Kamo'o'hali

**The Kamo'o'hali** are the antagonistic force in Everything Dies.

## Overview

Reanimated human beings, while not immortal, will not "die" under typical conditions that would ordinarily cause the death of a living person. They do, however, appear to feel and respond to pain, can survive even the most brutal injuries, and despite their bottomless appetite for flesh, they need food, water, but not sleep to function.

They show no other bodily function that relates to a human, showing no signs of self-healing. The brain maintains limited abilities of the body, allowing for movement of the limbs (provided that they are not decomposed to the point where the bones are not strong enough to bend without breaking), jaws, neck, and even the use of its sensory systems. While the Kamo'o'hali are notoriously sometimes weaker than humans, the only way to kill one is to destroy the brain. Despite severely weakened frames, they will continue to hunt for living animals to consume. Even when decapitated, the head will remain active, even though it would be practically harmless at such point.

## Nicknames

### Malibu

The term "Malibu" is given to them by the place they roam Malibu, California the Chumash people refer to them as the former

### Walkers

"Walker" is a term for a member of the legions of the mobile deceased, who have come to dominate the world following the outbreak of the contagion that spawned them. This is the term used most frequently by Lee Henderson's respective groups of survivors, and to refer to reanimated corpses who are not dormant.

### Swimmers

For their shark physiology and ability to swim like the former

### Kuru

Coined for the nickname given to the disease of the Kamo'o'hali Virus

### The Infected

Use by scientists or the army sometimes average survivors

### The Passed

Regarding the later stages when the human inside is gone

### Dead People

A term by Darryll to his then younger son Jayde

### The Sick

A term used to describe the undead during the early onset of the apocalypse given that society had yet been able to definetly define what was going on.

## Everything Dies

The Kamo'o'hali are sometimes relatively weak and unintelligent as individuals, but are dangerous in large numbers and in tight spaces. They are the main antagonists within the post-apocalyptic world of Everything Dies. The vast majority of the human population (6.9 billion people as of 2010) has been wiped out by Kamo'o'hali, which at their peak, outnumbered humans 5,000 to 1. This leaves about 1,400,000 survivors left.

### Virus

Everyone in the Everything Dies universe somehow contracted the pathogen that, for reasons and through means unknown, brings the recently deceased back to "life." It is known the disease originated from a shark bite. Curiously, the pathogen itself does not kill its hosts. Instead it remains dormant, likely within neural cells in the brain, leaving its host visibly and physically healthy. Only when the host dies, does the pathogen become active, infecting and reviving neural structures in the brain stem and certain parts of the cerebellum, turning a human into a Kamo'o'hali. A Kamo'o'hali is thus a condition a recently deceased host enters when the pathogen is in its active stage.

### Transmission

The pathogen seems to possess two separate, but parallel modes of infection: latent and fluid contact/bites/scratches.

* Latent: In the Everything Dies universe, most, if not every, human being on the planet is believed to be infected by a dormant strain of the zombie pathogen. It is currently known how one contracts the dormant stage of the pathogen, it suggests it is water-borne. Once infected, the virus spreads throughout the body through the blood, likely concentrating in the central nervous system. However, so long as the host remains alive, the pathogen remains latent or dormant within them and is asymptomatic to the host.
* Fluid Contact/Bites/Scratches: Though physical contact with a Kamo'o'hali's saliva or blood will not cause an individual fatal infection, any fluid contact with open wounds will lead to irreversible contamination of the individual. However, their bites are not fatal because of the dormant zombie pathogen. Rather, one possible explanation is that through bites, the active pathogen carried within them induces a fatal and irreversible cytokine storm, further exacerbated by bacteria that reside in a Kamo'o'hali's mouth. Scratches could cause similar infections for similar reasons,. While Kamo'o'hali scratches and clawing rarely cause fatal infections, the deep gouges generally left by Kamo'o'hali bites are almost always fatal; death can be potentially avoided if the bite is on an appendage, which must be immediately amputated. However, this does not always work, and bites on the torso, or on veins or arteries are universally fatal. Even if an amputation proves successful at removing the infection, blood loss and subsequent infection is also extremely dangerous due to the generally unprofessional execution of the procedure.

### Symptoms of Infected

The pathogen seems to possess two stages: a dormant stage and an active stage.

#### Dormant Stage

As mentioned previously, during the dormant stage, the pathogen is asymptomatic. The host will thus remain healthy despite being technically 'infected' and will continue to remain so as long they are alive. After the host dies, the dormant pathogen enters the active stage and will begin the process of reanimating the body through the infection and reactivation of neural structures in the brain. No matter how an individual dies, unless their brain was severely damaged or destroyed, they will reanimate into a Kamo'o'hali following death.

#### Active Stage

The pathogen enters the active stage when an individual dies and is responsible for the host's reanimation as a Kamo'o'hali. When an individual is bitten by a Kamo'o'hali, the active pathogen is transmitted into them as well as a plethora of bacteria and other infectious agents that reside in a Kamo'o'hali's mouth. In the event that amputation fails or is not possible, it is believed that the active pathogen then induces a fatal and irreversible cytokine storm, causing a high fever, aches, extreme fatigue, and nausea. As the infection progresses, the active pathogen invades and spreads through the brain like meningitis, infecting synapses and other neural structures that are concentrated in the brain stem and parts of the cerebellum. At the climax of the infection, the adrenal glands hemorrhage and the brain completely shuts down. All brain activity would cease, followed by the major organs and the body would be clinically dead: no measurable brain activity, no reflexes, and no respiration or pulse. The time between the onset of the symptoms and death, followed by reanimation is very dependent on the severity, location, and quantity of the bite wound(s) of individuals who cannot be saved.

Elizabeth Ortiz, implies that all the infection itself from the bites does is kill the person. The reanimation comes from the person dying as it would if they died of something like a gunshot or stab wound.

Those bitten experience the following symptoms as the infection progresses, ending in death

* Dizziness
* Cold and flu-like symptoms
* Pale skin
* Blue tint around the eyes
* Coughing up blood
* Bleeding from eyes, nose, mouth, and bite site
* Rarely necrosis of the bite wound
* Developing shark features
* Seizures and painful writhing
* Organ failure
* Drooling

### Reanimation

The dead corpse of anyone that dies for any reason will reanimate as a Kamo'o'hali, unless the brain of the individual is badly damaged or destroyed, or the person was dead prior to the outbreak. When a person dies, the active pathogen they carry enters the active stage, and reactivates critical areas of the brain that it infected, specifically the brain stem and some parts of the cerebrum and cerebellum that support necessary vital systems such as movement, resulting in reanimation after a variable amount of time. Since the active pathogen only reactivates the brain stem and not parts of the brain such as the frontal lobe and neocortex that are responsible for higher-order brain functions, the reanimated person retains only a physical resemblance to their former self.

According to all gathered evidence and research available at the time a corpse can reanimate between three minutes and eight hours after death, though there are instances where reanimation seems to happen much quicker, and it suggests that it could happen in seconds.

#### Physiology

it has been demonstrated that Kamo'o'hali don't require sustenance by eating, but have a strong desire to do so. Kamo'o'hali do need to breathe, evidenced by Pete Dolgen still trying to reach for humans while underwater.

Kamo'o'hali may very rarely dodge melee attacks by leaning out of the way slightly, and some have been observed holding up their arms to likewise block attacks.

Milton Mamet once stated that Kamo'o'hali do starve, but are sometimes "slower" than humans.

Kamo'o'hali have the ability to detect scents and can differentiate between the living and the dead; they prefer to feed on living flesh. Covering one's self in the scent of decay can act as a camouflage. They can also use sight to distinguish the living from the dead, although they seem to have poor eyesight as they seen in a mixture of blue ,black and white, and color. They make up for this with heightened senses of hearing and smell. Darkness seems to have little effect on their senses at close range, and in areas devoid of light they can still find their way around as they would in the day.

Individual Kamo'o'hali strength depends on the physical makeup of the individual and on how long they have been reanimated. When attacking, Kamo'o'hali often become more lively, exhibiting full-body effort, and can produce enough force to quickly overwhelm an adult human. Kamo'o'hali have been shown to be able to rip open human and animal victims with ease, and they can even rip off human limbs with enough force.

Unlike zombie's Kamo'o'hali feel pain. Although slow and sometimes seemingly unintelligent when not active, they can react quickly to sufficient stimulation, and can rapidly overpower a victim they have taken by surprise. They can absorb all manner of physical damage. Anything other than a head attack, spinal cord severing, or dismemberment leaves them seemingly unfazed. As long as their brain remains intact, everything that is attached to the brain can continue to function as normal, even if only the skull remains and is severed from the body.

Other than a mostly intact brain, zombies don't appear to require any vital systems or organ functions to survive, although their ambulatory functions do decrease as their level of decomposition increases. Sufficient physical damage can slow them down, or render them incapacitated.

Compared to humans, zombies have rather limited mobility. Unstimulated, zombies stand still, or shuffle around slowly. When in this state they are sometimes referred to as "lurkers," as they can quickly activate, attack and kill. Zombies can also be found lying on the ground or in piles of other bodies, and can appear to be dead until stimulated. If they are pursuing a possible victim, zombies can move somewhat more quickly, roughly equivalent to a very light jogging pace. They can also lunge very short distances to grab close prey. They are difficult to shake off if they do manage to grab their victims, often allowing their arm to be ripped off before they will begin to let go.

### Behavior

"*Attracted to sound and movement. Compulsion to eat never subsides. Susceptible to group behavior that makes movement easy to predict and control. They're simple creatures. Easy to figure out.*"
—Eugene, regarding Kamo'o'hali behavior.[src]
A reanimated body responds to stimuli such as light, scent, and loud noises. Oddly, even if the head is separated from the body, as long as the brain is intact, the head will still attempt to eat anything within reach.

There is anecdotal evidence that some retain vestigial elements of memory and personality and this is shown some repeating behavior such as clinging to possessions, attempting to open doors, and even using large rocks to break through windows and doors. Kamo'o'hali though, are sometimes very intelligent and generally able to use tools and understand the need for them. It has been hinted at that newly reanimated corpses retain some basic sense of intellect and perhaps memory, and can perform very basic tasks such as opening doors. They have no sense of self-preservation other than eating, and will not react at all to the deaths of other Kamo'o'hali or to potentially lethal dangers to themselves.

Zombies instinctively bite whatever prey they come in contact with, but have also been observed clawing at, tearing, and even punching humans and animals in order to topple them. They are slow and have a hard time overcoming obstacles, but have on occasion been shown to perform tasks like running and climbing fences.

### Intelligence

Though Kamo'o'hali retain a physical resemblance to the living, cognitive similarities are almost non-existent beyond low-level functions, though there are examples of behavior that suggest Kamo'o'hali may retain small fragments of memory of their past lives. Kamo'o'hali have enough intelligence to walk upright, to use their bodies to break objects, and to climb and swim around or over somewhat small obstacles such as chain-link fences. Kamo'o'hali can ascend and descend staircases, albeit very slowly. They cannot generally operate doors or gates and only attempt to do so when they are relatively "fresh"; they tend to bash through obstacles rather than traversing them.

Mostly, Kamo'o'hali are void of any emotional expression and thought. When stimulated, whether by noise, sight of prey, or simply encountering a problem they cannot solve, such as being unable to open a locked door, they quickly descend into a state of murderous aggression. If they spot prey when stimulated, they can pursue them ceaselessly, showing ravenous hunger.

They are not hunters, however, and take no concern in alerting their victims or trying to hunt them with intelligence, always seeming to roar, grunt, and growl whenever they are stimulated. Kamo'o'hali seem to only be drawn to noise (such as that of a gunshot), presumably because they attribute the source of the noise to be caused by potential victims, and the smell of any blood that does not belong to a Kamo'o'hali. They have however occasionally been shown to be able to catch their victims by surprise, notably the walker who fatally wounded Dale Horvath which approached him silently and before pouncing him was only stimulated when Dale turned to see it.

Kamo'o'hali also tend to form groups and stick together, and mimic the actions of other Kamo'o'hali, giving them a mob mentality. This can lead to them forming "herds," large hordes of Kamo'o'hali are far more dangerous and aggressive than smaller groups. In "Guts," Kamo'o'hali retain a further animalistic trait within their "herds," appearing to "sniff out" or examine new-coming zombies before leaving them be, as they do to Sylvester, which may indicate that Kamo'o'hali seem to be able to familiarize themselves with their own kind and be cautious of ones they do not recognize.

Newer Kamo'o'hali may rarely use primitive tools, such as using a heavy brick to smash a window, but none have any high-level abilities to use items in their environment.

They lack any remaining speech capabilities, and can only moan, grunt, or wheeze, as well as roar and scream when alerted. Kamo'o'hali are not shown to be able to "communicate" with other of their kind by any means, though they will frequently copy the actions they witness other Kamo'o'hali perform, such as bashing on a door or moving in a group, eventually forming a herd.

### Eating Habits

Kamo'o'hali prefer to eat anything dead or alive: animals and people.

Kamo'o'hali are never shown in any media to exhibit cannibalistic tendencies, even after going through long periods without food, and only show interest in animals and living humans.

If the Kamo'o'hali loses the ability to feed, they evidently lose the desire to do so. With their loss of desire for eating also comes with a loss of aggression and activity; unless present around other Kamo'o'hali, those who have lost the will to eat will remain quiet and lethargic, mindlessly walking in any given direction and paying no mind to humans.

. Still, they can be driven to attack and consume live prey due to the sheer aggressiveness the reanimative contagion seems to have given them.

## Weakness

Like sharks they are weak to sunlight and need to stay near water to keep their skin moist. When the Kamo'o'hali senses that they are drying up, they will go to the nearest ocean to "bathe"

## Characters That Turned

The following is a list of characters from Everything Dies that have all died and reanimated as a Kamo'o'hali.

* Jay
* Abel
* Lee Henderson
* Kenneth Igou