Morgan checked out the infirmary that day, her new jeans and friends steering her directly to the kitchen. "Prof's orders," Bobby said, pulling her by the hand into the large room where the food was prepared. "Hey, Scott." A brown haired man with red sunglasses glanced up from the counter where he was having difficulty chopping vegetables.
"You!" Morgan exclaimed, shrinking back from the door, blood pounding in her ears.
"Me?" Scott replied looking bewildered. He raised an eyebrow over his glasses
"Then it was real! You, and the white-haired woman!" She glanced around in fear, as though Aurora might walk through one of the walls.Morgan looked back at him sharply, anger rising in her throat. "Where's my dog?"
"You have a dog?" Rogue asked, opening the fridge to grab three sodas. "I've always wanted a dog. Root beer?" But Morgan wasn't listening.
"He's fine, I promise, calm down," Scott replied, holding up his hands in surrender. "Aurora took him to the vet to get his shots. He shouldbe backany time now, I swear!"
Morgan continued to look unconvinced until a tall, well-dressed woman stepped in the door, leading a dejected Argus on a long red leash.He barked in happiness when Morgan's scent filled his nostrils, straining at the leash until Aurora finally gave up and let it go. He skidded across the tile and leapt up at Morgan, placing his paws on her shoulders and licking her face profusely. She accepted the dog's kissed, laughing and rubbing the big dog's ears in joy. She glanced over at Rogue and Bobby, who looked slightly horrified.
"He's…bigger than I imagined," Rogue offered, smiling nervously.
"And hairier," said Bobby bluntly, coming over to meet Argus, who bounded away playfully with a loud bark. Bobby laughed as Morganreached over and dragged himback by his new choke collar.
"Come on, bud, come meet Bobby and Rogue. Argus!" she exclaimed as the big dog growled in the back of his throat at Bobby, barring his teeth. Bobby jerked back in surprise, his ice blue eyes widening in fear.
"It's going to take him awhile to get used to all of the different mutations," Aurora said, putting down her purse and keys. "He doesn't take kindly to it. Just try again, Bobby."
Morgan calmed the great dog down until Bobby was able to reachout a handfor Argusto sniff. Argus eyed him warily, then licked the Boy Who Smelled of Cold's fingers gently, the Boy's touch cooling his tongue. Hewatched Bobby for a moment, then nudged his hand for petting. Bobby's face relaxed as he stroked the dog, scratching him under the chin. "Come 'ere, Rogue. He's harmless."
Rogue took a swig from her bottle of pop and came tentatively over to the dog, holding out a gloved hand for him to sniff. Argus took an immediate liking to the Girl With Strange Paws, leaping forward to lick her face excitedly. She jerked away instinctively; the dog's tongue was cool and wet. Argus leaned back in surprise, but showed no sign of being worse for wear when he touched her deadly skin. He panted happily as she patted him on the head.
Scott watched the interchange. Perhaps having the dog would turn out to be good for the kids. He looked up as Logan stormed ever so subtly into the room. He glared down at the party of students sprawled on the floor.
"Where'd that dog come from?" he asked, leaning over the kids to grab a bear out of the cabinet and handing it to Bobby. The boy chilled the bottle with a quick breath and handed it back. "Thanks," Logan said, taking a swig. "This your dog?"
"Yeah," Morgan replied, standing. "I'm gonna take him out, if that's ok."
"I'll go with you," said Rogue, Bobby, Logan all at once. Morgan raised an eyebrow, a sardonic smile crowding her small face.
"Thanks, but I can find my own way around. You guys finish your…beer," she said, grin widening, then scooped Argus's leash off the floor and headed for the door. "Come on, boy. See you guys later." She shut the door behind her, slightly more forcefully than necessary. Scott popped the top off of her abandoned root beer.
"She just needs time to adjust," Aurora said calmly to the hurt Bobby and Rogue, retrieving Scott's knife and slicing the rest of the vegetables with ease.
"All the same, I think someone should follow her. It isn't unusual for new kids to run off," Logan replied, eyeing pointedly at Rogue, who blushed. "I think I'll take a walk." He got to his feet, chugging the last of his Budweiser and grabbing two apples out of the basket. "See you guys later."