Chapter 5
Here for a Reason
"There is always a reason for things to happen."
.
When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the cave, alone. Sakura stood up, and stumbled out of the cave. There was not a single shadow outside. She looked around- something in the atmosphere told her that something is amiss.
Sakura raised her head and sniffed the air, looking for the familiar scent of autumn. She followed her instinct and found herself walking into a cave that she had never been before. Inside sat Syaoran, Eriol, Tomoyo and Meiling. Their expressions are all of the same, of worry and of stern. Sakura looked form one to another; wanting to know what was going on.
Syaoran sensed Sakura's coming, and looked up as she walked into the cave. "You shouldn't be up, Sakura, go back to rest."
"No," Sakura said stubbornly, "I don't want to stay on the bed like a sick kitty." Coughs were heard to cover laughter, as Syaoran sent glares to people who dare.
"Go back." Syaoran said the words out through his clenched teeth. No one had ever dared to challenge him- expect for one, Sakura.
"No." Her words were as stubborn as ever. Syaoran glared at her, and she glared back.
Then, Syaoran sighed. "Fine, Sakura. You haven't changed a single bit..." A smile appeared at his lips.
Sakura grinned. "Of course!" she said proudly, and raised her head with pride. The two's eyes met, and they locked sight for a while. Something seems to pass through the atmosphere, for the two was lost, lost in the eyes...
"I say, my dear little cousin," a voice came between them, Eriol's. "You spoiled your sister too much."
Syaoran came back to his senses, fast. "Am I such a bad brother?" he said in a sad voice, but there was laughter in his eyes.
"I am afraid so," Tomoyo said, looking at Syaoran with sympathy in her eyes.
"What does that supposed to mean!?" Sakura protested, "I am a very good little sister! I listen to him!!!" It seems that she had forgotten the fact that she had refused to go back to rest just then.
"It means nothing, darling." Tomoyo said in the same tone as before.
Sakura started to wonder if she was such a bad dog, or why else is everyone standing on Syaoran's side? She sent a glare to Syaoran, who shrugged and gave her an innocent smile.
Then, Meiling spoke. "I think it will be more useful to continue our conversation then to have the topic on whether Sakura is a good sister or not, right Sakura?"
Sakura nodded. "Of course!" she sent a thank-you look to Meiling... at least someone here cares about her.
"The report that Shadow had sent back told us that most of the warriors of the Han Clan are warrior of strength, and they have twice the sum warrior then us." Eriol reported the news to Syaoran.
Syaoran nodded his reply, and looked at Meiling, waiting for her part of report.
"I have moved all the mothers and cups into a safe place." Meiling said slowly, "and had made sure that some of our warriors guarded them."
"Good." Syaoran stood up from where he sat. "Now we can fight."
There was a taste of blood in the air. Shivers ran down her spine, and the fur on her back stood up. This was not the Syaoran she had known, but... someone else, someone with a responsibility of the clan, a fearless and strong leader. Guess he is suitable to stay here, for after all, he is half a wolf... Sakura thought as she looked at Syaoran, who now stood proudly in the middle of the conversation, planning with his advisers.
Sakura listened to their talks, hoping to be in some use for them.
"The Han clan's warriors use strength, which means that we shouldn't come face to face with them- they have more warriors of strengths then we do." Eriol said thoughtfully. "So instead, we'll use other ways."
"What ways?" Meiling asked.
"I don't know... but we'll come up with something. Right Syaoran?"
Syaoran nodded his reply.
Sakura thought hard. There must be something that she can help with... Think Sakura, think! Sakura thought hard.
"We're gonna to hunt them down!" Meiling grinned.
That's it! She could use the hunting skills! Sakura yelped.
"We could hunt!" Two voices said at the same time. Sakura looked at the owner of the other voice. It was Syaoran. Syaoran raised an eyebrow at Sakura, and smiled. Sakura smiled in return. "Hunt like Two-Leggers."
Eriol, Tomoyo and Meiling looked at the two wolf/dog, and waited quietly for their explanation. They were wolves who had never hunted with the humans, and they wouldn't know about the human's way of hunting.
"What we can do is, instead of fighting with them, we can use the resources such as the surroundings." Sakura explained.
"There are the Maze Caves," Syaoran continued, "The Han warriors will get lost in there, for it is a big cave with many entrances, dead ends and only few exits. If they were lucky enough to come out, they wouldn't have a clue of where they are."
"But... wouldn't you guys get lost as well?" Sakura asked, puzzled.
Syaoran smiled warmly at her. "No, we don't. The Maze Caves one of our training grounds."
"Oh~ I see." Sakura nodded. "We can use the forest as well."
Eriol thought for a moment. "There are swamps that we can use." To Sakura, he said, "One of our trainings was to pass the swamps with fast speed, so crossing them are just like running to us."
"What else can we use?" Sakura asked.
"We have some warriors that can fight with them fangs to fangs!" Meiling said proudly. She was one of the masters... err, mistresses, that trained the Li clan warriors.
"That might not be enough, though. We need some backups just in case." Tomoyo said quietly, but loud enough for all to hear.
"Yes." Syaoran agreed. "And another thing is, that we need to make sure that the Han can not find where the rest of the clan is- we need to make perfect sure that the wolves in our clan are safe. Most importantly, be careful, and make sure to come back alive. There is not need for sacrificing."
Everyone nodded their agreement.
"So let's go over the plan- we will start the fight with the Hans at the border of our land, then we will pretend that we are weak and could not fight them and retreat. As we retreat, we will separate them into smaller groups and then we will fight back." Syaoran looked around, at the wolves and the dog.
"Yep." Sakura said cheerfully.
"Okay then, Meiling, you lead the wolves to the Maze Cave. Eriol, you lead the wolves to the swamps. Tomoyo, you stay behind, and to treat any of the injured. I will be leading the group of fighting warriors to fight with the Han Leader."
Sakura looked at the wolves. "What do I do?"
"Nothing." Came Syaoran's cold reply.
Sakura's head jerk up. "Why?! I am a good hunter!" Why isn't he letting her do anything? Doesn't he understand why she wanted to stay here for? He just wants to keep me safe. He is treating me like a little pup, Sakura thought bitterly. I want to help; not being useless.
"You will be going to where the other wolves are, and stay there with them." Syaoran continued in the same tone as before. There is no warmth in his eyes.
"No. I will not go." Sakura said stubbornly. "I want to stay, Syaoran. Why can't I stay?" she begged lightly.
Syaoran turned his face away from her, not wanting her to see the emotions whirling in his eyes. "It is too dangerous, if you go, you'll only be in the way."
"No!" Sakura's paws dug into the earth, her emotions taking control of her. "I won't be in the way! I can help you! Please, let me go! I want to fight by you!"
"I SAY STAY AND THAT WILL BE THE END OF IT, UNDERSTOOD?!" Syaoran shouted, baring his teeth at her.
Sakura looked at Syaoran, stunned. Syaoran had never shouted at her before, nor had he bared his teeth at her... but... she girded her teeth, trying hard not to howl out at the place. (If this doesn't make sense, change the word howl to cry...)
"Go!" Syaoran shouted roughly at her, and left the cave without saying anything else.
Sakura whimpered quietly. Then, she ran out of the cave.
Tomoyo, Eriol and Meiling looked at each other, unable to say anything.
Eriol cleared his throat. "Err... what should we do now?"
"I... don't know." Tomoyo answered uncertainly. "Go and get everything ready, I guess."
Eriol nodded his agreement. "Yeah, we better. Let's go" With that, the two left the cave.
Meiling sat silently, alone in the cave, her face unreadable. Then, she stood up, her decision made.
--- ---
A dog sat at the edge of the river, staring into the water. Little whimpers escaping her mouth now and then. Slowly, she extended a paw and touched the surface of the water. She watched the ripple expand, bigger and bigger, distracting the clam water.
"Sakura!" a voiced called behind her. Sakura turned to see who it was- Meiling.
"Meiling? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be preparing for the war?" Sakura asked, surprised.
"Stuff the war!" Meiling rushed in front of her. "Do you want to help?" She demanded.
"Of course I want to! You guys have helped me so much; I don't want to just sit in the cave while you guys protected me. I know how to fight, I can fight." Sakura replied.
Meiling nodded. "I understood how you feel. I'll help you."
"OK."
A plan was formed, for Sakura.
--- ---
A fearsome howl slashed through the cold dawn; a challenge. Another howl replied, in the same way as the first wolf; challenge taken.
And the war... began.
--- ---
Syaoran stood at the edge of the cliff, with the forest on his left and the waterfall on his right. Early in the morning, the Han leader had taken his challenge- and that was when the war started. The Han clan underestimated them; they thought that the Li clan is weak only because the Li clan does not have much fighter warriors.
Yet, nothing looks what it truly is. It is true that his clan does not have much fighters -only one-third of the whole clan are fighters, which is rather small- but in his clan, he had also trained others on their talents. In this clan, there are spy, thief, healer, poison maker, weather predictor... any thing that you might be able to come up with, any thing that can be a talent, is taught and is used. It doesn't matter to him whether the wolf is female or a male wolf, as long as they have the ability to do things. None of the wolves are talentless; it's just how you are going to find it, and how you are to use it.
A familiar white caught Syaoran's sight. He narrowed his eyes to get a clearer view of the white wolf... or rather, a white DOG. "Sakura!" he growled as he realised who the white dog was.
Syaoran watched intensely at Sakura. She was fighting with a wolf twice the size of her, and she was backing off. All of the sudden, Syaoran whished that he is not the leader and that he doesn't have to find the Han leader to fulfil his challenge, and to fight the Han off his territory.
Down there, the wolf lunged an attack at Sakura. Syaoran looked with all attention, his own surroundings forgotten. Sakura skipped away, as the wolf fell- into a trap that was set by a hunter. Syaoran stared at the dog, stunned. As if feeling his sight, the dog looked up, and the two met eye contact.
Something alerted Syaoran, for the sound of a broken twig was heard, and Syaoran spun around to see who it was, also for defence.
"Syaoran!" Sakura shirked.
When Syaoran realised what was happening, he was falling, falling off the cliff, along side the waterfall into the fast running stream, with a wolf from the Han clan on his back. He struggled, but the wolf faught with all its strength, its claws dung into his flesh.
--- ---
.
A/n: ahahahahahaa what do ya all think about this chapter? I have set a cliffhanger for ya all- I am being very evil recently... Eleanor, I blame it on you!
By and by, I might be updating the story in another month or so, for the exams are near (actually, it's in text term... but mum wants me to study now... .w.)
- Syaoyue 19th September
Here for a Reason
"There is always a reason for things to happen."
.
When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the cave, alone. Sakura stood up, and stumbled out of the cave. There was not a single shadow outside. She looked around- something in the atmosphere told her that something is amiss.
Sakura raised her head and sniffed the air, looking for the familiar scent of autumn. She followed her instinct and found herself walking into a cave that she had never been before. Inside sat Syaoran, Eriol, Tomoyo and Meiling. Their expressions are all of the same, of worry and of stern. Sakura looked form one to another; wanting to know what was going on.
Syaoran sensed Sakura's coming, and looked up as she walked into the cave. "You shouldn't be up, Sakura, go back to rest."
"No," Sakura said stubbornly, "I don't want to stay on the bed like a sick kitty." Coughs were heard to cover laughter, as Syaoran sent glares to people who dare.
"Go back." Syaoran said the words out through his clenched teeth. No one had ever dared to challenge him- expect for one, Sakura.
"No." Her words were as stubborn as ever. Syaoran glared at her, and she glared back.
Then, Syaoran sighed. "Fine, Sakura. You haven't changed a single bit..." A smile appeared at his lips.
Sakura grinned. "Of course!" she said proudly, and raised her head with pride. The two's eyes met, and they locked sight for a while. Something seems to pass through the atmosphere, for the two was lost, lost in the eyes...
"I say, my dear little cousin," a voice came between them, Eriol's. "You spoiled your sister too much."
Syaoran came back to his senses, fast. "Am I such a bad brother?" he said in a sad voice, but there was laughter in his eyes.
"I am afraid so," Tomoyo said, looking at Syaoran with sympathy in her eyes.
"What does that supposed to mean!?" Sakura protested, "I am a very good little sister! I listen to him!!!" It seems that she had forgotten the fact that she had refused to go back to rest just then.
"It means nothing, darling." Tomoyo said in the same tone as before.
Sakura started to wonder if she was such a bad dog, or why else is everyone standing on Syaoran's side? She sent a glare to Syaoran, who shrugged and gave her an innocent smile.
Then, Meiling spoke. "I think it will be more useful to continue our conversation then to have the topic on whether Sakura is a good sister or not, right Sakura?"
Sakura nodded. "Of course!" she sent a thank-you look to Meiling... at least someone here cares about her.
"The report that Shadow had sent back told us that most of the warriors of the Han Clan are warrior of strength, and they have twice the sum warrior then us." Eriol reported the news to Syaoran.
Syaoran nodded his reply, and looked at Meiling, waiting for her part of report.
"I have moved all the mothers and cups into a safe place." Meiling said slowly, "and had made sure that some of our warriors guarded them."
"Good." Syaoran stood up from where he sat. "Now we can fight."
There was a taste of blood in the air. Shivers ran down her spine, and the fur on her back stood up. This was not the Syaoran she had known, but... someone else, someone with a responsibility of the clan, a fearless and strong leader. Guess he is suitable to stay here, for after all, he is half a wolf... Sakura thought as she looked at Syaoran, who now stood proudly in the middle of the conversation, planning with his advisers.
Sakura listened to their talks, hoping to be in some use for them.
"The Han clan's warriors use strength, which means that we shouldn't come face to face with them- they have more warriors of strengths then we do." Eriol said thoughtfully. "So instead, we'll use other ways."
"What ways?" Meiling asked.
"I don't know... but we'll come up with something. Right Syaoran?"
Syaoran nodded his reply.
Sakura thought hard. There must be something that she can help with... Think Sakura, think! Sakura thought hard.
"We're gonna to hunt them down!" Meiling grinned.
That's it! She could use the hunting skills! Sakura yelped.
"We could hunt!" Two voices said at the same time. Sakura looked at the owner of the other voice. It was Syaoran. Syaoran raised an eyebrow at Sakura, and smiled. Sakura smiled in return. "Hunt like Two-Leggers."
Eriol, Tomoyo and Meiling looked at the two wolf/dog, and waited quietly for their explanation. They were wolves who had never hunted with the humans, and they wouldn't know about the human's way of hunting.
"What we can do is, instead of fighting with them, we can use the resources such as the surroundings." Sakura explained.
"There are the Maze Caves," Syaoran continued, "The Han warriors will get lost in there, for it is a big cave with many entrances, dead ends and only few exits. If they were lucky enough to come out, they wouldn't have a clue of where they are."
"But... wouldn't you guys get lost as well?" Sakura asked, puzzled.
Syaoran smiled warmly at her. "No, we don't. The Maze Caves one of our training grounds."
"Oh~ I see." Sakura nodded. "We can use the forest as well."
Eriol thought for a moment. "There are swamps that we can use." To Sakura, he said, "One of our trainings was to pass the swamps with fast speed, so crossing them are just like running to us."
"What else can we use?" Sakura asked.
"We have some warriors that can fight with them fangs to fangs!" Meiling said proudly. She was one of the masters... err, mistresses, that trained the Li clan warriors.
"That might not be enough, though. We need some backups just in case." Tomoyo said quietly, but loud enough for all to hear.
"Yes." Syaoran agreed. "And another thing is, that we need to make sure that the Han can not find where the rest of the clan is- we need to make perfect sure that the wolves in our clan are safe. Most importantly, be careful, and make sure to come back alive. There is not need for sacrificing."
Everyone nodded their agreement.
"So let's go over the plan- we will start the fight with the Hans at the border of our land, then we will pretend that we are weak and could not fight them and retreat. As we retreat, we will separate them into smaller groups and then we will fight back." Syaoran looked around, at the wolves and the dog.
"Yep." Sakura said cheerfully.
"Okay then, Meiling, you lead the wolves to the Maze Cave. Eriol, you lead the wolves to the swamps. Tomoyo, you stay behind, and to treat any of the injured. I will be leading the group of fighting warriors to fight with the Han Leader."
Sakura looked at the wolves. "What do I do?"
"Nothing." Came Syaoran's cold reply.
Sakura's head jerk up. "Why?! I am a good hunter!" Why isn't he letting her do anything? Doesn't he understand why she wanted to stay here for? He just wants to keep me safe. He is treating me like a little pup, Sakura thought bitterly. I want to help; not being useless.
"You will be going to where the other wolves are, and stay there with them." Syaoran continued in the same tone as before. There is no warmth in his eyes.
"No. I will not go." Sakura said stubbornly. "I want to stay, Syaoran. Why can't I stay?" she begged lightly.
Syaoran turned his face away from her, not wanting her to see the emotions whirling in his eyes. "It is too dangerous, if you go, you'll only be in the way."
"No!" Sakura's paws dug into the earth, her emotions taking control of her. "I won't be in the way! I can help you! Please, let me go! I want to fight by you!"
"I SAY STAY AND THAT WILL BE THE END OF IT, UNDERSTOOD?!" Syaoran shouted, baring his teeth at her.
Sakura looked at Syaoran, stunned. Syaoran had never shouted at her before, nor had he bared his teeth at her... but... she girded her teeth, trying hard not to howl out at the place. (If this doesn't make sense, change the word howl to cry...)
"Go!" Syaoran shouted roughly at her, and left the cave without saying anything else.
Sakura whimpered quietly. Then, she ran out of the cave.
Tomoyo, Eriol and Meiling looked at each other, unable to say anything.
Eriol cleared his throat. "Err... what should we do now?"
"I... don't know." Tomoyo answered uncertainly. "Go and get everything ready, I guess."
Eriol nodded his agreement. "Yeah, we better. Let's go" With that, the two left the cave.
Meiling sat silently, alone in the cave, her face unreadable. Then, she stood up, her decision made.
--- ---
A dog sat at the edge of the river, staring into the water. Little whimpers escaping her mouth now and then. Slowly, she extended a paw and touched the surface of the water. She watched the ripple expand, bigger and bigger, distracting the clam water.
"Sakura!" a voiced called behind her. Sakura turned to see who it was- Meiling.
"Meiling? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be preparing for the war?" Sakura asked, surprised.
"Stuff the war!" Meiling rushed in front of her. "Do you want to help?" She demanded.
"Of course I want to! You guys have helped me so much; I don't want to just sit in the cave while you guys protected me. I know how to fight, I can fight." Sakura replied.
Meiling nodded. "I understood how you feel. I'll help you."
"OK."
A plan was formed, for Sakura.
--- ---
A fearsome howl slashed through the cold dawn; a challenge. Another howl replied, in the same way as the first wolf; challenge taken.
And the war... began.
--- ---
Syaoran stood at the edge of the cliff, with the forest on his left and the waterfall on his right. Early in the morning, the Han leader had taken his challenge- and that was when the war started. The Han clan underestimated them; they thought that the Li clan is weak only because the Li clan does not have much fighter warriors.
Yet, nothing looks what it truly is. It is true that his clan does not have much fighters -only one-third of the whole clan are fighters, which is rather small- but in his clan, he had also trained others on their talents. In this clan, there are spy, thief, healer, poison maker, weather predictor... any thing that you might be able to come up with, any thing that can be a talent, is taught and is used. It doesn't matter to him whether the wolf is female or a male wolf, as long as they have the ability to do things. None of the wolves are talentless; it's just how you are going to find it, and how you are to use it.
A familiar white caught Syaoran's sight. He narrowed his eyes to get a clearer view of the white wolf... or rather, a white DOG. "Sakura!" he growled as he realised who the white dog was.
Syaoran watched intensely at Sakura. She was fighting with a wolf twice the size of her, and she was backing off. All of the sudden, Syaoran whished that he is not the leader and that he doesn't have to find the Han leader to fulfil his challenge, and to fight the Han off his territory.
Down there, the wolf lunged an attack at Sakura. Syaoran looked with all attention, his own surroundings forgotten. Sakura skipped away, as the wolf fell- into a trap that was set by a hunter. Syaoran stared at the dog, stunned. As if feeling his sight, the dog looked up, and the two met eye contact.
Something alerted Syaoran, for the sound of a broken twig was heard, and Syaoran spun around to see who it was, also for defence.
"Syaoran!" Sakura shirked.
When Syaoran realised what was happening, he was falling, falling off the cliff, along side the waterfall into the fast running stream, with a wolf from the Han clan on his back. He struggled, but the wolf faught with all its strength, its claws dung into his flesh.
--- ---
.
A/n: ahahahahahaa what do ya all think about this chapter? I have set a cliffhanger for ya all- I am being very evil recently... Eleanor, I blame it on you!
By and by, I might be updating the story in another month or so, for the exams are near (actually, it's in text term... but mum wants me to study now... .w.)
- Syaoyue 19th September