Disclaimer: I do not own Claymore

POV = Point of View – Told in 3rd person

Waking the Dead

Chapter 6: How They Met Part 1

The cloaked figures stood looking at the Claymores which had been stuck into the ground. For once the Northern night sky was clear of clouds and snow. Stars twinkled brightly in the sky.

"These are…" the first gazed around, her voice sounded metallic due to the metal mask she was wearing as were the other two.

"The fallen of Pieta" the leader said

Seventeen Claymores were stuck in the snow, each a grave for a fallen warrior.

"We finally found it, eh?" the second walked up to one of the swords brushing off the snow which covered it in the recent blizzard. The other two did the same with the other swords. Respect must be paid.

"How long since the war?" the first asked her leader.

"About half a year, I suspect they need suppressants still."

"Lucky we still have some." the second pulled out a pouch and opened it revealing two containers that held suppressants. "We never had any use for these."

"Let's go." the leader began to walk off. All the markers had been cleaned of snow.

"Hai, hai" the first happily jogged after her leader falling in step with her. The second one walked behind them. "Do you know where they are?" she cocked her head at her leader.

"Do you really need to ask?"

"Nope." she giggled

"You're such a child." the second sighed behind her.

"Hey!" the first whined, and turned her head glaring.

"What it's true" the second shrugged.

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Stop it." their leader sighed shaking her head.

"She started it!" they said in unison. Their leader only sighed again.

"What's your opinion then?" the first asked

"Rina you are childish and Kayla you're not childish but you're no better either."

"Hey!" the both whined

"That's mean, Kuroui" Rina pouted

"You wanted my opinion and you got it. Now be quiet they're up there." they had stopped at the bottom of a cliff.

Kuroui POV

Above them about 30 meters was the mountain path which swirled around the side of the mountain. The next level was also 30 meters above the previous one. On the second level, an opening of a cave could be seen. It was quite visible but no one would come to this barren wasteland full of only snow. Not only that, anyone besides a Claymore that came out would without a doubt freeze. Bunching up their muscles they launched themselves onto the first level with a quiet thump. Kuroui then launched herself on a small ledge in between the next level before jumping up to the second level path a little ways down from the cliff without a sound. Rina and Kayla followed in suit. With a nod they stalked towards the cave silently. Kuroui raised a hand telling them to stop when they neared the cave. Closing her eyes she sensed all seven inside, they seemed to be cold. Even a Claymore would in this kind of weather below negative 70 degrees Celsius. They had a fire going and they were all huddled around it. There Yoki was muddled, they were probably still in shock of the loss of their comrades. She looked back at Rina and Kayla and nodded. Together they walked to the entrance of the cave.

They saw the warriors' supplies along a wall and they were huddled around a fire with blankets covering them. The first one that looked up had spiky hair. Her eyes widened seeing the three and she moved so fast she disappeared. She stood up alerting the others and they turned to look and the entrance as well. The spiky haired warrior then disappeared but Kuroui knew exactly where she was. Without flinching or hesitating Kuroui raised her left arm drawing her blade half out, blocking the spiky haired warriors attacked. *CLANG* Kuroui looked back over her left shoulder seeing the warriors shocked face. Without hesitation she fully drew out her blade pushing back the warrior and took a step to the right dodging a slash that came down crashing into the floor where she was a moment ago. Rina appeared behind the short haired warrior stepping on her back and pinning her down while reaching up and drawing her sword, slashing upwards to block a dual-sword warrior.

"Clare!" she exclaimed. Kayla stepped to the side making the warrior with a braid miss. Kuroui then slashed without looking, to her left catching the long haired warrior off guard knocking her down. The dual-sword warrior was now pinned under Rina's right hand while the short haired warrior Clare was still under her left foot. She also had another short haired warrior under her right knee, pinning her down by the small of her back. Kayla held the collars of two warriors, one with a braid and the other with long hair. The spiky haired warrior stood beside a warrior with pigtails glaring a Kuroui, swords drawn. Rina and Kayla had the warriors captured by the edge of the entrance and Kuroui had her back to them, Rina behind her right, Kayla behind her left. Kuroui's sword was drawn in her left hand by her side. The warrior with pigtails then charged at Kuroui lunging. Kuroui calmly raised her right hand catching the blade between her index and middle finger.

The warriors' mouth dropped. "Cynthia!" The spiky haired warrior then disappeared, Kuroui wasn't fooled though. She ducked as the warriors swiped the air where she was a moment ago. Pulling forward on the warrior named Cynthia's sword and kneed up with her right leg causing her to double over. Kuroui then used her right hand to flip her over her shoulder towards the spiky haired warrior. Cynthia tried to stop herself by digging her Claymore in the ground but only succeeded in causing herself to swing. Her foot caught the stomach of the spiky haired warrior; her eyes bulged as she was sent flying out of the cavern. "Miria!" all her comrades yelled. Miria's grip on her sword loosened as she was kicked and she ended up dropping it. She then sailed off the path and was then falling towards the ground. At this speed and height she was bound to break something. "Tch." Kuroui ran forward, reaching out with her right hand. Just as Miria went over the edge she caught her by her right wrist and jerked to a stop. She stabbed her Claymore in the ground with her left hand to prevent herself from going over the edge as well. Miria looked up at Kuroui, eyes wide. "Hold on." Kuroui grunted. Using her left leg for support she pulled Miria up slowly. Once half her body was over the edge, Kuroui let go of her Claymore and pulled Miria up all the way.

"Miria!" the one called Cynthia rushed over, kneeling beside her comrade. Kuroui stood up and reached over picking up her Claymore and sheathing it.

"Who… are… you?" Miria panted. She was clutching her right shoulder where blood where her black outfit had been torn and blood was gushing out.

With a single glance at the wound Kuroui looked up at Kayla. "I know" Kayla let go of the collars of the warriors she was holding and Rina stood up letting go of the three warriors she pinned down they watched as Kayla went up to Miria and knelt beside Cynthia. "Let me see." With hesitation Miria removed her left hand revealing the gash. Kayla placed her hands near the wound and closed her eyes. The seven warriors watched in amazement as light blue Yoki gently swirled around Kayla. The Yoki gently went to her hand then surrounded Miria shoulder. They gapped as they saw the wound begin to close. Once Kayla was done, the Yoki stopped swirling; she opened her eyes and reached under her cloak and into the pouch around her waist pulling out a small towel. She gently wiped Miria's shoulder clean of blood then stood."There" Miria stared at her shoulder in disbelief.

*SWOOSH* the sound of something slicing through the air sounded. Right after a blade rested on Kuroui's right shoulder the edge on her neck while the other sword was touching her back. "Who are yo-" She felt the warriors shock as she realized the figure in front of her was a head smaller than her. "What the…" the warrior's blades dropped. Rina then walked over to stand beside Kuroui with her back to the edge of the cliff. The other stared in amazement at the three tiny figures in front of them. Miria stood up. "Who are you?" she asked again.

"We're here to help you." The warriors glanced at each other. "It would be better if I explained inside." Miria nodded and began to walk back to the cave. The others all followed.

Miria POV

She couldn't get any air into her lungs as Cynthia's foot connected with her abdomen. The lack of air made her loosen her grip on her sword. As she flew back her sword slipped out of her hands. Sliding across the rough ground she felt a sharp rock pierce her right shoulder. She had no time to cry out as she felt the ground give away and her comrades shout her name. Time froze. No she thought. They still need me. I can't die like this. All our comrades… Hilda, Flora, Jean, Undine, Veronica, everyone… I'm sorry. Miria closed her eyes awaiting her fate. She suddenly felt pressure on her right wrist and her eye flew open as she jerked to a stop falling vertically and banging against the side of the cliff injuring her shoulder even more. She looked up with wide eyes to see silver eyes looking at her and a metal mask which covered their face. It was the person she had been attacking a moment ago. She shocked as she felt the power in the hand that held her wrist "Hold on." the person grunted. Slowly she began to raise Miria. The searing pain in Miria's shoulder made her want to scream but she bit her lip and let herself be raised. When half her body was over the ledge the person used both hand and pulled Miria fully up and safely away from the ledge. "Miria!" she looked up to see Cynthia running towards her. She was jolted with pain again and grasped her right shoulder as Cynthia knelt down beside her. "Who… are… you?" she gasped in pain at the person that had saved her. Her response was to look at one of her comrades.

"I know" the warrior released Tabitha's and Yuma's collars. The other one stood up releasing Clare, Deneve and Helen. The warrior knelt down beside Cynthia. "Let me see." Miria didn't know if she could trust this person but the other one wouldn't have bothered to save her if she wanted her dead. Slowly she removed her left hand to reveal her gash. The warrior then place her hands in the air near Miria's wound. She watching in wonder as light blue Yoki began to swirl around the warrior. Unlike when Yoki is regularly released where it swirled violently around picking and kicking up debris, the Yoki that came out of the warrior was different. It started gently by her feet and slowly swirled up wards to her hands. It was gentle like water flowing across your body. Then it surrounded Miria's shoulder. She gaped as the pain left and her wound slowly began to close. The feeling was painless and even comforting. Soon her wound was fully closed; the warrior pulled out a cloth and wiped Miria's shoulder clean of blood and stood wiping her brow. Miria saw a blur and quickly jerked her head to the person who had saved her. She heard the whistle of wind and Deneve brought her sword to rest on the warrior's shoulder, the edge on against her neck.

"Who are yo-" Deneve stopped and her eyes widened as did Miria's comparing the figure now with Deneve shocked her. She was a head shorter than Deneve. "What the…" Deneve was utterly confused and shocked. Miria decided it was time for her to step in.

"Who are you?" Miria asked

"We're here to help you." Miria raised an eyebrow. "It would be better if I explained inside." Miria nodded and turned around to go back into the cavern. She sat opposite to the warrior which had saved her. From her right sat: Cynthia, Tabitha, and Clare. From her left sat: Yuma, Helen and Deneve. On the warrior's right (Miria's left) sat the warrior who had pinned down Clare, Deneve and Helen. To her left (Miria's right) sat the warrior who had healed her. "I suppose I should begin with who we are." The warrior raised her right hand and a click was heard. Then her mask fell off, the other two did the same. "This is Kayla, former Number Three, Rina, former Number 2" she indicated to both of them "And I am Kuroui, former Number One, of the second generation of warriors."

Shock and silence.

There's Chapter 6! Sry its a little short. I wanted to get another chapter in for this weekend

Hope you enjoyed!

Review Please!