Subtitled "Co written with Feena" since Catrina posted it, this's a great way to end the mission, throwing our heroes into a fight with The Muri-Dan!

If you've been reading the roleplays thus far, you'll know Catrina's spent several months training.. but the rest of the world's only had a couple days of adventures... this oddity is mentioned, but it might be a while til we really get an idea of why it worked that way.

It doesn't matter much- not in the face of the emotional reunion. This is a fight that Feena and especially Catrina have been setting up for several roleplays- and the payoff is a wicked battle! Despite her training with Master Sliver, the Muri-Dan aren't going to be an easy fight... Check this one out.. then it's on to the Mission Finale!

Feena wandered about the dark woods, somewhat lost on her own. She felt as if she were being watched, which in all likelihood, she was. Snapping twigs and branches caused the priestess to nervously spin about, disorienting her much further than before. She nervously reached for her favorite wok, which no longer is at her side. "Awww... I lost my wok," she lamented loudly, which was probably the worst possible idea she could have.

From behind her, a trio of anthropoid rats slipped out into view, the very three Murri-dan from before. "Well, well, if it isn't the bunny that smacked us around..." the biggest spoke, smacking his fist into his palm.”I think we owe her a poundin'."

Feena yelped in surprise, and tried to take off like a bolt. She didn't get far before she was pulled to the ground by her ankle, which led to a rather painful faceplant on Feena's own part. Feena kicked back, trying to scrabble loose. Thankfully, she caught snout and got enough freedom to scamper away.

Her flight didn't last long; the smallest of the three ratboys caught up to her again and smacked her into a tree. Feena was stunned, more than long enough for the trio to start pounding her with vicious blow after blow. She was blasted up into the air, pounded this way and that, and then slammed hard into a tree branch. Feena reeled as she fell, colliding with another flurry of strikes. This set launched her into another tree.

Feena coughed, blood appearing upon the fur of her lips. She knew she was in trouble, and only a miracle could save her now.

... She was fresh out of those too.

***

Catrina entered the glade just in time to see her friend slam into the tree, she groveled and her heart squeezed in reaction to seeing the bunny fall limp to the ground, the blood staining her lips from internal injuries. Her body reacted to her need, her Chi allowing her to suddenly be at Feena’s side, scooping her up and moving again to safety.

She laid her in some brush- out of sight of the Muri-dan. "Rest a bit hon...I've got some business with these creeps!" She then made her way around the glade to come in from a different way, this time making herself known to them. “Hello boys! Miss me?”

The three turned as if one, their eyes wide. Mortimer exclaimed ‘What? How did you…” He then gathered his wits. “Doesn’t matter, we’ll just take you down again. Stewie! Playtime!” Stewart charged Catrina with a roar, and this time it was Catrina’s turn to surprise them by waiting for the last second and then… moving, suddenly appearing behind the big rat and raking his back with her claws.

Mortimer growled as he saw this. “So, the old man still lives!”

Catrina growled back, turning to face the black rat. “MASTER Sliver is alive and well, no thanks to you. And he is very upset at how certain former students are behaving.” She ignored Mortimer’s reply as Stewart had another go at her, locking up with her attempting to force her to her knees. He was strong, but Catrina was no slouch either, and both found themselves at odds.

Catrina could feel Stewart’s Chi as it began to augment his strength and her own as it countered without thinking. She knew she couldn’t hold this battle long, not and defend herself from her other two opponents, who even now were advancing on her.

She gathered all her strengths and pushed, shoving Stewart away and turning quickly to face Jerome and Mortimer, only to have Mortimer’s tail lash out and slam into her chest, knocking her down. She struggled back to her feet as the pair whipped her harshly with their hard tails. They did not have a pack leader’s jewelry, but their blows hurt badly!

Catrina finally regained her footing, and lashed out at the pair with a set of vicious swipes and kicks, scoring a few blows. But they had a surprise for her, as suddenly their tails whipped out and coiled around her legs, pulling them apart! They grabbed her, holding her fast with her arms secured as they grinned at Stewart. “Take care of this bitch!” Mortimer cried out to his friend.

“Sure thing, Mort; She ruined our fun with the bunny. Now we get to play with her.” Stewart approached her, slowly, smacking his fist in his palm and cherishing the moment. Catrina growled at him, but could do little else. Her arms were securely pinned, and her legs pulled open so she could not get a base to kick from.

He struck, a hard punch across her jaw, snapping her head to the side. He quickly followed up this punch with a shot to her gut, taking the wind from her. He then reached out ripping her top off and grabbing what lay underneath tightly, causing Catrina to scream and writhe with the pain, and wonder which attack she should worry more about…

Either way she was out of options….
***---***

Feena rose to her feet, a look of pure fury upon her battered brow. "I told you before; do not mess with a PRIESTESS!" She leapt down from her hidden refuge, wand drawn in her hand. "Eat molten soup!" She sprayed out a stream of excruciatingly hot tomato soup at the three villains, hopefully letting Cat get back into the fray.

The rats dropped Catrina, screaming as they were scalded by the hot thick soup- she fell flat on her face- but pushed back up again shortly- smiling at Feena as she came up to her. “Thanks for the save hon.” Her jaw set as she saw the three regroup. “Let’s teach these assholes how to treat a lady!”

The three Muri-dan consulted- and Stewie...moved; flashing behind Catrina only to be met by her- they began to grapple again. The air between them began to glow as their Chi energies pushed against each other.

"That's 'ladies,' poppet," Feena smirked, stepping into a familiar wizard dueling stance. "Let's show these three how much nastier two angry gal's can get." She whipped her wand around sending a cascade of elemental streams in the direction of the vile Murri-dan free while she sets up for a new stream

Mortimer and Jerome moved similarly to Stewie- avoiding the streams if barely- an appearing close to the bunny. Mortimer smirked down at her. “Gee- I thought bunnies were supposed to be quick?” Catrina saw what was going on- and broke off her struggle with Stewie by pivoting and throwing him at Mortimer- they collided and went down for a moment.

"Quick? How's this for quick?" Feena grinned as she unleashed a torrent blast of spookiness at the two collided foes, getting ready for another blast as the wall of eerie energy faded. "Thanks for the save, Cat, but we ain't done yet." Feena whipped a few more sleazy streams of mana at Jerome, each stream arcing like the energy of a certain huntress' wave cannon.

As the tendrils enveloped Jerome Catrina moved again, appearing behind him and delivering a hard blow to his head. He went down hard even as Mortimer and Stewart got back up, both growling. “That's it! Both of you bitches are DEAD!”

Catrina laughed. “Who’s gonna kill us- you? Sleeping Beauty here? Give it your best shot, worm!”

The priestess growled at the two other rats, "Get yourselves lost, I don't wanna see you gits anywhere around anymore." She focused her mana, and fired off a large blast of ICE, a spherical orb of pure cold power. The magic practically whipped at them and exploded as it grew near.

They moved- only narrowly avoiding the blast- they reappeared next to Gerome, frosted, grabbing him and popping back out- not to return. Catrina panted- then grinned and hugged her bunny- perhaps a bit tighter than before.

Feena hugged back, a big smile across her face. "Not so tight, Cat."

Catrina eased up- blushing “Sorry. Forgot. Ohh...OH Goddess it's been so LONG!” With that she hugged Feena again- 'forgetting' again her own strength.

"Cat, it's only been a day or two," Feena grimaced, trying to put up with the tight grip. "You've not been gone all that long."

Catrina stopped hugging, a baffled look on her face. “Day or two? But...” She then suddenly smirked. “That's how he's hidden from them!”

"Who's hidden? What are you talking about?" Feena queried, feeling rather more confused than before.

Catrina smiled happily, snuggling her bunny again- if gentler. “Long story hon. tell you when we get time. Suffice it to say that for the past couple months I've been in the company of a Master- and he has taught me well!”

"Well, as long as you're safe," Feena giggled softly. "What would you do without me, though? Neither of us could take them alone."

Catrina nodded, remembering the first encounter- how her second had come so close to disaster. “I...I realize that hon. I know now I can't leave my friends behind- not now, not ever.”

"Speaking of leaving bunnies behind..." Feena swatted the backside of Catrina's head softly. "Don't you ever do that again!"

Catrina flinched with the swat, hanging her head. “I...I'm sorry... I had decided that you were better off without me- I was wrong...I...I promise. I’ll never leave you behind again. If I do go someday- you will come with me, okay?”

"Of course. I'm on your team," Feena grinned. "If you have to run off without me again, though, at least wake me up first. I wanna see you off."

Catrina smirked. “Yeah... but our way of 'Seeing me off' means I’ll NEVER go!”

"Works for me."

Catrina looked at Feena more softly. “Speaking of...” With that, she pounced her bunny love.

Feena laughed playfully, grabbing hold of her favorite feline in the world as she finds herself pinned to the grass. She winced slightly from her bruises, but they were nothing with her friend nearby.