AS THE MIGHTY WALLS OF THE IMMORTAL PRISION BREAK.

Karsten grinned as he eyed the yellow feathered flight which he recognized as Theodore's. He turned again seeing that the red haired man was now half way across the bridge. He raised his crossbow again getting ready to fire as the group ran past him. Karsten turned following them he breathed in hoping that they the others would follow.

Xena turned as another man was thrown, so far none had been killed but some had serious injuries. Her eyes focused on the barrels she slammed her fist in to the nearest mans face as he ran at her. She moved painfully forward hitting another female warrior just as hard as she tried to attack her. This had to be what she thought it was.

Jiang always prided himself on owning black powder he'd always boasted that his special brand could make Greek fire look pathetic. She yanked the lid free hitting another soldier in the face with it as he tried to stab her with his dagger. Her hand moved as she dug in pulling out hand full of the black substance, Jiang had put this next to the bridge ready for transport.

She grabbed one of the flaming torches close by, these men and women really knew nothing about black powder. She breathed sharply trying to ignore her wounds which were hurting even more now. She ignored her pain as she pushed the barrel over watching as the black powder spilt all over the bridge. She moved painfully forward.

Her gaze turned sharply more soldiers were heading in their direction now. She watched as Gabrielle slowly backed away coming to stand in front of her. Apostolos shoved one of the warriors out of the way. He'd snarled aloud what was wrong now! He was already angry about not being aloud to enter Lycaon's keep to witness Xena and Gabrielle's end.

He slammed his sword against his chest catching sight of the commander who was running towards him, he grabbed the man harshly. "What is going on?" The man pulled up sharply pointing his sword in the direction of the bridge. "Horn Hind's successor, she's over the ridge with Xena!" Apostolos pulled him closer. "What?"

He threw the man to one side where was the other head general Eryx? He turned looking at the large party behind him. "Form ranks you maggots!" He watched as his order was instantly obeyed. He swung his sword as he made his way over the ridge, only to see at least two units of warrior's lying on the floor wounded.

The only one standing was starting to back away, his nerve leaving them as the huge golden furred figure roared in his direction. He could see what looked like three torn pieces of white dress on Gabrielle's furry body. Her body had cuts all over it all had been made by swords. He snarled aloud catching sight of Xena who was just behind her raising up a lit touch.

He swung his sword as he walked forward, he had no idea how but Iona and Jiang had messed up, it was no doubt his job to fix their mistake. He could see that Xena was already very badly wounded and Gabrielle was showing signs of flagging. He raised his hand stopping the warrior behind him from following as the some more of the wounded unit backed away joining with his.

He raised his sword slowly ignoring the burning green eyes as they met his. Gabrielle moved closer to her lover spreading her clawed hands outwards, she felt her clawed foot as it hit the back one of the barrels. Her gaze turned as she eyed the black powder which had been spilt near by, she sniffed the air something didn't smell right…

Xena eased up her sword as she stepped out from behind Gabrielle holding the flaming torch high. "Back off!" Apostolos smirked slightly. "I don't know how you got out of Lycaon's keep Xena but you don't look so good." He flicked his sword slightly. "In fact you look rather badly wounded." He turned eyeing Gabrielle. "You look just as bad, all that bloods going to stain your golden hide."

Xena lowered the torch. "I said back off!" Apostolos laughed slightly. "You know I was disappointed that I wouldn't be attending your deaths but I guess I'm going to be the one who will carry them out now." He eyed the torch. "Just out curiosity why should I back off?" Xena sneered slightly. "Because this is black powder it's explosive!"

Apostolos laughed again watching as Gabrielle suddenly backed away from the barrels. "I see and you're going to drop that flaming torch and blow everything up including the bridge." He laughed again. "Frankly I don't see you doing that, I mean putting Gabrielle in that kind of danger really isn't your style." Xena snarled aloud. "Gabrielle can take care of herself."

She smirked eyeing all the fallen men. "I mean she did a good job on your pathetic troops." She lowered the torch further. "Now unless you want to die traitor you'll back off real slow." Apostolos clicked his finger. "You really don't have the nerve Xena I mean your biding time. You're badly wounded as is your other half."

He sniggered. "Who might I add shouldn't even be in that form during the day it's apparently very bad for her health." He tapped his finger on his chin. "Being in that form burns of energy, energy she doesn't have, since she skipped lunch." His smile widened. "When she turns back to normal once Lycaon's blood leaves her system she'll probably die on the spot from exhaustion."

He grinned widely. "Funny I guess Lycaon knew that, which is why he knew even if she did get free that she'd die anyway…such a shame for you." Xena slowly turned her gaze meeting Gabrielle's she flicked the torch upwards hoping that her lover would understood her signal. She flicked the flaming torch in another direction sharply.

The green eyes followed her movement her lover suddenly grunted as she turned back to face Apostolos. Gabrielle growled aloud ignoring the pain in her body as she tried to work out the signal. Her head hurt terribly and it was hard to think…she breathed in slightly as she finally managed to remember some signal that resembled it.

Karsten watched as Theodore raised his crossbow he eyed the group behind him who all looked uncertain. He slowly eased out his sword he wasn't sure what was going to happen next but if the troops got past Xena and Gabrielle they'd go straight after them. He watched as the people backed in to the woods.

Theodore raised the bow. "You know this doesn't look good." Karsten turned sharply. "You're telling me! I already know this is bad I mean you don't think Xena's going to really blow up the bridge do you?" Theodore raised an eyebrow. "Well that was her original plan all along wasn't it? I mean the bottle bombs are useless."

Karsten raised his sword higher. "I have a thought…you know just in case she doesn't blow it up." He turned grabbing both the full bags which Theodore had been keeping safe. He eyed the people behind him. "Any of you guys up for a little fun? You know the type where you get to get your own back and hurt people?"

Gabrielle watched Apostolos's sword move through the air as he took another step closer. She could feel her clawed feet digging in to the ground her gaze travelled to meet her lovers once more. The wounded warrior flicked the flaming torch in the same motion once again. She felt herself tense all over as she got ready.

Apostolos smirked as he raised his weapon higher. "I was right Xena you are pathetic." Xena narrowed her gaze as a wide smile crossed her face. "Tell Hades I said hello." Apostolos found his gaze widening as the torch suddenly dropped from her hand. Xena pulled back only to feel the clawed hand grab her.

Gabrielle watched in the corner of her eye as the flames lit up she leaped forward with all the force she could muster. Her clawed feet landed hard on the bridge. She swung her head around watching as the flames suddenly blasted up behind her, the screams hit the air. The next moments were painfully as her whole body was thrown forward.

She hit the bridge nose first her gaze turned as her lover body was thrown from her arms. She tried to get up only to duck again as a mighty explosion behind her hit her air. Her gaze turned as a huge fire swept upwards in to the sky, its flames hitting the bridge. She turned seeing her lover trying to get up her face showing pain.

Xena covered her eyes as another explosion lit the air her fingers gripped the hard wood. She suddenly heard a horrible creaking sound, her gaze moved to the flaming bridges huge beams. The breath left her lungs all at once as one of the huge pillars which was burning started to fall sideways, its huge ropes snapping.

The others followed it as it fell away, she looked around trying to grab one of the ropes which hung from the side. The whole of the bridge on the opposite side was aflame. The creaking suddenly hit her air as all the support ropes snapped she watched as Gabrielle turned as the realization hit in of what was going to happen next.

Karsten watched in horrified silence as the other side of the bridge broke away from the huge supports, he watched as Xena tried to cling on to the rope as the whole bridge fell downwards its centre supports coming free in the process. The part that was now free sank downwards its bottom planks snapping as the stresses took hold.

He watched as the rope Xena was holding snapped causing her to be thrown downwards towards the lower half of the bridge whose sides were still on fire. Its burning planks began to fall free, they fell downwards hitting the water bellow. She managed to grab another piece of rope holding on for all she was worth.

Gabrielle watched as the planks around her started to crack, the bridge couldn't support its own weight. The part that they where on was going to break free. She turned seeing her lover hanging on bellow her she felt the creaking again as she heard the plank snap above her. She moved slowly downward trying to reach for her.

Xena eyed Gabrielle she watched as the clawed hand tried to grab her she could see the desperation in the green eyes as the clawed hand tried once more only to fail as it tried to grab her leathers. She could see the claws on both the feet and the other hand making scratch marks as they tried to hold on.

She turned meeting the green gaze again. "Go!" She pulled herself up the rope a little further feeling the pain in her body again. "I said go!" Gabrielle snarled aloud, she didn't care how much her head or her body hurt or how much she was bleeding she wasn't going to leave her lover not after all they'd been through.

Even if she was stuck in this unnaturally form it changed nothing. Xena sneered slightly feeling her anger start to boil up, her lover was being stubborn her eyes said it all. "I know you can understand me Gabrielle! Now go!" Gabrielle lowered her ears ignoring the warrior's words. "She leaned out again trying to grab the wounded warrior.

She wrapped her hand around the leathers pulling the warrior up she felt the woman grab on to her mane as she heaved herself up. She winced as Xena pulled herself on to her back again. She slammed both clawed hands in to the wood she could hear her lovers heavy breathing. For once Xena was going to have to admit that she wasn't the stronger one right now.

She heaved herself up further hearing more burning planks fall in to the water bellow she ignored the pain in her head. Xena turned sharply eyeing her she could feel her muscles under the fur tensing painfully. Her lover was in a lot of pain, even with her in human strength she was struggling due to the exhaustion which was starting to kick in.

Gabrielle grimaced in pain as she moved further upwards she slammed her claws deeper in to the wood. Xena leaned forward so she was close to her ear. "You can do it, I know you can." She felt Gabrielle muscles tense as she carried on moving she ran one hand through the long golden mane.

Xena's next words were cut of a sudden creaking hit her ears, she felt Gabrielle's body tense. Her gaze moved up slowly as she watched all the planks suddenly break. She looked down seeing the water bellow part of the very bridge its self was going to break off. She turned watching as another plank shattered apart, and they were on it.

Gabrielle closed her eyed hearing the splitting sound as it hit her ears again, they were both ether going to die or they were going to live through this ether way they'd be together. She felt Xena lean her head against hers she breathed in deeply. Xena held on tighter they weren't going to get out of this.

She breathed in the golden mane hearing another plank snap this wasn't how she had pictured this. Nothing that had happened since she entered Lycaon's lair had been how she'd imagined it. It had all gone wrong and now it was about to get worse. Her gaze shot up as the final plank snapped.

Karsten froze watching as the huge chunk of bridge fell away the two figures were still clinging to it as it hit the water bellow. The water splashed upward as it hit the surface. The huge chunk seemed to sink momentarily before hitting the surface again with no one on it. It slowly began to float away down the river.

Theodore pulled on Karsten's arm hard he could see warriors on the other side running forward from behind the hills all had bows and arrows. "We have to go!" Karsten turned to him seeing the pillar of smoke that was still rising skyward he snarled aloud. "We can't! I mean they might have survived the fall!"

Theodore looked downwards at the lake. "No one survives a fall like that!" He pulled again this time harder. "We have to go now! We have these people to take back to the fort!" Karsten looked at the lake bellow. "Gabrielle and Xena are our leaders! It's my duty to protect them!" Theodore sneered slightly. "You can't help them!"

He shook his head. "Even if they did survive the fall there's no way of getting down there! Lycaon's troops will now know what we've done and they'll rebuild that bridge…it won't take them long." He turned eyeing the frightened group behind him. "Do the right thing and help me get these people to safety."

Karsten growled aloud. "When in Tarturus did you become so noble?" Theodore sneered slightly. "Since my conscience caught up with me." He turned shoving the man forward. "Now move before they start shooting at us!" Karsten grunted aloud looking at the group who were dressed in dirty rags. "Come on all of you!"

Theodore watched as he ran ahead he grabbed the still full bags of bombs maybe they'd still get a chance to use them when they returned to Messene. This had turned to a tragic day they only thing that had worked was slowing Lycaon's army down, it wouldn't hold them for very long though.

8

Iona breathed in painful her gaze moved as Jiang leaned over her. "She broke something!" Jiang sneered pulling her to her feet. "Get up and stop your pathetic whining! It'll be night soon and your wounds will heal up." Iona breathed in painful. "You can talk you can't even throw Xena Chakram you have no idea how stupid you looked."

Jiang grunted as he let go of her he ignored her cry of pain as she hit the floor hard on her side. He eyed two of the warriors who were picking themselves up of the floor. "Get over here and fix your leader up!" He watched as they came forward slowly picking Iona up which caused her to cry out again in pain.

Eryx sat up slowly he groaned in pain hoping his pain would at least look real. Jiang turned eyeing him his anger showing. "I should kill you for your pathetic example!" Eryx lowered his head. "Not to sound rude but I am not to blame, you put Apostolos in my place as second head general. His last order to me was to move the elite troops in to lower the valley."

Jiang snarled aloud. "You mean we only had foot soldiers up here when she arrived!" Eryx lowered his head further. "It would appear so he also had the soldiers move half of your gun powder barrels from storage." He lowered his head both had been his orders but he wouldn't know that and if Apostolos denied it they wouldn't believe him."

Jiang snarled aloud. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Eryx lowered his head further. "All the live food has been set free, Xena had help." Jiang was about to say something only to stop as he already had horrible images going through his mind of his own death via Lycaon's hands because of this disaster.

Lycaon moved forward watching as the blood in the two symbols sudden began to separate. "What?" Jiang turned sharply he lowered his head. "We've failed you great Emperor…we'll find the prisoners there blood will soak your floor." Lycaon looked up sharply. "Be quite!" He turned back watching as some of the blood spattered around the symbols started to move.

One of the bloods which was black slowly moved filling up the third symbol its colour slowly lightened. While some fresh lighter blood moved in to remaining symbol on the other side its colour becoming lighter. He eased his clawed hand downwards as he gritted his teeth in confusion. Jiang looked at the four bloody symbols. "By all the dragon gods…"

He leaned his hand down watching as the blood began to pulse. "Is this supposed to happen?" Lycaon suddenly found him self laughing as all the blood sudden burst in red light for a spilt second. "The blood of a child and the blood and dead, they were already spattered across my great keep."

He watching as all the blood started to move of the symbols separating in to four separate channels. Each made its way across the floor each slowly moved up the large wall each cannel slowly made its way on to a locks symbols. There was a sudden blast of red light as each blood stream vanished in side the locks.

Jiang pulled back watching in what felt like slow motion as the all four locks suddenly cracked down the centre causing metal to fly outwards. The first of the huge locks fell free smashing in to one bellow before both hit the ground. More metal flew through the air as the other two locks broke and slammed in to the floor along with what was left of the others.

The huge doors creaked there metal cringing as they slowly opened. Lycaon found himself laughing aloud. "I have waited over a hundred seasons for this day!" Jiang raised an eyebrow. "So have we great Emperor." Lycaon turned slowly as he walked forward. "Freedom from this rotting tomb, I will finally see day light once more!"

He slowly took a step forward seeing that the doors were still open. "The other blood didn't need to be from living beings it only had to be on my keeps floor. He took another step forward followed by another which put him inside the open doors. He breathed in deeply feeling the ground of the floor outside the open door.

He roared aloud slamming both fists in to the open doors hearing the metal bend. "I will make Greece my slave and no man or werewolf will stand against me this time!" Jiang slowly nodded. "Great Emperor you will rule all even Olympus one day, we will make it so." Lycaon watched as the one of the huge metal doors broke away from the walls, both hung down from there hinges. "Show me the way out of this prison."

8

"Sir look at that it's huge!"

Demetrius turned his gaze slowly focusing on the huge smoke that was rising far of in the distance. "By the gods…" Leonidas grabbed hold of his telescope he focused it on the huge smoke cloud as it rose up. "What in Zeus's name is that?" Kyra turned looking at the smoke cloud. "I have no idea."

Bastiaan's smile widened. "Xena it has to be Xena." Erasmus tapped his hoof anxiously. "What's happening up there?" Kyra turned sharply. "There's a huge smoke cloud rising up from the forest it's huge." Erasmus folded his arms. "Do you think it's from the bottle bombs?" Kyra shook her head. "No it huge it might be from Greek fire."

Demetrius breathed in deeply. "Well what ever it is its bad for who ever got in the way it's no doubt Xena's doing." Bastiaan breathed in sharply. "Do you think they got out alive I mean it must've been a huge explosion to create smoke like that?" Demetrius shook his head. "I hope they did but I'm not taking any chances."

Leonidas breathed in sharply. "I understand sir, I mean if they didn't we need to ready again just in case Lycaon's troops attack again." Kyra nodded. "I'll go and check that the traps are all in working order." Bastiaan nodded. "I know my role I'll go and get Alexia." Demetrius nodded slowly and calmly.

His gaze fixed on the smoke once more what ever caused that had to be something big which worried him even more. He didn't know anything which was that powerful. There was no doubt in his mind that Lycaon could have very powerful weapons at his disposal since both his head generals were from different area's of the world.

Maybe this was from one of there weapons ether way it didn't fill him with joy. Maybe this was in fact a victory but he wouldn't know until Xena arrived back at the fort and that would be a while. If she had survived this explosion there was still the possibility that she hadn't and that she wouldn't be returning.

Perhaps he was being to negative Xena was with out a doubt a great warrior but the thought of her taking on this dark army in the first place had filled him with uncertainty. Her rescue was bold even daring but at the same time very dangerous. There was no telling how much King Lycaon knew and that made him feel even more unnerved.

This werewolf king was dangerous that was obvious and that was why one of the gods had trapped him. He breathed in shaking his head perhaps now wasn't the right time for these thought. Right now he needed to stay alert just in case there was another attack, if there was he needed to ready.

End Of Part 27

By Silvermoonlight

HAZMOT. Thank you for all your reviews. I've got a lot more chapters to put up so don't worry you'll get through more pizza, popcorn and pretzels yet :)

MsTree. Thank you for all your reviews, Pedigree Chum the chunky brand, I love it lol.