This's the final roleplay in the mission, and it's another monster sized bite! Tensions are high in this co-write, featuring Dash, Catrina, Moondream, and the pirates. The piece is long enough, and there's the character development you've come to expect after the previous efforts from Dash and Catrina, either combined or separately.

Finally, this roleplay, named after the key non player characters in it, takes several huge steps in setting up the massive finale- so big, it had to be posted in three sections!

Keep reading, cause things are getting tense. A story of dreams, and preparation. March 25, 2009- New version. Fixed a bunch of overlooked minor grammer issues.

Still, it wasn't long before Dash settled back at the campfire in the middle of the base, eager to talk things over with the pirates. With Moondream keeping pace, Dash grabbed himself a dinner- Garrlic bread dipped in whiskey, macarrghni cornbread with buttarr, and a can of X-Treme Soda Lemonaide - and settled down to wait for pirate company.

Moondream insisted she was satisfied with the fruit she'd found on her hunt today, although she did insist on trying the chive parrsley. Probably because it was claimed to be made with authentic local herbs and spice.

The pirates ate a dinner as well- consisting of fish fresh caught from the sea, the rest of the whiskey Dash used to prepare his dinner, and a hard black bread that had to be soaked in the whiskey to soften it enough to eat. In other words, the usual pirate fare.

Morgan and Coconuts later broke away from the others, coming to the fire pit to join their guests, each brings two mugs of grog "Sorry about leavin ye like that, matey." Morgan said to Dash" but the lads tend to get rowdy if ye don't keep a good eye one em at all times!"

Dash smiled. Even though he knew he should be eager to sleep, he wasn't, so the delay wasn't a big deal. Moondream had curled herself up against him, reluctantly, then stomped out a space to lay down a few feet downwind of Dash. She opened an eye lazily at the pirates, but didn't say anything.

Dash finished chewing, then said, "No problem, Captain. I'd imagine with things as crazy as they are, there's more than a few.. well.. ghost stories going around the camp."

Morgan nodded as he sat near Dash, upwind of the hippy, offering Dash one of the mugs. "Aye, that there be. And after what these eyes have seen today, not sure if'n me an' ol' Davey be havin a little talk soon enough..." He settled back on the log with a frown on his face.

Dash took the cup, gratefully. "Thanks. And I have a feeling we haven't seen anything yet. Hopefully my backup make it to the island in one peace. If we can wait that long. Tell me what you know - you seem to know something about the legends relating to the Chrono Dragon."

Morgan scowled. "It's no more 'knowin' about the legends as much as knowin the legends themselves, lad- same as any. We all know of Saint Damarcan's Curse, and the prophecies that followed about its breakin'. Any fool knows these old wive's tales.... The trick...aye....the trick lies in us figurin out what they be meanin'!

Moondream threw her hands up in frustration. "This is SO not cool! Like, I don't even know what a chrono dragon IS! All I wanna know is, where's it from, when's it leavin our island, and is it dangerous to, ya know, my encampment of enlightenment?"

Coconuts nearly growled at Moondream. "Your ENCAMPMENT? This thing has returned to the island and that's all you think about? Listen, bitch, that dragon is a curse upon this land! It was banished long ago, but it's back now! It KILLED everyone in its path, you hear me? EVERYONE! We are ALL goin to DIE if we don't figgure somethin out!"

"Geez, someone needs a good herbal bath," Moondream mumbled to herself. Dash didn't really care for the looks the glares the two flamboyant ladies were trading, but there were bigger concerns. Dash knew his impatience with the situation was probably starting to show, but he didn't much care. "Alright," he said through nearly clenched teeth, "now that we've established the danger here, why don't we do something useful and try to come up with a way to kill this dragon once and for all?"

"Aye, easy words to say, Matey," Morgan replied, gently pulling his crewmate back to her spot on the log, " but the question be: do we have what it takes to slay a Dragon? all I can recall of anything to do with this dragon are bits and pieces of stories that me mother, may her bones rest in peace, told me when I was a mere tadpole!

I mean, there's this prophecy that apparently dates back to just after the Cursin'. Some sauceror said that 'The tamer of the Dragon shall bring peace to the Land.' I mean, what are we supposed to do with such bilgewash?"

Dash shrugged. "Not sure it helps us. But it sounds like if we kill it, we'll bring peace to the island. The fact we've got a hippie and you pirates working against us might have something to do with it. I guess." Dash didn't sound entirely convinced, but it was better than the fog of silence that'd fallen over the conversation.

Catrina woke to the sound of raised voices- it sounded like Coconuts. She rose, stretched and quickly dressed, then Went out to see what was going on, although things seemed to have quieted down now.

She saw Dash sitting with his back to her, and grinned. She snuck up on her unsuspecting victim, then draped herself over him, pressing her breasts into his back provocatively. "mmm...Hi"

Dash tried to ignore the shiver going up his spine. It wasn't fear. Unless the fact Moonbeam was lazily laying on the other side of him counted as fear. He kept his voice even. "Catrina.. aren't you supposed to get a *full* night's sleep?"

Catrina purred and played with his ear, first tracing it with a claw, then reaching over and sticking her tongue in it. "aww... I got lonely- wanna join me in the bed?" Morgan tried unsuccessfully to hide a chuckle, while the girls looked at Dash and smiled knowingly.

Dash gently, but forcefully, nudged her away. "For Sneaky Pete's sake, woman, knock it off! This isn't some simple run against a bunch of Heckions, you know?! This thing's serious." Dash gave her a stern look to let her know he was serious.

Catrina sat next to him, taking his hand in hers. "I know, hon. All the more reason to have fun...later" She then smiled and turned to the others. "So, What's going on? I thought I heard someone shouting?"

Moondream's eyes lit up. "If you really wanna have fun, we could go around naming all the trees in the forest! But if you forget what ones you named, it kinda sucks.. nevermind."

Catrina smiled at the hippie. She had started out hating her, but seeing what she did in the fight, when obviously the girl had been scared shirtless, that gave her a few points in Catrina's book. Although she wished she wasn't so much of a twit at times! "Not the fun I'm thinking of, hon...."

"Ohhhh," the hippie smiled a knowing smile. "I totally know what you're thinking of!"

"I doubt that," Dash said. He then quickly changed the subject. "Repeat the prophecy for Catrina, would you, Captain?"

Morgan nodded to Dash- then turned to Catrina. "Don't know what tellin her will help, beggin yer pardon lassie, but some of the best minds in the Kingdom have been puzzlin this one over almost since the Sauceror opened his yap and said it. But...the Prophecy goes 'The tamer of the Dragon shall bring peace to the Land.' "

He shrugged, but Catrina looked thoughtful. It was obvious that she was trying her best to work the problem through with everyone else, if only to impress Dash that she could be counted on for more than a tease. "It sounds as if...if we get rid of the Dragon, everything should be alright. My people don't have much dragon-lore- not many dragons either, but we do have a few sayings...One that always puzzled me was 'The hardened heart is the Dragon's best weapon'" She shrugged.

"Why is it hardened?" Moondream wondered aloud. "Or is that a stupid question?! Sorry! I'm not very good at this!"

The Captain actually smiled at Moondream as she shrunk away from the question she just asked. "Nay, me proud beauty! Yer question isn't as stupid as ye thinks! Many a mind better than the likes of this lot has failed to crack this nut!

"Ye see, the thing about prophecy and old wive's sayins is that no one ever fully cracks them until it's too late! Usually we end up lookin at what happened and sayin 'So THAT"S what he meant!"

Moondream looked perplexed. "But..what good is it then? Like- what can you do with prophecy and stuff if you don't dig what it says?"

Morgan nodded. "Aye, there's the crux of the matter. What good can ye do with a message ye can't understand? Usually all ye can do is rely on what ye already know and try to guess at the meanin of it. And pray to the gods that yer right when the time comes... cause prophecies have a way of bitin ye if ye guess wrong!"

Dash nodded as well, agreeing with what the Captain had said, and then adding a bit more. "As for the 'hardened heart' thing, again- we don't know. Whoever of Cat's people came up with that probably knew, but any explanation has been long lost. Perhaps it means his heart is hardened toward us, making him that much tougher to beat." He shrugged

"I dunno." Moondream hugged her knees to her chest. "I think maybe it just needs a hug is all."

Coconuts laughed, her namesakes bouncing as she did so. "A HUG? Girl, this thing is a born killer! It lives to destroy! It can call our worst enemies to attack us, and Pete knows what else it can do on it's own! Even if you could get pat the enemies, I don't think ye could get close enough to hug the thing!"

"That's just what I think!" the hippie protested. "You don't have to yell at a person for thinking!" Then she stuffed her head between Catrina and Dash and tried to drift off to sleep.

Catrina caressed the hippie's cheek, shooting a scowl at Coconuts. She had had issues with the girl, to be sure, but she thought she was coming to understand her better. "That's enough!" she growled at Coconuts, causing all to glance at her. "I don't think she 's ever had to think about things like this. Give her some credit for at least thinking!"

Coconuts looked at Catrina aghast that she was defending the dirty hippy, then smirked. "Yeah- thinkin'. This from the bitch that couldn't think enough to avoid gettin her ass beat three times in one day!" She barked in laughter, and Catrina rose to her feet, meeting her face to face, looking ready for a fight then and there "Shut up, you ship's whore- I killed a hell of a lot more than you ever touched!"

Coconuts went off at hearing this insult. "SHIP"S WHORE?! Why, you little slut I oughta...." She was interrupted by Morgan, who jumped between the two girls and yelled at them both. "BELAY that bilge, the both of you!" He ordered them both to sit- and both obeyed, Catrina only realizing she didn't have to obey when she already was.

Morgan growled, first at his crewmate, then at the catgirl. He then turned back to Coconuts and laid one over her port gunwale, although from the look on her face you'd have thought he'd hulled her. "Coc...Becky, I'm ashamed at ye! Actin like this to our guests- when ye know for a fact we be needin all hands in the battle tomorrow! And You!" His gaze now swung back to Catrina. "How dare you accuse a member of me crew of such things! I'll have ye know she pulls her weight as well as any man, and none would take her without her permission- which has not been given as of yet."

"In other words, ladies, play nice." Dash had been sitting there the past few minutes with his fingers folded together in a temple. "I realize we've all had a long day." He looked up to Catrina. "I'm sure you're both eager for a long night's reprise. But if we don't come up to a solution to this conundrum, fast, it might very well be the last night for any of us, and a good deal more." Dash paused. "And the more I think about it, the more I think our .. fresh scent challenged friend here might have a point."

Morgan smirked at hearing this. "Heh, huggin the beastie will take a bit of doin, if he'll let ye do it at all!" He then laughed along with Coconuts. Catrina looked as if she wanted to start the fight then and there, but held back, in deference to Dash. That didn't stop her from growling at the pirates though.

"Wow, I bet you have the boys cracking up at amateur nights on the ship," Dash shot back, sarcastically. "But no, I didn't mean that. I mean she's probably right to think outside the box." Dash thought about asking her what she thought, but she'd already fallen asleep between him and Catrina. "Conventional logic won't work. We've got to find a new way to think."

Morgan scowled- had they all gone daft? "There be no box to think outside of, lubber! It's either kill or be killed with a beasty like that- and I plan on doin the killin here!"

Dash glared at the Captain. He wasn't understanding this, and Dash was tired of waiting for him to. He scooped Moondream up in his arms, gently, and motioned for Catrina to follow. He turned to the pirate captain as he walked off. "Then you're a dead man. I haven't got time for this nonsense. We'll discuss this further in the morning."

Morgan watched as Dash and his party went into one of the tents. He then sighed and turned to Coconuts. "Aye...It be a shame when such fine fightin hands turn into lilly- livered dogs..." He lapsed into silence, nursing his grog.

***

Catrina opened her eyes at a sound- she looked over to see Dash, in his gear. ""mmm...Morning already?"

Dash already had an answer for her in mind. "Not for another hour or so. The captain wanted me to help him scrounge up dinner and let you rest." Dash smiled. "I guess he's upset at me for taking an attitude last night. He also said to make sure you sleep in, so get back to sleep. I don't want to get any more chores." Dash paused, then added for good measure. "I need to fit in some time to get ready for the battle with the dragon. And I'd kind of like to find out of there's enough material in these parts for a raft." Dash paused, deciding that was more than enough. "Get some sleep, Catrina."

"mmmmk" Was all the catgirl said, her eyes already fluttering closed. She rolled over, her tail swishing gently a few times before tucking in under her body

Dash smiled to himself. The last thing he wanted was to put her in danger, but he had to get to the bottom of what was going on, and having to put up with everyone constantly disagreeing and bickering wasn't going to do it. Fortunately, Dash had learned a long time ago how to prepare himself before falling asleep to wake up at a certain time. He had developed it to a fine routine. Breathing a certain way, moving his body a in a particular method. Things that Dash was sure were impossible to discern. Dash doubted he'd ever had mentioned it to Catrina to notice in the first place. Dash soundlessly slipped his broadsword, Bad Beats, from it's resting spot under the bed, grabbed an already packed Backpack, and set out the door. He turned back, sadly, to watch Catrina sleeping, hoping he's survive long enough to apologize for the deception and explain it to her.

Catrina rolled over in her sleep, a dream floating through her brain. In it, she and Dash faced the Dragon together, but as she watched, he began to fade from her view. She screamed for him... and woke in the dark tent. She took the scent of the air, and noticed Dash's scent was hours stale. Well... perhaps he was still out hunting breakfast... or getting ready for the fight... or looking for a raft....

Catrina woke fully, sitting up. Mama had told her once that 'Men who give themselves too much to do are often not going to do anything.' Catrina went over to his bed. Sure enough, his sword and pack were gone. She peered out of the tent. the brightness of Ronald made seeing easy, at least for her eyes- and she could see where the grass had been trampled by someone leaving the tent.

She growled to herself for being so foolish as not to have realized this earlier- and ducked back into the tent. Then she dressed quickly, grabbing her katana as noiselessly as she could and heading our, following Dash's trail by sight and scent.

She tracked him easily enough. Like most humans, Dash trampled through the wilds with little regard for stealth or trail savvy. soon she had his scent heavy in her nostrils, and was looking at where he had stopped to rest for a moment. She smiled to herself as, once again, she gathered herself and sprung! "Gotcha!" She cried as she bowled him over, landing astride him. "Now, buster- tell me what the hells you're doing sneaking out on me!"

Dash shoved her off, gently but firmly. "I don't have time for this. I'm going to figure out a weakness on the dragon, which means I have to figure where he is first. Alone. Get back to the camp and get the others ready. Please."

Catrina growled. "Nuh UH! No way am I letting you go up against that thing by yourself! Last time you did you forgot about me- and I'm NOT losing you again!"

Dash sat up slowly. "Go! Get out! Shoo! I don't want you anymore!"

Catrina looked incredulously at Dash. "I'm not a stray, mister, and I thought our friendship was such you didn't think of me as merely a beast!"

Dash smiled. "Hey, I figured it if works on real cats, why not try? Besides, you won't lose me. I just want you to keep the others safe until I find out what's going on." He paused, folding his hands, sitting up on his knees. "Please. just go back and stay safe. Okay?"

She nodded at him. "Captain Morgan and his crew are quite capable fighters- I should know, I've seen them in action, twice. Also, our sitting here arguing over whether or not I'm going back makes it definite that WE will be late getting back after WE check things out!"

Dash looked her in the eye. "Sometimes, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were stubborn."

Crud! He was catching on! Time for a change in strategy. "I just don't want to lose you, that's all. Please, Dash- let me come with you? Please?" She gave him the saddest, begging-est expression she could give, with big moist eyes that looked like they would just brim over if he said no.

"Nooo, not the cute eyes!" Dash covered his eyes. "I just can't stand the idea of seeing what this dragon might do to you."

"Then, hon, why can't you understand how I'd feel if something happened to YOU?"

"I guess I'm stuck with you, then. But if you don't PROMISE to listen to what I say, word for word, so help me, I'll drag you off this island, back to the South of the border, and leave y-"

His mouth was suddenly filled with kitty tongue as she kissed him, breaking all concentration "Oh, thank you, Dash!"

Dash was too stunned to react at first. Then he made a face, like he'd tasted a sour lemon. "You have a weird sense of humor. Promise? Good. Then let's go."

***

The images like, totally are dancing in your brain, Moondream. I'll skip your fake name and call you Michelle. Does that bug you, Michelle?

But you see them. You're dancing through a cloud of smoke with your new hippie friends. There's no camp in the background, just lots of smoke. Smoke, and dragon claws. Then they throw you out to find food, and before you know it, you dream remembering where you met them.

Sebastian Dash and Catrina Whiteclaw. You don't even know their names, at least.. not consciously.

All you know is before anything happens, you see the dragon, enveloping everything in it's path. . . The stars swirl into blackness. The constellations start fighting each other. Everything explodes in your mind. You fall to your knees, crying.

Then suddenly, a giant eye appears in the sky, soothing you with it's mystic, herbal, organic lights. And you feel at peace . .. .

And the secret of the dragon becomes unveiled to you.

Becky slipped into the tent, noticing that there was only one occupant. Good, just the one she needed to speak to! She wore the same shots and blouse as she had earlier, although she had not tied up the blouse under her bosom.

She watched as the hippy slept, noticing she must be dreaming about something...

She knelt beside the bed and reached out, touching the hippy gently, then more firmly, trying to wake her. "Hey! Hey...c'mon lass, wake up!"

Moondream suddenly snapped her eyes open, sitting up like a bolt of lightning had hit her. She brushed the hair out of her eye, feeling like she was still half asleep. She was used to the sensation. She looked at the pirate woman through eyes that were bloodshot from exhaustion and nightmares, instead of being bloodshot from the usual source. "Oh.. it's you again.. Did you think of something you forgot to yell at me about?"

Becky nodded, she had expected that from the girl, so she did not lash out at her in return as she usually would have done. "Listen, girl...I-I'm sorry for that earlier. I was upset...and scared. I don't like bein where I can't have some control over me own life...and I HATE bein' scared."

Moondream paused to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "Well.. it's okay. I guess it is a kinda silly idea." Then she smiled brightly. "Apology accepted! Wanna go find somethin' to smoke on?!"

Coconuts smiled. "Maybe later." When she took the time to just talk with the girl she could see that this hippy was quite likable. "Listen...this is gonna sound a little silly but, have you been dreamin?"

"Sure have!" Moonbeam sat up, trying to clear her head, without clearing the faint memories of her dreams. "There was this dream I hugged a tree, and one where I unlocked the secret to taming the dragon, and then there was this one where I was back in Seaside Town, but it was taken over by these really weird black things that looked like technology, but they were spiders, and -"

Becky jumped, then grabbed the hippy by the shoulders. "Wait, go back. What was that about the Dragon?"

Moondream shook her head. "I don't wanna upset you again. But. . ."

Coconuts knelt at he side of the bed, her voice anxious. "Please tell me what you dreamt of the dragon, girl! I gotta know! Ya see- I dreamed of it too!"

"I just dreamed I was right, though." She slunk back on the blanket she was laying on that she didn't remember laying down on. "I was up against the dragon, and the big red peace sign in the sky told me not to fight it. And to let my inner peace be my guide, 'Or whatever crap you drugged up hippies believe in.' That was his words, not mine. Maybe it was a floating eye. But man, I was offended!"

Becky nodded and then returned the favor. "I dreamed we were in battle with the beast, and the sky was filled with the Jolly Roger and went dark as doom. Old Roger, he spoke to me, as clear as a bell his voice was.

'Rebecca Townsend', he says, 'don't be an ass! Use ye deadlights and see what be different here! That be the key to beatin the beastie, lass! See what's odd and use it!'

"Then it was as if he turned me, and I saw you- helpin us, tryin yer best, but not hurtin anyone...." She paused for a moment, deep in thought.

"Git up girl! We got a dragon to stop!"

"You mean fight the dragon. . . . " She stared at Coconuts, horrified. "Before breakfast?!"

Becky was already tying up her blouse. "If I'm right, we got all the time in the world for breakfasts later. If I'm wrong won't be no worry about food where we're goin. But we gotta act fast! My Cap'n' s already set to go after the beast with first sun, and it seems your companions have already left for some reason. If we don't get there first and stop this battle...."

"They left?! We better hurry. They might need my help!" Moondream sprang to her feet. "I mean our help!"

Becky grinned as she stepped to the tent opening. "I doubt I'll be givin much help when the time comes, lass...."

Moondream scanned the room, grabbing her backpack, and stuffing what she thought she'd need, without making it too heavy. "Guess I should be glad the like, left me in my fighting outfit, or something. Let's go teach this dragon to looove!"

From a nearby elm Morgan watched as Coconuts and Moondream- no, Rebecca and Michelle left camp. He leaned against a tree and recalled what had come to him in a dream earlier tonight- a dream so vivid he was unable to return to sleep. He finally took the pipe from his mouth and spoke to their receding forms. "Good luck, and may Pete be with ye!"