Leaves of Change [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 1 - The Orphanage

    Serenity stared out the car window as the rain poured down outside.  She fiddled with the gold, heart-shaped locket around her neck.  It had been the only thing her parents ever left to her, and it was the only piece of jewelry she ever wore.  Now she was on her way to the orphanage again with her foster mother.

    "I'm sure you'll get adopted by some perfectly nice people." she said cautiously.

    "That's what the others said before they gave me up." Serenity replied, "Why are you sending me back, Emma?"

    Her foster mother didn't reply.  But she didn't need to.

    Serenity knew exactly why Emma was sending her back.  She was hot-headed and stubborn, for one.  But it was mostly because Serenity was...different, to say the least.  With her pale skin, long, raven hair, and striking, emerald-green eyes, she looked pretty much like an average girl.  However, Serenity did have some abilities that made her more unique than other people.  When she was angry, the air around her seemed somewhat electrified.  The plants seemed to whisper to her.  She could heal people if she wanted, but only small things, like cuts and bruises.  The wind murmured to her. Animals seemed to be drawn to her. Serenity was, as the orphanage mistress; Ms. Carter would say: strange.

    "Burt and I just don't think you're a very good fit for our family, that's all." Emma said stiffly.

    Burt, a cruel man, was Emma's husband.   He would yell at her, shout at her for being different. Serenity didn't get along with Emma and Burt's children either. The two boys Jonathan, and Damian were always teasing her, making fun of her at school, though it wasn't much different with anyone else. Everyone made fun of strange Serenity. She didn't have any friends, so it was easy to pick her out in the crowd, walking alone. 

    Life was -in short- miserable for Serenity.

    "Oh, here we are," Emma called, snapping Serenity out of her thoughts, "the orphanage."

     "Please don't send me back." Serenity said in a last attempt to get Emma to let her stay.

     "I'm sorry Sera, but that's how it goes, dear. Now, Ms. Carter is waiting for you."

     "Don't call me dear!" Serenity snapped back.

      Emma gave her a pitying look. "Goodbye Sera."

     Serenity got out of the car and slammed the door behind her. Ms. Carter was waiting on the porch in front of the orphanage.  A tall, skinny woman, with large spectacles and a large hooked nose, Ms. Carter gave off the appearance of a menacing, leering vulture.

     "It's about time you got back, you little brat. I've been expecting them to send you back ever since they took you home." She said.

    "It's a pleasure to see you too, Ms. Carter." Serenity replied glumly.

     "Well, go on then." Answered Ms. Carter.

    As soon as Serenity got inside, she rushed up to her room. She plopped right onto her bed, willing herself not to cry. This had been the eighth foster family who had sent her back to the orphanage. Memories plagued her as she sat there in her room. When she was only five years old, Serenity had gotten in trouble with the orphanage mistress. She had been punished for trying to steal extra food from the kitchen. Ms. Carter had caught her almost right away. She had been taken to the mistress's office and had been beaten for her "crime". Little Serenity had practically cried her eyes out. All the while, Ms. Carter had yelled at her saying 'stop crying you little weakling, and take your punishment'. From that day forward, Serenity vowed to never cry again, for fear of being weak. She must not let the tears fall.

    Serenity quietly hummed to herself. She had a beautiful singing voice, but she never let anyone hear her.

    "Back so soon?" said a familiar voice.

    Serenity turned around. Behind her stood the only person that was remotely like a friend to her.

    "Erika!"

    "Hey there, you."

    Erika had bright red hair, pale skin, and clear green eyes. Her parents had left her at the orphanage at a young age because they were unable to care for her. But they had promised to come back for her one day. She was the only person who was nice to Serenity at all. She was also another reason she couldn't afford to shed tears; Serenity had to be strong for her. She had to grow up quick, so her friend didn't have to. 

    "I'm guessing it didn't work out?" said Erika.

    "No." Replied Serenity.

    "Well, you look tired. I'll let you get some sleep."

    "Thanks, Erika." Serenity said as Erika walked off to her own bed."

        ~*~*~*~*~*

    That night, perhaps around midnight, Serenity had the most peculiar dream. She was walking through a forest, not knowing where on earth she was, or if she was even on earth, for that matter. The trees and plants seemed to glow with a magical, mystical aura. The air smelled of cinnamon. Even the water in a nearby creek was different. It was crystal-clear, with a tint of blue. All was peaceful until the ground in front of her opened up like a gaping mouth and spoke:

Child of the earth,

At thirteen, your true power will awake.

You will save our world, as well as your own,

You yourself will find a home.

Princess of land,

Princess of sea,

Princess of all things to be,

Help us, save us,

Child of the sun,

Child of the moon.

War is coming, yes very soon

Awake child of the earth,

Awake, Serenity, Princess of Nature,

Awake

Awake

Awake

    The ground closed, and the voice faded away. Serenity sat bolt upright in bed, in a cold, hard sweat. The back of her hand felt strange. Serenity turned her hand over. On the back of her hand lay a mark shaped like a tree. It burned. The tree was branded to her hand.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Well guys, I finally got the first chapter out!  I've been waiting a long time for this!  (you seriously have no idea XD)  Anyway, I hope you guys liked it!  I'm still pretty new at this so feel free to correct any grammar mistakes I make and tell me if there are any things I can do to improve my writing.  I'm also going to try to put a song at the beginning of every chapter, that I think describes the chapter or some of the character's experiences best.  The song this chapter is Force of Nature by Bea Miller.  Remember to vote and comment, and I'll try to get back to as many of you as possible.  Thanks for reading, and stay awesome!

                                                                                                                                                 ~Melp