Chapter 1:

Five year old Verena was walking home from her Kindergarten education with her parents without a care in the world. Wind gently dances with her long purple/black hair as her lilac eyes is filled with happiness and joy, matching the soft gray lips curling up.

"Verena darling," her mother smiles down to her, "we need to get home for dinner."

"Okay mommy!"

Even though her mother and father wasn't showing it, deep down they are wanting to get home as soon as possible. Mainly due to the fact, this small family is the last of their kind, making them the only ones on Xander. Sure they can be proud of who they are, but it can be uncomfortable like a lot. Verena's aware of the uncomfortableness because she knows she is the only light gray skinned student at the school.

Soon they managed to get home to their small apartment. Immediately the young child goes to get her coloring materials to draw a picture. She draws a lot of pictures of she and her family and even ideas of weaponry since her father taught her about weapons. Also there's a few pictures of animals and nature. Traits from her mother.

A small series of coughs appear from the older female catching the younger female's attention.

"Is something wrong Mommy?" she asked, a little worried.

"Oh nothing dear," her mother rather quickly answers with a fake smile.

"You sure?"

"Yes Verena, now go back to your drawings."

Something didn't seem right. That was the same coughs for a little while now. Similar what her father had.

'What's going on here?' Verena asked to herself.

The strange behavior continues on for months now. One night, she figured out why.

Verena awakens from her slumber to get a drink of water. There wasn't school the next day so it was okay. At the doorway towards the kitchen, the small gray skinned girl quickly hides behind on side of the doorway to see her parents in the kitchen. Father's weapons are with them. Guns and knives. They're coughing up a storm with blood spitting out of their mouths. Each one has a knife or gun in hand.

Screams let out of her tiny lungs when the weapons strike to her parents, killing them in the process.

"Mommy! Daddy!" she screams more, running over their dead bodies who are still sitting in the chairs lifelessly. "Why Mommy Daddy?! Why?!"

A piece of paper with her name is on the table. Shakily she opens it to read it.

"Verena, Your daddy and I didn't want to tell you, but we were deadly sick. To the point of death. I know you are too young to know what's going on, but we had to kill ourselves because we couldn't take it anymore. We are so sorry, we love you, Mommy and Daddy."

Blood red tears run down her tiny face. Why did they kill themselves in front of her? She could have helped them with the illness that they have. Tiny fingers run themselves in their matching purple/black hair as she drops down to her knees.

All of a sudden something snap inside. Tears still down on her face, she cleans up the mess that her parents made. Soon no more blood, weapons cleaned, and their dead bodies in body bags that they have for situations like this. Verena can take their bodies to the funeral home in the morning.

Since that night, each day and night becomes harder for her. She didn't know what happened when she was cleaning up the situation. Something inside told her to be calm during it.

Her father's weapons became her only family and friends. Creativity increase with her intelligence. More weapons are made, making a series of collections by the time she turned thirteen years old.

This one day will change her life forever. Verena's returning home with something to eat for the next few days. Something catches her eye, well her ankle. Looking down with a hand on her weapon on her back, tree branches are wrapping themselves around his ankle as if trying to get attention. Her lavender/purple eyes look more at the trail of the branches and notice a tree like structure. It has features of a human by the eyes, mouth, arms, and legs. A small furry creature wounded by a battle or something else lays in the tree's arms almost lifeless.

From a battle stance turn into a concern and scared for the creature. Verena always have a soft spot for animals and nature so seeing a wounded creature hurts her heart dramatically.

She gently drops her groceries down on the ground which the tree structure takes a hold onto the large paper bag. The creature is now in her arms as her eyes meet the tree's dark eyes. "Come with me," she says to him, leading him to her small house that she bought all by herself.

Verena and the tree structure enters in and places the creature on the couch. The tree structure gently places the food on the table.

"Thank you," she says to him, with a smile.

"I am Groot," he says with a smile, welcoming her.

"My name is Verena, would you like to help me aid for your friend?"

"I am Groot," he says it again, meaning he is saying yes.

"Okay, I need to get the medical supplies from my room so I'll return."

"I am Groot."

"You're very welcome Groot."

A pillow is gently place under the creature's head as a nice, soft blanket covers his body. The wounds are soon clean and bandaged up. As Verena watches the creature sleep, she couldn't help but feel a warm feeling inside. It warms up her cheeks. The creature is rather handsome.

"I am Groot?" Groot asked, taking her out of her trance.

"Oh sorry," she says to her new friend, "he will be fine he just needs to rest."

"I am Groot!" he smiles to her.

"Well, you two can stay as long as you like. I'm going to make some dinner, is there anything you want?"

Groot shook his head for a no.

Later that night, Verena was about to go to sleep for the night when she's getting a cup of water. The house is small it only has a living/dining room area, kitchen, and a washroom. It's her own home nevertheless.

"I am Groot," he says to her.

"Where do you wish to sleep Groot?"

"I am Groot," he answered.

"The couch is usually where I sleep so we all can sleep on the couch together."

"I am Groot!"

"Well goodnight Groot," she smiles.

"I am Groot."

Verena looks at the handsome creature one last time before giving him a goodnight kiss on his cheek.