AN: Thanks so much for the lovely reviews! It makes me so happy!

Chapter Two: Acting on Impulse

Ree'an was woken from a light dose by the booming of warning drums. She felt her hackles rise as she realized what that meant: Wraith! She quickly climbed from the tree, eager to get to safety. When she reached the ground, she was just in time to see the group of strangers leave the village at a run. Once again, her curiosity got the better of her and she followed their path back to the Stargate.

This is crazy! she thought, even as she jogged through the trees. I'm following four complete strangers towards a Wraith attack! Even so, her decision was made and she did not turn back. Something told her these strangers were more than just another bunch of traders and she wanted to see what they would do.

She was beginning to wonder if the Wraith really were there, when she heard a series of loud bangs, like tiny thunderclaps. She moved closer, her bow drawn with an arrow notched and ready. Then she saw Wraith. The six of them had their backs turned and she could here the whoosh of their weapons. Then they charge forward and she could see two of the strangers fleeing ahead of them. The loud noises were coming from the black objects they had been carrying. Definitely weapons, she concluded.

One of the Wraith, perhaps seriously injured by the strangers' attack, lagged behind the rest. Ree'an could not pass up a chance to strike at the monsters who had destroyed her home. Fear forgotten, she loosed an arrow into the back of the Wraith, quickly followed by two more for good measure. She wasn't sure it was dead, but she didn't stay to find out. Following the sounds of battle, she made her way stealthily through the trees, already prepared with a fresh arrow.

At the roar of the Stargate, she quickened her pace, almost tripping over another Wraith. It was peppered with dozens of small red holes that she guessed must have come from the strangers. From here, she could just make out the gate through the trees. She ran closer and was in time to see two of the strangers make it through the wormhole. Her heart leapt and for a moment she was sure that they would escape. Then one the remaining two fell, shot from behind. The other turned to help his friend, but he too was shot and fell back into the gate.

The blue glow faded and the forest was plunged into sudden silence. She watched as the Wraith wasted no time in dialing another address. The gate opened again and they started to leave, dragging their human captive with them. Ree'an felt herself suddenly burn with anger and hatred: she couldn't just let this happen! In that instant, she abandoned instinct and commonsense, and broke from cover. She bolted for the gate and, as the last Wraith stepped through, leapt in after it.

Dr. Weir had been enjoying a nice cup of coffee when the alarm announced an incoming wormhole. She ran the short distance from her office to the gate room in time to see Peter Grodin receive the incoming signal. "Who is it?" she asked urgently.

"Teyla," he responded, before lowering the shield.

Weir frowned in concern. "They were only gone a few hours."

Suddenly Teyla came bursting through the gate closely followed by Lt. Ford. Both were out of breath as if they had just run a marathon. Weir started down the stairs to meet them, but had to dive for cover as several Wraith stun blasts zipped through the gate. Then Major Sheppard came through, collapsing instantly in a heap at the edge of the event horizon.

"Medical team to the gate room!" Weir cried, before rushing to help the fallen soldier. Teyla and Ford were already at his side, rapidly checking his pulse and breathing. Suddenly the gate shut down, causing everyone to look up in shock. Elizabeth felt her stomach clench. McKay had not come through.

"Where's Rodney?" she asked, fighting to stay calm despite a sickening fear that crept into her mind.

"He was right behind us," Ford answered, still out of breath. "We've got to go back!"

Just then Dr. Beckett and the medical team arrived. As they rushed Sheppard to the infirmary, Weir shouted orders: "Sergeant Bates! Get a team ready! Dial the gate!" She stepped back as Bates and half a dozen of his security team prepared to embark. The Stargate's chevron's glowed blue as Peter hurriedly dialed the address, but it stopped before completely activating.

"Seventh chevron will not lock!" the Englishman cried in confusion.

"What!" Weir ran back up the stairs. "Why not?"

"I don't know!" he replied clearly flustered. "The other gate must already be active."

Weir tried not to think about what that might mean. "Keep trying," she ordered, barely able to keep her voice even.

After several agonizing minutes the gate finally opened. The security team, plus Ford and Teyla, rushed through with weapons at the ready. They need not have bothered. The area around the Stargate was deserted. They saw no sign of the Wraith and, more importantly, no sign of McKay. The soldiers spread out to search for any signs of the enemy or the missing scientist, but they knew they had little chance of finding either.

Aiden felt frustration and hopelessness creeping in. I should have been there! he berated himself silently. I should have been able to help McKay and the Major! He repeated the incident over and over in his head, but each time he couldn't see what had happened to his friends. His thoughts were interrupted by a shout from Sgt. Bates.

He and Teyla ran to see what the man had found and met him some distance from the gate examining something lying on the ground. As they drew closer, they could see that it was a Wraith. It lay immobile a short distance from where the team had first faced the raiding party. The creature itself was nothing special. What was, was the three arrows sticking from its back.

Bates yanked out one of the shafts and was surprised to see the hole it left closing slowly. He raised his weapon and fired several shots until he was sure that the Wraith was now completely dead. Teyla picked up the arrow from where he had dropped it. She twirled it in her hand, noting the sharp metal point and skillfully feathered end.

"What do you think?" Ford asked her. "One of the villagers."

"No. It is not in their nature to attack anyone, least of all the Wraith."

"So someone else was out here," Bates concluded. "Someone who has no love for the Wraith."

"That doesn't exactly narrow it down," Ford pointed out. "Do you think the villagers might know who it was?"

"It is possible," Teyla answered.

Ford nodded his understanding and made a quick decision. "Bates, head back to the gate and tell Dr. Weir what's happening. Teyla and I will check out the village." Bates nodded and left. Ford felt his heart sink as he watched him go. Dr. Weir was not going to like what she heard.