Holding her sword ready, Xena faced the pair of Bacchae that had taken their wolf forms after they had brutally killed a couple of thieves. With their snouts still coated in the men's blood, the transformed women snarled and beared their teeth as Xena gestured for them to come after her.
XENA
(Taunting tone) Well come on.
The Bacchae growled as they ran and lunged at her. Xena dodged one and kicked the other away. The one she had just dodged came back at her, and Xena swung her blade. The first animal form Bacchae dodged as the second lunged at Xena who kicked the creature away. The first came at her again and before Xena could do anything, the Bacchae jumped and sunk her teeth into Xena's flesh. With a painful yell, Xena reached and pryed the creature's jaws off of her and threw her. The Bacchae whimpered as she hit the ground, but got back up and growled fiercely at Xena before the creature turn away and ran off as Xena noticed the other had also ran off as well. Xena looked at the bite she'd received and saw that wasn't major before looking around the area for the lyre.
JOXER
You see anything?
ORPHEUS
No I don't see her.
Joxer turned the pole that Orpheus' head was on as they stood among a crowd looking for Gabrielle after they had grown worried about her being gone for so long.
JOXER
Come on, where could she be?
Joxer continued to hold Orpheus above the crowd to give them a good vantage point as he moved through the sea of people that danced to the music being played and seemed completely obvious to the od sight of a man with a head on a pole moving around among them. As they searched, Joxer was becoming increasingly worried that they might not find Gabrielle and that someone might have already happened to her.
ORPHEUS
There she is.
Hearing Orpheus Joxer stopped walking and looked around but didn't see Gabrielle, he then looked up at the disembodied bard.
JOXER
Where?
ORPHEUS
In the middle of the room. She's dancing with a couple of other women.
Joxer searched for a moment before finally spotting Gabrielle among the crowd. He squinted curiously at the women Gabrielle was dancing with for a moment, as something about them didn't seem right.
JOXER
Here hold this for me will ya.
Joxer shoved the pole with Orpheus on it into a nearby villager's hand as he moved through the crowd. Meanwhile, Gabrielle was completely oblivious to the fact that she was being looked for as she was now completely lost in the music while continuing to dance with the pair of women who had moved close to her. She closed her eyes as she felt herself slipping further into the atmosphere. That was until she felt herself being grabbed by the arm and yanked backwards. Her eyes popped open as she stumbled back, and after a moment regained her balance. She then turned to see Joxer standing there and pulled her arm from his grasp.
GABRIELLE
(Irritated tone) Joxer what do you think you're doing?!
Joxer pointed to the women that Gabrielle had been dancing with.
JOXER
You were dancing with a couple of Bacchae.
Gabrielle scoffed.
GABRIELLE
Oh please Joxer, don't you think I would know a Bacchae if I saw one.
JOXER
(Muttering to himself) Apparently not.
GABRIELLE
What?
JOXER
Nothing. We have other things to do that doesn't involve dancing. Come on, Orpheus is waiting.
Joxer walked away and though annoyed, Gabrielle followed.
ORPHEUS
Woah! Woah! Hey stop it!
Orpheus was being bounced around on the pole as the villager that Joxer had passed him off to danced without a care in the world. As Orpheus was being jostled around he was certain that he was going to get tossed right off the pole but was relieved when the movement suddenly stopped and the pole was taken from the villager's hands.
XENA
I'll take that.
ORPHEUS, Thanks.
Xena brought the staff that Orpheus wasn't sitting on down to the floor as she held it up.
ORPHEUS
So did you find the lyre?
XENA
Yea but before I could get it I ran into trouble and the Bacchae ended up getting away with it. But we'll get it back.
JOXER
Get it back? How are we supposed to do that?
Xena looked over to see Joxer and Gabrielle walking over.
XENA
I just found Orpheus being tossed around like a toy by some drunken idiot. Where have you two been?
Joxer glanced at Gabrielle for a moment before looking back at Xena.
JOXER
Well someone decided it would be a good idea to just go off and start dancing with a bunch of Bacchae.
GABRIELLE
(Annoyed tone) Oh for the last time Joxer they weren't Bacchae. You're just being paranoid and seeing monsters everywhere.
(Half joking) Next, I'm sure you'll be saying that either me or Xena have been turned into Bacchae.
JOXER
Hey I know what my gut told me. And those women you were dancing with were Bacchae.
Xena raised her eyebrow at Gabrielle.
XENA
(Joking tone) Dancing with a couple of Bacchae, huh? Should I be jealous?
Gabrielle shook her head.
GABRIELLE
Don't you start too.
Orpheus made an exaggerated throat clearing noise as he got the other three's attention.
ORPHEUS
(Slightly annoyed tone) Can we get back to the task at hand here?
JOXER
Oh, right. Xena, you said that we're gonna get the lyre back, but what are we supposed to do? Just First, we find the lyre. Then get someone to play it while Orpheus sings, the Bacchae sleep, so we can then go in, kill Bacchus and free the girls?
XENA
Exactly.
Joxer shrugged.
JOXER
Okay, works for me.
ORPHEUS
Don't be a fool. Bacchus will kill you.
Joker looked at Orpheus
JOXER
(Nervous tone) Wait, what?
XENA
I'm willing to take that risk. And don't worry Joxer you're not coming. Come on Gabrielle.
With Orpheus in her position, Xena turned to leave.
JOXER
Wait a minute! If she's going, I'm going, too!
Joxer went ignored as they kept going.
JOXER
Hey, I assembled this team! You can't just leave me out of this.
Again, Xena and Gabrielle kept going as joxer shouted after them.
JOXER
Okay, fine. I guess you don't want someone who plays the lyre!
Finally, Xena and Gabrielle stopped and turned around.
ORPHEUS
(Suspicious tone) You, play the lyre.
Suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed that the knowledge of his musical abilities would hurt his "tough warrior image", Joxer looked away.
JOXER
I took the music lessons, okay?
GABRIELLE
Really?
JOXER
Yeah, I play the lyre okay. Don't advertise it all over town. I got a reputation to maintain.
ORPHEUS
(Dry tone) Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine.
XENA
Good now that we have that settled, let's go.
Xena turned away and began walking away as joxer noticed a mark on her neck. Gabrielle began to follow before being stopped by Joxer.
JOXER
Wait a minute.
Gabrielle sighed.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly annoyed tone) Now what?
JOXER
You mean you didn't see it?
GABRIELLE
See what?
JOXER
The mark on Xena's neck. She's been bitten.
TO BE CONTINUED...