Athena, despite everything that had just happened (and the fact that Siete had gained access to the Academy), couldn't help but smile as she saw all of the X-men present in animal form. They were almost like a menagerie of animals at a zoo, and fun to play with; however, Athena knew that they had to be turned back—the longer they stayed animals, the harder it would be to force a change to their natural forms.
Rogue, a lioness, walked up to Athena and started to nuzzle her leg. Can we keep these forms? This lioness feels so strong . . . Athena knelt down to give her friend a good petting and rubbing. She'd actually felt the same way as Rogue did; when she'd been competing for the right to be the best matrixa, the extra power that the moonlight afforded her during that match had allowed her to change into a lioness for part of the match. However, she'd had to give the form back; after all, whatever she took from the Earth's power, she had to give back after she was done. Sighing and scratching Rogue's ears, Athena said, "I'm afraid not, love. The longer you stay in these forms, the harder for me it'll be to change you all back. Already, when I change you back, you'll be as naked as the day you were born." Athena rose, and took Rogue gently by the skin of her neck. "Now then, I think we should get you changed back. We'll need to go to the bathroom for this. Follow me, Rogue." Rogue let out a small feline grunt, but soon followed close behind Athena.
Suddenly, Athena thought to bring Jean as well, so that she could change the two women, the easiest of cases, first. "Come along, Jean," Athena spoke, her English accent more than apparent. Jean, who had been testing the claws and muscles of the Bengal tiger she'd been changed into, let out a small roar as she set out at a quick pace for the entrance of the bathroom, where Athena and the lioness that was Rogue were waiting. When all three of them were in the bathroom, Athena peeked out to the men to say, "Wait right there. You'll be next." With that, Athena closed the door and awakened the power in the very center of her own mind.
She heard the voice that was her own inner aura, and saw her power in her mind's eye. Closing her eyes and putting her hands on the heads of Rogue and Jean, she sighed and let her blood, especially the portion from Akasha and her blessed birth as the Mother of the Matrixas, run through her voice. Saying the spell that she and her brothers had probably memorized (having used it so much after a big fight), a smirk appeared on her face at all the happy memories of her life. Concentrating on the moment, however, Athena let the words flow through her mind and the minds of the two women who were in different forms than their natural ones. Give these ones the peace of mind that every rage has subsided. Let them remember themselves, and the pride of who they are; let the Earth remember, and consent to their return of their forms. Athena sighed, and felt the pleasant energy flow through her limbs.
She dared not open her eyes for the privacy of Rogue and Jean. "Are you guys human?" Sighing, her eyes still closed, she was relieved when she heard the sighs of the two women. "Well, I admit that it was nice to feel what it was like to be a predator, but it's nice to have my own form back," Athena recognized Jean's voice, and said, "So you guys are okay?" Rogue nodded, though she soon realized that Athena had her eyes closed, and said, "Yes." Athena then rose and headed towards the door. "I'll be back with some clothes after I handle Logan and Scott. ' Till then." Rogue and Jean bid Athena well as she closed the door, then opening her eyes.
While Athena had been in the bathroom with Rogue and Jean, Scott and Logan had been almost like two predators about to go at it in the jungle. Scott liked that form that he'd gotten, but Logan was sure that his wolf could kick the crap out of Scott's puny cheetah any day of the week. When Athena finally came to change them back, she saw that Scott and Logan were about to have a fight—and she wasn't sure who would win. Catching Logan just as he was about to pounce on Scott, she held his muzzle with her hands. "My God! I leave you alone for just about fifteen minutes, and you almost kill each other! You're almost worse than my two brothers." Athena roughly took Logan by the neck and put him in a corner. "Your form is a royal one, and will be harder to change back. I don't even know how you freaking ended up with it. It's a type of wolf that only werewolves manifest when they change—especially the werewolves in Paris. Hence, it's a Parisian wolf and damned tricky. I have that form myself; I should know." Looking at Scott, she smiled. "Come on now, I have to find a way to get you changed back without you getting embarrassed." Scott growled a bit, and followed Athena to a bathroom that was just for men, and used only by the X-men. She let him enter first, and sat down next to him, so that her back was facing him. Reaching around herself to touch his scrawny cheetah arm, she said the same incantation once more, pulling Scott out of his changed state, and setting things back to normal.
When she sensed that things were as they should be with regard to Scott's form, she bid him farewell, promising clothes when she returned. Knowing that she'd just done the easiest bit of magic, Athena sighed as she approached a Logan that was still a wolf. "Come on, you," Athena said, pulling his neck. "We should go up to your room, so that we can get you clothes right away . . . but I don't know if you'll even change back right now. Your form may change back on its own." Athena led Logan up the stairs and to their room. "Sit down on the bed," Athena sternly said, "and cover yourself in the event you do change back right now." Logan did as he was told, liking his normal form better than staying a wolf all his life. Athena sighed, and sat down on the bed, on top of the covers, next to Logan. Putting her hands on his head, she knew that the incantation she'd used with the others would be useless with Logan. Rather, she tried to pick his very essence out of the sea of his mind, where the mind of the wolf had taken refuge. However, her mind was pushed out of Logan's. The moment she saw that he hadn't changed a bit, she knew that his form would disappear when it chose to, as she had predicted.
Sighing, she said, "Logan, I'm afraid you'll have to keep this form for a little while. It'll only go away when it wants to. But I must say . . . " Athena slipped off the bed, and rose to get some clothes for the other X-men. ". . this form does suit you. The Parisian wolf has often been known as a wolf that plays dirty in its maneuvers, and whose demeanors are unpredictable, though it is a truly attractive wolf. It's a good choice for a form, though on account of the attractive quality of the wolf, I daresay that Scott should have gotten it." Athena laughed at Logan's expense, then left him under the covers as she went to Jean, Scott, and Rogue's rooms to get clothing for them. Athena tried not to disturb Bobby, who had apparently been studying diligently in his room while all the action had been downstairs.
Almost at the perfect moment, when everyone was dressed and more than ready to get some sleep, Athena heard Kurt and Storm's car pull up. Smiling at the thought of their good time, she sent everyone to bed, and went upstairs herself to catch a bit of sleep—something that she hadn't done formally in a while. She didn't want to intrude at the end of their date; however, she would be sure to ask Storm about all the details in the morning. However, when she saw Logan's restlessness, she knew that even tonight, she wouldn't get much sleep. He had left the bed, and was pacing back and forth. Get me out of this form, Logan said, almost forcefully. He wanted to sleep in his own body and not have anxiety eat at him at the thought that he was at the mercy of the wolf inside of him on the matter of getting his own body back. Athena smirked and grinned at him, kneeling before him as she started to check his eyes and vital signs. "I thought that this form suit you. You don't want to wear it anymore?" Athena mocked him, and could have laughed at the sight of him. It was so strange to see a Parisian wolf, regardless of the person underneath, wag its head from side to side so quickly. "Okay, okay," Athena said, afraid that the wolf's brain would be so scrambled that it wouldn't be able to sense direction. "Let me have a second."
Walking over to the window, Athena parted the curtain. She smiled inside-- she must have lost track of the days—for she saw a beautifully full blue moon. Athena was normally aware of the phases of the moon because of what she was; now she had come to Xavier's Academy and lost her awareness of everything. She knew that tonight, her brothers and father would be running across the countryside, rejoicing in the reign of the moon—especially the blue moon, which was so famously uncommon. Smiling at the thought of her home, she turned back to Logan. "Fine. I'll help you. You're a male wolf, right?" Logan growled, and looked at her as if it was obvious. "Alright, alright. It's just that. . I've seen guys who don't normally have the ability to change into wolves change into the wolf of the opposite sex." Athena swallowed and started to unzip her leather outfit. "Then wait for me, and I'll come and help you. Out you go. . wait just outside the door. I'll be right out." Waiting for him to leave the room, she closed the door behind him. Undressing, she carefully put her clothes in the closet.
Athena sighed as she let the change of the Parisian wolf come over her, and overtake her whole being. When she left the room, she was a Parisian wolf, and longing to run rampant over the countryside.
Athena led Logan to a part of wilderness near the Academy where they both ran and played as if nothing else mattered to them. She couldn't help thinking that they were playing in a manner that wolves in love usually played in. She knew that she'd been daydreaming, but she couldn't help looking helplessly up at the moon after having howled at it, full of sorrow. She lay on the ground, fresh with the dew of the spring night. Athena listened to her own animal breath, and soon heard Logan's as well; he was standing above her, looking at her with brown eyes that were just like the ones he had as a human.
What's wrong? Why are you lying down like that?
Nothing. . it's none of your business. Just go and run some more. Running tires a wolf out, and it's almost certain that the Parisian wolf in you will disappear if you tire it out.
Logan turned to obey Athena's wishes, but he couldn't help but turn back and stare at her.
What's your problem? Go, run.
Are you homesick? Logan blatantly ignored her words in his head, and lay down next to her, in the same manner as she.
Yeah, in a manner of speaking, Athena sighed. I miss the days when I was loved . . . when someone would hold me and say everything was okay. I just wish . . . Athena sighed, and looked intently at Logan. You don't want to hear it. It's just my own drama, and we know how you can't deal with that. Athena turned away from him, as they both remembered that Logan had walked out on her when she'd opened her heart and her dark past to him. She'd begun to love him then, and she realized, while running under the light of the moon with him, that those feelings had never gone away, and had just been buried under her sorrow and woe.
Logan blinked his eyes and nuzzled her so that she turned towards him. Athena, I don't know how much it means, but I just want you to know that I didn't appreciate that you hid it from me. I mean, I don't have a great past either, but I didn' t like that you hid from me. That's the truth . . . I mean, I thought first that I could never . . . feel for a person that drank blood, but now I know that that's the reason. I hate your dishonesty.
Athena exhaled through her wolfish nostrils, and laughed within her mind. I didn't even know you had a dark past. I guess you never told me. So much for being honest; I thought that honesty worked both ways. I told you all about me—everything— and I didn't even ask about you. Athena looked at him, and felt herself ache at the sight of him. She wanted to be able to love him, as her emotions grew at the sight of seeing him as the attractive wolf he was. Logan . . . I want to be honest. I don't want to lie . . . not to you. I have nothing to hide from you . . . from anyone here anymore. I don't need to know anything about you. I want you . . . to know me better than anyone else does. Even my brothers. Athena rose, and sat on her haunches. But even then, I can't forget all the horrible things you said. I was . . . a whore, yes. But do you know that I wanted to kill myself everyday? The only thing that kept me whole was the feeling that something was coming . . . something better. Lestat and all my potential revealed to me was that chance. Even though he's left me now, I know that I hold my heart and my feelings in my own hands. I'm not . . . a whore, a slut. . anymore. Now, I'm a strong woman who protects herself; all those things I said, I was just protecting my heart and myself. I'm alone, Logan, a woman who's four millennia away from her family and those she loves. Remember that.
Logan felt the power of this young girl, and knew that she was hurting inside. He felt terrible about all of the wrongs he'd done—about all of the things he'd said to her that made her hurt even more. He understood completely, what Lestat had been to her. Her chance to escape an emotional hell. Something was touched inside of him as he realized that despite the beauty of the night, she was suffering even now. While Athena lay in the grass, losing herself in the dew, Logan tread lightly on the wet grass and nuzzled her gently. I'm sorry, Athena. I will remember that. That . . . and the fact that you're a surprisingly pretty wolf. Logan was surprised when she pushed him away with the sheer force of her muscles. He fell on his back, and thought that Athena would run off without him. However, she walked towards him, and said, I'm sorry, Logan. It's just that . . . I'm not used to being called pretty, and it being said not by someone who . . . Athena sighed, and lay next to him. Lupin's been trying to get me married for some time now, and there are suitors who would say anything just to be able to brag that they bedded the best matrixa. Up to now, I've only trusted Lestat with those kinds of things.
It's okay, Logan said. I'm just glad you told me about it. If wolves could smile, Athena and Logan would be smiling at each other. Logan had seen both the best and worst of this woman, and found that he wanted to help her find her own best, and figure out with her all of the darkness of her past. Athena knew that Logan was more than the rogue character he presented. All he wanted was the truth, and she was more than willing to give it to him.
Taking a deep breath, Athena rose and started to have a romp with Logan. She pulled gently at his ears and the skin around his neck. Oh no you don't, Logan said, chuckling in his mind. He tackled her, and started to wrestle her. Athena struggled and panted in his grasp, but she managed to escape and started to lead him on in a game of cat and mouse. They ran, as quickly as they could, until Logan caught Athena under a big oak tree. They rolled around, Athena sometimes on top of Logan, and Logan sometimes overtaking Athena's canine strength. Each was enjoying themselves; Logan could feel all of his energy being released, and Athena remembered the joy of a good romp at home. However, they probably weren't being alert enough, for they slid together down a steep incline, clinging to each other, hoping that they wouldn't be too badly injured.
But when they looked at each other when they were at the bottom of the incline, Athena could've blushed when she saw that she was in Logan's canine arms—as if they were mates, and about to make love. Athena could sense Logan's embarrassment, and treated the situation casually. Sliding out of his grasp, she said to him, nuzzling his shoulder, We should get back. It's so late . . . and I'm so tired, if you don't mind. Logan followed Athena, clawing their way up the incline. I don't mind, Logan said in her mind, and she could have shivered at the comforting tone in his telepathic voice. They walked back to the Academy, both of them feeling fresh and ready to start over in the morning. Athena felt like getting some work done and finally getting down to the problem that lay in Jean—and to begin the transition that Lupin had once said was necessary. Logan, on the other hand, felt the wolf leaving him. He felt himself becoming wholly him again, and scampered up the stairs ahead of Athena at the thought. Logan also wanted to go to the bathroom before he became his naked self and embarrassed Athena again. He succeeded, and changed into a clean white undershirt and some black pants before Athena came into the room.
Athena, upon entering the room, sighed, which was strange for a wolf. Good, you're yourself. I was beginning to think you'd never change back. Yawning, she scratched her back, saying to herself, Man, am I tired. Time to hit the sack. Deftly getting a black shirt and some white pants from her closet with her teeth, which had held many a gentle wolf pup, she went to the bathroom. I'll be right out, Athena said, after putting her clothes on the bathroom counter. Getting up on her hind legs, the young girl carefully closed the door using her paws and teeth.
As they both settled into bed, in the forms that nature had given them, Logan couldn't help but watch Athena fall asleep. He would remember this night for a long time—the night when a young girl had shown him the best and worst of herself, and had asked for only one thing in return—acceptance. Possibility was revealed to him as he slipped into the comforting embrace of sleep.
