Chapter XVII

“What are you thinking, Little Dragon Warrior?”

Gabrielle started at the unexpected voice and swiveled her head in the direction the sound came from.  Then she openly stared at the beautiful woman who sat tranquilly beside her.

The woman returned her stare without blinking and Gabrielle saw many things in the brown, almond shaped eyes that gazed into her very soul.  Finally, she turned away, embarrassed.

“I’m sorry,” she said, looking out over the river at the great statue of Buddha.  “It’s just that I have not heard that name in a very long time.”

“Almost an entire millennia, I believe.  A very long time to have been alone.”

Gabrielle’s eyes hardened.  “Do I know you?”

“No, Gabrielle.  But we share a mutual friend.”  Gabrielle’s brow rose in question and Ch’uang-Mu smiled at the recognized gesture.  Aphrodite had spent considerable time sharing this particular tale with the goddess and Ch’uang-Mu had been fascinated by the story as it had unfolded.  Nowhere else in the vast archives of the world wide god web had anything been as interesting to watch... or as painful to endure.

Now sitting face-to-face with one half of the personalities involved in that story, she could easily see why Aphrodite was so fascinated by them both.  There was an underlying strength that lent character to Gabrielle’s features and yet her beauty was wrapped in sensitivity as well.  It was a rare combination and Ch’uang-Mu wished she could meet this soul’s other half.

When she noticed the second brow rise to meet the first, Ch’uang-Mu realized she had been staring while Gabrielle waited for an answer.  She bowed her head in muted apology.

“A thousand pardons, Gabrielle.  Your story is simply amazing and I got lost thinking about it when I finally saw you face-to-face, as it were.”

“Oookaaaaay,” Gabrielle replied, drawing the word out.  “That still doesn’t explain anything to me nor does it tell me who you are.”

“Hiya, Sweetcheeks!  What’s shakin’?”

Gabrielle looked at Aphrodite, then at Ch’uang-Mu and noted their close proximity to one another.  “Let me guess... our mutual friend?”

Ch’uang–Mu flushed slightly and nodded, but did not move away from the love goddess from Greece.  Gabrielle reached out to draw Aphrodite into a hug.  Now the Chinese goddess stepped aside, knowing these two old friends needed to reconnect again. The embrace was long as it had been a little while since Gabrielle’s last visit to Olympus.  The Greek gods had begun spending more time there again and less in Rome and that made it harder for her to stay.

“I’ve missed you, Cutie,” Aphrodite whispered with a kiss to the top of Gabrielle’s head.  “And one of these days you’ve gotta like, share your secret with me.”

Gabrielle pulled back just enough to be able to look Dite in the eye.  “What secret?” genuinely confused, but thoroughly glad to see Dite nonetheless.

Dite took a big sniff and grinned.  “*That* secret.  The ‘you always smell great’ secret,” remembering all too well her own smelly experience with being all too human.

Gabrielle laughed and blushed, mindful that they still had an audience.  “Dite, I don’t always smell great. Especially after a long day of working, or fighting, or even just walking.  You just happened to catch me right after a bath.”

The goddess narrowed her eyes.  “Uh huh.  Sure.  Tell it to somebody that hasn’t smelled you for nearly a millennia, less a century or so.  I think you’ve just got great pheromones.”

“Dite!!  I think you’re just trying to embarrass me!”  Bur Gabrielle couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up.

“Nope, I’m just trying to steal your secret.”  She wiggled her eyebrows rakishly.  “Wanna share pheromones?”

Gabrielle didn’t respond at first, except to simply cover her eyes and laugh.  When she finally got herself under control, she looked at Dite seriously and said, “You need to get out more.”

Ch’uang-Mu spoke up.  “That is what *I* told her,” with just the slimmest edge of jealousy.  Gabrielle tilted her head slightly, as though trying to figure out the inflection and why it seemed to be directed at her.  It was then that Ch’uang-Mu realized the truth and smiled gracefully.  “Maybe now she’ll believe me,” said with a more genuine smile.

Dite planted her hands on her hips and pouted.  “Ya’ll are like, pickin’ on me.”

“Nah,” Gabrielle replied saucily.  “But I bet we could if we tried.”

“Hmph.  Maybe I shouldn’t introduce the two of you.  Might be radically dangerous for me.”

“You might enjoy it,” Ch’uang-Mu teased.

Dite looked between the two of them and leered.  “Hmm... two beautiful babes.  Oh yeah, the things I suffer through in the name of love.”

Twin expressions, complete with a single raised brow faced her and Aphrodite chuckled.  “You guys are so totally priceless.  Ch’uang-Mu, Chinese goddess of things in the bedroom, meet Gabrielle, bitchin’ immortal bard, warrior and teacher.”

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Gabrielle.  Aphrodite really has told me all about you.”

“Oh?”

“Yep,” Dite took up the conversation.  “With it being so radically hard for you to get to Olympus these days, I figured it might be nice to have someone on this side of the world who you could talk to when I can’t like, you know, get away.  Ch’uang-Mu and I have been friends for a long time and since we both do the love thing, we talk a lot.”

“Aphrodite shared your story with me, Gabrielle and I’d like to be your friend, if you’ll let me.  But I certainly won’t impose if it makes you uncomfortable.”

Gabrielle studied the two of them for a long moment.  She saw nothing but an earnest desire for friendship coming from Ch’uang-Mu and a caring, hopeful expression on Dite’s face.

“I’d like another friend,” she said finally.  “Immortality ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Ah, truer words were never spoken,” Ch’uang-Mu said, then chuckled.  “Humans think we have it so easy and yet....”  She looked at Gabrielle.  “And somehow, I think it is worse for you than for us.  We still have duties and responsibilities and of course, the god web.”  The last was added a bit impishly.

“Totally rockin’, babes.  Although,” Dite added in an aside to Ch’uang that she made certain Gabrielle would hear.  “Ya prob’ly shouldn’t let that one on the god web alone,” gesturing towards the bard.  “You remember the great crash we had a while back....”  Dite let her words trail off thought her eyes conveyed precisely what she was talking about. 

Ch’uang’s almond eyes grew almost comically round as she realized exactly what incident Aphrodite was referring to.  “Oh my,” she said as she focused on Gabrielle.  “That was you?”

Gabrielle turned a shade of scarlet so deep, Ch’uang expected to see blood on the outside of her skin.  And she remained that color longer than a human being should have been able to maintain it.

“I have to say, Gabrielle, it really was quite a work of art you managed.  Not something I’d necessarily like to see again, but it was a masterpiece unto itself.  I do not believe I have ever seen that many snarls on the network since its inception.”

Gabrielle scrubbed her face.  “It was an accident,” she muttered.

Ch’uang placed a hand on the bard’s shoulder.  “Of that much, we were ALL sure.  I don’t think it could have been done intentionally.  Do you know what you did?”

“Not exactly,” she continued to mumbled, her eyes still on the ground.  “I pushed the wrong button.”

“Well, if you don’t mind sharing, we can surf the god web together from time to time.  I have to keep an eye on this one,” jerking her thumb in Aphrodite’s direction.

“HEY!!!  I’m a good goddess, ya know!!”

“I know,” Ch’uang smirked, feeling a bit playful now that her jealousy had been put aside.  “That is why I have to keep an eye on you.”

“Hmph,” Dite pouted, but couldn’t stop the smile or the twinkle that crossed her face.  “C’mon.  I’m hungry and I think the Little Dragon Warrior is prob’ly in need of sustenance by now as well.”

“Please don’t call me that,” Gabrielle said unexpectedly.  “I know you don’t either one mean anything by it, but none of the memories I have of that name are good ones.”

Both goddesses looked a little stunned at her pronouncement.  They had only recently met face to face as it were and had been developing a real friendship and respect, though it was clear there would probably be more between them sooner rather than later.  They had forgotten though that Gabrielle wasn’t part of the little trysts that were common in their existence and that name especially reminded her of just how alone she was in the world.

“Sorry, babe,” Aphrodite said in a subdued voice.  “I just....”  Dite broke off, not sure what else to say.

“I, too, apologize, Gabrielle.  The name just seemed so suited to you.  I did not stop to think how many unhappy memories you associated with it.”

“It’s all right, really,” Gabrielle replied, feeling a little conspicuous about having reacted so strongly.  “I just prefer Gabrielle, although ‘Cutie’ is kinda nice too.”

Dite brightened considerably.  “Gnarly, dudette.  Now,” as three stomachs growled in tandem.  “Let’s go eat.  There is this majorly fab Sichuan place that has the most radical Gongbao chicken you have ever tasted.”

Ch’uang-Mu nodded.  “I know the place of which you speak... and they deliver.”  With a wave of her hand, the trio disappeared.

Aphrodite stayed around for a little while once they adjourned to Ch’uang’s palace to insure that Gabrielle was secure in Ch’uang’s company.  Then made haste to get back to Greece, not wanting anyone to become suspicious of her absence and hoping like Tartarus she’d made the right decision in trusting the Chinese goddess.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle and Ch’uang were beginning to know one another and both discovered much to like and admire about the other.  Gabrielle found Ch’uang reminded her greatly of Lao Ma and realized it was much easier to like her when Xena’s past wasn’t between them.

Ch’uang was much more reserved than Aphrodite, but Gabrielle discovered she had a very sly sense of humor.  So a bit of time passed for Gabrielle as she and Ch’uang became acquainted and Gabrielle learned many things about the Chinese culture.

Finally, Ch’uang mentioned that the Chinese New Year was approaching and with the coming of a new millennium, the people were going all out to celebrate.

“Good grief!!  I have been here over a century??”  Gabrielle wasn’t sure whether to be appalled, annoyed or amazed.  It really hadn’t seemed that long and she had learned so much about not only China, but many of the different lands surrounding the country.

She had taken many short field trips, going in and out of places like a spectre or wraith, but a goodly portion of her time had been spent in Ch’uang’s palace reading and learning.

“I need to get out... go back on the road.  The little side trips I’ve made aren’t enough.”

“Enough for what, Gabrielle?  You’re not seeking redemption... yours or Xena’s.  There is no reason you should have to suffer through any more of humanity’s growing pains than necessary.  Why do you feel the need to continually put yourself out there?  You have a home here.”

Gabrielle sighed almost silently.  “Ch’uang, I am thankful for your hospitality and you giving me a place to be safe for a while.  But this is not my home.”

Ch’uang looked down at the floor, a crestfallen expression crossing her face.  “I am sorry, Gabrielle.  I am being selfish.  Having you here has been so much fun for me... a breath of fresh air.  You see and appreciate things that most of us take for granted or have forgotten about.  It has been wonderful to experience things through your eyes.”

“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because I have really enjoyed my time here with you.  This culture has been a joy to learn about and be a part of, but I really can’t *live* here indefinitely.”  She paused to blow out a breath and ran her hands through her hair.

“It’s hard to explain, especially to someone like you who actually needs to stay.  There is a part of me that needs to be on the road helping people.  Even in all the quick little side trips I took, I tried to take the time to help others.”  Gabrielle shrugged.  “It’s just part of who I am.”

Ch’uang nodded.  “I know... I watched you.”  She smiled tremulously at the bard and held out a hand.  “I will miss having you here though.  Now come,” she said almost imperiously.  “In all the time you have been with us, you have not gotten your zodiac reading.  You must do that before the new millennium.”

“How come?”

Ch’uang raised an eyebrow.  “Because I said so.”  Then she chuckled.  “Besides, it is a lot of fun.  I think you will find it interesting.  And afterward, we will go sit on the roof and watch the fireworks display.”  She hesitated then went on more softly.  “Aphrodite promised to be here.”

Gabrielle’s eyes lit up.  Nice as Ch’uang had been and though their circumstances had definitely grown a strong friendship between she and Gabrielle, the bard still missed Aphrodite’s somewhat constant presence in her life.

The Greek/Roman gods had mostly fallen out of favor with people and though they were still alive, their powers were greatly diminished.  Most of them had chosen to come home to Greece to live in comfort and relative boredom.

Aphrodite was still quite active and since she drew her strength for the power of love itself, she was also much stronger than all but Ares.  Love and war seemed to be the two most constant, consistent forces in the world and it enabled the two of them to continue to function more normally than the rest, though they could both feel a distinct difference in the potency of their powers. 

So they still traveled and did what they could, though it wasn’t at nearly the intensity that it had been in their heyday.

Aphrodite had gone to China twice in the time that Gabrielle had been there.  Once she’d been gone mountain climbing in Tibet, though when Dite got a good look at the mountain, she had to wonder about the prudence of her actions, even if Gabrielle was an immortal.  Seemed like an awful lot of work just to go to the top.  But she was happy that Gabrielle was staying busy, since that more than anything besides Xena tended to make her happy.

The second time had been almost awkward for Dite, though she realized that feeling was all on her side and probably due to her own jealousy.  Seeing Ch’uang and Gabrielle happy together, even though she knew there was nothing more than friendship between them, made the little green monster want to come out and play.  But Dite remembered all too clearly what that particular emotion had done to Cupid and she deliberately set it aside.  Then found that her feelings were completely ungrounded as she was welcomed heartily by both women.  It had been the most fun she’d had in ages and Aphrodite was looking forward to returning for the millennium.

Gabrielle was happy and Ch’uang could clearly see the difference in the bard’s demeanor at her pronouncement.

“I guess you have missed her?”

Gabrielle nodded.  “Yeah.  We’ve been friends for a long time and I do miss getting to talk to her.  The god web thing just isn’t the same.”

Ch’uang chuckled.  “Agreed.  I too am looking forward to her visit.  She has a way of bringing her own fun.”

Gabrielle laughed.  “Oh yeah.”  Then the two of them meandered down towards the temple library.

“I cannot believe we haven’t done this already.  Did you read about the Chinese zodiac in all of your studying, Gabrielle?”

Gabrielle scratched her forehead.  “I think so, but I’m not remembering any of it clearly right now.”

“Given the vastness of the library you’ve been reading the last hundred years or so, I do not doubt it.  Our zodiac was established mostly to name the years to help delineate the passing of time.  The people decided to get a bit of enjoyment out of it and took attributes from each of the animals that were chosen to be the year’s mascots.  Those traits are said to represent the personality of the person born to that year.”

They entered the library together and Ch’uang led Gabrielle over to a small alcove that housed several beautifully woven tapestries.  Each of them contained a different animal and the largest of them contained all twelve.  Gabrielle stood in front of this one for a long moment, simply studying the delicate embroidery involved in creating such a work of art.  She reached out a hand to touch it and hesitated, looking to Ch’uang for permission.  The goddess nodded her head and gave Gabrielle a slight smile.

Gabrielle ran her hands gently along the silk fabric, marveling at the intricacy of the work and the richness of detail involved in each aspect of the animals represented.

“This is amazing,” Gabrielle finally commented.  “I can’t believe I missed this.”

“Well, it’s not like this is part of the open area of the temple,” Ch’uang pointed out.  “You really have to know it is here to look for it.”

“So tell me about them.”

“What year were you born, Gabrielle?”

Gabrielle told her and Ch’uang laughed softly.  “You really have aged very gracefully.”  Gabrielle blushed, even as she chuckled at the teasing.  Before she could respond, Ch’uang went on... “Especially for a pig.”

Gabrielle’s brows flew into her hairline and she choked out, “Excuse me?”

Ch’uang motioned to the tapestry.  “You were born in the year of the pig,” she replied seriously, but her eyes held a teasing twinkle that made Gabrielle realize she was being tweaked just a little.

“Wonderful,” she muttered.  “Xena will have a field day with this.”

“Well, the characteristics surrounding the pig are quite pleasant,” Ch’uang replied.  “And I’d be willing to wager, fairly accurate.  According to my people, you are a splendid companion and an intellectual... someone who thinks deeply about things and sets difficult goals, prepared to carry them out. You are sincere, tolerant and honest.  At one point, you were incredibly naive because you expected the same from others, but life and time have wrenched that ideal from your grasp.  Now you simply maintain your own code of morality and adjust to deal with others who hold to a different code.”

Gabrielle thought about that for a few moments, taking in all the nuances of what Ch’uang had said.  “I can live with that I think,” she said with a smile.  Then added impishly, “So what does that make Xena?” giving Ch’uang the warrior’s birth date and remembering just how hard it had been to pry that information out of Xena once upon a time.

“Hmm... your partner is a monkey.”

“Heh... I could work with that,” Gabrielle murmured to herself.  “Wonder how she’d look with a tail.”  It took a moment of total silence before Gabrielle realized that in her contemplation of said picture, Ch’uang was regarding her with studied amusement.

“Ahem,” she laughed softly.  “Sorry about that.  What are the monkey’s attributes?”

Ch’uang’s dark eyes sparkled with unveiled amusement.  “Well, she is very intelligent with a deep desire for knowledge and a hidden, clever wit combined with an excellent memory. She is skillful and flexible, remarkably inventive and original.  She can solve the most difficult problems with ease and has a magnetic personality, which is a good quality for a leader, but she is quite distrustful of other people.”

“Amazing.”  Gabrielle’s eyes narrowed.  “Are you sure you didn’t study us first and just make that up?”

Ch’uang laughed, a clear, ringing sound.  She walked over to the shelves and pulled out a particularly thick tome.  “See for yourself.”

She opened the volume to the spot that talked about the zodiac and Gabrielle rapidly began scanning the page.

“This is amazing,” she said as she continued to read.  “I know people who fit all these descriptions.”

“As do I.  It seems....”  Whatever thought Ch’uang was going to add was dissipated by the unexpected arrival of the Greek goddess of love who showered the room with rose petals as she made her entrance.

“Yo babes!  Whassup?”

She dropped an arm around Gabrielle’s shoulders and kissed her head gently.  “Hey, Cutie!  I’ve missed ya.”

Gabrielle returned the embrace fully.  “Hi, Aphrodite.  I’ve missed you too.”

Dite smiled at her affectionately then turned to Ch’uang without releasing Gabrielle.  She held out a hand which the Chinese goddess accepted.  “And how are you, hon?”

Ch’uang-Mu squeezed Dite’s hand.  “I am well.  Yourself?”

Dite hugged Gabrielle once more then let go of her.  “Can’t complain, I s’pose.  Love is love everywhere and it keeps my juices flowing, ya know.  I do kinda miss the old days, but at least I’ve still got the power, if you know what I mean.  A lot of the gods are pretty much powerless, so I guess I’m one of the lucky ones.”

Ch’uang took both of Aphrodite’s hands in her own.  “Well, I for one am glad you are lucky.”

Gabrielle observed silently as the two of them spoke.  The dynamic connecting them had changed and changed again.  The lust that had burned so obviously between in their early relationship had deepened into true affection and friendship, but surprisingly, not love.  Gabrielle was curious enough to wonder if they had ever consummated the lust, but her private belief was that they had not.  Or if they had, it had been a very, very brief affair.

While she was thinking, Aphrodite and Ch’uang finished up their conversation and they turned to her.  She looked up at them with a puzzled expression.  “What?”

Dite shook her head.  “Nothing.  You just looked so totally involved in thinking that we decided to let you know, like finish first.”  She took a deep breath.  “So tell me about this gnarly room.  I’ve never seen this cool stuff before.”

“Ah,” Ch’uang answered smoothly.  “We were doing a reading on Gabrielle... explaining her zodiacal symbol to her.”

“Awesome!  So what are ya, babe?”

“She is a pig,” Ch’uang answered when Gabrielle covered her hand to hide the blush that suffused her face and groaned pathetically.  Aphrodite howled in laughter.

“Oh my gods!  Priceless!!  I have blackmail material for years now.”

“Be nice to me,” Gabrielle growled from behind her hand.

“Why?  This is bitchin’.  And while I’m totally sure that what the Chinese define as piggish behavior is different from ours, the tweak factor on this is just so totally there.”

“Yes, but you love me and don’t want to make fun of me like that.”

Dite was momentarily stunned by Gabrielle’s words until she realized the context in which they were meant.  Then she giggled.

“You’re right, I do love ya, but I am gonna absolutely razz you about this.  It is just way too precious.”

Gabrielle sank into the chair and dropped her head on the desk.  “I’m doomed,” she moaned, eliciting laughter from both non-sympathetic deities.

A stirring in the vestibule made Ch’uang realize how close it was to the New Year.  “Come.  It is very nearly the New Year and we do not want to miss any of the fireworks. I understand that the planners have gone all out in their efforts to make this truly spectacular.”

She whisked them to the roof of the palace moments before the festivities were scheduled to start.  The two goddesses sat in comfortable chaises in the middle of the roof, while Gabrielle wandered to the edge to view the massive crowd gathered in the streets below.

They had a flagon of wine between them and several courtesans who made sure their glasses remained full and their plates were never empty.  Gabrielle stood apart, feeling the differences between both herself and the throng which was congregated below and the goddesses who were mere feet behind her.  Again she felt her solidarity in the world and her resolve firmed to go out again and try to find some meaning to her existence.

Behind her, Dite and Ch’uang kept a casual eye on her while watching the festivities taking place around them.

“You know she is leaving,” Ch’uang commented to Dite.

Dite nodded.  “I figured as much.  She lasted way longer than I expected her to.”

“I will miss her.  She has become a good friend.”

Dite nodded.  “She always has been.”  She paused.  “Do you know where she is going?”

“No, not definitely, thought I suspect she will walk the wall.  It is the one thing we have talked about that she has yet to do.  Do not fret, Aphrodite.  I will keep an eye on her as I have always done for you.”  Ch’uang hesitated, then plunged forward.  “She does not know, does she?”

Dite looked at her, seeing her truth mirrored in the brown eyes which regarded her. “No,” she shook her head, “and she never will.”

Ch’uang accepted that statement with a silent nod and turned her attention back towards the magnificent display of fireworks going on just above them.

Two days later, Gabrielle departed the palace.

Gabrielle couldn’t believe how great it felt to be out and about roaming the streets again and mingling with people.  Thus far, she had rescued a chicken, stopped two fights, pulled a child from the river and traded a story for her room and board.  Now it was late on her first night back on the road and she found herself kept awake by the sheer excitement of traveling once more.

“I must be nuts,” she said to herself.  “I had everything at my fingertips and yet I prefer to be out here making my own way.”  She fell asleep to that thought with a smile on her face.

The next few days passed with minimal excitement, but Gabrielle found herself appreciating her life once more in a way she hadn’t in a while.  *This* was living, not reading about it in a palace library, though she was imminently grateful for the time she’d had to do that.  She needed down time, but she had missed this.

The down side was that her blood need had to be satisfied a little more regularly here and she actually had to hunt for it.  It was while she was on her first hunt that something totally unexpected happened.  And for Gabrielle, it would change her world forever.

Gabrielle came back from her memories with a start.  She set the diary to one side and rose from the bed, walking to the window and gazing out across the moonlit water.  The stars were bright around the orb and Gabrielle stared at them for a long time, smiling in memory when she found the North Star.

“It’s a bear, warrior.”

Chapter XVIII

Xena looked up at the night sky, easily finding the North Star.  “I still say it’s a dipper, Gabrielle,” she said with a soft sigh.  It was times like this especially that her sense of loneliness became almost overwhelming.  She missed Gabrielle with a constant ache, but at night, under the stars, the ache became an acute pain.

She was still at least another full day’s walk from where she expected her adopted family to be.  Xena was looking forward to being back with the Cheyenne tribe.  Not only had she missed them, but she was fairly certain now that the answer to how she had come to this place and time lay with them.

Without warning, an unearthly howl screamed across the landscape and sent chills skittering up Xena’s spine.  She rose from her bedroll and let her eyes wander the darkness.  A second screech put her feet into action and she was running towards the noise before her mind had processed her intentions.

Her two animal companions had gone hunting in this direction and she wondered briefly if this was the sound of their prey.  But her heart knew differently and she continued running full throttle to reach them.

When she arrived at the small glen where they were, Xena fell to her knees.  On the ground before her lay the fox, bleeding profusely and gasping for air.  Sad green eyes turned to her, conveying a truth she was not willing to admit.  She glanced to the panther and saw an agony so profound it cut through her with razor-like precision.

Gently, she picked up the fox and cradled it in her arms.  She staunched the flow of blood and took off back towards her campsite at a frantic run.  She and the panther arrived together and she placed the fox down on her pallet gently.  The panther curled protectively around its mate as much as possibly and looked up at her with pleading eyes.

One handed, she reached for her medical kit, eternally gratefully for habits that were ingrained in her psyche.  By feel alone she managed to extract gut and needle, then as quickly as she could manage she sewed the gashes that had been torn through the beautiful red coat and into the flesh and veins of the fox’s body.

Xena’s mind went back to the healing temple in Thessaly and bit her lips to keep the tears from spilling onto her face.  The harsh rasp of breathing was so much like what Gabrielle had sounded like just before she had... died... that first time and the memories this stirred still burned as sharply as they had then.

“Too much blood loss...” she muttered, knowing there was little to be done for that and almost no hope of survival.  A black paw came to rest on her knee and she turned her attention to the cat that looked back at her mournfully.  And without a word, Xena understood exactly what the panther was asking of her.

“Are you sure?” she asked.  “Do you know what it will mean... for you both?”  But even as she spoke, she felt her incisors grow to meet the need she felt emerging at the coppery scent surrounding her that she was now fully cognizant of.

In answer, the panther opened its mouth, exposing its own fangs and moving purposefully towards Xena’s wrist.

“All right, Etor.  I get the point.”  Xena sat sill for just an instant, then reached for the sharpest blade she had.  She steeled herself and cut through her skin, immediately lifting her wrist to the fox’s mouth and hoping there was enough strength left in the animal that it could drink from her.

She felt the fox’s lips nuzzle her wrist and she monitored its swallowing until she was sure the fox was getting the sustenance it needed.  When she began to feel lightheaded, Xena pulled away, binding the cut she could already feel closing. 

“That’s enough for now, Melo.  Let’s see about getting you cleaned up.”  She moved to stand but her legs refused to support her.  Instead she sank back down to the ground and blindly searched through her kit.  When she found the trail bar she’d been searching for, Xena snatched it up and began eating it.  It wasn’t what she needed, but it would suffice until she was strong enough to go on a hunt.

Unexpectedly, a plump jackrabbit fell into Xena’s lap and she would have jumped had she not been quite so drained.  She had heard the panther’s approach, of course, but she was not anticipating this particular gift to be dumped in her lap.

Without thought, Xena sank her fangs into the bunny and drank until the animal was bled dry.  It was not enough to replace what she had lost, but it did slake her hunger enough that she could function somewhat normally.

Xena set the animal aside momentarily, knowing both she and the panther would need its solid sustenance.  Then she put some water on to warm, to clean up both herself and the fox and she started preparing the rabbit for cooking.

She skinned the rabbit, then a large portion she cut off and set in front of the cat.  She cut up the remainder and dumped it into a second pot, adding a small amount of spice and covering it with water before putting it on the fire and removing the first pot.

She reached for her medical kit again and removed some clean linen scraps, wetting them and gently cleaning away the blood that the fox was still covered in.  Melo didn’t move, but simply remained still to allow Xena to do the most careful and thorough job she could. 

Once she was done, Xena looked into the fox’s tired green eyes.  “Rest now, Melo.  Etor and I will keep you safe.”

The panther resumed its protective position surrounding its mate and gently nuzzled the fox until the red furred chest moved in the deep, regular breath of sleep.  Then blue eyes met again in anguished understanding and the cat began a careful grooming of the fox.

Xena stirred the stew that had started bubbling and leaned back, closing her eyes tiredly.  She’d never allowed another creature to feed from her before and was more drained than she could possibly have imagined herself ever being.  Xena concentrated on not falling asleep, knowing she needed to eat and replenish what she had lost before surrendering to the slumber that was pulling at her so desperately.

The prickle of a sharp claw on her leg brought Xena sharply out of the light doze she had fallen into and she realized that her stew was mostly ready.  She looked down, fully expecting to see a black paw resting on her calf.  Instead, Xena noted that the two animals were twined together in sleep and that the fox’s breathing seemed to have gathered a little more strength.  She smiled, believing for the first time that the small creature might actually survive.

She portioned herself a large quantity into her bowl and moved the rest off the heat.  Then Xena ate quickly and methodically, idly noting that at least it was better than tolerable for a change.  When she was finished, she rinsed the bowl with just a bit of water and turned the bowl over the remainder of the stew to keep it for the morning meal.  Then she stretched back out on her furs and settled into sleep. Trusting to her instincts and the panther’s that nothing would happen to them in the meantime.

Morning came far earlier than Xena would have liked, but much later than she expected.  The sun was fully risen, though it was still early comparatively speaking.  Blue eyes blinked into the sunlight as she tried to fathom why exactly she was still so exhausted.

Xena sat up and looked around, rubbing her hand across her face in an effort to jump start her brain.  When she saw her companions still sleeping and completely entangled together, a sad smile crossed her face as she remembered the many mornings she and Gabrielle had done the same.  The only real difference was that the panther was shielding the fox – Gabrielle tended to use Xena as her own personal body pillow.

“One day, Gabrielle,” Xena whispered to herself.  “One day we will have that again.  I will find a way to get back to you.”

The cat’s eyes opened and with infinite care began grooming the fox again, gently encouraging the smaller animal’s wakefulness.  Reluctantly, the green eyes opened briefly, then the fox relaxed into the panther’s ministrations and let sleep overtake it once again.

Xena moved the pot of stew closer to the fire to reheat a bit without cooking it too much; then she picked up her bit of towel and soap and moved to the tiny creek to bathe.

By the time she returned, her stew was slightly bubbling and the two animals were once again sleeping soundly together.  She ate, then separated out two smaller portions, one which was mostly broth, correctly figuring that the fox would need to start rebuilding its reserves and knowing that it would need to ease back into eating.  Even with the bacchae blood Xena had shared and the immortality it had been given, the fox had suffered some gruesome wounds and it was going to take a little time for it to heal.

Xena ran a hand along the soft fur, thankful that it was the natural red of the fox’s coat and not the blood it had been covered with the night before.  She idly wondered what had happened to cause the fox’s injuries, then the green eyes opened again and Xena’s attention focused on the animal beneath her fingertips.

She heard the growling and had to chuckle silently at just how much the panther reminded her of herself.  Xena remembered the many times she had growled in just such a manner when she felt someone or something threaten Gabrielle, even long after she knew Gabrielle was more than capable of defending herself and making her own decisions.

Xena looked up into the blue eyes that were watching her carefully.  “Etor, I’m not gonna hurt Melo.  Go eat your breakfast,” pointing over her shoulder towards the bowl of stew that she’d set aside for the panther.  “I just need to make sure things are healing properly.”

The cat held Xena’s eyes for another very long moment, before its attention was drawn away by the fox.  They communicated wordlessly, then the cat stretched and gave Xena a last look before moving towards the fire and its breakfast.

Xena smirked at the familiarity of the exchange, then turned back to Melo with serious eyes.  “You know what’s changed, don’t you?” she said softly as she inspected the still damaged, though rapidly healing tissues.  “You know you’re like me now.”  Xena swallowed hard in an effort to keep the tears at bay.  “I’m sorry, Melo.  I wouldn’t have had this happen to you... either of you... for all the world.  But Etor asked and I couldn’t say no.”

Xena turned away, remembering all too clearly the pain she’d felt every time Gabrielle had been lost to her for whatever reason, but especially when she thought death had beaten her.  She shook her shoulders, trying to rid herself of the feeling of guilt that wanted to settle so squarely there, knowing it was something that she would never fully escape.

A softness on her knee returned her attention to the fox and she noted again the intelligence and compassion that lurked in those eyes.  So much like Gabrielle, was her one thought as she saw understanding and forgiveness come into them. 

“I’m glad you came into my life, Melo.  You and Etor have been good friends.  I just hope you don’t hate me for this later.”

The look never changed and Xena found comfort in that fact.  The fox closed its eyes and relaxed into Xena’s touch.  The warrior kept up a soothing motion as she carefully explored the areas which only the night before had been ripped and raw.  Already they were closed and the swelling had gone down remarkably.

“I think we’ll stay here another day,” Xena commented aloud when her examination was finished.  “At the rate you are healing, you should be secure in moving before then, but I would definitely feel better with another day of rest.”

It wasn’t typical, but Xena knew both animals would understand her need to stay put.  The fact that she admitted as much to them aloud showed precisely how badly she needed some recuperation time for herself.

The cat licked its bowl clean and moved back to its mate.  The fox watched the panther’s progress, resting securely against the black fur that snuggled up against its spine.  Xena set the bowl of broth at an angle against the panther’s paw, getting a look that could curdle milk in return.

“Yeah, yeah.  Tell it to someone who doesn’t know better, buddy.”  The look turned to one of resignation and Xena had to chuckle just slightly.

She watched patiently as the fox slowly ate the broth and then offered the animal some water.  When Xena was satisfied that she’d done all she could for the moment, she picked up both bowls and waterskin and moved to the river.  In a few short moments, her chores were done and she was back in camp.

Everything was tidy and her bladed weapons were as well honed as she could manage to make bone.  She did not have enough ammunition for the gun to do much with it and truth be told, she was still exhausted from her experience the night before.

Xena heard another soft growl come from the panther and looked up to find herself pinned in place by rather baleful blue eyes.  She felt her eyebrow rise in response.

“What?” feeling just like she did when Gabrielle looked at her that way and trying to figure out what exactly she had done to warrant that glare.

The panther stared at her rather pointedly then turned its attention to her empty pallet.  Xena had made the fur and blankets up neatly when she’d decided to stay put another day.  She followed the cat’s gaze to her made up bed, then met the eyes squarely when they returned to focus on her.  The panther let its lip curl just enough to show a hint of fang and Xena through her hands up in exasperation when a low growl emanated from the black chest.

“Fine!” she said, not realizing just how much like Gabrielle she sounded.  “Nothing like being bullied into something!”  She lay down and stretched out, unwilling to admit even to herself how badly she needed the rest.  Her eyes closed and she almost moaned at how good it felt to simply rest.  Then she sat up and pointed a finger at the cat.

“You keep watch!”  Then she fluffed up the end she was using for a pillow and pulled the covers up to her shoulders, muttering and mumbling to herself the entire time.  She was asleep before her head hit the fur.

The two animals exchanged a glance and a rumbling that could have easily been mistaken for laughter ran through them, the two sounds running counterpoint to one another to create its own music.  Then the panther gently nudged the fox into closing its eyes again and with an exasperated sigh, the fox returned to its healing sleep.  And steady blue eyes remained vigilant in the silent campsite.

It was morning again when Xena’s eyes opened, although the only way she could tell was a very slight lightening of the eastern sky and the completely rested and refreshed way her body felt.  She looked over to her companions, whose eyes were still closed in sleep.  When she blinked, she found blue eyes staring back at her and marveled once more at just how much the two animal companions were like her and Gabrielle.  Not just in their eyes and coloring, but in their mannerisms and very attitudes.

“I wish there was a way for her to meet you two.  I think she would probably love the idea of mascots and adopt you both on the spot.”

Xena stretched and groaned as her spine popped and shifted back into alignment.  “I’m getting too old for this,” she muttered as she rose from her pallet and moved to the other side of the fire.  Bright green eyes blinked at her and Xena smiled in unconscious reflex before kneeling at the fox’s side and running a gentle hand over the soft fur.

“Let me look, Melo,” Xena said, easing the fox onto its back so she could check its chest.  She ran her hands over the new, soft fur, unable to find even the slightest amount of damage.  She unwrapped her wrist, finding no trace of the cut she had put there two nights before.

“Well,” she commented, “I suppose there has to be some nice benefit to being a bacchae.  Guess that answers the immortality question, huh?”  She looked at Melo with sad blue eyes.  “Sorry,” she whispered.

“All right,” she continued, scratching her hands through her hair as she stood.  “I think we are ready to travel today.  Lemme go clean up and we’ll see if we can get to the winter camp.”

It didn’t take long and soon Xena was headed out into the prairie.  The animals walked sedately beside her for a while, then the fox felt the need to explore.  Without thought, it took off running and the panther growled as it ran to catch up.  Never before had the fox been the one to take the lead and the cat wasn’t sure what to make of it.  With a patented glare in Xena’s direction, the panther followed its mate across the open space.  Xena just laughed.

“Oh Etor.  You have no idea the trouble you’re in for now,” Xena commented absently with a grin.  She remembered fondly her own experiences with Gabrielle as the bard had started coming into her own.  Just the memories of what they’d shared and what Xena wanted desperately to recover lent wings to her own feet and soon she found that she was running simply because it made her feel like it brought her closer to her goal.

Her companions soon got into the spirit and it became something of a race.  The panther had naturally resumed the lead, when without warning the fox leaped out in front and ran like the wind, becoming a blur.  The cat stopped so quickly, it actually somersaulted on the ground before landing on its feet, eyes following its mate in disbelief.

The fox sensed the panther’s regard and turned, racing back to the cat’s side with great haste.  The smaller animal had every intention of nuzzling its mate when a throaty growl from the panther made the fox stop short.  The fox sat down and cocked its red head, gazing inquisitively at the panther, a look of curiosity crossing its features.  Xena just stood back and watched the proceedings with interest.

The panther circled the fox, sniffing reflexively.  Another throaty growl emanated from its throat before the cat turned and moved away from the fox, wandering farther out into the prairie alone. 

The fox turned its attention to Xena, gazing at the warrior with mournful eyes.  Xena knelt down to be closer to eye level.

“I’m sorry, Melo.  I don’t know how to make this better.  It’s a warrior pride thing, I’m afraid and Etor will have to come to terms with it eventually.  I just don’t know how long eventually might take.”   She looked around, noting that the panther was moving slowly enough to keep them within both hearing and sight distance.

“C’mon,” she said, standing up and beginning to walk in the panther’s direction.  “We’ve still got a ways to go yet.”

The day progressed slowly with the panther always walking just far enough ahead of Xena and the fox to be separate.  As the afternoon wore on, Xena detected a small cloud on the horizon and knew she was close to the winter camp.  

It was nearly dark when Xena reached the outskirts of the camp with Melo beside her and she was warmly welcomed by many members of the tribe.  Hotassa was the first to greet her.

“Va'ôhtama ma'pa'o, Zee-nah.”  She clasped the warrior’s hands and Xena smiled broadly, glad to be back among people she considered friends and family.  Hotassa motioned to Xena’s new clothes with a grin.

“Hello, Hotassa,” she responded automatically, then realized she was still thinking and speaking in the odd language Ari had so patiently taught her.  The Indian woman’s eyes widened and she spoke before Xena could apologize.

“Speak white now?” she asked brokenly though clearly enough that Xena understood.

Xena nodded.

“Good,” Hotassa said firmly, somewhat surprising to Xena with her vehemence.  “Make things easier for you.”  The older woman looked around, noting that the fox remained at Xena’s side while the panther had already settled itself by the fire and appeared to be sulking.  Hotassa looked back at Xena questioningly.  Xena waved her off, but Hotassa understood the answer all to well and laughed.  “Is way of love. Come,” she said with a wave and led Xena over to her fire.

The shaman was already seated and indicated for her to take a seat.  Xena set her travel bags on the ground behind her and sat, a little surprised when the fox sat beside her and laid its head in her lap.  Almost unconsciously, Xena began stroking the soft, red fur beneath her fingertips, feeling Melo relax under her touch and feeling the same peace steal over her.

They sat silently for a bit, then the shaman gestured first to the fox and then to the panther.  “Fight?”

Xena shook her head.  “No, Keto.  More like pride.” 

The elder shaman looked back and forth between the two animals and grunted. “Figures,” he muttered so low that even Xena was unsure of just exactly what he’d said.  Quiet fell between them again as Hotassa served up their evening meals.  Xena made a move to protest when a solid squeeze on her shoulder stopped her words before they could be formed, much less spoken.  So she accepted the bowl and welcomed the warmth and flavors the food provided her with.

“Good hunt?” Keto asked when he was finished and had set his empty bowl aside.  He withdrew a pipe from his pouch and pulled the tobacco out as well, packing it tightly and lighting it from a small twig he’d caught for just that purpose.  He puffed a few moments and that gave Xena time to carefully formulate her answer.

She was fairly certain that if she was mentioned by name, Ari would be recognized. In fact she suspected that Hotassa already knew that Xena had met Ari.  She couldn’t explain it as more than a feeling, but she’d learned to trust her gut and decided to speak to Hotassa about it privately.  Meanwhile, she turned her attention back to Keto.

“Yes,” she finally responded.  “I think I will stay here through the winter though.  Start fresh again in the spring.”

“Good,” he replied, taking a deep drag off his pipe and handing it to her.  Xena accepted it and took a lighter pull, allowing her thoughts to wander.  Eventually, she felt herself slip into a restful haze and spoke the words that had been teasing her for several days, but had only just been given the opportunity to slip out.

“Keto, will you take me on a vision quest?  I think my answers may be closer than I thought.  I think they may be here.”

The shaman continued to puff on his pipe as he considered her words... both spoken and otherwise.  He had wondered if she would ask; he had seen things in his own recent vision quest that she would need to know.  This would probably be the best way for her to find out.

It was unusual, though not completely unheard of for a woman to take a vision quest.  The male ceremony was different from the female however and due to her status as a warrior within the community, Xena would need to take the male ceremony to find the answers she sought.

Finally the pipe was empty and Keto knocked the few ashes left in it on the ground.  Then he turned to face Xena, who returned his stare measure for measure.  He smiled, liking what he saw in her soul and nodded. 

“I will,” was all he said at last.

Now Xena allowed her own brief smile, the relief flowing through her in palpable waves.  “Thank you, Keto,” was all she said aloud, though the shaman could feel just how much it meant to her.  She moved to stand and he placed a hand on her knee, halting her movement.  She looked at him again, questioning.

Keto gestured first to the fox and then to its mate some distance away beside Xena’s tent.  “Fix.”

A dark brow rose in mute question.

He motioned between them again.  “Fix.  Fix first.  Need them on quest.”

It was the most words Xena had heard him put together at one time and she nodded gravely.  “I will, Keto,” she said as she stood, moving away from him with a nod back to her own tent.  Only then did she mutter to herself, “As soon as I figure out how to.”  Then she ducked in her doorway, grateful that the clan had been prepared for her return.  She made a mental note to ask Keto about it when they spoke again.

Xena crossed to the furs already laid out for her use and stretched out with a contented sigh.  She laid there for a while, slipping in and out of sleep when a rustle attracted her attention.  Xena opened her eyes to mere slits and kept her eyes half closed as she watched the proceedings at the door.

The fox had followed her inside the small dwelling, content to stretch itself out near the doorway.  The panther remained unmoving outside the door and the fox gazed at the entryway longingly before a sigh escaped and the green eyes closed.

Time passed and when everything was still and quiet, the panther crept in and stood beside the fox, gazing sorrowfully its mate.  It didn’t move or touch the smaller animal until the green eyes opened.  With a mere look, the fox gave the panther the assurance it was seeking and the cat immediately settled into its place near the fox, curling its larger body protectively around its diminutive mate and beginning a gentle grooming.  The fox closed its eyes in contentment and Xena smiled.

“And sometimes,” she whispered to herself, “you just get damned lucky.”

Then she closed her eyes and let her dreams take her to a place where she and Gabrielle were still together in life.

The early morning darkness was broken by the raucous noise of raiders.  It wasn’t clear who the marauders were, but it didn’t really matter.  The fact that they were causing mayhem and chaos was clear enough.

Xena scrambled from her tent and was instantly in the thick of the battle.  Immediately, she missed her sword and chakram, but adjusted her fighting easily to use whatever weapons came to hand.

She was in the thick of the battle, demolishing enemies left and right when a commotion caught her attention out of the corner of her eye.  She held up her hand abruptly and the man she was fighting was so stunned by the action that he froze and turned his attention to the tableau that Xena was now moving towards intently.

Xena strode forward purposefully, knocking men out of her way with blows that killed or maimed, depending on where they landed.  She had seen it all happen and was hoping beyond hope she had misunderstood.

In the few seconds it took her to cross from one side of the compound to the other, the fighting became a distant focus and the silence that fell in her ears was loud in its very stillness.  Harsh breathing could be heard and Xena closed her eyes as she reached the spot where her animal companions had fallen.

The panther was crouched over the fox, a low keening vibrating from its chest as agonized eyes tracked to Xena’s own.  Gently, she moved the cat to one side, realizing immediately that the fox had stepped between the panther and the knife that was now embedded in its own red-furred chest.  A swift glance around showed Xena the knife-wielder had died painfully under the cat’s sharp fangs.  It also showed her clan beginning to clean up the bodies of their fallen and those the few raiders that had escaped left behind.

Xena tenderly lifted the fox into her arms and headed for her tent, the panther literally stuck to her knee.  She ducked through the doorway and placed the small animal on the furs, quickly rummaging for the supplies she needed to close what would be a gaping wound when she removed the blade.

Skilled fingertips ran along the fur, glad to note there was no other damage.  Xena looked seriously into green eyes dulled with pain.  “I know why you did it, Melo and I can’t fault your reasoning.  But you’ve gotta learn to get outta the way a little faster.  You may be immortal now, but you’re not invincible and this is gonna hurt like Hades own fire.”

The fox closed its eyes in concession to a truth it already understood too well and Xena opened the wineskin.  She pulled the knife out and poured the alcohol in, hoping to kill any infection before the wound closed over.  The fox barely flinched, though its breathing sped up exponentially in proportion to the sheer misery it felt.  Xena moved to the water skin she kept warming near the fire and poured a goodly amount of that over the blood-soaked fur.  In bare minutes, it was impossible to tell just how injured the fox had been, save for the open but now unbleeding cut on its chest.

“Melo, I’m gonna have to sew this up.”

A sigh was the only indication that the softly spoken words were heard and Xena rapidly pulled the gut and needle out of her kit and through the torn flesh.  In moments, the only hint of the damage that had been wrought was a thin red line that cut through the fox’s fur at an odd angle.

“Now, I want you to rest and take it easy the remainder of the day.  We’ll say it was just a scratch, but you’ve gotta be more careful.  What we are makes us different and even here in a community of acceptance, it can make us hunted because we’re seen as a threat.”  The sadness in her eyes was reflected back to her from the fox’s.

“Etor....”  But her directive was unneeded.  Already the panther had curled around its mate and begun the gentle grooming that allowed the fox to relax into sleep.  Xena smile slightly at the picture the two of them made together, then stepped from her dwelling to provide whatever assistance she could to the tribe.

Surprisingly, there was very little real damage.  Most of the dead were raiders who’d been killed by her hands as she’d moved to Melo’s side.  Otherwise, there were a few injuries and some collateral damage, but nothing that couldn’t be repaired fairly easily.  It occurred to Xena just how peculiar that was, then she was being called to assist in setting a broken bone and the thought went to the wayside.

By mid-afternoon, the compound was clean and orderly once more.  All the wounded had been taken care of and the dead raiders had been cleared out.  Xena was checking on Melo, when a soft knock at her doorway drew her attention.

“Yes?” she asked and waited for the flap to be pushed aside.

Hotassa crossed the threshold with a large bowl of something hot and fragrant.  Xena’s stomach rumbled in reaction to the scents it was exuding and Hotassa chuckled in sympathy.  She nodded towards the two animals still wrapped tightly around one another.

“Better now?”

Xena took the bowl that was being extended and began eating.  She’d long since given up trying to share.  That wasn’t the way things were done in this society and she always, ALWAYS remembered her status as a guest here, no matter how accepted she was. 

“Yes,” she said around her food as she continued to eat.

“Good,” came the answer as Hotassa watched them wake up together and start to nuzzle one another gently.  “Keto says begin quest tonight.  So Zee-nah rest now.”

The warrior nodded and put her half-full bowl in front of the fox and panther.  Then she moved to her pallet and stretched out, allowing her mind to float free and take her into a dozing state.  Hotassa watched the proceedings with interest, noting that Xena’s spirit guides finished their meal simultaneously and settled back down into slumber almost immediately.  The older woman brushed the hair back from Xena’s face and pulled the fur up to cover her before retrieving the bowl and stepping back out into the cold October wind.

Night fell and Xena awakened and started preparing herself for the ritual.  She bathed in the lukewarm water provided for her, then dressing in the breechcloth that she had been given.  The moon was nearly at its zenith when she wrapped herself in her buffalo robe and stepped from her dwelling with her two companions matching her step for step.

People stepped away from her respectfully, realizing her intent.  When she reached Keto’s fire, she waited for his invitation to join him.  Instead, he rose to meet her and began chanting in a low tone, cleansing her with smoke from both the fire and the pipe he held lit in his hands.

Xena kept her eyes straight ahead, figuring this was part of the ritual.  Finally, when Keto was done, he lowered his voice even farther, until it was a mere whisper of sound.  He explained to her very simply what she needed to do and handed her a small skin of tobacco and a pipe, then led her to the sweat hut.  Here she would be left alone to seek her vision until she came out seeking guidance.

Hotassa handed her a full water skin.  This would be replenished regularly until Xena stepped out of the hut when her quest was complete.  Other than that, there was no nourishment provided for her use. 

Just as Xena was ready to cross the threshold to begin her journey, she looked up into the night sky.  A streaming light caught her eye and at first glance she thought it was a shooting star.  But as she stood and watched it slowly move across the sky, she realized it was something more.  Then she stepped into the sweat hut, hoping to find the answers she needed to make it back home to Gabrielle.

Chapter XIX

Gabrielle watched as the comet began another night of its trailing journey across the heavens, wondering idly just how many times she’d seen it in her lifetime and curious as to what Xena thought of the whole phenomenon.  If she’d figured right, it would just be becoming visible in the United States.  Her travels west would allow her to see it for an extended period of time.

As she watched, her mind turned back to her travels in China and her first encounter with a most welcome and unexpected face from her past.

Her steps were stealthy and sure; her tracking skills had been honed to an art form after hundreds of years of practice.  Even not having used them for almost a hundred years did nothing to dispel her hard-earned knowledge and she fell back into familiar patterns easily.

Now she closed in on her prey with sure skill and was just ready to go for the kill when she felt more than anything else another presence in the woods with her.  She waited, still, to discover the intent of the being that suddenly seemed to share her hunt.  Badly as she needed the nutriment the animal would provide her with, she could less afford to expose herself to the mortals around her.  Though they couldn’t really kill her, dryads having gone to dust centuries before, they could make things unbearable for her to remain.  And Gabrielle really wanted the chance to walk the wall before she left China.

She waited for what seemed an eternity to her blood-starved senses before the impression of another human nearby faded from her awareness.  Her prey remained oblivious to her presence and Gabrielle took what she needed swiftly and mercifully.  The animal felt no pain and Gabrielle gave thanks even as she drained its life force.

When she was done, she bowed her head in sadness.  Of all the different facets of immortality she suffered with, this was probably the one she disdained the most.  It made her feel guilty and ashamed, even though her mind knew that it was beyond her choice and her control.  She couldn’t stop the way it made her heart ache.

The hair on the nape of her neck stood up suddenly and she realized immediately she was no longer alone again.  She looked around, her newly heightened senses enabling her to pinpoint the intruder’s whereabouts directly.  She stared into the spot where nothing had been mere moments before and focused her fierce gaze intently.  Gabrielle knew that if the human being could see the burning in her eyes, they would run screaming in terror and willed herself to a still calmness.

She felt her blood cool and her eyes began to take on their natural green before the shadow became a shape and form she recognized.  With a glad little cry, Gabrielle ran headlong into arms that opened wide to receive her.

“Cecrops!!” 

The big man laughed heartily and hugged her to him as tightly as he dared without fear of harming her.

“Ah, Little One,” he said as he set her back on her feet and reached out a hand to wipe a smudge of blood from her lips.  “It seems we have much to discuss.  But,” he added as her eyes dropped from his and he cupped her chin and raised her face, tapping her cheek gently until her eyes met his once more.  “I have missed you,” he added honestly.  “I have missed many things.  Will you share camp with me?  I cook a pretty mean rabbit stew,” gesturing to the animal that now lay abandoned by the wayside. 

Gabrielle couldn’t stop the impish smile that crossed her face.  “No seafood then?”

Cecrops laughed again.  “Not if I can help it.”

She chuckled with him and led him to her well-laid out campsite.  He snagged the rabbit in his grasp as he walked by and made short work of preparing it once they reached Gabrielle’s camp.  In what seemed mere moments, the appetizing scent of rabbit stew was wafting through the air and both immortals sniffed appreciatively.

“You know,” Cecrops commented casually, “eating is one of the mortal attributes I appreciate most as an immortal.  I don’t really need to, but I do so enjoy it.”

“Mmm,” Gabrielle agreed.  “So do I.  It is one of the few things that remind me I was a normal human being once upon a time.”

Cecrops heard the many layers of her words and could see the weight of years and experience in her eyes.  He *knew* what being an immortal could do to the soul and he wondered what it had taken to tarnish the soul she had been in her youth.  Of course, he mused, it could have a lot to do with a certain warrior who was so obviously missing from her life.

Cecrops cleared his throat.  “I can’t tell you how surprised I was to see you.  I had heard stories of a fierce warrior, teacher and healer and came to find this paragon for myself.  Some of the descriptions sounded like someone I had known, but the odds of it being who it reminded me of were impossible.”  He chuckled.  “At least I thought they were.”

“But you didn’t expect to find me, did you?” she asked quietly.

“Not alone, no,” he replied soberly.  “You want to tell me about it, Little One?”

Gabrielle sighed.  Even after more than a thousand years of being a bacchae, this wasn’t something she was entirely comfortable living with and certainly not with sharing it. It was like exposing herself to the world and she fidgeted slightly.

Cecrops brought his large hands up to cover her own.  “Gabrielle,” he burred and the blonde head rose at the odd salutation.  He had rarely ever called her by name.  “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.  I thought that sharing with someone who almost understands... who *does* understand at least part of what you are going through might help.  You can share as much or as little as you like.  Or nothing at all... it’s up to you.  If nothing else, we can swap stories of things we have seen and heard since we parted company.  That by itself should take us a few months.”

Gabrielle chuckled.  “Oh, at least.  You know how I can get going if I have a good story to tell.”

Cecrops laughed heartily, glad to see Gabrielle’s mood lightening.  “I tell you what, Little One... I’ll go first then.  Have you been through Europe lately?”

Gabrielle shook her head.  “Not in several hundred years, I don’t think.  Time tends to blur a bit after a while.  I would have missed the millennium if not for Ch’uang Mu’s prompting.”

“Ch’uang Mu... Chinese love goddess?”

Gabrielle nodded.  “Among other things, yes.”

“My, my, my, Little One.  You do travel in some interesting circles.”  He raised a brow at her.  “Part of your long story?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well then, let me tell you about my experience introducing the barbarians of Europe to the art of crop rotation.”

Gabrielle said nothing, but leaned back and motioned for him to continue.

“.... so you can just imagine me up to my hips in muck trying to explain to this farmer that you can’t rotate pigs.”  Cecrops laughed aloud at the memory and Gabrielle laughed at his story, which had been his intent.  He reached to refill both their bowls with the last of the rabbit stew.  “I can’t tell you how long it took me to round up those damned pigs.”

Gabrielle covered her mouth with her hand to keep from absolutely howling and wiped the tears from her eyes with her other hand before accepting the bowl Cecrops offered her.

“Gods, that has got to be the funniest thing I have heard in a while,” Gabrielle said when she finally trusted herself enough to speak.  “Although I could tell you stories....”

“Please do,” Cecrops urged.  “After all, it is your turn.”

Gabrielle nodded her head silently.  “I guess it is.  She paused and stared at the stars for a long moment, hoping to find an answer there, then sighing reluctantly and placed her uneaten bowl of stew to one side.  She clasped her hands together and spoke softly.  “It would probably be best if I started at the beginning.”  She sighed again and looked down at her intertwined hands.

“Gabrielle,” Cecrops said softly as he clasped her hands in reassurance once more. 

She withdrew one hand and patted his then covered them gently.  “I’m sorry.  This is just so hard... still... and so personal for me.  I’ve... I’ve never had to... share... this with anyone before and certainly no one has ever been in a position to... understand my story at all.  Especially from an immortal point of view... or a bacchae one,” she muttered the last under her breath, but Cecrops heard it clearly.

“I take it was an unwelcome, unpleasant surprise,” he stated calmly, hoping to put Gabrielle at ease.  He’d never seen her so flustered, even when she knew she was stuck on a cursed ship forever, sea-sickness, raw squid and all.

“Well, it certainly wasn’t something I was expecting to hear, especially given the circumstances.”  She frowned at his crinkled brow.  “Just let me tell you the story from the beginning.  It’ll be much easier to understand.”

He nodded and filled their cups with steaming tea before leaning back and gesturing for her to proceed.

“Now, you have to understand that we probably would have faced the truth eventually, but at the time, it was easy to put it down to battle bloodlust.  It wasn’t until our fateful, disastrous trip to Japa that everything came to a head and was pushed into the forefront of our lives....”

“So you never suspected you were immortal?”  She could see he wanted to ask about the rest, but he was too much of a gentleman with hundreds of years of self control under his belt to bring it up.  For that she was thankful, because what she and Xena had shared between them had always been intensely private.  When the bloodlust had taken over, that intensity had taken on a fierceness that even now, sitting here sedately by the fire with her lover still hundreds of years from her, made a familiar burning flare in Gabrielle’s blood.  

“No.  As many times as we died, why would I?”

He nodded sagely, understanding her point very well.  He’d always known he was immortal, from the time Athena had gifted him.  It wasn’t something he discovered by trial and error.

He sat quietly while she finished of her now cold stew and drank her tea.  He studied her carefully, noting the maturity that distinguished her features and body language and spared a passing thought for the young woman he had known.

“You have been through much, Little One.  And to be alone.... Tell me, what do you do for companionship?”  A very bold question, but only the chance not taken was one to mourn.

Gabrielle looked at him, startled.  “Excuse me?”

“Come, Gabrielle... you’re a woman of the world.  You can’t tell me you don’t have needs, desires....”

Gabrielle jumped from her spot by the fire to pace.  “Yes, I do, but until I find Xena, those needs and desires are mine alone to deal with.”  She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, unaware of the picture she made highlighted by the firelight and not seeing the flaring of Cecrops’ nostrils as he warred with his own hidden desires.

She turned her back to the fire and faced the forest, focusing on the darkness beyond her vision.  “What we shared together was... indescribable and I won’t settle for less than that.  I can’t give less than everything and I can’t give that to anyone but Xena.  It’s not fair to me and it’s not fair to anyone else for me to try.” 

Gabrielle’s shoulders slumped, then stiffened as Cecrops placed his hands lightly on them.  “I’m sorry, Little One.  I knew that what you shared together was strong, but I had no idea it was so all-encompassing.  My apologies for making you so unhappy.”

She turned in his arms for a hug and he embraced her firmly, but tenderly.  “You didn’t,” she replied softly.  “I am so glad you’re here with me, even if it is only for a little while.”

“So am I, Little One.  And if you’ll forgive an old man for upsetting you, I’d like to hang around awhile.  It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a friendly face.”

Gabrielle wondered at his comment, being fairly sure that the friendly faces her referred to were immortal ones and rare in the extreme.  She didn’t mention it though, too relieved at the conversation being over at this point.  She felt raw from having exposed so much of herself and completely exhausted in a way she hadn’t been in years.  All she really wanted right now was to sleep. 

Cecrops noted her fatigue easily and lifted her into his arms above her protest.  “Shh, Little One.  It doesn’t happen to us often, but when it does, we have to let it run its course.  This time it is my fault, so let me do what I can to fix it, all right?”

He was already at her side of the fire and gently placed her on her readily prepared furs.  He covered her, then stepped back to his own side, to give her what privacy he could afford her.  For a very long time that night, he gazed into the fire and set aside dreams he now knew would never be more.  When he finally closed his eyes, it was with a bit of sadness and melancholy, but also with a peace he’d not know in a very long time.  Friendship was something he treasured highly and he was glad to have found this one again, however unexpectedly and painful the circumstances.

The sun was high in the sky when Gabrielle finally blinked her eyes open.  The camp was quiet and when she looked around, Gabrielle realized she was alone.  She scrubbed her eyes and wondered if her encounter with Cecrops had been nothing more than a very vivid dream, until she heard a strong male voice singing a ribald sailor’s song she had first learned aboard Cecrops’ cursed ship.

She chuckled and spared a thought for her innocent self who had turned beet red when she realized exactly what the men had been referring to when they’d been singing about oysters, pearls and clams.  It was the fastest sex education course she’d ever had and it had guaranteed a laugh from Xena every time it came up for discussion... a feat the warrior managed on a regular, though not too often, teasing basis.

Gabrielle blinked her eyes again and now she noticed that tea was steeping next to the crackling fire, steaming hot water sat on a heating rock and some sort of bird was roasting.  Gabrielle inhaled deeply and smiled.  She was glad Cecrops had retained this facet of his mortality much as she had and it smelled like he was an old hand at cooking as well.

She pushed the covering from her body and rose with a stretch. Then she folded her bedding neatly and headed to the river to wash up.

Cecrops was in the water swimming lazily as Gabrielle approached.  She turned away from him as he rose from the water, though she did get enough of a glance to realize he was still an extremely attractive man who was in excellent shape, especially when one took into account the fact that he was over a thousand years old, Gabrielle conceded to herself with a smirk. 

A hand fell on her shoulder to let her know he was dressed and she turned around to see deep brown eyes sparkling with life looking back at her. 

“Don’t be too long,” he said with a smile as he headed back towards the camp.  “That pheasant should be almost ready to eat.”

Gabrielle nodded and he passed out of sight and she quickly got down to the business of bathing.  The bird smelled really good and she was looking forward to sharing breakfast, or lunch, she thought, given the time, with a friend.

Gabrielle returned to the camp still drying her hair.  Cecrops chuckled silently at the way the blonde hair managed to stick straight up... something of a sight given the length.  Gabrielle glared at him then fetched her comb to bring some order to the unruly locks.  When she was satisfied it was completely untangled, she braided it and tied it off.

“Better?” she asked with a smirk.

“Well,” the gravelly voice answered.  “More mature looking.  You reminded me of a child before.”

“Cecrops,” Gabrielle responded with a hint of exasperation.   “I have *always* reminded you of a kid.”

Cecrops didn’t answer as he plated the pheasant and passed Gabrielle a goodly portion.  She took the plate and tasted a bit, a smile and light moan accompanying her actions.

“I’m so glad I can still enjoy this part of mortality.”

Cecrops grinned, nodding his head.  “It’s good to know I can go without if I have to, but I have to admit to truly enjoying a fine meal.  And there is something about camping out that just makes me ravenous... the fresh air maybe, or the constant exercise.”  He shrugged his broad shoulders.  “Whatever it is, it is wonderful to feel hunger and be able to satiate it.”

Gabrielle looked at him sharply, wondering if there was a hidden meaning in his words.  But the man continued to eat and she let the comment pass with one of her own. 

“I agree.  It’s one of the things the gods just don’t understand.  They eat from habit, but not because they need to or they enjoy it.  I just enjoy it,” she added with a small laugh.

Quiet settled over the camp as they savored their meal, but when they began to cleanup, conversation turned to other things.

“So what brought you to China, Cecrops?”  They had decided to remain camped a day longer since it was already early afternoon.  It wasn’t like they had a schedule to keep and there was just something about starting out fresh is thing in the morning that appealed to both their natures.  So they tidied up the area and sat back to talk.

Cecrops shrugged.  “A few things, I suppose.  I like the expanse of this country and it was time to move out of Europe again.  You know how it gets.”  He looked at Gabrielle and she nodded solemnly.  The only reason she’d remained in China as long as she had this time was because of Ch’uang’s hospitality to her.

“So anyway,” he continued, knowing very well what caused the shadows to chase across her face.  “I was in the farthest western province when stories of a great, fierce warrior started filtering around.  The descriptions were so varied that the people asked me to come check it out... to see what sort of threat they were facing.”

“So you didn’t expect to see me.”  A flat statement.

Cecrops laughed.  “No... I hadn’t heard you were an immortal and given the descriptions that were going around, I wasn’t sure I expected a human being.”

Gabrielle chuckled in response.  “Hmm... I have heard some of them, so I can understand your confusion.”  She placed a hand on his arm and studied him seriously.  “You can’t let anyone know I am immortal, though.”

“Gabrielle, that’s not something I would want shared around about myself because of how people would react, so I do understand.”

She shook her head at him.  “No, it’s more than that for me.”  She removed her hand and crossed her arms over her chest.  “See, if people took the time to study their history and that of other cultures, they would find your name and your story.  They probably wouldn’t believe it, thinking you were simply a descendant of the famous arbiter, but the fact is, your immortality is out there for all who want to see it.  Kinda like Hercules,” she continued.  “His story is well-known.”

“Right, but... Little One, I’m not seeing your point here.  We’re all still immortal.  Not something we really want shared around.”

Gabrielle took a deep breath.  “Aside from myself, you are one of one three people who know I am an immortal and the other two are goddesses.”  Cecrops nodded his understanding, but the confused look never left his eyes.

“No one else knows and there are no stories implying I *might* be immortal or I *could* be immortal and it has to stay that way.  If Ares knew I was immortal and why, he could easily figure out that Xena is as well and he would start looking for ways to tempt her again.”

“Surely you don’t think she would succumb?  And could he honestly get to her more quickly than you?  The Chronos stone is gone.  He has to live through the passage of time as well.”

“After her actions in Japan, I’m not sure what I think.  But I’m not gonna give Ares any advantage.  To him it’s a game, but it’s my life, dammit and I am OVER being a pawn!”  The temper flared so quickly, Cecrops was caught by surprise and he sat quietly as her eyes closed and she willed her mind back to a state of calmness.

“I’m sorry, Little One.  I didn’t know the stakes were quite so high for you,” Cecrops apologized softly.

Gabrielle shook her head.  “No, I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t take out a thousand years’ worth of frustration out on you.”

Cecrops laughed heartily.  “Ah, Gabrielle... if *anyone* in the world can understand a thousand years worth of frustration, it’d be me.”

She smiled sympathetically.  “I guess so.  So there’s no one special in your life either?”

Cecrops shrugged.  “There have been a few here and there, but it’s hard to... invest... everything into a relationship you know going into it is short term for you.”

Gabrielle nodded and silence fell for a bit.  Cecrops voice startled her when he spoke again.

“I envy you, you know.”

She cut her eyes in his direction.  “Excuse me?”  Knowing the circumstances that surrounded her position in life and the price she continued to pay for her immortality, she failed to see what exactly there was in her situation for him to covet.

“What you and Xena had... have... together is so strong you are able to survive to get back to her.  And you have a firm hope of reuniting with her again.  I don’t have that.”  He looked away as tears filled his eyes.  “Not that bond or that hope.”

Gabrielle moved to sit beside him and wrapped a hand around his bicep before laying her head on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort.   

“Well, I can’t offer you that kind of bond, but I can offer friendship and a traveling companion for as long as you like.”

He looked at her and smiled, patting her hands.  “I would like.  I really... well, let’s just say you remind me of better days and happier times.  It would be nice to remember those with someone who can remember with me.”

“So it’s settled... tomorrow, we will begin our journey together.  Today, however, I think I’m gonna go fishing.”

Cecrops laughed and the sound of it reminded Gabrielle how much she missed having laughter in her life.  She looked at him questioningly.

He slowed his chuckles enough to speak.  “I would have thought your squid experience would have made you give up seafood.”

Now Gabrielle chortled.  “Um, no.  It made me realize just how many ways there are to cook it, but as Xena reminded me, the fish that comes from lakes and rivers is not technically seafood.”

“Heh.  Good point.”

They rose together and headed back down the path to the river.  “So,” Cecrops continued.  “Do you have a favorite recipe you might like to share?”  He looked in vain for evidence of a pole or a spear.

Gabrielle sat and removed her boots and socks, then rolled her trousers above her knees.  “One thing I never had to do when traveling with Xena,” she commented as she stepped lightly into the water.

“What?  Roll up your pants legs?” he joked.

“Well, that too,” she replied.  “No, I never had to catch the fish.  Xena always did that.  It was something she really enjoyed.”

“Um, Little One... not to seem stupid, but humor an old man and tell me how you intend to catch fish.  I don’t see anything but your bare hands.  Don’t you need a pole, spear, net... *something*?”

She wiggled her fingers at him.  “Nope.  Xena taught me how to catch them barehanded.”

“No way.”

“Yep.  I can’t tell you how long it took me to learn either.”

Cecrops flung himself on the ground and leaned back on his elbows.  “This I gotta see.”

He watched appreciatively as the blonde head turned slightly and the lithe body stood stock still.  He leaned further up and instantly regretted the decision as in a flurry of motion he was suddenly and deliberately attacked by a rather large fish that was hurled in his direction.

“Hey!!” was all the challenge he was allowed before a second and then a third hit him squarely in the chest as he stood.

Gabrielle managed to contain her mirth, though her eyes twinkled mischievously.  That glimpse of the young woman he had known kept him from retaliating, though he did glare hard at her with his hands planted on his hips.

“You know, I did just take a bath this morning.  Now I smell like fish.”

Gabrielle smirked as she stepped from the water.  “Not like a little morewater is gonna make you melt.  Enjoy it,” she said as she picked up the three fish.  “I’ll clean these and see what I can find to go with them.”  Then she was gone.  Cecrops looked up at the sky.

“Some days, you’ve just GOT to wonder WHY ME?”  Then he stripped off his clothing and jumped into the water, taking his shirt with him. 

He sloshed water over himself, acknowledging there was only so much clean-up he could do without soap.  When he got out, he noticed a towel and a small cake of soap by his clothing and wondered when Gabrielle had stopped by and how it was he hadn’t noticed her.  Shrugging, he walked back into the water and scrubbed both himself and the shirt, then he stepped out and wrapped the towel around himself.  He located a convenient rock and stretched out on it, hanging his shirt on a nearby bush to dry.

“I can see traveling with you is going to be an interesting experience, Little One,” he mused aloud before he let the warmth of the afternoon pull him into a light doze.

He couldn’t be sure if it was the chill of the setting sun or the scent of cooking fishing wafting to his nose from the campfire that woke him, but Cecrops quickly awakened and dressed and headed back towards their camp.

Gabrielle had a pot of something bubbling on one side of the fire and was carefully turning the fish in the skillet.  He could see a pot of tea brewing and it looked suspiciously like she’d found some sort of berry or other as well.

“I can see you do this a lot.”

Gabrielle turned towards him as he spoke.  “Is that a good thing?”

“Yes.  I enjoy competence and you are exceptionally proficient.”

She smiled.  “LOTS of practice.”

He picked up the large bag she had leaned against the small stack of firewood.  “This is intriguing,” he noted, eyeing all the different pockets and carry spaces.  “A result of your practice?”  He set the bag back down.

“Yep.  Dite and I worked hard to make something that would carry what I needed without making me bend under the weight.”

“Well, it’s very clever and dinner smells wonderful.”

“Thank you.  It’s ready... just need to dish it up.  Did you have a good swim?”

“Yes, I did, thank you.  And sometime, you’ll have to share with me just how you managed to sneak in and out like that without my noticing you.  Do you know how long it’s been since anyone could do that to me?”  He accepted the plate from her hands and took a bite of the fish.

He chewed slowly, savoring the taste.  “Oh my... you may never get rid of me now,” he said with a twinkling smile.

“Glad you like it,” she said as she took her own plate to the other side of the fire and sat on her bedding.  “It’s always more fun to cook for someone else.  Makes it worth the effort, ya know.”

“Yes, I do.  And this is worth that second bath.”

Gabrielle chuckled, but just kept eating.

The fire had died down and everything was cleaned and put away in anticipation of an early start the following morning.  Gabrielle was gazing at the stars, lost in thoughts of times spent with Xena just like this when a streak of light making its way across the speckled black background caught her attention.  She retrieved her diary and writing materials from her pack, then noted the appearance and the date.  It wasn’t the first time she’d seen the odd characteristic appear in the night sky and she knew if it held true to form, it would be around for several weeks.

“You keeping an eye on that?” Cecrops rumbled lowly into the darkness.

“Yeah.  It got my attention years ago and I’m just keeping a record of when and where I see it.  Another way to mark the passing time, I guess,” she added with a shrug.

“Well, sometime we’ll have to compare notes, but for now, I’m gonna call it a night.  Goodnight, Little One.”

“Goodnight, Cecrops.”  Gabrielle looked back at the sky and returned her eyes to the comet’s slow path.  “Goodnight, Xena.”

Chapter XX

“So where... ex... ugh... exactly... oomph... are we... headed?”

Cecrops was panting hard as he moved the boulder into place.  In all his many, MANY years on earth, he couldn’t recall a time he had worked so hard. Certainly it had been an eternity since a pair of beautiful eyes and a cute smile had been able to coax so much effort from him with a simple please.

“Ya know, old man,” he muttered to himself.  “You could be in *real* trouble here.”

“Problem?” Gabrielle queried as she passed by him carrying a large sack of sand.  They were helping some villagers shore up a dam.  The rains they’d had in this province had threatened their very existence and Gabrielle and Cecrops had volunteered to help them.

Or more accurately, Gabrielle had volunteered and then cajoled Cecrops into assisting the villagers as well.

“Nope,” he groaned as he lifted another huge rock into place.  “No problem here.”

Gabrielle dropped her bag into place and wiped her brow.  “Well, at least we’re almost done and Daoning has invited us to stay for a bit.”

“Why?” Cecrops asked as he dropped the boulder in place.  “They need us to raise a barn or something?”

Gabrielle looked at him a long moment before answering.  “No.  We’re the guests of honor at a celebration feast.”

Cecrops had the decency to look abashed at her tone and he looked away from her stare.  “I’m sorry, Gabrielle.  I think I’m just tired.  I haven’t worked this hard in a very long time.”

The blonde head nodded solemnly.  “Cecrops, if you really don’t want to do this....”

She stopped speaking when his hands covered hers.  “No.  I just sometimes have to be reminded about what’s important in life.  I get complacent sometimes and forget how the rest of mankind suffers to survive.  Thank you for reminding me of my humanity and the responsibility I have to it.”

Gabrielle squeezed his fingers.  “That’s one of the reasons I still do this.  It reminds me of who I was and who I am.”

Cecrops released her hands and placed his on the small of his back, stretching and moaning as his spine popped back into alignment.  “At least this will be something we will be able to look back on in another thousand years and remember that we helped make it possible.  When will the stone masons begin their work?”

“Um, tomorrow, I think,” Gabrielle answered as she ran her dirty hands through her equally dirty hair.  “Ugh.  In the meantime, I think I need a bath.”

Cecrops pushed a blob of mud from his forearm.  “You and me both, Little One.  I feel like I could soak for days and not get rid of all the mud.”

Gabrielle laughed.  “I think the only time I’ve felt worse was after days crossing the desert and walking through a sandstorm, but it doesn’t beat the mud by much.”

Cecrops scrunched up his face.  “Oh, that sounds almost painful,” but a glimpse at her face made him realize she was no longer listening and he wondered what memories their conversation had conjured up for her.  He watched her for a few moments before turning at a soft touch on his arm and being escorted towards the baths.

Gabrielle remained lost in her thoughts as she slowly made her way to the small sleeping room Daoning had offered her for the duration of her stay.  It wasn’t large, though it was more than adequate for her needs.  A knock on the bamboo frame brought her out of her musings.

“Yes?”

“Bath, Lady Gabrielle?”

Gabrielle laughed aloud at the title.  “Just plain Gabrielle, Dao.” She looked at her mud coated skin and winced.  “And yeah, a bath would be great.”

“Come.  Private bath all prepared for you.”

A dirty blonde brow rose to an equally dirty blonde hairline.  She was well aware of the custom of communal bathing and though not particularly fond of it, had developed a tolerance for its necessity.  Dao giggled at the comical sight the bard made with her muddy face, standing hair and stern, questioning demeanor.

“Apologies, Little Dragon Warrior, but you....” her voice trailed off uncertainly.

Gabrielle’s expression changed so rapidly and her head snapped so hard to one side that it was amazing it simply didn’t pop off and glare at Daoning of its own accord.  Dao caught the furious look and her eyes widened in shock as she took a step back.

Gabrielle noted the unconscious reaction and rubbed her hand across her forehead, smearing the mud a little more.

“Now I’m sorry, Dao.  Where, um... where did you hear that name?”

Daoning picked up the large towels and cake of soap she’d brought with her and gestured Gabrielle to follow.  Then she began speaking.

“Many years ago, there was woman called by such name who traveled through land.  She was fierce warrior who defended weak, who took time to help those in need.  She became hero and myth to my people. History describes her much like you, though she never spoke.  We have heard of way you and your friend have helped many villages here. You have been so kind to us that we wanted to honor you.  This was most fitting way we could do so.”

Dao slid back the partition to the small bathing room she’d prepared for Gabrielle and motioned her towards the steaming water.  “Besides, you bear mark.  I will return shortly with clean clothing.”  Then she stepped back out of the room and closed the door shut behind her before Gabrielle could say a word.

Gabrielle ran her hand through her hair again, flinching at the dirt that scattered at her feet with the motion.  “Take whatever small blessing you can find, Gabrielle,” she coached herself, before stripping out of her ruined filthy clothing and stepping into the bliss of clean, hot water.

It wouldn’t have taken much coaxing for Gabrielle to have simply fallen asleep in the tub, but she was all too aware of the tattoo which could so easily betray her secret to the people who know her story, even if they were ignorant of the fact that it was indeed hers. 

So she bathed quickly and wrapped herself in one towel, draping the second over her head to cover her shoulders.  She dropped her dirty clothes into the still warm water to soak and sat back on the bench to watch the small flames in the fire pit.

Dao was surprised to find Gabrielle already finished with her bath and waiting on her clean clothing.  She handed the small pile to the bard and deliberately turned her back to afford Gabrielle as much privacy as she could.  Dao reached for the clothing and began scrubbing it.

“I can do that, Dao,” Gabrielle said as she slipped cool silk over her shoulders and reached for the matching trousers.  The woman had thoughtfully included a comb and Gabrielle returned to the bench to work out the snarls.

“Yes, you can,” the Chinese woman replied, “but I do best.”

Gabrielle’s eyebrows rose.  “Are you implying I am laundry incompetent?”

Dao thought about the words a moment before answering.  When she did so, it was with a smile.  “No.  But this I know well – three sons, one husband, big muddy river.”

Gabrielle laughed.  “I see your point.”  She paused in her combing and took a deep breath.  “Dao, why did I rate a private bath?  And don’t tell me it is because I remind you of some mythical savior from old legends.  Everyone out there today worked hard and yet I’ll bet no one else got privacy like this,” motioning around the nearly empty hut.

“You wear mark of goddess.  Is respect.”

Gabrielle studied herself, trying to figure out what sign of which goddess Dao was referring to.  The Chinese woman saw the look confusion that crossed Gabrielle’s face and rose from her spot by the tub.  She dried her hands on one of the discarded towels before reaching for Gabrielle’s hand.

Gabrielle gazed at her own hand curiously before Dao brought her attention to her bracelet.  For the first time, she realized that a mark had been added and wondered when it had come to be there and how she had missed it up to that point.  Then again, it wasn’t like she took the metal gauntlets off and studied them at every opportunity either.

Gabrielle looked a little more closely at the symbol, then turned her attention to Dao.  “What does it mean?” realizing that it was one she’d never seen before.

Daoning shrugged.  “Mark of goddess.  Ch’uang-Mu’s blessing of chosen.”  Dao peered into the green eyes.  “Do you know goddess?  Do you serve her?”

Gabrielle hesitated, unwilling to share the whole truth.  “I visited the temple for a while and I studied many of the texts there.”

Dao looked at her a little disbelievingly, but let the comment pass.  No matter what, Gabrielle bore the image that marked her as a Chosen and it was not for Dao to challenge that; especially as Gabrielle had proven herself knowledgeable in both their customs and their folklore and deities, to say nothing of her general knowledge of the workings of the world.

“Come,” Dao beckoned as she stood again.  “Time for feast.”

Gabrielle smiled.  She appreciated the gesture and she would appreciate the food and the good company that would go with it.

“You’re being very quiet tonight,” Cecrops said softly as they focused on the entertainment.  There were several children performing some interesting acrobatics and it was quite fascinating to watch.  At the moment, they were spinning plates on poles and Gabrielle secretly wondered how many plates they dropped before becoming so proficient. 

“Am I?  Sorry... just thinking.”  Gabrielle absently chewed her thumbnail.

Cecrops turned his attention to her fully.  “Does your thinking have anything to do with your avoiding my question this afternoon, or is it something else entirely?”

“Huh?”  It wasn’t the most articulate reply, but it was all she could manage at the moment.  The look of pure confusion that crossed her face assured Cecrops that Gabrielle was totally clueless about what he was referring to.

“This afternoon... I asked you where we were headed.  You never answered.”

“I never heard the question.  All I got was you mumbling to yourself about being old,” Gabrielle teased.

“Little One, I *am* old.  After today, I just feel it... ALL of it.”  Cecrops smiled though and Gabrielle accepted his repartee easily.  “So what’s the answer?” he finally prompted when it became clear she wasn’t going to reply.

“Oh, sorry.  I’d like to walk the wall, actually.”

Cecrops put a hand to his forehead to make sure his eyebrows didn’t actually pop off in surprised reaction.  “The wall?  The Great Wall?  All four thousand miles?”

“Yep.  It is about the only thing I have left to do here and I’d really like to see the country from its perspective.”

“You know, it is still pretty active militarily.  The Chinese may have a problem with a couple Greeks just waltzing up expecting to use it as some sort of common road.”

“Maybe, but apparently, I’ve been marked for protection as one of Ch’uang-Mu’s chosen.  Surely they will leave us alone.  And if not, it’s not like we can’t kick butt and take names.  We’ve done it before.”

The plate bearers finished their performance and a small group of tumblers came out.  Dao offered both Gabrielle and Cecrops a bit of wine and both accepted, then sat back to enjoy the small cakes that were served as dessert as they watched the acrobats.

Cecrops contemplated the best way to say what was troubling him and finally just decided on the direct approach.

“That probably isn’t a wise idea, Little One.  Already I have heard the rumors and legends of your existence a thousand years ago and it was the stories of this trip that brought me to your side now.”  He sighed. “If you don’t want people to discover your secret, you have to be a little more discreet.”

Gabrielle’s shoulders slumped.  “How do I help people if I am busy worrying about what stories are being told about me?”

He clasped her hand gently.  “We’ll work on it together.  At least with there being two of us, the stories will be different.”  He paused, hesitating.  “Do you, um... do you still have the tattoo?”

Her head swung around swiftly and she realized with a sense of ironic black humor that it was fortunate indeed that she was an immortal.  Her head would have easily popped off otherwise at this point.

“How did you...?”  She was fairly certain he had respected her privacy as she had his, but this was the first time since Xena’s death that she’d traveled with anyone and she was a bit disconcerted at his question.

“The stories and legends mention it.  It is one reason you were originally given the nickname Little Dragon Warrior.”  Cecrops didn’t mention the opportunity he had taken to see it for himself.  It was a harmless indulgence, but he was ashamed enough of his weakness and scared enough of her wrath that he kept that little detail to himself.    

Gabrielle blanched.  She was beginning to feel haunted by her past.

“Excuse me,” she mumbled before standing and walking out of the light and into the darkness that surrounded the village.

She found a lone tree a short distance from the village set on a hill high enough that she could still observe the festivities.  Right now, though, unseeing eyes gazed sightlessly at the panorama spread below her and focused instead on the ache she felt in her very soul.

“Oh, Xena,” she whispered.  “I am so tired.”  Gabrielle turned her attention to the stars she could see so clearly above her.  “I miss you so much.  I don’t know how much longer I can do this alone.”

“You’re not alone, Gabrielle.”

The bard didn’t even flinch at the sound of the voice right next to her.  She kept her eyes glued to the heavens, not willing to let anyone, not even a friendly goddess, see the depths of her despair.

“Yes I am, Ch’uang.  In many ways I am and will always be until Xena and I are reunited.  There are places in me so deep that only she can fill....” Gabrielle drew a shuddering breath.  “I know I have friends and I do appreciate all of you, but it isn’t the same thing.”

Ch’uang lightly grasped Gabrielle’s arm.  “I know... and I am sorry.  Never have I met a human who has endured like you have, Gabrielle.  Your fortitude and strength of spirit are astounding.  It is natural that the fight to maintain wears on you.”  The goddess paused.  “I know there is little I can do to ease the ache of separation, but I can assure you if you want to walk the wall, your way will be free and clear as far as the guardians are concerned.”

Gabrielle looked at Ch’uang questioningly and the Chinese goddess continued.  “Helping others is a large part of who you are.  I gave you my mark so you could continue to do so without censure or question.”

Gabrielle nodded, her pain and fatigue making her still unsure of what she was being offered. 

“Gabrielle, as long as you desire to help my people, I will grant you whatever protection I can afford you to keep your identity a secret.  And if you ever feel like it is becoming too much to bear again, all you have to do is call me and I will come.  Whether it is to listen or just to sit together as friends or to offer you a place to rejuvenate... it is yours for the asking.”  Ch’uang took another deep breath.  She had missed Gabrielle greatly since the bard had left the palace and she was again unused to speaking so much. “You have come so far.”

“And still have so far to go.”

“And still have so much good to share,” Ch’uang corrected gently.  “You will find your soul’s other half, I promise you.”

“Do you really believe that, Ch’uang?”

The goddess nodded her dark head firmly.  “Oh yes.  I really do.”

Gabrielle smiled, heartened by someone else’s belief in them.  She reached over and embraced the goddess in a firm, brief hug. 

“Thank you, Ch’uang.  I needed to hear that.”

Ch’uang-Mu smiled.  “I am glad I could be of service.  Would that all my requests were so easy to grant.”

“Sometimes, it’s nice to know I’m not crazy trying to get back to her.”  Gabrielle scratched her head.  “Or catch up to her... or whatever.”  She chuckled self-consciously.

“Can I tell you a secret, just between us girls?” the goddess asked conspiratorially.

Gabrielle’s brows jumped.  “Uh, sure,” wondering where this was going.

“I envy you.”

Gabrielle scrubbed her face, sure she’d misunderstood.  “I beg your pardon?”

Brown eyes twinkled as they returned the green regard.  “I envy you.  I know you do not believe me, but it is true nonetheless.”  She held up a hand to forestall any questions.  “Wait.  You have something so powerful, so strong that it will see you through to the end of your search.  It is not just your bond with Xena, but something inside yourself.  Something that compels you to succeed.  Something that makes its own legacy.  Something that the gods have never been privy to.”

Gabrielle blinked, stunned by the revelation. 

“May I ask you a question?” Ch’uang said, trying to get some sort of response.  Slowly, Gabrielle’s head turned to face her and the goddess wanted to chuckle over the completely bewildered expression Gabrielle wore.  Instead, she waited patiently for the bard to nod.

“Why did you come this way?  You were not that far from the wall when you left the palace years ago and yet you have not begun your walk yet.  Why is that?”

Gabrielle swallowed.  This was something she could answer without thought or hesitation.  “Well, in truth I wanted to start at the beginning and walk to the end.  And along the way there has always been someone to help, someone in need.  I guess that took more time than I expected.”

Ch’uang smile, thoroughly pleased with the response.  “Relish your humanity, Gabrielle.  It is one of the most beautiful things about you.”

Gabrielle blushed and rose.  “I need to get back, but thank you for... well, everything, Ch’uang.  I’m glad you stopped by to chat.”

Ch’uang nodded and stood as well, though she did not reveal to Gabrielle that the pleading ache in her voice as she spoke to her long missing lover nearly undid her resolve for secrecy.  She simply said, “I, too am glad, Gabrielle.  I miss talking to you.”  She gave the bard a strong embrace.  “Remember that you need merely call me if you are in need of anything, even if it is just a little girl talk.”  She tapped the bracelet.  “You are among my chosen, you know.”

“Thank you Ch’uang.  That was quite a surprise for me.”

“And keep an eye on your traveling companion,” the goddess added with a waving finger.  “He is a good man, but he cares too deeply.  This can be a good or bad thing, depending on you.”

Gabrielle sighed.  “Why me?”

Ch’uang laughed, a full out belly laugh that caused Gabrielle to join her.  “Think back Gabrielle.  It is in the nature of things... for both you and Xena.  It doesn’t stop because you are temporarily separated.  It just makes the focus sharper.”

Gabrielle held her head in her hands and shook it back and forth.  “Maybe I should try Xena’s remedy.”

Ch’uang cocked a brow in inquiry and Gabrielle chuckled in memory.

“No personal hygiene or grooming... then we decided that would probably attract worse.”

“Oh my, yes.  At least you attract a nice decent sort now.  And you have never had a problem explaining the error of their ways to them.  Why tempt Fate?”

Gabrielle nodded, knowing the Fates would do her little kindness after she’d destroyed the loom, even if her actions did right the wrong that had been done to them.

“Now,” Ch’uang continued, “go back to the festivities before you are missed by everyone and they start hunting for you.  I will be around.  Enjoy your walk.”  And she was gone a silently as she’d come.

Gabrielle turned her steps back to the village, glad to see that the party had continued in spite of her absence.  Cecrops crooked his head in her direction, glad to see a slight smile on her lips.

“Are you all right, Little One?  I didn’t mean....”

“I’m fine.  I just REALLY don’t like that nickname.”

“Well, you won’t hear it from me again.  I didn’t know....” 

Gabrielle held up her hands, not really wanting to have this conversation yet again.  “It’s all right, Cecrops, really.  Not like I gave you a list or anything.  So what’d I miss?” directing his attention back to the entertainers.

“Oh, um...” he stuttered, trying to get his mind back on the performance going on on the stage.  “The, um... the rest of the acrobats and the dancing bear.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.  The storytellers are up next.”

Gabrielle continued to look at him for a long moment after the first bard was introduced.  Then she moved her attention back to the stage, only to stifle a groan at the raconteur’s choice of tales.  Cecrops leaned over to whisper in her ear, though he remained out of touch.

“I did tell you there were myths and legends of you out here, hero.”

Gabrielle drummed her fingers on her knees in agitation as the teller continued with his tales. It was the only sign of the struggle she was having to stay quiet.  The man finished to great applause and several more followed, all with tales of the woman known as Little Dragon Warrior.  When the last man was done, Gabrielle rose.

Dao’s husband Kuang was the village headman and he motioned for her to speak.  She bowed her thanks.

“If it pleases you, I have been known to share a tale or two in my day.  If I could....”

Kuang nodded enthusiastically and Gabrielle took the small stage to a round of appreciative applause for her willingness and a sea of expectant faces.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this, so please bear with me.  You’ve all told some wonderful stories about a mythical warrior woman who roamed your land helping others.  I would like to tell you about a real warrior woman who sought her redemption the same way.  A woman whose story is near and dear to my heart.  A woman I would be proud to call friend.”

Gabrielle paused and cleared her throat.

“I sing to you of Xena, a Warrior Princess born to greatness.  A warrior whose strength and compassion were just as potent as the sword she wielded so fearlessly.”

The audience became swept up in the telling, never once noticing the tears that slipped silently down Gabrielle’s cheeks.

“When it was over, the ambrosia had worked and the warrior was restored to live and fight another day.”

Silence at first, as though the villagers could not believe the tale was told.  Then as one body, they rose and clapped and stomped and cheered.  Gabrielle wiped her eyes and laughed joyously.  It had been forever since she’d been a bard and for the first time in centuries, she felt *alive* again.

It was late when she finally shed the last of her admirers and made it back to her small room alone.  She was exhausted in a good kind of way and looking forward to beginning her wall walk the following day.

The wall was actually interesting.  It was built in several different styles, depending on the location and the materials available during its construction.  It was hard work climbing the countless steps and walking the many miles.  But as Ch’uang had promised, no one stopped their progress and they diverted numerous times to help people along their route.

It was with their arrival in Mongolia at the end of their four thousand mile walk that things began to change.

Continued...

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