Usual disclaimers apply. There will be spanking in this chapter. You have been warned.

Chapter 13

Waking up early Xena yawned and then listened. Nobody else was up, so she quickly exited her bedroll to use the bushes and returned to a still quiet camp. Starting to think of the conversation she heard from the previous night, Xena started to get angry.

She still couldn't figure out why her mother never told her. When she was growing up, it would have helped her so much to know that her mother could do so much of the things she was teased for by the other children. The longer she thought, the angrier she became. Against her will, the tears came, and she suddenly felt the urge to flee. She pulled on her boots and sprang from the bedroll.

She then and ran into the trees taking nothing but her staff and the secret weapon made for her by Tharin. Taking to the trees, Xena went as far as she dared before settling herself in the crook of a large oak. It was only then that she allowed the tears come.

She was in the tree a long time before she was able to calm herself. Finally, she raised her head. Xena wiped her face and looked at the sun. By its position in the sky she'd guess a candle mark had passed, but figured she still had some time before anyone came looking for her.

Leaning back in the crook, she watched as squirrels chittered above her and a mother robin brought worms back for its young. Smiling a little she was startled to hear her name called from below the tree.

"Xena, please come down you know I hate heights."

"Gabrielle, how'd you find me?"

"You should know by now that I could find you anywhere, Xena," the bard replied as she looked up into the tree. "Please come down to me."

"No. I'm not ready to go back."

"I didn't ask you to go back to camp with me. Nobody else is up yet. I came looking for you alone." Sitting down and leaning against the tree, Gabrielle waited. "What's wrong anyway? I can tell you've been crying."

"Can't keep anything from you can I, my bard?"

"Nope, so you may as well come down and spill it."

"Oh okay," Xena sighed. She then slowly made her way down the tree, and settled down in the grass next to Gabrielle.

"Xena, is that what I think it is?" Gabrielle asked as she noticed the small chakram at Xena's side.

"Oh, yeah, just like the big one. Watch." Xena took it from her hip and standing threw the weapon. It hit two trees before coming back to her waiting hand. "It works perfectly." She smiled and sat down again after placing it back by on her hip.

"Gods Xena, you know that Ephiny is going to kill you when she sees that little trick. That is of course you don't drive her insane first."

Waiting quietly Gabrielle took Xena's hand in her own and laid her head on the little warrior's shoulder. "You know we're going to be in a lot of trouble when they wake up, right?"

"Yeah, so what's your point?"

"My point is I should at least know what I'm risking my butt for sitting here with you." Gabrielle smiled.

The warrior was quiet for a moment before she decided that she needed to share her secret. "I overheard a conversation last night between Mom, Ephiny, and Eponin."

"And?"

"And," Xena sighed. "My great-grandmother was an Amazon. Mom spent time in the Amazon village as a girl, and we're related to Eponin."

"What?" Gabrielle's eyes were wide. "Your mom is an Amazon?"

"Kind of I guess."

"She's a member of my tribe?"

"Her grandmother was yes," Xena answered. "I just can't figure out why she never told me. Gabrielle she can use a staff and set snares. Do you know how much that would have helped me growing up when I was seen as so different by the other kids?"

"I can only imagine." Gabrielle squeezed her friend's hand. "It's in the past now Xena you can't change it."

"I know, but I'm still angry, and I don't know if I'm ready to talk to Mom about it yet."

"Well, I supposed we've been through sticker situations then this. I can understand why you're upset, so whatever you decide you know I'm here to stand by you."

"Thanks, Gabrielle." Hugging the bard Xena gave a small grin. "I guess we should head back before we're missed."

"Xena! Gabrielle!" Ephiny's voice carried through the woods.

"Looks like it's too late for that." Gabrielle frowned. "This is going to take some fast talking. I have an idea. Let me do all the talking warrior, now slap me."

"What?"

"Slap me so it looks like I've been crying. Oh and twist my wrist a little, just enough to fool Eph."

Xena blinked, but realizing that the Amazon was getting closer, she shrugged her shoulders and did as she was asked. She was then amazed as her bard transformed right in front of her eyes.

"Call to them Xena," Gabrielle instructed through the tears.

"Ephiny! Eponin! Over here, hurry!" Xena called as loudly as she could. Hearing footsteps she watched as Gabrielle turned on the full effect, waterworks and all, and buried her face in the warrior's shirt.

"What in the name of the gods happened?" Ephiny exclaimed. "Um, I," Xena stuttered.

Taking a deep breath Gabrielle turned her tear stained face to Ephiny. "I'm sorry Ephiny. I got lost and then," hiccup. "Xena came and found me, but I tripped coming back to camp and hurt my wrist. OUCH!" she yelped. "I told you it hurt and I started to cry and wouldn't let Xena come and get you because I was scared."

Looking terrified at the crying bard Ephiny looked at Eponin who just shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe you should carry her back to camp?" Xena suggested quietly. "I'm sorry I left without waking you, but I figured she was just in the bushes, then I found her trail and she was too scared for me to leave." Xena said as a single tear rolled down her cheek as well.

"No, no, that's okay Xena at least you found her. Come on let's get back to camp." Picking up the bard Ephiny turned and ran quickly towards their camp.

"Hop on," Bending down, Eponin offered her back to the little warrior who grinned and jumped on.

"Thanks Ep."

"No problem, I needed the workout anyway," she replied before quickly following Ephiny.

Entering camp, Ephiny was pleased to see that Cyrene had already started breakfast and had fed and watered the horses.

"She's hurt," Ephiny stated almost dumping the still crying bard at Cyrene's feet.

Seeing the obvious distress, Cyrene frowned and began to examine the little bard. . "I'll take it from here Ephiny, thank you."

Looking at the little bard she dipped a cloth in already warm water and started to wash her tear-streaked face. "Care to tell me what happened?"

"I got lost and hurt my wrist and Xena found me," she said quietly still sniffing. "I was too scared to head back to camp and didn't want Xena to leave me," she finished as Cyrene gave her the once over from head to toe.

"Uh-huh, I see," Cyrene replied as Xena camp into camp riding Eponin's back. "Xena, come here please," she called.

"Coming, Mom." The warrior called as she ran to her mother's side. "How is she?"

"Well, it's the strangest thing," Cyrene started. "Here, feel her wrist right here."

"Okay."

"Don't you think it's odd that she sprained her wrist at that angle? It seems more like a wrench to me. I just can't figure out how she fell for that injury to occur," Cyrene continued as she wrapped the bard's wrist. "No writing for a couple of days, but you'll be fine on this end."

"What do you mean?" Gabrielle and Xena caught each other's gaze quickly before looking at the ground.

"I mean what really happened, Gabrielle?"

"I told you, I spr…."

"Don't you lie to me again, young lady!" Cyrene snapped. "As far as I know you have never lied to me as an adult and I don't expect you to start now."

Real tears started to run down the bard's face. "Please, I can't tell you, Mom. I'm sorry, but I'd be breaking a promise to someone who means the world to me."

"That's what I thought." Cyrene sighed. "Sit down, Xena."

"Mom..."

"I am not in the mood, little girl. Sit down right now." The steel in her mother's voice convinced Xena to sit next to the bard. "Now, why were the two of you really out there?"

Seeing Xena's face go blank, Gabrielle grabbed the small chakram from her friend's side. "It was all my fault, Mom. I begged Xena to show me her new chakram and I tricked her into going into the woods. She really did think I was lost."

Cyrene looked to Xena and back to the bard wondering where the truth really was in the story.

"No, Gabrielle," Xena said as uninvited tears ran down her face as well.

"She came to get me, I was angry and left camp," Xena sighed. "I won't let you lie for me Gabrielle. I accept full responsibility."

"Why were you angry, Xena?"

"I'm not ready to talk about it Mom."

"I see." Cyrene took the warm cloth from the bucket and once again washed Gabrielle's face before washing Xena's. "Go back to your bedrolls and wait to be called. Don't move from them before one of us tells you to."

"Yes, Mom," both girls answered in unison as they slowly rose and walked back to their bedrolls.

"Ephiny was rubbing her face in her hands and pacing. You're telling me that Gabrielle lied to all of us, Xena snuck out of camp, and to top it all off Xena has a new weapon she didn't bother to tell us about?"

"That about covers it," Cyrene confirmed.

"I am going to be gray before we get back to the village," Ephiny commented. "They couldn't just behave, just one day could they?" she continued to pace and wave her arms. "Oh no! They just had to sneak out of camp and use a new weapon." Ephiny kept pacing and waving her arms.

"I think we broke Ephiny," Gabrielle commented to Xena as they watched the Amazon talk to herself and pace.

"Very possibly," Xena smirked. "I saw Mom do that once."

"Oh? Now that sounds like a story I'd like to hear."

Xena shook her head slightly, still grinning at the memory. "Yeah, good times. Lyceus and I tricked Toris into going into a cave where there was a baby bear."

"You let your brother go into a cave with a bear cub?"

"Yep. Only problem was the mama bear came back early. Toris got a great big scar right on the seat of his pants," Xena chuckled.

"Gods," Gabrielle joined in the laughter. "So what did your mom do to you and Lyceus? "Couldn't sit for a week." Xena shrugged. "But it was so worth it."

Gabrielle shook her head. "Poor Toris. You were terrible to him."

"Yeah, but he deserved it."

"I'll bet," Gabrielle agreed as she leaned into the little warrior. "I'm worried about Ephiny. She looks ready to burst or something."

"Ah, she'll be okay, Mom's there."

The girls watched as Cyrene took the Amazon by the shoulders and shook her a bit. Finally Ephiny nodded and sat on the ground putting her head in her hands. Standing back up after a few minutes she followed Cyrene to the saddle bags and hugged the woman after accepting something from her.

"I think she's coming toward us," Gabrielle commented.

"Looks like."

"Xena, let's run. I know we can out run your mom. I'm pretty sure we can out run the dumb Amazons too."

"You realize eventually we'll have to let them catch us."

Gabrielle wrinkled her nose. "Eventually is the key word there."

Xena raised a small eyebrow. "Okay then, on my count. One, two, run!" Xena yelled as she did her war cry and ran with Gabrielle toward the trees. The girls were already into the trees before Ephiny and Eponin had reacted.

Climbing higher Xena calmed Gabrielle. "Don't worry, they're too heavy to come up this high."

"It's not them I'm worried about."

"Don't look down, just look at me."

"Okay. Hey Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"Think we should sneak into camp, grab the statue and Argo and head to Bulger alone?"

Looking down into Ephiny's face Xena nodded. "That might be a good idea actually. How about we head east after that or maybe farther north?"

"Works for me," the bard agreed. "Uh Xena, I thought you said they couldn't get up here."

"Well, they shouldn't really try. I mean they might get hurt."

"Xena you and Gabrielle get your little Amazon butts down here now!" Ephiny commanded.

"I'm not an Amazon, Eph!" Xena yelled back.

"Oh yes you are, now move it. That's an order from your regent."

"Sorry I only follow the queen's orders," Xena shot back.

Growling slightly Ephiny climbed a little higher. "Don't make me come up there and get you."

"You can't," Gabrielle shouted back. "If you do the branch might break and you'd be responsible for hurling your queen to her death."

"No Amazon court in the nation would convict me after they heard the evidence!"

"Xena, they are getting closer," Gabrielle nervously commented. "We're stuck."

Xena smirked. "Do you trust me, Gabrielle?"

"You know I do."

"See that branch to our right?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"It connects with that tree. If we get to it and climb over Eph will have to climb down this tree to try and get to us and by that time we'll be three trees over."

Looking into the regent's face again Gabrielle gulped and nodded. "Lead the way, warrior mine."

Following as Xena climbed through the trees like she was born doing it, she and Gabrielle were indeed about three trees away before Ephiny and Eponin caught up with them again.

Watching as Ephiny climbed the tree they were in, Xena was dismayed to find Eponin climbing their only escape route as well. "Damn, I think we're caught."

"Oh come on Xena, I have faith in you. You have to get us out of this."

Looking around Xena grinned and removed her new chakram. "Let's see if this works," she said as she tossed it straight up. Hearing a branch break she saw the squirrel as it slowly fell down to land on Ephiny's head.

The Amazon screamed as the squirrel squirmed to get back to the tree. "Xena!"

"You called Ephiny?" the little warrior answered.

"You little, why, I …." the Amazon broke off as she mumbled under her breath.

"Are we really out of options, Xena?"

"I'm afraid so."

"She looks really mad."

"Yep, sure does. Gabrielle?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatever happens don't try to answer her I think her head might explode if we do."

"Gotcha."

"Don't you think the rope is a little overkill Ephiny?" Xena asked as the Amazon bound her hands together before lifting the girl over her shoulder and heading back to camp. Xena noticed Eponin had done the same and Gabrielle now was slung over the weapons master shoulder as well.

"Come on we were just having a bit of fun," Xena protested right before a hard hand made contact with her upturned backside.

"Not one more word, Xena."

"Well, it's not like the squirrel got hurt or anything," Gabrielle commented.

"Eponin, spank the queen."

"What?"

"You heard me, give the queen one solid whack."

"Are you outta your mind?"

"Yeah Eph, I thought you were in charge of the punishment," Gabrielle added.

"That's an order weapons master!" Ephiny barked as Eponin nodded and delivered a solid swat to the bard's backside.

"Not another word, Gabrielle."

Looking over toward the little warrior Gabrielle grinned as Xena showed the bard her freed hands. Putting her finger to her lips she gave a war cry and flipped over Ephiny's shoulder as Eponin reacted and put Gabrielle on the ground. Grabbing the bard, Xena led her through the underbrush stopping momentarily to slice the ropes off her hands with her boot dagger. Continuing to run through the underbrush Xena pointed to the small path that led back to camp.

Walking slowly the girls held hands until the camp came into sight. "Where do you suppose they are?" Gabrielle asked.

"My guess is going the opposite way from camp. Come on, Mom's distracted let's go sit on the bedrolls."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Sure I am. Look, we're in more trouble than ever might as well have some fun with it."

Gabrielle shrugged, knowing that the warrior was right, and followed as Xena led her to their bedrolls. Hearing a noise coming from the trees Xena chuckled. "Quick, take off your boots and act like we've been here for ages," she directed pulling off her own boots and tucking her arms under her head looking up at the sky.

"What does that cloud look like?" Gabrielle asked pointing upwards while Xena lay quietly.

"A horse?"

"A horse come on Xena, it's obviously a dog."

"Where do you get a dog Gabrielle?" she responded as Ephiny's shadow slid over them.

"Hey Eph, where ya been?" Xena asked pointing to the sky. "So what does that cloud look like to you Ephiny a dog or a horse?"

"A paddle," the Amazon responded pulling a twig out of her hair.

"Nah, it's nothing like a paddle," Gabrielle stated. "Well now it looks like a giant fish."

"Yeah, it kinda does," Xena agreed. "What do you think Eph?"

"I think it looks like a paddle," the Amazon repeated as the girls continued to ignore her and look into the sky.

"Nope, not one bit does it look like a paddle," Gabrielle remarked. "Are you sure you can see okay?" she asked the regent.

"Oh, I can see just fine," Ephiny answered moving closer to their bedroll. "So how are the two of you?" she continued calmly.

"We're fine, been here a while enjoying the clouds," Xena answered. "Why?"

"Oh I just wanted to make sure neither of you was injured in any way."

"No, I'm fine, you Gabrielle?"

"Right as rain," the bard answered.

"Good, then it won't hurt when I do this," the regent said as she grabbed both girls by the scruff of the tunic until they were standing in front of her. Walking to a stump nearby the regent sat down and placed the girls in front of her. "What in Hades were the two of you thinking?"

"We were just having some fun," Gabrielle muttered.

"Fun, fun! That was not fun, Gabrielle. That was downright dangerous."

"Oh come on Ephiny you know I can handle myself in the trees," Xena protested.

"Running through the tree tops like that? Even you can slip, Xena. And let's not forget about the squirrel, what if it had hit you or Gabrielle instead or made me lose my grip on the tree?" The regent demanded. "Running through the underbrush like that, anything could have been on the other side and neither of you had any type of weapon on you."

"I had my chakram," Xena answered making sure to omit the boot dagger.

"Yeah, she's pretty handy with the chakram, Ephiny, or have you forgotten?" the bard added.

"And you!" the regent rounded on the little queen. "Lying to Ep and me about what happened in the woods, lying to Cyrene twice, running out of camp without permission, running from your punishment. I don't consider any of that behavior worthy of an Amazon queen."

"What about this behavior?" Gabrielle stuck her tongue out at the regent and grinned at a laughing Xena.

"Not that either," Ephiny returned evenly as she stared at the two troublemakers. "Cyrene," she called. "Would you please come here for a moment?"

Waiting for the inn-keeper Ephiny was silent and Gabrielle and Xena continued to make faces at each other in front of the Amazon. Coming up quickly behind the children, Cyrene gave each a hard smack on their backside. "Stop this foolishness right now you two. Haven't you tortured poor Ephiny enough?"

Rubbing their backsides the little warrior and little bard watched as Cyrene came to stand by Ephiny. "Yes, Ephiny?"

"Would you please take Gabrielle and talk to her about lying to you. She can consider it her warm up to the main event."

"Of course," taking the now struggling Gabrielle by the hand, Cyrene easily picked her up and carried her to the other side of the camp.

"Drop the leggings and britches right now. Xena."

"No way Ephiny, nobody spanks my bare backside except my mother."

"I can arrange that Xena," the regent paused. "Then you'd be right back here over my knee for the punishment to really start." The regent waited a moment for effect. "I can wait all day, Xena." Ephiny continued, crossing her leg and getting as comfortable as she could on the stump.

Xena's eyes narrowed as she locked onto Ephiny's hard stare. Wondering if this fight was worth it Xena stood her ground until she was sure Ephiny was going to call her mother over to make good on the threat. Finally, shifting, Xena lowered her pants and britches allowing her tunic to cover her bottom before Ephiny pulled her over her lap.

**XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD****XENA***BARD****XENA****

Lying on her bedroll Xena was thankful that her britches and leggings had been lost to the grass sometime before. Her bottom felt much too big for her body and she cringed every time she heard the paddle strike Gabrielle's bottom.

Finally hearing silence she sniffed as Gabrielle was laid down next to her on the bedroll. "Don't even think of moving," Ephiny threatened before covering them up with a light cloth. "Try to get some sleep, you've had a big morning."

Putting her arm over Gabrielle's waist Xena whispered, "I'm sorry, Gabrielle."

"No need to apologize, Xena," the bard sniffed back as her tears still flowed. "I got myself into this."

"If I hadn't left camp, you wouldn't have been in trouble."

"Let it go Xena," Gabrielle said fiercely hugging her lamb to her chest.

"Okay, I'll try," the little warrior agreed snuggling as close as she could to the bard.

***XENA****BARD****XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD****

****No squirrels were harmed during the writing of this chapter. Ephiny's hair however, did require a shampoo and comb out.