[As always with our overheated tiger, language ensues]

Cattaras and Dash appeared in a clearing that hadn't been there an hour ago. Cattaras dropped his passenger and began working on freeing gnolls from wreckage, growling a bit. It wasn't that he hated helping these people, or the hard work in general. What he hated was having to tote Dash's fat ass... okay so it wasn't that fat... around the countryside.

"Careful!" Dash warned, going to help him pry the innocents free. "We don't want the walls to collapse on the people we're trying to get free."

The big tiger growled. "So what would you do- stand back and watch the walls collapse anyway? These people need to be freed now!"

"Just be careful about it," Dash said. He pulled his sword free. "Can you sense where they're at?"

A rumbling chuckle came from the big feline, who was busy shoring up a wall with his back as he pulled rubble out from around a trapped gnoll. "What do you take me for, Aleena?" He paused a bit and then said more wistfully. "Man, I miss that woman."

Dash nodded. "Me too. I.." Without warning, Dash turned, sensing something out of place. He rushed full speed down the dirt road, effortlessly dodging the debris and fleeing citizens, throwing the full weight of his two hundred pound well muscled body against a wall which had trapped a couple of young Gnollish. As soon as Dash pried enough space, they crawled away from it, more eager to get away from Dash than from the wall which would have crushed them.

Cattaras grinned even as he threw a large slab of wall off of another, older couple- whose retreat was equal parts 'thank you for saving us' and 'stay away from us you monster!' "Hey, Dash- you're starting to move like you're picking up on my thing."

"Yeah," Dash said. "But that isn't chi magic; it's running a few miles every day, twice a day, whenever possible."

Cattaras would have said something smart ass- but at the moment he was busy cursing a wall that was crumbling even as he tried to shore it up so that he could dig the people out- It was a good thing they were smart enough to dig themselves out and scamper. "Crap.. Dash... do that goofy eyed thing of yours- we need help... Someone who can make the crap these guys use to build their village out of more.... I know! Anyone seen Becky?"

"Call her," Dash suggested. He was already moving to get people out of the way. Some were injured while others were just stunned. "Loudly. Maybe we'll get lucky."

Cattaras snarled. "Oh ha ha.. what do you think this is some kind of fantasy story? Like I'm gonna yell out 'HEY BECKY!' And suddenly she'll appear like she was here all the time waiting for me?"

"Here kitty kitty kitty!" A familiar voice came from several yards away. It was Becky Joy!

"Okay.. that explains plenty...except why I can't be the guy who gets the girl in this story?"

Dash eyerolled. "Go get her, would you?"

Cattaras growled and then moved- his chi power being just enough so that the wall missed him- but not by much. He found Becky wondering around nearby, outside the range of the winds. "Oh, hi Cattaras! Sassy wanted me to help look for the missing kitties, they're so helpless and .. cuuute!"

He smiled, he had to. Becky had that effect on anyone. Even Daisuke cracked a grin whenever she was around. "Perhaps later. I'll help you look for them later if you help me now. I have some rubble that I need you to make stable so Dash and I can help some people. Interested?"

Becky frowned. "I don't know anything about horses."

And then there was this side of her- the side that made Catt's brain hurt. "No.. um.. I need you to freeze some stuff."

"Oh, then I don't have to run a stable!" Becky brightened up. "Why didn't you just say so? Let's go!"

Cattaras shook off the headache and took hold of Becky. "Hold tight. " It wasn't a long trip, but he needed her there now- not in the time it would take to walk back. Or to skip-de-loo back in Becky's case.

"Weather seems to be letting up," Dash said, nodding to Becky who simply saluted dramatically. "Just focus on keeping people from getting hurt, and listen to Mr. Whiteclaw."

"Kay!" Becky said, almost accidentally freezing her hand to her head as she saluted. Oops!

Cattaras chuckled. "We need you to make sure the walls don't crumble while we dig the people out. Think you can do that, squirt?"

"I will use ice to keep them together, okay?"

"That's what I figured." Cattaras smiled.

"You're smart," Becky said. "No wonder you're sheriff and I'm just deputy!"

The big cat chuckled. "Don't let Dash hear you sayin' that. He'll try to pin a star on my chest."

"Oh!" Becky danced around. "And I could have a moon on my chest!"

Goblina slipped up to them. giving Cattaras the once over before smiling at Becky. "I think he'd need a shirt first, honey. Which would be a pity."

Cattaras purred at the goblin girl. "Dash might not see a need for that." He couldn't help but show off for her, flexing his bare pecs with a grin.

"Mind putting those muscles to use, sir?" Darson cut in. "The Gnollish seem to be fretting over this weather."

"They don't have our natural Goblin strength," Red said. He and Green posed, but Green being so scrawny and Red being rather obese, it was somewhat less impressive.

Cattaras's look didn't get too sour- I mean who could be mad with two lovely ladies around? "You guys are late to the party. Dash and I have already dug out several Gnolls- I just went to get Becky to help shore up the rubble so we can work safely."

"So let's get to work!" Becky said. The cleanup efforts went well enough although of course, the worst of the storm hit later on. There were, sadly, casualties and injuries. Cattaras found the going easier now, what with Becky keeping the worst of the debris under control.

Man... if only she had a few more brain cells...

"Man," Becky said. "If I had a brain, I'd be dangerous!"

Cattaras chuckled. "Some guys like their women dangerous."

"Look at all the ice I put out!" Becky's eyes were wide. "They're like a bunny who's been energized. But it's kinda sad some people died today, huh?"

Becky frowned.

Cattaras heard the growl before he knew he'd done it, but agreed with it so let it go. "It was a waste. Too many innocents died today because of that..." Hmm.. what to call her that would be okay around Becky?

Becky just sighed, looking off into the distance. After a few seconds of silence, Goblina approached. "Mr. Whiteclaw, Miss Joy... I just got a letter from the council."

Moments later, Sebastian Dash and Cattaras Whiteclaw joined Becky Joy and her four Knob Goblins in a nearby doorless building, although the rest of the small structure seemed surprisingly sound. Goblina had suggested they'd want some privacy for the news. The others agreed, knowing if it was Council business, it was likely important.

Probably something they'd want to keep under wraps, too. There were a total of four seats. Red and Green insisted on standing. Becky paced around the table, refusing to sit down.

Goblina sat down only after Becky insisted she didn't want to sit down. Goblina started the conversation. "Have you guys heard the expression, 'No rest for the weary?'"

Dash just nodded.

Cattaras sighed. "Too often for my tastes recently. What's up?"

"Lots." Goblina started. "Those.. weirdos from Hey Daze are back. They've taken over Forest Village. If you haven't heard of it, it's a village.. in the Distant Forest region."

"Obviously," Darson said. "It's a well known importer of Gnomish gnoods. I mean, 'well gknown.'"

"Ozzie's from there," Dash added.

Cattaras gave a small growl. "I'd really hoped we'd seen the last of those jerkwads. Okay, so what's the plan of attack here? What are they after?"

"We don't know," Goblina says. "But they're in control of a village. There's a life machine there, which makes things more dangerous. I guess it'd be pretty bad if a demon got a hold of it."

"I'd think so," Dash said.

Green shuddered. "Ghosts, demons and the undead make me nervous."

Cattaras chuckled. "Add those to the list." He swung his gaze around the room. "So.. if that's all then we need to get down to …"

Goblina didn't let him finish. "Sorry, sir. No. There's something else."

"What is it?" Red asked, leaning forward. "Worse than demons?"

Goblina turned respectfully towards Cattaras with a nod. "You might think so, sir. You might want to stay calm and not do anything rash."

Cattaras looked at Goblina, eyes narrowing slightly. She wasn't one to beat around the bush.. even bushes he wanted her to beat around. "Goblina..." He closed his eyes and sighed, trying hard to relax, though he could sense it so many ways- Hells he could SMELL it... that Goblina was nervous about telling him... okay hold that line of thought .. open eyes and.. "Okay Goblina- I'm calm. What is it?"

Green started inching away from the table. Goblina continued. "First, there's rewards for both of these jobs. Saving the forest village and.."

Without meaning to, she paused to take a deep breath.

Catt looked from one to the other. "Will one of you tell me what's going on before I rip it out of you?" Again, close eyes... calm yourself. Open eyes. "Sorry. please continue."

"And driving the slavers out of the ninja village and destroying..."

"SLAVERS?!" Cattaras roared and stood, the look on his face was one that Dash had never seen before- not even when the big cat was on the verge of killing him had he ever been this enraged! Dash held up a hand in hopes of getting Cattaras to stop raging. It failed to work- duh; Catt actually looked like he was going to attack the next thing that came near to him.

He did mutter something though- low, under his breath- between the pants of his rage. "We destroyed those assholes."

"Catt!" Becky said loudly.

".. we did! There's no way -"

When that failed, she repeated it as a yell. "Catt!"

"Thank you," Dash said towards her. He turned towards Goblina. "We have to destroy something?"

Goblina's face went pale. Well, a slightly more pale green. "Yeah. We have to destroy the machine they're supposedly using to turn some of their dead into.. um.. undead. I guess."

"What?" Becky's jaw dropped. "F'realz?"

"It sure sounds like it," Goblina said.

Catt seemed to snap out of his reverie- which from the looks of it was not a good one. "Undead assholes? Oh no, this cannot- WILL not be allowed to happen!" He closed his eyes, and Dash could sense that he was gathering his scattered Chi for a burst of speed. Dash's next line stopped him cold.

"We need to talk about your sister."

Catt's next look at him said more than the words he didn't say right away- a look that said 'This can't wait until later?'

"I've been doing some thinking on the matter anyway, and I think your Goddess wants us to handle this," Dash said. Understanding Cattaras's urgency, he added. "It's difficult to articulate but I've had visions of the Goddess. It's almost as if Catrina's soul is.. I don't know how to explain it. Impure. As soon as I heard about the 'life machine,' it occurred to me that maybe we could use it to finally clear up her mind."

Cattaras closed his eyes and bowed his head, grimacing. Dash could see his fists were clenched- which was a problem given his claws. After a moment he opened his eyes and looked over at Dash- the fire still burning. "Did Catrina ever tell you about the Slavers? Their cruelty and lack of any honor?"

"She did, in some detail," Dash answered. By contrast, Dash stayed calm and collected, taking a measured assessment of the situation, though hardly an emotionless stance. "And I agree they're vile, disgusting creatures that need to be dealt with through whatever means are necessary."

A small smirk crossed Cattaras's face. "There are things about them, what they do, that even she does not know- and will never know if I have any say in the telling. Now, knowing that you wish to counsel that I turn my back on them and go after this so-called 'life machine'?"

"The problem," Dash corrected. "is the demons. Who knows what they're capable of?"

Catt growled again. "Nothing, until they find this machine. Whereas the Slavers have found theirs and know exactly what they can do with it!"

"Demons scare me," Goblina said.

Dash shook his head. "Nothing? They're still demons, Catt. You've got to see how dangerous they are."

Becky put her hand on Cattaras's forearm to get his attention. "I think Mr. Dashie is saying you're too close to the slaver problems to see things straight. It's okay, I probably am too."

The big tiger looked down at the smaller mage and her words hit home like the ice weapons she used. He sat down and studied the table for a bit before speaking again. "Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I am letting what the Slavers have done to m- to my people affect how I react to them."

"If you want to go after them," Dash said, "then you should. But your tracking skills would come in quite useful with the life machine, you know. Besides, you'd match up well against Zedika Dark and Hunk."

Catt took a long moment, looking off in both directions as if by some power he could see his goals before shaking his head. "Every fur and furfriend in the Kingdom will make for the ninjas. I'm not the only one with a pain in the tail to avenge. I'm with you."

"I understand," Dash said. "I'm going after the demons. I'm really worried that if we don't find out what is going on with Catrina, it's going to become a bigger threat than any of us can imagine."

Becky turned towards her Goblins. "Anyone got a problem with us going with Cattaras?"

Green shook visibly, but the four Goblins shook all responded with a firm, "No ma'am!"

"We gotta help Cattaras with his pain in the tail," Becky said confidently. "Wait, huh?!"

The fur hid any visible blush, but Dash could feel it as Cattaras started to study the floor again. "That... is none of your concern, little bit." He then turned toward Dash's puzzled look and gave him a smirk. "Let us just say that not all studs in bordellos are meant to give pleasure and leave it at that?"

"I know how you feel," Becky said emphatically.

"I seriously hope not." Was Catt's growled reply as he stood.

"I do!" Becky frowned. "I had to wear this dress when I was young to all the town meetings, and it really itched."

"Anyway, that probably wasn't very pleasant," Dash said. He actually got what Cattaras meant. "May your goddess watch over you, then. I'm sure we'll meet in the future. You know, to discuss the fate of Degrassi Knoll."

Dash smiled and grabbed Cattaras's forearm in a traditional fantasy greeting. "Keep safe."

"I will stay safe, but I'm afraid the Goddess and I are not on speaking terms these days. She probably cares little what I do or do not do."

"Don't lose faith," Dash said. With that, he vanished through the door to set off on his adventure.

"Hey, big kitty," Becky said, running to hug him. "Why don't you speed ahead and scout? I've got some things to do before we leave. You can take one of my Knob Goblins if you want."

"He can?" Green asked, cowering in the corner.

Catt chuckled and gave a wink to Goblina. "Only one person here I'd want to give a ride to right now."

"Okay," Goblina said with a smile. "You can take Red if you want."

Catt chuckled again. "Not exactly what I had in mind but sure, hang on tight!" With that he grabbed Red and was gone- with Red's surprised yelp fading in the wind..

With AIL having come to an end (for now) after the Season Two finale, I'll be missing a lot of the characters in AIL- and writing Becky! Yay Becky!