Chapter 10
Yep. Finally getting off my duff and typing up another chapter. *Yeah for me!*
******
After a fit breakfast, of which Sakura refused to partake, everyone made ready to pack. They couldn't stay in one place more than a day, because there were many evil and dangerous things that lurked here, in the forest.
Syaoran was confused at why Sakura wouldn't talk to him, she'd been ignoring him all day. If she was still mad about the sulfur pits...no...she knew he was in the right. So, then what?
" Boy!" Gharen's claw zipped out and snagged his tunic. It pulled him clear from walking straight into a tree. He turned sheepishly and thanked the raptor.
" You humans. Always with your heads up in the clouds." The dinosaur murmured, not in a mean way. " It's no surprise you're always found near the bottom of the chain."
By that he probably meant the food chain. Syaoran sighed, returning to his contemplation. What was she so angry about?
" That is one of the many things I find so peculiar about your species. The raptor and elf races are so much more advanced. We say what we mean, and that is all. No secrets, spare those that are of absolute importance to our strength." The reptilian companion continued.
" Hmm."
" You should watch where your eyes stray, boy." Gharen said," Trees are not the only danger that will come your way."
" And just what do you mean by that?"
". . . If your eyes stray, and you run into a tree, who are you harming?"
" An odd question." Syaoran looked up," Myself I suppose. And the tree to some small degree."
" Ah...But, you do not consider others, do you?"
" What?"
" You humans are very single minded. You consider the decisions you make like paths crossing every now and than with someone elses. But, we...we see it as a web, with many different paths, each one effecting the one beside it. If you break one strand, it doesn't just hurt yours, it strains the other strands beside it, until the entire web has collapsed."
Seeing Syaoran's confused expression, brought about one of wise recommendation to Gharen.
" You forget, that as your eyes stray to watch what interests you, you are not the only one who has seen." Gharen pursed his scaly lips," Be careful, boy. A pretty face may seem harmless to look upon, but it can do harm not just to you, but those around you."
With that riddle, Gharen bobbed silently back to Peliope's side, growling something unintelligible. Syaoran went into another bout of pondering, only half sure of what Gharen had implied.
******
" Why so glum, little one?"
Sakura looked up. Peliope's kind eyes glittered down from the branch upon which she sat. The elven woman was silent to the point of scary - she could sneak practically up to your nose and you wouldn't know it.
" It's nothing."
" Little one, anything that is worth the thought, is something."
Sakura glanced up, and huffed a big sigh.
" It's just...I've been feeling a little useless. I mean, before, when I still hadn't recovered my voice, it seemed like I could do more things and act more independant. But, now, I just feel like any other person, nothing to stand me out in a crowd. And when I try to help, it seems like I'm either in the way, or no good at what I do."
" Are you saying you would rather lose your voice again?"
" Sometimes it feels that way."
"................This has little to do with your usefulness to us, Sakura. And you know it. You are worried, because you feel you have become useless in Syaoran's eyes."
" ..."
" Your silence only confirms what I have said." Peliopes leapt down gracefully, and walked to Sakura's side," Fear not, little one. The greatest thing you can do for the boy at this time, is to be patient, and listen. You were not meant to battle as we. You have another task. Leave the fighting to those with fighters' blood, and do the tasks you are accustomed to."
Sakura smiled sadly. Peliopes turned to leave, than called behind her.
" We will be setting camp soon. The morale of our fellows is rather low. Perhaps, we could use an entertainer. Do you know one?"
******
It was nightfall, and the day was quiet. Sakura sat off to one side, debating whether or not she should return to the trade she had known so well. Perhaps...no. She glanced over the faces of those that were closest. There were no smiles, only serious frowns of concentration. They looked like they needed a diversion rather badly. But, to introduce one so abruptly would bring startled attention to her, and that wasn't what she wanted. Something a little more subtler, on the other hand.
She looked around, and found a large reed growing out of the ground. Snapping it, she took great care in coring it, throwing the pulp to one side. With her free hand, she rubbed her finger into some of the sap, testing it, than held the reed over the fire for a brief moment. It blackened, and before she singed herself, she retrieved it, crushing the still green end she'd been holding. With great care, and a borrowed knife, she whittled five small holes into the end. Than, after she held it over the flame once more to dry the sugary sap, she tapped it against a rock. It gave a hollow sound, much like glass against stone.
*Author Note: Be aware. I don't want any of you getting any ideas about doing this at home. She's in a different place, where the plants are not Earth born. This is all from my imagination, and so I'm warning you...don't try it, it won't work.*
" Perfect. I still got it." She picked it up, and with a very gentle sigh, blew into the tip.
The sound that came out was soft, and lulling. It didn't squeak, or whine, only one pure long note. Several heads turned, and a hush fell over most of the dwellers. She continued, by playing a song that her father had once played for her. Her fingers danced over the holes, as she whistled the sad tune. Leaning against a tree, she continued to play, adding her own notes here and there, playing and adlibbing, until she'd practically composed something entirely new. Suddenly, she heard the keen reverberance of a mandolin. Peliopes was beside her, plucking softly. Sakura never stopped, and Peliopes never asked her to. They merely continued their sad tune, adding to each other what the other could not do alone. Soon, the forest was filled with the haunting melody, mandolin weaving in and out. More than a few paid attention now, watching as the two merely stood, playing their beautiful duet.
" You know this song?" Sakura asked, as Peliopes continued into a solo.
" It was one I used to play. I haven't done so in a long time." She said sadly.
Sakura watched her silently for a second, then grinned something mischievous.
" Peliopes, pick up the tune a little. I think its time I practice my trade."
Peliopes smiled, and suddenly changed chords into something more jaunty. Sakura skipped playfully around playing her flute reed.
" Okay, here it goes. Touya would kill me for sitting so long."
She broke into a faster run, heading straight for the trunk of a tree. Syaoran turned around, and started to get up. What was that girl doing?
Suddenly, she lifted her foot, pushed against the trunk, and with a twist of her body...flipped!
" Wonderful! Bravo!" Some of the men cried.
Syaoran relaxed a little, smiling. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see five of the the camp girls looking at him and giggling. He blushed, and turned around, back to polishing his staff. Sakura happened to glance over at that second. ( Wow, doesn't she have wonderful timing?) She felt herself fume again, and turned back around to continue her performance. From on the ground, she saw three evergreen nuts. Doing a series of cartwheels, she picked them up while the crowd was watching her feet. Bowing, she slipped them in her sleeve. Than, as she got up, she pulled them out of thin air, supposedly, juggling them with practiced ease. Suddenly, there were not only three nuts, but a cup. She adjusted easily to the extra weight, smiling at Peliopes. Using one hand, she rested the other on a rock.
Syaoran grinned at her display, unaware that he'd managed to get on her bad side further. Suddenly, Peliopes whistled, and threw two more items at her, another cup and a spoon. She took them cooly, juggling a little faster. She yawned - her signal that Peliopes should add a few more items.
" Of course." The elf grabbed a few more items as she played, and pretty soon, Sakura was juggling a mind boggling 15 items. Syaoran was staring at it all unblinking. She continued to juggle for awhile, until someone screamed. Catching all her objects, she turned around. Standing almost right in front of her, was the ugliest, and filthiest beast that she'd ever seen. Syaoran was immediately on his feet, but couldn't move any further. PELIOPES!
" WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" He cried out.
" She must do it on her own."
" WHAT?! AGAINST THAT THING!"
" She deserves a chance to try."
Syaoran stood back for a second, confused. Is that what she was mad about? She didn't get a chance to save him once in a while?
******
Sakura was debating as well. Should she call for Syaoran? She glanced in his direction, but he seemed to be in an argument with Peliopes. Maybe he didn't care anymore. She stared at the beast sadly. She had a dagger at her belt, but what good was that? Suddenly, she looked up. It would have to do. With a great lunge, she leaped up, and dug her dagger into its side. But, the beast never screamed, never flinched. Looking down, Sakura realized it didn't move either. Tapping it, Sakura gasped. It sounded hollow. She looked down, but before she could look any further, something reached out and grabbed her. She screamed, and stabbed out. This time, there was a scream, but more human than anything.
" Get away from me!" She cried out, kicking and struggling.
The person let her go, and she ran, stumbling towards the crowd of people. Syaoran ran to her side, finally giving in to his instincts. She ran to him too, forgetting her anger. Something slithered out of the brush, and Sakura bit back a scream. She was an acrobat, not a fighter. From now on, she'd listen to Peliopes. Off to the side, she saw the elf woman give her a knowing glance, almost as if to see, " Now that you've had a taste, let us do our jobs." She nodded.
Syaoran readied his staff, as something that was half-human, half-snake came right up to him.
" Give us the girl! You have desecrated our holy land! Give us the girl as sacrifice!"
******
And this is where I stop.
Yep. Finally getting off my duff and typing up another chapter. *Yeah for me!*
******
After a fit breakfast, of which Sakura refused to partake, everyone made ready to pack. They couldn't stay in one place more than a day, because there were many evil and dangerous things that lurked here, in the forest.
Syaoran was confused at why Sakura wouldn't talk to him, she'd been ignoring him all day. If she was still mad about the sulfur pits...no...she knew he was in the right. So, then what?
" Boy!" Gharen's claw zipped out and snagged his tunic. It pulled him clear from walking straight into a tree. He turned sheepishly and thanked the raptor.
" You humans. Always with your heads up in the clouds." The dinosaur murmured, not in a mean way. " It's no surprise you're always found near the bottom of the chain."
By that he probably meant the food chain. Syaoran sighed, returning to his contemplation. What was she so angry about?
" That is one of the many things I find so peculiar about your species. The raptor and elf races are so much more advanced. We say what we mean, and that is all. No secrets, spare those that are of absolute importance to our strength." The reptilian companion continued.
" Hmm."
" You should watch where your eyes stray, boy." Gharen said," Trees are not the only danger that will come your way."
" And just what do you mean by that?"
". . . If your eyes stray, and you run into a tree, who are you harming?"
" An odd question." Syaoran looked up," Myself I suppose. And the tree to some small degree."
" Ah...But, you do not consider others, do you?"
" What?"
" You humans are very single minded. You consider the decisions you make like paths crossing every now and than with someone elses. But, we...we see it as a web, with many different paths, each one effecting the one beside it. If you break one strand, it doesn't just hurt yours, it strains the other strands beside it, until the entire web has collapsed."
Seeing Syaoran's confused expression, brought about one of wise recommendation to Gharen.
" You forget, that as your eyes stray to watch what interests you, you are not the only one who has seen." Gharen pursed his scaly lips," Be careful, boy. A pretty face may seem harmless to look upon, but it can do harm not just to you, but those around you."
With that riddle, Gharen bobbed silently back to Peliope's side, growling something unintelligible. Syaoran went into another bout of pondering, only half sure of what Gharen had implied.
******
" Why so glum, little one?"
Sakura looked up. Peliope's kind eyes glittered down from the branch upon which she sat. The elven woman was silent to the point of scary - she could sneak practically up to your nose and you wouldn't know it.
" It's nothing."
" Little one, anything that is worth the thought, is something."
Sakura glanced up, and huffed a big sigh.
" It's just...I've been feeling a little useless. I mean, before, when I still hadn't recovered my voice, it seemed like I could do more things and act more independant. But, now, I just feel like any other person, nothing to stand me out in a crowd. And when I try to help, it seems like I'm either in the way, or no good at what I do."
" Are you saying you would rather lose your voice again?"
" Sometimes it feels that way."
"................This has little to do with your usefulness to us, Sakura. And you know it. You are worried, because you feel you have become useless in Syaoran's eyes."
" ..."
" Your silence only confirms what I have said." Peliopes leapt down gracefully, and walked to Sakura's side," Fear not, little one. The greatest thing you can do for the boy at this time, is to be patient, and listen. You were not meant to battle as we. You have another task. Leave the fighting to those with fighters' blood, and do the tasks you are accustomed to."
Sakura smiled sadly. Peliopes turned to leave, than called behind her.
" We will be setting camp soon. The morale of our fellows is rather low. Perhaps, we could use an entertainer. Do you know one?"
******
It was nightfall, and the day was quiet. Sakura sat off to one side, debating whether or not she should return to the trade she had known so well. Perhaps...no. She glanced over the faces of those that were closest. There were no smiles, only serious frowns of concentration. They looked like they needed a diversion rather badly. But, to introduce one so abruptly would bring startled attention to her, and that wasn't what she wanted. Something a little more subtler, on the other hand.
She looked around, and found a large reed growing out of the ground. Snapping it, she took great care in coring it, throwing the pulp to one side. With her free hand, she rubbed her finger into some of the sap, testing it, than held the reed over the fire for a brief moment. It blackened, and before she singed herself, she retrieved it, crushing the still green end she'd been holding. With great care, and a borrowed knife, she whittled five small holes into the end. Than, after she held it over the flame once more to dry the sugary sap, she tapped it against a rock. It gave a hollow sound, much like glass against stone.
*Author Note: Be aware. I don't want any of you getting any ideas about doing this at home. She's in a different place, where the plants are not Earth born. This is all from my imagination, and so I'm warning you...don't try it, it won't work.*
" Perfect. I still got it." She picked it up, and with a very gentle sigh, blew into the tip.
The sound that came out was soft, and lulling. It didn't squeak, or whine, only one pure long note. Several heads turned, and a hush fell over most of the dwellers. She continued, by playing a song that her father had once played for her. Her fingers danced over the holes, as she whistled the sad tune. Leaning against a tree, she continued to play, adding her own notes here and there, playing and adlibbing, until she'd practically composed something entirely new. Suddenly, she heard the keen reverberance of a mandolin. Peliopes was beside her, plucking softly. Sakura never stopped, and Peliopes never asked her to. They merely continued their sad tune, adding to each other what the other could not do alone. Soon, the forest was filled with the haunting melody, mandolin weaving in and out. More than a few paid attention now, watching as the two merely stood, playing their beautiful duet.
" You know this song?" Sakura asked, as Peliopes continued into a solo.
" It was one I used to play. I haven't done so in a long time." She said sadly.
Sakura watched her silently for a second, then grinned something mischievous.
" Peliopes, pick up the tune a little. I think its time I practice my trade."
Peliopes smiled, and suddenly changed chords into something more jaunty. Sakura skipped playfully around playing her flute reed.
" Okay, here it goes. Touya would kill me for sitting so long."
She broke into a faster run, heading straight for the trunk of a tree. Syaoran turned around, and started to get up. What was that girl doing?
Suddenly, she lifted her foot, pushed against the trunk, and with a twist of her body...flipped!
" Wonderful! Bravo!" Some of the men cried.
Syaoran relaxed a little, smiling. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see five of the the camp girls looking at him and giggling. He blushed, and turned around, back to polishing his staff. Sakura happened to glance over at that second. ( Wow, doesn't she have wonderful timing?) She felt herself fume again, and turned back around to continue her performance. From on the ground, she saw three evergreen nuts. Doing a series of cartwheels, she picked them up while the crowd was watching her feet. Bowing, she slipped them in her sleeve. Than, as she got up, she pulled them out of thin air, supposedly, juggling them with practiced ease. Suddenly, there were not only three nuts, but a cup. She adjusted easily to the extra weight, smiling at Peliopes. Using one hand, she rested the other on a rock.
Syaoran grinned at her display, unaware that he'd managed to get on her bad side further. Suddenly, Peliopes whistled, and threw two more items at her, another cup and a spoon. She took them cooly, juggling a little faster. She yawned - her signal that Peliopes should add a few more items.
" Of course." The elf grabbed a few more items as she played, and pretty soon, Sakura was juggling a mind boggling 15 items. Syaoran was staring at it all unblinking. She continued to juggle for awhile, until someone screamed. Catching all her objects, she turned around. Standing almost right in front of her, was the ugliest, and filthiest beast that she'd ever seen. Syaoran was immediately on his feet, but couldn't move any further. PELIOPES!
" WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" He cried out.
" She must do it on her own."
" WHAT?! AGAINST THAT THING!"
" She deserves a chance to try."
Syaoran stood back for a second, confused. Is that what she was mad about? She didn't get a chance to save him once in a while?
******
Sakura was debating as well. Should she call for Syaoran? She glanced in his direction, but he seemed to be in an argument with Peliopes. Maybe he didn't care anymore. She stared at the beast sadly. She had a dagger at her belt, but what good was that? Suddenly, she looked up. It would have to do. With a great lunge, she leaped up, and dug her dagger into its side. But, the beast never screamed, never flinched. Looking down, Sakura realized it didn't move either. Tapping it, Sakura gasped. It sounded hollow. She looked down, but before she could look any further, something reached out and grabbed her. She screamed, and stabbed out. This time, there was a scream, but more human than anything.
" Get away from me!" She cried out, kicking and struggling.
The person let her go, and she ran, stumbling towards the crowd of people. Syaoran ran to her side, finally giving in to his instincts. She ran to him too, forgetting her anger. Something slithered out of the brush, and Sakura bit back a scream. She was an acrobat, not a fighter. From now on, she'd listen to Peliopes. Off to the side, she saw the elf woman give her a knowing glance, almost as if to see, " Now that you've had a taste, let us do our jobs." She nodded.
Syaoran readied his staff, as something that was half-human, half-snake came right up to him.
" Give us the girl! You have desecrated our holy land! Give us the girl as sacrifice!"
******
And this is where I stop.