[IC] Shadows in the Moonlight

[EliteCommander]

After moving out from under the bridge, Sam walked along with Stevie along the trail through the forest, back to where they had parked. Now that he knew where they were, Sam estimated it would take a little under an hour to reach the car. It was rare that anyone actually came out to this part of the forest, so hopefully, no one had disturbed his car. "I don't know how helpful the internet will be on this. Werewolf stories and myths are all over the place on what they can do. How can we know which ones are true, and which are just fantasy? I mean, two days ago, I would have said they were all fantasy. Since it is night right now and I can still see, I'm guessing low-light vision is one of our abilities. Not to mention strength. It's fairly obvious that this transformation put a lot of muscle on both of us." He said with a bit of a smile as he put a hand on her rather firm abs, although, his expression quickly turned more serious. "It's just...this is all so stressful. I think the important part is that we need to be careful. Let's try not to put ourselves in situations where we cannot easily escape. I also think we should stick close to each other until we have this figured out. The only thing I can think of that would be worse than having to run into the wilds in my wolf form would be being trapped there without you."

[Luna]

She nodded in agreement. "I agree until we know what to do its best to do that, but how when we still have collage classes and we don't see each other until later afternoon" she said in realizations that they would have to go back to school. "If we dropped out our parents would be raging mad about it, we are really the only ones that made it far into collage" she said looking at her boyfriend. "Plus some people still ake me mad, if I get mad i might transform and the secret is blown" she said ranting a little bit in fear

[EliteCommander]

"Like I mentioned before, I finished my last final not long before we decided to come out here. There are only a few more days left in the semester. How many finals do you still have left to do? Maybe we can handle being there for just a few days? I don't have any classes, but I can come with you all the same. I won't be able to come in the class with you, obviously, but I could wait outside. Maybe knowing that I'm close will help keep you calm, and vice versa?" Sam suggested. It was difficult to think about how to continue their normal lives in this situation. Certainly, he hoped they wouldn't have to give up everything they had worked so long to achieve.

[Luna]

"Well I have three more before the end of the semester and then I am free for the rest of the year" Stevie said looking at him. She sighed. "Of course those exams are sooo hard" she said "Those professors are out to get me I am bloody telling you" her English accent was coming through again whenever she got frustrated about something

[EliteCommander]

"Well, I would try to avoid getting stressed about it. There is no telling what can set off our transformations. It could be anger, or it could be any extreme of emotion. I don't feel much of an urge to turn now, so I'm guessing the urge isn't as strong right after turning. We will need to be careful as time passes, though." Sam responded.

Eventually, the pair reached Sam's car, much to his relief. Everything looked just like he remembered leaving it. Looking into its windows, he checked to make sure nothing had been disturbed or stolen, though at this point, as long as he could get the car running, he would be happy. It was fortunate for them that Sam had not thought it necessary to lock the car or take his keys for what was supposed to be a short walk through the forest. Perhaps it had not been the smartest strategy to keep the car safe, but it was serving them well now.

"Oh, what a relief. Maybe the universe isn't conspiring against us after all. I have never been so glad to see this ugly old car in my life. Get in, and we can see about getting home." Sam got into the drivers seat and waited a moment for Stevie to get in the passenger side. Now, they had to make it all the way into their apartment without being spotted, which hopefully would be easier than he feared. "Alright, okay, let's think. It's dark, so that will help us a bit. At least most people around our apartment won't be out at this hour. I think maybe you should lay down in your seat on the way back to stay out of sight, just to be safe."

[Luna]

She nodded and yawned a little covering herself with the jacket she had put in the backseat before they left the car and she laid her seat back out of view of anyone who might pass by. She curled up her eyes going to him and she smiled. "I love you Sam" she said before closing her eyes falling into a light and alerted sleep curling up to the point her private parts were covered by her jacket.her bangs going across her eyes blocking them slight from view.

[EliteCommander]

As Sam started the car, he looked down at Stevie. "Love you too." He then started off back towards their apartment. He could feel his heart practically beating out of his chest with how nervous he was. It felt like it was taking forever to get home, even when, in reality, they were actually making it back rather quickly once they made it onto the interstate. The road wasn't too heavily populated, but he still looked nervously at every car around him. He was sure to obey every single traffic law, going exactly the speed limit and making no moves that could be considered reckless, despite how nervous he was.

Eventually, Sam turned off of the interstate and towards their apartment. The area they lived wasn't too densely populated, and hopefully wouldn't be too active at night. Once he pulled into their normal parking spot, he was a bit relieved to see that there was no one in the immediate area, but he was still intensely nervous. He paused and thought for a few moments, then gently shook Stevie awake. "Okay, we're here, we just need to get inside. Do you think I could borrow that jacket? I might be able to tie it around my waist and use it to get inside. It will look strange, but maybe if someone sees me from a distance, they won't be able to tell what exactly is going on. I can go in first, get dressed, then get some clothes for you and bring them out to you. Then, you can get dressed, and we can get in no problem. Sound like a plan?"

[Luna]

"Ok love just be careful cause I see a couple lights on across the street from us meaning they are still up" she said rubbing his cheek gently before kiisng him. She uncovered herself with the jacket and handed it to him. "Be quick cause there might be police patrolling and they might see me if they are walking on the sidewalk" she said curling up in a fetal position to make sure none of her was showing through anywhere.

[EliteCommander]

"Alright, I'll be quick." Sam responded as he accepted the jacket and tied it around his waist. He took the keys out of the ignition and made sure he had the house key ready, then quickly got out of the car. He tried not to run too fast to avoid drawing attention from anyone not looking directly at him, but he still made it to the front door in less than ten seconds.

"I'm so glad we live on the first floor." Sam thought to himself as he unlocked the front door and stepped inside, quickly closing the door behind him. He was safe for the moment, but they were far from in the clear. Right now, he needed to get dressed and get back out to Stevie as quickly as humanly possible. Dashing into his room, he untied the jacket from his waist and grabbed the first things he saw out of his closet. He nearly pulled half of his wardrobe off the hangers in the process, but he managed to get dressed in a simple red t-shirt and a pair of jeans in under a minute. Sam didn't have time to go through Stevie's wardrobe as well, so he just grabbed another pair of jeans from his closet and wrapped it in the jacket as he headed back outside, so no one would be able to clearly see what he was carrying. This time, he walked much more casually back out to his car to avoid any unnecessary suspicion. He still didn't see anyone around him, but he aired on the side of caution and got calmly back into the driver's side and acted like he was going through the glovebox as he handed Stevie the clothes. "Here you go, I have a pair of jeans and the jacket. The jeans are mine, so they might be big on you, but it will be fine to get you inside."

[Luna]

She smiled and nodded getting dressed quickly. She had just finished getting dressed when she saw a group of drunk teens coming their way. Stevie shook her head at their drunken stupidity. "Again that is like the fourth time this week that they got drunk like this" she said shaking her head more before looking at Sam. "Well I better get some research done so we can figure this out faster" she said before walking inside the sounds of the drunken teens laughing could be heard everywhere.

[EliteCommander]

Sam made sure to lock his car before heading back inside, then he proceeded to let out what was perhaps the most well-deserved sigh of relief in his life. There was still a lot to worry about, but at least one catastrophe had been averted.

"Like I mentioned before, I don't know how much researching will help. There is so much variation in mythology that we can't really know what is correct. Some stories contradict each other on what werewolves can do. I'm worried that we may end up having to just learn as we go." Sam said as he locked the door to their apartment behind them, just to be safe. He then approached Stevie and gave her a hug, wrapping her tightly in his embrace. He was silent for a few moments, just wanting to hold her for a while before speaking up. "No matter what happens, though, at least we are safe now. I didn't really get a chance to express it before with how much stress and worry there was, but I am really glad we are together now. I've cared deeply for you for a long time now, I just didn't know how to say it."

[Luna]

She nodded and snuggled into him. "I know. Its strange I could feel any effects of any transformations and its close to midnight, it must only happen when we are either hungry or on a certain night, like the full moon we did go out into the woods on the day of the full moon and every full moon as myth says that a werewolf transforms on the night of the full moon" she said thinking hard. "Mrs. Burkheart taught us that in my sophomore year of high school" she said

[EliteCommander]

Sam cocked his head to the side. "Did you take a mythology class in high school?" He asked before shrugging it off and moving on. "Well, anyway, it might have been because of the moon, but we can only really guess at this point. I suppose we should stay near the woods next time a full moon rolls around, in any case."

After a few moments, Sam finally let go of her and looked around the apartment. Nothing had been disturbed, so no one had broken in while they were gone. Like Stevie, Sam also was not feeling any particular urges to transform, so he figured they at least didn't have to worry about turning that night. "I don't know about you, but I'm pretty hungry. We haven't eaten all day. I think I'm going to make something, what would you like?" He asked.

[Luna]

"Something good and filling at this point, then I will be taking a nice shower I really need one and no offence but you do to" she sat on their cough sighing in relief happy to be home. "Its strange, this heightened sense of smell has doubled now that we arent human and I can smell the pollution even from inside our apartment" she said twitching her nose slightly. 'Who knew the place could be filthy when it looks clean in our eyes" she said

[EliteCommander]

Sam took a few sniffs of the air and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Honestly, I think I preferred having a normal sense of smell. We might have to clean this place up some, though I suppose we will end up getting used to it. Your brain eventually cancels out constants, like smells. At any rate, I might join you in that shower." He said with a chuckle before stepping into the kitchen. It had been a while since they purchased groceries, so they didn't have too great of a selection. "I think something quick would be best. Let's see...there's a microwave pizza in here. That's decently filling. I'm not really that picky at the moment." He said, taking the pizza out of the freezer and preparing it to go in the microwave.

[Luna]

"I wouldn't mind pizza tomorrow you might have to go and get groceries while I am in my morning exams" Stevie said looking towards the kitchen where her boyfriend was cooking their food. "I sure hope that my nose will cancel out the stupid smells its getting on my nerves I didn't mind the smells of the forest since it actually smelt good" she muttered rubbing the side of her head before getting some Advil and took two pills out. She walked into the kitchen and got a glass of water taking the pills.

[EliteCommander]

Sam looked over and nodded to Stevie. "Will do, though I'll be heading to the college as soon as I bring them back here. I'll wait outside for you to finish your exam, just in case you start feeling any urges to turn." He put the pizza in the microwave, then went in the living room and turned on the television to wait while it cooked. He didn't really care what they watched, he just wanted to eat and relax. The past few days had been the best and worst of his life, in almost equal measure. On the one hand, he was now with the love of his life, but on the other, they were both afflicted with a terrible curse. The stress of the latter was something he needed to get off of his mind.

Once the pizza finished, he took two plates and grabbed a few slices for both of them. He guessed she was just as hungry as he was, so there wasn't much left for later. Sitting down on the couch next to Stevie, he handed her a plate, and put his arm around her shoulder.

[Luna]

She nodded. "yeah cause I dont want to transform in broad day light where everyone could see" she shiver as she imagined what would happen and shook her head. She went back to the living room and sat down with Sam watching whatever he was watching waiting for their dinner to be done. Once it was and she got her plate she snuggled into Same's arms and began to eat. "This is so good, better than that blood taste I woke up with in my mouth yuke" she grimace as her mind went back to that morning with the dead boar

[EliteCommander]

Sam began to eat as well, and gave a quick chuckle at the mention of the boar. "Yeah, I never thought I would find myself eating raw meat. It makes me hope that werewolves have increased disease resistance. It would make sense...although, I guess there is nothing saying that being a werewolf has to make sense. Still, it has been a while, and I feel fine, so I'm guessing we are in the clear on that one."

Sam wasn't really concentrating on what was on TV, and instead was just enjoying talking to Stevie in more relaxed circumstances. "So, which classes do you have finals in tomorrow? It's unfortunate that you won't be able to study more, but I believe in you."

[Luna]

Stevie smiled. "Yeah, its weird but we have to live with it no matter what, you cant undo the pas no matter how much you want to. But I also think of this as a blessing, thanks to this we are now boyfriend and girlfriend and we gone" she blushed stopping her sentence. "But I think of it as a blessing as well cause we live longer and thats means we can stay together much longer" she said stroking his cheek lovingly