Xena stood glaring down at Gabrielle after finding the sai's that Gabrielle had hidden amung her things while Xena had been getting their out their cooking knew that Xena was not happy with her, but she was fully prepared to defend her actions regardless.

XENA

(Angry tone) So I'm assuming you got those on that little outing of yours?

GABRIELLE

And if I did? You were complaining that I went out unarmed.

Xena scowled.

XENA

(Angry tone) You know damn well that this is not what I ment.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) Why because you don't approve of my choice?

XENA

(Angry tone) Because using things like these are dangerous and you

know it.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) I'm not a child Xena. Whether you believe it or not I do know what I'm doing.

XENA

(Angry tone) Do you? Because I sure don't anymore.

GABRIELLE

What's that supposed to mean?

XENA

(Angry tone) Exactly what it sounds like. You're doing all this odd stuff and I don't have the slightest idea why.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) Oh I'm sorry it's so strange for me to not have to rely on you for every little thing in my life. You know I am my own person Xena. Whether you like it or not.

Xena let out a tired sigh as she once again tried to figure out what could've possibly had happened that led them down this rocky road that they couldn't seem to get off.

XENA

Can you please tell me how we got here Gabrielle? Because it seems as though matter how hard I try or what I say, you just insist on shutting me out.

Gabrielle looked away.

GABRIELLE

It's not like you'd understand if I told you anyway. So why bother.

Xena crouched down in front of Gabrielle.

XENA

Maybe, but you won't know until you try. So please let me in Gabrielle. Let me see if I can help with what's been bothering you.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) There you go again Xena just assuming that I need you to swoop in and solve all my problems for me. Why can't you get that I don't need you to do anything!

Xena scowled. She was beyond tired of this going back and forth with Gabrielle and it leading nowhere.

XENA

(Angry tone) You know what Gabrielle if that's how you really feel then fine. You can do whatever you want and I won't say a word.

Xena stood back up and began walking over to where her blankets were lied out right next to Gabrielle's as they had always layed them out.

XENA

(Muttering to herself) It clearly doesn't matter what I say anymore anyway.

Gabrielle heard Xena as she stormed off, bent down and snatched them up before continuing further away until she was a decent distance from Gabrielle where she then spread it back out. Xena then walked back Gabrielle's direction who just sat there not knowing what she could possibly say that would make Xena understand why she was doing the things she was doing. Or feeling the way she felt.

XENA

It's getting late. We can figure out what we're doing in the morning.

With that Xena went and tended to Argo and grabbed a couple things from her pack before going over to where her blankets now layed and took her sword and it's sheath from from their place on her back and unhooked her chakrum from her hip as she sat down. Gabrielle watched as Xena drew her sword, picked up her sharpening stone that she had grabbed and just sat there and turned her focus on sharpening her blade in silence. Gabrielle sighed to herself as she looked away, knowing that this was something Xena tended to do when she was really upset about something and just wanted to give her mind something else to focus on. Then rest of the night was very quiet. With neither Xena or Gabrielle barely saying a word to one another, other than to relay basic information, such as Xena saying that she was going to gather fire wood or dinner being done cooking. That night the two slept separately on opposite sides of the extinguished fire pit. Before Xena fell asleep she looked over at Gabrielle who saw her and turned to lay on her side so her back was facing Xena's direction. Shaking her head Xena did the same as the two both eventually fell asleep.

GABRIELLE

How much further do you think it is?

XENA

Who's to say.

The two went silent as the only sound that they noticed was Argo's hooves against the ground as they walked along side the mare that Xena held loosely by the reigns. It was late morning as they continued on their way. There had been an uneasy feeling between Xena and Gabrielle since their agreement the night before. Though Xena had said that they were going ro discuss whether or not they were going to keep going, Xena later decided that she wasn' to use their joining as a weapon again. So she had simply said that if Gabrielle wanted to continue on then they would. Which had lead to them continuing when inspite of everything, Gabrielle had decided that she did.

XENA

Dispite the fact that I'm sure you don't want to at the moment, you know it would be quicker if we both rode instead of walked.

Gabrielle glanced over at Xena as they kept walking. Still obviously angry about the night before and didn't exactly feel like being snuggled up against Xena at the moment.

GABRIELLE

I think I'd rather walk. It's not like we have a time limit for getting there.

XENA

Fine with me, I guess we'll walk.

They continued on for a bit in more silence. Then Xena stopped as she heard a noise. Gabrielle also stopped a few steps ahead when she noticed Xena fall behind. Gabrielle was about to ask what it was when Xena drew her sword and stood tall, waiting for what she had heard to come their way. She motioned for Gabrielle to come close to her and scowled when Gabrielle deliberately ignored her command.

XENA

(Irritated Whisper) Gabrielle this is not the time for this. There's something out here and you know it's alot more difficult to split my attention on fighting and watching out for you.

GABRIELLE

(Irritated Whisper) I don't need you to defend me.

XENA

(Irritated Whisper) So are you telling me that you actually know how use those in an actual fight without ever had done so before. Because I sincerely doubt that. Now get behind me.

Gabrielle didn't listen as she pulled her sai's from her boots that she had opted to keep them in now that Xena knew about them and too her surprise didn't take away. Xena Angerly growled to herself at Gabrielle's noncompliance but also heard another growl that she knew didn't come from her, returning her attention to the surrounding area. Xena held her blade ready as she took a cautious step forward. She then heard the crack of a twig that she knew wasn't beneath either her's or Gabrielle's feet. Xena quickly turned her head towards the sound just in time to see a wild dog leap out from the bushes and lunge at her. She side stepped the animal and spotted several more as they emerged from the same place. They bared their teeth as they snarled and spread slowly spread out to surround Xena and Gabrielle. Xena shouted at the dogs to get back as the animals crept closer. Xena kept track of the dogs movements as she waited for an opening to strike before the vicious, wild beast did. But before she could the wild dogs swiftly moved in for the kill. The animals all began jumping, biting and clawing at Xena, Gabrielle and even Argo. As Xena kicked one of the wild dogs away from her she shouted for the horse to get away, who reared up to get the creature that had jumped on her off and galloped away. Xena yelled in pain as she felt one of the dogs sink it's teeth into the flesh of her leg. In response she turned her blade and drove it into the animal who released her with a whimper as it fell to the ground and died. She looked up to see Gabrielle trying to fend off a couple of the wild dogs. Gabrielle kicked one in it's side to knock

it away and then threw one of her sai's at another. The creature dropped to the ground as the weapon entered its chest. Gabrielle raced over to retrieve the object. But as she bent down another of the animals ran up and tackled her to the ground.

XENA

Gabrielle!

Xena cut down another wild dog that came her way and ran towards Gabrielle. Gabrielle held back the creature from bitting her face with one arm as she tried to stab the vicious creature. But another wild dog ran by and inadvertently knocked Gabrielle's weapon from her hand and one of her immediate reach. Meanwhile the animal still on top of Gabrielle snarled as it chomped at her as she fought to get it off of her. Then Gabrielle heard a yell and then saw the wild dog get hit in it's side by something that came flying in. The animal was knocked off of her as Gabrielle looked over to where it now layed dead and saw Xena's chakrum buried in its flesh. The rest of the wild dogs decided that it was worth continuing trying to take Xena or Gabrielle as prey and ran off. Xena walked up to Gabrielle.

XENA

You okay?

GABRIELLE

Yeah.

(Thinking to herself) Damn it. After I tell Xena I don't need her to keep protecting me this happens.

Gabrielle stood up and with the vicious animal's gone Xena pulled her chakrum from the dead creature and gave a quick whistle for Argo who came trotting back unharmed. Seeing that the mare was okay, Xena turned her attention to Gabrielle, who was retrieving her sai's. And while Xena was glad that Gabrielle was unharmed, she was furious that Gabrielle had deliberately gone against what she had asked her to do.

XENA

(Angry tone) Why didn't you listen to me? I told you to stay behind me and you intentionally ignored me. What were you thinking?

GABRIELLE

I thought I had it handled.

(Angry tone) Besides I thought we were done with the whole "get behind me or go somewhere safe Gabrielle" routine.

XENA

(Angry tone) Don't you even try to turn this around on me have no clue how to defend yourself with your new weapons yet and we both know it. But yet you still decided to just do whatever you wanted anyway and it nearly got you killed.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) Don't you stand here and lecture me like I'm a child Xena.

XENA

(Angry tone) Then maybe you should stop acting like one! I'm sick and of whatever this rebellious, moody or whatever you wanna call it attitude of yours. So I'm only gonna say this once more. Either you tell me what's going on or I'm done here and we're going back to the village.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) What happened to not using our wedding as a threat?

XENA

Oh we can still get married. It just either won't be an Amazon wedding or I'll just give up my title of queen like I was originally planning.

Gabrielle scowled.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) You would really do that after everything we've had to do for this just to spite me?

XENA

Spite has nothing to do with it. You're the one making things difficult here.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) Why because I'm being the good little obedient Gabrielle that I'm apparently exspected to be?

XENA

(Angry tone) Enough! I'm done with this. We're going back home, now.

Xena walked over to Argo and climbed into the saddle before turning the horse around to head back to the secret village.

XENA

(Angry tone) Now let's go.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) No.

Xena scowled as she looked back at Gabrielle.

XENA

(Angry tone) I'm not playing around Gabrielle. Let's go. Now!

Gabrielle made no effort to move which only served to anger Xena further.

XENA

(Angry tone) I'm not gonna say it again. Let's go or...

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) Or what Xena? What are you going to do, force me into the saddle? Tie me up and drag me back with you?

Xena pushed down the rage and hurt from what Gabrielle said and turned to face forward.

XENA

(Angry tone) Fine then since you don't wanna come and insist that you don't need me for anything, you should be perfectly capable of finding your own way home. Or wherever you decide to go. I don't really care anymore.

With that Xena rode off leaving Gabrielle standing there, who angerly clenched her fist around the sai's she still held as she watched Xena ride away. Then Gabrielle put her weapons back in her boots and walked off in the opposite direction with no particular task or destination in mind. As an even wider gap began to form between Gabrielle and Xena. Both physically and emotionally.

TO BE CONTINUED...