This one is going to be pretty short. But enjoy anyway.

Chapter 2: Eternal Fear

The elders were in a fury as Yelan stepped into the palace grounds, unaware of the current situation.

"You!" one of the elders shouted as Yelan came in calmly.

"Where's Xiao lang?" Yelan asked.

"He's gone!" the elder shouted as Yelan looked at him in shock.

"He ran out of the palace after we told him that emotions were but a distraction." they said.

"What did you say exactly?" Yelan said narrowing her eyes, knowing that Syaoran would never angry unless he had a good reason.

"We said that emotions are weak. Which is why his father perished in battle."

Yelan's eyes burned with fury as she glared at the elders' stupidity.

"You fools! No wonder Xiao lang ran out!" Yelan shouted.

"It was your talk with him! You were the one who filled his head with those decisive words of yours! Now, there will be no heir!"

Yelan igroned them and rushed out to go find Syaoran.

'Xiao lang, where are you?'

Yelan rushed into the village in search of her only son.

Dodrios and Tauroses were pulling cars of produce and merchandise with their owners waving them over to shops and houses.

Pidgeys and a few Murkrows were perched on top of the buildings and Machops were meditating against the walls of stores and houses.

Yelan looked left and right, but Syaoran was no where to be seen so she desperately started calling out to him.

"Xiao lang!"

OOOOOOO

-rustle-rustle-

Syaoran glanced up and looked around cautiously, wondering where the noise was coming from.

There were some rustling in the tall grass and Syaoran slowly rose to his feet.

His heart started pounding with anxiety as the rushtly stopped, seeming to know that Syaoran was on the alert.

A small breeze blew at Syaoran's bangs as his eyes darted back and forth, searching for any kind of movement.

As Syaoran started walking away, there was a sudden movement in the tall grass and Syaoran whirled around.

While Syaoran was looking around, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared from behind.

"Zang..."

Suddenly, a red and white cat/mongoose-like creature jumped out of the brush and slashed Syaoran across the shoulder.

Syaoran fell to the ground, gripping his shoulder in pain.

Blood dripped down his arm and onto the ground.

Syaoran staggered to his feet before sprinting deeper into the forest.

Zangoose narrowed its eyes in glee and gave a toothy grin. "Keep running. It'll make the kill a lot more interesting..."

Syaoran ran as fast as he could while still gripping his wounded shoulder.

He stopped and tried to catch his breath for a moment as he leaned against a nearby tree.

There was another rustling in the brush again and Syaoran immediately stood up.

Zangoose jumped out of the brush and used Slash.

Syaoran ducked just as Zangoose slashed, cutting down the tree behind him.

Syaoran dove out of the way as the tree just barely missed crushing him.

He quickly got back on his feet and started running again.

"Heh. You can't run forever, kid!" Zangoose snarled while rushing after him.

OOOOOOO

Yelan ran into the forest as dark clouds formed overhead.

"Xiao lang!" Yelan cried desperately as she ran through the forest.

She suddenly stopped and saw drops of blood on the ground.

Yelan bent down and observed the drops of blood and noticed a small piece of green fabric on the side.

Her eyes widened in horror as she ran deeper into the forest, praying that Syaoran was still alive.

OOOOOOO

Zangoose used Quick Attack, slamming into Syaoran full force and sent him flying into the trunk of a tree.

Pain went surging through Syaoran's shoulder as he gripped it with great intensity.

Zangoose looked down at him like a predator about to kill its prey as Syaoran tried to back up but was already against the tree.

"W-Why are you doing this?" Syaoran mumbled.

"Because your people have been hunting and killing my kind for centuries! So I'm just returning the favor." Zangoose sneered while showing its claws.

Syaoran laid back against the tree with his eyes wide with horror as Zangoose wound up to attack.

"Say hi to your ancestors!" Zangoose shouted as its claw started glowing with a brilliant light.

Syaoran squeezed his eyes shut as he awaited impact.

Syaoran's life suddenly flashed before his eyes and realized, he never had one.

He was never given the chance to actually be who he was and now he will never.

"Take this!" Zangoose shouted as it started coming down on him with a powerful Crush Claw.

"Xiao lang!"

Syaoran's eyes snapped open just as someone rushed in at the last moment as Zangoose came down on that person with Crush Claw.

"Mother..?!" Syaoran mumbled in horror.

Yelan smiled weakly and sighed in relief. "I'm glad... You're all right... Xiao lang."

"W-Why did you-" Syaoran stammered as Zangoose curled its lip in frustration and slammed its claw into Yelan's back.

Yelan grunted in pain and coughed up a few drops of blood.

"You must get... away... from the elders..." Yelan said weakly as her arms started to shake.

"Mother!" Syaoran cried as Zangoose continued pounding against Yelan's back as she continued protecting Syaoran with her body.

"Don't go back there... or else the elders... will turn you into nothing but a heartless... machine... you must go."

"I won't leave you! Not again!" Syaoran cried as tears stung at his eyes.

"You have to... I won't be able to make it... But don't worry... Someone is waiting for you... Be strong... My... Little wolf..."

With that, Syaoran ran off deeper into the forest as rain started to fall.

Zangoose saw him run off and tried to go after him, but Yelan grabbed onto his tail and yanked him down.

"Gah!" Zangoose growled as it whirled around and glared at Yelan.

"I will not allow you to hurt him." Yelan said.

Zangoose's claw started glowing again.

"I guess I'll have to settle for you then." Zangoose said narrowing its eyes.

Rain started pouring in a second, drowning out all other sounds in the area.

------

That was the last time I ever saw my mother... She died to protect me.

I really am a coward.

I left her during her time of need.

I couldn't do anything. I let her die...

I'm not strong... I'm the farthest thing from it... I'm pathetic.

-------

(Present day)

Syaoran was lying on the roof of the house with his hands behind his head as he gazed at the cresent moon shining overhead.

When his memories came to him all at once, he felt like he was going to explode.

But somehow, hearing Sakura's voice calmed him and was able to take in his memories without that much strain.

Syaoran placed the back of his hand on his forehead and breathed a sigh.

'It all makes sense... The reason I was afraid of Zangooses. But... Who was the person my mother was talking to me about? Was it Sir Aaron? Or...'

An image of Sakura's smiling face flashed across Syaoran's mind, causing his eyes to snap open.

Syaoran immediately sat up wide eyed.

'Could... the person mother was talking about... could it be...'

To be continued...


Sorry this one had to be so short, but there really isn't anything else to put into this one. Don't worry, the next chapter will be normal length. Please Review!