I know I should really check over this for grammar and the like, but I'm tired and wanted to post it. Will probably check it later and update it if I find anything really wrong.
Vala opened her eyes and found herself looking directly into a pair of golden yellow orbs. Smiling at the ruffled state of the bird, who under normal circumstances kept herself well preened, the ka'rosh stretched lazily and attempted to suppress a yawn. Allowing herself to focus, she frowned faintly upon feeling the restless, albeit slow, pacing of the human. "You should rest, the storm has yet to wear itself out." Vala refrained from mentioning her own desire to continue sleeping for while a small fraction of her energy had returned during her rest, the shield she had established around them for protection was a continual drain on already low energy reserves.
"I know, I was just thinking."
"About?" She inquired softly, eyes half closed.
"The rest of my team. They must be pretty worried about now, it's been a .." Daniel paused realizing he had only a vague notion of how much time had elapsed since the explosion. "While," he finished a little belatedly.
"Your presence soon will calm any fears they may have. For now we can do nothing but wait, which," she considered fairly, "would only serve to add to you and your friends' irritation, I imagine." Humans were an impatient lot, the ka'rosh had concluded this not long after Daniel had awakened.
"I know," the archaeologist repeated in a resigned voice. In an attempt to look on the brighter side, he asked how long Vala deemed the storm would yet rage.
Opening her eyes with some effort, she slanted a glance toward the darkened sky without moving her head. Pausing, she weighed the elements as best as she could. Air was so tricky, she distrusted it. Yet it brought rain, and the element of water was part of her as was the ground beneath her. "A few hours in your reckoning of time," she estimated. "Night has long since fallen, daylight will be upon us near the time the storm should break. We can resume our travels then." Her calculations of the storm were little better than guesses, she just didn't have the knowledge of the air that would lead to a reliable assessment. Mostly she judged it by the velocity the air still held, the amount of moisture still clinging to the skies, and the sounds beyond the barrier itself. It usually proved accurate enough.
"Why don't you sleep, your body is still healing and it does you no good to place unnecessary strain upon it. Rest while you can." Vala chided faintly as she herself slipped back into a light sleep.
Noticing that the ka'rosh had returned to napping, and accepting her views on the storm's passage as likely, he returned to his blanket on the near opposite side of the fire. He still wasn't overly comfortable at being near the red eyed wolf, who even now rested it's head on the slumbering woman's hip – gaze lingering, as ever, on the linguist. In silent acknowledgement of that, he'd taken a place to rest as far from the creature as possible, regardless of the assurances Vala offered on the creature's trustworthiness.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable shifting, he returned to dream-filled sleep, only to be awakened by something nudging his back. "Go 'way," he managed to mumble without really waking. The insistent prodding stopped, and he sighed comfortably. His victory was short lived, however. A cold, wet nose began to snuffle at his face. Pushing the muzzle away he refused to wake up immediately, until it occurred to his sleep filled mind just who was trying to wake him.
Blue eyes snapping open, he was greeted by the sight of the brilliant ruby gaze analyzing him. For a moment, Daniel froze. The wolf was apparently weary of the game, and forcefully pushed it's head under the linguist's hand – demanding attention. It was at that moment that Vala returned.
"You are fortunate, Ca'eles rarely allows anyone to touch him."
Daniel considered that, and found himself relaxing as he noted the animal wasn't going to bite his hand off or any other such unfortunate thing. Absently petting the large wolf, feeling a little self-conscious to be treating the large creature like a pet, he took in the scenery of the bright sky. It was still early, the singing birds and the slant of light through the trees above attested to the fact. Unhurriedly he rose to his feet, stretching protesting muscles as he did so. Brushing the sleep from his eyes, his mind completely clear and not required to focus on anything of immediacy for the first time since the explosion, he allowed his thoughts to drift. He found himself wondering at the clarity with which he was viewing the world without his glasses, which had met a poor end during the blast.
"How come I can see?"
Puzzled, Vala flashed an amused look in his direction as she finished packing up their supplies. "Perhaps because you have your eyes open?"
"No, that's not what I meant. Usually I need my glasses to see clearly," he wondered if he'd have to explain what he was talking about. Wouldn't be the first time some alien person didn't understand what the 'glass circles' he wore, did.
"I imagine that to be a side effect of the healing you underwent. My energy can, at times, have such influence. It will pass, however, as your own energy takes a stronger hold in your body."
Darn. He wouldn't have minded not needing glasses or contacts, in truth they could be a serious and annoying thing to deal with. Ah, well, he'd live.
She tossed him a piece of fruit, figuring he needed some sort of nutrition, and set to dismantling the area around the fire. The fire she had put out upon waking, warmth had already spread through the air and she deemed it unnecessary. Now she was busily removing the stones she'd placed around it for safety, scattering the ashes to feed the vegetation around and to allow for new growth where the fire had stood.
That accomplished, she hefted the pack and turned toward the archaeologist, who had finished his breakfast. "Ready?"
"Definitely." He automatically responded, then upon realizing how that sounded, rushed to explain. "Not that I don't appreciate your help and –"
Laughing, Vala raised a hand to stop him. "I understand. You are anxious to return home. Let us delay no further." Still smiling, she strode forward, walking at a steady but easygoing pace so as to make certain the man could keep up. While he was markedly better than he'd been even the previous night, he was not yet healed fully. She made sure to be near enough to offer aid, should he require it, but far enough away to maintain her own space.
She needn't have troubled herself though, four hours into the hike Daniel still appeared to need no help. His stride was coming easily enough, though sweat had gathered on his brow due to the sun claiming a higher position in the sky. The heat of the day was unleashed fully here as they'd departed the forest's edge and had cut into the sizeable distance from it and the Stargate.
Daniel was fairly happy. Vala had told him they'd soon be at the Chappa'ai. A few more minutes and he could make it out in the distance. He was thinking about how glad he'd be to get back to the SGC, to get a cooked meal and a shower, when the first energy blast nearly caught him in the leg.
Pulling him out of the way, Vala pushed him toward the 'Gate, which loomed less than a hundred meters in front of them now. He slowed down as they neared the DHD, but Vala continued to push him forward, raising one hand - palm facing the gate. For all appearances, she ignored the energy blasts fired in her direction.
For it's part, the Stargate suddenly burst into life and the chevrons quickly locked in on the desired destination. Pausing only long enough to allow the wormhole to stabilize, the duo literally fell through – Daniel catching a direct energy blast as they did so.