Adventure of Astral Part 10: Planning

The three of them looked at the map as the sun slowly crested through the trees as Astral and Sora looked at the map in a mental argument with each other, both seeing each side to their strategies before one made the first move. "We can't save them all, we would be stretched to the ends of the planet with two of us, let alone the twenty villages we need to save?" Sora slicked his answer out.

"A strength in numbers type approach is needed, with their numbers we could not take them head on. Let alone an army versus the three of us." Astral replied as he looked at the map. Lilac stretched her arms emerging from the tent as she looked at the map in a passing glance. "As much as I could do, we need support from one side or another. We cannot make a counter offensive work. Nor save them all in the timespan, Lilac, how far is the midsummer's night?"

"The elvish holiday? Let me think, maybe three months. It just became summer." Astral was taken aback as he wondered why so long? They had time? "Wait, what's happening on the Eve?"

Sora groaned as Astral took a sigh of relief. "The demons have a plan to swoop in and crush the humans who remain. Sora is leaning to a hunting approach and take them out with the five of us. I think we should save the humans. Either operation may not have enough time." Lilac tilted her head as she took a look at the map.

"I have no words of input, I am a survivor not a warrior or leader." Lilac perked her head up as she heard it for the first time at the campsite. Running water. "I am going to bathe and trust that you two will figure something out."

"Tina go with her." Astral pointed as Lilac extended her hand. Tina obliged as both of them wandered into the woods. Astral and Sora looked at each other with confusion. They couldn't do both could they? Or would Astral have to be back on another level? "We wait for the two sleeping critters. Let them rest. We need their minds."

Sora nodded as neither of them left the tent for over an hour. Astral and Sora mapped out the most direct routes between the villages and hidden paths as both of them wondered what could happen and where the demon's were watching from. James slowly opens the tent flap as he and Angel emerge. "For fucks sake it has been so long since you needed to be awake!" Sora exclaimed in joy as he threw his arms up. The two were confused as Astral pointed to the map lightly.

"The demons want a lot more than just Sora and we can't save them all, whether we kill them all in an offensive attack or defend and save the humans." Astral laid the map out as the sun gleamed on it.

"Demons not only move slower in the day, but they are more peaceful. Move purely in daytime while evacuating. Their speed isn't crazy, but don't let them touch you Sora, they will rip you apart." James was brushing his tail as Sora and Astral were confused. "Evacuating humans is simple, they hate weak prey, this move will allow a delay but the question is where, and where would the humans best be served?"

"Well, what about their last stand? A battle where they took twenty thousand of our warriors, to their two? They have the fort, and they know the layout. You would have to be prepared for new tenants and even worse, less men to fight." Angel wiped her wings clean from dust as she put her baggy shirt back on over her wings.

"Wait that's perfect. Sora, you think you can handle that while I take the kids to the capital?" Astral asked as Lilac and Tina arrived back. "If you can rally one man to believe then you can rally them all. Just tell them about Sentinel, dig at their feelings and tell them the harshness of reality they know."

"Wait how did my plan get ignored?" Sora leaned away from Astral and the others.

"Please their main forces probably lurk in these mountains right here. Where is the Last Grasp?" Astral looked over to his ally as Angel rested a finger right in the mountains. "Two birds one stone. Take that fortress back and lead the humans."

"And you get the cakewalk of going to a capital city with all of its beauties and its food. Taking on the Crown." Sora blanked off as he realized what he said. "You are turning the beasts, sorry." Sora caught himself as James hissed at him. "The Hybrids outwards against the crown? Into their rightful ruler of Angel. While trying to kill them if you can."

James and Angel saw Astral's thought process in real time. "You never planned on being the one to rally the humans with the help of James, Angel and I, you wanted it to be Lilac and I to save them while we sing your heroics and how the Hybrids are turning over a new leaf." Sora tapped his forehead with his fingers. "You are a man of many thoughts."

"We have the path in notion now, James and Angel, you two will escort me to the capital with Tina. We will get Tina new clothes over the rags she has. Then go to the crown jewels, where I will ask them directly what happened. Before killing them." Astral smiled as he knew the plan wouldn't fully work. "Several things are bound to go wrong at which point Sora?"

"Two of them, if the Hybrids don't get along with the humans or accept Angel as their true leader. And more importantly." Sora stood up and put his face next to Astral's. "TAKING ON THE CROWNED JEWELS IN A FIGHT WITH NOTHING BUT A HUNCH!" Sora took a step back. "That was rude of me, my apologies. But you can't be serious, they beat everyone else and are the reason magic is outlawed. Because people are afraid of it. No more than them."

"Astral, you think we can lead the people?" Angel asked and knelt next to him as he clasped each of their hands in his. Tina and Lilac just came through the last set of trees. Seeing the four of them huddled together.

"If you knew me before all of this, and our memories are faded, then the talents bestowed on you are nothing short of legend. Use these skills and lead. You have an example." Astral smiled as the two were brought to tears.

"How moving, what do we need to do?" Lilac and Tina stood side by side as their hair was damp from their bath. "If it is any fighting I will complain."

"Not right away, but there will be eventually. Sora, ready your plan on recruitment. Lilac, you are traveling with Sora and uniting the humans under one banner. Tina, you can go with them or come with me to the capital with James and Angel, we are going to get more information." Astral stood up as James and Angel nodded with the plan.

"I will never leave your side." Tina trotted over and wrapped herself around Astral as he smiled lightly.

"Once we pack up camp, we will meet up in a month, if not sooner. Got that? Sora, have all of them at least on board with the plan, we can have our end tied up by then with hopefully one royal head rolling." Astral chuckled as they all nodded and broke down the camp together. Sora and Lilac bid their farewell as they started to sprint to the first village.

Astral picked up Tina as he raced Angel and James to the outskirts. Their goal was to get there before the first village was convinced by Sora to join his side. The two groups would both have to be successful for the plan to work. Astral had high hopes for everyone as they still had a day of travel left as Angel and James fell from exhaustion. It was time for them to rest.