The Wastelands

"No wonder you looked so familiar," Druid stated. Of course, back then, Emma was only a couple of years older than she was. But back then, in Trentville, it was hard to trust even the person to share a bunk with because it was common to stab someone in the back just for a few scraps. That was the kind of environment Druid grew up in.

However, the results were still the same. They all were just products to be sold off and were treated as such. If they survived, that was. Even now, Druid couldn't stand being touched. She could still feel hands as they inspected her like a prized horse, and because of that, being touched still made her skin crawl.

Druid was lucky if one would call it that. She was beautiful even as a child. Because of that So she was treated better than the rest. Which meant the subject of jealous stares and sneaky bullying. So Druid learned early on that the only person she could depend on

But Emma was different. She was sweet and kind. She took it upon herself to take care of the younger children. Druid had liked her. Although Emma doesn't last long, either their soul was crushed, or they were dead. Rumours had it that she had an older sister making sure that Emma was well taken care of.

'So Brit was Emma's older sister, huh.'

"I don't care." Brit sneered. "Just tell me or I'll…." Suddenly she stiffened up as an ice blade was placed against her neck.

"Drop it!" An all too familiar voice growled. Brit hesitated. "Drop it, or I'll take it from you." The air got cold enough to see one's breath. "We wouldn't want that would we." The threat was clear, and Brit instantly dropped her gun, and something invisible, most likely Bryson's foot, kicked it away.

"Stop, Bryson. I have everything well in hand." Druid recommended.

Bryson's form shimmered into existence but kept his ice sword where it was. "Please, this woman tried to kill you, and you want me to sit back and do nothing. Hah!"

Brit tried to but stilled as a tringle of blood ran down her throat. She swallowed. "How did you get out?"

Bryson smirked. "Easy, you showed me how. Remember?" Holding his hand and a ball of water formed in his hand. "I don't need to be a Lumeye to get out that." Closing his fist abruptly making Brit

Brit just turned her head. "Hmph, just kill me already."

"Glady," Bryson stated.

"Bryson, don't," Druid responded instantly.

"Ice boy, hold it for a sec," Statson stated; he was leaning against the wall wheezing.

"Statson, are you okay?" Druid asked concern.

While still leaning against the wall, Statson waved his hand limply. "Yeah, yeah. Everything is fine. Things got a little too dicy." He heaved. "I just going to sit down for a bit." As he slid down the way.

"Wuss."

Statson held up his middle finger. "If you had some roots up in places where the sun don't shine. Then we'll talk."

Druid was now annoyed. "Guys." Raising her voice. They both closed their mouth, keeping silent. Druid turned back to Brit. "Now, what to do with you?"

"If I wasn't captured, I'll…."

"Then you'll still be in the same position," Druid whispered, and Whippy came from behind Bryson and Brit. It wrapped around her arm and hissed. Druid petted it and cooed at it before addressing Brit. "I was never going to let you kill me."

Then realization dawned on Druid. "Or is that what you want. For me to kill you. to prove that you're right, perhaps?" As Brit looked away. Druid sighed. "Listen, I'm not your personal…Never mind." Shaking her head. "Listen. I'm not going to kill you." Druid looked up at Bryson. "Let her go."

"But…"

"Please, Bryson." Druid used her puppy dog eyes.

"Fine." Bryson reluctantly agreed, and his ice sword disappeared as Brit fell on her knees, holding her bleeding neck. Glaring up at Druid.

"You know." Druid kneeled down. "I know you don't believe me, but I wasn't the one who started that fire."

Brit just laughed. "Don't give me that crap. I saw you. You were right there where the fire started. And you're a Fire Lumeye, it had to be you."

"I was too young. I didn't know what I was back then." Druid denied. She hadn't manifested yet, so she couldn't use her fire abilities. However, she couldn't deny that being Fire Lumeye saved her life that night. If it had been anything other than fire, Druid would have been dead like everyone else. Like Emma.

Her foggy mind went back to the burning town. 'Wasn't there someone…? No can't think about that.'

"You could have started it normally." Brit charged in.

Druid nodded her head in agreement. "I could have. Sure. Even dreamed of it. Absolutely. But I wasn't the only one. That place was hell on earth. But I didn't." As expected, Brit looked skeptical. And Druid sighed. 'Might as tell the truth even if she won't believe me anyway.' "You know as well as I that I wasn't the only one there."

Brit's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're not telling me Emma was the one…." She shook her head. "No, your lying."

"I wish I was. Besides, I don't care if you believe me or not. The results will still be the same. But Emma…" Druid closed her eyes. Maybe it would have been better if she had taken all the blame. But, no, Emma wouldn't like to see her sister like this so full of hate. "She would want you to know."

"Who gives you the right to speak for Emma." Brit fired back.

"Did you think it was a coincidence that the whole town went up in flames just when Emma found out that you were going to be sold?" Druid rushed in.

"I…"

Druid continued speaking. "She knew your time was limited. Maybe realizing everyone's time was limited, and it broke her." Of course, Druid was just speculating but seeing how kind Emma was, it made sense. "Believe me, people broke for less."

Brit looked conflicted. "I don't know."

Druid got up again and turned his back. "You don't have to like me. But I'm going to give you something that you probably don't even want. I'm going allow you to walk away, and hopefully, we'll never see each other again." When Brit didn't move, Druid raised her voice. "Go now! Or Bryson would be more than happy to fulfil your wish."

Brit's hands moved to her neck and swiftly got up to her feet, but before she could leave, Statson spoke up. "Wait." The young woman stopped. "Did Marty-girl know about this?"

"No, she would never…."

Statson stared at Brit for a moment. "I thought not. Okay, you can leave."

As Brit disappeared around the corner. Druid just stared off into the distance. Then, finally, Statson came up to her. "Ha, Fire Princess, are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, just thinking…."

"About…?"

"How I could have stopped it that night, my foresight warned me." Druid paused; a feeling of guilt overwhelmed her. "At the time, I didn't know it was real or not. However, I wished it was true. I just wanted everything to burn to the ground. But, unfortunately, when I found out who was responsible, it was already too late." Druid looked up at Statson. "I wasn't the one who started the fire, but..." She choked up.

"Ha Lumeye or not, you were a kid. In a situation where ȧduŀts would have wet their pants." Statson consoled. "So I'll tell you what an old war old buddy told me. Sometimes just surviving is good enough." When Druid didn't respond. "You hear me?"

Druid jumped, startled. "Yes, yes, I hear you."

Statson nodded, satisfied. "Good, now repeat it until it's ingrained into your entire being."

Bryson came over, looking concerned. "Druid, I…"

Druid smiled at Bryson as she interrupted. "Just being here is enough."

She was lost in his ice-blue eyes…until Statson voice intruded into their little world. "Ha, guys. How are we getting out of here without a guide?"

"Oh," Druid said.

"Maybe I could help." A voice came out of nowhere.

Everyone turned around to find a man stepping out from hiding. Statson spoke up with bewilderment. "Tat-man, why are you here?"

Jared Crane kept his hands held high, "But you'll need to do me a favour first."

Compound: Headmistress's Office

Headmistress Maria Weatherly was drumming her fingers on her desk when a teacher stormed into her office. Maria got up, angry. "Who are you to…."

"I'm sorry, Headmistress, it's an emergency." The teacher stated quickly. "The Nomads wants safe entry into the Compound."

Maria seethed but discided to let it slide. "The Nomads? Why come here?"

"They said that there was something wrong in the Wasteland… they said that they have our people with them. People from the Trail."

One second turned into two before Maria simply said, "What?"

Ruined City

Lilia moved like a bat out of hell. With her fingertips glowing, she sliced through a weak point in the nest. Jus as the Protector tried to stab her with its beak, once again. "Damn." Lilia cursed. Coughing up a mouthful of, she didn't even want to think about it. Lilia needed to get out. The sooner, the better. Because if the Vulture didn't get her, being buried alive certainly would.

What to do, what to do. Lilia's eyes moved from one thing to the next. Then, finally, her gaze landing on her fingers, she could cut herself out, but she had enough experience to know that the nest was way too fragile. Plus, she had no sense of direction down there. But…glancing back to find the Protector still trying to find her and tearing up the nest doing so.

"Smart little…" Lilia mumbled. She had moved her legs quickly, as they almost got snagged. "Okay, not so little." But it does give her an idea. A very dumb idea. If the Vulture wanted to fish her out, why not let it.

So she waited, waited until swooped down again. Then with desperate pushed, Lilia jumped on its beak, and before it realized she was there, she climbed up its head. Slung on the Protectors and finally landed on the bird's feathered back. All that while praying that the humongous Vulture wouldn't take off and fly. Using her claws to control her slide.

As soon as Lilia landed on the hopefully solid ground. She had a glimpse that her claws didn't even raffle the Predator's feathers. Before the bird went after her once again.

This can't last forever. I needed to get out, but Protector blocked her path at every turn. She kept weaving and ducking like from getting crushed. And the shockwaves were almost unbearable. But at least she could move.

'Spoke too soon.'

Suddenly she got slapped away with one wing, and she landed in a cavity of a broken building. A second or two passed before Lilia ġrȯȧnėd out as she got on her hands and knees. When there was that gray fox right in her face.

Startled, Lilia scrambled back. "What." Lilia didn't even hear it; she looked, no her coming. Usually, animals in any shape and form was an open book to Lilia. Even more so than people. But this little fox was different. Reaching out with her hand. "You almost feel like…."

But before Lilia's hand touched her fur, everything stilled, and then Lilia was shoved into a dream-like state. The fox just sat there staring. "Child, you're doing it all wrong." The voice was female, but it didn't seem to be the fox's voice. Instead, the voice echoed like it was coming from somewhere far away.

Lilia couldn't think. "What?"

"The Protector child, you can't fight against a Protector."

Lilia rolled her shoulders and trying to relax. Okay, this was weird, but there was no fixing that. So she decided to respond as if it was any other situation. "I know that. All I want to do is to get away."

"No, at this point, getting away is impossible." The fox shook her head. "What you have is already enough."

Lilia was confused. "Enough? What do I have?"

"Oh, child. To not know that much…the Protectors are the creations of the Wastelands. And what is the Wastelands' number one rule."

"The Wasteland's sings," Lilia whispered. "So you're saying…."

"Exactly the way out is to sing." The fox looked satisfied. "Sing like you're life depended on it.. Believe me, child, because it does."