Less than a day later, they arrived and set up camp.
Angela walked to the edge of the slope they were on and breathed in the crisp mountain air deeply.
The snow crunched softly underneath Wanda's boots as she came up beside Angela, "Beautiful, huh?"
Angela shrugged indifferently, "I guess, if you're into that kind of stuff. Personally, noticing things like that is a luxury I can't afford."
Wanda was taken aback by her tone of voice, "I heard that you're coming along well with your aim and temper."
"I suppose. I guess I'll be going on a real mission again after all, eh?"
A pause prevailed momentarily, "Yeah."
Toad came up and placed a hand on Wanda's shoulder, "Food's ready, babe."
Angela turned and realized he was addressing Wanda and not her.
She turned away again and studied the snowy landscape sadly, "What went wrong?" she asked herself silently as Wanda and Toad walked off hand in hand.
An hour passed and no one bothered speaking to her.
The silence was starting to get to her and finally she blew.
She turned and yelled at them angrily, "If you people don't want me to be part of the team anymore then just say it! I'm sick of being treated this way! Why can't you just forgive me? I didn't mean to attack him!" She was nearly in tears now, "I won't burden you any longer if you all don't want me here. Just tell me for Heaven's sake!"
They all stared at her, startled.
Finally Magneto replied, "Whatever gives you that idea?"
She crushed her temper emphatically, "You know exactly what I mean! I think it's time you came clean with me!"
Wanda's features showed confusion, "Why don't you think we want you here?"
"As if you didn't know! You were there in the dining area laughing with the rest of them about me and my mistakes!"
Toad shrugged carelessly, "So what? Where you go? The x-losers?"
Angela stood taller, "Why would you care, you traitorous backstabbing liars?"
Pietro interrupted, "Then go! If it's so obvious that we don't want you, then just go."
His words slapped her in the face and she faltered, daring to glance at Wanda. Wanda's face reflected the cold expressions of everyone else, including her brother.
Angela turned back to the majority of the group and said quietly, "Okay. You win. Goodbye, I won't bother you again."
No one made a move to stop her as she left the camp. Tears rolled down her paler than usual cheeks silently as she walked numbly into the bitter cold. She walked for hours that way, oblivious to the fact that her teeth were chattering violently and her lips were turning a sickly purple.
When the sun dawned early the next morning, she was curled into a fetal position on a large boulder. The sound of steady footsteps reached her ears and she shot straight up and began walking into their general direction.
What met her eyes was the most unexpected thing ever. She stood there watching the X-men team setting up a base camp. The impact of this didn't reach her mind until a few moments later. She started toward them slowly, hoping beyond hope they would not try to kill her.
Kitty caught glimpse of her first and froze, "Angela? Is that you?"
Too cold to nod, Angela stood still and watched helplessly as Kitty yelled out for someone. Unfortunately for Angela, the person that answered Kitty's calls was Logan.
He took one look at Angela and his claws slid out, "Go get the others, Kitty. I'll hold her off."
Angela trembled inwardly, but found herself unable to move. She watched Wolverine run at her, claws extended. She closed her eyes and felt the cold adamantium tear at her face, warm blood trickling down her cheeks.
Again and again the indestructable metal sliced her skin and body until she was lying on the icy forest ground, unaware that the blows had stopped.
Her own healing powers took over and sealed the wounds opened by Logan's merciless claws.
Angela finally forced her lips to move, "Please-no more-I'm sorry."
When no reply came, her eyes fluttered open and saw the entire x-team standing over her, plainly torn.
Jean levitated her easily and turned her right side up and set her on her feet.
She swayed standing up, but managed to stay on her feet.
Logan glared at her, "Why didn't you fight back? You always did before."
A reply was forced through her swollen lips, "I didn't have a reason. Please, help me."
Kurt frowned, "Jean, can you read her mind? She may be telling the truth."
Angela nodded, the simple gesture sending the world into dizzying spirals. She managed to stay awake until Jean finished, then fainted in the cold, the frostbite overwhelming her healing ability.
Angela walked to the edge of the slope they were on and breathed in the crisp mountain air deeply.
The snow crunched softly underneath Wanda's boots as she came up beside Angela, "Beautiful, huh?"
Angela shrugged indifferently, "I guess, if you're into that kind of stuff. Personally, noticing things like that is a luxury I can't afford."
Wanda was taken aback by her tone of voice, "I heard that you're coming along well with your aim and temper."
"I suppose. I guess I'll be going on a real mission again after all, eh?"
A pause prevailed momentarily, "Yeah."
Toad came up and placed a hand on Wanda's shoulder, "Food's ready, babe."
Angela turned and realized he was addressing Wanda and not her.
She turned away again and studied the snowy landscape sadly, "What went wrong?" she asked herself silently as Wanda and Toad walked off hand in hand.
An hour passed and no one bothered speaking to her.
The silence was starting to get to her and finally she blew.
She turned and yelled at them angrily, "If you people don't want me to be part of the team anymore then just say it! I'm sick of being treated this way! Why can't you just forgive me? I didn't mean to attack him!" She was nearly in tears now, "I won't burden you any longer if you all don't want me here. Just tell me for Heaven's sake!"
They all stared at her, startled.
Finally Magneto replied, "Whatever gives you that idea?"
She crushed her temper emphatically, "You know exactly what I mean! I think it's time you came clean with me!"
Wanda's features showed confusion, "Why don't you think we want you here?"
"As if you didn't know! You were there in the dining area laughing with the rest of them about me and my mistakes!"
Toad shrugged carelessly, "So what? Where you go? The x-losers?"
Angela stood taller, "Why would you care, you traitorous backstabbing liars?"
Pietro interrupted, "Then go! If it's so obvious that we don't want you, then just go."
His words slapped her in the face and she faltered, daring to glance at Wanda. Wanda's face reflected the cold expressions of everyone else, including her brother.
Angela turned back to the majority of the group and said quietly, "Okay. You win. Goodbye, I won't bother you again."
No one made a move to stop her as she left the camp. Tears rolled down her paler than usual cheeks silently as she walked numbly into the bitter cold. She walked for hours that way, oblivious to the fact that her teeth were chattering violently and her lips were turning a sickly purple.
When the sun dawned early the next morning, she was curled into a fetal position on a large boulder. The sound of steady footsteps reached her ears and she shot straight up and began walking into their general direction.
What met her eyes was the most unexpected thing ever. She stood there watching the X-men team setting up a base camp. The impact of this didn't reach her mind until a few moments later. She started toward them slowly, hoping beyond hope they would not try to kill her.
Kitty caught glimpse of her first and froze, "Angela? Is that you?"
Too cold to nod, Angela stood still and watched helplessly as Kitty yelled out for someone. Unfortunately for Angela, the person that answered Kitty's calls was Logan.
He took one look at Angela and his claws slid out, "Go get the others, Kitty. I'll hold her off."
Angela trembled inwardly, but found herself unable to move. She watched Wolverine run at her, claws extended. She closed her eyes and felt the cold adamantium tear at her face, warm blood trickling down her cheeks.
Again and again the indestructable metal sliced her skin and body until she was lying on the icy forest ground, unaware that the blows had stopped.
Her own healing powers took over and sealed the wounds opened by Logan's merciless claws.
Angela finally forced her lips to move, "Please-no more-I'm sorry."
When no reply came, her eyes fluttered open and saw the entire x-team standing over her, plainly torn.
Jean levitated her easily and turned her right side up and set her on her feet.
She swayed standing up, but managed to stay on her feet.
Logan glared at her, "Why didn't you fight back? You always did before."
A reply was forced through her swollen lips, "I didn't have a reason. Please, help me."
Kurt frowned, "Jean, can you read her mind? She may be telling the truth."
Angela nodded, the simple gesture sending the world into dizzying spirals. She managed to stay awake until Jean finished, then fainted in the cold, the frostbite overwhelming her healing ability.