"How is she?" A disembodied voice intruded upon Carter's roaming thoughts, pulling her mind once again into the rush of reality. Blinking dazedly, she looked up from where she sat, supporting the slight, limply reclining form propped up against her torso, her fingers combing tenderly through its auburn hair, into the solemn brown eyes of her C.O. Near them, the rest of their team slept soundly. "Not much better, I'm afraid, Sir. I managed to stabilize her vitals and bring the fever down a bit, but apart form that, I'm not sure what else I can do for her. She's suffered a great deal of strain these last few days, Colonel, and her body is clearly not designed to withstand this kind of physical stress. I can keep her going for a little while longer, Sir, but my field supplies aren't adequate to treat the severity of these injuries. Frankly, I'm amazed she even lasted this long without help."

"Yeah, but is she gonna make it, Carter?"

The woman sighed and tilted her golden head to regard the unconscious adolescent shivering and resting fitfully in her arms before she responded, "I honestly don't know, Sir. If we can get her to Janet in time, maybe, but…Let's just say I recommend that we make for the 'Gate as soon as possible--for both of them." Jack nodded grimly, and rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully.

Things had all started to go downhill after Amauri had blacked out. She had had a very near, very frightening brush with Death, but, thanks to some quick thinking on the part of Carter, had managed to narrowly avoid it. Now she was resting after the terrible ordeal, partially cradled in Sam's arms, as her body fought brutally for recovery.

'But the kid's got a chance now. They both do, they'll make it,' O'Neill reminded himself sternly, turning his attention back to Carter, whose silhouette was fading with the fleeting daylight.

"It's your watch, Carter. I can take her from here."

"Yes, Sir." She complied quietly, waiting until he was seated comfortably before relinquishing the sleeping form from her care to his, standing lightly, and walking purposefully off into the gather dusk, pausing for a moment to check on Teal'c--who had insisted on remaining the infant's caregiver as long as O'Neill and Carter were busy--before going to assume her post.

O'Neill gazed after her for a second until she vanished from view into the mists of twilight, then drew his resting companion gently toward himself with steady hands. As she lay flaccidly against him, he groped in the darkness for his pack and bedroll. Upon finding the large sleeping bag, he undid the tie that bound it, and draped it securely over her petit, quivering shoulders, before lowering both himself and the fevered girl onto the ground. Then he put both arms around the shaking, ill child and pulled her protectively closer to him, sharing his body heat in the hopes that it would comfort her somehow.

He could feel the fire of infection radiating off of her and could clearly detect the rasping of her congested lungs as they struggled to process air through blocked pathways. Carter assured him that the respiratory problems were probably a direct result of the fever raging inside her body, and should clear up after treatment. 'Let's hope she's right,' Jack thought to himself, watching the orange light of the campfire flicker across Amauri's gleaming face and carefully laying a cool hand on her flushed cheek. In an automatic response, she turned her head to him and shifted unconsciously so that she could curl up against his torso, needing both the warmth he provided and the reassurance of a parental sort of presence in her delusional state. O'Neill, having been a parent earlier in his lifetime--and having dealt with various illnesses as well--fully understood her instinctual need for physical contact with someone whom she believed, in her clouded brain, to be a guardian. He patted and rubbed her back gently, thinking vaguely of what would happen when his team brought the two distraught children back through the 'Gate. He was still thinking of this when he fell into a deep, coddling slumber.

The sound of moaning cut through his unconscious mind at some point during the night, jerking him out of a dead sleep and into full awareness in an instant. For a second, he merely lay still in the dark, as he always did when he was awakened by a noise like that, trying to calmly decipher its source, then opened his eyes, blinking several times to get them accustomed to the lack of light until they focused properly. The sight that greeted them as they acclimated was a heart-wrenching one, indeed. Amauri was writhing wildly on the ground next to Jack, crying out and whimpering pitifully, head thrashing from side to side as she slept, apparently ensnared in a heinous nightmare.

"Qualadria!" she mumbled, her speech slurred, "Miedrio! Ri ah-nai vintiro, azorr! Ni, sym-ah ri! Vintiro! Ni!" This last call was an anguished yell of warning to the figures of her mind, and the desperately shrill quality of the cry shook the war-hardened Colonel to his very core, making the hair on the nape of his neck stand on end.

With a blood-chilling shriek, Amauri bolted upright on the ground, muscles tight and breathing shallow as she grappled with the remnants of the horrific experience, eyes snapping wide open as she gasped. Stunned, she glanced around in a frenzy, momentarily unaware of her surroundings, ready to fight or fly. Dimly, she felt someone embracing her, holding her tightly, murmuring quiet words into her hair and rocking her back and forth with tender steadiness. Out of her peripheral vision, she recognized Jack as the one comforting her. Slowly, still shaken and haunted by the last wisps of the nightmare, Amauri turned numbly to him, staring dully ahead as she allowed herself to be enveloped by his strong, capable arms and warm, calming voice, resting her head against his shoulder, trembling violently.

Amauri's tortured cry had awakened the entire camp. The resident infant, who had slept with Sam after her watch had ended, wailed indignantly at the disturbance, and the rest of the party--with the exception of Teal'c, who was on duty--startled by the noise, sat up wearily to see what the trouble was. Now though, as they spied Amauri trembling tensely in O'Neill's arms, heard his words of comfort to her, and divined what had happened, their expressions softened to ones of pity and concern.

Having not yet withdrawn his arms, Jack could feel the frantic pounding of Amauri's heart, could sense the blind, deadening shock to her system as he supported and rocked her inanimate body, gradually alleviating her silent hysteria.

'You poor kid, you really have been through seven kinds of Hell, haven't you?' he thought grimly, as he felt her frenzied breathing against him. But all he said aloud was, "It's O.K., kiddo, just wake up, wake up. Snap out of it. It's all right, just take it easy now. You had a bad dream, that's all, just a bad dream. Shhh, you're all right, you're safe now. Calm down kiddo, just take your time. Oh, that's it, 'atta girl, just you relax, just relax." She clutched him still, shaking, as silent tears made clear trails down her cheeks, whimpering under her breath. Her body was taut as she gripped him to her, apparently too stunned to make any audible noise.

Jack continued comforting in this vein of words for some time, using several variations, until he felt Amauri's heart slow and her breathing deepen, as he continued to rock her, the soothing motion relaxing her quivering muscles. Satisfied, he tenderly eased her limp form back to the ground, covering her with his sleeping bag once more.

Gently releasing her from his embrace and withdrawing his arms, O'Neill then got to his feet with a sigh, before wandering over to bask in the warm glow of the fire. For a second he simply remained that way, poised over the flame and thawing his freezing hands, and then he glanced up to regard the two members of his team still sitting around it, Daniel and Teal'c---Sam lay two feet away cuddling with the baby.

"Is all well, O'Neill?" Teal'c queried, voice tranquil, the raised eyebrow being the only outward indication of his concern and puzzlement as he regarded Jack.

"Yeah, the kid's fine," the Colonel assured, sitting heavily amidst a sigh, "just had one humdinger of a nightmare, that's all. Not that I can say I blame the poor girl. Whatever she's seen recently, it sure as hell wasn't pretty."

Daniel nodded and opened his mouth as if to say something, but Jack rushed on, cutting him off, feeling in no mood to endure a twenty-minute lecture at this time of night. "Any idea what this is all about, Danny-boy?"

Daniel looked up, readjusting his glasses before he spoke, "You mean Amauri? Well, as far as I can figure, Jack, she seems to be some kind of refugee, presumably fleeing some sort of conflict--"

"Ya think?" O'Neill interrupted sarcastically. Daniel ignored him. "The symbols on her staff suggest a memoir or a record of family history, which could indicate that she holds a certain degree of social, or perhaps even religious, significance in her culture. Keep in mind of course that until we can analyze it further, these are just preliminary guesses, but--"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Danny-boy, back up there. Religious? As in Goa'uld religious?"

Before Daniel could reply, Teal'c spoke up for the second time. "I do not believe so, O'Neill. If Amauri had indeed acted as a host to a Goa'uld parasite, the symbiote within would have commenced the healing process immediately and remedied the infection by this time. In addition, both Major Carter and I would have likely sensed the presence of an infestation."

"Yeah, you're probably right, Teal'c, but I still want you to keep a lookout for any glowing eyes or psychopathic worms." Teal'c acknowledged this statement gracefully with a nod. Jack stretched, grunted and checked his digital wristwatch.

"Well, Campers, it's late an' I need my beauty sleep. Remember, we leave first thing tomorrow. 'Night." And with that, O'Neill rose with the intention of returning to his sleeping bag, but the scene that greeted him as he turned to do so made him stop dead.

Amauri was awake again, and sitting bolt upright, staring intently off into the shadowed distance, head tilted slightly as though listening for something.

"Amauri?" Jack questioned, cautiously stepping toward her. She didn't move, except to raise her hand abruptly, cutting off any questions and silencing him firmly.

Startled by her terse behavior, O'Neill cast a sharp glance back over his shoulder to regard his two conscious comrades, and felt a rush of satisfaction as he found them already standing, hands hovering near their firearms, prepared for whatever came forth. It was very rare to come across a team so efficient and tuned into one another that they could anticipate their C.O's next orders, and Jack was pleased that he could count his people among those few.

Turning swiftly, O'Neill bent and silently roused Carter, putting a finger to his lips as she awakened and stared blankly up at him for a moment before nodding her comprehension. Instantly alert, Sam rose to her feet, still cradling the infant, her face grim and watchful.With a curt gesture, the members of SG-1 fell into a precise, defensive formation, stances strong and hands brushing their wapons lightly in readiness.

Still, nothing emerged, and no disturbances were heard from the surrounding shadows. No breeze stirred in the darkened forest, and not a single perceptible animal moved.

The five awakened figures continued to wait with baited breath, feeling the adrenaline of anticipation surging through them. Suddenly, there was a gasp from the staid child sitting on the ground, drawing all other gazes upon her.

"Qualadria!" the girl exclaimed breathlessly. "Ni van-iic morr. On varin vhelahn? Qualadria, hanech. Varin joh-heer!" And as though in response to the fevered entreaty, a glorious, luminescent figure glided into view, casting a ghostly glow on the trunks of the surrounding trees.

"Hel-lo---uh, guys?" Jack said uncertainty dominating his usually calm voice. "Are you, uh, seein' what I'm seein'?" He looked around at the other bewildered expressions, which stared back at him, wide-eyed, except for Teal'c, whose demeanor changed little in the face of the strange apparition.

"I believe so, O'Neill." Teal'c stated coolly, with the air of someone commenting on the weather. "Thanks, Teal'c," Jack drawled dryly.

"Shhh!" Daniel hissed, indicating with a finger the exchange going on between the huddled form and the phantom spectre that loomed above.

Amauri had risen shakily to her feet, supporting the bulk of her slight weight with the wooden shaft, but still shuddering with the pain that knifed through her. Tremulously, she extended her fingers, reaching out to touch the impossibly brilliant presence, but they went right through the cheek she strove to caress. With a small cry, she jerked her hand back and clutched it to her side. "Mother?" she croaked slowly in her native tongue, greatly fearing for her sanity. "You are here, are you not? I'm--I'm not dreaming?" Tears already started to form, but she gripped the emotion and firmly reminded it of its place, blinking the moisture away.

The tender smile that was her mother's trademark had returned to the face Amauri knew so well, a face she had thought never to see again.

"No, my little fire-bird, dreaming you are not," was the soft reply. Amauri could scarcely breathe for fear of missing a single moment. "Then, my honored, beloved Qualadria, how came you to be here? I had thought you dead, I--I saw you burn. Even you could not have survived that--" she broke off, shuddering hard.

The glowing form that Amauri had loved for so long moved weightlessly forward, a reassuringly benevolent smile gracing her radiant face.

"Do not fear, my child. You have not lost your wits. My body does lie with my sister Earth, but only my physical form is entombed there. My essence indeed comes before you, daughter, to bestow upon you both a gift and curse, a privilege and responsibility." Mirani, High Priestess of the People of the Flame, paused, taking her child's shocked expression and glossy, haunted eyes. "Amauri, daughter, be at peace. It agonizes me that you cast the blame of my death upon yourself. I am so sorry that you had to experience it so intimately, but it was not your doing. Nor was there anything you could have done to prevent it." Mirani straightened, adopting once more the ceremonially cool demeanor of the Priestess, the very aspect of her nature that had made her so formidable and respected a leader when she had been in life.

"Now, beloved, dry your tears. There is much to say and little time in which to do it." Amauri nodded, swallowing her questions and uncertainties in order to focus on all that her mother said.

The Priestess noticed her regained composure at once and solemnly nodded her approval, as she recognized that Amauri had shifted from her emotional, teen-aged persona to the one fostered by her rigorous training, the one that portrayed her calmer, more powerful, and more detached side of her nature.

"Good," Mirani said. "Now, child. You still have the crystal, I believe?" "Yes, Priestess," Amauri murmured respectfully, head bowed, tone humble. Unfortunately, the mood was shattered because Amauri's legs were straining to support her weight, slight as it was, and she was gradually collapsing. Finally, the former Priestess-in-training gasped in pain and dropped, with a sharp groan, to the ground. As this was a vital moment, both mother and daughter ignored this change, and continued to speak in the manner dictated by their calling as they had been taught by their lineage from birth.

Somehow maintaining her dignity, the kneeling girl gazed up at her mentor and parent, and waited for her to speak.

"Guard that crystal dearly, beloved. It will help you in your task. For you are not merely the Priestess of the Flame, anointed by my passing, but the sole living representative of The Great Four themselves, until the time when the infant, your sister, is of age."

"What?" Amauri gasped, eyes wide. "Mother of the Flame, I do not wish to sound ungrateful, but how--I mean to say--I am unsure of my worthiness for this honor. This has never been done; this amount of power has never been given to anyone, for fear of abuse. How can I, who am not even a true Priestess, do this?"

The senior Priestess's eyes softened. "Amauri, we do not have a choice in this. 'Tis your destiny, as had been revealed to the Grand Council by the Great Ones who came before over two years ago. You are also the only seasoned daughter strong enough to harness these new burdens. The others and I have watched you train, and you are, by far, capable enough to do this duty. And it is a duty, Amauri, a difficult one, but the former High Priestesses will be there to guide you."

"How?" Amauri demanded in a voice that croaked as tears welled. She blinked them back. "You--you're all dead! How can you guide me as you claim when you have all moved on from this life"
"The crystal that you possess is not merely an ornament, child!" Mirani exclaimed, amusement twinkling in her voice. "It is a tool, one which you will come to rely on as you do air. For inside its crystalline depths lies the secret--it contains a portion of the astral-projected essence of each of the four Priestesses who led our people last. With these spirits comes the ability to converse with them and their predecessors and ancestors. You will inherit a certain amount of their powers, and their assistance will be needed in controlling these abilities, for a single individual could never streamline and develop them so effectively. I, myself, reside within--no, do not speak," for in her shock, Amauri made as if to interrupt, an action that in itself demonstrated the degree to which this news unsettled her, because she never would had even considered doing so if it had been any time in her past.

"Now, this does not mean that this pendant come free of responsibility. This is an extremely powerful energy source; in the wrong hands, the results of its use would be disastrous. Many people would be likely to perish. It is up to you to see that this does not occur. Should you require assistance in this, you need only summon the one or ones from whom you seek aid or counsel, and we will come." Now, Mirani's eyes were somber.

"But know this, darling; in order for us to do so, we must draw on your strength and energy to become corporeal during that period. It is the only way we may be seen and understood by anyone besides yourself. Now, if there is need, it is possible for us to possess your body, but only for a short time, and only if you have given permission. Be aware, however that any of these processes may leave you drained temporarily, so I would advise you not to take them lightly. After we return to the crystal or re-submerge, it is important that you rest and restore your depleted energy reserves, lest you become susceptible to illness. The amulet should help to do that in a more efficient manner. Do you understand all that I have said to you?" Mirani queried, seeing her daughter's glazed expression and now slightly concerned that she might have missed an integral part of the dialogue. Mutely, Amauri nodded.

"Very well." the unearthly priestess said, glancing around abruptly as though startled by something. " 'Mauri, my time on this plane of existence grows short"
"Mother, no!" Amauri cried, naked anguish breaking her voice.

"Shhh, my child, be still," soothed her Qualadria, reaching out a ghostly hand to hover a centimeter away from her daughter's cheek in a tender way. "It is important for you to hear this. You must trust these strangers. They may behave in manners foreign, but they will guide you and help you to grow in the absence of your Miedrio and myself. I sense that they are good people, and will assist you if needed. In return, I ask that you aid them in what you can, though I suspect you would have even without my encouragement." Mirani paused for a moment, and then added curiously, "Have you named your sibling as of yet, my love? As her only living relative, the duty falls to you."

"Indeed I have, my mother. I call her Jenyra, after the most powerful and protective of our moons." Mirani smiled slightly, "You have chosen wisely, my student. May all your decisions be as sound. You have learned your lessons well, and do honor to our line. I am proud of you." A gentle breeze stirred, drawing Mirani's attention.

"Now, I fear I must take my leave, beloved."

Before Amauri could protest, the former Priestess turned and regarded the four adults, standing in stunned silence nearby.

"You four are brave and intelligent, I can see. Each is a warrior of a sort, strong in his or her own right. Please use your skills to guard my children. My trust lies with you." As she returned her gaze to her eldest daughter, Mirani began to shimmer slightly. "My child, fare thee well for now, and know that I love you. Never forget your people, Amauri. Until we meet again, child, do not forget me, be safe, and be blessed. I love you."

The ghostly form turned suddenly and swept from the clearing, fading gradually into the night with every step she took, until she had vanished completely.

Amauri, recovered from her momentary surprise, sprang forward with a stricken yell, making as if to follow the retreating back, but the instant she threw her weight on the injured limb to take a step, her leg rebelled. She was tossed several feet through the air until she hit the merciless ground with an unforgiving force that knocked the wind out of her. Spots swam in her darkened vision, and for a moment, it seemed impossible to move as she scrambled for clear thought.

Then life returned to her, as she felt herself being rolled over until she was looking up at the star-studded heavens, their depths marred only by the four anxious visages peering down at her.

For an interminable second, Amauri's breath failed her, though she struggled to reclaim her bearings. Dimly, she heard someone above her curse.

"Oh, shit! Carter! She's not breathing!"

There was a sudden flurry of movement, and then someone was kneeling beside her, feeling her pulse, and bending to check the rise and fall, or lack thereof, of her chest.

The figure beside her--Sam, she realized numbly--lowered her head and firmly placed her mouth on Amauri's, whose pallor was now white, with a blue tinge settling across it. A gust of warm, moist air rushed through her, somehow bypassing her locked throat and filling her constricted lungs. Then a gradual pressure lowered slowly onto her chest, steady, rhythmic, insistent, and unwavering. It must be obeyed.

The pressure mounted, and suddenly, a burst of compressed air surged through the girl's body, forcing its way out of her mouth, and making her cough in a weak wheeze. Automatically, a great and desperate gulp of air was dragged into the deprived lungs, jolting her body back into movement. She sat up, choking, sputtering, and panting wildly, instinctively lunging forward to grasp the wrist of the first person it encountered, which, in this case, happened to be Carter.

"Whoa!" Sam cried out in surprise, and Amauri, realizing what she'd done, released her hastily, before leaning into her again, arms clinging in a frenzied panic.

Sam, for her part, didn't hesitate. "Hey, hey. It's okay, you're all right. Just take some deep breaths, and you'll be just fine. That's it…" She rubbed Amauri's heaving back, and waited for the girl's confusion to subside. Instead, the intensity increased into mild hysteria. "No, no, honey, take it easy, it's okay now…shhh…" Carter murmured, pulling the trembling child away from her again, and looking into the tear-stained face.

Shuddering with even more violence, Amauri abruptly collapsed into an unnatural slumber. Sam caught her and turned the limp body over slightly, holding her breath in dread, but…. "She's just unconscious," Carter informed the others in a sigh, stark relief in her words.

Suddenly thinking of something, the Major laid her hand on the form's brow. "But Sir, she's got the highest temp I've ever felt in my life," she added, sounding slightly alarmed, lifting her clear, green-blue eyes to regard her C.O, awaiting an order of some kind.

Jack was silent for a moment. Then, he sighed and stood, his expression grim and resigned. " All right, campers, change of plans. We leave in five minutes and head for the 'gate. Carter tells me the kid's in trouble, and we gotta get her to Doc Fraiser A.S.A.P. Okay! Gear up and let's move out!"

And so the procession began again, with Jack carrying a limp Amauri, quickly followed by Carter, who was holding the baby. Teal'c took the rear once more while Daniel assumed the lead, using his flashlight to illuminate the ground ahead.

The sun had almost fully risen by the time the group paused and took a break. Canteens were brought out and passed around, and M.R.Es--though there are few things less palatable--were eaten, out of respect for the 'breakfast-is-the-most-important-meal-of-the-day' rule. Conversation was all but non-existent among the four explorers, as each was thoroughly exhausted by now. Jack had spread his uniform jacket out on the dry earth and laid the inert Amauri down on it to rest his aching arms for a while. She slept there now, stirring fitfully every so often, looking, if not healthy, then at the very least less flushed.

"Well, she's lookin' better at any rate," he commented, glancing over once again as the figure gave out yet another whimper. Carter looked up from where she sat cradling the baby. "The fever is lower, but we need to get back before it spikes again. And I'm getting worried about this baby. I may not be a nursemaid, but I know dehydration when I see it, and that is obviously an issue. The sooner we get them to Janet, the better their chances."

Against his body's wishes, Jack heaved himself up again and turned to his team. "Well, you heard the Major. Let's head home."

At that, they all stood. O'Neill carefully reclaimed his burden and made as if to start again, but Teal'c stopped him with a hand on his arm. "O'Neill, you appear to be tiring. If you wish, I will assist the child."

"Nah, thanks, Teal'c, but I think I can handle it." The Jaffa tilted his head slightly in acquiescence as O'Neill shifted the form in his arms, getting a stronger grip.

Suddenly, a cranky, indignant infant's wail pierced the air. Amauri's eyes snapped open, and instinctively, she tried to sit up, still in Jack's arms. "Hey, hang on, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!" the Colonel protested, stopping as the girl struggled to extricate herself from his grasp. "Just take it easy now, kid. Lie back down, Carter's got her." All the while, the girl fought, seemingly unable to hear him.

"Oh, fer cryin' out loud!" he muttered exasperatedly, "Carter!" He gestured impatiently with his chin when she looked ahead at him from where she stood a few paces behind, and obediently came forward. As soon as Amauri saw her sister in Sam's arms, she stopped resisting.

"There! See? She's fine!" he snapped, then deliberately softened his tone. "Just--just go to sleep now, willya? Lie down. Please?"

Her gaze now fixed on Jack's face, Amauri demurely reclined once more, with a sigh of exhaustion, turning her body toward O'Neill in an effort to shield herself from sunlight that seemed too bright. As her stinging eyes closed, she heard someone whisper, "Yeah, just rest. That's it. 'Atta girl"
"O.K, show's over, campers, let's move." Jack readjusted his burdened arms into a more comfortable and manageable position, and strode briskly onward, expecting the others to follow without encouragement. 'Man, it's hot,' O'Neill thought to himself, 'Whew!'

As the quiet stretched into minutes with no end in sight, Jack decided to liven things up a bit. "O.K, troops!" he commanded, "Left, left, left-right-left! I can't hear you!" Carter chuckled wearily, and was apparently the only one inclined to answer. "Yessir," she joked as they, as one, picked up the pace a bit.

An hour later, the slightly lagging group arrived at the silent monument of the 'gate, sweating profusely as they prepared to go through. "Danny, dial us home." Jack said casually, looking around easily, and then glancing down at his sleeping passenger. 'Hold on, squirt,' he thought encouragingly, 'We're almost there. Just hold on a little bit longer.'

With a tremendous 'Whoosh!' the Stargate activated, as the shimmering blue cloud expanded into a great outward explosion and then snapped abruptly back into place, waiting as a welcoming, deceptively calm pool, for someone to step into its infinite depths.

"Alright, let's go. Teal'c, iris code"
"Certainly, O'Neill."

And so, the four explorers and their two stowaways strode forth into the crystalline abyss.