Chapter Twenty

As the members the Amazon tribe passed her by, Halfrek examined their inner feelings, the ones they often refused to acknowledge even to themselves. She was looking for one of two things. Weakness in character. She wanted a woman who could be easily swayed into doing what she wanted. Or someone with a secret grudge or dissatisfaction. A combination of the two would be ideal.

And she found her. She had come in from a different tribe shortly before Alara and her sisters arrived. And like all clans, each thought their ways and methods were better than anyone else's. Eventually all came to accept the customs of their adopted tribe – Ephiny's tribe.

But there was always one or two dissenters. This one was a rather mousy, introverted, and not very attractive woman named Tana. She was the one who always seemed to get the unpleasant and arduous jobs no one would volunteer for. She often had to clean up the bloody remains when a deer or wild pig was slaughtered. Or dispose of the rotted vegetables stored in the cool underground pits during the summer. And it was her responsibility to maintain, and if necessary, dig the waste holes used by the tribe to relieve their bladders and bowels.

Alara waited until the morning meal was finished. As Tana began cleaning the area where her clan ate, Alara sat down near her.

Tana tried to ignore her, but Alara forced a couple of tears to be shed. Feeling she should say something, Tana expressed her condolences over the death of Old Mother.

"Thank you," Alara responded. "Even though she was very old, it should not have been her time."

"How so?"

"Just before Gabrielle and those other two came, I was going to ask Ephiny if Old Mother could spend a few nights in the guest hut, just to get her away from the cold, damp ground. But THEY came, and . . . and . . . ."

As Alara shed more tears, she could feel Tana's sympathy, and anger, increasing.

"But I can't really blame Queen Gabrielle, not entirely. It was that Xena who insisted they stay there. Actually, I think she demanded it, and of course, Gabrielle went along with it."

Tana didn't answer.

"They just show up and because they have these unusual fighting skills, they think they're better than the rest of us."

"Who?" Tana asked timidly.

"Xena. And that Buffy. They both act like they are so high and mighty, and we're so insignificant. It's too bad there's nothing we can do."

Tana didn't answer, still intimidated by Alara's presence.

"But wouldn't seeing them go at each other be a battle to end all battles?"

Tana nodded and barely got out, "Yes, it would."

"Wouldn't you want to see that? Two great warriors fighting it out to see who was the mightier woman?"

"It would be something to see," Tana answered, her voice a bit stronger.

"If I had only one wish, I sure know what I'D wish for. What about you?"

"If I had only one wish, I could think of other things I would like. But if I had many wishes, then, yes I would wish to see Buffy and Xena fight each other."

"Even to the death? I mean, after what happened with Old Mother?"

"After their inconsideration, yes, even to the death."

Halfrek smiled.

"And so it shall be done."

Halfrek stood up, took one step and vanished in front of Tana's astonished eyes.

When she reappeared at the rear of the crowd of women, Buffy and Xena were fighting. Xena was using her sword, and Buffy had found a battle staff and was fighting back. Neither seemed to have a distinct advantage.

"So what happened?" Halfrek asked one.

"We don't know. Everyone was eating breakfast, then suddenly Xena and Buffy started threatening each other, then they started fighting."

Halfrek pushed her way to the front to get a better view. But after watching for a short while, she began to get bored. From the looks of it, it was going to be a long battle. She pushed her way out of the crowd, took one last look around, then disappeared into the air.

"We have to stop this!" Gabrielle said, fearful of the outcome. "They're going to kill each other!"

"It can't be stopped," Ephiny told her. "You know that. The challenge has been made and answered."

"We have to do something!"

But Ephiny didn't answer. She too, was caught up in the conflict. Gabrielle could only watch in dismay.

Buffy had managed to knock Xena's sword from her hand. But as Xena went for her Chakram, Buffy abandoned the staff and made a diving roll to get the sword.

Xena threw the Chakram at Buffy's head. She barely deflected it with the blade. The Chakram circled back toward Buffy, but she ducked out of the way and it buried itself into the ground.

Buffy pressed her advantage at the weaponless Xena. But Xena was able to dodge three of the strikes of her sword, then managed a side kick to Buffy's midsection, driving her backward into the crowd of Amazons. They quickly scattered, not wanting to become collaterally injured.

Buffy stabbed at the advancing Xena, but she was able to turn aside and grab Buffy's sword hand, spinning her around, twisting her wrist, and the sword went flying away.

They began throwing punches. Most were blocked, but enough landed to cause facial cuts on both of them.

Buffy ducked under one punch and dove into Xena, driving her to the ground. She managed to get behind Xena, wrapped her legs around her middle and locked them together, squeezing with all her strength. At the same time her arms went around Xena's neck, pulling back on it, and choking her.

Xena was momentarily stunned, then using her finger tips, speared Buffy's upper thighs several times in different places, causing Buffy's leg muscles to deadened long enough for her to throw her head back into Buffy's face, loosening the grip on her neck, and was able to escape.

Both women made it to their feet. Xena was panting hard and fast, trying to regain her breath, and Buffy was barely able to walk.

Gabrielle took the opportunity to run out between them, her arms outstretched toward each.

"That's ENOUGH!" She yelled out. "This stops NOW!"

Xena and Buffy glared at each other, watching the other warily, trying to regain strength.

When Gabrielle saw neither was attacking, she lowered her arms.

"Now, I don't know what's gotten into you two, and I don't care, but this insane fighting is OVER! Do you hear me?"

Neither answered, but each slowly approached the other.

"Now I want you to shake hands, and let's all be friends again."

As Xena and Buffy got within arm's length of Gabrielle, each suddenly pushed her out of the way, and ran at the other.

Xena suddenly flipped over Buffy, her feet hitting Buffy squarely in the back as she was coming down. Buffy was kicked a dozen feet away, landing face first into dirt.

Xena turned and attacked again, but Buffy kipped up to her feet and threw a handful of dirt into Xena' eyes, blinding her.

Xena lashed out, trying to keep Buffy at a distance. But Buffy went low and kicked Xena's legs out from her and she fell flat onto her back. Still not completely recovered, she lost her breath.

Buffy dived down on top of her, and her hands encircled Xena's injured throat as she began choking her again.

Xena began to gag as blood started trickling from the corners of her mouth. But her hands found Buffy's eyes and she began to claw into them.

Gabrielle watched in horror at the conflict, helpless to stop it.

T B C