Bright lights. Voices. Cold and heat alternating. I groaned and opened my eyes.
"Luna?" Kitty was by my side, looking at me anxiously. I tried to find the words, but they were beyond my thinking. I simply nodded, then regretted the action as pain flooded my head. I whimpered softly.
"Don't move Luna." a voice said.
I ignored the instructions and sat up, gently and slowly. I took inventory of my body. Some minor bruises, nothing I couldn't handle. My head hurt. That was about the extent of my injuries. I finally found my voice. "Where am I?" I said, my throat dry and voice raspy.
"Drink this." Kitty said, handing me a glass of water.
I took it and drained the glass. "Thanks." I said."How long have I been out?"
"About three days or so. You're in the Infirmary." Kitty answered.
"Who all is here?" I asked, remembering the whispering voices.
"You, me, and Logan. Jubilee wanted to come, but the Professor said no." Kitty said with a slight smile.
"Logan?" I said, frowning slightly until a picture popped into my head. I sighed with relief. "Where?" I said.
"Right here, kiddo." he said. He stepped from the shadows. "How ya feelin'?"
"Better actually. Just..." I stopped as a sudden ferocity and fury jumped to my head. I clapped my hand to my head, climbing off the bed and stumbling towards the door. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
"Luna?" Kitty said, worried.
Logan reached forward. "It's alright, we're here."
I couldn't control myself. "Get out of my head!" I yelled, pounding my head with my fists. I started shaking all over.
"Luna, calm down." Kitty said, reaching for my hand.
"Kitty!" I managed to say before losing all the control I had. I turned on her, growling and snarling. I lunged at her and she phased. I passed harmlessly through her, then bolted for the door. Have to get out of here. I thought frantically before at last the beast overtook my mind and I reacted on instinct alone.
I heard footsteps behind me and suddenly I was lifted. I howled in pure, animalistic rage and thrashed, trying to get at my attacker. I could smell that it was Logan, but I couldn't stop myself. He just gripped me tighter and ran towards the forest. We were deep in the forest before he put me down and slowly backed away. I growled at him, then lunged. He dodged away and I lunged again. I finally fled up a tree, the animal in me knowing that he was stronger. I clawed at the tree, growling and snarling. I shook with unsuppressed fury. I leaped out of the tree, not really thinking, guided by instincts. I could feel the boiling hot anger, pain, and resentment. I tried to shove the beast down, to lock it up, but it was too strong. Wolverine slowly came towards me and I growled fiercely in warning. He halted, then inch by inch he advanced until he was close enough to touch me. He looked me deep in the eyes.
"I know you're in there darlin'." he spoke softly.
I growled and retreated slowly.
He advanced and I allowed him to pick me up. "It's O.K. darlin'. I'm here, and I ain't leavin' ya." he said in my ear.
My breathing slowed. "L-Logan?" I whispered. The beast in me howled with anger and threatened to consume me again. I fought it down, just enough so that I could think.
"I'm here darlin'. It's alright." he was still talking, calming me down. The beast was angrily clawing at me, but I kept it at bay.
"What's happening? I feel like... like...."
"An animal?" Wolverine let out a slow breath. "I feel the same way sometimes kiddo. It feels like there's a killer in ya, fightin' its way out." I nodded. "Ya just have to learn how to control it."
"How?" I asked, scared. I could feel the beast slowly backing down and I doubled my efforts.
"Looks like yer doin' a good job yerself, darlin'." he said, watching me as I slowly regained my humanity.
"Wolvie?" I said, calling him by a nickname I had picked up from Jubilee.
"Hmm?"
"Can I ever go back? Back to the school?" I asked.
"Course ya can darlin'. They've handled me, they can handle you too." he said, smiling at me.
I bit my lip and winced as I felt my teeth pierce my lip. "Ow." I ran my tongue across them, cutting it in the process. "They're sharp!" I climbed down and looked in a puddle. My appearance overall was more animal-like, no, more cat-like. All of my teeth were more fang-like, longer and sharply pointed. My ears were pointed, like a cat's. My nose also looked more cat-like and I could just barely see fine, white hairs that looked like cat whiskers sprouting next to my nose. I finally looked at my eyes. They were slanted, like a feline's, and I noticed that they changed color depending on my mood. I had no doubt that I could now see in the dark. I looked, shocked and amazed. "What happened?" I looked at my hands and saw that my nails even looked sharper and curved slightly. They weren't really sharp enough to hurt, not unless I really dug in.
"The Professor said some mumbo-jumbo about the trauma of what went on. I'm gonna put it in simpler terms: Ya went feral."
I nodded. That actually did make sense. "He... he..." I couldn't find the words. "My father?" I could feel the tears start and I turned away from him. I stared at my hands and arms. "He just tore me open, like I was nothing to him." I said angrily. "But... if he's my father does that mean... I'm evil?" I asked in a small voice.
"Of course not! Don't go getting' thoughts like that in yer head!"he said, sitting beside me. I leaned against his chest and he held me for a while. I stood up and pulled him up with me. "Can we go back now?" I asked quietly.
He nodded. "Come on, darlin'." he said. He picked me up and carried me back to the school. He set me down and we walked into the front hall. I went upstairs and showered, asking him shyly if he would wait outside my room. He agreed and I was out and dressed in jeans and another
T-shirt in three minutes. I slipped on some tennis shoes and dried my hair quickly with my heat, then pulled it in a ponytail. I stepped into the hall, making sure that he was there.
"Where are we goin'?" I asked as I followed him down the hall.
"Everyone'll want to know yer safe." he said. I stopped.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked.
"You'll be fine. I'll be right beside ya." he said. I nodded and we walked until we got to the kitchen. Everyone was seated at the huge dining table. They looked up as we entered the room.
"Luna?" Kitty said, standing up.
I smiled my new crooked, feral smile. "Hey, Kitty."
Kitty grinned and rushed to give me a hug. Jubilee got up at the same time and I was pulled into a tight, two-person hug.
"We were so worried about you!" Jubilee said. Kitty nodded.
"I'm fine, although you'll have more to worry about if I die from lack of oxygen." I said. They got the hint and let go. The stood smiling at me. I looked around at the rest of the room. They had been tense when I was surrounded, but they were calm now. Rogue stood up.
"Nice ta see ya sugah." she said, smiling at me.
I returned her smile. "It's nice to be back, Rogue." I said.
"Yer lookin' well there, chere." Gambit said as he stood and kissed my hand. "Gambit was worried about you."
Rogue rolled her eyes.
After everyone had said how glad they were to see me, I finally was able to sit down. I sat next to Logan and Jubilee.
I looked at my watch. It was only 9:30 at night. Still plenty of time to get a drink. I looked at Wolverine out of the corner of my eye and he nodded ever so slightly. I got up and stretched.
The meeting was apparently over because everyone was already up and headed out of the room. I grinned and headed for the garage.
I waited impatiently as Wolverine followed. I climbed on the back of his motorcycle and we took off.
We finally pulled up at Harry's. "Don't go lookin' fer a fight this time 'round." he said reluctantly. I nodded with equal reluctance and we went inside.
He ordered two beers and warned me that one was all I was getting. I sighed and sipped my beer, watching him once again cream the idiots that challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. I finished my beer and waited for him to finish. He took down the last opposing sucker and we left. I climbed off the bike and started my own up. It was only 10:00, so I figured I had time.
"Where are you goin'?" he said.
I shrugged. "Dunno."
He narrowed his eyes. "Be back by 10:30." was all he said before walking into the mansion. I rolled my eyes.
I sped along the road, letting the wind blow my hair back. I shook my head. I didn't want to think, didn't want to feel. I just wanted to ride. So I did. I cruised by the beach, then jumped when I looked at my watch. 10:25! I had five minutes! I sped toward the mansion, skidding to a halt and laughing with glee right as my watch read 10:30.
"You've got some timing." Wolverine said. I laughed and went inside.
I went up to my room alone and laid down. I stared up at the ceiling and closed my eyes. I drifted off into an uneasy sleep.