Author's note: Yay I'm able to update again. Hehe well I've prolonged it long enough. Enjoy… and please review.

Chapter 4: Reattack

The starless sky indicated that the day has taken control. In the gardens of a beautiful stone castle, a man with dark auburn hair and warm brown eyes hidden behind clear spectacles, sat in a field of a variety of flowers. He sat there carelessly, not minding anything else but the words inscribed in a small pink book. As he turned the page a young girl's voice called out, "Papa!" The dark auburn haired man was greeted with a hug. He returned the embrace with one of his own. The young girl he embraced was no older than five years old. Her hair was auburn and her eyes emerald. She would always wear a smile on her face. Following the young girl was a ten year old boy who has raven black hair and dark brown eyes. Both took their place near their father.

The little girl, Sakura, looked up to her father's face and asked, "Papa, what is that you're reading?"

Looking down at the small pink book, he replied, "This?" Sakura nodded. "Well this belonged to your mother, Nadeshiko, once." At the mention of Nadeshiko, the boy, Touya, flinched.

The father, Fujitaka, glanced at his son. Fujitaka smiled sadly at the remembrance of his beloved wife. He was soon in a trance, walking down memory lane, remembering when he first met Nadeshiko to when they started dating to when he proposed and she accepted to when they got married not caring what the king though to when Touya was born and finally to when Nadeshiko died hours after given birth to Sakura. Fujitaka was snapped out of his trance when little Sakura kept calling him.

"Papa, what's in the book?"

Smiling at his curious daughter, he answered, "Your mother's collection of poems. Some she even wrote herself."

Her face beaming and she jumping excitedly, she begged her father to read one. Laughing at her cute behavior, he turned the pages searching for a poem to read. As he was beginning, the children scooted closer to their father.

"There are many things that we overlook.

So many that are undertook.

We are so busy making a living that we forget how to live.

We are overcomed by the glamour of material things that we soon forget completely the true meaning of life.

We are so absorbed by greater desires in life that we forget the value of simple things like a smile.

A simple smile can lighten up a room just as easily as thousands of candles.

A simple smile can bring happiness in someone's life just as easily as a roomful of gold.

A simple smile can uplift morale just as easily as someone lifting up the weight of the world on your shoulders.

A simple smile can give you a fresh of breath air just as easily as walking into a field of open clean air.

A simple smile can give you a ray of sunshine just as easily as the moonlight penetrating the darkness.

Something as simple as a smile can do many wonders thought unimaginable."

Little Sakura's face showed one of admiration. Before Sakura could request her father to recite another one, one of the king's servants came running. When he reached the king, he bowed. His face expressed worry and apprehension but as soon as he was aware that the young princess and prince were present he manipulated his expression to that of seriousness and stolidity. The servant's attempt to hide his emotion was futile since both the children were sharp observers and quite clever for their age.

"Your Majesty, Sorcerer Kirad requests your presence."

Sensing that Sorcerer Kirad was up to something, His Majesty asked, "Did he say specifically why he requests my presence?"

"No sire. He just requested you meet him. No matter how many times I asked he will not abide by my inquiries no longer."

"Very well. Tell him I will be there shortly."

"Yes sire." The servant respectfully bowed and headed toward the castle to give the news to the Sorcerer.

Sakura and Touya looked at each other with uncertainty. Their instincts told them that the renowned Sorcerer had hidden intentions behind his meeting with their father. Before they could commute with their father, Fujitaka ascended and made his way to the castle.

Later into the night, fire erupted and screams broke out throughout the Clow Kingdom, but most heavily centered at the castle. Little Sakura ran down the many corridors, ignoring the pleas of the servants that try to keep her safe. She ran, wearing her pink nightgown, as fast as she could, turning every corners until she reached her father's throne room. She forced the doors wide open and what she saw made her completely devastated. The room was in rags, the curtains half burnt, and bloodshed and bodies laying everywhere. Her eyes wandered and wandered until they focused on her father's dead body surrounded in a pool of blood. Sakura screamed at the top of her lungs until she heard someone calling out her name.

Sakura jolted awake, seeing before her Syaoran with worry in his eyes. Without thinking, she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and cried on his shoulder. Completely taken by surprise and not knowing what to do, Syaoran enclosed her tiny frame within his embrace and allowed her to continue to cry. In the corner of the room, Tomoyo and Kero glanced at each other, both knowing full well what the princess dreamt about.

Syaoran did not know what this sensation he was currently feeling was. All he knew was that it was something long forgotten. He continued comforting Sakura. Soon enough her crying gradually became snuffles.

The door was blasted open, sending the door flying across to the other side of the house along with some splintered wood from the door frame. Blazing red fire replaced the door's existence; fire crackling and devouring any and all remaining presence of what used to be there. The fire door started spitting out fireballs randomly to different sections of the house. Soon the inside of the house looked like a paradise for demons and hell creatures. For a moment the attack ceased. Luna, Syaoran, Sakura, Kero, and Tomoyo waited in anticipation. SilverFang positioned himself in front of the group, to attack if need be. Nothing but silence and the crackling of the fire can be heard. SilverFang was then in attack position; his fur stood on ends, his face scrunched up with his white sharp fangs showing, and his tail pointing straight up.

Out of the fire a huge black wolf-like beast appeared. Its bool-hungry red eyes scanned the vicinity, searching for its target. Those red orbs landed on the quivering calm group. For a moment a look of surprise was seen in the beast's eyes but was quickly changed to the cold and uncaring eyes. Its claws silently dug deep in the cabin ground, signaling his readiness for an attack.

SilverFang snarled at the black beast, daring it to launch its attack.

Luna whispered silently to the group, "We better run now if we value our lives, before the cabin burns down or before that beast sinks his teeth into our flesh." The rest nodded in understanding. When Luna yelled "Run!" the whole group ran out the back way and at the same precise moment the beast launched at them but SilverFang intercepted his attack. The two beasts brawled it out, rolling this way and that way with fangs sinking into the opponent's skin. The fire roared loudly as if cheering on the fight.

Outside the burning cabin, the group watched the shadows that move within. The shadows kept moving neither one giving in. As they were watching the scene, each one's eyes held an emotion; Sakura's eyes held painful memories, Tomoyo's held grief, Luna's held calmness, Kero's held concern, and Syaoran's held caution and suspicion. Suddenly without warning, the cabin collapsed, the fire eating away its dead corpse. Nothing but the mournful song of Nature could be heard.

Luna spoke with a hoarse voice that threatening to reveal her hidden emotion, "We have to go." With that she departed into the night of the forest, to never again lay eyes on her once beautiful home.

The rest followed suit, except one. Tomoyo noticed the absence of her friend. Sakura still stood on the same spot motionless. Placing a comforting arm around Sakura, Tomoyo gently motioned Sakura to follow. Kero flew beside his mistress to show that he is concerned but he will do his best to comfort her.

Silently, they all walked through the forest night, not one saying a word. They continued walking in groups of two; Sakura with her head bent low, with Tomoyo and Syaoran walking near Luna.

Syaoran placed himself at her side. He whispered, "So are you there isn't something you're hiding?"

Without changing her pace or position she responded, "What makes you still sure I'm hiding something?"

"Because there has to be a reason a beast like that attacked a lone cabin."

Luna didn't answer, she stayed silent. "Well, a long time ago I was a-"

Sakura absentmindedly spoke out loud, "I'm sure that was the same creature that attacked me earlier."

At that time, everyone's head snapped her way. Tomoyo looked at the princess with pleading eyes as if asking for it not to be true. Tomoyo stuttered, "W-What did y-you s-say S-Sakura?"

Sakura's head snapped up. She was looking at all of them with confusion in her eyes. Her eyes kept blinking. "Hoe? Did I say something?"

Luna spoke, "You said something pertaining to the beast."

Sakura's eyes landed on the ground as if searching for something hidden underneath. She quietly said, "I think that was the same beast that attacked me when I was by the forest stream." Everyone was listening intently. Not a sound was made from either one of them. Closing her eyes and clutching her hands into fists tightly, Sakura said with tears threatening to fall, "I bet that monster knew I was still alive and hunted me down. If it wasn't for me, then your house would still be in tact and your wolf friend would still be alive. It's my entire fault!" Tears flowed freely from her face. She shut her eyes tightly to hold in the rest.

Tomoyo and Kero were rubbing her back to try to comfort her but the attempt failed.

Syaoran walked forward and swung his hand which made contact with Sakura's cheek, reverberating sounds throughout the forest. Shock was written on everyone's but Syaoran's faces. Slowly, Sakura lifted her hand to the place where she was slapped. Syaoran sternly said, "Get a grip on yourself. We can't prevent the future from coming." Sakura then turned her head to face him. She was about to say something when Kero flew in front of Syaoran's face and yelled, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE KID, HITTING SAKURA LIKE THAT! LAY A FINGER ON HER AGAIN AND I'LL-"

Sakura stopped her guardian. "Kero… that's enough. He's right."

"WHAT! YOU'RE SIDING WITH THE GAKI!"

Syaoran retorted, "At least I'm not a stuffed toy."

Kero was about to charge at Syaoran when Tomoyo held him back by holding his tail. Despite the fact that Tomoyo was holding his tail, Kero kept charging toward Syaoran, his little fists swinging rapidly, trying to plummet Syaoran. Syaoran placed his pointer finger on Kero's forehead, causing Kero to stop, his eyes blinking in confusion. Syaoran then said, "Bug off." Right after he said that, he flicked Kero's forehead, sending him flying backwards. Sakura caught the flying Kero as he was fumbling-flying backwards. She patted Kero's head, trying to cool him down but he was mumbling inaudible curses like "Stupid gaki."

Sakura then said, "I think we better get going." Walking silently toward the front, she passed by Syaoran and glanced at him with eyes full of sorrow and regret. She continued walking. Amber eyes still gazed at her retreating back, still watching, watching her every movement. Syaoran snapped back into reality. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the feelings that was starting to bloom. What's going on with me?

If it were possible, the night sky turned even darker. The night clouds covered the stars and the moon, the source of light for weary night travelers. Wolf cries echoed throughout the darkened woods, howling in agony from the absence of the moonlight. The leaves from the trees and bushes rustled from the wind's gentle blow. The rustling, the howling, the hooting of the owls, and other noises heard in the forest, blended together in harmony to create Nature's symphony.

The group continued traveling despite the fact they can barely see anything. Luna was in the lead since she knew the forest better than anyone in the group, followed by Sakura who was holding a sleeping Kero, then Tomoyo who had her head hung down, and finally Syaoran who was paying close attention to his surroundings.

Tomoyo spoke to Syaoran, low enough for only him to hear. "Don't you think you were a bit too hard on Sakura? Shouting would have been okay but slapping her? That's too much for her since she's so fragile and bruises easily."

Upon hearing that Sakura bruises easily, Syaoran instantly felt a pang of guilt hitting him in his heart. Masking his guilt, he replied coldly, "She needs someone to snap her out of it." His eyes instantly focused themselves on Sakura. He continued to stay in that state until he heard Tomoyo talking to him.

"But… couldn't you have done it more gently?"

Syaoran immediately turned his head to face her. He saw in her eyes that she cares truly for her friend's safety and well being. He did no respond. He just continued walking and passed Tomoyo. He heard her whisper, "I guess that's a no," to herself.

Somewhere in the forest, near the vicinity of the traveling group, a silver light shone, zigzagging through the tall trees and stopping at the sight of a red-orange and yellow light. There the silver light stayed, watching them.