Part XXXVI
Winter came a bit later than expected, but when it did come, it came with a vengeance. The first storm of the season would prove to be a three-day one, but it started at what all of the colony considered to be the worst of times. Mid-afternoon, when individuals were most likely to be away from the group home.
The wild squirrels had already long since retreated to their dens, but the small core group of six squirrels that always seemed to be near Dorrie were still semi-active, including Magneto's shadow, Cherry. For his part, Magneto had just been enjoying what had started out as a bright, clear morning by taking his usual post-lunch walk. By now, he'd become more used to the 'rhythm' of the Pride, enough so that even if he wasn't quite pulling his own weight yet, he at least wasn't feeling like an anchor.
One thing he'd learned was that a roar was never casual. While he still couldn't tell one from another, when Magneto heard one ring out while he was studying a rock formation, he knew to head back for the group home even before Cherry started circling him as a warning. Even so, before man and squirrel were even halfway back, he found himself in a white-out of whirling, blinding snow.
He felt a shivering down at his ankle and a pull as the light squirrel grabbed on and clung to his pants to keep from being blown away by the sudden strong winds. Magneto felt down and gathered Cherry up, using some of his own outer wear to help protect her from the elements. While he couldn't see anything but white or hear anything but the howling winds, he wasn't too worried. He extended his senses until he could feel the chain that he had carefully stored back at the communal home, then used that as his guideline to find his way back. One thing to be grateful for? He knew there were no bodies of water between him and his destination. Hidden rocks and branches in conjunction with the winds caused more than a few stumbles, but nothing he couldn't pick himself up and continue on from.
Between fighting the relentless winds and the unseen terrain, he felt like it took him forever to find his way to the door. In reality, it had only been about ten minutes. Still, he was snow covered and chilled to the bone before he got to the door and felt himself being pushed the rest of the way inside. The sudden ability to see again combined with the muffling of the noise as the door was shoved closed behind him led to a moment of disorientation. Adding to that disorientation was the realization that Creed was the one that had entered behind him, carrying one of the young male members of the Pride. Creed sat the boy down, then gave Magneto's shoulder a pat.
"Nice t' see you made it back on yer own. Alright, people – are we all accounted for now?"
As it turned out, one more was still missing, but then the door reopened. The other searcher, Drake, had the last of their group in tow. Creed gave out a sigh of relief and began to brush the snow from himself. A short snort of amusement came out as Cherry popped her head out from Magneto's clothing.
"Nice fashion accessory. Not every man can wear fur an' get by with it."
From her area, Dorrie gave a chittering call that was answered back by Cherry as Magneto brushed her off and sat her down on the ground. He then proceeded to brush more of the snow from himself. Cherry beat him back to his area where one of the others had left a pot of a hot mulled juice. He looked at the pot, then moved over to the food storage area, followed by several pairs of curious eyes. He came back out with a small bowl of nuts and dried fruits, pausing at the fire where another pot was staying warm with non-mulled juice. He poured some of it into the bowl, then offered it to a still shivering, but delighted Cherry. Then he settled down on the furs himself and poured a hot drink for himself, slightly annoyed that he was still shivering some himself.
The warmth of the area and the hot drink soon broke the chill though and the warmed fruit/nut mix soon had Cherry comfortable again as well. She seemed inclined to share Magneto's area and he had no objections. He was just glad that one of Reed's inventions here was an edible mix that kept the core group of squirrels free of parasites.
Winter living conditions afforded Magneto with a closer view of how interactions in the Pride worked. Creed was firmly in the position of the alpha male with Ororo equally firmly the alpha female. However, neither of them were particularly demanding about things being done 'their way'. There were a few exceptions – certain rules about hunting, fishing or gathering that had to be followed. Emergency procedures that weren't to be deviated from. But what rules there were seemed both few and for the overall benefit of everyone, so there was very little chafing at them. The one inflexible rule that he found fascinating was the feeding pecking order. He had to admit to himself that he personally would have had the ones that did the hunting get the first pick of the food on the theory that they needed the energy more to continue with the hunting. When he questioned Creed on that once, he got a look from the large man that suggested he was hearing what he usually termed as 'a cub question comin' from an adult body'.
"Th' hunters here don't go without food. Anybody here look starved t' you? Didn't think so. But give it a bit of thought. I know yer a city boy, but I woulda thought common sense would tell folks that the ones you want t' get hungry first are th' ones that get th' food. Just a natural thing that if your belly is wantin' grub, body's more likely t' keep its mind on getting' that grub. Little bit o' urgency is a boon t' a hunter. Makes 'em sharper."
Part of Magneto wanted to dispute that logic, but the longer he was with the group, the more sense it seemed to make. Giving the next generation the first and best to insure the best possible start in life. One thing he'd learned early that winter was never to bring up the term 'survival of the fittest' around any of them. Namely the first time he let the phrase slip around Creed.
"That's bullshit, Lehnsherr - especially from someone that was castin' aspersions on ferals not that damn long ago. Fittest in what way? Folks with th' high IQs might not be able t' wrestle down a big guy. Age? Very young can't fend fer themselves - should all o' them be ditched? Very old can't usually fend fer themselves either, but they got decades o' experience and knowledge t' call on."
Creed gestured around the room.
"Every one o' us has a strength. Every one o' us has a weakness. By workin' together, we maximize our strengths an' minimize our weaknesses. Just give a good thorough thinkin' through o' 'survival o' th' fittest' crap - I generally figure it ends up as bein' survival o' th' most selfish. Body that can hunt and beat others off its food? Yeah - they'll starve some o' th' others out. But what kind o' quality o' life is that? If you don't wanna do anything in life but survive? Go for it. Might not live long, but bet it'll feel like a long time. Us here? We prefer living t' bare-bones survival."
There was whole-hearted approval of that from around the room. For companionship, Magneto ended up where, oddly enough, he normally ended up. In the homespace of Reed, Doreen and their two sons. Doreen was still on enforced bedrest, but gaining strength. She gave him a sympathetic grin.
"You picked the wrong topic. When Victor gets into his protective mode, he's fairly easy to tick off."
Reed stopped what he was doing and turned toward her.
"Wait - what did you just say?"
"Protective mode. And yes, that means what you think it does."
"I have absolutely no idea what either of you are talking about."
Dorrie just gave Magneto another grin.
"Kamau's getting a brother or sister. Unless I'm mistaken, but I don't think I am."