"She looks kinda... dead..." said Kitty nervously.

"Nah, look, she's breathing," murmured Peter softly, reaching out to touch the girl's arm, but Logan grabbed his wrist instantly.

"Don't touch," muttered Logan, watching the form on the ground. "And shh."

Scott, Logan, Kitty, Peter, Bobby, Gene, Rogue, and Storm were arranged around the curled body of a fourteen or fifteen year old girl.

X Minutes Ago X

They had all been fleshing out the mapping of a city block where a new base was to be set up near where Magneto and his lot were supposedly running their syndicate from. Checking out various warehouses to buy or rent out, they were travelling in groups of two when some old, faint remnants of an alarm klaxon system started to ring where Logan and Rogue were looking through a large warehouse on the fringe of a shipping containment area. Swarming to the source of the sounds, distant roars could be heard, and a metallic screech which effectively silenced the sirens... and then nothing.

Pausing directly around the corner from the spluttering and now-dead klaxon, Logan held out a restraining arm for Rogue, and as he carefully eased his head around the corner he caught sight of Toad and Mystique crouched over an unidentifiable, struggling form.

Rogue poked her head around for a second, then jerked back and quickly paged a distress signal for help, to draw the others to the scene, and within seconds a heavy wind started to blow and electricity crackled in the sky as a warning from Storm to whoever was threatening them. Rogue silently thanked the fact that Storm and Scott were the closest team and would be there soon; and that Storm thought to act so quickly. It was a handy thing to have intelligent people in your team.

She slipped off her gloves, just in case; stuffing them in her pocket, and slipped through a gap in the shipping containers to go around the back of the group assaulting whatever the form was.

Logan climbed silently onto the roof of the container and peered over the lip, repressing a gasp of shock as he saw what was unfolding right below him. He was torn between attacking the enemies, and watching in horrified fascination.

A slender teenage girl was being pinned down by the neck by Toad. As her struggles weakened, Toad gingerly let go slightly; waited; then drew back. Mystique was inspecting the now-unconscious girl's skin.

Moments ago, it had been almost shiny – covered in rippling, armoured scales in a bloodred colour, with a black tinge to them. Now, her skin looked as though it had creases in the shape of scales; and even as he watched, her skin smoothed out and she looked utterly... normal.

Apparently Rogue had seen enough, for he noticed from the corner of his eye that a small silver canister was rolling towards the group, and he faintly heard Rogue's retreating footsteps. Staring at the object for a second, he identified it just in time, leaping back and throwing his whole head between his knees as the flash-bang grenade went off with... well, with a flash. And a bang.

Temporarily blind and deaf, Mystique and Toad blundered around, completely defenceless as Cyclops hit them both on the head efficiently.

"Excellent," he said smugly as they collapsed. "How easy."

"Yes," said Storm with disappointment. "I was hoping for a bit of-- who is that?"

"That's what I want to know," said Rogue softly, crouching now next to the girl as everyone else started swarming into the scene. "You guys didn't see what she just did... her skin... it was all... wow."

"Exactly," smirked Logan.

X Now X

"Well, I think we should get her back to the Professor, he can assess her skills. I mean; she's obviously a mutant-" started Logan authoritatively; just as the girl's eyes snapped open.

Everyone fell still and utterly silent, watching her carefully. Her eyes were golden-green, shocking in their luminosity, and her gaze flicked unconcernedly from one person to another. Most of the people looking at her were staring straight into her eyes, shocked at the metallic, swirling colour. She nearly smiled.

Seeming to decide that she was in the same place as before and was no longer being assaulted, she moved her arm, watching for their reactions. When nobody moved, she got up fluidly and brushed herself off.

"Thanks."

Her voice was calm, unconcerned, and fluid, reminisce of her movements. As she started to walk away, Rogue reached out with a gloved hand, holding her shoulder. The girl looked unmoved, like someone who could defend themself but chose not to.

"Yes?"

"You're one of us," said Rogue. "Don't you want to come and be safe? Why were those two attacking you – don't you want to get away from people like them? Do you know what you are?"

"Slow down, woman," muttered Logan under his breath, but they all still looked warily at this mysterious girl for answers. She cocked her head at them all, those once again startling eyes boring into each one of them.

"It doesn't matter," she said softly. "Yes. I know what I am. I know what you are. I know who they are – and they're gone, by the way."

As everyone span towards where Toad and Mystique had been unconscious, the girl turned swiftly and walked away as the X-Men made various sounds of shock and annoyance which were directed at the now-vacated and slightly bloodstained spot where the enemies had been lying.

Kitty was the first one to glance back, and she sighed as she saw the solitary figure of the girl walking away, head bowed. I bet she's lonely. I bet she's alone, and she's hunted... and I bet that secretly, she's scared.

I know it wasn't particularly long or anything, but as first chapters go, I thought it was okay. Did you?

Now, this is my first X-Men fic, so I'm not familiar with the rates of reviews and such. I know you probably hear this all the time, but don't resist dropping one, even if it's just to complain at me... I'm one of those people who gets disheartened when work gets no response. Even just one review is a very cheerful thing – someone who is probably on the other side of the world read my story and smiled.