Tribal

29

Clover was walking through the crystal caverns when Reed walked up next to her.

"Sweetheart?" he asked.

"What is it, love?" Clover looked down at him.

"I know it was great to see Acacia again but do you really believe her story? I mean, seriously, evil sorcerer? It's absurd!" he said.

"I... I don't care if it's real or not. Acacia didn't attack us, and she acted like she used to. I've lost Ash, I thought I lost Acacia too. The three of us have been like siblings since we were born. To have her back is... I need this." Clover looked down at her feet as she talked.

"I understand," Reed said.

He stood next to her and gave her a tight hug.

"I don't entirely trust her yet, but I will not take this from you," Reed looked up at her as he spoke.

"Thank you, love. Now, let's keep going," Clover said.

The group continued their walk through the glistening cavern. They soon arrived at their destination: the elevator into Dirtmouth. They began their descent. As the elevator went down, Clover got an unnerving feeling. The elevator reached the bottom with a soft jolt. The five of them stepped off and began their walk through Dirtmouth's graveyard, a somber place. It wasn't anything fancy, but it had a strangely comforting feeling to it, as if the spirits of the dearly departed were still here to comfort their loved ones. The group continued their walk until they reached the well. They were almost in Dirtmouth when a familiar scimitar flew out of the well.

"Look what we have here," Ash's voice echoed from the well.

He leaped from the well's dark chasm and landed in front of the group. Daisy flew out behind him and landed behind him. The group could hear soldiers making their way up the well. They were cornered.

"Ash, why?" Clover pleaded.

"Because you are traitors who do not deserve to spawn offspring or continue your pitiful existence," he said coldly.

Soldiers began exiting the well. Ash called to them.

"Make your way to the Crystal Peaks! We shall deal with them," he said.

The soldiers turned from the impending confrontation and began heading for the cliff to the peaks. The Hive soldiers flew, and the Mantis Tribe soldiers began swiftly climbing the cliff face.

"This isn't you, Ash! It's something else!" Clover screamed.

"You know nothing, Clover. This is who I am. You've just been too blind to see it. I do not take kindly to those who desert the tribe in its time of need," he never broke eye contact with her.

"No! I refuse to believe this!" Clover was trying her hardest to deny what Ash was saying.

Without a word, Reed launched himself into Ash's abdomen, throwing him backwards into Dirtmouth's square. Daisy responded by thrusting her rapier towards Reed, which was blocked by Stan's invulnerable shell.

"I've got your back, Reed! Let's handle these assholes once and for all!" Stan shouted.

Reed made his way to Ash, while Haley and Stan stood next to each other trying to fend off Daisy. Markus stood back with Clover; the two began trying to sneak around the combat.

"You foolish pillbugs! Can't you see what they are doing?" Daisy questioned.

"It doesn't matter. You are trying to kill us and our children. You will yield or die," Stan replied emotionlessly.

"Very well. En garde!" Daisy flew towards the couple, rapier drawn.

She kept trying to get to Haley, who was surprisingly fast for being a pillbug. Daisy continuously tried delivering blow after blow to Stan's shell, but nothing could get through. Meanwhile, Haley kept hitting Daisy in her sides. Eventually, Daisy could barely take it anymore, and Stan delivered a powerful smash to Daisy's side, sending her flying into a nearby house just a few feet away from where Reed was dueling with Ash.