A/N: I feel like it's been just short of forever since I last posted anything. I apologize. Life, as always, has been a whirlwind - at least this time it's been a good thing.

So here ya go, here's Chapter 11! I hope you all enjoy it! Please let me know what ya think, feedback is always welcome. :)

Chapter 11

I was riding back to the village with Gabrielle, listening to her tell her stories again. They must have done a lot. I mused, for there hadn't been any repeats that I remembered so far.

We had almost made it back to Amazon territory when we were suddenly ambushed like Xena had been telling me about.

The scuffle came closer and closer to the tree I was sitting in with another girl. This one is trouble! I thought as I looked her over, she was the epitome of a bully - but maybe it was just a front. She did lose her mom, maybe she's sad - maybe she's just being a jerk. She wore pants and a top with no sleeves, her long hair was tied back in a pony tail. Her name was Kora.

"I'm not staying here like a little child!" She grumbled. "I can fight!"

"Shut up before someone hears you!" I whispered to her in warning. "Besides, you have no weapons!"

Kora threw an angry look my way and snarled, "I don't need any!" And jumped down to take on a boy who was standing just below us.

Shaking my head, I peeked out through the branches to see the skirmish appeared to be coming to an end. Xena and Gabrielle were locked in a battle of swords with a rough looking barbarian, Eve stood watch over the women hiding in the bushes and the other Amazons were tying up the other three ruffians.

I heard a soft thud and a groan from below, glancing down I saw the boy standing over little miss tough girl. Oh horse poop! "Kora!"

Shaking my head, I knew I'd get in a heap of trouble but I couldn't just watch what I was seeing. I leapt through the tree branches and landed behind the boy, sweeping his feet out from under him. He rolled over and I pounced on him, throwing a right hook to his jaw. "You leave her alone!"

He laid there stunned for a minute before a look of complete fear washed over his face. I glanced up behind me to see what he was scared of. Oh double horse poop! There was Xena, an angry warrior mom look on her face. She grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me to my feet while reaching a hand down to the boy. He chose to scoot backwards and scramble to his feet before running off.

Xena turned me around, facing the tree; effectively putting me in a 'corner.' "You stand here until I tell you to move, got it?"

"Yes ma'am." I whispered.

As she walked away, I heard her say to Kora, "I wouldn't look so smug there, girl! You're in trouble too!"

I stood there staring at the tree and kicking the toe of my boot at its bark, lost in my own thoughts. I was startled out of my reverie when Kora walked up next to me.

"What did ya go and do that for anyway, kid? Now ya got us both in trouble!"

I glared up at her, noticing that her eyes were a brilliant shade of green. "Because! I was more worried about helping you than I was about getting in trouble."

Xena stalked over to the group of 'men' who had ambushed them. "Now listen here, you scum...you're going to tell me what I want to know or you won't be crawling back under your rocks tonight. Who sent you?"

The 'leader' of the group replied slowly with a snarl, "Mizentias."

That name flashed through Xena's mind, knowing full well that the Mizentias she knew so many years before, was long gone. So who was this 'Mizentias' now?

"And just what does this Mizentias want with a bunch of women and girls?" She sneered, already having an idea.

"Jus' what do ya think?" He asked, apparently feeling braver than he should have. "His men need...entertainin'."

She moved to put the pinch on the ruffian but a gentle hand was even faster. Green eyes met blue, "He's not worth it Xe."

A nod was the only reply that Gabrielle received from her warrior. She turned her attention to the man in front of them, the gentle partner was gone and in its place was the tough Amazon Queen. "Tell me, is it Mizentias' men that are camped outside a village not too far from here?"

The man's eyes looked Gabrielle up and down lasciviously, "How 'bout I tell ya somethin' else?"

In a split moment, Gabrielle had her sais crossed over the man's neck, leaving his eyes bulging in fear. "Have some respect for a lady! Or I'll let my partner do her little trick and cut off the flow of blood to your brain!" She gave the sais a squeeze, "Now tell me what we want to know!"

Xena grinned with pride and glanced over at Varia, who also wore a look of admiration. The others were a bit shocked to see the sudden switch in the mostly quiet little Queen.

"Alright," the ruffian choked out. "I'll tell ya."

Gabrielle relaxed her stance but only just enough to give him room to breathe.

"Yes, tis our group camped there. We was on a scoutin' trip ta see what was in these here woods. We jus' happened across ya's. We didn't mean no harm, did we fellas?"

"Uh huh," Shaking her head, Xena walked away before anything else regrettable crossed her mind. "Get 'em outta here!"

Two Amazon Guards tied the man up with the others, Varia had put them in charge of escorting the ruffians back to where they had come from. All in effort to keep them from returning to pillage or inadvertently discover the Amazon village.

"Breathe, Warrior." Came the quiet advice, "No one is injured badly or dead or captured."

"We were lucky," Xena mumbled back."This time."

"Aren't we usually?"

This made the on-edge warrior chuckle, releasing the tension in her body. She sighed and turned to wrap her arms around her Bard. "Yeah Bri, usually."

"I'll go deal with our wayward child." Gabrielle offered. "You can have a sensitive chat with her later, after you've calmed down."

The last part of Gabrielle's suggestion caused Xena to pause, with a raised eyebrow she gazed down at her smaller companion. "Just what are you implying, Bard?"

"Relax Warrior, I got this!" Laughing, she turned to walk away and jumped when Xena's hand connected with the seat of her skirt. "Hey!"

"Watch yourself, Bard!" But there was no heat to her words.

Eventually, Kora walked away, she didn't seem too bothered by the threat of being in trouble. Standing here, looking at this tree had grown boring. I was watching an ant climb along the bark when I heard someone approaching. Expecting it to be Xena, I was surprised to see Eve.

"Hi."

"Hey there, Kid." The warrior turned peace-maker squatted down. "I saw what ya did, it was brave but dumb."

I shrugged, "I might be in ton of trouble but at least that dummy didn't get hurt."

"Oh, I didn't say your heart wasn't in the right place," she patted my shoulder in comfort. "And you obviously have some sort of skills. But you -"

"Eve!" Gabrielle interrupted. "Now's not the time for compliments." She chided but her words were softened with an understanding smile.

"Oops!" Eve looked at me with a crooked grin, "We'll talk later, little sister."

Gabrielle reached her hand out to me, "It's time to get need to keep going if we're to make it home before dark."

I looked at the woman in front of me nervously, "I'm in trouble, huh?"

"Yeah, a bit." Gabrielle smiled slightly. "But we can talk about it on the road."

"Does that mean I can stop staring at the tree now?"

Gabrielle chuckled, "Yeah kiddo, come on. You're riding with me."

A short while later, we were all saddled up and back on the trail toward home. Home. I briefly wondered when that thought came about in my mind. Although it really was the only place I knew here as home. Sighing, I leaned back against Gabrielle. "Just how much 'trouble' am I in?"

"Well, let's see," Gabrielle adjusted the reins in her hands and ushered her horse forward. "Do you know where you went wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, I thought about it for a few moments. "I failed to follow directions."

She nodded, "That's part of it, yes. What else?"

"I didn't think before I acted?"

I felt her shaking her head, "Hmm…no, I think you thought about it and knew what you were doing."

Growing frustrated with her questions I blurted out with a little more attitude than I probably meant to, "I was only trying to help a frie - Kora!"

Gabrielle cleared her throat, "I'd watch my tone if I were you, young lady!"

Yikes! "Sorry Gab."

It was well past sundown when Xena entered the house quietly. Having spent the last few hours since arriving back in the village helping Sara check all the new women and girls for any sort of illnesses, injuries or other wounds. Making sure they all had a warm bed to sleep in for the night until other arrangements could be finalized in the morning.

Pausing in the doorway to their room, Xena watched as the shadows from the fireplace danced across Gabrielle's muscular form. How graceful she looked, sitting there. My beautiful Bard.

She crossed the room, gently placing her hands on Gabrielle's shoulders and began to massage the tight muscles. "Dinar for your thoughts?"

After taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, enjoying her warriors ministrations. "I'm just grateful that Varia is taking the lead on this one. Not having to be the full time leader is kinda nice."

"You don't miss it?"

"Yes and no," Green eyes met blue. "I'm happy to help however we can."

They were interrupted buy a slight noise in the doorway. Both turned to see a nervous looking Sofi standing there.

Xena waved her over, "Come on in Sof. It's okay."

"Mama?"

The warrior couldn't help but smile at that, she felt herself melting into a pile of goo. Get it together, Warrior! Taking a seat, she gently pulled the little girl closer and wrapped her arms around her.

"I'm sorry I didn't follow the rules." Sofi whispered.

"We know you are, Sof." Gabrielle reached out a comforting hand.

"We just need you to understand how dangerous that situation was today, sweetheart."

Sofi shrugged, "I just saw Kora was goin' to get the stuffin' beat outta her and jumped. I wasn't thinking…"

"Like I said earlier, Honey, that action was honorable. And we weren't angry about that."

"We just need you to trust in us and do what we tell you to do. No matter if it is to stay where we tell you to or to run. It's not a slight on your skills, whatever they may be." Xena explained, keeping her voice calm but also stern.

"Had you taken a moment to look, you would have seen one of our guards just a few steps away." Gabrielle's mentioned. "This is why we were upset. You put yourself in danger -"

"Without needing to." Sofi finished for her, nodding in understanding.

"Exactly!" Xena emphasized. "We will work on your skills together but for now, leave the heroics to the adults!"

Sofi smiled and nodded, "Okay."

"In the meantime, it's late. Back to bed you go!"

A thought came to mind and Sofi whispered in Xena's ear. The warrior seemed to mull it over in her head for a few moments before looking back to the suddenly nervous child. With her signature raised eyebrow, she drew in a breath. "Well, I oughta tan your little butt…." She paused. "But I won't. Not this time anyway."

Sofi visibly sighed in relief, making both women chuckle. "Thanks Mama!"

"You're welcome, now enough delaying. It's late! Bed!"

Sofi giggled, "Yes ma'am!"