Mystery's Breath

Chapter 1

A thin breeze swept over a small valley, barely disturbing it. Water from a nearby stream chattered. The sun's ray's started to vanish behind the hills and all was quiet in the forest as well.

A girl, wearing a navy blue shirt and pants with the symbol of a cheetah, stood at the edge of the small cliff overlooking the village below. Her sharp blue gazed scanned the village, searching for signs of life. Darkness started to fall, but nothing stirred in the village.

As the last rays of the sun disappeared, a voice called out, "Skyler, do you see anything?" The girl, Skyler, turned around to face the forest behind her, her black hair waving wildly.

"Nothing yet, Steve. Anything in your end?" Skyler replied. She pulled out a little flashlight and pointed it at the valley.

The breeze grew stronger, sweeping away Steve's reply. The wind echoed through the hollows of the trees, making them howl. Steve raised his voice and this time it carried through the wind, "Someone's in the forest!"

Skyler, hearing his cry, let out a low, thin whistle ans waved her flashlight three times. Dark figures ran up the cliff path and into the forest. She could see their flashlights through the trees and their voices calling in unison, "Steve, where are you?"

Skyler wanted to enter the forest, but she held her position and continued to watch the sleeping village. In the background, she heard the figures continue to call for Steve until their voices faded into the distance.

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As the sun's rays rose above the trees, Skyler heard the sound of leaves crunching in the forest. She turned around. A man stood there, short and plump, with his blonde hair cut neatly and glowing green eyes. He was wearing a dark blue shirt and black pants. Both the shirt and the pants bore the symbol of a cheetah.

                                                                                                                                                                                           "Time to rest, Skyler. You've had a long night," the man said.

Skyler dipped her head. "Yes, sir, Rowan." As she turned to leave, she asked, "Where's Steve?"

Rowan replied, "He's waiting for you back at the headquarters." Concerned that they were in trouble, Skyler turned and raced down the cliff path. When the path ended in front of the village park, Skyler stopped and started at a crowd that was standing there.

Everyone had the same sad look on their faces."What's going on?" she asked as the crowd grew.

One girl stepped forward. She was a short girl with brown hair and brown eyes. Her expression, unlike everyone else's, was unreadable. "Four of my friends have gone missing," she hissed, "on your watch."

Skyler replied calmly, "No one has gone missing since we started Cheetah's Watch. There must be a mistake."

The girl shook her head. "Look around you, miss. They're gone and without your help they'll die. You had better find my friends quickly, or more will vanish," she said before disappearing into the crowd.

"Wait!" Skyler called after the girl, but she was already gone. Sighing, Skyler walked to the Cheetah's Watch headquarters and entered. She was greeted by Steve, who shook his head in dismay. He was a small seventeen-year-old boy with black hair and green eyes.