Here's a slower chapter before we get into things- keep reading and let me know if you enjoy my story! Feedback and encouragement makes my day and is much appreciated- BBoA
The leather clad blonde sat on a small, rounded boulder, her chin resting on her fists, which were clenched tight in frustration and anxiety. Her short, spikey hair was disheveled- stands poked this way and that, and it was obviously a little too greasy. She hadn't bathed in four or five days, and her hair wasn't the only thing that looked like hell. Dark blue pouches had started to pop up below her eyes, which were blood shot and teary. Even her clothes were tattered; a week's worth of hard riding had taken the toll on the leather bound garments, and the sole of one of her boots had started to rot, and now flopped around hopelessly with every step the battling bard took.
Across the valley, she could see a small town. It looked polished and well kept, even from that distance. The buildings were arranged in straight, even columns, and were all pristine and smooth- probably made from straight, flat pieces of wood that had been expertly cut and sanded. Gabrielle chucked for a moment, wondering what the uppity people in that town would say if she walked in looking like this.
"Well, it appears that they don't have much of a say in the matter," She said out loud to herself and Argo, who was drinking by a nearby stream, "We look awful, and we need a break. I think Xena would understand- hell, she'd probably encourage it."
She walked up to the palomino mare, and stroked her neck. Xena's absence was agitating Argo, too, Gabrielle could feel it. The horse stamped a rear foot and tossed her head, chewing on the bit. Gabrielle took this as a sign that Argo was ready to get going, hurriedly packed her things, and climbed aboard the mare. "To the town over there," Gabrielle whispered to the horse as they made their way across the grassy, outstretched valley.
The bard half way closed her eyes as they walked along, concentrating on the slow, and steady beat of the horse's gait. She took a deep breath and held it in, savoring the sweet scent of grass and wildflowers. Just when she started to feel better for a moment, she felt guilty. It just didn't feel right to enjoy anything without Xena there. Gabrielle still had no idea who or what had taken her, and she had nobody to turn to for help. If she mentioned anything to anyone she was sure to be thought insane, and being locked away in an institution wasn't exactly the best way to help Xena out, was it? "Oh well," she thought, "I shouldn't feel guilty. I'll find her. Or I'll die trying. Xena knows that. Xena understands." She promised herself this and then breathed in again, trying to relax, breathing steadily in and then out, again. They went along like this for a few more minutes, at a slow and relaxing pace, until the mare suddenly stopped.
"Argo, what is it?" Gabrielle asked, snapping to alertness. The mare was uneasy, her ears pinned back and eyes widened. The Bard had felt the large beast tighten under her, and could tell that her breaths had quickened. Gabrielle knew that mean that this horse was either frightened or pissed.
"Oh, Argo old pal, it's just me, Girl," a deep, overconfident voice slipped from the forest a few meters away, and a man dressed in all black leather walked into the sunlight to meet them. He put his hand on the mare's neck and flashed Gabrielle his best smile.
"Aires…" Gabrielle greeted the God with cold, skeptical eyes. There were only a few times when she had been happy to have this behemoth of an idiot around, and right now didn't appear to be like it was going to be one of them, "And to what do I owe this pleasure, your extreme beefiness?" She hissed at him with sarcasm, but it wasn't enough to bite back the playful look in the god's eyes.
"Well, I noticed that you looked like hell, and I noticed who you are missing…" He trailed off, snapping his fingers. The air around them seemed to crack, and a tall, black behemoth of a horse appeared in a cloud of smoke. When the smoke was gone, the war horse remained. It was scary for a horse, and appeared so blood thirsty that Gabrielle couldn't decide if it was close akin to a horse or a flightless dragon. It stared at the blonde girl and the blonde horse as its rider approached it. Aires climbed up on the beast and gave him a small kick. To Gabrielle's shock, the monster obeyed, obliging every one of Aries' requests.
"Ride with me, Gabrielle," He chimed at her, "Trust me- you'll want to."