The following episode written for The Xena Warrior Princess Virtual Season is a work of fiction based upon the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. The original characters are used strictly for fan purposes and not for profit. There is no intent to infringe upon or violate any copyrights held by Studio USA, Renaissance Pictures,
Universal Television or any other organization that owns the rights to this series.

The script, story ideas, and any characters created by the authors that are not part of the original series are copyrighted and remain the sole property of those authors. Also, any original artworks are copyrighted and remain the sole property of those artists. Permission to use any of the written or drawn works herein must be submitted to the original author(s) and artist(s).

Xena Warrior Princess Virtual Season

Episode 8.4: Wampum

Teleplay by: MacavityCat and Talice

Written by: MacavityCat, Talice, Joseph Connell, and Magenta

Illustrated by: Kathy Austin

TEASER

1. EXTERIOR - FORESTED AREA – EARLY MORNING

Light patches of frost cover the ground. A hunting party is tracking deer. A young warrior, dressed in buckskin and carrying a bow in his left hand is talking softly with one of the hunting party. He motions that he will circle around. The other nods his agreement and the young hunter sprints off in the direction he’s indicated.

2. EXTERIOR – FORESTED AREA

Xena and Gabrielle are examining large animal prints in the ground.

GABRIELLE
(kneeling beside Xena)

Whatever it is, it’s big.

XENA
(glancing in the direction the prints seem to lead)

Good. With winter setting in we’re going to need furs to keep us warm and food to keep us strong.

(rising to her feet)

Hopefully this creature will supply both. At least we know by its footprints, it isn’t a Sasquatch. Come on. It’s heading this way.

With those words said, Xena moves north, Gabrielle at her side.

3. EXTERIOR – FOREST

Xena and Gabrielle move quietly through the woods, senses alert for their prey.

XENA
(putting a hand out to stop Gabrielle)

Listen!

GABRIELLE

It sounds like something rubbing against a tree.

XENA

Yes, it might be the creature we’re tracking.

The two move cautiously forward, careful not to make noise.

As they peer through the foliage, they see a small brown colored animal rubbing against a tree.

GABRIELLE

Awwww, isn’t it cute!

She moves forward slowly.

XENA

Gabrielle! No! Its mother might be nearby!

The words are no sooner out of Xena’s mouth than a large brown bear comes charging out of the woods toward Gabrielle.

CUT TO:

4. EXTERIOR – FOREST

Xena yells at the bear who pauses in confusion. Gabrielle runs to a tree and starts to quickly climb it. The bear growls once then charges toward Gabrielle. It swipes at Gabrielle’s foot but misses, scraping her boot and leaving scratches on the soft leather.

GABRIELLE

Xena, find a tree, quick!

XENA

Uhmmmm, what about your fur coat and some nice bear steaks?

GABRIELLE

Oh Xena, she is just protecting her cub. We can’t kill its mother.

In the meantime, the bear is continuing to growl. Standing up even higher on its hind legs, it grasps a branch, and using its back feet, starts to climb the tree.

Gabrielle looks down and starts to climb higher. Suddenly her foot slips and she loses her balance. With a startled cry she falls from the tree and lays there at the base of the tree, unmoving.

CUT TO:

5. EXTERIOR – FOREST

The young warrior alerted by the noises as well, rushes through the woods, fearing that the hunting party has been attacked. Being closer to the area, he arrives first and stops short in amazement.

In a small clearing is a very large and angry brown bear snarling over a light haired woman lying on the ground.

The woman isn’t moving.

Several yards away is a dark haired woman dressed in buckskins, holding a long bladed weapon in one hand and a round shiny object in the other.

Off to the side is a small bear cub, fearfully huddled against a tree.

The warrior raises her arm and flings the round object toward the bear, hitting it a glancing blow on its nose. The object then continues on, bouncing off a tree and returning to the outstretched arm of the woman warrior. The bear howls and backs away, shaking its head. The cub, seeing its mother is hurt, starts to cry. Distracted by the cub’s bawling, the mother bear turns and goes toward her cub. The two of them flee into the forest.

The young man quickly conceals himself as the strange dark haired woman runs toward her companion.

XENA

Gabrielle? Gabrielle!

She bends over the bard who slowly opens her eyes.

GABRIELLE

Xena? What happened? You didn’t have to kill the bear, did you?

XENA

Lie still and let me examine you.

Shaking her head in disbelief, she continues.

XENA

Trust you to be more worried about the bear than yourself.

She gently probes Gabrielle’s head, searching for any swelling or wounds and peering into her eyes.

XENA

I just knocked it on its nose with my chakram. It was stunned and then the cub started to bawl so the two of them decided to leave.

(beat)

As for you, don’t you ever go approaching a young animal again, especially one that has that large a mother!

GABRIELLE
(gingerly rubbing her sore head)

Oh, believe me, I won’t!

END TEASER

ACT I