Two girls ran down the empty street, ahead of their parents as one dragged the other towards their home.
"Y-you're sure it's okay?" One of them asked. The one leading her laughed and stopped running.
"Yeah! Of course it is! Mommy and Daddy said yes, didn't they?" She said with a kind smile. The first girl let her long dark hair fall in her eyes and bit her lip.
"B-but... I don't even know your name..." She muttered, barely audible over the sounds of the city. The second stopped and turned around, her green eyes bright, kind and cheery. Three things the first couldn't relate to.
"I'm Ginger. What's your name?" The second said, tucking her short red hair behind her ear. The first gripped the ends of her sleeves in her small, pale hands and adverted her eyes.
"Memory." She responded. The second laughed. "That's such a weird name! Hmm... can I call you Mem instead? It's so cute!" She said. The first frowned and looked at her through slightly annoyed hazel eyes.
"Cute is stupid. Don't call me anything cute." She said. The second giggled and took both of the first's hands in hers, squeezing them tight.
"Check it out! We're sisters now! Isn't it awesome, Mem?" She said. The first sighed. "Whatever." She said.
Ginger's knees weakened and she fell to the ground on her hands and knees. She struggled to look up through a single eye.
"I will... beat you..." She muttered. Mirielle cackled. "Idiot girl, I've already won!" She said. Ginger coughed and grabbed her stomach, the blood from her right eye running hot down her cheek and splattering on the gravel. She felt tears forming in her left. Her body shook weakly and her head ached, but compared to the pain she had suffered throughout the rest of this battle it was nothing. As the Lioness cackled triumphantly, she muttered something inaudible with a shaky breath.