Sheppard discovers a green valley with an open field, where a man runs up to him in sheer terror. He tries to tell Sheppard there's a beast gaining on him. A beast about seven feet tall appears as a partially visible monster with claws, scales, and head ridge. It wastes no time attacking them both, and in the fight Sheppard is knocked unconscious, getting claw wounds for his trouble.John wakes up in the usual primitive human surroundings found on so many human-inhabited planets in the Pegasus Galaxy. The man who found him, Avrid, and his sister, Teer, explain that the Ancients created this whole area to protect people while they are trying to ascend. John is shocked to learn that there is one and only one way out: ascension. He must lose his physical body and reach a higher plane of existence.
Stranded with the villagers, the weeks turn into months. John tries to blend in by meditating with them and learning from them. But no one is ascending. One day the beast attacks the village itself, and Sheppard must defend Hedda, the little girl who healed him with the Ancient's powers. He is appalled when the other villagers run inside to hide, as if that would help against the non-corporeal beast. Sheppard faces the beast alone, feeling abandoned and hung out to dry by the passive inhabitants. But soon Teer bravely emerges to stand with him. But the beast nearly kills the Colonel again.
Sheppard tells the villagers they have to face their fears and fight it. If they don't and the creature kills them, there will be no ascension. As more time passes, Sheppard feels abandoned by his team and becomes depressed. What he doesn't know is that outside the Cloister only a few hours have passed, and McKay has made it back to Atlantis to get help. | 
