We're up to the so called unlucky thirteen! Thirteenth roleplay of the mission, anyway.

Ahh, judge for yourself if it's good or bad luck that Catrina is here. There IS a FBomb warning in effect here. You know the one, four letters long.
(No, the word isn't 'four.'
But once you see what Catrina's in for here, you might not her for it. Let's get to exploring the world a little more. It's going to be the setting of our first play by post game, actually... more or less!

Strong language, F Bomb warning!

 
Sebastian Dash carefully made his way through the frozen town, taking great care to avoid both slipping and being detected. He'd send Vixen to scout out the enemies, since she refused to risk a chance of Lapine being carried out into the great unknown without at least Dash or Vixen being aware of it. They owed their freedom to Lapine; her sudden attack had been enough of a distraction for Vixen to awaken Dash and usher him to safety before they could be noticed - as if the now broken relationship between Vixen and Lapine wasn't enough to motivate Vixen's loyalty.

Sebastian wasn't terribly happy about the thought, either, but he realized they needed help. This 'Master Dark' seemed like a slightly bigger version of Sebastian, but he'd actually gotten the better of Sebastian during their first confrontation. Dash shook the self doubt out of his head, doing his best to avoid the patrols of winged, white orc looking things. He managed to pick up the name 'Mountaincenter village,' which explained why the mountaintops surrounding the town seemed so close.

There was a good deal different about this "Mountaincenter Village." Mostly, though, the buildings were a bit more sparse, with large clumps of trees and grass scattered in an almost random pattern between buildings. What buildings there were looked to be mostly made of unusual stones, and were bigger, and more impressive than the buildings Dash was used to from their home Seaside Town. As he ducked between one abandoned building and the next, Dash picked up a few hints of the state of this world. He'd also spotted a few paintings of this 'Lady' Whiteclaw in one of the libraries.

She looked to be Catrina in every manner except dress and groom. This painting was lacking the generally relaxed mood of Catrina. This version was dressed in dark, ominous clothing, like General Dark. Tellingly, placed upon a nearby easel, though it was hard to see in the dark, were just started images of her that made her seem only more noble, and dressed even more conservatively than the older images of her. Sebastian wasn't sure which he would count on Catrina to hate more; the downplayed earthly brown tones of her attire, or the utterly sensible lack of cleavage.

Dash smiled and found himself studying the pictures, when perhaps he should have kept moving...

 
MEANWHILE

Catrina arrived in a place that was almost- but not quite- like what she'd just left. She looked around- seeing the signs of battle- smelling blood and...huh?

She took the scent of the air again and shook her head. Something was incredibly not right here! She distinctly could trace six scents.. no seven. Seven scent traces that she knew like the comfortable warm memories they were more traces than people!

She could trace Dash- along with Becky and Vixen and Lapine and ….Lapine? TWO Lapines? And... and a SECOND, fresher Vixen scent! And... and ANOTHER Dash scent going in an entire DIFFERENT DIRECTION?!?!?

What the fuck????

She shook her head and growled. <Don't try to figure it out now hon. Just pick a scent and go with it.>

She picked the second Dash scent. It was alone- and smelt of blood. She whimpered remembering the image that had flashed on the mirror- then rushed in that direction.

She smiled as she noted the track's stealthy movements, partly from the familiarity with Dash's ways of hunting and partly because such tactics made it easier for Catrina - who had no such need for stealth at the moment, to catch up with him. Thus it was that soon our heroine was slipping into the same library and was soon mere feet from her friend. She stood there and watched him for a moment as he looked at the pictures- her eyes widening a bit as she saw just who it was in them.

Another her? She was tempted to repeat something she said earlier, but thought of better.

"So, looking at other women while you're here?" She purred.

Dash turned slowly, frowning. "So they got you too, huh?"

"mmhmm.. On purpose. In the stead of Konall and Becky." Her voice showed her growing condition as she moved toward him, her hips perhaps showing a bit more swagger than normal and her tail? Well, it was nearly plastered to her back. She sauntered over to him, putting her arms around him and purring. "Why look at pictures when you can have the real deal?"

Dash shook his head slightly. His shoulders slumped in defeat. "I wasn't expecting you. But we could use allies. My own counterpart proved tougher than the real deal."

Catrina growled. "Then I hope it will not disturb you when I rip his throat out..." She nuzzled Dash, feeling her body grind against him as if it had a mind all its own. Dash hugged her close, but still winced subtly. "If you must. But our goal should be to get Vixen and Lapine, and get out of here. They've got Lapine, though."

"And Vixen? I could tell she went the same way as the others, I hope she's just going to get her bunny like I would have done."

Dash just nodded. "Dark spoke of Lady Whiteclaw 'turning' on him. I guess in any world, you're above reproach. Up for helping me meet this pain in Dark's side?"

"Yes, perhaps it is time for the two of you to meet- Lady Whiteclaw?" the guard, obviously the leader of the squad behind him, suddenly knelt to the floor motioning his troops to do likewise. "I- my apologies m'lady! I...I did not expect you to be surveying the damage so soon!" He ventured a quick peek at Catrina's current mode of dress- showing both shock, disgust and... well he is a man.

Dash, of course, stepped in front of Catrina protectively. "We're not who you think, but we do need to talk to this Lady Whiteclaw."

One of the soldiers spit on the ground and spoke his name like a curse. Well, the name "Zedika Dark," whom he obviously took Dash to be. The others drew their weapons.

"I said," Dash repeated more forcefully. "I'm not who you think I am!"

Catrina's paw was on his shoulder as she whispered in his ear. "Dash. I think with me it goes from this 'Lady Whiteclaw' Bitch to being nobody- but you're a guy who looks strangely like a guy they want to split open. Best to just surrender and we can sort it out later."

Dash didn't seem sure. "We could probably sneak our way out of this."

"uh huh.. And become wanted criminals in a place that isn't our own? How long do you think we can survive without friends?" She pulled on him, trying to make him stand down a bit. "Besides- We NEED these people to help get Lapin back! You think we're gonna get a chance if we run?"

Dash slowly put his sword down. "Alright.. we'll go peacefully. But we need to see the Lady Whiteclaw. It's a matter of urgency."

The guards looked unwilling to do such a thing and the guy who had spoken first said as much- although in a more threatening way. "She might be able to get in- but you? I'm still more willing to believe that you're just waiting to get close enough to the Lady Whiteclaw to do her harm!"

Catrina smiled and moved from behind Dash and over to where the guard was. "It's all right. He's a really nice guy. In fact... well I can't leave him anywhere- he's my intended."

"Your... Intended?" The guard asked- although she could see a smirk growing on his face, guessing what she guessed was right.

"Yes... and you know I have to be with him at all times- don't you?"

The guy looked embarrassed. "i.. um... yes...yes La- yes ma'am! Um... Okay you.. um... you're coming along with us but.. you try anything funny and ... yeah.. just come along."

Dash shot Cat an amused look and went about doing as he was told, being careful not to make any threatening moves. Even as Catrina was making her case, Dash had measured a potential fight with each of the guards up in his mind. The outcome wasn't terribly promising.

They were placed in the midst of the group of guards and marched toward the largest building that stood in the center of the village behind a tall stone wall. It reminded Dash of nothing so much as a fort style castle. Something built as a plain fort and slowly, over the years, transformed into something to allow for more luxury and livability, usually as the lands gained respect and began to gain other and more effective ways of defending themselves over the years. Inside the wall were gardens that were quite beautiful to behold- but even Catrina was only able to catch the slightest hint of the fragrance of the flowers before they were marched on deeper into the grounds- and then into the fort castle proper. Inside the halls were festooned in colorful tapestries and banners in the never ending battle to fight the gloomy stone-ness of the place.

"Sure beats the Council of Loathing's dome," Dash whispered to Catrina.

Catrina giggled. "Well, these guys seem to be trying to avoid the stuffy look the Council hired a decorator for," she whispered back.

"It keeps the rain off." The head guard said with a smirk on his face. Dash answered with a dry, "Quite." The march down the hall continued. Dash couldn't help but notice the faded spots on several of spots of the wall, which seemed to indicate long hung paintings had been recently removed. There was the faint trace of paint. Though his nose (and most) were no match for Catrina's, he could tell by that, and the unevenness of the place, that it was recently subjected to an updating in the decor. Dash quickly drew a possible connection to Dark's mention of the Lady Whiteclaw's so called 'betrayal,' but for the moment, none of that was important.

At the end of the long hall they were being marched down was a set of heavy doors. The lead guard ordered them to wait outside while he slipped quietly into the chamber beyond. Catrina smirked after a moment or two. "He's probably having to defend himself against being intoxicated on duty."

Dash blinked. "Who?"

Catrina nodded. "That poor guard. He's gotta go tell this 'Lady Whiteclaw' 'Hey, I got some bitch out here looks just like you!' They're surely gonna think he's been drinking is lunch."

"Point taken," Dash said. "Reminds me of a few times I was 'escorted' in Honourburg. You remember the stories?"

"mmhmm..." Catrina nodded speaking low. "Not as many escape routes here, though." She fidgeted. "Damn... I wonder what they'd say if we slipped off to one of those side rooms we passed on the way here?"

"An .. option," Dash answered. "But.." Dash paused, sensing someone was about to enter.

At that moment one of the large doors opened and the guard stuck his head out- looking indeed a bit haggard from his supposed ordeal. "You two may come in now." Catrina and Dash followed him into the next chamber- a fairly large throne room meant for public audiences. As they approached the throne Catrina gasped, for standing on the dais were three Felines known to her by face- if not by dress. Cattaras, Daisuke... and herself!

Well... her other self... her self in this world... aww, skip it!

As they approached Catrina found herself outpacing the others- and saw her double leave the others and approach her. In the middle of the audience chamber they met, looking each other over. The other Catrina began to circle her, and any attempt to follow her motion was stopped by a paw upon her ass. She suddenly felt like a prize winning piece of meat as the more staid Catrina inspected her from head to tail, at one point lifting her sealskin leathers to provide a better look at Catrina's left ass cheek. As they once again faced each other the other Catrina smiled. "Remarkable. Other than the mistake with the birthmark it is a perfect copy. I wonder how he did it?"

"I know what you're thinking," Dash protested. "And this isn't a product of your 'Master Dark.' I got this fighting him." Dash looked towards the hastily bandaged up wound on his left arm. "When we arrived in your world, we found ourselves in immediate conflict with them."

The Lady stepped up- and studied his face. "I would expect him to say no less- to cut himself on purpose and try to fool me with some wild story." She then looked at Catrina again. "However... I would also expect him never to let an imperfect ruse out of the bag. There is obviously another, stranger explanation for all this."

"Besides, examine the wound," Dash responded. "There's no way that angle's self inflicted, and I've seen him enough to know he wouldn't trust anyone else to do it."

"And what's wrong with my ass?" Catrina demanded, causing the other- the Lady Whiteclaw to smile. "Absolutely nothing, my dear. In fact-" She then turned to the men. "Cattaras? Be a dear and fetch the poor girl some clothes, if you'd be so kind?"

Cattaras seemed to rouse himself from a reverie, his eyes coming up from looking at something low on the new Catrina in the room. "What? Oh.. yes Catrina, I'll get them right away!" He then hurried off to the sound of his sisters light laugh. She turned back to Catrina and Dash. "My brother is, no doubt, thinking about the fact that you, my dear, are not really his sister. And at a time like this to be running around in nothing but your underwear is... well I'm sure my mate will need caring for shortly."

"We still need to attend to my kidnapped friend," Dash pleaded. "Let us go and we'll do our best to put an end to this 'General Dark' as well."

The Lady Whiteclaw was about to answer when Cattaras returned with the clothing. She took them from him and gave them in turn to Catrina. "I'm sure that this outfit will fit you quite well, Catrina. Because it already does fit me. It is some of the clothing I used to wear when I was more... carefree about such matters. If you would like there is a small anteroom jut over there- a perfect place to change."

Catrina was about to protest, but then thought better of it. The look in her eyes- so much like her own- showed discomfort, and Catrina knew quite well why. No time to be arguing trivial matters!

Catrina padded off with her treasures and the lady Whiteclaw laughed as her brother fought not to follow. "Cattaras... even though she's not me, she's still too close to comfortably allow you to follow her. I know dear- I sense it too...But remember it is not too late for you to find someone to play with."

Cattaras gritted his teeth. <Thank you for bringing this up in pubic, dear sister.> He lowered his voice. <So, do you think Dark is behind this odd occurrence?>

The Lady scowled. "It is not polite to speak in our native tongue with others in the room that cannot understand, Cattaras! But to answer your question... I am not sure. I do not recall any plans he may have mentioned for anything as elaborate as this. But of course I was usually rather...um... preoccupied with his other needs when he talked of them." She blushed, refusing to look at Dash for a moment.

Cattaras growled under his breath. "Hmm.." He looked directly into Dash's eyes. "Don't make me regret trusting you."

"I won't," Dash answered without hesitation. "I couldn't help but pick up the gist of what you say. Catr.. my Catrina's spoken enough faline native, that I've gotten a few words here and there. If you think my.. counterpart is behind this, I'll tell you this; he seemed genuinely surprised when I entered this.. 'world.' I doubt he would have allowed himself to be put into direct contact with myself and my allies if he had. I also doubt he would have kept his quiet if it simply backfired on him. But if he did, I promise you, he'll regret it soon enough."

Dash paused and added in a sincere, empathic voice.

"And for whatever hurt he's brought to you, Lady Whiteclaw.. I'm truly sorry. For what it's worth."

The Lady Whiteclaw moved over to face Dash, smiling a warm glow in her eyes. "I see what she sees in you, kind sir." She reached out to touch his cheek for a split second- and the two other males in the room seemed to fidget and grow tense. But even as she did this her attention was taken by something that made her gasp. Catrina stepped out of the ante room, wearing an outfit that covered her nearly from head to doe- but in a way that was even more alluring. She wore a blouse than hung off her shoulders revealing a good deal of her ample bosom- having removed her top to avoid the straps showing. Around her midriff she wore a leather bustier, it nestled under her breasts and called even more attention to them. Tight leather pants and even boots made for feline feet completed the look, and the Lady inspected every inch of her double thoroughly- while the boys fidgeted even more.

"So beautiful... now I know why my men served me so willingly." the Lady purred, then glanced at Dasuke and back to Catrina. "And now, my dear, I must ask you to leave. Now. I'm sure you understand why?"

Catrina mrowled and nodded. "Only too well."

The Lady gave one last smile to Dash. "Treat her well. You are her intended so I know how she must feel about you. I wish you the best of luck. I- no. Cattaras will tell the guard to keep a weather eye out for you and help you as may be needed. As for me..." She moved over, taking her mate's arm tightly and nuzzling into him. "My mate and I have urgent business to discuss. Now, Daisuke." He purred and led her off toward their private chambers.

Dash smiled at Catrina. "It's .. you're beautiful. But we need to help Vixen before this thing takes another turn for the worse."

Catrina's smile became playful. "And then we can discuss urgent business too?" She asked.

Dash grinned. "Before, after or instead of putting the fire out and dealing with our own enemies back home?"

Catrina growled low. "One fire at a time, it seems. Coming?"

Dash nodded, quickly following as the guards parted their way to allow them out. Maybe they'd help. Maybe not. Either way, one obstacle was down, so they wouldn't have to sneak around the town. This still left the question of how Dark had frozen the town- and the real motives to it. Dash's mind also pondered the issue of how they would get back to their own world once Lapine was set free.

Right now though, the health of Vixen and Lapine weighed most heavily on his mind.

Next up, Vixen deals with her own flip version. Then we'll finally get to Shamus XTreme.