It was a quiet group that returned to Atlantis. Mostly in deference to the fact that Ronon hadn't spoken and they were letting him have a moment of his own. When Sheppard landed the jumper, however, one of the Marines was standing at the entrance to the bay, waiting for them. Since Mitchell outranked Sheppard – even though he was the commanding officer of the military units in Atlantis – he saluted and reported to her.

"Doctor Weir's compliments, Colonel. The Light Ones arrived while you were gone, and she'd like to know when you want to meet with them."

"The Light Ones?" Dex repeated, looking at her.

"The naked aliens we were telling you about," Rodney explained, before Melony could say anything.

"Do you know where Doctor Weir is?" Mitchell asked.

The man nodded.

"She and the Light Ones are in the lounge."

"That's where we'll head then. Thank you, Sergeant."

As the Marine left, she looked over at Dex.

"You don't have to come if you're not feeling-"

"I'll come." He interrupted.

She nodded, and they turned as a group and headed for the corridor that led towards the lounge – which was really just a large room that held several couches and a couple of video screens to watch movies or relax in – although it was also used as a poker room at times, as well.

As they walked, she reminded Dex that the visitors may or may not be clothed – just to save him from being surprised – and told him a brief history of the race, and how they'd met. Just the barest bones, however, since they didn't have a lot of time to discuss it. She could tell he was pretty skeptical about their ability to change forms when they reached the lounge – and she didn't blame him. It was something he'd just have to see to believe, after all – like the rest of them had.

When the door opened, she immediately spotted the Light Ones in the small crowd. It wasn't difficult, after all. They were lighter complexioned than anyone else in the room – only Melony had lighter hair and eyes – and they towered over everyone, including Teal'c, who was sitting with the group.

"They're pretty light," Dex said, under his breath as they entered the room. Melony smiled; a smile that grew when the Light Ones noticed her group and stood up.

There were four of them, and Melony recognized two of them right away. The other two were strangers – although she thought they looked familiar. Kale was the leader of the group, and his second in command Char was right beside him. Both males smiled and bowed slightly toward her when she approached. All four, she saw with a little relief, were dressed in their rough homespun trousers and tunics that they wore when spending any prolonged time with humans.

"Colonel Mitchell," Kale said, reaching his hand out and taking hers. "It is wonderful to see you again."

"It's good to see you, too, Kale," Melony replied. She looked at Char, and gave him a warm smile of welcome as well. "And you, too, Char."

The Light One in question bowed as well, his eyes cheerful.

"The pleasure is ours, Colonel Mitchell."

"Allow me to introduce our companions," Kale said, gesturing at the other two males who had stood as well. "This is Gsar, and this is Pyil. They requested to be allowed to answer your call for assistance, and we were glad to have them join us."

Melony bowed to the other two.

"We are, as well," she said, formally, to them.

They both beamed.

Mitchell turned to Ronon.

"Allow me to make introductions," she said, still formal. "Kale, Char, Gsar and Pyil, this is Ronon Dex."

Kale nodded a greeting to Dex, who returned it. The Light Ones eyes were filled with compassion, and Melony knew that he'd been told where they were and what they were doing.

"It is an honor to meet you, Ronon Dex," Kale said.

"Thank you."

Weir spoke up, then, from her spot next to Kale.

"We've been telling the Light Ones about the cats that you want to go looking for, Colonel," she said. "Carson has been telling them the theory behind their aggressiveness…" she looked at Beckett, who nodded.

"Aye." He'd been sitting beside Char, but there was a spot on the other side of him that Melony took as the others all sat down as well. "I was telling him that we'd like to try and capture one of the less aggressive cats – the ones that the villagers say aren't dangerous – alive, and see if we can compare it to the others."

"You want to capture one of the aggressive ones alive, too?" Sheppard asked, sitting down next to Gsar.

"We don't even know if there are any more aggressive ones…"

"I'm pretty sure there are."

"But we won't know until we actually go looking."

Melony frowned. She had no intention of taking Carson with them, but he was certainly making it seem as if he intended to go.

"I have no doubt that we can find the cats with little problem," Kale said, confidently.

"And catch them?" Rodney asked, frowning. "They're pretty quick…"

"If we're not surprised, we should be able to stun them," Melony said, shrugging. "Kale and the others can give us the edge – and we have zats."

"Which we don't know will work on the aggressive ones," Rodney said.

"There's only one way to find out."

"If they do not," Kale said, "we will make sure the creatures do not get close enough to harm your people."

Which was pretty much what Mitchell expected from them and she was glad they understood what she wanted. She'd seen the Light Ones in action, and had seen the cats in the forest, and there was little doubt in her mind that in their wolf forms the Light Ones were more than a match for the cats.

Dex frowned, though. The Light Ones were tall and lanky, and didn't look like they were built for speed. They certainly seemed confident – which he liked – but he couldn't see how they could hope to compete against the felines that had taken him and Mitchell out so easily.

"How are you going to do that?" he asked, doing his best to keep sarcasm out of his voice.

Kale wasn't offended, though. It took a lot to offend one of the Light Ones – which was a good thing, since Rodney was almost always around them when they were present.

"We will use one of our other forms," he said, easily. "Then we will be able to smell them coming – and hear them – long before they get close."

"And if they can't," Melony said. "We'll switch to plan B."

Sheppard looked at her.

"Which is…?"

She shrugged.

"I'm not sure yet."