Igor's Journey
After Ateara had left him suddenly to pursue his path, Igor was unsure why, but he knew it was for good reason. Igor had stayed a couple more nights to think which direction to continue his quest.
When he knew he packed as light as possible and headed towards the sunrise, hoping for a brighter and more positive outlook to his life.
He thought that he would feel alone without Ateara, but he had learnt that being alone isn't so bad, he felt free and happy.
'I sure wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Ateara helping start my quest for my past, who knows where I would end up if I hadn't. Ateara just seemed so comfortable and confident most of the time.'
After a long while walking he decided to just phase and go for a run to help him think more clearly 'At least that's what Ateara used to do, to help him think'. He wasn't sure how long he or how far he was going, Igor just needed to feel the breeze till he came across a cliff edge that had him stop suddenly. He was certain he wouldn't make it, but he also had other ideas. He started to walk backwards before turning around, ran for 10km, stopped and turned to look ahead where the cliff edge is. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply. He had this burst of energy and began to sprint every colour around him was merging in one, as he got closer he braced himself and prepared to jump.
As Igor jumped into the air, he felt as though he was flying and felt so free and exhilarated. He then concentrated on landing on the other side.
'Oh this was a bad idea, this is a bad idea…I…' Igor thought.
Igor shut his eyes and a sigh of relief came out of him as soon as his front paws touched the ground. He opened his eyes slowly and phased out with the biggest smile he ever had, like it was the biggest accomplishment he had ever done for himself. For a couple hours he just took a moment overlooking the cliff edge. Unaware that someone had just seen him fly.
Igor walked the majority of his day scouting for a clearing as it was turning dark collecting wood for his fire at the same time. It didn't take long for him to find a spot nor did it take him long to make himself a bed and rustle up some food.
That night he laid down thinking he was asleep and dreaming, he saw a couple of guys who he recognized as Carns and Jal. First he noticed them chatting to each other for a long while then slowly moving closer, Jal then made the move. Jal then turned his head looking in Igor's direction, but Igor was surprised to see that Jal was in fact Ateara. Igor had a smile on his face.
Just before he 'woke' he was Jal again…
Igor sat up for the rest of the night just thinking about what he saw and what it means, at times like this is when he misses Ateara, as he helps him get through this and somehow makes it better with the breath that comes out of his mouth that speaks only words of wisdom.
It was at that point that he plucked up the courage to pack his things, put out the fire and be on his way…'Ateara if you can hear me I owe you one…ever since you walked into my life you have made it so much better'.
From then on Igor was always moving forward barely even stopping, he was more eager and determined than ever before, he was somewhat happier able to be less dependent on Ateara. He knew deep within himself he wanted a partner for the rest of his life through to his afterlife.
As he trekked through the woods he had come across a road filled with shops on one side and rows of houses on the other, he felt intrigued and slightly curious about his new surroundings. He noticed that he was turning a few heads, this had made him feel uneasy as he was not used to getting all that attention.
He tried to do what he did best, which was ignore everyone around him, especially as he needed some food.
Several hours later...
Igor had stocked-up on some supplies he may need for his journey and left. He thought he felt a familiar movement nearby, he looked around, but he saw nothing, he circled himself on the spot several times before pacing back into the wilderness of the forest. Again he felt something float around him and saw nothing, he was getting frustrated and feeling frightened. He didn't know what to do except think about Ateara as it makes him feel at ease.
He got a sudden jolt inside of him and just started running, he didn't know where he was going it was as though he had no control of his body all of a sudden, everything around him was just a blur, he felt strange, he couldn't stop…he tried to think what Ateara would do in this situation, but couldn't as he knew Ateara was a lot stronger than him. This run had felt like it lasted a lifetime, then he came to a sudden halt, the sound of the river flowing had put a smile on his face, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
His head cleared slightly and was able to sense someone nearby, but it wasn't who he thought it would be. He knew exactly who this guy was and tried to avoid him, it seems that everywhere Igor tried to go this guy was always around. Till one morning Igor decided to approach him to see what his problem was, it turned out that Jal had a thing for Igor since they first laid eyes on one another and had been denying it for a very long time.
"Igor! For quite some time I have wanted to tell you the truth about how I feel, I really hope you can find space in your heart to let me in…" Igor interrupted Jal "What are you trying to say? I thought you were with Carns?"
"Well I was kind of, but not. It turns out that he's a different person to the Calvert I knew, so we broke it off and I went to find myself and wound up here talking to you" Jal explained.
Igor just stood in silence for a moment pacing between two huge trees trying to make sense of all this. Jal didn't know what else to do, his head was just turning left to right in sync with Igor's pacing, every time Jal wanted to talk he hesitates. They kept at this through the night, then Jal decided to lay down elsewhere to rest, shortly after Igor saw that he was not around and he also decided to rest too, hoping he will feel better in the morning.
Jal was the first to get up and he went for a run, usually it would clear his head but this time it had no effect, his mind seemed cloudier than ever before and he didn't know what to do. So many times he just wanted to tell Igor everything, he was worried what Igor might think and do, Jal really did not want to lose him again. Just then Jal jumped at the sound of Igor coming from behind, "Oh! Someone is a little jumpy this morning, Are you OK?" Igor asked.
Jal gazed at him before answering him "Yeah! I'm fine, it's nothing really, I was just in deep thought. I have a habit of doing that from time to time". Jal tried to sound convincing, he was fooling no one, not even to himself. Igor however had sensed Jal was distracted and decided to just comfort him the only way he could think of. He slowly walked in closer and wrapped his arms around Jal, although it took him a few moments, Igor had felt Jal gradually relax in his grip and allowed for him to rest his head on his shoulders.
Igor looked around and sensed nothing around, but his thoughts had other ideas as suspicions had started in his head. It had been playing mind games almost as if he was hallucinating, to the point where he lost all control of himself for a moment and unknowingly pushed Jal to the ground. Jal looked up with confusion, but his vision was distorted by the tears filling his eyes.
Igor however just stood there looking at Jal wiping his eyes using the cleanest part of his sleeve. Igor saw him stand and turn on his feet then made a run for it without listening to an explanation.
Igor watched him getting further and further away muttering 'It's probably for the best as I don't know what just happened neither would I know how to explain'. He went the opposite direction to avoid bumping into him as he needed time to figure out what was happening to him.
Jal had travelled long and far. Igor however had every intention to go after him, but at the same time was thinking what he would actually say to him without hurting him again. He set off as far away from where it happened, he figured he needed some answers himself before he could begin to try to explain what had happened. It had been a long while since he even made an attempt to use his heightened senses to track/locate anything, but given what Ateara had encouraged him. He started to focus himself and thought about his name 'Jerome' after reading about it in the dusty old book. He had tried several attempts , but nothing happened, he began to miss Ateara as he realized how much he relied on him.
Thinking back to his training with him he used his breathing exercise and focused again he gave several attempts, he had a good feeling that he was getting closer for answers, even if it didn't make sense at that time. He pieced together the information and showed him...…
'He looked all around wondering where his vision had taken him, then a buff guy came charging at him, he felt frozen in his stance. Nothing happened, the guy went straight through him. "Jerome! Are you alright?" Igor looked to see where that voice was coming from, he felt some familiarity as soon as he saw the other guy, still confused as to what was going on.
It felt like he was in the middle of a warzone. Without hesitation he followed Jerome and his friend to see where it would lead. Igor was more eager to find out more.
He also had a feeling he was remembering what he had forgotten over the years.
Igor just looking at Jerome with his friend hunched over him in tears, what Igor also saw is what startled him, as it was Jerome's spirit leaving his body and he saw Igor. "...Y…y…you…..can see…me…?" Igor stuttered. Jerome's spirit just stared at him and disappeared. Before Igor could even think about doing anything he also somehow ended up in another region somewhat closer to the present. He started walking as he knew the street well like he's been there before then bumped into a guy and had a glimpse of him and saw something there. Igor followed him thinking it may lead him to unlocking more of his memories…..
What he also realized is that he wasn't even the slightest tired, he was only focused on trying to get out of his past, but he knew he had to follow this through somehow. Just then the guy came out of a building looking less scruffy. 'Where are you going to look so suave?' Igor muttered. He followed him down a long narrow road and turned off in a tight alleyway and went through what he saw as a huge doorway…Igor went inside, but all wasn't what he seemed. He expected that it wasn't a total dump, but never would he have guessed it would look so bright and elegant. He walked further in, as he scanned the room that's where he spotted the guy that he was following before talking to someone and you need not be a mind-reading to know that they meant serious business. Igor had approached them with caution to see what might be a link.
After the conversation ended, Igor wasn't sure what to make of it all, he spent much time pondering on it and nothing, slightly frustrated, seemingly lost without Ateara nearby to guide him, 'What would Ateara do…?' Igor muttered to himself repeatedly in the hope it would help him think better.
Just when Igor thought he was getting somewhere, something or someone knocked him out. Still dazed but he felt as if he was being dragged across the floor, thrown over someone's shoulder.
'What shall we do with him? ....String him up somewhere…?' A deep voice said.
'No we can't, we are only meant to keep him here, he will be arriving shortly I'd expect' The other voice said but also sounded squeaky.'
Igor could only make out a few words, he still knew he was in some kind of trouble and needed to escape somehow. As he struggled to wriggle himself free, Igor suddenly heard footsteps coming and everything went quiet.
The voice spoke "Where is he?"
Igor's eyes opened wide as he immediately recognized the voice…