We had a couple of debuts here, although Vixen only got to write a few of her own lines for this one. Vivace had a better debut, although we haven't seen her since this mission. (I'll update this if/ when that changes..)

Nevertheless, it added some much needed spice to the variety of handlers writing, joining Raw Hide, Dash, Feena and Catrina, who're regulars in the mission boards. Plus, Fluffy had that co write! The official debuts of Cattaras and Cattaras's master, the feral beast known only as Him, Dash finding forgiveness, Raw Hide's fight with the Snow Queen, and a dramatic finish all make this a mission to remember!

It's subtitle ("A Gathering of Forces") indicates that this, like many first pieces of a three part finale, focuses on mostly getting everyone into position, and giving us those juicy character details, as seen through the eyes of the Finale Writers. I really liked the Raw Hide bit here.. I could almost see it coming from an authentic Raw Hide roleplay, for some reason..

Catrina woke.

As the veil of slumber lifted from her consciousness, she was left with clear, vivid memories of what happened the afternoon and night before. She purred, remembering the slow, gentle, careful ministrations of the vixen she could feel sleeping beside her.

(Vivace, her name is Vivace)

She opened her eyes finally, and gazed for a bit into the still sleeping face of Vivace. She watched, purring as Vivaces body rose and fell with her steady breathing, slowly coming to the realization of just how much she now loved this vixen. They had only met the previous day, but Catrina already though of Vivace as equal to one of her sisters. It was as if a part of her family was being returned to her by the Goddess herself!

Catrina's ear twitched, as if detecting that lone sour note in an otherwise perfect piece of music. She looked to the window, seeing that it was still dark outside- but with the pale glimmer that promised that soon the Sun would be up and doing it's job again. She could hear something going on outside, but was.... Well, nothing but to look, was there?

She rose gently as not to wake Vivace from her slumber and padded over to the window. She suppressed a growl as she saw a force of Goblins, some carrying torches but most cast in pre-dawn shadows, swing onto the south road that Dash had taken yesterday!

She slipped out of the room quietly, then headed downstairs and out the door as quickly as she could. She saw the last of the force turn south and followed it- her mind intent on one straggler in the bunch. She stalked this 'herd', waiting for the opportune moment and, when she saw it, pounced the gob, grabbing him quickly and dragging him off the path before he could scream, She looked at her catch- and her eyes widened as much as his as she realized this was the same gob she had questioned the other day!

"Okay hon, here's the deal. I haven't got a lot of patience today. You either spill or so help me I'll gut you in the slowest, most painful way possible!"

She must have made a good impression on this one the last time they met, for he started squealing and Catrina soon wondered if she'd made a mistake in getting him started off. He told her about his leader, General Grillhamo, getting word as to where the Penguins were holed up with their trophy and the plan to go there and retrieve what was 'rightfully theirs' to steal in the first place! The force was large, and even included the allies that they had made recently. "Yep bitch- once we get down there nothing's coming out alive that ain't Gob or furred!"

Catrina knocked the gob loopy, then headed back to the Inn, running like the Dark Ones themselves were on her heels! She dashed back up the stairs and into the room, then went over to the bed, gently rousing Vivace, while a calmer corner of her brain mused on the softness of her fur as she touched it.

She found herself calling Vivace using a familial honorific- and she didn't mind one bit. "<Sister>? Wake up, we have to go!"
***

South of the Typical Tavern lies the Woods of Disorientation. Many mysteries are said to dwell in this part of the woods, and it's said at night, spirits roam the woods freely, looking to gift it's magical wine upon wanderers. The fact that this is said almost exclusively by drunken half orcs and booze giants should in no way discredit it's authenticity. (Or lack thereof.)

All sorts of mysteries lie this way, Sebastian Dash was sure. Dash walked through the forest confidently, though, unafraid of any challenges they might meet.

"They," in this case, referred to him and his new traveling companion, a short half fox with green fur. She walked along with her new traveling companion hoping to talk. Walked along, silently the tree's like something was watching them, a clean well shaped, sort of chubby, green, bushy tailed half fox.

"At this pace, it won't take long to get there," Dash told her. "Thank you for agreeing to come help."

"Hey, it's no problem!" she responded in a voice that made it clear she was a fair bit younger than Dash- although still a fully grown woman. "Now tell me where we're going to find this weird little bird of yours at?"

"Looks like the Penguin Mafia have set up camp with the locals nearby," Dash answered, obviously not happy with it. "Are you familiar with the Bat Hole in the Nearby Plains?"

"Sort of," she answered, tapping her walking cane as the two continued south. "Big ugly two headed bat freak? I've heard rumors about that."

"The two headed bat," Dash responded, "is one of the Penguin Mafia's 'trump cards,' now. Or so I read a few months ago, during an invasion on their headquarters. In fact, he might be one of six."

"Heh, wild." Vixen used her staff to knock a rock out of her path. "But if they're holed up in the Bat Hole on the Nearby Plains, why're we going south? I thought the Plains were to the north."

"Indeed they are," Dash answered, his eyes still facing south. "But for some reason, the Penguin Mafia have taken refuge down south. We think they're using a nest of trees familiar to our 2 headed 'bat freak' and his minions. If so, we could be going up against more than just Penguins and possibly Knob Goblins. Like THAT comes as any surprise!"

Vixen reflected on that little twist for a minute. "Well, I'll be ready for a fight if it comes to it."

"It shouldn't," Dash assured her. "All we do is get in, steal the bird, and get back to Vivace and Catrina to figure what comes next."

"Exactly," Vixen said with a nod.

"Exactly," Dash echoed.
***

Feena blushed.

She had stormed out of the Clan hall, vowing to help the Toot, to "...give something back in return." Now she was sneaking back in, because she had left her bag in the Clan rumpus room.

Most of the others were busy at the moment, luckily, so Feena had no problem grabbing her bag and slipping back out undetected. The bag felt a little heavier, somehow, but Feena dismissed that as just fatigue.

She turned again toward Mt. Noob, but after a short time she found the way blocked. Surprisingly, the way was blocked by Sebastian Dash's horse- the one that had brought her back to the Clan! She approached and tried to go around it, but it seemed determined not to let her pass. Finally in frustration she blurted at the beast. "Didn't I tell you to go to find Dash?"

To her surprise, the beast nodded.

"So why don't you do that, and get out of my way! I need to help Toot!"

The beast shook its head, its mane flying around a bit. It then leaned down, pushing Feena gently toward the south.

"Hey! Stop that!" Feena then remembered that the Toot Oriole was no longer at Mt. Noob. The last thing she remembered from there was Catrina showing everyone what the Penguins had done. Well, that and being attacked by that strange Feline. She shuddered as that memory attacked her again. "So what, you know where the Toot is?""

The beast shook its head

"You know where Dash is?"

It nodded.

"You want to take me to Dash?"

This time, the beast neighed, tossing back its head and stamping!

"Well, you could have just told me...no wait..." Feena giggled to herself. "Okay...um...how do I get on? You're a bit tall for me?"

For an answer the horse walked over to a nearby boulder, just tall enough that Feena could scramble on top of it, then onto the horse's back. As she did, she heard a muffled cry from the bag! Situating herself on top of the horse she took the bag and set it before her, opening it even as they began to move swiftly southward. She nearly fell off as Fluffy's head popped out of the bag! "What are YOU doing in there?"

"Sleeping! What are you doing OUT there?"

Feena looked at the whizzing scenery. "Going to find Dash- I think."

Fluffy looked around, then yawned. "Great! Guess I'll grab a few winks then...although there's this one hard stick in here, uncomfortable to sleep on. You know what it is?

Feena blushed. "It's...erm...it's a magic wand!"

"Hmm...kinda strange looking for a magic wand...."

"It's a special one, made just for me. Don't worry about it!"
***

Raw Hide fell upon the Knob Goblins like a wave, slaughtering as he went. After a while, however, he noticed that some people he expected to be fighting weren't there. Like that guy with the cat- General Grilled Cheese or something. Where was this guy? He grabbed one gob, half throttle him, and growled at him- asking where this guy was.

"Are you nuts, mister? I'd have to be crazy to tell you what General Grillhamo is up to!"

Raw Hide roared in outrage at being balked so. and half throttled him again. Unfortunately this completely choked the gob, and he died. Raw Hide tosed him aside and grabbed another one.

"Are you nuts, mister? I'd hace to be crazy to tell you about what we're going to do in the Woods of Disorientation!"

He tossed this one aside just as angrily as the first and reached for a third, but found no third goblin to be had. He had killed the rest. Not one was left to make sense of these half assed answers!

Bah! He stood and stormed away, heading south toward the Weeping Tree. He needed a drink!

And a sammich.... for some reason he had a craving for a grilled ham and cheese sammich.