Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices. NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without the author's consent.
DISCLAIMER: I believe Xena and Gabrielle are the sweetest of lovers and have been almost since they met, so I write them that way. If you really hate this idea or are under 18, go find some Gen-Fanfic to read, there are plenty of really good ones out there. The rest of you settle in and (hopefully) enjoy.
SPOILERS: There are many for all seasons of the show.
VIOLENCE DISCLAIMER: There are some descriptions of the extreme violence of bloody sword-to-sword combat.
SEXUAL DISCLAIMER: Nothing much, but the gals are referred to as soulmates and lovers.
Send comments burnt or lightly under-done to: belobris@aol.com
Note: This story contains a little creepiness for Halloween. It takes place after FIN, when Xena is still a ghost at Gabrielle’s side.

Hunger Hunting
By WLMcCord (Bill the Semi Bard) copyright October, 2001

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Once again, it was time! The roiling hunger would no longer be denied. It was time to seek out, over power and feed. From the small damp place where it had lain, the ravenous essence flowed up and out to roam once more. Swiftly through the forest it sped, sensing here and there, eager for the warm, humid scent of a victim.

THERE! At the extreme edge of its perception, it sensed the waiting and compliant prey. Swiftly it flowed, hugging the ground until it came to a copse of bushes beyond which showed the flickering light of a campfire. Cautious now, not wishing to frighten the hunted into flight, it edged silently through the leaves until the campsite was revealed. With hollow eyes it studied the scene before it, and edged out its perception to cover and take in every nuance and wrinkle of the soon to be victims essence.

There was a single bedroll, upon which a young woman sat by the light of the campfire. She was dressed in a short green top, short brown skirt and boots. A brown horse quietly cropped grass nearby. The small woman on the bedroll was beautiful; with short blond hair and green eyes. She was scribing words with a quill pen on a scroll of animal hide. Her lip was turned up at one corner with the tip of a pink tongue just showing as she concentrated on what she was writing. She was totally unaware of the hunger that lurked beyond the circle of firelight.

She was perfect! Yes, she would satiate the hunger nicely. Now. closer, closer. Reach out. Taste the feelings. The rich succulent thoughts that went round and round … ah! That one! Textured. Fully rendered. Thick with feelings and recollections. Yes. It would do nicely…

Gabrielle, the bard of Poteidaia, scribbled hastily on the scroll. She wrote a line, then another. She crossed out a word, then replaced it. Did that work? Yes, it might. How about…

Her thoughts were shattered by a voice and clinking sounds. “Hey, Gabby! Whatcha doin’?”

With a soft moan she looked up to see the pale young man approaching. He wore mismatched armor pieces and a stupid grin. “Joxer.” She grunted with annoyance. “Hi…”

The pasty-faced man squatted beside her. He took off a helmet which consisted of equal parts of metal, basket weave and rust, and ran a hand over his dark and disordered hair. “Hi! Yer writin’, huh?”

“No. I’m sharpening my katana!” She said tartly, then sighed. “Look, can you be quiet? I’m really trying to finish something here…”

The man said, “Well, um, I had a question, an I really wanted an answer, ya know?”

Gabrielle pressed a hand to her forehead, pushed her long reddish bangs back then sighed again. “Okay, okay. What is it?”

“Well, um,” the man’s pasty face became red. “Ya remember when we were swingin’ through the trees, you know, when I thought I was Addis the Apeman?”

“How could I forget?” Groaned the bard. “Thanks so much for reminding me.”

“Yer welcome,” he simpered, then looked at her intently. He said nothing, but just stared.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. “And?” She prompted.

“And what?” He said blankly, staring at her.

Silently the petite woman closed her eyes and counted to ten, first in Greek, then again in Chin dialect for good measure. She opened them again and said, “So we were swinging through the trees…?”

“We were? Oh, yeah, we were! Anyway, you remember when I was wearin’ yer pink nightie an we were making, you know, Zug-zug?”

“JOXER!!” The young woman gasped, turning beet red. “We were NOT … we didn’t … we never…” Words seemed to fail her and she choked. “What the HECK do you want?”

The young man’s silly simper faded and he took her by the arms, staring deep and intently into her wide green eyes. His voice deepened and filled out. “I want YOU, Gabrielle. I want to pleasure you and hear you groan as I give you orgasms beyond counting. I love you! I NEED you!” He brought his open mouth down on the bard’s and his tongue roved deep between her lips as he laid her back...

With a bubbling scream, Gabrielle flew panting and naked out of her bedroll. She dashed for the waterskin and took a mouthful, swirled it around and spat it out. Hastily she dug into her camp supplies and pulled out a small bag and tore it open. A strong smell of mint swirled around her. She shook some of the dried contents into her hand, popped them into her mouth, and began chewing vigorously.

“Gabrielle! What’s wrong?” The voice startled her into a spin around with wild eyes. When she saw Xena’s ghost shimmering into view, she sank to her knees, still chewing the mint leaves.

“Xena! By the gods, am I glad you’re here.” The bard spat out the leaves took another swig of water, rinsed and gargled. Then did so again. Taking a deep breath, the small naked woman staggered back to her bedroll and collapsed onto it gratefully as her ghostly friend slowly became fully solid. Shivering a bit, Gabrielle pulled the blanket over her shoulders.

The warrior ghost approached her friend and squatted next to her with a sympathetic smile. “Didja have a bad dream, honey?”

“A NIGHTMARE, is more like it!” Gabrielle shuddered all over violently. “I dreamed that Joxer and I were … were … Eewwwww!”

“You and Joxer?” The warrior ghost grinned. “Eww is right. I guess that WOULD be a nightmare, huh?”

“No SHIT,” the bard grumbled. “Look, stupid as he was, I loved Joxer like a brother. But to wanna make love with him? No way!”

“Well, dreams can’t hurt you…” the warrior ghost said with reassurance. She moved behind her small friend and began massaging her tense shoulders. “Wow. You are tight. Musta been a bad one. Vivid was it?” “Vivid!! You bet yer sweet…” the bard choked and breathed deep to calm herself and leaned into the ghosts comforting hands. When she was more relaxed, she went on. “It was so REAL, Xena it’s like he really was there. Kissing me with his tongue, touching … ikk.”

“Well, its been a long ride from where we left the ship from Japa,” the warrior ghost said. “All this cross country travel is kinda stressful at times. Maybe we shouldn’t have tried to cut through Annatolia to get back to Greece. Maybe we shoulda gone straight for the Land of the Pharaohs.”

“Yeah, but remember we wanted to get back to Greece to pick up Argo’s daughter first,” Gabrielle argued.

“Sure, I know. It’s just made the trip longer is all,” said the warrior. “It means nothing to me. I don’t get tired since I’m a ghost. It makes it hard on you, is all. There, is that better? You feel less tense now.” The blond blinked sleepily. “Yeah, you’ve relaxed me pretty well.” She yawned widely. “Course I felt pretty tired anyway…”

Xena grinned. “I guess so. You oughta get some more rest, there’s still lots of time before daylight.”

“Thanks, sweetheart,” The bard smiled, kissing the solid ghost gently before snuggling down into her blankets once more. “I’m sure I’ll sleep well now.”

“I’ll be here guarding you, my dear one, never fear.”

“I won’t…” Gabrielle yawned again. She closed her eyes and pulled the blanket snug around her shoulders. “Thanks, honey…”

“No charge,” smiled the ghost tenderly as she faded out of sight. “Good night.”

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A mistake had been made. The wrong subject picked and the prey had fled. Now the hunger was growing. Only a taste had been obtained, but it was sweet and succulent. Soon she would return and the feeding could begin again. Still many hours before the hateful light returned. Patience; be calm; soon enough will come satiation. The prey was tired; she could not flee forever… AH! There she was! In a softly lit room in which she waited, sitting on a bed with flowers in her hair.

Sending out the feelers of its essence, the hunger probed cautiously. A deep textured thought of a time fraught with meaning and emotion. Yessss. Perfect! This would do nicely. The draining could begin anew. Slowly the stalking began…

Gabrielle sighed as she sat on the bed in her brown peasant skirt, blue long-sleeved blouse and boots. She smelled the bouquet of flowers that Xena had given her. This should have been you I am waiting for instead of him, sweetheart, but I’ve made my bed. She grimaced. Now it’s time to lie in it.

Her thoughts went spinning around. He’s a good man; I’ll love him and bear our children, because that’s what a woman is supposed to do. I couldn’t wander on the trail with you, forever… oh, but I would have. I wanted to! If you had said one word, given me one look when I told you I was gonna marry him. But you didn’t. Oh, Xena, my love, I would have married YOU in a heartbeat. But … children? I wanted them, but how could we have them? She sighed as the door to the warm candle lit room opened and Perdicus came in, with a silly grin plastered on his face.

He was dressed in white and staggered slightly as he came slowly to her side and knelt before her. Gabrielle could smell the strong drink on his breath. Great; he’s been out with the boys. Hope he can perform … or do I? Yes I do! How am I gonna get a baby if he doesn’t?

“G-Gabrielle. Honey…” he grinned stupidly as he fumbled with the ties of his trousers. “I got somethin’ for youuuu…”

The bard was dismayed. Is this his idea of foreplay? She remembered the old joke Xena had told her once about the old man whose foreplay with his wife was three words. “Honey, BRACE yerself!” She had laughed at the time; now it didn’t seem so funny.

She remembered how Xena had always been so sweet and taken so long kissing and caressing her. Stoking the want and need higher and higher till she thought she was flying with angels. Easy ‘Brielle, maybe he’ll be gentle. This is your wedding night. He’s been a soldier, used to finding his pleasure the god’s only know where. Don’t expect instant miracles. Surely he’s trainable.

Perdicus was now standing with no pants on, his manhood waving and erect before her. Oh Geeze, that’s nice, Gabrielle thought, disgusted. A red, five-inch long bell pepper; what a turn-on. NOT! She attempted a loving smile, but knew it was a parody of her normal smile of affection. Then she realized she needn’t have bothered. He didn’t even notice as he pulled his shirt off and was naked before her as his grin turned lecherous.

Her husband of four hours took her hands and pulled her up beside him. He began kissing her roughly, probing with his tongue and the wine and ale on his breath was enough to sicken her. As she was trying to cope with this invasion, she suddenly she felt cool air between her legs as he hiked her brown skirt up.

“Wait,” she said in a muffled voice past his crushing lips. She pushed against him and he stagged back. “I said, WAIT!”

Drunkenly, Perdicus stood there swaying. He looked belligerent. “Whattaya mean, wait? Get’cher clothes off. Lets GO!”

Gamely trying to be reasonable, Gabrielle pleaded, “Honey, let’s take a little time…”

He said a foul word and continued, “…take a l’il time! The guys said you’d be a prude. L’il girl from the village! Whaddye I expect?” As she stared at him in disbelief and hurt, he softened his tone a bit as he wheedled, “Aw, com’on Gabby-baby, once you get into it, you’ll love it!” Her lip trembled. “Y-You’re drunk, Perdicus. Our f-first time shouldn’t be this way…”

“Drunk my ass,” he shouted. “I never had any trouble when I was drunk before! Yer my wife, now, so com’mere!” He grabbed her and threw her onto the bed and leaped onto her. The pain of his landing almost knocked the wind out of her. Without even thinking about it, Gabrielle brought her knee up hard between his legs, and rolled him off onto the floor as he screamed in torment. Then she pulled him by the hair scrabbling drunken across the floor and kicked him out the door. She threw his pants after him.

“Stay out until you can act like a human being,” she shouted. She slammed and bolted the door, then put her back against it. After a moment she heard him beating on it and held her back against the vibrating surface. Finally the thumping stopped and she dared hope he had left.

Then raw with fury, his muffled voice shouted. “Gabrielle! Lemme in! This is my house! We’re MARRIED, dammit!”

“I don’t care if we are married! Don’t you DARE come back until you’re sober, you pig!” Gabrielle screamed back through the door.

“I’ll come back any way I damn well please! If you won’t lemme in, I know plenny other women who will!” There was silence for a moment. “Gabrielle…?” He said. His voice was wheedling.

“Go away,” she sobbed. “Just go away!” Tensely she listened to his muffled curse as his footsteps staggered off. When it was clear he was gone, the petite woman slid down the door to the floor, sobbing as if her heart was broken. “Xena, oh, Xena…” she moaned as the tears flooded down her cheeks and got all over her yellow top from India. “What have I done to us; to you…”

Someone was shaking her. “Gabrielle. Honey. Sweetheart. Wake up.”

“What have I done,” the naked bard sobbed, tears running from her closed eyes. “Oh, Xena, what have I done…”

“Come on, Gabrielle. Wake up. Come on, you’re having a nightmare. Wake up…”

“X-Xena?” The blond’s wet green eyes flew open. She found her friend shaking her gently; there was a concerned look on her face. The bard swallowed. “By the gods… it-it was a d-dream?”

“Yeah,” the solid ghost said grimly. She hugged her tight. “Musta been an intense one. I’ve been trying to get you to wake up for several minutes. Are you all right?” Her hands stroked Gabrielle’s back with soothing motions.

“Y-Yeah, I guess so…” The blond murmured into her soulmates leather clad chest. “Damn it was so … so REAL. Taste, smells, touch, pain.”

Xena’s hands stopped for a moment, then continued moving. “Describe the dream,” she suggested.

Gabrielle hesitated, then began. “Well, in the dream I-I was just married, you know, to Perdicus?”

The warrior ghost felt a twinge inside, brought on by a painful memory of the time when she thought she had lost her soulmate forever, but she kept her expression bland. Her voice was kindly. “Sure, I remember. Go on…”

The petite blond pulled the blanket over her shoulders, then went through the whole dream sequence as she remembered it, and found herself bewildered at how much she could recall. She told the entire dream with great detail, finally coming to the end where she was sobbing at the door. “But Xena, it wasn’t like that with him … Perdicus was really sweet that night. Not like in this … this nightmare … but it was so REAL, every detail was there, even though some of them were wrong, like at first I was wearing my blue blouse and brown dress, but later I had on my yellow sari top from India. I could even feel the coarseness of the material against me. Like in the dream about Joxer…” she yawned widely, blinked and then continued. “Sorry, I really feel tired ... where was I? Oh yeah, I was wearing my old green top and brown skirt, but I talked about the katana I got in Japa. It was strange.”

“Hmmm.” The warrior ghost looked uneasy. She gazed around the circle of light thrown by the campfire, and then back at her friend.

“What is it, Xena?” The small woman stared at her friend. “It WAS just a dream, right?”

“I don’t know, Gabrielle.” The ghost looked serious. “Have you heard stories of Incubi?”

The bard nodded, blushing slightly. “Incubi and succubi. They are supposed to be intangible spirits that come to men or women in the night and, um, make love to them. Their victims are said to awaken in the morning, more tired than they went to sleep, but, ahem, satisfied.” Her expression was worried. “D-Do you think that’s what this is…”

“No,” the ghost shook her head. “If that’s what it was, being the way I am, I think I’d be able to see it. This may be something similar, though. Some creature that invades the dreams of its victim’s and drains their energy or emotions.”

Gabrielle yawned again. “Well, that’s no problem. I’ll just stay awake then…” As she spoke, her eyes closed and her head nodded forward. She caught herself and blinked rapidly. “S-Sorry … I c-can hardly keep my eyes open.”

Xena spoke worriedly. “I don’t think you are gonna be ABLE to stay awake, honey. I think this thing has drained your strength enough already that you are gonna fall asleep whether you want to or not.” “C-Can’t you wake me up?” The bard yawned.

The warrior ghost bit her lip. “I don’t think I am gonna be ABLE to wake you up. This time was hard enough…”

“Wh-What can I … do?” The bard blinked rapidly and then shook her head back and forth vigorously.

“Gabrielle, I have only one suggestion,” the ghost said. “When you are in the dream, defend yourself. Fight back! It’s a dream. Your dream! Make it work for YOU!””

She looked at her friend. The bard’s head was down and her eyes were closed. “Gabrielle? Didja hear me?” Desperately the ghost shook her friend. “Gabrielle! Wake UP!” The bard merely blinked a little and muttered in her sleep. Tenderly the ghost held her sleeping friend to her. “I’ll be right here,” she whispered. “I’ll do whatever I can, but this is YOUR fight, Gabrielle. You’re tough and strong and smart and I have faith in you. Now WIN the battle and come back to me!”

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The prey was stronger of will than could have been imagined, but that would only serve to make the victory sweeter. More than a taste of her essence had been obtained this time and soon she would have to rest. When she did, the feeding could commence anew. Still enough time remained before dawn to drain her completely. Excitement of the hunt filled all of its being. Patience … patience.

YES! There she was. Ohhhh, this WAS perfect. There was no way that the prey could slip this noose. Not this time. This time she would go down and stay down, never to arise again and the hunger would be gone for many nights until the next feeding time approached.

Now, let the hunt be ended.

Dressed in her green top and brown skirt, Gabrielle was holding hands in the circle of chanting worshipers around the altar. The stone walls of the temple echoed with their glad cries and melodic voices. She felt calm, relaxed and happy. Excited even. Eagerly she awaited to see what wonder would appear. She felt a squeeze of her hand, and glanced happily up at Khrafstar. The high priest of the one god smiled down at her and she smiled back shyly, blushing faintly.

They looked back at Meridian at the altar as she chanted and then Khrafstar whispered in puzzled tones, “They’ve changed the ritual quite a lot…”

Before Gabrielle could react, suddenly everything seemed to go crazy. Meridian produced an ugly curved knife, and the other no longer smiling priests seized her and Khrafstar. The melodic chanting took on an ugly tone as they threw the high priest onto the altar and the priestess prepared to sacrifice him in the name of something called Dahak. “Dahak is not the one god!” He screamed as they tied him down. “Gabrielle!!”

Somehow the bard broke loose form the men holding her and knocked Meridian away. She seized the sacrificial dagger and began to cut the ropes on Khrafstar’s wrists. Then the still bound priest screamed a warning and the petite blond spun around to see Meridian raising a sword to strike her. There was only one thing to do and the bard did it. Before she could even think, Gabrielle had driven the dagger into the priestesses’ abdomen.

With a smile of victory, Meridian collapsed dying across the altar, her blood running over the stone. Now Khrafstar arose as the bard stared in horror at the bloody dagger in her hand. “Thank you, Gabrielle, for the loss of your innocence in bringing Dahak into the world,” he chuckled as she began to scream and sob wildly in guilt and loss.

Now somehow the altar stone exploded and Gabrielle rolled on the floor as sheets of fire licked out from the hole where it had stood. A flaming hand, which somehow felt cold, grabbed her ankle and began to drag her towards the remains of the altar while Khrafstar laughed.

“Now you and Dahak will consummate your loss of innocence and you will bear his seed, which shall spring forth as his daughter to bring ruin when she opens the gate for him to enter our world!”

“No! Noooooo!” She sobbed, clawing at the ground as she tried to prevent the merciless flaming hand from dragging her towards the fiery hole.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Holding her friend, Xena listened helplessly as her soulmate moaned and stirred restlessly in her sleep. She had felt the onslaught of the nightmare when it had begun, and from the bards gasps and murmurs, she knew what it was her friend was dreaming about. Britannia! The killing of Meridian. Khrafstar’s betrayal. The coming of Dahak! Damn it! She hasn’t had that dream in years. Whatever this creature is, it knows what one of the worst times of Gabrielle’s life was, and has immersed her in it, to feed on her suffering. Only this time I’m not there to save her from falling into the fire pit at the last minute.

Xena knew that for the bard, this was the nightmare to end all nightmares. The time of the loss of her blood innocence and where her evil daughter Hope had been conceived. She felt the small woman’s skin getting cool against her and her struggles were growing more and more feeble.

Desperately, Xena shook her as the bard muttered in her arms and tears ran down her face from her closed eyes. “Wake up, Gabrielle! Wake UP!” The solid ghost’s face was like stone as she held her trembling friend. “Please, Gabrielle! PLEASE! Fight it, honey! FIGHT IT!”

“Dahak!” The sleeping bard moaned, tears running down her cheeks. “No, no, noooo! I killed Meridian, and now I’ve lost myself!”

“Gabrielle!” Back and forth, Xena viciously slapped her friend’s tear-filled face. “It’s YOUR dream, Gabrielle! YOURS! You can wake UP!”

At the slaps, the petite woman blinked suddenly. “X-Xena…?” She muttered, eyes still closed. “Whazzamatter…”

The ghost screamed into her soulmate’s face. “GABRIELLE! This is the last chance! You are not the little innocent bard anymore! You are a warrior! Fight back! Cause whatever you need to use, to appear and FIGHT back!”

Her friend’s eyes remained closed and her muttering grew weaker as the desperate warrior shook and yelled at her hopelessly.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Gabrielle screamed as she was being pulled towards the flaming altar and Khrafstar, who had somehow become a demon, laughed at her plight. Suddenly she seemed to hear faint words echoing down from somewhere far above her. The words seemed to cut across all the other noises. From Khrafstar’s laughing, to her own screams. Even across the roaring hiss of Dahak’s fiery voice from the altar pit.

“Gabrielle … you are not a little innocent any more. You are a warrior … whatever you need to use … fight … back!”

“Whatever I need to use?” The words puzzled the bard and suddenly everything seemed to jerk to a stop. She saw Khrafstar seemingly suspended in time with his mouth open in a laugh. She looked back at the altar pit and the flames seemed like a frozen explosion of red/orange water. It was all too strange.

I’m a ... warrior? She thought in confusion. No, I’m just a little bard. Xena is the warrior half of this team, isn’t she? She looked down at her stretched out body, dressed in the old green top, brown skirt and boots. This isn’t what I wear now, is it? Or is it? Where’s my staff?

Wait a minute. I-I threw it into the river in India. It was all burned and I was following the path of peace and didn’t want it any more. So I should be wearing the yellow sari, right? She looked down and saw that she was wearing the yellow outfit, complete with orange chola and mendhi art on her hands. No, wait. I lost this stuff when we went to our crucifixions, didn’t I? Oh, okay, so I must be wearing the brown leather and have my sai’s. As she watched, she was obligingly dressed in the braided brown leather top and skirt. Now that’s pretty neat! In spite of herself, she giggled. Automatic wardrobe switching! A gal could get used to this. Hmm, that’s not right either, though. Don’t I wear the red top and bottom now? Hey, there ya go! Now dressed in the red outfit, she stood up and effortlessly pulled her leg from the frozen fiery hand at the altar. She looked at the open mouthed Khrafstar standing like a statue and grimaced.

“I always wished I could have been the one to kick your butt instead of Xena doing it,” she growled. “You were the cause of that whole damn Britannia thing to begin with, along with Meridian and Dahak and ultimately, with my poor Hope. By the gods, I’d LOVE to be able to slap you upside the head with my katana.”

Suddenly she was dressed in the coat, blue pants and boots from Japa and the katana was in her hand. At her side hung the deadly gleaming shape of the chakram. Oh, yeah! She grinned feeling her nose crinkle, and swung the curved sword around effortlessly. That WOULD be a kick! Now if only you could move, she thought looking at the demon. As if in answer to a wish, Khrafstar suddenly blinked and twitched a clawed hand with a large sword in it.

Gabrielle’s expression was wolfish as she poised herself with the katana. “Ready when you are, you bastard!” With a scream of rage, the demon suddenly unfroze and leapt forward swinging the sword. The warrior bard sidestepped with ease and brought the katana down across his neck as his swing took him past her and his blood spurting body spilled to the floor as his head rolled away into a corner.

The bard felt an immense satisfaction that seemed to fill a space that had been empty for so long that she had forgotten it was there. Oh, by the gods! That was GOOD, she grinned. Now, for Dahak! She spun to the fiery altar, but it wasn’t there. Instead, the temple and altar were gone and a wispy, half-seen humanoid form with glowing red eyes hovered there with gloom behind it.

Gabrielle gazed at the half-seen figure. “So, I’m guessing you’re the Incubi,” she said at last. “Not much to you for such a scary critter, is there?”

A raspy voice that reminded her of insects wings rubbing together came from the form. “Incubi … succubi … I am neither. I am … what I am.” “Uh, huh. That’s profound.” The bard grunted. “If I’m supposed to be scared, yer missing the mark.”

The form wavered, and suddenly a pasty-faced young man in mismatched rusty armor stood there, wearing a vacuous grin. “Hey, Gabby,” he simpered.

“Now, looking like Joxer? THAT,” Gabrielle said wryly, “is scary all right.”

The form wavered again, and Julius Caesar stood there. “You will feed me, for you are the prey to be hunted and eaten, nothing more.”

“I don’t THINK so,” the bard’s voice was grim. “But you can come over here and I’ll feed you THIS.” She hefted the katana.

Caesar waved a hand and ten men in the helmets and armor of Roman soldiers suddenly appeared. “Take her and bring her to me,” he commanded imperiously.

With a roar the men charged her with swords swinging, and Gabrielle was suddenly in the middle of a fight for her life. She darted here and there among them, the katana licking out. She gutted a man, beheaded another, exchanged sword clashes with yet another. She leaped in the air into a split kick, her booted feet smashing two men backwards into others. She killed two more, but took a sword blow in the side that knocked her staggering with the grating torment. Two men attacked her and she grimly slashed the bloody katana across one man’s throat and down into the others groin.

All the men were down, either dead or wounded and breathing hard, the petite woman felt her side. The hand came back bloody and she hissed at the pain. “Come on,” she gasped. “Fight me yourself, coward!”

Caesar laughed. “I only hunt. I never fight for my food, you fool. I always get others for that task!” He waved a hand and ten more Roman soldiers appeared with swords raised. But before the emperor could order them to charge, Gabrielle snatched the chakram and hurled it at the man in the middle. Panicked, he blocked the blow with his sword. When the chakram struck his sword blade, it smashed the weapon back into his own face and he fell with a scream. Further, as it struck the chakram split into its two sections and each section whined off to slice across the throats of each of the other men before both bounced off some other surface and sped back to the bard. Meeting above her head, they joined again and she snatched the whole chakram out of the air.

Caesar covered a yawn with his hand. “Oh, well. There’s always more where those came from.” He waved his hand and yet another ten Roman soldiers appeared. “You’ll get tired eventually,” he smirked. “And then I’ll feast.” The ten soldiers looked at him for orders. “Bring her to me,” he commanded.

As she wearily crouched to face their charge, Gabrielle felt the wound grinding in her side and hope began to leave her. He’s right. No matter how many I kill, he’ll just bring more. I can’t win! “Gods, what a nightmare!” She said hopelessly. Then the bard stopped as what she had just said crashed into her mind. Wait a minute! NIGHTMARE? This IS a nightmare! MY nightmare!

The first Roman had reached her and was starting his sword in a downward swing, when the bard straightened up, her face serene. “No.” She said quietly. “This is MY dream. And you are NOT in it. None of you are.” The charging men were gone without a sound or gesture. And the bodies on the ground were gone as well.

“I am not hurt. This is only a dream,” she said looking at her side. The wound and pain faded away as if they had never been and even the blood was gone from her clothing. Gabrielle smiled grimly as she looked at Caesar, who was now staring at her. “You, however, are another matter. You do exist somewhere, but you’ve made a mistake this time. This is MY dream-space you are in … and I didn’t invite you.”

Caesar’s face was suddenly filled with panic, and he turned as if to run.

“Stop.” Gabrielle whispered and chains suddenly held down the emperor. He struggled and tried to move, but the chains held him securely.

“Whatever you are, you have no power to hurt me or feed off me unless I give it to you, do you?” She said wonderingly.

The emperor was suddenly her sister, weighed down by chains. “Gab. Please. It’s me; Lila.” She sobbed. “Let me go. I-I’ll even give back your doll.”

“You know about that doll I gave Lila when we were lost in the snow?” Gabrielle was shocked. “By the gods. You know everything about me, don’t you?”

“I know you are good and kind,” her sister cried. “You were the best big sister ever and I never had enough time with you after you left with Xena. Now I’m almost fifty years old, I lost mom and dad and my husband and daughter. I don’t have much time left; please free me so we can spend it together.”

“NO! Y-You’re not Lila!” The bard felt the color drain from her face. “Stop trying to trick me!”

Xena’s daughter Eve pleaded with her from the tangle of chains. “Gabrielle, I’m not trying to trick you. I can be anyone you want. Please let me go, I need to spread Eli’s word. Y-You helped raise me. If you will only let me go, I promise I won’t ever bother you or mom again.”

The bard’s face went grim and her voice was harsh. “Even if you keep that promise. What of the others you will torment and maybe even kill when you feed?”

“B-But I must eat,” Eli stood there in chains. “Even YOU eat! Remember my path of Love, Gabrielle? You stopped following it, but I forgive you. Now’s your chance to begin again. Release me. PLEASE.”

Numbly Gabrielle shook her head. “No. You must never be allowed to hunt again. You didn’t need to come back to me and try to drain me dry, but you did. You cannot be trusted.”

“Wh-What will you do to me?” He whispered.

A small wooden box shimmered into view between them. The lid opened. “I will imprison you,” the bard said grimly. “That’s the only way I can be sure you won’t hunt again.”

A small woman in a green top and short brown skirt and boots stood in the chains. Her eyes were emerald green and her hair was long and golden blond. Tears ran down her cheeks. “It won’t matter if you imprison me, mother. Someday when you die, I’ll be free anyway … but I will suffer all that time. My own hunger will devour me alive. I loved you, mommy, even though you killed me three times. I know you love me. Please don’t do that to your own daughter.”

“H-Hope…” Gabrielle’s voice trembled. Then she shook herself. “No. Whatever you are, you are not my daughter. I cannot answer for what will happen beyond my life, but I can make sure you don’t harm any more people while I am alive.”

“Oh, Gabrielle,” blue eyes full of tears stared at her from the chains, and Xena sobbed, “It was a mistake, honey. I’ll never do it again. With your help, I can change. You KNOW I can! I’m not evil any more! Please, please, my DEAR one. Don’t do this…”

The words from the thing who looked like her lover hammered her and the bard swallowed. “I’d rather have YOU on my conscience, than all the others you will hurt if I let you go.” She made a closed hand gesture and Xena began to shrink and was rapidly pulled toward the box. Xena sobbed and struggled as she grew smaller and smaller and was pulled inside of it. “No, no, noooo. I love you! Please, Gabrielle, PLEASSSSEEEE! I … love … youuuu…” The box closed and then vanished like smoke and she was gone.

Gabrielle awoke in her bedroll by the campfire, sobbing violently in Xena’s arms.

“Oh, my dear one! You made it! You’re back!” The solid warrior ghost kissed her cheeks and face and dripped her own tears on her soulmate. Gabrielle stared at her friend for a long moment, then pushed herself tightly against her. They hugged for long moments, just sobbing in joy together. Finally, Gabrielle sat up and looked around. Dawn was beginning to show faintly through the trees and the morning chorus of birds was in full voice. The night was ending and it looked to be the beginning of a beautiful day.

The bard cleared her throat. “It’s been a long night,”

“One of the longest,” the ghost agreed. Then she spoke softly. “I-I was afraid I’d lost you, sweetheart.” She looked down. “Gods, I wish I coulda been more help. I felt so … so useless.”

“You weren’t useless,” Gabrielle assured her. “It was you that brought me back with your words, sweetheart.” Her eyes shone with love. “Your words finally showed me how to save myself.”

Xena smiled. “So, what happened? What did you do to the whatchacallit? How did you win?”

Gabrielle stood up naked on the bedroll and reached for her red top, sniffed it and pulled it on. “Phewww! Gonna have to wash this soon. Well, to begin with, I learned I still have a LOT of life’s leftover baggage piled around inside me. Regrets and sorrows throughout my life that I still haven’t dealt with,” she shook her head. “And someday I’m gonna have to.” She pulled on her skirt and stepped into her boots. “But with you at my side, sweetheart, I honestly think I have a fighting chance.”

“Thanks, honey,” the warrior ghost said warmly. “You know I’ll always be here. So, what did you do to the whatchacallit?”

“Ya know, I’m starving,” the bard grinned as she gathered up the bedroll and her weapons and kicked apart the coals of the fire. “D’ya think there’s a village nearby where we could get breakfast? I swear I’m as hungry as a pregnant she-wolf!”

“Probably,” Xena said as she followed the bard to the brown horse and watched her saddle it and swing aboard. “But what didja do to th…”

Gabrielle clicked her tongue at the horse and it started off at a walk. “D’ya think they’ll have spinach cheese pie? It’s been so long since I tasted that. All this foreign food; I get kinda tired of it, ya know?” Xena went into Partial Fade and floated along, following the horse as they passed out of view into some trees. “Yeah? You should try bein’ like me. I can’t even eat! Think YOU miss the taste of food?”

The clearing was empty, but the voices of the two friends floated back. “Oh, sorry, Xena. I forgot.”

“S’all right, doesn’t matter. But tell me, what didja do to th…”

“Just look at that sunrise, Xena. Oh, what a beautiful morning, don’t you think?”

“Gabrielllle!”

Somewhere in other small damp spaces that reeked of gloom, other hunters returned satiated from the chase, to sleep until the pangs of hunger aroused them. When that time came, the hunt to feed would begin anew. But for now, the hunters would rest and the dreams of the unsuspecting prey would be peaceful and undisturbed. Until the chase began again...

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