Disclaimer: Supa Strikas belong to Strika Entertainment. Any resemblance to actual people or animals is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1: The Mew

Out on the yacht there was endless blue sky, and the sound of sloshing seawater. Supa Strikas were headed for Hydra's stadium for their away game. North Shaw who looked forward to good surf there (and the match, of course), was leaning over the side of the boat brooding about something, one hand cupped under his chin. He sighed.

"We'll be there soon enough," laughed CJ.

"…You think my friend still remembers me?" said North offhandedly.

"Who? Liquido?"

"What? No, not Liquido…" he said, looking round with a grimace. "I'm talking about the seagull, dude!"

Our team have had many adventures and made many new friends along the way; some were extraordinary teachers, some were everyday people, some became their rivals and some they might never see again. Some were their animal friends, and the floating stadium seagull was one of them.

Certainly there are other seagulls, but this one was quite special to North Shaw. He named his feathered friend Leslie, not knowing if it was a girl or boy. He would eventually find out that Leslie is a female, but that was much later.

It was unusual for a seagull to be living so far away from land and its own kind, but Leslie did remarkably well here. There was food, if one knew where to look and seagulls eat pretty much anything. Upon discovery that the entire stadium would sometimes sink into the sea and resurface again for periods of time, the clever gull adapted to making her nest within the walls, and even learned to recognise the siren that sounded before the stadium went underwater. Leslie liked to hang around the boats. In fact, upon their arrival she flew down and landed beside North. Acting on his good fortune, North snapped some photos on his cell phone while the friendly gull simply cocked its head this way and that, not bothered in the least by how close he was.

His teammates did wonder – how did he know this is the one? He just said what are you talking about, of course he can recognise Leslie. You would not easily forget someone if they kept you company whilst you were stranded on the vast ocean the previous season, after all.

That afternoon after practice, they all had some time and the outgoing defender hit the surf. Leslie was there as well and a little while into catching waves, North realised that he was being followed, for a lone seagull's cry accompanied him wherever he went. Whenever he looked, even surfing the big waves with the sea spray in his eyes, the daring gull was close by sailing effortlessly on the winds, and afterwards rested on his board when the waters have settled a bit. It left him without doubt that the gull had not forgotten him.

Time passed and daylight waned. With Leslie standing at the front on the surfboard, North began paddling back to the stadium that was in the middle of the ocean. Truth be told, this place was no home for a seagull. Leslie might persevere here, but she was the only one. Most birds would not stay, for long anyway. It had been tough, especially the times she had to brave the elements on the open ocean alone. She would see other seagulls fly past and overhead from her favourite roosting spot outside, and call in unison with them.

The floating stadium seagull had returned so far this season, but no one could tell if it would still be here or have moved on the next time they visit.

With his day at a close, North petted the top of the seagull's head with his finger a last time. "See ya!" he called as watched Leslie take off into the distance.

He did not see Leslie again for a long time. The season ended.

One fine sunny morning, Leslie hovered down to her favourite roosting spot. But this time, another seagull joined her. He stood by her side protectively and she settled herself down, eyes half closed in a relaxed manner.

A/N: My friend Angel helped me with this chapter. Without her the ending would have been much different. Thank you so much, Angel!

Next chapter, Supa Strikas go to Feratuvia, home of Grimm FC. (Klaus: Und ze world's best strudel!) Personal belongings start to go missing, and Twisting Tiger finds out why.