Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Two days later, Avril had caught a fever and was bedridden once again. Dakar kept running around the island, getting herbs with medicinal properties and brewing them up for her to drink. They were very bitter and he had to drop a plate of roast chicken by the bowl of medicine before Avril would agree to drink it all.

“This is no use. The chicken tastes bitter,’’ she would complain while eating it.

“Should I stop giving you chicken then? Because my chickens are reducing everyday and they're not laying eggs yet, Avril,” he would say with gritted teeth.

“No. Don't stop. Don't worry, they'll start laying eggs again. I even wish I could eat some omelette. It's been awhile.”

“When you are done eating, you should rest a bit. Because I'll be back in an hour to dress your wound.”

Dressing her wound was World War III. She would scream and kick and cry and throw punches with her healthy arm. She would even threaten to throw herself in the ocean where Dakar would never be able to catch her. Dakar who was much stronger and bigger found it really hard to do it carefully when she was acting like a rattlesnake struck with a huge stick. If he tried to put her in place, he would hurt her again. Either with his fingerlike claws or he might break her bones with his arm.

That night, he had returned late from the beach where he went to meet the dolphins. Avril thought he wouldn't dress her wound anymore since it was already late. She even pretended to be soundly and peacefully asleep, just in case he would still want to do it.

He knocked on her door but she didn't answer. After a few more knocks, he entered and saw her sleeping like a baby. She looked pale and tired.

“Avril,” he called in a whisper which was still like a booming human voice. He moved closer to her and peered into her closed eyes.

“I just got back from the beach. Do you want to guess what I got for you?” he asked. She didn't answer but he thought he saw a bit of movement around her brows.

“It's ice-cream. The dolphins put it in a vacuum flask so it didn't melt as they traveled here. Plus, the water temperature was cold. I was thinking, maybe you could take it after the dressing of your wound.”

Avril's mouth moved and Dakar raised a brow. Not questioningly and not surprisingly. He had scented her in the living room when he arrived. And the smell was quite fresh and sharp. Which meant she had been there a few minutes before he entered. And she couldn't possibly fall deeply asleep in a few minutes. He knew Avril was pretending.

He began to move away from her then said, “But if you're asleep, I guess we'll have to wait till tomorrow. By then, the ice-cream has melted. What a shame, it wasn't easy getting this.”

“Wait!” Avril screamed and he chortled and looked at her.

“Busted!” He exclaimed and she scoffed. She sat up with a bit of a difficulty and glared at him.

“This isn't a joke, right?” She asked sternly.

“I rather take a salty swim and burn my fur, than lie to you right now,” he stated and she heaved a sigh. She glanced at her arm and bit her lip.

“Okay, fine,” she finally said.

“But take it easy on me. I don't wanna cry while taking ice-cream or my tears will melt it and make it salty,” she added and he purred at her.

“I'll be right back,” he said and left the room. Few seconds later, he was back with a clay bowl and a kettle. He dropped the bowl and the balm toppled inside it.

He entered her bathroom and came back with the towel.

“Wait...where is the ice-cream? Bring it before you begin anything!” Avril snapped and Dakar grumbled something and left the room. He returned with a flash which he handed over to her. She couldn't open it with just one hand so he opened it instead… with just one hand.

The sweetsmell of strawberry ice cream filled the room immediately and the smile on Avril's face became permanent. All through the dressing, she didn't curse and yell. Only little winces and shutting of eyes to avoid screaming. In a matter of time, he was done and she was on to the ice cream.

Dakar shook his head and left her. He had lots of things going on on his mind and just wanted to rest.

The next morning, Avril could walk out and sit at the table for breakfast. Of course Dakar was beside himself with joy.

“Soon, you'll be able to tend the plants with me again,” he announced joyfully as he placed a plate of sliced bananas in front of her.

“And also, the coconuts at the beach need husking. I can't wait for you to help me gather them in baskets,” he said again and sat down. Picking a clay fork, he began to pick unsliced but peeled bananas and eat them. The island bananas were fat but in front of Dakar, they looked smaller. As he ate, Avril couldn't help but notice something weird. Dakar's paws were changing. They were growing longer making it very easy for him to use a spoon. However, Avril didn't mention this to him.

“Why are you so lazy these days? You want me to help you with everything. I wasn't here for the fifty two years you spent here alone,” she sniggered.

“I've gotten so used to your presence that I can't do anything without involving you. If you were here all those fifty two years, I wouldn't have felt half of the trauma I felt.”

Avril gulped and stared at her plate.

“Am I… am I that special?” she mumbled. Hoping he didn't hear her. But she remembered his hearing was very perfect.

“What sort of question is that? Of course you're special and you know it.”

“I don't feel like I am.”

”Hey, Avril,” he called and she looked at him.

“You are special. Very special...to me. And it's not because of that prophecy rubbish. It's because you're part of my life and the lotus in my mud. Without you, I'd probably be wallowing in more depression now. Because of you I have a very important reason to wake up in the morning.”

Avril blinked back tears.

“And what is this ‘important reason’?” She asked.

“To make you breakfast or you would eat me instead,” he replied and she laughed. Yes, she was very fierce when hungry.

“I wish things would remain like this. I feel so loved,” she stated and smiled at him. He beamed and suddenly, something in his face changed form. He looked different immediately and Avril gasped.

“What is it?” Dakar snapped. Avril's eyes held horror in them and he looked behind him immediately but didn't see anything, not like he was expecting to.

“Avril, are you okay?” He asked again.

“It's your…your face. It's… different,” she stuttered.

“Different? What do you mean by different?”

“Uhm... Your eyes…er—they look a bit weird. Also your snout has turned shorter and your whole face is shrinking,” she explained.

Dakar touched his face with his right paw.

“Your paws are also getting slimmer and longer than before. Something's happening to you, Dakar. Are you okay? Do you feel good?”

He purred and dropped his hand.

“No. I don't,” he answered.

Avril dropped her fork and stared at him, waiting for more explanation of what was going on with him.

“Every year, I...I change. I change into something else. ‘Savage’. I usually go away from this side of the island to avoid destroying all of these things I've put up over the years. My body changes. My fur sheds and I turn into a real monster.” He paused and took a deep breath.“I turn—”

“—Feral”Avril cut in.

“Yes. I turn feral,” he attested.

“It happens every year?”

“Yes. I thought it wouldn't happen this year because...”

“Because of what?”

“You, Avril. I thought it wouldn't happen because you were here and…you were meant to break the curse. I have different changes throughout the year and ever since you came, none of them have showed up. I've lost my craving for blood and raw meat. I no longer snap to kill innocent animals. I don't even get angry anymore.”

“I am the reason for all of that?” Avril asked, astonished. She had always thought Dakar was just a normal being with no negativity. She had no idea she was the reason for that.

“Yes. I felt it when you arrived the island. Immediately I saw you, I felt peace. If it was another person I saw that day, their bones would be buried under the sand already.”

“Have you ever—”

“—No. Never seen a human since I arrived. Talk more of killing one.”

Avril turned and stared at her plate for long seconds, trying to digest their conversations. Then something struck her mind.

“Dakar, did you say you leave this side of the island to another?” She asked.

“Yes. I go North,” he answered.

“North. Why North?” she asked with furrowed brows.

“Because it's very rocky and has wild animals. Also…also because it has dark magic that makes me hypnotized and keep me within its perimeters. I wouldn't want to leave except when I return to being normal and it just chucks me out.”

“Which means you can only enter when you're feral.”

“Oh no. It has the capacity to turn one feral too. That's why I avoid there always. But after twenty eight days one can return to normal and leave.”

“If you always avoid there, then why did you take me with you North for hunting?” She inquired and his ears fell. He stared at her for minutes without a word.

“Dakar?” She called after the awkward silence began to take too long.

“I'm... I'm sorry, Avril. I'm so sorry,” he said.

Avril gazed at him intently then scoffed as she finally understood.

“You wanted me to follow you by all means. You took me there on purpose!” she barked.

“I am truly sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted to know if I'll turn feral even after meeting with you. That's why I took you.”

“And we hadn't even reached there but you put claws in my skin!” She snapped.

“Taking you was a mistake.”

“What if I didn't make you angry? What if we successfully got there? I wouldn't be speaking with you right now!”

“Then thank God you made me angry. Avril, I've been dying of guilt here. I regret taking you.”

But no, Avril was beyond angry. She stormed off her seat and glared at Dakar.

“What you did was stupid! Endangering someone you claim you care about when you weren't even sure your experiment would work out. You even made my favourite meal so you could take me to my brutal death. God! I have never been so disappointed in any human like I am disappointed in you,” she blurted, grabbed her plate and began to walk away towards the exit outside.

She stopped when she reached the door and turned back to face him.

“Oh sorry. You're not even human. Let me rephrase that. I have never been so disappointed in any ‘animal’ like I am disappointed in you,” she said and walked out.

Moments passed and Dakar sat there motionless and in silence. Then, something began to speak in his head.

She called you an animal. She thinks you're an animal. She's disappointed in you. She is going to hate you forever for trying to kill her. She now sees you as a murderer. Avril is going to leave you forever!!!!

“SHUT UP!!!!” Dakar screamed and overturned the table. Everything went crashing down and since they were mostly clay, they shattered.

“Don't you dare! Don't you dare speak to me again!!” he yelled and snarled his teeth. He had been trying to keep his cool even after what Avril said. Of course, he felt bad. Even worst than he had felt when he clawed her. But he didn't need someone else—something else to repeat it to him.

“Your time is running out! You won't keep me in forever. You won't escape this,” the shrill voice rang in his head again.

“Shut up!” Dakar snarled again.

“You don't even know how she is going to break the curse. Pathetic of you. Pathetic” the voice sounded and faded away.