The plot twists and story turns keep coming with this one!

While not as long as some of the other co writes, there's no question it's as good! It's the start of one of the more graphic subplots in AIL's history thus far- Catrina and the demons. You get a glimpse of it here. Oh- and this is, of course, the first mission set in Hey Daze itself! We're finally in, and while it would be cliche to say things are about to 'heat up' (*groan*), it's fair to say Hey Daze is going to be no pushover! Most of the rest of the adventure is set in Hey Daze from this point out- with the exceptions of a few scenes involving those characters who make their mission debut after this one.

Enough talk! Let's see how our first set of heroes- AIL'ers and temporary allies- handle Hey Daze itself!

Co Written with Feena

Catrina wanted to return, she wanted to go get her Dash out of trouble. But once again the flying body of her brother prevented her, just as the portal closed. She growled, but the look on her brother's face was one that she could not truly be mad at. Obviously he had tried; obviously Dash had sent him through first.

Feena simply stared; shocked that Sebastian Dash had opted to send the feline she despised instead of himself. Riko however was more puzzled, staring at her harp. "This.... Is quiet unusual."

Cattaras rose, looking at Catrina. "He was injured. He knew he could not make it. So he sent me...and charged me with one thing. Your protection. "Catrina growled at this slightly.”I hope you do a better job than you have been."

Feena snarled at Cattaras and Catrina's ex both, her wand out and ready to cast. "You two had better not try to hurt us, or you'll both be getting the short end of an angry bunny priestess." Feena would have continued, save for Riko's hand across her muzzle again. "We have little choice in the matter on whether we go retrieve Sebastian. We cannot with the Harp of Aeons like this." Riko held her harp aloft, a coppery color instead of gold.

Whatever response Cattaras or Him had for the belligerent bunny was cut off by a swirling of space around them. As they watched portals opened around them, and as all three Felines began to growl figures moved through these portals. Feline in form, their fur was as dark as the sky outside currently, and their eyes glowed with a golden fire.

They encircled the three Felines, chuckling. "Well....Three of the Bitches's children come to play? And ...mmmm...get a load of this pussy..." With that one of the dark figures grabbed Catrina, laughing as she roared and struggled in his arms. "Oooo.... feisty little bitch, aren't you?"

Feena's wand snapped towards the feline holding her best friend, yanking herself out of Riko's grip. "Let her go, ya slimebag!" She fired off three homing rounds of icy pain, trying to free her feline companion.

Cattaras and Him also sprang to the attack- and were sent flying into their companions easily. The rounds hit the first demon- for demons they were, yet had no effect. He turned and smirked at Feena. "Lucky for you I’m not hungry, bunny." With that his eyes flashed, and Feena found herself someplace else. She was not alone though, as Cattaras had been teleported along with her, and he was livid!

+++

She stared at Cattaras, wand at his throat now as she pushed against him with an angry hiss. "Why didn't you do something? You should have been trying to help!"

He growled at her, his eyes ablaze with wrath. "I WAS trying!" He narrowed his eyes now. "And if you point that stick at me one more time..." Cattaras trailed off into a growl, looking off across the bleak landscape as a touch of worry came to his eyes...

"Yeah... This is pretty bleak..." The same panicked look came across Feena's own face, her wand arm falling limply beside her. "Where do you think she is?"

Even here a smirk came across his face. "Knowing her....be silent for a moment." His ears swivel about as he scanned the horizon.

The priestess silenced herself a few moments, then knelt, praying quietly for her favorite warrior maiden.

He chuckled, pointing. "There...that way. Do you not hear it? She's giving them hell even here!" Indeed, if Feena really concentrated she could hear her friend's roars. But she had little time to do so, as Cattaras was already on the move.

Feena dashed after Cattaras, her lapine agility more than enough to keep up with the Feline. "Well, let's go give her a hand. I'm not leaving her alone out here."

Despite himself he smirked. "You may not wish to see what they will be doing to her.”

"I've seen a lot of what we've faced so far can do, so this should be cake, even if I have to go nuts with high powered spells." Feena kept dashing, dodging hotspots of brimstone beneath her feet.

He reached out suddenly, grabbing Feena hard by the breast. "He grabbed her like this- this will not be your ordinary fight! They will make her receptive- read that as knock her out- and then...." He could not finish the sentence, growling as he released the bunny breast.

She skidded to a halt after being released, falling onto her rear end. "You're kidding... You think they're gonna rape her?"

He stops as well, a worried look on his face. "They're demons...it's what they do. And it's the quickest way to ...to her..." He growled and heads off again, almost down on all fours for full speed.

Feena leaps quickly, grabbing hold of Cattaras. "Hope you don't mind me hitching a ride then. I can't run this fast."

"You...you know what you might see? That she may be lost to us completely before we arrive? And yet you still come?"

"I won't let her down. Catrina's my best friend, Cattaras. Now let's rock and roll. These demon scum don't stand a chance." Feena's body shook with anger and mana welling up from within.

He looks at her, perched- no, mounted on his back, and nods, setting off again at top speed. "Perhaps- but you should steel yourself that we may be too late- and if so. I hope they are not still in the mood...."

"Even if it is too late, I'll make them pay..." Feena's voice dropped as she growled in utter anger

He nodded. "Then rest as you can. I'll try to keep the ride smooth until we get there."

+++

He roared a challenge, but it was already too late. He fought off the wave of nausea that usually accompanies teleportation and tried to figure out where they were now.

Riko looked around, now further confused. "My goodness... If it isn't one teleportation, it's another. Are you okay, sir....? You have a name, no?"

He looks at Rico, shocked. "It has been ages since I have been asked for it..."

"But you still have one, do you not?" The princess looked at him in concern, both for the feline and Catrina both. "And where in Hey Daze are we?"

He was looking around. “I have no idea where we are, however..." His ears seemed to lock in on a sound and he began to move off. "I do know where my mate is."

"I would venture that she is not your mate any longer, but if you do know where she is, we had best go to her aid." Riko plucked a few notes on the harp, granting both feline and Roxzan the haste they need.

He growled, putting aside the question of who was whose mate for the moment, "I though you said that thing was broken?"

"It is broken, but not that I cannot play. I cannot call forth a portal or activate any of its other abilities."

He nodded, moving off silently, intent on his goal. "Daisuke."

Riko followed after him, moving faster with the haste imbued with her lyrics. "Then let's go save Catrina, Daisuke."

He nodded, heading off at top speed- although Riko heard him mumble. "Perhaps then she will understand...."

...