Finally getting a full night's sleep had made the long trek to get to the resistance base totally worth it. It wasn't something he would readily admit to his siblings, but Yakko's sleep had been far from peaceful the past few days. In fairness, he knew they already knew… getting shot and almost dying was nothing to sneeze at when it was just one of the two, never mind both.
Still, it wasn't anything the eldest Warner couldn't handle… not that his head was too big for him, he just knew his limits. And having a new mission to focus on would help; a lot of people might assume the amount of responsibility he juggled was too much for a kid, and Yakko would be inclined to agree. But since he was little, even before the invasion, he'd found that responsibility somehow grounded him.
And this was something that made it all too easy for Yakko to take the helm at this meeting. Technically Scratchy had called it, but the focus and deference was on the three siblings from the get-go and Wakko and Dot always followed their oldest brother's lead.
"So, this tribal chief is on our side, but she doesn't wanna join?" Yakko rested his elbows on the metal table, chin on his interlaced fingers. "That kinda makes it a moot point, doesn't it?"
The resistance member he was addressing cleared his throat, looking awkward.
"Well, yes, Your Highness, but it isn't that she won't join at all. She just had very… certain conditions."
The eldest Warner raised a brow.
"Okay, Steve… care to tell us what those are?"
He caught the irritated tick in the man's jaw; he'd introduced himself as Steven and clearly preferred to be called by that. Yakko allowed himself a slight smirk.
Well, Steve, I said I prefer not t' be called Your Highness and you kept it up. Just returning the favor.
"Well, you see," Steven said. "Chieftain Slappy is very protective and, er… exceedingly stubborn. She made it clear that she wants none of her people involved unless she sees proof that our cause is on solid ground."
"Meaning that my sibs and I aren't actually dead."
Yakko saw more than one person look uncomfortable at the bluntness of his statement, but in his opinion, there wasn't much point in trying to flower up speech unless it was some boring formal event… and maybe not even then. Being hoity toity never put anyone at ease, after all, and just because something was business didn't mean it couldn't be enjoyable.
"Let me guess," Dot said, her voice and expression equally bored. "She wants to see us herself and won't come here to do it."
Steven looked even more sheepish than ever.
"I'm afraid so, Princess."
Wakko sat back and placed his hands behind his head, the picture of casual ease.
"'Kay then, when do we leave?"
Now the startled glances were directed at the middle sibling, and Yakko couldn't help grinning.
"Your Highness," one woman spoke up. "That isn't… I mean, we can work on other options before…"
Yakko shrugged.
"No offense but seems pretty straight to me… she wants to see us, only us, and won't take no for an answer. If ya haven't changed her mind in four years, I doubt you'll do it anytime soon."
More uncomfortable shuffles and a few coughs answered, but no one else tried to contradict it.
"Alright then!" Yakko said, clapping his hands together. "Glad that's settled. So now, we actually do have t' know when we leave."
Scratchy looked reluctant but nodded without further argument.
"Ve can actually reach ze Dwellers' camp easily, though not till the Seer joins us…"
Yakko couldn't stop himself from groaning, in perfect tandem with his siblings.
"Ugh, we gotta spend time with that guy again?" Dot moaned, dropping her head back. Wakko did the same, tugging his ears.
"Do we have to?"
It seemed like pretty much everyone in the room shared the sentiment, which Yakko found strangely reassuring. Scratchy let out a heavy sigh.
"Yes, he can be… difficult to get along vith."
Dot directed a dry look at him.
"I think you're being too nice."
The older man rubbed his forehead.
"Either vay, you vill need to learn certain things from him before you go anyvere. Traveling vill be far too dangerous othervise."
Apparently reading his and his siblings' looks, another resistance member spoke up.
"Forgive me, Your Highnesses, but since his failed attempt to apprehend you, Salazar has grown even more paranoid. The roads are more closely monitored than ever, and we can't risk open movement."
Yakko frowned, a knot of unease forming in his stomach.
"Wouldn't he need more guys for that? Specifically, more guys than he's got?"
When a solemn silence followed his words, the adults exchanging grave looks, the knot in his stomach squeezed even tighter.
"Did… more countries join up with him?"
Slight relief came when all shook their heads, but their solemn expressions remained.
"Thankfully, no," Scratchy said. "Though zat does nothing to explain vere he is getting zis extra manpower. Ze only ozer time his forces increased like zis…"
Those words brought the relief crashing down, and a surge of protective instinct made Yakko glance at his siblings. They looked just as scared as he felt, and he immediately reached to give a comforting clasp to each of their shoulders. Thankfully, his voice didn't tremble when he spoke up.
"But that only happened at night."
Steven nodded.
"Exactly. And if he's able to do it during the day now, we can only assume whatever dark power he's using is getting stronger." He glanced at the siblings regretfully. "Pardon my bluntness."
Yakko felt it was pointless for the guy to apologize for something he couldn't really help, but he appreciated the sentiment anyway. So he managed a smile.
"No worries, Steve… just saying what you've gotta."
He took a deep breath, willing his pounding heart to calm, then spoke again.
"Okay, then. I'd say we've got a plan… soon as the seer of weirdness gets here me and my sibs get what we gotta from him, then we go smooth talk the Dweller chief."
It wasn't as reassuring a plan he might have hoped for, even Yakko had to admit. But he and his sibs had made far flimsier plans work, and as long as they could handle Pip's droning, they'd make this one go off without a hitch.