Cap'n Pine Cone took a deep breath.  He took in the sea air and then
the odor of delicious food.

"That smells wonderful Persia."  he said, "What are you making?"

Persia stopped stirring the immense kettle.  She took out the spoon and
gingerly took a taste.  "It's a surprise, Sir."  She wrapped her tail
around a spice jar and added a little to the kettle and then continued
stirring.  "You'll just love it.'

"I plan to.  Do you need anything?"

"Actually if you could send someone to get a lot more coconuts, we
could have the milk with dinner."

"I'll see what I can do."  said Cap'n Pine Cone, and left Persia to her
cooking.  He spied Lacey crouched among the ferns about to pounce on
Mistletoe.  "Lacey?" He called.  Mistletoe and Lacey both perked up,
and Mistletoe ran off with a little laugh.  Lacey grimaced but then
turned her attention to Cap'n Pine Cone.  "Yes, Cap'n?"  she asked.

"Persia would like enough coconuts for everyone tonight.  Think you
could grab a few kits and get some?"  Lacey smiled.

"Of course, Cap'n."  she said.  "It'll be a pleasure."

"Good.  Just remember to make sure that everyone is clear so they don't
get hit by falling coconuts."

"Yes, sir."

Cap'n Pine Cone returned to the heart of the camp, where he met Sgt.
Huey.  Huey was intently watching Captain, Stanley and Dante who were
conversing beneath a tree.

"Problems, Sgt?"  Cap'n Pine Cone asked.  "No, sir, just keeping an eye
on those kits.  I wouldn't be surprised if they were planning some
mischief."  said Huey.

"At ease, Sgt.  Let the kits have a little fun.  I'm sure whatever
happens, we can handle it."  Suddenly  Pine Cone's ears perked.  He
heard the sound of a high pitched wail, but he couldn't place it.

"Sgt, do you hear that?"  he asked.  "Yes, sir, I do."  replied Huey.
They both rotated their ears in an attempt to locate the sound, which
was growing louder.  In fact the other cats in the camp also stopped,
and listened.

Suddenly a colored streak flew into camp.  It was wailing loudly, and
for a moment no one could clearly see what it was.  It ran in a full
circle around the camp and then buried itself into the sand.  Cap'n
Pine Cone and Huey slowly approached it when it burst out of the sand.
Cap'n Pine jumped back and this time he could see what it was.

It was Qui Gon Kit.  All his fur was poofed out and his eyes were like
saucers.  And on the tip of his tail was clamped a small sand crab.

"OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" screamed Qui Gon, who kept
running at top speed.

"Grab him!!" shouted Pine Cone.  Mischief made a flying leap but at the
last moment Qui Gon swerved and Mischief landed face first in the sand.
Sammy and HRFL Tiger also pounced but Qui Gon evaded both of them.
Finally Huey lept onto a box and jumped off as Qui Gon sped by.

WHOMP!!!!  Huey landed on top of Qui Gon and sand sprayed everywhere.
"HOLD HIM DOWN!!!"  cried Pine Cone.  Within seconds, Mischief and HRFL
Tiger were on top of Qui Gon, who was still screaming and struggling.

"GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFF!!!"  yelled Qui Gon.  His eyes were full of
tears.

"Stop struggling so we can take a look!!"  shouted Tiger.  Qui Gon
finally stopped struggling and buried his face into Mischief's fur,
sobbing.

Cap'n Pine Cone pinned down Qui Gon's tail with one paw and held down
the crab with the other.  "Someone get Tanada!"  After a moment Tanada
trotted up with a medical bag..

"The crab looks like he's clamped on pretty tight."  she said.  "I
don't think we can get him to let go."

"Then there's only one way."  said Cap'n Pine Cone.  Tanada nodded.
She picked up a long stick and suddenly thrust it down, impaling the
crab.  "Qui Gon, brace yourself."

Qui Gon tearfully lifted his head.  "Just g...g...get it off."  he
said.

"Tanada, hold his tail.  I'd better do it."  Pine Cone grabbed the
stick.  He saw Qui Gon tense.
"Hey, Lily Whiskers, come over here."

Qui Gon perked up.  "Lily?  Where.........YEEEEOOOOWW!!!!!!!!"  Using
the momentary distraction, Cap'n Pine Cone yanked hard on the stick and
the crab was pulled off Qui Gon's poor tail.

"Nasty little bugger."  said Huey, watching the crab twitch on the
stick.  In one of its claws was a small tuft of fur..  Tanada quickly
bandaged Qui Gon's and they let him up.  His eyes were full of tears
and he looked mournfully at his bandaged tail.

"Will it be okay?"  he asked in a small voice.

"Give it a few days and you'll be right as rain."  said Tanada, patting
it gently.  Lily then walked up and began washing Qui Gon's tear
streaked face.

"Oh, my poor Qui Gon."  She said.  "You were so brave."

"Well......of course I was." said Qui Gon, sitting up a little
straighter. "I wasn't about to let a little crab get the better of me.
I had him from the start."  "Of course you did, sweetie."  said Lily,
as she kept licking his face.

Cap'n Pine Cone and Huey looked at each other, smiled, and left the two
kits to each other.  Pine Cone carried the crab on a stick up to
Persia.

"Persia?" he said, setting down the stick.  "Got something a little
special for you."

Persia stopped stirring and came over.  "Ahh, Roast Crab."  she said.
"Very delicious.  Where did you get this?"

"Off of Qui Gon's tail."  said Cap'n Pine Cone with a snicker.  "Think
you could roast it up special for Qui Gon?  I'm sure he would enjoy it
in more ways than one."

"Of course, I'll see what I can do."  Said Persia, picking up the
stick.  "Dinner will be ready in about 15 minutes."

Persia went back to stirring her kettle.  She took out the spoon and
tasted it, and then looked behind her at the jars of spice.
"Paprika.......Seasoned Salt......Basil......where's the Oregano?"  she
said.

"Allow me?"  said a voice.  Persia turned and saw a face opposite her.

"Sir Weebly Wobblebottom."  she said.  "How kind of you.  Just two
dashes please."  Using his tail, Weebs added the Oregano.  As he went
to return the jar.  "Watching you cook, you don't know what that does
to me."

"Not now, Weebs I need to finish this."  Weebs came up beside her and
headbutted her gently.  He wrapped his tail around her and rubbed his
face against hers.

"Oh, Weebs."  Persia stopped stirring.  She turn and looked into his
eyes.  Then she closed her and moved forward for a nose kiss.

"Ewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!"  Persia and Weebs both started.  They jumped back a
little and turned to see Lacey, Bam Bam, Barney and Tessie surrounded
by coconuts.  Lacey was smiling and the kittens were snickering.

"Um, sorry to interrupt."  said Lacey.  "But did someone order some
coconuts."

"Oh!" said Persia.  "Uh, yes.  Erm...Just leave them there, I'll get
Waffles to help me."

"No problem."  said Lacey, turning away.  The kittens were still
snickering, but Lacey hissed at them and ran off.

"I guess I'd better let you finish."  said Weebs.

"Well if you want to help.  You can start cracking coconuts and pouring
out the milk."

"I would be honored."  said Weebs, who turned and headed off to the
pile of coconuts

End Part IV

************************

Anyone woman who has had a domestic partner will know what its like to
be in the kitchen and they come in for a little kiss while you are
trying to focus on the cooking.  hehehe

BTW, anyone know how a cat would crack open a coconut?  They're pretty
tough.....

Kristi