The Tree with Silver Leaves

Chapter 1 ~ Where it all started

Many children live happily having excitement fill every second of their lives and have so many friends. They prefer to be surrounded by people and do not like being alone or in a quiet space. Such enthusiastic children are called Extroverts. Many prefer to keep to themselves for most of the time because it keeps them happy. They enjoy alone time best and are not as social as extroverts. They like to keep only a few close friends or not have as many friends. Both of the personalities are amazing. However, some do not fit in with either of the groups. They are a mixture of both Extroverts and Introverts. This type of personality can be formed due to the many situations the person is put into.

Luna's case was moving a lot. She often switched schools because her mother always kept moving. Whenever she would ask 'Why?' the reply from her mother would always be 'It's for the best, honey'.

She was born in the States and had such pretty hazel eyes. Her light brown wavy hair had strokes of silver that shone underneath the light, particularly moonlight. In kindergarten, the kids used to make fun of her. She was just an innocent child and did not know why they said such mean things. She used to ignore them and continued with her play.

She had many aunts and uncles but did not meet them much. When Luna asked 'Why?' Her mother always replied 'It's for the best, honey'

When she turned five, they moved to Canada. Five-year-old Luna wondered why the kids didn't talk to her as actively as in the US (or as her innocent self, thought).

When she was seven, her Indian grandma came from India to give her a very special gift. It was a pendant with a sapphire hanging. She promised to never take it off.

She wasn't made fun of at all at school. The kids used to admire her pendant. She made one best friend, with whom she shared everything.

Adaline was a kind American-Indian girl who could speak English very well. She was at the top of her class and had French and Hindi as her third and first languages.

There was tough competition all around, the kids were never quarrelling or arrogant. They seemed to be friends with everyone.

It seemed to be such a nice environment but the sense of being the 'new kid' always crawled up her pixie brain. Because of that, Adaline was her only friend.

At home, she was lonely too (as she was an only child). She lived in an apartment with her mother who was very busy but always made out time for Luna. Besides, she had all too much homework and was always busy styling her hair or dressing up.

Adaline and Luna had many playdates too. They both shared their hobbies of dressing up. She wrote poems and stories. She even- rarely- knitted!

She was quite fond of Bedtime. Her mother would come home after work by the time she finished her work. After having dinner, she would pack her bag for the next day of school and read a bit before crawling into bed. Her mother would always tell her a bedtime story. She was fascinated by stories about werewolves and the universe.

Her mother always told her stories and tales on folklore and fiction, and Magic and Fantasy to help up with her feeling of being lonely.

One Night, her mother told her the story of a werewolf boy;

"There was once a boy who was quite into himself, most of the time. He always sat underneath a tree in the woods, reading a book under the moon at night. The moon gave off a lavender glow which shone on the pages he read. It was all quiet except for the crickets that chirped. The wind suddenly started to blow and he saw red eyes staring at him from a distance. He decided to stop reading and go away but the eyes seemed to follow him. He did not notice he started to walk faster and soon he began to run. The red eyes were the eyes of evil werewolves that followed him endlessly. He did not notice that he ran in a circle and went back to the tree he was reading under. All hope was lost so he put his back on the tree closed his eyes and prepared for the worst"

Luna was at the edge of her seat, eager to know what would happen. Her mom continued;

"And just as the werewolves were about to attack him, the Moon showed brighter. The wolves seemed to be hypnotized or something for they ran into the forest without a second look."

"Is this a real story?" asked Luna, "Did it happen?"

"I'm not sure, darling" replied her mother. "My mother had told me this story"

"Grandma sure does know a lot of stories about werewolves"

"I'm sure she does, but you must go to sleep now"

"Good Night Mom"

The next day, she got up and got ready for school.

Another normal day in school with a Surprise Math Test, a science exam and a sprinkle of......bullying.

It was because she loved werewolf stories. She was called 'The Werewolf Weirdo' by some of the kids, including Naomi, the typical middle school bully she was.

She did not care one bit on the outside but it was killing her inside. But Adaline worried a lot. She was her only friend who was also an exchange student like her.

But Luna was too focused on Science. She wanted to prove that werewolves existed but could not find any proof. Only because she was a normal curious child.

She woke up the next day in her bed, all tucked up.

She felt dizzy and did not want to go to school which she did not say that often.

Her mom sent her anyway but Luna was all drowsy at school. She couldn't pay attention to class at all.

After coming home, she slept in bed all day.

Days passed but Luna was not feeling any better, so she went to the Doctor. The Doctor found no traces of illness.

Her mother was concerned. "It started too late"

Anyway, she felt a bit better after sunrise though and decided to go pick berries in the forest because it was the weekend (Not in her consciousness)

She went deeper and deeper but she could not find any berries at all, but she had a really strong feeling she was being followed so she turned back and there was......

NOTHING!

It was all clear but she still wasn't sure and was very attentive from then.

Soon it was evening and she was still in the forest. She looked at the full moon which was visible from a normal hill she was standing on. It had a not–so–normal tree. It had SILVER LEAVES! She could recall them from somewhere but could not remember anything.

As night took over, she decided to go home with just a few berries. But oddly, the moon's light was giving off a purple glow. When she turned around, she saw a boy.

He had purple highlights in his shiny black hair which were glowing in the moonlight.

The moon was suddenly covered by a cloud and the boy moved towards Luna.

Luna backed away "W-who are you?" she managed to spit out.