Something seems to be bothering you."
"This is it. This is my home planet, where I was taken from 7 years ago!" Ryer's voice quivered.
"I'm so happy for you! But you don't look so happy." Sam noticed.
"The chances of my family being left seem so slim. An annual raid could take out a large percent of the population. I know the facts."
"Try to be positive about it. We'll find out tomorrow." Sam promised, and Ryer nodded as she turned out the light, but she still sensed that something was wrong.
Daniel woke early the next morning and traced his path from the previous day. Thoughts of this mysterious girl had troubled him all night.
He approached the shelter quietly. The first rays of the sun were just appearing. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness inside.
She was sitting on the blankets, with on over her lap. She seemed scared to death of Daniel.
"Hello. I'm Daniel Jackson. I come from far away with peaceful warriors."
Skylar eyed his weapons and raised her eyebrows, still fearful.
"May I sit down?" he asked. She nodded slightly.
"Why are you…here?" Daniel questioned, looking again at the cruel shelter. "What makes you live this way?"
"Fear of the enemy." Her voice was surprisingly strong, but equally feminine.
"And who is that?" Daniel asked.
"Goa'uld, Wraith, and orc." She replied.
"You know their names!" he was shocked. "Most of your people just call them killers."
She said nothing in reply.
"So you just live here, in fear?"
She nodded.
"Exactly…how long have you been here?" he asked.
"Two years." she answered. "I care for some of the animals." She stroked the dog next to her.
"Do you know where these creatures live?" he asked.
She nodded, slowly. "You want me to show you." She stated.
"Yes. We wish do destroy them."
"Are there many of you?"
"Five. But we've destroyed them before."
She thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll show you." She agreed. "By the way, I'm Skylar."
She rose, dropping the blankets and revealing a deep, long bloody mess on her left leg, and a smaller one on her right arm.
She cringed as she put weight on her leg, but took another step, showing even more pain.
"You shouldn't be walking." Daniel told her.
"I'm fine." She insisted, and to prove it, tried to stomp out, but collapsed, unconscious from the pain, on the floor.