Dojo At It Again

She moved backwards as she couldn't believe it. He was back. She broke the curse. But how?

“Avril...you did it”, he stated gently.

”Dakar, it's you. It's really you. You're free!”, she exclaimed and as if whatever was restraining her was pulled away, she ran into his arms. He covered her with his arms and hugged her so tight, like he was protecting her.

“I can't believe this! I can't—”, she sobbed as she placed her head on his shoulder.

They disengaged from the hug but still held hands.

“So, this is what you look like? You carved yourself”, she said and looked up at the statue.

“It wasn't supposed to be that big but since I was big then, I couldn't make it small”, he stated and they chuckled.

She looked at him again and marveled. There was no single trace of his wolf form in his face. Except his green eyes.

“But how did I break the curse, Dakar?”, she asked. He let go of her hands and crossed his.

“I don't know. Maybe care and love?”.

“Well, I did tell you I love you. But it's not the Beauty and the Beast type of love though”.

“Does it matter?”, he asked with a shrug.

“No, it doesn't”, she smiled.

“Are you hungry? Because I'm starving”, Dakar stated. She laughed and scratched her forehead.

“What if I cook for you?”, she asked and he raised a brow at her.

“It's my first meal as a human in fifty-four years, I can't eat trash”.

She frowned and punched his chest but that was a very wrong move. She yelped in pain and held her fist.

“Sorry, I forgot to tell you I have tough skin. So you won't be able to punch me now like you used to”, he snickered at her.

“I'm starting to miss the wolf you”, she pouted and he laughed.

“You will miss the wolf me more when you will have to walk long errands”.

“But, since the curse has been broken, don't you remember your home? And your way back?”.

Dakar thought hard for about five minutes.

“I can't. I don't remember anything. That same blockage I've felt for years is still there”.

“But why? You mean only your body changed?”.

“Yes. Don't worry. It might take some time but I'll be back fully”.

“What about the beach? I mean the ocean. Will the water burn you?”.

“Should we try? Let's go there”. He started to walk but Avril didn't move so he stopped.

”What?”, he asked her. She bit her lip and looked at him.

“What is it?”, he asked again.

“UUhm, it's a very long way to the beach. And right now, I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. I have no strength to take that long walk, Dakar”, she muttered though loud enough for him to hear.

“I'm starting to miss my wolf form too. Your laziness is going to drive me crazy. Let's go up. I'll cook”, he stated and she jumped up in excitement. He began to walk towards the entrance and she ran to keep up with him.

“How are you still so fast? Slow down!”, she said after him.

They finally reached the living room and Avril ran into the kitchen first. Dakar followed behind and began to arrange the ingredients to make pancakes.

“Get the honey from that cabinet”, Dakar said to her.

“You get it yourself”, she said as she gulped down orange juice from the previous day.

“You do know orange is a roughage and you're going to get super hungry because you're consuming too much”, Dakar said as he went to take the honey himself.

“Hopefully, breakfast will be served by then”.

Thankfully, breakfast was served few minutes later. They ate while talking about different things and laughing. After breakfast, they sat on the floor and sliced bananas for drying. Soon, Avril wanted to take a nap so she left for her room. Immediately she shut the door, Dakar stood up stealthily and went to his room. He brought out a clay bottle and opened it. He sighed deeply and brought up his left hand. He turned the bottle and poured the water onto his hand. For the first few seconds, nothing happened. But suddenly, the water left on hand turned red and began to steam. He screamed loudly as it burnt deeply into his skin. He shook his hand to remove all the water but he couldn't. He fell down in pain as the red liquid began to move up his hand, burning the skin it touched. His loud scream got Avril running from her room and into his.

“Dakar?”, she asked as she saw him on the floor. She saw his burning hand and screamed.

“Dakar!!!”, she ran to him and shook him. Then she ran to the kitchen and brought another bowl of water and poured it on his hand. Immediately, it cooled down leaving blacken lines on his skin. He closed his eyes and lost consciousness. She touched his face worriedly.

“Dakar, wake up. What happened? What's wrong with you? Dakar”, she sobbed as she tapped his face.

Suddenly, his eyes popped open. But they weren't bright green, they were red. She moved back in fear. His face tensed up and his muscles contracted. And like a snake, his burnt arm dived up to her throat and clasped around it. She yelled as she couldn't breathe. He pulled her up and got on his feet too. She began to choke and her face turned red.

“Dak.. Dakar, please...sss-stop”, she pleaded.

“This is what you deserve for putting me in this condition. This is what you deserve!”, he said between gritted teeth but it was not his voice who spoke.