Chapter 3
Cathy quickly closed her eyes, pretending she hadn't seen the tattoos located on the young man's arm. She cradled Joshua to her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the warrior. She clutched the baby and flew forward, knocking the young man over and covered both him and Joshua. Her eyes closed tightly as she felt the steel of the weapon break her skin and continue on across her back. After the horse ran by she opened her eyes and stared into green depths. They were beautiful. There was curiosity and confusion on his face as he stared at her. She had wonderfully rich brown hair. Suddenly, the warrior turned back around to finish the job. Cathy waited in anticipation, but the rider was knocked off the horse. Wufei came riding by on a horse, covered in sweat and grime.
The warrior got up and spotted Cathy. He made his way over, drawing a knife. Cathy's eyes narrowed. She quickly placed Joshua in the young man's arms.
"Look after him," she smiled lovingly at Joshua and she stepped up and away from the man still lying on the ground. She drew her own dagger and the warrior came after her with a yell. Her speed aided her as she dodged and circled, but strength was her weakness. His own knife locked with her dagger. He pushed down on her about ready to snap her spine. She let out a cry, feeling her blood surging dangerously. She saw Wufei coming at them quickly.
"Hurry," she whispered to her self. Then she yelled it to Wufei. "Hurry!" Then the warrior saw Wufei and he looked up. Cathy dropped and rolled, leaving the man to be trampled by the horse. Cathy gasped for air as her lungs began to breath again. The young man that was holding the baby slowly approached and handed the baby to Cathy. She smiled at the crying babe.
"She, it's all right, Joshua. Mama and Papa will be here soon." Wufei's eyes seemed to go dull and Trowa knew they weren't going to come back.
"Cathy, come on, I think we need to go find the others." Cathy shook her head.
"No, I probably should wait here for Mama and Papa."
"Cathy…" Wufei trailed off. Cathy looked at him sharply.
"What is it? Something has happened, hasn't it? What is it?"
"You're parents… they…"
"Are they hurt? Where are they?" Cathy cried desperately.
"No… they didn't make it." Cathy's eyes seemed to empty of everything. She was ignoring the baby's crying now. Wufei knelt down in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Cathy?" he asked softly. It was rare for Wufei to act as such, but Trowa didn't know that.
"You shouldn't have told her," he said simply. Wufei shot up in fury.
"You're the cause of this! You and your tribe, your symbol of death… a skull! You've brought this upon us… upon her!" Wufei pointed to Cathy after he spat this out with disgust.
"Wufei," stated Cathy hoarsely. "Don't blame him. He saved me. Those warriors are not part of his tribe…" She began to panic, not paying attention to her earlier speech. "Wufei… you have to be wrong about my parents. They're alive! They have to be!" Wufei shook his head.
"Cathy, I saw it with my own eyes. Your parents aren't coming back."
"Show me…"
"That's not…"
"Show me!" Wufei sighed and got up slowly.
"What of him?" he asked, nodding to Trowa.
"He can do as he wishes." Cathy turned and demanded once again for Wufei to lead her to her parents. He knew he shouldn't do it. He told himself not to. To at least restrain her from doing it, but she couldn't be stopped. Wufei walked silently next to the barbarian as Cathy walked behind.
"How did they die?" whispered Trowa. In any other situation, Wufei would have kicked this barbarian from here to kingdom come, but he was too tired and it was the least of his worries.
"Her father blocked a bullet directed at a member of your tribe. Her mother was taken down by a spear, and as far as I know, the weapon is still lodged in her throat." Trowa's eyes widened in shock.
"Are you mad? You're going to take her to see her parents in such conditions? You are heartless!" Wufei's eyes narrowed at Trowa's reaction and then sneered.
"Our tribe is strong and we can all take this kind of stuff. Heaven knows how many times we have had to do this with the deaths that have been plaguing us. Many are dead. The leader has become old and is losing his mind and grip on reality slowly. We are starving and this attack… it is only another addition to our misery. Cathy will grieve and she will cry, but she is strong and will live on, if not for herself, for her brother. We of the White Banshee tribe are strong because we have to be." Trowa smirked.
"You'd have to be strong to stand against the Dead Soul tribe." Trowa was once again surprised when this young man, called Wufei almost smiled at the comment.
"I'd say that we all are strong here. Everyone must be, because you are weak if you do not manage to adapt to our lives."
"You were talking of being plagued by deaths, what…"
"A strange disease hits us after we located that strange tribe. I knew that it was not the Dead Soul tribe, but I am infuriated quickly and sometimes that can add to my advantage. Keep that in mind." Trowa smiled a little now.
"What are the symptoms of this disease?"
"You first come down with a terrible fever and then you go through a day or two of extreme pain. By the fourth day, your blood vessels in your head start to burst. Many have died from this and the tribe has been reduced. Even my father has lost hope with the downfall of our tribe. We are all suffering and even I can see this. That is the only reason I am telling you this."
Just as Wufei finished, they came upon the mass destruction of the entire tribe. Wufei only cloaked himself in an unemotional armor as he ignored the damage. Cathy, on the other hand, was unprepared for the scene lying before her. The grip on her little brother tightened involuntarily. The frightened baby cried out and Wufei turned around with a dull look in his eyes. He turned away again and stepped over some bodies of the dead. Some were old friends they had known forever. Cathy finally recovered her ability to move. Trowa, surprised at the extensive damage caused by the attack, ran to catch up with Wufei. They walked for long moments in silence. Every once in a while, Wufei would find someone still alive and tend to them.
"You were unprepared," stated Trowa as the more he took in, the more he realized the situation. Wufei didn't lash out like Trowa thought. He only chuckled a little and dusted off his grimy hands.
"Did you come up with that all by yourself? How perceptive of you." Trowa could hear the mocking tone in Wufei's voice. Before he could say anything, Wufei turned to him. "I blamed the leader in the beginning of all this. He believed we did not need to worry. His old mind only saw the strong tribe we once were. He did not see us as we really are. To him, we could kill anyone with our bare hands, wrestle a giant and stand through a dust storm and not be affected in the least. We only laughed at him and shrugged it off, but it is only because all hope is lost, but we are still strong in survival, but even that is in question because of this strange disease."
"The one you mentioned earlier." Wufei nodded.
"The White Banshee will die out." Trowa was confused for a moment. "Each tribesman, it is certain, has the virus of this disease. It is only a matter of whether or not it will be stimulated now, or in another year, or twenty years from now. Cathy's mother was beginning to show symptoms before the attack."
"So it may have been best she died this way." Fury filled Wufei's eyes and he turned away and kept walking.
"I do not wish death upon my other tribal members," said Wufei in a quiet monotone voice, "But I do agree with you. Death is better than the disease." Trowa hesitated and glanced over his shoulder at Cathy and her infant brother. She had a dreamy look on her face, a look that you might have in a nightmare and can't wake up from. Shaking his head, Trowa followed Wufei through the rubble of human bodies.
Duo squinted his eyes as the hot sun filtered through the treetops. Treetops? How'd he end up there? He hadn't gone there to be lazy and fall asleep again, had he? Then the memories flew in and with them, the pain. It flowed through every nerve and muscle in his body. The realization that he was not alone also made itself known. His vision blurred slightly as he tried to sit up. Before he could do this, a harsh voice ordered him to lie back down. It was feminine, but held a command worse than his aunt's. For his sake, he gingerly relaxed back down. At this point he expected death, torture… but not a canteen of cool water! No matter… he drank up almost half it to before the young woman could shove him off.
"Hey, I need some for later too you know." Duo finally opened his eyes all the way to find a dark haired young woman, about his age, frustratingly place the cork into the mouth of the canteen. She was annoyed in losing so much water. Duo's voice was hoarse as he spoke.
"You've got a tattoo." The girl fixed her dark gaze on him and gave him a frustrated glare. She gave one more final shove to the cork of the canteen.
"Boy, you're quick," she stated sarcastically. Then she mumbled something about coming to find a friend and found the tribe idiot. Duo rolled his eyes and began to get up, but a sharp pointed spear at his throat stopped him in his tracks. His eyes followed from the tip to the holder of the spear.
"Here's a suggestion, stay put. I'm a little frustrated right now so don't piss me off. I was planning on taking a look at those fractured ribs of yours, but…" Some shouting off in the distance caught her attention.
"The attack is calming down. So, you came for Lucrezia?" The young woman looked up sharply.
"How did you…"
"First of all, you are from the same tribe, second she talked about nothing else than her friends and that they would probably come looking for her." Suddenly, the young woman jumped up.
"What did you do to Lucrezia?" she yelled angrily. Duo shrugged.
"Nothing, except saving her life, feeding, and caring for her. If the Peacecraft's..." His eyes widened. "Relena… Zechs…" Duo struggled to stand. "I have… ah… I have to find… Aunt Ramma. Dorothy… Cathy… Wufei…" Hilde only heard the 'find' part and did not stand in his way. Carrying her spear and canteen, she followed Duo out of the trees. He gasped in shock as the remains of the village spread out before him. The survivors were now piling up the bodies of the dead. Stumbling from the pain and shock, Duo ran forward, the young woman following. The hollow despairing looks on the survivors' faces did not encourage Duo at all. He ran from one person to the next only gaining a blank look, or a shrug of lost hope. His fear was confirmed when he saw a body being passed to the larger pile. Ramma… Duo shot forward and snatched the body away. Her sky blue eyes were glassy and the limpness of her made Duo want to weep. Yet another family member… his mother, his father, grandfather, now his only remaining relative. Blood had long ago stopped flowing from the gash on the skull of her head. For long moments, Duo sat clutching his loved aunt.
Cathy quickly closed her eyes, pretending she hadn't seen the tattoos located on the young man's arm. She cradled Joshua to her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the warrior. She clutched the baby and flew forward, knocking the young man over and covered both him and Joshua. Her eyes closed tightly as she felt the steel of the weapon break her skin and continue on across her back. After the horse ran by she opened her eyes and stared into green depths. They were beautiful. There was curiosity and confusion on his face as he stared at her. She had wonderfully rich brown hair. Suddenly, the warrior turned back around to finish the job. Cathy waited in anticipation, but the rider was knocked off the horse. Wufei came riding by on a horse, covered in sweat and grime.
The warrior got up and spotted Cathy. He made his way over, drawing a knife. Cathy's eyes narrowed. She quickly placed Joshua in the young man's arms.
"Look after him," she smiled lovingly at Joshua and she stepped up and away from the man still lying on the ground. She drew her own dagger and the warrior came after her with a yell. Her speed aided her as she dodged and circled, but strength was her weakness. His own knife locked with her dagger. He pushed down on her about ready to snap her spine. She let out a cry, feeling her blood surging dangerously. She saw Wufei coming at them quickly.
"Hurry," she whispered to her self. Then she yelled it to Wufei. "Hurry!" Then the warrior saw Wufei and he looked up. Cathy dropped and rolled, leaving the man to be trampled by the horse. Cathy gasped for air as her lungs began to breath again. The young man that was holding the baby slowly approached and handed the baby to Cathy. She smiled at the crying babe.
"She, it's all right, Joshua. Mama and Papa will be here soon." Wufei's eyes seemed to go dull and Trowa knew they weren't going to come back.
"Cathy, come on, I think we need to go find the others." Cathy shook her head.
"No, I probably should wait here for Mama and Papa."
"Cathy…" Wufei trailed off. Cathy looked at him sharply.
"What is it? Something has happened, hasn't it? What is it?"
"You're parents… they…"
"Are they hurt? Where are they?" Cathy cried desperately.
"No… they didn't make it." Cathy's eyes seemed to empty of everything. She was ignoring the baby's crying now. Wufei knelt down in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Cathy?" he asked softly. It was rare for Wufei to act as such, but Trowa didn't know that.
"You shouldn't have told her," he said simply. Wufei shot up in fury.
"You're the cause of this! You and your tribe, your symbol of death… a skull! You've brought this upon us… upon her!" Wufei pointed to Cathy after he spat this out with disgust.
"Wufei," stated Cathy hoarsely. "Don't blame him. He saved me. Those warriors are not part of his tribe…" She began to panic, not paying attention to her earlier speech. "Wufei… you have to be wrong about my parents. They're alive! They have to be!" Wufei shook his head.
"Cathy, I saw it with my own eyes. Your parents aren't coming back."
"Show me…"
"That's not…"
"Show me!" Wufei sighed and got up slowly.
"What of him?" he asked, nodding to Trowa.
"He can do as he wishes." Cathy turned and demanded once again for Wufei to lead her to her parents. He knew he shouldn't do it. He told himself not to. To at least restrain her from doing it, but she couldn't be stopped. Wufei walked silently next to the barbarian as Cathy walked behind.
"How did they die?" whispered Trowa. In any other situation, Wufei would have kicked this barbarian from here to kingdom come, but he was too tired and it was the least of his worries.
"Her father blocked a bullet directed at a member of your tribe. Her mother was taken down by a spear, and as far as I know, the weapon is still lodged in her throat." Trowa's eyes widened in shock.
"Are you mad? You're going to take her to see her parents in such conditions? You are heartless!" Wufei's eyes narrowed at Trowa's reaction and then sneered.
"Our tribe is strong and we can all take this kind of stuff. Heaven knows how many times we have had to do this with the deaths that have been plaguing us. Many are dead. The leader has become old and is losing his mind and grip on reality slowly. We are starving and this attack… it is only another addition to our misery. Cathy will grieve and she will cry, but she is strong and will live on, if not for herself, for her brother. We of the White Banshee tribe are strong because we have to be." Trowa smirked.
"You'd have to be strong to stand against the Dead Soul tribe." Trowa was once again surprised when this young man, called Wufei almost smiled at the comment.
"I'd say that we all are strong here. Everyone must be, because you are weak if you do not manage to adapt to our lives."
"You were talking of being plagued by deaths, what…"
"A strange disease hits us after we located that strange tribe. I knew that it was not the Dead Soul tribe, but I am infuriated quickly and sometimes that can add to my advantage. Keep that in mind." Trowa smiled a little now.
"What are the symptoms of this disease?"
"You first come down with a terrible fever and then you go through a day or two of extreme pain. By the fourth day, your blood vessels in your head start to burst. Many have died from this and the tribe has been reduced. Even my father has lost hope with the downfall of our tribe. We are all suffering and even I can see this. That is the only reason I am telling you this."
Just as Wufei finished, they came upon the mass destruction of the entire tribe. Wufei only cloaked himself in an unemotional armor as he ignored the damage. Cathy, on the other hand, was unprepared for the scene lying before her. The grip on her little brother tightened involuntarily. The frightened baby cried out and Wufei turned around with a dull look in his eyes. He turned away again and stepped over some bodies of the dead. Some were old friends they had known forever. Cathy finally recovered her ability to move. Trowa, surprised at the extensive damage caused by the attack, ran to catch up with Wufei. They walked for long moments in silence. Every once in a while, Wufei would find someone still alive and tend to them.
"You were unprepared," stated Trowa as the more he took in, the more he realized the situation. Wufei didn't lash out like Trowa thought. He only chuckled a little and dusted off his grimy hands.
"Did you come up with that all by yourself? How perceptive of you." Trowa could hear the mocking tone in Wufei's voice. Before he could say anything, Wufei turned to him. "I blamed the leader in the beginning of all this. He believed we did not need to worry. His old mind only saw the strong tribe we once were. He did not see us as we really are. To him, we could kill anyone with our bare hands, wrestle a giant and stand through a dust storm and not be affected in the least. We only laughed at him and shrugged it off, but it is only because all hope is lost, but we are still strong in survival, but even that is in question because of this strange disease."
"The one you mentioned earlier." Wufei nodded.
"The White Banshee will die out." Trowa was confused for a moment. "Each tribesman, it is certain, has the virus of this disease. It is only a matter of whether or not it will be stimulated now, or in another year, or twenty years from now. Cathy's mother was beginning to show symptoms before the attack."
"So it may have been best she died this way." Fury filled Wufei's eyes and he turned away and kept walking.
"I do not wish death upon my other tribal members," said Wufei in a quiet monotone voice, "But I do agree with you. Death is better than the disease." Trowa hesitated and glanced over his shoulder at Cathy and her infant brother. She had a dreamy look on her face, a look that you might have in a nightmare and can't wake up from. Shaking his head, Trowa followed Wufei through the rubble of human bodies.
Duo squinted his eyes as the hot sun filtered through the treetops. Treetops? How'd he end up there? He hadn't gone there to be lazy and fall asleep again, had he? Then the memories flew in and with them, the pain. It flowed through every nerve and muscle in his body. The realization that he was not alone also made itself known. His vision blurred slightly as he tried to sit up. Before he could do this, a harsh voice ordered him to lie back down. It was feminine, but held a command worse than his aunt's. For his sake, he gingerly relaxed back down. At this point he expected death, torture… but not a canteen of cool water! No matter… he drank up almost half it to before the young woman could shove him off.
"Hey, I need some for later too you know." Duo finally opened his eyes all the way to find a dark haired young woman, about his age, frustratingly place the cork into the mouth of the canteen. She was annoyed in losing so much water. Duo's voice was hoarse as he spoke.
"You've got a tattoo." The girl fixed her dark gaze on him and gave him a frustrated glare. She gave one more final shove to the cork of the canteen.
"Boy, you're quick," she stated sarcastically. Then she mumbled something about coming to find a friend and found the tribe idiot. Duo rolled his eyes and began to get up, but a sharp pointed spear at his throat stopped him in his tracks. His eyes followed from the tip to the holder of the spear.
"Here's a suggestion, stay put. I'm a little frustrated right now so don't piss me off. I was planning on taking a look at those fractured ribs of yours, but…" Some shouting off in the distance caught her attention.
"The attack is calming down. So, you came for Lucrezia?" The young woman looked up sharply.
"How did you…"
"First of all, you are from the same tribe, second she talked about nothing else than her friends and that they would probably come looking for her." Suddenly, the young woman jumped up.
"What did you do to Lucrezia?" she yelled angrily. Duo shrugged.
"Nothing, except saving her life, feeding, and caring for her. If the Peacecraft's..." His eyes widened. "Relena… Zechs…" Duo struggled to stand. "I have… ah… I have to find… Aunt Ramma. Dorothy… Cathy… Wufei…" Hilde only heard the 'find' part and did not stand in his way. Carrying her spear and canteen, she followed Duo out of the trees. He gasped in shock as the remains of the village spread out before him. The survivors were now piling up the bodies of the dead. Stumbling from the pain and shock, Duo ran forward, the young woman following. The hollow despairing looks on the survivors' faces did not encourage Duo at all. He ran from one person to the next only gaining a blank look, or a shrug of lost hope. His fear was confirmed when he saw a body being passed to the larger pile. Ramma… Duo shot forward and snatched the body away. Her sky blue eyes were glassy and the limpness of her made Duo want to weep. Yet another family member… his mother, his father, grandfather, now his only remaining relative. Blood had long ago stopped flowing from the gash on the skull of her head. For long moments, Duo sat clutching his loved aunt.