Day 53 continued

So now there are cat people. Seven I can see. Five are male, one big and burly with a thick head of hair and a beard like a black mane, the others mostly average in height and looks. They're swarthy in skin tone, and none looks out of shape. They don't look much different from human, aside from the ears. The ear color tends to match the hair and the average is brown. Did I mention they were cat-people? I'm really excited about that.

The women however are where the interest deepens. One looks cool and aloof, like a Siamese cat, with black ears, pale blonde hair and blue eyes. She's taller than most of the males too. The other seems laid back and calm, now that she recognizes Niala as their savior, she has a tabby pattern to her ears and short hair.

Hearing their conversation I can detect a few similarities to the ape language, I suppose they have had contact with it and terms from the dialect have been absorbed into their language or vice versa.

If so, communication may be possible to a limited extent. Like the similarities English has with French. I'll by no means be able to get complex dialogue across, but a few very simple words are likely.

I point to Niala.

“Sister. Saved you. Set you free. Why here?” [Rick]

The tall woman is the one to reply. Interesting. She seems to be the leader, since she didn't even look for approval to speak. It could be that she is their designated spokesman. But she isn't even looking at me either. Just gazing out at the entrance we came from. Wary, but very self assured.

“Chased by Raltur. Our kulpa taken. Garn. No shelter.” [Siamese]

Hmm. Niala mentioned they had treasures and weapons looted from the caravan. Were they pinned down by the patrol and forced to give up the goods in exchange for their lives? I suppose the bear trap they are using was salvaged or a rare item drop that occurred later?

I'm carrying one of my sword-breakers. I point to it.

“Kulpa?” [Rick]

She glances at me and my gesture, with pale blue eyes. She shakes her head sideways.

“Yes, that kulpa.” [Siamese]

Progress! Shaking your head means yes. Kulpa means weapon or valuable.

“You... have goal? Home? Destination?” [Rick]

The female gives me a long stare. “No home. No goal. We simply are.”

Their home was destroyed to the point there was nothing left, or they are not welcome there anymore, huh? They won't last long with just wooden clubs and a bear trap. A monster or slavers will mop them up eventually.

I'm starting to like these guys. They clearly think they have the upper hand, yet they respect my sister enough they aren't going to rob us? That is clear proof of character. They aren't going to attack us, despite the fact we could be all that stands between them and long term survival. Our weapons are that vital to them in this state. Yet they're not even entertaining the idea of betrayal.

I look at them all, in ragged clothes and filthy... and I just can't leave them to die like this. If they were to try to rob us, I wouldn't hesitate to kill but this... I can't refuse. Besides the Siamese cat-woman is slender, self reliant and gorgeous. I really want them around a while longer. They would make extraordinary allies if nothing else.

Niala is resistant to the idea, since she can clearly read the fine print: more girls, a threat to her control over me, the beloved brother... a wedge in our time alone together. However I have an unfair trump card. The fact she let them go out of pity. I point out she's responsible for their continued safety. They are escaped slaves, just like her.

So I win the argument quite quickly and decisively.

The Siamese has been waiting for our argument to resolve patiently. Admirable trait. I'd be a little annoyed if it were me. I suppose from their point of view we clearly have a destination and equipment. Which means shelter, resources and safety. I suppose they could follow us home any way, to take it. However I can preempt that attack.

“We have home. Do you wish to share home? Big room. Empty. One exit. Many weapons (kulpa). Follow us.” [Rick] “Water, food nearby.”

Her eyes narrow and she looks very suspiciously at us. Thought so. I must have guessed her plan to tail us.

“How many? Like you.” [Siamese]

Ah. She thinks this is an ambush.

“Two others. Not there. Just us and you.” [Rick] “This trust. You not enemy. Come, be safe. Here you die. You trust us, we trust you. You could kill us and take all.”

“Never. Would die, instead. ” [Siamese vehemently at the suggestion of betrayal of trust]

Oh, honor-bound? Better and better. Ethics out here are rare indeed. Until I know the details, however I'm going to pretend to sleep and keep weapons handy. Trust is all well and good, but blind faith is nothing but insanity. It will be the same from them, I assume. The female doesn't look like she's stupid. This is going to be a calculated decision.

Finally I get to see their internal organization. The female says a little. The big male says something else. He looks me in the eyes. Hmm. Is he trying to read me or intimidate? The latter fails miserably. I'd be surprised if I couldn't take him in a fight. If it comes to that though I'll retreat, since Niala is here. She's far more vulnerable.

That said I don't have a clue about their true capabilities yet. The apes were only so-so in physical combat. But I expect more from formally trained, experienced soldiers. Those were army dropouts as guards. The one I dueled a while back put up more fight, it was just the equipment difference that overwhelmed him. The big guy with the mane seems quite tough. He'll go down hard, fighting.

The others voice opinions. The tabby female offering a question that gets shot down by one male before it is overruled by the Siamese. She has veto power, huh?

Siamese walks over to us.

“You show good faith. We show good faith.” [Siamese]

She says something aloud. In the bushes another figure appears. Small. A really young cat-girl. Eleven or twelve years old? They were keeping her hidden in case everything went sour. She is their most vulnerable member. She's defenseless. Too young to even have skills, probably.

Niala mentions she saw her with them before at the caravan. That is the sort of thing you mention... well I see her point, this poor waif couldn't put up a fight. She's nervous and shaking. She has pure white hair and blue eyes... not an albino, just a white cat. She's different looking from the others... oh, the skin color is paler too. Different tribe? She's really petite. Big eyes. Pretty much looks like a scared kitten. Adorable. Oh! She has a tail! The others don't as far as I can tell. Sub-species? Rare recessive genes?

Even Niala can't argue with that face. She seems to have a soft spot for youngsters, like little rat. In fact from the looks of it she is only barely holding back the urge to pet the girl. I can't blame her, it was all I could do to hold back the impulse myself. Those big eyes just get to me. We're all evolved to consider big eyes on small creatures irresistible, so we protect the next generation.

“Yes, sister talk about this girl.” [Rick covering up the failure in their communication]

The Siamese looks at us strangely. A knowing, predatory smile on her usually blank poker face. She saw through me... must have seen my surprised reaction.

I hold up my hands, surrendering.

“I admit it, I didn't know about her, because sister didn't feel she was a threat.” [Rick]

“I understand now...” [Siamese laughing faintly.] “No, she really not a threat.”

Hmm. She understood that much in ape language? Or is it the genetic memories at play, speeding up the translation on both ends? Either way, our ability to converse is growing rapidly.

Niala's trying to get close to the girl, the way you approach a scared little animal, slowly. The girl hesitates but doesn't shy away as Niala touches her. The girl looks concerned, but Niala's in a world of bliss as she strokes the hair. Well, she never did have a pet. Let her have this one.

The other cats seemed concerned when Niala got close, but seeing the reaction they look much more relaxed. The girl is only in danger of getting mussed up hair.

Siamese asks when we want to leave.

I suggest we forage for any food we can first, strip the place bare of necessities. I'm a little relieved they seem to be able to eat plants, if they have to. Niala's gather skill helps no end in getting a decent stockpile of food, these guys don't seem able to harvest moderate quality food items. Nice, we're even more invaluable to them.

We lead back toward our barren camp.

We camp for the night, there seems to be some good cheer from the improvement in food rations, as it isn't the pig slops they are used to.

Day 54

They weren't quite as trustworthy as I had hoped, but more than I need. I caught one of the males trying to pickpocket me during the night. A smaller one. I caught the fore-arm but he seemed quite calm about it, since I'm a bit smaller than him. He was very surprised when my hand began to apply pressure enough to make him fear his arm would break.

All I had to do was loudly call out 'Thief'.

The others were very upset. Since they had a very rigid honor system he was in quite severe trouble, although I assume his intention was to take my weapon and try to make a go of life alone. Idiot. He'll die in a day with no shelter.

He still ended up alone, just without more than a wooden club. Clearly someone worthy of a Darwin award. I'll see he gets it posthumously.

We're in the same room we hid the weapons and iron in, but I'm not willing to arm them properly yet, not 'til they have a look at our home. Their group is falling apart jumping at shadows, they must suspect a trap. After all, how often do strangers aid escaped slaves who have nothing to trade? What they fail to realize is their simple presence and help is much better than I currently possess without a golem. Plus, they can talk.

Spare eyes looking for danger, more hands to hold weapons. These are things that cost a lot to make from scratch. Better to import from a local supply.

Besides the whole situation is wonderful. I'm quite pleased having a reserved but inquisitive Siamese cat-woman at my side as we travel. Niala's giving piggyback rides to the kitten. Hey! Stop showing her how the dart launching bracer works! Take that off her! Oh... fine. She is still the least threatening one here, even with a toxic dart launcher.

Damn. Can't say no to those eyes.

Mane guy seems the most bent out of shape, but he also seems the most determined. He's going to come along, just to prove he has the last laugh if there really is an ambush because it means he was right about me. Well joke's on you Lion King reject. I may be a rat bastard, I'm no traitor.

That night is quiet, as we reach the last leg of the journey. One of the series of new rooms around our home: the Tide Pool room.

What we learned:

Loli! Cat-girl!

Siamese cat-woman... things are starting to warm up there.

Thinking about it logically there must be a real bat-man out there somewhere...

There's already Rat-man. Complete with gadgets. Built in.

I'm currently working on a few episodes of what I'm calling Re:Ocean: Season of the Crab. If you miss Cal, never fear as a god he's ever-present to leave a snarky line or make fun of everything. I'm planning to build up a bunch of eps before releasing them steadily. I have a few plans but I was hoping to hear what some of you would like to read about. So far I have several new critters and environments to introduce and a few shock developments... Hard part is deciding what kind of evolutions crab should take, the choices are limitless... there are nearly seven thousand crab species alive... many more if you add in the fossil record or just go berserk with creativity and power sets.

It'll eat into my time set aside for this story but I think I can manage to keep a steady output without sacrificing one for the other. I barely sleep anyway. Labyrinth should start getting interesting as we head into the main phase of the story. But no spoilers, because that is what keeps you hanging on for more, the unexpected twists and turns.