WINTER WONDERLAND
By NotTasha
I just wanted to thank you all so much for the lovely reviews! Oh, how I love them. You've been so good to me!
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CHAPTER 5: OVER THE EDGE
"Rodney!" John's voice was low as he ran, slowing as he reached the edge. He gripped his weapon, holding it against his leg, even though it wasn't particularly useful anymore. McKay had disappeared so quickly – only a startled cry and then nothing. Sheppard listened, yearning to hear more. Below him and hidden from view he could hear a muffled thudding of something sliding viciously through snow. The sound grew fainter and further away.
The remaining itna jumped about, snapping. All of the dogs were keyed up now, yowling and crying. Behind him, the Ekukians tried to calm the unhappy animals. They'd damn well better, Sheppard thought, because if any of the creatures got in his way, he'd shoot it down. "Rodney!"
He huffed out a breath, moving quickly yet being careful as he neared the edge, seeing where the snow had broken away. The major leaned, his heart pounding. "Rodney…" almost a whisper.
The snow had built up at the lip of the cliff, giving it a false-edge. A platform of unsupported snow jetted out about two or three feet from where the cliff actually ended, and a gapping hole was left where McKay had stepped through it.
John stilled his breath, stretching to see, wanting to scream out, but memories of mountain adventure movies plagued him and he wasn't about to bring an avalanche down by calling too loudly. He grimaced as the damn dog kept running about, yipping and snapping, not heeding the half-hearted commands of his owners.
Squinting against the glare of the snow, Sheppard looked to a ledge about ten feet below. A few rocks shown through, and a white form curled there – the itna that had taken down McKay. It lay, splayed, among the rocks.
"McKay," he tried again, his voice level. He reached for his radio, thumbing the controls and called again, "McKay. McKay, respond, now! McKay!" You stupid son of a bitch, just answer me!
No response – nothing. Even the quiet sound of tumbling snow had stopped.
"Major!" Ford hissed, obviously struck by the same avalanche fear. "You see anything?"
Sheppard breathed in slowly, seeing where the channel in the snow continued, over the lip of that ledge. And nothing else -- Rodney was gone. Damn… damn… damn…
He stepped back, edging from the cliff, then in a quick movement, came about and took a quick stride toward Akhiok.
The man met him with hands up, as if in surrender. "They're playful creatures," the Ekukian tried to explain. "Sometimes they do not know their own strength. One shouldn't encourage them. It's difficult to control itnas once they've…"
"I need a rope!" Sheppard growled.
Karluk had gone to see where the physicist had fallen. He came back, and said softly to his brother, "He went beyond the first ledge." He glanced to Sheppard and shook his head.
Akhiok sucked at his teeth.
"A rope!" Sheppard repeated, his voice low. "Get me a goddamn rope so I can go after my man!"
Looking conciliatory, Akhiok explained quickly, "If he went beyond the first ledge, then he would have continued to the bottom of the hill."
"It drops straight off?" Ford asked, his voice tight.
"No," Akhiok quickly assured. "But it is very steep. It is like a…" and he made a sweeping motion with one arm, "…a chute. It will drop him down to the valley." He nodded, trying to look hopefully. "It is possible that he is well. It has happened before. Once, during a chase, a hunter went over with the quarry." He smiled. "He was drunk at the time, which explains his lack of common sense, but was fine when he reached the bottom." Akhiok clapped Sheppard on the arm, finding him stiff as stone. "Your friend is lucky that he didn't go over with a herd of tapas."
"The fall killed the damn dog!" Sheppard snarled. "Who's to say Rodney didn't get knocked around in those rocks, too?"
The man in fur stepped back from the major and crinkled his nose. "We shall see. Naknek was not killed."
"The same idiot that got himself stuck on that island and got all his people killed?" Sheppard barked back at him. "Let his people get trapped and killed by his own dogs?"
Akhiok gave him a stunned look. "Naknek?" he tried.
Sheppard stormed on. "I'm going after my man!" A white dog kept running around the group, snipping at them, making everyone jump. It growled, its hackles raised. Further away, near the rest of the hunters, the other itnas strained at their tethers.
Sheppard turned to the cliff, his eyes on the break in the snow where McKay fell through. "Damn it, McKay," he growled. He wanted to follow him over the edge of the cliff, wanted to try rappelling. He remembered how long it had taken to drive up the hill – it'd take forever to reach the valley floor. He had no false aspirations – it was an awful long way down.
Damn it, McKay.
Beneath him, the cold of the snow seemed to seep into him – chilling him – freezing him bit by bit.
God, he was wasting time. He had to go – now!
There was a pip and a roar. Sheppard turned to find Ford had started up one of the skids, and was revving the engine. Setting his mouth in a thin line, the major pushed past Akhiok and the others to stride toward the snowmobile that Ford had claimed. When that itna lunged at him, baring its teeth, he shot it and kept walking.
CHAPTER 6: A QUIET CALL
Teyla lifted her head from her arms and glanced around at the great hall. The women had finished their morning preparations and had settled in to wait for the return of the men. They sat in little groups, working at tapestries, and speaking in quiet tones. They huddled together, wearing bright head coverings, looking cozy and warm. Hushed little children sat with them, either sewing with their mothers, or playing quietly with simple toys.
The Athosian blinked, wondering what was wrong.
Soldotna lifted her gaze from her work, and noted that Teyla had awakened. The Ekukian smiled. "Good day," she said softly, setting down her work. "Are you feeling better?"
Teyla squinted, her head still throbbing. But a new ache had descended on her – something different from before. She listened, but the room was quiet, save for the quiet 'tick' of needles against bone thimbles, and the whisk of thread being pulled through fabric.
"Is everything well?" Teyla asked.
The women looked amongst themselves, and Soldotna replied, "It's quiet. Soon, we will begin preparations for the hunters to return. Then we shall be busy, very busy. We are enjoying this moment of peace."
Sitting up, Teyla continued to glance around the room, unable to shake the unsettled feeling that had awakened her. She felt for her radio, but the earpiece had fallen to her chest. She was almost certain she'd heard a cry.
It was a dream – undoubtedly a dream. Yes, she convinced herself, an unpleasant dream. She should be happy that she'd awakened from it.
Most of the women continued their work, sewing the elaborate tapestries – winter work – meant to keep hands busy during the months of stillness. The cloth they charted was mostly bare – the season was only beginning. Soldotna stood and filled a cup with their rich tea. Wordlessly, she brought it to Teyla and sat beside her. With a warm expression she gave it to her guest, holding the mug in both hands.
Teyla sipped at the brew, and nodded her thanks to the woman. A moment passed, as the other women worked and Soldotna sat in silence by her side.
Continuing to listen, Teyla heard nothing that would have explained what had awakened her. A yelp…she strained, trying to remember the cry exactly – it was almost like a…. 'yipe'. Realizing how vivid the sound had been, she reached for her radio and adjusted it. It was possible that she'd heard something from the dislodged earpiece. She'd kept the connection open, wanting to listen in on the boys even if she couldn't be with them, but she'd been unable to get a connection to them.
She fiddled with the controls, trying again. "Major Sheppard," she called. "Lt. Ford? Dr. McKay?" and nothing.
Discouraged, Teyla sipped again at the mug. "All is well here?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Soldotna assured.
"How long have they been gone?"
"It's still morning," Soldotna told her. "We don't expect their return until mid-day. They will bring us the game and we shall prepare it as it comes." She narrowed her eyes. "Do you think something has gone wrong?"
"Perhaps," Teyla returned after a pause and she touched her radio's controls again. "Major Sheppard," she tried, and only static was returned. She turned a questioning eye on Soldotna, who returned the look with puzzlement. "It is a device for communicating with people over distance," the Athosian explained.
Soldotna nodded. "Yes, visitors have brought such in the past. They don't appear to work well here," she explained. "Perhaps it's the cold?"
Teyla doubted that 'cold' would affect their technology. She tried once more without result, then asked, "Is there a way to follow the others? To ensure that nothing has happened, without causing undo alarm?"
The women all shook their heads, creating a vision of a field of flowers waving in the breeze. "It is a big hunt, and visitors are attending," Soldotna declared. "We have no extra working vehicles."
Kenai stated slyly, "Now if my husband would get busy with those that need repair, we'd have extras for such use."
With a grimace, Teyla stood and paced, clutching the mug to her chest.
"You are worried about your friends?" Soldotna asked.
Teyla tried to look confident. "Certainly they are fine. They are competent men."
One of the younger women, Nenana, looked up with a worried exclamation. "The one who wears the leaf," she started. "Certainly, he is well."
"Doctor McKay," Teyla helpfully filled in.
"Ah yes," Hoonah, another of the young women, stated. And she looked to Nenana with a smile. "He is handsome."
Nenana, blushed, and returned her attention to the work.
When Teyla looked a question, Soldotna filled in, "The leaf is a sign if vitality and virility for our people."
Nenana and Hoonah giggled explosively. Teyla could only shake her head in response.
A/N: I always knew that about McKay