The day finally came where Wren and Michael would be discharged from the hospital. Although the overall stay was less than a week, it felt as if they had been in there for months. Wren's injuries were all but healed. After the Spirit Storm and The War, people who moved to the island often faced rare and strange occurrences that they had not seen before. Most of the people were accepting of the change, but there were also those who were less than welcoming. Leading to public disputes and protests around the main hospital that services both people from the Tradelands and the Islands.
*Wren didn't know why, but for whatever reason, the clans that occupied their island and the island to the far south, always had interesting abilities. Many of the people abilities varied widely and could evolve over time with practice. Teleportation, mind projection, super strength, "shadow walking", were a few traits that were common in their clan alone but there were many more. She herself had the power of mind projection, telepathing, fast healing, spiritual connection, teleportation, and other abilities.
Most of the children in the clans began experiencing minor changes to their bodies and/or minds once they reach between 10 and 13 years old. Ones who had abilities relating to strength, often had muscle development and stamina that was not normal for their age and were normally recruited for the Fire Unit if their abilities were strong and stable enough. Ones who abilities related to teleportation, often had a lower body density than most people and were very fast runners at young ages, were often more likely to be chosen for the Lightening Unit, which were missions closely relating to the Clan Elders. If a child was more inclined to spiritual abilities, small objects could begin levitating near their bodies and they were also notoriously good healers and often accompanied the strength based missions in order to keep their casualties down and depending on the type of ability, would be recruited for the Water or Lunar Unit.
After their island was all but destroyed, they had been doing their best to rebuild what was lost. Their island was once the leading provider of new technology for the neighboring territories as well as the Tradelands. However, when the Priestess Akira caused the Spiritual Storm, it damaged much of their technology, to the point of it basically being useless. All radio frequencies and outside communication had stopped, which allowed the military from the Tradelands to send in spies and gather information easier without people of the island being aware, which eventually led to the war; desolating any resources they had left.
They knew that most of the clan members were dependent upon the technology, and life would all but stop on the island as they tried to rebuild. After almost a year the military fully made their move into the Island territories. At first there was minimal fighting and more disputing, but when they disturbed the way of life on the Islands, clan members began retaliating, which in turn caused a war/territory dispute for 7 years. Crops and fresh water sources were rendered useless and the Islands were all but destroyed by the end of the war.
It has almost been 9 years since the war supposedly ended, but clan members from the late and middle generations felt that the treaty initially proposed was more in favor of the Tradelands military, not themselves. They were just too low in numbers of clan members that were able to fight against them and due to the storm so soon before, they didn't have the weapons*- "Wren! Hellooo! Stop spacing out and answer my question!" Wren shook her head, clearing her mind of her previous thoughts. 'When did I even get in Naya's car?' Wren looked out the window at the new buildings and trees, passing by as blurs of color.
"I'm sorry Naya. What was it you were asking?" Naya grumbled in response. Michael turned towards Wren who was sitting opposite of him in the back seat. "My Lady, Miss Naya asked how you got yourself into this predicament. I described the state and location in which I found you. Which then led to Miss Naya reprimanding me because I failed to protect you. I can never apologize enough for my mistakes." Michael hung his head in embarrassment and regret.
Wren gently shook her head and placed her hand over Michael's, which was on his lap, "Michael, none of this is your fault. I am the one who left the perimeter of safety. I purposely tried to escape you and my other guards. I felt an extremely strong and menacing presence. I knew if anyone were to follow me, they would only slow me down or get harmed. I can't fully explain it, but...only I could go. Besides, there was nothing you could have done to stop me short of rendering me unconscious." Michael looked deeply into Wren's eyes, "That is still not an excuse My Lady. I am deeply sorry and will be as best of guard I can be in this life and the next."
Naya and Wren both rolled their eyes and chuckled softly, "Michael, how many time do I have to tell you to just call me Wren and to also stop with the theatrics. We were childhood friends for goodness sake. We climbed the same trees and ran through the same forests and rivers together. I mean we even slept toge-" *HONK HONK!* Wren and Michael tried to brace themselves as their bodies lurched forward into the backs of drivers and passengers seat as Naya swerved and tried to control the car.
"Miss Naya, what on earth was the cause for such reckless driving?!" Naya had turned beet red and was now coughing as if she had just choked. "Naya, are you okay?" Once they returned to their seat, Wren leaned forward to look at Naya's red face. Naya quickly glanced in Wren's direction and then back to the road. Wren followed her gaze and saw no reason for her driving to be this reckless. Naya waited another few moments to collect herself before answering their questions.
"Wren, shouldn't such a sensitive topic be discussed ONLY in private with only the INVOLVED parties included?" Naya finally was able to speak, causing Michael's face to show his confusion. Wren's face showed irritation, "Goodness Naya, get your mind out of the gutter will you? We went on camping with our parents and we would often share the same tent seeing as Michael, his brother Fintan, and I were the only children on those trips. We also went on group missions together and were sleeping within the same small distance of each other."
Wren shook her head in disbelief at her friends shamefulness. Wren turned to Michael to apologize for her behavior and saw he too had gone slightly red in the face. "Michael, I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable. I didn't mean for anything I said to be insinuated as such. Are you okay? Are you still feeling ill?" Wren moved her hand to feel Michael's forehead to check for a fever but he quickly dogged it, leaving Wren's hand hanging in the air and her face to take on the look of confusion.
Naya had since recovered from her coughing fit and giggled at the interaction of these two. 'I'm not sure who is more clueless. Guard boy or Madame Priestess.' Naya thought to her self and giggled some more. Wren was confused by Michael's behavior but waved it off. "I'm sorry Lady Wren. Y-you startled me. I-I'm feeling fine, I'm just eager to get back into our territory. We need to report in..." Michael smiled towards Wren and she returned the smile. 'Gosh, these two will never understand. Looks like I have a new task for myself,' Naya giggled to herself as she began plotting ways to get her two friends together.