SUMMARY:

SCENE: DECEMBER 12th, 2019

The Traveler
After I ran into my old friend Zay in Paris and sent him off to get his connecting flight in Japan, I continued to wrap up my final day of training with Nikki. Even then after, I felt I couldn't leave Paris just yet, so I spent some extra time there, even went to visit any mystics in the area while I had the time. No answers to my mysteries were given. After another week of visiting these mystics and even finding historical cultural sites that were long rumored to hold an abundance of mystical and spiritual energy, I took my deep breath and made my next move. I'm going to go back to Germany. Berlin this time.

After I made my choice, I searched for train schedules, found a train that made a straight path from Paris to Berlin, so I took that one.. Didn't want to risk any connecting rides to stop between. As soon as I got the ticket, I was on my way out to Berlin. Goodbye Paris, and thanks for the memories. We will meet again, I'm sure. As the train leaves the station, it was a smooth ride, at least for almost six hours. Right as the clock hit 5:45pm, the train stops in the station of Dusseldorf. "What the... Why did it stop..?" I think to myself. I hear over the intercoms, the train operator, "We apologize for the delay, there seems to be some ice that has formed on the train tracks ahead. Please take this time to explore and you will be notified when the trains are operational again."

Well that's just great. I'm back at the place I left with a broken heart. Well, no use sitting in the train, so I'll just roam the streets and try not to think about the events of months past. I slip on my fur-lined dark brown leather jacket over my dark green hoodie, and I exit the train and make my way to the exit, where the light of the city shines in on the station and I'm at the city's "Main Street." As I roam the "Main Street" of the city, suddenly, I get this weird, heart-fluttering feeling, and I feel an otherworldly pulse inside me. No, not now. Why now? And I look around hoping no one will see this already faint glow that is pulsing from the center of my body. I run to a space between two buildings, an allyway just to see if I can calm it down while looking around to see what could possibly be making it act up.

David Wolfsbane
I finished my days work and decided to use the cold, but otherwise beautiful evening, to have a run in the nearby park. So I get into my jogging clothes and leave my apartment to enter the park, which is only a short walk away on the other side of the street. As I´m about to enter the park, I recognize that my left arm is slightly glowing in a green light. Looking puzzled I take a closer look and see that the wolfs head, I used to wear as a necklace before some things happened and which is now a bracelet around my wrist, just started to glow and pulse in this otherworldly green light I remember just too well. I have no Idea what is happening, there is no reason why it should do that. Standing at the parks entrance, I look around, confused and concerned what is going to happen now.

The Traveler
I keep looking around, and the energy pulses more noticeably now. My panic increases, when all of a sudden I spot the same faint pulsing light in the crowd across the street and down near the park entrance straight across from me. I try to approach slowly at first, clenching my gut and hoping my slow movements won't be noticeable to you. But as I approach, the pulsing light from both the pendant and me get faster and glow brighter. I still hope you haven't noticed. As I continue approaching I make out where it's glowing from you, and I can make out the vague shape. "No... That's not possible..." I think to myself. As I'm nearing you, and you keep looking around, our eyes meet and I go to call out, "Excuse me... sir?"

David Wolfsbane
While still still trying to figure out what is happening with the pendant which is keeping to glow stronger and faster, I turn around and see someone approaching me. And that the person is also glowing in the same light and I feel all the blood in my veins turning into Ice in an instant. "No, no, that can´t be" is all I can think. I barely hear that you say something to me, nor am I able to answer you. The closer you come, the stronger the glow of you and the pendant gets. I stumble two steps backwards, unable to take my eyes of you, I try to hide the wolf with my right hand, but it is obviously too late. You recognize the wolf and that I know who you are. After some long seconds, I finally say with a toneless voice: " JAX! FUCK!" turn around and run into the park, as fast as I can.

The Traveler
"HEY!" I yell and see you run into the park and I begin chasing you. "I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS!" I continue while chasing you, and now I see we are approaching the city forest that is the centerpiece of the park, and I see you dart straight into the woods, so I follow you, the glowing green light making it easy to chase you, even though the sun has set and the only light we have is the moon. As we make our way into the depths of the forest, I trip over a root, "HAHHP!" I let out as I fall, but I get back up and catch a second wind and begin sprinting to catch up to you. Finally, I'm gaining ground and in between your swinging arms I see the wolf. "MAX??" I yell out and I crouch down as I continue to sprint and jump towards my left to tackle you to stop you from running, and we both tumble on the ground, with me tumbling a few feet in front of your head. "Max, is that you??" I continue to ask as I get off the ground.

David Wolfsbane
As I run into the park, you immediately follow me. "And I have no answers for you Jax" I think. Although it has become dark, the glow of the pendant is so strong, that it is impossible to lose me. "Damn, that´s not good" comes to my mind while heading into the large forest, hoping that you can´t follow me here and I get more distance between us. I hear you stumble and moan and I hope you haven't hurt yourself, but I also hope that I can now successfully run away from you. As I hear you scream "MAX?" my heart sets out for a moment and I stumble, which gives you the opportunity to tackle me and we both kiss the ground, only a few feet away from each other. We both get up and you ask again if I´m Max. I stand in front of you in the green light of you and my wolf and I just know there is no way that I can run you out. So I close my eyes and bow my head and say in a sad voice: "I don't want to do this" and with that I attack, trying to hit you with a series of punches.

The Traveler
As I fully rise to my feet, I see you get up quickly too, and I hear you say that you don't want to do this, and you move in and begin attacking me with a series of punches, most of which I'm able to evade or block, and with your last punch, I grab your right fist with my left hand and grab that forearm with my right and I twist and turn and press down on your right shoulder with my left hand and hold your wrist with my right. "What the fuck man?? I don't want to hurt you, just let me ask my questions and answer them!" I say trying to hold your shoulder down and immobilizing your right arm.

David Wolfsbane
"I can´t" I hiss through my teeth "I just can´t. Don´t force me to do that". I use my left arm to go under yours and connect with my right arm. Then I press that arm up against yours, until you start to loosen your grip, as that happens I use a a low kick to get you from your feet, get my arm free and jump back. I wanted to attack you while you were still on the ground, but you get up real quick. So I get into an attack position and start to punch you again, just as a distraction until I kick your right side with my right foot, while you blocked my punches.

The Traveler
You break my grip pretty easily and you sweep me off my feet. I roll back to recover and you're already pouncing at me again, me having to retreat back further to avoid your strikes, your punches, and as I block your punch again, you kick my right side with your right foot to break apart my stance and my right knee buckles, but I use that to get me low enough so I can counter-strike and send a forearm club to your naval to push you back so I can get back up to my feet. As soon as I do I launch forwards and send three jabs, the first two to each of your shoulders and the third to your chest before going for a counterclockwise low sweeping kick with my left leg, hoping the punches distract you so I can sweep you off your feet. "So this is how it has to be huh? I'll have to force the answers out of you?!" I yell in frustration.

David Wolfsbane
As you hit me with your forearm, I grunt and stumble several steps back, giving you the time to find your stance and immediately continue your attack, your jabs are hard but also quite predictable, so I´m aware that something has to come, and as you low kick me, I fall on my back, but use the momentum to make a full roll and jump back to my feet. I start to breath harder and look at you. I can see you are angry and confused and I can´t blame you for that. "You can´t force answers out of me, I just don´t have any I could give you". I yell back and run towards you, it looks that I want to start a kick to your head, but I break the move shortly before I arrive you and use my speed to throw my right fist hard into your abs.

The Traveler
As you are swept off your feet, you use that as momentum to roll back onto your feet, and you yell out that you don't have any answers. I see you charge towards me and I get into my stance, and it looks like you're going to kick me at my head, which I try to arch back to try to dodge, but you stop short and you send a hard right fist to my abs. I cough as I double over and fall to my left knee. The Max I knew didn't have this much power in a punch, but there's something familiar about your energy, your movements. We only trained for a day and I felt like I could get to know so much of you. I send a predictable clockwise low sweeping kick with my left leg so that when you go to dodge it, I spring myself forwards from my hands to send two hard striking kicks with both my legs into your solar plexus and naval respectively to fight back. "You're holding out on me, I know you have answers, otherwise why else would you start running??" I demand and then make my way towards you and circle you cautiously.

David Wolfsbane
Your two leg kick really surprises me. While I bend forward and stumble back from the power of your kick, I remember that you were on a journey to become a better fighter and it seems you already learned something since you meet Max the last time. " I said I can´t give you any answers" I say with a rough voice, while watching you circle me. "Maybe we should widen the style range a bit" I say to myself. I wait until you are in the perfect position, then I rush into you, get you off your feet and interlock our legs, trying to bring you in a figure 4 leglock.

The Traveler
You and Max definitely have to be the same person, I know this now.. The calculation as you wait until I'm at the perfect position, you rush into me and break my guard, get me off my feet and try to bring me into a figure 4 leglock.. I can't let this fully lock in so I swing my body to the left to have us both roll and we're both on our bellies, and I try to reverse the pressure so we'd both wiggle free. As soon as we do, I get back up, my legs a bit weaker, but I make my way towards you and I see you about to get up, so I send a strong left kick to your solar plexus to get you down on your back. As you land on your back, I go for an inside crescent kick with my left leg to bring my left heel down onto your naval.

Inside Crescent Kick:

David Wolfsbane
You manage to get out of the figure four before I am able to lock it on completely. As we both get up, you send a strong kick into my solar plexus which drives the air out my lungs and make me hit the ground hard. But as soon as my back reaches the ground, I roll away, so that your kick only hits the ground. You have definitely become a better fighter than before. I use my momentum and lock my legs around your right leg and twist, so that you loose your stance and fall on your side. I jump forward onto your back and try to lay my left arm around your throat and lock on a rear naked choke.

The Traveler
As much as I try to exhaust you, all you've built persists. As quickly as I get you on the ground, you're able to dodge my last move and lock you legs with mine and destabilize me. I try to hold whatever ground I can as I fall to both of my knees first and bring up my left foot so I'm only on my right knee so that I don't completely fall to the side or forward. But you come in quick and jump forward and onto my back. Your left arm is about to slither around my throat, and I can't let that happen, not after that punch I felt from you. So I go to try to spin while on my right knee and onto my hip before getting up and grabbing your left arm with my right hand and stopping your right hand with my left, and I spin to try to shake you loose and gather momentum to shake and toss you off my back. As soon as I see you tumble on the ground, I fall to a knee, breathing deep and sharp trying to recover, fighting to get back to both feet and trying to keep watch of your body.

David Wolfsbane
I jump on your back and get my arm around your neck. For a brief moment I hope that this will be the end, that I can knock you out, but before I can lock on the hold you stop my arms with yours and buckle up and shake me off your back, like me riding a wild rodeo horse. I hit the ground with my back and roll around, before getting up on my feet again, breathing heavily.

I see that you struggle to get on both your feet and to catch breath again. I don´t want to hurt you, but I find no other way to stop you than to end this. I move around you, waiting for you to finally get up from your knees, coming slowly closer and closer. When you finally get up I loose no time, and rush into you as if I want to tackle you, but just before the impact, I squat down and blow my palms with all my strength into your solar plexus.

The Traveler
As I go to finally get up, struggling to stand -- resisting your attempts at locking me down has taken its toll -- you circle me and as I get up and face you you rush in at me, about to tackle me, but extend your palms and deliver a double palm heel strike into my solar plexus, "HAHHHHP!!!" I let out and gasp as your palms hit their mark and I am sent back, the nearest tree trunk breaking my momentum and my back rams the tree , "AHHH-HOUF", and I fall to the ground barely conscious. I look up at you, muttering, trying to breathe out my confusion, "nghhhhhh," but nothing intelligible comes out and I collapse from exhaustion, completely unconscious.

David Wolfsbane
I hear the sound as your back hits the tree I had not really noticed before and as I see you collapse and fall face first on the ground it´s like I now really realised what happened. "JAX" I yell and rush to your body, which stopped glowing in that green light as you fell on the ground. Turning you around, I check if you are okay. I´m relieved that you breath and your heartbeat is steady, you just seem to be knocked out. I fall onto my knees, looking into your now strangely peaceful face and tears run down mine. "I did not want anything of this happening" I whisper to you and then I look up to the moon and yell " I've had enough! If you don´t want me to meet him, then stop me. But I will take him home and will tell him what little I know. he deserves that. He always did!" I wipe the tears from my face and start to carry you on my arms back into the park.

Arriving there, I let you stand on your feet, my right arm around your hip, your left arm around my neck my left arm holding it, like I would carry a drunken man. Which is what I tell everyone who asks on my way to my apartment. Luckily, drunken people are pretty common in Dusseldorf. Especially at night. We arrive my apartment pretty soon and after I carry you up two floors I open the door and carry you to my couch and carefully lay you down on it. I look at you, wondering why the green energy disappeared as you got unconscious and why it did not heal you until now. I shrug my shoulders and say "I guess I'll have to do that". I go to the bathroom and get ointment and all I need to help you. I'll undress you and patch you up as best I can, then I'll put a blanket over you and wait for you to regain consciousness.

Since I don't know how long this will take, I'll jump into the shower and it feels so good having hot water washing the pain of my muscles away. I put on other clothes and since you are still lying on the couch, I'll make hot tea and wait for you.

The Traveler
As you make your way to your new apartment, I'm in your arms and gentle hold. I get glimpses of the streets we go by and your apartment door, at the same time as I get flashes of fragmented memories. Me walking through Dusseldorf the last time, heartbroken, memories of me and Max, memories of your former apartment being magically cleaned out... Max being erased... Your new face being swept into this encampment of secret mystics... In the real world, you set me down on your couch and undress me to tend to the wounds dealt in that forest fight. Phasing in and out of the whole time, broken memories blending together with the real world, I'm not totally aware of what's happening. As you settle me in and finish patching me up, you go wash yourself and change into a fresh pair of clothes, and prepare tea as I'm still mostly out of it.

Slowly, you hear groans and mutters. "nghhhhh," and then you see a faint glowing green constant pulse again. Bruises dealt by you are being healed, and you can even hear some cracks in my back as it is being reset from the blunt force it took being slammed into the tree. Suddenly, my eyes snap awake and I gasp. "What happened, where am I?!" I exclaim in a panic, looking around and I see you, and I clench my jaw and take a couple deep breaths.

David Wolfsbane
As I hear you coming back to life I put my cup on the table and watch what happens. And the more you seem to wake up, the more intense the green glow gets and I can hear that you are finally being healed by this mysterious force. I brace myself for what is to come. And right you ask where you are, you even panic and then your face gets hard as you see me watching you and you calm yourself down. I sigh and already know I won´t like what will happen next, but there is no choice. So I start. "You are in my apartment Jax, on my couch." I say while trying to force all my emotions down into their place again.

The Traveler
I cough out a little, a bit sore from the fight that broke out in the forest, still regaining my breath, and I try to sit up a little in the couch. Averting my gaze from you and looking down, seeing how vulnerable I am, losing another fight... I swallow and just quip back, "I gathered that by now..." I close my eyes again, a tear falls down my cheek, but I stifle any emotions that might come of it, taking a deep breath. I then open my eyes again and decide to look directly at you this time. "Clearly, you WERE once Max. You are The White Wolf that sent that note to me as I was trying to find Max. You have some answers, and I still want them." I let out.

David Wolfsbane
As you cough, I fill another cup with tea and offer it to you. I've rarely felt so uncomfortable as I do now, sitting in front of you and knowing that no matter what I do or say, it can't end well. I know what I have done to you, as Max disappeared how you must have felt and now that you are sitting on my couch, trying to get yourself together, I realise that my feelings for you did not change a bit and were just buried deep inside me. As I see that tear running down your cheek, I want to wipe it away and hug you and tell you everything is alright. But I don´t move at all, I know all I do would make it even worse, especially something like that. So I just wait silently for you do make the first step. As you finally say that you know who I am and who I was, I can hear how hurt and angry you are. And I can´t blame you for that.

I decided to be as open and honest as I can and I have far less answers than you might assume. "Yes, I was Max and I´m not sure what you mean with the white wolf, but I tried to reach you, that is also right. Ask me what you have to ask me Jax, I´ll answer as good as I can."

The Traveler
I avert my gaze downward again, closing my eyes, and tensing up my jaw, more tears streaming down my face. "What happened to you? Why do you look so different now? Why did you disappear after we made our promise? Why... Why did you LEAVE ME?!" I blurt out all at once with so much frustration and confusion, looking at you with tearful and passionate eyes.

David Wolfsbane
As I hear your voice you blurt out all these question with and see the tears and passion in your eyes, there is no doubt that you still feel the same for Max as I still feel for you. I can feel my eyes fill with tears and tears starting running down my cheeks. For a moment I just wish I could turn back the time and change what happened, but I can´t. I see that my pendant started glowing in the same way you did, becoming more and more bright the more you got frustrated. I look at you at you: " Do you really think I wanted to leave you?" my voice already breaking. I clear my throat an continue. "Your energy changed me that night. I felt it happen but could not do anything. I don´t know why and I don´t know why I look like how I look now. How do you think I felt after becoming this person? I was so happy after our promise, all I wanted was to wait for you coming back after your journey!" I NEVER wanted to leave you". I bury my face in my hands and try to gather myself.

The Traveler
I shake my head, trying desperately to clear my mind from these passionate emotions, and failing to.. "Who are you..." I mutter out and see that the energy between me and the wolf are not pulsing anymore, but glowing bright, "LOOK ME IN THE EYES AND TELL ME EVERYTHING!" I yell and then I reach for your arm that wears the pendant and I grab the pendant and suddenly a huge green flash overtakes the room and we are both unconscious, but both of us having a mental link between us in which we see a series of memories from both of us after that night we slept together. You see the memories of me receiving the note that led me to search for you, only for it to burn itself away. On my end, I see how the energy changed you on the dawn following our night together, how it completely wiped your former apartment clean, how it sent me away and you to that encampment on the outskirts of the city with a new face, your new name...

... David Wolfsbane, a name given to you by the leading mouthpieces of the encampment as you were dropped there with no initial recollection of who you were, how you got there, until they guided you to your answers. And then, we share these memories together. You see me leaving Dusseldorf heartbroken, the training I received in Spain then France, and I see the time you spent here, as David now, leading a seemingly more peaceful life.

The memories of mine you see: https://mars.chatfighters.com/story/65960

David Wolfsbane
But only at first glance. I lost everyone I knew when I was Max, they don´t remember me, but I remember them. I started to rebuild a new life, always in mind that someone I never saw did this to me and only told me that I have been chosen for something, but never telling me for what. You can feel my frustration and anger, my desperation and doubts. And I feel everything as you left Dusseldorf after I disappeared. I thought for all that time that I would also have been erased from your memory. Until now. You still know who I was and what we had and you hear the mouthpieces say, that no one remembers me and that I shall never seek any contact with someone from my former life. I experience everything you went through and you do the same with my life since that day.

... Suddenly, the link shatters and I feel I´m lying on the ground, I try to open my eyes, but it is too hard and I almost become unconscious again. So I just lie there, waiting for my body to recover, with so many new memories and emotions and still so many questions. I know that you now know the truth and everything that happened, but I have no Idea what this will mean, if you can forgive me and accept that I´m now David?

The Traveler
"From now on, you have a new life... Max Oakshield is no more... You will henceforth be known as David Wolfsbane..." I hear in final echoes as the memories and the shared mental link between us fade. My eyes begin to shift awake, and they snap open again, I gasp for air, and see you do the same. We both sit up slowly, and I take a moment to rest in the awkward silence. Finally, I say, "So... David huh..? Well, it fits your new appearance more than Max would," as I gently shift my gaze to you, one that has been softened by finally knowing the full truth.

David Wolfsbane
"Yes, it´s David now" I look at you and see, that your look is not as harsh as it has been before. "I think the same, I look more like a David, but I liked Max". I try a grin, but i´m not that successful. "You know Jax" I say with a soft voice "I think this" I lift my left arm with the wolf pendant "was much more effective than trying to tell you everything by my own words. Now you know the truth, directly out of my memories. And until now, I thought that you would have been forced to forget me too, that the wolf would be the only thing from my former life that survived. I did not know how wrong I have been. I´m Sorry!" I don´t know what more to say, so I get up on my feet and offer you a hand.

The Traveler
I see you get up as I curl my knees in and hug it, and you thought I would have forgotten you too, but something in me made sure I didn't. You go to try to really clear the dust from the air, so to speak and fully apologize and offer me your hand. "Answer me this one question," I begin as I take your hand and rise to stand in front of you, "Why did you begin to run and even go so far as to beat me down?" I ask gripping your hand and staring deep in your eyes, intent, but not full of frustration anymore.

David Wolfsbane
I don't avoid your gaze and squeeze your hand tight. "Because" and I try to clear my thoughts "It couldn´t have been you. I was absolutely sure of that. They told me, and you have seen that, that I was erased from everyone's memory and became David to start anew for unknown reasons. But they made clear" and tears start to run down my cheeks "that I wasn´t allowed to ever talk to people from Max past and that I would never ever be confronted with Max´s life again. And when you showed up and knew who I had been, I honestly thought that was some kind of trap, cause it just could not happen. So I ran away. Thought that would be enough. But you caught me and I got angry because I thought you were someone impersonating the one person I could never forget and wanted to just interrogate me. It took the fight to make me realise that you were really you." I look down to the ground. "I´m Sorry, Jax, that I behaved like that".

The Traveler
I drop my full defenses and impulsively bring you in for a hug. It seems like we stand there for awhile, and then I whisper with reluctance, "... I forgive you," and then I break the hug, and fully take in your new look. You're more powerfully built, as if your skills and experience that carried over from your life as Max wasn't overwhelming already. I then plop back on the couch, seated with my arms resting on my legs. "Well I guess we both know for sure... you can still kick my ass," I lightly chuckle out and look up and around the apartment to lighten the room.

David Wolfsbane
"Uff" I´m surprised that you hug me so impulsively, did not expect that. But after one moment I hug you back and enjoy every second of it, feeling so relieved as you finally tell me your forgive me. As you start to take a full look at my new me and I can see that you aren´t disappointed, I blush a bit. I join in your chuckle and plop next to you on the couch, laying my arm around you. " Well, I guess you are right" I chuckle more and just enjoy this moment.

The Traveler
We sit on the couch next to each other, resting in the awkward silence for quite some time. "Now I know I need even more training," I think to myself after remembering that forest fight. I strain a bit as I roll my neck, as it is still a bit sore from your attempted RNC and from when you knocked me into the tree. I get up and stretch myself out, arms reaching high up and I bend my body left and right. "Well, you're probably wondering what I'm doing back here, especially back in Dusseldorf... Believe me when I tell you it was not an intended stop," I chuckle out and look down at you.

David Wolfsbane
I look at you stretching and bending and grin a bit. As you chuckle I grin wider and look up. " I´m pretty sure you weren´t looking for me. And without this green glow, you would have never found me or even knew I still existed." I shake my head and point at you. "If I should guess I´d say you are still on your journey to become a better fighter and you were on your way to your next Trainer. Am I right?" I give you a big smile tilt my head to one side.

The Traveler
"Heh, always so perceptive.. Yes, and I'm sure from the memory link we had briefly you know I was just in Paris and I'm actually on my way to the other side of Germany now; Berlin," I respond. "I'm continuing some pro wrestling training once I get there, but I can't get to Berlin until they clear the ice from the tracks... How long was I out for?" I ask while gently setting myself down on the couch again and looking up at you now.

David Wolfsbane
"I remember you liked it when Max was like that. Yes, I have seen your complete journey, what you did and that you are now going to Berlin." I look at my phone, it´s almost midnight. "We must have met about six hours ago" I tell you. And then I get red all over again. "It is very likely they already cleared the tracks from the ice and you can continue your travel to Berlin. But if not" I stop and look down " you could spend the night here, which is probably the least I can offer you after I kicked your ass". I try another grin.

The Traveler
I roll my eyes to the side and purse my lips together before saying, "ha ha, very funny, and thank you," I check my phone and there is still no notification of the train being ready, "mmm, the train operator said we would be notified when they would be ready to depart again, but the only update we got was that they wouldn't be able to clear the tracks until the morning, so I guess I can stay the night," I look at you and try not to get flustered. All my feelings for you are flooding back. What once powered the frustration and confusion now settles and becomes a nostalgic passion for all that we promised, all that we shared in that one day those couple months ago. I shake my head, "damn, I was out for that long huh? Did you really have to knock me into that tree that hard?" I jokingly quip at you.

David Wolfsbane
"Hey, I remember that face" I gently poke you in your ribs "Wanna hear the truth? It was not my intention to knock you into that tree at all, I had another plan, I did not even see that there was a tree and I´m really Sorry I hit you that hard. Luckily, your green energy decided to heal you after you regained consciousness, and how could I have known that one single tree would knock you out?" I chuckle and sit next to you again. I pause for a moment, not sure how to say what I want to say. " You know Jax, this feels so strange. Not only that we found each other again, but even more that my feelings for you are still the same they have been months ago. I know I have changed, I know you have changed, I know I hurt you and I know it is so naive to just hope that we can somehow continue where we stopped, but I can´t change my feelings and honestly I don´t want to."

I can´t look you in the eyes and start playing with the pendant. "You can have my bed for tonight and I will sleep here on the couch. Just...just promise me one thing okay? When you've finished your journey and become the fighter you want to be, would you come back here and maybe give us a second try?"

The Traveler
I wince as you gently poke my ribs, and giggle back as you chuckle at me. "You. Knocked me. Into a tree. What did you expect would happen when you were barreling at me and putting all your power into that full strike?" I chuckle a little sassy at you. Then I pause as well and you break the silence, and I agree with you, "yeah it does feel strange. I never thought I'd see you again," I look down and away, then back up at you, "It seems that when my energy and your wolf merged the first time, the energy never left it. You've definitely changed, I mean, clearly," I say eyeing you up and down again, shamelessly peaking at your frame, "but I don't think I've changed much since we met almost 2-ish months ago. To be honest, I don't really know what my feelings for you are, but I know there is still passion, but I don't know if we can continue where we stopped just yet..."

I take another pause before I answer you again, "Are you sure you don't want your own bed? I can definitely make do on the couch," I ask and then I continue to answer, "Once I finish my training in Berlin, I'll come back to you, and we can pursue a second chance at us, okay?" I lean in and look up at you, deep in your eyes, my deep brown eyes gazing into your crystal bluish-greenish ones. "I, uh, left my bag with all my clothes and stuff in there on the train, so I guess..." I trail off and it hits me that this entire time because you stripped me down to tend to my wounds, I'm only in my dark red boxer-briefs, and for a moment I blush, "uhm, I guess I uh only have my sweatpants, hoodie, and fur-lined leather jacket I was wearing before you reduced me to this? Where did you put those by the way?" I chuckle out shyly.

David Wolfsbane
"Yes, I´m sure. You take the bed and make yourself comfortable, I take the couch". I try make a stern face. Then I shyly smile at you " Okay Jax, I take that promise and I will wait for you to come back from Berlin and then we can pursue a second chance on us!" You look into my eyes for a long time and I begin to lose myself in your deep brown eyes, as you suddenly end the connection and ask me where your clothes are. With my most nonchalant voice I say "I threw them away" and try to stay serious as I look into your stunned face. But after a few seconds I can´t do that anymore and burst out into laughter. "You...should...see...your...face...right...now" I gasp between every word and can´t stop laughing. "You know...I don´t mind...I have already...seen you like that...and I actually...like your underwear!" My eyes fill with tears of laughter.

The Traveler
You reassure me that I can take your bed, and then your eyes fill with hope while you only give me a shy smile as you tell me that you will wait for me after I finish my training in Berlin. And you decide to joke that you threw my clothes away, and as soon as I see you fail to hold it together, I roll my eyes and purse my lips again. "Ha ha very funny," and I playfully and seductively give my right arm a quick flex for you, "and I'm glad you like what you see," I wink at you, "now really, where are my clothes?" I chuckle out and gently push you with both of my hands.

David Wolfsbane
As you gently push me I slowly stop to laugh, grab your hands and hold them for a brief moment. "They are in the bedroom, on my bed to be precise" I chuckle and look at you. "How could I not like what I see?"I wink back and smile. "And if you prefer to cover yourself, you can take some of my clothes out of the wardrobe, they will be a bit too large, but since it´s only for tonight and for me, it should be enough". I stand up, not without looking at you gain, and ask " Do you want something to eat before we go to bed? It was quite a...exhausting and surprising night?"

The Traveler
"Well thank you, and alright, I'll wear some of your clothes for the night, sometimes wearing oversized clothes can be comfy," I chuckle at you, and then I withdraw a little bit and answer your offer to eat something, "uhh, no, I think I'm alright. You were right, it was a surprising and exhausting night, but I think I wanna just head to bed, thank you though!" I turn to softly smile at you. "Never thought I'd say this in a non-seductive manner, but wanna show me to your bedroom?" I ask.

David Wolfsbane
"Of course" I smile at you and offer you my arm. I lead you through the door into a small corridor, with two doors on the right and one ahead. "This door is the bathroom and the other one is the kitchen and the door ahead of us is the bedroom." I open the door and you see a room with a window and blinds, a large bed on which your clothes lie, a wardrobe, a corner with some fitness stuff. "So, this is your place for tonight. If you need something, you know where to find me and where the kitchen and the toilet are." I make a move to caress your cheek, but stop and pull my hand back, starting to blush. "Good Night Jax, see you tomorrow" I turn around and go to the door.

The Traveler
"Hey, uh," I see you go to make a move to caress my cheek and as you pull your hand back and turn around blushing, I go to hug you from behind. "Once again, thank you, and, uh, goodnight," I say while my hands, the left resting on your right pec and the right resting near your left side, can feel the natural hardness of your muscles, and for just a moment my head is pressed against your back, and I feel the solidness of your back too and begin to blush, before I let you go and turn around and make my way to my clothes to begin folding them, setting them on the seat to the right side of the bed, and then opening the wardrobe doors to find a hanger on one of them where I hang my jacket. I then look around your wardrobe and find a cozy sweater, meant for your size, and some athletic shorts which I could slip on and use the drawstrings to make them tighter for me.

As the cuffs of the sleeves slide over my hands and I tie the strings of the shorts to secure it around my waist, I plop on the end of the bed for a bit to begin processing everything that happened on this night.

David Wolfsbane
As you hug me from behind and I feel your hands on my body, your head pressed against my back and your body so close to mine, the wish to turn around and kiss you almost becomes overpowering. I say nothing 'cause I don´t trust my voice and leave the room, closing the door. I take a bottle of water from the kitchen and take a deep sip, while going into the living room, preparing the couch for the night. But I can´t think of anything else than you, who came back into my life and about the tornado of feelings that swirls through my mind. After less than 10 minutes I stand up again and go back to the bedroom. I can´t sleep like that and I don´t want anything from you right now, beside being near to you for this night, just make sure that this is real, that you are real. I hope you can and will understand that. I knock at your door and ask: "Jax? Are you still awake? Can I come in?"

The Traveler
In about the 10 minutes I am left alone I pace around the bedroom then make my way to lean on the wall that is to the left of the biggest window of the bedroom, and I gaze out in a daydream, reflecting on everything that has happened. I too feel like this is all just a dream. But hugging you felt so real; you still have that same warmth, and perhaps an even greater warmth, than you did as Max. All of a sudden, I hear you knock on the door and ask if I'm awake. "Hm? Ma-- I mean David? Yeah I am, feel free to come in," I reply softly, still draped on the wall, gazing out the window.

David Wolfsbane
I open the door and see you leaning on the wall, with your back towards me. And I can´t withstand my feelings. I move behind you and hug you from behind, like you did only some minutes before, my arms tight around your chest, my head leaning at your shoulder, I close my eyes and just feel the warmth of your body, I whisper into your ear: "I guess you feel the same like me. Is this real or is this a dream? And Jax, I don´t want to be alone this night and I hope you don´t want that too?"

The Traveler
As you hug me from behind, I am shocked for a moment before I sink into it. It feels so good, and you whisper in my ear, reaffirming our shared feelings, even to the point that we both don't want to be alone. I gently guide my right hand to your right cheek. "Hey David, look at me," I say tenderly and gently guide your face to face me, and I lean in for a soft kiss on your lips, completely overtaken by our mutual emotions, as if it were only a couple months ago again, and we had just returned to your place from the hotel I was supposed to spend the two projected weeks of our training at. The past and present collide in this moment of soft passion. I break the kiss briefly and ask softly, "does that answer your question?" with a shy smile on my face.

David Wolfsbane
When your hands gently touches my cheek and guides me to your face, I know that you feel the same and it was right to come back to you. And as your lips touches mine for a soft kiss, every last insecurity or doubt just disappears. I sink into your kiss, my right hand holding your head and it feels like time stands still, like the last months never happened, like we had just found each other and can just continue where we stopped back then. As you break the kiss and I see your shy smile, my heart just melts. I caress your cheeks with my thumbs and kiss you again, and when I break that kiss I say softly " Yes, it does!" I put my arms under you and lift you up, carrying you to my bed and gently drop you onto it. With a smile I look deep into your eyes. "I just want to spend what little time we have with you."

The Traveler
I roll to the far side and lift my waist up to open up the blanket and slip in, and then open it up for you to slip in next to me, "then let's do that David," I smile so tenderly at you as I lay in the bed, holding the blanket open for you.

David Wolfsbane
I return your tender smile and feel so good, the last time I felt like this was the night I spent with you as Max. I slip under the blanket and next to you. I put my left arm under your head and gently rest your head on my chest. "I´m so happy you found me here and that you still feel the same for me" I lean forward and try to kiss you again.

The Traveler
I smile as the feelings we shared when you were Max return and really begin to melt away the hurt that was done with our sudden separation. As your left arm moves under my head and you rest my head on your chest, I nuzzle in and we kiss again. Our eyes close and my right hand moves up to drape around the right side of your neck as we share this passionate and tender moment.

David Wolfsbane
When we finally break the kiss, with you on top of me, I smile at you with as much love I had for you two months ago. My right hand fingers gently stroke through your hair and I say, without taking my eyes from you "Stay there the whole night if you want, we don´t have much time before you have to leave and I want us both to save as much of this as possible, so it lasts until you return to me from Berlin."

The Traveler
As we break the kiss, I relax into your body, and I wrap my arms around your body and hold you close. "Yes, this is a perfect position," I whisper softly as I turn my head to my side, rest my left cheek on your chest and gaze out the window. "We have the rest of tonight," I continue and nuzzle into your chest, as if I'm trying to memorize your warmth.

David Wolfsbane
I smile so warmly as you find the perfect position. I stroke your hair and just don´t want to move even a bit for the rest of the night, just want the feeling of you on my chest and your body so close to mine burned into my mind so I can always think of that when I wait for your return. "Yes, we have the rest of the night, and Jax? I love you! I loved you as Max and I love you as David!" I whisper.

The Traveler
As you stroke my hair, I relax even more, and you whisper your love for me, and I can't help but feel the same way too. "And I love you, M....David," I chuckle the last part out, "it's gonna take me some time to say your new name without melding it with your former," I chuckle shyly.

David Wolfsbane
I continue to stroke your hair and your cheek and my heart grows so much as you say that you also love me, your chuckle is so contagious, that I start to chuckle too and smile as I say " I absolutely understand and you already almost always say my new name, when you come back from Berlin, I am sure you will only call me David. And this time, I won´t disappear before the morning, I swear!" and laugh shyly.

The Traveler
"I'm sure I'll get used to your new name and... ehm... appearance," I lead while my hands are behind your back and feeling the muscles of your back, "definitely by the time I return from Berlin," I chuckle out. "Okay, you see, now I fully know that your disappearance was not your fault, and that you couldn't have possibly known I'd still know of Max, or recognized the wolf pendant, but thank you for your promise," I smile. "For now, we should get some rest. I have my phone's notifications for that train notice on high alert so if anything, that may wake us up. So until then, let's get some rest," I say while tilting my head up to smile at you before I re-rest my head on your chest. "Have a good night David," I whisper. We both soon fade to sleep, me on top of you, cuddling you so warmly.

THE NEXT MORNING: DECEMBER 13TH, 2019, 7:15AM

The Traveler
The sun begins to really rise and light breaks through the window. My eyes flutter and my head shifts around, and I realize what I'm lying on. Your amazing but also soft body, having also cuddled me warmly for the night. I take a moment to just lay there on your chest. Even relaxed, I can feel the shape and firmness of it.

David Wolfsbane
I feel your head moving around and I slowly wake up, with my eyes still closed I feel you rest on my chest, your warm and trained body still cuddling with me. "Good Morning Jax" I yawn, " Is it already time?" And I playfully lay my arms around you, holding you tight.

The Traveler
"Hey sleepyhead," I say playfully and softly. I use my left hand to reach for my phone. I see one update. "Uhm, they said the trains should be up and running again by 10:00am, so we have some time M... David," I rest my chin on your chest and smile at you. "Should we have some breakfast, take a walk? It's warmer than usual outside and I think we could spend a good time walking together before I have to go," I hold my soft smile at you.

David Wolfsbane
Your smile is something where I can´t refuse anything. I smile back at you, and grab your hand. "Sounds good to me, but remember who was the pillow before you call me sleepy head again!" I slowly get myself up, so your head moves down until it lays on my lap. I grin and say "Don´t be so impatient, it will be all yours when you come back." And can´t hold my chuckle back. "Do you want to use the bathroom first? And do you want breakfast and then a walk, or a walk and then have a breakfast near the train station?"

The Traveler
I bite my lips a bit as my head moves down to your lap and I'm resting on your relaxed but still firm thighs, and grin as you tease me that "it" will be all mine when I return. "You still a good cook?" I joke back.

David Wolfsbane
I see your grin and and know you got what I meant. I grin back and playfully tickle you for a moment. "I definitely haven't forgotten anything", I joke.

The Traveler
I giggle as you tickle me for a moment, and I nod in affirmation, "good, good, then breakfast here," I lead and roll off and begin making my way to the bathroom, "then a walk!" I say as I fully get to the bathroom. As I go to close the bathroom door, I lean my head out, "and I'll be using the bathroom first," I giggle and stick my tongue out at you playfully before closing the door. I freshen up, take a quick shower, and then come out in just my dark red boxer-briefs, and snag my clothes from yesterday that I had folded on the seat nearby. I begin to slip them on, my black sweatpants, my black, v-neck undershirt, and my dark green hoodie. I come out of the bathroom, the clothes you let me borrow folded in my hand and I place them on the bed gently. "There we go David, and thanks again for letting me wear these. Bathroom's all yours now haha," I chuckle out to you, take my jacket from the wardrobe hanger, and then make my way to the living room couch, where I place the jacket down.

David Wolfsbane
After you let me into the bathroom, I take a shower and make myself fresh and move to the kitchen, to make fresh coffee and a good breakfast for someone, who still has a several hours-long train ride ahead of him. I surprise you with a slightly hot Shakshuka and fresh bread and enough coffee for both of us. While we eat we both goof around and it is like we both have never been apart before. About an hour later, the breakfast is finished, we both feel really good and make ourselves ready for a little walk through the city, before I will let you go at the train station, so you can finally reach your trainer in Berlin.

The Traveler
We have a really good breakfast and chat as we eat and get ready. I slip on my dark brown, fur-lined leather jacket, and we continue our goofing around and chat as we walk around the city. I slide my right arm between your left and we just hold hands and I snuggle up to you as we walk through the city, continuing to walk, bask in the morning sun. As the clock hits 9:45am, we make our way to the train station, and as we get to the platform, we begin saying our farewells. "Alright M... David " I chuckle, "thank you for a perfect morning. I go in for one more tender hug and even kiss you softly on the lips before returning to the hug. I whisper I'm your ear, "I'll be another couple weeks in Berlin, at least, but expect up to a month before I return. I just want to feel ready, okay?" As I breathe in deeply, to memorize your scent and soak in your warmth.

David Wolfsbane
As you finally release your hug it's my time to say goodbye. I take your head in my hands, look deep in your beautiful eyes and give you a long kiss before hugging you real tight. One last chance to feel your warm body and smell your scent until you return from Berlin.

"I know and take all the time you need, I will wait for you and then we can make sure that our second chance will work this time." As I want to kiss you one last time, a computer voice announces that " The train is ready for departure and the doors will close shortly". So it's only a very short kiss before I make sure that you and your belongings all get in the train. The door begins to beep and closes with a loud CLACK. I look at you for as long as I can, while the train starts to move and I stand on the platform until I can't see the train anymore. Then I turn around and make my way back into the city. Knowing that one month can be a very long time.

The Traveler
As you tell me that you will wait for me and that when I return we will make sure our second chance will work, I begin to tear up. We share a short but passionate kiss before an automated voice announces that the train is getting ready for departure and the doors will close soon, so we break the kiss and I set foot on the train. I wave goodbye and make my way to my seat where I had left all my stuff on the train, look out the window, and see you're nearby so I knock on the window to get your attention and continue waving at you as the train begins to leave the platform. Next stop, Berlin. Rob Hunter, I hope you're ready for me... And I hope I'm ready for you.

Published: 2023-01-04, viewed 60 times.