The Demon (Predator) belongs to 20th Century Fox, and

Dark Horse Comic's. Xena, Gabrielle and Argo, belongs to MCA

and may they keep traveling together. A thousand *hugs* to

"Wishes" from Universal's Xena NetForum, for her suggestions and

tips in writing my very first story.

The Demon

By Rachel2

PROLOGUE

He was running as fast as his legs could move, but deep down he

knew it was not enough. He held onto his sword, it help having it

in his hand. His mind raced back a few days, a simple job

Metrikas had said "some peasants think a bear, or wild bore is a

demon sent by the gods to punish them for something. We five go

in kill the thing, have a good feast then come back in a few days

for our gold and praise as demon killers."

Metrikas was the first to die his body ripped apart by some huge

beast. He was all for going back then, but the others thinking it

was a bear wanted to avenge Metrikas. They woke the next day to

find Lemnos gone, and after an hour search they found what was

left of him. At least they thought it was Lemnos, the piece of

red meat hanging upside down from the tree. His skin pealed off,

the mouth open in a silent scream. He remembered that they didn't

hear anything. Lemnos had to been dead when it happened, at

least he hoped he had been.

They decided then to head back, both Elerias and Tapert said

maybe the peasants were being punish by the gods, and now we were

interfering with them. That was this morning, He and Elerias

didn't know when Tapert was taken. They just looked behind them

when he asked Tapert a question and he was gone, no sound just

gone. The pace quickened, but the days were as hot as Hades so

they tired soon. Elerias ran ahead for the cool stream of water,

and had just passed the bushes hiding the pool. He could still

hear the horrible screaming, he thought he was a brave man. But

when he heard Elerias, he turned and ran.

His only thoughts were getting to the road. Once out in the open he

would be able to see, and run away from the demon. With his

breath coming in gasps, he forced his legs to keep up the pace,

dropping his sword that's become too heavy. "Just a little

further..just a little more and I'm safe." His mind racing from

one thought to the next as the road came into view. It was then

that his body gave out and fell to the ground. With a cry he

started to crawl slowly when he heard the sounds of steps walking

towards him from the road. He looked up to yell for help, but his

eyes only widened at the sight in front of him. With his last

breath he looked up towards the sky his voice croaking, "ZEUS!

WHY..what have we done?."

Up the road a cart pulls to a halt, the driver looking around

with fear as screams echoes though the forest.

CHAPTER ONE

"XENA!." Smiling the dark haired woman turned in her saddle

looking behind her at the person walking behind her. "Gabrielle,

I said you're welcome to ride with me. I want to get to Raxis by

nightfall." The small fair-haired woman pauses next to the horse

looking at her best friend with a wary eye. "Xena, I understand

you want to get to Raxis. I understand that I can ride on Argo

with you. I understand you got some message that just said come

as fast as you can!"

Sighing Gabrielle looks up leaning against her staff, "However,

unless death is coming down the road after us I'm walking. But

the sun is overhead and I thought we could stop for a bite to

eat?" The warrior looks up sighting the sun, using a hand to

shield her eyes thinking. "She's right, it's been hot for days,

and I'll not even push my army this hard in this weather."

Nodding Xena eases off Argo standing next to her friend, "There's

some trees over there, lets rest in the shade."

With a joyful look Gabrielle walks towards the trees, with Xena

leading Argo behind her. Wiping the perspiration from her brow,

Xena watches the bard with a smile. Her eyes take in every move

of the young woman muscles as she walks, her hair as it catches

the sunlight. And her sweet voice as she keeps talking about

whatever comes to mind. "Maybe" Xena thought, "Maybe I'm not as

far pass redemption as I thought. How else could I have someone

like her by my side."

Sitting in the shade Gabrielle pulls bread and cheese from her

pack. Looking up at her friend, whose thoughts seem elsewhere.

Sniffing the cheese before cutting off pieces and handing them to

her. "Xena...XENA are you asleep?" The warrior turns looking at

the bard shaking her head, "Sorry Gabrielle, I was thinking of

the road ahead."

Stuffing a piece in her mouth the bard nods, "Well, did Metrikas

say why we needed to come so fast?". Xena sits next to the bard

leaning against the tree, wrapping bread around the cheese.

"No, like I said he was one of my captains back in my old days.

Only one who quit the fighting before I did. He had his fill of

killing, and wanted to leave it behind him." Gabrielle nods

watching her friend as she eats. The movement of her mouth, turn

of her head, her rich sky blue eyes that melts her soul. "I

guess," thought the bard, "I'm about the luckiest person in the

world..sitting next to her. How else could I have someone like

her by.." She glances up as her thoughts are interrupted by a

plume of dust approaching.

Her eyebrows narrow as she tries to make out what is coming

towards them, with a slight cough and nodding of her head she

calls to her friend. "Xena"

The warrior nods looking at the dust cloud. "I see it Gabrielle,

its been advancing towards us since we got in the shade and

blocked the sun."

With a knowing smirk Gabrielle looks towards the cloud, "Can you

see what it is.? I can just make out shapes." Xena nods keeping

her eyes on the shapes, "Wagons, lots of them and about seventy

to a hundred people." Frowning Gabrielle shakes her head, "What

would a merchant's caravan that size be doing way out here?"

Brushing her hands, Xena stands to watch the caravan, "That is

not a merchants caravan Gabrielle. I've seen this often, those

are people fleeing from wars, famine, plague and they're fleeing

from the direction we're heading."

CHAPTER TWO

Xena stood by the side of the road with Gabrielle watching the

caravan approach. The bard noted the lack of guards, just a

couple men walking about fifty yards ahead of the wagons. As if

sensing her companions question Xena glances at the bard speaking

in her familiar emotionless tone. "With a party of that size,

it'll take a small army to attack them during the day. They need

to be careful at night, but the normal small bands of brigands

will leave them alone."

Nodding Gabrielle turned her head back to the caravan, she can

see the people clearly now. Some of them seem to have vacant

eyes, as if nothing was within. The point guards are looking them

over when Xena raised her hand palm open, showing that she holds

no weapon. "Peace be with you," Her voice carries to them, "From

what village are you from?" The guard nearest to Xena, a man

looking just out of his teens but with an aged look in his eyes,

nods returning the greeting with a raised hand. "We're from what

used to be Raxis, now it belongs to the crows."

Raising her head in surprise, Xena nods looking at the guard.

"I was heading there to see a friend, do you know Metrikas?"

The man quickly looks Xena over more closely then shifts his eyes

to Gabrielle before turning to the other guard, "I'll send up a

relief, and take up the end of the train" The other guard nods as

he continues to walk down the road. The young guard steps off to

the side of the road nodding, "I Knew Metrikas, he's dead along

with the village, I'm called Viau."

Xena's head jerks back as if struck, Gabrielle swiftly grabs

Xena's arm, but the warrior quickly recovers. Holding her ice

blue eyes on Viau her voice is steady, "How did he die, and what

are you fleeing from?." Viau watches as the caravan slowly

passes, the dust kicked up by the wagons slowly coats the small

group. Sighing Viau speaks, in an almost lifeless tone, "He was

killed by the demon that Zeus set upon us." Gabrielle eyes arch

upwards in disbelief, "A demon, oh come on, you're kidding."

Viau turns a sharp look to Gabrielle pent-up anger showing on his

face, but pales when he catches sight of Xena's protective look

of her bard. Stammering he nods turning his eyes towards the

ground, "It was one moon ago when a light filled the night sky."

Viau's tone is once again lifeless as he recounts the pass. "It

looked as if a star fell from the heavens and struck the ground

near our village. Some thought that the gods had warred against

each other and one was stuck down."

Xena nods slowly as she grabs Gabrielle's arms, stopping her from

interrupting the guard as he continues. "A couple of the men the

next day said that they were going to see where the god fell.

They left in the morning and that was the last we saw of them.

Soon men disappeared from the village, then travelers stopped

coming. We send out search parties, some didn't come back. Others

came back telling how they found headless corpses."

Pausing Viau shakes his head as if trying to drive out inner

thoughts. Xena softly speaks, "And Metrikas?" Viau looks up at

Xena shrugging his shoulders, "Metrikas, said that it was a mad

bear and nothing more. He took four men to search for the bear,

none returned." The warrior nods, her eyes joining Viau's stare

at the ground, as Gabrielle speaks up, "What made you decide to

leave?"

Viau laughs sullenly taking Gabrielle by surprise, "Look at the

wagons," As Viau's hand sweeps towards the train, "There were

close to two hundred people in the village, this is all that's

left." Finally pausing sighting the end of the train coming up,

"I would turn around warrior, there's nothing alive the way

you're going. The gods have sent a demon among us and its name is

death."

Xena glances at Viau then towards the wagons, "Did you receive a

sign, or a message from the gods why they're doing this?"

Viau smirks as he turns following the last wagon, "The sign they

sent was death, and we understood the message. Turn back warrior

before you receive it." Turning his back to the pair Viau

continues walking, not looking back.

Gabrielle watches the wagons then turns studying her friend, as

Xena looks towards the woods ahead of them. Finally breaking the

silence she speaks tensely, "Well, what do you think, are the

gods involved in this?" Xena continues to stare at the woods

ahead as she speaks, "Gabrielle, you know most of the tales about

the gods, when they punish someone, don't they always lets them

know.?"

Smirking The small bard nods, "Do they ever, seems like they

can't wait to take credit for disasters they send on us."

Nodding Xena turns looking at her friend, "Right and if this was

caused by the gods, they would have said something by now."

Pausing Xena looked at the bard, her eyes roaming over her face,

"Gabrielle...I want." Quickly before she can say another word

Gabrielle's eyes flash with anger, "NO XENA, I'M NOT GOING BACK.

And the subject is not open for discussion."

Raising an eyebrow Xena smiles and shakes her head, "Guess you

knew that was coming?." Nodding Gabrielle starts walking towards

the woods without waiting for Xena, "I know you Xena, and I know

you'll try to protect me. Do you really think I'll let you go on

without me?" Xena chuckles grabbing Argo's bridle leading the

horse after the bard. "I guess not, but I also think we better be

ready. Cause I have a feeling this is something new for us."

Gabrielle glances at Xena gripping her staff tighter as they head

into the woods.

CHAPTER THREE

Gabrielle was trying to do all that Xena taught her, keeping her

senses open. Listening for the slightest sound, movement, scent,

but the sun was boiling her neck, she could not remember when its

been this hot. Stealing a quick glance at Xena she almost

tripped. The warrior was walking down the road as if she had no

care in the world. Suppressing a smile Xena looked over at the

bard, "Better watch your footing, these roads can be

ahhh..tricky".

Rolling her eyes and looking confused, Gabrielle tried her best

to relax. "Xena, if Metrikas thought it was only a mad bear. Why

did he send you that message?." Xena nodded turning her head, she

listened for a snapping twig, then dismissed it. "Cause he always

put on his best appearance for his men. Or here the villagers, I

think it was more like he was going out to get an idea what they

were up against, and hoped that I could arrive in time."

Frowning, Xena looked at her friend who could see the pain in her

eyes, "He of all the others from those days, tried to change

before I even had the thought. He should have died in his sleep,

of old age."

Stopping Gabrielle put her hand on Xena's arm and looked at her

with soft eyes, "Xena, he did what he thought was best for his

village. I didn't know him, but I bet he had no regrets about

what he did. And if he didn't then should you?"

Xena thought for a moment, then shook her head with a grin,

"Gabrielle, what would I do without you." Smiling the bard turned

back to the road, eyes watching the woods, "We're a pair Xena,

we're meant to be together."

Surprised, Xena missed the root sticking up in the road, catching

her foot and stumbling forward. Grinning Gabrielle looked at her

warrior smiling, "Best watch the road Xena, its ahhh bit tricky."

Turning her head back toward the forest, her eyes tried to pick

up every little movement. "Xena, what are we looking for, I mean

are we just going to walk along and see if we're attacked?."

Observing as much as she could Xena nodded, "Seems like we have

no choice, everyone either ran off or is dead. We walk until

attacked, or we see a trail of some type."

Sighing louder than she intended and feeling more than a bit

uneasy Gabrielle followed the road. "Great," Thought the bard,

"Walking down the road waiting for some demon or something to

attack. Well being with Xena is never boring."

The heat of the sun felt like it was cooking her. Gabrielle

stopped to take a long sip out of the waterskin. But the water

was warm and did little to quench her thirst. Wiping her brow she

gazed at her friend and offered the waterskin to Xena. Taking the

bag with a smile, she tilted the bag upwards and froze.

Seeing the expression on the warriors face, the bard turned

quickly looking at the woods. "WHAT" The bard exclaimed, before

wrinkling her nose with a look of disgust. "WHAT IS THAT SMELL?"

Capping the waterskin, Xena tossed it to Gabrielle ordering in

her most commanding voice. "Stay here and watch the woods."

Walking slowly off the road Xena knew the smell. Every warrior

that fought knew it, the smell of days-old blood on the

battlefield. Cautiously she advanced, her senses alert the smell

getting stronger until she thought she would pass out. "I must be

getting used to Gabrielle," Xena thought, "There was a time when

this would not have bothered me." Moving slowly towards the

source, she pushed aside some bushes and forced the bile from

rising in her stomach.

The clearing in front of her had a mass of red meat, crawling

with maggots and flies. Making it looking like a red wave with

black and white ripples, which was the only way she could look at

it.

"XENA ARE YOU OK?" The bard's voice pulled her from her trance,

scanning the area around her almost in panic, she cried out,

"GABRIELLE, STAY WHERE YOU ARE. DON'T COME IN HERE."

Taking several quick breaths the warrior steadied her breathing,

and moved slowly into the clearing. Her senses reaching out in a

state of near panic, but firmly under her control. Kneeling down

she looked around keeping her eyes off the red mass. Until she

found what she was looking for, but it only confused her more.

Nodding her head she looked around with a knowing smile and

walked slowly backwards. She heard a twig snapping. Spinning

around, she stared at the direction of the sound, not moving,

hands ready to go for her sword. It seem like an eternity

of time passed, yet she knew it was only a few minutes.

Alert for danger she moved backwards slowly toward where she left

Gabrielle. A pair of eyes watched her.

Chapter Four

Gabrielle was getting worried, it had been awhile since Xena left

the road. Her grip was tight on her staff, as she listened for

the slightest movement. Argo snorted stepping forward with her

ears twitching.

The bard shifted her gaze toward the area of Argo's interest. A

smile broke out as she observed her friend slowly making her way

back. "I guess" Gabrielle thought, "I should let Argo keep watch,

she seems better at it than me."

Stepping back on the road Xena turned to look the way she came.

Her eyes constantly moved from spot to spot searching. Gabrielle

walked over next to the warrior, trying to see what her friend

was looking for. "Xena, what is it?"

Xena shook her head and frowned before stealing a glance at the

bard, "Its out there watching us." Bringing her staff into a

defensive position Gabrielle scanned the woods, her voice tense,

she asked, "Did you see it, is that what the smell was?."

Biting her lip Xena turned back to the path with her thoughts,

"She needs to know, if I try to shield her now it may mean her

death." Glancing up at the sky, the warrior saw there was more

than enough time. The simmering sun was making it a long day.

Turning, Xena ran her hand over Argo's mane before whispering in

the war-horse's ear. Then with a look at Gabrielle she headed back

down the path, speaking as the bard followed. "It was a body, I

never saw anything like it. It was as if...if all that was inside

the body had been pulled out and dropped on the ground. No bones,

no skin, just a pile."

Hearing a moan, Xena glanced at the pale bard. Gabrielle looked

back nodding, her face feeling more wet, perspiration forming on

her upper lip. "I'm fine Xena, was there anything else?."

Nodding, Xena watched the trees, skirting around the clearing

where the body lay. "I found tracks, they were heading deeper

into the woods. I don't want to camp out here for the night

without knowing what we're facing." Gabrielle listened while her

friend continues, briefly pausing to look back at the following

Argo.

"Couldn't you tell by the tracks?" The bard asked with a puzzled

expression. She knew that Xena was among the best trackers.

Shaking her head Xena checked the location of the clearing, then

started to scan the ground hoping to pick up the tracks before

replying. "The tracks are huge, almost shaped like a man's but

twice the size. And the toes have points like claws."

"Could it be a minotaur then?." Gabrielle asked stopping to wipe

her forehead.

Xena shook her head as she waited for the bard to catch her

breath. "I thought of that Gabrielle, but the shape was all

wrong. Also Minotaur's won't bother you, unless you bother them.

And then they use weapons..this thing, I have no idea what it

is."

Looking at her friend, Xena took a moment to smile. Then she

turned and headed back down the path. "I want to at least get an

idea what it is. Then decide if we could take it on ourselves or

call for help, but I want us out of the woods before dark."

The Demon watched as they came toward the tree where he was

waiting. He'd been hunting the softmeat while waiting for his

people to rescue him. It had been weeks since he crashed while

searching for new prey, his transport was nothing but a broken

shell that he destroyed.

His race was hunters, and this place gave good, and bad hunts.

Unlike the hardmeat that always attacked, and that was only good

when they hunted groups. Here some lone softmeat gave good

chases. But he had not found anything to give him a challenge

yet.

He was curious about the softmeat hunting him. They were shaped,

and smelled different from the others. Maybe they would be the

challenge that he had been waiting for.

He watched them advance, bracing as he readied to drop on top of

the new softmeat.

Chapter Five

Xena stopped, the hairs on the back of her neck tingled, while

all of her senses cried out in alarm. Her hand became a blur as

she reached for her sword. Gabrielle seeing the swift change in

her friend, spun around looking at the path behind them for the

danger that Xena sensed.

Confused at what alerted the softmeat, the Demon froze. He

quickly looked at his hands gripping the tree limb, and saw that

the camouflage device on his arm was working. He knew he should

look like his surroundings.

Gabrielle slowly spun her staff, ready to attack in any direction

she needed. But her breath was louder than she liked, as she

tried to calm the panic that was rising within. With wide eyes

taking in the area around her she risked a glance at her friend,

She wished that her trembling voice didn't betray her fears.

"Xena, what is it?. I don't see anything."

Sword in hand, Xena stood unmoving. Reaching out with the senses

that warned her of the danger, as she replied in a steady voice.

"It's here Gabrielle, its here with us." Nodding, her back to the

warrior, the bard stopped spinning her staff and gripped it

so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Then out of the cornering of her right eye. Xena caught the

movement of a single leaf falling from a tree. Looking upward, at

first she saw nothing. Then as if the heat was baking her mind.

The air started to simmer, forming the shape of a large man.

The demon saw the larger softmeat looking right at him. With a

snarl it dropped off the limp, and landed on the ground. Its huge

arm swung a backhand at the smaller less dangerous meat.

Gabrielle had just started to turn toward the sound on her left.

When the blow landed across her face. It lifted her off her feet

and into the air. Her mind was reeling as if the heated air was

thick, and making her fall slower.

"Roll with the fall," the bards mind thought, "That's what Xena

always said, roll with the fall to help soften the impact." But

her body didn't seem to want to obey, as she hit the ground with

a thud.

Xena shifted her weight as the blow stuck Gabrielle, and send a

sidekick toward the middle of the simmering demon. Smiling, she

felt her foot make contact with something solid.

The demon grunted as the softmeat hit it. The training of its

race took over. Swinging the hand that killed the small meat, in

a continuing motion it hit the underside of the meat's leg

driving it upwards.

The warrior shuddered at the blow to her leg, using the force to

lift her upwards turning it into a back flip. Her back leg

followed the flip, catching the demon under its simmering face.

Surprised at the move, it felt its head snap upward. The Demon

shook its head trying to clear it. This meat is far stronger than

the others it thought, maybe this place has hunting to rival the

hardmeat.

Landing Xena swung her sword at the demon, but her leg started to

collapse under her, spoiling the blow. The tip of the blade

sliced across its chest, splattering her and the demon with a

glowing green ooze.

Howling, the demon flexed its right arm, shooting out three,

twelve inch blades from its wrist gauntlet. The pain was burning

across its chest, he could not believe that the meat was hurting

him.

Recovering, Xena stood facing the air demon. The shape only

visible by its shimmering outline. She was worried about her

friend but knew she could do nothing until the demon was put

down. Raising her sword over her head, she deflected the three

blades that seemed to dance in the air.

Across the pathway the two fought, Xena deflecting the blades

with her sword and getting in a kick, with every fourth try. But

the heat, and her injured leg were slowing her down. While the

demon seemed able to ignore the burning sun and his injuries.

Falling back, Xena suppressed a groan as the blades raked her

side. Knowing she needed to end this soon, Xena turned and ran

down the path. The demon chased after her, feeling his victory

was near now that the meat was running.

Then Xena yelled her battle cry at the top of her lungs, as she

leaped toward a thick tree. Bracing for the impact she took two

quick steps to propel her upwards with more force. Twisting in

the air as she spun around to face the demon chasing her.

The demon was surprised at the move. Forgot all of its training

as he raised his arm to block the heavy blade the meat was

swinging at him.

Xena could feel that victory was near as her sword cleaved the

demons arm. When the world exploded in front of her. sparks flew

from the demons arm as Xena's sword cut deep into the camouflage

device.

Jolts of electricity traveled down the warrior’s sword into her

hands and body. Before tossing her back, and slamming her into

the ground.

Laying there she tried to move but her body would not obey. She

could feel that her muscles were tight, but slowly relaxing. But

she could seen the demon, it also was on its back, changing

colors upon color. Sparkling like a thousand fireflies, until the

fires died away leaving a huge man shape beast.

Armor covered it torso and legs, with a mask covering it face.

The arm where her sword hit was a nothing but a smoking stump.

Xena tried to speak but found that her muscles were still too

tight. Her thoughts raced to the bard, she tried to say her name

again but was still unable.

Her whole body had been tingling, but that was going away and she

could start to move her fingers. But a growl interrupted her

thoughts. Moving her eyes she saw that demon was sitting up

looking at her.

Feeling a touch of panic she tried to move her arms, but only her

hands would respond. As the demon stood on shaky legs, cradling

the stump of its arm.

Raising the blades strapped to his remaining arm. He slowly

advanced toward the warrior.

Chapter Six

Xena tried to raise herself off the ground. But the lightning the

Demon stuck her with was leaving her body too slowly. Able to

tilt her head now, she watched as it came toward her.

The Demon was in agony, his left hand was gone. The meat had

destroyed his wrist device, and with it his hand. But now it was

down. Flexing the blade gauntlet he continued towards it,

thinking how the skull would be a great trophy for his belt.

But so intent was the Demon on his prey, that he never heard the

sound until its source was already upon him. Turning he saw the

prey's beast already rearing up on its hind legs. The forelegs

kicked outward, hitting the stump of his arm. Shrieking from the

pain, the Demon fell back away from the softmeat, swinging its

blades at the beast.

Argo pranced on her hind legs defending her mistress. The

instincts of the war-horse's line taking over, kicking outward

defending its foal. The Demon retreated from the unrelenting

attacks, too hurt to give a good defense. When his swinging

blades caught the beast, raking a thin line of blood over Argo's

breast.

The war-horse screamed as the blades sliced through, turning

from the source of pain, bucking and kicking with its hind legs.

The Demon grunted as Argo's hoofs hit him full in the chest,

knocking him off his feet and into the dirt. Breathing was

becoming more difficult as he sat up. The beast was retreating

from the wound he inflicted, but the Demon knew that the beast

hurt him inside.

The Demon was bracing himself to get back on his feet, when he

sensed something to his right. He Turned his head just in time to

receive the full force of a Amazon staff slamming into his

faceplate.

Gabrielle twirled her staff hitting the Demon again, this time in

the throat. It was hard for her to see. Her left eye was swollen

shut, and her cheek throbbed in pain. But her attacks continued,

scoring hit after hit, driving the Demon even further away from

Xena.

Ducking the Demon let the staff sail over his head, he now knew

the small meat was more dangerous than he first thought. The

large meat and its beast had injured him badly, now the blow from

the small meat to his faceplate was making it even more difficult

to breath.

Xena was finally was able to sit back up, she could move but felt

very weak. Looking over, her heart lifted when she saw that

Gabrielle was alive, but in a very dangerous situation. Forcing

herself up on her feet, Xena called on her last reserves of

strength, praying to the gods that it would be enough.

Gabrielle backed away from the Demon as it started to recover

from her surprise attack. Moving continually to her right, more

than attacking to keep it within sight of her good eye. The Demon

was feeling in control, he had been careless in dismissing the

beast and small meat. Now he had three skulls within his grasp,

three tales of hunting greater than the insect hardmeat.

Bracing against the tree she used for her leap, Xena yelled,

"GABRIELLE!, DROP TO THE GROUND NOW!," Her eyes on the Demon, she

called out to the gods, and for once hoped that they truly

listened. As her arm swung forward releasing her Chakram with all

the strength she had left.

Gabrielle heard Xena's yell, and even knowing that it would put

her at the mercy of the Demon, Gabrielle fell flat to the ground.

The Demon paused when the softmeat fell without a blow, then

caught sight of a shimmering in the air just before the Chakram

buried itself deep within his chest.

Screeching so loudly that Gabrielle thought her ears would burst.

The Demon raised its head to the hot setting sun, until there was

silence. Then the Demon turned its head to look at the large meat

by the tree, before he fell backwards. Hitting the ground with a

crash that seemed to bring life back to the forest.

With a disbelieving look Gabrielle looked at the Demon as she

stood. She stumbled over to her friend and tried to stop the

blood flowing from Xena's side. Forgetting the pain she was

feeling Xena grabbed the bard hugging her tight with closed eyes.

Holding back tears thanking whatever god had listen, "Thank you,"

Xena thought, "Thank you for saving my friend."

Much later Gabrielle spoke as she used her good eye to look at

the Demon as it lay at the edge of the campfire light. "I wish we

could have left, I'm not sure that I'll be able to sleep with

that thing there." Nodding Xena finished wrapping Argo's breast.

"I know Gabrielle," Replied the warrior with a glance towards the

bard , "But none of us are in any shape to go any where right

now."

Sighing the bard nodded, her eye not leaving the dead shape,

"Xena, do you think it was sent by the gods.?" Shaking her head

the warrior sat next to the bard. Xena kissed Gabrielle's

forehead and wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "No I don't

know where it came from, But I don't think even the gods are that

evil."

Surprised by the kiss, Gabrielle turned to Xena and smiled

through her pain. "Well, if this is what it takes for a kiss from

you. I hope they send a hundred demons...one every hundred years

that is." Chuckling Xena nodded as she looked at the campfire. A

cool breeze played with the flames, foretelling the end of the

heat wave.

Epilogue

They found the body not far from the blackened earth where the

ship crashed. The carrion of this place didn't seem to have a

taste for it. Much was discussed over the battle wounds as they

carried the demon back to their ship. Pausing and looking at the

cool world, the leader thought this place must have good hunting.

They would have to come back, when it was hotter.