Sitting on a log, his mind like an ape's, Joxer scratched his head and made a happy primal-like grunt when he plucked an insect from his hair and gave it a sniff.
JOXER
Mmm, snack.
He popped the bug into his mouth and gave it a chew before swallowing and lowering his eyes to the dirt for more. He walked slowly in a crouched position around the patch of dirt in search of more squirmy creatures to munch on until he found a rock and turned it over to find a whole smorgasbord of insects scurrying beneath.
JOXER
(Happy tone) Ooo, lunch.
Joxer's eyes went wide with excitement as his mouth began to water, and he tried to decide what he wanted to begin chowing down on first. But before he could make up his mind, a large, wet sack was dropped right on top of the patch of dirt.
XENA
Here, you take care of these. I'm gonna start a fire.
Joxer sniffed at the sack as Xena walked off. He then peered inside to find it filled with an entire plethora of flailing fish that the warrior had spent a lot of the morning and early afternoon catching.
JOXER
Fish.
He sat watching the pile of fish intently for a moment, before lowering his head close and turning his ear toward them, as if he were listening for something. After a couple of grunts and a seemingly agreeable nod, Joxer sat back with a smile and began to speak to the aquatic animals.
JOXER
I, Attus, King of Trout and ruler of its peoples, will set you free.
Holding the fish, he moved to the water's edge and released the creature back into its natural habitat.
JOXER
Now go trout-brother. Swim! Be free!
Joxer smiled as he watched the fish quickly swim away and cheered the animal on.
JOXER
Go! Go! Gah!
Suddenly, Joxer found himself being grabbed from behind and yanked to his feet by an angry Xena.
XENA
(Angry tone) What In Tartarus do you think you're doing?
The warrior took a fistful of the front of his shirt as she spun him around to look her in the eye.
XENA
(Angry tone) Now, you listen to me, monkey-man. You ever do that again, and I'll ram my foot so far up your ass even the gods themselves won't be able to remove it! Gabrielle and I didn't come all this way just so you could…
Xena suddenly paused mid-rant as she realized something and looked around to find that Gabrielle was nowhere to be seen.
XENA
Gabrielle?
There was no reply from the bard as the dark-haired woman's anger toward Joxer was instantly forgotten, and she let go of his shirt, dropping him to the dirt as her eyes quickly began scanning the area for any sign of the bard.
XENA
Gabrielle?!
(Thinking to herself) I know she was with me when we came back ashore not long ago.
The warrior continued to search, calling out for the young woman, only to grow increasingly worried when there was no reply.
XENA
Gabrielle?! Gabrielle?!
Fear began to set in as the Xena's mind went through a multitude of explanations for the bard's sudden disappearance, before spotting a series of bubbles appear on the water's surface in the middle of the lake.
XENA
Gabrielle! Hold on, I'm coming!
Without a second thought, Xena ran and dove back into the lake, where she swam as fast as she could toward where she had seen the bubble appear. Reaching the spot within moments, the dark-haired woman took a deep breath and plunged underwater in a desperate attempt to find the missing bard.
All was then still for a long moment as a worried Joxer watched from ashore, unsure of what he could do to help, as he grunted and paced nervously for both women to reappear. Another several slow seconds went by, and the man grew more worried, until with a large splash, Xena re-emerged from beneath the lake with a gasp and a motionless Gabrielle in her arm. Seeing this, Joxer cheered with a series of celebratory hoots and grunts as Xena began to swim and carry the bard back to dry land.
Once ashore, the warrior laid the blonde down and quickly began giving her mouth-to-mouth. She alternated between breathing into the woman's mouth and doing chest compressions several times, before Gabrielle finally spat up the water from her lungs and gasped. Relieved, Xena looked down at the waterlogged blonde as she opened her eyes.
GABRIELLE
Xena.
XENA
Are you okay?
The bard smiled.
GABRIELLE
I am now. Thanks to you.
The dark-haired woman mirrored the bard's expression as a wave of relief that the young woman was safe washed over her. That was until she was taken a little off guard when Gabrielle sprung up and wrapped the woman in a tight embrace.
XENA
Huh?
Though somewhat confused by the sudden action, Xena put her arms around the woman and held her.
GABRIELLE
I don't know what I'd do without you, Xena. You saved me… again.
XENA
Gabrielle, what…
Before the warrior could finish asking what had happened, she was again taken by surprise when she found Gabrielle's lips suddenly pressed against hers. Returning the favor, Xena's eye's closed as the two women's mouths shared a series of loving caresses. Of which rapidly grew more fevered by the second.
Finally, once they separated, both breathing heavily, Gabrielle gazed into the warrior's eyes.
GABRIELLE
I love you.
Xena felt Gabrielle's hands began to trail their way up the front of her body.
GABRIELLE
(Seductive tone) I want you.
The raven-haired woman sighed heartily at the bard's touch as the young woman's lips found their way to her neck, painting their way up to her ear, where a louder, satisfied breathless gasp escaped Xena's throat when she felt Gabrielle bite into her earlobe. Making it clear that her hand's and mouth had begun to enkindle Xena's desire as the woman's body awakened to her caresses.
As Gabrielle's mouth and hands continued to work their titillating magic on Xena, coaxing the wetness between the warrior's thighs to begin to flood, Xena's eyes caught a glimpse of Joxer who was still crouched nearby looking their way. Not wanting to put on a show, Xena quickly brought the bards wandering hands to a stop.
XENA
Gabrielle, you do realize Joxer's sitting right there looking right at us?
Having not noticed the man before he was pointed out, Gabrielle looked up to see Joxer staring at them with his head cocked sideways with curiosity.
JOXER
Zug-zug?
The bard let out an uncomfortable chuckle as she remembered that she and Xena weren't alone. But as the images from Aphrodite's temple continued to flash through her mind, Gabriele's attention quickly returned to the raven-haired woman as she stood up, took the warrior by the wrist and began walking with Xena in toe.
GABRIELLE
Come on, I think I found a better spot for you to fish over there. Joxer, you keep watch over things here. We'll be back in a bit.
Joxer grunted in understanding as Xena was practically yanked along behind the insatiable blonde as she hurried off in search of a more private location.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Amongst a small wooded area that laid just a short walk from the lakefront, Xena was pressed back against a tree as Gabrielle's mouth worked down her neck and chest with a renewed vigor.
GABRIELLE
(Wanting tone) I need you, Xena.
She crouched down in front of the warrior and let her hands run up the woman's leg and under her leather skirt. Leaning her head back against the tree trunk, Xena groaned when she felt the bard's hand come in contact with her center as the blonde's finger traced up and down her womanhood over her underwear.
XENA
So I'm guessing you were lying about that better fishing spot.
She gasped as the bard continued to tease and excite, as Xena's focus on fish quickly gave way to a more primal desire.
After a moment or so, Gabrielle pushed the fabric aside and raised her other hand to stroke the warrior's femininity directly, as Xena longingly whispered the young woman's name.
Gabrielle continued trailing her fingers over Xena's center for a few moments, getting more salacious sounds from the woman in response, before moving her teasing digits away to seize the warrior's undergarments and pull them down. Once Xena was wearing nothing beneath her leather skirt, the bard stood as she returned to rubbing her fingers along the raven-haired warrior's womanhood, gathering the wetness from the woman's excitement before taking her hand away and bringing her fingers up to Xena's lips, in an invitation that the warrior didn't refuse as she took them into her mouth and seductively sucked her own essence from them. A few moments later, once the taste of the warrior was licked from her fingers, Gabrielle pulled her hand from Xena's lips as she took the woman's hand and brought them both to the lush grass that spread over the earth surrounding the lake.
Once on the ground, Gabrielle sat up against a tree as she asked the other woman to move to her hands and knees, facing away from her. The request, while happily accommodated, got an intrigued eyebrow raise from the warrior. And as she got into position, silently wondering what exactly the bard had in mind to do next, a very brief thought crossed her mind that the whole obsession ordeal they had found themselves in may not be such a terrible thing after all.
As the raven-haired woman knelt before her, straddling Gabrielle's legs as the young woman pushed the leather skirt up to reveal the warrior's full ass and sex. Smiling, the blonde kneaded her hands over Xena's toned rear for a moment before giving it a playful swat that caused the dark-haired woman to jump slightly is surprise at the bard's boldness, giving her a look back that gave Gabrielle pause for a moment as she worried she had taken things too far. But with a quirky smirk and a quick chuckle from the warrior, the younger woman's concern was put to rest as she returned to palming Xena's backside for a bit longer before lowering her mouth to snake her tongue up the warrior's femininity from behind.
Xena let out a delighted sigh, reveling in the thrilling sensation of the bard's tongue sweeping over her center. As, like a bee drawn to nectar, the blonde feasted on the warrior's feminine flower, her tongue collecting as much of the woman's wetness as she could. Meanwhile, Xena groaned, lowering her upper half to the ground and letting herself become carried away by the rousing sensations beginning to stir within her depths as the bard's greedy mouth and tongue continued to seemingly work to drive her toward a euphoric madness that the warrior was certain she was going to succumb to if Gabrielle's obsession remained unchecked for too long. A fate that was soon found unimportant as Xena felt the blissful exhilaration of her awaiting release beginning to build within her.
XENA
(Moaning) Gabrielle.
The warrior woman panted and groaned in glorious delight as she gripped at the grass she partially laid on, her sex on the verge of being pushed past the point of no return by the bard's ever persistent and hungry tongue at any moment.
Hearing the telling change in Xena's voice and breathing, Gabrielle knew that it wouldn't be much longer before the woman was sent over the edge. In response, she began to roll her tongue over the woman's womanhood with more vigor, getting a deep moan from Xena as in result, the warrior was pushed closer toward her climax and in turn began to move herself against the blonde woman's mouth. But getting a thrill of being in control like this and wanting the bucking woman to remain still, Gabrielle wrapped her legs around the warrior to hold her in place as her tongue continued to forge into the brunette's core, pushing her ever closer to her jubilant peak.
The tingling pressure continuing to build within her depths, the warrior woman clawed at the earth as she grunted and groaned for Gabrielle not to stop her oral onslaught that threatened to completely overtake her at any moment. Her impassioned shouts rang through the air as the blonde woman's tongue repeatedly snaked up and down her folds before at last with one more lash over the warrior's center, Xena threw her head back and cried out in an earth-shaking, rhapsodic shout as her body went rigid, and she came, feeling a rush of tingling heat flood through her core. She trembled with each additional pass of the bard's tongue over her hypersensitive flesh, before lowering her head to rest on a pillow of grass in front of her, as she let the heavenly waves of enraptured ecstasy sweep her away.
A few moments later, Gabrielle ceased her oral attention to the warrior's still slightly overly sensitive womanly core and untangled her legs from around the woman, who sighed contently as she turned to her side to look at the bard with a satisfying smirk.
XENA
Well, that was different.
(Joking) If I had known those little works of art from that temple were gonna do this, we would've gone there sooner.
Gabrielle chuckled, kissing the other woman as she put her hands on Xena's shoulder's.
GABRIELLE
(Seductive tone) Well lucky for you there's plenty more where that came from.
With that, in almost an instant, Xena was laying on her back as she watched Gabrielle stand and hastily strip off her underwear. The young woman's femininity practically ached with need when she tossed the undergarments aside and maneuvered the dark-haired woman's legs to bend slightly and spread wide as she positioned herself above her.
Standing over Xena, Gabrielle then lowered her avid heat to meet the warrior's and let an intoxicating moan escape her lips as she pressed her sex to the other woman's and began slowly grinding against her. Xena sighed joyfully at both the feeling and sight of the blonde moving over her, their centers gliding against each other.
The bard's hips rocked back and forth, continuing to propel her femininity against Xena's, as the warrior felt her nether lands becoming inflamed with urgent desire yet again. As she lunged forward again and again, Gabrielle bore down harder on the woman, her continuing lust beginning to work her into a frenzy.
GABRIELLE
(Sensual tone/ moaning) Oh gods, yes.
The blonde lurched against Xena over and over, panting loudly as the sweet, tantalizing feeling of a pre-euphoric release began to build deep within her feminine treasure once again. While the bard moved, Xena breathed deeply as the persistent friction between both women's centers pushed the warrior closer to the edge of ecstasy once more.
As the thrusting persisted and both the warrior and bard's climax's drew ever closer, Gabrielle's movements soon became more hastened and erratic. The young woman's hips advanced on Xena with great haste, as her desperate need for orgasmic satisfaction had reduced the normally eloquent bard's vocabulary had only erotic grunts and moans, crying out as the river of passion that had been building within her now threatened to flood over and sweep her away at any moment. And with Xena able to feel herself ready to be sent past over the edge of elation as well, it was now an unconscious race to decide who would hit their height of passion first. A race that came to an end just a few glorious moments later as Gabrielle rocked herself against the dark-haired woman with one more enthusiastic thrust, which was all that was needed for the blonde woman's floodgates to burst as she felt her depths rapidly contract and spasm in orgasm as an exquisite high engulfed her.
As Gabrielle's climax took her, the young woman's hips jolted forward onto Xena repeatedly, the sudden harder, spastic moments very quickly brought the warrior to another enraptured release of her own as a shout of pure elation erupted from the very depths of her soul. The two women moaned and twitched for several more moments as Gabrielle slowed her driving hips to slowly rock against the warrior, and the glorious twitching in each of their cores began to subside.
After a little time had passed and the pair felt rested enough to move once again after coming down completely from their sexual highs. Fully dressed once more, Xena casually leaned against a tree as the bard finished tying her short, green top closed.
XENA
You know you never did say just what you were doing back out there on the lake?
The bard casually shrugged.
GABRIELLE
Nothing in particular. Just waiting on you.
XENA
Waiting on me?
GABRIELLE
What?
Realizing what she had mistakenly said, the blonde quickly pretended to suddenly have somewhere else to be.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly nervous tone) You know, we should probably get back to looking for that Mystic Diamond.
The blonde quickly began to walk away, only to have her shirt be grabbed from behind and pulled back toward a now unhappy Xena as a potentially dark realization came to mind after mentally piecing a few things together.
XENA
(Slightly angry tone) Oh no, you're not going anywhere.
The warrior woman stared at Gabrielle intensely as she continued.
XENA
(Slightly angry tone) Now, just what exactly did you mean by "waiting on me?"
The bard looked at the taller woman sheepishly as she realized there was no getting out of telling her the truth.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly nervous tone) Well you see you were so wrapped up in your fishing, I knew you wouldn't willingly get pulled away from it again, so I figured if you saw me in trouble…
The raven-haired warrior scowled as she realized what the young woman had done.
XENA
(Quiet angry tone) So you pretended to be drowning just so you could manipulate me into having sex with you again?!
The bard lowered her eyes, the gravity of what she had done just then sinking in.
GABRIELLE
It's true I was pretending at first, but then things got out of hand, I started to panic, and it all became far too real.
She looked at the warrior, as a remorseful expression filled her eyes.
GABRIELLE
I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you, Xena. I just… This obsession. I don't know how to ignore it or make it stop.
She reached out for the other woman's hand, only to have Xena pull away.
GABRIELLE
Xena I…
XENA
(Quiet angry tone) No. You deliberately manipulated me by putting yourself in danger just to do something you should know I would've done for you if you had only asked. I don't even know what to say to you right now.
The warrior turned to walk away as the bard spoke again.
GABRIELLE
I really am sorry.
Xena looked back over her shoulder at the woman, remembering that this sort of thing was completely out of character for the young woman, and it was only because of the spell put on her that she had done what she had.
XENA
(Sighing) Look, just stay away from the water from now on, okay?
She shook her head in disbelief.
XENA
The sooner we find a way to fix your and Joxer's obsessions, the better. Now come on.
The warrior began making her way back toward the lake.
XENA
Those fish aren't gonna catch themselves.
TO BE CONTINUED…