33
As they walked through the forest Xena said, "You smell that?"
Gabrielle responded, "What?"
Hercules added, "Smoke."
A Concerned Xena responded, "That's a lot of smoke for the farmhouse."
Iolaus answered, "The forest is in uproar."
In horror, Xena said, "They're burning the forest!"
Xena dismounted from Argo and said, "Joxer, mount Argo. Gabrielle, stay on Tera. Move the horses at a fast pace, the rest of us are running."
Joxer mounted Argo and the group picked up the pace as Xena, Hercules, and Iolaus began to run while Gabrielle and Joxer both pushed the horses at a pace that equaled Xena's ground speed.
8
Callisto laughed as the fire began to burn. She eyed Velasca,, "I saw you do the whirlwind trick once, do it now. Turn this thing into a forest fire." Velasca gave an evil smirk, as she began to bring up the whirlwind. Within a minute she turned herself into giant whirlwind and the fire began to spread through the forest.
Callisto teleported around the edge of the forest and light more fires. Surround them with a wall of flames. Even Xena can't run through fire.
8
The band moved as fast they could, as smoke began to choke out the sky. Xena saw the massive fire building in the background. She could already feel the heat. She continued to move quickly avoiding branches on her way.
Dawn rested comfortably in a sling that hung around Gabrielle, oblivious to the world around her as her body rested against Gabrielle's warm chest. Far as she knew, she was safe and nothing at all was going to happen to her.
Dawn began to cry. Gabrielle knew instantly that she needed to eat. Xena asked, "Gabrielle, can you feed her and maintain this this pace?"
Gabrielle then thought about it for a second and then said difficultly, "No. I'll fall off."
"Better hungry than scorched."
The fact that Gabrielle couldn't feed her child at the moment, affected her. It felt wrong to ignore her cries but there was no option. Gabrielle could see the fire to east of her now. It was spreading fast.
8
Callisto set the forest ablaze, starting a new fire every few yards. She smiled at the fate that Xena and all her family would die by the fire, just as Callisto's family had. The fire was truly the best form of final vengeance she would have and maybe… well maybe… Xena would survive, and Callisto could see the pain on her face. Feel as Callisto had felt all those years ago, and then maybe Callisto can give her a quick death as an act of kindness… or maybe not.
8
The fire put the whole forest in a panic. The birds and the deer moved through the trees to escape their fate as the all-consuming fire spread faster. Dawn's cries grew as it continued to tear at Gabrielle's heart. She felt so horrible just letting her cry for food. But she couldn't help it. Gods, get her through this forest so she can take her of daughter.
The fire seemed almost like it was actually chasing them, trying to cut them off at every pass. Xena was cursing to herself for taking the forest. Hoping for a break. Her route was intercepted by a wall of flames, she turned south through a clearing. Dawn's cries tore her heart out.
Then as she had feared, the wall of fire cut off their last escape route.
"No!"Shouted Gabrielle.
"It will be okay." Xena stood in front of the fire, as if perhaps if it took her first it might spare Gabrielle.
A form appeared in the fire, the small but deadly body of the goddess Callisto sauntered through the fire. The flames kissed her, and traveled lovingly up and down her body. "What's the matter Xena? Getting to hot for you to handle?" Callisto curled the flames around her finger, almost as if they were strands of hair. "It's good Xena. Die by the fire, just like my mother and sister."
Xena shouted, "To hell with you!"
Callisto snarled, "Been there, now it's your turn. Be sure to apologize to my family while you're down there." Callisto laughed maniacally as the flames stretched out from her, encasing them. "Isn't it funny? You're going the die the same way my family did. Burning, screaming… All of you! Even your baby!"
A Cloaked figure appeared, and suddenly punched Callisto, knocking her backwards. He seized her, and with every ounce of his strength, threw her into the horizon. The figured removed the hood of his cloak.
Xena exclaimined "Ares!"
Gabrielle shouted, "Save my baby!"
Ares directed all his power southward, blowing out the fire with his bolts of godly power. Xena waved the others on, as Ares directed them to follow. A burning tree fell towards Gabrielle, but a bolt from Ares deflected it. Hercules and Iolaus were beside themselves. They were being saved by the God of War.
Finally they could see green grass on a hill on the other side of the forest as Ares blasted a path through the last of the flames. The party emerged from the fiery forest coughing from all the smoke. Free of the flames, their lungs yearned for fresh air.
Gabrielle completely forgot about everyone around her as she re-positioned Dawn in the sling so she could feed. Gabrielle undid her top and proceeded to hold Dawn to her bosom. Dawn immediately began to take in warm nutritious mother's milk.
All eyes diverted away to give her some privacy as she feed dawn. Xena looked squarely into the eyes of Ares as she said, "Thank you." Ares nodded subtly as he disappeared.
Hercules approached Xena, "In all my life, I would have never expected to be saved by Ares. Even so, he probably wouldn't if it was just Iolaus and I."
Xena said with a smile, "Yes, he is the God of War, but he'll surprise you sometimes. It also confirms my suspicion."
"What's that?"
"Not everyone on Olympus is behind Hera in her actions."
Xena then turned her head to the still nursing Gabrielle, "We need to move quickly. Callisto and Velasca will after us very soon."
8
Velasca laughed at Callisto, as she had rocks and wood embedded her skin. Callisto came to her feet, in a rage Callisto shouted, every piece of wood and rock flew out of her body at lethal speed.
Velasca asked, "so what happened?"
Callisto groaned childishly, "Another God… maybe Ares interfered."