The dark-haired girl slunk through the trees and undergrowth, stealthy as a fox, senses peeled for any sign of life. She wasn't necessarily on the hunt, but if she happened to catch the scent of any prospects she wouldn't say no.

Laura briefly glanced over her shoulder, noticing that Jean's calls had stopped. She must have given up again. Laura knew she was frustrating the red-headed woman by always going off on her own now, but Laura knew Jean had Albert to protect her now. And frankly, Laura needed her own space. However much she liked Jean, and wanted to keep her safe and however much she liked Albert. Having him around also left a bad taste in Laura's mouth.

More like a longing, actually. For her father. And Laura felt closer to him out here in the woods, with the animals, the rushing water and wind rustling through the trees. This place…brought back a lot of memories.

Gunfire. Men in black. Children. They were all running.

Then she was surrounded. Claws came out.

Then a fierce cry. She turned…

Laura blinked, remembering the sight of seeing Logan burst into view, after she thought she wasn't going to see him again. After he'd told her that he wasn't coming.

The young girl bit her lip, pulling the pink sunglasses off her head and staring up at the tall trees.

He had come back. He'd saved her. He'd saved them all…with the cost of his life.

But then he'd come back again.

And Laura wanted to believe with all the fierceness in her small body, that he'd come back again, for the third time, but she…wasn't sure if she could.

Jean had been upset lately, and Laura had no doubt it was because of Logan. But they hadn't spoken about it.

Laura shook her head and reached to put her sunglasses in her backpack, then froze hearing running in the distance. She sniffed the air, spinning around.

Albert came into view shortly. He looked rather pleased with himself when he spotted her. "Laura. Jean sent to find."

Laura forced a half smile, knowing Jean would want her to come back so they could continue on their way to the mountains. But she couldn't hide the slight disappointment that the familiar scent had not been her father after all. Each time, she expected it to be him, each time her heart leapt, only to fall to her feet. It wasn't Albert's fault, he was created, as a killing machine. He couldn't help who he was.

She watched as he slashed a tree nearby with his claws, marking it. He did this quite frequently, as his way of protecting them.

"Come on." She beckoned for him to follow and started to walk in the direction back at camp. He didn't follow. "Albert!" Laura scolded in a firm voice, turning and then frowning when she realised something wasn't quite right. Albert was stock still, eyes fixed on the distance further into the trees. He was listening.

Laura went over to stand next to him, scenting the air. Her blood ran cold.

She glances up at Albert, as if hoping he'd have answers. But the feral creature had none. Only that it obviously made him anxious and very alert.

Laura swallowed the lump in her throat before giving a little tug on his shirt. "We need to go to Jean." She insisted, her voice steady.

He didn't even any acknowledgement of hearing her.

"Albert, come!"

He spun this time, and the two of them raced back to camp, where Jean was packing the remainder of their things onto the motorbike.

"There you two are." She folded her arms and looked very much like a scolding mother—sounded like one too. Laura probably would have smiled…if the situation had been different.

"We smelled something."

Jean's expression changed instantly and she cast her gaze to Albert who was again, fixated on the distance behind them, a growl was sounding back in his throat. "What's going on?"

Laura wished she had an answer. "Someone's coming. They smell like him." She followed Albert's gaze as the scent became stronger. It was following them. "They're coming."

There was a moment of silence, as it registered for Jean what was happening.

If they had created Albert—X-25—there had to be more. They'd sent another killing machine after them. They needed to run.

"We need to go." She insisted frantically, pushing Laura toward the bike. "Albert, we have to leave!"

Albert did move, but he ran in the exact opposite direction Jean wanted him to. He moved closer to the line of trees surrounding the area of their camp. Trees with slash marks on them. The territory border. He paced some, the growl still lingering in the back of his throat.

Laura's keen eyes spotted a shadow move behind the trees and bushes.

The shadow burst from behind the trees.

Albert's claws burst from his knuckles and a snarl curved at his mouth.

Laura and Jean, and time itself, seemed to stop in that moment as the figure came face to face with Albert. Another pair of claws glinted in the light, knuckles stained red, eyes dark and full of fury. They stared at each other, braced, looking like they would pounce at any given moment.

Jean felt like her heart would burst from her chest. A faint whisper made it past her lips, a whisper hardly audible to human ears, but Laura caught it.

"Logan…"