The day was a calm one and Gabrielle had just finished putting the last of her, Xena, and Aurora's things away as they packed up the camp she and Xena had made the night before. It had been a little over a month or so since they had left the secret village and even with Aurora to care for, she and Xena were settling back into the groove of life on the road without any problems. Well other than them missing the comforts of sleeping in a comfortable bed instead of one a couple of blankets spread out on the ground. But such was just a part of the life they chose so neither complained... too much.
XENA
Gabrielle breakfast is ready.
Gabrielle walked over to the campfire and sat down as Xena handed her a plate of food. The two ate and idly talked as they kept a watchful eye on Aurora who had already eaten and was wandering around the campsite, exploring her new surroundings.
GABRIELLE
What's the plan for today?
Xena shrugged as she chewed a bit of her food.
XENA
We're still at least about a week out from Amphipolis, but I think there's a city not far east of here that's having its annual festival to celebrate the coming of spring. I've never been but I've heard it's supposed to be quite the celebration. You know lots of food, drink, music. Seems like something you might like.
Gabrielle smiled.
GABRIELLE
(Joking) Meaning you wanna go and are just using me as an excuse to save face of your tough warrior princess persona.
XENA
(Lying) I don't know what you're talking about.
But fine if you don't wanna go...
GABRIELLE
Now hold on I never said that.
Xena smiled as the two finished their breakfast and put away the rest of their things before scooping up Aurora from her wandering and casually riding off toward the city that Xena had mentioned. They rode for a while and soon found themselves on a large hill overlooking a lush, green valley. Normally a view like that would have been quite a sight, except for this valley showed clear signs of a battle having taken place there.
GABRIELLE
Should we go and check for any survivors that might need help?
Xena studied the area from their vantage point to check for any fighting that might still be going on. Not wanting to drag Aurora into the middle of a battle if they didn't have to. Not sensing anything she made her decision.
XENA
Alright, let's check it out. Just make sure to stay on alert. We don't know what's going on.
Knowing Xena's apprehension was mostly geared towards Aurora, Gabrielle understood her need for the warning. And would have been fine with staying back with the little girl while Xena investigated if it was thought to be too dangerous.
GABRIELLE
I know.
The two slowly rode towards the carnage. But when they reached the first group of the fallen Gabrielle felt her heart sink when she recognized a number of the dead.
GABRIELLE
(Sad tone) Oh gods, Xena, some of the people here, they're...
Gabrielle couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence as Xena understood and shared her heartbreak as they stopped their horses and looked around at the blood and corpses that now surrounded them.
XENA
Quick, I'll grab our medical supplies and we'll look for any survivors.
Quickly the two did just that as Gabrielle held Aurora and carefully stepped over the bodies that littered the ground. While many of them were just nameless faces to her, a good amount of the others were not. And though Gabrielle had grown accustomed to the aftermath of battle, the fact that she recognized so many of the victims of this one gave her the grim reminder of just how cruel and unforgiving their world could truly be. She continued to move through the area until she heard a groan and looked in the direction of the sound before spotting someone pushing themselves up to a sitting position against a large rock. Gabrielle hurried over and crouched down in front of them.
GABRIELLE
Clover.
Clover winced in pain as she held her hand over a bleeding wound on her stomach before registering that Gabrielle was there as she tried to shake off the groggyness she had been feeling after also suffering a hard blow to the head aside from the obvious stab wound.
CLOVER
(Weak tone) Gabrielle... What are you... doing here?.. The others... they...
Gabrielle could tell that Clover was in pretty bad condition and needed help fast.
GABRIELLE
It'll be okay Clover. Just try and relax for now.
She turned and looked for where Xena had gone and spotted her not far examining another fallen victim of the apparent battle.
GABRIELLE
Xena! Over here, hurry.
Hearing Gabrielle call her, Xena rushed over and was disheartened when she saw Clover and the state she was in. Xena got down and immediately began looking over her multiple injuries.
GABRIELLE
Please tell me she's gonna be okay?
XENA
I'm not sure yet. The wound to her stomach is pretty deep and it looks like she's already lost quite a bit of blood.
Gabrielle shook her head in disbelief and sadness.
GABRIELLE
This can't be happening.
As Xena put her focus on trying to save Clover, she had Gabrielle take Aurora and look for any more survivors and do what she could for them until Xena was done there. After gently laying Clover down, Xena began her task of stitching up the large gash in her stomach. As she worked, Xena questioned Clover about what happened. Both to get information on how her friend and the other villagers there had ended up in this situation and to keep Clover focused on something to take her mind off the pain and keep her awake. Knowing from how she was acting Clover also likely had suffered a concussion and needed to be kept conscious for a while or she risked falling into a coma or even death. Despite the circumstances, Xena attempted to keep the conversation light to try and keep Clover calm as she worked.
XENA
You know this is not the reunion I had in mind when we saw you again.
Clover tried to ignore her pain as she managed to smirk a little.
CLOVER
(Weak tone/ joking) What were you expecting... a celebration or something?
XENA
(Joking) Well, you Amazons do always love any excuse to throw a party.
Clover chuckled slightly before wincing again.
CLOVER
(Weak tone/ half joking) Come on Xena don't... make me laugh right now, I'm in enough pain as it is already.
The two fell silent for a moment as Xena worked before getting to the topic that Xena actually wanted to discuss.
XENA
Clover, what happened here? What are so many of you doing so far from the village?
CLOVER
(Weak tone) Not long after you guys left a number of our scouts spotted... what seemed to be a large army heading in the direction of the village. So as we normally do we... just kept a quiet eye on them from... a distance as we waited for them to move on.
Xena sighed as she started to get a feeling of what happened.
XENA
Only this time they didn't.
CLOVER
(Weak tone) No. And soon... we realized that the army wasn't just moving through the area by coincidence. They were... intentionally heading... for the village. So a bunch of us... headed out to try... and cut them off but... well you can see the results of that... for yourselves.
Clover motioned to the carnage around them as Xena took stock of the situation. It was then that Gabrielle came back over to them with Aurora. Xena gave her a questioning look to ask what she found and with the sad expression she saw in Gabrielle's eyes in response, she already knew that she hadn't found any other survivors without Gabrielle saying anything. Catching their reactions, Clover angrily pounded her fist against the ground. Knowing that she was the only one of the group left.
CLOVER
(Angry/ sad tone) Damn it! Why?!
Gabrielle placed a comforting hand on Clover's arm.
XENA
We're sorry, Clover.
After a moment Clover calmed down as Gabrielle and Xena continued to try piecing together exactly what had taken place involving the village since they had left.
GABRIELLE
But I don't understand, how did they even know about the village to begin with? Neither Xena nor myself had mentioned it to anyone. And I don't see the others that left telling people about the village either.
CLOVER
(Weak tone) I know. No one thinks... that's what happened. But honestly... we have no idea how we were found. Or what they're after.
XENA
Well, it's obviously nothing good.
Xena walked a few steps away as she took one last look over the battlefield. So many people she and Gabrielle knew layed dead in that field. But that wasn't the only thing about the scene that bothered her. It was their obvious opponent's. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about the state of the enemy's bodies bothered Xena. Upon expecting Xena noticed that they appeared to be much paler than the slain Amazon's. This seemed very odd, even taking into account variation in skin tones and the natural paling of the skin after blood loss and death, it didn't make sense for this to be the case for all of the enemies to appear the same way.
GABRIELLE
Xena shouldn't we get Clover back to the...
Gabrielle paused as saw the perplexed expression on Xena's face when she walked over to her with Aurora in her arms.
GABRIELLE
What is it?
Xena looked at her.
XENA
I'm not sure. Something about the state of the dead enemies doesn't feel right.
GABRIELLE
What do you mean?
XENA
The colorations of their skin compared to the Amazons seems strange. I'm not sure what it is, but something about all of this just feels off. And I intend to get to the bottom of it.
With that Xena turned around and headed back over to Clover.
XENA
Come on Gabrielle. I'm getting Clover and then we're going back to that village to get to the bottom of whatever's going on.
And so after helping the injured Clover into Argo's saddle, Xena got up behind her as Gabrielle kept Aurora with her as she mounted Arrian and the four headed back towards the secret village that according to Clover might not be so secret anymore. Which if true, lead to a multitude of questions and dangers. But just how dangerous would soon be revealed as Xena, Gabrielle and everyone else involved on their side would soon come face to face with the biggest threat to the secret village that had ever been seen.
TO BE CONTINUED...