Chapter 4:
Ulfur's POV:
I heard my name shouted amidst the dark gloom as I slept. It was Aetos. I thought I was merely dreaming. I opened my eye to see Aetos was gone. "Aetos...?" I sighed, looking around cautiously. I heard her voice again, this time panicked. I shot out of the camp and ran towards the voice. It was on the move, running quite quickly. Immediately, I knew something was wrong. I smelled something strange. It was nothing I recognized, but it smelled foul; rancid. I took off. I didn't shout, as to not lose my surprised behind her pursuer. I got withing distance of seeing her, then I saw what it was. It was a humanoid, but the flesh seemed to be rotting on it's living frame, flies swarming around it, following it as it ran. Half of the bone was exposed on each limb, purifying flesh and oozing with puss and other bodily fluids. It was an being that was infected... It was then I realized what it was. An infected humanoid. My eyes widened as I took off. The infected being slowly gained on her as I tried to circle around to in front of Aetos. I leaped up and over a bush as Aetos approached, the infected being right behind her. Leaping clear over her head, I fell upon the infected being, my jaws enclosing around it's middle, severing it's top and lower halves. The decapitated corpse fell to the ground in a fleshy heap. The taste in my mouth was foul, rotting, putrid. I spat out the flesh that got pinched between my jaws as Aetos stopped and approached. I looked over at the thing I had just killed. "They're already here, huh? Damn..." I cursed under my breath as Aetos approached the clearing, stepping over the bushes.
Aetos' POV:
That thing... Was utterly terrifying. I was shocked, and scared. And now I was probably gonna die because I kinda did the exact opposite of what he told me to do. Now I was probably gonna feel his wrath. Though, the only thing I fear was that Ulfur was going to bite me in half. Because he's like the Hulk of the wolf world. Minus the green and anger management issues. But I still needed to find a way to apologize so I DIDN'T get murdered. "I..." My mouth was so dry, and it felt like a large lump of cotton was in the back of my throat. "I'm... I'm sorry... I didn't think I went that far... I was just looking at the fish, and..." As terrified as I was to be yelled at, I knew I deserved it. He told me not to run off and I did. Let the yelling begin...
Ulfur's POV:
"No, it's fine.. I didn't think they had come to your world already... It's not a good si -" My eyes widened as my throat swelled with bile. I pressed my lips down attempting to hold it back, but it burst forth, dripping green fluid from my mouth, making a pool of it on the ground. It was only a small burst, but it burned... "Oh, shit..." I manged to utter before another smaller batch made it way up my throat through my teeth onto the ground. "Damn, virus beast..." I spat. I tried to take a step before I fell to the ground; weak. "I..." My stomach felt like it was fighting a war. Biting that beast was a mistake... a big one. "Biting that thing... infected me, Aetos..." I said, closing my eyes and hanging my head weakly.
Aetos' POV:
My eyes widened. "No... Oh no... No, no, no..." Oh no... He was infected... And it was MY fault. I am SUCH an idiot! I should have stayed by him, and this wouldn't have happened! But I had to help him in SOME way... "Ulfur, please change right quick," I said calmly, yet firmly. Maybe if we could somehow flush it all out of his system before it actually spread..
Ulfur's POV:
"Don't worry. It'll pass. When I noticed it was a infected being, I closed all channels to the energy I filtered from your world, keeping it from infecting it through me as it did my world. Now, it's as if I have a virus just like the rest of you humans. However, I can't maintain Nebulous form without the energy stream access." I spoke as I morphed to human, kneeling weakly on the ground on one knee, head hanging low. "Damn... This is going to be a rough one. I can't believe they made their way here already... I..." I was interrupted by another smaller batch of bile, falling from my mouth and nose, my eyes watering, followed my another a few minutes later. After that, it seems my stomach had forced out all it could. Now, I just had to fight it off... if possible. I closed my eyes and began to feel light-headed. "Aetos... stay..." Everything went black as I fell to the side.
Aetos' POV:
"I - Uh - Wake up, Ulfur!" He had totally passed out, covered in bile and looking a very scary color of gray. It was a VERY good thing he was in human form, or else I'd be screwed. Now I have to carry him all the wake back to camp... Only, I don't wanna touch his bile. That's gross, and it's part of all that virus stuff... And I had NOTHING to clean him off with. And I was not going to strip him down. I have problems with nakedness, okay? Only one thing came to mind... NO! But then again, he's knocked out... But what if he wakes up? You have on a bra! Suck it up, Aetos! Growling and cursing under my breath, I slipped my shirt off and used it to wipe him off best I could and what not. I tossed the now ruined shirt away and walked back over to him. Slipping my arms under his arm-pits, I lifted him up as best I could and began to drag him. It took me a good hour to get him back to the camp, and I was exhausted by the time we got there. "Damn, you are heavier than a ton of bricks," I grunted. I laid him down gently and went to get out my sleeping back. Hesitantly, I took off his over-coat and set it over a rock. It didn't really have anything on it, but still. I tucked him into the sleeping-back and got out a piece of cloth and pour some water over it before placing it over his forehead. Once I thought that I had him situated, I quickly scrambled through my bag to find another shirt.
Ulfur's POV:
Next thing I remember seeing was a blurry vision of the sky through tree cover. The gentle beams of sunlight hurt my eyes upon my visions slowly coming back. I felt like my body was shaking uncontrollably and that my heart was beating a mile a minute. I looked around slowly, my eyes focusing very slowly on anything more than a few feet from me. I managed to make out Aetos sitting nearby, leaning against a rock, dozing from what I could manage to make out. I groaned an exhausted sigh and tried to sit up, letting the cloth fall from my forehead. I didn't even notice it was there in the first place. "Ae-... Aetos...?" I whined weakly, before falling backward, letting my head nearly hit the ground hard. We had made it back to camp... somehow... Everything was a blur. The bile being forced from my mouth was the last I remember happening. She couldn't have gotten me back to camp... could she? I mean, I know that I don't seem heavy, but... with the Nebulous Energy, and it building from lack of expression, I would slowly become heavier and more on edge.
Aetos' POV:
"Wha-?" I slurred, as I looked around sleepily. Then my eyes focused and I realized that Ulfur was awake. "Oh!" I gasped and I quickly crawled over to him. "Oh my gosh! Are you okay? - Oh man.. You look terrible. I retract my original question." I placed my hand on his forehead and winced. His skin was burning under my hand. Guilt washed over me and hit me hard. It was my fault he was sick. "Hey, don't move much, okay? I.." To be honest, I had no idea what to do. This wasn't your normal person to take care of. What in the hell was I supposed to do? "Ulfur, I am so, so sorry..." The winds gently blew through the trees, making a soft moaning sound in the air.
Ulfur's POV:
"Don't... w-worry about it. It was trailing us. I smelled something odd since we left your home. I assumed it was something I was unaccustomed to in the human world." I spoke weakly, barely managing to whisper. "I'll be alright... I just need to fight whatever this is... I only fear that I don't get well in enough time to release the built up Nebulous Energy I contained after filtering the energy into my system this morning..." I closed my eyes for a long moment before swallowing hard. "...Water..." I sighed.
Aetos' POV:
The thought had to process what he said a few things. Water. But he said he didn't NEED it... Though, he never said he could drink it if he wanted to. Didn't need to tell me twice. "O-Oh, water. Right!" I ran over to my bag and began tearing through its contents. I had water this morning. Where was that damn bottle? I was beginning to grow frantic when I saw it. Sighing in relief, I plucked it from my bag and crawled back over to him, unwinding the cap of the bottle and slipping a hand behind Ulfur's head, helping lift him up. "You wished for water?"
Ulfur's POV:
"Yes... Thanks." I grasped the bottle and titled it back to overwhelm my mouth with it, allowing it to drip in small streams from the corners of my mouth. I sighed in relief when there was nothing left in the bottle. "Better... thank you." I said, lying my head down with a blank expression, eyes closed. "Listen, Aetos... I need you to be cautious. Keep an eye out. Do not allow your emotions to show your power. I was careless. I can only deduce that using my Nebulous form gave away that we knew how to access the energy, me especially. Since I have locked mine, it won;t be detected from me... but in you... it will. You need to keep that anger under control, sadness too. Those are the two that will signal our whereabouts more. I only hope that no others have managed to slip into this world. I don't smell anything right now, seems like we're okay for a while, I just can't be of any good right now. I'm sorry..." I spoke, slightly louder due to the water alleviating some pain in my throat from th burning bile.
Aetos' POV:
Well this is going to be hard. My emotions are usually my downfall. Controlling them... Oh boy. "Challenge accepted," I said, trying to give off a small smile. But I still felt terrible inside. It was all my stupid fault this happened in the first place. Because I can't keep my emotions and powers in line. Of course, I had to be given the most difficult task on the planet which was controlling my biggest weakness. No biggy. I got this. We all face a little challenge every now and then right? "And as for you, mister," I chided, "you are to go to sleep. That is a order from the doctor. Alright? I'll watch out for you while you rest. Okay?"
Ulfur's POV:
I looked up at her and lifted my hand to rest on top of hers that laid at her side as she spoke, I could tell partially blanking out from guilt. "Don't worry, okay? It wasn't your fault. I followed orders. We could have fought it sometime. I am thankful you weren't hurt. That's all that matters. You'll be back on my back in a day or two." I dropped my hand back to my side and closed my eyes.
Aetos' POV:
I just shook my head and gave a small smirk, before leaning over him and placing a small kiss on his forehead. "By the way, thanks for saving me," I whispered. Getting up, I walked back over to my back and tried to put all my stuff back in that I had carelessly throw away. Everything was such a mess! And slowly it was getting dark, and soon it'd be freezing again. And even though my emotions were also a call saying, "HEY! We are over here and totally exposed!" I was able to stay calm. It was the whole deal about lighting a fire. I could, but wouldn't an infected SEE the fire? I didn't have to worry about this the other night since Ulfur had been in wolf form and was all nice and warm. I didn't need warmth last night. Now I did, since Ulfur had the only sleeping-bag. But I did bring along my jacket, and I could snooze in that. I pulled it out and slipped it on while leaning back against a tree I was sleeping against earlier and closed my eyes.
Ulfur's POV:
When I woke in the middle of the night, she was hunched over herself on a rock. I felt better, enough to move. So, I woke, brought the sleeping bag over to her and managed to make the groggy Aetos slide into it. I laid down beside her, using my over-jacket as a blanket of sorts. It wasn't a terribly chilly night like the night before, but it was still on the nippy side, enough for you to feel it and for it to become annoying.
Aetos' POV:
When I woke up the next morning, I was surprisingly warm and comfortable. Yawning, I realized it was waaay to comfortable to be just plain ole' ground. Bolting upright, I looked around wildly and found Ulfur sleeping soundly beside me, his over-coat being used as a blanket. I face palmed and groaned. "Ulfur..." Great. Now I feel even better. He's sick and laying on the ground with nothing more than a jacket, and I'm all curled up in a sleeping bag. That makes sense how?
Ulfur's POV:
I felt ill, extremely weak, and felt as if something was crawling around inside of me, looking for a way out, nipping at my innards until it found a weak spot to tunnel through. Sleep was filled with moments of sickening churning, heat flashes and moments where I'd need to stumble to the forest edge and force any infected bile from my stomach, burning my throat in the process. My breathing was always labored and uneasy. Each breath was shaky and felt painful to raise my chest to breathe. Felt as if a thousand pounds were weighing it down no matter what position I lay in. My chest would sooner crush in on me, it felt like. I didn't regret giving Aetos the sleeping bag. With the hot flashes, I was far too warm to tolerate being in the sleeping bag. After waking 7 times to force bile from my stomach, I felt relaxed enough to sleep for a few hours straight. When I awoke, I felt better. Just to be cautious, I did force myself to hurl any last bit of bile from my stomach as possible. It was no longer churning and my normal feeling began to return. I was just tired from fighting it. This human form is weaker than I expected when fighting the infection. That bit I ingested should not have made me feel this badly. No wonder none of the Nebular Masters traveled to Earth to live in secret protection. I see why now... But, at least this human... proves the theory they are all stubborn and heartless beings wrong. Or is it another reason... Aetos is different, as if she isn't really human at all, outside of being a Nebular descendant. Aetos... I woke with an exhausted sigh and sat up, letting my jacket slide off my shoulder. I hung my head and shook it to wake up enough to get my surroundings. My vision was a little unfocused and blurry, but certainly better than yesterday.
Aetos' POV:
"Well good morning, sleepy-head," I cooed, getting to my feet and walking over to him. I had crawled out of the bag earlier when I woke up and realized he slid me in. It was a nice gesture, but at the same time I felt extremely bad because here he was basically on his death-bed and he was insisting I sleep in the bag instead. Whatever... Grabbing a bottle of water, nestled down beside him and looked him over for a long moment. I raised a hand and placed it on the side of his face. Huh. Still warm, but his temperature had gone down a lot since yesterday. "You aren't as warm... That's good," I said with a sigh of relief. I held the bottle out to him and gave a small smile. "Thirsty?"
Ulfur's POV:
"Yeah, I'm better after getting sick about 7 or 8 times during the night. I think it's almost filtered from my system... I'm just exhausted from fighting it... And yes, I'm thirsty." I grasped the bottle, letting one of my fingers cross hers on the surface, before lifting the finger shortly after to let her release the bottle. I unscrewed the lid and reared it up, guzzling down the bottle in record time. "If I end up hurling this up, it should be clear if the infection is gone. If so, we can continue traveling with more speed. If not, I'll need to rest another day until the bile I hurl runs clear." I spoke, trying to catch my breath from inhaling the water. "So, you aren't infected from that bile, right? You feel fine? I don't know how contagious it is to humans. Did you come in contact with any of the bile in somehow... miraculously moving me over here?" I asked, looking at her in concern and question.
Aetos' POV:
I blinked and my face burned for a second. But it's not a big deal. He didn't see anything. What does it matter? He's just a dog! Well, he's techinically a boy who can turn into a dog- Shut up, mind. Who cares? It's not like it matters. "No, I wasn't touched by it or anything... I.. I um.. I took off my shirt and wiped you off real good before touching you. Sadly, I had to throw that shirt away. You owe me a Shawarma shirt from The Avengers, mister."
Ulfur's POV:
"You... You what?" I blinked in surprise. Okay, now I felt like I knew too much. I was surprised that she went to that length to move me... without a shirt. And I was touched. Indeed, she is unlike most humans that the rumors foretell. She is more than just a Nebular descendant to me... She always was... All that aside, I felt a little awkward knowing that she was shirtless.. while moving me... while unconscious. I coughed, clearing my throat still trying to hide a look of surprise and slight embarrassment.
Aetos' POV:
Okay, now I just felt bad. He was clearing his throat and looking away from me and I felt kinda awkward. But why would he care? I mean, he is technically a wolf... But he's also a guy. Gah! What the heck? Guys, help me out here. Maybe I had pushed it. But what was I supposed to do? Touch it and get sick so if more of those things showed up we'd be eaten by weird zombie-like people? Nu uh. I regret nothing. Still... Shaking my head, I took the bottle away from him and screwed the lid back on and threw it over to my bag. "So, um... I'm gonna go... Like... I think I saw a rabbit. I have my knife on me. I'll go try and catch it.."
Ulfur's POV:
"Oh no, you aren't! You know what happened last time you went off on your own. You stay here. Eat some of the food your brought for now. If my energy replenishes enough, I can form some food for you soon. The water is not upsetting my stomach yet. I think I should be okay soon enough. I do not want to let you out of my sight, to let those things almost get you again. NO." I turned my head in complete disapproval. Oh, look at me... I'm being such a over-protective fool now...
Aetos' POV:
I winced at his tone, but he did have a point there. "Okay, okay, okay, don't bite my head off! Jeezum," I groaned, plopping down onto my sleeping bag. Now I felt bad for even bringing the rabbit up. Why? Because it was running off that got us into this in the first place. Will I ever learn? Apparently not.. Sighing, I buried my face into bag and let myself grow limp; slowing my breathing and sitting very still.
Ulfur's POV:
"It's alright, Aetos. Just stay close to me, okay?" I sighed, realizing I did snap at her. I felt like a jerk, but, I placed a hand on the ground beside me and patted it there a little loudly. What the heck am I suggesting?... "Seriously, Aetos. I know you were just trying to provide some food, but right now, we need to stick together. This new threat... takes its toll." I sighed, feeling the exhaustion rise again. I closed my eyes lightly, feeling the tiredness swell after the jump I went through with snapping at her. "Sorry..." I sighed.
Aetos' POV:
I lifted my head and stared at him for a moment. After a moment of debate, I crawled out of my bag and back over to him. Giving a small smirk, I placed a hand on his forehead against. "I'm just a little worried about you, okay? You're all I've got out here, and you saved my life. So I have to kind of repay you somehow don't I? I promise not to run off anymore. At last not until you feel better, that is," I said while giving a mischievous smile at the end.
Ulfur's POV:
I was speechless for a moment. How can she be... so... "You moved me... from the middle of the woods... back to camp... without a shirt.. and took care of me. I think that ties with me saving your life, Aquila." My eyes widened as I turned my head away and coughed in almost a hacking volume. "Yeah, we should be able to get moving tomorrow." I sighed nervously, hanging my head to try and sleep a bit more, placing my hands at my side, palm side up.
Aetos' POV:
What the heck? "Aquila? Did you just call me some sort of fancy name of tequila?" I asked, blinking hard. He just said that and immediately tried to change the topic. Now my curiosity was sparked, and I wanted to know.
Ulfur's POV:
"... Nothing, Aetos." I sighed shakily. Idiot! You idiot! You can't... say that... not here... not to her... You just only... met her. But.. I... She's... "It... doesn't mean anything... not anymore..." I mumbled, closing my eyes with an emotionless face. I heard her feet shift slightly and move, I couldn't tell towards where though.
Aetos' POV:
Oh, you aren't getting away with this that easily, I thought. I scrambled over to him and and sat over him, leaning down to put some of my weight on him and bringing my face close to his with a hurt look. "Aww.. Ulfur, come on. You can tell me! And who am I gonna tell? You can tell me a secret. I won't force you, but.." I looked away for a moment, biting my lip as I did so.
Ulfur's POV:
Oh, great... She's... exactly... Argh... I sighed, opening my eyes sadly. "I told you... about the one I..." I stalled in my sigh. "Aquila... is her. I... I don't know what made me say her name just then..." I looked at the ground before me, rising to a sitting position again, hanging head with sadness, hands sitting palm-side up again at my sides.
Aetos' POV:
"Oh..." I turned away, guilt washing over me. How could I have done that? I placed a hand on his shoulder, and gave him a light squeeze. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. And it's fine..." Ugh, I feel horrible now! I was so stupid to ask something.. I didn't know it was personal..
Ulfur's POV:
"No, it's fine... I... I have been feeling funny since... well, since I met you. I just didn't know why... until now." I sighed, raising my head and looked up at her with a concerned, yet worried expression. I began to utter something, but stopped and swallowed hard.
Aetos's POV:
"... I look like her, don't I?" I asked, looking into those eyes of his. They were scary to look at, but if you really looked at them, you could see all that pain hidden; locked away. In a way, I felt kinda sad. If I looked like her, it must be killing him to even look at me..
Ulfur's POV:
"... Look... Act... Talk..." I sighed, letting my eyebrows fall to show the sadness. "She... You... I..." I looked to the ground solemnly. Just thinking about her. "It seems like it was so long ago now... But... when I think of her..." I trailed off, looking up at her quickly, then darting my glance back down.
Aetos' POV:
Oh dandy... No wonder he's been acting so weird and protective lately. Wait, do wolves mate for life? Note to Self: Find out later. Back to the point, how was I supposed to act now? I am basically like her, and every time he sees me he's going to only see her in his eyes. Not really me. And knowing that I'm not her will only upset him. Will he eventually grow to dislike me because of this? I don't know. And I was slightly worried about it now,..
Ulfur's POV:
"Wolves do... that's why I feel this way..." I replied to her unspoken question. I see you as you, but... you and her... are alike in more ways than I mentioned.
Aetos' POV:
My eyes widened for a moment, and I literally jumped. What the heck? Did he just speak to me via my brain? I stared at Ulfur for a moment. Another minute. Two. I finally found my voice, and cleared my throat. "Well that's nice to know," I replied in a hoarse voice. "And you didn't tell you can apparently hear my thoughts because why?"