FOUND

Ah had been wonderin' around this winter wonderland for almost a week, when Ah had finally found a settlement. Ah have been tryin' ta act like Ah ain't a mutant, 'cause Ah don't need anymore unwanted attention. Ah just hope those two numbskulls get their big yaps shut. Ah still ain't sure about how they would really treat meh if anybody found out Ah was a mutant. Since it's so cold out here Ah look right at home in all these clothes. Besides, Ah have still been tryin' to control mah powers, what else was Ah gonna do all by mah lonesome. Ah have been testin' myself usin' any kind o' plant life Ah could find, since Ah hadn't seen much of the animal kingdom.

Anyways, Ah have been watchin' the settlement for the past couple o'hours just ta make sure that Ah would be safe, or at least they would be safe from meh. Ah think they're human, but Ah don't know. One of 'em walks around with these red sunglasses on all of the time, and it's startin' ta get dark. Ah don't understand that. It's not a big settlement and so far Ah haven't seen but maybe a handful o'people. Ah am gettin' pretty hungry and Ah don't have much ta spare myself along the lines of a dinner, so Ah decide enough is enough. Ah think Ah could get in if Ah just play it cool. Ah get ta the gate and there is this unfriendly lookin' fella who seems right at home here. Seems ta be guardin' the place, can't blame 'em though, seein' as Ah certainly haven't found anybody all too welcomin' round here.

"Whatever ya sellin' kid, we don't want none."

"Sorry sir, Ah was just wonderin' if ya'll could help meh out a lil'. Ah am kind'a stranded out

here, and Ah could use a lil' help."

"You're the one that has been snoopin' around here, and we don't take kindly to anybody

watchin' us. So why don't you just keep on walking, and we will keep this peaceful."

"Look, Ah was just tryin' ta see if it was safe. Got jumped by a couple a goons a few days ago.

Ah was just hopin' for a lil' direction and maybe somethin' ta eat."

Then he has enough gull ta try and get inta my face and gives me a good sniff and says,

"Ya smell like trouble. Leave or I will give ya some, bub."

Before he could say anything else, this woman comes up a lays a hand on his shoulder, he pulls back away from me as she whispers somethin' to him. Did he just growl? Ah could'a sworn, maybe Ah'm hearin' things.

"I am sorry my dear, he tends to get a little...well protective. My name is Ororo, perhaps I could

help you."

"It's alright, my name is Rogue. Like Ah was tellin' your friend there, Ah don't mean no harm,

Ah was just hopin' for a lil' help. Ah got myself a lil' lost and Ah am hungry."

"Well maybe we could help you on both cases my dear. Follow me."

As we pass by Mr. Grouch, he growls at meh again. So I take off the hood of mah cloak and dead eye him as we pass, and Ah could have sworn he was a lil' bit surprised, but he did pretty well at not showin' it. So Ah am followin' Ororo and she takes meh into one of the cabins not far from the gate and asks meh ta stay here while she gets someone who may be able ta help meh, and that she would make sure Ah got some dinner. She was really nice, and very pretty. Ah would have ta be shocked if'n Ah thought for a second if she was with Mr. Grouch. She had dark skin and the whiteist hair Ah have ever seen, and some bright blue eyes. There is somethin' definitely unusual here. Ah never even seen her the whole time Ah was checkin' out the place. At least the cabin's warm. It's not much but it had the basics. There's a bed, a fireplace, and a table with a couple o' chairs.

Since Ah am alone, Ah decide ta take off some of my clothes. So Ah throw mah bag down, along with mah cloak and jacket, but she said somethin' bout somebody comin' in here ta talk ta meh, so Ah leave mah gloves on. Just as Ah'm shakin' some of the snow out o' mah hair, guess who walks inta the door, without even a knock...Mr. Grouch himself. But he's just leanin' inta the doorway with a tray of food. There has to beh a God out there, and he has a sense of humor.