Vash was running ahead; Carter only saw occasional glimpses of his red coat flying through the trees as he ran, leapt and dodged around the vegetation. This planet was thickly forested; around them staff blasts blew splinters from tree trucks and vaporized hanging vines. Vash was effective at drawing enemy fire, as usual, and the majority of the blasts seemed to be focused on him. Wolfwood muttered a steady stream of curses, crouched low behind cover. The rest of their team was scattered, with Vash, Carter, and Wolfwood separated from Colonel O'Neill and the others. Vash's sudden diversionary tactic had worked; with their enemies' focus on Vash, Carter and Wolfwood used their zats to pick off three of the Jaffa firing staff blasts. As the last fell, the area seemed suddenly weirdly quiet. Muffled sounds of weapons fire showed where the rest of the team was pinned down, slowly moving away. They must be retreating back to the Stargate, Carter thought.Wolfwood stood, holstering his zat fiercely. With a glare at Carter, he set off in the direction Vash had gone. After a quick evaluating glance around she did the same, keeping an eye peeled for further trouble. Carter was only a few steps behind when Wolfwood came to a stop and groaned. "Oi, Spikey, what've you got yourself into now?"Carter moved forward to see Vash standing frozen in an empty ring of ground, his arms stuck out at strange angles and his face slowly turning red. Wolfwood stepped forward to grab him, reaching out- "Stop!" Carter said, her voice sharp.Wolfwood paused, surprised at her brusque tone. Carter scanned the area, her eyes narrowing. Vash was frozen, completely unmoving; he hadn't even acknowledged their presence. Bending, Carter scooped up a handful of dirt and flung it towards him. "Oi!" Wolfwood said indignantly, then stopped, mouth open. The dirt had spattered over a previously invisible surface, tracing thick filaments wrapping around Vash's limbs, body, and neck. A couple more thrown handfuls marked the outline of the invisible thing to where it was anchored in the ground. Carter raised her P90, saying, "Wolfwood! Aim low!" She raked the ground around Vash's feet with a quick burst of fire. Wolfwood pulled his handgun and imitated her, bullets tearing through the invisible thing like a knife through paper. Dirt-spattered tendrils writhed and thrashed, loosening, and Vash gasped, normal color returning to his face. The thing sagged, and Vash frantically pushed at the air around his neck and limbs, shrugging it off and leaping back out of range, shaking one boot with a last undignified wiggle to rid himself of the grasping plant. He coughed, then cleared his throat. "Ah, thanks, Wolfwood, Carter." He gave an embarrassed laugh. "That thing almost got me!"Wolfwood strode forward and smacked him on the back of the head, grimacing as Vash yelped and rubbed at the spot. "Oi, Spikey, be more careful!" He frowned. "Just cuz a gun ain't pointed at ya doesn't mean it's safe to run around like a toma with its head cut off!" He scowled."Yeah, okay, geez!" Vash pulled a comical face. "You don't have to tell me again! That was a little TOO up close and personal!" Carter gave a sigh of mixed humor and relief as the two bickered. Vash didn't seem to be hurt. Off in the distance sounds of gunfire and staff blasts started up again. Carter tensed, then turned and spoke to Vash and Wolfwood. "Come on, they need our help! Let's go!" She led the way, scanning the forest for further dangers, with Vash and Wolfwood close behind.