A soft silvery full moon hung silently in the sky and soft, wisy clouds flew slowly across the night sky. An owl cooed in the distance, the night was a picture of serenity but Callisto found it hard to ignore the churning of dread that stirred dead within her. The young girl stared off into the distance unseeingly. Not long ago two warrior claiming to be part of Xena's army had stalked into Cirra and called a meeting at the town square. There they had demanded two thousand dinars be delievered to Xena by full moon, or Cirra would be destroyed. Callisto had watched silently as her parents dug into their life's savings and put it forth to be donated to Xena. As Callisto looked up at the full moon she felt a surge of red-hot hatred burn inside of her. Who in Tartarus did Xena think she was?

*****

Xena sat on her makeshift throne that was set up in her tent as a small, balding man came stumbling in clasping a small chest. She raised an eyebrow and turned to the gruff man standing a few metres away from her.

"Who's he?", she growled at her leuitenant Darphus.

"A messenger from Cirra", came the reply.

"Oh." Xena laughed humourlessly.

"And what do you want?", she asked turning her attention back to the man who had by now fallen to his knees.

"X-x-x-x-x-ena", he stammered, the chest he held almost slipped out of his grasp as he trembled in fear, "I bear the money you requestedof Cirra, two thousand dinars. It's here, all of it." He blinked rapidly and a sweat broke out on her forehead. Still shaking uncontrollably he thrust the chest out at Xena.

"Please, just take it and spare my village", he continued and touched his forehead to the ground before Xena. Xena's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile.

"Come closer little man", she requested, her voice all honey. The man shuffled closer to Xena all the while staying on the ground.

"Darphus!", Xena called. Darphus emerged from the shadows in the corners of the tent and dutifully took the chest and placed it with the other stash of loot Xena had collected. Xena smiled again at the bald man revealing rows of pearly teeth.

"Thankyou so much for your contribution", the warrior princess told him, "It was most thoughtful of you." She gestured again and this time another man emerged from the shadows. He was a huge burly figure that loomed up above the grovelling man on the ground. The Cirrian's face scrunched up in fear and a flush of wetness appeared between his legs.

"Raifus", Xena commanded, "Do take care of our guest" The tall man nodded and easily picked up the pitiful human lying at Xena's feet and carried him ruffly outside. All that could be heard was an echoing scream as the decapitated body was thrown into a pit and his head was placed on display in Xena's camp.

*****

Callisto watched silently as her father paced the length of their dining room. "The day after full moon", he lamented, "And Javlius still isn't back."

"Don't worry", her mother reassured, "We sent him out on a three day journey, we're not expectin him back for another three days." Callisto's father looked at his wife with a look of utter dispair on his face.

"I don't expect him back at all", he stated blankly. Callisto's mother pressed her lips together.

"Callisto, will you leave us. Your sister is out in the barn tiding up, go help her darling." Callisto sighed.

"I want to stay momma, I'm part of this village too", she announced firmly.,/p>

"You don't understand", her mother explained as she shook her head sadly, "Now go, please darling." Callisto stood up reluctantly.

"Okay momma", she murmured as she left the room closing the door softly behind her. Behind her she could still hear her parent arguing. What would happen to Cirra?

*****

Xena looked at the snivelling man before her with distaste. Did he REALLY think that she'd spare his pathetic little kingdom because he gave her some dumb stone that was supposed to carry special powers. She quickly snapped attention back to the man.

"...so can I go back to my kingdom?", came the request. Smiling cruely she gave her answer.

"Yes and no." The man held a confused look on his face.

"W-what do you mean?"

"Cut off his head and send his body back to his kingdom." A small cry escaped the man's lips as he was dragged away. Behind her came a laugh that Xena knew could only be Ares. As the man was dragged out to be slaughtered a captain in her army came in and saluted her.

"Xena we're ready. What would you like us to do about Cirra?", he asked, eager to appease the warrior princess. Xena stood up

"That little man yesterday was a waste of my time. Get the women and children out, then waste the town", Xena commanded emotionlessly. Her captain bowed and left. Again Xena could hear Ares laughing in delight.

*****

Callisto looked around Cirra. Everywhere people were busily packing. She spotted her friend Saria in the distance.

"Saria!", she called. Her friend turned around. A sad smile played about her lips.

"Hi Callisto", she said quietly. It was at that moment that Callisto noticed a large bag that Saria carried.

"What's in the bag? Why does everyone look as if they're going away?", Callisto asked curiously. Saria looked suprise.

"Haven't you heard? Xena's army is moving towards here. Daddy says that Javlius was probably captured before he could reach Xena. We're leaving Cirra", Saria reply and Callisto caught tears glistening in her friend's eyes.

"Oh no", Callisto whispered. Saria nodded sadly as she noticed her mother waving her over. She leaned over and gave Callisto a hug.

"Goodbye Cally", she said softly and headed slowly towards her mother. Callisto stood there unable to move. Xena was coming and most likely she would destroy Cirra. What could she do?

*****

"Come on", he growled at his men, "Xena wants Cirra destoryed. BURN IT!!!" his captain rode up behind him.

"Xena wants the women and children out first", he stated flatly. Darphus glared at him.

"Change of plan. Who leads this army, you or me?", he asked angrily.

"Xena", was the reply. Anger rippled through Darphus and he drew his sword, "For how long?" he asked as he stabbed at his captain furiously. A ripple of satisfaction filled him as his sword sunk into the captain's chest. A faint whoosh escaped his mouth as his lungs filled with blood and he tumbled off his horse.

"And the same will happen to any who disobeys me!", Darphus shouted, "Now burn the village!" He kicked his horse again and it broke into a furious gallop. A frenzied scream of bloodlust broke out among the men as they charged towards Cirra torches held high in the air.

*****

"Callisto! Callisto!" Callisto whipped around as her mother came rushing toward her.

"Thank the gods you're safe. Your father and I have being looking for you everywhere. Xena's coming and your father's worried sick. Come on!", her mother fretted as she dragged Callisto through the thick crowds. Soon the young girl caught sight of her father. He waved.

"There you are Callisto, I was looking for you. Go with your mother and your sister to the barn. Hurry. I've given everything to Xena. She will spare us but just in case you must hide!", he called to her. Her mother nodded and dragged her to the barn. As she entered she noticed her older sister sitting on the hay with a drawn expression on her face.

"Who are we kidding mother? Xena going to destroy this village and you know it. We should leave. NOW!", she cried.

"And go where", Callisto retorted angrily, "We'll be alright won't we momma?"

"Of course Callisto", her mother comforted as the door creaked open. A lanky man entered with a torch and Callisto's sister screamed.

"Say your prayers ladies", he said with an evil smile and threw the torch to the ground near the doorway where it landed in a patch of hay. The dry grasses caught fire quickly and Callisto's sister screamed again. He door had closed and the fire was spreading quickly.

"Papa!", Callisto called desperately. Her mother looked around in panic. A burning rafter fell in and knocked out a small section of wall. Just big enough for Callisto to fit through.

"I'll get daddy to help!", she cried as she dove through the hole. She ignored the burning sensations as the fire licked at her clothing and the calls of her mother and sister. She had already spotted her father in the crowd.

"Papa! Papa!", she screamed loudly. Her father turned around and ran towards her.

"Callisto! Why aren't you in the barn? Where is your mother? Your sister?", he asked.

"They're in the barn, it's burning papa, I didn't know what to do", she murmured. A look of utter fear crossed her father's face as he broke into a run moving quickly towards the burning barn. Callisto dashed after him. She halted jsut in front of the barn as her father dove over a flaming wall into the burning structure. She could the heat of the fire on her cheeks and the screams of her sister echoed in her ears.

"Momma! Pappa!", she screamed as no one emerged. She barely noticed the large band of warriors withdrawing around her and everyone else's screams. All that mattered was her sister's screams of agony and the burning barn. Confusion filled Callisto as the barn flared up brighter and brighter. Callisto didn't know how long she stood in front on the barn or how long it burned. All she know was that her father, mother and sister were dead. All she could feel was the excruciating pain tearing at her heart. Tears filled her eyes but she refused to let them fall.

"You'll pay for this Xena", she swore, "I'll make you pay and I'll make you feel this pain that you've put me through, and you'll suffer just like momma, papa and sissy. This I swear."

As she slowly retreated away from Cirra Callisto felt her heart catch fire. The same fire that had burned her barn now lit her heart. She knew she'd have the strenghth to go on as long as that fire burned. The fire of hatred...and revenge.