Chapter 5

"Know your enemy…" Syaoran pondered over the last sentence of the mysterious letter. "Mokona, has anyone ever told you to know you enemy?"

Mokona bounced up and down, shaking his head. "No, Syaoran," He perked up. "Over there!" he called cheerfully, pointing. "Mokona can sense a strong magical vibe from that cave there!"

"What? THAT cave?" Syaoran stared in horror at the cave nearly covered with thorns and poisonous bushes. The map had said as much, but he hadn't expected this.

Syaoran took out the little dagger and stared at it doubtfully. "Oooh, powerful magic!" Mokona chirped. "Mokona can sense it!"

"I'll trust you, Mokona," shrugged Syaoran.

They walked over to the mouth of the cave. Syaoran held the dagger out in front of him, preparing to cut through the mess of thorns. To his surprise, the plants parted for him to go through. Somehow he knew that the dagger could control some elements of the earth.

"Stay here, Mokona," he said. "It might be dangerous,"

He stepped into the pitch-black darkness of the cave.

To his surprise, the dagger glowed with a soft, beautiful light once he entered the cave, just enough to light his way. He smiled to himself and said a silent thanks to the village head.

All of a sudden, the dagger glowed hot in his hand. He jumped and froze. A large, grey she-wolf padded out from the cave. She saw the glowing dagger and looked at Syaoran.

Who trespasses in my home? A voice demanded silently in his head. Who are you, stranger, and why are you here?

"I… I seek an object which I desperately need," Syaoran said in an almost-whisper. "I will take it, and go in peace. I have no desire to harm you."

There is only one thing which you can be seeking from me, the wolf replied, almost amused. And I will give it to you willingly, for it has caused me much harm. However… I will require something of yours that is as valuable. One of my cubs is desperately ill. I can see that your dagger provides healing… You will come with me, and I will give you that which you seek.

Syaoran nodded.

The wolf cub tossed and turned feverishly on a straw pallet its mother had constructed for it. It whimpered pitifully, sweat beading its face. Syaoran could easily see that it was in great pain.

He knelt beside it and held the point of the dagger against its forehead. "Dagger," he pleaded silently. "Heal this cub and release it from its suffering."

"Heal," he whispered.

A network of silvery veins seemed to explode from the point where the dagger touched the cub. It shook violently, convulsing. The she-wolf growled and prepared to sink her teeth into Syaoran.

The cub calmed. It fell into a deep, soothing sleep and breathed normally. Syaoran could see that it was already on the road to a full recovery.

The she-wolf heaved a sigh of relief. She trotted deeper into the cave and came out with a green sphere not unlike a marble and gave it to Syaoran.

"Thank you," he said, able to sense the great power of the jewel.

The she-wolf's mouth curled into what seemed to be a smile. No need for thanks, little traveler. You too, have done me a great favor. Now go, and I wish you good luck on your journey.

Once outside, Syaoran was able to examine the jewel more carefully. It was beautiful. Deep as an emerald, it glowed with all the colours of the sea. The sun reflected off it, so that it seemed to wink merrily at him. Moreover, the sense of magic that it gave off overwhelmed him and seemed to make Mokona more cheerful than before.

"Mokona is happy, Mokona is happy, Mokona is happy!" Mokona chirped happily. "Mokona likes the jewel! Mokona feels happy!"

Without warning, Mokona opened his mouth and transported them to another dimension.

Hi guys, I KNOW, I finally updated. Sorry about the long break, I was having exams. Anyways, holidays have started, so I hope to see another update within the week. REVIEW, please!