One in the Same

Chapter Twenty-One

   Cat could smell the death that was at the great house before they even entered the village. The tears of anger that had filled her eyes moments before where now tears of sorrow. The guards at the gate barely had time to open them. They both knew where to go, but Cat stopped as they entered the garden.
   "Cata," Botan said stopping next to her.
   "Go," she said sobbing and shaking her head. He needs you.
   Botan hesitated then looked back up the door to the main house.
   "Go!" Cat yelled shoving him away.
   He took her chin in his fingers and kissed her. We will speak more on the subject when the time is right again.
   "Go, seven damn ya." She said breaking the kiss and pushing at him again.
   Hesitantly, Botan turned and went into the house. Cat turned and moved towards the pond. As she kneeled down to it, she noticed her little golden friends were not there to great her. Have you left me too? She began sobbing harder as she dropped her head. A crack formed on the rock beneath her hand. Had it been another life time ago, it would have shattered. Had it been another life time, Saito would not be dying. Had it been another life time, Ichika wouldn't have died. Had it been another life time, Botan's parents wouldn't have died. If it had been another life time, she wouldn't have left Ireland. Had it been another life time, she would have been a queen. If it had been another life time.
   "Even in sorrow you are the most beautiful," Saito said from behind her.
   Cat jumped and spun around. He was stranding right there, smiling at her. Her eyes widened. "Yer a whisp," she barley whispered.
   Saito closed his eyes and nodded. "And you are Caitlyn, daughter of the great Clan  Ó Catháin. Yet I am thinking you do not know that."
   Cat blinked and frowned.
   Saito held his arms out and smiled. Cat sniffed then ran into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. "Until our next meeting, Little Cat."
   Her hands dropped to her side and she bowed her head forward just letting the tears freely fall. She knew she would pounder what he meant for the next month, but for now she just wanted to stand there. She could hear Yui sobbing from inside. A few moments later she felt more than heard the gong. The blasts were vibrating through her body. If she would have focused she would have been able to hear the rest of the village in their mourning. Cat would have needed human blood for that feat. Cat wanted to scream right along with anyone else who was. She wanted to curse any god that would listen. Inform them that this was all their fault. Their doing. For a moment, Cat began to envy Botan, Yui, Saito, even Shin. Vampires aged, but the did not die. They Slept, and that was like death. But they couldn't truly die on their own from old age. She would never know what that would feel like. She couldn't have told you why she wanted to experience that sensation. But she did.

   Yui had held her tightly still crying. Shin was stone faced, but his eyes were red and glossy. The tears would fall later that night once he was alone in his chamber. Botan had been silent the whole way back home. As they prepared for bed, the same. And as they both drifted into sleep the same.
   That morning hadn't been much different. Cat could tell he was deep in thought. And from his silence, it didn't seem like he would be sharing anytime soon.
   Breakfast went on much like it had in the first days. They continued about their daily chores as well with not a word between the two of them. Cat didn't think that Botan had cried about the death of his father yet. If he hadn't, Cat knew he wasn't going to. He was made of tougher things than that. Wasn't he?
   When the moon rose, and the shift completed, they went out scooting together. Cat on his back. The Pack not far out either. They didn't run into another casadh mícheart, which made things too quiet for Cat's liking. But it gave the others a sort of piece so she accepted it and left things alone.
   Sun will be up soon, she pushed out gently with her mind to Botan's. Should we head back?
   Hai, he replied simply and turned back to head for home.
   Would you like to race?
   Bangō.
   All Cat could do was nod.
   As the sun rose the next morning, Botan slept. Cat sat watching it come up alone. For the first time in nearly a year and a half, the world didn't stop on the morning after the full moon.