The episode begins with Virgil and another guy frantically running through the woods. They are running for their lives as cannibals are chasing them. Virgil’s friend, Josep, is caught in a trap and the cannibals take him away. Virgil looks on horrified and unable to do anything to help as his friend is screaming his name for help. The scene clips to a deer foraging for food and we see a bow and arrow. Gabby is hunting for their dinner. She fires an arrow in the way of the deer and misses it by a long shot, embedding the arrow in a tree. Xena approaches and says, "Nice shot, I just don’t know what kind of wine goes with bark." Gabby smirks saying, "So, we’ll just have fish, that’s what people do when they’re on a river." Xena looks at Gabrielle then the bow and scrunches up her face with a smirk and says, "Fish is alright with me, you’re the one who said you wanted venison," with a teasing grin. Gabrielle sighs with a grin and answers, "I’m having a bad day." Xena interjects playfully, "Nah, he’s having a good one...it’s all in how you look at it," as they show the deer running away. Gabrielle looks around and tells Xena, "I think I’ll get the boat ready, Virgil and Josep will be waiting," and turns to walk away from Xena. Xena looks back at Gabrielle questioningly and thinks she has a pretty good idea of what’s going on with Gabrielle as she walks behind her. They both have new coats that look fabulous on them by the way!

We next see them rowing the boat down the river in search of Virgil and Josep. Gabrielle observes, "This River is so calm," and Xena smiles saying, "I was hoping it would have an effect on you." Gabrielle turns and smiles as Xena smiles with a chuckle back to her. Xena sees a campsite and thinks it’s Virgil and Joseps. They paddle over to check everything out and find the camp unoccupied. Xena checks it out and determines that the camp is about four hours old and Gabrielle finds a sword and a cloth with blood on it. Then observes that there is blood everywhere. She asks concerned, "Thieves?" which Xena has an intense look on her face and sees something ahead of her. She stands up to get a better look and finds a spear with a head on it and says, "No, they escaped in their canoe, they were running for their lives," as she turns to Gabrielle with a worried look. She stares at Gabrielle who then looks around the camp trying to figure everything out as the scene changes to Virgil.

He’s creeping and crawling on the ground near ‘Camp Cannibal’ to check out what happened to his friend. He sees everyone standing around and fighting with each other. He sees them cooking a human over a fire like a rotisserie. He realizes it’s his friend and is mortified, as tears fall down his face and the scene changes to Gabrielle and Xena in the boat searching for him. Gabrielle is worried that they didn’t make it and is about to lose it. She’s feeling so incredibly guilty about what she did to Korah, that she’s not able to function normally.  She wipes her face with her hand in an attempt to get rid of her frustration saying, "I don’t know what’s wrong with me." Xena answers, "You’re still condemning yourself for killing that boy in the desert."  Gabby looks over her shoulder and answers, "I condemn myself for his father’s sake." Xena adds, "Korah’s father forgave you and so would anyone with enough wisdom and experience to..." Gabrielle interrupts her saying, "To know what? These things happen?" Xena is very worried about Gabrielle and says in a soft tone, "Unfortunately they do." Gabrielle says, "My reflexes are those of a warrior, I’m afraid my judgment's not. I think that’s a bad combination. VIRGIL!" She yells in an attempt to change the subject.

They continue to search for Virgil and he runs off away from the camp in a desperate attempt to save his hide. Xena and Gabrielle discover Virgil’s torn up boat. She tells Gabrielle that their boat broke up a few hours ago after looking at parts of it. Gabrielle asks why it would have broken up and they hear a stick crack and noises on the bank of the river. Xena looks around and Gabrielle asks, "What?" Xena tells her, "We’re being watched." Gabby asks, "By who?" and Xena says, "Let’s just keep going," without looking anywhere else except in front of her as they paddle away. Xena is definitely concerned as to what is going on and with whom is checking them out. Xena points out that there is a waterfall ahead and that they’ll have to hoof it on land as we see a far off shot of them in the boat and a nasty looking, black hand resting on a rock that belongs to one of the cannibals. They definitely need to consider a bath, that’s for sure!

The cannibals are hunting down Virgil, as he just doesn’t want to participate in the activities they have planned for him at ‘Camp Cannibal.’ They finally capture the terrified camper Virgil and take him back to ‘Camp Cannibal.’ Xena and Gabrielle are still paddling down the river and Gabrielle says, "Xena if I had listened to my heart, do you think that boy would still be alive?" Xena answers, "You did listen to your heart. You thought he was going to kill me, your heart said to protect me. Anyway, a trained warrior would have never ridden up behind me knowing that it could have been perceived as an attack." Gabrielle looks back and asks, "Are you saying that he sent a boy to do a man’s job?" We see the cannibals sneaking around on the shore as the boat passes by them. Xena answers, "I’m saying I can trust you with my life," as she’s checking out the bubbles in the water next to the boat.  She checks the other side and replies, "Especially right now," as they are attacked from the water by some very hungry cannibals with a craving for two luscious ladies. They beat the dirt out of them with their paddles and Xena tells Gabrielle to head for shore as they high tail it. 

Once on shore some more hungry guys attack them. They aren’t waiting for the girls to be cooked, they want to eat them sushi style and bite them while they are fighting them. Gabrielle quickly dispatches one of them and is ready to plunge her Sais into him, but stops when she looks into his face and she thinks she sees Korah. She has a flash back of killing Korah and he stabs her in the side. Xena sees it and screams, "Gabrielle," but can’t do anything as she’s being attacked by a bunch of guys. Gabrielle fights that guy off along with another one who is nibbling on her leg for an appetizer. Poor Gabrielle, she’s struggling to get the knife out of her side, fight the dirty, nasty men and has one nibbling on her leg! All in a days work for her and yes, like Xena she has many skills! She kicks him off and tries to stand, but he throws her over his shoulder and begins to carry her off. Well, Xena is having none of that; the only one that can do that to Gabrielle is her. She shouts, "Gabrielle!"  And she kicks the two guys away from her and rushes to her baby doll just as the poor hygiene man tosses Gabrielle in for a swim.

Xena doesn’t hesitate and dives in after her. She can’t see her as Gabrielle is heading down the rapids towards the waterfall. Gabrielle’s foot gets caught on a branch under the water and so goes her, down below. Xena finally finds her and swims her into a cave off to the side to check her over. She pleads for Gabrielle to hang on as she struggles to pull her into the cave against the raging, freezing water. She pulls her in and hovers over her, tapping her face to wake her, desperately calling out her name.  Gabrielle finally spits out the water and Xena holds her up and kisses her forehead. It was no peck either I might add...open mouth and a lingering kiss before pushing Gabby’s hair off her forehead. Gabrielle tells her, "My side," and Xena guides her up on a rock to look at it. Gabrielle is shocked about the nasty guys who attacked them saying, "They bit us Xena like they wanted to eat us." Xena informed her, "They were cannibals Gabrielle," as she’s looking over Gabby’s wound and Gabby tells her they have to warn Virgil. Aah...too late Gabby, he’s hanging with the camp counselors at ‘Camp Cannibal.’ I wonder if the camp director’s name is Hannibal? Hmmmm.... Okay, back to the episode.

Xena tells Gabby first things first and sees that she has part of a blade stuck in her side. Xena pulls out her dagger and begins to dig out the blade as Gabrielle wails in pain, just as she did in 'One Against an Army' when Xena pulled the arrow out. It pains me to hear her cry out that way. Xena tells her, "I’m not going to allow you to get yourself killed because of your guilt Gabrielle," Gabrielle snaps back, "Just stop the lecture." Xena firmly tells her, "You can’t keep seeing that boys face every time you raise a weapon," as she continues to dig the blade out of Gabby’s side. Gabby’s in obvious pain, both emotionally and physically as Xena says, "You can’t," and pulls out the blade. Gabrielle looks back stammering, "If I hadn’t of hesitated..." but is interrupted by Xena who says, "Don’t think about it anymore...you’re going to have to conserve energy. Get back into the cave and get warm." Gabrielle does as she’s told and Xena swims out into the river. She grabs a vine and attempts to climb up, but the dirt boys are all throwing rocks and bones at her, which hit her and finally knock her off the wall into the water. She swims back into the cave and sits next to Gabrielle who is laying down shivering. She lifts her head up and places it into her lap saying, "Your wound is getting worse." Gabrielle answers, "We’re in a tough spot," as she continues to shiver. Xena looks around the cave and answers, "We’ve been in worse scraps. I’m going to get you out of here...count on it."

The scene changes to the activities of the camp counselors at ‘Camp Cannibal’ as they get Virgil acclimated to the camp rules. He tries to run because frankly, he’s a rebel and doesn’t want to play with the big, dirty men. So, they beat him and show him to see it their way, before dragging him off to his quarters. Gabrielle is shivering and Xena is rubbing her arms to try and keep her warm. Gabrielle is delirious and says, "Hope." Xena rubs her face and asks, "Did you say something?" Gabrielle replies, "My baby," and puts her hand up to Xena’s face that is near tears. She takes Gabby’s hand and kisses it, then briefly places it against her forehead before looking down at Gabrielle...she’s now crying. Gabrielle asks as she rubs Xena’s hand, "Is that you?" Xena smiles answering, "Yeah, it’s me." Gabrielle breathlessly answers, "I love you," as she strokes Xena’s hand with her own, continuing, "I would never hurt you. You know that don’t you?" Xena tearfully smiles and answers, "I know." Gabrielle smiles and says, "You’re my child," as Xena is looking on surprised and quite frankly, I think she is devastated by what Gabrielle has said to her.  Gabrielle continues, "You have to go, you have to go, she’ll hurt you, she’ll take you away from me." Xena isn’t sure what to do. She smiles and comfortingly says, "You have to rest, you don’t have to go anywhere," as her voice crackles with emotion. Gabrielle replies in a soft voice, "You don’t understand." Xena is filled with guilt, regret and finally understands the sacrifice Gabrielle made when she put Hope in the basket as a baby. She tearfully tells Gabrielle, "I do understand," and cries, leaning down to hug Gabrielle. She rests her cheek against Gabrielle’s and leans up saying, "I understand everything," as she kisses Gabrielle’s forehead. She kisses her forehead and stays there, holding her. Extremely touching scene and Xena finally realizes what it must have been like for Gabrielle to do what she did to Hope, especially now that she has a daughter of her own. Speaking of Eve...she has sort of dropped off the face of Greece of late. No one has made mention of her either. Let’s hope it stays that way.

We see some beautiful scenery of the water and leaves before it clips back to Virgil and some seriously skinny guy who wakes him up by pouring water over his face. Virgil sees the food table they have there and begins to chow down until he realizes he’s the catch of the day. ‘Bones’ (skinny guy) explains that Virgil is next on the menu unless he can produce a tastier morsel for the camp counselors. The scene changes to night and there is a bad thunderstorm. Xena helps Gabrielle up and tells her she’s getting her out of there. Gabrielle is about to freeze to death, not to mention her wound is getting worse. Xena ties a rope around her as Gabrielle tells her, "Xena I have a last wish," and Xena answers, "I don’t want to hear it," as she is readying the rope. Gabrielle answers, "I’m serious, don’t you want to know?" Xena says, "Alright, what is it then?"  Gabrielle is shivering and tells her, "I don’t want to be buried with the Amazons."  Xena says, "Alright, well in fifty years when the time comes..." as she’s still putting the rope around Gabby and is interrupted by her. Gabrielle is shaking and looks petrified saying, "Xena I want to lie with you, with your family in Amphipolis." Xena is shocked by what Gabrielle has just told her...I’m shocked by what she just told her! She puts her hand on Gabrielle’s cheek and tenderly asks, "What about your family?" Gabrielle looks back up at her and says, "I love them, but I’m a part of you and I want it to be like that forever." Xena is beside herself and nearly breaks down in tears at what Gabrielle admitted. Geez...I nearly had a heart attack it was so touching and revealing! She’s desperately clutching Xena’s hand and covers it with her other one breathlessly telling an extremely shocked Warrior Princess, "I love you," in a whisper as Xena’s tear is unchecked and falls down her cheek. Gabrielle releases her grasp and holds her hands to her face trying to warm herself as Xena still works with the rope. I was hoping she would drop the darn rope and take Gabrielle into her arms! We didn’t get that, but this was a fabulous and extremely touching scene. Xena’s facial expressions showed exactly how much she loves and adores Gabrielle and the same goes for Gabrielle’s admission to Xena.

Gabrielle guiltily tells Xena, "This is all my fault." Xena leans down and tells her, "This is not your fault, this is not your fault. It’s mine for setting you on a path you were never meant to walk," as she’s holding Gabrielle’s face in her hand, feeling regretful and angry at herself. Gabrielle reassuringly and shakily says, "Any path is okay Xena, as long as it’s with you." Xena promises her, "I’m sending you on a path that’s warm and dry," as she finally finishes preparing that darn rope and the scene changes to the dark storm outside. Xena scales the side of the canyon with Gabrielle tied to her back and lays her on the ground. She unties her and tells her, "Gabrielle, Gabrielle...don’t be afraid, trust me," as she stands up with a menacing gaze to the filthy guys approaching with torches. She yells out her battle cry and hides behind a tree as they come to take Gabrielle who is petrified. She’s yelling out Xena’s name who stays hidden behind a tree and follows them in the dark of the night as they carry Gabrielle back to their camp. She knows that they will heal Gabrielle and doesn’t fear that they will harm her until she recovers, which will give her plenty of time to get in there and get her out safely before she’s the special of the day.

Xena is encountered by a group of hungry men and she quickly defeats them. Gabrielle is taken to the cell where Virgil is and he hugs her close to keep her warm. They wrap her in a blanket and ‘Bones’ whose name is Rubio, tells him he’s gained more time because women take precedent. A group comes in and grabs Gabrielle and puts her on a table. Virgil makes a feeble attempt of protecting her, but they give her medication to heal her and then sprinkle some seasoning on her for tomorrows menu. Virgil assures Gabrielle that when he has the chance he’s going to get her out of there. Gabrielle breathlessly tells him, "Be ready for when Xena comes." Xena has infiltrated ‘Camp Cannibal’ as she used one of the boar head coats the men wear and is checking out the living conditions. She’s not pleased and she’s about ready to shut them down especially after she sees them chowing down on a rack of ribs...human ones. She leaves, probably to get the health department officials, with her plan in mind. 

The next morning Xena is running through the woods and checking everything out. She gets to work on what she needs to do and the music for this scene is awesome! She is cutting trees down, moving boulders and has that steely, curled up lip gaze that we love so much about Xena. She’s determined to save her baby doll at all costs and nothing, not even boulders or trees are going to stand in her way.  The music is so inspiring in this scene that it’s incredible. She gets everything done and has created a damn to stop the waterfall, temporarily.

Virgil is still holding Gabrielle and is taking care of her as she wakes up. Gabrielle says, "Virgil, I’m so sorry." He’s confused and asks, "For what?" Gabrielle is in tears and shakes her head answering, "I lost my nerve, that’s why I got hurt. If I would have just killed that cannibal who attacked me then Xena and I would have saved you by now." Virgil looks at her caringly and replies, "Never apologize for having compassion Gabrielle, it’s one of the most beautiful things about you," and hugs her just before the door opens. A group of counselors grab Gabrielle and take her outside much to Virgil’s protest, but it does no good. He watches as they marinate Gabrielle and screams out her name through the door. If you haven’t noticed, on the menu today is ‘Gabrielle on the Barbie’, ‘Marinated Bard on a stick,’ ‘Rotisserie roasted bard’...okay I’ll stop now, add any adjectives you like here! Well, she gets lathered up with marinade and is getting ready to be roasted when guess who appears in the camp? No, not the health department! XENA! She announces, "I’m the only one who eats Gabrielle," before kicking butt. Okay, no she didn’t say that, but it would have been nice if she had or "If I can’t eat Gabrielle nobody’s going to eat her," with a menacing look like she had in ‘Crusader’ with Najara. All right, I’ll stop the teasing and get back to the episode.

Xena begins to fight and unleashes Gabrielle when she throws her chakram, which pulls a ‘Been There, Done That’ move and pings between two poles trapping a bunch of guys there as she continues to fight everyone else. Gabrielle takes the stick she was to grill on and whacks the crap out of a few of the guys as Xena battles the other ones. Xena tells Gabrielle to get Virgil and get to the horses. Gabrielle does as she’s told and springs them from the cell. Virgil fights as Gabrielle gets Rubio out and away from the fighting. Xena uses her fire spitting skills in this episode and scorches one of the guys. Xena loves the fact that she’s wiping the floor with these guys and is cleaning up the place...you can see it all over her face. They get to the horses and ride out of the camp. Once they are to safety, Xena explains that she is going back to lead the cannibals into the dam and wants Gabrielle and Virgil to wait there until they see they are in position to cut the vine she has set up. Rubio is instructed to take the horses and get out of there.

A group of nasty guys approach where Gabrielle and Virgil are located, hindering their efforts. Xena does her battle cry and leads them in a wild race towards the dam floor. Virgil and Gabrielle hide, waiting until the others are in position. Gabrielle draws one of her Sais and has a flashback of killing Korah. They watch as the men draw closer and see the vine. Gabrielle sneaks up behind one of them and attacks him, killing him and showing no mercy. You go Gabby! Virgil joins in on the fun as Xena is cornered against the canyon wall yelling for Gabrielle to cut the rope, but her and Virgil are a tad bit busy at the moment. She begins to fight off the filthy men as Gabrielle finally defeats the men and cuts the vine with her Sais. Xena’s trap works perfectly and she jumps off the floor to the canyon wall to safety. Xena’s plan to give them a thorough washing has worked as they all drown. Xena climbs up to the top to meet Gabrielle and Virgil.

Virgil is readying his horse and laughs at how Rubio is devouring some watermelon and a banana. He explained earlier in the episode that he stayed alive because he was so skinny. So, he’s thoroughly enjoying the food now. Xena is sharpening her sword and Gabrielle has cleaned off all her marinade. Xena asks, "How are you feeling?" When Gabrielle sits next to her on a log replying as she turns to Xena, "I feel better." Xena says, "I mean upstairs," and looks up to Gabrielle’s head then back to her eyes. Gabrielle answers, "Xena, I did what I had to do. I will learn to live with my mistakes, no matter how terrible they may be...it’s the way."  Rubio interrupts asking, "What way?" Xena looks up asking, "Who are you anyway?"  He stands up and grandiosely introduces himself as, "Rubio, but you may call me..." but is interrupted by Virgil who puts his hand on his shoulder sitting him down, saying, "We know." He sits down and says, "Rubio," as Xena and Gabrielle chuckle at the skinny man. Virgil walks back to his horse. Xena turns to Gabrielle and both are grinning as the camera slows this scene down, and then freezes it, as they gaze at one another before fading to black.

I must say, despite the uncleanly atmosphere of the episode, it was a very good one. The scenes between Gabrielle and Xena are fabulous when Gabby admits those wonderful feelings to her about wanting to be buried next to her. The looks they share to with one another are so touching and you can see how much they love one another. If people are still not able to see that they are ‘outing’ the girls this season to this point they will definitely see if after this episode. My impression was that Xena thought Gabrielle was calling her...’my baby’ during the cave scene, as she didn’t hear Gabby call out Hope’s name. Loved that entire part of the episode! Xena is now feeling very guilty about what she put Gabrielle through and what she expected from Gabrielle regarding Hope. I think she’s realizing what Gabrielle did was not an easy thing to do and she’s probably regretting the fact that she made her do it. This is definitely going to have to be revisited and solved between the two of them that’s for sure.

Enjoy!