Chapter 18

The officer looked at Mia and asked her who her parents were. Mia showed him photo's of them and the documents that she had with her. "Wait your uncle is Mike? The captain from the clover base?" the policeman asked.

"Yes, my parents are John and Zara Lazare. I am their daughter," Mia said. "Lazare, I haven't heard that name in years," the man said. "Mom said to never use it unless there is no other way, but I don't know what to do anymore," Mia replied.

The police officer checked on the system and replied, "well you're on the system but it seems your parents have not been reported as missing. Tell me why did you wait until now to report the case?" the police officer asked.

"I wasn't sure what to do. They told me I needed to find my uncle and he would know what to do but the organization and my uncle Zack is a part of might be responsible for their kidnapping. My uncle Mikes organisation doesn't see me as John and Zara's daughter and my father's brother well he wants nothing to do with me. My parents said they would know what to do," Mia said.

"Those are three people that should have known this needed to be reported as soon as possible, but I can understand why they didn't report it," the police officer said. "What do you mean?" Mia asked. "Well the world can be dangerous if you do not know how to handle it but even then it's dangerous," the police officer said.

Mia was asked many questions and soon it was confirmed that John and Zara Lizare has been kidnapped by Mia's uncle Zack. An investigator came to get Mia in order to ask her even more questions. She did her best to answer them and they asked her, "what are you planning on doing now?" Mia looked around and back at the inspector.

"I will have to stay close to my uncle Mike. If dad ever gets free this is the first place he will look but it's not going to be easy since I am not allowed onto the base," Mia siad. "I might have a solution for you," the man siad. "What do you mean?" Mia asked. "Well, how skilled are you in the forest?" the police officer asked.

"I grew up outdoors and dad also trained me to use my powers outside. I haven't quite mastered it inside," Mia siad. "Well then I might just have the job for you," the policeman said.

"How about an elemental ranger?" the police officer asked. "What is an elemental ranger?" Mia asked. "They are rangers with powers that patrol the nature reserve. Well, the best way to put it is. They protect the forest, from all kinds of dangers, like poachers," the police officer said.

"How is becoming an elemental ranger going to help me stay with my uncle?" Mia asked. "Well Mia, being an elemental ranger means you will have a licence and permission to stay on the base," the policeman said.

Mia's eyes grew wide and asked, "how much does it cost?" Mia asked. "Well I do not know if it costs anything to join but I do know that they are in the area looking for stronger elemental users. Having had your father as a teacher I suspect they might give you a chance," the policeman siad.

Mia followed the policeman's instructions and nervously found herself standing across the street from the ranger recruit centre. She crossed the road and slowly opened the door. A woman who was had grey hair and a wrinkly face came to her and asked, "are you, Mia?" Mia looked at the lady and said, "yes, but how did you know?" Mia asked.

The man from the police office phoned just now and told me to expect you," the woman siad. "Did he explains why he send me here?" Mia asked. "Yes, I am sorry to hear about your parents and yes we can help you with a legal licence so that you can remain close to your uncle," the woman siad.

"Thank you but what will it cost?" Mia asked. "Well come with me to my office and we can talk about it. I understand your father, trained you to use your powers in the forest?" the woman siad.

"Yes, he made sure I can handle any situation exept indoors. I have a problem with the sirens and alarms. I have sensitive hearing," Mia siad.

"A that would make sense but it's also an advantage in the forest. Well, to start off I am Mary-Anne most calls me Mary for short. We will be giving you a test to see how good you are and then we decided what training you still need. Then we determine what the training will cost. Would you like to give it a try?" Mary said.

"Yes please," Mia said and so she booked a day and a time to take her test. Mia started to train again but this time she was on her own.

The days passed faster than Mia ever imagined and soon it was time for her to take her test. Mia walked nervously to the test. She stopped and looked at the road that led to the clover base. Mia arrived at an open field and was surprised to see how many people came to take the test.

"In today's test you must prove that you are not only fit but you need to have the ability to think on your feet and having survival skills is a must. How you pass today's test will not only determine how you are trained but where you will be working," Mary said over a loudspeaker.

Mia closed her eyes and tried to remember the last time she and her parents trained together. The last night they spend looking at the stars together as a family.

"The rules are as follow, you need to take a map, a survival kit, a radio and a GPS locator. Stay on the roads that are clearly marked on the map. There are five locations on the map. Every location has a stamp that is hidden. Find it used it to mark the location on the map. If you hear the siren after five hours and you haven't found any stamps you will have to take the test again," Marry siad.

The bell sounded and everyone was given their gear as they left the field. Mia however looked at the map first and then at the mountains. As she looked at the map and at the mountains she realised there was a stamp close to her location. She found an old hiking trail and followed it down to a small hidden pond. With her vision, she spotted the stamp on the other side of the pond but soon realised there was a problem.

Mia climbed to a higher rock and looked down onto the water. The edge of the water was light brown but the centre is black. Mia realised the water was really deep in the centre. She looked around for a way to savely cross the pond. Normal people would use ice to walk over but that would harm the forest as some plants and creatures can not handle frost or snow.

Mia thought about swimming across but soon crossed that image of her mind when she remembered the dangers of swimming in dark waters. Suddenly Mia knew exactly what to do. She closed her eyes and focused on combining wind-water into ice she used the earth as pillars and with the wind as the support she slowly made her way across.

She used the stamp on the location and made her way back across the pond and reversed the road she had build. After making sure there was no damage done to the area she moved on to her next clue.

she followed the path that traveld along the river back and found her next task looking for a hidden cave. Mia found the area the map said the cave was hidden in and closed her eyes. She focused on the sounds around her and soon heard the unmistakable sound of a small eco. Looking up she realised she was looking for a cave hidden behind a waterfall.

Mia found the waterfall and the seal hidden behind the waterfall. She stamped the map and returned to the road. Following the road, it soon leads her through a mountain pass. She started to get worried when the road seems to have disappeared. Looking at the map she soon realised this required her to climb to the top of the mountain. Mia looked for a safe way to get to the top and found some hidden stairs that she could use to get to the top.

This seal was really easy to get and stamped the third location on the map. Back on the road Mia moved to her second location but stoped when she noticed most of the people taking the test was stuck on this test.