It was a sorry looking party that came out of the forest only an hour later. Two were on stretchers – and neither had made any sign that they were going to wake up, which had Mitchell worried. Ford had an arm in a sling with a bloody bandage both on the arm and wrapped around his forehead where he'd hit a rock or a stump or something when the cat had attacked him. Melony was between two Jaffa; Teal'c and one of his lieutenants, who had taken her weight only a few minutes after starting back to the Stargate. She wasn't as healthy as she'd thought, and with her moving, there wasn't a whole lot Talon could do to heal her.

Behind them, one Jaffa had the dead cat slung over his shoulder, while the rest of the Jaffa were guarding them as they walked. Nothing attacked them on the way back, which gave them the chance to move quickly, and they didn't even hear any odd noises to distract them. Which was fine with Melony, since she was distracted enough by the ache in her side and shoulder that was only getting worse with each step.

It won't be long, now, Talon promised.

I know. I'm not complaining.

You should be

She gave a purely mental shrug, glad that Teal'c didn't mind leaning over a little to make up for the fact that she was a lot shorter than he was.

It could be worse. At least I can walk out. More or less.

She wasn't on a stretcher, after all.

Talon didn't respond, but she didn't mind. He was busy taking care of her, trying to keep her bleeding under control and to take care of what he could while she was moving, and she was all for that.

They were spotted immediately when they left the forest. Just because none of the children were allowed to actually go in it any more, it didn't stop the young men and older boys from daring each other to get close to it, taunting each other and comparing their testicular fortitude by seeing who would go the furthest in. Not surprisingly, they were the first to see the group emerge, and several of them shouted, running for their respective villages to get the elders.

Someone had returned when none were expected – and what was that creature they had with them!

"Dial the gate, Lieutenant," Melony said, looking at Boyett as she let go of Teal'c and the other Jaffa who was supporting her. She turned to the Jaffa, gesturing for the ones carrying the stretchers to go with Boyett. "Get Dex and McKay to Doctor Beckett."

"I will go with them," Teyla offered from the position she'd been in on the other side of Teal'c. "To explain to him what is necessary."

Melony gave a grateful nod.

"Thanks. Ford? Go with them and get checked out, too."

"What about you?" Sheppard asked. She was just as bloody as any of the others – although she was on her feet – and she'd looked worse the longer they'd walked.

"I want to see what the villagers might know about this thing," Melony said, gesturing to the cat. "Talon will keep me on my feet, Colonel. Don't worry."

He didn't look all that convinced, but the good thing about outranking him was that he couldn't send her back if he wanted to.

"Okay…"

She smiled, and walked over to the Jaffa with the cat slung over his shoulder. A big creature, but the powerful Jaffa wasn't complaining – and wouldn't – since she as there and he'd die before she found him lacking. Scary thought, but true.

It'd make a nice rug, Talon said as Melony looked at the creature, running her hand along its coarse tawny fur.

Not on my floor.

A commotion from the village on the right showed that some of the villagers were returning, and in front of them, leading the little parade, were the village council.

The Jaffa stood silently proud as they watched the villagers approach with some measure of caution. The villagers had met Mitchell and the others, but when the Jaffa had come through the Stargate, they hadn't stopped to talk, or to be introduced, and all the villagers knew was that there was a large (for them) contingent of terrifyingly serious aliens on their planet, near their loved ones. It was reassuring to see them with Mitchell and the one who had introduced himself as Sheppard – and just as relieving to see that they were alive.

As leader of the council, Chanin had the unhappy responsibility of stepping up to the group, and he did so, putting on a much braver face than he actually felt. He turned in time to see the Stargate activate and several members of the party leave with wounded on stretchers, but there were still many on his planet – although he could see that Colonel Mitchell was wounded as well.

He looked at the dead cat slung over the large warrior's shoulder, and lost his brave face, backing up a step in case it wasn't dead – although it seemed to be. Of course, the odor coming from Mitchell might have had something to do with him backing up as well.

"Colonel Mitchell… Colonel Sheppard… it is good to see you are both alive…"

Sheppard smiled sarcastically, but Melony's smile was a bit more sincere.

"Thank you, Chanin." She turned to the creature, knowing that he hadn't missed it. "Can you tell me what this is?"

Reluctantly, the old man stepped close once more, as did several other members of the council. It was their responsibility, after all, to show that their people were not cowards.

"It is a Tree Cat," Chanin said, hesitantly.

"But larger than any I have ever seen," Mina added, looking at the cat interestedly.

There were assorted murmurs of agreement.

"Why didn't you warn us about them?" Sheppard asked, annoyed. It was obvious that the creatures weren't a big secret to these people.

Chanin looked at him, surprised.

"Why would we? They are not aggressive."

"You are incorrect," Teal'c said, speaking for the first time, and causing a few of the council members to step back at the sound of his deep, gravelly voice. "I myself witnessed three of these creatures attacking Colonel Mitchell and her party."

Mina frowned – as did the others.

"That's not possible," she said. "You must be mistaken."

"I am not."

"But the Tree Cats never pose a danger to us," Chanin said, shaking his head. "They only eat the large birds that roost in the trees of the forest – and I have never heard of any being seen together except for mating season."

"Which is several months away," Mina added. "Even then, they are only aggressive if we are foolish enough to get caught in the way."

Mitchell scowled.

"Then why would they attack us?"

"They should not have," Chanin said.

"Perhaps something has influenced their behavior?" Teal'c said, looking at Mitchell. She'd mentioned the Wraith, but hadn't really gone into much detail.

"I don't know," she admitted, shrugging.

"It must be the Cats that have been killing your people," Sheppard said. "They've vicious enough to have done it, I assure you."

Chanin shook his head, but looking at Mitchell's wounds – which were obvious – he couldn't deny that something had attacked her. Something violent, and with the large alien claiming that he'd seen the cat at their feet doing it, he had no choice but to believe it.

"We'll take it with us," Melony said. "And have our scientists look at it, and study it. Maybe they can come up with some answers."

Mina and the others nodded. They didn't want the creature – even dead – anywhere near them.

"Thank you, Colonel," Chanin said, gratefully.

"No promises," Melony said. "But if we come up with anything we'll let you know."

"On the plus side," Sheppard said. "There's three less of those things than there was yesterday."

"Indeed," Teal'c agreed.

Mina looked at Mitchell.

"Do you require medical assistance, Colonel Mitchell? Our healers are very talented…"

Melony shook her head.

"We're on our way back, now, Mina," she said. "I'll get looked at there. We'll return though – as soon as we have something to tell you."

"We look forward to your return," Chanin said, diplomatically. He wasn't actually positive he wanted her to return with the imposing aliens that were with her, but there was no way he'd risk their anger by saying it aloud. He did, however, appreciate the help with the Tree Cats, and he was glad she'd found her missing comrades.

Melony smiled, and draped her arm over Teal'c once more, well aware that her injured hip wasn't going to alow her the graceful exit she might have wanted.

"Thank you, Chanin." She turned to Sheppard. "Dial the gate, will you?"

"With pleasure."

He was starving, and wanted a bath. Even more, he wanted Mitchell to take a bath.