Journals of The Earth Guardians - Series 4 - Collective Edition

By L.C Webb

Well, I can honestly say that since the last journal entry, everything is not sunshine and rainbows. - Matt and the kids are missing. The team's missing. The Eden Hotel has been compromised. The Rebels want revenge on everyone, and not just the evil organisation called The Board. Alex is possibly dead. And Terrence just jumped out a window, tryi

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Knights Corner Publishing
• Release date: Aug 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9780645801170

Book preview

Chapter 1

Only Human

Journal entry by Terrence Connors

I really don’t know what I was thinking when I jumped out of the hospital window, but I have no plans on losing Lila. Not now. – Not ever. And yes, I know I don’t have my powers. But when Billy injected that healing tonic into Lila’s heart, and she came back angry and not at all herself, something took over me. Especially when I saw the ruby stone in Lila’s white-oak tree pendant glowing green, just like her tree-stone bracelet and just like her eyes.

It had to mean something, so I jumped out the window to catch them as Lila threw them to the ground and flew off. – And because I’m still human, jumping out of the sixth-floor window of a city hospital is not expected to end well for me.

Still rapidly approaching the ground, I was more focused on grabbing hold of the necklace and bracelet. Then when finally I caught them, I felt something change in me. The pendant’s green glow got brighter in my hand. So bright that I had to shield my eyes. Everything was happening so fast, and I braced myself to rapidly hit the ground beneath me when the trees and plants around me grew to create a net and slow my fall.

When the branches recoiled, I was sprung backwards and landed safely on the ground, surprisingly landing on Jake. – Matt’s teenage nephew. I opened my eyes, taking a breath of surprised amazement, still clutching Lila’s necklace and stone-bracelet in my hand as I shouted victoriously, YES! I’m back!

I can feel everything again, I can sense the trees and flowers, and the nature of Jake still on the ground, looking at me with a fairly panicked gaze at my odd behaviour. He stood to his feet and helped me to mine, screeching at me, Are you crazy?!

Come to think of it, I am crazy. – Crazy in love with my best friend. – And I’m going to get her back.

With determination I raced back up to Lila’s hospital room where Billy and William were waiting, and still in shock at what I’d just done. Jake followed me, mumbling and cursing, going on about how freaking awesome that was and asking me if I had a plan.

I kind of do and kind of don’t. But when I walked into Lila’s room, I almost lost my temper. Because my family, the ones who are to blame for all this, especially my idiot brother Keith. – The man who tormented Lila, and is responsible for her pain yet has no memory of it, is now standing in Lila’s hospital room, offering to help. – And he’s out of his freaking mind, if he ever expected me to trust him.

Odele was talking to Will and Billy, trying to explain what Katherine has planned for the stones, but not surprisingly Will already knew. And Billy seems to be too ticked off and frantically worried to listen, scrubbing his hands through his dark wavy hair, trying very hard not to freak out.

Izzy, my sweet yet slightly overbearing younger sister, who likes the luxury of being a Connors, but doesn’t like all the fighting and the almost dying part that comes with the name. – Be it us or the people we hunt. – She was panicked, and it was obvious because she can’t stop twirling the strands of her light brown hair around her fingers, and the moment I was in view, she raced to hug me with way too much strength for such a small person

In her tears, Izzy begged me to never jump out of a window like that ever again. But that was not the first or probably the last time I’d need to do that, so I made no promise to her. Only making her worry more.

Terry, Keith and I want to help you... please, Izzy sweetly begged.

I didn’t answer her, I was too focused on grabbing Lila’s journal before placing her stone-vine bracelet on next to mine and her necklace safely around my neck. I don’t know why, but something just feels right in me when I hold her necklace. Like my love for Lila is amplified and stronger with it on.

Damn it, I mumbled, picking up the almost empty bag of clothes that I had bought for Lila, and I felt a bit frustrated when I looked up at Billy and Will to explain, Lila forgot her shoes.

Seriously!!! – As if Lila cares about wearing shoes right now! – Come on, Terrence, her soul is on the line here, and so is the rest of her family, and all of our team that are out there somewhere. – Shoes are the last thing Lila needs. – FOCUS!!!!

While completely fixated on forming a plan, Keith grabbed my arm but his nature felt different this time. – It was filled with regret and sorrow. But he doesn’t even know why he should feel regret for what he’s done.

Please, Brother, let me help make this right. I’m sorry for whatever I did to her... I promise you, all I want to do is help.

I looked back at Will and Billy, hoping for advice because they knew what Keith had done. Now, Billy looks like he wants to rip him a new one. But Will, he looks scared, and he stared out the broken window, worried for his daughter.

Lila’s the strongest guardian we know, he stated. And while I’d rather watch Keith rot and die for what he did to my baby girl. We’re going to need all the help we can get.

Yeah. – I unfortunately think he’s right.

After hearing that, I took a regretful and painstakingly difficult sigh of agreement, nodding to my brother and sister, and then told them to follow us up onto the roof. In passing, I quickly apologised to George for the mess we’ve left him in, and to James for destroying the room and threatening the hospital staff. But they too seem more concerned about Lila, and told us to call them if we needed help.

I think now I understand why Lila trusted, and befriended them. – Even though they’re human and don’t quite understand our world, they care so much for Lila and our kind.

My rescue team now consists of Will, Billy, Izzy, Keith, and myself. But by the time we all got to the roof and stood on the helipad, I realised that I still have a tail on me. Jake has not left my side since he broke my fall, and he too is determined to help. – He became quite insistent, telling me that he can help, and that Lila is his aunty and his family and she trusts him with all of this. Then he demanded for me to let him help.

I really didn’t have time to argue with him, but I also don’t want him going off and doing something stupid without us, so I handed him Lila’s Journal and told him not to lose it. When he nodded, I grabbed hold of his arm then asked my sister for a little assistance while I called the surrounding leaves from the trees below toward us, creating a large enough platform to take all of them with me.

In my mind, I’m really freaking out because a platform this size will require all of my concentration, and I haven’t had that much practice without the assistance of Lila to guide me. So I felt secretly happy when we lifted off the ground and rose up, high above the newly arrived cloud cover, thanks to my sister.

While concentrating to keep us all in the air, I felt something strange in me. I felt Lila’s presence with me. It was like the tree pendant was linking me to Lila, and keeping me focused. – How? I have no idea. – But what I do know, is that I’m never going to let go of this feeling.

I’m never going to let her go. – I’m going to save her.

During our flight, Will gave me direction to head towards Ayres rock, and Izzy gave me and the leaf platform a little push from the wind to get there faster. – Coz yeah, it’s going to take a while. – As we travelled, Jake’s hand stayed tightly gripped to my arm, and he fearfully marvelled at the height and at what was going on. But he had to ask the many questions racing through his mind. The first one being – how I was creating the leaf platform.

It’s a trade secret. If I told you, I’d have to kill you, I joshed, trying to lighten his mood, but he took me so seriously that I had to be honest. Not really, but I do need to concentrate.

With fear, he nodded, and kind of loosened his grip on my arm when he noticed my eyes glowing a very strong green. He then turned to Will and asked why we were headed to Ayres rock. And I actually think that was a good question to ask, so I listened to Will’s answer.

Ayre’s rock is a central linking point to the rest of the country, given its height, age, and location. And Katherine, the evil woman behind this entire thing, she plans to use Lila to activate the tree-stones and start the regeneration process.

Jake seemed even more confused with that answer, so Will continued to explain, If the tree-stones are activated by a Nature guardian, that guardian can command the regeneration process of all the natural elements... It was one of the fail-safes our kind created thousands of years ago, in the expectation that man would use up all the Earth’s resources.

Keith then chimed in to explain, According to Mother, Katherine covets power above all else. And she believes that if all the elements are restored, Katherine’s connection to them will only strengthen her. Making her a stronger and more powerful hybrid.

Yeah. – Coz that’s just what we need.

Still, Jake puzzled and shook his head as he tried to understand. Okay... Crazy hybrid chick aside, wouldn’t restoring the earth’s resources be a good thing?

No, I answered. Thousands of lives will be lost in just the first stage... human and guardian.

Again, Jake looked confused, and so did Billy and Izzy, needing Will to elaborate. The regeneration process will most likely cause the earths plates to shift, and the sudden change in climate conditions will cause major weather problems across Australia.

Why only Australia? Izzy asked.

Now unable to hide the worry in his voice, Will hesitantly spoke, There are only three Nature guardians left alive... Lila, Terrence, and myself. We’re not strong enough to activate all the stones on a global scale.

We’re not strong enough, I added with great concern. But Lila might be.

Jake fearfully asked how many stones there are in the world, and I don’t think the answer settled his nerves, when Will explained that any living tree that’s more than 3000 years old is an active stone.

Journal entry insert by William Knight

I had only just gotten my baby girl back before I lost her again. I mean, I have bonded more with Lila in these last three days than I have in this last year. She even called me Daddy. And just hearing her say that word when I saw her curled up in that hospital bed, after everything she’s been through, my joy and happiness were out of this world.

I know she warned us about what would happen if I brought her back again. And I know she’s been through so much pain being burned and bruised, broken and sliced, and literally been torn apart, leaving her body scarred with the map of her pain. And I know that after all that, she’d probably be ready to go. Be ready to die. – But it was something in the way she said those last words to me, asking me to take care of Tyme. I just wasn’t ready to give up on her. – I don’t think I ever will be.

We reached Ayers rock just before the sun set, after several hours of Terrence concentrating to get us here, and I know he’s determined but I’m pretty sure he’s hiding his fatigue from us. He placed us all down at the base of the rock mountain to hide amongst the trees, and Billy and I volunteered to climb up and check out the area while the others wait and Terrence regains his strength.

It was a high climb to the top, and we climbed as fast as we could, but when we got to the top of the large rock-mount, Billy and I had to hide because Lila was already here. – And so is Katherine.

They were in a heated and violent argument, and Lila looked like an angry elf-warrior. – Or at least a modern day elf-warrior wearing yoga pants and a green skivvy, with long white hair, dark wolf-eyes, and pointy wolf-ears to match.

On a good note. – I really don’t think Lila cares that she’s not wearing shoes. – So I’ll be sure to tell Terrence that.

Katherine was just as angry, and was merciless and dirty when she fought. But eventually Lila pinned Katherine to the ground, choking her with her diamond covered skin digging into Katherines neck. In response, Katherine’s skin turned to steel to protect herself, and her dark blond hair and hands blazed with electric fire while trying to fight back.

To break out of Lila’s hold, Katherine’s eyes glowed white, and a sudden gust of wind blew from the plains of the desert, bringing with it sharp, crystalised sand-shards. The sandstorm covered the rock-mount, and encircled Lila with the shards, scratching at the bare skin of Lila’s face and hands, tearing holes in the new skivvy and pants that Terrence had bought just for her.

But two can play at that game. Instead of using her hands to shield herself, Lila pulled Katherine up, holding her close and in front, exposing Katherine to the pain as well, and forcing her to stop her own attack. Then when the sand settled to the ground, Lila pushed Katherine away, and used that moment to shake the sand from her now torn clothes and her long white hair.

I had to stop Billy from giving away our hiding position because he wanted to go and help Lila. He was struggling to just watch as Lila brushed the sand from her diamond skin, noticing the blood seeping from the small scratches and grazes on her hands, cheeks, and from the two large cuts on Lila’s shoulder and hip where the sands-shards sliced a little deeper. – Just the sight of Lila hurt and bleeding made Billy angry. But there’s no way we’d be able to fight two hybrids. We need to get Lila away from Katherine. – The question is how?

As Lila stood tall, she growled with her dark eyes locked on Katherine. Her diamond skin glowed a fiery red, and her hands sparked with electricity as she spoke. You chose the wrong enemy to threaten, Katherine. Now, I will ask you one more time... where are my children?

Yes. – This is good. – Lila’s still concerned about her kids. – I think???

In seeing her anger, Katherine stood at a distance and tried to talk to Lila instead of fight. Lila, this fighting is only distracting us from our potential. We don’t have to be enemies... You can join me and rule together.

Join you. Lila scoffed in shocked disbelief. You tortured me for weeks, thinking I was some science experiment. You messed with my mind and tried to break me...

No, Katherine interrupted. I was pushing you to your full potential... Think about it Lila. Your soul does nothing but tie you to the ethics and morals that the humans expect of us... But I’ve freed you from everything that was making you weak. Now I can teach you to be the warrior that you were born to be... who I created you to be. All you need to do is join me, and activate the stones... If you do, I will give you everything you could ever want... Your children, your husband, your brother... anything.   

Remaining a short distance from her, Katherine pulled the last seed-stone from the empty wooden box then approached Lila slowly, promising again that Lila could have anything she could ever want if she joined her. She then placed the seed-stone in Lila’s hand and waited with a wry grin as Lila stared at it. – Just thinking.

No, Lila. – Don’t do it. – Please don’t do it.

Or... Lila thought while holding tight to the seed-stone. She then side-kicked Katherine, sending her sliding into a pile of sand, not far from the ledge of this large rockface. I can just enjoy killing you now, and use this stone to find my children myself.

Yes! – That’s my Honey-Bee. – Don’t fall for her tricks.

You don’t know how to do that. Katherine grunted, standing to her feet again.

At super-speed, Lila appeared in front of her and held Katherine up by the neck as she grinned. You under-estimate me, Katherine. I have more power in me than you will ever have... But you already knew that when you used my father for nothing more than his element to create me.

Oh crap.

I’m pretty sure our location’s been made, because Lila looked straight at me with her cold black stare. Yet she said nothing. She just went back to focusing on Katherine when she broke away from Lila, and again, tried to reason with her. As she did, the flames disappeared from Katherines curly dark-blond hair and hands. – I think to make her look less aggressive.

Lila, you’re not thinking this through. You need me. I can help you... With my guidance, together we can rule over this Earth. Make the world a better place... for everyone.

Listening to her insistent plea, Lila circled Katherine like she was her prey, but every now and then Lila would glance back at where Billy and I hid as she walked. Then she angrily asked, Why would I want to make the world better when all it wants to do is hurt me or control me?

Katherine swivelled where she stood, trying to persuade Lila more. But that’s the beauty of it, Lila... By restoring the elements, we’d unlock an unlimited source of power and strength. As a Mega, you would have the ability to wipe out the human race. To protect our kind. To destroy those who seek to control us... You could do all that with just a wave of your hand.

The fear in me rose while watching Lila because something in Katherine’s words intrigued her, and it worried me when Lila stopped circling and started listening.

No, Lila. – Don’t listen to her.

Aren’t you tired of fighting yet? Katherine asked, sounding so motherly and sweet. We spend our lives fixing the errors that these humans make, all while fighting their governments for the freedom and acceptance that our people have earned... Our kind have been here just as long as theirs, and they dare taint our species with theirs. Mix our history with theirs... They claim that our kind stem from the same ancestors. That their god gave human’s this power and they lost it. But that’s a lie and you know it... Our kind were formed to govern over the elements, and for a while our tribes and villages were free to walk and live alongside the humans in peace. Until it all changed. When the humans showed their true colours... Aren’t you done fighting yet, Pumpkin? Don’t you want to give our kind a better life. One that’s free from their oppression. Their greed. And their lust for the power they covet most? Don’t you want that freedom for your children? You know I’m right, Pumpkin... The humans don’t deserve this world.

Oh no. – I don’t think this is a good sign. – I think Katherine is getting through to Lila. Her eyes are almost entranced as she stares down at the red tree-stone in her hand, taking a moment to think. Then suddenly, Lila looked right at me and smiled as she spoke, You have my attention, Katherine. But you’ll have to be more convincing than that.

Journal entry continued by Terrence Connors

We’ve been waiting at the base of Ayres rock, hiding amongst the trees for a while now, but eventually we heard Billy and Will coming back down towards us. I could only just here Lila’s voice, so I know she’s here. But I’m still baffled as to how we are going to fix this.

Will appeared in front of us, and Billy soon after. Both covered in sand from the sand-storm that passed through not long ago. Will shook the sand from the short strands of his sandy-blond hair just as I stood up, excited and happy to see them.

She’s still alive, I can hear her, I eagerly stated.

They both are, Will replied, seeming to not share my joy.

Jake then stood, holding onto Lila’s journal like a comfort blanket, and asked, So what does that mean?

Before any of us could answer him, Wyala, – Lila’s young tree nymph friend, jumped down from the trees in front of Keith and Izzy. With a long stick in her hand, Wyala hit them in the stomach before swooping at the back of their legs, knocking Keith and Izzy to the ground.

She was in a fury as she moved to hit Jake but stopped when she saw him cowering behind Lila’s journal, recognising the white-oak tree symbol etched into the wooden cover.

You are not a guardian, she sniped curiously, stepping back and gawking at him in confusion.

Nope. Jake choked, still holding the journal up as a shield. I’m just your average everyday human.

I rushed to greet Wyala, thankful for her arrival, and asked what she was doing here. But she turned and eyed us in fear, standing protectively in front of Jake.

Come no further, she demanded.

When she turned to face me, Jake found the confidence to peek around the cover of his shield, and gasped, staring at Wyala’s wood-like skin, and mossy brown hair. Okay, what the heck is that?

Keith slowly stood to his feet, helping Izzy to hers, and then replied to Jake. That would be a tree nymph.

Yeah. – Coz Jake’s gonna know what a tree nymph is.

His vague explanation caused Jake to become even more confused, trying to move away from Wyala, but she blocked his path and demanded him not to move. So in still wanting to keep the peace, I stepped closer to her and tried to explain to Wyala what was going on.

Wyala, listen to me. I don’t know what you know or what you’ve been told, but we’re the good guys here, okay. We’re here to save Lila and to stop Katherine... Please, you need to trust us.

Trust us? Jake shrieked, not helping the situation. How do we know we can trust It? Whatever It is just attacked us!

Here, I’ll make it easy for you, Jake. Keith stupidly intervened by throwing a fireball at him.

Instinctually, Wyala moved to pull Jake out of danger, and then hit Keith in his stupid, never brushed, brown-haired head, causing the cheek on his annoying face to bleed. – I could have stopped Keith from being hit, but I really didn’t want to.

However, Jake, with his naïve teen mind, found the confidence in him again, pulling out of Wyala’s protective grip to stand in front of us as he grabbed hold of the end of her stick.

Whoa! Stop! Just Stop! Please.

I briefly caught him smiling at her, when he realised she was a teenager like him. – Well, at least she looks like a teenager. – Tree nymphs develop differently and slower to our kind, with a new growth-ring being formed over the course of 10-years, as opposed to a human’s body that develops over the course of 1-year. So while Wyala may have the mind and looks of a teenager, she was actually born well over a hundred-year ago. – But we won’t tell Jake that. – It might freak him out more.

Still, Jake seems determined, because he stayed staring at Wyala until she conceded and let go of the make-shift sparring stick in her hand. Jake then held the stick in his hand and nodded to her. Thank-you... um, Ms... Tree-thing.

Yes. – Well, while I applauded Jake’s courageous stand, as a human he seems to be way out of his depth in this situation.

Okay. I breathed with tentative relief, trying to bring the attention back to the impending doom problem. Wyala, thank-you for listening to Jake... Can I assume, we’re now on the same page, and you’ve actually come here to help us?

She stood straight and ogled Jake, somewhat displeased at him, replying, Yes, and I have a plan. That if you are willing, you will help.

She sounded very serious with her demand. Not her usual bubbly self – when she’s around Lila anyway. She then angrily turned to Jake, snatching her sparring stick back before she huffed, And I am a tree nymph. Not a tree thing... Half tree. Half guardian... Got it?

Accepting her statement, Jake nodded to her, slightly petrified, but I think more amazed as the young nymph ordered us all to follow her.

We ran at super-speed, following Wyala to a small town not far from us, and Billy was nice enough to give Jake a lift. But when we stopped, Jake threw up in the bushes, not yet able to cope with the rapid movement and pressure of running at our speed. And Wyala laughed at him before she explained her story.

Last week, Wyala and her mother, Agatha, were on their way to see Lila at the hotel, after sensing a great sadness amongst the trees that worried the nymph’s Chiefs and Elders. But when Lila met them in the basement of the hotel, she attacked her and Agatha. Wyala was fast enough to get away, but only because Agatha stayed behind to protect her.

When Wyala had finished her explanation, I told her what had actually happened and that it wasn’t really Lila attacking them, it was Katherine. I also theorised that maybe the trees were sad because of what was happening to Lila at the time.

It’s sad but I think I’m right in that theory. – I don’t know exactly what happened, but I believe that what Lila experienced in these last few weeks was so horrific, that maybe even the trees wanted to look away.

In shock, Wyala stood in disbelief, almost in tears. That’s horrible. Lila’s so kind... why would anyone do such a thing?

I really didn’t want to answer that, but I think she was able to guess. Because when she asked me who was responsible for all Lila’s pain, the group fell silent and I felt Keith’s regretful nature, and so did Wyala.

In a swell of anger, Wyala moved to hit him again but this time I told her to stop, explaining that we needed him to help us, and that if anyone is going to get back at Keith, it should be Lila, when we get her back. At that, Wyala agreed with me then began to explain her plan.

Journal entry insert by Tyme Knight

I don’t know where we are. But what I do know, is that my family isn’t here. Lila isn’t here. And I’m pretty sure that evil woman, Katherine, has got her somewhere horrid and I can’t stop thinking the worst.

I also can’t concentrate. I just keep thinking about how our last mission went horribly wrong when Alex got hurt, the government agents turned on us, and we all realised we had been tricked. – For how long, I have no idea.

When we woke up, it was just Katie and Adela with me, in some random hotel reception area that looks like a bamboo hut. The days are really hot here. So hot that it feels like we’re in the middle of the desert. And we’re all being held in the reception area, surrounded by our own prisons of fire. – Which does not help with the heat.

There are two fire prisons on the other side of the room. I think a tree nymph sits in one them, but I can’t see who it is from here. And Lila’s government friend, Phillip is sitting in the other. Katherine gave him something before she left because he wouldn’t shut up and kept trying to assert his authority over the agents that had turned on him back on the boat. – I’m not sure what it is she gave him, but at first he was unconscious for a peaceful few hours then he woke up screaming, and then moved onto crying, and then laughing uncontrollably, and now he’s rocking back and forth and talking him to himself.

Ugh! – Well, he’s going to get annoying.

As another cold night rolled in, I sat down in my fire-prison, and I know it’s wrong of me, but I’ve almost given up hope. At least Katie is still determined, still trying desperately to control the flames of her prison and put it out. But is again, failing in her frustrations.

Are you okay? Adela asked from the fire-prison not far from mine, probably noticing my sorrow.

No! I griped, brushing the curls of my sandy blond hair away from my eyes again. – And it’s really starting to bug me. So I grumbled more. No, I am not okay. I’m trying to concentrate and freeze time, but I can’t because I’m freaking out!

We’re all freaking out here, Adela replied, seeming way too calm in her voice. You just need to breathe through it.

BREATHE THROUGH IT!!! I screamed, louder than I intended. My family is missing or worse! I don’t want to breathe... I want to scream!

Suddenly, we heard a scuffle from outside, and the four agents that had turned on us back on the boat were thrown inside, sliding along the floor in front of us. Then my dad appeared in the room, alongside Billy.

Dad, you’re alive! I stood to my feet, excited and relieved to see him.

He looked back at me and grinned, Alive and kickin’.

I scanned around, hoping to see Lila but she wasn’t here. So I asked, Dad, where’s Lila? Is she okay?

He pulled a weird face, crinkling his nose, and looked lost in sadness as he replied, Um... kind of. Hold your breath, Son.

We all did as he asked and watched as Billy stood at the side of the room with his striking green eyes glowing a fiery red. He stood tall, and opened his arms wide, pulling the flames towards him then clapped his hands back together with great force, extinguishing the fire to free all of us.

I raced to hug my dad, so thankful that he came, but my worry is still on Lila.

What do you mean by kind of? I asked, beginning to freak out. No, Dad, please tell me she’s not dead.

She’s not dead, Billy worryingly interrupted. But she’s not okay either.

Well, that answer does not fill me with any joy. – At all.

Journal entry continued by Terrence Connors

Alright, the first wave of Wyala’s plan is done. And Billy and Will gave us the signal from inside the hotel that the rest of our team and Wyala’s mother are now safe. All we have to do now is wait for our wave to arrive.

Jake didn’t understand why our part of the team were all hiding in the darkness, amongst the tall grass, so I quietly explained that we were waiting, but he still didn’t get it. That is until he saw eighteen guardians appear just outside the hotel our team was in.

Staying quiet, I nodded to Wyala before we both punched our hands into the ground beneath us, and our eyes glowed green as we tried to concentrate. After a few seconds, I shouted Izzy’s name, so she could cause a distraction with a mild sandstorm, localised around the eighteen targets. Then amongst the distraction, the roots from the nearby shrubbery rose up from the ground beneath their feet, trapping them where they stood.

Now with all of them trapped or distracted, I nodded to Izzy and Keith, and we all worked together to knock each and every one of them out. – Well, almost every one of them. – We missed the one who had broken free of his root trappings.

He made a beeline for Jake, lifting the poor teen up by his neck. So at super-speed, Wyala raced to his assistance and kicked some great guardian butt for a young tree nymph, and I recognised some of the moves she used.

Looks like Lila has been training Wyala, during her non-existent spare time at the hotel. – Probably taught her this rescue tactic as well. – Lila definitely likes the art of distraction like this.

Wyala quickly helped Jake to stand, and when all was clear, she raced inside to embrace her mother. Jake and I went inside to greet everyone as well, while Izzy and Keith secured the hostiles outside. But Jake’s disappointment, matched mine when he looked around.

Where’s Uncle Matt? he asked.

Billy walked over to him and apologetically replied, Sorry Jake, he’s not here.

What about Alex... Where’s he? I worryingly asked while looking around.

In her worry, Adela appeared next to me to hurriedly explain, Alex never came back from the mission with us. He was badly injured with a bullet wound, and we don’t know where he is... Maybe he’s with Matt.

Wyala turned to us with her demeanour back to her happy self to add, Oh... I think I know where they are.

They must wait? Agatha interrupted her. First, we must find the stones.

And I think I know where they are, Adela chimed in, and then explained that Katherine was drawing on a huge map of Australia before she left.

Yes! – This is what I want to hear.

My excitement quickly doubled because now we have a team and a partial plan, and we’re going to save Lila. However, Agatha didn’t agree with me in my plan to rescue Lila, shaking her head at me before insisting on us following her plan instead.

Terrence, the stones are a more urgent matter. Lila would know that.

But if we save Lila than the stones won’t be activated, I rebuked.

I mean seriously, my plan is a win-win for me and everyone else. – Hers, not so much.

We continued to argue loudly because for some reason Agatha is convinced that we’re going to fail, and that Lila is already gone. But I refuse to accept that. Even Billy, Will, and Tyme started arguing with her about what our priorities should be.

HEY! Jake shouted, again surprising me with his confidence. Everyone just needs to chillax and stop for a second... Alright!

We all stopped in our argument, with most of the team curious as to who this young teenage boy is, and the others were curious as to why a human was yelling at them as he continued. We all need to stay as a team, remember? Now does anyone here have a plan that covers both rescuing my family, that includes my Aunty Lila, while still recovering these stone things?

What if we split up? Wyala happily stood forward to suggest, Terrence can go rescue Lila and hopefully buy us some time while the rest of us find the stones.

Everyone nodded in agreement to her suggestion, all except Jake who griped, Okay... But what about my Uncle Matt, and Danny and Ruby?

I’ll go find them, Wyala added again then turned to her mother. Does that plan work for you, Mother?

Agatha took a moment then agreed. Yes, little one, your plan is almost sound... But you cannot go alone, and we cannot spare any of these guardians.

I’ll go with her. Jake chimed in, standing next to Wyala. – Again, surprising me with his confidence.

Agatha looked at him and grinned, and I think Jake felt insulted and like a small human amongst all the non-humans, so he defended himself. Look, just because I can’t run fast or fight the way you all do, doesn’t mean I can’t help... That’s my family in danger out there. And I’m going to save them... Or die trying.

With an intrigued smile, Agatha curiously peered over to me, and I nodded, vouching for Jake. She then peered around to see the other human in the room,  Agent Green, still busy trying to find I think his phone... or possibly food. – Yeah, actually it’s food. – He’s found the bags of chips stored behind the reception desk, and now seems very distracted and upset with the world. – To be honest I think he’s high. I think Katherine may have given him something to make him a little loopy.

I will fix him. – Just not yet. – It’s kind of hilarious.

None the less, he was off in his own world and not at all interested in us. So Agatha handed Jake the wooden ring she wore, stating, This ring was created by my husband before he died, it should give you the strength you need to save your family.

At the worst possible moment, my short arse brother and my sweet little sister appeared standing next to me, after properly securing the other guardians, to report that the area was secure. Not surprisingly, Tyme sprang into action and punched Keith in the face at great speed, and Will had to pull him away.

Tyme stop! he shouted. He’s with us.

I looked at my brother and grinned just a little as he held his bleeding nose. – That goes wonderfully with his bleeding, bruised cheek. He then grunted, now very upset. Ow! Would you guys, please stop hitting me.

Well... I suppose... we could do that.

Confused, Tyme looked over at me, and again, I nodded with a grumbling sigh. It’s a long story, but to save Lila, we need them both on our team.

Not fully sold on the idea, Tyme relaxed, listening to William form a plan. Alright, listen up... Right now, Katherine only has 9 tree-stones with one being in the centre with her. We should pair up and take two stones each... And Agatha, if you’re able, can you get the last two on your own.

Agatha nodded, disappearing out of the room, and then reappearing a few seconds later, carefully holding a handful of small mossy stones in a woven basket. Wyala quickly stepped to the side of the room and Jake followed her, somewhat curious of her reaction.

But in seeing the mossy-stones, William quickly grabbed the basket away from Agatha out of concern as she explained to the group her thoughts on the plan. If the stone’s get activated then we should use these... But only as a last resort.

Still curious, Jake looked over and asked, What are they?

It’s lichen, William replied with concern. And it can make tree’s very sick.

Agatha stayed focused though, continuing her explanation, You’ll need to place the lichen-stones as close to the roots as possible. That should stunt the tree’s growth and sever their connection.

She then turned back to me, looking extremely worried and sad. Hopefully you are able to stop Lila before she activates them. But we must all be prepared for the worst... I’m very sorry, Terrence, but if what Katherine says is true, Lila may already be lost.

Yeah. – I’m not overly thrilled that she has such little confidence in Lila or me. But still, I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Tyme on the other hand seems to be more upset at not knowing what’s happening with Lila, hearing all this grim talk about her, and he demanded to know what was going on. Unfortunately, both Will and I know he’s not going to like that answer. So his dad turned to him and sternly, yet worryingly spoke.

Son... Terrence and Billy are going to save your sister, I know they will. But I need you to focus on the mission, and I promise I’ll explain everything, once we’ve saved the world. Okay?

Chapter 2

Team Work

Journal entry by Billy Jonas

Terrence asked me to partner with him to try and rescue Lila. Maybe even talk her into coming home. I think he was originally hoping to find Alex with the rest of the team, because we both know that if anyone was going to get through to Lila, it would have been him. But I guess it’s up to us instead, and we just have to hope that our love for her will be strong enough to save her.

The team split up, all assigned to their own individual tasks, and I followed Terrence to the top of Ayres Rock. But as I hurriedly climbed up the rocky path to the top, I thought back on the date Lila and I had together. Of how she talked about all the natural wonders of Australia, and that one day she wanted to visit this rock. – But I don’t think this is what she meant.

I was very much hoping for a different view when we stopped at the top, not far from where Lila stood. She looked angry, and so focused in her determination, holding Katherine up by her steel-skin neck while dangling her over the edge of the mount. Lila’s skin was covered in diamonds with electrical sparks encircling her arms and running through her long white hair. Her wolf-like ears are still there, and her eyes looked cold and dark like the night sky. – But what made it worse for me is that Lila has even more cuts and bruises on her beautiful body.

She’s clearly been through one hell of a fight. – But she’s only just healed from the last fight. – And I don’t know how much more her body can take. – Or her mind.

I heard so much hatred in Lila’s voice as she glared at Katherine, just seconds away from dropping her off the edge. – Which I know is something, Lila... the good part of Lila would never want to do.

Your right, Katherine. The humans treat this world like their playground and refuse to share it... But I don’t care about any of that. I just want what’s mine.

Katherine tried to break free from Lila’s hold. She looked like she had taken one hell of a beating from Lila as well, and was just barely holding her steel-skin up for protection.

Pumpkin, Katherine pleaded.

And it caused Lila to pull Katherine closer, seething in rage. That is not my name.

In her frustration, Lila looked like she was about to let Katherine go, letting her fall to her death, when Terrence rushed to stand behind Lila and plead with her. Lila, stop! You don’t want to do this.

She glared back at us as I raced to stand next to Terrence. Then she threw Katherine across the landing of this large rock mountain, angrily turning her attention to us while Katherine lay there trying to recover.

When will you boys stop telling me what I don’t want to do? As if you’d ever bothered to ask! She then screamed in frustration at us, telling us that we shouldn’t be here. And that we needed to find where Katherine’s keeping the team and her family.

We hurriedly told her that the team was safe, and that they were already on their way to save her family. Then Terrence pleaded with her to come home, becoming quite insistent.

Lila... Terrence held his hand out toward her. She has nothing but the stones now, it’s you that we need to save. Come on... just take my hand. 

In her hesitation, Lila stared at Terrence then looked back over the ledge. It looked like she was about to run away from us. But we had also turned our backs on Katherine, thinking she wasn’t a threat in her condition.

We were wrong.

Without warning, Katherine shoulder-tackled me, sending me sliding across the ground and crashing into a mound of rocks that crumbled down on top of me, causing me a world of pain. She then appeared standing behind Terrence, holding his neck from behind with her other hand braced behind his back.

Terrence tried to move but Katherine tightened her grip further and glared at Lila as she loudly yelled. Try anything, and I’ll snap his back in two!

Oh Darn. – Please, Lila don’t move.

For a moment it looked like Lila was planning to fight, but then stopped and listened to Katherine as she spoke so smugly, telling Lila that she knows for a fact that Danny and Ruby aren’t safe. To confirm her claim, Katherine pulled out a phone from her pocket to show Lila the video footage of Matt, Danny, and Ruby locked in some room with Matt trying to kick the door down and failing.

Urgh...! Lila growled. Terrence, you lied to me.

No. Terrence insisted, still being held firmly by Katherine. I swear, Lila, the team is safe, and they’re already on their way to find them. Wyala knows where she’s keeping them.

He’s lying, Katherine sniggered. All I need to do is snap this boys back, and make one phone call then your precious children go bye-bye. 

No! Lila worryingly shouted, briefly glancing over at me, watching me struggling to recover. And she shook her head before looking back at Terrence and his predicament, sniping at Katherine. You have the rest of the world to play with Katherine... But that man is mine.

A hopeful grin appeared on Terrence, hearing that Lila still wants to protect him like that. But I think it’s more than that. Her claim gave Katherine the leverage she needed, using Terrence as a bargaining chip instead, and putting the phone she had back in her pocket.

Clever girl, Lila. – Keep it going.

Well, Pumpkin, if you want your little play-thing back in one piece... Then you know what you need to do.

Taking a moment, Lila slowly circled Katherine, glaring at Terrence before she walked to pick up the large red tree-stone again. But she shook her head and tittered. You don’t know what you’re asking me to do, Katherine... Restoring the elements will not only make you stronger, it will make me stronger, and that much more willing to kill you.

You won’t kill me, Katherine hissed. Not until you know where your pathetic family is! And by then, I’ll be long gone... Now do it.

Terrence reluctantly let out a slight grunt, feeling the firm pressure of Katherine’s hand strategically placed on his back. And in hearing that, Lila’s eyes glowed green before she punched the red tree-stone into the ground. The ground shook beneath us, and Katherine stared in awe as a large red maple tree grew in its place, not worrying in the slightest that she had made Lila stronger, and a lot harder to fight.

Without an ounce of care, Katherine threw Terrence toward the rocks, and he rolled to a stop next to me. Now both watching in fear as Lila remained in a trance, holding her hand against the tree with her eyes still glowing a bright green, causing the ground beneath us to tremble more.

Terrence looked back at me and pulled out the lichen stone from his pocket, but he hesitated and quietly spoke, I don’t think Lila wants to do this. I sensed her reluctancy when she held the stone... which means there’s still good in her.

I think you’re right, I stated, helping him to his feet. So what do you need me to do?

Taking a breath of confidence, Terrence ordered me to target Katherine and keep her busy, because I’m the bigger and stronger one of the two of us. – But I don’t think he’s thought this plan through, because being taller or stronger kind of means nothing when you’re up against a hybrid of multiple elements.

However, Terrence’s going up against a mega, and the woman we both love. – And if I’m being honest, I’d rather not fight the woman I love. So while I ran to fight Katherine, Terrence raced to pull Lila away from the tree, but she was still in a trance with the trunk of the tree growing around her hand.

Journal entry insert by Adela Eden

So for the first time... I think ever, more than just Lila was really glad that I knew to be nosey, both watching and listening to Katherine while she was hatching her plan. – And yes I am really good at it.

Once everyone was clear of the plan and had the information they needed, Terrence and Billy left, and Tyme hurriedly raced to search for our ear-mics amongst the pockets of the human government agents that had turned on us previously. Agent Phillip seems to be back to his normal frustrating but slightly helpful self. – Thanks to Terrence. – And he’s been busy making phone calls to the people he trusts, organising them to come and collect his fellow colleagues as well as our unconscious guardian friends tied up outside.

Tyme paired up with Katie and gave his ear-mic to his dad, who decided to pair up with Keith. – But I don’t think he’s overly trusting of Keith. – And neither is anyone else for that matter. 

Before the team split up, William told us that Keith had mild traces of Neuritamine in his bloodstream, along with other unknown substances, and has now been cured from whatever Katherine did to him. But now Keith has no knowledge of anything that he’s done over the last several months. – He remembers nothing.

In saying that, William, Billy, and Terrence all insisted Keith not to say anything to any of us about what he does know of the situation and what’s happened to Lila. Even Izzy was sworn to secrecy about what’s happening to Lila. So when Tyme asked his dad again what was going on, William just shook his head, looking extremely worried.

Not now, Son... I promise, I will tell you later. But we really need to stay focused... If we don’t help your sister now, she may be forced to do something that she’ll regret.

Knowing that his sister needed help, Tyme stopped asking questions but grunted in frustration back at his father before Agatha led us to the middle of desert to where one large tree with a very fat trunk stood. – William called it a Boab tree. But Agatha called it a tree port before opening a portal to Tyme and Katie’s destination in the north end of Queensland.

William and Keith were sent to the centre of New South Wales, and Izzy and I were sent to the southern tip of Western Australia. From there we’ve all been tasked to find the stones and sever their connection to the earth.

Oh Fruits. – No pressure here. – Just the fate of the world and your friends life on the line. – And I still don’t fully understand how or why. – But we can do this.

Using our super-speed, so far, the team has found 5 of the 8 tree-stones, and just as expected there were more of Katherine’s minions found guarding the stones. – Some human and some Guardian. It got a little messy but Izzy and I worked as a team to take them out. – And I am going to say now, that I would never want to be on Izzy’s bad side. – She may look small but she’s damn feisty when she has to be.

With no time to waste, Izzy and I raced back to the tree portal in Western Australia where one of the wood nymph Elders was already there, waiting to take us to the next destination. And, we stepped through the tree port and arrived in South Australia, in a town called Coober Pedy to collect our second tree stone.

Suddenly, we felt the ground tremble, and the surrounding building and green-life shook violently. From amongst the tremors, I heard the fear in William’s voice through my ear-mic as he stated, We’re too late... Lila’s activated the last of the stones.

Izzy and I watched as the tree-stone we had already collected, start to glow in its vibrant yellow colour. So, in a panic we raced to find the last stone.

We struggled to stay on our feet as the ground continued to shake, and the surrounding building structures of the town started to weaken. Then for some – I hope good reason, the quake just stopped, and the yellow tree-stone in my pocket blackened in the centre as the ground calmed beneath us.

Err... Guys, Katie gasped through the ear-mics. Both of our stones look like they’re dead.

Someone must have used a lichen rock, William explained. We have to keep looking for the others. But they won’t be stones anymore.     

In hearing that, we picked up the pace, continuing our search for the last stone. But while this is a small town in what feels like the middle of the desert, we now have no idea what we’re looking for.

Oh Fruits and Honey-cakes. – Come on, Adela, you need to concentrate.

Do you think Terrence won? Izzy asked while nervously playing with her very straight, mousy brown hair by twirling it around her fingers. Do you think, he really did have to fight Lila.

What? I puzzled, looking back at her. Why would Terrence have to fight Lila. Better yet, why would she activate the stones like this?

She stopped walking and looked around to make sure no one else was around before she explained, Katherine got to her, and Lila’s not herself anymore... From what I understand, Katherine was using you, and Lila’s family as hostages to get Lila to activate the stones. But if your all saved than why did the stones get activated.

We kept moving, a little faster now as we looked around at the now awake town, who were all leaving their houses to inspect the aftermath of the random and unusual earth tremor.

Not all of her family is safe, Izzy, I whispered, trying to remain hidden as we searched. I know Lila... if anyone she loves is in danger, she will do almost anything to save them. But she’ll never go so far to destroy anything... Maybe Terrence found her, and there working together to buy us some more time.

We suddenly heard Tyme’s voice in the ear-mic. You guys realise your mics still on, right?

Oops...

I... do now. I tensed, pulling the ‘oh crap’ face to Izzy. I’m sorry, Tyme. Are you okay?

No. Tyme sounded a little more irritated when he replied, You guys just said that me, my niece, and my nephew, were being used as bargaining chips to get Lila to destroy the country, and quite possibly the world... In what dimension would I be okay with that?

Tyme, William interrupted from the ear-mic, sounding very demanding. This is the reason, I didn’t want to tell you anything until after we got the stones. Now focus on helping your sister... All of you.

Ah. – That explains why he was being vague before.

From the sound of William’s voice and the fear I heard in it, I have no plans to argue with Tyme’s dad, or ask any more questions until after we’ve found the stones. So I started looking around again but asked if anyone knew what we’re supposed to be looking for now. 

Um... Izzy took a second to think. If I remember correctly, most of these stones were originally collected from the Asian and European countries. So maybe we look for...

An olive tree? I interrupted when I found a small olive tree randomly growing in the centre of a football field with three people guarding it.

Yeah, or an old elm, Izzy added.

Now trying really hard not to roll my eyes, I grabbed her arm and pointed to the only olive tree standing in the middle of the field.

Again we worked together taking the guards by surprise with me hitting two of them with an ice-bat, and Izzy throwing a trash can onto the others head before kicking them across the field towards the goals. – But she missed and he ended up rolling into the stadium seats instead.

Damn it, she stomped her foot. I’ll need to practice that one.

While struggling to think on the spot, I knelt down to study the tree. But I haven’t got a clue what to do next, so I looked up at Izzy to ask, Okay, What now? How do we break the connection to the earth?

Izzy knelt opposite me, and then stared down at her elegantly manicured nails and frustratedly grumbled before she started digging at the roots of the tree. And I helped her, somewhat less disgruntled.

It took a bit of digging and pulling, but once we were done, we thankfully reported our success to the others as we ran at an almost half-speed back to the portal. – Because while this tree looks small, it is very awkward and heavy to carry.

Journal entry continued by Billy Jonas

I know I’m a pretty strong guy but Katherine is way too strong for me. Especially with the many other elements she has on her side. But my goal is only to distract her, so I kept swinging my arms trying to hit her and tackle her, until... Yes! – I found my advantage.

Spinning low, I kicked her feet from beneath her, forcing her to the ground. I then moved at super-speed with my hand glowing a fiery red to burn through Katherine’s pocket and get to the mobile she holds, and crushed it in my hand.

Right. – That should give Jake and Wyala a bit more time.

In my success, I stood up feeling very battered and bruised, and I’m pretty sure my hand is broken. But I got distracted when I heard Lila screaming in agony, cursing and accusingly shouting at Terrence.

Ow!! Terry, you burned me!

She pulled her hand away from the now stunted and sick red maple tree, and Terrence apologised as he tried to help her. But Katherine growled in a fury as she stared at the blackened diamond skin of Lila’s hand that is now the same colour of the chard-black trunk of the maple tree, and realised what Terrence had done.

No!! Katherine screeched before eyeing the crushed phone in my hand. She then angrily grabbed hold of me and threw me towards Terrence again.

We were both sent sliding across the landing, just about to fall off the cliff when tree roots sprung up from the ground, grabbing hold us and pulling us back up to – somewhat safety.

I thanked Terrence for his