No long wait this time. I'm determined to get this story up before move in day. From here on in things are going to be a bit more exciting. I'm not promising longer chapters because I'm a reasonably pithy writer, meaning I get to the point quickly, but I am promising more action.

I do not now nor have I ever owned Card Captor Sakura but I do own this story line.

Of War & Prophesy

It Begins

War was coming to the forest! At least a quarter of the dark army was being moved to the old fortress. They went down the paths with the utmost care so as not to trigger the multiple traps.

The village was quieter than usual as families said their goodbyes. The evil armies were on the edge of the forest and the men would soon be leaving. Eriol spent this time with Tomoyo and Syaoran knew that his friend was asking her to marry him when the war was over.

He watched as Sakura said farewell to Touya. The siblings were much more emotional than he was with his mother. War was so common for him that his goodbyes were as if his life were not on the line.

He overheard Touya's words to his little sister. "Don't worry Sakura, with me and Syaoran out there nothing bad is going to happen."

"I know Touya, but that doesn't keep me from being scared."

"Everyone gets scared before a battle, it's normal. You just have to remember what we're fighting for and you'll feel better."

"Just be careful out there ok. I expect to see you after this is over."

"And I expect the same. No running off when you don't have to ok kaijuu?"

"Sakura No Kaijuu!"

---

Syaoran crouched in the underbrush waiting. It was the worst part about a war, the waiting. That was when the fear came. In a straight out battle the wait was short and one did not have time to think much about fear. But now that he was involved in an ambush he had to deal with the waiting.

It was amazing, even after all the battles, the idea of rushing into war terrified him. To his men he always seemed fearless and invincible. He had learned at a young age to hide his real feelings in order to keep himself safe. No one ever even considered that he might be afraid.

Senka dropped down from a tree and crouched next to him. The boy was trembling slightly. "I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my life. What if I can't do this?"

Syaoran couldn't help but feel sorry for the kid. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Everybody feels that way before a battle."

"Even you?"

"Even me."

"But you seem so calm."

"As a leader it is my job to reassure my men. If I ever let my fear show they would doubt."

"So you just pretend to be brave?"

"No. Being brave is doing what you have to even though you're scared. Being brave when you aren't afraid is easy."

"So, I should just pretend that I'm not afraid?"

"Only if you feel your men need you to."

"Thank you Syaoran." He straightened his hat and prepared to jump into the trees.

"Hey Senka, why do you always wear that hat?"

Senka looked at him briefly "My dad gave it to me when I was little." Then he climbed back into the foliage before Syaoran could question him further.

---

The evil forces were marching into the silent forest. They had tried to attack the city of light before but had always been repelled by archers. But the small groups of archers would not work this time because the army was out in full force and it was huge.

They came to a place were the path split and just as always arrows whizzed down from the trees. A young man jumped down from the trees and aimed at the evil general. "Why do you bring so many into our forest?"

The evil General smirked ominously. "Why for war of course."

"You will go no further."

The General grinned. "And what, pray tell, are you going to do? You and your archers don't stand a chance against our numbers."

The boy's eyes widened in fear. "Retreat!" The group of archers scattered, running down the multiple paths.

The General laughed a sinister kind of cackle. "Split the troops and follow them, those little fools will lead us right to their sacred city. Our swords will taste blood this day!"

The plan had worked, and the giant army was split up. Now all that was left were the ambushes.

---

Senka watched the evil army march down the path. His sharp eyes took in everything. He swung down from his branch and lighted next to Syaoran.

"How many are there Senka?"

"At least a thousand; it must be a very large army if there are so many after they split up on all those paths."

"You have no idea."

"Well, why don't we thin their ranks for them?"

Syaoran grinned. "Right, but remember to stick to the plan. We can't have a lot of out right fighting."

"Got it." Senka went back into the trees to command his men.

The evil forces were marching down the path as if they owned the forest, when they got their first surprise. Arrows rained down from the trees but when they looked up no one was there. Because they were trying to find the attacking archers they did not notice Syaoran's group darting out of the underbrush until it was too late.

The attack was swift and devastating. Syaoran and his men charged through the evil forces slicing at enemies as they ran for the cover on the other side of the path. As the evil ones turned to pursue them Senka and his men swung down on ropes.

They swung across the path knocking over as many soldiers as they could before their momentum carried them into the trees on the other side. The confusion that they caused was enough to allow Syaoran and his men to slip back into hiding.

The forest returned to silence. The soldiers that were left looked around in terror but nothing happened. They continued to walk, no longer marching confidently, but looked around for signs of another attack.

Wariness of attack was a mistake; they began to blunder into cleverly laid traps. The ditches Syaoran's men had worked so hard to dig became death pits as men walked on the clever covering, thinking it was solid ground, only to meet their deaths on the sharp spears below.

Men didn't notice trip wires that sent gleaming blades swinging down from the trees causing devastation. By the time the sun had set only a little over half the soldiers remained.

None of them noticed the shapes that darted in and out of the shadows around their camp. If they had known what was in store for them they never would have stopped for the night.

Ah cliff hangers. The bane of every reader's existence and the sweetest satisfaction of every writer. Did I mention I can be a sadist? Oh well you all know that now.

So if you want to know what happens next I suggest that you click on that little button below and send me a review. I've been nice so far but I don't have any problems giving my fingers a rest and not updating for a week or two. Mwahahahahahawhaha! Cough cough. Seriously though review. Ja ne.