Colonel Sheppard flew over the seemingly endless waters. He was going by the direction of Sokka who was sitting behind him. When Sheppard wasn't getting directions, Sokka was talking with Teyla, and they were learning more about each other.
"Athosians? That's what your people call themselves?" he asked. Teyla nodded.
"We were forced to move in with the Colonel Sheppard and his people when the Wraith began culling. We now live on the main land of their world." Teyla said. Sokka nodded.
"These Wraith sound horrible. Like big predators hunting smaller prey. How long have they been around?" Sokka asked, interestedly. Teyla shook her head.
"Thousands and thousands of years. I've known the Wraith since I was a little girl. Our people have never known peace from them, until now, for the most part. It is nice not having to fear for our lives as we collect the crop. My people are farmers." Teyla said.
"That's like the Fire Nation. They came when I was a kid, searching for water benders so they could wipe them out. My mother protected Katara from them, and gave her life." Sokka said quietly. Teyla nodded.
"She was a very brave woman, I admire her. So are you and your friends attempting to fight the Fire Nation?" Teyla asked. Rodney snorted in the front.
"Yeah, with what? Pitch forks?" he laughed. Sheppard glanced at Rodney.
"You seem to keep forgetting that these people can bend the elements. They're not so primitive." Sheppard said. Rodney rolled his eyes.
"So you're telling me no other weapons, just bending. Well what about people like him? People who aren't gifted with the art of bending?" Rodney asked, turning and looking at Sokka.
"We still have warriors and weapons. It's not like we base our fighting skill alone on bending. Each nation has their own army filled with benders. I imagine some of them do have a few nonbenders." Sokka answered.
"Are we close, Sokka?" Sheppard asked from the front. Sokka stood up and stared out the screen.
"Yeah, it's behind the big glacier over there." Sokka sat down, but then his eyes widened, as if he remembered something. "Oh, when we meet the Northerners, try to be polite. They don't tolerate misbehavior, they're kind of the strict side of water bending." Sokka said.
"Got it. So I can just land anywhere?" Sheppard asked. Sokka looked out the window again.
"Sure, as long as it's not on any settlements…or people." Sokka said. Rodney gave him a look.
"Obviously. Hey, do we have any warm clothes? I am deathly viable to freezing temperatures, my body will go into seizures." Rodney said, looking slightly worried. Sheppard gave him a look.
"No, I'm afraid I forgot to snag a pair from the back. Rodney, you'll be fine, it won't be for long." Sheppard said, and the puddle jumper began descending. "Whoa, this place is incredible!" he said, looking at the huge ice structure. Everything was made of ice, the buildings, the ground, even the bridge was made of complete solid ice.
"I'm surprised they didn't try to shoot us down," Sokka said. Sheppard landed the puddle jumper and turned to Sokka.
"Didn't try to what? I thought you said they were friendly people!" Sheppard said. Sokka shrugged.
"Well yeah, but they are cautious. Maybe they haven't seen a flying device such as this and were curious. Whatever, as long as we're not dead. Open the door!" Sokka said eagerly. Sheppard shook his head and hit he button to open the back door. Sokka bounded out of the puddle jumper, followed by Teyla and Sheppard. Sheppard looked back to see what was taking Rodney so long. He was actually checking in the compartments for any winter clothes.
"McKay!" he shouted. Rodney jumped, and he fidgeted with his hands.
"If I start having an attack, this is all on you." McKay said walking reluctantly out of the puddle jumper.
"I'll keep that in mind," Sheppard said curtly. Rodney almost slipped on the ice, but Sheppard caught him.
"You see! I am not fit for this environment." He whined. Sheppard ignored him and guided him alongside the puddle jumper. Teyla and Sokka were already speaking with two men.
"Oh, this is Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay, they are aliens too." Sokka said eagerly. The men looked at Sokka as if he were insane. Sheppard sighed inwardly.
"I'm sorry, this must sound crazy to you, but we do come from another world. If our ship isn't proof enough, our dress should be at least." Sheppard said. The men examined the ship, and what the Colonel and his team were wearing.
"What do you want from us?" one of the men asked.
"We would like to negotiate trade with your people, if you would not mind getting to know each other first." Teyla said quickly. The men considered this.
"My name is Tarlock, and this is Hadyn. We would be honored to get to know such intriguing visitors, but I would have to ask you leave your weapons in your vessel. Such use of force will not be need nor tolerated in the Northern tribe." Tarlock said. He was of a stocky build, with dark black hair. He wore what looked like animal fur for clothes and brown leather boots. Hadyn almost looked identical to him, Sheppard wondered if they were brothers.
Sheppard considered this. "Seems fair. As long as there is no harm to come to us, we will comply." He said. Tarlock smiled.
"We wouldn't dream of it. Our nation is that of a peaceful nation." He said kindly. Sheppard nodded.
"McKay, Teyla, I'll take those for you." He said. Teyla handed hers over without debate, Rodney however, looked very torn on the matter.
"What if they're lying?" he asked in a small voice. Sheppard glared at Rodney.
"McKay, hand it over. We're trusting these good people." He said. Rodney's finger twitched, but he finally handed the gun over.
"Hopefully not a horrible decision," Rodney muttered. Sheppard shot him a shut-up-or-I'll-smack-you look. Sheppard hid the guns safely in the puddle jumper, and then returned.
"Now, where to for negotiations?" Sheppard asked. Hadyn bowed his head.
"This way, friends." He said and he and Tarlock began walking down the ice walkway.
"See, friends. You gotta be more trusting, Rodney." Sheppard said to Rodney. Rodney only moaned.
"I promise you, something is going to go wrong." McKay said. Sheppard gave him a disapproving look.
"Well with that attitude, how could it not? Lighten up, Rodney." Sheppard said lightly. Sokka laughed. Rodney shot him a glare.
"They're not bad people, Dr. McKay. They're allies with the Avatar." Sokka said. McKay rolled his eyes.
"Oh and that's supposed to make me feel so much better." Rodney snapped. Teyla put a hand on Rodney's shoulder. He stiffened, but then relaxed.
"Dr. McKay, you need to relax. Everything will be fine, if you just relax." Teyla said soothingly. McKay took a deep breath and nodded.
They were led into a larger building made entirely of ice.
"Are you freezing? I can't feel my fingers." Rodney said, rubbing them on his shirt. He blew on them. Teyla shrugged.
"I have endured worse." She said and Rodney rolled his eyes.
"Oh of course you have, Miss Wilderness Woman. I just need food. Can we eat?" he asked Sheppard eagerly. Sheppard waved him off, he was looking at the intricate designs of the giant ice building.
"We do not get much visitors. Forgive us if our people are curious," Hadyn said. Sheppard nodded.
"We will prepare a feast for your coming." Tarlock said and Rodney nearly squeaked in happiness.
"Did he say feast? I heard feast," Rodney said. Teyla gave him a look.
"Rodney, if you don't calm down, I'm going to have to shoot you." Sheppard said and Rodney shut his mouth.
"Come, sit." Tarlock said, gesturing at the table, which was the only thing that wasn't made of ice, along with the chairs. Teyla, Rodney, and Sokka all took seats. Sheppard was the last to be seated.
Tarlock folded his hands on the table. Hadyn sat next to him across from the foreigners.
"Sokka, I'm glad to see you are okay. Where is your party? Your sister and the Avatar?" Hadyn asked. Sokka looked uncomfortable.
"They're fine, they're back in the Earth Kingdom." Sokka said. Hadyn narrowed his eyes.
"I heard Long Fe has been implicating stricter rules. He seems a bit paranoid to me," Hadyn said. Sokka nodded.
"He keeps the place insanely secure. I don't know if the citizens realize how strict its gotten." Sokka said. Hadyn nodded.
"Well, they were almost laid siege upon the Fire Nation, they have reason. Now, about getting to know each other. Who are you people?" Hadyn asked. Sheppard nodded.
"Right. We come from a place called Atlantis. The Ancients built it. They also built the Ancestral gate back near the Earth Kingdom. It's this ring that allows us to travel from planet to planet." Sheppard said. Tarlock and Hadyn's eyes widened.
"That's remarkable! So you are explorers?" Tarlock asked. Sheppard nodded.
"We explore other worlds searching technologies, or cultures to trade with. We are a curious group," Teyla said and Hadyn nodded.
"What could you offer us? I see you own that flying device. I doubt you'd part with one of those, would you?" Tarlock asked. Sheppard smiled a little.
"Yeah, we need those. But, if you are in need of medicinal purposes, we have a lot of advanced medicine to cure your sick." Sheppard said. Hadyn looked mildly interested.
"We also have crops that do not seem to grow here due to harsh weather." Teyla added. Tarlock nodded.
"What would you want in turn?" Tarlock asked.
"For now, we would only ask you be our allies. If you have any crops you would like to trade us. That would work. Do you have anything in mind?" Teyla asked. Hadyn shook his head.
"We will keep in mind what we could offer you. Maybe training for your warriors?" Tarlock suggested. Sheppard gave a half shrug.
"Eh, that could work. What about you guys, we hardly know anything about you." Sheppard said.
"We have been around for many years. We have a sister tribe, the Southerners. We don't keep in contact as much as we should, but they are still our sisters. We are a peaceful nation, as we have stated. We normally are allied with the Earth Kingdom, so it is likely if you are allied with us, they will follow. However, the Fire Nation aren't so sympathetic. They wish world domination. Would you help us in the fight against them?" Tarlock asked. Sheppard shrugged.
"Sure, if to prevent world domination." Sheppard said. Tarlock grinned.
"Then we are in agreement. You have an alliance my friend," Tarlock stuck out his hand. Sheppard shook it.
"Great! Well we should get back. I need to report that negotiations went well. Maybe we can schedule a next meeting?" Sheppard asked. There was a bloodcurdling shriek behind him that made him jump. Tarlock and Hadyn looked up in alarm.
A woman with black hair came tearing into the building. "Tarlock!" she shrieked.
"Lydia! What is the matter?" Tarlock asked. Lydia clutched onto Tarlock's robes. Her eyes were filled with fear.
"It's one of the villagers! I cannot recognize him, all that there's left is— is—" she gasped for air, as the fear seemed to be sucking it from her. Tarlock gripped the woman's wrists.
"What? What is there left of woman?" he demanded. She took a deep breath. It was rattling.
"Bones," the word was chilling. Sheppard stiffened and he glanced at Teyla and Rodney. Bones?
"I found him in the canoe shed. There are villagers surrounding it, they are terrified Tarlock!" Lydia gasped. Tarlock rose with such force, the table shuddered.
"Take me there. Now." He ordered. Lydia nodded fearfully. She hurried out the door, Tarlock striding after her. Hadyn looked after him in alarm.
"You should stay here." Hadyn said, but Sheppard stood with him.
"I think we should come," he said. Hadyn shook his head.
"No matter, come, quickly." He said hurriedly. They all followed Hadyn and Tarlock. Teyla caught up with Sheppard and whispered to him.
"You do not think—?" she questioned. Sheppard shook his head.
"I really hope not." He answered back. They made it to the canoe shed which was right on the bank of the river that separated the village, only the bridge crossing it. Lydia was right, the canoe shed was swarming with villagers. Tarlock had to bark out loud for villagers to step aside. Hadyn, Sheppard, and the rest quickly followed.
They made it to the clearing, and Sheppard felt his throat constrict. What he saw laying on the ground near the canoes was a skeleton.
"Oh crap," he cursed. Teyla's eyes filled with fear.
"John, how is this possible?" she asked him.
"The dang thing must have stowed away on the new puddle jumper. This is bad," he said and Tarlock, who had gone very white, jerked his head at Sheppard.
"What is bad? Do you know what did this?" Tarlock demanded. Sheppard met Tarlock's eyes.
"It was a Wraith. It hid in our ship somehow and now its loose." Sheppard said, not eager for Tarlock's reaction.
"Wraith? What is this Wraith?" Tarlock asked.
"It feeds on humans. With its hand. It is extremely dangerous, I would have you have all the villagers stay inside while we hunt it." Teyla said quickly. Tarlock's eyes widened.
"You brought this demon with you?" he raged. Sheppard struggled not to roll his eyes. He was not in the mood for some moody leader who wouldn't listen to reason.
"Not intentionally! Look, it's only one Wraith. We can kill it easy. You just have to let us," Sheppard said. Tarlock stormed over to Sheppard, coming face to face.
"A villager is dead because of that thing, Sheppard! I do not take death lightly," he spat. Sheppard didn't move, but stared back at the looming Tarlock.
"No one does, Tarlock." Hadyn said from behind him. "Let them rid of us this beast! Before anyone else has to die!" Hadyn begged him. Tarlock breathed heavily. Sheppard involuntarily held his breath.
"Fine! But if it is not dead and I find another villager is, the deal is off. You will become sworn enemies to this world." Tarlock threatened. Sheppard nodded.
"Got it. Tell the villagers to lock their houses. If you have waterbender warriors that can protect them, I'd get them out there as bodyguards. Do not let the Wraith touch you, he will kill you. Alright?" Sheppard said. Tarlock nodded stiffly.
"Get going," Tarlock said. He began listing off orders, and Sheppard turned around.
"Sheppard! Where are you going?" Tarlock barked.
"Getting our weapons to kill the dang thing, I would suggest you don't stop us." Sheppard snapped back.
"This is great. Perfect, we become the enemy because of a stupid Wraith." Rodney moaned. Sheppard felt his nerves twitch.
"McKay, I'm going to need you to stay in the jumper with Sokka. I cannot have distractions right now, don't argue with me!" Sheppard barked. McKay shut his mouth and nodded. "We'll keep radio distance, so you know if we did it or not, okay?" Sheppard said. McKay nodded mutely. "McKay, if we cannot do this, you are going to have to come shoot the thing, okay?" he said Rodney's eyes widened with fear. His mouth opened to protest but Sheppard shut him down. "McKay! Just say yes! I believe in you." He said patting McKay's shoulder. Rodney nodded again. "Good! Teyla, let's go kill this bastard." Sheppard said.
Sheppard and Teyla retrieved their guns and shut McKay and Sokka in the puddle jumper. As Sheppard walked back into the city, he noticed all of the villagers had shut themselves in with waterbenders inside at the windows.
"Good. Teyla, can you sense it?" he asked. Teyla nodded.
"Follow me." She said.
"Quick question, why couldn't you—"
"It was asleep, John. We need to be quiet, it will hear us." Teyla said in a whisper. Sheppard nodded.
"Let's hope we don't become a sworn enemy." Sheppard said and Teyla nodded curtly.
If they screwed this up, Sheppard would not be happy. He wished Ronan was here to hunt the thing.
Sheppard focused and they began hunting the Wraith.