Part 1 is revised. I changed some of it because the conversations that I had in here, previously, didn't seem to click. I worked on it and thought I'd post the revisions tonight. Tell me what you think!
Standard Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own CCS.
Translations:
jian-Mandarin Chinese for "sword"
de novo-Latin for "from scratch"
Beyond Clow Mountain: The Crumbs of Triumph
PART 1
The Sorcerer Lott traveled all over the Country of Clow with a fiddle under his arm and The Black Vulture Cinious perched on his shoulder. He wove magic with his music and provided his ancient wisdom to townsfolk he visited. He had been to many worlds and met many lords and their kings. One of the distinguished places he visited was The King's City of Talon, a city that was rich with noise and diversity. Noise and diversity usually perturbed him, so he intended to only stay for one day of rest. The day he arrived in the city, he met a farm girl and unexpectedly mated with her. He disappeared the very next day and the people of Talon forgot him.
West, son of the farm girl and The Sorcerer Lott, was raised as a farmhand like his mother. When his mother passed away in his early teenage years, West left Talon and became a traveler of sorts. He finally settled in a forgotten part of Clow; a place that seemed to stretch to the heavens. Clow Mountain was spacious, clear and peaceful; a place with miniscule differences from the life he preferred. His quiet life was only interrupted by the sound of chirping birds. Clow Mountain attracted him because it sat in the middle of Hilt Woods, an area that used to be known for its game. Hilt Woods used to be known as one of the best hunting grounds in Clow, but an old tale long forgotten had scared away many mortal men. West was not any common mortal man, though his mother was very mortal. The blood of The Sorcerer Lott ran thick in him and it shown in his silver eyes, oaken hair, and bronze skin. So when he settled in Clow Mountain he built his home, not with his callous farm hands, but with his spells. He could whisper words in his mind to stack bricks and he could urge wood to peal and break itself. He was best at bringing inanimate things to life with his tongue.
Not long after he settled, The Black Vulture Cinious sought him out. Cinious had him fixated the moment he caught the bird out of the corner of his eyes as he de novo built his home. His spells were cut short as he dropped his attention from his work and fully eyed the prudent creature. On instinct alone, West reached out his arm to the air and allowed the great bird to settle on his arm.
"Great Bird That the Dead Fear, what brings you to this part of Clow Country? West asked in his deep grumble.
Lott passed away many years ago and taught me to seek you. At last I have found you.
West grinned at Cinious and took the bird in. Cinious taught West how to seek other living things by "Calling," a form of magic that Lott had mastered. "Calling" required two means. First, one must know the name of whom or what they seek in order to reach that said being or person. Secondly, one must picture the aura, with the mind, in order to visualize who or what one seeks. West took his new power to heights, seeking wizards, warlocks, witches, sorcerers, sorceresses, and other magical creatures and stealing the books belonging to them. He studied the makings of magic and the tales that were long forgotten. He had to build a library to house the abundance of wisdom, knowledge, and resources he had stolen. From his books and search, he found his heritage with the ancient land he lived on. Though many great sorcerers might have wanted to brag about their forefathers, West was content with knowing where he came from and that was all. Yet, after tracing his family lineage to that of The Great Clow Reed, he became bored with his life.
West snapped the book--he was currently skimming--shut and turned to Cinious, perched on his Manzanita stand. Cinious, this world is boring.
You are young and vain; nothing less than your father when he was your age. Cinious flapped his wings as he mind-spoke to the jaded sorcerer-in-training.
West snorted in response.
A few days later he decided to visit Drisbull, a neighboring town that was closest to the mountain. He found a sweet, serene, and dainty child with steel blue eyes. He stole her from her home and mated with her. They had a son and named him Noel, but the girl died during childbirth. West alone raised their son and taught him "Calling." Noel grew up and followed his father. Eventually, after the twenty cycles of the four seasons, West's time was up and he passed on.
Like his father and grandfather before him, Noel found noise and diversity perverse. He preferred to stay within the walls of his home and only went out to hunt when he craved poultry. People stayed away from him and Clow Mountain. The only creatures which found him approachable for many years were The Black Vulture Cinious and The Wolf Lune. Noel had found Lune when he was out hunting. The pup was all alone, so Noel took her in and raised her until she was old enough to go back to the wild. Even after Lune returned to the wild, she regularly visited Noel as if she new he yearned for her company in his silence.
It wasn't long though, when Noel felt particularly insufficient. Cinious, I want to know all truth. Noel projected this thought directly to his winged friend.
Cinious blinked his green eyes at him as he murmured into the young sorcerer's mind. You are young and vain; nothing less than your father when he was your age.
Noel snorted and waved for Cinious to fly down from his perch. The vulture flew onto his shoulder as they set out to hunt. Lune was at Noel's heel.
On this hunt, Noel discovered wheel tracks of a moving caravan. He followed the wheel tracks in fascination. He found that the caravan had picked a spot to rest in the middle of Hilt Woods. He knew right away that the false and forgotten tales of these woods had never reached the ears of the people in the caravan or else they would not have stopped there. When night settled and Noel continued to watch the people of the caravan at his vigil, he made a noise that would have startled any normal mortal. It was at that point the men of the caravan hightailed out of the woods in every direction. All, but one mortal remained rooted in her spot and she sat very still in her carriage, her red robes majestically spilling around her feet. This was how Noel found his mate.
She had hair the color of the inky night sky and her eyes, though lighter, matched. Her eyes glittered like dim embers of The Vulcan's Fire deep in the eye of the dormant volcano that was The Vulcan's home. She stared at him with her expressionless eyes. The regal young lady would always stare at him that way, her eyes masked of emotion and hard with boredom. Noel found her, his perfect match. Whenever their eyes met, Noel would remember that she was indeed flawless against him. When her family discovered her missing Noel planted this thought in their minds; Lady Ilene wandered away from her caravan and was enchanted by the sorcerer of Clow Mountain—a man to fear and never cross.
A year later, the couple had a son and they named him Syaoran. Around the same time, Lune reared a pup as a gift to the son of The Sorcerer Noel. Noel and Lune passed on before Syaoran's first birthday, so Syaoran was raised by his mother alone. When Noel was gone, his spells were lifted and the thought of Clow Mountain being treacherous lifted from the minds of Ilene's family. Still, no one dared come to the mountain to pay a visit to the wife and son of Noel.
Syaoran grew strong and quick witted, with his father's chestnut hair and his mother's fierce amber eyes. Raised in meditative silence, Syaoran mastered martial arts under his mother's guidance and enhanced his own magical abilities under the care of Cinious. Shortly after his sixteenth birthday, Ilene fell ill and passed on forever. Like Noel and West. They all died quietly. Syaoran continued to move on with life and finish the never ending project of collecting for the library that West had started and Noel had picked up before Syaoran. When he went out to hunt he had his best friend, The Wolf Ezo with him. Ezo was his nose and Cinious was his eyes.
One summer night, when the sky was ginger and fading from top to bottom into gold, Syaoran sat studying from one of Noel's oldest books within the cool library. He was abruptly startled out of his studies by a voice that was shouting through his gates. Syaoran sent Ezo ahead of him to scare off the unwanted visitor. When he noticed that the incessant shouting never ceased and Ezo's low growl echoed louder and louder, Syaoran growled in annoyance and rose from his seat. Then, as he left the library, he gestured to Cinious to follow him and watch his back.
Rid your mind of murderous thoughts, Son of Noel.
Without even a glance of acknowledgement over his shoulder, Syaoran said, No mortal should be on these grounds.
Cinious had a quick retort ready. Mortals work in groups. If one of their own was to be killed, then they will come back and tear down the home that West had built for his family. Descendant of Clow Reed, remember the tale—
Syaoran grunted. I know it too well. Clow Reed made Clow Country in order for mortals to rule it. 'Til this day, the ancestors of the first mortals subdue the land to nurture and flourish the very earth and sky you and I dwell.—I do not understand why I cannot entertain the idea of teaching these mortals a lesson in propriety, though.
Perhaps you have forgotten another part? The scolding tone that Cinious used irritated Syaoran.
Syaoran mentally sighed. And perhaps that second half has something to do with halves. All that is created is based upon two halves. Darkness does not exist without light as light does not exist without darkness. There is no earth without the sky and no sky without the earth. In everything that has been given a name, there is a delicate balance.
Syaoran's recitation of what he learned over the years seemed to somewhat satisfy the vulture. Good. What do you wish of me, now?
"Just watch my back in case this mortal is mad." Syaoran's voice came out gruff and rusty from disuse. Even when his mother was still around, they rarely spoke to each other out loud. Silence was preferably sustained to retain the peace that mother and son both favored over unnecessary and incessant talk.
"Down Ezo," Syaoran ordered as he came out of his home and quieted his wolf.
Ruffling Ezo's rough head, Syaoran beckoned him to wait inside. Shortly after, he turned to his unwanted visitor at the gate with blazing eyes. She was just a young maiden, around his age if not a year or two younger, weary and fearful. Even from the distance, he saw in her posture that she was tired and haggard from much more than the ravages of her journey to reach him.
"So, what do you want? You do not have the aura of a mere mortal," he said.
The girl looked at him, eyes unblinking. One hand slowly curled around the iron bar on his gate. It was the way she moved that Syaoran noticed that her other arm was cradling a small burden. Syaoran's eyebrows came together in a rare frown.
"Are you the son of Ilene?" She asked.
"I am and who are you?" It appeared he was still very disgruntled.
"Sakura of Avalon. My brother had a child by your mother's youngest sister. This is him." She shifted the bundle in her arm and looked over his shoulder at the vulture flapping its wings at her. She noticed how it leered at her. "That's The Vulture Cinious, The Great Bird that the Dead Fear—ancient and wise—it is said that he has lived since Clow Reed founded Clow Country—Once he arrived after the Battle of Heet and drank the blood of the Belligerent King Alistar, cursing his descendants, so that none of them were fit to be kings. Each one never ruled a full life and the last king of Alistar's line was finally dethroned and beheaded at the Gate of Trill, in front of the Beasts of Dern."
"How do you know that story? Who are you?"
"I like to read and I told you. I am Sakura—
Syaoran grunted. "Your name holds no meaning to me. What brings you to my home?"
She gave him a wry smile that looped with grief and pain. "Your mother's sister, so your aunt—Helen—is the late Queen of Clow…"
"Your brother is the king?"
At this, Sakura's eyes hardened. He was still at a safe distance, but he could tell she was serious by the set of her eyes and nose. "No. He is not, though many in Avalon believe he is the rightful king."
Syaoran glowered at his unwanted visitor after anticipating her need to spill her woes on him before she may voice them aloud. "The affairs of mere mortals do not suit me. I must return to my work," he snapped.
"Wait! You can't just leave me out here. Just hear me out! Your cousin threw this baby in my arms and asked me to take him to you. You must take him because he is the son of your aunt and my brother. He is all that Clow has left and more. You can't just leave him!"
Syaoran turned to her again, looking distraught at the blubbering girl behind the bars. Tears of stress and sorrow streamed down her young face. Syaoran had never seen this sort of show in emotion. It tugged at his heart and brought him to the gate to open it for her.
She still stood outside, trembling and ignoring the fussing baby in her arms. "Please, I have been on the battle field for days. I lost my brother to the King of Clow just three nights ago. If you will allow me to rest in your house and feed this child, I can settle my nerves and give you the full story. I won't take up much of your time. I must return to battle soon."
"He doesn't like it when you shed like that," Syaoran mumbled, nodding to the baby in her arms. "Don't just stand there. Come inside."
She hurried through the gates and followed him indoors. Once inside, Sakura dropped her heavy brown cloak and revealed her armor to him. To him he only saw heavy plates of silver and gold covering her. The little intricate swirl of designs that traveled across her breast plate did not depict to him her higher position than a regular soldier.
"What are you wearing?" He asked.
At the quizzical look he gave her, Sakura sighed and unbuckled her breast plate to reveal a simple pink tunic. "It protects me in battle. I need it, so I can live to finish the job." Her high voice leveled to a low tone. Up close, Syaoran noticed that her eyes were like the emeralds found deep in the Caves of Laster. Her eyes reminded him of the colors of Cinious' eyes except hers were filled with bitterness.
He was focused on her face to the point he had not realized she was unbuttoning her shirt and letting the material fall off her small, white breasts. When he caught himself staring he immediately jerked his head away and stared at the Manzanita stand that West had carved with his spells for Cinious. Sakura noticed the blood rushing to his face and covered her breasts by pressing the baby's face to her chest.
"I'm sorry. I have to feed him. I cannot wish away the master of this place just for privacy."
If possible, Syaoran grew redder. He bristled and could not understand why the room felt boiling hot when the cold stone walls were built to emit circulating cool air.
He nodded once, so that she could proceed feeding the ailing child.
Even though Syaoran acted cold towards people and lacked any interest in people, Sakura found that there was still a part of him that warmed up to helpless creatures. The baby would be safe left with him.
"Katsu is always hungry. My cousin Tomoyo feeds him almost every hour even though she has her own to care for. I'm afraid I'm not enough for him. I'm sorry I have to ask you, a man, to do a woman's job, but you are his last hope. Mei Lin really cares about this babe as he is her cousin as well. Mei Lin's father was Ilene and Helen's brother, the only son of Lord Yuu's eight children."
Syaoran gathered his wits. "I don't need you to tell me about my mother's kin. I've heard enough. What threatens Katsu?"
"My brother Touya is dead and so is Helen—look—let me start from the beginning. Helen had been married to King Dylan for a little over a year. Touya and Helen were secret lovers long before the wedding arrangement. Dylan found out and murdered my brother on the battlefield just three nights ago. Helen gave birth to Katsu and died from childbirth four days before Touya died. The king is a cruel man who will stop at nothing to take this baby's life. My brother is the rightful king and Dylan knows it. A child of the Son of Avalon is a threat to Dylan's sovereignty over all of Clow. You are the last member of Helen's family that Dylan would ever think of coming to. For all I know, he might have forgotten your existence. Clow Mountain is the safest place for Baby Katsu. Please, take good care of him."
Sakura pulled Katsu away from her and handed him to Syaoran. Syaoran could not refuse the useless bundle. Anything vulnerable and helpless like this baby was also harmless and feeble. He could not let mere mortals take him and end his life before it begun. His father, Noel, would not have left The Wolf Lune alone in the woods uncared for in her vulnerable and pitiful state. He took her in without the edge of a mere mortal's story to give him reason; only the sense of obligation moved him.
"I don't care where he is from—
Her chin came up and a shimmer reached her dark eyes. Her voice was coated with hope when she questioned him. "So will you take him?"
Before Syaoran could answer her, a rumbling voice that resembled the tremor and timbre of thunder broke up their talk; "SAKURA, IT IS TIME," said that great and powerful voice which boomed in their ears and left a crackling atmosphere in the room.
"Coming!" she called, rising to her feet and gathering the material at the front of her shirt.
Syaoran stiffened as he tried to familiarize himself with the new unseen presence.
"I have to go. Promise me you will love Katsu and provide for him."
Syaoran could not trust his voice, so he nodded to her, still holding the baby in an awkward way with one arm.
"I have to go kill Dylan now—
"SAKURA."
"Hold tight, Kero. I'm on my way out." She moved, hurriedly shrugging into her full armor again.
Syaoran paused. "Kero—Keroberos—that voice! That voice belongs to Keroberos?"
"Yeah, you should know him from the legends."
"He and Yue are The Guardian Beasts of Clow's Seal. That means you broke The Seal!"
She hurried down his hall. "Yes, I have a contract with the Clow Cards. Julian only allows the Mistress of Clow to set foot in the battlefield."
Syaoran followed her to his gates. There, his eyes were locked onto the golden orbs of Keroberos. The beast was irritated and impatient, portentously flexing his wings at the sorcerer. His great strength and the flap of wings spanning nine feet high pushed the gates open effortlessly.
"Come, before any more of your family dies in battle," Kero grumbled, his eyes never leaving Syaoran's. His words were addressed to Sakura.
Syaoran continued to gaze at master and beast in awe. He watched how Sakura hopped on one toe and threw her leg over Keroberos' broad back. Briefly, he thought he saw wings appearing on her simple pink slippers.
"Thank you, Syaoran. If I live to see the next day, I will surely come visit you and Katsu. Farewell."
"You know my name. How?"
She playfully smiled at him. "Ask the wizard at the foot of this mountain. He's very wise and helpful."
Syaoran groused in annoyance. "Oh, I will. Farewell to you, Sakura of Avalon. I don't understand the meaning of wars, but I recognize sorrow when I see it. Sorrow must be passed on between you and others on that battlefield. Dylan must feel it, too."
Kero pushed off the floor and Sakura was forced to twist her head just to look back at Syaoran. "That man had long forgotten how to feel." With those last words to him, Kero, carrying her, bolted through the sky and became a yellow bow with a trail of star dust.
Syaoran turned to Cinious. Let Eriol know I wish an audience with him before dawn breaks.
As you wish. Cinious flew out of the window and dissipated into the night sky, a streak of black against the orange.
Before morn and before Katsu finished his nap, Syaoran took the baby and Ezo out to visit The Wizard Eriol who lived in a mansion at the foot of Clow Mountain. No Hilt Woods creatures greeted him as it was too early for them to rise. Syaoran walked into the opened steel doors stiffly, relaxing only when he felt the soft feathers of Cinious against his face as the vulture nestled atop his shoulder. Eriol's blue fire blazed in the hearth but the two chairs by the hearth were bare. Syaoran could not sense the aura of the wizard, nor could he feel any more secure than the other times he had visited Eriol's estate.
"Welcome! I thought you brought food for us last night," Spinel Sun purred in his teasing. Syaoran looked to a corner of the room to where the shadows shifted. "Vulture, yum!"
Cinious moved his green eyes frantically, sending daggers to every shadow his eyes caught. He folded his wings inward and squeezed closer to Syaoran's head.
"Aren't you supposed to be fearless, Cinious?" Ruby Moon questioned lightly as she suddenly appeared over Syaoran's head. She was lazing on a steel beam that held the roof over their heads. "The windows and doors are still open. You can go if you are that afraid."
Cinious cawed in outrage. Useless, spoiled creatures.
Syaoran ran his forefinger over Cinious' head in a calming gesture. Don't take their banter to heart.
Never.
"What a bore," Ruby wailed. "Cinious—such an awesome bird—has forgotten how to speak after all these years. How are you supposed to share Clow Reed's wisdom with the rest of us, now?"
"I doubt you would even understand half of it, Ruby," Spinel growled.
Ruby huffed at the blue-black cat, which now stepped out of the darkness by pushing the shadows away. "We're the same age because Eriol created us at the same time, so how could you actually be any smarter than me?"
"Eriol must have dropped you during the process because our intelligent levels are practically off by many, many intelligence quotient points."
The Wizard Eriol was known for his sorcery, that which could rival the power of Clow Reed. He was well known to the point that no one could successful seek him, but Syaoran. His mansion was always hidden from mortal eyes as huge as it was. What one could not see, one could not believe it existed, but for Syaoran, Eriol's home, Eriol's creatures and Eriol himself existed.
Eriol's soothing, velvety voice penetrated through the heated argument like a butterfly's wing dancing at the surface of water. Spinel and Ruby stilled there mouths and their words were silenced. Eriol appeared seated in one of the arm chairs by his blue fire as if he had been there the entire time. The only difference in the atmosphere was the suddenly brighter blue flames in the hearth.
"Come have a seat in this chair, Syaoran," Eriol suggested in his placid manner.
Syaoran settled in the second empty arm chair facing the fire as he dropped an ancient book in the wizard's lap. "This is for you. Pilfered it off of some sap wizard a week ago."
"You'll get in trouble for embezzling the libraries of many great wizards someday. Thank you, anyway."
"I cover the trails." Syaoran innately drew Katsu closer to him as he spoke.
"A baby!" Eriol gushed and pretended he just noticed Katsu. "May I hold him, too?"
Syaoran passed Katsu forward and allowed Eriol's arms to curl around the child.
"I don't like you giving away my name to strangers… Mortals… You know the power of knowing a name."
"I know. It's also how you summon the elements and call the jian, right? I don't know much about 'Calling,' but you explained it to me once."
"Idiot. Summoning the elements and calling my sword are not a part of 'Calling.' Those are my abilities alone, as dynamics was West's specialty and illusion was Noel's specialty."
"I know of specialties. Your father was probably a great sorcerer, but I doubt he or your mother were fit enough to teach you humanity's greatest gift of love. Do you think you are ready to give love when you have yet to receive it?"
"I loved my mother."
Eriol's eyes twinkled as his mouth lifted in a snooty smile that told he knew something which Syaoran did not. "So you are capable of loving Katsu."
"I can love him, but I can't give him what he needs and that is food."
"Syaoran, people need love, too. Food is in abundance here. Love is a very fickle subject."
Syaoran grunted. "I need a cow that can feed him. You have one. Cinious told me that mortals like the company of others that are like them. You are like them since you have been in their company before you came here. I want your help. I know I can raise him as Ilene raised me and West raised Noel, but with a mortal child, a Prince of Avalon, I know that my lifestyle will not be enough for him."
Eriol became serious, his frown deepening. "Katsu is not the son of Touya. He is Dylan's son."
"Sakura said—
"A fib," Eriol pressed. "I cannot tell you why she said it, but I can tell you about the current events. Katsu, this baby you have chosen to raise, is very involved in these current events, so you must know the history. The Sons of Talon and the Sons of Avalon have fought for control over Clow Country for centuries. Katsu is the only heir for Dylan, the current king, whose family has ruled the country for five decades. I believe Avalon just lost its only son four nights ago."
"Does The Lord of Avalon still live?"
"Sakura's father, Aiden, is still in the body of the man I saw him in many years ago. Although, he probably is not the same because of the ravages of time and the loss of his only son. Poor man's last child will not feel secure until she has had her revenge. I pity her as I foresee the future for her. Think of Aiden being completely childless—a man's bleakest moment in life."
"Hours ago I was childless before Sakura of Avalon walked in on me and thrust a baby in my arms. You dare give that girl my name without thinking of the consequences."
"She is no sorceress. She is only a child chosen by your ancestor's magic to be the breaker of The Seal."
"That girl is afflicted. She cannot be given any power and that includes my name."
"She has no power for "Calling." Don't worry. Clow Reed's magic chose her as their master after all these years. That's the only kind of sorcery she wields. You shouldn't be afraid of her."
"I will never be afraid of mere mortals. They are fools, anyway."
"Aren't you jumping ahead of yourself? If you believe that mortals are truly fools, then rest assured, I will help you in raising this young 'fool,'" Eriol murmured, raising Baby Katsu above his head. The baby blinked down at them, his amber eyes bright and speculative.