Destiny was walking through the woods, guided thus far by her power. White hair, blown by the wind, wrapped about her shoulders; the grass rustled beneath her footsteps. The trees grew thickly together; slivers of azure sky gleamed- the day was that bright- between their leaves. Anna, the voice whispered, borne on the air- or was it shadows? Anna, it murmured patiently. Anna.
It never occurred to Destiny to turn back, nor falter from her path; it was one of the many times her power made life itself seem like a dream, no choice but to be followed to its conclusion. Gradually, more light shafted into the forest around her; there must be a clearing up ahead.
Destiny paused at the edge of the clearing, ringed by bushes and linden trees. She could hear the mighty Mississippi River bubbling in the distance; concluding that none of her many enemies could be waiting to ambush her, she pushed through the bushes and stepped into the light.
Whatever she had expected, it was not what she found.
Beams of golden sunlight permeated the green meadow. Flowers- daisies, she thought- waved in the light wind and the stunted grass. A cerulean sky was patched with ivory clouds, but not enough to darken a full sun.
Bright white streaks at the edge of Destiny's vision drew her attention to the girl sitting near the clearing's heart. Irene first noticed her chestnut locks, streaked with pure white. They framed a pale face, coloured only by a faint rose blush; her eyes were closed. She was clearly young, about twelve or so; her legs were bent beneath her in the classic mediative position. She was wearing a short black dress, but Irene could see a neatly folded square of dark fabric -probably a cloak of some kind- on the grass near a clump of dandelions. Even in her young age, she had the promise of being beautiful, in a shadowy way.
Destiny padded out confidently into the light. The girl, whoever she was, didn't look dangerous at all. Probably she had only wanted a little sun. Irene had intended to say hello, but the girl immediately snapped awake, fixing sharp emerald eyes on her.
Destiny smiled warmly, as if she and the girl were best friends. After so many years of charming and manipulating people to her own ends, it came easy. But the girl kept her wary expression, something the mutant inwardly praised.
"Hello. I'm Irene…" she said welcomingly. Humans didn't take to her mutant name- her real name- too easily.
The girl stood up; smiled just as easily, just as brightly, as Destiny had.
And ran.