Chapter 1: Earth

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"Come on Ara!" Lydia, her closest friend, shouted.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She picked up her backpack throwing it on and hopped on her bike. Lydia was already down the street waiting rather impatiently. She peddled twice then let gravity do the rest down the slope.

"Took you long enough." Lydia teased.

"Oh shut up, are we still going to the same place?" Lydia nodded and they both started on a gentle ride through the small town.

"It's not like there's anywhere else to go, unless you know of a place."

"Nope, although If I did I'm sure it would be equally as boring. Just like everything else in this small town... Is anyone else meeting us there?" They took a turn down a dirt path leading to the hills and away from the town.

"Everyone else is busy." Lydia said opening the gate that lead out. It was an old wooden one with white paint scrapped off by weather and time. The path it lead to was overgrown on each side creating a natural wall of weeds and tall grass, well above each of their heads and at least six or seven feet in height.

Ara was 19 and moderate in height with soft features, she had a strong face much as her spirit. Her hair was a faded and dark red, not bright and blinding but soft and welcoming. Her toned and slim form were made of her constant physical activities, she refused to be lazy, never waiting for others to do things for her.

"Like always, never seem to want to do... anything." Ara mentioned factually with a hint of distaste.

Lydia was also 19, yet, on the other hand, was a gentle spirit where Ara could be harsh. She was a shorter girl with much the same body as her friend and also in great physical condition, a little behind Ara but able to hold her own. Her hair was a light brown complementing her graceful face and soft skin tones, her lightly tanned skin gave a glow about her. She was someone you'd want to be around, as Ara had noticed on many occasions, whenever she felt down she could always rely on Lydia to cheer her up.

They entered the path leaving their bikes behind and locked to a pole beside the gate. The path was uneven and rocky, too difficult to carry a bike along. They had enjoyed this spot since they were younger, always hiking up to the overlook, as they called it, a ledge above the town giving a panoramic view of the vast mountains surrounding them and the city far beyond, seemingly At the base of the largest mountain. They quickly made their way up, neither loosing breath but kept even strides.

Ara wore dark stretchy jeans for easy climbing, and a simple, blue polyester shirt and a zip up sweater. Her scarf was wrapped around her neck keeping her breathing easy instead of a biting cold. Winter was present, still far from the warm months carrying frigid cold down from the snowy mountains. She carried a blue backpack filled with snacks and a change of clothes, just in case she ever needed them. Her phone she left at home as Lydia had done, leaving behind the distractions of life, a short time to get away.

Lydia wore shorts to just above her knee with leggings underneath keeping her warm, her shirt was the same as Ara's only she wore a green jacket instead of a zip up. She also carried a backpack with the same supply's as Ara with the only addition a first aid kit.

"why do we ever have to grow up." Lydia breathed wistfully, she had often thought of a reason. She never could truly leave behind her childhood, it would always be there, trapped by the expectations of being a teenager.

"That was random, and it's not like we can go back in time, not that I'd even want to." Ara jumped up and across several boulders to another ledge before looking back. Lydia easily did the same joining her and walked further up.

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