Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zip. Blaze owns me. Ilehana is Corrinth's.
A/N: So here it is, the last chapter. I am really sorry this has dragged on for so long. My laptop has had some serious gremlins (ok, I split red wine on it and killed it,) but I have a new one now. Plus wireless broadband (its like being in the future!) so with any luck I should be online more often so I can get back to some serious posting and reviewing. Thank you all for your support, reviews and private messages throughout this story. I found it very theraputic to write this whilst I was having treatment for cancer, so it is really special to me that so many people have been reading it. So without further ado, here it is, the finale of 'Wolf Kindred'. Enjoy, and don't forget to review! Lamby
11
As she fell, Ilehana lost all semblance of body or form. She was reduced to, or perhaps liberated as pure consciousness. She was a zephyr of thought and emotion, and the strongest emotion she felt was peace. She drifted tranquilly in the soft, comforting white light that supported and suffused her. There was no sound, no thoughts other than her own, nothing to disturb the serenity but the fragrance of jasmine and lavender. Contented, knowing a sense of accomplishment in regards of her life and confidant that her pack would be safe now, Ilehana was happy. Maybe death would not be so bad after all…
#Death has not claimed you yet,# a myriad of voices, neither male or female, told her calmly. Vixen accepted this unhurriedly; content to take their word for it. Belatedly, she realised that perhaps she was supposed to say something to this strange statement. Concentrating, she tugged her scrambled thoughts into something more lucid.
#Why am I not dead? I broke the covenant.#
#We underestimated you, Ilehana Xavier. Your self-sacrifice, your life so selflessly given up to aide your kinfolk, has been a revelation. You possess a nobleness of spirit we thought had long since ceased to exist in the human race.#
#You have further use for me?# asked Ilehana, recognising the insinuation behind the compliment.
#We shall see,# the ancients refused to be drawn on the idea. #For now, you must rest and regain your strength. The battles to come will be long and dark, especially for you, Guardian of Guardians.#
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alone in the sanctity of her own room at the Xavier Institute, Blaze tried hard to cry. She sat on her window ledge with her feet drawn up, hugging her knees with her arms. Her brow rested against the chill glass of the window. Dejected and rejected, abused, violated and misunderstood, yet still the tears would not come. Instead she pondered a hot fury, brooding and licking her wounds.
Angel had dumped her, which was no surprise really after what Lucas had shown him of Blaze's mind. It was the way that Warren had broken up with her that was humiliating. He hadn't been able to face her, to tell her in person that it was over. The coward had sent Kitty to break the news to Blaze instead. Shadowcat had stood in Blaze's room, digging into the thick red-brown carpet with the point of her shoe, looking sheepish.
"Look, um, Blaze? Warren's asked me to tell you that… that he thinks you both need some space right now. You gotta both, like totally work out what it is that you want, y'know?"
"He's with Rogue," Blaze said flatly, "Isn't he?"
"Um, yeah," Kitty divulged. "I… I think they went down to Diego's to play pool."
"I hope she puts him in a coma," the fire elemental decided vehemently. Kitty just blinked at Blaze, shocked to the core. Making jokes about comas was not political at the moment. Of course Kitty was too nice to think for a second that Blaze might just be serious. Mumbling some excuse, Shadowcat had made her exit. Blaze had returned to her brooding and no one else had been near her room since. The door was still slightly ajar from Kitty's exit, and no one had so much as strolled past. Blaze wasn't sure if she wanted someone to, or whether she would rather be left alone.
"Blaze," Wolverine's voice, her would-be murderer. The Brit chose to ignore him. "You in there?"
He started to push the door open. Blaze raised a hand and blasted the door with her powers. It slammed shut resoundingly, a big black blast mark charring the woodwork. Wolverine must have got the message as all went quiet in the corridor. Blaze closed her eyes tight against her headache, finding it very hard to care about anything.
When she opened her eyes, there was a small square of folded white paper on her carpet. Someone had slid it under the door. Blaze tried to ignore it, but eventually curiosity got the better of her. She slid gracefully down from the windowsill and crossed the room. Opening the paper up, she read the contents briskly. Once finished, she tossed the note away and positively sprinted from her room. This was big, and she was already late…
Roll credits………………………………………………
Next time, on X-Men Evolution… The Definition of Mutant…