Voracious: Thank you very much for reviewing! And for working hard to read what is a rather lengthy collection of stories to catch up! I noticed the plot hole when you indicated he spoke her name in chapter 23. Before I wrote chapter 26 I did check on the chapters for him speaking her name, but I must have missed the chapter 23 conversations. However, I have corrected chapter 23 to say "Aurora" rather than "Louisa." I hope you continue to enjoy this, I plan to continue for a while yet, and at this moment in time I have very concise notes for another two stories after this ;)
NikkiTheAvengingAngel: Thank you for avenging? ;P
Calandra: Scott is a fun person to embarrass because he tries to be so righteous all the time. Hehe. I thought Lou would be a cute nickname for Gambit to give her. No one else calls her that, so it's just Gambit's thing. And the website works fine, photo album, jigsaw and all. I think maybe you need to download and update your Java or Shockwave or something.
Tamazi: Hehe, new reviewer! Glad you liked the chapter. And you will see more of Logan! Don't worry!
Kimenomi: I would accept criticism if it was constructive, however you failed it indicate what I had done in the previous chapter to make you find it appropriate to insult me. Please back up what you say instead of simply being rude.
Blix: Yup, awkward. Hehe. No wonder Aurora disappeared.
Sych: You've outdone yourself girl! Nice long review! Fantastic that you liked it. I didn't want to make the tent scene too graphic, just enough for people to get the idea without using bad description or poor language. So thank you for that. And Sych, guess what! I have updated!
I wrote another one-shot song-fic called STRONG. Please go read and review. I'll love ya for it!
(I've reuploaded this about five times now. FanFiction is being mean with my italics!)
Chapter 27Logan and Storm had been walking for most of the day. Logan had decided he needed to vent his frustrations out by working himself to the max, and this included traipsing through the thick undergrowth. Storm did have difficulty following him through, but she said nothing. Eventually she found that a small wind in front of her pushed the foliage out of her way, and kept a cool breeze circulating around the pair.
Since Logan was in a somewhat unapproachable mood, the journey was going in silence.
With a careless swipe of his hand he pushed leaves from his face, going to stomp down through the soft floor as he trundled ahead with a determined glint in his eyes. A short while later, the pair were confronted by a diversion. Logan came to a slow halt, looking around slowly. By his side came Storm, too casting her eyes over the view.
There was the Northern run of the river passing by ahead, and it was far too wide and violent to cross. Logan blew an agitated sigh out of his lips as he repositioned the straps of the backpack on his shoulders. He turned his head slowly to glance to the left where he saw a steep and unfriendly looking mountain of a hill dotted by unfriendly looking pieces of jagged rock. The trail to the right meandered gently by the side of the river, sparse of dense foliage and carried a safe looking track down the river.
Logan turned his head slowly to the female beside him, "We need to get on the other side of the river, but also keep going alongside it to the North."
"Yes," said Storm softly whilst she studied the directions, "Rivers always pass by civilisations, and a group of Government workers is no exception."
"Probably use water as their power source.." murmured Logan to himself as he glanced over at the running water, "Right, come on.." he took another step, but Storm rested her hand on his shoulder,
"Wait, which way should we go?"
Logan turned his head to stare at her over his shoulder. He smirked at her words, "Going right of course.. the path looks used, should be safe to travel on.."
"Something doesn't feel right.. it looks too safe. What if we meet a Sentinel?"
Logan snorted, "Why would a Sentinel be wandering down the river?"
"Patrol?" said Storm as if this was the most obvious answer.
"I'd sniff 'em out. An' don't worry, Ororo, there ain't no whiff of a Sentinel here." Logan smiled reassuringly before turning his head to look back over their direction choice. He was about to continue walking when he heard a voice in the air. His gaze hardened and eyebrows furrowed viciously as he glared around him.
"Go left.."
He whipped his head around at Storm. She was tightening the straps of her bag and wasn't speaking a word.
"Go left.." came the voice again.
Logan looked back to the direction to the left. The rocks glistened brightly in the above sunlight, their edges as sharp as a razor. No way.
"Listen to me.." the voice whispered softly. Logan felt himself becoming extremely cautious. Why was he hearing this voice? And why were they trying to lead him to what looked like a painful death. The voice didn't sound potentially threatening. It had a smooth feminine quality to it that was reassuring and peaceful. But also there was strength to it, like the owner had a heart of courage and the determination of a fearless warrior. Logan shook his head slowly. He must have had some bad sleep to be hearing voices. This wasn't like him.
However, the voice continued, "Take your journey to the left."
Whatever this was, it was trying to kill him by the sound of it.
But the voice responded as if it had heard his thoughts, "I am not trying to kill you. I am protecting you. I am guiding you. Go left."
But if Logan was just showing his usual stubbornness or felt particularly reckless after the apparent sleeping arrangements, was anyone's guess. Either way, Logan strode determinedly to the right. Stupid voices. Maybe he should listen to Charles. No more late night alcohol.
Storm looked up, surprised to see Logan moving on and she hurried on after him, her hair fanning out mesmerisingly behind her as she gently leapt after the man. Logan looked over at her, giving a weak sort smile of apology before continuing to walk on, his eyes staring over the running water as the pair walked side by side. It really was a beautiful area. The river ran windingly beside them, the tall green trees arched searchingly over the water edge, seeking to reach the highest position in a bid for the scorching sunlight. Various flowers scattered the dirt paths either side of the banking, mixing their exotic colours in with the deep green foliage that rested at their hips.
With a deep breath Logan inhaled at the alien smells around him, he breathed out in a satisfactory manner, closing his eyes temporarily to rest them from the blinding rays of the sun. The sun beamed down from the vacancy in the strip of sky above, free of tree tops, so it was no wonder the troubles it caused, which included uncomfortable temperatures and sticky clothing.
Logan pondered over the voice that he had heard.. rather curious as to why he had heard such a thing.. or rather why he had imagined it. He didn't really want to express his concern to Storm; she'd probably think he couldn't handle the heat. Maybe that's what it was? But Storm looked all right..
"How are you feeling Logan?" came Storm's voice as she looked slowly to him out of the corner of his eye.
He eyed her suspiciously, saying nothing.
However, Storm sighed and ran a hand across her forehead, sweeping her side fringe out of her eyes, "I know this morning was difficult.."
"You don't," interrupted Logan simply, "Face it Storm, you don't know. No one does."
Another sigh, "I'm just trying to help Logan."
"I don't need any help," muttered Logan through gritted teeth as he tightened his hands on his bag straps.
Storm turned her head to him slowly, idly stepping over a small rock, "So, you're happy for Aurora to be moving on?"
"Do I look happy?" growled Logan, before stopping and immediately frowning. Storm walked ahead a few steps before realising the presence beside her had gone and she turned to blink coyly at him. Logan glared at her, "And what do you mean 'moved on'?"
"In case you didn't realise Logan, Aurora feels very strongly for you!" said Storm, looking at him with a strict expression. There was no smile or twinkle in her eyes now. She was being serious. It was the sort of expression she held when she was about to show you just how much electricity she could summon up to fry you with.
"I know that," continued Logan, the growl still on his words, "But she obviously doesn't feel strongly enough to stop fooling around with other men!"
"Well to be quite honest I don't blame her," snapped Storm with a narrow of her eyes. Logan's glare fell of his face in an instant and he looked surprisingly blank. "You haven't been trying very hard around her lately," continued Storm, "You can tell how bad she feels about when she kissed Remy in the garage and you still – "
"You know about that?" spluttered Logan, eyes going wider.
Storm glared all the mightier, "Unlike you Logan, she shares things with her close friends."
Logan looked away for a moment. How much else had Aurora told Storm? Come to think of it he really didn't want to know..
"However, it's time for you to face facts Logan. Life isn't all that great, things happen. She apologised, meaning it more than mere words, and you should be able to tell more than anyone if she is telling the truth or not. But you're just being as stubborn as ever." She breathed out an annoyed sigh, strands of hair blowing from her face at the breath, "Life isn't perfect."
"You're tellin' me?" snarled Logan suddenly, those claws of his bursting out of his knuckles at the surge of anger through his being, "Goddamnit I know life ain't perfect, Ororo! But how can you blame me for wanting some sort of happiness for once! If I can't have happiness I don't want nothin' at all! No Aurora!!"
"What about Madeline?" said Storm, the flare of anger in her eyes calming as she spoke in a softer tone, "What about her, Logan? Don't you have any happiness with her?"
Logan ran a hand slowly through the coarse mane of hair that sleeked over the top of his skull. He watched Storm before shaking his head defeatedly, "She's the only bit of happiness I got right now. An' she ain't even here with me.. It's driving me frickin' crazy.." he turned away as his claws returned back into his arms with their sleek metallic sounds. Logan stood with his back to Storm, holding his knuckles as he watched his bleeding wounds fade away. "Is it so bad to want some happiness for once, Ororo? Or have I committed enough sins to curse me forever?" he looked over his shoulder at Storm. There was a sad glazed over his eyes that made Storm start in surprise and guilt.
"No.." she murmured softly, "No, you're a good man Logan. You don't deserve these things to happen to you." She took a few steps towards him, but her third step was never made. Logan spun his head suddenly as he saw a long shining body suddenly gleam in the sunlight
"ORORO!"
Storm turned her head slowly to see a wide opened mouth of a large sleek snake. It slithered slowly down the branch of the tree beside her, winding expertly across the rough surface of the tree's bark. Logan heard her gasp fill the air as the snake lowered it's head levelly with her eyes, giving the woman a dark glare as it hissed lowly in its throat. Fangs arched out of its mouth.. glistening.. warning..
"What is it?" asked Storm quietly, her body unmoving as she stared right back at the creature.
Logan didn't move either. He crouched a little in a more defensive state as he watched the pair, "No clue," he murmured, "Might be poisonous. Don't risk it."
"It'll kill her if it bites. She won't receive medical treatment in time. Going right was a bad choice, Wolverine."
It was that voice again. Logan swallowed gently, becomingly increasingly worried for the welfare of his friend, "Ororo, just back off really slowly. I think it is a poisonous one."
"If she steps right she will trip backwards. Make her go left."
"Logan.." whispered Storm softly, an obvious desperation coming into her voice, "Help me.."
"Ororo," replied Logan in a firmer voice, "Move away, but step to your left."
She moved back slowly, following his instructions. She safely manoeuvred away from the pointed rock that was sat to her right. She swallowed slowly, slowly becoming more determined and less frightened of the snake and it's obviously threatening position. She could get out of this situation, she could.
"It will retreat if you both back away. When it leaves, return back to the junction and go up the hill."
When Storm was close enough, Logan slowly extended his hand towards the woman's back, his hand met her shoulder and he gently pulled her towards him, "Move back," he murmured reassuringly in her ear as the pair began to take slow cautious steps backwards from the rearing snake that glared it swirling black eyes at them fiercely, it's tongue flickering hungrily at the air.
"It's going," whispered Storm softly as she watched the dark skinned snake flash them one last glare before turning back into the tree and slowly winding around the trunk as it slid expertly back up into the confinements of the branches.
When it disappeared Logan blew out a low sigh, shaking his head slowly, "Alright.. it seems this trail attracts quite a few wildlife. Let's go back and take the left."
"You sure?" asked Storm, turning and raising a slim brow at him.
"Positive," grunted Logan as he strode away from her.
Thanks for reading. Would love it if you reviewed too! Go on, you know you want to! Do it for mee, for meeeee.