As day broke, Gabrielle sat looking at a letter she had received a few weeks earlier from someone she knew back in her home village of Potidaea.
?
You worried about your friend?
Hearing the voice, Gabrielle looked up from the paper as Xena stood over her.
GABRIELLE
Kinda. I know it's been awhile since we've seen each other, but when I heard she went missing…
The bard sighed, not knowing what else to say.
XENA
Don't worry, we'll get her back.
The warrior held her hand out toward the other woman, who smiled softly as she took the hand and was pulled to her feet.
XENA
Come on. Let's go find your friend.
Before long, the two mounted Argo and rode off from the field they had been camping in search of any clues that might aid them in finding the bard's missing friend.
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The pair rode for a long while until they found themselves overlooking a large valley, where Xena brought them to a stop to try and gauge which way they should continue.
GABRIELLE
Xena look. There's a group of people down there.
The dark-haired woman's eyes followed where the bard was pointing to see a number of people in dark clothing, and got the mare moving again to bring them in for a closer look.
Once they drew near, the women dismounted and stealthily moved in to hide amongst some bushes that still laid a little ways from the group as they saw several women began to dance to a rhythmic drum beat.
XENA
(Whisper) Do you see your friend?
GABRIELLE
(Whisper) Not yet, but she's gotta be here. These are the people her parents told me about in their letter, I'm sure of it.
The pair continued watching the group for several minutes until the music and dancing stopped and a man in a red robe stepped in front of the group and began to speak.
GABRIELLE
(Whisper) We're too far away. I can't hear what he's saying.
XENA
(Whisper) I can't make it all out…
The warrior woman focused her superhuman hearing as she began to try to decipher what was being said.
XENA
(Whisper) From what I am able to get, it's something about the return of a goddess. He's saying they need to build temples to her, and prepare the way.
Keeping watch for a little longer, they saw another person in a red robe emerge from the group and as the hood the person was wearing fell, Gabrielle gasped as she saw the young woman with short blonde hair.
GABRIELLE
(Whisper) There she is, Xena. That's my friend, Seraphin. But what's she doing?
The bard kept watch as her childhood friend donned a large mask she was handed, then proceeded to ascend a ladder that was leaned up against some sort of cross-like structure. Then, once she was nearly at the top, the young woman turned around to stand facing the others as two other robbed people used long poles to hold her arms in place as the red robed leader took a long spear and pressed it to the woman's chest.
GABRIELLE
No, Seraphin!
Suddenly just as the red robbed man pulled the spear back as he prepared to drive it forward into the young woman's chest, the man saw a quick blur of something fly by in front of him as the head of the spear he was holding fell in front of him.
?
What the…?
Looking at the broken weapon in shock, the man then heard a strange yell and turned around to see Xena running toward him, catching her chakram she had thrown as it came back to her.
Drawing her sword, the warrior woman charged the cloaked group, as they readied their own weapons and went on the attack. Steel clashed as Xena's blade collided with one of the hooded people. Easily shoving them away, she cut down another cloaked person that came at her before throwing her fist into the face of another.
As Xena fought, Gabrielle ran toward her friend.
GABRIELLE
Seraphin!
Hearing her name, the bard's friend turned to see the young woman racing toward her. But before Gabrielle could reach her, a couple of the cloaked people grabbed the young woman and fled to escape Xena from putting a stop to their plans.
GABRIELLE
Seraphin!
XENA
I'll get her.
Running her blade through one of the cloaked strays, Xena hurried after the rest of the group.
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Moving through a series of trees, Xena chased down the cloaked group, slashing and carving her way closer to the man in red. Sinking her sword into one of the men's stomachs, the warrior wrenched her weapon free and let him fall before moving on to catch up with the rest. She ran some distance further in pursuit of the group before coming to a clearing where she came to a dead stop when she was met with the sight of the group's leader standing before her with a river of blood flowing from a deep slit across his throat s an all too familiar face met her with an evil smile.
XENA
Callisto.
Seeing Xena, the evil woman let out an ominous chuckle as she smiled at the warrior and let the man fall to the ground dead before disappearing in a burst of flames with a sadistic laugh.
?
Xena?!
Hearing her name, the warrior looked to see Gabrielle coming toward her and walked over to meet her.
XENA
I'm sorry, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
They got away, didn't they?
XENA
Yeah, but now it looks like dealing with this cult just got far more complicated.
GABRIELLE
I don't get it. What's different about this one than the others we've dealt with?
XENA
Because this time It's not so much the group themselves, as it is who they apparently follow.
Hearing the seriousness in Xena's voice, Gabrielle gave the woman a curious and slightly worried look.
GABRIELLE
Why? Which of the gods do they follow?
XENA
None. From the looks of things, these people are followers of Callisto.
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A little later, Xena checked to make sure everything was secured to Argo's saddle after she and Gabrielle had made a brief stop from traveling for a quick lunch and to give the warrior's mare a break from being ridden.
GABRIELLE
We have to find her, Xena. I've known Seraphin since we were little. I can't believe that she would be a worshiper of Callisto's.
XENA
It's worse than that. She was meant to be a sacrifice.
GABRIELLE
But why? You don't think it's possible for Callisto to actually become as powerful as the other gods, do you? I don't even wanna think about what someone like her could do with that kind of power and influence.
XENA
Yeah, but this sort of thing's not like her.
The warrior thought for a moment as she finished tying the last saddlebag shut and turned to face the bard.
XENA
I don't know what, but she's up to something. But whatever it is, first we gotta find your friend and make sure she's safe.
Then climbing into the saddle, Xena reached down and helped Gabrielle to her spot behind her and with a quick "Ya", Argo began trotting off as they continued their pursuit of the bard's friend.
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XENA
Looks like most of them are heading that way, toward the river.
Xena looked north and stood from her crouched position after inspecting the relatively fresh footprints she had spotted while on the move, as a cold chill suddenly ran down her spine and turned to Gabrielle.
XENA
Gabrielle, I want you to take Argo, go on ahead, and I'll catch up with you.
GABRIELLE
Okay.
The warrior watched as Gabrielle took Argo's reins and led the mare in the direction of the river, and once the bard had disappeared from sight, turned and made her way through the bushes behind her.
XENA
(Irritated tone) How long have you been watching me?
Xena scowled as she saw Ares casually leaning his shoulder against a tree.
ARES
(Sarcasm) What? Don't I at least get a hello before you jump right in with the accusatory tone?
XENA
(Irritated tone) Don't start with me, Ares. What do you want?
The god shrugged with indifference as he idly adjusted one of his black leather wrist guards.
ARES
Well, since you broke up Callisto's little party. It looks like the new kid on the block wants to create her own dynasty. Though. I don't suppose she happened to be wearing a pendant?
Knowing that any time Ares showed up, it typically spelled trouble for her, Xena eyed the god suspiciously for a moment as she tried to figure out what sort of angle he could've been working.
XENA
You mean the hind's blood? No. I heard the story, But if you remember after Callisto killed Strife using the hind's blood dagger, and Hercules forced her through the gate into that other world.
ARES
Exactly.
The god moved to stand right in front of the warrior woman.
ARES
So what I want to know is, how she got back through that gate.
Xena shrugged.
XENA
She's a goddess. How long would it have taken you?
ARES
Fair point. Still, it's a good thing she didn't have it on her because…
XENA
Now, she can't use it on you.
ARES
Or against any other god.
Xena shrugged, her well known distaste for the gods evident by her overall demeanor. Which brought a scowl to the god's face.
ARES
This is serious, Xena. Callisto didn't come back for a few temples. She wants it all. And with the power she has, you're gonna need an ally. I was thinking maybe we can…
The god reached out and lightly ran his fingers along Xena's arm as he continued to speak.
ARES
…come up with some arrangement.
Unamused, the woman smacked his hand away.
XENA
Forget it. I'm not interested in you or your petty revenge.
Ares scowled, not liking the response he was given.
ARES
(Irritated tone) Callisto is not a true god. She was mortal. She has no respect for any of us real gods.
XENA
(Sarcasm) Huh, and to think that'd be something I'm actually fine with Callisto and I having in common.
ARES
(Irritated tone) Yeah, well make your jokes while you still can, Xena. We'll see just how amusing you still think this all is when all she brings about is destruction. And when she gets an army of worshippers, conquers the world, what then?
Tired of both the conversation and Ares alike, Xena turned her back to the god as she prepared to walk away and gave a reply that the god did not appreciate at all.
XENA
Then she's coming after you.
TO BE CONTINUED…