The Guardians
Chapter 5: A New Cardcaptor?
By SilentLight
Alan made his way slowly up the gentle slope of the Mt. Winds. It was quite properly named, for the winds here blew almost constantly, bringing along the upcoming of spring. He was quite looking forward to spring, for he found the winter long and dreary. The evergreen forests here on the slope sheltered him rather well from the cool winds, but still he wrapped his coat about him. There was no sense in catching a cold and being coped up at home. He focused his attention on where he placed his feet, and so did not notice the mansion not quite so far away until he was almost on top of it. When he did, however, he could only gape. It was gigantic, and old, but still fairly well kept. He noticed the swept walkway and the merry smoke floating out of the chimney, and knew that it was occupied. He wondered if it was anyone from the school he was going to attend when spring came. That was one of the things he dreaded, for he hated to be the new student every year or so, when his parents moved. He felt a trickle of fear slip into his heart. The place radiated power, strength, and he felt insignificant as compared to it. Yet he stood rooted to the ground, as if something held him there. The air had the smell of waiting.
Dawan had just finished cooking the morning meal, when the link between herself and the Sakura Book weakened. The ladle in her hand clattered unnoticed onto the tabletop. All four guardians turned to look at her. "What's wrong?" asked Ruby Moon, but Yue and Keroberos stiffened in recognition.
"The new Cardcaptor." was all Keroberos could manage, before a huge gust of wind blew open the front door and shattered all the windows in the mansion. All five of the inhabitants rushed out of the door, only to be confronted with the odd scene of a young teenager desperately clinging on to several items in his arms, while the strong winds whipped everything in sight. Dawan built up a shield about the five of them, and waited impassively for the winds to die.
Alan was too busy trying to prevent the book and the few cards he had from flying away to notice the appearance of the five other beings. When he did, however, he was disbelieving. There was an angel in white and light indigo with wings, a lady dressed in flowing white looking ethereally beautiful, a woman in purple and violet with butterfly wings, a lion with angel's wings, and a panther with butterfly wings. They were surrounded by a translucent white half-sphere, and he spoke the first things that came to his mind.
"Is this a costume party?"
*****
After Dawan had regained her wits and invited the young stranger into the house, Ruby Moon served up tea for all of them. She noted down every movement he made, for everything about him spoke volumes. The fact that he had been able to get so close to the house without her sensing him in the area was very puzzling. He was still clutching, perhaps unconsciously, to the Sakura Book and the few Cards he had.
Alan was amazed by how neat the place seemed, considering that a lion and panther were allowed to run free. He noticed that the angel had remained standing, but the other four occupants of the house had sat down on either the cushions or the sofa. The most ordinary person among them was the lady clad in flowing white, even though she radiated power even he could feel. She was staring at him intently. He clutched the book and cards even tighter than before.
Dawan felt fear, confusion, and puzzlement, worry disbelief radiating from the teenager before her, and felt pity for him. "What is your name, stranger?" she finally asked, breaking the heavy silence.
"I.I'm Alan. I'm new to this place," he answered. Dawan tried to radiate calm and peace, and was rewarded by a relaxing of his death grip on the Sakura Book.
"And what made you climb up Mt. Windy? Surely there must be more entertaining tings at the foot of the mountain," Dawan probed, trying to be subtle, yet not quite reaching it.
Alan felt an odd surge to defend his decision. "I prefer nature over the ridiculous toys the rest are addicted to. Mother Nature speaks to me."
Dawan smiled inwardly. 'This Alan is very protective of himself. Just like Sakura was.' But it spoke of a long period of lack of love, care and concern from others. Also, his claim of speaking with Mother Nature would explain why she could not feel such a strong aura approaching. "Perhaps you would let me see the book and cards you are holding," she suggested. Alan reluctantly parted with the items in his arms. Ruby Moon, who was closest to him, gasped softly when she saw the Cards, then slide them silently over to Dawan. The remaining three guardians and Dawan bent together over the Cards and gasped collectively. The Cards that had remained were Windy, Firey, Watery and Earthy.
"Well, Alan, do you know the significance of these four Cards?" Dawan asked, leaning back into her seat on the sofa, and closing her eyes. She could feel a headache coming on. The four Guardians gazed steadily at the seventeen-year old teenager.
"I.I don't know. They're the four elements, right? Wind, Fire, Water and Earth," he answered, ticking them off his fingers.
"Maybe it's time for a little story-telling." The four Guardians turned their gaze on their power source. "It began about five centuries ago."
*****
~Updated and edited. Please read and review. ~
Chapter 5: A New Cardcaptor?
By SilentLight
Alan made his way slowly up the gentle slope of the Mt. Winds. It was quite properly named, for the winds here blew almost constantly, bringing along the upcoming of spring. He was quite looking forward to spring, for he found the winter long and dreary. The evergreen forests here on the slope sheltered him rather well from the cool winds, but still he wrapped his coat about him. There was no sense in catching a cold and being coped up at home. He focused his attention on where he placed his feet, and so did not notice the mansion not quite so far away until he was almost on top of it. When he did, however, he could only gape. It was gigantic, and old, but still fairly well kept. He noticed the swept walkway and the merry smoke floating out of the chimney, and knew that it was occupied. He wondered if it was anyone from the school he was going to attend when spring came. That was one of the things he dreaded, for he hated to be the new student every year or so, when his parents moved. He felt a trickle of fear slip into his heart. The place radiated power, strength, and he felt insignificant as compared to it. Yet he stood rooted to the ground, as if something held him there. The air had the smell of waiting.
Dawan had just finished cooking the morning meal, when the link between herself and the Sakura Book weakened. The ladle in her hand clattered unnoticed onto the tabletop. All four guardians turned to look at her. "What's wrong?" asked Ruby Moon, but Yue and Keroberos stiffened in recognition.
"The new Cardcaptor." was all Keroberos could manage, before a huge gust of wind blew open the front door and shattered all the windows in the mansion. All five of the inhabitants rushed out of the door, only to be confronted with the odd scene of a young teenager desperately clinging on to several items in his arms, while the strong winds whipped everything in sight. Dawan built up a shield about the five of them, and waited impassively for the winds to die.
Alan was too busy trying to prevent the book and the few cards he had from flying away to notice the appearance of the five other beings. When he did, however, he was disbelieving. There was an angel in white and light indigo with wings, a lady dressed in flowing white looking ethereally beautiful, a woman in purple and violet with butterfly wings, a lion with angel's wings, and a panther with butterfly wings. They were surrounded by a translucent white half-sphere, and he spoke the first things that came to his mind.
"Is this a costume party?"
*****
After Dawan had regained her wits and invited the young stranger into the house, Ruby Moon served up tea for all of them. She noted down every movement he made, for everything about him spoke volumes. The fact that he had been able to get so close to the house without her sensing him in the area was very puzzling. He was still clutching, perhaps unconsciously, to the Sakura Book and the few Cards he had.
Alan was amazed by how neat the place seemed, considering that a lion and panther were allowed to run free. He noticed that the angel had remained standing, but the other four occupants of the house had sat down on either the cushions or the sofa. The most ordinary person among them was the lady clad in flowing white, even though she radiated power even he could feel. She was staring at him intently. He clutched the book and cards even tighter than before.
Dawan felt fear, confusion, and puzzlement, worry disbelief radiating from the teenager before her, and felt pity for him. "What is your name, stranger?" she finally asked, breaking the heavy silence.
"I.I'm Alan. I'm new to this place," he answered. Dawan tried to radiate calm and peace, and was rewarded by a relaxing of his death grip on the Sakura Book.
"And what made you climb up Mt. Windy? Surely there must be more entertaining tings at the foot of the mountain," Dawan probed, trying to be subtle, yet not quite reaching it.
Alan felt an odd surge to defend his decision. "I prefer nature over the ridiculous toys the rest are addicted to. Mother Nature speaks to me."
Dawan smiled inwardly. 'This Alan is very protective of himself. Just like Sakura was.' But it spoke of a long period of lack of love, care and concern from others. Also, his claim of speaking with Mother Nature would explain why she could not feel such a strong aura approaching. "Perhaps you would let me see the book and cards you are holding," she suggested. Alan reluctantly parted with the items in his arms. Ruby Moon, who was closest to him, gasped softly when she saw the Cards, then slide them silently over to Dawan. The remaining three guardians and Dawan bent together over the Cards and gasped collectively. The Cards that had remained were Windy, Firey, Watery and Earthy.
"Well, Alan, do you know the significance of these four Cards?" Dawan asked, leaning back into her seat on the sofa, and closing her eyes. She could feel a headache coming on. The four Guardians gazed steadily at the seventeen-year old teenager.
"I.I don't know. They're the four elements, right? Wind, Fire, Water and Earth," he answered, ticking them off his fingers.
"Maybe it's time for a little story-telling." The four Guardians turned their gaze on their power source. "It began about five centuries ago."
*****
~Updated and edited. Please read and review. ~
