Feliciano could remember vividly the first time Ludwig had transformed. He remembered how his eyes had widen in fear, feeling a sudden sickness in his stomach. He had covered his mouth to refrain from vomiting (for the priest had a weak stomach), his eyes teared up. He sobbed, trying to refrain from crying out. It was traumatizing.
His eyes will never unsee the horror he had seen that faithful fall day, when the harvest moon set high in the sky. Never shall he forget Ludwig's pained cries of agony in the night as muscle and bone shifted and grew under stretching, burning skin. He would remember how Ludwig's spine twisted and bent, how his teeth grew and grew, his canines themselves had to be three inches long almost.
How Ludwig's screams filled the eerily illuminated night sky. He often finds himself being haunted by this event in his dreams, and in the middle of mass. Feliciano could recall the moment with such vividness, feeling suddenly guilty remembering when Ludwig had told him he wanted to be home before the moon rose. But, Feliciano had begged his friend to stay with him, for fear of the dark.
"Father, I really must be going. "
"Vee...You do not have to call me Father. I'm just me right now. "
"Well, Feliciano, please...I must leave soon. "
"B-But...Can't you stay just a while longer? "
'Please stay...I will not leave before the sun sets...and I'm scared of the dark...' Feliciano thought to himself, blushing.
Of course he did not speak his mind out loud. Ludwig looked up at him from the pews, with a curious look upon his face. Then he looked back down. He was cleaning the church, helping Feliciano remodel it, for a good sum: free, because Ludwig was a generous friend. He had known the man since childhood, his closet friend. Feliciano was thankful.
But these days, it seemed Ludwig would keep so much from him, he was so distant. He would refuse to stay with his Feliciano after dark. Even as the a string of mysterious murders unfolded in the area, he became more to himself. Ludwig looked up, giving him a quick glance, than looked back down.
"Father...can I confess to you some things?"
Feliciano looked up at Ludwig with surprise and curiosity in his eyes. He watched as the other man took shy steps toward him, blue eyes flashing with a hidden emotion. He sat in front of the priest, who was putting out candles on the tabernacle. Feliciano's gold eyes flushed towards him, then back to the candles.
"What is it? God is listening."
"...I've been...Having odd dreams..." he muttered.
The Priest's left eyebrow raised. Ludwig shifted in his seat. He straighten his clothes a bit, running his hand over his hair to slick it back again, for strands had fallen into his face earlier. Feliciano took calm steps toward the german man, and sat next to him.
"Tell me, son of God. "
"You know the murders?"
Feliciano stared at him with uneasiness.
"Yes, I know. "
"...I've been having dreams..."
"Veee? About what Ludwig? "
"...The people...who have been killed."
Feliciano felt his blood run cold. He could also feel, Ludwig's had too. He licked his lips, for they had felt dry now. He reached and touched the man's shoulder, but Ludwig shrugged his hand away. Feliciano flinched back, and looked down.
"I've had dreams...visions of..." he stopped.
Feliciano gave a slow nod as a signal he could continue.
"...I have images...of being in the point of view of the killer. "
Feliciano's eyes widen a bit, then shook his head. No, his dear Ludwig couldn't have anything to do with this. His love was not capable of such evil deeds, such animalistic mutilation. Maybe it was just his mind thinking too hard. Yes, that is the advice he would give him.
"I think you're mind is just...expressing it's fear... You know? I know you wouldn't..."
Ludwig looked up and him, then his eyes gave a snap of fear. Before Feliciano could blink, the other had stood, and looked frantic around the hollowed halls. His breathing had become a bit labored, and his eyes frantically span around. The Priest gave a worried expression.
"Ludwig are yo-"
"I-I must be going father."
"Ludwig you don-"
"I have to leave!" he flinched at Ludwig's snap of anger.
He began to rush to the main doors, his feet making sounds as they hit the floor. Feliciano lift his robes as he stood, and hurried after him. It was hard to follow him, but he manged to keep up a bit. Ludwig was in very much over a hurry, giving small pants and gasps as he walked. Feliciano's face flashed with concern, then his heart stopped.
Ludwig had made it outside, and fallen down the stares. His body was twitching and flinching, he gave short cut off gasp. Feliciano quickly ran toward him.
"L-Ludwig!"
"S-Stay away!" he clawing into the ground..
"Ludwig what-"
The ground shook, with a loud cry. The cry turned into a growl, which still rumbled the ground beneath them. The muscles under Ludwig's skin began to spasm and expand. Feliciano flinched with each crack over his spine, which shifted and also grew. As Ludwig grew, his clothes ripped, the shreds falling to the ground.
All Feliciano could do was grit his teeth and sob. He took a step toward Ludwig, but then drew back in fear. He shook, sweat going down his face, his eyes wide with terror. He tried to keep his dinner from leaving his stomach, even as dark fur sprouted on Ludwig's lower half. A tail even grew, swishing and twitching from side to side. Growls and gurgles escaped the beast as his canines elongated and his blue irises grew wide. His nails molded into long back claws, his blonde hair grew into a blonde mane.
Felicaino gasped as the creature threw it's head back, growling and snarling. He feel onto his bottom, trying to look away. He could not, no matter how sick his stomach felt at the moment. He watched Ludwig twitch all over. His lips, his fingers, his ears (which had also changed) and his eyes. The beast opened it mouth, it's long tongue hanging out as he panted.
Then, there came the howl. Oh, that howl. One only a demon could make, a wolf could not even compare. The beast suddenly stopped all movements, aside from the rhythmic tail. He turned around to face the priest, a low growl escaping him. Feliciano panted in terror, frozen with fear. The Priest couldn't get up and run even if he wanted. It snarled at him, Feliciano gasped and covered his face.
But, then he heard sniffing. And something nudged his arm out of the way, a large wet nose pressing to his cheek. He trembled violently, his life flashing before his eyes. He looked at the beast, waiting for Ludwig to devour him, then and there. Instead, Ludwig laid his hand's on the ground, gaining leverage, and thrust himself into the air. He land on the church roof, looking back at the confused man, before running off into the night.
Feliciano thanked God then. And still, he thanks God now. Even as this same beast stands before him.