The Reason For The Hunting Trip

“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 said.

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 snap and keeps me within its perimeters. I wouldn't want to leave except when I return to being good and it 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 asked 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 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.