Chapter 147 - The Tale Of The Lamb And The Wolf II
Chapter 147 – The Tale Of The Lamb And The Wolf II
After taking their human form, the lamb and the wolf went into the town of humans and walked with them for the first time. For the lamb, it was bliss to finally be a part of them — be a part of this world.
For the wolf, it was… something he couldn't describe. Watching the lamb hold hands with the children, playing with them with that beautiful smile on her face, the wolf remained silent. There was neither contempt in his eyes nor relief.
"Lam!" he called to get her attention, waiting for the beautiful lamb in human skin to turn her head to him. When her eyes landed on him, she smiled. The lamb excused herself from the children before running to him.
Seeing this, the wolf finally smiled. Just then, he recognized the emotion in his heart that he couldn't pinpoint. Ever since they mingled with humans, it wasn't just the two of them anymore. Lamb was spending more time with them and less with him. But every time he would call her, she would smile and come to him.
"Wol," she called, stopping a step away from him. Her brows rose, tilting her head to the side when he grinned.
"Lam, it is getting late. Let's go back." He cocked his head, hands on his hips.
She pressed her lips, glancing back at the children before looking back at him. "Let's go, dear wolf."
With that being said, the two of them walked back to the mountains. As they did, some townsfolk greeted them and they greeted back with a smile. No one questioned where they came from, but what the townsfolk knew was that they were a couple — mistaking their term 'companionship' like that.
"Dear wolf, we had been in human form for over a year," she spoke, holding her hand behind her, gazing to his side. "Were you happy, dear wolf?"
He cast her a side-eye. "I am, Lamb. Were you satisfied?"
"I am." She gazed ahead with a soft expression. "Humans… I adored them."
"More than nature?"
"Equal to my adoration of nature."
"Equal to the wolf?" his brow arched, scrutinizing her side profile. She didn't answer immediately, but her smile remained. Before he frown, she turned her head to him.
"Equal to the wolf. All are equal for the lamb, dear wolf," she explained in her same kind tone. "I must judge fairly. Else, if I favor one over the other, it will cloud my judgment."
What she didn't notice was the disappointment that flickered across his eyes. He disliked it. He had been with the lamb for many years. Although his plans remained, he disliked the fact that she saw him the same.
"Are you upset?" she inquired while he glanced at her.
"I am…" he stopped in his tracks to face her squarely. "Lamb, do you want to be me?"
She blinked once. "Yes." — whatever he meant by that. They spent many years together and if he had truly changed, they would be together for many more years.
"For how long?" he inquired once again and there she smiled softly.
"Forevermore."
This time, he was pleased as he rocked his head. "Since you adored the wolf, you should be one," he suggested, but that baffled her. So, the wolf slid his hand inside his loose garment and took out a mask.
The lamb gazed down at the mask in his hand. One was a white one that shaped into a lamb's head, while the other appeared to be a black wolf. She tilted her head as he placed the white mask on him, only covering the upper part of his face. He then placed the black mask on her, covering her entire face.
"Now you are a wolf," he said, smiling in satisfaction. "Black suits you, Lamb."
She carefully held the mask before he let it go, still holding the mask on him. "Do I look like Lamb now?"
"Dearest wolf, you are silly." She laughed softly, but seeing him hold the mask to cover half of his upper face, she was also pleased. "You don't, wolf. However, it suits you."
"Then, wear it always." He slid his mask to his side. "I like it."
She carefully pulled the mask away, flipping it to look at its surface. The mask had these sharp ears and it could cover her entire small face. Since taking this human form to mingle with humans without scaring them, it fascinated her with them even more.
But she also adored the wolf after many years. Maybe, she thought, she would understand him better. She couldn't be a wolf, but with this, it might help. She raised her head and smiled gently at him.
"I like it too, dear wolf." he grinned, seeing her satisfied smile. He watched her gaze at the mask in her hand once again, tracing it with her fingertip. As she did, a marking resurfaced in it.
"You seem very fond of it." He pointed out, seeing her mark the wolf's mask with the symbol she would usually doodle.
"I am. This is the first gift I received from my dearest wolf."
The wolf remained silent, watching her doodle on the mask with her finger. She stopped when he raised his hand, offering it to her.
"Let's run back, lamb." He smiled meekly, waiting for her to hold his hand. "Let's go home."
"Mhm…"
With that being said, she clasped his hand and walked back to the mountains where they run freely together. The wolf and the lamb lived in peace for a long time, almost as if his initial intention didn't exist anymore.
But the lamb was wrong.
The wolf, although, learned how to value the lamb. His vicious nature couldn't be changed. Instead, he found reasons to justify his actions. And only when he had bared his teeth to her did she realize the wolf valued her so deeply it was sickening.
"With this, Lamb, we'll truly be together… forever. For we are now one." Those were the wolf's words before strutting away from the bloody scene.. Leaving the white wool on the pool of blood that was tainted with red.