Rad smiled as he unpacked another box. His parents had him move in with his aunt while they were on another expedition, this one was supposed to take longer, but that was okay because his aunt was cool and he had friends; human and alien alike.

He stopped when he felt a strange sensation go through him. The feeling fluttered in him warmly, like a gentle pull. So abandoning the next box for the moment, he followed the feeling to his new dresse. He opened one of the drawers and blinked.

Inside was a book.

He took it out and examined it. It was crimson color and on the front was a lion-like beast head with wings. The borders were gold, or maybe bronze and a sun and crescent moon symbol was used on each corner. The book was kept shut with a leather strap with a buckle.

Rad ran a finger along the cover.

"How did this get here?"

Rad dropped the book in surprise when the buckle came undone. Rad tentatively got on his knees and opened the book, but was surprised when he saw that there were no words, but a card on top with the same symbols as the book borders.

Rad picked up the top card to see another and turned it over. On the front was what looked like a moth or a fairy? The borders were gold and was completely colorless except for the unfurled wing design on the woman's forehead, which was green.

Rad though she looked like she was sleeping because her eyes were closed. He noticed some scroll-like design at the bottom and some writing. He held it up to see it better.

"Windy?"

Suddenly it glowed light blue and a swirl of wind erupted around him. The other cards got swept up in the glowing blue. They all went through the walls. Rad felt the card he'd been holding slip away, but to his surprise, it came back to him.

"What just happened?" he asked the card like it would answer him.

A glow from the book caught his attention and he saw a teddy bear-like creature rising from the book cover. It looked like a plush doll and rather comical with its big head and ears. It opened its tiny eyes.

"Hey-hey-hoo!"

Rad yelled and fell backwards in surprise.

"Wha-what are you? Some kind of plushy?"

The creature got a tick mark.

"I'm the Beast of the Seal! Kerberos."

"Beast of the Seal? What's that?" Rad asked scratching his head.

"I guard the Clow Cards and-" Kero looked at the book only to see that it was empty, and let out a sound that was somewhere between a gasp and a scream.

"Where'd all the cards go?!"

Rad looked at the tiny thing in pity. Wait, cards? He looked at the only one in his hand, and then at Kerberos.

"Er, this card?"

Kereberos turned around and his eyes brightened, "Yes!" He said taking the card, "So where are the other cards?"

"Well you see," Rad began nervously, "I called out the name on that card, then there was a gust of wind, and…"

"Mhmmm, mhmm." Kero nodded, rolling his head.

"…then they all flew away." Rad finished.

"Oh." They both laughed before Kero looked at Rad in complete disbelief and then got in his face, tiny fangs bared.

"WHAT?!"

Rad backed up defensively, "sorry, I didn't know!"

Kero calmed down but still looked panicked.

"This is bad, you've unleashed a powerful force onto the very plane of existence!"

Rad hung his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." He repeated.

"Well, since you let them out, you gotta catch them!" Kerberos yelled.

"What?" Rad yelled.

There was a familiar feminine voice on the other side of Rad's closed door.

"Rad, is something wrong?"

"Uh no, Aunt Raven." Rad assured. "Just talking to friends on the phone."

"Oh, okay." The footsteps faded to downstairs.

"Whos was that?" Kerberos questioned.

"My aunt, I'm living with her because my parents are on an expedition and won't be back for awhile." Rad answered.

"It must be pretty lonely." Kero said in a subdued tone.

Rad smiled slightly, but truly. "No. I have friends." He tilted his head. "So any short form of your name?"

Kerberos face-faulted. "You can call me Kero."

Shade Penn