From the Annals of Bastet

Listen, all you who wish to can hear a tale. The Cat Goddess speaks to me; whispering in my ear the adventures and wanderings of her mortal minions.

She has as many favorites as a queen has kittens year after year. All her hunters know her. They hear her growl in the thunder and watch her claw strike in the lightening; they feel the soft rubbing of her celestial fur in the touch of the wind on their cheeks as they ride. Let me tell you a tale about the fierce queen of her beasts and how she walked with the humans awhile and learned of their ways of constancy and treachery.

The great striped queen's name was Nimia. She came from the jungles of the land where the elephants served men and the gods and goddesses have many arms. The land was known as India where the great river Indus feeds water to the land and gives the people blessings. Nimia was a great beautiful beast. She weighed as much as three well grown men and had claws that could easily tear the hide of the elephant or bring down a horse charging.

Nimia was walking in the jungle one day. She had just released the last of her cubs into the care of the great cat goddess and had gone her own way as cats do to find a meal and shady place to lie down. She spied a deer in the thicket near by and was crouching to hunt her prey when a bright scent caught her attention and the ground before her swirled and danced. She knew the Cat Goddess was approaching. The great Bastet appeared taking shape within a blue mist. Sleek and well-muscled, the black feline with glowing green eyes touched noses with the huntress and spoke.

"Dear one, leave this prey and go to the land in the west. Go to a place called Thebes on the plains of Attica. There they will soon need you to assist in a great adventure. When you have approached this country, a sister immortal of mine will take you into her care and make you hers for a while. Submit to this but always keep your independence for we are the beasts who walk alone. I will speak to you again when the time is right." And then the Great Feline was gone.

Nimia lay in the tall grasses for a moment pondering the turn of events and then set off for the new world with the strides that only such powerful beasts could accomplish. She walked until she was too hungry to go on. In the steppes of the country she downed a shaggy elk and gorged on it until she could eat no more. Then she slept in the shade after bathing the blood from her fur and watching the sunrise in the east.

Nightfall came and she set off again and night turned to day and to night and still she loped along following the scent that the great feline had laid down for her to follow. She had seen jungle and steppes and desert and had traveled many days when the scent of the land became more fertile and hills and valleys more green. She had traveled by night and slept by day. She knew now that adventure was near and she chuffed and growled at the thought of it.

She was coming down from a sheer mountain pass when a bright light blinded her and she stopped and roared at the threat. A slender human appeared before her. This was a female but she bore the weapons and garb of a hunter. The human spoke in the tongue of the feline. "I claim you for my own. I am Artemis, the huntress." With that she touched Nimia on the nose and a thrilling sensation went through the tigress. She closed her eyes only a moment but when she opened them, she was in a great stone hall and all around her were more immortal humans milling about and laughing. One fine human caught her eyes. He was tall and dark and had the gaze of the predator. Dressed in the skins of animals, he bore a metal weapon that Nimia had seen humans use to slay beasts and each other. He sat down across the great hall from where she lay. Their eyes met for a moment and the human smiled as if to say, "I know you."

The immortal humans engaged in revelry into the evening. Artemis pointed Nimia out to many and boasted off her speed, skill and strength. Another immortal that they called Poseidon boasted of his beast called the shark and said that the shark could best the tiger for sure. The immortals caused a great pool to open in the center of the room and in it was the biggest fish that Nimia had ever seen. The tigress's eyes widen as the scent of dinner approached. She crouched by the side of the pool seeing the tiny eyes focus on her. She saw the white fish lunge out of the water. She lunged and with her usual speed made quick work of severing the silver life chord from the animal as she had been taught by her mother and her mother before her and as she had taught the kits that had so recently gone on their way.

The beast took awhile to stop floundering but with the last twitch, the tigress settled down to a meal as Artemis laughed and the others around her clapped. The tigress felt a twinge of concern as she looked into the eyes of Poseidon. He scowled, not for the death of his beast but for his own wounded pride.

As dusk fell, the revelers settled down. Nimia had lost the focus of attention and decided to wander out onto the plains and see the land that she had come so far to inhabit. She leapt down from the walls of the place that she had learned they called Olympus and soon was in the forest again. She smelled the familiar scent of Bastet and knew that she was once more on her way.

The sounds of the night excited her and traveled through the beautiful hills and valleys. She had come upon many beasts but as she had feasted well on the shark she had no need to kill again. Night turned to day and she loped along ever independent. In a clearing, she slowed as the scent on the wind caught her curiosity. She smelled the scent of man. She could not see them but they were there. They were particularly there as she could tell they had not bathed for days. She chuffed softly and approached the clearing.

Suddenly, the solid ground gave way and Nimia fell headlong into a deep pit. She was momentarily stunned but soon regained her footing and roared at out of surprise and anger. Above her, puny men laughed and prodded her with poles. One man with a whip lashed her and she cried out in rage as the leather tore through her fur into her flesh. She stormed and raged and tried to leap out but the walls were too high. As the humans continued their torment she looked up to see the face of the immortal Poseidon for just a moment. He laughed and was gone. Nimia roared but inside she was afraid. The humans had the advantage and she was growing tired.

Then just as quickly, they were gone. Nimia smelled a familiar scent, the scent that Bastet gives all creatures who are sacred to her. As Nimia waited, a log dropped down to the floor of the pit and the tigress scampered up the log to freedom. Outside, she saw two humans. One was a great tanned male who smelled of clean sweat and had tawny, tanned skin. He was well grown and Nimia knew he was special among the humans. The other was a female with long fine hair and a kind face. It was this human that had Bastet's scent. Nimia sidled over to her and added her scent to the human's thigh as she rubbed her. The tigress then laid down and waited for she knew that this was the one for which she come to this land and a great adventure waited.

Part 2

Tosh had watched with a cat's curiosity as the dragons in the sky had battled and one had finally gone to its rest. He understood such a struggle. Life around him was wild and he understood in some primitive sense the coming and going of things as they passed through the great circle that the humans called life.

The giant human male that so many of the fierce females sniffed around and eyed stood watching the death the dragon and there was a sadness in his blue eyes. Beside him, the favorite of Bastet, the small female with hair that fell about her in a great torrent, wept at the site of the death of the great winged beast. The two humans exchanged a look that Tosh could only wonder about. To the humans, it was the sad remembrance of war, and slaying, and heroes fallen in battles fought that later made no sense.

The group spoke in turn to the dragon that was left. Then the massive beast took to flight and was gone and the party of humans exchanged their farewells and began to leave. Tosh ambled over to the one called Calico and rubbed against her as if to say "I go with you." Calico stroked the beast idly as she watched the hero, Hercules of Thebes part with his friend, Iolaus, who was heading off to the east. He shook hands with the smaller, wiry man and they joked and laughed a minute. She gave a wistful sigh as she watched Hercules make his way toward the forest. He was completely unaware, it seemed, of his stunning male beauty. She wondered if he knew, really knew, what effect he had on the Women of the Warrior's Way that the Greeks called Amazons. Most men were insignificant to these fierce sisters. But this one, with his unpretentious grace, his tall, well-muscled form and his stubborn, singular courage had won their hearts and admiration.

Calico smiled at her thoughts and trailed after the other Amazons as they made their way back to the city. Tosh began to follow but then stopped and took a moment to look one more time at the tall Greek before he disappeared into the forest.

"Come on, beastie," Calico said as she walked away. But Tosh hesitated.

"What's the matter, boy?" She added. The beast growled a growl of concern and his tail switched to and fro with anxiety. "Well, you silly boy. Come on.....he can take care of himself! Believe me, if anyone can, he can." Calico stroked the tiger and he finally turned and loped past Calico toward the City of the Amazons. Now it was Calico's turn to wonder. Did Tosh sense something that the humans could not? She looked into the forest where Hercules had disappeared and then turned to catch up with the others. The air had turned chilly and cold.

Part III:

Hercules had been walking for sometime in the forest. The canopy above was so thick that he could barely tell the time of day. But he guessed that it was sunset or after and he decided to make camp in a short while. He began to look around for something to eat. He was too tired to hunt and wanted to find whatever he could, make a fire for the evening and rest.

These woods should have been familiar to him for he had come this way with the Amazons to find the dragon. He prided himself on his sense of direction and rarely had he ever been in a place where he could not easily navigate his way. The forest seemed more ominous than it had been before and it dawned on him that for a while now he had not heard a sound. The massive warrior stopped and took a good look around. Though the trail was well marked, there were no signs in the dirt of the tracks he should have made only a short while ago with the Amazons.

"I am completely lost." he whispered then realized that he was speaking. "If you start talking to yourself then you're really in trouble." he said and then laughed. He had recalled being young and hunting in the forest with Iolaus. They had gotten separated and both were frightened but neither would admit to it later. What each boy would admit to was talking to himself. He remembered hearing his own voice and then hearing Iolaus's. They spotted each other at the same moment and started laughing partly from embarrassment and partly from relief. "I could use the sound of your voice right now, my friend."

Hercules found some tubers to roast in a clearing and made a fire. He sat now and watched the firelight, waiting for dinner. This was one of the times in his life that he always found so difficult. How many times in his wanderings had he spent the night alone in the wilderness. Even when he was married, people would come to the door begging for help and he would leave the hearth and home he loved and go off into the world of danger. After the adventure, there was always a time that he spent alone. So many nights on his way home he sat by the fire and would think of the family that was waiting for him. The thought of Deianeira and the children would be his last thought before sleeping and his first thought in the morning. He felt the sting of tears and the tightness in his chest as he thought of them. Then the image of the flash of fire that had sent them all into the next world flooded his mind again as it had a thousand times before. He put his hands to his eyes to shut out the horror and began to weep silently.

In a while, the warrior became calm again. The food was done but he had lost his appetite and tossed the meal out only after a few bites. He lay down and wrapped his arms around him to sleep. He knew he was in for a restless night. The forest was strange, his thoughts were dark. It was colder than he could recall for this time of year. He fell asleep but awoke every time he turned or moved. Finally, he fell into a deep, troubled sleep.

Part IV:

The sorceress looked into her pool of visions and watched the warrior Hercules toss and turn in fitful sleep. Idolla smiled a thin smile. He was attractive and bold and he was a son of Zeus. This handsome warrior was providing her with the power she needed to escape this prison to which she had been consigned. No mortal man had ever survived her dominating spells. And he was so sensitive, she thought, weeping at the thought of his dead children. She smiled again, he would prove to be an interesting quarry for her.

She got up from the table where she had cast her spells of "sight" in the bowl of clear water and strolled outside. Long ago, in a earthshattering struggle for power, she had challenged the Olympians in battle. She and her dark forces had lost and all of her minions had been killed by Ares and his lady general, Xena. In an effort to save herself, Idolla cast a spell of protection around this forest and held her ground here for a last conflict. But the battle never took place. Zeus called upon all forces to contain the evil sorceress within the forest forever. Idolla felt the anger rise in her as she thought about her imprisonment. Some day she would meet Zeus again in battle and take her revenge upon him.

It had been centuries since she had seen another living thing other than the trees around her. Then one day, the Queen of Olympus herself came to Idolla. Hera struck a bargain with the sorceress. If the sorceress would enslave this warrior and take him with her far away from the plains of Greece, Hera would free her. The two made a pact and sealed it with celestial blood. Hera was for some reason anxious to destroy this one man. That fascinated the sorceress. What was it about this warrior that so disturbed Hera. What it Zeus' infidelity? But he had so many sons and daughters and was always busy making more. He certainly had not intervened often to help this son of his according to Hera. So it was not that this man was a favorite to the fickle and vainglorious Zeus.

"Well, we will see," she said as she took one last glance into the pool at the warrior. He was waking now. He yawned and ran his hands over his face and through his hair. As she watched, he got to his feet unsteadily and stretched looking around him. It seemed almost that he could sense her looking at him from the wary frown on his face. Idolla began the spellbinding.

Part V:

Calico and the great tiger arrived with the other Amazons at their fortified village at sunset. Each woman went her way to her home. As Calico neared her house she found her daughter engaged in her archery practice with two of her friends.

"Watch, Mother!" the young girl said and aimed and shot at her mark hitting the bullseye dead center. Calico laughed and hugged her daughter.

"You'll take my place soon as the Queen's archer!" she said. Just a that moment the girls all screamed and Calico had her sword in hand before she could realize that the girls had only just now spotted Tosh.

"Meet Tosh, little ones." Calico said laughing. Her daughter was already approaching the giant tiger. The girl went cautiously, knowing that this was a wild beast but fascinated by its beauty. She had seen tigers before and had a healthy respect for their power. Tosh ambled over to the girl, smelling the scent of sacred Bastet on the child as he had smelled it on the mother. Tosh rubbed against the girl and the other girls laughed as she fell over with the weight of the gigantic feline. Amberlia laughed along with the others and got up.

"Come now," Calico said. "It's time for supper. You others must be off to home and Amberlia, you have studies and practice with the lyre before bed. I have to service my arms and prepare for the war council tomorrow."

The evening had come and gone with its quiet activities and now the two women prepared for bed. They said a short prayer of thanks to the Goddess and Calico tucked Amberlia in for the night.

"You know, mother; I'm getting a little old to be tucked in for the night," the girl said as she kissed her mother.

"You'll never get too old for me to tuck you in!" They both laughed. "We'll still be doing this when we are both so old that we can barely see enough to find each others faces to kiss." She blew out the candle and went into the front room to sit by the fire for a moment before retiring herself. Tosh was lounging in front of the hearth and stretched out taking up the whole length of the hearth. Calico sat down in front of him and scratched his belly lovingly and the tiger chuffed at the pleasing feeling. The smell of the beast was wild and earthy and Calico was too tired to get up to go to bed so she lay down by the tiger and went to sleep.

In a dream Calico was walking in a dark forest. Around her were the sounds of odd beasts she had never heard before. Her sword was in her hand and she was armed for battle. She trod carefully and scanned the area for some unknown enemy. Her heart beat in her chest but her face showed only grim wariness. Then she heard a man's shout of anger and pain and heard some great animal roar. She ran down the path between huge primeval trees and came into a clearing where she stopped in her tracks in horror. Before her on a great tree hung the hero Hercules. He was naked save for a loincloth and he bled from a myriad of tiny wounds. Holding his outstretched arms against the branches were two massive snakes that tightened their hold as he struggled. Other snakes coiled about him pinning him to the bough. His face was contorted in rage. Calico leapt up to the tree and began to hack at the snakes but from behind the tree on either side of her came the two heads of the hydra snapping at her and keeping her from rescuing the wounded man. In the distance she heard a woman's laughter. Then the tree and the man burst into flames and he screamed as the fire consumed him.

Calico woke with a start. She was lying against the tiger and the room was dark. The fire was little more than embers now. She lay there catching her breath when she realized that an odd blue glow was beginning to fill the room. Tosh was chuffing and beginning to rise. Calico looked around and before the small altar that she kept in the corner of the room, a blue light began to swirl and eddy. Within the light, a figure formed and Calico felt a chill of awe as the ancient feline Goddess, Bastet appeared before her.

The Cat Goddess was slender and small; not much larger than a house cat. She sat with the same calm self-assuredness that she had blessed all cats with down through time. Around her was a blue glow. She was black as night and had a small gold hoop earring in her right ear that sparkled as she cocked her head and peered at the human with deep green eyes.

"Hello, blessed one. I am Bastet....one of the ancient ones," the cat said.

"I know who you are. I worship you in secret. I don't want to make my gods angry," Calico replied.

The Cat Goddess laughed. "My gods, your gods. There is only one real force in the universe and we all must worship the Great One whose name is too sacred to be spoken. Beyond that, be gentle to all things and love one another and you will fulfill the Will of Him who created all things. We you call gods are just another order of being," the Goddess replied. Calico nodded in understanding.

"But enough of that. I have come for an urgent reason," Bastet said. "I have sent Tosh to you from his native home far in the east to help you in a mission." She stepped delicately over to the tiger and touched noses then turned to Calico again, "You know the warrior Hercules?"

"Yes. I just had a terrible dream about him."

"I have sent you that dream in warning. He is in danger and will perish if you do not go at once to help him."

Calico rose quickly. "I'll get my sisters and we'll be ready straightway."

"No," replied Bastet. "The Amazons are watched closely by that one of us called Hera. She is aware of the relationship you all have with Hercules and she is offended by your respect and friendship with him. She is powerful and spiteful. You must go alone so that she will not be aware of your assistance to her stepson. I can hide you from her watchful eye. Tosh is under the protection of Artemis and Hera will not harm him for the moment. Tosh will know the way."

"Go now. Rouse your daughter and arm yourselves for the coming peril. May you be blessed with victory in the name of the Great One. Watch for my signs and stay with Tosh."

Then just as quickly as she had appeared; the Cat Goddess disappeared in a mist and the room was dark and cold again. Calico looked at the tiger who looked up at her and yawned. "Well," the Amazon said, "I guess that is that." She paused for a moment, amazed at the strange turn of events then shrugged and got to her feet. Soon she and her daughter were making their way in the moonlight through the village and into the forest with the tiger loping before them.

Part VI:

Hercules looked around the gloomy forest and stretched once again to get the soreness out of his back and arms. The silence in the woods made him nervous and wary. This could only be a place of magic where all the animals and even insects had left or been destroyed. He shivered to think of this. Even being the son of a god, he was repelled by supernatural things. He kicked out the last of the embers of the fire and began down the path marking the way in his mind by noting small things that would cue him to whether he was walking in circles. Along the way he picked some fruit to eat but wondered whether it was a good idea to eat anything that had grown here.

He had been walking for what seemed like an eternity. The silence was unnerving so began to sing to himself. He sang a song his mother had taught him when he was young and the sound of the melody made him homesick. Then his singing and the silence was broken by a scream. He ran into the clearing before him to find a young girl cornered by a hydra. She could not have been more than fifteen or sixteen. Her clothes were ragged and she looked as if she had been wandering for days. The hydra snapped and roared as it loomed over her.

This type of beast was well known to the warrior. He had fought a hydra once with Iolaus and knew its magic. The warrior looked around for anything he could use as a weapon. There was a fallen branch nearby so he picked it up and put himself quickly between the monster and its prey. Hercules swung at the beast. Without a sword he was at a disadvantage. The monster backed up but did not move to retreat. Hercules knew his only chance was to get the girl and run. The hydra could be killed but to do that he needed a sword and fire and he had neither. As the hydra approached he backed up toward the girl.

"Can you run?" he shouted She screamed again and put her hands to her face sobbing. "Gods." he muttered and swung again at the hydra. "You have to get up and come to me. We have to run! I can't kill this thing."

"Help me! Help me! Come to me!" she cried.

"Gods in Heaven!" Hercules cursed. "You're no amazon." He backed up to her, keeping himself between the two. Instead of coming toward him, she seemed to be backing away as she cowered. He took one final swing at the central head of the beast, knocking the whole animal back for a moment. Then he turned and swept her off the ground with one arm, holding her to him. The hydra was approaching again when he felt her arm slide around his waist and her other hand touch his chest over his heart. Her hands were as cold as ice.

"You have come to me of your own free will, and now you are mine," She whispered to him. All of his will drained out of him and he stood paralyzed by her power. It took him a moment to realize that the hydra had vanished. The forest was silent again. He looked down into the coldest gaze he had ever seen.

She had changed. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair and deep blue eyes but her beauty was completely overshadowed by an evil that made his skin crawl at her touch. Yet he could not draw away. She stepped away from him and examined him slowly.

"So you are Hercules, son of Zeus." She walked around him as he stood immobile. "Take off your shirt and your bracelets. Let me see that exquisite body."

He obeyed silently and let the clothing and bracelets drop to the ground.

"Hmm...excellent. This was easier than I thought it would be. Your compassion for others has been your downfall, boy. I'm afraid you have rescued your last maiden in distress," She said as she turned and made her way down the path.

The warrior looked stunned at the bracelets on the ground that Hephestus, the god of fire, had made for him when he had come to manhood. He rarely took them off. Hephestus was one of the few gods he admired.

"Follow me, boy. Don't displease me or you will regret it."

Hercules turned and walked after her.

Part VII:

The two Amazons, mother and daughter, left the fortress city in the dead of night. Calico left a hasty note for the queen that she hoped would explain their departure:

My Liege:
The Goddess has come to me in a vision and instructed me to take my daughter and set out on a mission of rescue. She has instructed me to go alone. Forgive my vague explanation but I am compelled to follow this order.

Glory to the Amazons! May I use my sword in the Her Honor and remain strong in a world that is weak.

Calico

The moon lit their way as the two women set along the road that led to the plains where they had found Tosh captured in a pit. They walked at a brisk pace as Tosh loped along and sometimes stopped and sniffed the air. By morning they had reached the edge of the woods where Calico had last seen Hercules disappear into the forest. Tosh was agitated and wary and growled as he sniffed the air and looked into the darkness of the woods. A forbidding silence lay over the forest.

"We need some rest," Calico said looking around to get her bearings then she pointed to hill nearby. "Beyond that rise is a small spring where we will make camp. We can eat and rest. When we are fresh, we'll enter the forest. I don't like the feel of this place. I have heard strange stories of this wood. The hunters say this is an evil place. We'll need all our wits about us."

Her daughter nodded and they started for the campsite on the hill. With Tosh as their lookout, the two rested in the shade until noon. Then they decamped and prepared to go into the forest. When they came back to the spot where Calico had seen Hercules leave, she stopped and looked around again as if not believing her eyes. Tosh growled and Amberlia shook her head mystified.

"This has changed!" she said to her daughter. Amberlia nodded in agreement. Light filtered through the trees now and the birds sang as she stepped under the dense canopy. "Am I going mad?? We were here in the early morning and this forest was different. Wasn't it?" She turned to her daughter.

"This place was different!" Amberlia agreed. Both women looked at Tosh and he gave a growl of anger. His tail twitched and he smelled the ground as if he were saying the same thing. Then he took off loping into the forest and the women dashed after him. The rescue party followed the forest path until they came to a clearing. The two women were preparing to go on when Tosh roared setting birds to flight. Calico approached the tiger as he looked at her and nuzzled something on the ground. She found the shirt and bracelets she had last seen on the son of Zeus as he had left them. She picked up the articles and looked around.

"No blood on them," she muttered. "No signs of a struggle."

"But look, Mom. Look over here. Hydra's tracks."

The two women looked closely at the ground and the signs of the hydra's slithering form were apparent. They pieced together the scene but were mystified at what they came up with.

"No sign that the hydra came in here and no signs of leaving. It's as if it just appeared out of nowhere. A man's tracks, obviously Hercules. And a woman's," Calico said. She looked again at the warrior's shirt and bracelets and then at her daughter.

Amberlia shrugged then she pointed. "Tosh has taken off down the path, mom." They followed.

The Amazons came to a small hut, well built of materials that were not native to the forest. They surmised that the hut had been built by magic. The door was ajar so the two went in with swords drawn.

The place was deserted. On the table in the middle of the hut was a pan with clean water. Laid over it was a peacock feather.

"Hera!" Calico cursed. "Damn, the horse-faced witch has got him. Where the Hades is Bastet when I need her. He needs her!" She looked around. The room had all manner of magical things and devices and books of necromancy. The use of such things gave her the chills. "Let's get out of here."

Then Amberlia gasped. "oh.....you poor thing." Calico watched as her daughter pulled a small kitten from underneath the peacock feather. The kitten hissed at the girl and she laughed. "Oooo......you're a tough one."

"Be careful, Amberlia.....this could be one of Hera's tricks." Calico cautioned. But Amberlia stroked the little ball of fur laughing.

Then the kitten jumped out of Amberlia's hands onto the table and hissed at the peacock feather. "You're too late," the kitten meowed.

The two women stared wide-eyed at the kitten. "I said, you're too late!" it spoke again. "I serve Bastet and was sent here to show you the way. Idolla, a great sorceress once lived captive in this wood bound by the magic of those you call gods. It is she who has taken Hercules away. She struck a bargain with their Queen and for her freedom she has pledged to Hera to capture and keep the son of Zeus as slave." The kitten looked up at the two who were still transfixed by its speech.

"The water in this pan was used by Idolla to conjure and it will be used with the power of Bastet to lead you on your way. Burn the feather and put the ashes in the water then drink it. And give some to Tosh." Both Amazons grimaced and the kitten hissed, "Do it!!"

Calico made a spark as Amberlia held the feather to flint. Soon the feather was on fire and the ashes made a sickly smell as they dropped off into the pan. Each stirred the water a little and then took a sip and give the rest to Tosh who seemed to understand the plan and waited by the table. He drank also, lapping the water up.

Then the kitten hissed again as all of its fur stood on end and it spat three times. That was the last thing Calico remembered as she began to fall. In the distance she heard her daughter scream.

Part VIII:

The sound of the sea woke Amberlia up. She felt the sand against her cheek. She opened her eyes to she a great stretch of beach and Tosh ambling over to her. He nuzzled her, "Don't you dare lick me....with that tongue you'll tear my cheek off," she grumbled. He chuffed as if he were laughing. The girl got up and looked around. "Tosh, where's my mom?" she said. Tosh growled.

Then Amberlia realized she was alone in a strange place and a surge of panic came over her. She took a deep breath and the training as an Amazon took over. "Well, what now, cat?" she said.

She surveyed the beach. Beyond the sand lay a grove and she began to walk toward the grove to see what lay beyond. Tosh followed along behind. Through the grove Amberlia began to see signs of civilization. There were tilled fields and a village near by. She made her way for it. As a precaution she strung her bow to be ready as her mother had taught her.

As she walked down the path into the village she saw people running toward the square in the middle of the town. She decided to investigate. As she approached she found an angry mob surrounding someone. The villagers were waving pitchforks and staffs. Tosh let out an ear-piercing roar and villagers scattered in fear. In the midst of the crowd, Amberlia found her mother with a sword in one hand and bullwhip in the other holding off the mob.

Amberlia notched an arrow in the bow and aimed at the person nearest her mother, "The first one to harm her dies," she shouted.

The villagers screamed out protests. One man stepped toward Amberlia. "We're not afraid to die. Any fate would be better then to submit to the will of Idolla."

"Wait!!" Calico shouted. Her training as an Amazon leader came to the fore, "Kit, honey, put down the bow," she commanded as she laid down her weapons. "Listen to me. We are not your enemies. We fight the same foe."

The villagers began to talk amongst themselves confused. Calico went on, "We seek Idolla because she has stolen a warrior from our land and taken him slave. We are on a mission of rescue."

"But what about the beast that follows the girl. It must be magic!" One of the villagers said.

"Yes, it's magic. But not all magic is bad. One of our gods has sent Tosh, from far away to help us with our mission to rescue the man called Hercules," Calico replied. "We are Amazon warriors sent to find him and bring him home," Calico replied again.

"Hercules, we have heard of this man. And we have also heard of the Amazons; a race of women who follow the warrior's path!" One of the men said. The villagers buzzed again with discussion of the turn of events.

Their leader put his hand out in friendship. "Forgive us," he said. "you must understand what our land has been through."

"I would like to." Calico said shaking his hand. Amberlia was at her side now and the tiger had sidled over, the villagers giving him a wide berth.

"Come take some food and drink in the tavern and we will explain all. My name is Aldan."

In the tavern, the two women ate while the villagers gathered around them whispering. Amberlia kept an eye on the crowd and on Tosh muttering to herself. "You people don't get out much, do you?". Her mother elbowed her and she scowled. Calico listened to Aldan as he told of the village.

"You have come to the land of Hydor. Once long ago Idolla came here from what ever evil place spawned her. She was a great sorceress. Her power was so great that no magician or ruler around could stand against her. Not sword or spell could best her. All suffered as she bled life and wealth from the land and the people in her quest for power. Then she set off to challenge beings from a place called Lympa far away where she heard there were even more powerful beings..."

"Lympa? You must mean Olympus," Calico said. "That is where our gods reside."

"Then those must be the ones she set out to conquer," he went on. "It was said that she was defeated and destroyed. But recently the word on the wind is that she is back. They say that the lanterns burn in her temple again and the land bleeds where she has been."

Aldan looked tired and afraid. "When you mentioned the name Idolla, we didn't even hear anything else. We are so afraid of her that the very idea of her name brings panic and rage to us. Our forefathers have handed down the stories of this woman's evil. It was only in my grandfather's generation that the land began to grow decent crops again. This place was a wasteland.....the word that she had returned has all the people throughout the land in turmoil."

Calico contemplated the information as she ate. She looked down at Tosh and at her daughter and then spoke. "Thank you for your information. This means that my mission is even more urgent. Hercules is a powerful man. Perhaps the bravest and strongest of any warrior ever. But against an enemy like this......." She shook her head remembering the dream that she had had and seeing again his body consumed by flames. "Do you have anyone who can lead us to Idolla's temple?"

Aldan looked unsure and glanced around at the others. No volunteers were forthcoming and he shook his head. "As much as we would like to help you....we have no stomach for going near any place where the evil sorceress may reside."

"Can you at least show us the way?" Calico said frustrated.

Aldan looked at her. "Well....You must understand, we are farmers. Simple people who have knowledge of combat..."

"Yet an hour ago you were prepared to kill me." Calico interrupted. She put down her cup of wine and looked into the eyes of the villagers around her. "Listen to me. You and we, we are not so very different. I know warfare is strange to you. I respect your desire to till your fields and tend your homes in peace. That is what I would like too, and what Hercules would like if he were here. We have families and children and homes. But we have learned that you cannot always avoid the struggles of war and that if we run away it simply comes looking for us. Therefore we must face it. And when it is done, put down our arms and go home to our hearths. That is what I intend to do. I would love to keep my daughter safe from danger. But I cannot do it by teaching her to run from it. I want her to be able to stand up when danger comes and defend herself. That is what the Amazon Nation is about. We do not hate men, contrary to what some say. But neither will we allow ourselves to live in fear of those who are stronger."

Amberlia nodded. Her young face showed the same resolve as her warrior mother's.

Aldan sighed and shook his head. "We will tell you the way. But it may mean our lives. If Idolla finds that we have helped you, we are all doomed," he said.

"Then tell us what you can......for if we do not find her and defeat her, then who knows what she can do in our world. The hero Hercules will be worse than dead. And all of our lives will be forfeit," the Amazon replied gravely.

Part IX:

Hercules lay alone in bed for the first time in days. He stared up at the ceiling and wondered how long he had been in this captivity. Constantly his mind sought a means of escape. He had kept up resistance to this evil creature so far but she sapped his strength and will at ever turn. He worried how long he could go on. As he thought about the situation he felt relief that at the idea that at least he had not bowed to Hera.

He remembered the scene and a sick feeling came over him again. He remembered standing in front of his stepmother as she smiled so cruelly. All the suffering she had ever brought him washed over him and he felt a fury he could hardly contain. He heard Idolla order him to kneel. He locked his knees and with all of the strength that he had ever had he stiffened every muscle at his will. Sweat ran down his face and arms and he could feel himself trembling with effort.

He could also feel Idolla's will invading him and Hera's powers swirling around him. He closed his eyes and thought of everyone he had ever loved. He called upon their strength. He saw Iolaus' intense look and Xena's piercing stare. He saw Deianeira and the children and the beautiful Golden Hind, his gentle, shy Serena. He saw the loving face of his mother. All of them were reaching out to touch him. Behind them in a circle were the nation of Amazons stretching out their hands to send him power. Then the power of the evil women dropped away and Idolla cursed.

"My power over him is not yet at its full strength. But do not worry, Hera, I will make this man submit," she spat out then she slapped him. How long ago had that taken place he did not know. Day and night ran together in an unending test of wills between the warrior and the witch. She commanded his body but he kept her away from his soul. She humiliated him and hurt him but he never gave her the satisfaction of anger or anguish.

He remained impassive which enraged her. Now he was alone finally and could get some peace, but he had no trust in anything she did or did not do. The fact that she had dismissed him to sleep alone did not make him relax. He knew this was just another trick. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

In a dream, Hercules saw himself walking along a cliff's edge. Above him on the heights he saw Idolla looking down at him. Below him were depths so deep he could not see the bottom. The path was narrow and curved around out of sight. He looked up and saw Idolla open her mouth and scream a piercing scream.

Out of her mouth flew huge wicked-looking insects that descended toward him. He started running away around the curve. Too late he realized as he rounded the corner that the path ended. He tried to stop but slid over the side toward the bottomless morass. He caught himself briefly then the rock gave way and he felt himself fall back.

Then a hand reached out and grabbed him. He felt a small firm grip and looked up into warm brown eyes. An Amazon was holding him. As she leaned over the side, a torrent of golden hair fell over her shoulder and brushed his face as it fell around him.

"I know you; I remember you! You're Calico!" he cried as she held him fast.

"Remember me and hold on, son of Zeus. I am on my way to rescue you with help of beings both mortal and immortal. We are coming. Hold on."

Hercules woke with a start. He felt a surge of hope as he thought about the prophetic dream. The image of the Amazon with the long golden hair stayed with him as he drifted back to sleep.

Part X:

The Amazons set out into the wilderness with a map and the tiger as their guide. Tosh had been restless all the time that they were in the village. Once they set out again they realized the map would not be needed as he seemed to know where to go instinctively. He became calm and loped ahead of them stopping periodically to sniff the wind.

Their journey was long across the plains that soon turned hotter and more humid as they came to the swamplands that the people of Hydor had told them about. The journey became a grueling slog through mud and vegetation as they made their way.

Tosh had taken the lead and often had to stop and wait for the two women to catch up. His cat's adroitness allowed him to go up trees and leap from limb to bough where the women had to march on over the soft ground. The going got slow and Calico became worried and despondent at the lack of progress. All the while they made their way, the image of Hercules clouded her mind. She spoke a prayer to the gods to keep him safe until she arrived. She also spoke a prayer for herself and her daughter.

The power of her enemy had not escaped her. From what Bastet had spoken and what the people of Hydor had told her, she realized that she was walking into the greatest battle of her life. And, she was taking her daughter who was a fine warrior and had trained hard, but was untried in the experience of actual combat. The warrior and the mother wrestled within her. She was beginning to have doubts.

They camped on a patch of solid ground they had found. Both women were too tired to do more than make a fire and eat dried meat and bread for dinner. Amberlia set up the camp quietly. She sensed her mother's change in spirit. As they ate Amberlia watched her mother's face in the firelight.

"Mom, what's the matter?"

"I'm afraid," the warrior woman said.

"Afraid for you." Her mother's face was grim. "I keep thinking about this witch Idolla. And Hera. I've never faced such foes as these. They're evil and powerful."

"But you forget Bastet. She protects us. And Artemis, the huntress.... she is Tosh's protectress," Amberlia replied.

Calico looked at her young daughter. Tears stung her eyes. "You've never been in battle, little kit. It changes you forever. You have never had to kill. I hoped that you never would." Amberlia youthful face glowed in the firelight. She closed her eyes and she seemed to sleep for a moment. Calico frowned and began to reach for her when she opened her eyes again. Calico stared into the eyes of the cat.

A blue glow ringed her face. "Who says that she will?" An unearthly voice replied from the mouth of her child. "You must believe that higher forces are with you. I have sent Tosh to kill Idolla. He is the hunter here. I have called him from the land of the rising sun to deal with her evil spirit. He has the strength and the speed. You are here to help Hercules. He will need your help once Idolla has released him from her spell. Be strong. Do not despair." The kit closed her eyes again and let out a great sneeze. She opened her eyes again to see her mother staring at her. She was once again her mother's kit.

"Are you all right, mom?"

Calico laughed amazed and told her what had happened. They both sat quietly thinking about the time to come. Amberlia was excited and Calico had been filling with a new resolve.

They slept deeply with Tosh as their guard. In the early morning they broke camp and resumed their journey. By sundown across the murky waters of the great swamp lake they had come to, they found the sinister fortress of Idolla looming in the distance.

Part XI:

In the great hall the sorceress Idolla cast her powerful dark spells. From the walls of the huge cavern of a room hung tapestries depicting every manner of dark intent. Statues of great heroes she had turned to stone after enslaving and using them stood throughout. In the middle of the room was a pool of water. There Idolla stood with Hercules at her side dressed only in the briefest loincloth tied around his hips. She gazed into the waters after making her ritual sacrifices. Blood mingled with the water as wounded and dying creatures twitched on the floor at her feet.

"See the great army coming for you," Idolla said to her possession. They both gazed into the waters to see the figures of the Amazons trudging slowly through the muddy swamp toward the fortress. "I suppose this is what the mighty Greeks call a rescue." She laughed waving away the image, "Fools," she added.

Idolla looked at Hercules. His face was impassive. He was not sure how much she could read his mind so he guarded every thought. He had long ago figured out that the more rage he allowed to come to the surface, the greater her power over him became. It was as if she could sense anything that was dark and savage with him and the hate within him only aided her. He kept an iron grip on his feelings even when she abused him.

The Sorceress smiled and cocked her head coyly. "You are a mystery to me, boy," she said. "I believe that you will be my most prized possession. You have lasted longer than any of the others." She motioned to the statues around the room. "And I think you have figured out how to keep me at bay." She crossed her arms. "But I like a challenge." With a long scarlet fingernail she hooked the loincloth's strap on his hip and tore it away. His clothing fell to the floor. "Now kneel before your master."

The hall was dark. He walked away from her room after being dismissed; relieved that he could be alone once more. He went down the great stone stairs to the bed in the great hall. She made him sleep among the statues of her past victims thinking that this would wear down his resolve. But as he walked through the room to his pallet near the wall he looked at each of the statues that he passed and they seemed to speak to him. They whispered of their defeat and urged him to be strong. He lay down on his bed roll on the floor and thought about them.

"Your battles are over," he said quietly. "Mine has just begun." He got up and went over to the pool to look into the waters hoping to see the images of the Amazons again. He knew it was foolish as only Idolla's magic could make the images appear. But still he crouched down by the pool and ran his hands over the surface remembering the image of the Amazon with the long golden hair and soft brown eyes. He remembered her words.

Then the warrior heard a soft cry from the pile of creatures that had been sacrificed. He went over to where they were and searched gently through the pitiful bodies so cruelly used. In the heap was a small creature just barely alive. It was a small lizardlike thing with a long tail and neck and a head with tiny horns just beginning to sprout. Hercules had fought many creatures of every size and shape. He had learned that the oddest of beasts could be friend even when they were once enemy. Echidna, the mother of all monsters had been his enemy for he had slain her children all turned evil by Hera's domination. But Hercules had rescued her husband and for that she forgave him and they became friends and allies against Hera. He had decided long ago to treat all as friend until proven otherwise. It sometimes had led him to into dangerous situations but he was willing to take that chance rather than live with mistrust.

He took the tiny creature and held it to him and the animal seemed to revive warmed by his chest. As he looked at it more closely he realized it was a dragon. The wings were bound to the body with tight rope. He undid the knot and the rope fell away. The wings spread out and flapped helplessly. The gash on its body was deep but Hercules knew that dragons healed quickly if given the chance. He left the great hall and went through a winding series of corridors that led up to the battlements of the fortress. There he could now see for miles in all directions as he stood at the wall. He laid the dragonlet on the battlement and looked down at the sheer drop below.

He thought about jumping over. The fall might kill him but it might not if he truly was immortal. The question of his immortality had plagued him all his life and so many times he had taken a chance and won. He got up on the battlement and looked down at the stones so far below. Just one step might end this slavery.

Then he felt Idolla's power loom up inside him. She was in control again of his actions. He stepped off the battlement and turned toward the door. The dragonlet let out a shrill cry and spread its wings taking flight. He watched it fly away until he could not longer see it then turned and went back to the darkness.

Part XII:

Across the lake was the fortress that was their destination. The two women looked over the waters that had a strange reddish cast. When Calico examined this further she saw that in the murky swamp waters grew small plants that swirled throughout the lake giving it a red appearance.

"That is why they said the land bleeds," she said to her daughter. "I wonder what other powers they have given her that only serve to heighten her reputation."

"Maybe she's not the great sorceress they all say," her daughter stated.

"Well, she's got Hercules and that is enough to convince me," her mother replied.

They set off on the long trip around the lake with the tiger in front of them at every step. Now Tosh's manner had changed. He stayed close to the two Amazons instead of going on ahead. He looked around constantly as if on guard for the unexpected. None of this escaped Calico's attention and she warned her daughter to be ready. They strung their bows and checked their armor and their arms. Both were tense.

It took time to get around the lake and approach the great structure with walls that loomed up like great cliffs. It was hot and humid. Above them in the sky circled vultures waiting for them to falter.

Calico looked up the wall which seemed as if it went on forever into the sky. The walls were shear with no holds for climbing. Even if she did climb with her daughter, how would they get Tosh up the shear face. He weighed more than both of them combined.

"We'll walk the perimeter of the wall. Perhaps there is a way in," she said.

They set out of the trek around the fortress. It took them a day and when they were done they were no better off than when they had started. Now back at the beginning of their survey, both were tired beyond what they had ever felt. Calico remarked on it. Even Tosh walked slowly. They made a camp.

"Gods in heaven..."Calico said. "Not even an entrance! She must enter by sorcery," She started a fire and the two sat down. The wall was before them as they ate a scant meal looking up its face. Behind them was the great murky lake. As the sunset, Calico and Amberlia waited for the next sign.

Done with dinner, the two women went to the lake's edge to wash. The reddish cast of the water and the orange golden of the sky made the world look eerie. The water's surface rippled with the gentle wind. Mother and daughter washed their faces, arms and feet. Danger was too close to allow them the luxury of bathing. They kept their swords on their backs. Tosh was lounging close by licking himself also.

Amberlia was finished and wiped her face with her hands. As she looked out over the water again she thought she saw something stirring in the depths. She reached for her mother in warning. Calico had seen it too. The two backed off drawing their swords. Up from the depths came a dolphin that called to them and nodded beckoning them to follow.

Tosh roared but the women were amazed that his manner was excited rather than defensive. He jumped into the water and disappeared after the dolphin. The two women knew instantly that the Cat Goddess was pointing the way. They sheathed their swords quickly securing them and waded out into the water then diving down. As they swam into the depths, dolphins swam by them and the women were pulled by the powerful swimmers into the underground entrance to the fortress.

Part XIII:

Just when Calico thought she would lose consciousness, the dolphins ascended from the black depths. She saw a light above and broke through to the surface. Tosh was already shaking the water from himself on the rocks of a great cave that enclosed the underground lake to which they had been carried. The two women coughed and sputtered and Calico pulled her daughter from the waters just as the dolphins turned and disappeared back into the depths.

Calico looked around to see a cavern littered with bones. Before her were ancient stone stairs leading up to a door. Tosh was already halfway up and looked back at the two expectantly, his tail switching to and fro with the excitement of the hunt. Calico regained her breath and turned to her daughter.

"Are you all right?"

Amberlia nodded coughing. "Let's go," she answered.

Calico went up the stairs to the door. She took a deep breath and turned to her daughter behind her now, "This is it, Amberlia. I can't believe that she does not know we are coming.......we must assume she does. Stay with me. Stay behind me or Tosh. And remember that it is Tosh who is here to dispatch this evil woman. Our job is to see to Hercules."

With that Calico unstrapped and drew her sword and opened the door to find a long dark hallway before her. Tosh went ahead, growling as he walked cautiously down the hall. The air was stale and dank. At the end of the hall, they saw another huge door but as they approached the ground before it began to swirl and move.

Tosh stepped back and roared as a hydra emerged from the very stones of the floor by magic. Three grizzly heads snapped at the intruders. Tosh leapt at the body and tore into the central head and neck as each Amazon approached an angry head, lunging and parrying and finally severing it quickly with her sword. Calico grabbed a torch from the wall and seared the stumps and the animal burst into flames. Amberlia gave an Amazon's cry of victory as she finished her first battle.

"Good job, kit," Calico said as she wiped her blade of a nearby tapestry. "But be wary.....this is just the beginning."

"I know, mother. That was awfully easy."

They opened the doors into a huge barren room. It had only one thing in it. There between two pillars of stone as massive as twenty men Hercules was chained; his arms outstretched. He was bare to the waist. His leather britches were dirty and torn. By him stood the evil Idolla with a knife in her hands.

She smiled. "Welcome, puny Amazons. Welcome to my domain." She laughed and waved the weapon. "Do you know what this is? This is the blade of an immortal in the hands of an immortal. To injury your pretty boy with it now will give him a wound that will never heal. Where shall I cut him? Here..." she put the blade to his throat, "or here..." she pointed with it to his heart. "I have had so many heroes in my life. I don't mind losing one." She waved her hands and the statues of her past slaves appeared. Calico and Amberlia looked around at the sad, brave faces of heroes that had fallen under Idolla's spell. "But no...I'm not an unreasonable woman. I tell you what I shall do. I will give you the hero Hercules...if you give me your daughter in exchange."

"Don't even consider it, Calico," Hercules said. "I couldn't live with it, neither could you."

Calico laughed. "I have no intention of giving this creature my daughter. And I will take you from this place," Calico said as she leveled her sword at her enemy. She heard her daughter's breathing and felt her own heartbeat. She also felt another presence; a power that she had felt before. She looked at Tosh who was crouched down by one of the statues. The air became very still. A blue light surrounded Tosh.

Part XIV:

A blue light surrounded the tiger. Idolla looked at the huge cat and cried out in rage. "Bastet!! You will never win!!" She raised the knife to kill Hercules but Tosh was upon her, but it cut a deep wound in the warrior's side. Hercules pulled with all his strength and the chains that held him shattered. He backed away from the warring figures and fell to the floor in pain. Tosh and the witch grappled savagely. At first they appeared to be beast and woman and then became strange ghostly apparitions sometimes appearing to be unknown beasts and sometimes looking almost human but changing shape over and over as they fought for supremacy.

Calico ringed the struggling figures and went to Hercules. She checked the wound. It was deep but they had no time to dress it. She put his arm around her shoulder. "Come on, warrior!" she cried pulling him up. Amberlia was already on the other side. The women, so small compared to him dragged him to his feet. The rescuers made for the door. Amberlia looked back at the figures.

"Mom, I don't want to leave Tosh here," she cried.

"Kit, we have no choice. He can take care of himself. He has the Cat Goddess with him now. We have to leave," Calico replied. They left as the figures continued to fight. The walls began to shake as the two magical beings fought.

They headed out the door and back toward the door to the underground lake but as they ran the hall before them began collapsing. They doubled back down the another hall. The kit took the lead as Calico helped Hercules along holding him by the belt, her arm already soaked with his blood.

"Where to now?" Amberlia said as the hall ahead started to fall in.

Hercules motioned to another corridor and the three headed into it and up stairs that shook around them. They emerged onto a battlement that overlooked the fortress. Beyond the walls was a shear drop that was dizzying to the eyes. Behind them the fortress was being consumed by the battle of the two forces, good and evil. They heard the roar of the beast and the chilling scream of the sorceress. All three looked around. They made their way to a higher battlement but knew it was only a matter of time before the whole fortress caved in on itself.

Hercules put his arms around Calico as she checked the wound again. They both were panting with exertion. "I thank you both for coming," he said looking into the soft brown eyes that had given him hope in a desperate hour. "I only wish that it could have ended differently." He kissed her gently and embraced her. Then he stretched out his hand to Amberlia and she took it letting him drew her close. He looked down at her.

"I had a daughter once myself. I only wish that she would have grown up to be a woman like you," he said squeezing her gently. The three huddled close as the end seemed near.

Part XV:

The world around Hercules and the Amazons shook as Idolla and Tosh embued with the force of the Cat goddess fought savagely. The three warriors stood on the crumbling battlement waiting for the end, the two Amazons holding up the wounded Hercules. Then Amberlia gasped.

"Mom, look.....off in the distance." Figures appeared flying toward them in the sky. Hercules and the Amazons heard the shrill cry of dragons as they approached the fortress, their massive batlike wings fanning the air. The huge beasts held riders who called out to their Amazon sisters as their mounts circled. There was no secure place for the great emerald beasts to land. They hovered over the three and Calico hoisted her daughter onto the claws of the dragons and climbed up herself and the two women helped Hercules up just as the ground under him gave way. The three were carried off across the lake. As Hercules held on he saw the small dragonlet he had saved flying alongside.

Calico dropped to the ground and helped Hercules and Amberlia down. The Amazons helped the wounded man to the ground. He had lost a lot of blood.

Then the dragons landed by the lakeside. Calee and Kendaa slid down from their lofty perches onto the dragons' legs and then to the ground. They walked over to their sisters holding their arms above them in the Amazon salute of greeting. Calico and her daughter did the same and the four women embraced smiling. They surrounded the wounded man and Calee began to examine the wound.

"You're a hard woman to follow!" she said to Calico.

"You weren't suppose to follow," Calico replied.

"Hera gave strict orders to all the gods to tell us that we should not!" Kendaa answered. "So here we are!" She laughed while she rummaged in her sack for clean bandages to give to Calee.

"How did you find us?" Amberlia replied.

"I think I know," Hercules said grimacing as he sat up to let the Amazon place the bandage around him. "I saved that little dragon only days ago." They looked at the little creature that hovered around the enormous beast whose blazing, jewel-like ruby eyes surveyed the small group.

The dragon spoke. "This is my son, Embal. He was still in the egg when he was stolen away from my den," it said. "My name is Coldana and this is Pris." The other dragon nodded its head. "When he returned, he told us an amazing, frightening tale. Hercules is known to the dragons. So we came and on our way, we found these warriors following your trail. It seemed only fitting to combine our efforts."

Suddenly there was a large rumbling in the distance and the fortress of Idolla collapsed and was swallowed up by the waters. The lake swelled and crested as the evil was consumed by the earth. Calico felt a stab of sadness as she thought about the brave tiger who had been their companion. She and Amberlia exchanged sad glances.

"Goodbye, Tosh," Amberlia said quietly.

Calee finished her tending to the warrior and put away her supplies. "This wound is very bad, sisters. We must get him back straightway," she said. Calee and Kendaa lifted the warrior to his feet. The rescue party mounted the dragons and were off into flight. Calico looked down at the scene as she rose into the air on the back of Pris. The red lake was calm now and it appeared as if nothing had ever taken place. The sorcery of Idolla was gone from this world. But even so it had taken the life of a brave tiger and left a wound that might never heal on a legendary hero. Calico could only guess what else the man had endured. She swore a silent oath against the witch consigning her to darkness of Hades. Then she turned her thoughts to the future and to home.

Epilogue:

A fire was dying now in Calico's hearth. Hercules lounged in a chair before the warmth and looked at the embers. His wound was well on the way to healing. He had been the pampered guest of the Amazons in their City for a month now after the Amazons had taken him to the healer Niclio on the advice of Xena. He had known exactly what to do. After making Hercules swallow revolting concoctions and having his wound covered with the web of a spider which the Amazons had gone and gotten that lived only in mountain caves; the warrior was finally on the mend.

Calico had just finished clearing away dinner and Amberlia was out practicing her archery with friends. Hercules had given her a tip or two that had increased her skills even more. Calico came and sat down in the other chair by the fire.

"Did I thank you for saving me?" Hercules said looking over at her.

"Continually," she replied.

He laughed. "Well, thank you again."

"You're welcome again," she answered. They both laughed. Then he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Calico watched the firelight as the room grew dim with the setting of the sun. The events so recent seemed like a dream but here before her slept the man she admired so much, indebted to her for her efforts. Her thoughts went back to the tiger who had slept in about the same place a while ago when all this had begun. She thought about Tosh and felt a pang of sorrow.

Then a familiar blue light began forming on the shadowy hearth before her. She smiled now knowing what to expect. Within the light, formed the small figure of the Cat Goddess, Bastet. Emerald green eyes smiled at the Amazon.

"Greetings, dear one. You have done well, endured much and been brave. I come to tell you that Tosh is safe. With my powers within him, he survived the battle with the sorceress, destroying her forever. Now he is returning to you. I thank you for your services."

"And I thank you for yours," Calico replied.

The Cat Goddess bowed her head, the tiny gold earring twinkling in the light. "Goodbye, dear one. This is not the last time we will speak."

The figure disappeared. Calico watched the embers of the fire as they burned low.

FINIS