DISCLAIMER:
As you should know, I do not own the X-Men. They are the sole property of Marvel Comics Group. However, I do claim assorted OC's and will generally share if asked politely.

Lost, Then Found
by Dizi

Chapter 4

By popular consensus, Logan had no classes early in the mornings. He was able to handle dawn if he felt the need, but resisted if he 'had' to - missions didn't count. Having him deal with kids first thing wasn't a good idea. Even so, Logan did have a regular wake-up time. For some unknown reason, he woke around nine daily.

The morning after Dr. Strange's consultation, he woke at his usual time. Immediately after his eyes opened, his phone rang.

Reaching over to the nightstand, Logan picked up the receiver with a grumpy, "What?"

"Good morning, Mr. Logan," came a man's deep voice in polite, formal, business-like tones. "I am calling on behalf of Morgan. She has chosen to lend her assistance to Melody."

"That's good ta hear." Meaning it, he was now wide awake. "Where do we meet?"

"Go to the woods on Xavier's property and follow the main path. Guides will find you and show you the way."

"If she's comin' here, why can't she come inside?" Sitting up on the side of the bed, Logan was confused.

"You misunderstand. It will be clear when you are on your journey. Oh, and you are welcome to bring your teammates. Morgan suggests the one's who witnessed Stephen Strange's demonstration, Mr. Logan."

"I would'a anyway," he grunted. "An' its just Logan."

"I apologize. Your vernacular preferences were not made known to me, Logan."

"It happens." Looking down at the boxers, which were the only clothes he had on, Logan said, "It'll be awhile, I just woke up."

"Your state has been taken into account and Morgan will be available for the rest of the day." There was a pause. "As a personal recommendation, I suggest not taking too long or she might become distracted. She's very busy, you know."

Not knowing at all, Logan wasn't sure how to reply. A not so polite remark was on the tip of his tongue when the line disconnected.

Logan stared at the phone for a full minute. He had clearly heard the click when the man hung-up but there was no dial-tone. The line was completely dead.

Pulling the nightstand out, he blinked at the phone cord dangling down unconnected. Thinking back, he vaguely recalled jerking it out of the wall two weeks ago.

Charles was disappointed he would not be able to accompany them. None of his chairs were suitable for a trek in the woods. Having someone carry him the whole way was both unacceptable and unrealistic, not to mention undignified. Emma promised to keep him informed telepathically, though she didn't seem especially eager to go herself.

The 'main path' they assumed the stranger had referred to - there were actually many - started on the north side of the property. Winding around the area the children played in and bypassing the lake, it was the most convenient way into the woods. Mostly it was used by those wanting solitude.

Though Emma was dressed in her customary white, none were wearing their uniforms. Scott had suggested plain clothes so they would not come across as threatening. Logan hadn't intended to 'suit up' anyway, but Ororo and Kurt had needed to change. This had given Logan time to gobble some food and gulp down a couple cups of coffee.

"It is strange she would wish to meet on the property, in the forest," Ororo commented quietly. By then they were about twenty yards inside and could no longer see the building. She kept looking around her nervously.

"Know this place like the back o' my hand, so its fine with me." Logan shrugged. He was more than happy to be in his element for the meeting. Belief in the supernatural didn't mean he was comfortable with it.

"It's a powerplay or a mind game." Emma brushed dirt off her white slacks. This was why she hated nature. "This Morgan is trying to be mysterious while calling the shots."

"Who cares?" Scott said irritably. "She's going to help Logan, that's all that matters."

"Not exactly." Logan looked around. He had said he knew the woods, but... his landmarks were looking a little off. They were still there, they just felt different. "Guy said she'd help Melody. Since that's where the problem is, guess it's the same thing."

They continued in silence for another ten yards or so. Then the wind shifted and Logan stopped at full alert. "Got news fer ya. We ain't on Chuck's property no more."

"Great," Emma muttered. "Now we're trespassing on some neighbor's land."

"Nien," Kurt stood straight, his childhood experiences with Margali lended his voice authority. "She has used her magic to bring us to her."

"Wind don't come from the west this time o' year in West Chester." Logan sniffed the air. "It also don't have salt in it."

"Bright Lady," Ororo breathed, pointing a slightly shaking finger. "What is that?"

No one else saw anything.

Scott said dismissively as they continued, "Probably just a squirrel."

"Squirrels are not orange," she said firmly.

The leaves on the trees were thick making the sunlight dim. There was no longer a path and they were simply wandering in the same general direction.

Logan strained to catch every sound. He agreed with Ororo that it hadn't been a squirrel but wasn't sure yet what it was. His senses didn't seem to be doing him much good to identify it nor find their way. But if they were lost, he was sure he could find the way out. Eventually.

The wind shifted again but it felt natural this time. He caught a scent. At the same time, he saw the creature and became disgusted with himself.

Sitting on a rock, as though it owned it, was a cat. Logan wasn't sure how he'd missed it. "See, darlin'? Nothin' to worry about, just a kitty."

"Oh, and is it not lovely?" Ororo knelt down to pet the black and white feline, an ordinary house-cat. It arched into her hand as she stroked it from head to tail.

"Keep it away from me," Emma said disdainfully, gesturing at her clothes. "Cat hair does not go well with white."

Scott and Kurt exchanged amused glanced. There was no need for her to be concerned about the cleanliness of her clothes. They were covered in dust, her white boots now almost brown.

Another cat jumped down from the low limb of a tree. As though to show it didn't care for her attitude, the marmalade rubbed itself against her leg. Then there was another cat and another. White, Calico, Siamese, the X-Men were surrounded by cats. They moved around so much it seemed like more but there was actually only a half dozen.

As one, all the felines suddenly ran a short distance away and stopped in a group. For all the world, they appeared to be waiting. The humans didn't know what to think.

A footstep crunched from the other side of the cats. As one the felines turned to look in the direction of the sound, the X-Men looking too.

"Oh good, you found them." Logan recognized the man's voice from the phone a couple hours ago. From behind a tree stepped a man of average height who could have been walking off the page of a magazine. He was wearing navy slacks and a loose maroon shirt, his blond hair cut short was disheveled but in the latest fashion.

"Yer the guide?" Logan asked, raising a shaggy brow. "Why didn't ya say so?"

"No, I'm not the guide." As on the phone, his voice was polite and business-like. Matter of factly, he indicated the cats. "They are. My name is Dayne. Some consider me to be Morgan's assistant, but really they are that too. I do what they cannot. Like answering phones and talking to people."

"Not many could be vith a sorceress all ze time." Kurt observed. "You are brave, ja?"

"Many might say so." Dayne nodded at him congenially, though his expression remained stoic. "You sound like you have some experience."

"I recognize magic vhen I see it," was all Kurt admitted.

"I can see you are more learned than most." He gestured for them to move along. "We should continue walking. Morgan was going to the conservatory and we want to get there before she becomes too involved with something."

The cats strolled like they had all day, as cat's tended to do, but they set a quick pace nonetheless.

"Ya don't look like a houseboy ta me," Logan said suspiciously after they had gone a fair distance.

"Logan, do not be rude," Ororo admonished.

"Yes, lets not offend the man who knows the way home," Emma put in. Wherever they were, she couldn't contact Charles. They were on their own and she didn't like it.

"You give me too much credit, ma'am." Dayne stepped easily over a log covered in moss. "As I said, they are the guides. And 'houseboy' would be an incorrect term, 'majordomo' would be closer. I do whatever Morgan requires doing as she spends too much time with the spirit world to understand the mundane."

"Margali had a whole band of gypsies to take care of her," Kurt acknowledged. "Zey are like zat."

"Then you also understand better than most." Dayne gazed ahead. "We are getting close. The cats are becoming impatient. Watch the tabby, he is the leader."

The dark orange-stripped cat was running back and forth between them and the other cats ahead. It did seem to be indicating for them to hurry.

"You read them well," Emma commented. "Are you a mutant?"

"No, I am not. The reason I 'read' them, as you say, is because I live with them and know them. Most things have an explanation other than mutants being involved." Dayne looked at her steadily. They walked a few more minutes when he paused to announce, "We're here."

'Here' was a small mint-green Victorian style house nestled in a meadow, completely out of place in the forest. There were more cats all over, perhaps a dozen. They were draped on the wide rail surrounding the large porch, in the rocking chair by the door, several sunbathing in the grass.

But what caught their attention was a very large cat the size of a panther with markings similar to a Calico sleeping on the swinging bench hanging from the ceiling. Its tail swayed gently in time with the bench.

"Mein Gott!" Kurt exclaimed while Logan held back an instinctive growl for a natural enemy.

Scott swallowed. "Is it safe?"

Since he hadn't completely stopped like they did, Dayne had to turn around to face them as he said in a slightly warning tone, "As long as you are not a danger to Morgan. Keara is her familiar."

to be continued.

note: Not much to say that wouldn't give anything away. Those questions are still there. The answers are still coming. And I'm still not gonna tell. Sorry.

Back to my regular schedule so next chapter will be out next Wednesday.

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi