Chapter 9 – One more day.
Star was up by seven in the morning, however, Silverfang was already awake and on with his day. He managed to cook a simple breakfast of eggs over right and set a small plate for her. Star found it strange that the old master was not very talkative that morning, he didn't even ask her how well she slept. Something was on his mind, was he trying to find the right words to speak?
Annoyed by the silence, she decided to start the conversation. "How long have you had Garou as a student?" she asked.
"Let's not talk about that," said Silverfang. He was about to take a mouthful of eggs, when he suddenly placed his fork down. "Why does he confide in you more than to me?"
Star herself even stopped eating. That's what is bothering him. She put down her fork and listened as Silverfang wondered where he went wrong. "I have done all I can for him, I know we came to blows and I was out to end him. But, ever since the whole matter came to a swift end, I find myself back to where I started once more. Garou is trapped once again, in a condition I cannot help or save him from. And yet, he chooses of all people to speak to you than to his own master."
It broke her heart, but she understood where he was coming from. "It's easier to talk to a stranger who may not know everything about you to try and work things out for themselves. I believe that may be the case with Garou. You know him well, too well. Sometimes, you can overstep your bounds with him," she explained.
"Overstep them? How?" demanded Silverfang.
"You assume you know everything about them." Star explained that when she first met Garou, she only knew what the other heroes have said about him. But there are always two sides to every story. Despite the fact that he had done what he did, Star felt there was something missing to what she was being told. "We have talked about the darkness inside of us, I have it too. I am fully aware of that, you know my issues with Sweet Mask, but they don't all stream from him either. Silverfang, have you tried talking to him without jumping on what he says?"
"I don't jump on what he says!"
"No, I mean, when you speak of him, you always say 'I know him well, I know what he can do' but do you really know him?"
Silverfang paused. "You speak to him like a stranger?"
She shook her head. "No, it's more than that," before she could speak any farther, a strange sound came from Garou's chamber. It caught both their attention and it didn't sound right. It was a loud thunderous THUD against the floor, as if something were beating down or moving strangely. Star was the first to stand, yet Silverfang insisted he would inspect first. The old man was cautious as he approached the door, he knocked first to be certain. "Garou, are you awake?" but no answer came.
Star took out some shurikens to be safe than sorry, Silverfang reached for the door and opened it.
Something snapped at him and slammed the door closed again!
"What the hell was that?" said Star.
"It moved so fast, I nearly didn't see it. There's a snake in there!"
Star was concerned now, she came closer but Silverfang insisted she remain back, after all, not even her trained eyes could see the serpent, but the old master's did. Once more, he reached for the handle door. Just as he was about to turn the knob, did the door open on it's own.
He stood at the ready, prepared to catch or strike anything that came through that time. However, it was Garou waking. He didn't appear fully awake, but he was standing on his own two feet. "I need some water,"
Star was quick to grab a pitcher for him, the moment it reached his hands it was gone in an instant. "More," Another pitcher, then another, and another. He drank six gallons before becoming satisfied. Then, he collapsed to the floor once more. That woke him up. "Son of a bitch!" he cursed. He struggled to stand, and yet he didn't appear any different than the day before… at least, not until Silverfang notice it.
Slithering out from behind Garou was the serpent he saw earlier, yet it was attached to Garou.
"A tail? You grew a tail in a day?"
Star rushed over to see for herself. It looked very similar to the tail from the Chimera he ate from. But that wasn't the only thing. The black scales spread up to his throat, thick platted scales were along the side of his neck too. "Gills?" she whispered. Even his hands and feet were now covered in the thick plated scales.
"What? Let me see!" Silverfang took a closer look. They were indeed gill. "Garou…"
"Not now old man." Garou was bracing his body oddly. It concerned Star as she watched him tried time and time again to stand, but couldn't under his own power. He kept collapsing to the floor, and was out of breath doing so. Silverfang reached down to help him up, but it was Star who stopped him.
"No," she said. "He's got this."
Fang was reluctant to leave him lying there, they tried to eat breakfast but neither one could, they stop and watch on as Garou tried to stand. In an hour, he was able to get to his knees, and eventually his feet. Walking was a whole new task for him, he couldn't balance himself like he use too. His focus turned as he stared at the new appendage sticking out of his back. "Figures" he muttered.
Silverfang couldn't speak, he kept staring between Star and Garou. "You need to tell me, this instant, what is happening!" he demanded.
Star kept silent. She wouldn't say a word; Garou knew he could no longer hide it from the old man. "I can't stop feeding," he explained. "I've been eating monsters"
Silverfang was stunned to silence. He swiftly turned to Star. "AND YOU LET HIM!"
Star tried to explain herself to Silverfang, but there was nothing that could be said. "Don't yell at her!" snapped Garou.
"She let you do this! She was supposed to be watching you! How could she let this happen, I trusted her!"
"Trust her still!"
The two yelled at each other, back and forth to the point that Garou's anger was getting the better of him, his body began to swell up the more he yelled angrily at his master. Silverfang wasn't calming down after seeing that occur.
Silverfang then turned his anger to Star. "Look at what you have done to him!" Silverfang roared. "Why, how could you?"
"I said DON'T YELL AT HER!" His voice changed, so much so it startled the old man.
Star cautiously approached Garou, she stood before him fearlessly and said. "You need to settle yourself. He's only worried about you, his anger is justifiable." The rage look in his eyes began to fade, Garou started to shrink down before he appeared as he did in the morning.
Silverfang was speechless. "Is that the secret? Is this why he doesn't change any farther?" he asked. "He… he would be completely different if it weren't for…"
"He does this on his own." Star explained. "I only support him when he does."
Garou shook his head clear. "I don't like that feeling. I was slipping away again."
"Again?" asked Fang.
"Like from the first time. Trying to change into a monster. You lose yourself, your own thoughts become nothing more than whispers. Instinct and rage consume you, I… I try to keep that under control."
Star looked to Silverfang, for a moment, there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes. He saw Garou was trying, truly trying his best to tame himself. But now, he's changed again. No doubt that will work against him at the meeting tomorrow. As the old man paced the floor in thought, Garou tested his new tail, he could control it fine, but it did have a mind of its own. When it saw Star, the tail hissed once. But Garou growled at it, instantly his tail settled and backed away. "This is going to need some practice," said Garou.
"No kidding, your balance depends on the tail now!"
"Damn," he muttered.
Garou then ran his tongue over his teeth, just as a distraction… until he felt the points. With careful steps, he made his way to the bathroom and saw his teeth became pointed. Not overly obvious but enough that if he showed them off. They would be seen. "It may make eating a lot easier now." He said to himself.
As he walked out of the bathroom, Silverfang looked to him with great concern. "Today, you stay here. No excuses, besides, we have to make certain you can walk properly tomorrow. We also need to hide that appendage of yours."
"I can do this in two hours, give or take, no big deal" said Garou.
"Good, now prove it!" said Silverfang.
It did take two hours, it took two hours for him to practice walking with a tail, and two more walking with it hidden. Garou learned he could coil his new appendage around his hip, and it would appear nothing more than a demonic looking belt. Silverfang hoped it would be hidden enough to pass the committee tomorrow, but he wasn't holding his breath either.
The world is against them tomorrow, if they turn on Garou, he will have no reason not to go back and embrace his old monster lifestyle.
