"That was a small throng of zombies just now - armed ones too, thankfully." Zed wasn't a fan of all-meat weapons, but needs must be met. The spear, as well as the other weapons and remnants of armor on the moving corpses, were a little out-of-date compared to the usual collection seen in the Kingdom of Loathing. "So, safe to assume these were some of Kadlin's works? Unless you've got a reasonable explanation for zombies roaming with fighters' gear in a village of meek paper-pushers."

Cattaras growled and picked a stray piece of zombie out of his fur. Fighting these guys was messy work! "If you know of any other crazy bitches who'd do such a thing, lemme know." He glanced over at Fahari- but not for long. She was dressed for fighting (that is to say not really dressed that much at all, save her rags) and gazing on her for too long was dangerous right now for the tiger. "You okay?"

Fahari snorted. The situation was taking her control of her emotional state to its limits. "Peachy... just love being covered in zombie parts."

"I know, I won't mind a good cold shower coming down right now," Zed responded.

Cattaras chuckled to that. "Cold shower would be good- but what do we do about the zombie gunk?"

"There's always something willing to stuff 'food' - of any quality - down its throat. Now... damn, Fahari, keep your robe off - there's that horse again." Zed lined his spear with the silhouette a little ways off in the treeline. That psychopath swordsman just came sprouting up like a bad omen.

Both Fahari and Cattaras were on their feet in one smooth motion, standing ready to fight.

"Easy, cats. Didn't know I had better far-vision than you two. The horse looks like it's tethered. What's say we stalk over, and surprise the owner and whoever's with him?" Zed chuckled a little too gleefully - either at his showing off over the Felines, or at the thought of cracking Dark's skull a bit.

Catt growled, taking the challenge whether it was there or not. "Stuff it. You know I've got a big blind spot I'm not able to look at right now."

Fahari chuckled. "Not as big as mine."

Catt grinned, perhaps forgetting the danger of his thoughts. "Yeah... but mine's curvier."

Fahari felt herself blush and heard her purr, feeling her hips swing a certain way before she knew what was happening. But she caught herself. "Um.. Perhaps we had better concentrate on the horse?"

"Why not? It's not as though I'd witness something that would greatly upset yourself and Sir Fumblies later," grumbled Zed. "Spread out, and try to arrive by the horse in succession, to confuse the party?"

Catt growled angrily. "Because I'm not going to mate someone on some stupid machine's urging, that's why!" He then closed his eyes- then opened them again- back on target. "Okay- you two take the sides and I'll flash past."

He gave Zed a smirk. "You're starting to think like a predator." Then Catt wasn't there, but beyond the horse in some cover.

Catt's ears perked, then flattened as to what they picked up. "Crap.. can't I get a freakin' break from this?"

Cattaras found himself staring at the.. unexpected sight of a shirtless Sebastian Dash, sitting, back to Catt, and engaged in a liplock with an obviously topless Katherine Swift. She gave no sign of noticing Cattaras. He started to say something, and suddenly realized she had a short crossbow aimed somewhere between his eyeballs.

She'd pulled the weapon swiftly enough to take even Cattaras by surprise.

"So the machine's affecting humans as well at this distance." Cattaras noted, then signaled the others - telling them it was okay before nodding to Katherine and trying to leisurely stroll away without letting himself show.. if you know what I mean. shaa-wiiing

Zed relaxed his cocked arm, then sighed before announcing his arrival. He was already contemplating the reasons why it'd be easier to say 'hi' and 'bye', rather than invite Dash and Ms. Swift to join them.

When Catt returned to them he tried to wipe the smile off his face and hide a chuckle. "It's Dash- OUR Dash."

Fahari looked at him. "And just what is so amusing about Mr. Dash?"

Catt couldn't help but grin. "Dunno if he'd want me to say, now if you'll excuse me I need a moment."

Katherine reached for a shirt and slipped it on, deftly managing to avoid revealing herself to the others. She handed Dash his shirt, which he quickly slipped on. "Hello, Fahari. What's the plan?"

Fahari looked where Catt had gone, then at Katherine, then made an "O" of understanding. "I see... You might ask Zed if he has come up with one. Catt's brain and mine have been.. um.. preoccupied lately."

Dash stood up, brushing his shirt off. "So what'd you find out, Shinestone?"

"That there's no wrong angle to... ahem. Dark, Vixen and Lapine, their Mirrorworld counterparts - seen in person recently. The zombies seem to be coming out in greater numbers now that the light's fading. And sounds like Konall's been stomping about, and commandeered some demons in town. We were planning to tackle the pursuers of the artifact first, but … Control's slipping more now." It was truly getting harder to keep a level voice, or try to respect another's boundaries; and it was worming away at Zed's conscious.

Fahari felt herself slipping again and caught herself before it truly showed. With another female around it was natural to want to keep the males' attentions- but only to a beast. "Mr. Shinestone is being kind with that assessment."

Cattaras returned, looking more relaxed and joined the rest of them- doing his best to keep his eyes on Katherine's. Or better yet Dash's.

Dash teased, "Great, you're not gonna jump me, are you?"

Catt was surprised at the purr from his side, as Fahari said to Dash, "Only if you want me...GAH! Goddess this is ridiculous! Can I not control my own emotions?"

Catt chuckled. "Only good thing is it seems to affect ALL our emotions.. making her -" he nodded at Fahari, who smiled, "the meanest fighter I've ever witnessed."

Dash nodded sagely, trying to ignore Katherine who had pressed herself against him, having slipped under his arm already. "I have a feeling we'll need all the help we can get."

"Since we've got the picnic set up," Katherine said, changing the subject. "Anyone hungry?"

"Uhh... Dash, she's a better cook than Gail right? Or is there some fruit?" Honestly, Zed preferred to keep in motion till he was too exhausted to continue (a hard prospect, what with the energy boost from the artifact), but he wanted to see how far Dash and Ms. Swift would go in full view.

"She's much better, I'm sure," Dash answered.

"That's sweet of you to say." Katherine hooked her arms around Dash. "Though he's a bit better than I am."

"Not that it matters," Dash explained. "It's picnic food, anyway. Sandwiches and such. Good thing, we didn't have time for cooking."

"Well," Katherine teased. "not in the traditional sense."

"Yeah," Cattaras said with a smirk and a purr. "You two were really cooking when I came along! Not that I blame you man. Been trying to avoid cooking all day."

Fahari shrugged. "Cattaras, I am sure neither of them wish to hear about our troubles."

Dash gritted his teeth. "Right. The machine."

"What machine?" Katherine asked. She turned towards Cattaras. "I seem to be missing some key details on the mission."

Cattaras started to answer, but Fahari interrupted, perhaps feeling his answer would dwell too much on minor matters. "My Goddess has revealed to me that there is a Life machine in this village- a machine that is in danger of being taken by the forces of Darkness." She smirked a bit. "It is a machine that has had an unexpected effect on those around it."

Catt butted in. "She means it make everyone horny as Hey Deze."

Fahari growled and tailswished. "I was hoping not to bring that to full light, since humans seem to be less aware of the effect."

"Increased fertility," Dash said. "I don't get it, though. There were no indications it was this powerful. None at all."

Catt shrugged. "Not really fertility.. at least I don't think so. As for the effect, how many furs in the area, usually?"

"You think it might be reacting to you?" Dash raised an eyebrow. "But that's a good point, probably not many native Catalinians."

Cattaras chuckled. "From what I saw, you two were pretty deep in it. Might just leave and let you two finish- or had you already finished and only half dressed?"

"Knock it off, furball," Dash adjusted his shirt, straightening it out. "Besides, seeing you kind of kills the mood."

Zed thumped his staff pointedly, before addressing the other two humans. "The mood? Dash, Ms. Swift - kindly recognize that either you try not to succumb to the pressure of the machine, or we'll meet with you another time. Honestly, it won't help if you two are always one step from cementing your affections with each other. And no, I don't care if you two let lose yourselves in passion - once you're nowhere near to stir my feelings in tandem."

"We'll behave," Katherine assured him. "We know it's a serious job."

"And to be honest," Dash said. "I'm anxious to figure what's going on. Katherine and I were plotting how to get in earlier."

"Any ideas?" Cattaras said, looking over in tandem with Fahari- earlier problems forgotten in the face of the main event.

"Half of us take the demons," Dash suggested. "The other half look for and disable the machine."

Fahari nods. "I have been directed by my Goddess. I seek the machine. Whether to disable or protect, that remains to be seen."

Cattaras chuckled. "I better take the demons, then. It's getting hard not to think about.. well you can guess what runs through my head when I let it."

Fahari nodded and, at least from her ears lowering and tail swishing, blushed. "I... can guess, yes. Very much so."

Cat tailswished as well, his ears going down a second before he recovered. "Yeah.. well.. um.. Dash? Might be a good idea to split up boys and girls on this one, y'know? Although we just left a lesbo orgy with Dark's crew..."

Fahari chuckled. "That probably does not give Mr. Dash much confidence in the move. Or Miss Swift, for that matter."

"Actually, I'd like to head after the machine." Zed started. "I think tempers would boil over with little provocation, if the three of us males headed out together. Might be a dominance/ aggression issue. And personally, I mesh better with conducting the machine's output than chasing demons down. So, if that's fine with you all?"

"Then our path's dictated for us," suggested Dash. "Cattaras, you were going to work with Red anyway, so how about you thin the demon ranks out? Make a little distraction for us. Fahari and Zed, do what you can to track the machine down. That should allow Swift and I to sneak into the village, talk to a few locals, and collaborate with anyone else taking this mission."

"After another 'bush break'." Cattaras said with a smirk. "Sure, I get you. C'mon Red let's get to work."

"Oii, do we have to move so pasta-fasta?!" Red took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "At least it'll be over quick."

"You want to get there before the demons, right?" Catt remarked as he grabbed the goblin. Red's reply wasn't heard- at least not by anyone in the clearing.

"He's got the right idea, though we're going to have a lot of 'fun' on the hunt. Let's run, Fahari; and keep your promise, Dash, Ms. Swift. Don't dawdle too much." Zed grabbed one of the picnic sandwiches to wolf down, before starting a steady loping run towards where he felt the machine should be.

Fahari grinned and took off after him. They heard an uncharacteristic laugh from her as she ran out of sight. "Don't do anything we wouldn't do!"

Next up are Sassy and Becky Joy. Then there is one more piece to post before we get into the exciting Finale!