WOLVERINE'S WORLD - THE LADY OF STORMS

Olivia looked better, but she wasn't Blood. Our encounter with the Destroyer - and particularly our airborne escape - had left all of us injured. However, Rahne and I were recovering far faster than Olivia ever could. Olivia was still limping, and using her pole-arm as a combined staff and crutch.

"I want you and Rahne to go on," Olivia eventually told me. Her voice was calm to the point of being almost conversational.

The sun was finally setting. Our meager camp was steadily sliding into darkness. However, I could still make out Olivia's face. Behind the bruises, burns, and cuts, she looked quite determined. As far as she was concerned, she had thought the situation through and come to the only reasonable conclusion. Olivia was one of those people who was good at accepting the unacceptable.

"What do you mean?" I asked carefully. Actually, I was fairly sure I knew where the conversation was going. The priestesses of the Temple can be a determined lot when it comes to something they feel is their duty. And, if anything, Olivia was more strong-willed than most.

"We need to get what we know back to the Point," Olivia replied without hesitation. "There is no guarantee that your friends will make it back with word of the dark-elves. And we three are the only people who know about the Destroyer and Laufey."

"We've stirred up both the dark-elves and Odin's most deadly engine of destruction," I pointed out. "Perhaps we shouldn't split up."

Olivia gave me the sharp look of somebody who was used to being obeyed. "You and Rahne can travel much faster without me. Get back to the Point, seeker. I'll hide here for a while, and once I'm feeling better I'll work my way to safety."

Rahne gave me a look that let me know she didn't like Olivia's idea. Virtually any encounter with our enemies would be the end of Olivia.

"Can you fly?" I asked. If we abandoned Olivia, that would vastly increase her chances of survival.

Actually, that was a rather rude question to ask a servant of the Lady of Storms. The ability to truly ride the winds is a special sign of Lady Ororo's favor - not many were capable of actual flight. But that wasn't the time to worry about sensibilities.

Seemingly unfazed by my question, Olivia shook her head. "The High Lady has never honored me in that way."

"Then apparently we should stay together," I suggested.

Olivia's smile was quite taut. "Seeker, are you always so sentimental about injured strays? Do the wise thing and leave me."

"I'm very sentimental when the stray in question has saved our lives," I replied dryly.

Then Olivia's smile turned crooked. "Are we really going to argue about this?"

I let out a sigh. "For all we know, the Destroyer is still stalking us. I'd rather not give away our position with a lot of yelling."

Then I squinted up at the sky. Venus was becoming visible. The moon wouldn't rise for a while. And it was still getting colder.

"Let's get some sleep," I suggested. "Whatever we decide, a few more hours of rest will help."

Olivia took the argument no further.

We didn't bother to establish watches. Rahne and I would know if anyone approached - even if we were asleep. Whether or not we could deal with whatever might discover us was another question. I had several escape routes mapped out in my head. I didn't think fighting would be a wise option.

Rahne was nestled between Olivia and I - our improvised reed blanket really wasn't big enough for the three of us, but we made the best use of it that we could. Rahne dropped off to sleep almost immediately. Olivia was more tired than she wanted to admit, and she followed Rahne into the arms of sleep in just a few moments.

With my hands behind my head, I lay awake and stared up at the sky, counting meteors and waiting for the Old One to deliver a sign. However, there were no signs to be seen. Just the stars and some faint points of light drifting along a steady route from west to east. The scholars who study the heavens claim those lights are the ships of a powerful race who live among the stars.

Olivia had her arms around Rahne. One of Olivia's hands ended up on my chest, tucked underneath what was left of my shirt. It was a completely innocent accident of sleep, born out of the natural search for body heat, but I was surprised by the effect it had on me.

Warm and erotic memories of Anna and Emma ran through my mind. The life of a seeker was supposed to be one of ascetic and solitary wandering. The company of others was not forbidden to me, but I wasn't supposed to seek it out. But lately, I'd found myself surrounded by others.

Perhaps I was not being sufficiently devoted to my path?

I was considering that unwelcome thought when sleep finally found me.

But sleep brought an unexpected visitor.

"Hello, James," Lady Ororo said to me. She was standing a few yards away, leaning with her back up against a red oak. A soft glow emanated from her, illuminating our camp in a faint light. Her straight hair fell below her waist, like a stunning banner of silver-white. She wore a strange outfit dominated by a long, yellow-trimmed, black cloak. Her arms, midriff, and upper legs were exposed. Her attire was considerably different than the long, flowing robes she's normally depicted as wearing. I've seen her garbed like that in ancient paintings in the oldest temples. In our era, those paintings are considered somewhat disrespectful and few are allowed to see them.

I gently extricated myself from Rahne and Olivia and got to my feet. Neither of them woke - which was unlikely. Rahne should have instantly sensed that something was amiss.

"I thought it would best if they continued sleeping," Lady Ororo assured me.

I bowed low to the Lady of Storms. "Gracious Lady, I am honored by your presence, but is this a dream or is it real?"

The Lady smiled at my question - humor dancing in her large blue eyes. "Why can it not be both?"

Which, of course, wasn't really an answer. The spirits do seem to love their mysteries.

"How may I serve you, my Lady?" I asked formally.

"I want nothing from you, James. I just thought we might talk."

That made me uneasy. "Talk about what?"

"About the path you have been walking ever since your old life ended."

Even after so many years, the old, old, hurt lanced through me. Once, I was a lord - and a powerful one. Many lesser lords and holders were sworn to me. My brave samurai numbered in the hundreds. My lands were bountiful and I shared that bounty with those who'd sworn themselves to me. I delivered justice when necessary and did my best to be fair and wise. I treated my vassals well.

More importantly, I had wives, sons, and daughters, and I cherished them all.

Then Malekith the Accursed led his legions to our world. Within just a few days, all I had was gone.

In the aftermath, I became a landless wanderer in the service of the Old One. A wanderer who was really searching for... for...

I shook my head to drive away the rest of that thought.

"With all respect, my Lady," I said carefully. "My path does not involve you. I am sworn to the Old One."

Lady Ororo's smile became even broader. "I will not deny that, James. However, can you not allow a moment for one of the Old One's closest companions?"

I nodded immediately. "Of course, my Lady."

The Lady returned my nod. "James... I am concerned that you have recently missed some important signs."

I think I blinked in surprise. Then I frowned. "My Lady, seeking for signs is what I do. After all these years, I hope I'm good at it."

Lady Ororo took a step closer me. The impact of her sheer presence was... difficult to describe. I could see why she and the Old One had been so close. "You have followed signs, James. Lately, you have been following some very important signs. But perhaps there have been signs that are too close to who you are. So close that you cannot quite bring yourself to truly see them."

"What signs?" I asked bluntly. Perhaps I dared allow a note of challenge to creep into my words.

"Oh, James..." the Lady chided, shaking her head at my obtuseness. "In just the last few days you have encountered a lost wife and a long-absent daughter. And you have also found a new lover and a new daughter. Tell me, seeker. What do those signs mean? What are they trying to tell you?"

I stared at the goddess.

It was like I had been hit by a thunderbolt. I was stunned. I couldn't move or speak.

The signs I saw were about the Old One and the Blood, about justice and need, about history and the world. They were about events great and small, but they weren't about me. Because there was no 'me'. Not anymore. I'd been dead inside for so long.

Yet somehow I'd never found true death. No matter how hard I tried to find it.

"Why are you telling me this?" I finally asked.

The Lady took my face in her hands and kissed me.

"It is an old habit, James - I dragged your grandfather back from the edge more than once, and you remind me so much of him. Oh, and thank you for taking care of Olivia. Please be patient with her. She is one of my bravest daughters, but she can be stubborn."

Then she kissed me again.

"Consider the signs, seeker," Lady Ororo whispered to me.

And then she was gone.

"Daddy?" Rahne asked anxiously. She had her hands on my shoulders and was shaking me. Startled out of my dream, my eyes met hers. She was frightened.

I took Rahne in my arms and hugged her tight. She buried her face in my chest.

I was standing in the middle of our camp. It was still dark, but now it was raining - a warm and gentle rain that had thankfully replaced the recent chill.

That was no accident, of course.

Olivia was on her feet, but keeping her distance. She was staring at me and worry was written all over her face. I suppose it looked to her as if I was having some kind of attack or seizure.

Still holding onto Rahne, I looked up into the cloud-covered sky and let the downpour trickle down my face.

It tasted of life.