Cat needed- and got- a little help for the mission Finale from me. And in this one, we got a lil help from Funki, Konall Bearsmasher's handler, who hadn't done any AIL work since the legendary Chrono Dragon mission. Fortunately, this was a prelude of things to come, and a few mission later, he'd be back heading up our Live Roleplays.

I honestly think of Cat, Funki and myself as the "Power Trio" of AIL, since I've been the one running it, and since day one, it's only been possible with the support of at least one of them at every point in the game.

Bragging aside. . . .

In addition to this mission marking Riko's last showing in AIL, we're treated to Raw Hide and Vixen, in addition to Dash and Catrina. The meat of this Finale is in the second part, which is usually the case with Finales. This one has no action, instead focusing totally on the interaction of the five.. which I think we nailed quite well.

A few funny moments, too...

(Written with the help of Dash and Funki)

This," he said aloud, "is why I was put in this miserable clan... To be better than everyone else!" The Spooky Forest seemed to shake from his mighty, awe inspiring presence. Raw had gotten sick and tired of the forest already... stupid occasionally-talking trees and overly pale rocks... (he'd sort of wandered into Whitey's Grove a few times due to not paying attention.) "Ahh... Which way's back?"

"Doesn't matter," he thought, "I go far enough in any direction and I'll come out. I don't see why they call it the Spooky Forest anyway. They're probably just a buncha pansies."

Then, Raw Hide heard a rustling in the bushes nearby. Without pausing to consider, he whipped out his battle axe and rapidly hacked the bushes, and anything inside them to pieces.

 
A squirrel scampered out, unharmed but frightened out of its wits.

"Showed him," thought Raw Hide.

 
Not far away, Riko jumped in surprise as she heard a loud squeal of terror. "Just a squirrel," she reminded herself when she suddenly came upon the scene of Raw Hide hacking at a defenseless bush.

"Yes, you certainly showed that bush what a brave warrior you are. Is this aggravated assault, or did the bush hit you first?"

Raw hide glared at her. "Just getting warmed up." The axe twitched in his hand.

She held a hand up, enough to give even Raw Hide pause... "At ease, Raw Hide. Recall our battle against the minions of Hey Daze. I'm an ally of yours, also in service of the Kingdom of KOL."

Raw looked her over and smiled. "Hey, yeah! You were the one who didn't do anything but bathe and drink!"

Riko just looked at him, almost slack jawed. Surely he remembered the state her body was in? The pain...the weakness... the humiliation at having to rely on the others completely?

 
She jumped slightly as Dash seemed to appear out of nowhere, putting an arm around her, protectively. "Don't worry, Princess, he's only surly because evolution left him a step behind. And hey, Raw Hide might drink plenty, but at least he doesn't bathe."

"Hey, jerk, I think you got the wrong forest," Vixen said, walking up to join Dash and Riko, "This's Spooky Forest... I think you want Jerkass Forest, down south a bit."

Raw growled something under his breath and looked at Dash. “Ya know. You were a lot less of a tool when you were hanging around with that hippie chick. She was more your type, if you get my meanin'. Smelled better, too.”

"Down, ugly, the grownups are talking," Dash reprimanded him, turning to the other two. "So, any luck on the larva, Riko?"

Riko opened her mouth to speak but Raw interrupted. “HA! She just now got here! I'm the only one who's gotten one of these things yet!”

The others looked at the pools and soon they all had larvae and were ready to go. Vixen snorted. “You know, I’d a thought this would have been harder. I mean, the Gobs-“

Dash interrupted. “Last I heard they were still in disarray after Catrina humiliated their king.”

Vixen nodded. “Well…then the Penguins-“

“Reset by Feena back to the North- they haven’t bothered to come back- yet.”

Vixen nodded again. “Well…. How about the usual animals of the Forest?”

Riko spoke up. “Well… Mr. Hide accosted a squirrel.”

Whatever remark Raw Hide had in response to that was lost as Vixen spoke up. “So…um… What now?”

Dash shrugged. “Well, the mission is to get one of these things and return to the Council in Seaside Town. So I guess all we need to do is get back.”

Vixen smirked. “So what, a race?”

They all agreed that a race would be the best way of settling things. Then Dash looked up at the darkening sky, sunset had come. “Looks like whatever we do is going to have to wait until tomorrow. I vote we all get a good night's sleep and start back at first light. “

The others agreed, and set about making camp for the night. They shared provisions, talked a bit about matters of little consequence in the greater scheme of things, and finally went to sleep.

Raw Hide set his bedroll a bit away from the others, and soon after they were fast asleep he rose and smirked at them. “One of us isn't afraid of the dark.” With that he left the camp.