Sunlight entered the room and woke me up quickly, earlier than I liked. I got up and went to go ahead and change back into my Gi, only to find it clean and good as new. I smiled, knowing it must have been Kattalia.
For the first time I saw the outside world of this place in daylight. The sky was gray and the trees all look dead.
"Boy, this place must have a great tourist season."
"More than you think."
Who was that? How could someone sneak up on me like that?I turned and saw a gray-skinned man in the doorway. He was very thick and tall, and he had the same red eyes that Kattalia had.
"I'm Mychal, Kattalia's brother. You must be kitten. I take it that isn't your real name?" he asked.
"No, it's Katie." I said."No wonder you got the nickname. Piccolo was 'little pipe' for a long time. You jumped when I greeted you."
"I didn't hear you, so you startled me."
"You didn't hear me? Yet you took down a tiger."
"Yeah…"
"Sorry, I'm told I have a big mouth." He said, grinning and proving it true. His fangs were much longer than mine, Kattalia's, or Piccolo's.
"It's okay… it's not the tiger, it's the act."
"Well moping won't help. Come on, we'll feed you, then you train."
Makes sense, everything I've seen on DBZ was done with training.I nodded and followed him out of the room, and down the hall. I could smell food cooking.
If I don't eat meat than the craving to kill will only grow… I should eat meat… I cannot let my instincts rule over me.
"Hey kitten! Sleep well? I bet you did, finally sleeping in a nice bed and not the ground or a tree." She said.
"Yeah, I did." I said."After you got settled-in last night I found Piccolo. He knows where you are now. He thought maybe you were with the boy. Gohan, was it? He vanished in that storm last night."
"What? Gohan…"If only I could have controlled my instincts, I could have stayed with Gohan and kept him out of that storm.
"You're close to the boy?" she asked, surprised.
"He's the closest thing to family I have. But, I know he'll be okay."
"How's that?" Mychal asked.
"Well… I don't know if Piccolo said anything but, I know the future a little."
"What? Really?"
"Well, it isn't like I could read your palm or anything. I know a set storyline, I guess you could say. I know how the Saiyan home world was destroyed and I know… the deaths of those I call friends."
"Even Piccolo?"
"Yeah… even him." I said.
"When you're done eating," Kattalia said, changing the subject, "We'll begin your training. Piccolo warned me that you'd eat a lot, considering you're a Saiyan and you haven't been eating well."
"How'd he know about Saiyan eating habits?" I smirked.
"I think he's basing it off Son Goku." Kattalia said. I started to laugh. I laughed so hard my eyes began to water.
"How's that funny?"
"I know all about… about Goku… he's not a typ-typical… Saiyan… but I guess… I'm not… either!" I said as I laughed.
XxX
It was a week later, and I was still with Kattalia and Mychal, trying to tame my wild side. I didn't know if it was working or not, but I couldn't complain when it came to well cooked food and a warm bed.
"Alright kitten, aim at the target like I showed you."
I had my bow and arrows, and I had aim on a marker.
"How's my form?" I asked.
"Both eyes open. Use your index finger to help aim." Mychal said.
I did, and when he didn't respond, I took that as a good sign. I aimed and fired. I was off by a few inches.
"Better. I can't believe Piccolo gave you a weapon you couldn't use."
"How was he to know? But I don't see how this will help me with my… other problem."
"You need focus for control, and you need focus to fire an arrow."
"Training hard, kid?" I looked over and saw Piccolo. He was walking toward us, no greeting, just his usual sour face.
"Yeah, I am. Kattalia told me about Gohan. I know where he should be. Now, if he's actually there…"
"But your knowledge of the future-""I've witnessed changes. The way I saw this world was without me. Now that I'm here, things have altered."
"Where's the boy?" Piccolo asked.
"Well, I don't know the exact place, but there was a town on the coast near Mt. Paoz that was hit by a tidal wave a while back. He should be there with a bunch of other kids. If he isn't, he's on his way home." I said.
"Kattalia told me what happened." He looked to Mychal. He nodded and left, "She said you lost control completely."
"Yeah, I did. And I was doing so well. I thought I had it under control. I was wrong."
"That is one of the harshest lessons to learn. You thought you had won, so you let your guard down."
"I realized that the other night.""Just be proud that you figured it out so quickly." Piccolo said, "I better go find the brat. And remember, mortals are in danger when they leave this hollowed ground, even me. Don't." then Piccolo took off.
Mychal came back over and picked out another arrow for me.
"You know, I think he might like you." Mychal said as I started to take aim. I let down the bow and looked at him.
"Piccolo? Liking me? I doubt that."
"Well, he did bring you here, and he's been checking on you, right?"
"We have a common goal to reach in 8 months. If we don't, you can kiss earth goodbye. That's it." I said as I started to aim again.
My ears picked up a small sound, and immediately I 'zoomed in' past the target. A herd of antelope, the same as the other night, was 100 meters past the target. I saw a small one straying from the group.
"Alright kid, aim and fire like last time, but to the left a bit more."I didn't listen to Mychal. The hackles on my tail came up as I growled. I aimed at the antelope.
"Kid? Kitten? Hey-"I fired the shot, but I missed the antelope. The herd took off in a run, attaining my interest even more. I dropped the bow and ran off after the herd, chasing down my prey.
Mychal's calls were lost to me as I ran. I leaped over a fallen log and ducked under a low tree branch. I jumped on top of an antelope and started to tear its skin and flesh apart.
The blood… the meat… muscle, fat, organs… it's so… so good…"Kitten?" I looked over to the intruder and growled. It was Kattalia, and she looked scared, "Growl at me all you want, but look at what you're doing."
I turned and took another mouthful.
"Kattalia?" Mychal had finally caught up with his sister. He saw me and his jaw dropped open.
They might take my meat… I better watch them…"She's… she's completely lost it. Don't move, she might attack us. You remember what Piccolo said about Son Goku."
Goku? Piccolo? Wait… I stopped eating and look at them. Kattalia… Mychal…"What…" I looked down at the dead beast. I stood up and backed away. I saw blood all over my arms and chest.
"Kitten?"
I puked, and then fell to my knees. I didn't cry, instead I just looked at the dead animal, and then to Kattalia and Mychal.
"I... I did it again… only this time…"
"It'll be okay." Kattalia said.
"No… it won't. No matter what I do… I'll always be a… an animal."
I turned and ran, deeper into the woods, further from the demons and the dead animal. Further and further I ran, into the woods where my animal instincts could be used to their full extent.
AS22: alright, you know what to do! if you want more, R&R!