"So do I, but this is something Gabby has
to work through herself. It is not everyday you find out that you
are half-mortal. I can still remember…" Sophia paused as she
thought back to the moment she found out that Ares was her father.
"Let's just say that there is a lot that she has to work
through." *I can't fix it, but maybe I can give her a push
in the right direction.* "See you later

Lila." The ex-guardian walked off without
looking back.

Lila watched on, confused and surprised.
"Well, if you are not going to help, I guess I have to take
matters into my own hands."

Xena watched the trainees as they went over
their staff drills. The Warrior Princess smiled slightly as she
eyed Lila and Tali. Tali was more experienced of the two, but Lila
was giving it all she had. *Just like her sister.*

Lila kept one eye on Tali and one eye of Xena.
*Come on, turn around.* The Amazon princess waited until Xena's
back was turned. *Here goes nothing.* She waited until Tali swung
the staff at her side, a move that she could have easily deflected,
but instead she turned, leaving that side exposed. Tali
couldn't pull back in time and the staff sharply hit Lila's
rib cage.

*CRACK*

Xena and the others turned toward the
sickening sound. Lila was lying on the ground writhing in pain, a
small trickle of blood escaped from her mouth. *Maybe this
wasn't a good idea after all.*

The Warrior Princess ran to Lila, picked her
up and raced to the healer's hut with a crowd of worried
trainees following on her heels. As she pushed the door open,
Garona rushed to her. "What happened?"

Tali spoke up. "We were sparring, and I
swung at her. She has blocked that move all of the time, but this
time she moved to the side, and the staff connected with her
ribs."

Xena placed Lila on the bed and Garona began
to examine to injured princess.

Tali turned to Xena. "I'm sorry, I
didn't mean to, it was an accident." Tears flowed down the
trainee's face. Xena grabbed Tali by the shoulders. "Tali,
calm down. This won't help anyone. I need for you to go the
Hecuba and tell her to come to the healer's hut." She
turned to the other trainees. "I want you to go with her. You
two go and tell your Queen. The others need to go back to your
huts, you will only be in the way."