Xavier Mansion
Well, if things were bad before, they were worse now. Rogue sat in the rec room with Riley and the other kids. Professor Xavier called them to talk to them about recent developments. Personally Rogue felt awful about the whole thing. If she hadn't opened her mouth to Diana, when she wouldn't have ran off after Jean. But she was so glad that she had told Logan, otherwise Jean might've been dead.
"I understand that you are all upset," the professor said. "But nothing else is going to happen. So you can stop with the rumors. You are all perfectly safe."
"Yeah," Kitty said. "We understand that, but what about Jean?"
"Jean is fine, a little shaken up, but fine."
She deserved it, Rogue thought. If she hadn't gotten into my head, Diana wouldn't have been so upset.
"So, you can all go through your normal routines without fear," the professor continued.
There was a large crash. Everyone turned. Diana came down the stairs. She turned and smiled at them, threw open the door and walked outside.
"Diana, wait," Logan came tromping down the stairs after and skidding across the entryway. "She's leaving."
"What?" the professor said. "But I thought she was worried about Tigera and Sabertooth."
"So did I," Logan replied. "But she said she was going to stay in the woods."
Diana walked the through the yard towards the gate. She'd lived in the Canadian woods for 15 years, she could stay in the woods around the mansion until she caught Tigera just as easily. But she wasn't going to stay in that house anymore. Not with Grey around. She might lose control again. She didn't want to hurt anyone at the mansion. She wouldn't know what to do if that happened.
"Diana," Logan called again. "Stop! The professor wants to talk to you."
Diana stopped and turned. "Why?"
"Diana please," Professor Xavier said. "There is no need for you to leave."
"Yes there is," Diana replied. "I'm a safety risk. To you and to the children. I'm not going to chance hunting anyone. Especially the children."
"But, I trust you," Xavier said. "I trust that you will stay in control."
"Well," Diana said. "I don't trust myself."
"You don't have to go, Diana," Logan whispered.
"Yes I do," Diana sighed. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"We can make sure you don't," Xavier said.
"I don't understand," Diana said. "What are you going to do? Post a guard to me."
"Maybe," Xavier smiled.
Diana wasn't sure if she liked that idea. "No thanks," she said. "I'll just stay in the woods. Yell if you need me."
With that she began debating on what animal to become. She continued towards the gate. Something that would blend in. Some type of bird perhaps, or maybe a deer. Perhaps a squirrel, or even a rabbit. The list went on and on. She most certainly couldn't return to the wolf. Not in this environment.
"Diana!"
"What?" she said turning.
"Don't leave," Logan said.
"I have too," Diana replied. "It's the only way."
"Well, it's not safe."
"Oh, are you worried about Tigera and Sabertooth? Don't worry, I'll pick an animal that is faster than them. Actually I think I just turn into a bird. How about a hawk?"
"Fine," Logan replied. "Just be careful."
"Trust me," Diana turned into a hawk. "I will." With that she spread her wings and took off over the gate and towards the forest.
2 days later
"2 days," Logan paced by Rogue again. "And not even a chirp."
"Logan," Rogue said from the couch in the study. "Hawks don't chirp."
"Alright, not even a call then."
"Well, I'm sure it just means that she is fine," Ororo was sitting next to Rogue.
"I've never seen you this agitated," came Scott's voice from his seat in a nearby chair.
"Oh," Logan began before sitting between Rogue and Ororo. "I'm not up for arguing with you, Cy."
"Really?" Scott was shocked. "What a change."
"Stop pestering him, Scott," Ororo said. "He is obviously worried."
"Thank you, Ororo," Logan replied.
With that Riley came through the door. Everyone turned. He was panting silently. Rogue handed him her drink.
"Thanks," he said taking a sip. "There's a hawk in front porch."
Logan jumped off the couch. "Well, is it hurt?"
"Doesn't look that way," Riley replied. "It's just sitting there."
"Let's go see," Ororo said.
Rogue followed the group down to the entryway. The bird had hopped into the house. It looked up at them, moving its head side to side.
"Diana?" Logan asked crouching in front of it.
The bird's reply was to spread its wings and fly out the still open door. Logan followed it, with the rest of the group close behind. The bird perched on top of the basketball goal.
"Well," Scott spoke first after they had all gathered in a semi-circle around the goal. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," Logan replied.
Professor Xavier and Jean joined them a few minutes later. Rogue was surprised to see Jean there, but she did say anything about it.
"Is it Diana?" Scott asked the professor.
"Diana's mental shield protects her from probing by me," Xavier said. "And I can't seem to get anything off the bird either."
"Doesn't mean its Diana, though," Jean said. "Could just be some other changeling with psychic powers."
"But still the odds are pretty good its Aunt Di," Riley said.
"Why doesn't she change back?" Rogue asked.
Logan sighed at the bird. It had been hours and it hadn't said anything, nor had there been any more evidence that it was Diana. But still Logan was almost positive that is was. Who else could it be?
The had come down after everyone but him had left earlier. It had landed on his shoulder as he himself had turned to leave. It seemed to be content to sit on his shoulder, and truth was it really didn't bother him. Now he was sitting on the bench he had found Diana on not long after they come to the mansion. The bird sat next to him.
"Who are you?" he asked it. "If you aren't Diana then who else could you be?"
The bird looked up at him, then made a soft noise. Logan just shook his head at it. It wasn't the much for company. He didn't mind though. He really just needed to think. He wanted Diana to come back. He had thought of so many questions since she had left. Things he hadn't thought to ask her when he could have before. Now they all seemed to pop into his head at once.
"Logan?"
"Yeah, Rogue," Logan said. "I'm over here."
The bird hopped down onto the ground, and Rogue took its seat.
"Anything?" Rogue asked.
"Not a thing," Logan said. "Maybe it's not her."
"I still have the feeling that's its not really a bird," Rogue replied.
"So do I, but who then?"
"I don't know. I was talking to Riley about it earlier."
"And what did the kid say?"
"That he thinks its Diana," Rogue said.
Tigera watched the conversation for a tree top. Well, actually she was watching the bird. It was hopping about, picking at some leaves. She was very suspicious of that bird. But activity on this side of the wall told her it wasn't Diana. But it was still someone important. It had to do with the project, she just knew it.
"Hey, Ti," Sabertooth said.
"What?" Tigera turned to find the big lug looking up another tree at a bird. "Well, hello Diana."
The bird didn't reply, just hopped down a few branches.
"I think I can," Sabertooth jumped up at the bird, shaking the branch it was on.
The bird seemed to lose its balance. It fell but before it hit the ground it had spread its wings. It flew towards the gate, and stupid Sabertooth tore off after it. It flew over the gate and landed on the ground. Sabertooth grabbed the gate and ripped it open. There goes the alarm, Tigera thought.
"Idiot!" Tigera yelled jumping at off the tree. She followed Sabertooth on the grounds of the Xavier Mansion.
The bird was taunting Sabertooth. Jumping just out of reach when he lunged at it. He roared as he tried to get it again.
"Leave it alone!" Wolverine said.
Tigera jumped at the bird as it was distracted. Suddenly she felt a pair of arms wrap around her and she was suddenly flying.
Rogue was stunned. The bird that had just earlier been picking at the ground had changed into a girl. A girl with short black hair and wings. She had saved the other bird from Tigera by grabbing the woman. Now she dropped Tigera rather unceremoniously on the ground, then turned a back to where Logan was fighting with Sabertooth.
The bird Sabertooth had been following changed into Diana. She jumped onto Sabertooth's back. He roared, trying to get her off. She dug her claws into his back. Tigera had recovered by now.
"Stop playing, Sabertooth, and come on." Tigera said heading back the way they had come.
Sabertooth had managed to get Diana of his back. He threw her off to the side, then ran off after Tigera.
"Those two just won't learn will they?" Logan said.
"They are them, in all their stupidity." Diana replied before turning to the winged girl, who was still circling the area. "So who are you?"
The girl landed. "My name is Neraida," she said as her wings disappeared.
"And you are?" Logan asked.
"I was sent by the doctor to keep an eye on the two of you," Neraida replied.
Rogue went over to Logan and Diana, where she got a better look at Neraida. To go along with the hair, the girl had green cat eyes. She reminded Rogue of someone, but she couldn't put her finger on who.
"The doctor?" Diana said. "Well, we can trust you then."
"How do you know that?" Logan was obviously shocked.
"Something you don't remember," Diana replied then turned to the girl again. "Come on, I'm sure Xavier wants to meet you."
Well, if things were bad before, they were worse now. Rogue sat in the rec room with Riley and the other kids. Professor Xavier called them to talk to them about recent developments. Personally Rogue felt awful about the whole thing. If she hadn't opened her mouth to Diana, when she wouldn't have ran off after Jean. But she was so glad that she had told Logan, otherwise Jean might've been dead.
"I understand that you are all upset," the professor said. "But nothing else is going to happen. So you can stop with the rumors. You are all perfectly safe."
"Yeah," Kitty said. "We understand that, but what about Jean?"
"Jean is fine, a little shaken up, but fine."
She deserved it, Rogue thought. If she hadn't gotten into my head, Diana wouldn't have been so upset.
"So, you can all go through your normal routines without fear," the professor continued.
There was a large crash. Everyone turned. Diana came down the stairs. She turned and smiled at them, threw open the door and walked outside.
"Diana, wait," Logan came tromping down the stairs after and skidding across the entryway. "She's leaving."
"What?" the professor said. "But I thought she was worried about Tigera and Sabertooth."
"So did I," Logan replied. "But she said she was going to stay in the woods."
Diana walked the through the yard towards the gate. She'd lived in the Canadian woods for 15 years, she could stay in the woods around the mansion until she caught Tigera just as easily. But she wasn't going to stay in that house anymore. Not with Grey around. She might lose control again. She didn't want to hurt anyone at the mansion. She wouldn't know what to do if that happened.
"Diana," Logan called again. "Stop! The professor wants to talk to you."
Diana stopped and turned. "Why?"
"Diana please," Professor Xavier said. "There is no need for you to leave."
"Yes there is," Diana replied. "I'm a safety risk. To you and to the children. I'm not going to chance hunting anyone. Especially the children."
"But, I trust you," Xavier said. "I trust that you will stay in control."
"Well," Diana said. "I don't trust myself."
"You don't have to go, Diana," Logan whispered.
"Yes I do," Diana sighed. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"We can make sure you don't," Xavier said.
"I don't understand," Diana said. "What are you going to do? Post a guard to me."
"Maybe," Xavier smiled.
Diana wasn't sure if she liked that idea. "No thanks," she said. "I'll just stay in the woods. Yell if you need me."
With that she began debating on what animal to become. She continued towards the gate. Something that would blend in. Some type of bird perhaps, or maybe a deer. Perhaps a squirrel, or even a rabbit. The list went on and on. She most certainly couldn't return to the wolf. Not in this environment.
"Diana!"
"What?" she said turning.
"Don't leave," Logan said.
"I have too," Diana replied. "It's the only way."
"Well, it's not safe."
"Oh, are you worried about Tigera and Sabertooth? Don't worry, I'll pick an animal that is faster than them. Actually I think I just turn into a bird. How about a hawk?"
"Fine," Logan replied. "Just be careful."
"Trust me," Diana turned into a hawk. "I will." With that she spread her wings and took off over the gate and towards the forest.
2 days later
"2 days," Logan paced by Rogue again. "And not even a chirp."
"Logan," Rogue said from the couch in the study. "Hawks don't chirp."
"Alright, not even a call then."
"Well, I'm sure it just means that she is fine," Ororo was sitting next to Rogue.
"I've never seen you this agitated," came Scott's voice from his seat in a nearby chair.
"Oh," Logan began before sitting between Rogue and Ororo. "I'm not up for arguing with you, Cy."
"Really?" Scott was shocked. "What a change."
"Stop pestering him, Scott," Ororo said. "He is obviously worried."
"Thank you, Ororo," Logan replied.
With that Riley came through the door. Everyone turned. He was panting silently. Rogue handed him her drink.
"Thanks," he said taking a sip. "There's a hawk in front porch."
Logan jumped off the couch. "Well, is it hurt?"
"Doesn't look that way," Riley replied. "It's just sitting there."
"Let's go see," Ororo said.
Rogue followed the group down to the entryway. The bird had hopped into the house. It looked up at them, moving its head side to side.
"Diana?" Logan asked crouching in front of it.
The bird's reply was to spread its wings and fly out the still open door. Logan followed it, with the rest of the group close behind. The bird perched on top of the basketball goal.
"Well," Scott spoke first after they had all gathered in a semi-circle around the goal. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," Logan replied.
Professor Xavier and Jean joined them a few minutes later. Rogue was surprised to see Jean there, but she did say anything about it.
"Is it Diana?" Scott asked the professor.
"Diana's mental shield protects her from probing by me," Xavier said. "And I can't seem to get anything off the bird either."
"Doesn't mean its Diana, though," Jean said. "Could just be some other changeling with psychic powers."
"But still the odds are pretty good its Aunt Di," Riley said.
"Why doesn't she change back?" Rogue asked.
Logan sighed at the bird. It had been hours and it hadn't said anything, nor had there been any more evidence that it was Diana. But still Logan was almost positive that is was. Who else could it be?
The had come down after everyone but him had left earlier. It had landed on his shoulder as he himself had turned to leave. It seemed to be content to sit on his shoulder, and truth was it really didn't bother him. Now he was sitting on the bench he had found Diana on not long after they come to the mansion. The bird sat next to him.
"Who are you?" he asked it. "If you aren't Diana then who else could you be?"
The bird looked up at him, then made a soft noise. Logan just shook his head at it. It wasn't the much for company. He didn't mind though. He really just needed to think. He wanted Diana to come back. He had thought of so many questions since she had left. Things he hadn't thought to ask her when he could have before. Now they all seemed to pop into his head at once.
"Logan?"
"Yeah, Rogue," Logan said. "I'm over here."
The bird hopped down onto the ground, and Rogue took its seat.
"Anything?" Rogue asked.
"Not a thing," Logan said. "Maybe it's not her."
"I still have the feeling that's its not really a bird," Rogue replied.
"So do I, but who then?"
"I don't know. I was talking to Riley about it earlier."
"And what did the kid say?"
"That he thinks its Diana," Rogue said.
Tigera watched the conversation for a tree top. Well, actually she was watching the bird. It was hopping about, picking at some leaves. She was very suspicious of that bird. But activity on this side of the wall told her it wasn't Diana. But it was still someone important. It had to do with the project, she just knew it.
"Hey, Ti," Sabertooth said.
"What?" Tigera turned to find the big lug looking up another tree at a bird. "Well, hello Diana."
The bird didn't reply, just hopped down a few branches.
"I think I can," Sabertooth jumped up at the bird, shaking the branch it was on.
The bird seemed to lose its balance. It fell but before it hit the ground it had spread its wings. It flew towards the gate, and stupid Sabertooth tore off after it. It flew over the gate and landed on the ground. Sabertooth grabbed the gate and ripped it open. There goes the alarm, Tigera thought.
"Idiot!" Tigera yelled jumping at off the tree. She followed Sabertooth on the grounds of the Xavier Mansion.
The bird was taunting Sabertooth. Jumping just out of reach when he lunged at it. He roared as he tried to get it again.
"Leave it alone!" Wolverine said.
Tigera jumped at the bird as it was distracted. Suddenly she felt a pair of arms wrap around her and she was suddenly flying.
Rogue was stunned. The bird that had just earlier been picking at the ground had changed into a girl. A girl with short black hair and wings. She had saved the other bird from Tigera by grabbing the woman. Now she dropped Tigera rather unceremoniously on the ground, then turned a back to where Logan was fighting with Sabertooth.
The bird Sabertooth had been following changed into Diana. She jumped onto Sabertooth's back. He roared, trying to get her off. She dug her claws into his back. Tigera had recovered by now.
"Stop playing, Sabertooth, and come on." Tigera said heading back the way they had come.
Sabertooth had managed to get Diana of his back. He threw her off to the side, then ran off after Tigera.
"Those two just won't learn will they?" Logan said.
"They are them, in all their stupidity." Diana replied before turning to the winged girl, who was still circling the area. "So who are you?"
The girl landed. "My name is Neraida," she said as her wings disappeared.
"And you are?" Logan asked.
"I was sent by the doctor to keep an eye on the two of you," Neraida replied.
Rogue went over to Logan and Diana, where she got a better look at Neraida. To go along with the hair, the girl had green cat eyes. She reminded Rogue of someone, but she couldn't put her finger on who.
"The doctor?" Diana said. "Well, we can trust you then."
"How do you know that?" Logan was obviously shocked.
"Something you don't remember," Diana replied then turned to the girl again. "Come on, I'm sure Xavier wants to meet you."