He nodded. “But I want to help. Take my phone. It’s a resource.”

I nodded. I took the phone, then gestured to the others. “Come. I want to discuss this.”

When I approached Narwhal, Vista and Weld, it was with Sveta, Rain and Chris at my back. Capricorn was already hanging out with Vista, so he had to take only a few steps to join us and be part of our group again.

We were missing two members. We’d soon have another backing us, if Narwhal was game.

“I’m thinking phase two,” I said.

“If we can’t crack this army of theirs and knock out their leadership, do you really think we can contain it?” Weld asked.

“I think we have to change venues,” I said. “We leave. We make this a siege.”

“That’s phase two? No,” Rain said. “They still have hostages, and they have the food to drag this out. Hostages.”

“We’re hurting the hostages by being here,” Narwhal said. “The Fallen and their allies are being subjected to mental torture the moment they fail expectations.”

“We can back off, and you can fill us in so we’re armed with knowledge,” I said. “The closer we get to them the more we get caught up in their rhythm, so I want to pull back.”

“You’re sure about this?” Sveta asked.

“I think so,” I said. “I don’t see a clear other way. We’re pinned down, and that’s even with us having heavy hitters. We can’t get close if seeing or hearing one person can destroy us. The big issue is that they’re united in their horribleness, and we’re… all on different pages.”

Rain hissed, “If I can contribute anything at all, let it be me telling you that you can’t let these guys have a chance to regroup.”

“Multiple buildings are damaged, Prancer’s group set fire to a number of them. They’re in disarray,” Narwhal said.

“They revel in disarray,” Rain said. “W—they were the fastest growing settlement to start from scratch. They’re good at kicking ass when they have nothing going for them.”

“I know you’re concerned about the hostages,” I said.

“Victoria,” Capricorn said.

I moved my hand. The same gesture he’d given me, before. Flat, angled so it wasn’t quite a ‘stop’ gesture, not facing the grass and mud beneath us either.

“Fuck,” Capricorn said. “Rain, I get what you’re saying, but you left. You’re out of the loop. We really discussed this and planned this, and we took it to the heroes.”

“Not that it worked out great so far,” Chris said.

“Don’t snark,” Sveta said, quiet.

“We’ve been accommodating of your situation,” I said.

“You’re playing that card?” Rain asked.