A scream.
A long haired brunette with piercing green eyes snapped her head up at the sound and searched around wildly for the sounds owner. The scent of burning flames entered her nostrils, immediately escalating her senses to their highest.
Another scream.
The girl stood up in a single, fluid motion, abandoning her latest kill; a small white speckled deer. She took off almost instantly after standing, looking nothing more than a blur to the vision of a mortals eye.
Behind her, a girl with flaming hair watched as her friend ran off. Deciding it was best not to follow. Following had never done them any good in the past; unfortunately, they had learnt that the hard way. Both paying the price.
With every step she took the smell became stronger and other scents began to mix in. Wild flowers, animals, burnt wood, humans and another that was foreign to her. As she drew closer to the smell, a voice vaguely made its way to her ears.
"Don't move," It whispered.
Even with her advanced hearing the brunette had to strain to make out the words. She slowed down and quietly made her way over to where the voice was situated, hiding behind a bush to keep herself out of sight.
The girl peered through the bushes, and the sight she saw was enough to bring back all the memories she had tried to escape; everything from her past.
Behind the bush was a small meadow, and in that meadow were to figures. Red eyes leered in her direction from the figure standing, green hair swaying gently in the breeze. Below the figure was smaller one, a child no doubt, curled up into a ball.
She snarled and stood up slowly, giving the figure with red eyes a clear view of her. It immediately began to back away, giving one last look at the child before taking off into the distance.
Walking out from behind the bush, the brunette cautiously made her way over to the bundle on the ground. Upon closer inspection, it was a girl with short brown hair and an innocent-like face.
However, her face was a mixture of pain, confusion and fear.
She gently put a hand on the smaller girls shoulder; her reaction was instant. The girls head whipped up and stared at her with frightened, brilliant sapphire eyes.
"It's okay. My name is Leaf, Leaf Green," she comforted in a smooth, caring tone.
The child seemed to relax a little but still remained alert.
"M-my name is M-May Ma-Maple," the girl stuttered, desperately trying to blink back her tears.
"Why you all alone out here?" Leaf asked quietly.
May immediately began bawling and curled herself up tighter. Leaf watched her with sympathy, and slowly wrapped her arms around the shorter haired brunette comfortingly.
"Shh, it's okay. You're okay now," she soothed.
May's sobs became smaller and after a few moments she looked back into Leaf's eyes.
"I don't k-know what h-happened. T-they came fr-from nowhere!"
Leaf remembered the red-eyed figure from earlier and frowned.
"Who came from nowhere?"
"The p-people with r-red eyes! They took M-Max and my p-parents," her eyes welled up again at the mention of her family. "One of them brought me out here. I don't know why," she finished quietly.
Leaf instantly felt a cold rush sweep over her body. She knew exactly what they were and what they wanted, but why spare the girl?
Leaf decided it didn't matter, she needed to get May away from here immediately.
"Come with me," Leaf demanded gently, standing up.
May looked up at her cautiously, "Why?"
"We need to get you out of this place. I'll take care of you,"
"My parents said I should never go with a stranger," the girl replied stubbornly.
Leaf sighed. Her parents weren't going to be saying much of anything anymore.
"But I'm not a stranger am I? You know my name, and we've been talking. We're friends now aren't we?" she smiled.
May seemed to consider this, and after several seconds of pondering she beamed back.
"Yeah! We are friends," the sapphire eyed brunette responded happily.
"Of course we are. Now come on, I can help you," Leaf giggled.
"Okay," May agreed, standing and taking Leaf's hand. "Where are we going?"
"I'm taking you to another friend. Her name is Misty, and she can help you,"
"Okay! But wait, what about my family?"
Leaf looked down at the ground solemnly. "May, we can-
"They need help!" she insisted.
"I promise we'll talk about them later, but for now please come with me. It's too dangerous here," Leaf replied, and then quickly walked out of the meadow, with the small child clutching her hand tightly.
10 years later…
Four girls walked down the streets of Cerulean City, each hoping that this was the right decision.
To the left was a red-head dressed in denim shorts and a blue tank top, her name was Misty Waterflower. Her Aqua-blue eyes glanced around nervously, although on the outside she appeared calm. Being back here wasn't something she had originally wanted, but after certain events she eventually agreed it was best.
To Misty's right was a girl with shoulder length blue hair held back with two yellow clips. Dawn Berlitz's midnight blue eyes peered around excitedly, awaiting the new life they would lead. An ascot adorned her neck, whilst a black tank top and pink skirt made up her outfit.
May Maple stood on the opposite side of Misty, her sapphire blues reflecting the same anxiousness that had been present ever since that day 10 years ago. She wore a red tank, as well as a pair of black jean shorts. Her signature fashion statement, a bright red bandanna, was tied around her hair; which had been styled to stick out to two sides of her head.
Last but not least, Leaf Green stood on the other side of May. A red skirt flowed above her knees, and a blue tank top was above it. Her long chestnut hair flowed straight down her back, while a white hat sat atop of it. Her piercing green eyes looked around casually, yet displayed cautiousness. Like Misty, Leaf wasn't exactly thrilled about coming back.
Each girl had their own share of troubles. However, it was those troubles that had eventually led them to one another at some point in life, none of them could bring themselves to fully regret it.
Even though the price paid was far greater than their hearts could take.
They needed a new start, a place where nobody knew of them or their histories. That's why they had chosen Cerulean. Misty and Leaf were there a long time ago, but it was a time far before this one. Kanto was regions away from where they had been tracked, and what better place to hide than the one place they wouldn't expect to find them? Where it all started.
Little did they know that coming to Cerulean was the worst place the girls could have chosen.
From this day forth, they would have to survive hardships, the past, secrets and the truth. Their lives would never be the same again. The future may just be something none of them would wish they would ever have to face.