Ok guys!
My character contest is now over, and a winner has been decided! There were so many great entries, I actually had to ask Jerome to help me!

Jerome: yea, she did. Just proves how indecisive she is.

*sigh* ANYWAY... I'd like to congratulate the winner!
The winner of the character contest is.... @liv_your_life119 !

I absolute love your character and think she is perfect for the story ;)
So without further a-do, let the story continue! (Hey that rhymed XD)
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(Sky's POV)

I stepped back happily into our little makeshift base, returning back from my mining expedition with a good amount of ores that we could use for armor and weapons.

"Hey guys. I'm back!" I called cheerfully.

"SKY!"

Before I was able to react, Mitch had lunged at me, grabbing me with his hands and pushing me to the ground. I landed on the ground loudly, stunned. I heard Ian gasp, and I looked to see him run over and grab Mitch. Mitch turned around and punched him in the stomach. Ian gasped, and doubled over. Mitch peered down at me, fire practically burning in his brown pupils.

"Whoa! What the heck Mitch!" I yelled, struggling underneath him. As I struggled, Mitch's grasp only seemed to get tighter and stronger. I looked at him again, and then I got an idea. I decided to go limp underneath him. He fell for my trick and loosened his grip. Using all my energy, I managed to thrust him off me with a mighty shove. He slid across the floor, but regained his composure quickly, and went in for another attack. This time though, I wasn't as off guard, and was able to meet him half way.

"What is the problem with you Mitch!" I yelled as we struggled. We were staring at eachother, as if we were in a death match staring contest. As I did, it surprised me when I could see the fury in his eyes turning to shock almost instantaneously. His grasp loosened, and he collapsed to the floor, crying.

"I-I'm sorry Sky! J-Jerome hasn't returned yet, and I'm nervous! Actually, not nervous. Petrified! This whole trip has made me anxious, not just for Ty, but for Jerome, Sky! He's like the brother I never had, and now my worst nightmare has come true!" He wailed.

Ian, who was now recovering from Mitch's punch, shakily stood up and walked over.

"Um...why is Mitch on the floor crying? And where's Jerome? Shouldn't he be back by now with the wood?"

That comment only made Mitch cry harder.

"Hey, hey, hey! We don't know if Jerome has been taken by squids or not! Come on, get up, and we will go look for him." I said, looking down at Mitch. He sniffled and wiped his eyes.

"O-ok Sky." He said, standing up. I patted him on the back.

"Me and Mitch will go look for Jerome. Ian and Jason, watch the base." I commanded. Jason nodded, and Ian followed. I climbed up the cave side, and waited at the top for Mitch. When Mitch was out of the cave, we started our trek through the woods.

A good amount of time had passed, and we still hadn't seen any trace of Jerome. I could tell as the sun sank lower in the sky, Mitch was getting more and more anxious.

As we met a clearing in the woods, I heard Mitch gasp, and he ran in from of me.

"Mitch! Where are you going?" I yelled after him. He looked over his shoulder excited, and pointed through the trees.

"I can see a village! Maybe Jerome is there!" Mitch cried happily. I grinned.

"Well then, lead the way!"

We made our way to the edge of the village. It was about the size of an average village, filled with houses and fields.

"Be cautious Mitch, we don't know the type of people here. They may be hostile towards visitors." I said to Mitch quietly as we approached the first sidewalk of the village. Mitch nodded, and looked around slowly. He motioned me forward, and we walked almost silently.

As we walked through the village, we saw many different people hanging around the shadows of buildings. I got an uneasy feeling as the villagers seemed to give us hostile glares as we walked by.

"I don't have a good feeling about this place Sky. It gives me the creeps." Mitch whispered as we walked. I nodded.

"I know. These people look like they want to kill us." I said.

We kept walking through the village, and as we walked further into the center of the village, the more rundown it got. The nice buildings on the outskirts of the village looked nothing like these ones, with their cracked widows and broken down doors.

As we walked by an alleyway, we heard the sound of something breaking. I jumped, and accidentally ran into Mitch. I looked around, but didn't see anything or anyone.

"You both seem to be on the wrong side of town."

We glanced around nervously, trying to find the person that voice belonged to.
As I looked deep into the alleyway, I could just make out the faint outline of a villager.

"H-hey! Step ou-out into the l-light!" I stammered, trying to sound brave. The voice laughed.

"Alright. But be warned. I have been known to be eye-catching." The voice laughed in a mysterious way.

I watched as a girl no older than 19 stepped out of the shadows. She was wearing a plain white t-shirt, dark blue jean shorts, a tan trenchcoat, and a pair of midnight black converse. She had chocolate brown hair, and had greenish-gray eyes. I stared at her, completely blown away. Did I mention she also was wearing a belt with two pistols on either side?

"It's rude to stare." She said, leaning up against the nearby lamppost. "What brings you to this dump? You don't seem like the type to live here. You look like a Diami."

We stared blankly at her. What the heck was a Diami?

"Um...we aren't from around here. I'm Sky, and this is my friend Mitch. You are...?" I said, trailing off, realizing I had never caught her name.

She stopped fiddling wit her nails, and looked at me.

"The name's Liv." She said, stubbornly.

"Um, what's a Diami?" Mitch asked cautiously. She looked at us, and scrunched her nose.

"Only the worst thing on the street next to squids. Diami are what we Direi people call the upper class. You know, like the people with all the money." She said, spitting it out as if it were poison rolling over her tongue. I looked at Mitch, but he just shrugged, confused.

"Anyway, why are two fine boys like you out in these wastelands?" She said carelessly. I gulped.

"Well, um...we were looking for our friend, Jerome, and thought that maybe he had come here." I said. She looked at us, but shrugged.

"Can't say I have boys. Trust me, I would know. I learn everything about every newcomer who comes here. It's helpful when you need to do some dirty work." She said, smirking. Our eyes grew wide. Who the heck was this girl?!

"Um..Why do you have two guns on you? Doesn't really seem like a girls type of accessory." Mitch said, a small laugh hidden within his statement. She flipped her head at him, and before he could say anything else, she was already on top of him.

"So you think guns are just a boys toy huh?" She pulled the guns out of her belt, and pointed them at a rusty can sitting on a fence about 100 feet away.

"Watch this."

Aiming, she shot at the can, and both of us saw it go flying behind the fence. She smirked at Mitch, climbed off of him, and ran to go get the can. She jumped over the fence with ease, and came back, holding the can proudly.
The can had been shot perfectly in the center.

"Next time watch your mouth, cause this girl has had some experience with guns." She said cockily, swinging the guns lazily around her fingers. She slid them back into her belt, and looked at us.

We all stood in silence for a few moments.

"So, when did your friend go missing?" Liv asked suddenly. I looked at Mitch, who then spoke up.

"This morning. Sky had sent him to get wood for a fire, and he hasn't returned. At least, while we weren't around." He said, glumly. I nodded.

If only I hadn't sent him out. I thought to myself sadly. Suddenly, a great idea popped into my head.

"Liv, could you help us find Jerome?" I asked excitedly. She scoffed.

"That's like asking a cat to meow. Of course I can help. But it's gonna cost you." She said, laying her hand out. I quickly rummaged through my pockets and pulled out 3 iron ingots. I put them in her hand, and she put them in her pocket. She stood up, and stared walking away. We stood still, looking like idiots.

She looked back at us, and sighed.

"You look like idiots standing there. You coming or what?"

We looked at eachother, and caught up to her.

Well there's the first bit of Liv's adventure :3

Jerome: NOO Mitch! You're wasting your time! You need to find Ty! Or...Squidlox...or SquidTy, before it's too late!! Ugh!

It's alright Jerome, everything will play out.

Jerome: *mumbles something in Bacca*

Hey. Don't use that language here mister.

Anyway, thanks for the support guys! Hope you enjoyed!

Until next time,
~Citrus