Logan did not particularly like cities.

They were overcrowded; full of people bustling this way and that, even at night.

And Gotham was no different.

Despite the repeated warnings by political officials, as well as several officers of the law, some Gothamites still chose to wander the treacherous streets long after most sane folk were in bed.

He'd been sent here on a mission to track down a monster-like being that seemed cute right out of an urban legend.

Except that legends didn't kill people.

Logan, as well as the rest of his team, had reason to believe that this 'monster' could very well be one of the most dangerous mutants they had ever encountered.

And that was saying something.

But, at the moment, it seemed to have disappeared.

Logan stood in a narrow alleyway, back against the brick wall behind him and unsheathed the three adamantium claws on each hand that had inspired his title of Wolverine.

He watched the indestructible metal glinting in the moonlight, heightened senses ever alert for the smallest of sounds.

A sewer rat the size of an overfed Chihuahua skittered over his foot, seeming completely unconcerned about the consequences of interacting with a human.

Logan curled his lip in disgust. The sooner he found this monster and got out of here, the better.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a low sound, similar to a wail, alerted him to another presence.

He took another step back, pressing himself completely against the wall.

Chances were, what, or whoever was making the sound couldn't do anything to injure him, at least not permanently. Super fast healing abilities saw to that, but it was still best to have the element of surprise on his side.

The wailing was growing louder, a high-pitched keening whine that grated on Logan's ears.

It was coming from…above him?

Turning to his right, he gripped the bottom of a fire-escape, hauling himself up and nimbly climbing the rungs.

Very slowly, he moved his head upwards, eyes level with the roof of the building.

And there before him, stood what he had come for. A massive being that could only be described as a beast loomed on the top of the roof, its claw-like hands coated with a deep red liquid that Logan somehow knew wasn't paint.

Its body was huge and yet terrifyingly scrawny in places; covered in a cloth that looked like bits of burlap crudely stitched together and spattered with the same crimson liquid covering its hands.

The eyes were like two dying coals in their sockets, edged with a red/gold flame.

Overall, the brute looked like some sort of grotesque scarecrow out of a horror film.

And it was Logan's job to catch him.

Eyes narrowing, he waited until the monster was facing the other way, gaping mouth still open in its feverish howl and pulled himself onto the roof, crouching momentarily before leaping, claws extended.

"I'd shut up, bub!"

The monster turned, eyes seeming to flash a bloody scarlet as he met his attacker with a swipe of his hand.

Logan dodged the blow, dancing to the side.

"Come on, now. I don't wanna have to hurtcha…"

Seemingly deaf to the words, the beast lunged again, this time managing to connect with Wolverine's chest; knocking him flat against the AC unit on the roof.

Growling, Logan leaped up again, about to launch another attack when the monster suddenly stumbled, its hands reaching up to claw at its head as the wailing sound intensified.

Logan watched, dumfounded as the piercing sound heightened until it was almost a scream, then felt his eyes widen as the beast sank to its knees, shrinking into itself until it fell before him.

Before he knew it, the wailing had lessened to a small, mournful sound, barely a moan and the beast was gone.

Shaking his head, Logan crouched beside the painfully thin, unconscious man who had taken its place and closed his eyes to concentrate.

"Hey, Chuck? We got a situation."