Chapter 5
Katsa's tears resembled a monsoon. The salty water wouldn't stop crashing down her face. Katsa was curled up in her bed, the sheets pulled high over her. Po tried to give her something to eat or drink but she wouldn't take it. Katsa remained trapped in her sulky mood.
Po tried to talk to her, "Katsa," he started, "you can't just lay there all day. You must eat and drink, the bab-" His words were abruptly cut off.
"Do not mention the baby!" Katsa seemed to shout at him. This was the most emotion she had displayed since finding out she was pregnant.
"You cannot change the inevitable! You are pregnant and now you must care for the babe inside you properly by eating!" Po was stubborn in his argument. The child mustn't suffer for her carelessness.
"But, But!" Katsa wept, "I did not ask for this! I do not want this!" Her sobs drowned on until the river of tears ran dry. She could no longer cry. It was only then that she dragged her limp body out of the bed. Her tangled, short brown mane sprawled in different directions. "OK. I am done pitting myself Po." Katsa whispered. The robe was around her bare skin. "When will we travel to Lienid?"
"We will travel soon Wildcat, once we are done packing we will leave."
-Time Lapse-
Katsa took her time packing. She seemed to think that if it takes longer to get to Lienid, then it would take longer for the baby to arrive. It would take longer for this thing to grow. Katsa muttered her futile protests into the wind. Nothing would stop this baby from coming…right?
Katsa thought and thought and thought. Well there were only two options she could think of based on her limited knowledge of babies. She could remove the baby from her stomach in some gruesome way and kill it, or because the babe lived off her, she could kill herself. Both sadistic ideas weren't too appealing.
Once her saddle bags were packed, Katsa took one last glimpse of her cabin; it would be a very long time before she saw it again.
"Po, let us go now," Katsa whispered. The sunlight was just peeking over the horizon, stretching to spread its warm spring rays. "Quick Po, let's make the most of our daylight."
The day seemed to drag on for Katsa, the breakneck pace she traveled at calmed her mind some, but not completely.
"You're going to kill our horses Katsa, slow your pace some," Po shouted over the roar of the hooves.
No. Katsa's unspoken words were short and crisp. She knew Po would hear her.
Po's face crumpled in devastation. It seemed like his ever-haunting nightmares were coming true. Goosebumps rose on his arm. I don't want this to end… A single small tear tumbled down his cheek and crashed onto the ground.
Po was suddenly very glad for Katsa's pace putting her ahead of him. It gave him more time to stare at her, maybe some of the last few times he'd see her. His bottom lip quivered even though he willed it to stop. His tears remained at bay, only haunting thoughts clouding his mind.
-Time Lapse-
After many more nights, they reached an inn near the coast. It felt nice to be in a warm bed, eating food that they'd didn't need to catch, taking a warm bath. Po had gone outside to look around the village for supplies. Tomorrow they would be leaving on the ship to Lienid, and after some travel they would arrive at Po's castle.
It all seemed to happen too fast. Po was distant, and Katsa too trapped in her own worries to really notice. What would she do with this babe? She knew Po wanted it, but did she want it? Maybe she could give it to Po's mother to care for, that way Po could still see his son or daughter and Katsa wouldn't have to be a mother.
Early the next morning, Po and Katsa boarded the boat to Lienid. Katsa saw old friends and faked a happy face; she tried not to think of the impending doom that awaited her. Her stomach had already begun to enlarge. Small movements could be felt from inside of her. It was truly amazing no matter how she tried to deny it.
The rest of the trip passed in a blur. In no time at all, Po and Katsa stood in front of their castle.
I feel so bad T.T I haven't posted in the amount of time I said i would D: Shame on me! I really will try to post MORE (as in the length of my chapters), MORE often (as in the space between postings) [:
Thank you all for reading.
Comments and constructive criticism greatly appreciated.