By the time they'd spent three days slogging through swamps and mud puddles in the rain, the entire group was grouchy and tired and more than ready to give up on finding Wraith on this particular planet.

"I can't even imagine what the Wraith you found were doing here," O'Neill said to Mitchell as they all loaded into the Jumper and Mitchell produced the gate address for the next planet that had been on her original list of Wraith hunting locations.

She shrugged, feeling just a bit guilty. All of them were muddy, and dirty, and soaked through and through; clothes, hair – except Teal'c – and jackets. They hadn't complained all that much about it, and it wasn't really her fault, but she felt guilty nonetheless, and was glad that the next planet they were going to was one that was a lot warmer.

"Probably got lost," she said, sitting in the co-pilot's seat next to Sheppard and checking the dialing address she was going to put in once they were near the gate. "Which would explain why no one came looking for them, I suppose."

"They didn't know where to find them." Teyla guessed.

"It is as good a guess as any," Teal'c agreed. "They must realize something has happened to their patrol by now, but if they do not return through the Stargate, then there is nothing they can do to help them without knowing where they were."

"They probably don't get lost all that often," Sheppard said. "Not if they don't even bother with homing devices to find their ships."

Mitchell shrugged again.

"It's as good a reason as any."

"We're set," Jack told Sheppard as Kale transformed and came on board the Jumper naked but already reaching for the towel Teal'c handed him. Kale, more than any of the others, had been working hard the last few days, wading through the mud in his wolf form and giving warning the few times they came upon creatures on the planet that weren't Wraith but could prove to be just as dangerous to the mired group. Because of this willingness to work with the group, Jack was becoming more accepting of the Light One, and it made things that much easier when Mitchell didn't have to remind him not to be a jerk.

Nodding, Sheppard took off, aiming the Jumper for the gate and waiting for Melony to enter the address.

OOOOOOOOOO

"Now this is more like it."

"I thought you'd approve."

The planet they were on now – A-035 – was a hot, dry and arid world, although it wasn't barren like Melonyville was. There were occasional forests of trees, and mountains in the distance, and as Sheppard put the Jumper down in a clearing in one of those forests, the group could even see a river meandering through a valley close at hand.

"Welcome to A-035," Sheppard said, smiling as he slapped open the back hatch from his pilot's seat. "The temperature outside is a balmy 92 degrees, with negligible winds coming from the same direction as the sun. Please gather all your luggage and try not to make a pass at the stewardesses on your way out the door, and thank you for flying Jumper Air…"

Mitchell and O'Neill both grinned, but Teyla and Kale neither one had a clue why this was so funny, and although Teal'c understood it, he just failed to see the humor in the situation.

"What luggage?" Kale asked as he stepped off the hatch, his damp clothes already starting to dry in the hot air.

"What is a stewardess?" Teyla asked, equally mystified, but just as glad to see the sun shining on this new planet.

"They-"

"Never mind," Jack said, hopping off the ramp and putting on his sunglasses as they looked around. "It's Earth humor, and until you've been there, you won't get it."

Teyla watched as he walked into the closest grove of forest, followed by Mitchell and Sheppard, but before she could say anything, Teal'c came up behind her, putting his hand on her shoulder. She turned, looking up at him.

"I have been to Earth, and I still do not get their humor," the Jaffa told her. "Do not concern yourself trying to understand it."

He hefted his staff weapon, but before he walked off to join the others, she thought she might have detected just a hint of amusement in his deep brown eyes, and she smiled as she followed. At least she wasn't the only one who didn't get it.

As they entered the forest area, Jack turned to Teyla.

"Sense anything?"

She hadn't when she'd left the Jumper, so she shook her head.

"Nothing yet."

"But there's a range on how far away they can be, right?"

She nodded.

"I do not know what that range is, exactly, but if I sense something, I will tell you."

"Good."

Jack looked over at Kale, who was looking around as well, already undressed.

"Bird or dog?"

The Light One smiled.

"Bird."

A moment later, the giant bird was in front of them, and Mitchell moved aside as he launched himself into the air, little feathers flying in the dirt and wind that was kicked up by the effort. All of them watched as Kale gained altitude, and Jack turned to Melony.

"Yeah. That's just impressive."

She nodded, and stuff Kale's clothing into her pack.

"Too bad there's no way to communicate with him until he gets back."

True.

"Well…" Jack said, slinging his P90 over his shoulder where it would ride comfortably and still be where he could get to it quickly if he needed to. "Let's take a look around. I'm not fond of trees, so I vote we go towards that plain, first…"

"That is the best choice for where a Wraith patrol might land," Teyla agreed.

Melony didn't care which direction they went. She was just glad to have a chance to dry out.

Baby

Hush.

Talon chuckled in her mind, and still grinning, Mitchell gestured to Jack, indicating that she'd take point.