Claymore: A Tale of the living

CH 6: The Claymore Children

After the meeting with the warriors, Clare and Jean made their way to see Raki. Clare sometimes worries about him since he had to look after 27 Claymore girls.

The two warriors arrived at a garden behind the church where Raki is watching the girls. When Raki saw them his face light up.
"Clare! Jean!" Called out Raki, walking toward them.
"How was the meeting? is everything ok?"
"Pretty much" said Clare
"Pretty much? Did they agree to go with you to find a home?" Asked Raki.
"Not really"
"Well then?"
"I gave them a choice if they want to come with us to find a place to settle on then so be it, but if they decided to set on thier own path that is fine as well"
"But....."
Raki cut off of what he is about to say. looking at Clare he now understood what she is doing, 'the freedom of choice'.
Raki took his gaze off of Clare and watch as the girls play with each other. Four of the girls approach Raki "big brother can you play with us again?" Said one of the girls
"Again Ethel" said Raki "we just played a short while ago"
"Please we want to play tag again" said another girl.
"I am sorry Gina I can't I am still tired"
The four girls became disapointed. Thier looks made Raki feel a little guilty, then an idea occur to him.
"Hey you know what? these two big sisters can play tag with you"
The girls face suddenly light up when they look at Clare and Jean. "I don't think we can...." started Clare
"Please!!" Said the girls in unison with a srtait vocal.
Clare sighed admitting defeat, she then look at Jean. Jean slightly smiled.
"Alright" she said "we will play hide and seek"
"Its tag, but hide and seek is fine" said a girl.
"Whatever"

The four girls cheered and each ran to the other girls.
"Everyone! These two big sisters are going to play hide and seek with us" announce Ethel.
In a split second Clare and Jean are surrounded by happy girls.
"We hide and you two seek us" said Gina.
"But count to fifty, ok?" Said Ethel.
"Alright" said Clare.
"WAIT!" Call out a girl running toward them.
"Jane whats wrong?" Ask Raki
"RAKI! I can't find Tessa, we where exploring the back of the church when suddenly she vanished!"
"Oh no, not again!" said Raki
"I called her and she never appeared"
Jane then turn to Clare "please find her" she pleaded.
Jane is clear that she is worried about her friend.
"We will help you find her" said Clare "can you show us where you where"
"Yes" answered Jane.

Suddenly Clare felt the presence of something familiar but alien. She look around her surrounding trying to find the source of it, but in a split second it vanished. Clare look back at Jean "did you felt that?" She asked.
"Felt what?" Asked Jean.
"Nevermind"
Clare gots a bad feeling, she hopes that the aura she felt is her imagination.
Clare look at the girls, counting them. To her relief there are 26 and only one missing.
"Raki have the girls go inside the church"
"Why?" Asked Raki.
"Just trust me"
Without hesitation Raki had the girls go inside the church. Jane stayed behind with Clare and Jean.

Once everyone is inside, Clare and Jean set out with Jane who lead them to the spot where her friend disappeared. The back of the Church has a trail that lead to a thick forest. Jane explain that they where exploring, beacuse they got bored with playing hide and seek and tag with the others.

"This is the spot" she said, arriveing at thier destination.
Clare and Jean look around and serch every inch of the area. Jean used her yoki aura trying to located the missing girl. "I can't sense her" said Jean.
"Let me try" said Clare.
Clare try senseing the girls aura. It took a short while until she sense an aura, not one but two. One that is kind of strong and the other almost faint. Both in an opposite direction. Clare dose not like this.
"Thats strange" said Clare " there are two auras"
"Probably one of the girls sneak out" said Jean.
"Its probably Gina or Ethel" said Jane "their probably trying to find Tessa too"
"So its not the first time you explored these woods" said Clare.
"No its the seveth time, we usually explor the woods at night when...." Jane closes her mouth, just realised what she just said.