The Werewolves' Destiny

Chapter 7: The Second Encounter

In That Old Oak Tree

Ergon and Adolfo found themselves standing in both ends of the River of Avia, in both South and North of the valley.

Ergon is half-asleep atop the old oak tree he always visited when he was young. Back then, it was his haven and sanctuary. It was the only tree that made his life quiet and peaceful, away from his father's blabbering, spanking, punching, and his long whip.

The weather is fine. The air he was smelling are good enough to make his body warm and cold. It was a peaceful way of closing his eyes and forget about what his father did to him, or thinking about his nanny Hesa's well-being.

“It feels good to be back,” Ergon said as he closes his eyes, leaning his back on the branch of the three he was sitting. “Don't get too old, oak tree, okay? I have numerous memories to create here with you.”

Unknown to him, Adolfo was on the other side. His sense of feeling can trace intruders several miles away from where he stood. And he felt that something or someone is on that old oak tree. When he confirmed that someone is there, he then uses the power of his eyes to get through the distance. And he saw someone sleeping on top of the tree.

“Who are you?” Adolfo asks while keeping his posture on the other ends of the Avia River.

Ergon woke up after hearing someone calling him. “And who are you?”

Adolfo heard the voice of the gentleman who answered him, but he can't see where he stands. Then, he jumped higher and appeared in front of the old oak tree where he once visited when he was young.

“I am here,” Adolfo showed himself, then Ergon jumped down to see whose brave enough to disturb his peacefulness.

“You are a black wolf!” Ergon's other eyes turned into red and began attacking Adolfo.

“Hey, stop! I am just making a friendly conversation.” Adolfo keeps on dodging Ergon's move while the latter cannot be controlled.

“I don't care what your intention is, but this is not your territory. You have to step into the Land of Dravia, the land of the brown-red wolves!” Ergon keeps on capturing Adolfo. He keeps on punching and kicking the stranger, but he failed to even hit him in one single blow.

“How weak. You haven't trained, are you?” Adolfo insulted him while keeping his distance and continues to dodge every punch and kicks he made just to hit him. “I'll give you a taste of being strong. Here you go!”

Adolfo immediately ducked in and uses his left hand to punch Ergon on his stomach. The brown-red wolf spits blood, stopping him from making another move.

“Enough of this. My name is Adolfo.”

After hearing the name Adolfo, Ergon realizes that he was attacking his lost friend. His childhood friend whom he knew on the same old oak tree.

“Adolfo?” Ergon was confirming if it really his friend. Although, he was hurt by his punch, he tried walking closer to him to scrutinize him from head to toe.

Adolfo was confused when the brown-red wolf keeps on checking him, circling him, and when he stands in front of him, Ergon smiled.

“Don't you remember me, Adolfo?” he asks, showing him his eyes red eyes when his angry, irritated, or confused. And he showed him also his normal hazel brown eyes to him.

“You are that boy I played with when I was a child. It was you, but didn't you even introduce your name to me back then? I remember. Ergon. It was you.”

Adolfo suddenly embraces Ergon while the latter is feeling uncomfortable. Ergon knew that it was him. He was the same Adolfo he knew back then.

“Are you okay? I mean, your stomach? Does it hurt, Ergon?” Adolfo asks worried about the punch he made to his friend.

“I'm fine. This is nothing serious,” Ergon answered, but similar to when they were a child, Adolfo won't stop checking on him. Then, he found several bruises on his face, marks of whips on his hands.

“I doubt it. Let me bring you to the other side of the river. To the land of Olvia.”

“Wait. What?”

Ergon was surprised when Adolfo grabs his hands and immediately jump upward. Then, he found himself standing in the land of the Black wolves.

“You always did this, aren't you, Adolfo?” Ergon's cold face showed it to Adolfo, but the black one just smiled at him and releases his tight grip on his hands.

“Stay right here, and I will go find the herbs for your wounds.”

Adolfo left him on the grassy and windy part of the river where he clearly remembered taking a bath, both of them naked. His lips suddenly formed a little smile on his face,, and it made his heart shout for joy at the very least.

“I'm back!” Adolfo's voice surprises Argon again. He never failed to surprise him with his skills and speed.

“You haven't changed one bit, Adolfo. A black wolf full of tricks and skills up on his sleeve,” Ergon complimented him, but Adolfo just nodded.

“All right. Take off your clothes and I will put these herbs on your wounds,” Adolfo's eyes were serious, but Ergon give him a cold face. “Oh, come on. We're not children anymore. Are you still ashamed to show your body in front of me?”

Ergon moved his gaze to the other side. He felt that something is burning from his face. Then, he slowly removes the shirt he was wearing. He carefully removed it because he can still feel the lashes he received from his father's whip.

“You are one brave brown-red wolf. How did you get these lashes and bruises?” Adolfo asks.

When Ergon faces him, he saw him chewing the herbs and started then spit it out to put it on to his wounds.

“Wait. Is that even safe and clean?” Ergon stops him from rubbing it on to his wounds.

“Goodness gracious, Ergon. Where on earth do you live that you are this meticulous, huh? Enough asking, will you?” Adolfo's eyes were fixed on his wound, which made him stop asking and calm.

The moment he put on the herbs he chewed, Ergon felt relaxed and calm. The herbs give him a relaxing feeling, but the friction from Adolfo's hand who keeps rubbing it on his wounds, somehow the reason. Something unusual was starting to give him chills, but he just ignored him for the time being while he closes his eyes.

“Now, it's all done. Let me take a shower first in the river, then we'll talk.”

After hearing Adolfo's words, Ergon opened his eyes and could not even blink when he started removing his clothes from top to bottom. The very thing he mustn't have seen was unexpected. Then, Adolfo plunge himself into the river. Ergon was left alone, unbelievably unable to erase what he saw in his mind.

“Damn, Adolfo. He never changed one bit.”

The wounds were healing, but the one inside him keeps on running like it was catching for something. It's another weird feeling that he felt for the first time. And again, for the second time around, he shook his head and ignored it. Moments later, Adolfo returned, shaking the water from his body and started wearing his clothes.

“You still feel shy, aren't you? You'll get used to it, Ergon because from this day onwards, we're going to see each other in my land,” he said. As if he's already agreed to what he said.

“Are you convinced? Did I even agree?” he asked trying to ensure that he heard it the right way.

“Of course. The color of your eyes are hazel brown, which means that you are looking forward for our next encounter,” he said, smiling at him and sat beside him. “Now, tell me where did you get that wound?”

After seeing him sitting beside him, helping him wear the top he removed, Ergon suddenly lowered down his head. Adolfo notices him and slowly raises it and look at his eyes face to face.

“If you are not ready to tell, I understand, Ergon. Although, this is the third time we saw each other, the bonds we have during our childhood years are stronger than who we are now. I can wait until you are ready to tell me. But, for now, just like what I said, we're going to see each other again and again. I'll make you strong enough to fight me!”

Ergon's confidence began rising. Adolfo saw it in his eyes. Both are smiling with each other, but Ergon's heart were beating abnormally. He just couldn't ignore it, but that's what he can do for now. He doesn't know what kind of feeling was there. Either because of Adolfo's encouraging words or Adolfo itself.

“Then, help me become stronger like you, Adolfo.”

“Of course. Friends?”

“Friends.”

Shaking their hands together and laughing in front of each other are the bonds that are starting to connect into two destined wolves that will soon change their lives forever.