Gabrielle felt a smile form she moved to get up only to feel Xena take her arm and pull her back down gently. Xena raised an eyebrow as she spoke in a playful tone. “You’re forgetting something.” Gabrielle looked down as she moved her hand through the dark haired woman’s hair. She leaned forward meeting her lips, feeling herself breathe in deeply as she enjoyed the deep kiss. Xena slowly closed her eyes feeling the warmth of the kiss move through her veins, she felt a twinge of anger suddenly sweep through her system as the sound of cracking wood hit her ears she found her body going stiff. Gabrielle felt their lips part she breathed in trying to gain control she could see Xena’s light blue eyes narrowing.

Her lover’s body was tensing up underneath her she turned seeing that Argo was still chewing grass near by. She moved her hand gently down the older woman’s leather bodice. “What is it?” Xena looked up watching as Gabrielle’s hand moved towards her staff, which was lying close by. She slowly took hold of her sword, which was next to their bedroll. “Trouble…” Gabrielle felt Xena move allowing her to jump to her feet the next moments caught her completely by surprise as an armoured man crashed through the trees in front her. He didn’t even look in her direction he was going as he ran towards her, his bloody sword in his hand. He lost his footing in an instant which in turn caused him to hit the floor hard in front of them.

Xena watched him turn to face her as he sat up painfully his face was covered in bloody scratches and the look of fear in them was as clear as day. She looked at his armour for a moment seeing that he had the Corinthian symbol on the helmet. There was blood pouring down from a deep wound in his side which was staining his white shirt.  He looked up the fear in his voice as he shouted in her direction. “Run! You have to run!” He turned looking at the trees behind them. “It’s coming!” Xena eyed him for a long moment. “Who’s coming?” The man pulled himself up almost falling over again as he struggled to get back on his feet. “It’ll kill you and rip you to pieces!” Gabrielle turned sharply hearing the leaves move somewhere in the distance. “Xena…what’s he talking about?”