Disclaimer: I don't own any of the X-Men, the whole franchise belongs to Marvel and whoever has the rights to movies/media/whatever of it at the moment.

A/N: I have renamed this fic, this is crossposted in Ao3 under my other penname 'Markala,' everything about my 'Distorted Horizons' fanfic series/universe will be properly organized there, and info about the series can be found on my profile page, that is all.

UPDATED: 4/18/2015 title change & minor tweaks/corrections.


Prologue

Log Entry 480: DAY 2
Mission was a bust, squad's dead, universe was doomed, blacked out, then woke up in the middle of the woods a few days ago. Turns out I'm not dead after all, not sure how to feel about that.

I must catalogue all that I remember, will list important things as follows:
-I am Saarloos
-I am a female Wolfshund hybrid of the Canine Kingdoms
-I had 1 litter of three (Zuul, Agnes, and Elise)- they are dead
-my squad had six members: myself, Dawes, Mamoru, Crow, Holly, and Renard (we were the sixteenth squad, also known as the Savage 6)
-we worked for the Pack Protectorate, who tried to become Gods and destroy the universe in the process, and we became fugitives trying to save the world
-as far as I know, we failed
-my team is dead
-I still have my bag(very singed), though it only contained my journal, a metal pen, my harness, and the charm the Renard gave me.
-my Talent still works, but I'm still weak
-I don't know where I am or how I got here

INJURIES: All ribs are cracked; legs ache, multiple sprains in legs are most probable, more scratches and bruises than I care to count, and massive nausea and disorientation upon awakening after the Event.

Found what looks to be an abandoned farmland, and am staying in the old house, will have to hunt for food soon.

Drank from the old stock pond, got sick, now I feel like shit.
-S

Log Entry 481: DAY 5
Couldn't risk drinking from old stock pond again, never again. Found a river 6 furlongs away, drank and rinsed fur because being caked in dirt and blood (mine and my enemies) isn't any fun after a few days. Explored the rest of the remains of the farm today, tried for squirrels but I still can't run very fast, ate some greens and roots I dug up.
-S

Log Entry 482: DAY 9
Caught some birds and fish, aggravated my ribs and shoulder, hurts like being trampled. Found a hard road, like to imperial roads, but it's black and it smells like burnt tar. Will explore further at a later date; injuries are acting up.
-S

Log Entry 483: DAY 11
Found metal signs along the road; curious, metalwork is really expensive, why would there be a bunch in the middle of nowhere? Why not a Stone Marker? Or wood? The language is entirely foreign, I can't read it at all. Almost got run over by what looked like a very fast cart, it smelt of metal, oil fumes. What Kingdom is this?

Will search for civilization more tomorrow, much of the day is spent looking for food. (Fish, birds, roots, and greens).
-S

Log Entry 484: DAY 15
Found civilization today, a town, but its inhabitants are the likes of which I've never seen before. They remind me of Chimps from the Primate Kingdoms, but the Natives are mostly hairless, walk exclusively upright, at an average I come up to a few inches below their shoulders of an adult in terms of height, and their language is strange. The language is like Old High, but the verbs, grammar and names of things are garbled to the Pits, joy of joys.

Scared one of the Natives today, it ran away.

I think I'll call the natives Flatfaces, because, well, the name speaks for itself.
-S

Log Entry 485: DAY 17
Tried to speak to a Flatface for directions, it fled. I tried again, worse results, it included very loud screeching and rocks.
-S

Log Entry 485: DAY 18
It was a mistake to contact the Flatfaces, they have small hand-cannons and have attempted to kill me. I haven't seen Hand-cannons since my last visit to the Primate Kingdoms, and the Flatfaces' weapons seem to shoot tiny pellets of metal at extremely high speeds that I've never seen hand-cannons reach. But they aren't very good hunters, but their attempts to kill me are getting a bit irritating, and their weapons are nothing to sneeze at (which probably makes up for their poor hunting skills). But I can hear and smell them coming from furlongs away, so I still have the advantage.
-S

Log Entry 486: DAY 24
Ate some sort of weasel-thing, and wounds are getting better. Limp's almost gone.
-S

Log Entry 487: DAY 52
I have come to a disquieting revelation today.

All the Races' equivalents(including mine) here aren't sapient.

I remember Renard attempting to explain the concept to the rest of the squad, but none of us taking him too seriously (it still hurts to think of them, any of them). I found another dog today, but in its eyes it was nothing but an animal, a happy, domesticated animal (which I observed later), rather intelligent, but still entirely non-sapient.

I have observed the same phenomenon with cats and foxes as well. I also watched more Flatfaces, from a distance.

After several weeks of recon, I conclude that there aren't any other sapient species inhabiting this area other than its Flatfaces. While my species and all the known Races are decidedly non-sapient, they are intelligent to a degree though, as much as a non-sapient being can be anyways and the Races' animal equivalents are much smaller than their sapient counterparts, like kissing cousins or something, a bit unnerving.

The hunters are also getting more persistent, I took a pellet to the leg a few days back. Pulling it out hurt like the Pit.

What a shitty day.
-S

Log Entry 488: DAY 55:
Found a 'world' map at what looks like a publicized camping ground, it looks nothing like the Countries.

I have a sinking feeling, and I can't shake the disquiet. I don't like it.
-S

Log Entry 489: DAY 57

Still no signs of the other Races, or anything resembling the Countries or even their existence. Still can't read the Flatfaces' language/s, and the hunters are becoming a real pain in the rump.

Good news of the day, my Talent's gaining strength again, which is good.

I wish I could think of other good things about my situation.
-S

Log Entry 490: DAY 65
Nearly killed by the Natives again, they're really becoming a nuisance.

Depression has definitely set in, I have been trying to avoid thought about the team, as well as the feeling of failure.

I have concluded that the Flat-faces are the only sapients around this area, and judging by their maps, the Countries don't exist. I thought about Renard's Talent when it fused with the Event nexus… It makes my head hurt.
-S

Log Entry 491: DAY 67
Everything is gone, I've lost everything.
-S

Log Entry 492: DAY 76
Why bother anymore?
-S

Log Entry: 493: DAY 80
I miss my squad, and my pups. Even Holly's stupid jokes.
-S

Log Entry 494: DAY 88
It's gotten colder, winter's setting in.

What's the point? Everything and everyone that mattered is gone, why am I still here?
-S

Log Entry 495: DAY 95
Some sort of Carnival or traveling show has parked right outside of the town, it brings the Flatfaces and their young to cluster throughout the day. There is a large tent in the center and cages and other smaller tents.

The fat, male Flatface seems to run the show, given the way all the workers and performers defer to him when he raises his voice, which he does a lot. The show also has a lot of cages for sideshow attractions, with animals of different kinds, and bright colors of the likes I've never seen before.

I kept my distance.
-S

Log Entry 496: DAY 96
I have taken to eating the discarded food on the Circus grounds at night, most overly sweet things, not any good substitute for meat or even roots, but it's something to fill the belly.

I saw a strange creature today, it didn't resemble the other Flatfaces at all. It smelt male, with yellow eyes, pointed ears located on the sides of its head, an unkempt mane of almost-black hair, with digitigrade legs that ended in two large toes, tridactyl hands and a spaded tail, the creature's entire body bedecked in dark blue fur. The Creature was kept in a cage barely large enough for it to sit up, and it was rather small, around the size of one of the Flatfaces' young, and the cage sat in the middle of what I assume to be some sort of a zoo. It woke up and saw me, and it just stared. I left it a couple of squirrels, the Creature was skin and bones, don't they feed their animals?

I debate on the Creature's possible sapience, but I'm probably just biting at straws.
-S

Log Entry 497: DAY 98
Left the Creature more food today, but the Creature is thinner today, I can count its ribs, and I can see signs of abuse. Scars, and an acrid scent that can only be acquired by lying in one's own piss and shit, I could even smell the beginnings of infection. Animals or not, the Circus owner should take care of his assets, it was awful. Something about that place makes me uneasy.
-S

Log Entry 498: DAY 99
The Creature is sapient.

It was only a scant few words, but it spoke, and the language is the same as the Flatfaces, it's, no, he's not allowed out of his cage. He reminds me of Zuul.

The Fat Flatface beats him, and for what reasons I can only wonder. It's only a pup, his place was not in a cage to be poked and starved to death for the pleasure of others!

This kind of shit is intolerable.
-S

Log Entry 499: DAY 100
I killed the Fat Flatface today, by ripping out his throat and then twisting his neck until his head popped off.

I released the animals as a distraction and opened the Pup's cage. Since the Circus proved to be inadequate caretakers I'll take him, carrying the Pup proved difficult due to the lack of a graspable scruff, so I carried him on my back.

The Pup was reluctant to follow me, but came to me after some coaxing, and is generally very skittish, which made washing him in the river a bit more difficult. I can understand though, the wariness will go away soon, I hope. We still can't understand each other's languages, though, which is something I'll have to work through.

His wounds required cleaning and covering but the infections on multiple cuts needed much licking and chewed various herbs that I've found taste the same as the ones back home.

Today was a good day, I have a new pup!
-S

Log Entry 500: DAY 110
The Pup calls himself Kurt. Kurt won't eat the meat I give him though, and the first snow fell today.

Are Flatfaces are herbivores?

Kurt eats everything else I give him though. Have started digging up orange-roots from gardens in scattered farms to stimulate mother's milk, have lost count how many I've eaten.
-S

Log Entry 501: DAY 124
I'm happy today, Kurt talks more, and eats more. I stole some blankets from town, for winter, and even convinced Kurt to eat the rabbit I caught. It took even more coaxing to get him to nurse, because any supplement would help, the game's disappearing quicker and quicker by the day.
-S

Log Entry 502: DAY 131
Kurt ate his fish today, and is steadily gaining weight(GOOD THING). His fur isn't very thick and he gets cold more easily than I do (BAD THING), so I snagged garments from town to cover him up, I finally noticed that the Flatfaces all wear clothes, all the time. Even the Primate Kingdoms Natives' didn't wear clothing that often. It's weird.

Kurt and I have settled into a routine, that begun with breakfast foraging and hunting, forest runs, and ended with him curling up into my bellyfur with a blanket and sleeping.
-S

Log Entry 503: DAY 132
Kurt goes on runs with me, and has taken to riding on my back during our particularly long treks. He shows amazing dexterity and agility, and has very silent strides. Very good traits to have in a world most likely racist to a frightening degree (how else can I explain the cage?) I still don't have any concrete intel to how this place works.

I've come up with the idea that I'm probably in another world or universe, somehow coming to the conclusion doesn't feel very comforting.
-S

Log Entry 504: DAY 133
I cried last night, and I think I worried Kurt. I realized that I may never see home today, I need to hunt, clear my head. Kurt's fallen asleep, I'll be back soon Pup.
-S

Log Entry 505: DAY 134
Kurt ate his rabbits and squirrels today, I'm so proud. I took him root digging before the woods are completely covered in snow.

Kurt is picking up words quickly, though he still doesn't talk much. I'm picking up his language slower, he's also picking up some of my Old High, but we can talk in simple sentences.
-S

Log Entry 506: DAY 136
Winter has set in, full force. Snow is everywhere and Kurt plays, I got a deer, with plans to smoke it, cooked food can be traveled with after all. Kurt was very excited for the fire, it's very warm.

Making a smoking rack was just as tedious and difficult as I remember, the only thing I ever envied Primates for were their opposable thumbs and I still do. My Talent, mouth and paws only get me by so far on dexterity.

Kurt helped me by tying knots, his fingers and thumbs are much better at that kind of thing.
-S

Log Entry 507: DAY 138
Been going farther and farther in search of game, and sneaking into town more often to pick up more of the language. Both Kurt's still thin and I've gotten thinner, game's been scarce and the river's frozen over.

I've taken to stealing more from the town, managing quite a few close calls, but I have a Pup to feed and the Natives are as hostile as ever. Kurt even has a little satchel of his own now, though he's taken to carrying mine as well like a sworn duty. Due to my excursions to town, he now has a small collection of soft tunics, pants, and a few little books I still can't read worth a damn.

Kurt has initiative, good. He also knows to wait patiently and not leave the farm until I come back.
-S

Log Entry 508: DAY 141
Kurt and I have eaten through the smoked deer and the marrow, no scraps; must hunt tomorrow.
-S

Log Entry 509: DAY 177
No game, no fish, no vegetables to scavenge, and the ground's too frozen to find roots, we've been eating the things I can steal. Getting harder to wake up in the mornings, will probably both starve if this keeps up. Have been giving most of my portions to Kurt, I think he's noticed. I don't like it when my pups look guilty for eating when they can.

Kurt knows I'm starving, he refused his portion today. I snapped at his heels and hands, made him eat. He won't end up like Zuul, he won't, I won't let him.

We've taken to chewing the deer bones.
-S

Log Entry 510: DAY 197
I killed the hunters, they took Kurt and almost killed him. I gave them no mercy, they threatened my Pup. I killed them quickly, and there's food tonight. The Flatfaces tasted very strange, but we avoided the brains, because Primate brains back home could give sometimes caused Laughing Disease (no chances taken). No remorse from where our dinner came from tonight.
-S

Log Entry 511: DAY 202
We're going to move soon, my thievery and the missing hunters has not gone unnoticed. Have already packed all of Kurt's things and am stocking up travel food through hunting and stealing, mostly bread, rabbits, hidden squirrels(as well as stealing the hidden nuts), and after we get some big game, we'll leave.

The hunters' meat is going quicker than I'd like, though.

Kurt's been clingier, lately it's probably the cold, note to self: find Kurt warmer garments.
-S

Log Entry 512: DAY 210
Brought down a larger sort of deer a few days ago, it had wide antlers, a dark brown pelt, and larger hooves, it was much more violent that a deer. It was actually genuinely terrifying to have a deer much taller than me try to run me over and gore me. I think I cracked a couple of ribs.

I call them Widehorns.

It took much longer to smoke and process. But for the past three days we've been eaten like Kings. Things are good.
-S

Log Entry 513: DAY 214
We bid the farm where we've been staying farewell, and left. I would prefer somewhere where Kurt and I wouldn't get chased by overzealous hunters.

Kurt called me Mother today, or something like that, if I've gotten the general impression right. He started calling me 'Mutti.'

I will protect my new pup, a no-one will take him away. He is getting stronger and smarter by the day, he won't end up like my litter.

He won't.

It feels good to be a mother again.
-S


A/N: Okay, again, this is a writing experiment, and most of the choppiness and brevity in Saarloos's journal entries are entirely on purpose and totally a stylistic choice that I took. Yes this is essentially a reimagining of Kurt/Nightcrawlers's history, I am paying homage to his original backstory with several tweaks(I was actually kinda peeved when I was younger at how practically no backstories were ever explored in XMen Evo). Saarloos is from another universe(not a crossover), yaddayaddayadda, and yes she is a roughly tiger-sized, sapient wolf. Her world is inhabitant by other dominant, sapient animals that have counterparts in the other world as non-sapient creatures.

So I've touched up the chapter and renamed the fic, I've also put this under the same sub-series as some other planned fics). Thanks for all your wonderful readership!