Chapter 107: This isn’t the time to sit and do nothing

Kanan rushed to the door and wasted no time swinging it open. There was a messenger, one who was breathing heavily, had sweat glistening on his forehead, and looked extremely distraught.

"What? What is it?" Kanan knew that something bad must have happened. No messenger would knock on his door that crazily while shouting at the top of their lungs for him.

So either someone had died, or something extremely important happened.

"It’s the rescue team; they’ve been wiped out! Only one survived; she’s in the healing hut!"

Kanan left right away, not even saying goodbye to his family. He rushed over to Yala’s healing hut, the people making a way for him as they assumed Kanan had important business to attend to, and entered the building.

"Kanan, you’ve arrived just in time." Solan’s face was grim. He had his fist balled up, squeezing so hard that his fingers were turning white.

He was the last one there, Kanan. Even Telah had arrived before he did, so this made asking questions a lot easier.

Yala was focusing on healing the woman, her face already telling Kanan that it would be extremely difficult to do so. On the surface, the woman didn’t look too injured, just bruised up here and there, but what Yala felt on the inside must be severe.

"What happened?" Kanan asked

"Before she passed out, she told us that the Typhon Tribe members did this to her and the whole team was wiped out."

All eyes turned to Telah as if she had an answer to this situation.

You could see the emotions of the Nemean tribesmen shifting in real time, wondering if they should start pointing fingers and blame Telah for the death of the rescue team and the missing expedition team.

Telah was uncomfortable, but also knew that she had the right to defend herself. She and all of the other Typhon Tribesmen had nothing to do with this, and she wasn’t about to let their names be slandered for no reason.

But before she could speak, Kanan raised his hand, stopping her from defending herself. He knew that if she said anything that even sounded incriminating, all fingers would point to her, and the last thing they needed was to be divided even more than they already were.

"What else did she say?" He asked

"She said that they were chasing her, and that they weren’t able to find the expedition team. After that, she passed out."

"Everything seems clear to me." Elder Lars grumbled. "The Typhon Tribe has betrayed us."

"What kind of conclusion is that?" Kanan knew that the Typhon Tribe wasn’t behind this, at least not the ones who were currently living with them.

"It is clear as day that Elvien pinpointed the perpetrators as the Typhon Tribe. What more do we need?"

"We shall take your tribe in for questioning, Telah." Elder Trena announced.

"My Tribe had nothing to do with this." Telah argued. "I don’t know why this woman is trying to point the blame at us, but we’re innocent."

"Telah is right, to some degree," Kanan interjected before things got heated.

"Explain." Chief Solan demanded.

Kanan couldn’t believe that everyone was forgetting a vital piece of information, the whole reason why they sent the rescue team in the first place.

"Are your brains only for show? The corpses, remember? The Verminus Plant can control dead bodies. The giant and the animals are prime examples. Also, Anuwat told us that they buried their dead before burning them. So, the people who did this are the dead Typhon Tribesmen who are being controlled by the Verminus Plant. So, what Elvien said isn’t entirely false."

"Hahahaha! I didn’t forget! I just wanted to know if these old geezers would remember!" Elder Nala laughed.

Lars lowered his head. His mind was so focused on losing people from his tribe that he went back to his old ways of pointing fingers. "I have made a mistake; I apologize, Elder Telah."

"Save your apology for after this threat has passed. Chief Solan, what is our next course of action?"

The chief was lost in thought for a few moments, analyzing the whole situation in his head. He wouldn’t risk any more of his people; the thought of them dying was something he couldn’t bear to live with.

"We will send another team. This time, I will lead this expedition."

The elders had to make sure their ears were working properly because it sounded like the Chief wanted to risk his own life.

"Chief! You can’t do that!" Elder Hal shouted. "You need to stay here and guide us during our turmoil!"

"No. I will not sit and do nothing while our people suffer. My daughter is already set to be the next chief, so if I die, then that is my fate. Kanan is also here, so the tribe will be in good hands."

There went Kanan’s chance at joining the new team.

"I will take a team consisting of some of our best warriors. While I’m away, Kanan, you’re in charge, and tell Omula that it is time for her to step up as the acting chief. If I do not return alive, then she will be the new chief. This is a code black. Put the village on lockdown."

"Chief, take some of my people as well. I will lend you some of my strongest warriors. They will help you in sensing the Verminus Plant." Telah hoped her offer wouldn’t be declined.

She was determined to prove her innocence through her actions. Though Kanan already did that for her, she wanted to extend a hand on her own.

"I will gladly accept it. We will depart tomorrow morning. Kanan, please consult Lord Nemean on what we should do next. I fear this threat may be more dangerous than we initially expected."

"No kidding. I’ll see what I can learn."

There were a few things that Kanan didn’t understand, however. Why was the Verminus Plant doing this? Where is the plant operating from? What was its end goal? And how can they defeat such a creature?

Kanan had already determined that the plant had some sort of extended consciousness, one that constantly evolved, unlike those blood-crazed monsters.

’I’ll find out what makes you tick, and when I do, I’ll burn you to a crisp.’