The Apology

As Penny proceeded to follow the morbid trail of massive footprints and wolf blood memories of what had just transpired replayed in her mind. After slaughtering a wolf several times his size Gumball had turned into…that thing! All the destruction and carnage that thing had caused in town, not to mention ruthlessly attacked her, her boyfriend had been responsible. It was almost too much to think about. Gumball, her Gumball, doing all that. Why? Was he mad because everyone had believed Rob's ploy? But why had he fled here to the forest then if that was the case?

If Gumball did all that out of anger, wouldn't he have continued to rampage?

Penny then contemplated the fact that Gumball had transformed in the first place. She had never seen Gumball do anything like that before and; if she was honest, she was pretty sure he wouldn't keep an ability like that to himself, especially not with the shenanigans he gets up to. After all, how many times could Gumball have been spared a bunch of turmoil through his chaotic life if he'd had the ability to transform on a whim all along? Especially with how often he drew Tina's ire kwhich this savage monster he'd become had already proven more than a match for). Was the transformation a new development? If that's the case maybe that's why he hadn't returned home? Maybe it was the same with him as when she'd first come out of her shell and feared herself a monster? Only in his case, Gumball had had no one to pursue or persuade him. And that was on her. Penny had to find him. To assure him he wasn't a monster.

Same as he'd done for her.

However, Penny's thoughts of dedication were derailed when she tripped over something and fell face first onto the ground. Momentarily stunned, she looked behind her to see what she'd tripped over…and recoiled in shock and disgust. Her foot had caught on a bare ribcage lying on the ground. Looking around, Penny saw the entire area was strewn with bones. This wouldn't have been anything new for her; especially not after that derogatory message Gumball had written for her in the desert, but what really drew Penny's attention were the two familiar branches lying amongst the cluster of bones, splintered at both ends and covered in blood.

Penny thinks she might have just stumbled upon the remains of the wolf carcass Gumball had carried off earlier.

Despite only bones and the two branches remaining, the scene was still very gruesome. The bones had been entirely picked clean, some of them were even broken open. Penny had had her assumption earlier, but it was confirmed now and she was horrified. Gumball had eaten the wolf. Not just killed it for her sake, but had eaten it. Even when determined to run away to the forest, Penny had never once considered eating wild animals and probably wouldn't ever have, even if Gumball hadn't succeeded and she'd successfully fled to the forest.

Why was Gumball eating wild animals?

*WAIL!*

The sudden sound tore through the night like dull scissors through paper, and, turning to the source, Penny saw the beast she sought, standing on a cliff ledge in the distance. It continuously howled into the night with that same cry that had just drawn Penny's attention, and as she looked on, she noticed a subtle difference to this call that set it apart from any prior noise the massive feline had made. Before, the creature's calls had been of aggression and challenge and victory and supremacy, however, this sound was…almost mournful? And lonely?

Penny watched on as cry after cry echoed through the night, and with each mournful keen the beast would pause, as if waiting for a response, before calling out again when the night remained silent. The sounds tugged at Penny's heartstrings, for they instilled a sorrowful sensation within her. Unable to bear it any longer, Penny made the decision to seek out the beast and try to alleviate his suffering, though why he was suffering she didn't know. But it didn't matter. All that did matter was the beast needed help.

Gumball needed help.

He…needs his girlfriend.

With the emotions instilled by "Gumball's" mournful cries, Penny shifted to her gargoyle form and took flight, arriving at the edge of the cliff the beast was situated on in minimal time. The abyssalis cat saw her approach and growled menacingly at the sight of another potential rival, but the snarl vanished when Penny resumed her primary fairy form. Again, that sensation of being near one's mate returned, as confusing and as contradicting as ever. The abyssalis cat hunched down to get a better look at her, but backed up slightly, slightly increasing the space between them.

"Gumball…? Gumball, it's me. It's Penny," Penny whispered silently with both support and desperation in her voice.

But the abyssalis cat made no indication that he understood her, for he didn't. The words coming out of her mouth were as illegible to him as any random noise others not of his species made. However, her tone did instill a sense of calm in him, somehow tempering the immense aggression abyssalis cat's were known for.

"Gumball, it's okay," said Penny with a small but supportive smile, daring to begin approaching the massive figure standing on the cliff ledge with her. "Whatever happens, we'll get through it. Together." Penny was a mere breath away from the abyssalis cat now. "Do you remember when you said that to me? I'm here for you now, just like you were for me back then." The small smile dissipated from her face, frowning as she sniffled in guilt. "Like I always should have been."

She reached out, intending to put her hands on Gumball's chin and draw him in for a kiss. He'd loved her so much that he hadn't hesitated to draw her in for a kiss, their first kiss, even though she looked like a massive antlered wolf, so it would not only be hypocritical but downright cruel if she wasn't willing to do the same. However, before her hands could come into contact with the massive lower jaw, the abyssalis cat pulled away. At first Penny was afraid it was because he couldn't bear to have her touch him, but then she noticed that his attention had been drawn to his left, and when she looked on as well to her right she saw that, in the distance, the sun was beginning to rise.

Penny stared for a second, realizing she must have been following Gumball for the duration of the night, for the sun had just set at his transformation.

There was a light growl and Penny looked up just in time to see the light of the rising sun wash over the abyssalis cat, who's eyes squinted, but it was obviously not because of the sudden brightness. He swayed on his legs uneasily for a moment then just keeled over on his side, impacting the ground with a dull thud, kicking up a cloud of dust that drifted in the morning light. Night was ending, and as a nocturnal creature the abyssalis cat knew it was time to rest. Penny gasped in worry, covering her mouth with her hands, stampering over to the massive head, kneeling down and putting her hands on the broad brow.

"Gumball! Are you okay?" she asked, a hint of desperation mixed in with her worried tone.

What was happening? She couldn't lose him now!

The abyssalis cat only growled lightly at her words and touch, and as more and more of the morning light washed over his form he was suddenly draped in black smoke and began to shrink. Penny gasped in shock, crawling on her hands and knees to keep up with the receding smoke, which eventually diminished to a small patch slightly smaller than her. Then the smoke suddenly wafted away and Gumball lay before her on his side. Penny gasped again at the sight of her boyfriend, now reverted back to normal. Looking closely, she saw he was breathing, which was an immediate relief for her. Gently, she drew him into her arms, rolling him onto his back and holding his upper body to her chest, his legs still splayed out on the ground before her.

"Gumball…?" she whined, choking up as she gently shook him, tears brimming in her eyes. "Gumball?!"

As of late, after reverting back to normal, Gumball would usually sleep the day away and night was about to fall again whenever he woke up. As said, abyssalis cat's were nocturnal, plus, Gumball had always been a heavy sleeper, so any noise in the forest wouldn't have awoken him early, but because of the direction outward stimuli from Penny he began to rouse much sooner than he had in recent days. He groaned slightly, squinting and gritting in his sleep before his eyes gradually began to open. They had reverted to their original state, same as the rest of him, and Gumball observed his surroundings. Looking up, he found himself in the arms of his girlfriend, who looked down at him with a look of worry, her eyes moist and reflecting the morning light.

"P…Penny?" he whispered groggily as he looked up at her with half lidded eyes.

Upon noticing the recognition in his voice the dam finally broke and Penny completely broke down, dissolving into pitiful sobs as she drew Gumball in closer, wrapping her arms around his back and squeezing him tight. Gumball grunted as the breath was squeezed from his lungs, looking over Penny's shoulder as she rigorously held onto him. It was here he became fully awake. He'd never known Penny was this strong.

"Penny?" he gasped.

"Gumball…I'm sorry…! I'm so sorry!" she mumbled pitifully, Gumball feeling her tears trickling down his back and soaking into his sweater. "Please…forgive me. I've treated you so poorly. Forgive me. Please!"

The heartbreak and pain in her voice was almost too much for Gumball to bear. He'd never seen her so upset, and he'd wished he'd never had. She was more upset now than she was even at Mr. Cuddles's funeral. More upset than the time she'd revealed herself and mistook his awe filled expression for a look of disgust. But Gumball was also slightly perplexed. Throughout their relationship it had always been him making desperate apologies, so to have Penny practically pleading for forgiveness from him was something he'd never experienced and wasn't too sure on how to react to.

However, he couldn't just leave her in this state, so, bracing his feet to the ground, Gumball steadied himself and gently returned her embrace, Penny holding on tighter in response.

"It's okay," he said supportively, gently patting her back.

"No…no it's not," she mumbled, shaking her head, her voice full of regret and sadness. "I blamed you when it wasn't your fault. I…didn't believe you when I should have. Gumball…I'm so sorry…"

For a moment, Gumball pondered on how Penny became aware of his innocence, but he soon realized that didn't matter at the moment. He needed to provide Penny with reassurance that everything was fine. Well, more fine than she perceived. A hug didn't seem to be enough, so that left only one other solution. Gently, Gumball removed his hands from her back and braced them against her shoulders, gradually beginning to push her away. She resisted at first, but didn't react in time to prevent him from pushing her back far enough so that he could lean his face forward and draw her in for a kiss.

Her tearful eyes widened in shock for a second, but then Gumball reaffirmed his embrace on her, hands sliding down her back once more, and her expression relaxed. Through the kiss, she could feel Gumball's love for her, indomitable and as unyielding as ever. Finally, the guilt and regret she'd endured for days started to recede. She still shed tears, but the mood had shifted to relief and happiness, for she now knew Gumball held no resentment against her for her actions.

Gumball made to break the kiss, but found himself unable to when Penny drew him back in, locking him in place with a hand at the back of his head. His eyes widened in shock, for their kisses had never lasted so long, but, as he gazed into Penny's half lidded eyes he saw desperation in them, pleading with him to not break the kiss. He was still slightly stunned, but willingly relented, letting himself stay locked in this position for as long as Penny wanted. It wasn't long before she suddenly began making subtle movements against his mouth however.

Gumball's eyes widened as he realized this was progressing past a simple kiss and into full on making out, but didn't dare protest, subtly returning the movements while beginning to casually stroke her back. Gumball wasn't sure how long this went on but when Penny broke their kiss at last both were panting heavily from the excursion. Penny didn't break the hug however, clasping onto Gumball with just as much force as before. Gumball didn't mind however, not only because he was enjoying the embrace just as much as Penny, but also because she was no longer mumbling pitiful apologies. There were still tears trickling down his back, but whenever he gave her a reassuring pat or stroke they lessened somewhat.