Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men: Evolution. I only own my OCs.

A girl closed her eyes. Tears fell making muddy trails across her face were dirt once was. She clutched her left hand to her chest. No one could see her like this! She opened her clouded blue eyes and looked around. Her corn-silk blonde hair was covered in dirt and mud, her body ragged and thin. Cat-like ears stuck out from under a veil, which was torn and ragged as well. She looked down at her hand. It was a monstrous bone-like jagged claw. She opened her eyes and looked up at the sky. Her eyes were a pale powder blue.

"What's happening to me?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Nothing…its natural," a soothing voice came.

A woman stepped out of the shadows. She smiled at the girl and said, "I know sweetheart, it's hard for them to accept people like us. Especially when we look the way we do."

Cayden gasped at the blue skinned woman. She had bright yellow eyes that reminded her of a cat. The woman held out a hand and said, "My name is Mystique. I can help you child. I can protect you from the people who hate you. I can bring you to the people who will accept you for you."

Cayden reached out with her normal flesh hand and nodded. Mystique smiled and patted her on the head.

"Smart child…now come with me…I'll show you to your new friends."

Cayden followed the woman willingly. She had blue skin and yellow eyes! Suddenly Cayden's hand and ears didn't seem so bad. The girl looked up at Mystique.

"What can you do?" she asked.

"I, my dear child, am a shape shifter."

"I can smell and hear stuff real well and you've probably seen the claw," Cayden said.

"What is your name?"

"Cayden Oliver," the girl said.

"Spirit of battle," Mystique said. "Unusual name for a female."

"Yeah," Cayden said. "But I'm not like most females now am I?"

"No," the shape shifter replied. "You are unique, just like the rest of us."

She led the younger girl to a car and they drove away. Cayden was silent the entire ride back.

Back at the Brotherhood's base, Lance was getting ready to bury Toad.

"SHUT UP TOAD!"

"Kitty! Here Kitty-Kitty! Don't you know Lance wuvs you?" the other boy teased.

"SHUT U-"

"Now, now, boys! We don't need to scare off our new friend now do we?" a voice scolded.

Both Lance and Toad whipped around to see Mystique standing there. A girl was cowering behind her. Lance's expression softened slightly. The blonde was half-hidden by Mystique, her little, pale hand clutched Mystique's skirt. He could see a powder blue eye peering out at them. How old was she? Lance thought she was about twelve or thirteen. He bent down and waved hello. The girl came out from behind Mystique. Her eyes were on Lance.

"I'm Lance," he said softly. "What's your name?"

"Cayden," she replied.

"Mystique how old is she?"

"Fourteen."

Lance looked at Mystique in surprise. She looked younger than that! Why was a fourteen year old GIRL here? The only other girl here was Wanda, though she didn't hang around much. His thoughts were broken into by Toad's voice.

"WHAT IS THAT?" Toad yelped as he caught sight of her hand.

Cayden bit her lip and fell to the floor. She put her hands in front of her body, as if she was trying to protect herself. She looked at Toad with wide, fearful eyes. Lance smacked him upside the head.

"What was that for?"

"For being an insensitive idiot, that's what that was for!"

Lance gently reached out and took her hand. He felt her normal, soft hand. It was her other hand that Lance couldn't help but stare at. It wasn't a hand…it was a CLAW! He gently took that hand as well. She didn't move it or wrap her hand around his out of fear of hurting him. He smiled and ruffled her hair. Her veil fell to the side, revealing a cat like ear.

Toad stared at the girl terrified of the claw she called a hand. Fred lumbered into the room, followed by Pietro and Wanda. Pietro zoomed over to them, startling Cayden. She jumped and Lance hissed. Her claw had cut his hand.

"I-I-I-I-I'm s-s-s-so s-sorry!" she squeaked fearfully.

Lance just glared at Pietro and said, "Look, scaring her ain't exactly the brightest thing you can do speedy."

"Wellwhynot?" Pietro asked pushing Lance. "!"

Cayden growled and stepped in front of Lance. She raised her claw threateningly and said, "I ain't just some brat."

Pietro jumped back and recoiled, much like Toad and Fred. The only other one aside from Lance who didn't seem to care was Wanda. She just smiled at the girl who'd freaked her brother out.

"You're all right kid," she said. "What's your name?"

"Cayden."

"Mine's Wanda," she said. "Ignore my idiot brother."

Cayden nodded and Wanda approached her. Lance looked down at his hand and pressed down on the cut. It was bleeding pretty badly, so he went to go patch it up. Cayden looked at Wanda and said, "I'm sorry I hurt him."

Wanda rubbed her head and said, "It's all right kid. He'll be fine. Welcome to the Brotherhood."

Lance reappeared in the room a few moments later and said, "Welcome to the Brotherhood Battle Spirit."

"Whoa! Wait a minute! She's STAYING?" Toad yelped.

Mystique smiled and nodded. She looked at Lance and said, "Battle Spirit….a good name for her Avalanche. What do you think child?"

Cayden smiled and nodded. She liked her name, she liked it a lot. Fred, Toad, and Pietro gave each other a glance, and looked at Wanda and Lance. Wanda had put her hand on the girl's shoulder and was leading her up the steps. Lance turned and looked at them.

"Look you three, no teasing, no scaring, no tormenting, and no hurting Cayden. Got it?" he snarled. "Or else I'll burry you three."

They all nodded and Lance turned and went up the steps after Wanda and Cayden.

"What was dat about yo?" Toad asked.

"I dunno," Freddie said.

"That kid can't stay here!" Pietro cried.

Mystique cleared her throat and said, "She can and she is. Leave her be you three. Now don't you three have work to do?"

The three boys grumbled and walked away from Mystique.