Meadowood Village Meeting

Meeting her gaze with a look of confusion, the archer's head canted slightly. "Vast... legions?" he spoke in a slow tone. "That's... the first I've ever heard of it."

Rob merely shook his head in response. "So far as I know we're the only resistance group in this area."

Sue took a seat on the floor, satisfied she had taken a cushion from her lodge. She had a feeling this meeting was going to take awhile. "I wonder what this could be about," she said, as she shifted around into a state of relaxation.

"...The princess aparently," Lindy said softly from where she leaned against a wall.

Seeing that everyone was now starting to gather, Rob nodded to the princess and took a few steps up to a wooden block that served as a podium. Clearing his throat he brought his hands up in a brief gesture meant to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone, if I can have your attention!" he announced. "I'm afraid I have grave news for you all - it has come to my attention that the village's water supply, and indeed the river itself, are no longer safe to drink from! But please, don't panic. I have here with me a visitor from the central region, her royal highness herself, Princess Sally Acorn, to explain everything in further detail!"

Glancing to where Sally stood, the archer nodded and stepped down from the block, bowing as he did. "If you would be so kind, your majesty,"

Until now, Sue had thought it was just a bug going around. She was surprised to find out the water was poisoned (and thankful she didn't drink much of it), and even more so to find out that Robotnik gave the orders.

"Awfully clever of 'im," Sue muttered. "Yeah, I'd love t'help you guys out. I'm willin' t' do it," she said, waving her trusty hammer in the air, in an attempt to make it clear that she meant business.

As the volunteers made themselves known, Sally gave a nod of acknowledgement to each. "Thank you," she said when no others spoke up. "I'll need to speak with each of you tonight so I can assess your skills, as that'll dictate the plan of attack. If anyone has any questions, feel free to approach me at any time, and I'll do the best that I can." The princess turned to Rob. "Was there anything you wanted to add, Mr. Hedge?"

"Very well, then. Everyone be sure to stick to fruit juice or milk for the next few days until we can get this crisis resolved. I'd like those that have volunteered to help to meet with me in the war room in about an hour. This meeting is now adjourned. Everyone rest well and be safe!"

Hopping from her platform, Sally placed her hands on her hips and released a long exhale. It may have been bedtime for the rest of the village, but the squirrelmunk was very aware she still had a looong night ahead of her.

The squirrel shook his head in response to Sue's question, his tail twitching.

"I'm too nervous now to sleep..."

Rob glanced over at her, nodding slightly. "Aye, that's alright."

Actually, slumberland was somewhere Sally wouldn't have minded heading for herself at that moment. While she'd meant to spend the hour preparing her general strategy before getting down to the details, all of a sudden her exhaustion flooded in at the same time, and it was all the princess could do to even keep herself awake as the meeting dispersed.

Wandering several feet away from the main gathering platform, the squirrelmunk rested her chin against her arms on the railing, her eyelids rapidly growing heavier. Maybe a nap WOULD be a good idea... I'm really not going to get much done if half my energy is spent just trying to stay awake. Sally let out a long yawn and rubbed her eyes. All-nighters weren't an unusual event for her, but apparently her worrying about Sonic had used up more energy than she'd realized. ...Yeah, I'm going to lay down for a little while. Then once I get up I can be refreshed and ready to plot--


"What're ya doin??" a voice suddenly asked from just to her left, startling the princess into bolting upright. Espio's image faded into view, revealing his arms crossed and mouth scrunched -- and a backpack on each shoulder. "Y'know if ya just ASK for a bed, you can have one, right?"


Now VERY much awake from such a jolt, Sally pressed a hand to her still fluttering heart and gave the chameleon an annoyed glance. "Yes, I'm quite aware, thank you," she replied through nearly gritted teeth. "I was just thinking I should take a rest, if it pleases you to know."


The boy's brow lowered slightly. It apparently didn't please him to know.


Sally couldn't help rolling her eyes. Etiquette seemed to be lost on this brat, anyway, and his rude behavior made it difficult for the princess to mind her royal manners. "Well, in any case, if you'll excuse me..."


"AHEM!!" the chameleon abruptly snapped, taking a step to block off Sally's path. "Didn't ya notice anything?!" Cue the wild motioning to his backside. "Anything familiar?! Like, I'unno, somethin' you left behind that I went outta my way to go get for you?!"


With a surprising amount of calm in her composure, Sally nonchalantly flicked away the fleck of Espio's saliva that'd come to a rest on her cheek. "Yes, I noticed," she replied in what Sonic would've recognized as a warning tone, "but as you've yet to offer either to me, there's really nothing I can thank you for at this time."


Espio scowled and clenched his fists. Of all the nerve!! He goes and does a nice thing without even being asked, just so they wouldn't be stuck without any of their stuff, and she's got the nerve to withhold even THANKING him just because he hadn't handed it over yet?! "What'dja think I was gonna DO?!" the teen spat. "Hold it fer ransom or something?! I don't want yer stupid bags!" With that, the chameleon shrugged the packs from his shoulders, shoving the brown one sharply into Sally's hands. "See if I ever do anything nice for YOU again, y'stuck-up hag!"


". . ." Despite the glare in her eyes, Sally drew a deep breath and said slowly and deliberately, "That's really not mature behavior for the leader of a village." Without warning, the squirrelmunk's eyes shifted aside, past the boy's shoulder. "Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Hedge?"

Espio's demeanor immediately changed, flashing fleetingly past embarrassment and barreling head-on into fear. His posture wilted, his knees rattled, and he gulped hard (mainly because it seemed all the moisture had disappeared from his throat). Staring into Rob's furious eyes, the chameleon's mouth opened and closed several times with no sound, before finally squeaking out a dull-witted, "H-Hi."

While normally one to discourage formality in informal situations, Sally was silent of any form of objection; instead she simply folded her arms, staring down at the boy with narrow, barely patient eyes. This was one situation where she felt respect was more than called for.


"H-Hey!!" the chameleon protested, flailing in his futile attempts to maintain his balance. In the end, however, Espio found himself with an extraordinarily close look at a blue pair of boots. "ROOOOB!! It's not my fault!!" he plaintively whined. "She was bein' such a jerk and--"

Suddenly one of the hedgehog's words jumped out and claimed his attention. With another strained gulp, Espio hoarsely asked, "...Royal...?"

"AH-I'MSORRY!!" Espio flinched and sputtered, a panicked sweat beginning to prick at his brow.


Though she had no intention of disciplining someone else's ward, Sally just couldn't resist offering her host the slightest bit of aid. "For what?" she asked frigidly.


"Mmn..."