Usual disclaimers apply.

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Chapter 13

Three days had passed without Tabitha awakening fully. Everyone thought it best to allow her to sleep and heal with as little pain as possible so she was given herbs to induce a deep sleep. I had never wanted modern medicine more in my life as when I would go and sit with my friend. Though the healer and Zivah said it didn't look as if she had been raped, she had been beaten badly and I hoped that she could recover fully in time from the trauma she endured.

The guilt of knowing that I was responsible for Tabitha's injuries were eating me and I wanted nothing more than to talk to Mama about it. If what I was feeling was even a shimmer of what she felt Japan suddenly made much more sense. Not that I would ever allow my dreams to become reality, but I began to understand why she and Mom allowed it to happen.

Mom and I really hadn't had time to talk yet either. I had filled almost five pages in my journal and knew that she was giving me time to process everything that happened in the woods. I was responsible for five deaths. I had given the orders that they were to be killed, and I had killed, and allowed my friends to kill. The guilt bubbled at my gut again and I wondered how Mama had done this when she had led her village against Cortez. Maybe following Ares wasn't so hard to explain either.

I had just returned to our hut from visiting Tabitha, and was enjoying one of the chocolate bars Auntie had given me on our last spa visit. Hearing the door open, I looked up and smiled tiredly as Mom entered.

"Hi there, Sammy."

"Hi Mom." I scooted over on the couch and gave her some of the chocolate bar.

"Thank the gods for Aphrodite and her chocolate bars," Mom took another offered bite and I put my head on her shoulder.

"Rough day?"

"Rough week," Mom acknowledged putting her arm around me and kissing my temple. "I haven't had time to catch up with you, Sammy."

I sighed and shifted so I could wrap my arms around her, "I'm responsible for five deaths, Mom. It's my fault Tabitha was hurt. How do you come to terms with leading others into a battle where you know they will have to kill? How do you stop the guilt for knowing a friend was hurt because of who you are?"

I felt a kiss to the top of my head and heard Mom's deep sigh. "Oh Sammy, how I wish you'd never have to ask those questions. Especially at your age. As proud as I am of you for wanting answers, for wanting to talk to me about it, I am so sorry you have even had to ask the question."

"So how do you do it?" I asked quietly.

"With a lot of help from your mama," Mom's voice was soft. "A lot of writing that nobody ever sees but me while I sort through things. And I remind myself that everything I've had to do is for the greater good. That by taking the weight upon my shoulders that I've helped someone else not have to take the weight on theirs."

"And your friends that get hurt because of who you and Mama are?"

"That's harder to answer, Sammy. In fact, that's the one that tears me up the most. To know that there was nothing I could do and somebody got hurt simply because of their connection to me, it's still something I have a hard time with when it happens."

"Every time I go and visit Tabitha I want to cry," I admitted. "Knowing that I'm the cause of her pain hurts so much and I don't know what to do with that pain."

"Live in the now, Sammy. Be thankful that she wasn't raped, that she will recovered from her physical injuries. And know that you will be here for her in any way that she needs you from here on out."

I nodded slowly, "I want to know who's behind this, Mom. If it was a god it's a violation of the treaty for interfering with our lives. If it was a mortal, even working for a god…" I trailed off. "When are we going home?"

"I miss your mama too, Sammy." Mom kissed the top of my head again. "We've decided to start letting Tabitha wake up. As soon as she's able to wake up and travel, we'll leave."

"About another week?"

"Give or take. It all depends on Tabitha and her recovery."

"Okay Mom." I yawned and snuggled into her closer. "Tell me a story?"

"Any requests?"

"Something fun."

"Have I ever told you about the time we worked with not only The King of Thieves but Joxer as well?"

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"Sam are you sure this is a good idea?" Rory asked for the third time.

Pulling Mavri to a stop I turned in my saddle and looked at her and Zivah. "Yes, I'm sure. We had to kill because of somebody telling those men they would curry favor with the gods. Don't you think we should find out if it's true or not?"

Zivah nodded slowly, "Yeah. Sam is right, Rory. We need to know and I don't know about you, but being in a battle like that, doing what we needed to do…"

"Yeah," Rory sighed. "Gods, I miss dodgeball."

Shaking my head I led my friends off of Amazon land and then slide from Mavri's back as they did the same from their horses. "Ares! Ares, show yourself!"

Feeling nothing I decided to channel Mama, "Ares, show yourself, you worthless bastard!"

"Ah, nothing like feeling wanted." Turning quickly I had my sword point at his throat.

"And looky, a welcome that would make your warrior mother proud."

"Who do you think I learned it from? The tooth goddess?"

He smirked at my comment and waved to my friends while I resheathed my sword. "Girls, very nice knife and sword work by the way. No wonder Arte loves having you as her Amazons."

"Not that I'm not impressed but tell me why are you breaking your Mommies most very important rule about contacting me?" Ares casually put his hands on the hilt of his sword and I stepped forward.

"I want to know who is telling stupid mortals that if they can capture me and take me to the coast that they can curry favor with the gods."

"Seriously?" Ares confusion was evident and he shook his head. "First I've heard of it, little warrior. Not that I'm surprised or anything. After all, you are almost sixteen and let me tell you things are starting to really heat up around Olympus about you choosing Athena's successor."

"Well then, here's what you're going to do for me," I began.

"Wait, I'm going to do something for you?" Ares stroked his beard, "And what are you going to do for me?"

"Not let Xena kill you."

"You know she'd never really kill me. Not when she knows I'd give up my godhood for her and that annoying blonde mommy of yours."

"Sam, you don't want to owe Ares any favors." Rory warned. "Let's forget this."

I nodded, "Yeah, you're right."

Moving back to the horses I turned back to the god of war, "You'd better pray to yourself that you aren't involved in this, Ares."

"Me, involved in trying to harm one of Xena's kids?" Ares shook his head at me. "I am a lot of things, little warrior," he smirked. "A killer, a bringer of mayhem, someone to fear, but I am not stupid. Going after Xena's kids brings the god behind it nothing but a very painful death."

"True." Zivah agreed as Ares just gave her a look.

"A piece of friendly advice, little warrior."

"I'm listening."

"Think of why these stupid mortals were asked to take you to the coast. Who would gain by having you that close to the sea?" Ares disappeared as quickly as he came and I quickly mounted Mavri and headed back to the village at a quick pace digesting the war god's words.

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Xena sighed yet again as Cyrene chuckled, "You can make those faces and noises all you want, Xena, but I am not letting you walk the girls to school alone."

"Look Mom, I said I wouldn't let them act out one of Sam's stories again on the way to school."

"Still, I feel better if I'm with you to make sure you keep that promise." Hearing her daughter mutter under her breath Cyrene stopped for a moment. "What was that, little one?"

Blushing slightly Xena looked at her mother, "I said, I hope Gabrielle gets home soon."

"No kidding."

"Eve!" Xena's eyes darted to the child in front of her.

"What? It's true. We all want her back." Eve looked at her little sisters, "Right wonder twins?"

"Right, Twubble," tandem voices answered.

"Wonder twins?" Cyrene asked.

Eve shrugged, "I'm trying it out. Sam calls me little bit I need to find something to call them, don't you think?"

Cyrene's reply was cut short by Xena tensing and drawing her sword from her scabbard. "Ares," Xena purred as the god took a step back in case she decided to punch him per her customary greeting.

"What do you want, Ares?"

"You can put the sword away, Xena. I promise to play nice." Ares looked at all the Amazon warriors who were surrounding them in the village center.

"Now, now, girls, no worries. I said I was here to play nice. I just need to let Xena know a little something about her eldest daughter and that blonde annoyance you all call a queen."

"Ares, spill it." Xena's relaxed stance was gone and he sighed.

"Sam and her friends were attacked by some mortals claiming that if they took Sam to a port city that they could curry favor with the gods. Don't worry, they're fine, but that kid, Tabitha managed to get beat up pretty bad. Don't worry, she's on the road to recovery."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because the little warrior called me out. You'd have been so proud, called me a bastard and everything. Don't worry, she owes me nothing. Just passing along the message so you don't try to kill first and ask questions later. Ciao."

"Damn."

Eve's voice brought Xena from her thoughts and she took a deep breath. "Take them to school, Mom. I'm heading to the temple." Motioning to five of the warriors surrounding them she nodded, "You five are on guard detail. Two of you with trouble, three of you with Emily and Zoe."

"Xena?"

"Suck it up, Linda." The warrior squeezed her mother's shoulder before giving her kids a quick kiss and heading towards Artemis' temple to find out what in the hell was going on with her eldest child."

"Artemis!"

A silver flash appeared within moments and Artemis made sure to be out of arm's reach of the warrior. "Xena."

"Ares just paid me a visit in the middle of the village. What the hell is going on with Sam and Gabrielle?"

"I haven't spoken with them in a week, Xena. I know that Zivah's uncle was after her but he is no longer a problem."

"Zivah's uncle? Ares told me that Sam called him out."

"Why would she do something so foolish and reckless?" Artemis's eyes flashed. "She knows better than to do something that stupid."

"Exactly, so why did she?"

"Give me a few days, Xena. I will make sure all is well and report back to you."

"Fine. Just know that I'm not going to play nice."

"I would never expect you to do so in regards to your family, Xena." Artemis disappeared once more and Xena relaxed slightly knowing that at least, for now, she didn't need to worry about her wife and eldest daughter.

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Okay, another shameless plug: I wanted to let folks know that the second book in the Mockingbird Chronicles is available at Stormy Night Publications, Amazon, Blushing Books, etc… The title is "The Art of Discipline: Running Toward Trouble". This book has things that were never posted to FF and Stardawn and I are happy finally share it with you. Enjoy. It is posted under the names Alexandra James and Stardawn Cabot.

Also- again- thanks to all who are still reading and enjoying this story. Hope this one is enjoyed as well.

Thanks also to all the PMs, favorite lists, and alerts that this story has been added to. It means a lot.