FORGOTTEN WARRIORS FROM ANOTHER AGE.

Eryx turned slowly looking up at the Dryads who were unmoving as they sat still watching them. "As I've said before Myron there's nothing here. How many times do we have to look through the dead city?" Myron eyed the other warriors. "Until we find something general, you know Lycaon he believes there's something here."

Eryx put a hand on his chin. "There is nothing here." Myron smiled slightly. "Actuality there is." He raised an eyebrow. "I'm looking at it right now." Eryx narrowed his gaze. "Enough with your games Myron, where is this thing Lycaon wants us to find?" Myron grinned, showing of his teeth. "Well you're the one who's going to tell us where it is."

He watched as the other began to surround Eryx. "After all this is your home isn't it?" Eryx pulled back. "I don't know what you're talking about." Myron took a step closer. "Oh but I think you do Eryx, you know you should tread more carefully in future." Eryx looked up sharply. "I'm your general my loyalty is absolute."

Myron growled aloud. "No you're not loyal! You're a rebel spy sent by the rebels themselves to infiltrate us." He eased up a clawed finger. "You were doing a mighty fine job to, until you decided to pay Gabrielle a visit in the cells and give her something for the pain." He shook his head. "Really bold and a really stupid thing to do wasn't it?"

He growled aloud watching the generals lips go back as he showed off his razor sharp teeth. "Like I said you should tread more carefully." He took a step forward making a signal to the others. "May be you might live longer." Eryx watched as the jaws of the other werewolf opened as they roared at him. "So many against one Myron a little unfair wouldn't you say?"

Myron grunted aloud. "Well you know what they say, it's a dog eat dog world." He grinned slightly. "You should learn to live with that fact before you die." He sniggered. "You won't die quickly though traitor, I'll make sure it's long a painful and that you cry for death at the end." Eryx opened his clawed hand reading himself. "Foolish words and threats mean nothing to me Myron."

He turned watching as one of elite warriors pulled out a long whip its bladed end flicked viciously past his face. Its owner grinned showing of his missing teeth. Myron turned sharply. "I had it made especially for you, as you well know human whips are useless on werewolf's. Oh yes they kill but it takes far too much time."

He watched as the whip was cracked again full force. "This on the other hand will tear the very fur from your flesh and then tear skin from bone." He narrowed his gaze. "Before this day is done I'll know where the rebels hide out is, even if I have to rip every piece of flesh from your bones." He turned looking at the others. "Get him!"

All the warrior ran forward slamming there clawed feet in to the dirt as they came down on the general. He pulled back listening his cries of pain as claws tour though flesh and teeth bit down. The sound of the whip cracking hit air, he looked down watching as a blood trail swept past his feet. He smiled hearing it come down again followed by Eryx's roar of pain.

8

Gabrielle slowly walked in to the large room she looked around slightly the room was quite large and covered in painted images. There were a number of fully dressed warriors both standing guard at each entrance, there were also two young women one was filling wine goblets. Iris was leading while Xena following close by along with others, who all looked anxious.

Iris ran up to the huge throne like chair in the centre of the room, the two young women both grabbed cloths and began to rub the dust of it. She backed away with the others lowering her gaze as she eased out her hand. "This is your chair Horn Hind, your predecessor asked that we keep so that you could sit in it."

She looked at the chair wiping the remaining dust away quickly. "I hope it pleases you." Xena turned to meet Gabrielle's surprised gaze. "Nice throne." Gabrielle rolled her eyes keeping her voice at a whisper. "This is even worse than when I am with the Amazons." She turned giving Iris a wide smile. "Thank you it's really…nice."

Xena raised her hand slightly. "Do I get a chair?" Candice stepped slightly closer. "Yes, you do." Xena watched as one very unnerved warrior pulled a metal lever which raised a black throne up from the floor it had horns sticking up out of both sides. Xena rolled her eyes. "Oh gods why do I always get a chair that looks like something out of ex warlord's tent?"

Gabrielle put a hand on her chin. "I like it, it's so you." Xena turned eyeing her. "What do mean it's so me?" Gabrielle shook her head. "It's black and fierce looking." She grinned widely showing of all her razor sharp teeth. "Look on the bright side its right next to mine." Xena eyed Gabrielle's chair ignoring Iris's bemused expression. "Your chair looks like it should still be in woods along with all the other trees."

Gabrielle turned sharply. "Hardy ha, ha." She paused then pushed Xena gently in to her chair which caused her lover to give her a playful stare. "Just sit in your chair Xena." She swung her tail as she seated herself on the wooden chair she found herself fidgeting slightly to get comfortable. "I just want to get this over with, quickly so I can go back to looking human."

She didn't get a chance to say anything else as the two young women ran up to her they eased up there hands which were filled with beads. With in seconds they'd both moved around the back of the wooden chair and had begun decorating her horns with them. Gabrielle turned sharply in annoyance eyeing the two young women. "Please don't do that, what do I look like to you a solstice tree?"

The first woman who didn't look much older than her looked at her in confusion. "Great Horn Hind what is solstice tree?" Xena put a hand on her face to try and hide the fact that she was laughing. Gabrielle closed her eyes she was in Tarturus already. "Never mind…" She heard the beads rattle as the women finished putting them on her horns.

Candice tapped her staff meeting Gabrielle's gaze. "The beads are an Amazon custom where I came from in the north decorated horns are only worn by the Amazon Queens." Calicos sneered, slightly eyeing Gabrielle. Thaddeus slowly came forward raising his clawed hand watching as the warriors stood up tall closing both wooden doors. "We apologise for shoving you both in here."

Xena put a hand on her chin leaning back in the chair she watched a goblet of red wine was placed on the small table beside her. "It's because Gabrielle will get mobbed right?" Iris put her hands together. "Not mobbed but she may not get any peace, as I said before Horn Hind is the symbol of freedom and life." Xena breathed in deeply. "And I symbolize death and suffering, right?"

Iris swallowed. "Death and chaos actuality, but I believe Artemis's words. If she says you can control Iseron, then she must know something about you that we don't." Gabrielle turned easing up her hand as the girl offered her red wine. "I don't like wine please can I have something else?" The young woman nodded moving past her.

Xena leaned over taking the wine out of the woman's hand she downed it then turned putting the goblet down. "Nice." She raised her hand. "Before we start what is this room we are in? I've seen painting like these in Messene." Thaddeus breathed in sharply. "Most would call this the room of destiny I'd personally prefer the title walls of prophesy."

He paused looking at the old walls which had been mostly cleaned of there dust now. "The first Horn Hind sometimes had visions although it is said that Lycaon gave him the gift of prophesy back when he was loyal." He paused realizing the Warrior Princess under stood his words despite his changing form, he raised a clawed hand. "After Lycaon's defeat Horn Hind a number of visions."

He turned his hand to the wall. "Five vision of the future in all, all of which were about Lycaon's second coming and his successor's part in all of it. They were all painted on the walls at Messene and once again here after our ancestors left Messene. I'm shocked that you saw them Xena, I thought they had been destroyed." Gabrielle turned sharply. "Why did your ancestors leave Messene?"

Calicos snarled aloud. "Human prejudice, they liked them to do their dirty work like lift there wagons build up there stone wall and bridges, but they didn't like the fact that they weren't human. The leader of the humans in Messene forced them to leave, which I find insulting considering they won their war for them."

Iris raised an eyebrow. "They were terrified of notion that one of our own could become another Lycaon. The city above is one of many that Lycaon destroyed during his last brutal campaign. No one above had a chance to even raise their weapons they were wiped out in a matter of hours." She breathed in deeply. "I think what they did to our ancestors was wrong though."

Gabrielle watched as the cider tankard was placed beside her. "That is very sad." Candice clapped her hands together causing Gabrielle's head to turn sharply in her direction. "None of it matters though not now that you are here." She turned picking up one of the old scrolls. "You will destroy Lycaon and be victorious as it is written."

Gabrielle took the scroll she eased it open, she found herself eyeing the Shaman. "You said there were five versions of a possible futures, what about the others?" Xena eased up her hand to say something but stopped realizing that Gabrielle had just said what she was about to. Candice smiled trying to make her smile look real. "They don't matter, only this one does."

Gabrielle narrowed her gaze putting down the scroll. "They matter to me I'd like to know Xena's future as well as my own." Candice tried to smile. "Xena's going to be fine and so are you." Gabrielle stood up sharply causing her pull back. "Don't lie to me, there's something you're not telling me I can see it in your eyes. I'm not afraid of my possible destiny and I want to know the truth about it."

Iris came forward putting herself between Gabrielle and Candice. "They do say that knowing your destiny is bad thing." Thaddeus turned slightly. "Great Horn Hind we only say these things because you are important to us." Gabrielle snarled aloud eyeing him. "Stop calling me great Horn Hind! My name is Gabrielle."

She turned eyeing Candice. "I'm important to you because you need me to do what you want, not because you care about what I want." She lowered her ears listening as the silence hit the room. Xena gave Iris a cold stare which caused the woman to swallow she narrowed her gaze. "Gabrielle and I know all about destiny."

Calicos turned his evil grin widening. "The version they don't want to talk about is the one where Horn Hind is killed and Iseron's is the killer." He laughed slightly ignoring the shocked and horrified looks he was getting as he met Xena's gaze. "Gotta love the irony of that don't you Xena? You love her and your going to be the one that kills her, it's hilarious."

He suddenly felt a stab of agonizing pain as Thaddeus's clawed hand slammed in to his face. He pulled back in agony feeling blood as it ran down his snout. He narrowed his gaze meeting the fawn coloured werewolf's gaze. "You!" Thaddeus breathed in deeply reading himself. "You're meant to be in charge here! Yet at every turn your proving your not worthy of the position."

He sneered watching as the bigger werewolf came forward. Calicos roared aloud. "Are you challenging my position Thaddeus? Because if you are we both know that you'll loose I'm the biggest and strongest warrior here!" Gabrielle turned slightly. "You're far from the smartest." Calicos turned fully to meet her gaze. "Well your nothing but a horned freak of nature!"

He raised a clawed finger. "Why don't you go play with all the other deer? Maybe you could play the rutting stag!" He turned watching as Xena suddenly got to her feet, she walked towards him pulling her Chakram free in one swift motion. Her hand was around his throat in an instant the share power of the grip was shocking.

He wanted to claw her but he was to afraid to even raise his claws the very feel of Iseron close to his fur made him cringe. The Chakram raised itself his throat its razor edge moving close to his face. Xena sneered as she tightened her hold on his throat. "I'm sure you've heard all about my Chakram but if you haven't then here's a lesson."

The big werewolf started to choke as she squeezed, he wasn't fighting her or even lashing out he seemed completely terrified. She raised the weapon to his eyes. "This will make scars on you that won't heal, I've killed plenty of your kind with it and I'll be happy to end your miserable little life the next time you decide to mouth of to Gabrielle again!"

She squeezed watching as his eyes widened. "It'll be a slow painfully death believe me." She grinned evilly enjoying him squirm only to stop in mid motion as Gabrielle's clawed hand found its way on to her arm. She felt rage and anger she had in her system start to burn out as she met her lover's concerned gaze.

Gabrielle breathed in deeply, her lover was seething with anger she squeezed gently. "Let him go Xena." Xena let go sharply feeling her self start to breathe faster. She took a slow step back watching as Calicos coughed painfully as he regained his breath. She felt herself slowly start to calm down as she closed her eyes trying to regain her focus.

Thaddeus turned to look at Calicos. "Do you want Iseron now, now that you've felt its power?" Calicos leaned painfully against the desk it felt like someone had sucked all his strength away and he felt ill, he shook his head lowering it painfully. He put a hand his throat it felt like he'd be burnt by hot fire he grabbed the desk trying to stop him self from falling over.

Thaddeus moved a step closer. "I believe you should choose your words more carefully in future." Xena groaned aloud, finally feeling herself come back to earth she eased the Chakram back in to it's holder as she sat herself down again. "Is that bastard speaking the truth about one of the possible versions?" Iris looked at her before nodding his head. "Yes…he is."

Xena put a hand on her chin. "How do I kill Gabrielle?" Thaddeus turned slowly to meet her gaze. "In the first you both die fighting Lycaon and he rules forever. In the second it's only Gabrielle who succeeds in killing him and you play no part. In the third only you kill Lycaon and she plays no part." He looked at his clawed hands. "In the forth you are both victorious in battle and nothing goes wrong."

He breathed in deeply. "In the fifth you both kill Lycaon but you both end up loosing control over your armours. They consume you and you start fighting each other…you end up killing her." Gabrielle turned to the wall studying the painted images, she raised her clawed hand slowly placing it the wall. "Xena won't kill me."

Iris laughed slightly. "It won't be Xena killing you it'll be Iseron after all it is an evil instrument a vessel of power which needs a body to power it." Thaddeus turned meeting her gaze. "You know despite what Iseron is, we should listen to Horn Hind. If she says Xena won't kill her then we should believe her words."

Iris breathed in deeply. "Oh yes we should listen because we both know what happens every time Iseron gets put on a human! It normally involves suffering and death and we normally end up having to put the idiot out of their misery. The Roman idiot who put it on last time died slowly if I remember right and he shouldn't have even found it in the first place."

Calicos sneered slightly. "I believe that was your fault Thaddeus." Thaddeus turned sharply eyeing. "No it was yours for telling stories in a bar while you were drunk!" He raised his clawed hands. "I bet no human can wear the mighty Iseron armour you said! It's a wonder Eryxdidn't throw you out for that alone!"

Gabrielle snarled aloud. "Enough!"

Xena stood up slowly watching as her lover walked towards the group. Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "I don't care for your bickering!" She raised a clawed finger. "I'm really tried of all you! Now two things are going to happen, ether everything's going to go well or I'm going to die. Ether way you'll get what you really want, which is Lycaon's head on platter!"

She turned sharply walking away from them. "Now if you'll excuse me I'd like to get some air above ground." Xena slowly got up she found herself smiling inwardly as she turned to look at the group. "I want an inventory of all your weapons when I get back." She turned watching as Gabrielle yanked the door open she quickly followed her lover slamming the door behind her.

8

Gabrielle grabbed a number of the beads ripping them free from her horns they hit the dusty floor of the broken city clattering. She snarled aloud trying harder to rip off the others of only to find that they were tangled up. She could feel herself getting more frustrated as they didn't come off despite her tugging.

She stopped feeling two hands move her clawed one away she turned watching as Xena pulled the beads free from her horns. Xena looked at the beads tossing them to one side. She watched as one of the Dryads came towards them, it poked them with its clawed finger. Gabrielle ripped the last bead set free.

Xena looked up at the moon which was starting to disappear behind the clouds. "I don't think the beads suit you." Gabrielle breathed in sharply. "There a bunch of idiots." Xena looked behind her. "There a bunch of idiots who adore you, with the exception of Calicos." Gabrielle turned slightly. "I wish I was back in Messene I miss the others."

Xena put a hand on her snout turning her head slightly. "We brought them sometime." Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "You know I don't think a great deal to their versions of our destiny." Xena shook her head slightly. "Nether do I, I don't like them ether." She slowly met her gaze. "Even if they are true I'd rather see my end by your side."

Gabrielle lowered her head. "Xena…" Xena smiled slightly. "No I mean it, I can't think of any other way I'd rather go out." Gabrielle eased a clawed hand through her lover's dark hair watching it spill through her fingers. "What if we end up fighting each other?" Xena smiled slightly. "I would never kill you…we've both been there before and it's not going to happen again."

Xena turned she stroked Gabrielle lightly on the face. "I can control this armour I will not let it consume me." She ran her fingers on her mane stroking it in a gentle motion. Gabrielle closed her eyes enjoying the feeling. "I know you can control it I believe in you." Her attention was suddenly drawn away by the sound of a whip cracking.

Xena pulled up her Chakram sharply. "Did you hear that as well?" Gabrielle snarled aloud. "I heard it." Xena walked forward slowly. "It's not the Dryads…it's something else" She moved faster turning hearing Gabrielle follow close behind her as they carried on moving through the empty streets. Her lover suddenly stopped close to her. "It's up there."

Xena turned the next alley she found herself going stiff as the she caught sight of a number of figures surrounding another who was tied up to two posts heavy chains. His furry grey body had been stripped of its upper armour and there was blood dripping down his back. An elite warrior stood behind him his whip raised.

She eased up the Chakram watching as the leader werewolf came forward his clawed hand rising to the grey werewolf's throat. The leader nodded to the elite warrior brought the whip down full force on again on the grey werewolf's back. His huge body tensed but he refused to howl out in pain his head lowered painfully.

8

Lycaon moved forward feeling the new bridges wood under his clawed feet. He snarled aloud Messene would not stand in his way this time. As soon as Myron returned he'd know where the rebels hide out was for sure. He turned watching as the elite warriors helped his foot solders in the dragging of the catapults which had been kept inside of his keep.

He had fourteen in all and plenty of Greek fire, he watched as one of Jiang's barrels was rolled past. There was still plenty left more than enough to crush Messene. Not that he'd bother using it on them, he had more than enough catapults to shatter their walls this time around. He'd broken down the door of their grandfathers he could do the same to the grandsons.

The only problem was his huge army would need to rest twice which meant he wouldn't be able to attack Messene straight away. The thought of loosing a day or more didn't thrill him but he'd learnt from previous attacks that a tired army didn't perform well. The dead city which he believed the rebels to be in had once been a thriving human city.

They wouldn't take any notice of Messene messengers and they had refused to believe that werewolf's were nice. It had led to their deaths in the end because they had refused Messene protection. He laughed slightly he remember the day he'd wiped them out so clearly, the screams the blood, and the catapults.

They had all died in less than two hours and those who hadn't had been turned and forced to serve him. Long before the attack Hera had visited him telling him that she'd give him the means of immortality if he killed all the people in the city. Apparently the king who had died there had not fulfilled his end of her bargain. Despite that he hated Zeus she was very much on his wave length.

The slim woman had, had a black feathered cloak and eyes had been the colour of ice it's self. Her skin was slightly pale and her hair had been red like fire. She had such a strong face and a powerful voice. She'd worn a long black dress and jewelled crown which had glinted in the moonlight along with the jewels on the black dresses front.

The queen of the Pantheon Gods of all the women he'd ever met was the most intoxicating and the one he'd wanted the most. He knew that Zeus didn't treat her well ether he had always cheated on her with mortal woman and even other gods. She had such a powerful beauty and he been more than happy to do her bidding.

He smiled slightly when the day came that he got on to mount Olympus he would kill every god but her. He wanted to know what it was like to bed a woman who was a powerful in her mind as he was. She had fire all right the fire he liked and wanted and that not one human woman had ever given him not even his wife who's face he had long forgotten.

He knew to Hera it was about getting revenge on her husband for cheating with yet another mortal woman. Zeus wouldn't let her wipe out the city because he disliked her anger over her unfulfilled bargain so she'd gone to him. She'd also told him of the bones of Kronos and there whereabouts and how to use one of them.

He had found them and had taken one of Kronos's upper ribs and ripping out his own and put it in its place. When Zeus had tried to strike him down with lightening because of his bargain with his wife his flesh had healed instantly and he'd found that nothing could kill him. He had also gotten younger over time his white mane had become black again and his old muscles had gained back their strength.

He had come realize that he was now unstoppable no longer an aging father, he had always feared that first sons who Zeus had turned in to werewolf's like him and who were now in their prime would try to over throw him. If that had happened he would've never have gotten his revenge on humanity. He had been getting on in years.

Long before his meeting with the queen of the gods he had travelled the world visited every place possible, he had forced himself on human women in all these lands including Greece. He'd just needed them to mother the first generation of werewolf's. He had wanted to make sure that his race would be everywhere and that everyone would know his power.

So many years of doing this had meant that he was old and grey when he'd returned to the Greek shores. But with the Kronos's rib it had brought him back to his prime. He had been able to take full control and stop his sons from using the first generation werewolf's. Which both him and them had seeded years ago in Greece who were all now very young.

He had just not seen Horn Hind coming even though Hera had told him off his destiny which was to die by Horn Hinds hand. This had given him even more reason to get the rib just to ensure that it would not happen. He looked up slightly as he ran his claws down the nearest tree not that he ever would die but even if he did die his race would be eternal.

In centuries to come and if man still existed that they would still speak of werewolves and Lycanthropes. They would come to remember the name, king Lycaon. The human king who had once been bold enough to try and destroy Zeus and whom became the first and most powerful werewolf ever born and the one who destroyed and conquered all.

End Of Part 37

By Silvermoonlight.

Thank you for the reviews :)