This story will contain the following: two women as life partners and mothers, spankings to minor children, and anyone else whom the author deems needs it.
The rights of Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrene, Argo, etc. belong to REN pics and whomever else makes a profit from using them. I own nothing.
All that said, enjoy.
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Chapter 36
"Xena, have you had a chance to talk to Sam?" Gabrielle snuggled against her wife as she relaxed on the couch.
"She won't talk to me," Xena sighed. "She's never shut us out like this, Gabrielle."
"I know," the blonde crawled into the lap next to her and sighed as Xena held her close. "I'm worried about her. Something more is going on other than what she's been telling us."
"I just wish I knew what it was," Xena brushed her lips to the top of her wife's head. "She's spending more time with the horses, more time with Nasa, and more time with Eve. Daria asked me the other day if she knew what she had done to upset Sam. Seems that she's even pulling away from her friends."
Gabrielle nodded. "Zivah and Sam haven't spoken in days," she offered. "Ephiny tells me that they got into a fight about Rory and that kitten. Sam still isn't fond of Rory but told Zivah to leave her alone about Rory's choice in pets. And that despite what Zivah thought cats made wonderful pets."
"Did Kassandra or Aphrodite tell you anything?" Xena asked.
Gabrielle shook her head, "Aphrodite hasn't heard from her since the day they went for pizza and Kassandra said that Sam hasn't been to see her in about a week."
Gabrielle suddenly jumped as the front door of the hut flew open. "I'm sorry, your majesty but we need you to come quickly."
Quickly standing Gabrielle and Xena looked at the young warrior in training in front of them. "What's so damned important that you couldn't even knock?"
"Sam, Zivah, and Daria are taking on half of the girls in their sparring group. They won't quit and in all honesty, they're kicking asses, but the teacher is afraid someone is going to seriously get hurt."
Xena was already out the door before the young woman finished followed quickly by the queen. Reaching the practice arena, Xena vaulted over the fence and got in between Sam and the girl who was coming at her daughter. "Enough."
"Stay out of this, Mama." Sam's voice was a low growl and she did a cartwheel to her left before running and doing a front flip landing behind the girl who had challenged her. Tapping the girl on the shoulder, Sam hit her as hard as she could with her fist when the girl turned around out of instinct.
"Samina, I said, enough!" Xena put her hands on her daughter's shoulders and wasn't surprised when Sam glared at her.
"I've had it and need to settle this," Sam hissed.
"Settle what?" Gabrielle asked as she entered the sparring ring and got between Daria and her opponents while Ephiny managed to stop Zivah before the girl injured her opponent any further.
"Rory." The one word was enough to quiet the crowd.
"Sam?" Xena's voice was firm and everyone settled to wait for the answer.
Taking a deep breath Sam finally looked at her parents, "Everyone has been giving Rory grief for keeping the kitten as a pet. She can't fight well enough yet to stop them. They keep calling her a Roman wanna be and that if she's so fond of cats she needs to go be with the Romans who brought them here from Egypt."
"That doesn't make sense. We've always welcomed cats in the village," Ephiny commented.
"We had a history lesson and Rory knows a lot about history. She told about the attack where Brutus killed Amarice and the other Amazons, where you were crucified," I trailed off looking at my parents.
"She created a few hard feelings when it became known that cats came because of Alexander the Great."
"So the other girls decided to avenge what happened by attacking Rory because she has a kitten?" Mom asked.
"No," I shuddered. "They decided to take it out on an innocent animal. Some of the older girls told Rory that a cat had no business being a pet and if it couldn't survive without her help then so be it. They were trying to take it from her to release it in the woods when I decided to stop them."
"And we decided to help Sam," Daria interjected. "Didn't want to let her have all the fun. Right, Zivah?"
"Right?" Zivah smiled despite her rapidly swelling wrist and eye.
"What exactly were they doing?" Mom asked.
"Ask Rory to come over here and I'll explain."
Mama nodded and I saw Mom motion for the girl to join us. "Rory, what exactly happened?" Mom asked.
"Nothing, please..." Rory trailed off and I took a deep breath.
"Lift the back of her tunic," I pressed and Mom did so over Rory's protests.
"By the gods, what happened?" Mom's voice was quiet as she saw the bruises and scratches on Rory's back and I finally spoke again.
"Rory can't fight well enough to make the other kids back off," I explained. "They tried to take the kitten from her when she was feeding her. When we intervened Rory was hunched over protecting Minerva with her own body."
"Minerva?" Mama asked.
"I finally named the kitten," Rory explained as she hugged the purring ball of fur a bit tighter. "I couldn't let anyone hurt her, she depends on me. I had to protect her."
"And we had to protect you when you couldn't protect yourself," Zivah interrupted. "I mean nobody gets to beat you up without my permission, right girls?"
Looking at Daria and me Zivah grinned as her eye finally swelled shut.
"Yup," I agreed. "Don't you think that's true, Daria?"
"Oh yeah," Daria was quick to answer. "I'd never try to beat Rory up without your permission, Zivah."
Shaking her head, Ephiny hugged Zivah close, "Let's get all of you to the healer's hut. I think we'd all feel better if you were given the once over. Besides, I'm sure Eponin is going crazy over there with the other girls and not knowing what happened to you."
"Sounds like a good idea," Mom agreed before turning to face the still silent crowd of Amazons in training.
Mom's eyes blazed as she addressed them. "Every school aged girl here will go now to the meeting hall. You will wait there in silence."
Mom looked up at Mama and then motioned another warrior close, "Shayna, make sure the girls are kept in the hall in silence. I'll be there as soon as possible."
"Yes, my queen."
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"So, what's the damage?" Mom asked.
We were still in the healer's hut and Mama and Cesya along with two of Cesya's trainees had worked their magic on our various injuries.
"Well, Zivah has a broken wrist and a swollen eye. Daria managed to crack a couple of ribs and sprain her ankle," Mama looked at me. "And Sam has a sprained wrist, bruised knuckles, and a goose egg on her temple."
"And the others?" Mom asked motioning to the older girls who started the fight.
"Layla has a two broken ribs, a broken ankle, and three broken fingers," Cesya supplied. "Morgan and Baily have broken noses and two black eyes a piece. And Carly has a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder, a sprained knee, two broken toes, and a badly split lip that I had to stich up."
"What about Rory," Eponin asked quietly watching as the girl stroked the kitten who caused all the commotion.
"Her back is pretty bruised and she has some deep cuts. I think she pulled a few muscles, so she's going to be sore around the ribcage for a few days, but overall, she's okay."
"That's good to hear," Ephiny pulled Rory into a gentle hug causing her to blush.
"Now, I think we're all needed in the meeting hall," Mama spoke quietly. "Don't think that there won't be repercussions from the fight."
"But we were just defending the little squirt!" Zivah protested. "Why are we in trouble?"
"They're in trouble?" Rory's question brought quiet to the room and Mom was silent for a moment.
"Eponin, could you get one the guard to please escort those four to the meeting hall?"
"Sure thing, my queen," Eponin answered and opened the door giving a short bird call.
Two warriors approached and Eponin gave them instructions to get the four girls to the meeting hall. Nodding in understanding they entered the healer's hut and helped the older girls out of the hut before Eponin closed the door behind them once more.
Moving to stand in front of Rory, Mom scratched Minerva's ear before speaking again. "Rory, even though Sam, Zivah, and Daria were protecting you, they still bear some responsibility for what happened today."
"How?" Rory looked at the kitten on her lap and back up at Mom. "I'm the one who told the story that upset everyone, I'm the one that had to have Minerva as a pet. They were just helping me."
"They had other options?"
"Like what, Aunt Gabrielle?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, like what, Aunt Gabrielle?" Zivah asked moving to stand by Rory. "She was having the crap beat out of her and you wanted us to do what? Get her and run? Or I know, how about letting them fight each other and then run?"
"No, I'm sure she wanted us to talk our way out of it," Daria chimed in as Mama's eyes narrowed. "No offence, my queen, but sometimes an Amazon has to be an Amazon."
"Yeah," Zivah punched Rory on the arm causing her to flinch. "And sometimes you have to protect your family, even if you don't see eye to eye. It's just the way it is."
Sliding off the table, I moved to stand by my friends, "They're right, Mom. We had to help Rory. Like or not, she's family and she deserves to know we'll kick ass on her behalf until she can do it herself."
"Language, Samina," Mom spoke from habit and I smirked as Mama winked at me.
Sliding from the exam table Rory handed the kitten to Mama and then looked at Mom again. "If they're in trouble, then I think I am too, right? Is that how it works around here?"
"What do you mean, Rory?" Ephiny asked.
"Well, I started it and they finished it for me," she looked a bit confused as she continued. "So that means I'm in trouble too, right?"
Sighing heavily Mom looked around the room and locked eyes with Ephiny who merely shrugged. Looking at Mama and then Eponin Mom finally turned back to Rory. "I guess so, Rory. Let's go, girls."
"I don't know about you, warrior," I heard Eponin address Mama as we began to head to the meeting hall, "but you couldn't pay me enough to be queen or regent. Way too many headaches if you ask me."
"Don't I know it?" Mama answered as Minerva climbed up Mama's arm and perched on her shoulder as we walked.
"You sure about this, Rory?" I asked as we reached the meeting hall.
"Not really, but I guess if you're doing this for me, and it's not like we really get along, then I have to do this too. It's what family does, right?"
"Right," Zivah replied punching the girl on the arm again. "Come on, squirt, let's go."
"Squirt? I'm almost taller than you," Rory protested.
"Yeah, yeah," Zivah replied waving a hand in dismissal as we were led into the meeting hall and told to sit on the benches at the front.
Mom, and Ephiny walked up the short steps to the platform in front of us and I noticed that Mama was now leaning against the wall to our left while Eponin stood by the wall on the opposite side of the hall.
Eponin's guards had done a good job of keeping everyone quiet and Mom had no need to signal people to settle down. She paced the stage for a few moments before pulling a straight back chair from the back edge of the platform and placing it front and center. Sitting down she motioned for Ephiny to do that same.
"We're going to be here a while, I figure I may as well get comfortable," Mom said before telling us of our fate.
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"The gods, I can't believe how creative your mother can be with punishments." Zivah turned to me as everyone filed from the meeting hall in near silence.
"Tell me about it," Daria sighed. "I mean, this punishment is going to last longer than our injuries."
I shrugged, "I always said that either of my moms getting creative with punishments wasn't a good thing."
"Still." Rory looked at us unsure. "It could have been worse right? I mean, at least we aren't getting, how do you say it, our asses tanned."
"True," Zivah nodded in her direction. "Nice point, Squirt."
"Stop calling me squirt," Rory directed.
"Nah, I like it." Zivah's laugh suddenly stopped as Ephiny and Eponin stood in front of her.
"Okay, girls, let's go," Ephiny directed. "We have a lot to talk about at home."
Retrieving her kitten from Mama, Rory held her gently and followed her family from the meeting hall.
"Sam?"
"Yeah, Daria?"
"I have a feeling I'm going to be confined to quarters for a while," she shrugged as we watched her mother come towards us. "These damn ribs, ya know?"
"Yeah, I know."
"Anyway, thanks for letting us have some fun too," winking at me Daria slowly got off the bench and allowed her mother to put her arm around her and walk her out of the hall.
Not moving, I didn't acknowledge either of my mothers as they sat on opposite sides of me. Feeling Mama's arm around me I immediately fell into her. "Are you mad at me?" I finally asked.
"Not mad," Mama said quietly.
"We're disappointed, Sammy." Mom's voice caused me to cringe and I buried my face deeper into Mama's shoulder. As angry as I had been with them lately, I still hated disappointing them.
"Hey, little one, why the tears?" Mama tried to push me back from her but I wrapped my arms around her waist and held on tighter not wanting to answer. "Sam?"
Staying quiet, I refused to answer her or move and I heard twin sighs as Mama finally stood causing me to stand as well. Realizing that she wasn't going to even try and carry me I turned and ran from the meeting hall as fast as I could. I surprised myself when I ended up not at Yaya's as I had planned but at Kassandra's.
The door opened before my knock and I entered quietly. "Why the tears, child?"
"I'm not sure," I finally admitted sitting down on a stuffed chair Kassandra had in her main room. "Mom passed out punishments for what happened earlier today."
"Ah yes," Kassandra offered me a cup of tea and a small sweet cookie. "I heard about that. So, what could be so awful that she has caused such emotion?"
"It's not the punishment so much," I began. Seeing Kassandra's unspoken question I took a sip of tea and finally spoke. "Mom has decided that we need a lesson on sisterhood and community values. That we need to work together rather than fight each other over something as silly as a kitten for a pet."
"That sounds like our queen," Kassandra smiled.
"Yeah, and to that end, we, that is, all of the school aged girls as well as the junior warriors with one feather or less are going to be fixing things up around the village that have been neglected. We'll be assigned to certain things, on teams, as it were and will go from there."
"Community service."
"Exactly," I smiled at the woman in front of me. "How would you like to be my team's project?"
"Am I that old?" she laughed.
Blushing, I clarified, "No, I mean, we could help you patch that hole in your roof and I know you sometimes don't get enough firewood early in the mornings. How about it? Care to let us be your community?"
"I would be honored, child." Kassandra smiled once more at me and took my hand. "Still, that doesn't explain the tears."
"I don't like growing up, Kassandra." I finally answered her softly. "It hurts."
"Ah, what has brought you to this conclusion?"
"I'm too tall for Mama to pick up anymore," I sighed. "And I'm almost taller than Mom."
"You are," she nodded. "I imagine you will be almost as tall as the warrior, but not quite."
"Yeah," the tears came again and I brushed them away angrily.
"Samina?"
"I had a dream, Kassandra. An awful dream and I'm afraid of it coming true."
"Ah, I wondered when the dream would visit you," her weathered hands stroked mine and she pulled me until I moved to sit with her on her couch. Allowing me the comfort of her shoulder, she slipped an arm around me.
"Tell me what you saw."
I took a deep breath and began, "Our sisters were being hunted by Rome, killed or captured for slaves. We were disjointed tribes rather than a strong nation, but the worst part was seeing something I thought wouldn't happen since Auntie took my parents away before it could."
"You saw the warrior's death."
It wasn't a question, but I nodded. "In Japan, Japa. She left us, again. For the damned greater good. The pain in Mom's eyes..." I trailed off. "I won't let that happen, Kassandra. I can't. I won't let them sacrifice her for some mistake in her past. Not again."
"And you plan to stop this how?"
My eyes found the older warrior's and grew hard, "Easy. I unite the tribes and move us before that message comes in twenty-three years. And if that doesn't work, I kill the messenger before he ever reaches Mama."
"You would do this without asking your mothers what they think?" Kassandra's voice was soft.
"I would," I nodded. "Mama will be about fifty-eight then, that's ancient for a warrior." I smirked as Kassandra cuffed me lightly on the back of the head.
"It would be stupid of her to even try going on that mission."
"You think the great warrior princess couldn't handle it?"
I shook my head, "No, I know that she could. They promised that they wouldn't leave me here alone." I looked once more into thoughtful eyes. "And I'm holding them to that promise."
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To all those still reading; Thanks. Hope you're still enjoying it.