The Adventures of Cadi and Mica

By Amazon Writer

Amazon Writer 2011

Disclaimer: The characters of Xena and Gabrielle (along with any others you may recognize) do not belong to me. I am only borrowing them for a time. Cadi and Mica, however, are completely my own! This story contains the minimal use of corporal punishment of a child. However this does not reflect the writer's view on the subject, I am merely trying to stay within the time period.

Author's Note: I do not know how quickly I'll be able to update but I will as my Muse and busy family life allow. Feedback is most welcome but flamers will be tossed where they belong - in the fire pit!

Thanks for reading…on with the story…

I sat atop the hill and watched the sun rise over the horizon, shedding warm light upon the village I called home. A mewling sound came from the pack at my side, I reached in and withdrew the panther cub I had rescued from certain death. I had found her nuzzling her dead mother's stomach, looking for milk. I cradled her in my arms, "Soon Mica, we'll be home soon and I will get you something for your empty tummy." I glanced up a moment later when I heard the pounding feet of a horse, my mother's horse. I had been gone too long and knew I was in trouble. With a sigh, I placed the cub back in my bag and stood to await my warrior mother's approach. Moments later the golden horse came to a stop beside me and I was pulled up across the saddle. My mother laid a swat across my backside, and then pulled me into her arms in a fierce embrace.

"Cadi! Where have you been?" She demanded to know.

With my arms wrapped around her neck, I mumbled my answer into her shoulder. "I came out with my class yesterday and wandered off when I got bored."

She pulled me back to look at me, forcing me to peer into her deep blue eyes. She frowned, "Cadi, how many times have you been told not to wander off?"

"But I know these woods, Momma!"

"That doesn't matter, anything could have happened to you out here during the night!" She scolded as she turned me to face forward, and then placed her coat over me. "Come on, let's get you back to your mother. She's fit to be tied."

Let me clarify something, I have two mothers. Xena is my warrior mother and Gabrielle is my bard mother, and also Queen of the Amazons. They had adopted me when I was but a mere toddler and raised me as their own.

As we made the short journey back into the village, the cub in my pack began to mew again. Shutting my eyes tightly, I awaited my mother's questions. I didn't have to wait long.

"Cadi? What is that?"

"I found her with her dead mother and siblings. I had to take her or she was gonna die!"

"That doesn't tell me what 'she' is, Cadence!"

Uh oh! "A panther cub."

She sighed, "You can't keep her, Cadi."

"Please Momma! I'll be good!"

Another sigh, "Baby, it's not a question of you being good. She's a wild animal, if you take care of her she'll never learn to survive on her own in the woods."

I folded my arms across my chest and pouted. "But you and Mom didn't leave me to die out in the woods when you found me!"

"Cadence, with the current amount of trouble you have gotten yourself into, I suggest you drop the attitude! Or I won't wait for your mother to tan your backside!"

Contrary to popular belief, my warrior mother was the softer of the two when it came to discipline. Except when I continually tried her patience. "Sorry Momma."

"Mmhmm."

Nothing more was said until we reached the steps of our home. Momma hugged me tightly and helped me slip to the ground. "Go to your mother, Cadi. I'll see to your little friend here."

I smiled, "Thanks Momma."

She smiled back, "You're welcome. Go on now."

My bare feet shuffled across the wooden steps smoothed over time. With a heavy sigh, I pushed open the door. I found my mother pacing the common room. "Mom."

"Cadi!" She rushed over to embrace me, tears rushing down her face. The sight of her tears made my own eyes well up and overflow. "We were so worried when you didn't come home yesterday! Where were you?"

I gulped. "I umm…wan- wandered off during class. Lost track of time, before I knew it, it was getting dark. So I stayed put, figured that was better than getting lost in the dark."

Seconds later, I found myself over her knee. My skirt doing nothing to protect my backside from the- none-too-gentle swats I was receiving at my mother's hand. Suddenly, I was back on my feet and tears coursing down my face, gazing into my mothers green eyes.

"Cadence, you are only nine summers old. You are far too young to be out alone at night and old enough to know how to mind me." She scolded, then pulled me in for another hug. "Anything could've happened to you last night! Your Momma and I would have been devastated to have lost you!"

I only cried harder at the thought of worrying both my parents. I flung myself back into her arms, "I'm sorry Mommy!"

"Shhh, it's okay. Mommy loves you." She whispered softly, gently rocking back and forth. She scooped me up and carried me into the bathing chamber, giving me a quick bath and dressing me in sleepwear. By this time my eyes were so heavy with sleep, I doubt I could've managed this by myself.

She was just tucking me into bed when Momma came in and laid Mica down next to me. The cub immediately began to purr as I ran my hand over her silky fur. I vaguely heard my mothers whispering about my new pet as I drifted off to sleep.

Golden sunlight was shining in through my open window when I opened my eyes. I crawled out of bed, wondering where my cub had gone. Stumbling out into the main part of our house, I found my dark haired mother feeding Mica a few scraps of dried meat. "Hi Momma."

"Hey there sleepyhead." I crawled into her lap for a cuddle. "Hungry?"

"Uh huh." I yawned.

"There's some soup and bread on the table for you." She kissed my head and scooted me over to afore mentioned table. "If you hurry, you just might make it in time for your afternoon lessons."

I looked up in surprise, "It's still early?"

"It's still in the noon hour, your classmates are still having noon-meal."

I was hungrier than I had imagined and soon laid my bowl on the floor for Mica. Quickly dressing in my favorite tunic and short leggings, I raced out the door with Mica at my heels. I couldn't believe just how swiftly we had become so close. Then again, I had rescued her after all.

Barely a fortnight had passed since I had found Mica and yet it was as if we had never been apart. I fed her some milk every day because I overheard Momma say something about nutrition and babies. So I figured the same went for baby animals too. She followed me everywhere, even to my lessons, which ended up getting me into trouble with my teachers more than once. It seems that she distracted all my friends from concentrating on the tasks at hand. I polished more swords and mucked more barn stalls than I care to admit. But the novelty soon wore off and everything went back to normal. Well as normal as can be when you're the Princess of the Amazon Nation, that is.

Currently, I was kicking butt in Weapons class. One of the older girls, Tasha, had gotten on my nerves and I challenged her to a duel. Of course this was done on the sly, Aunt Pony would have our hides if we were caught. I made a downward strike, and then swiftly brought my staff upwards effectively dumping my opponent on her butt. I raised my voice and staff in victory, and then offered Tasha a hand up. However, my triumph was short lived as I felt the sharp sting of Aunt Pony's short sword across my rear end.

"Ow! Pony!"

Some of the girls giggled, I'm not sure just at what though; my misfortune or the use of my nickname for our teacher. A quick glare from the afore mentioned person was enough to silence them.

A brief glance up into annoyed brown eyes was all I needed. Gulp. "Excuse me. Weapons Master Eponin."

"Princess Cadence," She returned the favor of full title. "Just what do you think you were doing?"

"I was umm…trying to uhhh…teachsomeonealesson!" I blurted the last bit out in a rush.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand you."

Oh poop! "I was trying to teach Tasha a lesson."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "I see."

"She was picking on the little kids, Aunt Pony! Making fun of them for not knowing how to use their staffs!"

"Mmhmm." She nodded. "You wait for me in the weapons hut. The rest of you, class dismissed. Tasha, a word please."

Oh horse poop! "Yes Ma'am."

I dragged my sorry carcass across the training field, Mica at my heels as usual and totally unaware of the trouble I was certain to be in. I straightened up and put the practice weapons back where they belonged while I waited for Aunt Pony. When that was done and she still wasn't back yet, I sat down on the floor to pay attention to my cub.

It seemed just short of forever before the door swung open. Immediately I was on my feet, ready to face my peril.

"Relax Cadi," Aunt Pony snickered. "I'm not here to skin you, if that's what you're fearing."

A sigh of relief whooshed from my chest and Pony laughed again. "Mind telling me what that was all about, youngster?"

"Like I said, she was tormenting the little ones and I didn't think it was right. Someone had to put her in her place."

"And that 'someone' was you, eh?"

I gulped. It was hard to relax around Aunt Pony sometimes; she was a serious and forbidding person. "Well, I suppose I coulda come and gotten you instead, huh?"

"For starters, yes." She nodded. "Come here, Cadi."

I cautiously approached, still smarting from the swat I had received from her sword. She pulled me up to sit on her lap, "Tell me, Cadi, are you bored in my class?"

Busted. "Umm well…"

"I thought so." She nodded with an all-knowing smile. "I do believe I have a future weapons master here."

I grinned at the praise behind the words. I had mastered the staff a long time ago and the sword not too long after – with a wooden practice sword of course. I had spent many an hour watching both my mothers' practicing with their chosen weapons. I had memorized every move.

"Well here is my suggestion, and with your mothers' approval pending, how would you like to help me teach some of the littler kids?"

"Really?" My eyes lit up with excitement. "Ya mean it?"

"Yes, of course." She nodded. "And in the meantime we will start training with the chobos."

"Yeah!" I was really excited now. Even Mica was yipping and bouncing around in happiness. Aunt Pony laughed.

"Go on! Get, ya little scamp!"

I raced home in sheer joy, finding it almost too hard to wait to tell my parents the news. When I burst through the door, yelling at the top of my lungs for my mothers I was stopped short at the sight of our common room. Our winter clothes littered the room. All the air rushed out of my lungs at the sight of my boots. I hated boots; I much preferred my bare feet.

"Well hey there, Cadi!" Mom smiled at me. "What's up, my little whirlwind?"

"Umm…I had a good day, that's all."

"Uh huh," She was skeptical of my answer. She shooed Mica away from the clothes, telling her to 'scat'. "So, uh, why don't you come over here and tell me all about this 'good day' you had while we see what still fits from last year?"

I recognized the order hidden in the request. I hated this time of year, more than anything. I dragged myself across the room. "Yes ma'am."

"Well jeez, she acts like you banished her to her room or something." My dark haired mother joked as she entered the room.

"Momma!" I complained.

"I'm just playing with you, Lil One."

I couldn't help but grin at the nickname, "I know…Warrior Momma."

"Why you little! C'mere!"

Half an hour later, after trying on all my winter clothing and finding that only one pair of my deerskin leggings fit properly and that my dreaded boots still fit, Momma decided that we would have to visit the village seamstress after evening-meal.

I walked across the village, feeling very uncomfortable in my leggings and boots. I wiggled all through evening-meal, despite the warnings from both my mothers. I shuffled along behind them and kicking small stones out of my way, as we headed over to Sofi's. "No good, damn, bloody-"

My grumbling and cursing was brought to an abrupt halt as my taller mother turned and grabbed me around the waist. Oh horse poop! I'd gone too far.

"Gab, we'll meet you at Sofi's in just a few minutes." She said in a low voice. "Junior and I need to have a chat."

Oh Goddess, have mercy and kill me now! When I heard Momma talk like that I knew that I was in for it. Momma walked into the village stables and headed straight for the back, where we'd have some modicum of privacy. She found an old bench that had been tossed back here and set it to rights. I then found myself standing in front of her, tears already leaking from my eyes.

"Momma…"

"Cadence." She began to scold. "You have been given every opportunity to straighten up. And you didn't take any one of them. Just what is your aversion to wearing long clothing in the winter months?"

I shrugged, "I just don't like them."

Blue eyes glared at me, I knew this wasn't going well for me. "I don't know. I feel con…con…"

"Constricted?"

"Yes! Sometimes my leggings get too tight and uncomfortable. And boots…well I guess I just don't like wearing shoes." I was beginning to believe that it was a conspiracy against all Amazon children. From what I had seen from watching the younger girls growing up from infancy, Amazon babies aren't introduced to boots until their third or fourth winter. I had been no different and I knew that I was not the only one who felt this way.

Momma cleared her throat, "I suppose we can come to an agreement about the boots."

I began to smile.

"However," her face darkened slightly. "There are more appropriate ways of voicing your displeasure about something."

I hung my head, "Yes Ma'am."

"And just where did you learn to curse like a sailor?"

Oh poop! I couldn't lie; it wouldn't save my skin in the long run. I took a shuddery breath, "The older girls."

"Uh huh. I see." She seemed to deliberate for quite some time. "I should tan your backside, ya know? As Princess of the Amazon Nation, you should set a better example for the other girls."

This was beginning to sound like a 'Mom-lecture' instead of a 'Momma-lecture'. I was brought out of my reverie by a pair of swats to my backside.

"Ouch! Momma!" I stood there, rubbing said body part.

"Count yourself lucky, young lady, that that is all you get." She scolded.

"I really am sorry Momma." I mumbled and fell into her embrace. "I'll do better."

"I know Baby, I know." She rubbed my back. "Shhh. Come on, let's go find Mom, shall we?"

It was another seven-day before Aunt Pony had some time to help me begin making my new chobos. We set off into the woods to find the right type of wood and just the right branches to use. As usual, Mica trotted along at my side.

"Your cub there, she's getting pretty big."

I smiled. Indeed, she had grown quite a bit since I had brought her home. "I know. I wonder just how big she will get."

"Rather large, I reckon. Panther cats are pretty big animals."

It seemed to be a rather odd conversation to be having with Aunt Pony. Usually she was the silent type, unless teaching a class that is.

Mom and Momma had agreed to allow me to aid in teaching the younger girls with Aunt Pony, as long as it did not interfere with my other lessons.

We didn't talk much after that until we found what we had been looking for. Carefully, we took only what we needed and thanked the Goddess for allowing us the use of her tree branches. Taking the apple seeds I had been saving out of my pouch, I gently planted them in the soil and watered the area with some water from my canteen.

"It is very important to not only thank the Goddess for the sacrifice but to also offer something in return. Although the seeds you planted are from a different tree, the thought behind it is just as good."

I stood, almost shocked, for a moment, "Wow Aunt Pony, maybe you should've been our philosophy teacher instead."

She gave me a fierce look that said if I knew what was good for me, I wouldn't breathe a word of this to Aunt Ephiny.

"Come on…race ya home!" I challenged. In the end, much to Aunt Pony's chagrin, it was Mica who won the race.

That night, after evening-meal, I sat with a group of my friends and age-mates at the main fire in the middle of the village. I was content to listen to their chatter as I calmly stroked Mica's soft fur. So lost in listening to her purring, I barely heard Tarah calling my name.

"Hello? Cadi, snap out of it!" She laughed.

Blinking, I turned to look at her. "Heh, sorry Tarah. What did you say?"

"I said, we are going swimming tonight down at the lake. Wanna go?"

Tarah was my best friend and partner in crime. She was also Aunt Eph's niece, who used to live in another village. I can't count how many times we have been in trouble together but that has never deterred her from being my friend.

"Umm…I don't know Tarah." My parents would skin me if they found me sneaking out, let alone swimming without supervision.

"Oh don't be a worrywart! We won't stay out long."

"I'll think about it." I hedged. Up until this point I had never dreamed of sneaking out at night before. Just then I heard Mom call out my name, I turned to see her standing outside the fire circle. "Yes?"

"Time to go."

I frowned; I wasn't ready to go in for the night. I'd had a busy day of lessons and not enough time to relax with my peers. "Aw Mom, do I have to?"

She nodded, "It is getting late and there is still much to do tomorrow."

I got up and ran over to my mother. I looked up at her with pleading eyes, "May I please have just a little bit longer with my friends? Please?"

She gazed down at me for a few moments, and then smiled. "I suppose you may but on one condition. You give me a hug first."

Happily, I agreed with that and did so. I enjoyed getting hugs from both my mothers.

"Okay Scamp, go on then. But don't be out too late."

Those words brought to mind the plans that Tarah and the others were making, and I plastered what I hoped was an innocent look on my face. "I won't."

I returned to the fire and the company of my friends. We passed around a canteen filled with grape juice that someone had filched from the kitchens. Boy, would Sari be mad if she knew! Time passed and the group dwindled down to just myself, Tarah and another girl who was older than us. I leaned forward to tend to the fire then jumped out of my skin when someone cleared their throat behind me. I didn't need to look to know it was my mother. "Hi Momma."

Suddenly, I was hoisted off the ground by the seat of my pants.

"Time to go home, Little One."

I noticed that Tarah had run off home in the few seconds I had been staring at the dirt. Traitor! Oh well. "I'm not tired Momma."

"Tired or not, it's time to be in for the night." She said as she began walking towards our house.

"Momma, the blood's kinda rushing to my head here." I mumbled, still dangling in midair. Mica was trotting alongside, trying to lick my face.

"Whoops, sorry kiddo." I soon found myself upright and yet still being carried.

"I can walk Momma."

"Nah, my legs are longer. We'll get there faster."

I sighed and gave up, resting my head on her shoulder. When we walked into the cabin, I found that Mom had my nightly cup of tea waiting for me on the table. Momma kissed my forehead and put me on my feet. Before I could even take a sip of the warm liquid, I was being shooed off to my room to wash up and put on my nightclothes.

Soon, I was sitting on the hearth-rug and sipping my tea. By now my eyes were getting heavy. Momma took my cup from my hands and sent me off to bed. "Night Mom, Momma. Love you."

"Love you too, Baby."

I awoke to someone tapping me; I opened my eyes to see Tarah leaning through my open window. "Are ya comin' or not Cadi?" She whispered.

Rubbing sleep from my eyes, "Where?"

"Swimmin'!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot." I mumbled. Listening for any sign of my parents being awake, I made my decision. I slipped out of bed and over the windowsill. I knew if we got caught, it would be my hide but what the heck? I needed to have some fun. Mica came tumbling out the window a moment later. I looked around to see a rather large group of girls waiting at the pathway that lead to the swimming hole. The night air was a bit chilly compared to the warmth of the cabin but the water we swam in was fed by a hot springs. I would regret later that I didn't have a towel or blanket with me.

When we reached the lake, I stripped down to my underpants and jumped into the water. Soon we were all having a grand old time laughing and splashing each other. Even Mica came in for a quick swim. We lost all sense of self-preservation as our volume grew louder and louder. We forgot that we were not that far from home and would be heard by anyone who might be awake in the village. I was first alerted to someone approaching by Mica's deep growling, everyone hushed and waited on baited breath to see who might be coming down the path. Her growling stopped when Mom, Aunt Eph and a few others came into view. We were all busted and in big trouble. I glanced at Tarah. "Oh horse poop," I muttered, she nodded in agreement.

Slowly, we all began swimming toward shore. Toward our doom. I didn't even make it out of the water before Mom was hauling me up over her shoulder. She didn't say a word, merely stalked back up the path toward home. Mica trailed behind us, her head drooping a little. Suddenly veering off the path, into the woods a bit, she found what she was looking for. I, however, found myself getting the spanking of my young life. I thought her hand stung before, well it was a thousand times worse with my wet underpants clinging to my skin! I cried and begged but her hand kept falling.

"Mommy!" I wailed.

"Nope, sorry. Not this time, Cadence!" She growled.

I stared daggers at Tarah the next morning walking into the school hut for our philosophy lesson. "Whose idea was it last night?" I growled.

"Charis'." She whispered back. "Don't let me get talked into anything by her again!"

"Aunt Eph let you have it, too, huh?" My anger was replaced by sympathy and I gave her a hug. She was my best friend after all.

She nodded, "And Aunt Pony!"

"Ouch!" I grinned as Mica licked her hand in apologies. "Yeah, Mom is making me help prepare for tonight's feast and festival. Sorry we can't hang out today."

"It's okay." She shrugged. "When are we NOT in trouble?"

"Alright everyone, time to settle down and get to work!"

I stopped to wipe sweat from my face as I pushed a cart of firewood across the village toward the large fire pit. Stuffing my rag back in my pocket, I finished my way over to the pit and stacked the wood neatly. I looked around at the village center, it was decorated splendidly and the dais had been polished to a shine. As I gulped down a scoopful of water from the hanging cistern, my mother came over to me. "Hi Momma."

"Hello Cadi." She began evenly. "Have you finished with everything assigned to you?"

I thought about it for a moment, Mom had given me a list of chores to do this morning - help clean and polish the dais, set up the drummer's circle, make sure there was enough firewood to last the evening and into the night stacked by the fire pit. "Yes Ma'am."

"Then let's go get cleaned up, shall we?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Okay, you can drop the formality."

I looked up as Momma smiled, I could see that she was no longer upset with me. I slipped my hand into her larger one as we walked back across the village toward our house. We were silent until we reached the porch steps and Momma sat down. I stood in front of her, confused. "Cadi, do you understand why your Mom had you do those chores this morning?"

I blinked at her and chewed my lower lip, "Yeah, 'cause I screwed up last night."

She sighed and pulled me close, wrapping her arms around me. "That was a part of it but Baby it is important that you understand even though you are the Princess of this tribe, we won't treat you any differently from your friends."

I frowned, "Huh?"

"In other words, Little One," Mom began as she sat down on the step next to us, "That you won't get any special treatment just because of who you are. For example, does Aunt Pony show you any favoritism in weapons class?"

"No, I wouldn't want her to. I'm just like everyone else."

Momma smiled, "See? You do understand."

I looked down at my feet as I dug my bare toes in the cool dirt, "I'm sorry about last night."

Mom brushed a tear that had escaped off my face, "Baby, it's okay to screw up sometimes. It's part of being a kid. I'm sorry that I came down on you so hard but you scared us Cadi."

"I didn't mean to."

"We know Sweetheart." They both hugged me, "It's over, forgiven and forgotten."

I wiped my face, it seemed I was doing a lot crying lately. "It just sounded like fun and I didn't think there would be anymore danger than swimming during the day."

"And there probably wouldn't have been. The part where you went wrong was the sneaking out, not telling us where you were going." Mom lectured.

Momma took a big breath like she was going to add something but instead she grinned, "Okay, enough of this talk! It's time to get ready for the festival!"