Vyser: Happy Birthday to me!
Zeek: Great, another year for him to become more creative.
Vyser: Be happy for me, I've become more experienced.
Zeek: Yeah, in torturing people.
Vyser: Now you've gone too far!
Zeek: (Remembers the chapters when Vyser tortured Zeek) I'm sorry.
Vyser: Luckily, I'm in a good mood today. I don't own Tales of Symphonia, or the characters that you reviewers submitted. I do however; own a number of characters like Zeek and Claws.
Zeek: So enjoy this chapter that Vyser will do his best at!
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Chapter 34: Claws, the Outcast among the Wolven
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Raine, Locke, Zeek, Sera, Duke, Ryu, Drag, and Sage (Team Wood) had just reached Forest Grove. Unlike the group's previous visit, the streets were empty and buildings had their doors and windows broken.
"What do you think happened here?" Asked Sage as the group continued to walk through town.
"Whatever happened, we've got to be careful," Sera replied as they reached the town square.
"We'll have to split into two groups, now allow me to figure out who should go where," Said Raine before she turned into deep thought.
"So who exactly are we facing here?" Duke asked as Ryu stretched his wings.
"Its Claws," Answered Drag as Duke looked at Drag with anger in his eyes. "I don't like how you're looking at me."
"Do you know what his last name is?" Duke asked as Drag was thinking for a seconds.
"What does that matter?" Asked Zeek.
"Duke wishes to know if Claws is someone he remembers from long ago," Locke said as Drag remembered.
"Ah, yes, Claws' last name is Verdobuo, funny if you think about it," Said Drag as Duke clamped his hand.
"I thought so," Duke said as Raine came out of her train of thought.
"Okay, I've decided how the groups are going to be," Said Raine as she explained who the groups were.
Zeek, Sera, Duke, and Ryu were to take the east side of Forest Grove, while Raine, Locke, Sage and Drag were taking the west side. Unknown to the group, there was a camera hidden in a tree that was directing a signal directly to Claws' underground base. Claws was watching via screen.
"Well now, it appears that Duke has entered the picture," Claws thought as Luna entered the room. "Hello Luna, how's your day going?"
"Claws, please tell me, what have you done to the people of Forest Grove?" Asked Luna as Claws stood up from his seat.
"I've sent them away, some of your friends have come here," Claws replied as Luna looked intrigued.
"You're not going to hurt them are you?" Asked Luna as Claws quickly snaps his fingers and many of his red wolven warriors appear and grab Luna by the arms. "What are you doing?"
"Sorry Luna but I can't allow you to interfere with my business," Claws said as he snapped his fingers once more and his red wolven warriors took Luna away. "Its time to bury my past for good."
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Zeek, Sera, Duke and Ryu were walking around the East Side; the East Side was the same as the rest of Forest Grove.
"So Duke, how do you know Claws?" Asked Sera as the entire group stopped.
"We're from the same Wolven tribe, he was the trouble maker of the tribe," Duke answered as Ryu flew from Duke's shoulder. "He caused a multiple of our tribe's few enemies come after us. One day he actually caused our natural enemies, a demonic race, attack our village, killing many of our people. A small number of our tribe survived, and we banished Claws from our tribe."
"I can see why you hold deep hatred for Claws but what happened next?" Asked Zeek.
"You see a few years later, Claws returned, our tribe managed to gain more members and we all had weapons to force him away," Duke continued. "At first we thought that Claws was all alone, but suddenly he placed this weird purple stone on his forehead and all of a sudden many of our dead Wolven brethren crawled out of the ground. Only their hair was blood red, we didn't stand a chance. Only two members of our tribe survived, myself and girl wolven, named Luna. Unfortunately, in all of the confusion we never saw each other again."
"Such a tale brings tears to my eyes,"
Everyone turned to see who spoke that and saw Claws sitting on a tree branch with his clawed hand wiping off a tear from his eyes. But as soon as the group saw him, he burst into laughter.
"Yet it brings me such joy that I helped destroy many wolven," Said Claws. "But that's not the full story. After I finished with that tribe, I decided to go after the others. And fortunately I had succeeded in my mission; I even managed to destroy our natural enemies. The only thing left to do is destroy you Duke and my past can be buried."
"You better keep dreaming, because you'll never defeat me!" Duke yelled as Claws jumped onto the ground.
"I've changed in so many ways, that you won't even stand a chance," Retorted Claws as he snapped his fingers and many wolven warriors of his appeared from the ground. "And watch the best I have to offer."
Claws quickly snapped his fingers once more and his wolven army began to change. They all quickly became wolves. Claws laughed as the group quickly drew their weapons.
"And even as I speak, your friends are being confronted by the same army," Chuckled Claws as he pointed towards the group with his clawed hand and instantly the wolves attacked!
Zeek and Sera dodged and slashed at the wolves, while Duke dodged and shot the many arrows, and Ryu helped Duke by warning him whenever another wolf would attack from behind.
"Is honestly your best Claws?" Duke asked as he quickly shot an arrow straight towards Claws.
Claws just managed to grab the arrow before it reached his body; Claws then snapped the arrow like a twig.
"No, my best will soon come," Replied Claws as suddenly an embarrassed look appeared on his face. "I forgot the crystals, I hid them somewhere."
"Claws seems to be distracted," Zeek said as an evil grin appeared on Claws's face. "And now it looks he's come up with a plan."
"That's right! I've sent some of my warriors to kill a familiar someone that we all know towards the wolven temple," Yelled Claws as the remaining wolves ran past him. "You'd better get to her before they do!"
"Who in the world are you talking about!" Duke yelled as claws began to run.
"I bet he's talking about Luna," Said Sera as Duke's ears twitched at the mention of Luna's name.
"We have to get to her!" Duke yelled as Zeek and Sera ran towards the temple with Duke following.
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Claws was looking around the entire town central looking for something. Finally, when he comes to a bench, he discovers a leather box. Slowly Claws opened the box and five gleaming crystals with different lights shot out.
"Wind, Forest, Earth, Boulder, and a dark spirit to top it off," Said Claws as he quickly grabbed the crystals and quickly placed them on his chest. "And now for my wolf form."
Claws quickly turned into a wolf and suddenly a huge orb of multi colors engulfed him. When the orb of light died down, Claws was very different. His skin had become onyx, white fur shot from his shoulders, wrists, ankles and head. His head however was a wolf head. His hands were a combination of claws and fingers. Around Claws's feet, many flowers rose up and bloomed.
"Not what I was expecting, but it'll do," Claws muttered as he quickly disappeared into the wind.
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Duke, Ryu, Zeek and Sera had caught up with Raine, Locke, Sage and Drag as they saw the many wolves run past and they quickly explained what was happening. When they reached the temple however, many of the wolves were on the ground in pain. The group saw Luna fighting them off with her spear and dodging their attacks.
"You need a hand?" Asked Drag as everyone quickly looked at him. "What? I just want to help is all."
"Assistance would be appreciated," Luna replied as suddenly a whistling sound fills the air and the remaining wolves ran away.
"That was easy," Sage said as suddenly the wind started to pick up.
"Maybe a little too easy!" Said Locke as laughter was heard from up above the group.
Everyone turned to see the new Claws floating in mid air, nothing supporting him at all. Claws was laughing at how the group's faces were.
"Like the new look? The onyx skin is a nice touch," Asked Claws as he dropped to the ground.
"Is that you Claws?" Zeek asked as Claws held up his right hand.
"You better believe it Zeek, I new and improved!" Yelled Claws. "And with this new look, I've become even stronger!"
"You will pay for your crimes against the Wolven!" Duke yelled as he shot many arrows at Claws. When the arrows struck Claws, they instantly broke on his skin. "What the!"
"I hold the power of the summon spirits of Wind, Forest, Earth and Boulder, your attacks are meaningless to me!" Yelled Claws as he snapped his fingers and many vines shot out of the ground and grabbed the group except Drag who had disappeared. "This will be your final day!"
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Vyser: Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Zeek: This
chapter is kind of late, I mean you were going to post it yesterday
on your birthday Vyser. What happened?
Vyser: Things came up.
Anyway please review!
Zeek: Till the next time!
