Ch 17
Garfield and Raven flew over the endless forest of green. She watched her boyfriend for any signal of landing. When he started to descend in the form of a green raven, she followed right behind him into a clearing. Standing on solid ground, she followed Gar once again and suddenly the emotions of others filled her. She felt wonder, disgust, and fear as they came upon the village people.
"Is this the kind of reaction your use to?" asked Raven.
"Just about," said Gar as he felt Raven take his hand in hers and squeeze it.
"It's ok. I'm use to it Rae."
"It still doesn't make it ok Gar. I know all to well these same emotions focused on me. It hurts," she said as he squeezed her hand.
Gar smiled. "I think you needed that more than I did."
"Agree to disagree Garfield," she said as they came upon the biggest hut in the village.
"Garfield," said a voice full of joy and wisdom.
"King Twabwa, it's good to see you again. I know it's been a long time, but—
The King looked at the young woman beside him and smiled. "I understand Garfield. You were following your heart."
Gar smiled. "That's me, and it led me to Raven."
"It's nice to finally meet you King Twabwa," she said as he took her hands in his.
"You've suffered greatly at such a young age my child, and it has made you emotionless for so long until you met your true friends who are more like family than the ones who created you. They have also been your teachers and from them you have learned so much about yourself. You express more now than you ever have and someday you will become one with your emotions to be the whole being you always wanted."
"Wow," Raven said as she was left stunned.
Gar smiled. "It doesn't take much to surprise Raven, but you have."
"That was very impressive," said Raven. "I all ready knew about your abilities the moment Gar and I came into the village."
"You have to admit that was impressive King Twabwa," smirked Gar.
"Yes, she is a very powerful young lady," said the King as he turned to Gar, "and you underestimate your power Garfield. Your abilities isn't what made you survive all these years. It was the strength inside you that willed you to go on, to hope for something better beyond the torture and pain you suffered."
Gar nervously smiled as he scratched the back of his head. "Yeah I guess I did and I do," he said before turning to Raven. "There's so many things I need to explain."
"So, this is my poor attempt at a hut," said Gar as they came upon the hut he built when he was little.
"How old were you?" asked Raven.
"Six. I'd go here when I needed time to myself."
"That doesn't sound like you, wanting to be alone I mean."
Gar smiled. "It wasn't but ever since I became the way I am now, my parents wouldn't stop poking and prodding," he sighed sadly. "I didn't have the heart to tell them no. They were paying attention to me now that I wasn't so human anymore. I was alone a lot with my parents being biologists. They were consumed with their work and didn't have time for me."
"I'm so sorry Garfield," she said as she watched him look from the hut to her sadden eyes.
"You want to see the inside of it?"
Raven smiled. "I'd love to," she said as she took his hand.
Entering the hut there was a man made mattress of grass, leaves, and trees. Beside the bed was a wooden side table that looked like it had been professionally carved. Gar leaned against the wall of the hut and let Raven explore and noticed what she came upon.
"I made that side table. King Twabwa taught me how to make things with natural resources."
"Gar, it's incredible," she said as she felt the wood with her hand.
"Thanks," he blushed. "I think there might be some things in drawer."
Raven took out a picture of a man and a woman with a blue eyed yellow hair boy. "So, this is what you looked like before?"
"Yeah, but I can't look at that picture anymore. I use to stare at it so much when I was normal just wishing they cared about me," he sighed. "I mean I know on some level they did because they saved my life but at the time I feel like they condemned me to the experimentation I would have in future."
"You were tortured more than once," she said placing the picture in the drawer and shutting it. She turned to face Gar, who couldn't look at her.
"I survived is how I like to see it. It's hard to relive my past but if there's things you need to know, I'll answer any questions you have."
"When did it start to downpour?" asked Raven.
"I don't know," said Gar as he looked out his poor attempt at a window. "I think will be safe here tonight."
"Is your real home around here somewhere?"
"I guess it would be better than here, shelter wise anyway," he said as he felt Raven's hand on his shoulder and he closed his eyes, picturing his childhood home. It's the last place he wanted to be, but he knew they would be safe from the storm.
It was dark and held no life but of course it hadn't held life for years. There was no light to fill up this house that was no longer a home but a shell of what it use to be. "I know this isn't easy for you Gar."
"I want us to be safe, and this is where we need to be now. I guess I can take the couch. There's a guest room down the hall to the right," he said as he sat on the couch in the dark.
"I'm not leaving you Gar," she said as she sat next to him on the couch.
"We need to sleep Rae, and the couch isn't the most comfortable."
"I know so sleep beside me in the guest room."
"Are you sure Rae?" he asked, seeing her blush in the dark. "I can get handsy in my sleep."
"How handsy are we talking?"
"Well I might hold you close and my hands might move down to your legs. It's also a possibility that I might accidentally bite you."
"Oh," Raven blushed once again, finding those things very erotic and pleasurable. She couldn't say she wasn't attracted by those things. "As long as you try not to have sex with me, I'll agree to it."
"Sounds good to me. I promise and besides we''ll both want to be fully awake when the time comes."
"Don't make me regret this decision Garfield."
They both made themselves comfortable on the guest bed. Gar made the decision to lie facing away from Raven on the bed. This was harder then he thought this was going to be. He could feel the instinct inside him wanting to do so many things to Raven on this bed. He blushed just thinking about it.
"Breathe Garfield, it's going to be all right," she said as her hand found his.
He sighed. "I hate being an animal sometimes," he said as he felt her hand leave his and a shift in the bed.
"Gar, look at me," she said as he shifted in bed to face the empath. "I would never know you otherwise Garfield."
Gar smiled. "You don't know how hard I want make out with you right now," he said as Raven laughed. "You know you're just furthering my cause, right?"
"I love you Garfield," she smiled as she caressed his cheek, leaned in, and kissed him softly on the lips.
"I love you more," he said as Raven gave him a look that said,'are you kidding me?'
"It's equal. You know I was just kidding Rae," he laughed as his hands found their way around her waist. "So is making out still on the table?" he asked as he watched Raven's arms planted themselves around his neck with a look in her eyes that wanted him. Their lips closed the distance.