Silence hung in the air as Willow sat against a tree. She shifted slightly to try and get more comfortable without her injuries hurting too much.
WILLOW
(Thinking to herself) I hope the others are okay and we're able to find Xena.
Willow sat silently for a while until she heard rustling in the nearby bushes. Fear began to set in as she grabbed her spear and used it to help her stand.
WILLOW
(Thinking to herself) Don't tell me that creature's here.
Knowing that she didn't stand a chance against the creature in her current condition, Willow moved behind the tree she had been learning against in the hopes that she wouldn't be noticed. The sound came closer and Willow gripped her spear tightly as she did her best to control her panicked breathing so she wouldn't be heard. She wondered if it would be possible for her to sneak away without being noticed before the creature showed itself. It was risky but Willow didn't see any better options. So after making up her mind to try escaping, she slowly began backing away. Making sure not to make too much noise. The noise continued to come closer and Willow realized that she was never going to be able to move fast enough to get away and decided to try hiding it the bushes. After settling down she peeked through just as a figure pushed through the foliage opposite of her. She let out the breath she'd been holding as she saw two more figures follow the first into the clearing.
WILLOW
Way to scare someone half to death. I thought you were that creature.
Willow stepped out from her hiding place and walked into the clearing as Naomi, Iris and Xena spotted her.
XENA
Good to see you back up and about Willow.
WILLOW
Well I certainly wasn't just going to sit here and let myself be attacked again. Which reminds me, how did you escape from that thing anyway?
XENA
We don't have time to explain. Where are all the others?
NAOMI
Aria, Mia and Amelia refused to come save you and went off on their own.
Xena sighed.
XENA
(Sarcasm) Great.
We're gonna have to find either them or Echidna before they find each other. Otherwise that monsters gonna claim three more victims.
WILLOW
Wait who's Echidna?
XENA
The creature.
WILLOW
Okay. But anyway you managed to survive so maybe they will too.
XENA
No, they can't.
Willow was about to ask Xena how she could be so sure of that but was cut off when the four women heard loud screams in the distance.
XENA
Shit it sounds like she's already found them.
NAOMI
Then we better hurry.
XENA
Iris stay with Willow and help her walk. Naomi and myself will go ahead and try and reach the others. Hopefully before it's too late.
With that Xena and Naomi hurried off as Iris and Willow followed.
NAOMI
Are you gonna be okay when we find that thing? You look like you took a pretty good beating the last time.
XENA
I'll be fine. Besides it's not like we have much choice here.
NAOMI
Fair point. So what's the plan when we find them?
XENA
Simple. Either we kill Echidna or she kills us. Either way we're going to end this one way or another.
The mess hall in the village was far quieter then usual as the whole village had grown somber with the news that Gabrielle didn't have much longer. The typically rambunctious group of Skyla, Clover and the others sat at the table with no one barely saying a word. Amarice pushed around the food on her plate before putting her fork down and looking at the others who looked just as upset as she felt. The silence continued until they heard someone enter the mess hall. Clover stood from her seat as they saw Ephiny walk in and come towards their table. Everyone in the building tensed as they prepared for the news that they knew would soon come.
CLOVER
Gabrielle?
Ephiny looked at the room as she could feel the dread radiating throughout the building.
EPHINY
Everyone relax, I'm just here to eat. Nothing's changed yet.
Everyone relaxed slightly as Clover sat back down next to Skyla. Ephiny let out a tired sigh as she sat down with her food. She began to eat but stopped when she saw the others at the table looking at her.
EPHINY
What?
AMARICE
You look exhausted.
Ephiny momentarily smirked.
EPHINY
(Sarcasm) Thanks.
The group ate in silence for a while until finally Skyla couldn't help but ask about what was obviously on everyone's mind.
SKYLA
Well?
Ephiny finished her last bite of food as she stood up.
EPHINY
I was already planning on gathering everyone in the main hall after dinner.
Skyla was going to question Ephiny about Gabrielle's condition further but the sad look in Ephiny's eyes told her everything that she needed to know. No one said anything as Ephiny left and the heavy shadow of the inevitable loomed over everyone. It wasn't long after when the whole village was called into the village square. Ephiny stood before everyone along with one of the village healers. Ephiny cleared her throat as she stepped forward and got everyone's attention.
EPHINY
Now as you're all aware our former queen, Gabrielle has been in ailing heath for some time now. And while the current queen would typically deal with this, as you know unfortunately as much as I know she would like to be, Xena isn't able to be here at the moment. So as per amazon law the responsibility of handling this situation fails to me.
Ephiny paused for a moment to prepare for the announcement that she had to make next.
EPHINY
That being said the healer that has been assisting in caring for Gabrielle has informed me that the end is very near.
The crowd broke into mermers as many began to cry.
EPHINY
It's been a number of days since Gabrielle has fallen into her unwakeable
sleep. I've been told that her vitals have been on a steady decline. It would seem that she only has a few days left at the very most.
In the crowd Skyla, Clover and the others stood together and quietly talked amongst themselves.
SKYLA
Oh no Xena's not back yet.
CLOVER
I know. Hopefully she makes it back soon. Otherwise I don't think I wanna be around if she gets here and finds out that Gabrielle's already gone.
Ephiny continued as she told everyone that they would immediately begin preparing to hold a fitting funeral ceremony for Gabrielle when the time finally came. So with that Ephiny dismissed the crowd and walked away as she pushed down the feeling of impending doom. Not only for Gabrielle's death, but much like Clover she was concerned about what might happen when Xena returned to find that she wasn't able to be there with Gabrielle. She looked up at the sky as she hoped that Xena would make it back in time.
EPHINY
(Thinking to herself) Xena you don't have long. Wherever you are you had better get back here soon. Gabrielle isn't going to make it much longer.
TO BE CONTINUED...