A/N: Thanks to everyone who is reviewing! I LOVE reading your comments! Funny, I never really considered I would be whumping them, but yeah, actually, there's a fair amount of whumping coming along, question is, when? Now I need to decide whether to give as much comfort as hurt ;)

Absolutely, Fanwoman, I just got carried away with ethnicity...

Thanks to Stuart Maconie of Radio 2 for 'uniquench'. He was describing BBC tea, or was it coffee?

Chapter Three

Halling gently shook McKay's shoulder. "Wake up, Dr McKay. It is time."

One bleary eye appeared from under a sleepy lid. "All right. I gotcha."

Teyla was already up, and it was still virtually dark when McKay exited the tent. Soon, everyone was tucking into a hearty breakfast prepared by Ronon Dex. The chill morning air nipped at their extremities as they all supped on the uniquench that passed for tea. The boys were chattering excitedly about the day ahead. Myro and Halling looked happy.

"All right, people. Let's get this show on the road. We've got an hour before the sunrise, and a long way to go." Sheppard looked up at the imposing mountain above them. The Tar-Nat stone could be seen high above them, a strange solitary boulder balanced on a rocky outcrop. The Colonel rubbed his hands and began organising the camp. They would leave much of their kit behind today, and return for it after the ritual.

Sheppard wandered close to McKay as the party was almost ready to set off. He lowered his voice and leant close. "Keep your huffing and puffing to yourself today, McKay. Don't spoil things. It's important to Jinto and Wex."

McKay looked quite hurt, then growled at the Colonel. "Hey, this climb is no great shakes for me. I'll be fine. And I happen to be quite proud of those two, if you must know. We came a long way yesterday."

Sheppard looked a little surprised, and shrugged. "Just make sure there's no funny stuff up here, weird tech, life signs, you know the drill." Getting the nod from McKay, he walked to the head of the track and called on everyone to get them moving.

As the incline steepened, and the slick rock underfoot became more uneven and awkwardly spaced, the group became more slow and careful. The dim light of the pre-dawn lit the rocky path eerily. Myro and Halling gave gentle encouragement to the boys, who were wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Sheppard used Ronon to chart the climb, trusting him to pick the best route up the rocks. He knew Teyla could have leapt up in half the time, but he asked her to bring up the rear, knowing she was watchful of the progress of those above. She called for rest breaks as she saw one or another become tired.

It took them close to an hour to find themselves approaching the Tar-Nat stone. As they each pulled themselves onto the plateau, they looked up at its huge form. It stood easily ten feet high, poised like an enormous jagged ball, ready to roll down the mountainside.

"Amazing, isn't it?" breathed Halling. They all nodded wordlessly.

The first rays of sun were threading above the horizon as the men prepared the boys for the ritual. Incredibly, the stone could be scaled, and they were expected to stand on the top of the stone to be declared Men. Halling and Myro were anointing the foreheads of Jinto and Wex with a red dye they had brought with them. Sheppard and the others stood silently, watching the careful arrangements. McKay looked anxiously at the stone. He would not do what they were about to for all the powerbars in Atlantis.

Each father touched foreheads with his son, and the two boys began tentatively feeling the stone, picking handholds to lift themselves from the plateau.

Everyone watched the boys struggle their way up the side of the stone, looking at their hands and feet gripping, muscles tense. McKay swallowed nervously, and began to make more glances at his equipment, finding it easier to watch the blips, than the boys themselves.

Wex was breathing hard, making little grunts as he heaved himself up by his fingers to the next hold. Jinto seemed to balance his way easily, almost swinging up and over the top of the stone. With a glance at his father, and seeing a nod, he held out an arm to help Wex onto the top. Wex looked up, but with a grin, shook his head, and it was not long before he joined his friend. They stood, shoulders touching, looking out over the grassy plains far below, to the sun beginning to rise above the distant horizon.

Sheppard let out a long breath he had not known he had held. Ronon chuckled and looked down at the Colonel with a knowing wink.

Halling and Myro touched foreheads with each other, and began lighting candles on the ground, two each. As the sun rose, they knelt, eyes closed. Teyla smiled, watching the ritual. Only one parent had only ever been required to make the journey with each child to Tar-Shen, and she had never seen the ritual first-hand.

The boys on the top of the rock were whooping with joy as the sun cleared the horizon. Even McKay could feel the power of the achievement. He gave a nod to Sheppard, who smiled back.

Jinto and Wex took as much care getting back down from the stone, and soon found themselves back with their fathers, greeting them ecstatically. Halling and Myro grinned widely, rubbing their sons shoulders with pride.

"You are now Men of Athosia." Halling declared. He looked at Teyla with a sad smile. It would have been Men of Athos, only that home was no longer. She nodded, acknowledging the acceptance of Halling that their people had settled in a new place with some success. She wondered how many more times they would conduct this ritual. Perhaps some mountain in their new land would replace Tar-Shen.

TBC