As he walked barefoot along the dirt path, he whistled softly to himself. With a small tin can in hand filled with earthworms
and crawling creatures, he made his way toward his favorite fishing hole and easily carried the long sticks with thin cord over
his shoulder. At a noise from up the hill, he raised his hand to block the early morning sun as he watched his friend running
down.
Diores waved and smiled as he ran down to catch up with him. Standing a bit taller than Talouraj, Diores’ long, lean legs
jogged down the slight incline. His dark, neatly cropped hair was still slicked back from the early morning washing he went
through. Unlike the auburn hair youth, Diores’ clothes were fresh and neatly worn. Where the short lad had patches
haphazardly covering his tattered, thread worn breeches and lightweight shirt, Diores clothing was relatively new and in good
condition. Although the boys looked as different as night and day, they had found in each a friendship that seemed born
throughout the ages. It was not a lovers’ bonding, rather, it was a bond found only in siblings. Like long lost brothers who
had just met, the two youths found a commonality in each other that caused them to gravitate toward one another.
“Did ya get some good ones this morning, Tal?” The dark hair youth asked as he joined his friend.
“I got up before the morning began and dug out some nice, plump ones!” Tal’s smiling features beamed as he held up the tin
to his friend. “We should catch some good ones today!” He smiled as he continued down the path, and then began to veer
off of the road.
“Hey, I thought we were going fishing?” The dark boy asked, his face a mask of confusion.
“We are, right after we stop and see if the new girl wants to join us,” the shorter lad replied with a smile as he continued up
the hill.
“Are you crazy? You’re going to ask her to join us?” Diores stopped his friend by holding his arm. “Tal, I know I thought
you were daft in the past, but now I really know you’re crazy! Why in the world would you be asking The Destroyer if she
wants to join us?”
“Awe, Diores, don’t be like that,” Tal implored his friend. “After all, we don’t know if she’s the same one. Maybe… maybe
all those stories were mixed up and she’s not really the same person, I mean, you saw her. She really wasn’t all that bad,”
Talouraj stated.
“Not all that bad? NOT ALL THAT BAD?” the taller boy’s voice squeaked as if his voice was just changing. With a gulp,
and a shake of his head, the taller youth glanced down at his friend, “Was I all alone in the alley when she almost killed us?”
“Almost is not the same as actually doing it,” Tal reminded with a slight smile, and a wag of his finger, “Besides… it’s been a
while now, we haven’t seen hide nor hair of them. Aren’t ya just a bit curious about them?”
Diores’ eyes grew narrow as he examined his friend, then an expression of realization crossed his features as he released a
satisfied nod. “So that’s what this is about. Tal, you only want to invite her because you’re curious about her family.”
“Of course, and you’re not going to tell me that you’re not curious? Not even a tiny bit?” The lad gave a knowing smile.
“Tal, haven’t you ever heard the old saying, ‘Curiosity killed the cat’?” The slender boy asked as he crossed his arms in front
of his chest, a look of superiority crossed his features as he gazed down at his friend.
“Well… we’re not cats are we?” Tal would not be swayed as he continued up the hill, the fishing poles balanced on his
shoulder. “Come on Diores, it will be fun! You don’t have school today, and besides, I don’t think she’s as bad as the
stories say.” He stated as he continued his ascent over the hill that overlooked the homestead of Xena, the Warrior Princess,
her traveling companion, Gabrielle, the Battling Bard of Potidaea and their two equally famous children.
“I hope you know what you’re getting into,” Diores sighed as he followed his friend up the hill.
If nothing else, Diores was as true a friend as Talouraj would ever find. In their short time as friends, they had gone through a
great deal. They had a lot of fun, and shared in a lot of laughs. The dangers they went through, they did together and no
matter what lay in the future, their friendship always kept them close. Although he held reservations about the dark, brooding
daughter of Xena, Diores did not waver from joining his friend on his quest to befriend the infamous Destroyer.
~~~~~~
The turbulent feelings that surged through Ari left her filled with conflicting emotions. At night, when the house was silent, and
everyone was asleep, she found herself pouring all of her needs into the single act which her Maia called, “getting to know
yourself.” For a time, finding this release helped, but it always ended the same way. Just when she was on the brink of
orgasm, her memories would see Alti over her, the sorceress’ body would hold her down as the older woman’s fingers
brought her such delight. But right before the pleasures could sweep her away, the face would change and she would see the
image of her warrior mother in her mind, and it frightened the girl. If she could have, she would have spoken to Gabrielle. But
she was too ashamed to admit to her own weakness, let alone shed the repulsiveness that always arose whenever she had to
touch herself. So rather than speak openly of her feelings, she kept them bottled up deep inside until they became like a
festering sore, with the object of her distain settling firmly upon her warrior mother.
As she followed the smaller blonde into the house, she fought to keep her anger at bay. Just as she used to do when in Alti’s
presence, she felt a bridle of control fall over her as numbness filled her soul. Instinctively, she moved to the water basin and
began to wash up for breakfast. Although she did not understand this habit, it was something that Gabrielle insisted on. Not
wishing to disobey her Maia, the tall girl would follow the healer’s instructions.
“I bet you’re hungry for this.” The storyteller said with a smile as she began to put chunks of warm meat onto her plate, and
then poured some fresh scrambled eggs next to them. Always hungry for her bard mother’s food, Ari could only smile as she
sat down for the morning meal.
“Ummm, honey, that smells wonderful!” Xena exclaimed just as the door to Eve’s room was opening up. With a tired yawn,
the prophet waved at them as she made her way from the home.
Ignoring everything around her, Ari began to tear apart the bread as she devoured the morning meal. Although she heard their
conversation, she put their words out of her mind. In the time that she had spent with her family she had learned not only to
cloud their whispered thoughts, but to also let their voices turn from a constant monologue to a slight droning in the room. Not
even when her sister joined them, freshly washed, did the girl lift her head to greet her. Instead, she continued to eat and
occasionally reached down to pet her kitten. When she felt the little beast climbing up her pant leg, she scooped up the fur
ball and settled him in her lap. At his insistent meowing, she took some small pieces of meat from her plate and gave it to the
kitten. Apparently satisfied, her pet remained still as he concentrated on eating the morsels that she had provided.
“… it means a lot to your mother and I,” Xena’s words filtered through to Ari’s senses. Glancing up from her plate, she
looked around the table and noticed both of her mothers smiling at her sister.
“Oh mom, you know I don’t mind. I like working at Meg’s and the tips are great!” Eve exclaimed as she nibbled on the
morning meal.
“Well, still, its helps us out a great deal. What with all of the chores around the farmstead, I’m afraid that I wouldn’t have time
to also hunt to provide the meat. Your earnings are making it possible for us to keep food on the table!” The warrior princess
exclaimed as she reached over and clasped her youngest daughter’s arm.
Ari watched as the two women exchanged a loving glance that suddenly reminded the girl of the bond they shared – a bond
that she would never have. As the anger and jealousy slowly boiled, the dark teen scowled as she averted her eyes to her
lap. She felt her brow knit as the image of Xena’s love for Eve flowed through her memories. While the women continued to
speak to each other, Ari could only remain silent. Intellectually she knew that her warrior mother loved Eve more. But
knowing the truth never helped her to deal with the real pain it caused. While a part of her wanted to run away in tears,
another part continued to harden against the cruel realities of her life. “No, Xena will never love me the same, and why should
she?” Her mind raged as the jealousy continued to grow.
As her emotions raged out of control, she felt a gentle touch against her bare arm. Glancing up through the curtain of her
bangs, she noticed Gabrielle, her Maia, smiling softly at her. Just a single look from the blonde and Ari felt the warmth of love
fill her heart.
“Honey, you are doing so much to help us out too,” the blonde spoke softly and she reached up and tenderly brushed back
the strands of Ari’s hair away from her eyes. “Ari, you’ve been such a big help around here with everything.” Gabrielle began
to say, but was cut off by a slight snort across the table. Glancing toward the owner, Ari felt her smile disappear when she
saw Eve’s smirk.
“Eve!” Ari thought she heard a tinge of impatience from Xena.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Eve grew suddenly serious as she gulped. “I just… I mean, honestly mothers, you can’t tell me that it wasn’t
funny to see everyone trying to clear the smoke out of the house when Ari…”
Ari felt a heat cross her cheeks as she turned away, the memory of her mistakes still fresh in her mind. Before her sister could
humiliate her further, the tall girl rose from the table. With kitten in hand, she made her way to the only sanctuary that she had
within this home, and that was her room.
“Eve!” she heard both of her mothers say as she climbed up the ladder to her room.
“Ari, I’m sorry!” Eve called, “Please Ari, I was only teasing, I didn’t mean anything by it.” But Ari did not wait. Instead she
climbed into the small opening and made her way to the corner of her room. As the early morning chill of the room settled
around her, she moved to the corner of her cot and sat with her back against the wall. As she thought over her sister’s words,
she lightly petted her kitten as he climbed up her body and on her shoulder.
She, more than anyone, did not have to be reminded of her mistakes because they were all etched deep in her core. Although
Gabrielle did her best to teach her things around the house, she could never seem to get it right and on more than one
occasion, had caught their evening meal on fire. It seemed the only chores she could help with, entailed working closely with
Xena on the outside of the house, which under normal circumstances she might have enjoyed if Xena hadn’t always been
around. Only under close guidance, just as she used to do with Alti, was Ari able to follow the instructions of her birth mother.
At a noise from the entrance, she glanced up and watched as the blonde climbed into the room. Once inside the darkness, the
storyteller glanced around the shadows and smiled when she saw Ari huddled in the corner. Although her heart ached, the girl
could not help but feel her mother’s love shinning down upon her.
“Oh Ari, I’m sorry you got your feelings hurt,” Gabrielle spoke softly as she made her way to the girl’s side. After glancing
around the darkness, the smaller woman reached out and lightly brushed her fingers through the girl’s hair. “Why don’t we let
some sun in?” The woman softly spoke as she released the latch and opened the two panels of the bedroom window.
When the morning sunlight filtered in, she turned back and looked at the girl, her eyes searching for something. Unable to
maintain eye contact, Ari looked away from the storyteller as she continued to pet her kitten, who was now nuzzling in her
lap. Although she knew the blonde cared for her, at times she found it difficult to face the woman’s emotions.
“Honey, you know that Eve didn’t mean to hurt you, don’t you?” She asked softly.
Ari only shrugged her shoulders as she kept her gaze lowered.
“She sometimes forgets that you aren’t used to teasing just yet, but in time, maybe you’ll begin to understand the loving banter
between family members.” Gabrielle’s words were soft as she continued to stroke the girl’s hair.
“T-Teasing?” Ari’s voice was barely a whisper as she cast her mother a sidelong glance.
“Teasing, yes, it’s like… well,” Gabrielle sat back as she gazed up at the ceiling in thought, then smiled down at the girl, “It’s
like joking. Sometimes family members joke with each other, you know, find humor in some of the things that are done, or
said. It’s normal, which is why I think Eve forgets sometimes that you don’t fully understand everything about family
dynamics.”
“B-But Eve was right, I did m-make a mess of the place.” Ari sighed in defeat.
“Yes, and someday you’ll be able to look back at it and laugh about it,” Gabrielle stated matter-of-factly. “Oh Ari, it is not
anything serious, and yes, sometimes family members have a tendency to tease and joke with each other about little mishaps
like that. Trust me, honey, it’s not serious and in no time at all, you’ll be able to laugh about the little mishaps happening to
you,” the storyteller smiled as she pulled the girl into her arms. “Please believe me, baby, Eve didn’t mean to hurt your
feelings. It’s just that, well, sometimes it’s hard for all of us to remember that this is all new to you. Please, be patient with
us?”
Ari glanced at her Maia as she thought over her words. At the warmth of her voice, the girl sighed as she turned away. Her
fingers continued to stroke the kitten’s fur as she thought over the explanation. Although she did not understand why Eve
would have reminded them of a mistake she made, she had no choice but to believe her Maia. “If Maia says that this is how
families treat each other, then she must be right because she would never lie to me,” she thought as she looked at the
storyteller and returned her smile.
“Good, then we’re ok?” the blonde asked as she examined Ari closely. With a slight smile, the girl nodded as she shyly
turned her gaze away. “Good, then why don’t you come back down, I have some of those little pastries with the filling in it
that your mother likes so much. I thought we deserved a treat today!”
Ari smiled at the mention of the pastry treats and lifted her kitten from her lap, depositing him upon her bed. Without needing
any prodding, she rose to her full height and followed the smaller woman to the opening of her room. Although she knew that
she made many mistakes, she hoped that her mother was correct and that someday, she would laugh about these times with
her family.
“Mother, honest, I am sorry, but you’re not going to try to tell me now that you didn’t want to laugh the last time that Ari set
our dinner on fire, are you?” Eve asked soon after Gabrielle went chasing after Ari. As she thought over her youngest
daughter’s question, a slight smile caught at the corners of Xena’s lips. No, she did have to admit that although it was not
funny at the time, thinking back upon it, it was rather funny watching the fumes of smoke billowing out of the windows as both
Ari and Gabrielle stood covered in a thin film of soot. The warrior wasn’t certain what was more funny, the fact that three
attempts to teach her how to cook failed, or the scene of the two women surrounded by the black cloud.
Despite her desire to laugh, Xena donned a serious mask as she lowered her eyes from her daughter. “Eve, regardless, Ari is
still not used to us, and it’s not easy for her right now. I think a bit more understanding is called for on your part.”
