I'm Only Human! - Part 2

Chapter 5: The Journey

As Matthew stared out of Titan's truck while driving away from the city towards the mountain range where the bears lived, he pondered what his life would be like surrounded by anthropomorphic bears. Titan noticed this as he looked at Matthew through the rearview mirror as they drove. He said, "Hey, Matthew, buddy, are you OK?" Matthew sighed and replied, "Yeah, I'm just trying to wrap my head around all this. It's a lot to take in, you know?" Titan nodded, then pulled the truck over to the side of the road. He got out of the car, pulled Matthew out of the vehicle, and held him tight in his large, muscular arms while swaying his hips from side to side as if lulling a child to sleep. "I know this is a lot to take in, Matthew," said Titan as he rubbed Matthew's back. "I, along with everyone else from Sandalwood, will miss you while you're up in the mountains hiding but know you'll be in good hands. I actually know several of the bears personally, and I know they'll love and treat you like one of their own!" Matthew felt a mixture of fear and curiosity, his heart pounding in his chest as he wondered what his new life among the bears would be like. 

The warmth of Titan's embrace provided a small measure of comfort, yet the uncertainty of the future weighed heavily on him. Tears welled in Matthew's eyes, but he managed a small, grateful smile, appreciating Titan's reassurance. "Thanks, Dad," Matthew sighed as he leaned against Titan's massive, muscular chest. "I just hope I'll make it through this unscathed and can rejoin my dad, Ashton, and everyone from school!" Titan chuckled deeply as he tightened his arms around Matthew. "You'll be okay, my dear human," Titan responded, still swaying his hips from side to side, his tail swishing back and forth. He then smiled with tears in his eyes as Matthew had called him "Dad." Matthew relaxed further into Titan's embrace as Titan held him in his arms on the side of the road beside the parked truck. Titan purred as he felt his and Matthew's hearts beating against each other. After a few more moments, Titan gently loosened his grip on Matthew and wiped away his tears. "Let's get back on the road," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We have a long journey ahead, and the bears are expecting us before nightfall." Matthew agreed as he was still in Titan's arms. Then Titan set him down, and they both got back in the truck and Titan got back on the road. As they drove on, Matthew couldn't help but reflect on the unbreakable bond he had forged with Titan, despite knowing him for only a year. Despite the fear of the unknown awaiting him in the mountains, he found solace in the unwavering support and love of his guardian. Titan had always been more than just a protector; he had become a father figure, and this journey only strengthened their connection. Just then, a thought occurred in Matthew's head, and he looked at Titan as the large anthropomorphic panther drove on. "Hey, Titan?" Matthew asked, "I'm sorry I'm asking this, but what happened between you and your wife, Reena?" Titan's grip on the steering wheel tightened momentarily, and his ears flicked backward as if caught off guard by the question. His eyes remained fixed on the road, but the light in them dimmed slightly. After a few moments of silence, he sighed deeply and replied, "It's a complicated story, Matthew, but I think you deserve to know." Titan then invited Matthew into the passenger's seat, then as Matthew strapped himself into the seat after climbing to it from the back seat, Tiotan put a hand on Matthew's thigh, and began to explain.

"Matthew," Titan began, "You know Patrick Swayze, right? That large wolf was the first-year security guard, alongside me?" Matthew nodded his head. "Yeah, I know Patrick," he replied. "Now that you mention him, I miss him dearly. I loved being around him during my first year at Sandalwood. He was the nicest wolf, and he had the nicest wife and the nicest kids!" Titan's eyes widened as Matthew uttered that sentence, and then he stuttered, "Yeah, about that..." Titan continued, "Patrick made sexual advances toward me, despite us both being straight, and when I confronted him about it, he said he was curious about hooking up with a guy." Matthew's eyes widened in shock, and he felt a lump form in his throat. He struggled to find the right words but managed to say, "I can't believe that happened to you, Titan. I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Titan nodded his head as he softly squeezed Mattehw's thigh. "Yeah, thanks, Matthew," he said, "but it only gets worse from there." "Patrick's wife found out about his advances and, thinking I had reciprocated, she spread rumors about me being involved with him," Titan continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Reena believed those rumors, and despite my attempts to explain, it created a rift between us that we couldn't mend." Matthew just stared at Titan as he explained what happened in detail, and his eyes welled up with tears. "W-What?" Matthew asked, "So, your life was pretty much ruined by a couple of rumors spread by Patrick's wife?" "Yes," Titan replied, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Those rumors caused me to lose friends and respect at work. Even though I tried to clear my name, the damage had already been done, and I was constantly treated with suspicion and disdain." Matthew shook his head as tears streamed down his face. He couldn't believe that Titan, his beloved anthropomorphic panther guardian, had to go through such a horrendous ordeal at Sandalwood. "T-Titan," Matthew exclaimed as he reached out and touched Titan's arm, which boasted huge and massive biceps and other muscles.