Xyleth, Zairon, and Gorgon: Battle of the Titans

Chapter 4: The Libelula Tribe

As they entered the millennia-old structure, the temple walls are filled with various cave paintings of ancient battles with enormous creatures. The four were astonished by the numerous murals and they photographed the magnificent engravings. As they followed the tribespeople, they were forced into entering a huge room in the temple. They sat in the center wondering as to what the tribe will do to them. They noticed the tribe elders seated on one side, silently conversing with one another. Jim looked up and saw the 'mystery woman' who he met earlier. She climbed up the altar, placed her hand on a wall behind her as the entire temple shifted color from brown to emerald-green. She then telepathically conversed with the 'visitors'. "Where did you come from, how did you get past our borders?", she asked. The four of them stared at each other in bewilderment, "Let me do all the talking okay?", Dr. Maxwell said. "What borders?", he asked her. "We didn't know you had any borders so we should've asked permission before we set foot in here.", he continued. "You should've", she said, "Our tribe was forced into hiding when your group set foot into our fields. We barely left our temple in fear of getting caught.", she continued. Then Dr. Maxwell asked, "Caught by what?", "Your people! They've injured our gatherers as they venture outside.", the girl disputed. Disappointed, Dr. Maxwell sat down. "Our people were injured by people like you, how do you think can our God protect you now from the danger you face?", she protested. "Your God?", Jim asked. "The God of the Libelula tribe has guided us for millennia, he promotes balance in nature and we put our utmost trust in him. But after a ferocious battle with the 'monster of the north wind', we were all hid underground as an egg was left behind by our divine deity after he was defeated. We were forced into hiding. The surface world wasn't ours anymore." Realizing their mistake, Dr. Maxwell apologized, "We're sorry, we didn't mean to cause such a burden onto your tribesmen, we come in peace." Then the village elders started conversing with one another, "What does the egg proclaim?", their chief, Mirak, asked. "He has remained silent, no proclamation is stated.", the young girl answered. "As for you," she pointed to Jim, "You will all stay here as the committee decides on what to do with you." There was silence, no one uttered a word when suddenly, two armed guards forced the four of them into a cave. The young woman appeared by the entrance and said, "You must stay here, to not overhear us conversing with our deity."

Martha angrily flung her bag at the cave wall, "Ugh! great, we're stuck here forever." The three of them started arguing. Jim intervened, "Alright, the three of you calm down, whatever they have planned for us most likely doesn't involve violence." Martha looked up, "Doesn't involve violence?! Look around you Jim, what do you see?", she anxiously said. Jim looked around he saw numerous skulls placed on the "shelves" around them. "Maybe they'll use us as a sacrifice to their 'God'.", Dr. Maxwell proposed. This made Nick nervous, "I don't wanna end up as an offering.", he said, anxiously. "I don't think they want to kill us.", Jim said, "I think they just want to promote peace, that's all." The others nodded, "Highly plausible if you ask me.", Dr. Maxwell said. Then the woman returned, accompanied by two guards, the guards forced the four of them out of the cave. Afterward, they followed the woman towards the temple, she entered a cave, inside was a large underground lake housing a massive egg. She telepathically ordered everyone to wait outside the cavern, she placed her hands on it as the egg glowed, emitting an aquamarine hue. The glow can be seen from outside the cave and illuminated the entire temple. The four of them stared in awe as the vivid rays of light brighten their surroundings. Then she exited the chamber and telepathically conversed with the four of them, "Our deity proclaimed that you are not enemies, but allies, allies who we can depend on in the midst of the chaotic future we all face. A big battle involving the four protectors will commence, and those who dare challenge them will become engulfed in an explosion of flames and ice and disappear.

I sense that you are searching for a monster, the monster of the North Wind, Xyleth.", she telepathically said. "Do you know where we can find it?", Dr. Maxwell asked. The girl answered, "We know where Xyleth lives, she engaged in a battle with our guardian deity millennia ago. Xyleth triumphed against our God, but before she defeated him, he trapped her in a glacial tomb of snow and ice, now she remained silent for a while but as time went by, the Earth is getting warmer and the ice is melting aiding in Xyleth's release. Then the tribespeople escorted them into a huge cavern filled with primitive-looking wooden tables and seats. "This is a dining room?", Dr. Maxwell asked, "Yes it is lovely isn't it?", the girl spoke via telepathy, "You are all famished, you must replenish yourselves.", the young woman continued. Doing what she told them to, they gratefully ate lunch in the dining area. "This tastes good.", Nick remarked, "What is this?", he asked. "This is meat harvested from the 'Blue-tailed sturgeon', a rare delicacy among our tribe.", the tribe's chief sent a telepathic message. "It tastes good.", Jim and Martha remarked as the chief nodded. After they finished eating, they gave them a tour of their underground civilization. "Amazing.", Dr. Maxwell remarked, "The walls are etched with various cave paintings of giant insects. Looking at them more closely, they resemble dragonflies.", he continued. Then Martha saw the young girl exit a cave. She decided to break off from the group and explored on her own. "Nothing bad will happen if I do this.", she whispered to herself. Then she dashed towards the cavern, since there are no guards on patrol, she used this opportunity to take a look at what the tribe is worshipping. She entered the cave and was mesmerized by a bright glow originating from deep inside. She followed a trail of bioluminescent algae and was astonished by what she saw, a massive underground lake, and a giant egg, almost fully submerged in the deep pool. She approached it and reached out. But before she touched it she heard a voice call out, "This is the resting place of the Libelula tribe's God. You must ask permission upon entering.", the young girl sent a psychic message as a couple of guards seized Martha. She was forced out of the cave. "We found her in the cavern of our God.", the girl telepathically spoke, the tribespeople gasped. "You have greatly violated our laws and thus, we must escort you out of our temple. You may leave now if you desire, but our tribe will do whatever we can to stop this battle from happening.", she continued. Then doing as she told, Dr. Maxwell and the others left. As they started leaving the temple, the young woman caught up to Jim and grabbed onto him, but upon seeing Martha she lets go and backs off. "Alright, if we hurry, we'll get to the base much faster." Dr. Maxwell said, then the girl spoke, "I'll go.", they were shocked, "I join you, we work together.", she said. "You can understand and speak English?", Dr. Maxwell asked, the girl nodded. Then after being accompanied by two guards and the tribe's chief which is her grandfather, she joined the four of them in their journey towards the base. As they were walking, Dr. Maxwell took out his phone to track where they're going, as he did the young girl stared in awe and wonder since she hasn't seen such advanced technology before. "You like what you're seeing huh?", Dr. Maxwell asked, the girl nodded. "You know it's much easier if you have names, that way we can easily identify who you are.", he said. The girl looked at her guards, they nodded, then she hesitantly said, "Lara", she introduced. "I am Mirak, the Libelula Tribe chief.", her grandfather introduced. "Oh so those are your names," Dr. Maxwell said, "Well it's very nice to meet you two, and we really want to declare peace among our races.", he continued. The two of them nodded, "As long as Libelula God is safe, we be allies.", Lara said. Dr. Maxwell was mesmerized due to the tribe's ability to understand and comprehend certain languages. After they spotted their jeep a short distance away, they bid farewell, "It's okay, we can make it from here.", Lara was disappointed since she has to see Jim go again. Unable to wait for his return she took matters into her own hands and said, "Me, want to join you on a trip." This surprised the tribespeople, Lara reminded Mirak that she'll come back soon. He agreed and hesitantly lets his granddaughter guide their allies on their task to save the planet from Xyleth's upcoming wrath.