Chapter 163: Dangerous situation
The devastated farmers approached Garnt with tears streaming down their faces. The head of the family, an elderly man with weathered features, fell to his knees in front of Garnt and the other family members looked like they were on the verge of breaking down, after all, seeing all their hard work going down the drain was the most painful thing for them.
"Patriarch, please have mercy on us! Our crops are ruined, and our livelihoods are destroyed. We don't know how we'll survive this tragedy," he pleaded, his voice choked with desperation. "My family! My grandchildren will starve like this,"
Garnt, displaying compassion, helped the man up. "Don't worry, old man. We will do everything in our power to aid you. Kara, ensure these people are taken care of in the main village. Provide them with food and shelter until their situation improves."
Kara nodded and ushered the distressed family away, promising assistance, but before they could leave Garnt had one question that he wanted to ask from the family. "Did you see what happened here?"
The elderly farmer wiped away his tears and nodded, his voice shaky as he began to recount the nightmarish events.
"It was like the sunlight disappeared all of a sudden, Patriarch. A cloud of darkness descended upon our fields, devouring everything in their path. The sky turned dark with their sheer numbers, and the buzzing was deafening. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare," he said, his eyes reflecting the trauma of the experience.
Garnt furrowed his brow, listening intently and It was all the confirmation Eva needed to confirm her suspicion.
Garnt then turned his attention to the barren fields, determination etched on his face. He retrieved a rubber looking glove from his pocket and adorned it around his hand blocking all the possible danger that could inflict upon him.
Others also did the same, as they knew gloves were rather effective when they needed to keep their hands clean. It was another creation of Garnt that made their life much more easier, so all of them had to feel grateful to Garnt.
Eva, always the knowledgeable person among the warriors decided to advise Garnt before he entered the field.
[Garnt, this is no ordinary disaster. It's a locust plague, a blight that engulfs everything in its path. The crops are devoured, and if not stopped, it will spread further, threatening our entire land, simply because they lay eggs once they are well fed.]
Garnt furrowed his brow, absorbing the gravity of the situation. "How do we combat this plague, Eva?"
Eva explained about the steps and methods they could possibly start to eliminate this threat before it threaten more of the valuable food.
[The locusts are drawn to the green. We need to purify the affected areas and eliminate the source they all left. Be cautious, though, for these creatures are relentless. I heard that this black liquid is their droppings. We could burn down all these places and use net like structures to protect the crops. We can make some insecticides to kill these things, but it will take time.]
Garnt nodded in understanding. "Let's get to work, then. We must save our people from this menace." With that, he entered the desolate field, the glove around his hand carefully picking up the remaining parts of the crops to see how damaged they were.
As he moved through the ruined farms, Eva guided him, identifying the most affected areas. The locusts swarmed menacingly, but Garnt, fueled by determination and responsibility, pressed forward.
"Kara, take them out since we are going to burn this place. They don't need to see that," Garnt knew it would be heartbreaking for anyone to see the land they developed burning, but Garnt knew it was necessary. All the farms that are affected will have to be burned, and he wasn't going to leave anything just because of pity and increase the problems.
The days turned into nights, and the village, under Garnt's leadership, worked tirelessly to combat the locust threat. The affected fields were systematically burned, sending plumes of smoke into the sky, a sacrifice made to safeguard the remaining crops. The air was thick with tension as the villagers toiled, driven by a shared determination to overcome the menace.
Garnt and most of the workers, wearing their rubber gloves like a shield against the black liquid that marked the locust invasion, coordinated the efforts. "We need to act fast. The longer we wait, the more damage they'll cause. Eva, any updates on our progress?"
Eva, diligently studying the situation, replied knowing without her help none of these things would be possible,
[The burned fields are clear now, but we must reinforce the protections on the untouched farms. The traps are in place, and we've begun spraying the insecticide. We're doing all we can to contain them. We also send the message to the other sub-villages about how they should act.]
As the village fought against the relentless onslaught, the remaining farmers supported each other. Gundo, leading the efforts to provide temporary shelter for those affected, worked tirelessly to ensure their basic needs were met. Being the most important non-combatant in the village, she had the full authority to freely control the resources of the village.
The main village became a sanctuary for the displaced, a place where hope and resilience clung to the air despite the looming threat.
Days turned into weeks, and the battle raged on. The villagers, united in purpose, pressed forward with their plan to protect their livelihoods. Nets were stretched across the fields, creating a protective barrier against the locusts. The once vibrant landscape now bore the scars of the plague, but in the midst of adversity, Garnt's village stood resilient.
Sadly, it wasn't just the crops that were affected by these insects; the entire forest began to appear lifeless due to the extensive damage inflicted by these pests on the environment.
One day, as Garnt inspected the progress on the outskirts of the village, he witnessed a dark cloud in the distance. The buzzing sound intensified, sending shivers down his spine. "Is this it?" he muttered to himself. It was a horrific thing to look at, and the smell that came out of this swarm was nothing pleasant.
Kara, standing by his side, nodded grimly. "It's an incoming swarm. Get ready, Garnt."
The villagers, alerted by the impending threat, gathered their makeshift torches. Garnt, wearing his protective glove, took a deep breath, steeling himself for the battle ahead. The swarm descended upon the village like a shadow, and chaos ensued.
"We need to protect the crops at all costs! Drive them away!" Garnt shouted, rallying the villagers. "Wave your torches and burn these insects."
The air filled with the sounds of battle as the villagers fought fiercely against the locust onslaught. Nets were raised, insecticide sprayed, and makeshift barriers erected. Garnt, in the midst of the chaos, led the charge, his determination unwavering.
"We have to stand strong! Protect our home!" Garnt urged, rallying the spirits.
As the swarm approached, Garnt and the villagers swung their torches in a synchronized dance of defiance. The crackling flames drove the locusts back, creating a temporary reprieve.
But the swarm persisted, a relentless force of nature. Nets were thrown over the crops, attempting to shield them from the hungry invaders.
"We need more fire!" Kara called out, her eyes scanning the chaos.
Just then, Gundo emerged from the shadows with a cart loaded with firewood. "Light these! We'll create a wall of fire!"
Garnt nodded, determination in his eyes. The villagers set the wood ablaze, creating a barrier of flames. The locusts recoiled, hissing as they met their fiery demise.
"We're holding them off, but we can't let our guard down!" Garnt warned, sweat streaming down his face.
The battle continued, a dance of fire and determination. Villagers fought side by side, their makeshift torches flickering like beacons of hope against the encroaching darkness.
"We can do this! For our village!" Garnt shouted, the rallying cry echoing through the night.
The villagers, fueled by a collective spirit, pressed on. The locusts, faced with unwavering resistance, began to retreat. The air, once thick with despair, now held a glimmer of triumph.
"We did it!" Kara exclaimed, a triumphant smile breaking through the exhaustion.
Garnt surveyed the scorched battleground, a mix of relief and pride in his eyes. It was a fierce struggle, but the villagers, fueled by their shared resolve, managed to drive the locusts away. The remaining crops, though battered, stood defiant against the onslaught. Garnt surveyed the battlefield, a mix of relief and weariness in his eyes.
"Yes Kara, we did it," he said, his voice filled with pride. "But we must remain vigilant. This threat isn't over yet."
The village, scarred but undefeated, continued its battle against the locust plague. Garnt, now more than ever, understood the fragility of their way of life and the importance of unity in the face of adversity. The battle against the locusts became a testament to the resilience of Garnt's village, a story whispered in the winds of determination and survival.