"By the gods," Gabrielle said.
It was hours since Hercules left. Gabrielle yawned tossing another piece of wood into hungry flames. All was quiet save Gabrielle's gut panging for the last three meals she had missed. The winds had stopped! Looking around the cabin, she spied a small window glowing with moonbeams. She strolling over, rubbing goosebumps from her arms, then gazed outside.
Virgin snow dunes of Royal blue covered a small clearing to a column of pine trees. The recent snow added a half-foot, not enough to stop Hercules. Over the crest of a jagged cliff, Gabrielle spied a half- moon. It was large like the springtime evening, she met Autolycus. He was handsome and infinitely charming.
Gabrielle glanced to Xena sleeping on the floor. "I know you like him."
Small snowflakes feathered past the window pane. The fireplace snapped and crackled while the half-moon hide behind a limpid cloud. Gabrielle struggled to keep her eyes open.
"Where are you," she said.
The room progressively got darker. With a gaping yawn, Gabrielle leaked a tear. Just a moment, she thought, and closed her eyes. Her head knocked against the cabin wall. Large tracks plowed a path across the backyard. Gabrielle snapped to attention.
By a boulder, a moving shadow kept low to the ground. It was massive in length and very fast. She kept watching. Three glowing opals rose from the creature as it abruptly stopped. Gabrielle ducked then crawled to Xena and the sleeping child. An ominous grown bellowed outside the door.
"Xena?"
Gabrielle gazed at Xena, breathing so shallow then the dwindling fire. She tossed several pieces of wood and kept eyeing the glowing window.
"Wake up, Xena."
Another grown cut itself short, as if a creature took a moment to listen. Touching Xena's cheek, Gabrielle hoped for a response. She tapped gently. Nothing. She shook Xena's shoulder. The warrior woman barely moved her square chin.
She whispered, "Xena, Ares wants me."
Sitting up on her ankles, Gabrielle glanced at the window, again. It was pitch. She glanced to the chair leaning against the door. Animals hate fire! She took a large piece of firewood for a weapon.
"Xena," she whispered in desperation. "Joxer took Argo for a ride."
Gabrielle spotted Xena's right-hand clench. Looking down at Xena's ear, Gabrielle grinned wickedly.
She whispered, "Xena, will you be my Maid of Honor?"
Xena's body sat-up, as if a marionette tugged to the stage. Gabrielle ducked Xena's arm swinging sharply close to her head then Gabrielle moved closer.
"Easy, " she whispered. "We're not alone."
Xena was breathing rapidly, through her nose and soon choked on a parched throat. Her eyes popped open like an owl surveying for food and finding Gabrielle. Xena stared vaguely past her friend, listlessly scratching her ear.
Gabrielle pointed to the child and whispered, "Is this Prince Douglas?"
Xena squinted to capture any morsel. A mighty growl outside the window didn't remark on her attentions.
"Who," Xena asked?
A thud crashed against the corner of the cabin. Gabrielle pushed to her feet, gripping the piece of firewood over her shoulder. Xena glanced vaguely, yawning. Along a common wall, a hard edge raked against the wood exterior. Gabrielle moved back. Xena flipped to her feet, only to fall forward.
"Wait, " Gabrielle yelled.
A pitch shadow moved from the window. Gabrielle snatched Xena's arm.
She whispered, "It might be Hercules."
Xena moved swiftly to her feet, strutting around the small cabin with a raised curt eyebrow. There was firewood for a half-day, no water, no supply satchel.
"You called Hercules?"
Xena glared at the challenge to her professionalism.
"You don't understand, " Gabrielle said.
"Because, I overslept." Xena asked. "Where is he?"
"Xena."
Gabrielle stepped in Xena's path, only to be shoved aside.
Gabrielle whispered, "You've been gone four months!"
Xena spun around, reevaluated the cabin. As moonlight glowed through the window, she spotted a small icicle, Gabrielle's winter poncho on the floor, Princess Douglas deep in sleep. She mildly shivered, bare-legs and arms.
Gabrielle whispered, "Hercules insists on meeting us, here."
"How long ago?"
Tears welled in Gabrielle's eyes. Xena credited dark circles under Gabrielle's eyes and the persistent cries from her stomach. Looking at the door, Xena spotted a piece of broken glass.
"That's what I figured, " Xena said.
"Xena."
Gabrielle squeezed Xena's arm as Xena surveyed the wood pile. One oak piece was long and straight. Two fresh pine pieces might hold have enough resin.
Xena said, "At first light, we leave with Douglas."
"Xena."
"I'll fetch food on the way. We need something for clothes. I can make weapons while we walk."
She stepped side ways, to continue a mental inventory.
"Xena," Gabrielle yelled!
Turning to her friend, Xena stared at Gabrielle suddenly pale.
Calmly, Xena said, "I know but it won't come in."
She glanced at the window where one large green eye was staring back.
"Get some sleep, Gabrielle," Xena said. "In the morning, you'll have a lot of work to do."