Yakko had never felt pain like this in his life. It was so intense that he was pretty sure he wouldn't even be able to walk, much less run, without Wakko and Dot supporting him on both sides. Even then, he could only manage a slow, stumbling run… certainly nothing that had any chance of outrunning their pursuer. With the one part of his mind Yakko wasn't using to order himself to move, he was cursing himself to the sky and back.
Long ago, the eldest Warner had sworn to himself that he would protect his siblings, keep them safe from the many dangers that had invaded their home. How could he have gotten them into this? Why wasn't he more careful?
A missed step brought a more severe stab of pain, and Yakko stumbled, sucking in a sharp breath as he barely managed not to yelp. He heard Dot gasp as she and Wakko tightened their hold on his arms.
"Come on, big brother," Wakko urged as he and Dot pulled Yakko up. "You can do it."
The elder Warner could hear the determination in that voice, and he found himself admiring it despite the dangerous situation. His mind conjured up a memory of their father's voice, so like his brother's, and somehow it made him feel braver. He gave Wakko's hand a gentle squeeze, the only thanks the situation allowed, as the siblings began moving again.
Yakko wanted to urge his siblings to run again, even to beg if he had to. But there was no point in wasting time and energy on that, he knew they wouldn't hear a word of it… Wakko and Dot wouldn't leave him any more than he would leave them. As much as Yakko loved them for that, sometimes he wished they hadn't gotten the same stubbornness as him.
"We're not… gonna outrun him," he grunted. "We gotta find… someplace t' hide."
"We figured that out ourselves, thank you," Dot shot back. "So at least try not to talk our ears off for once."
Yakko couldn't help but let out a hoarse chuckle. That was his baby sister, ordering him around even now.
"N-no promises, sis."
Just then, Yakko felt Wakko tug his arm.
"Guys!" he whispered. "Over there."
Looking where his brother was pointing, Yakko blinked to clear his slightly blurred vision and saw they were near a spot where the trees and shrubbery were thicker, and part blocked by a large, fallen tree. They would be able to get in with some effort, which meant it would be far harder for their larger pursuer.
Well, 'least it's not as obvious as a cave.
"Good find," he rasped. "Let's go."
The trio moved for the thicket, though Yakko was almost entirely dependent on the support of his siblings. He hated himself for being this vulnerable, for putting even more on them. He was the oldest, he should be the one carrying them. Dot's voice interrupted his inner tirade.
"Yakko, you need t' duck down here. Need us to help?"
The eldest Warner shook his head right away.
"No. Y-you guys go first."
He could almost sense his sibs' desire to protest, but to his surprise the protests didn't come.
"Long as you come right after," Wakko said, his voice quiet but stern.
"Cross m' heart," Yakko whispered back.
In truth, he wasn't sure it was a good idea for him to do it without help, but he had to see his brother and sister safe first.
Well, safe as we can be.
With noticeable reluctance, his siblings released his arms. Yakko planted his feet, ordering himself not to collapse, and scanned the snowy woods for the stranger chasing them while his siblings shuffled under the broken tree trunk. He felt a lurch of alarm when he caught sight of a shadowed figure moving through the trees; the thought of trying to divert whoever it was came to his mind, but his promise to his siblings stopped him.
"Yakko!" Dot whispered. "We're in, c'mon."
His hand still pressed to his side, the eldest Warner turned toward the fallen tree. He took a deep breath to brace himself, then stooped to crawl under himself. As he expected, the pain flared with an intensity that made him clench his teeth with a hushed groan.
Don't stop. Move, keep moving.
He was almost ready to scream by the time he got under the trunk, and he could feel an unpleasant wetness at the spot. A glance revealed a dark stain on his coat, which he knew right away was bad. It wasn't as thick as it could be, being old and worn… one of the downsides of using clothes most people tossed… but enough to tell he was bleeding a lot.
Tends to happen when ya get shot, I guess.
The thought seemed strangely detached, even to Yakko. He knew it had happened to him but was thinking as if it happened to someone else. Maybe because he knew if he fully acknowledged the fact, he had to also acknowledge the dangerous situation he and his sibs were in; a situation he was only making worse. He'd never convince them to go on without him, no matter what he said or how much he begged.
I can't keep them safe. I promised, and I can't do it now.
Yakko closed his eyes, suddenly feeling so heavy it was a struggle to stay on his feet.
"Yakko!"
The sensation of his siblings grabbing his arms broke through the fog, and the eldest Warner opened his eyes to find he was on his knees. Wakko and Dot were looking at him, and the thought came to him that he'd only seen them this scared once before.
"But, Mom, why're we leaving?"
Angelina smiled, but Yakko could see it wasn't reaching her eyes. In fact, he was sure he'd never seen her this sad… except maybe when their dad passed away. She reached out and smoothed back the fur on his head, her voice as gentle as ever.
"Because you three need to be somewhere safer now."
"But so do you!" he protested. "We don't wanna leave you here!"
"Please, Mommy," Dot whimpered, reaching toward their mother with one hand while her other arm stayed firmly wrapped around her doll. Wakko remained silent, but looked up with big, imploring eyes that echoed his sister's pleas. Angelina looked heartbroken, but there was still a firm resolve in her eyes and voice.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," she said. "I wish I could come."
She checked the buttons on Dot's coat, then adjusted Wakko's scarf.
"But I need you all to be brave now… your daddy would want you safe as much as I do. Can you do this for us?"
Dot sniffled, tears running down her face. Wakko looked just as forlorn, but after a moment both took a deep breath and gave a tiny nod. Their mother smiled, her own eyes bright with tears, and pulled all three siblings into her arms, holding them as if she would never let them go.
A soft knock on the door broke the silence, and the voice of one of the Queen's ladies came from the other side.
"Your Majesty? Everything is ready."
Angelina took a deep, trembling breath, and drew back from her children with clear reluctance.
"All right."
At that, the door opened, and quiet footsteps approached, but Yakko's focus was entirely on his mother. She looked at him and then his siblings, managing a gentle smile.
"I know you might be upset with me, but it's all right. You three are unstoppable, I know you'll be just fine."
Her gaze moved back to Yakko, and she cupped his cheek with a hand.
"I'm going to need you to look after your brother and sister, darling. Take care of them for me, all right?"
Yakko wanted to cry, but he gulped it down. If he was in charge of taking care of his siblings now, he needed to be brave.
"K', Mom," he said, unable to keep his voice from breaking. "I will, promise."
Angelina's smile never faded, her eyes now shining with pride as well as tears.
"Good man," she murmured, then placed a tender kiss on his forehead, doing the same with his younger brother and sister before giving them all one more hug.
"I love you all so much," she whispered. "Never forget that."
Wakko finally spoke, his voice soft and heartbreakingly sad.
"Love you too, Mummy."
Yakko felt everything in him plead not to leave, to stay with her. But he swallowed the words and nodded.
"We'll remember," he said.
It was that night that Yakko had seen his siblings truly afraid for the first time, and when he took their hands to lead them away from the life they'd always known, he felt a determination to protect them just like their parents did.
Some job he'd done… now he'd dragged them straight into danger. Danger that he probably couldn't even defend them from now. He sent a silent plea to his parents to forgive him for failing them… though he might be telling them in person soon.
In all honesty, he wasn't sure whether to be sad, scared, or glad of that.