A Cat's Tale 13: Got Green?
Author: Lucinda
rating: pg, pg 13
Main Characters: Sabertooth, Willow, and Carl
Disclaimer: I do not own Sabertooth or anyone else from X-Men, I do not own Willow. Carl is mine.
Distribution: If you have permission for Family Tree or one of the earlier Cat's Tale, yes. Otherwise, please ask.
note: this takes place in FT 13, when Vic and Willow are searching for the green mutant.
Finally, they left the hospital, a place with beeps and whirring noises and the scents of far to many drugs and chemicals, the scents of blood and a hint of bone from someone having been opened up. Something stirred in the depths of his mind, like a half remembered bad dream, or something in the mud at the bottom of a pond. Hospitals are bad, bad things happen there... He shook his head, trying to push the stirring memory away. Willow wouldn't let that happen, wouldn't let anyone take him away to a bad hospital to hurt him. Of course, there was something else to consider about Willow. Somehow, he didn't think that she would just ignore the question of the green mutant that Xander had mentioned. "What about Green?"
Willow sighed, rolling her shoulders a bit as they walked towards the park. When she did speak, her words were hesitant, as if her thoughts were tumbling too fast and she wasn't quite sure which ones to let out. "I don't know. I didn't know that he was real.... I don't think he could be much older than I am. He must be so frightened... if he's still... if they didn't get him."
Vic growled, his claws flexing as he remembered the aftermaths of a mob "getting" a mutant. Broken, bloody bodies, bones bludgeoned until they shattered, the stench of pain and fear and hatred thick in the air, almost thick enough to choke on, mixing with the scents of blood, bone, ruptured organs and bile. He could feel his muscles quivering at the idea of such a mob... always cornering the helpless mutants who couldn't do anything... Just let him have a chance to show them what a mutant could do... "Not a happy thought."
"No, it isn't. But it could have happened. I guess... we can try to find him, try to help him if we can." Willow shivered despite the warmth, and traces of fear crept into her scent. Apparently, she had a few thoughts of what a mob might do to a frightened mutant as well.
It didn't take too long to find the remains of Xander and Tracie's picnic. Willow sighed, and gathered up the blanket and basket while he tried to read the scents below the hill top. Not only did he want to find the green mutant, but he wanted to know the scents of the people that had done this. They would not hurt Willow, and if he caught up to them one night, they might not be hurting anyone else again either. The scent of the mutant was easy to read, filled with fear, pain, and there was some blood on the ground as well. He also smelled sort of furry. "This way... he was bleeding and afraid."
Vic led the way to a small cave, not very impressive and little better than a hollow in the ground. Faint traces of the scent of the original occupant remained, something that smelled sort of like a badger and sort of like a snake. It would probably be a problem if not for the fact that it hadn't been to this cave in over a month. Blood had spattered to the ground, just a few drops, but that was more than enough. Glancing towards Willow, he considered the situation.
She looked normal, and harmless, the sort of person that very few people would suspect of anything. She should be fairly safe outside, during the day. And humans had been chasing the boy, Willow might scare him, although this would probably be about the only way that would happen. "Wait outside."
Vic ducked inside the cave, feeling glad that the snake-badger that had carved it wasn't his height. That would be a very big and dangerous thing, as it was, the burrow was a lot larger than any wild animal lair should be. The tunnel went back a little, and there was a slight curve before it opened up, the roof raising even as the floor dropped down a bit. The mutant was in here, and still afraid. "Hey."
There was a sort of startled gasp, and the sound of rustling denim, followed by an almost smothered yelp. The scent of fear thickened in the near darkness of the cave. "Who..."
"I'm not here to hurt you." For a moment, the words just sounded almost wrong. He wasn't a nice guy, not the protector of the world. He was just here... because of Willow. She wanted to help this kid, give him a chance, like she'd given him a chance. "Maybe we can help."
There was a hint of hope in the voice when it came again. "Who's we? And I'm... Who wants to help a mutant anyhow?"
"We do, come on out of there. The dirt's probably not good for the gunshot wound." Vic turned, hating the feeling of having an unknown at his back, reassuring himself that he'd hear it before the kid could try anything. Let the kid think it was a sign of trust.
The sunlight as he came back out was welcome, and he could hear the mutant following, his footsteps sort of shuffling in the dirt. Once out, he turned, facing the younger mutant and trying to get a good look at him. His hair was a slightly darker green than the fur covering his body, longer, a bit wavy and almost the color of pine needles. He had hazel eyes that were wide with worry. He looked at Willow, and smelled more strongly of fear, glancing over and up at Vic. It was probably the first time that anyone had considered him less threatening. Considering that the kid was more afraid of Willow, it was actually rather baffling.
"Umm... hi? You were... during the nightmares. I saw you." His voice was wary, as if he expected some sort of attack.
Willow smiled, apparently trying to set the kid at ease. "Yeah. I wasn't sure if you were real. Let's go, I can bandage your arm for you."
"You're sure? Most humans... I seem to scare them. And this place: it's not safe." He seemed skittish as he glanced around the park.
"Sunnydale definitely isn't very safe. Too many vampires." Willow nodded, pausing a few moments before adding "And I'm a mutant too."
"Don't look like one." His words were soft, as if he didn't want to get into trouble.
Shaking her head, Willow gestured at the basket with one hand. "I look normal. But I'm a mutant. I even had genetic testing done, and I can pull a chart and point out every point of deviation, although I don't know if all of them are related to my mutation or not. I'm Willow, this is Vic. What's your name?"
"Carl." His voice was soft, almost shy. He was looking at Willow with something that Vic could identify all to easily - surprise, bafflement, and a sense of confusion. Willow tended to inspire that in people.
Willow grinned, looking more cheerful now. "I have bandages and pain killers."
"Won't your parents mind?" He sounded worried, and looked caught between hope and fear.
"They're out of town right until Monday. And neither of them have particular problems with mutants in the abstract." Willow sounded slightly sad, and glanced at Carl before glancing towards the airport.
"What about under their roof?" He almost whispered the words, and looked at Vic, almost as if he was hoping for reassurance, for protection.
"It will be okay." Willow's voice was determined.
Vic sighed, knowing by now what that tone of voice meant. Things were going to be okay if she had to make it that way herself. It normally went with what she called her 'Resolve Face'. All they had to do now was figure out if Carl was worth the effort.
end Got Green?
Author: Lucinda
rating: pg, pg 13
Main Characters: Sabertooth, Willow, and Carl
Disclaimer: I do not own Sabertooth or anyone else from X-Men, I do not own Willow. Carl is mine.
Distribution: If you have permission for Family Tree or one of the earlier Cat's Tale, yes. Otherwise, please ask.
note: this takes place in FT 13, when Vic and Willow are searching for the green mutant.
Finally, they left the hospital, a place with beeps and whirring noises and the scents of far to many drugs and chemicals, the scents of blood and a hint of bone from someone having been opened up. Something stirred in the depths of his mind, like a half remembered bad dream, or something in the mud at the bottom of a pond. Hospitals are bad, bad things happen there... He shook his head, trying to push the stirring memory away. Willow wouldn't let that happen, wouldn't let anyone take him away to a bad hospital to hurt him. Of course, there was something else to consider about Willow. Somehow, he didn't think that she would just ignore the question of the green mutant that Xander had mentioned. "What about Green?"
Willow sighed, rolling her shoulders a bit as they walked towards the park. When she did speak, her words were hesitant, as if her thoughts were tumbling too fast and she wasn't quite sure which ones to let out. "I don't know. I didn't know that he was real.... I don't think he could be much older than I am. He must be so frightened... if he's still... if they didn't get him."
Vic growled, his claws flexing as he remembered the aftermaths of a mob "getting" a mutant. Broken, bloody bodies, bones bludgeoned until they shattered, the stench of pain and fear and hatred thick in the air, almost thick enough to choke on, mixing with the scents of blood, bone, ruptured organs and bile. He could feel his muscles quivering at the idea of such a mob... always cornering the helpless mutants who couldn't do anything... Just let him have a chance to show them what a mutant could do... "Not a happy thought."
"No, it isn't. But it could have happened. I guess... we can try to find him, try to help him if we can." Willow shivered despite the warmth, and traces of fear crept into her scent. Apparently, she had a few thoughts of what a mob might do to a frightened mutant as well.
It didn't take too long to find the remains of Xander and Tracie's picnic. Willow sighed, and gathered up the blanket and basket while he tried to read the scents below the hill top. Not only did he want to find the green mutant, but he wanted to know the scents of the people that had done this. They would not hurt Willow, and if he caught up to them one night, they might not be hurting anyone else again either. The scent of the mutant was easy to read, filled with fear, pain, and there was some blood on the ground as well. He also smelled sort of furry. "This way... he was bleeding and afraid."
Vic led the way to a small cave, not very impressive and little better than a hollow in the ground. Faint traces of the scent of the original occupant remained, something that smelled sort of like a badger and sort of like a snake. It would probably be a problem if not for the fact that it hadn't been to this cave in over a month. Blood had spattered to the ground, just a few drops, but that was more than enough. Glancing towards Willow, he considered the situation.
She looked normal, and harmless, the sort of person that very few people would suspect of anything. She should be fairly safe outside, during the day. And humans had been chasing the boy, Willow might scare him, although this would probably be about the only way that would happen. "Wait outside."
Vic ducked inside the cave, feeling glad that the snake-badger that had carved it wasn't his height. That would be a very big and dangerous thing, as it was, the burrow was a lot larger than any wild animal lair should be. The tunnel went back a little, and there was a slight curve before it opened up, the roof raising even as the floor dropped down a bit. The mutant was in here, and still afraid. "Hey."
There was a sort of startled gasp, and the sound of rustling denim, followed by an almost smothered yelp. The scent of fear thickened in the near darkness of the cave. "Who..."
"I'm not here to hurt you." For a moment, the words just sounded almost wrong. He wasn't a nice guy, not the protector of the world. He was just here... because of Willow. She wanted to help this kid, give him a chance, like she'd given him a chance. "Maybe we can help."
There was a hint of hope in the voice when it came again. "Who's we? And I'm... Who wants to help a mutant anyhow?"
"We do, come on out of there. The dirt's probably not good for the gunshot wound." Vic turned, hating the feeling of having an unknown at his back, reassuring himself that he'd hear it before the kid could try anything. Let the kid think it was a sign of trust.
The sunlight as he came back out was welcome, and he could hear the mutant following, his footsteps sort of shuffling in the dirt. Once out, he turned, facing the younger mutant and trying to get a good look at him. His hair was a slightly darker green than the fur covering his body, longer, a bit wavy and almost the color of pine needles. He had hazel eyes that were wide with worry. He looked at Willow, and smelled more strongly of fear, glancing over and up at Vic. It was probably the first time that anyone had considered him less threatening. Considering that the kid was more afraid of Willow, it was actually rather baffling.
"Umm... hi? You were... during the nightmares. I saw you." His voice was wary, as if he expected some sort of attack.
Willow smiled, apparently trying to set the kid at ease. "Yeah. I wasn't sure if you were real. Let's go, I can bandage your arm for you."
"You're sure? Most humans... I seem to scare them. And this place: it's not safe." He seemed skittish as he glanced around the park.
"Sunnydale definitely isn't very safe. Too many vampires." Willow nodded, pausing a few moments before adding "And I'm a mutant too."
"Don't look like one." His words were soft, as if he didn't want to get into trouble.
Shaking her head, Willow gestured at the basket with one hand. "I look normal. But I'm a mutant. I even had genetic testing done, and I can pull a chart and point out every point of deviation, although I don't know if all of them are related to my mutation or not. I'm Willow, this is Vic. What's your name?"
"Carl." His voice was soft, almost shy. He was looking at Willow with something that Vic could identify all to easily - surprise, bafflement, and a sense of confusion. Willow tended to inspire that in people.
Willow grinned, looking more cheerful now. "I have bandages and pain killers."
"Won't your parents mind?" He sounded worried, and looked caught between hope and fear.
"They're out of town right until Monday. And neither of them have particular problems with mutants in the abstract." Willow sounded slightly sad, and glanced at Carl before glancing towards the airport.
"What about under their roof?" He almost whispered the words, and looked at Vic, almost as if he was hoping for reassurance, for protection.
"It will be okay." Willow's voice was determined.
Vic sighed, knowing by now what that tone of voice meant. Things were going to be okay if she had to make it that way herself. It normally went with what she called her 'Resolve Face'. All they had to do now was figure out if Carl was worth the effort.
end Got Green?
