[TheRaisin]

The sleek, intelligent-looking bird proved to be a fast and effective messenger: the four planners had to wait only 48 hours for The Raisin's reply. As Dwight unclipped the small scroll from the bird's leg and read it to the others, their spirits fell.
"It sounds like a noble cause, and I'm sure Abe will be happy to help. Unfortunately, he's somewhere on the eastern coast. You'll have to go find him to get his help. Find Abe, and then... and then..."
They sat in stunned silence. Finally, Carver spoke up.
"We have to cross the entire continent to get Abe's help?"
"Sounds like it," Dwight said.
"Okay."
They immediately began making plans.

An hour later, they began preparations. They would travel light: all three siblings would ride elums, and they would tow a meetle to carry supplies. The large creature would slow them down somewhat, but it would allow them to leave their supplies for a short while and scout ahead if necessary, leaving the elums unburdened except for their riders. Down, the best archer of the three, would carry a bow and one quiver of arrows for combat, plus an extra quiver packed away for hunting. Carver, being the strongest, would carry a long pike, a javelin for throwing, and a sling (for which he could find pebbles along the way). Wurm would carry only a whip for a weapon, leaving himself room for rope, tools, and a small survival pack. Three shortswords would be kept on the meetle, just in case. Also, a small perch would be set up on top of the supplies for the messenger bird, so the search party could keep in touch with Dwight, who would be staying behind to lead the rest of the group as they prepared themselves for the imminent war, making weapons, stockpiling supplies, and scrounging up what recruits they could before Abe came, although the only way the plan could work would be if Abe could strengthen their numbers ten times over. Then would come the hard part: the war. The plan was to go as far as they could into the mountains before they were noticed, then punch a hole in the defense forces surrounding Vykker Labs. They knew they wouldn't be able to slip in, as security in the Cartel and the Vykker Labs installations had quadrupled since Abe and Munch's little escapade. When they had gotten into Vykker Labs, they would take control: they knew there had to be some master control center, and they intended to take it. Then... well, then they might just have a chance to do some damage. But right now they had to focus on the problem at hand.

Okay, this might turn out to be a longer story than I had expected. But unlike my other stories, I intend to finish this one.