"How will I find them?" I asked as we walked alongside the stream.

"You will be taken to them very soon." Ephiny smiled. "Life will be rather different for you, I'd imagine. But I'm sure you will adjust quickly and be just fine."

"What are they like?" I asked. "Xena and Gabrielle, I mean."

Ephiny took a moment to collect her thoughts it seemed. "They are the most loyal pair of friends anyone could ever have. Gabrielle is gentle as can be but also has the heart of a warrior. She doesn't like to fight unless given no other option. You will learn a lot from her. She's got the soul of a poet but is a fierce Queen."

"She sounds nice." I was beginning to feel a little more comfortable with the whole idea. Not that I had much choice.

"She's also a very good story teller. You will love her stories." She smiled. "As for Xena, she's a fierce warrior as I have ever seen - even among the Amazons. But don't worry, she has a rather gentle side to her as well. She's a very gifted healer and has been known to be quite the prankster. She can be a great playmate...just don't get on her bad side."

I nodded. "What should I call them?"

"Oh I suppose that's up to you and them to decide. I'm sure as long as you are respectful, using their given names would be okay until you are comfortable with finding something else."

Meanwhile:

Xena and Gabrielle, having gathered what little they had, left the temple and began walking down an overgrown road, looking for a village or any form of civilization. It had soon become apparent that the temple Aphrodite had brought them to was old and abandoned. Both were hungry and tired, the journey was made in companionable silence. Each wore a smile on their face as the feel of their clasped hands reminded them of how fortunate they were.

Eventually they came to an opening in the trees and a small town appeared across the fields. They sighed with relief and with renewed energy, they crossed through the recently plowed fields.

"Look Xe, a market!"

Xena laughed, "Look Gab, an Inn!"

Gabrielle shook her head, "Look Warrior, we have things we need to buy - like a horse!"

"That would make things easier, I suppose."

"I promise, we will go get Argo." The bard smiled in understanding. "But for now, we need a way to get around."

Xena sighed, "Yes we do."

After having finding what they needed at the market and spending the night at the Inn, the pair were once again on their way. Neither really knowing where to find the Amazons, they headed to the last place they knew had been their encampment.

Luckily, it didn't take them long to reach their destination. After a few days of riding, they began to see Amazon warnings within the trees around them. The possibility of those being from before and the encampment no longer active, weighed on their minds.