MC4A
Fill: 5
Prompt: 3E (Kindness)
Representations: Ronon Dex; Merlin; Running
Bonus Challenges: Where Angels Fear; Second Verse (Most Human Bean; Lettuce Hold Hands; Head of Perseus; Call Me Dantes; Creature Feature; Some Beach; Middle Name; Nightingale)
Stacked With: Winter Bingo; Romance Challenge; No Capes Required; Shadows of Consequence; Paranormal Phantasm; Terms of Service; New Fandom Smell; In a Flash; Doggy; The Real MC
Word Count: 1,116

He followed the strange man for several minutes until they entered a distinctly less bloodied clearing. A large wolf-like creature with wings approached him with said wings flared. Ronon stayed very still as it inspected him, the stranger merely running his hand over the creature's head as he passed.

"Don't mind Cleo," he said as he rummaged through a wooden case. "She feels the need to double check anyone I bring home."

Ronon nodded silently as Cleo continued sniffing at him. She circled around him and nudged his back several times—right where he knew the Wraith implant would be. She snorted and moved over to the stranger, settling down next to him with a sigh.

The man gestured for Ronon to sit on the log that he evidently used as a bench. "Sit. We'll fix you up so you don't have to worry about any more visitors."

"What?" Ronon asked, not understanding how the man could know he was a Runner or how to make the Wraith stop being able to find him wherever he was.

"You're a Runner, I've met a few of you and I know how to remove your implant." Ronon stared at him as he walked over with various herbs in his hands. "The name's Merlin, by the way. Yours?"

"Ronon."

"Right. Well then, Ronon. I assume you want to stop the Wraith coming after you with their advantages? I assure you, I only wish to help and you are more than welcome to have your weapon ready while I do this."

Ronon's hand went to his blaster at the reminder that it was there. Did he want to trust this strange man who had shredded through three Wraith with apparent ease? Sure, he seemed to have no love for the beasts but that didn't mean that he necessarily held love for Runners.

Still, if there was a chance. "I'll take you up on that."

"Good." The man was now crouched over a fire that had burst into life as soon as he'd crouched down.

He shredded the herbs he had gathered—several of them Ronon recognised as the ones he had been using while on the planet for healing—and tossing them into a stone bowl. The water that had been boiling on the sudden fire was splashed into the bowl and mixed with all the herbs to make a paste.

Cleo padded over silently and laid her head on Ronon's lap. Startled but not wanting to upset Cleo or Merlin, he allowed it. After a few minutes of silence as Merlin made his paste, Ronon's hand started running over Cleo's head and she rumbled in appreciation.

Merlin stood up and approached him with the paste. "This will probably hurt," he warned. "The paste is to help numb the pain and allow my, ah, special abilities work better for this particular procedure."

Ronon merely nodded. "Get on with it."

Merlin did, and he was right that it would hurt. Ronon's grip tightened on his blaster (thankfully not the trigger) as he let out a hoarse yell. Merlin and Cleo both ignored him; Cleo merely leaned her weight further into the Runner while Merlin went about removing the tracing chip. He could feel his numb skin separating without any sort of implement as Merlin started muttering in a strange language behind him.

After two minutes of the agonising pain and Merlin's murmuring, the chip was removed and placed beside Ronon on the log. He stared at it in wonder. The small piece of technology had kept him on the move for seven years and now it was out of him and he was free. He could spend more than a few days on a planet without fear that the Wraith would come and destroy it purely because of him.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Merlin walked around into his line of vision and smiled softly. "No problem. I'm always happy to help someone in need."

"Meet a lot of people in need?" Ronon asked.

"Not so many now. A planet is a big larger than a citadel, or even a kingdom. Plus, this seems to be a planet that only those on the road visit. Food?"

"I should leave, and so should you. The Wraith will come back here to see why their scouts haven't returned and my chip hasn't moved." Ronon looked around the clearing and felt a pang of guilt for being the reason the man had to leave what was clearly his home.

Merlin shook his head in a negative. "I don't have to go anywhere. There's a system in place for occasions such as these. Cleo."

The creature lifted her head off Ronon's lap and went to stand next to him. Merlin scooped up the chip, placed it in string bag that was then looped over Cleo's neck. The winged cat nudged her head against Merlin before bounding off in the direction of the Astra Porta.

"She's going to make the Wraith chase her?" Ronon questioned. "Is that safe?"

"Cleo can take care of herself, but thank you for asking. You didn't answer my previous question, food? I'm afraid I can't offer you any meat, I never quite got the hang of hunting and find myself quite happy with what the plants on this world provide me with."

"I'd love some food." Reassured that the Wraith would not be returning in search of him, Ronon was relieved to be given a breather and a meal. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Two years ago, Ronon had arrived at a lush green planet that held all sorts of useful things. By far, the most useful was Merlin. The man had not stopped at merely taking out the Wraith tracking device and feeding the exhausted Runner; he had agreed to accompany Ronon as the now ex-Runner set off on his revenge mission against the Wraith.

They were a small team, but they were effective. Now they were stepping into the city of the Ancients with their new allies who had made it their home. With the added resources, there was hope that the battle against the Wraith would soon be over and civilisations would be allowed to grow once more.

Merlin smiled as he took in Atlantis. "Hello again. I see you've found some new friends, I've brought one of my own."

Used to the weirdness of Merlin and the wealth of knowledge he possessed, Ronon didn't pay much attention to the fact that Merlin had apparently already been to the city of the Ancients—or that he was talking to it. He let himself be introduced to the city and felt a warm glow envelop him. He was welcome here.