Celeste, why are you here? You've never expressed any thought of joining the X-Men, nor have you ever thought the Dream could be accomplished," Professor Xavier was saying from behind his desk, with his hands resting on top. We were in his office, at the mansion. My arrival was unannounced; something both, Remy and I were most comfortable with. Not more than five minutes after walking through the front door, the Professor called me to his office.

"Steve n' Bastian are dead," I said in a small whisper, looking at my hands in my lap, my eyes focused on a scar just below my thumb on my left hand. The scar had been there for as long as I could remember, nor would it ever leave. No matter what form I took, that stubborn scar would remain. "And Cally's missin'."

"And who are they?"

"Mah family, sir," I could not take it any more. All of my grief came crashing down on me; not unlike the waves that crushed had Sebastian. Every thing came back to me, in vivid detail. Bloodfest's screams, the wind, even the taste of salt on the wind. Especially, the sight of Sebastian being pulled under the waves.

I ran.

I felt my body change as I ran. My spine was shortening and becoming more flexible. My legs shrunk and grew more powerful. My tail bone lengthened itself and I felt myself use it for balance. My eyesight became slightly worse, yet my hearing and sense of smell improved.

I was a house cat.

I ran out of the Professor's office and into the hall. His voice following me, "Celeste, please come back."

It felt wonderful to run, as if I was leaving my memories back in his office. I didn't know where I was running to, nor did I care. I ran past people, making them jump in surprise.

"What's with the cat?" Bobby asked Logan as I ran past them, through the REC room. Logan sniffed the air.

"I think it's that girl Gumbo brought home with him."

I ignored them. I just wanted to run.

I could see the front door. I was almost there, once outside I could keep running, never needing to stop. I glanced to my right, shifted my eyes to the left. No on was about, this was my chane. I leaped up and into a form with fingers. I grasped the doorknob. Turning it, I pushed the door open. I was out the door and into a four legged form. Once again I was on the run.

I ran towards a downward slope, the tell-tale glimmer of water in the distance. I yearned for that water. I could smell the cool wetness of water. It gave me an extra burst of speed.

Four people were having a picnic on the lake's shore, Ororo, Scott, Jean, and Hank enjoying the summer sun. I once again ingored the X-men in favour of running. Just past the group was a dock; that became my finish line.

My paws hit the dock. 'I am a dog,' the thought formed into my head before being pushed aside for sometehing more demanding; the choice I was going to make.

Stop here and turn around, walk back to the Mansion, go to the Professor and confront my memories.

Or...

Jump. Forget the past fifteen minutes and relax. No one would be able to follow me.

I chose the latter.

I quickly changed into Sebastian, faster than ever before, then I dove underwater. I took in a mouthful of water. I could feel my body separate the oxygen from it, the water running out of the pores in my neck. My fingers started to web, as did my toes. With great, powerful strokes I began to explore the new murky world. A world that I had fallen in love with long ago.

'I could stay here a while,' I thought happily.