Xena saw it all with a glance. The monster looming over the tiny figure of her best friend, Gabrielle's inability to react this one time, and the distance over water she would have to cross to get to them. She knew she had to stop it before Gabrielle was harmed any worse than she might already be.
Xena never hesitated as she grabbed her chakram, calculated the thrust, and threw the weapon with deadly accuracy. It whistled across the distance, gleaming silvery in the pale light, until it struck true and severed an arm from the monsters body.
It all happened in slow motion to Xena as she caught the weapon on the return trip, effortless after years of practice.
The Gorgastor roared in pain, stumbling awkwardly from the loss of it's limb. Gabrielle finally awoke from her stupor and cried, "Xena!"
Mitch and Kat knew she couldn't swim fast enough to get her there in time, so as they met Xena on the shore, they clasped their hands together low enough for easy reach.
"Need a lift?" Kat asked.
Xena nodded, took a few steps back, then with a running leap, stepped into the cradle of their hands, allowing them to catapault her into the air. Her battle cry rang in warning as she flipped for a landing.
She hit the island running, drawing her sword as adrenaline contorted her face. The creature met her head on, striking out with it's claws in an effort to rip her to shreds.
Xena ducked and spun around, aiming a powerful kick at it's midsection. The blow landed with force, propelling the creature back several feet.
Xena caught a flash of movement from the corner of her eye and noticed Mitch and Kat emerge from the pond, water sluicing off their bodies with every step.
She spared them but a moment as she cried, "Get Gabrielle out of here!"
Then the monster was back again, slashing at her and forcing Xena to flip out of reach.
Mitch and Kat knew they couldn't conquer the beast so they ran to release Gabrielle. Kat being the taller, cut the vines holding her high in the tree with a blow from her sword, and Mitch caught her limp body as it fell to the ground.
Gabrielle's limbs tingled painfully as her blood rushed through her veins. Mitch helped Gabrielle to her feet, handing the weaker female her own staff for support.
"We've got to help Xena! Please, don't worry about me and go help her!"
Gabrielle felt more like her old self and wasn't about to abandon Xena in a time like this. And since she couldn't help, she wanted to make sure she had the next best thing.
Mitch and Kat agreed with Gabrielle. Although Xena was holding her own right now, they both knew it couldn't last. The energy the beast had only begun to tap into was more than enough to dominate the battle before the end.
"Stay here Gabrielle. Kat and I are going to try and help."
Gabrielle nodded and seconds later, they were fighting beside their friend, blades in hand and ready to do damage. But their strikes against the monster healed almost instantly, slowing it down just marginally as they pressed their attack.
"There's got to be another way! We can't keep this up much longer!"
Mitch had sized up the situation perfectly, Xena thought as she ducked again and slashed at the Gorgastor. Her sword strikes were wounding it, but nothing seemed to kill it. Then she remembered Mitch's words from last night.
"A fire! Quick, somebody build a fire!"
Mitch knew what Xena had in mind and broke away to begin her task. She watched with one eye on the battle as she gathered brush together then sturck her flint.
At that moment, Xena tripped on an exposed root and fell to the ground. The monster moved in for the kill, but Kat leapt into the breach, slashing powerfully with her two swords. But as always, her blows weren't enough to stop it, and the Gorgastor knocked her aside powerfully.
Kat flew thru the air, managing to twist so that she landed on her feet close to the fire. But the delay had been enough.
Xena flipped to her feet and ordered, "NOW! The Fire!"
Mitch picked up a branch and lit both ends. The wood caught and flared brightly as she tossed the torch to Kat. Kat caught it effortlessly and cried, "Xena! Catch!"
She sent it tumbling thru the air at an incredible speed, leaving a golden arc in it's wake. Xena dropped her sword, flipped over the towering monster and caught the torch easily. As soon as it hit her hand, Xena chanted her cry and thrust the torch into the now turned face of the Gorgastor.
It screamed shrilly, clawing at the leaping flames that eagerly ate at it's flesh. Then in a binding flash of fire, it was gone, leaving behind only a curtain of ash that fell to the ground.
