Chapter 7: Broken Bonds [Extra Scene]

Clare stood in the field of marigolds, whipping her broadsword effortlessly through the air. She had discovered that her Quick Sword technique lacked a certain degree of versatility in that she could not change directions with her body while her energy was pouring into the left arm that was that of the late Illene, the former number two. Her arm flailed through the air, much faster than when she'd first ever attempted the skill though she continued to struggle with altering her body after the youki began to flow. Like a maddened wasp her sword whizzed about, slicing the tips of the defenseless garden beneath her feet, sending a host of beautiful flowery clippings into the air. When she at last ended the flow of energy, she fell to her knees upset by her limitations. "Damn it. I should be able to do this by now!"

The hilltop where she practiced was an isolated section of the island, adjacent to valleys backed by mountains. It was the location where the former number two herself had practiced the Quick Sword and lived out her days before her path crossed with Clare's own in which she lost her life to Rafaela, who was sent to hunt her out. Clare slid from her knees into a sitting position, staring into the vast blue sky void of the breeze traveling clouds that usually made a patchwork of the atmosphere. There was only the radiant sun, beaming upon the entire island.

A feint shout sounded out through the range of hillocks. A single, long haired woman approached Clare's position waving her arm through the air. She quickly recognized the sweet, small voice of Miata as she drew nearer. "Clare, what are you doing way out here?"

Breathless and frustrated, Clare turned away from the youngest Claymore speaking quickly. "Why are you here, Miata?"

"I think you know the answer to that already." She said with a smile, twirling her hair in the breeze that sped across the hill top.

Clare quickly grew impatient. "Miria has sent you to collect me. As though I don't have the sense to know we depart in six days."

The young Claymore plopped down upon the ground opposite of Clare, playfully smiling. "It's not that. She just wanted to be sure we made it in time. Otherwise, we'd have to delay the journey if you were not there."

"I see," Clare muttered indignantly. "So she did send you."

"Of course she did. I trust you'd have been on time. But you know Miria…" the other replied still smiling broadly.

"Yes, I do know Miria," Clare said hardly paying any attention to her comrade. "But I'm fine on my own. I can make it back to the Haven in three days. We have five until we leave. So you can return already. There's no need for you to stay and monitor me."

Miata raised her brow in confusion. "Oh I'm not here to monitor you!" she said apologetically. "I merely came to talk with you."

"About?"

"Well," Stirring where she sat, Miata looked away from Clare and gazed out over the magnificent scene. "I was wondering if you could talk to me about Teresa."

Clare immediately shot an annoyed look in Miata's direction, grimacing at her instinctively. The mention of her name sent chills down Clare's spine. Despite all she had been through, no recollection of any event in her life was as dark as the day she'd lost her beloved Teresa, of the Faint Smile. "No, Miata."

"Let's be honest Clare," Miata argued changing her voice to its usual emotionless monotone. "You've been repressing your feelings toward that day for a long time. It's ok to-"

"I said no, Miata." Clare said more firmly. "It's been a long time…a very long time since that day. I've dealt with what happened and have learned to live with it."

"That's not what Daryn said." Miata said shaking her head.

"Daryn didn't stir up memories that I was suppressing. He only caused me to feel like I felt that day." Clare stood and sheathed her sword facing Miata. "He hasn't approached me since. Do you know why?"

Miata tilted her head. "I can't say. Why?"

"Because the rage that I felt towards Priscilla before our final battle in Rabona…the overwhelming power that was a result of unbridled anger…that too is what he stirred within me. I have never felt as inclined to train as I did when I awoke. For some reason, I wanted to become much stronger to defeat some foe though I could not say who exactly."

Miata could only stare in awe at the words of her ally. "What do you mean? Are you saying the vendetta against Priscilla has returned?"

"Not Priscilla. I don't feel as if I have to find or defeat anyone. I'm just reliving the intensity of that rage that once plagued my mind. But this time, since there is no face to could my mind, no desire to slay any one creature, it is manageable and I've used it to fuel my Quick Sword to an even higher level of accuracy and speed. Although…" Stepping aside, she unleashed the magnificent high speed sword through thin air. Miata was shocked by the raw display of power. "I haven't mastered changing the position of my body. If I could use this technique and actively move my body around, that would be impressive, would it not?"

"It's pretty impressive already," Miata said in earnest. "And what you're saying about your rage having returned ever since Daryn prodded at your mind, well I can believe that. It's because of him that I remember Clarice."

Clare dropped her sword at the mention of the name. Slowly, she turned to face Miata who was staring blankly at the ground. "What…what did you say?"

"Its fine," Miata said fighting back the emotion welling within her. "The only reason I cried when he first ran through the depths of my energy was because I had not even the most remote recollection of Clarice. But now, it's as though her memory never disappeared."

"Impossible!" Clare shouted. "How on earth did he restore a memory that she erased from your mind!?"

"Well, that's just it," Standing up Miata turned towards the sun basking in its glow. "She didn't erase the memories…that would have been impossible for someone who doesn't excel at youki manipulation. She merely used what remained of her own power to force the memory itself into the depths of my subconscious. I'd had dreams of her face, but never once could remember who she was."

The beams of sunlight shone down upon the two as though the magnificent orb itself were delighted in their conversation. Clare could hardly believe what she was hearing. "That's…incredible."

Miata sniffled, wiping away a single tear and giggling at Clare's admiration. "Yes, I suppose it is. But the really incredible one was Daryn. I haven't been able to pinpoint it, but there's something very unique about him."

"Well he did say that he was one of a 'special soldier' created by the organization. Before that he was just one of us."

"Even still," She knelt down, running her hand through the brilliant sea of yellow beneath her. "I feel like there's something he's not telling us. Why did he decide to oppose the organization? Why is he alone?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Clare said beginning to walk down the hill. She motioned for Miata to follow. "Clearly the organization has hurt him in a way that overshadows his fear or respect for them. I couldn't tell you what, but I'd bet they hurt someone he loved. Isn't that what drove Miria to take revenge? Isn't that why we all stood with her?"

Miata broke one of the vibrant, silky, buds and carried it in safely in the palm of her hand towards Clare. "That would make sense. I've got a feeling we'll find out soon enough. He's got no one you know."

"Yes, that's usually how it goes." Clare said, thinking on her own past. "It's the moment when you believe that you have no one…nothing left to lose that you do the most drastic things."

"Have you ever felt that way?" Miata asked fingering the flower gently in her palm. "Have you ever felt completely alone in this world?"

Clare stopped walking, staring up into the empty sky. "Yes, before I met Raki, I was certain that I had no one…no reason to truly live. It was that knowledge that allowed such unbridled hate for Priscilla to continuously grow within me. I never wept a tear for what had happened to Teresa...not until I spoke with Illene, in a valley, half a village distance west of here exactly. That was the first time in years that I openly shed tears. It was then that I realized I simply had to see Raki again, because he'd given me what Teresa had and I had given him the very same thing. Having someone to care for, if only for a little while, is worth living for."

Miata was no sobbing uncontrollably, eyes closed. "Yes, yes you're right, Clare. I have but my memories to live for and what Clarice did for me. She saved my mind."

"No," Clare said placing a comforting hand on Miata's shoulder. "You've got your sisters of the haven. We are your comrades until the end of our days. Never forget that, Miata. You don't have to feel alone."

Such powerful words from Clare, the coldest and most lonesome of the Claymores, had far more meaning than she could have known. Miata looked down at the flower she'd been holding before reaching out to Clare. She placed the stem of the flower between her hair and the top of her ear. "That's a good look for you." She laughed wiping away tears.
Clare smiled slightly before snatching the carnation from her hair and crushing it in her hands. "Sorry, that's not really my thing. Besides, there was a rather large insect in that flower. I was hoping you wouldn't do something like that."

The pair fell out with laughter, content with their relationship having confided in one another. The lives of Claymores were once short and bitter, filled to the brim with nothing but misery and despair. But ever since they'd escape the chains of the organization, they found that they were more human than they'd ever imagined previously. The ability to live and love existed within them all though it would take some time to reveal itself. Even Clare had come to love her comrades and could exchange heartfelt confessions as well as tears of sorrow and rejuvenation. Despite her newfound warmth, her words resonated gravely within Miata's heart. The rage of which she spoke was more than apparent to everyone who had met Clare before her gradual personality change. Even the thought of such unstable emotion lingering beneath a calm surface frightened Miata. At any moment in conflict, Clare could turn into a much darker creature. But, struggling with her own past, she ceased to think on it any longer.

"We should head back," Miata said casually. "I know you won't be late, but I'd feel pretty silly if I showed up alone. Besides, I'd like to keep an eye on Miria. I think she might hurt Daryn."

"What do you mean?" Clare asked.

"Even with all of the awakened beings that I'd seen her defeat after the conflict in Rabona, Miria has never showed such utter disgust for a creature than she has in these past few weeks towards Daryn. She really hates him and she claims it's because of what he did to you. But I don't think that's it."

Clare's smile faded. "If I didn't know any better, when I was there on the river with them, even though my power was surging in such a way that I was hardly about my senses, she seemed nervous initially…like she didn't want to fight him. That's never been Miria."

Miata leaped for joy as the words left Clare's mouth. "Yes! That's what I thought too! Even watching from far off, I noticed an odd shift in Miria's energy. I couldn't say what had happened because I've never noticed anything like that happen to a Claymore. It was as if she-"

"As if she were attracted to him?" Clare said staring at Miata. "I thought I was the only one who noticed."

"Well," Miata giggled. "He's not particularly bad looking. And such a display of power could have impressed anyone…even Miria."

"Perhaps we're overthinking it. It's Miria we're talking about after all. The phantom is not some adolescent human child. Being half yoma doesn't affect our attraction to others, but Miria isn't the type to lose her head over something like that."

"It was strange, but yes, Captain Miria is a hardened warrior." She tossed her hair behind her, moving it from her vision.

"There's another reason I came here," Clare said changing the subject.

"Is it for her?" Miata asked pointing over the horizon towards a collection of trees from which a powerful youki escaped. "How has she survived out here for so long? There haven't been any reports of attacks. I was sure they'd have to eat sooner or later."

"They do," Clare said drawing her sword, squinting in order to gain a better a view. "But one thing the organization never told us about yoma is that they can survive on the flesh of beasts."

"Really!?" Miata exclaimed in absolute surprise. "That's incredible that you'd know that."

"It is. Only because the organization would have had us believe that yoma survive solely upon humans. The reason being that other sorts of meat can be considered repulsive, believe it or not."

"I see. So how do you intend to approach her?" The young Claymore drew her own weapon, testing its weight by weaving it through the air a few times as though she'd never held the sword before. "You know how yoma are. The longer they live, the more they need to eat, and the stronger they become. Her appetite could be what you'd consider, voracious, no?"

Clare sighed heavily, brushing her short hair to one side. "I was hoping to save her, perhaps even have her join us in the fight against the organization. She seems to be the one of them who held her composure through awakening. The battle with Priscilla only served to improve her temperament. But if she's become voracious, there's no way we could leave this island and allow her to roam freely against the humans."

"Agreed," Miata replied. "But do you think we two can defeat her? Her power would be beyond even an abyssal one at this point."

"It's only been ten years," Clare said. "But you may be right. And yes, I think we will fare well against her."

A blur tore away from the cluster of trees a few hundred yards away. It made its way behind one of the grassy knolls before speeding across the hilltops in the direction of the two Claymores. Despite the speed, Clare and Miata thought nothing of it. Compared to the foes they had faced, this creature was agonizingly slow. In an instant almost, the figure was upon them looming before them in her gargantuan form, smiling wickedly, the carcass of a deer hanging in her right hand.

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here." Octavia towered over the pair of Claymores in her awakened form. The bestial lower body, resembling the body of a horse, would have been a menacing sight to anyone who had not battled with ferocious monsters in their past. Clare and Miata both had had quite the resume of defeating powerful awakened beings and even abyssal ones in their pasts. To stand face to face with the colossal awakened form of Octavia was hardly noteworthy to either of them.

"Octavia," Clare said staring intensely at the massive yoma before her.

"Hello there," Miata said graciously bowing. "I am Miata. I was in the city of Rabona at the time of Priscilla's attack ten years ago. I'm not sure if you remember me but-"

A resounding laugh echoed across the hilly region. Octavia knelt down inspecting the child closely. "I could never forget that yoma energy. It was you who awakened to defeat Europa, correct? That coward of an awakened being! You made a terrible foe indeed."

"Thank you," Miata smiled bowing yet again. "Why is it that you have come here, Wild horse Octavia?"

"Me?" Octavia said tossing the animal carcass clear across the landscape. "Why, I live in these beautiful foothills." Taking a deep breath, she made the quick transformation back to her human form. It was an odd display to anyone who wasn't familiar from the shifting of one body to another. Within moments, she had returned to her original, brown haired, beautiful self, completely naked before the two Claymores. "Sorry about that. But when I felt youki here, I imagined you were coming to kill me. I can see now it's just a couple of old friends here for…" She paused a moment and tapped her chin. "Why exactly have you come here?"

Clare tensed in the presence of her immense power. "We've come here, to ask a favor of you."

"A favor, you say?" Octavia repeated. "For what purpose could a Claymore need an awakened being? Is there some unbelievably powered freak of nature that I should be aware of again?" She was taken with her own sense of humor.

"I can't imagine these years of isolation have been kind to you," Miata said quietly. "Have you never considered living amongst the Claymores? Were you not so different from us at one time?"

"Miata, please," Clare said nudging the young Claymore in the ribs.

"Humph. There's no need to be so kind, child." Octavia smiled. "I don't intend to fight you here for any reason. I'm an awakened being…a yoma. Yes, I was what you are at one time, but not anymore. Though I've retained the greater part of my own will, the heart of a creature changes when you awaken. I could remain calm amongst your humans for a hundred years but suddenly…" She shook her long hair and ran her fingers through it, ridding it entirely of the foliage from where she'd been hunting.

"But at any moment the urge…the hunger could overtake her." Clare added stepping closer to Octavia. "She is an awakened being. No matter how strong their will is, there is a reason they cannot live amongst us."

Octavia shrugged her shoulders. "You learn to deal with it after a while. I've overcome the more primitive of instincts though; the cravings, the lust for flesh and blood, the need to stalk a helpless human and tear their guts out. You'd be surprised how much willpower it took."

"I wouldn't," Clare countered. "Being half-awakened one feel's similar urges so I do understand to some extent what you endure day to day. But being only half, I assume I've crossed some threshold where it no longer bothers me too much."

"I'm sure," Octavia laughed. "Don't you just love these fields? They cover every hill top this time of year. I just wish-"

Clare sheathed her sword catching the attention of the awakened being. "Octavia, I still have to ask you something."

"Ahh, yes." She said dancing upon the soft flowers. "Do ask."

"We who remain in the Haven are preparing a voyage to a land known as Uldava. It is there we hope to engage the organization and destroy them from within hopefully collapsing them once and for all."

Miata stepped closer, hoping to convince the yoma of their plan. "A soldier of the organization on Uldava has come and given us the perfect opportunity to infiltrate their facilities and undo all that they have accomplished. We hope even to turn the tide of battle in the war on the mainland."

Octavia continued twirling about the tender plants beneath her feet before finally surrendering to the dizziness that overtook her. She slumped down onto the ground with a thud, falling onto her back. Deep in thought, she ran her hands through her incredible, brown hair, pondering their proposition. "It would be an ideal chance to put a stop to those sinister bastards for good, huh?"

"Yes!" Miata cried. "You could help us along quite a bit, I'd imagine."

"No." Octavia answered bluntly. "No. I'd really just rather not."

"But what about-"

"I said no, child." Her precious smile never once faded. "Coaxing me won't help. I simply cannot and will not go with you. It is not the place of an awakened being. Besides, I doubt I'd be able to retain my usual composure amidst a strange land. I bet the humans are even more appetizing there…"

"I was afraid you'd say that," Clare said slowly reaching for her sword.

Octavia closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "If you reach for that sword, Claymore, I'll cut you both down where you stand. You asked a favor of me and I said no. Did I not maintain my decency throughout? I've even gone to such lengths as to eat the wild animals of this land when the cravings became too strong for me to control. I'd imagine you'd have the highest respect for such an honorable yoma."

"We are leaving this land, Octavia," Clare continued. "When we return to the Haven, we'll depart for Uldava. If you will not join us, then I cannot leave you upon this island. There will be no warriors who can keep you in check. Even Galatea in all her power could not hope to defeat you."

"And what makes you think that I want to harm anyone upon this island? What makes you think that I would not boldly watch over the denizens of this land like a mother for her brood? Let's be honest. The organization will not stand by while their shipments of awakened beings continue to be destroyed and their soldier, Daryn, disappeared."

"What!?" Clare said in shock. "How did you!?"

"Nothing eludes me. Though I never reached the rank of number one, you could consider me an abyssal one. And as the only abyssal on this island, it would be my duty to stay on top of things. Besides, that Daryn fellow made a point to ask me personally to watch over this island."

"Why!?" Clare asked angrily. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he knows she isn't a threat to anyone." Miata said with a slight smile. "She could be dangerous….but so could you or I to the people on this island, Clare. Don't you see? She's much more than a typical yoma. Her will power has practically made her one of us. She doesn't even eat humans."

"It's true," Octavia cackled. "Unfortunately, other beasts are terrible to eat. But they keep me alive so I'll manage."

Looking down onto the ground, Clare shook her head. "Well, I can't say I've any quarrels. But if you hurt anyone upon this island-"

"Do you really have to threaten me? Let's be honest, if I wanted to, I could have been picking off the unwary humans all along without so much as raising an alarm. It'd be that easy. But I refrain from doing so because I am of a higher class of yoma."

"Hardly yoma," Miata said extending her hand. "Thank you, Octavia. I trust you will deal with anything that arrives."

Staring down at Miata's outstretched hand, Octavia merely turned her back to the two before resuming her awakened form. "Don't think on it too hard. It's this damned human heart. You should know what I mean."

Clare and Miata watched the titanic abyssal charge down the hill and back towards the trees from where she had burst forth. Looking to one another, they were simply lost for words till Clare spoke.

"Not a word of this to Miria," she muttered. "That's the last thing I want to hear when we get back."

"Oh don't you worry," Miata laughed. "I'd prefer to avoid that as well."