MCA/Universal. No copyright infringement is intended by this little story here. The story however is mine J

Content: Nothing's too graphic in the form of alternative here, but subtext is here.

Thanks: I dedicate this one to you Poke Q, just like I said I would. You give me inspiration even when I'm not looking for it and that takes talent. If you have any comments or such please feel free to feed this bard at xengab01@aol.comand please enjoy? J

I'm normally not supposed to discuss the cases I'm assigned, but there are these two people that have made such an impact on my immortal life I have to tell someone about them. You won't tell anyone will you? You look like the trustworthy type, but even if you did tell I just want you to know I can erase your memory. It's one of the perks of the job.

Who am I you ask? Well, I'm just the most important person or uh? entity you'll ever run into. Some people think I'm a demon, others think I'm an angel, but I'm really neither. I'm a Balancer. Have been one all my life and that's a very very long time.

Don't tell me you don't know what a Balancer is. Everybody know what's a Balancer is. Well if I must explain I'm part of a very elite group. Our job is to make sure there isn't too much evil or too much good in this world. We don't really interfere that much in mortal's lives, but we do make sure all The Powers That Be do their jobs. We balance everything out, hence the name The Balancers. It's a decent job if you can get it. You'll never go hungry that's for sure.

Anyway where was I? Oh yes, Xena and Gabrielle, two very amazing souls if you ask me and I've seen quite a few souls in my time. The warrior and well?the warrior bard, I guess that would be Gabrielle's title, are a very unforgettable assignment I had not long ago. I'd like to call them friends, but me being a Balancer and all prohibits me to befriend any of the mortals I am assigned to. I was only assigned to them for one mission though, and I must say my superiors almost demoted me for what I did. I just couldn't help but have some compassion for them you know? Oh wait, I'm sorry I'm getting ahead of myself. I guess I should start my story out properly.

The day started like any other day before it. I walked into my supervisor's office and she gave me my assignment for the day. She told me I was to control a bit of a mess up some angels made that involved these two mortals, Xena and Gabrielle.

I'm ashamed to admit this, but I had never heard these names until that day. Normally, I work in the cases outside of the human persuasion. With the Greek Gods taking one big plunge off Mt. Olympus I had been really busy keeping track of who was taking over their jobs. I know I know Xena killed the Olympian Gods, but I didn't need that information to perform my duties.

So, I get my assignment then I go out to find this warrior and her companion. As far as I was concerned I'd be back for my next assignment within the hour. Boy, was I wrong. One thing I did, was underestimate the energy that surrounds these two Greek women.

They've got angels, demons, gods, and who knows what else drawn to them. I for one had never encountered mortals who had garnered the attention of so many entities. It was easy to see why a balancer was called in to even out these twos very tumultuous lives.

When I find the two they're in the middle of fighting off some warlord or another from destroying an innocent village. I jump into the fray with hardly a second thought and help out these two woman in their efforts, although I'm sure they would have done fine without my help. I just figured the sooner this little battle was over the sooner I'd be able to complete my mission.

The battle ends quickly and the warlord retreats while yelling, "This isn't over Xena. I'll be back." Xena doesn't pay much attention to his threats and she really shouldn't because the man was due to die in a few days from tripping and hitting his head on a very sharp rock; I just happen to know these things, it comes with the job.

Anyway, I walk up to these two warriors and decide to begin my mission immediately. "Excuse me are you Xena and Gabrielle?" I ask them already of course knowing the answer.

Gabrielle turns to me and I am at first surprised by how beautiful her eyes are. I had never seen such a color of green before in this land. "Yes we are. Is there something you want?"

"Yes, I've been sent here by my people to seek your help in ridding us of a great enemy. We have been told of your great warrior skills and we are in need of those skills now."

"What enemy is this?" Gabrielle asks. Xena hardly seems to be giving my words any attention, but I knew better then to be misled by her subtle air of indifference.

"They are but spawn from the very recesses of Hell. Their lord Lucifer wishes to lay claim to our people."

Gabrielle turns to Xena and says, "Lucifer? Xena, what would Lucifer want with a simple village?"

"I don't know Gabrielle, but we're going to find out."

Moments later, after helping the villagers get their village back in decent order we are on our way to my humble village. I know what you're thinking?I didn't come from a village and to be honest with you had never had the privilege of meeting Lucifer, but I had my mission and for it to succeed I had to tell my fair share of lies. It's part of the job.

I know the journey to the village I'm taking them to will take at least a couple of days, so I decide to get to know these to mortals a little better. They both seemed like a decent pair humans, but I don't know if I'm really a good person to judge that. They were both somewhat attractive I guess, but then again I wouldn't know. I only take human form when it is absolutely necessary. I find that skin is highly uncomfortable. I prefer a nice coat of fur myself, it's much warmer at least.

I think I've deviated from my tale again haven't I? I'm sorry it's just so easy talking to you. I feel like I've known you forever. Maybe you've been one of my assignments before. I can't really remember all the mortals I've been assigned over the years. After the first thousand years or so all the faces just tend to run in together.

Back to the story, where was I? Oh yes I decided to get to know the two a little better. This was really my first chance to travel with mortals and I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to learn more about them.

"Do you mind if I ask you question?"

"Sure." Of course Gabrielle answered she seemed to be the talker of the partnership.

"Where do you know Lucifer from?" I of course already knew the answer, but I figured it would be a good icebreaker. What I didn't know was that I was giving Gabrielle a reason to tell me a rather lengthy story about haunted houses and archangels. Her story went well into the day and finally ended when we made camp. It was a good story, don't get me wrong, I just wasn't expecting it.

I let Xena and Gabrielle set up camp and left to free myself of my mortal skin. I already told you how much it bothered me and being in it for so long made me want to turn into a bird so I could feel the wind beneath my wings. Feathers are so much less confining then human skin.

You're probably now wondering what Balancers look like, and I can't really tell you. It's not that it's a big secret or anything, I just can't tell you. If I had to describe what a Balancer looked like I would tell you they looked like air. We don't really have a solid form, but we can turn into anything we wish to. It comes with the job.

When I return to the camp the two have set up, I find Xena sharpening her sword and Gabrielle writing something or other on some parchment. To me this picture strikes me as something routine. I just decided to not mess with it so I sat down next to the fire and looked up to the sky. The same sky I had only occupied moment earlier.

"So why don't you tell us about yourself..." Gabrielle looks to me with this funny expression on her face and lets out a small chuckle. "It's funny, we don't even know your name."

"Kivannna."

"Kivanna? That's an unusual name. How far away did you say your village was?" Gabrielle asked perplexed.

"Uh?it's a family name, very unique and ancient even."

"Where's your family from?" This time Xena asked the question, and that surprises me.

"Oh here and there, but mostly here." I let out an exaggerated yawn and made a big show of stretching out my limbs. "Whoa, I'm tired. I think I should go to sleep. It's been a really long day. Goodnight to the two of you." I smiled brightly at them and laid down on my bedroll to sleep. I wasn't too comfortable with all the questions that had begun to come my way. Sleep seemed like it would be a good escape.

Now, because I'm a balancer I don't need sleep. Well I don't really need sleep. I can sleep if I want to, but normally I don't. It just seems like a waste of my time. I waited for Xena and Gabrielle to settle down for the night then I got up to see if I could join a pack of wolves in their nightly excursions.

Have you ever gotten the chance to run with a wild pack of wolves? If you haven't I strongly suggest you do. There's nothing quite like it, except maybe working with a team of ants. I've found that ants are quite interesting little creatures when you take the time to talk to them and get to know them. Wolves however were my choice of entertainment that night. I just found myself a pack nearby and got them to accept me in their hunting party.

I was out with them all night, just having a bunch of fun. Rigger, the leader of the pack, was a very interesting individual. We talked well into the night and he taught me a lot about the life of a wolf I didn't know about before. He showed me around the woods and gave me a brief history of his pack. His lifemate, Nara was soon expecting cubs and he seemed to be a very happy soon to be father. I knew his cubs would live long happy lives. Knowing such things came with the job.

I headed back to Xena and Gabrielle's campsite just before dawn and to my surprise Xena was already up sitting on a boulder near an open field. I was still in my wolf form, and didn't think Xena would appreciate it much if I suddenly changed form in front of her. She had already spotted me coming towards her and I could tell her body was ready to jump into action if need be.

I walked up to Xena careful not to startle her and just sat down next to her. It was obvious she didn't see me as an eminent threat to her well being anymore, and I could see her body relax only if slightly. She pulled out a pouch I didn't know she had and I suddenly smelled the sent of cooked meat.

Xena began nibbling on a piece and I suddenly was very curious. I had never had food such as that. I moved closer to Xena and to my surprise a small whimper came from my throat. Xena's incredible blue eyes turned to me and she grinned slightly.

"Are you hungry girl?" I had yet to hear her say anything quite like that before. Needless to say, I was somewhat stunned.

Xena reached into her pouch and pulled out another piece of the meat and held it towards my direction. She didn't throw it at me. I think she expected me to take it from her hand. "I'm not gonna hurt ya girl. Come on you can take it."

I looked at her curiously for a second then decided that I was been given a rare opportunity. I'm not sure many people can be said they've been fed by the Warrior Princess. I slowly made my way toward the warrior and took the meat she held out for me. Her hand gently stroked the top of my head and I couldn't help but let out a contented whimper at her ministrations. Xena didn't seem as inhuman as she did before when she saw me in human form. With me as a wolf she seemed to be more comfortable in my presence and my wild nature.

I was beginning to get comfortable when Gabrielle came towards us and she suddenly had all of Xena's attention. Not that I minded or anything, I was just getting really comfortable. I was almost comfortable to a point where I wanted to sleep and that's a rarity.

"Xena what are you doing with that wolf?" Gabrielle asked as she walked up to Xena and put her arm around the warrior.

Xena guided Gabrielle to stand in front of her and enveloped her arms loosely around the warrior bard. "I'm just giving her some food. She must have gotten separated from her pack."

"She's not dangerous is she?" Gabrielle turned to me and I could sense her barely concealed fear of me.

"Nah, just don't make any sudden movements towards her."

I didn't want Gabrielle to fear me, so I just walked right up to her and began to lick her hand. Soon, Gabrielle's fear was abated and she was petting my head just as tenderly as Xena had been doing before. I was content for the moment to just stay with them and enjoy the rising of the sun, but I soon remembered these two only knew me in human form, as they must.

With as much self control as I could muster, I stood up on all fours and prepared myself to walk away. After I had just decided to walk away Xena broke the comfortable silence that had fallen upon us.

"What do you make of Kiavanna?" I decided not to leave because they were discussing me so I stretched out my muscles instead and jumped on the boulder to take a seat next to Xena. This was a conversation I wanted a front row seat to.

"I'm not sure really what to think of her." Gabrielle tilting her head back as if in deep thought. "She seems like a nice enough person, but I'm not sure if I trust her."

Xena nodded her head in agreement. "I don't really trust her either. There just seems to be something she's not telling us. Last night she wouldn't even answer any questions about herself."

"She seems to be a little young to be out here all by herself searching for us. She doesn't look to be any older then fifteen and she's a very skilled fighter."

"Yeah I noticed that too. It just really doesn't make that much sense as to why a village would send a capable fighter away while they're being attacked and one so young at that."

Gabrielle turned serious eyes to her companion. "Do you think it's a trap?"

Xena reached up and brushed an errant strand of hair out of Gabrielle's face. "It might be. Just keep your eyes open."

Soon after their conversation stopped and their touches became a little too familiar for me so I took my leave. I ran off into the woods and changed back into human form. The chill of the morning settled on my human skin and I regretted, not for the first time, that I couldn't complete my mission wearing fur.

I made my way back to camp, which was conspicuously absent of my two traveling companions. I didn't seek out to find them because I knew where they were and knew I shouldn't worry about them not being present. I decided to start making some sort of breakfast, but then I remembered I couldn't cook. So, I cheated a little and made some breakfast just appear. What can I say? It's just part of the job, and even though I don't have to eat, this girl's gotta eat.

After a few candlemarks Xena and Gabrielle returned to camp. They both looked rather content and I decided to just keep my mouth shut.

"You made breakfast?" Gabrielle moved over to the fire and filled a bowl up with the concoction I "made". She tasted is experimentally at first then ate with more gusto. "This is really good. I'm not sure I've eaten that tasted quite like it. What is it?"

I didn't really think the breakfast thing through, I guess, because I made something not most mortals get to eat. I'd like to call it Kiavanna's special brew, what all the other Balancer's would call it is Poghfa. I'm sure you've heard of food of the gods, well Balancer type food is even better. We pride ourselves in having such exquisite culinary skills. Of course we never have to cook our own food, which prevents it from being subjected to the harsh threats of cooking that can ruin an entire meal.

"Um?it's just something from home that I decided to uh make."

"Where did you get the stuff to make this? I'm not sure we had the supplies."

Why did Gabrielle have to ask so many questions and not just enjoy her food? She seemed like an individual who would appreciate good food when it was given to her. "I had some of the supplies and those I didn't have I could just find around here."

Gabrielle seemed to accept that answer and returned to the task of eating. Xena got herself some breakfast and sat down to try out the meal. She didn't seem to disapprove of it and ate it with as much gusto as her companion. They should consider themselves very lucky. I don't just cook?ur?I mean make breakfast for anyone.

"So where did you go off to this morning?"

I thought we were done with the questioning. They were happy eating what I had prepared and we could soon be on our way, but no Xena has to bring up the fact that I was gone before dawn and I just happened to return when they were conveniently gone. Who knows, Xena might even have noticed I was gone for over half the night.

"No where really. I'm just not used to traveling with anyone outside of my tribe and uh?I just wanted some time alone to think."

Xena accepted my answer although I'm pretty sure she saw right through my lie. But it really wasn't a lie now was it? I mean I'm not used to traveling with anyone and I didn't really go anywhere. I'm sure I thought during the time I was away. So let's just say I told her a version of the truth. I'm comfortable with saying that.

"Tell us a little bit about why Lucifer would lay claim to your village." The warrior woman definitely is a better silent person if you ask me. When she is silent you can tell there's a hidden intelligence barely veiled by her own self-control, but when she speaks that intelligence somehow manifests into a tangible thing. Her questions were always well thought out, direct, pertinent to the situation, and had me squirming like a fish out of water.

"I don't really live in a village." Xena's raised her damnable eyebrow at me and I had no choice but to hurriedly continue. "We have just set up a temporary camp for the winter. My people are nomadic. We travel the land for most of the year. It has been a very difficult time for us this winter. We suffer from famine and are plagued by an illness we cannot cure. My father is the chieftain of our people. He made a deal with the one called Lucifer. He promised Lucifer his soul if Lucifer would only help his people survive, but Lucifer didn't just want his soul, he wanted every person in our tribe to promise them their life's essence. My father was willing to agree, for the good of the tribe, but there were those among us who would not make this pact. Father didn't want to split the tribe over this issue, because he knew we stood no chance of surviving the winter if we fought amongst ourselves. He went back on the deal he made with Lucifer and that didn't make that fiend too happy. My father sacrificed his life to appease that monster, but that fiend still wanted more. He wanted every last one of us to be his." By this point in my story I had managed to make tears escape my eyes. Xena and Gabrielle were listening with rapt attention.

"Lucifer fights with swords, but he also fights with powers we have never seen. He can turn our people against themselves. He controls our minds like we are but puppets of some sick joke, but he's the only one who can understand it. I have seen my people wasting away, and I have chosen to not sit back any longer and just watch. My father may have sold his soul, but I refuse to sell mine. I am the leader of our tribe now and I will do what I must to save us, but I will not make a deal with that fiend; no matter what he tempts me with." This seemed like it would be a good time for me to make a dramatic exit, so I stood up and walked back off into the woods. I didn't was look back to see how my story affected my two traveling companions.

I was confident that any doubts they may have had about me were put to rest. I gave them all the information they needed about their upcoming mission and I was sure all their questions were answered. You already know I have trouble lying, but it's part of the job. Besides, it really wasn't a lie. I was going to complete my mission and then leave like I had never met up with those two mortals. My mission was already half way over.

Once I returned to the camp everything was backed up and it seemed like we were ready to begin moving again. We were close to the place they needed to be and by the end of the day my mission would be complete. Xena and Gabrielle didn't talk to me much after I told them "my" story, and that suited me just fine. Talking seemed to be overrated anyway.

Eventually we reached the tribe I told them about and as I expected the tribe warriors were fighting Lucifer's demon spawn. Xena and Gabrielle jumped right into the battle and my mission was complete. The only orders my superiors had given me were to make sure those two mortals came to this battle. Everything else would be left to TPTB. I wasn't supposed to get involved in the battle so I took the horse and rode away from the fighting.

From the distance of the woods I watched the battle play out. It took the entire day and even part of the next morning until it ended, but it did eventually end. Lucifer was defeated and the tribe he threatened was free from his wrath. Something happened during that battle though, that I didn't expect. Gabrielle got hurt pretty badly.

The tribe healers took her to their sacred space to try and safe her life. They would pray over her body and do what they could to heal it, but I knew it wouldn't work. It's part of the job knowing such things. It's all just part of the job.

I've done and have seen much worst things. Part of being a Balancer means I must work for both the light and the darkness, but I wasn't going to let that light that was Gabrielle's soul be extinguished just because some angels laid down on the job when they were supposed to protect this tribe of nomads.

I went to the place Gabrielle was being kept and walked up to her body. She wasn't dead yet, but I knew she would be by the end of the night. Xena was keeping vigil close by. The warrior raised her head when she noticed my presence, but didn't pay me much attention, because she knew-like I did- that this would be Gabrielle's last night.

There was an empty seat by Gabrielle's pallet and I took it. I watched her chest rise and fall slowly and asked myself if I wanted to risk my place as a Balancer for the life of one mortal.

"You can save her can't you?" The sound of Xena's voice surprised me. It wasn't demanding anything, but it wasn't asking a simple question either. "I asked the healer about the chieftains daughter and he told me she died from the sickness they suffered early this winter. I don't know who you are or what you are, but I know you can save her." I shook my head in the affirmative because I didn't trust my voice to speak.

Xena knew she could beg me to save her friend, but she also knew it was completely out of her realm of control. If I were an angel she could maybe convince me to help. If I were a goddess, I'm sure she could persuade me to save the warrior bard's life. If I were anything but a Balancer she could have had a chance, but I don't know how she knew?but she did know?nothing she said or did would make any difference.

I reached out to Gabrielle's body. Her breathes had gotten even more labored then they were before. Death was there, and I looked to her and turned her away. She had no choice but to listen to me, for I am a Balancer.

"She will be fine warrior. She is strong." I rose from my chair and walked towards the exit of the tent, but before I left I turned again to the now crying warrior and said, "You won't remember I even existed when I leave you here tonight, but I will watch over you. You both deserve a break."

And that was that. I walked out of the tent and reported to my superiors telling them I had completed my mission and I was prepared to suffer any consequence from saving Gabrielle's life. It's a funny thing about being a Balancer. I can see what's going to happen to others, but I can never see what's going to happen to me. My superiors simply told me they knew what I had done, and they knew when they sent me on my mission what I would do. It was simply part of the job.