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These pages were last updated: March 05, 1998
İMarch 1998
The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
There was no privacy in the cavern. The noises of the moaning time, however, were muted and faint. They got rest instead. Marcus and Perdicus, who really were weary slept, deeply. Melosa and her lover spoke quietly with each other. The fire that warmed them flickered its light upon those present. Salmoneus, rested comfortably against Penho's chest. Her heartbeat was reassuring to the man and it was almost as soothing as. . .well . .the other.
They talked too. He asked questions about her life in Tartarus. She answered some of them, but not everything, and not what he really wanted to know. How did she get here? That was the pressing question to him. He knew he loved her. He knew he would love her, no matter what, but. .it would be good to know. Keep that whole disturbing bad surprises thing away.
She wouldn't say, though she caressed him gently, affectionately.
All she said was, "You'd be surprised." Then she started talking about what he might see on second level. She said, "Things don't really get scary until about third level, but be on your guard anyway. There's more spill over here, more monsters."
"You'll protect me, won't you?" He'd asked. She'd smiled down at him and kissed his mouth gently. Her fingers curled through his hair then she fanned them upon his beard.
"I'll do my best Salmoneus." Her smile was sad, as if she'd said those words before.
Izzy crouched by the fire. Her tail curled around her feet. Tok watched her with feral eyes and softly snorted.
Izzy didn't talk. She tugged at strands of her hair which had turned more golden and red. Her green eyes assessed the change. To know more than the physical required meditation and there wasn't time for that, nor was this the place.
The shing shing of Xena's habitual weapons maintenance touched something within the demoness. It was a primal memory of how things used to be and how thing were not. If she had felt safe leaving them here, Izzy would have gone on a walk and possibly never have come back. But her concerns for her friends. . .and her lover. .kept her near, but silent.
The noise stopped abruptly. By Izzy's count, it was earlier than normal. Xena spoke out, gently, "Come here." The demoness half turned and looked at Xena. The Elysian patted the ground beside her. "Come." Izzy looked like she couldn't decide. Xena narrowed her gaze. Izzy felt a tugging within and knew. This was what she had been warned about. The summoning. Xena could summon her with a thought. She could resist though. She could resist because she was strong. She was very strong.
Izzy stood up. The cavern was open enough that she didn't have to bend. She padded over on bare feet that had claws for toenails. She towered over her lover for a second, then folded downward, almost spiraling to the ground. Her tail covered her lap. The flat of the point tapped her thigh.
Xena set her sword to the side. It was sharp enough. It gleamed from the oiling. The familiar motions gave her time to think. She needed to talk to Izzy, but in the past. . .She suddenly missed Gabrielle.
Tok crawled on her belly to the other side of the warrior, settled down again and looked out in the direction of the entry way. It's diamond eyes took in every nuance. Izzy had yet to take away the command of "guard," so it watched.
Xena wasn't one to put things off, unless it mattered strategically. "You look different," she noted. Oh, that was good, the warrior criticized herself. Couldn't come up with better? Try again.
Izzy blinked at the fire. She picked up a rock and fiddled with it. "I am," she acknowledged. She tossed the small stone into the fire. It sent up sparks. Perdicus moved sleepily against Marcus, disturbed. He didn't wake.
Xena wondered briefly if it had been this difficult for Gabrielle. . .when Gabrielle had been. . "Look," she said, trying to be reasonable. She kept her expression friendly, reassuring, "this isn't a terrible thing. It. . .You. . it looks good. .."
Izzy turned and gave the warrior princess a narrowed look, "This is Tartarus Xena." Her voice sent shivers down Xena's spine. It was supposed to scare her, but the effect was just the opposite. If Gabrielle was being defensive. . .
The Tartaran continued, "Don't be fooled by looks. There are things you don't know about me. You shouldn't. . ." She quit while she was ahead and looked away again. The stone of the cavern wall seemed to be appealing. It glittered with hidden minerals and stories.
Xena touched her arm. The shock of it streamed uncontrolably through the red woman. Izzy whirled, a growl on her lips. Her teeth were bared. Her eyes sparkled and seemed to hold a light of their own. It was an over reaction and she knew it. The Tartaran was in a dangerous state of mind. Gods, she needed some privacy. Just a few moments She pulled away from the warrior. "Leave me. . ."
"Take her out Xena." Penho spoke quickly, sharply, urgently. "Get her out of here." The others, those who were awake, were staring. "There's another cavern, just a little ways from here. Go back to it." She was trying not to say what needed to be done. Xena knew. She knew as soon as she had touched her lover. "I'll guard here." Izzy stood up and took a menacing step in Penho's direction. Penho remained seated, but held herself ready. "Go on with her, Izzy. You know you need to. Go."
Izzy made Tok stay. The daggite whimpered but settled back to guarding. It looked up at Izzy trustingly. She leaned down and stroked the creature's head reassuringly. "It'll be alright," the Tartaran said gruffly, "I'll be back." Tok blinked at her. It understood.
Xena grabbed their belongings and a bit of flame with a torch and pushed Izzy out of the small haven. They did not look back. Salmoneus sat up. "What's wrong with her? Is she going to be alright?"
Penho quirked a smile. "There's nothing there that Xena and a little time can't cure, Sal." She hugged the man. He had no idea she was speaking of more. "Izzy'll be alright. So will Xena. They'll be more than alright." The blue Tartaran gently wiped the hair from Salmoneus' face and gave him a soft kiss. She smiled. Then looked up.
Melosa watched her with knowing eyes.
Katrina's Fan Fiction | Fan Fiction Site | Home Page
These pages were last updated: March 05, 1998
İMarch 1998