This part of the story takes place in a 'Dear Diary' format, from Jendayi's POV.

Dear Diary,

I can't believe that it's been two months since we last saw Magneto and his Acolytes. Henry checked me and Mil over, and said that what happened was a defense mechanism. It only kicks in when someone we love is in extreme danger. Mama's doing great! The ribs she hurt healed really well. She still has a little trouble breathing, but Henry says she'll be okay. Jamila's a little upset, because she hasn't heard anything about or from Pietro, but I think she'll be okay. He was a bitch anyway. Right now, Kurt and I are officially a couple, which is cool. He's really sweet, and I really like him. I think it bothers him that I'm not a virgin, since he's really religious, but him being who he is, he won't mention it. I'm fitting in pretty well in school, making friends and enemies. Since I have such a big mouth, most of the anti-mutant kids leave me alone, because they know I can back up what I say. Apparently, word got out that Jamila and I are ex- gang members, so again, they leave us alone. The only weird thing about that school is that there's like, ten black people, including me, Jamila and Evan. It's just plain strange, since I'm used to it being the reverse. But I guess I'll get over it. Oh, and I dyed my hair back to it's natural color! It's blackish red now, and Kurt says he really likes it on me. Anywayz, diary, that's just about everything. I'm out.

-Jendayi

Jamila and Jendayi woke at the same time, both reaching for their alarm clock, which was blaring Jay-Z's latest song. Jamila sat up and stretched, pushing her covers off as she did so. Jendayi tried to snuggle under the covers, but Jamila yanked them away from her twin's head. "Get up girl."

"Ah don't wanna."

Jamila pushed her sister out of bed. Jendayi growled loudly from her undignified position on the floor.

"Ah'm gonna take mah shower. You go eat or something."

Jendayi nodded. "Okay."

Jamila grabbed a denim skirt and white button down shirt before heading for the bathroom. Jendayi sat down, thinking about her sister. Jamila was fine on the outside, but that only hid what she really felt. She was still a bit upset over Pietro. Jamila had no idea that Jendayi could tell, so the lioness-girl kept her feelings to herself, crying when she thought no one was around. Jendayi sighed, sitting down on the bed and pulling her knees up to her chest. It made her feel a little guilty for her to be so happy with Kurt while Jamila cried herself to sleep some nights. Jendayi puttered around the room, trying to tidy up.

Jamila breezed into the room. "Your turn."

Jendayi set off for the bathroom. After she was done, the girls met with the people who caught rides with them daily: Kurt, Evan, Rogue and Kitty. They all set off.

Jamila was silent on the way to school, staring out of the window and thinking. She liked school, even though sometimes people tried to alienate her because of where she lived and what she was. She'd made some friends, and was settling in nicely. Jendayi pulled up at the school, and everyone got out, going their separate ways.

At lunchtime, Jamila was eating outside by herself, taking some time to relax and gather her thoughts. The next thing she knew, a concerned teacher was looming over her. "Jamila, you fainted."

Jamila moaned slightly, and tried to get up from the nurse's cot she was laying on. "What do you mean 'fainted'?"

The teacher, Miss Wilson, looked upset. "I was doing lunchtime duty, and when I looked over at you, you were lying on the ground."

Jamila's reply was a sneeze that made her grow cat ears. Miss Wilson tugged them gently. "Better put those away."

Jamila did so. "You're not scared of me?"

Miss Wilson shook her head. "I glow in the dark. After that, nothing fazes me anymore. I think you may have pneumonia. Your mother is on her way, so just sit back and relax. I already told Jendayi."

"She wanted to stay, didn't she?" Jamila said, grinning.

Miss Wilson rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. "Your parents must be really stubborn."

Jamila nodded. "They are."

Ororo came breezing into the room, looking worried. Jamila smiled, and sneezed, making her tail wave behind her. Miss Wilson bit back a laugh.

"Jamila, are you alright?"

Jamila got rid of her tail. "I feel sort of nauseous and I think I might have pneumonia, but other than that, I'm great!"

Ororo rested her hand on Jamila's forehead, and Jamila breathed in her mother's unique smell, fresh rain mixed with sandalwood and vanilla. "I will be taking you home, so Henry can look you over." With a nod to Miss Wilson, mother and daughter took their leave.

When Ororo pulled up to the Institute, Jamila slowly walked inside, where Logan was about to go out. Jamila smiled at him, swayed, and fainted. Logan looked questioningly at Ororo. "They think she has pneumonia. Could you take her to the lab?"

Logan lifted his tall daughter easily and carried her to Henry's lab, where he was eating lunch. "What happened, Logan?"

"She's sick is all I know," Logan said, depositing her on the bed. He nodded to Henry and left, knowing his presence would be objected to.

Jamila drew in a sharp breath, opening her eyes quickly. She looked up at Henry, who grinned in reassurance. "Did Ah faint again?"

Henry nodded. "Logan just brought you in. Having you conscious will make this much easier." Ororo walked in and sat down, waiting for Henry to finish looking Jamila over. After a thorough once over, Henry made his prognosis. "She's got 'walking pneumonia'. She'll be over it in about a week. Ororo, I suggest you have her work brought here so that she can get it done and not fall behind."

Jamila groaned. "Ah faint twice and it's still not enough to get me out of Algebra?"

Henry chuckled. "I happen to be quite proficient at algebra, and I will be more than willing to help you whenever possible."

Jamila brightened. "Thanks Henry."

"In the meantime, you'll be confined to the med lab, so as not to contaminate the other students. Don't worry, Logan, Ororo or Jendayi may visit you, but not for very long, as you'll mostly want to just sleep." Hank patted her shoulder and left. Jamila found herself growing very sleepy, and she relaxed into a deep slumber.

A WEEK LATER

Jamila sighed in boredom. She was completely alone in the Mansion. Xavier, Scott and Jean had gone to a conference on mutant rights in California, and everyone else was at weekend survival training in the Canadian wilderness. Jamila was sure she had been cured, but Ororo and Hank insisted that she stay home, just in case she had a relapse at the survival training. She sighed, and hopped from the bed. She was well enough to have gone to school Friday, but still not well enough to join everyone else at the survival training.

She wandered down to the front room, which was big enough so that she stretched out in the middle of it, looking up at the faraway ceiling. She relaxed herself into a light doze. She was almost fully asleep when someone began to pound frantically on the door. She jumped almost three full feet in the air, landing on her feet and heading for the door.

"Remy?!"

The very injured Cajun managed a lopsided grin. "Bonjour chere. Miss me?" He said before collapsing into a very surprised Jamila's arms.

Jamila was a pretty strong girl, so she managed to half carry, half drag the injured man to the elevator and drag him from the elevator to the infirmary. She set him on one of the beds.

"Remy? Wake up." She said, touching his cheek gently. His eyelashes fluttered, then opened wide. Jamila looked down at his bloodstained clothing. "Are you wearing underwear?"

That got him up. "Takin' advantage of an injured man, petite?"

"No! If Ah'm gonna fix ya up, Ah don't want to embarrass ya. Your leg looks broken, so Ah might have to cut you out of your clothes. Now, you stay awake, and tell me what happened."

Remy nodded weakly. "Sabretooth lost it. Magneto," He grunted slightly as Jamila cut his clothing off, pulling the fabric away from a nasty wound. "Tol' me handle it. He got me pretty good, but Remy knock him out."

"Do you know why, or where he is?"

"He's comin' here, chere. He wants to kill you." Remy passed out, leaving a stunned Jamila. She recovered quickly, bandaging his wounds the best she could before locking the gates securely from the house. She knew that wouldn't stop him, so she rolled Remy's stretcher to the Danger Room, the safest place she knew of. There, she attempted to send a message to the professor.

PROFESSOR!!

In Washington, Xavier winced, pressing a hand to his temple. Jean leaned down. "Are you okay?"

"Something's wrong with Jamila. I'll try to see what the matter is." No need to shout.

Sorry, but I've got Remy here, and he just told me that Sabretooth is coming here to kill me. I've locked us in the Danger Room, and locked the controls.

We'll be there as soon as we can. Have you tried to contact Jendayi?

No, but I'll try now. Jamila cut off her tie with the professor, and tried unsuccessfully to send a message to Jendayi. She tapped Remy's face. "Remy, wake up." When she got no answer, she tapped harder. "Remy, Ah mean it, wake up." After several unsuccessful tries, she began to cry. Several big teardrops splashed onto Remy's face, startling him awake. Jamila couldn't see him through her tears, so he grasped her hand weakly.

"Don' cry," He whispered.

Something began to pound on the door, denting it in several places. "Daddy's home!" Sabretooth growled. Jamila's eyes widened.

"This is it," She whispered. "Remy, don't move, no matter what." She pressed her lips to his swiftly, and managed a confident wink. "For luck."

Jendayi was in the Canadian wilderness, tracking Kitty, which wasn't too hard, as she was leaving a trail a blind moth could follow. She caught a glimpse of brown hair, just as the smell hit her. She froze, and then turned slowly to look up at the sky. "Magneto." A large hand clamped down on her shoulder.

"Magneto." Logan growled.

Ororo was bandaging Cannonball, who had taken a nasty scrape to the leg, when the professor sent her a message. You must return to the Mansion immediately!

Is Jamila okay?

Sabretooth has shown up, and is trying to kill her.

Ororo never got to reply, because a well-placed kick from Mystique sent her flying into Cannonball.

Jendayi had a fireball ready and waiting in her hands. "Where's Sabretooth?"

Logan shook his head. "I'll go for Mystique, and you take out Colossus." Jendayi nodded, and leaped into the fray.

Jamila gritted her teeth. "Get out."

"Is that any way to welcome yer dear daddy?"

Jamila's hands trembled. "Get out, now."

In two leaps, Sabretooth had knocked her against the far wall, where she connected sharply, sliding down it with a groan. She tottered to her feet, and tried to dodge the next blow, which caused her to strike her head against the wall. She shrieked with pain, and lay still for several seconds. Sabretooth gave a lazy chuckle and pulled her up, pinning her arms above her head with one hand. "Miss me?" He grinned psychotically, and Jamila fought back the tears of fear she felt. "You know, your little boyfriend tried to kill me. Can't have him interruptin' our father-daughter reunion, can we?" Sabretooth released her from his grasp, and headed towards Remy.

Moving faster than she thought herself capable, Jamila threw her body in front of Remy's, shielding it. An idle backhand from Sabretooth sent her sliding into the wall again. This time, several tears fell from her closed eyelids.

Jendayi was squaring off with Colossus when she fell to her knees. Kitty came to her aid, drawing her down into the earth and pulling her back up a safe distance away. The fire-controlling panthress had gone completely still.

"Jen, what's wrong?"

"Jamila, she's in trouble," Jendayi whispered. All of a sudden, it clicked. "It's a distraction! Sabretooth, he's going to kill her." Jendayi put her fingers to her lips and blew an ear-piercing whistle. "X- MEN, BACK OFF!"

Ororo looked at Logan, who nodded slightly. He and Ororo watched everyone's backs while they got into the X-Jet. At last, with a fierce snowstorm provided by the resident weather witch, the X-Men were on their way to the Mansion.

Jamila flew across the room for the sixth time. This time, she had to force her severely injured body off the ground. Sabretooth looked as through he'd been relaxing the whole time. Jamila forced down the urge to vomit, and stood. She had succeeded in keeping her father away from the badly injured, unconscious Remy, but was swiftly running out of energy and ideas.

Jenny, what should I do? Jamila asked, not really expecting an answer. Sabretooth circled her lazily, toying with his prey.

Freeze him.

That won't work!

Have you tried from the inside out?

That'll kill him!

Do you want to die with him?

Jamila felt her consciousness ebbing away, so she cut off ties with Jendayi abruptly. Closing her eyes, she concentrated. Sabretooth stopped in his tracks at the intense cold that seemed to come from inside his body. He hit the ground, his skin beginning to turn blue, body stiffening. When every last bit of him had frozen, Jamila staggered to him, and touched his neck. He wasn't dead, but his heartbeat was very slow, and very steady.

"Is he hibernating?" Jamila looked down at her heavily bleeding body, and thought detachedly, Hey, I think I'm dying. I hope Remy's okay. She lay down, and was motionless.

In the X-Jet, Jendayi felt Jamila disappear from her mind, and she screamed. Kurt rushed across to her. "Vat? Vat's vrong?"

"Jamila, she's...Ah think she...Could you teleport me to the Danger Room?"

"It's too far."

Jendayi rocked back and forth in her seat, sobbing brokenly. Logan pushed the engines to the limit, while Kurt began to pray in his native language, holding Jendayi close.

The X-Jet landed, and Jendayi streaked through the mansion on her way to the danger room. A shriek like that of a wounded animal tore itself from Jendayi's throat. Jamie closed his eyes at the sight of the bruised, broken and bloody Jamila. Kitty reached for him and hugged him tightly.

"Jamila? Jamila, wake up! Wake up!" Jendayi urged, shaking her sister's limp form. Hank gently touched Jamila's throat, feeling for a pulse. Jendayi grasped her sister's hand. "Ah'm sorry, Mil. Ah should have been here with you. You've got to be alive, you just have to." Huge tears began to roll down Jendayi's face.

Henry took his hand away from Jamila's throat, and picked her up. "Kurt, teleport us to the infirmary, NOW! She might not live long enough for us to save her."

Kurt did as ordered, and Jendayi just sat in the middle of the floor, knees to her chin, rocking back and forth slowly. A glance from Ororo cleared the room, save Logan, and she sat down beside her daughter gracefully.

"Jendayi?"

Jendayi voiced a deep, hateful growl. She lunged at the prone form of Sabretooth, trying her best to rip his body to shreds. Logan grabbed her and hauled her away from the unconscious mutant's body. Jendayi burst into tears and began to rock back and forth. "Ah should have been here! Oh God, what if she doesn't get better?"

Ororo wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her close, making gentle shushing sounds. "It's not your fault, and you mustn't blame yourself for it." She kissed Jendayi's forehead while the teen cried into her shoulder. When Jendayi was reduced to shivers, Ororo helped her up. "I suggest you go and sit with your sister."

Jendayi hugged her mother tightly before walking off. Ororo walked out, and Xavier came in. Xavier nodded to Logan, who picked up Sabretooth and began to drag him out of the room, making sure to run him into every available corner and wall. He reached a holding cell, and shoved the large mutant into it, breaking a few bones to accommodate, and setting the temperature to twenty degrees below Fahrenheit.

A FEW DAYS LATER

Remy groaned and tried to sit up. A slender hand pushed him back down. "Don't try to move until Dr. McCoy gets here. You've been out for a few days."

Remy opened his eyes. "Where 'm I?"

"The infirmary of the Xavier Institute."

Remy heard beeping, and turned his head slightly to the left. Jamila was laid out on a bed next to his. She looked perfectly fine on the outside. Jendayi followed his gaze. "She's all right on the outside, but she's still got a couple cracked ribs. She also had a lot of internal bleeding. When we found her, she was hemorrhaging, but Dr. McCoy stopped that right away. He's keeping her under meds so that she doesn't feel the pain. Sabretooth didn't die. He's in hibernation at twenty below."

"Will Jamila be okay?"

"Yeah."

Remy squeezed Jendayi's hand gently. "How are you?"

Jendayi shrugged. "Okay, Ah guess." Henry walked in and she left.

In her room, Jendayi took a good long look at her face in the mirror. Her eyes looked sunken and haunted. "Ah've got to stop. Ah need to get out."

Jendayi went to the window and looked out of it. A light drizzle was falling. Soon, a panther alighted on the ground and loped off into the woods.

After Jendayi was a few miles away, she stopped and threw back her head, roaring a challenge to any who might hear. A long, mournful howl was her reply. Jendayi swerved to the right just as Logan came pounding through the underbrush. Their eyes met, and the hunt began. Jendayi's sensitive nostrils caught the scent of a full-grown stag. She and Logan took off, both deadly silent. The stag never knew what hit it. Jendayi drew first blood, gashing the stag's back deeply. Logan slashed the stag's hindquarters, and Jendayi locked her teeth and front claws into the stag's neck. She hung on until the stag suffered the last of its death throes. Logan slashed open the underbelly and presented the liver to his daughter, as was her right as a healthy female. Jendayi began to eat, stopping only to lick her muzzle clean.

When Jendayi was finished eating, she looked around for Logan, but he was gone. Jendayi bowed her head over the remains of the stag. Thank you, Dad She turned and headed back to the Mansion.

Jean was just on her way out the door when a panther, covered in blood, approached her. Jean screamed loudly enough to wake the dead. "Christ! Jendayi, what the HELL happened to you?"

Jendayi belatedly tried to lick her muzzle free of blood. Sorry, Jean. I forgot I was bloody. I went for a run, and I kinda got hungry.

The pretty redhead turned a little green at that, and Jendayi left her alone. She transformed to human, but her face and body were still stained with blood. She got quite a few strange looks, but made it to the bathroom without being accosted too badly. After a long bath and teeth-brushing session, she walked to her room, where she dressed and curled up with a book. Someone knocked.

"Come in Kurt," She called.

"Evan just said he saw you covered in blood. Are you okay?" Kurt came in and sat down beside her.

Jendayi put her book down. "Ah'm fine. Ah went for a run in the woods, and got hungry, so Ah killed a deer and ate it."

Kurt blanched. "You ate it raw?"

Jendayi nodded. "Ah am part wild cat. And there's nothin that compares to the taste of fresh deer."

Kurt winced. "Vell, uh, how is Jamila?"

"She's still sleeping." Jendayi looked down at her hands. "Ah'm sorry Ah haven't been the best girlfriend lately."

"I understand, leibchen, you know that."

"Ah know, but Ah still feel bad about neglecting you and everything."

"Don't be. You've had a lot on your mind lately."

Jendayi snuggled against his shoulder. "Ah'll make it up to you, Ah promise."

"In that case, maybe ve could spend some time together. After Jamila's all better, or course. Maybe go see a movie or something."

Jendayi smiled at him. "Ah'd like that."

In the infirmary, Henry had just left Remy to rest. He was just about to take a nap when a series of shuddering sobs brought him back to the land of the wakeful.

Jamila had her hands pressed to her sides. Tears ran down her face. Remy sat up. It was obvious Jamila was in quite a bit of pain. At last, she managed to gulp down a few of the last sobs.

"Dry your eyes." Remy said in his most matronly tone of voice.

Jamila giggled, and wiped her eyes, smiling shyly at her roomie. "Y'know, Ah'm really hungry. What Ah wouldn't give for some pancakes." Jamila winced, and rubbed her side softly. "And a lot of Motrin."

"De lady's wish is de Gambit's command." Remy pressed a button, and shortly, Kitty walked in. She often helped Henry in the infirmary, because she had gentle hands, and a natural affinity for helping people.

"You, like, rang?" She asked, giggling.

"De lady would like a stack of pancakes, a glass of milk, and somet'ing for de pain. I want a big bowl of shrimp and sausage jambalaya." As an afterthought, Remy added, "And a beer too."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Pancakes, milk, jambalaya, I can do, but like, alcohol is totally outta the question. You can have some soda instead. Sprite?"

Remy sulked. "Okay."

Kitty grinned, winked at Jamila and left. Jamila smiled after her. "She's such a nice kid." Jamila looked around the hospital room and sighed. "What Ah wouldn't give to be outside." Her nose wrinkled, and she sniffed. Her ears twitched. "Ah smell blood." She ran her tongue around her lips. "Fresh blood, male white-tailed deer, five years old, two hundred pounds." She licked the corners of her mouth. "Jendayi." She breathed, just as her sister walked in. Jamila's voice was curiously flat. "You went hunting without me."

"Ah'm sorry," Jendayi said, climbing up onto the bed next to her sister. "Ah hadn't eaten in a few days." She rubbed her head against her sister's and purred. "When you're all better, we'll go together."

Remy was touched by this display of sisterly devotion. He felt like he was intruding, so he faced the opposite direction until Kitty came back, laden with food. Jendayi gracefully leapt up and took some of the items off Kitty's hands. She walked over to Remy's bed and set down the jambalaya and soda on his tray. "Ah made some the other night, cuz Ah figured you might want some. It's mah own recipe."

Remy smiled charmingly up at the girl. "T'anks." He sampled some, and promptly broke into a coughing fit. He wheezed for several minutes, and then grinned. "Jus' right."

Jendayi winked at him, and returned to Jamila's bed. "Are you sure you're feelin' okay?"

"Ah'll be fine in a week or so, you know that."

Jendayi shrugged. "Aight. If you don't need anythin', Ah'm gonna go do mah homework." She left.

"Chérié, if you've got cracked ribs, how will you be better in a week?" Remy asked, wolfing down his jambalaya.

"Ah heal fast. Ah get it from my," Jamila swallowed, "father."

"Oh." They continued their meal in companionable silence until Remy thought of something else. "So…"

"Are you gonna stay?"

"For a lil bit. Did you miss me?"

Jamila's voice took on a silky, purring quality. "You have no idea."

(Eyes of Green; Eyes of Gold)