Chapter 4
Wolverine felt tense. He didn't know why, but something in his gut told him he should flee. Not one to back down, he persisted in his hunt tracking his quarry through the country side. There was little cover to be offered in the open fields. It disturbed him to know Sabretooth had crossed such open country without so much as a second glance. Still, there were few, if any, artificial sources to light up the night. Which probably accounted for Sabretooth showing himself out in the open. When night fell everything remained dark except for the light of the moon and the stars.
Despite his misgivings, Wolverine felt an ache in his chest for his mate. He had sensed disquiet in the younger man, no doubt displeased he was once again being left behind. Anyone else he would have cuffed over the head and told them to come to terms with it. As with everything with the smooth talking Cajun, however, matters were far different. His mate had never quite recovered being captured by his arch nemesis and being systematically tortured. There were days Wolverine felt even his own courage falter when he caught sight of his mate's wounds. Haunting memories were not a foe he could engage with his claws except to hold his mate and offer him comfort.
In the back of his mind Logan, the man, slumbered. Neither could have explained this split of personalities. They were fully aware of each other and yet not. Even merging at times to become something more. Wolverine had always been there, from the beginning, but had not truly awakened until the pain of the adamantium. Now it was a constant battle of not wills, but souls.
Logan could access Wolverine's memories to a point. Wolverine in turn could do the same to the man himself, the one he considered to be the "human" counterpart he was forced to contend with. For ages the two had battled each other for control. The beast had seen the passing of many of Logan's lost loves. For his human counterpart's sake he had let them alone, even stepping in to protect them, but never truly caring for them. They never lasted long anyway. Always passing away by being killed by an enemy or disease.
Wolverine had never felt a sense of loneliness. He decided long ago he was more than willing to live his life out alone. Logan, however, required some sort of companionship at times. The beast scoffed at this, not understanding this need to seek out others. If anything, they hindered his movements, unable to properly fight as he had to defend the others as well. Wolverine usually wished to kill any comrades he had out of mercy rather than any actual bloodlust. Unless they betrayed him of course.
Then, out of the blue Remy had come. Wolverine had been aware of the man's interest in him and had nearly disregarded it. The only reason Remy had drawn his attention, however, was the fact he was another man. Deciding to see what happened he studied the Cajun through Logan's eyes, waiting to see what would happen. When the human had risked his life to save Logan, whose life did not need to be saved in the first place, Wolverine had been about to kill the Cajun. When he had dug his claws on either side of him and bent over the red eyed human he had dimly remembered the kiss under his chin Remy had given him. It had actually made him hesitate since a part of him knew what that meant even if at the time his mate had not. He had unconsciously prostrated himself at the hands of the beast itself to do with as he willed.
Despite his fear, Remy had not been truly afraid of him. Instead kissing Wolverine on the lips, the last thing the beast had expected. From that moment on, he knew. He knew the human would be his mate. Logan as well had fallen for the striking young man and the two got along well. Such a thing was an added bonus in Wolverine's mind even as he caught the faint sour scent of Sabretooth passing through a briar patch. He saw the clear outline of a footprint and began to follow it, fully aware of his surroundings even as he thought about his mate. Considering what had happened in all that time.
Up in the mountains Wolverine could have easily led his mate to the nearest town. It had been, mostly, an act on his part. He had wanted to see how truly loyal the red eyed human was to him. At first it had seemed as if the human male would give up and leave the man he claimed to love to stay there on his own. Yet much to Wolverine's chagrin the male had remained at his side even if not always enjoying his surroundings. In this sense he had not only won the beast's respect but his love as well. Thus sealing the silent pact between them without knowing it.
Wolverine raised his head having heard the snap of a branch. His senses turned outward ready to slash at anything that came to close. In the dark he heard the sharp cry of an animal being killed before it died off. He waited a few more moments to see if anything else happened, and sensing no danger continued on his way. The path Sabretooth had taken was several hours old, but that did not mean the other feral was not nearby lying in wait. It was an old trick to double back on one's path to confuse your pursuer.
The thought of his mate stirred other ideas in the feral's mind as well as he continued to follow the track. Remy had done what no other person had been able to do before. He had done what no number of scientists, drugs, and mind wipes had been able to do.
He had tamed the Wolverine.
Wolverine growled at the thought of being tamed. Yet even he had to admit the fact was, in a way, true. Remy held more sway over him than he was caring to admit yet his mate showed him a tremendous amount of respect and dedication. There was little Remy would not be willing to do for the feral should it come down to it.
It'd be more truthful to say he calmed me down. Not tamed me. Wolverine thought to himself as he passed over a brook. Startling a pair of rabbits who had been sleeping out in the open. Upon seeing him they fled, making hardly a sound in the undergrowth as they darted back to their warren.
Remy had done little to call the wraith of Wolverine upon his head. In fact, he never truly had if he were being honest. At times, yes, the feral had been annoyed with the younger man. Had even turned on him when his mate had distracted him, laughing at the feral's anger. What stayed the feral's claws however was that it was not the cruel, mocking laughter he had come to hate. Just easy carefree laughter of a person teasing someone close to them. A joke on his part, while annoying to the other party, could not truly be hated. Wolverine had often threatened his mate with promises he would get back at him later for these distractions.
When the time came for payment, the other male was more than willing to give up the price. Though more than a few times when Wolverine had insisted upon multiple mating's his mate would snap at him. Complaining he was tired even as he gasped with pleasure underneath the rough hands of the feral. Too exhausted to fend him off even as he enjoyed the ministrations being done his body.
The thought of mating made Wolverine growl, his muscles tensing in anticipation of the pleasure. There had been days he had done nothing more but dragged his mate back into the cool darkness of the cabin. Shoved him down onto the bed with hardly a word and mounted him. This was usually greeted with cursing and the occasional cuff to his ear from his mate. Yet still, both men fully enjoyed the experience even if at times his mate would pass out from exhaustion after a while, sleeping soundly beside the feral as he stayed watching him slumber.
Suddenly the spandex of his uniform felt far too confining. It crawled along his skin and he suddenly wanted to tear it off to expose his hot skin to the cool air. The thought of mating had caused the feral to get an uncomfortably hard erection with no means to relieve it. He growled quietly in discontent, his mood soured by the fact he did not have his mate near at hand. Soon, he promised himself. When he returned to the red eyed human he would make him scream so loud from mating it would shake the cabin down to its foundation. He chuckled at the thought, a mischievous grin across his face as he scented the air again. His poor mate. Afterwards he would bring him back enough meat to last him for years to come.
His warning was nothing more than a slight breeze. An ordinary person could never have felt it. Wolverine did not even think as he reacted quickly, leaping clear of the spot where he was at. His instincts proved true as a split second later Sabretooth landed in the very same spot, feet splayed wide as he snarled at the much smaller feral. A cruel smirk spread wide across his face as he gazed at his opponent.
"Happy to see me, runt? Or is there another, sharper claw you ain't tell me about?" Sabretooth mocked, motioning towards the clear bulge. Wolverine roared, his claws snapping out as he flew at the older feral, bringing them slashing down towards his head. Sabretooth dodged easily, swiping at the other with his own set of claws. Wolverine snarled when he felt a line of fire run up the back of his arm as he spun on his feet, following his opponent as he slashed out at him again. To his annoyance Sabretooth leaped out of reach, that infuriating smirk on his face as he gazed at the smaller feral. His golden eyes gleamed in the moonlight like the eyes of a demon.
"Won't even talk to me now, huh? You tryin' to hurt my feelings?" Sabretooth continued as he circled the feral, looking for an opening.
Wolverine let loose a low, steady growl in warning as he widened his stance and planted his feet firmly into the ground. Balanced on the balls of his feet ready to dodge should his enemy make another lunge for him. He sensed no one else in the area except for him and Sabretooth. If there were any others they would have shown themselves by now. The element of surprise had failed and by now he would have been surrounded by men with guns ready to take him down.
"You know what I've come for, you bastard. Your head on a pike once I'm through with you." Wolverine snarled, continuing to follow his opponent. Yet something felt off about the confrontation. By now they should have been at each other's throat, rolling in the dirt as they snarled and clawed at each other. Testing to see who would stand the most blows.
Sabretooth did not show any of his usual ferocity. If anything, there was a unnerving calmness to his movements which disturbed the feral. On the still air he caught the scent of arousal mingled with his own. He snorted, finding it unpleasant and wondering if the other had just mated. There was no scent of fresh cum however or the heady scent of sweat lingering on the skin. No, more like Sabretooth was getting ready to mate.
"Oh, I expect when this is all done both our heads will be mounted on something. Going down your throat most likely rather than mine." Sabretooth said coolly.
For a moment the idea bewildered Wolverine. Then the realization of what the feral meant to do. With a roar he lunged for him again, slashing wide at the other. Sabretooth danced out of reach of the claws again snarling as well as he took halfhearted slashes to defend himself. Even as Wolverine fought, Logan suddenly awoke in the back of his mind, blocking out all other thought as he screamed in his mind.
RIMS! You have to get to him! NOW you idiot! Logan's voice echoed through Wolverine's thoughts even as he parried the blows aimed at him to buy time. He hesitated, having the urge to turn tail and flee. Running away had never been in the feral's nature and neither was it now. Yet that same feeling of impending doom worked its way back into his gut. His mate was miles and miles away. How could he possibly reach him in time? His mate was several hours away by bike, and even if he went twice the speed limit all the way back to the city it would still take a few hours.
Gazing at the other feral who had backed off again, Wolverine weighed his options. Pouncing upon his opponent again with one last slash, he managed to return the favor for the cut on his arm. Wolverine then turned midair and landed easily on his feet. Then kicking up leaves behind him, he fled from the scene. Going as fast as his legs could carry him, he slashed at any branches that came up into his face. Snarling, he came upon a chain link fence surrounding a property. With a slash he had cut a hole big enough for him to slip through only to keep on running. Behind him he heard Sabretooth in pursuit gaining on him with each step.
Wolverine scented the air, cutting across the field into the woods. There would be little chance of losing Sabretooth there even if he did manage to slip out from the other side. The night air was far too still to hope for a sudden shift in wind. It held his scent easily even as he splashed across a stream, but it was futile. Sabretooth had only to follow the nearly hacked branches from his flight even as the smaller feral came to his senses realizing how stupid he had been in doing that.
Remy, Remy! You have to get to Remy! Wolverine growled bearing his fangs at his counterpart, wishing they really did have two separate bodies. Then he could cuff Logan on the side of the head and send him reeling away from him.
Shut up and let me think, you coward! Wolverine snarled within his own mind. It was one of the rare instances where both of them were fully awake, realizing the other was there. For a moment Logan fell silent, seething at the fact he was no longer in control. Then, more quietly, his voice invaded the other's thoughts.
Go farther down river where it's deeper. When it's deep enough cover yourself in mud and lay flat on the bank. That'll help you to lose Sabretooth. The mud will cover up the suit and mask your scent when he passes by and then you can leave.
Wolverine considered the plan even as he was sprinting down the river, more of a brook, looking for a wider part. Logan's plan actually made sense to him once he thought about it. However, it would require for him to be half submerged in the damn muck until the other feral passed by. Yanking off his mask as he went Wolverine shoved it into a spare pocket as he came to where the river opened up. Somehow he had managed to outrun Sabretooth for the moment, but it would not be long.
With handfuls of mud he slicked it over his stiff hair to cover the sheen of it. Next the rest of his body and his face even as he waded out deeper into it. In practice, it was harder to keep the mud on in the water. Yet after a minute of struggle he was hidden in a small hole he had managed to carve from the bank pressing himself into it the mud covering him. With a deep breath his closed his eyes and smeared a fistful of mud over his eyes and mouth praying it would work.
Not a second later he heard Sabretooth come near the wide part of the river. He heard the bigger feral cursing and beginning to pace, sniffing around for his adversary. Wolverine remained absolutely still, hardly daring to breathe as he heard the other moving about. Sabretooth growled impatiently, quickly moving on from the spot.
Wolverine waited until he heard Sabretooth's breathing finally fade after nearly an hour of searching. The other feral had gone looking for him in ever widening circles no doubt confused as to where his quarry had gone. It went against Wolverine's nature to flee, but this time his instincts had persisted. Finally, when he was sure the coast was clear, Wolverine rose from his hiding spot. He shook off globs of mud and rinsed the rest off as best he could. He managed to get the worst of it out of his hair but whenever he walked he felt it squishing in his boots.
Snarling, he forced himself to take greater caution as he began to make his way towards where he had left his bike. He no longer felt the need to be near his mate but rather to pummel the hell of the first person he came to. Yet Logan's insistence he go back to Remy immediately continued to echo throughout his mind. Snorting, he found the bike concealed near an abandoned shed where he had left it. There was no scent of Sabretooth about which reassured the feral further. After another check to make sure there were no tracking chips or anything to give him away, he got on his bike. Revving the engine, he took off back into the night hoping to reach his mate by morning.
