Back for more RP goodness from Mitch's furries (minus Todd) and Jen & Joy!

Speaking of Joy, Becky gets a chance to shine here instead of just making side comments. Plus we see some returning faces that.. well I don't want to spoil it!

 
Cattaras took a look around as he walked down the gangplank. He stopped on the pier and gave his sister a smirk. "This is it?"

Catrina smiled- even laughed a bit. "Hey, I never said it was a tropical paradise. Besides- with the growing problems between the frats and the hippies- with the pirates smack between 'em and the fact the whole place just got over problems with a freakin' dragon I think it' looks pretty good!"

"I know what some of those words mean," Jen commented. She disembarked just after the two cats glancing about at the surrounding buildings. Cattaras slipped a big striped arm around her and chuckled. Catrina even smiled- the lioness and elf having done much to patch over earlier problems. "None of that, dear brother- Gotta remember that you're not here to wear your new playtoy out in the sand on some beach. We got a job to do here." She then turned to Jen. "What do you need explained hon?"

"What are the frats and hippies? What's the name of this town? How do we intend to help the chrono dragon?"

Cattaras looked at his sister who nodded. "You'd have to ask the pirates what the town's named- it pretty much sprang up where they usually docked. Kinda like Aldara back home- a place where these guys can find anything that they might want to do when off the boat."

"You mean wine and wenches." Cattaras smirked, but Catrina ignored him. "As for helping Chrono?" She paused then sighed. "I figure we need to see what exactly is going on. It might be all we can do is make him comfortable and... see him off." She did not look happy about that prospect.

"The sooner we get to the chrono dragon, the sooner we can see what we can do to help." Jen gave Cattaras a side hug.

"Then we best be gettin' on the march, lass!" The voice was that of Coconuts, coming down the gangplank with a pack slung across her back- causing her posture to give Cattaras pause.
She smiled at him before speaking again. "Moondream be waitin' for us- poor girl hasn't left the nest since Chrono told us he was dyin'."

Cattaras nodded, but returned Jen's side hug. "Then let's get goin- although I might want a bit of time on a nice, secluded beach before we leave." He winked at the elf, his paw dropping just a bit while the other women rolled their eyes and chuckled.

Jen's eyebrow perked. "You haven't had enough?!" she whispered incredulously. Her hand slipped around the cat's waist to pet his fur.

Catrina laughed. "Oh honey, you got a tiger by the tail now! All I can say is lay back and enjoy the ride!" Cattaras leaned in licking and whispering in the elf's ear.

Jen blushed and glanced at Catrina for a moment as naughty thoughts filled her head.

Becky Joy burst out of the ship! "Okay, I'm ready! Oops, did I interrupt something?"

"Yes. Yes you did." Jen shook her head.

"But, but, I wanna walk with you." Becky pouted.

"When we leave town, Becky. Maybe for now you might want to look around, or open a snow cone stand?"

Becky gasped! "Ohhh.. I'd have to get some meat to buy some snow, though!"

"Or you could just make it. You know, being a cold mage and all."

Becky giggled. "Why do they call them cold mages? I never feel cold! I hope I don't get a cold!"

Rebecca looked at the others. "Will the lass be okay doin' that? There be plenty of rough types here any number of which would love to get their hands on a fine wench like Becky."

"I won't hurt 'em.. too bad," boasted Becky.

"If Becky has shown us anything, it is that very little on this world could truly harm her," Jen smiled. "She just needs a little direction sometimes."

"Yeah!" Becky said. "I need directions, like 'beat up them bad guys then go eat candy.' I can do ice magic, and cold wind attacks, and snowstorms, and even buy snow!"

Rebecca shook her head. "If ye feel she'll be safe ain't nothing I can say to stop ye. However I just hope she does the right thing when the directions are 'Get on yer knees, wench!'"

Becky held up her hand. "Freeze it and walk away before he starts yelling." Rebecca took that in and then started laughing- a full, hearty laugh that would make the Captain proud- and one that entertained Cattaras greatly.

"I see the lass can handle herself. Me- I usually take a dagger to it." she winked at Cattaras, who had something new to think about for her- and not a very pleasant picture at that. "C'mn. We don't have much time and it ain't good to keep a dragon waitin'."

"Yeah, no more time for silliness," Becky said.

They made good progress toward the dragon's mountain, with the two felines occasionally leaving the trail to hunt for the groups' dinner. Fahari disappeared but the other felines said there was no problem- and she was out to make sure none arose. As Catrina entered one clearing her ears came up and she purred and Rebecca knew why. "Aye, Cat. Figured it'd be fittin to camp here for the night- seein' as it's where we camped before that day when this all started."

"That sounds like a segue into a very interesting story," Jen smiled.

Rebecca smiled at the elf. "Figured that Cat here'd been tellin ye all about what went on before. But if ye want to help me clean the kitties' catch I can fill ye in from a different view. Cat? Mind takin' yer brother down to the stream and fetch some water? Nice stream there, by the way- got a nice place for a girl to get a quick dip and a bath- or other things." She winked at Cattaras again, a wink that Catrina regarded with a rolling of the eyes as the pair grabbed buckets and headed off.

As the felines moved out of sight Rebecca set upon one of the carcasses- dressing it for the cooking fire with skilled motions of her knife. "Ye like the kitten, don't ye." It wasn't a question, it was a fact.

Jen observed the woman's skill as Becky watched the two. "I do. Becky, do you want to sit?"

Becky nodded and sat down. "Sure, thanks! I mean, unless you wanna have some private chat, then I could go do somethin."

Rebecca chuckled. "This won't take long- about as long as it will take the two of them to gather a few buckets worth of water." She looked at Jen. "Reason I ask ye if ye like him is that... well... I know ye may have gotten a bad idea of what Catrina's like. She's really a good lass all around- and one hell of a fighter. Saw her rush head first into a battle after bein nearly dead- just one health grog between here and the grave!"

She put the meat down, pointed the knife somewhat at Jen. "What I'm trying to say here is that- I've known her for abit longer than you have- even your high puttin' queen doesn't know her as well and.. well she will do whatever she can to protect her friends and her family. If you ever decide to screw him over.. well you just seen what she might do to you with her bare claws if ye did!" She stabbed the meat to make her point. Becky jumped back slightly.

 
==========================

 
As Catrina and Cattaras headed toward the river they were met by Fahari. "The way behind is free of enemies."

"Good work." Cattaras growled, but the panthress shook her head. "The work is not mine, for there were no forces behind us. This troubles me."

"Yes," Catrina nodded, "it'll mean they've concentrated forces around the nest or..."

"Or the Goddesses were sadly mistaken about the dragon's importance in the Dark One's plans..." Cattaras growled. "Which I'll believe when Becky Joy acts her age."

"No, this place and its people are very important to the dealings of the Dark." Four robed and hooded figures stepped into the clearing they were in. Faharin tensed and growled seeing one had a rat's tail, but the rat only chuckled. "You might want to introduce us, Catrina, before your friend makes a mistake she may regret."

"Sliver!" Catrina gasped, then turned to Fahari and hurriedly explained who he was even as the four pulled back their hoods.

"And Asami, Myoko and their ever beautiful mistress Kyomi." Cattaras purred and bowed to the women- and his old master. "But.. why are you here? Are you called by the Goddesses as well?"

Sliver looked sad- well sadder than his normal look. "It may well be in the Goddesses interest for me to be here- but it was no work of theirs."

Kyomi nodded, and her eyes caught fire showing her unearthly nature. "It was agents of the Dark. Perhaps in punishment for our training of you, they attacked sweet Sliver's dimensional home."

Sliver nodded- and Catrina felt that his words sounded as if his eyes could catch fire any moment now- or maybe that was just because she felt just as mad about them. "I.. I had always hoped that my three greatest mistakes would see the error in their ways and return to me. Well they did- at the head of an army of demons!"

The others growled, but Kyomi swept on like the tide, not giving them room to interrupt. "I had been forewarned." She smiled. "Not in the way you think. When I was set as Sliver's.. erm.. 'liason' I was told that if the day ever came that he was endangered I was to bring him here to meet the Darkness that would help us all." She stepped forward, her two handmaidens alert as she approached Fahari. Bright gold eyes met impossibly lit ones and were held as Sliver held back his students with a motion of his hand.

It seemed like an eternity before Kyomi looked down. "You must pardon me, there was no way to be sure other than probing past the barriers."

"Barriers?" Fahari blinked. "What barriers?"

Asami whispered into her mistress' ear and she nodded. "This world's own darkness approaches- and it is not a good time to discuss even greater Darkness then. Tomorrow we will find you and explain all, and your training can begin."

Catrina looked from the vixen to Sliver. "What, you are not going to camp with us? You would be most welcome at our fire."

Sliver chuckled. "My camp is already set up- and I'm sure your brother has told you what that means." The four then slipped back into the woods, leaving an astonished Catrina, a chuckling Cattaras and a perplexed Fahari.

==========================

Jen frowned, looking towards the river, then back to Rebecca. "Threats are not necessary."

"Not a threat, love." Rebecca cleaned the knife and put it away. "Promise. Y'know this dragon we're goin' ta see? When she first met him Catrina was ready to tear him to shreds for making 'her Dash' disappear. Now, if she'd do that for a boyfriend, what do you think she'd do for a brother?"

"I am well aware of what she can do. She did try to kill my Queen. Anyways, there seems to be a large party down by the river."

Becky squealed. "Party! I want balloons and cake!"

"She was bewitched, ain't the same." But Rebecca let it drop and stood to meet the newcomers however they wished to be met. "Not the same kind of party, lass. Be ready with yer witchery."

"I know," Becky said, shrugging. "I just like balloons and cake, heehee."

"Maybe we should go check on them?" Jen asked.

There was no need as into the clearing stepped Cattaras and Catrina with a perplexed Fahari trailing. As usual she was trying to hide her state- but some quick 'pillow talk' had trained Jen in the feline's unspoken language. Rebecca let her guard drop and sighed, going back to preparing their meal, muttering "Military type'll make me grey before me time, they will!"

Jen rose and strode to Cattaras. "Who were those beings I could sense down by the river?"

Cattaras smiled and was going to give Jen a 'haven't seen you in five minutes' greeting grope, but her attitude warned him and he let it drop- for now. "Ran in to our old Master and his.. .em... 'friends' down by the river. They got a camp close to here." For some reason Catrina giggled at the word 'friends'.

Jen glanced back at Rebecca for a moment, before turning back to Cattaras. She gave him a serious look. "May I speak with you alone, Cat?"

That confused Becky. "How can you speak to anyone if you're alone?"

Cattaras couldn't help being flip about it even if, somehow, he felt she was being serious. "Sure you can trust me with no one to protect you?"

Jen cracked a grin, putting her arm around his waist and guiding him back to the woods for some privacy. "You know I would really enjoy that." Catrina narrowed her eyes a bit but only for a second.

As they got deep enough in to be out of range of prying feline ears Cattaras turned and looked at Jen. "Okay, what's up?"

She took his paw and then swept him off his feet. Climbing atop him, she wrapped her arms around him. "I know much about you, but how much do you know about me, and my people?"

His paws found her rump as if they were meant to be there. "Not too much. Things went to shit shortly after Honorburg. Catrina forbade me to see Aleena again."

"I'm sorry to hear that. My people share themselves more freely than the people of this world. It was... a mistake on her part. But I understand, and, am happy to be with you." Jen blushed and smiled, nuzzling her cheek against his soft fuzzy chest.

Cattaras purred, his paw stroking that armored rump- then stopping. "Why do I suddenly get the idea that meant a helluva lot more than I'm giving it?"

"From what the others say, it's a dangerous task coming up. In case we get separated, I want you to be able to call for help," Jen began.

"You mean...like that weird stuff Dash does all the time- sayin' he's talkin' to Aleena?"

Jen nodded, then pressed a quick kiss to the feline lips. "I can give you some of my technology. It will let you talk to us, no matter the distance."

"But that's all..." Cattaras sounded oddly.. thoughtful.

"That's not all, kitten," Jen corrected.

"What else is there?" He looked at her - interested in what she had to say.

"Instant knowledge. Share sensations, feelings, memories. It's not just for communication." Jen's eyes locked with the cat's. She didn't quite know how to explain it to him; technology so alien to him it might as well be magic.

Cattaras knew what he wanted. He looked up at her, an alien elf framed in the moonlight. His paw squeezed her rump. "And what about this? What about two lovers, behaving like wild animals on the ground in a moonlit glen?"

Jen giggled, pressing a kiss to her kitten's lips, her hips moving against the cat's pelvis.
Cattaras thrust up into her knowing that there was nothing there to excite since he'd gotten fully aroused the moment he hit the ground.

"What will your technology give me there?"

"We'll think of something, I'm sure... now... take me," Jen commanded huskily.

Cattaras chuckled, giving her a little spank. "Trying to change the subject, me lusty lass?" Okay.. so maybe he'd picked up a few things on the trip over. "Even if you 'thought of something' it'd be like, in my head- right? Right now I can do the same on a lonely night with my imagination and my right paw. I want this!" He squeezed- almost painfully if not for her armor.

Jen's armor retracted in response, letting her squeeze Cattaras' arousal between her silken thighs.

"Aleena told me some about things with you people.. and you told me more in the past few days. How many worlds have you been on- a hundred? A thousand? More? And how many moonlit glades have you stood in- without a mate to behave like a wild animal with?"

"I have stood upon many worlds. Fought on some of them, too. As unlikely as it seems," Jen laughed softly admiring the tiger's self control, "You are the first I have been with."

Cattaras purred. He felt like exploding in several ways but he pressed on. "Perhaps you never thought of what you might do on those planets- with the right person. Perhaps, next time, we can find out?"

"Aleena says to quit trying to be poetic and spit it out." Jen grinned. So did Cattaras, who squeezed her rump one more time than nodded. "Take me with you."

"This will feel like just a little pinch," Jen said. She caressed her fingers across his neck and Cattaras suddenly felt the pain. It hurt only briefly, flickering away as quickly as it came. "It is done," she smiled, kissing him deeply and passionately.

"Only half done." Cattaras purred as they broke. "Jen, I promise to be the claws to rend your enemies, the fur to warm your heart- the seed to fill your belly with love. Where you go, I will be, until we meet on the Great Savannah."

Jen seemed shocked. She did not expect such a declaration from the cat. But her stunned expression was quickly wiped away by a smile. "I thank you, and promise to be by your side, for good or ill, for as long as you'll have me."

"The Goddess smile on us- until she welcomes us to her bosom." Cattaras sat up and kissed her as her suit changed into its panthress form. "Now... let's make like wild animals."

As I give these re-reads and do a little light proofreading and heavy editing, it's hard not to miss AIL after a mission like this one. This mission definitely had an excellent mix.

So did this roleplay. Exposition, humor, flirting, and the return of Sliver combine to make it.. well you read it, did you think as highly of it as I did?

More surprises up next!