Discoveries:
Darren was an only child living with his parents in a reservoir near the coast. The small community was said to be decedents of an amazing tribe that had survived thousands of years. There were many legends about the people of the Wattyl tribe, but the most famous was the one about the shape shifters. Darren had been bought up on these legends and sometimes even believed they could be true. The shape shifters were beings who transformed into an animal that could help protect the tribe. Sometimes, he wished he could be that important, but he was the only son of the 'head' of the tribe and had to be kept safe so he could grow up and look after the people. That was another problem with his hidden relationship; he and Chris were both men and could not produce another heir to the tribe…
"Darren, come on! You're going to be late!" his mother called. Darren sighed and run a hand through his hair. His mom and dad had a certain ritual that on a Friday night, the whole tribe would go and listen to the stories of old from the tribe elders. However, unknowns to him, tonight was the night he changed. Forever.
The cool night breeze blew softly on Darren's neck, causing the short hairs to rise in anticipation as well as coldness. It was times like these that he wished he had Chris near him. Sure, Chris had extremely bad circulation and was always freezing cold, but his just being near to Darren made his heart swell with warmth that spread to his whole being.
"Welcome, my children!" the story teller announced. The small children ran to their mothers and sat on their laps, eagerly awaiting the story that they had been promised. "In times of old, our people ruled these lands and we were the happiest of all. No wars had broken out, any mutiny and no sadness had overcome our people. However, we were threatened by the cold people." Suddenly, Darren was interested. Cold skinned people… they couldn't mean… no. It's not possible. He thought.
"They were mean people that killed viciously without a second thought to who they were harming. Our people had to protect the community. This was the first time our people changed." There were many Oooh's and Ahh's from the younger people, which caused the teenagers of the tribe to snigger. "We are the wolves, and when they transformed, many years ago, people feared them. They were humongous, vicious and proud, but would never harm something that had not threatened them." Suddenly the air around Darren cooled even more. The rest of the people faded away and just left Darren and a few more of the male teenagers.
"And now they have come again. You must realize your true heritage and fight!" the elder pleaded. The boys had no idea what the man was on about.
"What the hell are you talking about? This is just a legend, a myth! Nothing more, nothing less!" a boy called Samuel questioned. He and Darren had grown up together and were very good friends. He had dark, matted hair which reminded Darren of Chris. Subconsciously, he smiled.
"Come young warriors! Search inside yourselves for the answer. You know it to be true!" the mad old man looked directly at Darren causing him to become extremely self conscious. "Over the last few months, your strength has increased beyond all measure and so has your body heat. Try to understand! You are the new generation that are finally going to destroy the cold beings." Darren had to admit it; all the things he said were true. He had been growing stronger by the second so it seemed and sometimes his skin was so hot, it burned to touch it. "You are the ones that will save our lives. You just need to believe in yourselves!" Darren took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. If the old man was telling the truth, what harm was trying? Could even be a laugh! He thought of the legend and let the words wash over him. He had always believed them, but now they seemed to be more than just empty words.
"Oh my god… he was telling the truth…" a cry from another boy broke Darren's concentration. His eyes shot open as the words vanished from his head. He tried to speak, but what came was a growl. He had done it. He had transformed into a wolf.
"You see, I am not just making things up. You saw it with your own eyes. Darren Tuley, you have transformed!" the elder grinned as if with ecstasy.
"What, we can do that too?" Samuel asked again, a little gentler this time. The old man nodded. "And it doesn't hurt?" this was aimed at Darren. As he could not speak, he simply nodded his big, shaggy head. "Okay then… lets go guys…"
After fifteen minutes, the whole group had transformed. Darren had a great big reddish coat that shone in the light of the fire. Samuel had a coat of pure black and menacing black eyes. They were the head of the group as they were the eldest. Another boy, named Dominic, had a lovely grey coat and soft blue eyes. He was the peace keeper of the group. The last two boys had brown coats that looked almost identical, as they were the two twins of the tribe.
"Now my young friends, you must learn what you are up against." The old man had hung around making sure that all five of the boys had transformed properly. Now he led them to the fire and threw a scrap of cloth into it. "This cloth was the only part of the cold ones we were able to get hold of last time they visited. We knew that we would need it to show the next generation what they were facing. That time is now. Look into the flames, look into the face of your enemy!" the wolves all did as the old man said and peered into the dancing flames. Sparks flew in all directions in a beautiful display. The flames then molded together to form an orange image in the night sky. Darren gasped as he recognized the face. He felt his heart break into thousands of splintering pieces and burn in the flames that showed the truth. The hurt he felt forced him to change back into his human form. His clothed had ripped when he changed first, so he stood looking at the flames with only scraps of his clothes hanging limply from his newly formed muscles.
"No…" he whispered to the flames, silently asking them to change.
"What is wrong young warrior?" the elder asked. Darren shook his head and forced a smile.
"Nothing's wrong sir… just a bit tired that's all…" he lied. The wolves howled in agreement. The old man smiled.
"Then transform back and get some rest, your training starts tomorrow." He informed them. There was a sound of a groan from the wolves. Darren did not wait for the other four. He just ran away from the image… the image of Jules and Lottie.
Darren avoided Chris at all costs the rest of the month. It killed him not being able to see him, but he knew it was for the best. He rubbed his eyes in frustration at the math's problem in front of him. He had never been good at maths, and this on top of everything else he was dealing with was crushing him. He sighed and threw his pencil down on the wooden desk.
"Hey, the answers twelve point seven three four." A soft voice made Darren's eyes shoot up. There he was met with a smiling Chris. He felt his heart melt at the sight he had been deprived of for so long.
"Thought you'd need some help, you're helpless at maths." Chris chuckled. Darren sighed but returned the smile.
"Thanks Chris…" he said. Suddenly, their eyes locked and the whole month of avoiding had disappeared. With just a single look, Darren was able to pass silent apologies to his lover.
"Come on, bell's going to go in a second, let's go get some lunch." Chris proclaimed. To the unseen eye, it was a simple invitation to lunch, but to the boys involved it was a chance to explain everything that had happened over the last few weeks.
"Yeah, I'd like that." He whispered. They shared another secret smile before turning back to their work.
"Hey, what was all that about? I though you two had fallen out!" Lucy's squeaky voice made Darren roll his eyes.
"Yeah, but now we are going to go to lunch and sort things out. You know, as mates." he added quickly. Lucy looked at him with tear filled eyes.
"But, Darren, you promised that we'd have lunch together today, you know, as a couple." She sidled up to him and leaned in towards him, as if wanting a kiss. Darren did not give in to her temptation.
"Yeah, but I always have lunch with you. Today I want to go and hang out with my friend." He was almost shouting now, but kept his voice relatively quiet because they were in a class. Lucy huffed and crossed her arms.
"Oh fine, whatever." She snapped. Suddenly she grabbed his arm and forced her mouth onto his. They broke apart and Darren stared at her in anger. He felt eyes on him and new instantly that it was Chris. He felt disgusted with himself.
"What the hell was that?" he hissed to Lucy, who was shooting Chris a glare of pure venom.
"What, is a girl not allowed to kiss her boyfriend in public anymore?" she shot back, still looking at Chris.
"Just enough alright? I'm, sick and tired of you doing this!" Darren shouted. Lucy frowned and leant back.
"I just wanted to show you I loved you." She answered again. "I am your girlfriend after all." The bell gave a shrill ring indicating that class was over. Darren pushed up from the desk and out of the door.
"Yeah, but if you keep acting like this, you won't be for much longer." He shouted above the noise of the other students. Chris grabbed his arm and pulled him into a shaded area of the crowded corridor.
"Hey, what was that about?" he asked frowning. Darren could not move. He could not even speak. He was just marveling at the touch that he had been denied for so, so long. Never again would he ignore Chris.
"Hello? I'm talking to you!" laughter broke the trance like state Darren had held. Suddenly a humongous smile erupted on his face and he pulled Chris into his arms.
"God I've missed you!" he whispered into his ear. Chris smiled and hugged him back.
"Come on, no-one's at my house right now, we could go and get something to eat if you want, talk things out." Chris did not bother waiting for an answer, he just dragged Darren out to his silver Porsche in the parking lot.
Even if his family is what I'm fighting, I will never be able to hurt him… never… Darren thought as he sat in the car.