Chapter Eight- Repaired Friendship

Chazz looked up from his lunch to see Syrus and Jaden enter together. The smile on the shorter boy told him that Jaden had apologized. The two of them got lunch and sat with Chazz who saw that Syrus' lunch was just as fish-heavy as his own. If it wasn't for the fact that we have plenty of everything, the excess fish would be earning us more than just odd looks.

"So, everything's fine now?" he commented.

"Yup," Jaden said. "We're gonna watch some duels this afternoon."

"Just watch?" Chazz cocked an eyebrow. "Not going to duel yourself?"

"I might- if anyone challenges me."

"Ah, I see and where are these duels?"

"Outside the Ra dorm. Hey, wanna come, Chazz?"

"Why not? Sounds like a good way to spend a Saturday."

Syrus locked eyes with Chumley as the trio left the cafeteria. Is he still scared of me? Maybe I should go over and explain myself, say I won't attack him? I think I should. But before he could act on his decision, Jaden steered him outside. "Ja, I was thinking of-,"

"I know, but I'll talk to Chum tonight. Hopefully, he'll come around and apologize to you tomorrow."

"Well, okay." Honestly, confronting Chumley was nerve-wracking just thinking about it. Yeah, I'm definitely not confident yet. Syrus put his concerns about Chumley on hold as he watched the duels and even cheered on Jaden when a second-year Ra challenged the brunette.

"He's scared? Of you!?" Chazz looked at Syrus with a half-shocked, half-amused expression.

"Yeah and after how I felt last night, I kind of understand why."

"I've had two times where I was angry as you know. But, hey, everyone gets mad sometimes."

"True." Syrus' eyes adjusted to the dark before he growled angrily and started to change. Why do I always growl and howl angrily when I change? he wondered as he howled. He stood there as he pondered the question.

"Syrus, you okay?" Chazz asked when the smaller wolf didn't move or speak.

Syrus shook his head. "Yeah. I was trying to figure out why I always feel angry when I change."

"I think it's because of me. The ritual required an angry person. I remember feeling a different kind of anger when they put the pendent on me. The chant must have placed the primal anger of a wolf inside me. Since I became a werewolf through anger, it makes sense that anyone I bite becomes an angry one, too."

Syrus nodded. "Okay, I see that. I'm also guessing we're the only werewolves on the island."

"Correct. Plus, there are no wolves at all, so all the prey that wolves like is all ours."

"Then, let's hunt some down." Syrus and Chazz moved into deeper woods, noses sniffing for any prey that appealed to them."

"You're seriously scared of Sy?" Jaden asked incredulously.

Chumley nodded. "He's a werewolf now. He could either attack us or turn us into werewolves. I'd rather avoid both."

"Me too, but Sy's not going to do either of those things. For one, we're in our room and Sy's in the forest. Two, being a werewolf hasn't changed him. He will become more confident over the next few weeks and since that's why we and he wants, the method shouldn't matter."

"I don't want to be a werewolf or food for one."

Jaden sighed impatiently. "Look, tonight's the last full moon and Sy won't change again until next month. He's gonna be normal and still our friend."

Chumley's scared look melted away. "Still our friend," he repeated. "You're right, Ja. Syrus is still our friend. I'll tell him I'm sorry tomorrow."

"Great. That'll mean a lot to him."

Syrus and Chazz emerged late the next day. Both had eating well last night, raced each other, and slept through the rest of the night. Syrus felt great and looked forward to gaining his werewolf signs and confidence. Chazz also looked forward to seeing Syrus' new confidence in himself as well as having full-time humanity for the next few weeks.

Syrus climbed up to his dorm room to change clothes and opened the door to find Jaden giving Chumley dueling tips for his deck. Jaden's back was to him and he glanced over his shoulder, grinning at him. "Hey, Syrus. Had a good night?"

"The best. Chazz and I raced each other and we wore ourselves out."

"Sounds like fun."

"Maybe we can have a race at some point."

"I could be up for that."

"Uh, Sy?" Chumley spoke up. "I'm sorry about how I acted toward you. Ja made me realize you're still my friend."

"I accept your apology. Why were you scared of me?" Syrus had an idea of why, but he want to hear Chumley say it. He also didn't want to admit that he had been angry enough to want to attack them the other night.

"Well, it was the fear that you would eat me or turn me."

"I've only eaten animals that wolves eat and as for turning…I would only do it if they chose to be bitten like I did."

"Oh. So, you're human for the next few weeks?"

"Kind of, yes. I'll develop some wolf-like features and traits within several days."

"I'm guessing long nails is one of them," Jaden said, remembering Chazz's nails.

"Yeah. I'll also have pointed ears, sharper senses, and get stronger too."

"Don't forget confidence. That was why you were bitten after all," Jaden added.

"Oh, yeah. That too."

"Would you like to duel me, Sy?" Chumley asked. "Jaden's been giving me tips and I'd like to try them out."

"Sure, just let me change clothes and grab my deck." Normally, Syrus didn't jump at the chance to duel, just like Chumley, but he was eager to do so now that he had his other friend back.

They practice dueled and talked all afternoon before heading down to dinner. Chazz saw Chumley enter the cafeteria alongside Syrus and looked over at Jaden. "I see you talked sense into your friend."

"Yup. Everything's sweet again." He looked at Chazz carefully. He looks normal aside from his nails. Does he really have the wolf-like features that Sy mentioned?

"What are you looking at?" Chazz snapped.

"Just thinking. Syrus mentioned he would have unusual features eventually, like pointed ears and I was wondering-,"

"Yeah, I've got them." Chazz brushed aside his hair to reveal them before hiding them. "I've told him what to expect and he seemed excited about it."

"He is. It seems he's well-suited to being a werewolf."

"Yeah, I'm glad I bit him. Now, let's eat. I'm craving a lot of fish for dinner." Chazz entered, leaving an awkward Jaden behind to follow him.