As they approached, they saw a woman sitting by a newly created campfire. She seemed to be stirring a pot of stew on the fire. Ronon sniffed the air, and nodded. It smelled good.
The woman was small and, seemingly unarmed. However, John still felt a cautious approach was best. His time in the Pegasus Galaxy had taught him, above all else, that appearances could be deceiving.
The woman looked up, as if sensing something.
"You might as well come and join me by the fire," she said, raising her voice so that it carried easily over the distance between them. "I've more than enough food here for you all."
They exchanged glances. How did she know they were there?
As if reading their thoughts, she continued. "You didn't really expect to creep up on me when you were making all that noise, did you?"
All eyes turned to Rodney. "It wasn't my fault I feel over that root," he said defensively.
"We might as well go out there," John whispered to the others. "She obviously knows we're here. But remain on alert."
They nodded, and then followed John as he stood up and walked towards the campfire, his weapon raised, and ready for use if necessary.
She looked up at John and then at the weapon he carried.
"Nice to meet you too," she said, with more than a touch of irony. John heard someone – probably Carson – choke off a laugh behind him.
"I'm sorry not to be more friendly," he said, trying to gain the moral high ground again. "But I'm not sure that I automatically trust someone who appears out of nowhere and makes herself at home in our camp."
"Even if I did make some food for you?" she asked, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Especially when you make some food for us," he replied. "Something to do with Trojan horses," he continued cryptically. Ronon and Teyla exchanged very confused glances. The woman seemed to notice it.
"Does he normally make more sense than this?" she asked Teyla.
Ever the diplomat, Teyla replied. "He always makes sense, in his own way."
John decided it was time to try to take control of the conversation. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"I thought I was stirring this stew," the woman replied.
"Very funny," John said, not smiling. "How did you get here?"
"Did you come through the Stargate?" Rodney asked, causing John to sigh with frustration. He didn't want to feed answers to the stranger.
"Is there another way to get here?" she asked.
"You could have come on a ship?" Rodney responded.
"Like that one you're hiding over there?" she asked, pointing in the direction of the cloaked puddle jumper.
"How did you find that?" John asked.
"It was a bit difficult to miss, when you all but trip over it," she responded.
"Look," she continued. "I understand your caution. But this stew is really very good, even if I do say so myself, and it would be a shame to waste it. Why don't you join me?"
Ronon and Rodney looked keen, but the others held back.
"If I wanted to kill you," she pointed out. "You would all be dead by now. I found you before you found me."
"I think you're too subtle for the direct approach, lass," Carson said gently.
"Why, thank you," she responded. "That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me all day." She gave him a big smile, and Carson found himself smiling back, despite himself.
Before John could respond further, the noise of the Stargate activating in the distance caught all their attention. Two Wraith Darts appeared through it and sped through the darkening sky.
John turned to the woman, his suspicions reignited. "Did you have anything to do with this?" he demanded.
"Of course not," she said scornfully. "But you'd better run, they are heading this way."
"What about you?" Carson added, not wanting to leave her on her own.
"I've a better chance of evading them on my own," she said, confidently.
"Oh, no, you don't," John said, grabbing her arm and dragging her along with them. "If we leave you behind, you might pass some information onto the Wrath."
"Is that before or after they feed on me?" she asked pointedly.
John didn't give her a chance to reply. Keeping an iron grip on her arm, he dragged her towards the Puddle Jumper. If she was involved in this, he wanted her close, so he knew what she was up to.
As the group neared the Puddle Jumper, the Wraith Darts swooped overhead. As they reached the muddy area, Rodney fell again, cannoning into Carson. They both fell heavily. Ronon and John went back to help them to their feet. Just at that moment, a culling beam swept the ground behind them, heading towards them. Ronon managed to drag Rodney towards the Puddle Jumper, where Teyla was waiting.
John, encumbered by the woman, managed to get Carson to his feet, and the three of them started to run towards the Puddle Jumper, the doctor limping slightly on a twisted ankle. It was a case of trying to outrun the beam, and it was going to be touch and go who would win the race.
Carson stumbled again, just as the beam reached them. The woman wrenched herself out of John's grasp, ran back and helped Carson to his feet. John turned quickly, ready to rush forward to help them, but as he watched, they seemed to disappear into the culling beam.