A/N

Sorry about not updating, I had lots of stuff to do. Sorry! But I do try, and I'm going to do my best to update more regularly, no that I don't have the pressing weight of Hamlet essays on my time.

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The little bat twitched his nose a bit as he watched everyone else. The room was appropriately darkened for his eyes. Julian sat in a chair across from him imitating the smaller animal's nose twitches to amuse himself.

His mother's bat friend popped up every now and then to 'chew the fat' as Mr. Logan said, but usually Herman stayed in a cave in the woods outside the Institute. Herman kept an eye on things at night and let Mother know if anything was going on. The pigeon flocks took care of the day, and some other animals. During winter though, there weren't many awake animals, so Mom tended to look a little more alert.

What's this about? Bout?

Julian shrugged his shoulders. The little bat twitched his ears in annoyance. He didn't care to be carried off by large mutants that spoke loudly into ship that rocked and flew like it was a drunk bat. And he made everyone within five miles realize that with a vengeance. Anyone who could understand him, anyway.

"Now Julian, you know this animal, correct?"

"Yes, Professor. It's Herman. He sleeps in Mom's closet sometimes."

"Good. Now, listen carefully. What I want you to do is ask Herman," he gestured to the small winged mammal, "if he would be willing to communicate with the other animals and ask them some questions."

"Okay." Julian said a little uncertainly. He didn't know how an animal would react to him asking such things. They were alright around his mother, but sometimes he felt they only accepted him because of her, in a way. He propped his chin up with his hands and concentrated on the little mammal.

(They want me to ask you something.)

Go on. On.

(They want to ask if you'd be okay with talking to the other animals, and ask them some questions about stuff that's been happening.)

I see. See. The bat tipped his head to the side in full view of everyone in the room.

Besides himself, there was the Professor, Kurt, Mr. Logan, Mr. Wings and Jamie. Arcane was in the next room, reading the newspaper again. The kitchen, that was. They were in the living room, or whatever the main room was called.

I am not sure that would be a good idea. Not sure.

(Why not?) He asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Julian?" The Professor asked.

"He said it might not be a good idea."

"Can you ask him why?"

"I did. But you interrupted." He protested.

We don't think his way. His way.

"He says they don't think your way." Julian said before the Professor could apologize.

"Can they just try?" The professor pressed.

Yes.

"Yes." Julian said, surprised. Obviously Herman had some inkling about human language, or at least human behavior.

"Fine. Ask him about the strange occurrences happening in the South America jungles and about the strange beings that disappeared after the conflict and kidnapped the X-men and your mother, and why they didn't think it necessary to leave Wolverine behind, and—"

"Hunh?" Julian said, utterly confused. So many questions, it was hard for him to know which one to ask first.

"Ask him what those things were in the jungle, kid." Wolverine growled.

Speaking too loud. Loud. Woke me up and carried me off. Off. No manners at all. All.  Herman's grumbling reached his mind as the bat flattened his ears down and looked away from Mr. Logan.

"He's upset with you." Julian told the older mutant. Mr. Logan cocked an eyebrow but said nothing.

(What were the things in the jungle? That carried away the students and Mom. And what were they doing, and where have they taken the students and Mom?)

Herman twitched his nose thoughtfully then looked up, as if communicating. Then he curled up into a ball.

Answer in two days. Days.

Oops. Maybe they should have taken that into account, he realized.

"Uh…it's gonna take a few days to get the answers you want." He grinned nervously.

"What?" Mr. Logan deadpanned.

"There's a …um…time lag. Sorry."

"Now what're we gonna do?" Mr. Logan growled.

"Vell, I don't know about you all, but I'm hungry!" Kurt interjected swiftly.

"Are you now?" Mr. Logan smirked. Immediately Kurt shut up. Julian looked at them in confusion.

"We'll try again tomorrow, Julian. Thank you." The Professor steepled his hands and looked out the window.

"Come on kid, you're gonna learn about survival." Mr. Logan beckoned him.

Immediately Julian hopped off the chair he'd been sitting in and followed Mr. Logan.

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"That doesn't look like a burger." Jamie said slowly to Julian. Julian grimaced in response. Mr. Logan was holding out the body of a dead caterpillar.

"Protein helps you survive. Bugs are protein. Can anyone tell me the obvious answer to the question, 'how do I survive if I'm in the woods?'"

"Eat bugs?" Kurt said hesitantly.

"Here you go, you're first. Congratulations." Mr. Logan handed Kurt the dead green caterpillar.

"Can't I just eat mushrooms?" Kurt was starting to look a little green, or as green as he could.

"I'll show you how to pick out good mushrooms next lesson. This is this lesson. Eat up."

"We have a jet! Why don't we go to the Burger Bomb restaurant or something?" Kurt sounded desperate.

"The part of this lesson is you don't have a jet. You're all alone and you need food. These skills will save your life one day, elf, might as well learn them now."

"If Kurt dies, I say we make a run for it and live like wild men in someplace like Georgia." Jamie whispered to his furred friend. Julian quickly nodded.

Kurt winced and put the caterpillar in his mouth and swallowed. Then he seemed to be alright, then he doubled over and spat out the caterpillar, choking and spitting out the legs.

Both Julian and Jamie stared. Mr. Logan picked up a large flying insect and beckoned them.

Julian flattened his ears down. "Georgia. Let's go."

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Heh, okay, not as funny as the other chapters, sorry, but I'll get back on track, promise.

Asteria: Yep, Trauma is well on the way. Glad you liked it!

Anon(girl): I'll keep that in mind. Sorry about the resistances they built up, maybe you should slip them nutmeg? Anyway, glad you liked the chapter.

Chrissy: Kally thanks you for the seeds. Heh, Arcane will be having some trouble. Some of the other mutants may show up. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!

Anee/Arain Rowan/Arin Ross : I love oreos. But boxes of it are dangerous. Hope you liked this chapter!

PrincessOfWildfire: I can't either. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!

Laureate: Well, it's not exactly going to be a cross. Julian isn't going to suddenly go to the world Danny is in, or anything, at least I don't plan on taking him there. Glad you liked the story!

 Kally will take the reviews yet again. In spirit of the moment, she's giving out bug shaped cookies(no bugs were harmed in the making of these cookies).