Bloodlines prologue

It was twilight—the sun was just beginning to sink below the horizon as three young creatures, best friends since birth, were together for what they never imagined would be the last time.

Root, Whak, and Resa sat together on a grassy hill, watching the sunset. A faint, last breeze whistled through the grass and over the faces of the three friends.

Root was a Bulbasaur. He was a bit wild and careless, but he loved his two friends more than anything, and wouldn't let his faults get in the way of their fun.

Whak was a Charmander. He was quiet and shy most of the time, but his friends didn't mind. Whenever he did speak his mind, he always said something very thoughtful.

Resa was a Squirtle. She loved adventure and the thought of danger, and she was the one who usually got her friends into deep trouble.

The three of them lived together with their families in what could be called a paradise; the grass was always green, and beautiful flowers and resourceful plants made Root and his family happy; the sun shone warm and bright, which Whak and his family particularly enjoyed, and the thick forest surrounding protected them from the occasional rainfall; the "paradise" sat on a river, said to be blessed by Suicune and large enough to keep Resa and her family satisfied.

Resa asked her friends, "We'll be together forever, right?"

Root blinked sleepily at her. "Of course we will. Right, Whak?"

Whak nodded and closed his eyes. All tired, the three returned home, awaiting another day of play.

But imagine their disappointment...

--

"What? The river's disappeared?" Resa's father demanded of Turne, the Noctowl who managed their paradise. "How can a river simply disappear overnight?" He shook Turne until feathers started falling.

"Please! Please, calm down!" cried Turne. "How am I to know how it happens? But it did; look for yourself!" He pointed a wing in the direction of the river, and then proceeded to preen and pull out any feathers the angered Blastoise had shaken loose.

Resa and her father walked down to the riverbank, just to see proof of Turne's words. Although there was a heavy rain today and the sun was never hot enough to have dried it up, the river was simply gone.

"Resa!" The Squirtle turned to see Whak running towards her. "I... uh... I..." he tripped over his sentence, like usual.

Resa tried to calm him down. "Whak, what's the matter?"

He took a few breaths and then said, "My family can't stay here!"

"Why not?" It was then that Resa realized Whak had been shielding his tail from the rain the whole time. No creature of Whak's family could live properly here.

Later, when Root had joined them, they explained everything.

"You mean... I'm going to be the only one here?" cried Root.

"Well, how could you live here, either?" wondered Resa.

Whak nodded. "The new rainfall and lack of sunlight would no doubt disrupt your growth."

And after everyone had grasped the truth, though reluctantly, they said their goodbyes, and went their separate ways.

But they had made a promise. A promise that they would never split. And all three of them hoped deep in their hearts that they would meet again.