Chapter 9- Katojns:
Third Person:
"So, Kato," Nova said as he walked along side her, "What should we expect when we get there?"
"Cats," Kato said with a smirk.
"Ha-ha," Nova stuck out his tongue, "But seriously?"
"Seriously? The tribu is a lot different than most around the world, so they will welcome you- though don't expect that with any other clans or tribu's."
"Wait," Power Man asked, "Your people are all around the world?"
"There's about one tribu per continent," Kato said as she thought, "At least, I'm pretty sure there is... There's many twenty per tribu plus a chief and then there may be one or two that were outcasts..."
"That's not very many," Spider-Man pointed out, "Just how many of your species is left?"
"I'm not sure," Kato answered honestly, "I don't hear from a lot of them, but that's mostly because every other tribu out there doesn't like me because of my status as dishonored and shamed expect for this tribu... But I'd say maybe about... Maybe 140 Katojsn, more or less... Of that 140, maybe 1/4 are kits, 1/4 teens, and so forth... Maybe about 20 individuals that are half-breeds."
"Why is there so little of you," Power Man asked, "I mean, you guys seem pretty strong."
"Many reasons," Kato answered as she adjusted the child in her arms, "Sometimes they kill each other due to feuds, humans kill us thinking we're just animals, humans capture us... we die out and interbreed."
Kato smiled as she looked down at Vaquinha, who was still in her arms.
"Interbreed," Nova asked as he scratched his head in confusion.
"Breeding with someone who isn't a Katojns," Kato explained, "Doing that knocks out the Katojns gene rather quickly, usually by the second child... It's not very common since Katojns are cast out for partnering with humans."
"I guess that won't be a problem with you," Power Man joked.
Despite the bad joke, Kato did laugh slightly,
"Yeah, but they don't just breed with humans. There are other species, Earthen species that humans don't know about that are sentient and Katojns occasionally get together with... Though they're only cast out if it's a human..."
Kato shook her head slightly and Animal sighed,
"We understand, but you know not all humans are bad?"
"Well, I know that, after all, you guys are pretty okay," Kato laughed, "But eh, no offense, I just don't trust governments..."
"I don't think anyone does," Spider-Man added, "I mean honestly, you should hear some of the conspiracies..."
Vaquinha giggled as she followed Kato, batting at Kato's tail ever so often.
"Are you sure it's okay for her to just be walking around," Power Man asked.
"Kids wander," Animal warned with a small frown, "We should keep a close eye on her. We don't want her to get lost or hurt."
"She's fine," Kato smiled, "Kits, and yes they are kits as in kittens, may wander around, but they don't stray too far from the adult- which in this case, she sees me as the adult since I'm the only Katojns."
Vaquinha giggled again as she jumped onto Kato's back and nibbled at Kato's ear, causing Kato to hiss slightly.
"Umm... I don't know kids that well, but I'm pretty sure that that isn't normal," Nova pointed out.
"With Katojns it is," Kato growled, "It's the teething stage for their fangs, but they outgrow it by age six."
"I thought teething was for like when you're a year old or something," Spider-Man mused.
"Not with my species, unluckily," Kato growled, "This is rather painful..."
Vaquinha continued to nibble and bite at Kato's ears like a kitten would do with a mother cat. Animal looked at the scene with a smile.
"It is rather funny," Iron Fist spoke to Animal, "In cats, doing such things suggest a strong bond... So it is rather humorous to see them acting like that."
"I just like kids," Animal shrugged, "So I think anything they do is pretty funny."
Kato didn't find it nearly as humorous as Vaquinha bit her ears. If the ear-biting wasn't enough, then it was the fact that Vaquinha had her claws digging into Kato's shoulders and back.
"Here," Power Man said as he handed Vaquinha a small piece of bark, "Thought this bit help."
Vaquinha sniffed at Power Man and then at the bark before she deemed it okay. She bit into the bark and started to scratch and bite at it. Vaquinha jumped from Kato's back, the bark in her mouth, to in front of Kato- who caught the girl. Vaquinha settled into Kato's arms, squirming slightly, but comfortable as she scratched and nibbled at the bark.
Kato gave Power Man a thankful smile,
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"Totally lovebirds," Nova muttered as he crossed his arms, then louder he continued, "So how much longer?"
"Two days, maybe three. We gotta hurry to get there in time and even then that's cutting it close," Kato informed.
"Let's set up here," Alex told the group. They only needed one more day of travel, and all of them were thankful for it-especially Alex. She could only go so long with only one arm. Not only that, but the sooner they finished the mission, the sooner she could get back to New York. Not only that but Axel was back from Zartog. It wasn't a gut feeling. The twins had a mental link that disappeared when one of them were in separate dimensions or unconscious. They couldn't, however, send direct thoughts. Only images and feelings, and sometimes shared the same dream together, but they made it work.
"I agree. We still have one more day ahead of us," Kato said, "During that time I will tell you about Katojns. In the mean time I-"
"I'll take the first watch," Alex cut in.
"No way," Spidey protested, "You've taken first watch the past two nights. Also, you haven't slept since the springs, and you never woke any of us up until morning."
Alex shrugged.
"It's no big deal. I hardy ever sleep anyway."
Iron Fist gave her a worried look.
"Why not?"
Alex rubbed the back of her neck.
"It's...Complicated...Sorta...I just don't like sleeping."
She started to set up the camp while everybody just stared at her.
"Well, if you're so sure," Nova said, sitting down on the blanket Alex had just put down.
"What's the longest you've gone without sleep," Tiger asked, worry lacing her voice.
Alex thought for a moment and shrugged.
"Two weeks and three days at the most. At the least, six days. Like I said a few minute ago, I don't like sleeping."
"But you only had like an hour of sleep at the springs," Power Man protested.
"I've gone longer with even less sleep than that. Really it's no big deal."
"No. I forbid you to take watch tonight," Spidey said, shaking his finger in front of her face. She swatted it away and threw a glare at him.
"I can and I will. You guys need more sleep than me."
"You're to stubborn to give in, aren't you?"
Alex smirked.
"What gave it away?" she asked sarcastically.
He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"At least let one of us stay up with you. I know it can get pretty lonely."
"You don't need to do that."
"Oh, pish posh, yes we do."
Iron Fist stepped forward.
"I will gladly stay up with her if it mean she won't be lonely"
"But I-"
"It's settled then," Spidey interrupted.
Alex sighed.
"Fine. It's obvious I don't really have a say in this."
Kato watched with a sly, catty smile. Aww, the blossoming of a romance... She could easily have volunteered- she loved sleep and she loved sleeping in, but she could easily sacrifice it when needed. She's gone maybe a week or more without sleep- that sort of mostly was since she had couldn't sleep with fresh wounds so bad that she could hardly breathe.
However, she noticed how quick Iron Fist was to volunteer and she might have been more of a cat than a person, but she knew that something was going on between Alex and Iron Fist- oh-la-la.
Alex and Iron Fist took post a bit away from the camp so they can scout without the distractions of their friends' laughter- and there was a lot of laughter and talking.
"Thanks," Alex finally said, "I guess.. For volunteering and everything."
"No thanks is necessary. It's my pleasure."
The two smiled at each other. Meanwhile, the camp was anything but smiles. Everyone was around the fire in tense silence. Laughter was gone and they all had on solemn expressions.
"So... Kato..." Nova finally asked, "Why did you bring shame and everything? Just how did you get kicked out of your tribe or clan or whatever?"
"You mean, why did my family totally kick me out, scar me, and blind me," Kato huffed, "That's my business. At least the Brazilian tribe doesn't really care about it. They're really nice..."
She smiled slightly and looked down at Vaquinha. The little kit was snuggled onto Kato's lap, curled into a ball, sound asleep. Kato purred slightly and rubbed Vaquinha's hair,
"Ah, the little kit is finally asleep," Kato mused, "She's cute.. Ya know, when she's not biting my ears or my tail that is."
They all chuckled slightly and the tense silence was broken. One by one, each member retreated into a place to sleep. White Tiger was distanced from them, sleeping on the ground using a rock as a pillow. Nova was asleep on a rock. Spiderman made a hammock using his webs. The only two left awake at the camp was Kato and Power Man.
"Do you ever miss them," Power Man said as he stared into the fire, "I mean... I missed my folks when I thought they were gone. Thankfully, I found them again..."
"I miss the bond," Kato responded softly, "I don't miss my parents, not personally, but I miss that family bond... Perhaps that's why I'm so eager to go see the tribu... It's not the same, but it's close- Just like Vaquinha, she's not of my own family, but I have a small bond with her- even if it's not the strongest... And I'm sorry you lost your folks, even for a brief time... This just isn't the same thing... My parents are probably dead, yes, but they won't be coming back. Even if they were alive, if we met again, they wouldn't welcome me back."
"Then what would they do?"
"Probably fight me, maybe kill me."
Power Man whistled,
"Man, your species is brutal."
"Not really, I think it was just my parents..."
"Oh, yikes... I'm sorry."
Power Man scratched at his head. Unconsciously, he found himself moving closer to Kato- sitting exactly right by her side.
"Don't be, not your fault," Kato smiled, showing slight fangs that caused Power Man to wince.
She quickly closed her mouth,
"Sorry, I... I know this form isn't exactly all that pleasant."
Power Man winced again, man I didn't meant that...
"Look, it doesn't matter what form you're in, 'cause it doesn't matter what you look like. What matters is what's inside."
Kato covered a chuckle,
"Sorry, that was a nice thing to say, but it sounded really cliche... We should probably get some sleep, huh?"
"Yeah... How are you going to do that with the kid- I mean kit in your lap?"
"I'll think of something."
Power Man shrugged and sat on the ground, using the log that they were sitting on as a neck reset. He didn't notice that he was right by Kato's legs and he didn't notice the way that she almost jumped.
Kato moved her legs slightly and gave up trying to get comfortable. Finally, Vaquinha moved slightly and Kato picked the girl up in her arms, careful to wake her, and the two moved to a spot under a tree.
"Aw, isn't that cute," Nova cued, "We should totally take a picture!"
"Shh... don't wake them," Ava nudged him.
Ava didn't want to admit it- but she just didn't want to bother her new friend. At least, she thought of Kato as a friend.
Kato was leaning against the tree and in her lap was Vaquinha. The little girl was sitting on Kato's lap with her head resting on Kato's shoulder. Kato's arms were wrapped around the young girl protectively and her knees were raised slightly.
"Well, someone has to wake them," Alex pointed out.
They all gulped in fear.