They emerged from the gate about an hour after the sun rose. Not surprisingly, they attracted a lot of attention. From those who were around, anyways. When the Jaffa first materialized on the other side of the Stargate, several people who had been in the area shrank back a bit, uncertain what to make of these imposing warriors. They grew a little bolder when they recognized Teyla, Ford and Sheppard as they emerged from the gate next, and then practically scattered when the Light Ones followed, accompanied by Mitchell and Dex.

It was completely understandable considering the wolves that were the Light Ones came well above Mitchell's waist and were about as vicious-looking as they came.

"Timid lot, aren't they…?" Dex observed as he watched the natives clearing trying to work up the courage to come back up to Melony and the others.

"You can't blame them…" she said, stepping forward to make sure she was seen.

Well, yeah, there was that. Dex hung back while Melony waved the Jaffa back towards the Light Ones where they wouldn't seem quite as imposing next to the large wolves. Which was saying something, since the twelve Jaffa that had accompanied them were ferocious looking in their own right, with their gleaming armor, their considerable weaponry and unsmiling faces. Even Ronan was impressed with the Jaffa.

The villagers stared, silently, as the newcomers formed up, facing them, and john moved to stand beside Mitchell just in front of them.

"Hey, guys…" he said to the watching villagers. "We said we'd be back with help…"

And still there was silence.

"Um… is Chanin around?" Melony asked, deciding that they'd better talk to one of the council – and his was the only name she could remember. Talon, of course, was more than willing to give her a couple of other names, but he didn't remember all of them, either. Besides, Chanin had introduced himself as the leader of the council.

One of the men nudged the one standing beside him with an elbow, startling him. The first one muttered something to the one he'd nudged. The man shook his head, muttering something back, but only received a more urgent nudge – almost a jab. The man scowled, but with a final look at the off-worlders, he turned and took off at a run towards one of the twin villages.

And the waiting began with both groups watching each other in silence.

"Think we should have brought the Light Ones in in human form?" Sheppard whispered to Mitchell.

She shook her head.

"I think they would have been even more wary than they are now… The Jaffa are scary enough; the Light Ones are even more alien-looking."

"True."

Luckily, it didn't take long for Chanin to arrive. He'd already heard about the gate activating, of course, and those that had come to their world. By the time the runner from had arrived, he was already dressed and heading that direction, followed by three other members of the council.

"You wouldn't believe the size of the hounds they have with them!" the runner told them, breathlessly, holding his side. "Or the warriors!"

"But Colonel Mitchell is clearly in charge?" Chanin asked.

"She seems to be – or maybe the other one; Sheppard."

Chanin nodded, and hurried his steps. That was a relief, at least.

OOOOOOOO

"Here they come…"

It wasn't necessary, but Ford was almost as nervous as the villagers who were staring at them. He was young and used to action. Not used to standing around having people staring at him in silence. It was unnerving for him.

The crowd had grown – at a safe distance – and they parted when Chanin and the others walked up. The old man showed a lot of guts, Melony decided, walking right up to this odd group assembled in front of him.

He's leader of the council for a reason, one assumes, Talon said.

True.

"Colonel Mitchell… Colonel Sheppard…" Chanin said as he approached. "It is good to see you again…"

Melony gave her best smile as she gave him a slight bow.

"We would have returned sooner, but we had to assemble the help we promised." She gestured to the Jaffa and Light Ones. "These are warriors of the Jaffa, and… some others. They have offered to help us track down the feral Tree Cats and see about clearing the danger from your forest."

There was a great deal of murmuring that accompanied that statement, with an undercurrent of excitement. Now that they knew the newcomers really were there to help them, the fact that they were formidable was an advantage, and not something to be afraid of.

Chanin smiled.

"You and your friends are most welcomed, Colonel Mitchell. We will find a place for you to stay in one of the villages."

Melony shook her head.

"Thank you, Chanin, but that won't be necessary. We're not sticking around."

"You're not?"

"We're ready to start now, so we're going to head into the forest."

There were more murmurs. The crowd watching was listening – even though they were still at what they perceived to be a safe distance – and they were reacting to what Mitchell said with a mixture of hope and consternation. On one hand, they really wanted to have their forest back, and the assembled group looked capable of doing something about it. On the other hand, though, they all knew about the missing people – and the fact that whatever had killed them had managed to hurt some of Mitchell's people as well. Even though these weren't the same people, it seemed impossible that anyone could kill a ghost.

"So soon?" Chanin asked, surprised as well.

"We don't want to waste any daylight."

Chanin glanced back at the assembled villagers, and then looked at Melony and Sheppard.

"We can provide you with a guide…"

None of the villagers looked all that enthused at that particular notion, and Mitchell wasn't the only one to smile at the looks of consternation that greeted that statement.

"That won't be necessary, Chanin," she said. "We have help."