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Flatkatsi
Jack's Fangtastic Adventure – Part Eight
"Christ, Major, what are these things!" Captain Liam Jones slid into place next to Sam, causing dust to billow into her face. She held in the cough that rose in the back of her throat, and narrowed her eyes, sighting on another target.
She didn't bother replying to a question for which she had no answer, instead asking one of her own.
"How's the Colonel?"
The young, dark haired officer pulled his weapon up into position, resting his elbow firmly on the ground before answering, firing as he did so.
"He says he's okay, but it's a pretty deep wound. Doctor Jackson managed to get a dressing on it before the last attack. Colonel Johnson sent me back to tell you that at the first opportunity we're going to retreat to the gate."
For a second Sam's rapid fire halted. "He can't do that! What about Colonel O'Neill?"
A shape flickered at the edge of their vision and they turned as one, sending a hail of bullets in its direction.
Jones raised his voice above the crack of weapons fire. "We've already lost Sergeant Deol, and we're running short of ammunition. We don't have any choice." He glanced quickly across at the Major, seeing her set face, the mixture of sweat and dirt doing nothing to hide her displeasure. "I'm sorry to say this, sir, but the chances of Colonel O'Neill still being alive are pretty slim."
Sam didn't answer. She concentrated on firing into the shimmering air that was the only warning of the hyenas' presence. So far they had managed to keep them at bay, but at a very high cost. Sergeant Deol had been taken the first night they camped on the planet, five days ago, his terrified screams the first inkling that anything was wrong. The next day they found bloody soil covered in large paw prints, and the remains of his uniform, ripped to shreds.
From then on they stood watch in pairs.
Sam had, only to herself, begun to think of the animals as the Reetou Hyenas. They appeared and disappeared in the blink of an eye, darting in to attack and retreating before they could be targeted. Her team had been very lucky when they first encountered them, and she could only surmise that it was because the hyenas were unfamiliar with SG-1's weapons. Now their tactics had changed.
The last attack had been almost an hour ago. Both teams had taken a stand in the shallow ditch that was the only evidence that water ever flowed across the plain.
Sam glanced towards the depression the others had settled in, a short distance from her own small hiding place. Flashes from Teal'c's staff weapon were accompanied by the echo of gunfire. She could see the top of the Jaffa's head, but nothing more. Beside her the Captain was silent. He had lost one of his teammates, in terrible circumstances, and it was obvious to her that he thought enough was enough – that searching for a dead man was not worth more lives.
Maybe he was right.
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Jack got several miles before he collapsed, tumbling to the ground. He had some warning, spinning vision and a sudden feeling of distance, as if he was an observer of his own struggles. Realising what was about to happen a split second before it did, he had just enough time to turn his body slightly, keeping the still sleeping pup from harm by cushioning it with his arms. The resulting impact with the hard ground sent him spiralling into darkness.
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The prey had gone, taking one of the young.
Its mother sat in one corner, her remaining pups gathered around. Across the cavern the young male given the task of guarding the prey was the center of a circle of accusing eyes. He had fallen asleep, thinking the prey too weak to run. When the other males returned he would pay the price for his failure, the packs' justice swift and deadly.
They waited. The leader would return soon and there was no need to hurry. The trail was clear even to the most inexperienced eyes. The prey would not escape.
The pup would be back with its mother before nightfall.
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