"What is that?"

The creature in question was huge. Easily the size of a small elephant – maybe even a big elephant – with dark hair or fur or whatever it was that was covering its massive body and it looked like a cross between a cow and a bear. It had long ears, that swung towards them when Sheppard spoke up, and big brown eyes that squinted slightly when the light from their flashlights shined on it. It took a step towards them, and Mitchell could see that its feet were cloven, which increased the bovine aspect of the creature. Coming down from somewhere near the creature's ears were two odd-looking saggy things that almost looked like black velvety water balloons.

Both of them took a step back.

It's a Mok

"What's a Mok?"

Sheppard looked over at her.

"What?"

"Talon says it's a Mok."

"What's that?"

She gestured at the thing in front of them, which hadn't moved and was still watching them, almost curiously, as it rumbled deep in its chest or belly…

It won't hurt you, Talon told her. She could actually feel a surge of excitement from her symbiote. They're incredibly rare, and long thought to be extinct

"He says they're rare."

"And dangerous?"

"He says not."

"Is he sure?"

Are you sure?

Yes. Talon's 'voice' was almost cheerful. Go up and touch it

"What? Are you out of your mind?"

Sheppard looked over at her, aware that he was only hearing half a conversation.

"What did he say?"

"He wants me to touch it."

"Is he nuts?"

"I-"

It's not going to hurt you, Hot Shot. Go touch it

"Why?"

"Don't touch it, Colonel," Sheppard said. The gun in his hand had lowered so it wasn't pointing at the creature – which was still simply looking at them and watching them. "It'll probably take your hand off."

"I'm not going to."

Just do it, Talon told her. I promise you, it won't hurt you

She scowled.

If it does, I'll heal you

Well, that's reassuring…

Trust me

Mitchell sighed, and Sheppard looked over at her for a brief moment before turning his attention back on the creature.

"Colonel…"

"Talon says it's not dangerous."

"He said there weren't any Wraith, either," John pointed out.

Touché

Mitchell's gun went into its holster, and she took a small step forward, her hand held out in front of her like someone did when they were approaching an animal they didn't know.

"Don't scare it…"

She turned and scowled at Sheppard.

"Me scare it?"

"Sorry."

She turned back to the creature.

Are you positive?

Yes

Another step and then another, and she was only a few feet from it. The Mok watched her intently, its big eyes calm and its body still and not even tense. Which didn't matter. Melony was tense enough for both of them.

"Don't go near its mouth…" Sheppard told her.

The thing was mostly mouth, though, from this angle. At least it looked all mouth – of course that could have had something to do with how nervous she was.

He's right; touch its shoulder or neck

Bah.

She took another couple of small steps, and reached past the Mok's face, and her fingertips touched the creature's neck, right behind the water balloon things. Its fur was warm and softer than anything she'd ever felt before, and thick. The Mok rumbled again, and turned its head to look at her hand, and Mitchell had to resist the urge to jerk it back, afraid she'd startle it into eating her.

Easy

"Easy, Colonel…"

Great. That was what she needed; double the advice. She started to say something when the creature's rumbling deepened into a steady noise at her touch, and she frowned.

"Is that thing purring?" Sheppard asked, before Melony had a chance to.

Hah! I knew it!

Talon was practically crowing with excitement, and Melony was wondering if he was going to jump out her nose and try to touch the thing himself.

A little emboldened by the fact that she still had all her fingers – not to mention her arm – Mitchell increased the pressure of her touch, burying her fingers into the thick fur. It was incredibly soft. And the purring grew louder and deeper.

Sheppard shined his flashlight from Mitchell to the creature and back again.

"So… what's this thing called?"

A Mok, Talon supplied.

"A Mok."

"What is it?"

Talon?

It's an omnivore that used to be one of the most common creatures in the universe – until they were hunted to extinction

Mitchell repeated what he told her.

"Apparently not to extinction…" Sheppard said.

"Wait a minute… omnivore?" Mitchell scowled at the creature she was touching. "It eats meat?"

Sometimes

She moved her hand, but the Mok moved closer to her, not at all ready to give up the attention it was getting.

"So what does it eat?" Sheppard asked, moving a little closer himself. Sometimes you just can't resist touching soft fuzzy things – even ones that looked big enough to eat you in a gulp.

Grass. Berries. Bugs. You were close when you were thinking of bears, Hot Shot. They eat pretty much the same things a bear will

"Bears eat people…" Sheppard said once Melony had passed on that information.

"They don't, either. They just maul and kill them and leave them bleeding or shredded."

"Well, that's much better, isn't it?"

"Just touch it, Major… it's kind of nice…"

"If it eats me, I'm not going to be happy…"

"If it eats you, I'll apologize."

Sheppard scowled, but placed his hand beside Mitchell's, touching the soft fur and unable to help the smile when the purring increased at the touch.