Part XXVIII
As soon as he was able to get back out of the camp without drawing notice, Logan headed back out to look for signs of his brother. Part of him still didn't beleive that it was Victor. His nose called that part of him an idiot.
He had a tightly rolled bundle with him. Clothing that had been left behind by those who had died over the winter along with some food and a sheathed blade.
He smelled the blood then and knew that every other preditor for miles likely did as well. He cast around for a minute to determine which direction the scent was the freshest in and then began to track the path his brother had taken.
When he found the shallow cave, the deep throated growl from within told him that he'd found the right place.
"Victor?"
The voice was still rough from disuse and sounded more like a wildcat imitating a boy than the other way around.
"Leadin' yer new pals in fer th' kill, Jimmy?"
Victor had already circled and tested the air before speaking. Jimmy had shown no sign of noticing him. Damn. Had being with those others softened the kid up that quickly?
"Ain't like that, Victor. Wolver thought you were a wildcat. Couldn't figure out how t' tell him different."
The rumbling was loud as Victor finally came into sight, dried blood now mixed with the dirt on his body.
"What? You ain't claimin' me as yer brother no more."
That brought a flush to Logan's face.
"I did tell 'em I have a brother. But I also told 'em he died. I thought you were dead, Victor."
"Hell, you already fergit that bear? We don't kill so easy, Jimmy."
Logan snapped back at him.
"I know that! I also know that you weren't breathin'. An' I couldn't hear or feel a heartbeat."
Victor picked Jimmy up and dumped his sassy butt into a fairly deep snowbank, then sat back, thinking. Jimmy came back out spluttering, cursing a few curses Vic had never heard before. Must of picked that up from that camp. When he saw Victor sitting thoughtfully, he calmed down and sighed.
"I never woulda left if I'd known there was any life left in you at all, Vic. I swear it."
Lightning quick, Victor grabbed Logan's arm and pulled him over, looking and sniffing him over thoroughly before releasing him with a satisfied grunt.
"Well, they ain't starved or mistreated you, at least."
That made a smile quirk up. Victor had slid right back into protective mode again.
"Nope. They ain't bad, honest. They thought you were a wild animal. Brought you some clothes. We'll have to figure a way t' explain you, but you could come back with me."
Looking over the bundle, Victor smelled the scent of other men on them, then quirked a brow at his brother.
"Who'd ya steal these from?"
"Nobody. Not everyone lived through th' winter. Wolver says clothes an' food ain't part o' th' creed."
"Creed? What's that?"
"Some set o' rules they go by. Like you don't jump another man's claim an' if he leaves somethin' o' value, you try an' get it to his kin if he's got any."
"Huh."
Not saying anything else, Victor headed for the stream that wasn't far away. It was icy, but he was used to that by now. As Logan watched, Victor cupped up the water and scrubbed off the blood and a little of the dirt.
"Victor? I guess I should tell you that they know me as Logan."
That got a pause and another look.
"Huh."
One of the two pairs of pants didn't fit at all, so he used his claws on them and made strips that he wound around his feet. The other pair of pants was pulled on then he looked over the shirts. The smaller one was put on first followed by the other. He turned the rope that had been around the bundle into a makeshift belt, then settled for a minute to eat what food had been brought. Then he pulled out the knife, looking over the blade before resheathing it.
"Well, let's go look at this bunch yer with 'fore they come lookin' for you."
There wasn't a response and finally Victor looked over to his brother, who took a deep breath before speaking.
"Vic? I know one of them hurt you, but they didn't mean it. Don't go for blood. I owe them."
Eyes narrowing, Victor considered that.
"Fine. But you don't owe 'em nutthin' no more. This evens it. An' they try comin' at me again, it'll be th' last time they try anything."
"Agreed. Let's go."
