God, huh?

Before Melony could actually say anything in response to that particular statement, Talon stopped her.

Don't be so quick to be skeptical, Hot Shot, he told her. We already know that the Light Ones have more intimate contact with their gods than most races. Remember that Kale said their gods were the ones that banished the Dark Ones from their city in the first place

Good point.

Hu was clearly waiting for her to say something – as were Teyla and Ronon who were willing to wait on her and follow her lead, whichever way she wanted to play things.

Melony decided to just go along with things, and see where they ended up. Besides, Hu really did feel odd, and she wanted to know a little more about these people – especially him – because whether they admitted it or not, they were definitely related to Kale and his people.

She nodded.

"Then you're the one we probably needed to speak to, anyways," she told him.

"Oh?" Hu actually looked interested, while Cane scowled. "Why is that?"

"How about we find that place to sit and chat, and I'll tell you."

He smiled; a condescending smile that was also tinged with amusement at having his words handed back to him.

"Very well. Cabble is a few hours walk from here. We will be there in time for the morning meal."

"Do gods eat?" Ronon asked, clearly skeptical and not hiding it.

Hu looked over at him.

"When we choose to. The Shasari are fine hunters as you might imagine, but they are also capable farmers, and they set a fine table. I think you'll have nothing to complain about the meal."

"We will be honored to share a meal with your people," Teyla said, glancing at Ronon before returning to her gaze to Hu.

"Good. Come. The Shasari will make sure nothing bothers us as we walk, and perhaps you will be interested in learning about this planet that you have chosen to visit."

"That'd be helpful," Mitchell said, watching as the cats that had circled them moved into a flanking position around Hu, all of them watching the newcomers suspiciously. Cane moved as well, but he didn't change form. Instead, he walked over to stand by Dex, clearly seeing him as the biggest threat – or maybe just the one he trusted the least, since the others were women.

Who knew?

OOOOOOOOOO

"We do not often get visitors," Hu said as they started walking. Unlike Cane, he was more focused on Mitchell, and his comment was very much a question.

She shrugged.

"We've never been here before," she said, evasively. "It's a nice place."

"There are certain dangers here, however."

"There are dangers everywhere," Melony replied. "We're used to that."

He looked at the weapons they were carrying, and the casual way they carried them.

"You are not going to be able to settle on this planet, if that is your intention… I will not allow my people to-"

"We don't want to move here," Ronon interrupted. "I've had my fill of cats."

Hu scowled at the interruption, but Melony had a feeling he was also pleased – or maybe relieved? – to hear that they weren't planning on some kind of invasion.

"You have never been here before, you say," he said, this time to Ronon. "How could you have met my people before?"

"This isn't the only place there are cats," Ronon told him.

"Not even close," Melony added.

"Cats that change into people?" Hu asked, arrogantly. "You see that every day, do you?"

"Never before," Melony replied honestly. "It was definitely a first."

"But you are not as impressed by the ability of my people as most are."

"We've seen it before," Dex said, shrugging. "It'll take something pretty spectacular to impress us."

And didn't that just sound like a challenge?

Hu obviously thought so, too, because his eyes narrowed just a little.

"Perhaps we will be able to accommodate you," he said.

A moment later, Mitchell felt herself dissolving in mid-step. Another moment after that, she was solid once more, and now where they had only seconds before been in the forest, they were on the top of a gentle hill overlooking a large valley. In the center of that valley, next to a meandering river, was a village. They had somehow managed to travel the entire way to the place in only an instant.

"That was impressive," Dex had to admit.

Melony nodded her agreement.

Hu smiled.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Cabble was a village. Like every other village that Mitchell had ever seen, really – although there were a few noticeable differences. For one thing, there didn't seem to be any kind of defenses.

Of course, if the entire population can turn into fierce cats, there's really no need for a fence, now, is there? Talon asked.

Good point.

For another thing, there weren't any dogs rushing at them when they entered the main street that led toward what was probably the center of the village – a town square, perhaps, or maybe a central market.

Cats hate dogs, right?

Yeah, yeah.

"Is this the only village on the planet?" Teyla asked, politely, looking around and obviously noticing the same things Mitchell and Talon were.

"Why do you ask?" Cane asked her, suspiciously.

"We were told there were not a lot of people living here," she replied. "So I was curious if this was the total of your population."

"There is another village," Hu said. "They are under my protection as well."

"They would seem to be able to do quite well protecting themselves," Melony mused, looking at the cats that were surrounding them as they walked. The people in the village were now starting to take notice of the small group, watching with interest as they walked past toward the center of the small town. There seemed to be very few children, however, given the fair number of adults they were seeing.

Most likely the children aren't being allowed to come out with strangers in town, Talon said.

Probably not. She'd never allow Jinto or any of the Athosian children close to these people without knowing a lot more about them, so she could understand that they'd feel the same way about her, Ronon and Teyla.

"They do not require much of me," Hu admitted. "But it is habit for me to watch over them. Since the Sundering, I have always been with them."

Sundering?

Kale's people mention a sundering, Talon said.

Teyla had caught the word as well, and glanced at Mitchell, questioningly. Melony shrugged, silently telling her that they'd wait and see what else they could learn. Hu had Mitchell off balance with his mixture of friendliness one minute and arrogance the next, and she wasn't about to mention their other allies without knowing far more about these people – and their god.

"How long has that been?" she asked.

He shrugged.

"What is time to a god?"

Oh, brother.

Are these people really Light Ones? She asked Talon.

They seem to be, he replied.

Do they give off the pheromones?

Yes

They're not like any Light Ones I've seen…

Watch and learn, Hot Shot, Talon suggested. They might surprise you

And McKay might magically show up out of nowhere wearing a wig and white overalls and start singing like an Oompaloompa.

Talon snorted in amusement, and was quiet, and Melony knew he was paying attention to what was going on around them. They'd just reached the town square, and at the center was a large (compared to the tiny houses the villagers lived in) building that was open and airy, and clearly their destination, since Hu and the cats all came to a stop, and the cats looked at their god expectantly.

"Come," he said to Mitchell and the others. "We will eat and you can tell me more about your reasons for trespassing on my planet."

With that pleasant comment, he gestured for them to enter the building.