Revenant is walking the streets of Philly thinking about cats. One special one. In Armenia there are a unique breed of cat called Van Cats. Snowy white all over and medium short haired. The most notable trait is the eyes, almond shaped and larger than average. They typically will have “odd eyes” usually one blue and one amber colored. Originating in the area of Lake Van in what is now Turkey they have a quirk of evolution unique to them. Van cats are proficient swimmers doing it for fun, sport or even to hunt.

That was her all right Revenant thought with a chuckle. Remembering that cold day in January 1917 when he met her. Scouting a burned village for signs of the enemy he stumbled upon a kitten. Cocking her head at him with a mew he smiled and sat down. Opening some tinned meat with a frown he gagged at the smell. Setting it down the tiny white ball of fluff carefully crept toward it then dug in happily with loud noms and purrs. She let him pet her afterwards and he marveled at how pretty her eyes were, what intelligence he could see in them.

He rose and bid her farewell, continuing his patrol he headed back to camp. He felt that someone was following him or more specific something. He turned around and sure enough the cat was several yards behind him. She sat down and looked at him as he shouted for her to go home.
“I want to follow you for a while” Revenants imagination heard the cat say.

With occasional stops to glare and growl to go home he slowly made his way back to camp. She was always there always stopping when he did. She only vanished as he entered the camp perimeter. Reporting the village empty his squad leader frowned.

“attention” He barked. “Our division HQ has been overrun and leaders captured. They are being held in a nearby town. We are ordered to try and free them then fall back to our lines. We will scout the town now and tonight,, what the devil is that??”

Revenant knew what the devil it was, it was a cat rubbing his leg purring. He just didn’t know the words in Russian for it. Since joining the Russian army as a civilian volunteer, guide and translator he picked up a lot of their language but not the word for cat.

Stammering “Katu??” (Armenian for cat) “Katvayin?” (feline)

“Too short to join” He says chuckling wearily.

The men gear up and head out carefully. The scouts return with a report. Fifteen men guard the post. A detachment is due in the morning to pick up the prisoners who won’t be shot there. Looking at a diagram in the dirt the squad leader plans. Its risky but the only thing remotely having a chance of success. The squad would split up with half taking the guards stationed at outposts and the other 3 taking the jail. Coming in from the rear and the cover of some woods Revenant was in the latter group.

Flitting to and fro Katvayin darted, that’s what the Russians thought her name was. Nobody could shoo her away for long she was going to tag along on these humans’ adventure. When the group neared the target, they stopped a moment to look at their map.

“You and I will move up and hold at both sides of the door before rushing in together to assault the room. Dimitry will bring up the rear and carry our gear” He conveyed in whispers and hand motions. Suddenly his eyes widened, and he points over to Katvayin. She is batting at a long thin wire tied to a tree and leading to the pin of a grenade tied to another tree. Not 3 feet away they were about to walk right into it. Motioning frantically to her and as everyone carefully stepped over it he imagined she said “Of course its dangerous silly human that’s why I pointed it out to you” Tail pointed straight up with only the tip flitting back and forth like her own battle flag she scampered off toward the jailhouse.

Reaching the back door and flanking it they heard voices inside. Looking over at the squad leader waiting for a signal they both drew in a shocked breath as Katvayin appears and walks directly toward them. Both thought the situation through at the same time. Reaching out to catch her or even to make a noise or motion would attract attention. Both stared in horror as she walked right up to the steps and through the door left open to let in some fresh air.

The sounds of shouts and weapons being raised followed then the bellow of “Stand Down.” In Ottoman. “Safe your weapons, the night is quiet, and you are more danger to me than the enemy. It’s just a,”

He never finished his sentence, bending down to pet the cat Revenant got a glimpse of his head coming into view. As the soldiers were making safe their weapons Revenant turned into the doorway spinning his rifle and hit the commander right under his chin with its butt. As he spun it the rest of its 360 his squad leader rushes in and both point their rifles at 3 very surprised men.

Finding the 4^th in the loo they quickly secure the building capturing the 5 men on sleep shift. Releasing their comrades and hanging a lamp in the upper floor window as a signal to the others they retreat to the preset meeting place. As everyone makes their way back safely and evening rations are distributed the squad leader opens a tin of sardines.

“Salut Sargent Katvayin” he says laying the tin down for her to enjoy loudly.

Katvayin remained with Revenant and the squad for the rest of the war. When Revenant was blown up, she found his new incarnation. When he made it to America, she came with him. When he became Nara S Imhaya he watched for her but never found her. Revenant is always looking around epecting to see a pair of mismatched eyes looking back and his imagination saying “hello again”.

(In another time and place in a far flung future Revenant gets a vision of Jan 22 2020. Happy answer your cats questions day my friends)