The Lycan

Chapter 11

Nero walked along the forest trail, with Katie and Matthew close behind. Nero made a left off of the trail.

"Here, follow me," Nero said. "Don't worry about getting lost, I can bring you back."

The two humans followed the werewolf, making sure not to stumble and stray away. Katie found it hard to understand how Nero could navigate the rocks and logs so easily, as he crouched beneath the fallen trees and crawled through the tight spaces.

It was about a ten minute to fifteen minute walk, before they reached a clearing. Before them was a clear river, rocks and pebbles lining the water. Nero hopped along the rocks across the river with ease, while Katie and Matthew were much slower, taking care not to slip. When they made it across, there was a large mossy log, long enough for a few people to sit on, underneath a large tree, its branches and leaves hanging low. Mossy rocks lined the thick trunk.

Katie stared in awe, before opening her sketchbook and sitting on the log, looking at the flowing river in front of her.

"Is this where you hang out, Nero? It's beautiful!" Katie said, her eyes gleaming.

"I usually come here to calm myself and meditate," Nero sat down on the log with her.

"Did you set this up?" Matthew asked while brushing his fingers against the moss.

"I-" Nero looked down to the ground, bashful. "Yes, actually. I decided to make it a little more... serene?"

"You did a good job," Matthew said, sitting down on the other end of the log. "You seem to have been holding up well. Do you just, y'know, go wherever you want?"

"I go where I need to in order to survive," Nero said, looking down at his clawed fingers. "I was able to make territory for myself, but I still need to fight for it sometimes. Despite the scenery, it's dangerous here. I guess my lycanthropy is why I'm here today, otherwise I would probably be dead."

"But... ten years?"

"I can't go out there. Matthew, we both know that. One look at me and people will be afraid, and god forbid I'm out there during a full moon. I belong here."

Matthew went silent, knowing he couldn't deny the facts.

"Why don't you come stay with me?" Katie asked. Nero and Matthew quickly looked at her, astonished at the suggestion.

"No, no, I couldn't," Nero said, standing up. "Trust me, I couldn't, not like I am now. I- no how do I explain this..." He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "I'm... what if something happens? It's just better that I stay here."

"Well, I won't force you, but I have a guest room you could stay in if you need it. Like I've said before, my lips are sealed." Katie stood up, looking at Matthew. "And you, I know your only staying here for a little bit, but you can still come over and stay a bit if you want."

"Oh no," Matthew stuttered, blushing a little. "You don't need to-"

"I want to!" Katie chuckled. "I was kinda raised to offer help to anyone who needed it. And I'm living by myself so it kinda gets lonely." Katie cleared her throat, slightly nervous about what she was going to say next.

"You guys are the first friends I actually made since I moved here, if you consider us to be friends." She scratched the back of her head bashfully.

The two men were taken aback by her gesture. Matthew sighed.

"Sure, that's fine. I wouldn't mind that at all," he said with a thankful smile. "What about you, Nero? There aren't people that come this far most of the time."

"I..." Nero trailed off. "I don't understand..." He slumped back down on the log, clenching his fist in frustration. He looked at Katie and Matthew with a look that seemed emotionally pained.

"Why are you so nice? You both know what I am and you're not afraid, I-" his fingers twitched, his claws seeming to sharpen. He couldn't say anything else. He didn't know what he could say. His head was starting to hurt.

"Listen, Nero," Matthew said, kneeling down to his level. "You've been alone for a long time. I'm only here for maybe two more months, and I wanna be here for you. Remember what I said back at the lab?"

"Please don't mention the lab..." the werewolf muttered.

Matthew sighed. "I said I'll catch up. It took years, yeah, but I'm here now aren't I? There's no one from the lab here, so there's nothing to worry about. I've cut all contact from that crappy place. They can't find either of us."

Nero kept his gaze on the ground, before letting out a defeated sigh.

"Okay," he finally said.

The three of them would return to the cabin that day. They shared conversations and tea, until nightfall, when Matthew would go back to the place he was staying, promising he would come back the next day.

In the guest room, Nero was laying on the bed, looking at the window next to him. He wouldn't have to worry about turning until next month, so he watched the night sky through the glass without any worries or tension. He eventually fell into a deep slumber.

Nero opened his eyes, waking up in a field of flowers, underneath a sky full of stars. He stood up, looking over the horizon. The field of flowers was seemingly infinite, until he spotted a short hill. The werewolf walked over to the hill, which had a single, purple flower, a flower he'd never seen before. The flower began to glow, and from its center began to leak a strange, glowing magenta liquid.

From behind him, Nero heard a low growl.