Chapter Eight - Was I Really That Blind?

Chapter Eight – Was I Really That Blind?

I woke up earlier than I would have liked to. It wasn't the unusually cold air that awoke me, nor was it the lack of sun in the sky due to the overhanging clouds. Something had been bothering me since I had talked with my Nameless stranger and I felt the desperate need to figure out the real truth about everything. Something was being kept from me and I wanted to know what.
I grimaced, noticing Saeron wasn't resting on the bed next to me like he usually did. I knew he'd be back some time. And when he did, I had a few questions for him.

The day dragged on, and it didn't help that the sun never came out. I sat at the top of the temple entrance, just before the tower of stairs, watching for Saeron's return. He finally came, some time around mid day I guess, I couldn't really tell due to the cloudiness, and he was carrying a dark bag filled with something.
“Our supplies of food was low so I brought some fish to hold over until I can find something decent to preserve for food.” He left the bag in front of me and headed for the bedroom. I opened it and was immediately overcome by the smell of fish, both dead and alive, inside the bag.
I quickly placed the live ones inside the pond and headed to the kitchen with the dead ones, less than eager to prepare a meal with them.

After preparing and eating my meal I began my search for Saeron. After finding no trace of him, not even in the bedroom I decided to give up and take a stroll in the jungle to restock my food supplies.
I walked briskly through the jungle, try my best to spy anything edible. The day was beginning to feel warmer, but the sun hadn't come out yet, making the jungle a very dark and eerie place.

It wasn't much, but I managed to collect a few dozen or so measly berries. Enough, at least, to fill a small jar. As of current the only things I had to eat now were fish, a few berries, and the food that was left over from the previous restocking.

It was getting late. The clouds were begging to clear away, but as soon as the sun disappeared the moon ceased to do the contrary. It was a new moon tonight.

I waited, as I always did for my Nameless stranger. The hours dragged on, but I continued to sit still, despite the cold.
Saeron appeared out of no where and came to sit with me.
“What are you waiting for?” He asked casually.
“Someone, he usually shows up sometime in the middle of the night,” I said with a sigh. “He should be along soon.”
“What if he doesn't come tonight?” Saeron's voice was thoughtful, as though he knew this statement to be true.
“He comes every night, I'm positive he'll come tonight,” I recoiled the answer back to him.
“Who is he?” He asked, barely interested as he rolled over on his back, exposing his stomach and extending his paws to the jungle.
“I'm not sure,” I spoke the truth.

I waited there with him, for some time, but not once did I see a figure appear from the jungle.
“It's getting late,” Saeron stated, still laying on his back in total comfort under the moonless night. “We should probably head on to bed.”
“You know, it seems kind of strange,” I began with a look of puzzlement on my face. Saeron turned his eyes to mine and I could tell he was interested with what I had to say. “He's been here every night I've met him, yet when you showed up to sit with me tonight he never came.”
“Maybe he say me and ran off.”
“No, I would have heard something.” I looked over at Saeron with judgment clear on my face. “Can I see your arm for a second?”
“Why?” He was suddenly getting defensive. I looked at where his arm extended from his body and immediately found the blood stains on the bandage I had used for my Nameless strangers wound.
“I knew it,” I said in a soft tone, almost to myself.
“What did you know?”
“It was you the entire time,” I said, finishing with a paranoid laugh. Realization of what was really going on was beginning to set in. “Why didn't you tell me?”
“Tell you what?” He asked, obviously playing dumb. I wasn't gonna have it, I knew the truth and he was going to accept it.
“Your the nameless stranger who's been coming to me every night, your the one who gave me this bracelet! I don't know why you didn't tell me, but it would have been a whole lot better on me if I had known the truth!” I paused to catch my breath and realized Saeron was staring at me. His blue eyes held a sadness in them I had never know in his eyes.
“I'd rather you had not known. It would have been better if you could view me for what I really am and not this...this beast!” His words spouted out in true emotion. “I wanted you to like me, but it's hard when I'm constantly having to walk around in this bag of fur all day. I'd gladly give up this curse to be human every second of the day. I never wanted this curse to begin with!”
“I never realized,” I could hear more sadness in my voice than I had realized I felt. “I would have never guessed that you were really a human.”
“You probably hate me now,” His face grimaced just before he hid it in his paws. “I wish you had never found out.” I unthinkingly placed a hand on his head in an attempt to comfort him.
“I don't hate you. It's strange, but I kind of knew you and the nameless stranger were connected in some way.” I thought for a moment before continuing. “But not knowing completely helped me to get to know both sides of you. I wasn't to sure about your tiger side, but even during this short of time I've come to like both sides of you. I'm just glad I finally put two and two together.”
“You have to admit, you were a little slower,” Saeron teased, a big toothy grin forming on his face. He was back to his normal self. “I'm glad you don't mind this form though. I really wish I could change at will, or that I never had this ability to begin with, but it runs in my genes.”
“Didn't you say you're the last of your people?” I asked, remembering when Saeron, in human form, told me this fact. “Or was that just a lie to get me to believe you were someone else.”
“No, that's fact. As far as I know I'm the only one of my kind, the last of my people.”
“But you are originally a person?”
“Yes, I was born human, and was as such until my later of youth.”
“Did it just happen?”
“No,” Saeron turned away from me, his eyes focus on some unseen vision of the past I guessed. “It's a long story, and we should really get on to bed.”
“I'd rather hear the story.”
“Another time,” He said, his words final. “It's time to sleep now.”
He got up and headed for the bedroom. I stood on my feet and followed him to the bedroom where he waited for me. I hopped into bed and lay me head down on the soft pillow. I felt something warm fuzzy brush my backside, pressing against me, just for his nose nuzzled my head.
“I'm glad I can finally be myself around you,” He said softly, just before he began to purr.
“I'm glad of that too,” I said with a pleasant smile, though I was sure he couldn't see it. We lay in the dark for sometime before a question suddenly hit me. “Why didn't you transform into a human tonight?”
It took him a while to answer, and for a second I thought he had nodded off. “I can only transform between midnight and morning, but to do this I need the moon. Tonight was a new moon. I hope that answers you question. Good night, Dante.”