Foreword
Hi all! This story is dedicated to the epic tale (--") of how Syaoran got that lightning-fast wolf mount of his in Enchanted Runes. But before I go into the story proper, some trivia for you:
In the pre-2003 draft of my Enchanted Runes series, this story never occured. In that timeline Syaoran acquired his spirit wolf in a "Trial of Dominance" much like how he subdued and tamed the elemental spirits he commands with his new Ofudas. The Trial is mentioned in brief when Syaoran introduces Xue Lang to Sakura in Enchanted Runes II: The Syaoran Cards and is later revealed to the reader in a series of events where Syaoran flashes back to the time he spent in Hong Kong training before his return. But the original version had some plot holes: If Syaoran was embittered by his being roundly trounced by the Void card, as it was mentioned in the original, it does seem weird that he can be so at ease with himself when he returns to Japan. And in Enchanted Runes III: The Sakura Cards it is mentioned by Syaoran's mother, Yelan, in her divination that "ever since they met, Syaoran and Sakura will be together for at least one night every two years". This was a mistake on my part; I wrote it FORGETTING that they were apart for 4 years before Enchanted Runes I: The Shadow Cards occured. Then I ran out of inspiration and never finished ER2. At that time I was also working on ER3 using the main events I've planned in ER2, but that soon bit dust as well. 3 years would lapse...
Then came xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa Reservior Chronicles. The heavy references to Cardcaptor Sakura got me interested in these mangas and before long they soon directed me to other CLAMP mangas as both new series were built like a web that binds all of CLAMP's work together. This was when I discovered "Shirahime-syo", a CLAMP manga collection of 3 tragedies relating a particular Snow Goddess. "Garou no Yama", the first story, caught my eye and inspired me to give Syueran (Sakura's kawaii mispronunciation of Xue Lang) some more flesh. At the same, I've taken this chance to plug the plot holes I've mentioned in the former paragraph.
And hence Xue Lang Zuan, translated as Tale of the Snow Wolf, was born.
Summary
After the sealing of the Hope Card, Syaoran bade farewell to his love and left for Hong Kong, but not before making a promise, that he would return to her once he had settled his important unfinished business back home and stay once and for all. While he didn't mind Sakura far surpassing him in terms of magical powers, he sorely remembers how he couldn't really protect Sakura during that saga. It spurs him to train even harder than ever before, to the point that he is convinced that completing his training is part of the important business he has to settle.
Now, 2 years later, despite the long hours he put in and the help he received from his family, Syaoran still has not seen much improvement in himself. He never doubted himself for once he might not be able to keep his promise, but it was clear that he was hitting a plateau. Then, Yelan is requested to Japan to aid in investigations about a recent spike of malignant uses of magic. She insists on bringing along her tutee and son despite much protest from him. Syaoran is tempted to visit Sakura when he is there, but he is honor-bound by his promise and for various reasons must not do so.
It doesn't help that Tomoeda was having another Cherry Blossom Festival. It really doesn't help that Sakura's the main attraction for this year's show. And just when he thought things couldn't get any worst, he is separated from his mother when a supernatural blizzard literally puts a halt to everything in town. Now, it is up to Syaoran alone to uncover the source of trouble and reverse the spell, lest Tomoeda be locked in an eternal ice age and Syaoran be never able to see Sakura again!
Timeline
0.5: Xue Lang Zuan (In Progress)
1.0: The Feiwang Cards ID: 3011899 (In Progress)
1.5: The Daidouji Code (Yet to be released)
2.0: The Syaoran Cards (Yet to be released)
3.0: The Sakura Cards (Yet to be released)