Whee, chapter 4! Long time in the waiting I know, but that can be usual with me I guess. :P Anyway, I really enjoyed writing this one, especially imagining it in my head, you'll probably see why when you read it. Enjoy it, at least I hope you will, and I'll be working on the next chapter straight away.
Elizabeth took the net with a cheery smile, and surveyed the river that flowed before them. As a child, she'd been taken on a few camping trips, and Simon had always been interested in the outdoors. Somehow it felt so different now though, especially when she reminded herself that she was on a completely different planet, in a galaxy far away from home.
"Uh, are you actually going to do anything with that?"
Rodney's query cut through her thoughts, and she rolled her eyes at him. "Of course I am, just watch and learn." Grabbing a nearby stick, she threaded it through some of the net, and peered out over the water as she placed the net within it. "It should be easy enough, Telana did say that the river was abundant with fish."
"Yeah, you don't think she was being a little too helpful?"
Elizabeth allowed her gaze to shift to Rodney, disappointment registering in her voice. "Dr. McKay, I am astonished at your lack of faith. Do you seriously believe that Telana would give us wrong information?"
Rodney shrugged at that, unable to voice his real thoughts underneath the scrutiny of her gaze. "I'm just saying, you should be careful."
"Rodney, you've got to learn to have a little tr-ah!" Elizabeth's arm was suddenly wrenched and she lurched forward, the froth of the river rising up to her, her heart immediately racing. She was quickly surprised to find that she was being held in that position though, and she took a few moments to catch her breath. "Rodney?" She finally murmured.
"Yes?"
"Oh, so that is you wrapped around my waist."
"It is. Although I don't think I can hold you much longer. Let go of the net."
"What? No! There must be a massive fish in here to be pulling this much!"
Rodney gave a deep sigh into Elizabeth's back. "For all you know it might be a very large tyre."
"I don't think they have those here Rodney."
"Just let go of the damn thing Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth pursed her lips, tightening her grip on the net and trying her best to pull it back. "You know." She coaxed. "If you used those strong arms of yours to pull the net as well, we'd have no problem."
The momentary silence told her that Rodney was trying to get over a blush, before he muttered. "Fine, wait there."
Feeling the grip relaxing from her waist, she strengthened her own on the net and waited for him to shift. He appeared round the side of her, taking hold of the net in his hands and nudging her away with his shoulder.
"I did mean that the both of us could pull it."
"Elizabeth, I may seem to many like some kind of wimpy scientist, but I'll have you know that lugging scientific equipment around does wonders for your muscles."
Elizabeth watched him for a moment, before venturing. "You mean those new, tiny computers..?"
"Just let go." He snapped back, before suddenly making an immediate movement from the ground to the middle of the river. Elizabeth watched, stunned, before bursting into laughter.
Rodney scowled deeply at her from his seat within the water. "It's not funny!"
"Well it kinda was, I've never even seen you move that fast at mealtimes."
"Well I wasn't expecting it."
"You told me to let go..."
Rodney moved to reply, then stopped short. He took a deep breath, and then tried to stand. "Okay, well I wasn't expecting you to let go so quickly then." With a resounding 'oof' he slipped and tumbled back in.
"Oh, wait there. I'll come and help you out."
"I am fine thank you." Rodney muttered, even as he splashed back down again.
"Oh shut up you big crank." Elizabeth tiptoed in, taking care to avoid any rocks that she could see. When she finally reached Rodney with a warm smile, she leant down to help him up. "Come on, it's only a few steps back to land."
Rodney peered down at the riverbed, squirming as Elizabeth helped him up. "Elizabeth, I think there's something in this river."
"I should hope so." She sighed softly. "Or I have a feeling we'll have the smallest catch of all."
"No, I really mean it. Like something not good. I can feel things moving over my feet."
Elizabeth stopped to peer over at Rodney. "It's called water?"
Rodney just sent her one of his ever-ready petulant looks, and sighed. "No, I mean something besides that."
"Well I can't see anything."
"That's what's freaking me out!"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and began to drag Rodney more. "Come on, it's not far until we get back, look at least the net hasn't flowed away." As she leant down to pick it up, Rodney suddenly squealed and leapt backwards. "I just felt something again! It was really slimy!"
"Rodney, will you stand still, or I'm going to-"
The both of them collapsed with a serious of small tidal waves. Elizabeth blew up a piece of wet hair and shot Rodney a look. As he blushed, he tried his best to avert his gaze from certain areas, and instead sent her an apologetic smile. "Sorry?"
"I'll give you-oh, never mind. At least I've got the net."
"Ah!"
"Oh what now?"
"Don't take that tone."
"What tone?"
"Like I'm a small child."
"Well..." As Elizabeth spread her hands wide, Rodney sighed and gestured to the water. "I just felt something else, it went through my legs."
"Riiight." Elizabeth drawled, an eyebrow rising. Rodney sighed once more, and thrust his hands into the water.
"Okay, that's it. I'm gonna see if I can find something. If you'd let me bring some of my equipment, I could tell you if there was anything here."
"Rodney, in all honesty, I don't think Telana would've sent us to a river that had something dangerous within it."
Rodney shook his head at Elizabeth naivety, before erupting with a triumphant 'ah-ha!', thrusting his hands up from out of the water. "See, I got something!"
Elizabeth peered at his hands, before glancing back to him. "Umm, I hate to tell you Rodney, but there's nothing there."
"There is Elizabeth, I can feel it."
Sighing, Elizabeth started to rise. "Look, I've had enough of these games. We need to start taking this seriously."
Looking slightly hurt at Elizabeth insinuation that he wasn't, Rodney yanked her back down and pushed his hands close to her face.
"Oh God! What is that?" Elizabeth shuddered, staring wide-eyed at his seemingly bare hands. "It feels like a fish."
Rodney's eyes suddenly lit up, and with one eye closed, he started moving his hands in various directions.
"Can I ask what you're doing?"
"Sure." Rodney replied, without giving her any answer. After a moment, he nodded. "Okay, I think I've got it. If you turn your head this way, and sort of nearly close one eye, while squinting with the other, then you can just about see reflection off some scales."
Beginning to find this whole episode extremely unnerving, Elizabeth did as she was told. "Okay, I admit it, I do see something. So what, this river is filled with invisible fish?"
"Well, not invisible, just very well camouflaged. There have been experiments with cameras and mirrors I know, to try and infiltrate habitats without being seen on Earth. I've just never seen it as a natural occurrence before."
The next few moments of silence caused Rodney to un-squint and glance to Elizabeth. As she was staring at him with a surprised look, he sighed. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just-"
"Look, I watched nature programmes sometimes okay? Generally in the commercial breaks between the Twilight Zone, because they were on the next channel."
"I'm sorry Rodney, you just never seemed like the nature type."
Rodney drew quiet, tossing his invisible fish within the net. With a sullen look, he started to crawl forward through the waters. Elizabeth followed with the net, watching him curiously as they moved. Despite her instincts, she said nothing, merely waiting for the eventual rebuke that would come.
"Look." Rodney eventually snapped. "Just because I don't like doing this nature thing at the moment, doesn't mean I'm not interested okay? I just happen to find other things more interesting."
"Not to mention important." Elizabeth found herself murmuring. Even as she felt Rodney's gaze on her, she continued to focus on the water. Eventually she gestured to the net. "Looks like we don't have to do much work. Our friends are losing their gift."
Rodney scrambled up, splashing over to the nearby bank. "Well, they're dying." He explained matter-of-factly.
Elizabeth looked almost sad for a moment, enough for Rodney to reassess his current grumpiness. After a moment, he gave in, sighing as he sat down on the bank. "Don't tell me, you're sad that we're fishing?"
There was a soft sigh from her, before Elizabeth joined him, pulling the net up. "I know it's part of the test and all, it's just… I'm not a very natural hunter really."
"And you think I am?"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, smirking softly towards him. "Now did I say that? I just meant, well…"
"Is it necessary?"
As usual, Rodney had anticipated what she was thinking, but she found the surprise lessening each time he did it. "Precisely."
"Well…" He ventured, shuffling a little closer to her. "The fact is, we need to do this, to become friends with the Alonins. There's not really much choice in the matter."
"I guess not." Elizabeth murmured softly, her eyes settling on the flowing river. The peacefulness must seem almost stifling to someone like Rodney, she decided. Someone who was often around beeping machines, with metal, and no true life. It was then she realised just how little she really knew Rodney.
"Besides." His voice drew her from her musings, and she glanced over to him. His own gaze was focused on the net, and he gestured there. "It's a little late for regrets now. They're all fully formed again."
Elizabeth's gaze followed his, and she was momentarily astonished to find that there were so many fish. With little effort on their part, at least twenty fish had found their way into the net. Without their camouflage, the fish were long and lean, with beautiful blue scales, that still seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. Curiously, her gaze darted to the river, and she wondered just how many fish there must be left.
Rodney's arm rested on her shoulder, and he nudged her. "We're finished here then?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. Don't want to overkill do we?"
Rodney's own gaze flickered back to the forest, and he hesitated. "Uh, we're not, going back through the forest are we? There's no real problem, it's just…"
"Rodney, it's fine." Elizabeth smiled warmly back to him, gathering up the net. "I understand. Besides, I'm not cruel enough to ruin the others' chances by having you sneezing away their prey."
Ignoring the look she could already feel from Rodney, Elizabeth rose fully and nodded to the river. "We'll just follow the path of the river, see if we can find some sort of clear path back. We've got plenty of time, considering we've got a pretty good kill."
"Kill?" Rodney queried, right beside her ear. Elizabeth even shivered a little, her grip tightening around the net. "Uh yes, well technically it's true isn't it?"
"Of course." She could even feel his smirk right next to her cheek. "I just thought you weren't the hunting type?"
"Well no, but fishing's different isn't it?"
Rodney laughed, and finally stepped forward to her side. "Ah, so it's Elizabeth Weir, fisherwoman now is it?"
Elizabeth smirked back at him, wagging the finger of her free hand. "Only when there's more then one of us; although I suppose you'd qualify."
With a light scowl, Rodney began to follow her along the path of the river. "Now that's just uncalled for."
"Please Rodney, I've seen you and Carson nattering away."
"I don't know what you mean. Maybe he's got a slight fisherwoman quality, that accent and all… man speaks so high-pitched sometimes I'd need a bat's ear to understand what he's saying."
"Oh Rodney." Elizabeth murmured, rolling her eyes as they trudged off along the river, feeling somewhat glad that they'd chosen not to trudge back into the forest.
"Major Shepherd, I have the distinct feeling that I have seen this tree before."
John muttered something beneath his breath, which only caused Teyla to raise an eyebrow, before he sighed. "That's because we're in a forest Teyla, it looks exactly like every other tree."
"I was referring to the piece of rope that I attached in the shape of a circular symbol just five minutes ago."
"Oh." John scowled at the nearest tree, it's squirrel-like occupant seemingly tutting at his lack of navigational skills before scuttling away.
"Perhaps you would allow me to help?"
John's scowl deepened, and he let out a growl. "Teyla, I'm a skilled navigator okay? I've trekked through nearly every forest on Earth, with bare essentials, and beaten all my team members."
"But this is not Earth." Teyla remarked then, gesturing to the nearby sky that heralded the ghosts of two neighbouring moons. "And when the stars appear, they will not be those of your galaxy."
"Which won't matter anyway, since I'm not planning to be in the forest for that long."
"As I should hope." Teyla's gaze flickered round the forest, taking in the surroundings in her usual calm way. "Especially since Telana requested us back before sundown."
"Look, Teyla…" John began, trying his best to keep his voice calm. As soon as Teyla glanced back to him though, he found that disappearing, and a sigh passing his lips. "We'll… be fine. The main priority, is to get our bearings."
"Actually, our main priority is to procure food John." Teyla corrected him, before taking hold of his arm and pulling him back. Her tone dropped, and her stance shifted instantly. "A chance we have of now. Please, remain here."
"Teyla, what're you…?" But her glance cut him off, and he settled back against the tree, feeling a sulk forming on his face as she stalked off. With a sigh he pulled out the knife, tossing it idly in his fingers. It was only then he noticed that Teyla hadn't taken any of the spears. "What is wrong with that woman?" He muttered, sliding the knife back and grabbing the spear. As a child he'd of course been taken on various school trips. It was now he vaguely remembered being taken to an American-Indian museum. You could buy pretend spears in the gift shop, but he'd been more fascinated in the real ones. With a chuckle, he hefted the spear up. He still remembered the detention he got for climbing into the display and make a shish kabob out of the wooden pigs with the spear there. A rustle suddenly broke his mind's replay, and he froze, gaze darting about. He relaxed slightly as a large pig came tottering out of a nearby bush, snuffling about in the undergrowth. It looked like a pig's long-lost, redneck cousin. He almost craned to see if it had any tattoos on it's skin. Instead he found the pig turning to look at him. Since it didn't perceive him as food, the pig continued to snuffle away at the undergrowth.
It was the blue tuft that was the strangest thing, it just didn't seem to gel with the dark red leather of the pig's skin. Almost feathery, it striped along the pig's back, cresting on top of it's head. John hefted the spear again with a light grin. It must have been what Telana was talking about, Rektals or something. Well while Teyla was heading off doing her huntress thing, he'd show her how it was really done. With the carcass when she got back anyway. He could probably play it up a little, say the pig gave him a bit of a fight. Carefully he stalked closer, even though it didn't seem to matter much if the pig noticed him. It certainly did, but paid no heed, preferring to search for food. John smirked, and braced the spear, before he sent it spinning through the air with perfect aim. Considering the fact that the pig was a large round barrel, it would've been hard to miss anyway. What he hadn't fully noticed though, was the thickness of the pig's skin. The spear stuck there, causing the pig to erupt in a wild scream, but there wasn't even any blood. Blinking in surprise, John suddenly found himself faced with a massive pig, that only a few moments ago had seemed a lot less dangerous.
"Uh, nice piggy." John ventured, stepping back, his arms raising. The pig screamed once more and twirled round with amazing dexterity. It's back bristled, and the blue crest suddenly seemed a lot larger. The pig's eyes were red, John noticed now, and he stumbled backwards to the nearby tree. All he had to do was grab another spear… who was he kidding? He'd need another five in the exact same spot before it had any real effect. And now the damn pig was charging, with tusks, why hadn't he noticed them, that glinted in the sun. He darted out of the way, but the pig came again. John braced his hands around the pig's tusks, and pushed, staring into it's mouth. At the moment he realised he'd never really noticed just how fiercesome pigs could be. There'd been a programme, when he was still in America, funny one about this family keeping pigs as pets. "Damn stupid if you ask me." He muttered, before forcing himself to focus on the pig ahead.
The damn thing just kept coming, and while it was he couldn't get up. With a grimace, he twisted the tusks, causing another squeal to erupt from the creature. The pig was dazed momentarily, and John reached for his knife. Typically of course, it had dislodged from his belt a few metres away. He cursed at his own carelessness and scrambled to the nearby spears instead. By now the pig was already up, beating at the earth and readying itself for another onslaught. John knew that it was no use flinging the spear at it, it'd just stick there and worsen it. Why couldn't he have an old-fashioned Wraith? They were at least predictable. The pig squealed, and charged. Seeing no other option, John grunted as the pig slammed him into a nearby tree, it's tusks slashing him across his chest. As the pig's mouth opened for another scream, and it backed away for another run, he slammed the spear down it's throat, grimacing as he saw it cut through it's neck. Although he knew it wasn't an immediate kill, he took the chance to roll away and see just how much he had damaged it. As the pig tried desperately to right itself, he dove and grabbed his knife. With a slash, he increased the damage, and then staggered back. The pig screamed one last time, before collapsing against the tree. As it twitched a few more times, John slotted the knife back in. "I suddenly have a newfound respect for farmers." He muttered, and then grimaced at his chest. The slash wasn't deep, but it stung like hell, and he wondered how the hell Alonin men ever survived this kind of hunting.
"I hope you have not been doing… anything…" Teyla's voice trailed off as she moved into the clearing, a small deer laden across her back. Her eyes widened as she glanced between the breathless John, and the deceased Rektal. With a small grunt, she dumped the deer on to the floor, and glanced to John fully. "I believe there is a human saying… of playing with your food?"
"Ha-ha." John breathed out, rolling his eyes at her. "You're getting good with the jokes."
"I learn as fast as possible." Teyla admitted with a grin, before striding over to him. There was a small sigh, and she tore a strip of cloth of her dress to mop up the blood.
"Hey, you need as much of that cloth as you can get." John winced as she applied pressure, before winking. "Not that I'd be complaining too much if you had to use any more on me."
Teyla pressed against his chest a little harder, smirking a touch as he let out a yelp. "I shall be fine. I know how to guard myself well. You on the other hand Major, could use some practice."
"Yeah, well." John placed his hand across the cloth, allowing Teyla to tie some rope around him. "They never really covered 'crazy punk pigs' in survival training."
"Punk?" Teyla queried, as she knotted the rope across his waist.
"I'll explain later."
"My father trained me." Teyla replied then, stepping back and glancing up to him. "My most important lesson, was to always be prepared for anything."
John shot the Rektal a look as he patted his chest. "Yeah well, maybe if Telana had told me it was a demon pig with a skin tougher then a General's, I wouldn't have gone after it."
Teyla moved then to the deer, hefting it up once more. "But this is a test after all, is it not? Surely she couldn't have told us everything. Besides, it seems logical that a creature with such a prominent crest, and large tusks, must surely fight a lot. Crests and strong colours, are often signs of leadership." As her gaze flickered to the pig, she hmmed. "Ah, this is the leader Rektal I spotted before."
"Wait, you saw this and didn't tell me?"
"Of course not." Teyla seemed surprised for a moment, readjusting the weight of the deer. "The Rektal seemed to be much of a challenge, I wasn't sure if you were experienced enough. Hence why I pursued the Sahka Deer."
"Wha-you-you-mean-"
"Please Major, we have much work to continue with. We must continue if we wish to beat the others." With a grin, Teyla gestured to the pig and the other supplies. "Would you please gather those? Time is of the essence."
With a few choice mutters, John stalked over to the pig. He gave it a light kick with his foot for good measure, before he hefted it up along with the rest of the supplies. "You needn't have been so concerned you know." He shot her a look as he approached her. "I mean I handled the Rektal pretty well."
Teyla sent an obvious glance to his chest, before striding forward through the forest. "Indeed. But all the same, I think perhaps we should stick to deer from now on Major. If that's alright with you of course?"
As she glanced over her shoulder at him, she made no efforts to disguise the mirth in her eyes. John found himself laughing, despite his earlier frustration. "Yeah, I guess I need my chest for some things. Anyway, you never did say how you killed that deer. I didn't even see you take a spear."
"Spears can often be… detrimental to hunting. They are best only when you are trying to slow something down." Teyla explained as they moved forward. "The best form of hunting is stealth. You must surprise the creature and kill within a short amount of time, especially with creatures such as deer."
"I see." John replied, finding himself more interested then he'd expected. "I suppose you had a lot of practice hunting, on your homeworld?"
"We are not a grand people of hunters John." Teyla smiled back to him, shifting the deer a little. Even as she spoke, her gaze seemed to forever be wandering, waiting for the nearest strange movement. "But of course we used it. Plus it was good to know the ways of the stealth…"
"For the Wraith?" John found the thought escaping before he'd even focused on it, but he let it hang there nevertheless.
"Yes." Teyla replied simply, but she seemed less perturbed by the statement then John would have expected. Rather she smiled at him, and then nodded ahead. "Now we must be stealthy, especially with our loads."
"I bow to your excellent knowledge, huntress Teyla."
As she laughed warmly at that, Teyla strode forward through the forest, unable to deny the warm feeling that settled within her. Although she knew the world was alien, the feeling of home was impossible to deny, and so she settled into it willingly, not yet allowing herself to think of those things that had taken her away from this sort of life.
Jane watched the two move off, waiting till they'd disappeared fully, before letting out a breath. "They're certainly getting cosy aren't they?"
"Can I ask again why we're spying on 'em?"
"To get tips of course." Jane replied, her tone suggesting that it was a rather obvious answer. "I mean Teyla's the best out of the lot of us. I think the Major's shown us to stay away from those blue pigs."
"Ah know something I'd like ta stay away from." Carson muttered, slumping against the tree.
Jane just sighed, her gaze shifting to him. "Carson, please, can't we just work together as friends, without any of this? I mean right now, we both have the same priority right? To win this contest?"
"O'course." Carson nodded to her, straightening up. "But only if ya promise not ta be starting any little shenanigans or anything like that a'right? We got work ta be doin'."
"Precisely. And I think we'll make a good team. Now, Teyla mentioned deer. So lets go and get some of those hmm?"
Carson hefted the supplies and trudged after her, glancing around the forest. Jane glanced over to him, smiling softly. "Does it remind you of home?"
"Hmm?"
"Y'know, Scotland. Does it remind you of Scotland."
Carson snorted a touch, his head shaking. "It's a wee bit warmer then Scotland is lass. Besides, Antarctica's been ma home for a while now. Which o'course, is a hell of a lot colder then this place is."
"Ah, so you prefer cold climates then?"
"Ya could say that. Nothing better then snuggling up across from a cozy fire, with a scrummy cup o' cocoa. Or as ma old Gran used ta like, a wee bit o'scotch. That soon warms ya insides." Suddenly then, he realised how easily he was talking to her. With a frown he straightened up, his voice cooling. "Anyways, shouldn't ya be lookin' out for a nice catch?"
"Well, we both should be really."
"Na, not me lass. I ain't killin' anything."
"What?" Jane blinked over to him, before she suddenly froze. "Wait, look there… that must be a Sahka Deer."
"Aww, but it's beautiful. Ya can't kill that."
"Carson, we have to hunt something, it's part of the test." Jane whispered back to him, unsheathing her knife. "Come on."
"No, no way." Carson shot back, his head shaking. "I'm a doctor, I don't kill anything."
"You're not a vegetarian are you?"
"What? O'course not! Nothing I like more then a nice bit o' steak, but I didn't kill the damn thing."
"Carson, come on!" As she saw his expression though, Jane sighed. "Fine, I'll do it myself. You may want to look away." Quietly she crept down the bank, keeping her knife behind her back as if the deer would know her intentions if she didn't. Carson couldn't help being curious, and so crawled across the edge of the bank to follow her movements. Her eyes showed a sereneness that he'd never witnessed before, and he was suddenly surprised to see that the deer stayed in it's spot. Jane moved forward softly and placed her hand across the deer's neck, gazing intently into it's eyes. Carson watched, as entranced as the deer. But his gut also wrenched as he watched Jane kill it smoothly, and saw the light leave the creature's eyes.
Jane pulled the deer up the embankment moments later, glancing around for Carson. She sheathed the knife and hissed. "Carson, where are you?"
"Over here." Came a wretched murmur, followed quickly by guttural noises.
Jane approached the bush, and sighed softly. "I did tell you not to watch."
Carson reappeared, his skin paler then normal, a look of surprise in his eyes. "How could ya-I mean, it trusted you so implicitly, and ya-"
"I did what I had to do."
"Ya really are a cold bitch aren't ya?"
Jane grimaced at his tone, her arms folding across her chest protectively. "Now that's not fair; whatever circumstances you attribute it to. Especially since everything I've done lately has been because I haven't been cold. That; that was different. Besides, it felt no pain."
Carson snorted, and Jane sighed. "Okay, fine, very little pain then. But I didn't torture it. I made sure of that."
"How can ya possibly be sure? I mean how did ya even-you know what?" Carson raised his hands then, head shaking. "I don't even wanna know. I just wanna get this whole damned experience over and done with."
Jane just shook her head then, hefting the deer carcass up. "Carson, we had to do this. And we're going to have to keep doing this. You have to become an Alonin, remove all your previous inhibitions-"
"Ya can forget that one right away." Carson muttered, stomping forward through the undergrowth. "Ah quite like ma inhibitions, especially in these circumstances."
"You know what Carson?" Jane suddenly snapped to him. "You can be a real wingebag sometimes, even more then Rodney."
"Ah wondered when that would happen, comparing me wi' Rodney again."
"And now you're just not being fair, you won't even give me a chance!"
Carson suddenly stopped, shooting her a glare. "I gave ya a chance, a chance ta be ma friend, and nothing more. Now 'cos of you, I've lost ma best friend, and the respect of my other ones. You wanna talk to me about fair? How about me telling ya, that I don't want ta be with ya, and yet you still insisting on pursuing me. Everything was fine before ya started acting like a lovesick teenager."
"Now you're definitely not being fair. You know what?" Jane flung the deer down on to the ground, hissing to him. "Forget it, all of it. I'll go back to the Alonin camp and say we've forfeited. Say that you refuse to work with me."
"Wait." Carson sighed, before grabbing Jane's arm. "We both know ya can't do that. Dr Weir's counting on us to do well in this, so we can form an alliance with the Alonin's. I don't owe anything to you, but I respect her, and I'm not gonna jeopardise this."
"Good." Jane replied with a light smile, taking hold of the deer once more. "Then I suppose we'll continue. I'm not asking you to kill anything Carson, I'll take care of that. Let's just, work together okay?"
"Fine. But don't be surprised if I take a vow of silence." Carson muttered, trailing dutifully behind Jane as she moved off. His gaze averted from the deer that she carried across her shoulders, a soft sigh passing his lips. In a strange way, he knew that Jane had done her best to make sure the animal had suffered as little as possible. The way in which she'd done it nagged at his senses, but he refused to think too deeply about it now. Now was the time to get the task finished, and look out for any major dangers too of course.
Hours later…
Telana yawned softly, stretching across her low hammock. The warmth of the day was leaving her hut already, and she knew that the visitors would be returning soon. Now was the last few remaining moments before the truth would be revealed. In a way, this was the most important test. With a culture such as theirs, it would have been easy to distance themselves from such basic tasks as hunting, and she'd already seen the look in their eyes of people who didn't like to kill unless they absolutely had too. But they wished to be Alonin, and so this test would show if that was strong enough to make them embrace basic life. Instinctively her hand reached for her staff before she even thought of moving, then she swung from the low hammock.
Aranis stood waiting for her outside her hut, and Telana raised an eyebrow at her. "Watching me sleep now old friend?"
Aranis chuckled softly, her head shaking. "No, merely waiting for your arrival. But I was wondering if you had noticed the time yet?"
Telana knew her own right hand less then she knew Aranis, and she could draw her right hand with her eyes closed. So to Telana, Aranis's true concerns were clear. "They will arrive Aranis, with the spoils for tomorrow's feast, and your fears will vanish."
Aranis's expression showed how unlikely that event would be in her mind, but as usual she kept her opinions to few words. "We shall see."
"In fact, we have some people returning already." Telana gestured to the horizon, moving forward to greet the approaching couple. "Ah, Jane, you have returned… and with much bounty I see! The Sahka Deer proved to be of little challenge to you it seems. Oh, and a few small Dunkta's."
"Yes, Carson here caught those." Jane nudged him, as she gestured to the small, rabbit-like creatures.
"Uh yes, little problem there."
Aranis snorted softly, nudging the dead Dunkta with her foot. "You are proud of this feat human male?"
Telana nudged her rather obviously, before nodding to the horizon. "Ah, I see yet another group has returned. Just as well, as the sun has nearly set. Elizabeth, I see that we have made a fisherwoman of you?"
Elizabeth laughed warmly at that, setting down the net full of fish. "Yes, well it was quite simple once we got the knack of it really."
"Bloomas!" It was Aranis's voice that registered such surprise as she peered down at the net.
"You can thank Rodney for that. He found them."
Rodney looked sheepishly across at Aranis, surprised to see respect in the Alonin's eyes. "You are indeed very adept human male." Aranis admitted grudgingly. "It took even me a while to notice the presence of the Bloomas within our rivers."
"Thank you." Rodney nodded back, allowing himself a bit of pride, before he glanced around. "Uh, is everyone back yet? I wouldn't mind trying some of these Bloomas."
"We still await Teyla and your other male. Also, I believe you are mistaken." As she gestured for Aranis to gather together the catches, Telana smiled to the four. "We will not be eating your spoils tonight. That is for tomorrow. Do not worry, they will be as fresh as when you caught them, in the morning. No, tonight you shall eat the food of the survivor. But I shall wait until you are all here before that unveiling."
"Can't wait." Rodney muttered, peering down at his already growling stomach.
The four moved to sit down around the nearby meeting fire, eventually settling into relaxed positions. As the sun set fully, they relaxed and recounted their tales of the day, each laughing at the escapades of their first hunting trial. Eventually, when all talking had ceased, they found their gazes uniting as one to focus on the forest.
"Do you think they're alright?" Elizabeth eventually ventured, shifting to move. Rodney stopped her though, sending her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure they're fine. John's probably gotten Teyla lost."
"Come on." Jane snorted softly. "John's pretty good at navigating, I'm sure they're fine."
"Well yeah, he's fine when he's got tha Atlantian map thing. He kinda relies on that now ya know."
The other three chuckled at Carson's words, and then glanced back to the forest quickly as Teyla and John came charging out from it.
"Sorry we're late!" John shouted, the pig across his back bouncing as he ran. "Teyla followed a deer pretty deep into the forest, and couldn't find her way out."
Teyla shot John a glare, before dumping the two deer she had down, followed by some Dunkta. Telana and Aranis appeared just in time to see John drop his Rektal.
"What the hell is that?" Rodney blurted out, even as everyone else's gazes registered the same question.
"I believe it's a Rik-something." John glanced over to Telana and Aranis.
"Rektal." Telana corrected politely with a grin. "Well now, this is certainly a large bounty. You are most assuredly the winners."
John beamed and nudged Teyla with a 'told-you-so' look.
"That is." Telana then added with a slight smirk. "If the deadline had not passed well over an hour ago. As it is, we removed you from the contest when the sun set."
"What? No! You can't do that, we've got the most!"
"And we'll definitely enjoy eating it tomorrow John, thanks." Rodney beamed up to him, before glancing to Telana. "So who did win this contest then?"
"Well, now that everyone is here. I can tell you everything." As Telana moved forward, Jane nudged Teyla, murmuring. "What happened to his chest?"
"I will explain to you all later." Teyla replied, before settling down with the others.
As Aranis and some other Alonins removed the bounty, Telana smiled to the team. "I can see that you have all thoroughly enjoyed your times as hunters yes? Certainly you will not forget this trial." With a light grin she glanced to John, before continuing. "However, I did give a rule, and because of that, there are only two teams. I believe that the best bounty of those… was Jane's." Rodney let out a light snort, silenced quickly by a sharp nudge from Elizabeth. "I am sorry Elizabeth, your catch of Bloomas was beautiful, but that is all you caught. And there is more to food then fish. Jane managed to catch a good variety of Sahka, and Dunkta, which will be cooked to perfection tomorrow I'm sure. Now, as for food tonight, Aranis will present you with it now."
"Finally." Rodney muttered, rubbing his hands in anticipation. His enthusiasm quickly dampened though as he was presented with a small fuzzy rock. "What in the name-"
"Did not your woman tell you to speak only when spoken to human male?" Aranis suddenly shot out at Rodney, sending him a glare.
Rodney scowled back, but shut his mouth nonetheless, studying the rock intently.
"Now." Aranis motioned to everyone. "You all have your Grazlis. It is a fungus, that grows on many of the rocks upon our world. When there is little to eat, it provides you with much sustenance."
"Oh, ah've read about people on shipwrecked islands eating stuff like this." Carson's eyes widened with interest. "They're amazingly well-suited to keeping your body going for days on end."
"Um Carson?" Elizabeth cut in, her eyes glued to the rock. "Was there anything they happened to say about the taste?"
"Kind of like mushrooms, but sweeter." John suddenly cut in with, studying the fungus curiously after his first lick.
"That's just.. disgusting." Rodney shuddered a touch, before glancing to the rock. "However, my stomach is about ready to eat my other organs for food, so I'll give it a try." With closed eyes he gave the fungus an experimental lick, wincing just a touch. "I'm never complaining about any Earth food, ever again."
Elizabeth chuckled softly, before trying a lick for herself. John's comparison had been amazingly accurate. It was quite like tasting a mushroom, a raw one at that, but with a sweet tang that stayed afterwards.
The team gave in as one, and gradually began to lick at their dinner. Aranis watched with a soft smirk, before slyly moving away to Telana's tent.
Telana glanced up as Aranis entered, setting her journal beside her. "They are taking to their food well?"
"Weller then I had imagined." Aranis admitted with a soft chuckle. "I have to admit Telana, they are living up to your expectations… for now, that is."
Telana shrugged softly, settling back in her hammock. "I have always had a good instinct for people. Certainly Grazlis will always be a challenge for anybody. They have done well at their first task also. "
"Indeed they have." Aranis admitted. But even as she agreed with Telana, it was clear there was still worry. "Telana, they have still not fully proven themselves. There is little of them we can learn in three days, are you sure that length is enough?"
"Yes." Telana replied without looking up, taking hold of her journal once more. "Besides, we could not change the plan now, what respect would Elizabeth and her people have of us then? Not to mention Teyla and hers. No, I trust them. This trial will show yourself and the others why they can be."
Aranis pursed her lips, before she allowed a soft smile to pass her lips. "You always were the stubborn one."
"As I recall." Telana grinned then. "It was you who were always stubborn, I am merely determined."
"Yes, that's what Father used to call you as well." Aranis murmured softly then, sadness entering her eyes.
Telana frowned deeply, all mirth evaporating. "Aranis, never speak of him. It is not wise. Only we should have the memories after all."
"I know Telana, I know." Aranis suddenly snapped back, glancing to her journal. "And yet you so readily dismiss your own advice. Secrets once more I see."
"Secrets yes, but I need more then my mind to keep them in Aranis. This journal is not so fragile."
"Unless you place it near a fire of course." Aranis slipped in easily, studying Telana carefully. But Telana didn't even flinch, she merely shrugged once more. "Maybe one day, that theory shall be tested. For now though, do you think perhaps you could leave me to them?"
Aranis shrugged herself, turning to go. "Just remember Telana, secrets are not secrets, if they're shared. Do not let this Elizabeth enter your trust so easily, she is cleverer then she seems."
"Aren't we all?" Telana murmured softly, even as her gaze rested fully on the journal before her. She didn't need to look up to know that Aranis had left as silently as she'd came. Her sister was her closest companion, but after so many things, Telana still kept her at a distance. You had too, when you guarded so many things closely within your mind. When you were the only one who knew all the truths, you had to make sure they didn't meld to become lies that you thought of as truth. Pondering if that was good enough to note down, Telana then curled up in the hammock, and started to write.
