I've been working on this for a few days now, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I promise there is more to Cadi's story...and, again, if anyone has an idea they would like to see woven into Cadi's story please let me know! :)

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As it turned out, Momma decided that it was necessary to go to the barn for a 'chat'. I found myself following along quickly as she had a rather firm grip on my hand. I swallowed the lump in my throat as she took a seat on an old milking stool and reached for my laces. Oh no! Not that again!

"Momma!" I pleaded as I clung to my pants with my free hand. I only got my hand swatted away and found myself bare butt and over her knee before I could say another word. It wasn't the worst spanking I had ever gotten but it sure stung, especially when she added the last number of swats with what I only could guess was Gramma's wooden spoon!

It was only a matter of a few candle drips but it felt like forever before she pulled me up into her arms and cuddled me as I cried on her shoulder. Remember when I mentioned that my warrior parent was a much gentler disciplinarian? Whom, as a general rule, was much more creative and didn't resort to such drastic measures? Well I want to know where she went! I was getting far too many spankings from her lately. I would rather run up and down the riverbank or do weapons training until I dropped than have her sword hand applied so fiercely to my bare backside.

I'm not sure how long we sat there, rocking back and forth while I cried my eyes out but eventually I stopped and looked up into worried blue eyes. "Momma?"

"Yes little one?"

I wiped at my eyes, "How old do I hafta be before you and Mommy will stop doing that?"

"You will never be too old." She chuckled a bit as I squawked as she rocked us back and forth, "When you grow up a little bit more."

I sighed as I leaned my head against her shoulder, "I was afraid you were gonna say that."

We sat in silence for a little while before she helped me tie up my laces and then picked me up, carrying me back inside. At the moment, I didn't care that I was almost too old for that.

Meanwhile, Chloe was having her own 'discussion' with her mother:

I gulped as I stood facing my very angry parent. I wonder what Anna is gonna say when we get home. "I'm sorry Mom, I didn't mean to worry you."

"Didn't mean to worry me?!" She yelled, "First you take off to come here...AFTER both Anna and I told you not to. Then you sneak out of the Inn without permission. That's twice now that you have put yourself in danger by not telling an adult where you were going. Anything could have happened to you! And we never would have known you needed help!" She shook her head, "I don't know what has gotten into you lately, child of mine."

I hung my head. Normally I was very obedient, did what I was told and followed directions when given. The more I thought about that, the more upset I became. "I'm not a damn child! And maybe I'm just sick and tired of being a goody-goody all the time! Ever think about that?"

"Oh ho, you most certainly are a child and one who is very close to getting hauled across my knee!"

I didn't care that I was becoming more and more disrespectful, "I'm done listening to the adults and doing what I'm told! I don't care anymore!"

To say I was shocked when Mom grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and proceeded out the back door would be a huge understatement. Apparently I had pushed my mother a little too far over the edge. Suddenly my sense of self preservation kicked back in and I trembled. "I'm sorry Mommy."

"Too late Chloe." She growled as she gave me a gentle shove toward the trees, "Cut me a switch."

My eyes widened in fear, in all of my almost twelve years, never had I endured such a punishment. Walking in stunned silence, I did what was asked of me and cut a switch. So much for not doing what I'm told anymore! I watched as she stripped the branch of any rough nubs and beckoned me to her.

"Quit dragging your feet, Chloe." She scolded.

I didn't even realize that I hadn't moved, slowly I made my feet move in her direction. As soon as I was within reach, she grabbed a hold of my sleeve and pulled me closer. The next thing I knew I was balanced across a raised knee and staring at the dirt. There was a swish in the air behind me and then a fiery sting spread across my rear end. Mom didn't stop until she landed a dozen swats - yes, I counted! - and we both were crying.

"Mommy!" I could help wailing loudly, never before had my tail feathers stung so badly! Mom wrapped her arms around me and I held on for dear life. "I'm so sorry Mom."

"Shhh...I know." She soothed and rubbed my back. "Never again Chloe, never."

"Nuh uh!"

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The next morning Chloe and I sat at the kitchen table working on the lines that Mom gave us to write. Sitting was not fun in the least and neither of us could keep from squirming. Gramma kept us fed with plenty of nut bread and cider but hardly spoke. I supposed we ticked her off a bit too, thankfully she hadn't scolded us yet.

Mom, Momma and the rest of the Amazons were out in the dinning area making plans to head home the next day. I looked over at Chloe and nudged her with my foot. "Riding on Tess tomorrow won't be anymore fun than sitting here is."

"Nope."

I frowned at the short answer, "What's wrong?"

"My butt hurts Cadi! Isn't that enough?"

I stared at her in shock, "Why are you mad at me?"

"Because! Every time I do something with you, I get my tail feathers warmed."

My eyes watered and I sniffled a bit, I fought the tears that threatened to fall. I didn't know how to respond so I merely moved down the bench to the other end of the table. I tried to concentrate on what I was writing, I will not sneak out of the house or put myself in danger. I had only written about thirty or so lines when Mom walked in to check on us. She really didn't say anything, just glanced at the scrolls in front of us and kissed the tops of our heads before leaving the room again.

A while later I shook my hand, it was starting to cramp and I was tired of writing but I was almost done...with the first set of lines. Mom had two more planned that we would be working on during the trip back home. This is gonna stink! When I looked over at Chloe, she had her head laying on her arms and her paper pushed away from her. I felt bad about getting her into trouble, She's the one who wanted to go so badly!

As it turned out Gramma had all sorts of chores for us to do for the rest of the day, 'to keep us out of trouble' she said. Tables were scrubbed in between customers, the floors were swept and dishes got washed. By the time evening-meal rolled around, we were exhausted. We ate our stew in silence and I went up to take a bath before going to bed.

The door to the bathing room opened and Momma walked in. "Wow, taking a bath without being told!"

"Yeah, I was stinky from working all day." I nodded. "I didn't want to go to bed dirty."

"I see." She sat down on a stool and started washing my hair for me. "Still mad at us?"

Stopping in mid-movement, I looked at her incredulously. "Me? Mad at you?"

"Well, we did come down on you pretty hard."

"I guess you kinda had to," I shrugged. "I did do things I'm not supposed to, things I swore I wouldn't do again."

"Ah," She nodded. "So have we learned our lesson this time?"

I quickly nodded my head up and down, "Yes!"

She chuckled at that, "Okay little one, I declare you clean and stink-free...time to get out of the tub."

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Mom came in and we talked for a little while and she told me one of my favorite stories from when she and Momma first started traveling together. The one about how Mom unwittingly let the Titans loose. "I bet Momma was furious with you!"

She laughed, "Yeah, you could say that."

"Did she beat your butt?" I giggled.

Mom grabbed me and tickled me all over, "No! Of course not! I was a grown adult."

"I beg to differ." Momma chuckled from the doorway. "You weren't much more than a kid and I sorely wanted to thrash you but I didn't."

I enjoyed the rare few moments with my mothers as they gave me hugs and kisses goodnight. As I settled in for sleep, I heard my door open and close quietly.

"Cadi? You still awake?"

A part of me wanted to stay quiet and pretend to be asleep but I couldn't. "Yeah."

Chloe sat down on my bed, "I'm sorry Cadi. I didn't mean to be mean to you."

I laid there for a few moments, thinking about that. I sighed, "It's okay."

"No, it's not." She sniffled and I realized that she was crying. "I was mad and I took it out on you. I'm really sorry."

This time I sat up and looked at her. "It's okay. From now on I'll make sure to only drag Tarah into my trouble making schemes."

"Now hold your horses!" She laughed, "I wanna be included too!"

I wrapped my arms around her, "Always!"

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The next morning Momma woke us up extra early so that we could get started on our way back home. Neither of us was particularly looking forward to riding on Tess all day but we really didn't have a choice in the matter. I sure as Hades didn't want to walk all the way home!

Saying 'good-bye' to Gramma wasn't easy, it never was, but at least we would be seeing her again soon. Momma and Rayona made sure all the horses were fed, watered and saddled while Mom stayed in the kitchen with Gramma getting the bags of food that Gramma insisted on sending with us.

Mica was pacing back and forth, sensing the impending departure, for some reason she seemed nervous. So I sat down with her and ran my fingers through her fur, talking quietly to her in hopes of calming her. Sometimes I forgot she was still a young cub and not yet fully grown. I was really proud of her for doing so well while we were here at Gramma's. Especially with all the different people around that she wasn't used to.

Soon it was time to head out as the sun was just beginning its trek across the sky. It would take us less than a seven-day to get home and I couldn't wait to get there. This trip to Gramma's had been exciting to say the least and I would have plenty of stories to tell but I missed Aunt Eph, Aunt Pony and Tarah something awful!

I climbed up into Tess' saddle and reached down to help Chloe up behind me. She wrapped her arms around my middle and hung on tight. Suddenly there was a whisper in my ear and I laughed as she patted my pocket.

"Yeah, it's my slingshot."

She laughed softly and shook her head at me. Goddess, I love that laugh! Please don't ever let me do something to lose her!

The End...for now

AN: This isn't really 'the end'...there are more adventures to be found! It just may take me a little while to post the next installment(s), so please be patient with me. Real life has be majorly complicated lately!