Defiance: book one

Chapter thirteen: imagine the worst

I was the last one awake that morning. By the time I'd woke up Boyd had shot us three rabbits, two squirrels, and two sparrows "quite the feast," I said "just wait, Cora should be back soon with wild raspberries," Boyd said "feel free to help

yourself to the meat," he said generously. I sat down and started to eat "mmmmm! Who cooked this?" I asked "I did," Joseph said "you? Man! You cook good squirrels!!" I said. Cora returned with raspberries and when we were done we packed up and sailed away.

Around 1:00 PM or so I noticed that Catania didn't look to good "Catania? You feel alright?" I asked "y....yeah I'm fine," she said. And hour later, she looked sick. I pulled Joseph aside "Joseph, have you looked at Catania? She looks sick," I informed him "ok, I'll go talk to her," he said as he walked over to Catania, curled up in a ball under a blanket... Flash

forward to 6:32 PM, we set camp and 'dr. Cora' goes and does a brief examination on Catania. The examination lasted about five minutes, but seemed like an hour "the examination is finished," Cora said "well....how'd it go?!?" I said anxiously "her fever is high. I think maybe 99 degrees to 101 degrees," Cora said. I sat down. 101 degrees? We're going

to be stuck here for days!! "She can't walk at all. I think she'll be able to walk in maybe one, two days," Cora said. Now that was great news. We wouldn't be stuck here to long "Lynn," Cora Said "I was thinking maybe you could add an extra room for Catania? So she doesn't get anyone sick?"

"I'll do it," Joseph said "do you know how to build?" I asked "of course! I used to build my youngest sister, Pepper, tree houses all the time!" "Youngest sister? I thought Catania was your youngest sister," Cora said "well...it's a long story..."

__________________________________Joseph's story__________________________________________________________

Long long ago, before I was a jumper, I was in a family called the Kales in the state of Bend (not to far from here). I was the middle child of three siblings. My older brother Sid, Catania, and Pepper. Pepper and I were closer then me and were back then. We did EVERYTHING together. And one night (the night of the bombing of 2155) Pepper had a sleepover at a friends house in that city (Valletta) and was bombed. I was beyond heartbroken. I was so sad I built myself a hut and stayed in it for almost a month. It was Catania who came and persuaded me out. And we've been close ever since. Then years later, Sid (my older brother who was 17 at the time) lost his job got so mad that he burned down the man's house and is still currently serving time in Jail. With my family barely being able to pay rent, they had to move away from Bend to a state called Gaol. Are apartment was tiny and always smelled like dog pee. The the mayor of Gaol passed a law saying that no children over the age of 6 were allowed to live in the city. I was 11 and Catania was 7, so we were auctioned off to the Brazens (who you've 'met') and it's been the same before you broke us free

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"Wow," Cora said "you've had a tougher life then ME!" I said "yeah, anyways, Cora?" Joseph asked "yes?" Cora responded "do you think I can go see Catania?" He asked "y...n....yes," Cora said. Without a minute of that being said Joseph rushed up the tree to go see Catania "Lynn, come here," Cora said as she pulled me aside "what? I have to go hunting,"

"This is way more important then hunting!" Cora said "what is it?" I whisper shouted "Catania is in horrible condition and it keeps getting worse. Her fever has risen from 99 to 101 degrees to 101 and 110 degrees," Cora whispered. This was terrible!

Under the circumstances that we are under, some one with a 101 to 110 degree fever without medical attention will die within a day. I went hunting to try and clear my mind but it stayed. It stayed throughout the whole day. That night, Catania's room was finished and everyone was asleep. At about 2:43 AM I woke up to Catania crying. I ran into her

room to see what was wrong. I kneeled down next to her and stroked her hair "what's wrong, Cat?" I asked "I....don't fe...feel good," she sobbed. Uh oh. This was NOT good "JOSEPH! JOSEPH!!" I screamed. Minutes later a tired Joseph came stumbling into the room "what's wrong?" He asked half awake

"It's Catania!" I said "J....Joey!" She sobbed. Joseph pushed me aside "Cat! Cat! Cat, I know you can power through this!" He said almost crying "n..n...no I can't!!!" She sobbed. I could see Catania was starting to slip away. Joseph grabbed her hand

"Catania! Cat! Listen to me! You can live! You can live!!" Joseph weeped. Slowly, I could almost see Catania slipping away "Cat! Cat! Stay with me! Please! Your all I got!" He sobbed. Finally, Catania's hand that was holing Joseph's lost it's life and fell to the hard floor and she stopped breathing.

"No! NO!NO!NOOOOO!" Joseph screamed as he slammed his hand on the floor. I simply walked over to Catania's lifeless body and shut her eyes. Just as I pulled away Pluto and Cora came walking in. I could see it in their faces that already know what happened.

Cora started to cry and Pluto went and comforted Joseph. Almost instantly, Joseph went and built a small, floatable, coffin and put Catania's frail body in it, closed it, and set her afloat. I put my hand on Joseph's shoulder "she was a good person, Joseph," I said comfortingly "she will live in our hearts forever," Pluto said "rest in peace, Catania, rest in

peace," Cora said, starting to tear up "we should probably get going," Joseph said, packing up his things "but we don't have any food for the-" I was cut off by Joseph "I don't care! I just...need to get out of here," he said. I wasn't going to argue with him"let it go, Lynn. He's grieving," Cora whispered. So we packed up

around 3:01 AM and hit the river.

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Lilbird28