2 **Coming into Focus

The surgeons worked tirelessly to fix as many of Wren's external injuries as possible while keeping her stabilized. Something happened just before Wren awoke that was still causing concern for the nurses; she had died, in a total of around 10 minutes. No one could read her vitals, she had no pulse, and she wasn't breathing. Everyone was stunned into silence when she suddenly gasped for air and sat up in bed. No one could believe that she was alive, they had even noted her time of death to report to the attending doctor.

The previous surgeries she received, were focused more on the internal organs that were punctured during the attack due to that being the most severe. Many things were completed with efforts to extend her life. Now the surgeries are going to fix the remaining injuries that had only been fixed up with simple wound care until she was stable.

In the other room, the staff also worked hard to stop Michael's convulsions and get him stabilized as well. "We have a lot going on this time don't we Doctor?" A young male nurse looked over to the surgeon, who nodded. "Get back to work James, we have a long night ahead of us." "Yes Ma'am!" He said as he sped off towards the supply room for more equipment. While the pair were both unconscious, more and more individuals came into the emergency department with similar, but less severe injuries and reactions. The hospital was always busiest when there was a new moon.

*Wren opened her eyes and saw a bleak grey-tinted world in front of her. She could hear how labored her breath was from her trying to escape its grasp. She tried to quiet herself as much as she could, daring not to move a single inch. The only sounds in the forest were her breathing and the faint noise of the snow falling to the forest floor. Her now slower breath caused a white fog every time she breathed out. Her lungs and chest burned from the strain of climbing up and through the different trees and boulders. She looked down at her hands and noticed they were bleeding; as well as her arms. She cursed in her head knowing that would make her too easy to track. She slowed her breathing further and her heart further all the while making her aura almost undetectable. There was a snapping sound of a twig in the distance, followed by the rusting and flapping sound of birds flying away. She remained calm and slowly closed her eyes in an attempt to Reach Out and visualize where it was in relation to her hiding spot. As she focused there was suddenly an enormous presence right under her and it came from nowhere. She was quick but her reflexes were still too slow causing him to clamp down hard on her leg*

"Aaaaahh!" Wren screamed loudly and sat up straight in her hospital bed. Her breathing was out of control and her head was spinning; she winced due to the pain in her torso and instinctively put a hand on her wounds. Naya came rushing through the door to get to her side. "Wren please calm down. You're safe, you're here at the hospital. You went unconscious again, we stabilized you and prepped you for surgery. Well, we stitched you up already. So, If you don't calm down you'll open your dressings." Wren slowly took in her surrounding, tried to slow her breathing, then looked down at her legs; they were almost completely wrapped in medical dressings. Her torso and arms were also more bandages than anything.

Wren nodded her head, "I'm sorry Naya. I-I had a dream I think? Or a flashback; foreshadow? I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure it's why I ended up in the hospital or why I'll be in a hospital at some point. It was similar to his first attack, but..." Naya's eyes went wide in surprise and she moved closer to Wren's ear. She looked around the room and out the window to make sure no one was around to hear her. "Wren, do you know who it was that did this to you?" Naya looked over once again to make sure no one would be entering the room. "Yes, and your family isn't going to like the truth...Something happened at the Shrine."

"So he is back then?" Wren nodded in response. Naya fell back into the waiting chair and began breathing heavily. "If-if he's back, wh-what happened to The Watchers? S-Sam was one of them? Oh my gosh, Sam! SAM-" *SLAP!* "How come I have to keep slapping people? Pull yourself together! Don't make me slap you again Naya." Wren laid back down on her bed as Naya caressed her now red cheek and slowly got her breathing under control.

"This is why I said your family wouldn't be happy. Sam's strength is second to none. I don't think even he could be taken down that easily. I will have someone go investigate the Shrine once we are back at the temple. Just keep your head on and it will be okay, okay?" Naya weakly nodded her head. Wren nodded in response and looked around the room. "Hey, where is Michael? Did you send him away to get food or something? Normally he would be here by my side bugging me about how I shouldn't wander off and...stuff."

Naya shook her head and collected her thoughts before speaking. "Michael is actually in the room with the surgeon still. He collapsed after we took you out of the room. The doctor took him in and saw he had some minor damage to his internal organs and a possible fracture. Seems like he was in a fight or took a good fall. Apparently, his body couldn't take the strain and he collapsed as a result. His levels were reading strange, I think maybe he was poisoned or had some sort of allergic-type reaction, normally his energy is more balanced. Also, being your guard and all, he's constantly worried about you. That's probably another cause. All that constant exposure to different spirits during the mi-" Wren put a hand to Naya's mouth.

"Keep it down Naya. You should know better, just looking around with your eyes isn't sufficient. What have Mav and Sir Shoyo been teaching you? How to let our secrets out?" Wren removed her hand away from Naya's mouth. "I'm sorry Wren. I just-I've been so on edge since you came in. You had a super high fever, all these wounds, you even DIED for a while, then you were back then gone again and-" "Wait! Did you just say I died, more than once? Shit, I was hoping it was just part of my dream..."

Naya nodded her head, "Yes, one was just before you slapped Michael. The other one was the longest, we couldn't get any of your vitals for almost 20 minutes, even though you would occasionally talk to us. We could see that you were breathing but we couldn't get your pulse, or heart rate, hell we couldn't even get an IV in you to help with your dehydration." Wren sighed deeply. "This isn't good Naya. This is probably the worst accumulation of something to happen. New moon, he comes back, I die, *sigh*...We need to get Michael and get out of here. It's not safe for them or us. We need to handle this within the Temple, not here in the hospital."

Naya looked over and saw the determination in Wren's clear green eyes. She knew she had to be strong. After all, her friend is here in the hospital bed after a vicious attack, determined to get answers, all the while Naya was shaking, terrified of what comes next. "Okay, Wren. We will get you and Michael fixed up and get to the Temple. Hey, what does dying have to do with anything? It's sort of common for people to die and come back to life after a short time, well nowadays it is." Naya couldn't figure out why this was an issue.

"Naya, I was on a Shadow Mission. You know what that means right? I'm one of the very limited numbers of Shadow Unit members..." Naya nodded, Wren looked to the door to make sure no one would come into the room. She then lowered her voice to a whisper, "It means I already have energy levels high enough to accurately track and control other ghosts, ghouls, spirits, and other related figures. Me dying takes that over the edge. Now my spiritual energy and the nature energy around us will become more in sync. My current powers are increased anytime I die and am brought back to life. Passing through the Realm...*sigh* This could cause different disturbances and potentially draw The Great Animal Spirits to me and the temple, and cause more damage. Geez, just imagine if I wasn't so aware of my spiritual energy and couldn't control it as well."

Naya was becoming increasingly nervous as Wren continued talking, "So-So you mean, you could potentially become like Akira of the North? Causing huge spiritual storms, natural disasters, death, and destruction?" Wren rolled her eyes, "Don't be so dramatic Naya, Akira didn't have anywhere near the control I have, but essentially yes. I could also be possessed more easily by ghosts and demons trying to cross over into our world if I am not careful. Well, not so much possessed, more like a temporary host. Being more in-tune and away from The Realm, makes me more...visible, to them." The hospital room was dead quiet, faint sounds from outside could be heard but only the breathing of the two individuals could be heard within the small room. "We need to get to The Elders and fast. I'll heal fully along the way. To find out Michael's condition and report back to me." Naya immediately nodded and did as she was told.