Clare walked up the rocky hill being careful not to slip. She was getting closer to her destination, she felt it. She shifted the heavy sword upon her back into a different position; taking extra care to make sure it's weight was even across her back.
A gentle breeze moved toward Clare, lifting her cape and hair a little, swirling then around as if to play with them. Finally she reached the top of the hill. There stood a mound of rocks and at the top a Claymores sword was jammed tightly into the mound. Clare knelt down by the pile of rocks so her eyes were level with the mark that was engraved in the sword.
To a normal human it was a jagged symbol of no meaning, to a Claymore, perhaps a former warrior that had died in battle or had awakened and was later tracked down by the organization. To Clare, it was the reason why she existed, the symbol meant the life of someone who is everything to her, someone that showed her unconditional love when no one else could. Someone who's precious flesh and blood made her who she was today. Someone who was like the mother she never had. It meant Teresa.
Clare traced Teresa's symbol slowly with her fingertip. "Hello Teresa." She whispered. Clare knew she really was never away from Teresa. After all she took in her flesh and blood to become a Claymore. In way she was Teresa, but Clare could never bring herself to think that. She could never be like Teresa, ever.
Tears welled up in her eyes. The air always felt heavier around her shoulders. She carried the weight of souls that want her to live on, that want her to fight and avenge their deaths and avenge ones they couldn't. Ophelia, Irene, Jean, and, yes, Teresa were the ones that stood over her. "There's so much weight I have to carry since you died Teresa." Clare sobbed. "You wouldn't believe all the deaths I've had to witness." She rested her head on the rocks and closed her eyes.
Clare couldn't remember much of what it was like before she met Teresa. She could remember that fateful moment when Teresa stood at the back of a frantic, screaming crowd of people as she slew youma in their human form.
[flashback]
The youma that held her captive held Clare close, hoping the small girl would keep the Claymore from noticing its yoki. It didn't work. Teresa darted right behind it and slashed it in half, leaving small Clare drenched in foul smelling blood.
Clare turned to meet the Claymore's eyes. Most humans wouldn't dare look into the eyes of a half monster, but Clare wasn't afraid. Teresa looked right back at her with a cold stare, but Clare could see right threw the thick outer shell that enclosed Teresa's heart. Her eyes showed pain and suffering. Loneliness gripped her; she didn't know the love of a mother and father, or the comfort of friends. The Claymore's eyes were exactly like little Clare's.
Teresa and the village leader talked, Clare watched and listened for a while. It was only natural Clare clung to Teresa's side when she sensed the kinship they shared. Teresa scowled at the small girl and pushed her away. "You want to avenge the death of your little youma friend? If you want I can end your suffering right here and now. Don't worry it'll be painless. At least I hope so." Teresa said mockingly. Clare sat up with her back turned to the Claymore. When she gave no reply Teresa began to talk with the man again.
Did Clare give up and move along? No, she wouldn't let someone who knew the same pain she felt alone to suffer. Clare got up and clung to Teresa's side again. Less than second afterwards she was flying threw the air again and hit the ground, harder than the last time. "What's with her? Is she not right in the head or something?" Teresa complained at the village leader. Clare paid no attention to what the man said she just got up again and faced the Claymore again.
"I know your not deaf so listen closely, you take one step towards me and I'll kick you for real next." Teresa yelled at the girl. Teresa turned her attention back to what the village leader was saying. Clare waited, and then she shuffled the smallest of steps towards Teresa. Instantly Teresa moved quickly so that she faced Clare and kicked her so hard it knocked the wind out of her even before she hit the ground. A crowd had formed now. Watching, waiting to learn the fate of the small girl.
Clare sat there gasping for breath. "Little brat…" Muttered Teresa. When she left Clare followed a few lengths behind her. Teresa did nothing to stop her. She they reached the borders of town Teresa glance over her shoulder. "You'll die if you follow me out here; I have to go threw a bandit's forest on my next mission. I'll do nothing to keep them from tearing you apart if they find us" She warned. Clare didn't heed her words.
She followed Teresa for hours. Bruises and aching muscles Teresa had placed caused her to limp and every step brought more pain. Clare followed anyway. Eventually they stood at the top of a cliff. "I applaud you for following me this far little girl but it's time to say your goodbyes, return to which you came." Teresa said as she jumped gracefully down the steep cliff. Clare stood there for a moment. She jumped, she fell, and she hit jagged rocks on the way down leaving her unconscious before she hit the ground.
Teresa knew that the girl's death would be her responsibility so she carried her to fresh water so the girl could drink and bathe when she woke. Teresa took care of Clare from that point on and planned to leave her in the hands of a family in the next village she came across. Clare was unable to talk so Teresa gave Clare a name. Obviously it was Clare. By coincidence that was the name she was born with.
One night a bandit came to take revenge for the time Teresa cut off his arm. Clare hit the man on his head with a stick while he clawed off Teresa clothing. The man turned to Clare and began to repeatedly kick her. Teresa then drove him off.
Clare laid there on the ground for a while, wincing at her new set of bruises. Teresa held out her hand. "You're not hurt to badly, come on get up already." Teresa chewed the inside of her cheek in impatience. Why couldn't Teresa see it? Clare had no wall over her heart like Teresa did. Didn't Teresa realize the comfort Clare had been trying to provide? Clare flew into Teresa sobbing. "What's this? Why are you crying Clare?" Then Clare spoke for the first time in what seemed forever.
"It… hurts… I can… tell..."
"Hmm? You mean this scar upon my stomach?" Teresa laughed. "It looks bad but-"
Clare shook her head. "Your eyes Teresa… they look just like mine. You haven't felt the love of a mother… I have gotten a little better since I met you Teresa but… but…" Clare found she couldn't talk threw her sobs. Teresa soon began to realize everything. The reasons why Clare kept clinging to her in town and followed her down the cliff all became very clear.
Teresa began to cry as well. She knelt down with the girl in her arms and held her close. That's all she wanted after all, was to be held like this. Teresa thought. Clare taught Teresa a valuable lesson that day. That tears can flow even from silver eyes.
Clare laid there in a daze trying not to remember what would soon happen to Teresa after she met her. She laid there beside Teresa's grave for what seemed hours. Clare sat up. She felt the yoki of her comrades Tabatha and Uma approaching. Yuma's was way behind Tabatha's as she struggled to keep up, as usual. Clare laughed to herself. She didn't care if they caught her anymore.
There was something else though. A different Claymore? Clare pulled back her yoki and tried to read the newcomers yoki. She had two members of the organization with her. They were heading towards her too. There was no way the organization could know she would be here. Could they be heading for Teresa's grave? Suddenly she felt the pulse of the newcomer's yoki as she noticed Clare's presence. She was very strong. Her strength would rival even Riful of the West.
She began to approach her rapidly. Clare remembered Miria's wishes to avoid any contact with other Claymores let alone battle them. She didn't think she could take on anyone that could read yoki this well at the moment anyway. Yuma and Tabatha wouldn't be much of a help either. If she caught Clare and her comrades it would be death for them. "Goodbye Teresa." She whispered to the grave and then dashed off towards Yuma and Tabatha.
It didn't take long to reach Tabatha. "Clare what's wrong?" She said in panic. "You idiots! Don't you feel it!" Clare practically screamed as she grabbed Tabatha around her waist and dragged her along down the rocky hill.
"Is something wrong Chelsea?" Asked the black cloaked man when they caught up with the Claymore. "There was another Claymore not to long ago." She said. "I don't see why anyone would come to pay respects to a former number one. No one from this era knew her."
"Perhaps it was a ghost of one of the missing warriors that died in the war of the north." said one of the men gloomily. Chelsea laughed. "Yes perhaps." They stood in silence for a while. "Tell me." said Chelsea. "Is this whole thing about the missing warriors true?" The men smirked at each other. "That's for you to find out soon enough my dear Chelsea." said one of the men.