AN: I don't own any of the X-Men Characters. I do own Kelpie, however, Gerri, Aunt Erika, Kelpie's foster family, the story-line, and all animal characters she converses with, including the gang members :P. Vixen belongs to one Melody S. (an ex-friend of mine), Aquifer belongs to Rob G. (soon-to-be famous fantasy writer!), Sensherak (aka Alan) belongs to an ex-online/rpg-bf whom no longer speaks to me, Jonny LeBeau belongs to an ex-online/rpg-acquaintance. Phew! If I've missed anyone, let me know :P

No French or Gaelic words this chapter, lucky you!

Please review, guys, as it keeps me in good spirits and in the writing mood. At the moment, I'm merely doing this as a pastime because I'm bored outta my mind, but monday I'll be going back to school and I'm going to need some motivation to keep posting :P

CHAPTER 11

"It's been over a month, Professor," said Jean. "Everyone is gone on summer break. It's time for her to come back. She's fallen farther behind in her studies. This is the time for her to catch us."

"Leave her be, Jean," said Vixen, standing at Xavier's office window looking outside. "She's still--"

"It's time she moves on, Vixen," said Jean. "I admit, what Jonny did was wrong, but she needs to go on with her life. And that includes continuing her studies."

Vixen turned from the window to look at Jean passively. "Continuing her studies means seeing Jonny every day. Seeing Jonny every day means reliving what he did to her. It's painful. She'll come back when she's ready."

"Just when will she be ready?"

Vixen shrugged and turned back to look out the window. "Only she can know that."

Xavier interrupted when Jean opened her mouth to say something. "I agree with both of you. I believe it will be painful for Kelpie to go back to her studies without reliving the past. I'll have Hank talk to her once he gets back from his convention. She won't listen to anyone but him anymore. Even Alan has trouble getting her to smile these days. I think it is time for her to come back. Otherwise she's just going to fall too far behind. She's already fourteen years--"

"Fifteen," Vixen said without turning from the window. She was watching Kelpie walk from the barn to the woods. It was a regular routine for the girl nowadays, unless Hank was here. Every morning she went straight to the woods and didn't come back until late at night. "Today's her birthday."

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Kelpie walked deep into the woods as she had every morning for the past four weeks. Once deep enough, she stopped walking in circles and went straight to her hidden plants. There, she crushed up the marijuana and rolled it, lighting it with a lighter she had stolen from Wolverine.

Taking her regular place, leaning against a tree, she exhaled, sending the smoke into the air. It only gave her a small buzz, not enough, though. Which was why she would spend hours here. The vine's healing power destroyed the weed before it completely reached her brain.

Taking a drag and exhaling smoke once again, she muttered to herself, "Some birthday."

That morning, Ra had tried to keep her from going to the woods, saying it was time to go back and to go to summer school.

I dunna wanna go back, Kelpie had said.

Well you should, said Ra. You haven't a reason why you should be smoking that--

Furious, Kelpie had hurled a mental picture of Jonny and Gerri that day in the maze. She threw it so hard that Ra screeched in pain, almost falling off her perch in the tree. Isna that a good enough reason!? Kelpie had shouted, then stalked from the room, slamming the door behind her.

"You know," said a voice, making Kelpie jump and bringing her back to the present. "That stuff isn't good for you."

Kelpie looked in the direction of the voice. It was a boy about her age. He looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place him. He had thick brown hair swept back from his face and dark eyes.

She snorted in mock laughter. "So they tell me." She threw it to the floor of the forest and ground it under her boot. She looked back up at him, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear then shoving her hands in her pockets. "Can I 'elp ye?"

He smiled. "You don't remember me, do you, Kelpie?"

She studied him, then her eyes widened and she stepped forward. "Pyro?"

His smile grew broader and he nodded.

Her hand went to the back of her neck, rubbing it. "Wow, 'tis been a while."

He nodded. "That it has."

Her arm fell back to her side and she gestured behind her toward the mansion. "Would ye like tae--"

He shook his head. "Actually, I kinda wanted to talk to you. Would ya like to take a walk?"

"Uh, sure, I s'pose." She fell in beside him and they began to walk deeper into the woods. "So, uh, d'ye still work for that Magneto character?"

He winced. "Funny ya should mention that," he said, taking her hand. She hesitated a moment, wondering if she should remove her hand, but she finally relaxed and allowed it.

"So ye quit?"

"Not really. More like he let me go."

She smiled. "Well, that's good news. Ow long did 'e let ye go?"

"Two days ago, actually."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I…uh…I work for Erika now."

Kelpie's heart stopped in her chest. She halted in her tracks then backed up a step, but he squeezed her hand, keeping her from leaving his side.

His eyes were sad as he gazed into hers. "You've gotta understand, I had no choice, Kelpie." He winced again as if in pain. "Kelpie, run!" he shouted, but at the same time his hand clamped down on hers almost painfully. "She's controlling me, you've gotta--"

"That's enough, John," said a familiar female voice and Pyro groaned in pain.

"I'm sorry, Kelpie," he said.

"Nae!" she said, trying to jerk free. "Let me go!" She shoved him and he stumbled back, letting go of her hand. She ran for it, hoping she could make it to the mansion grounds. She'd be safe there. Oh, why did she leave? How could she be so stupid?

Something hard hit her from behind and she fell to the ground. She was turned around and Pyro straddled her, gripping her wrists and pressing them to the ground. "I'm trying to stop," said Pyro, panic in his eyes. "I've been trying to stop her since it began, but I can't. Kelpie, you've gotta get out of here. Fight me."

"Nae," Kelpie whispered. He was innocent, he didn't mean to do this.

"You must!"

Panic gripping her stomach, she heaved up, throwing him off. Before she could get to her feet, he was on her again. They wrestled for several minutes until Kelpie finally succeeded in pinning him. Suddenly, Kelpie felt as if something gripped her entire body, stilling her movement. Then everything went dark.

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"Why isn't she back yet?" Vixen asked as she paced the length of the barn. The sun had set an hour ago and still, Kelpie hadn't come back from the woods.

"Maybe she go lost," Wolverine said from his position leaning against a stall.

Vixen stopped and glared at him. "That isn't funny, Logan."

"I'm not laughing--"

"Be serious! She can control the plant life around her, she can't get lost! Every single plant in that forest, from the tallest tree to the smallest leaf would disappear with just a wave of her hand. It's impossible for her to get lost."

Wolverine put his hands up in surrender and Vixen resumed pacing. "It was just a suggestion," he said as he watched her pace.

"Is she back yet?" Xavier asked as he entered the barn.

Vixen stopped her pacing and sighed. "No. And Ra can't find her or reach her telepathically. I'm beginning to get worried."

Xavier nodded solemnly. "You're not the only one. Why don't you and Wolverine go and scout the woods for her?"

Vixen nodded and quickly left the barn, Wolverine following at a more sedate pace. He muttered as he passed Xavier, "Thanks a lot, Chuck. Now I gotta spend my night looking for the brat when I could be sleepin'."

"I heard that,' Vixen called over her shoulder.

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Erika screamed in agony.

"You went against my orders," said Magneto and he clenched his hand slightly, drawing another scream from Erika.

"Please, Magneto," she begged. "Stop!"

Long ago when Erika had first come to work for Magneto, he had had a surgeon implant the same metal his helmet was made of around her skeleton under her skin. Being a strong telepath, he had thought it necessary to keep her a secret from Xavier for as long as possible. Not only did the protective barrier shield against physical and psychic damage, but it also gave Magneto a distinct advantage against her to control her.

"Why should I?" he asked the kneeling woman. "You deliberately disobeyed me--"

"Please, Magneto! I had a good reason for taking her again! Please, just give me a chance to explain!"

Rolling his eyes in boredom, Magneto eased his hold on her. "Well?" he asked.

Panting to keep the agony from her face, Erika said, "Sir, she's the favorite of the woman called Vixen."

Magneto's eyes which had been looking away, uninterested, snapped over in her direction and narrowed as he studied her face. "Go on. How do you know this?"

"You forget that I am a telepathic, sir. I've gone through Kelpie's memories. Vixen protects her as Wolverine protects Rogue."

Magneto, sitting at his desk, leaned back in his chair and his hands steepled. He stared her down with cold eyes. "You are certain of this?"

Erika nodded eagerly. "Positive, sir."

Magneto seemed to think for a moment and then nodded. "Very well. Keep her locked up and fed well." He added significantly, "She's not to be harmed."

"But--"

"I said," Magneto stated, raising his voice above hers, "She is not to be harmed. Is that understood?"

Hatred gleamed in her eyes but Erika nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good, you may go."

Erika quickly retreated, kicking herself. Now she'd never be able to kill the brat. Suddenly a thought hit her and she smiled. Stopping at the door, her hand on the doorknob, she turned back. "Sir?"

"What is it?" he asked, annoyed.

"Sir, Kelpie is a somewhat powerful mutant. She could help you in the battle against humans."

Magneto's eyebrows rose in interest. "How so?"

"Well, sir, as I'm sure you know, she has the ability to make animals appear and can control them. One thing that scares these pathetic humans most is the thought of wild animals on the loose. Especially predators…"

"Indeed," said Magneto, thinking to himself. Then he smirked, "This could very well be enjoyable."

"Yes, sir."

He waved his hand in dismissal. "Do what you wish, but she is not to be harmed physically. We can't use dead bait."

"Yes, sir." Erika smiled with triumph as she left.

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"Logan, look at this," Vixen said from where she sat on her heels, studying the ground. He came to crouch down beside her. "Looks like someone did some wrestling."

Vixen nodded. "And Kelpie's scent is constant in this area."

Logan nodded and sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?"

"The two others? Yes, but I don't recognize them."

"I know the boy," said Logan as he got to his feet and turned. He started walking in the direction of the mansion. "It's Pyro."

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Kelpie screamed in agony and tried to wrench away from Erika's hands that were placed on either side of her head against her temples. Finally, Erika let go.

"Do you understand what your orders are?" she asked.

Kelpie sagged weakly against the chains that shackled her to the wall. If it weren't for them, she'd be on the floor. Erika had been drilling her for hours, telling her what she was supposed to do. Every time Kelpie refused, Erika would place her hands on Kelpie's temples and show her what would happen to Kelpie's friends if she didn't do as told. She backed up her words with an agony that made Kelpie feel like her brain was being placed in a clamp. But Kelpie still couldn't do it. The woman wanted her to use her powers to attack humans. She wanted Kelpie to set wild animals on humans. Kelpie couldn't do it. She wouldn't force her animals to kill. She couldn't live with that kind of guilt.

"Aye," heaved Kelpie. "I ken what ye want me tae do. But that dunna mean I'm gonna do it."

Erika turned from the girl with frustration. This wasn't working. Then she smiled, another idea coming to her. There was only one other way. A warping of the brain. The worst of brainwashing. It was time to turn this brat.

She turned back to Kelpie, smiling. "I don't like your attitude, my dear."

"Join the club. Nae one does."

Erika placed her hands on the girl's temples once more. "I think it's time to make a new Kelpie."

Kelpie's scream of torment echoed throughout the building and she clenched her eyes shut against the pain.

"Ah! There we go!" cried Erika.

Kelpie screamed again, her eyes flying open. Before Erika's watchful gaze, their ever-changing blue depths warped and darkened, becoming violet.

Erika's laugh mingled atrociously with Kelpie's continued screams.

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"I can't find her," said Xavier as he came out of the Cerebro. "There's something blocking her mind."

"Did you try finding Pyro?" asked Wolverine.

Xavier nodded. "And Magneto, Mystique, Sabertooth, Toad, and every other mutant I can think of that would know where she is. Even Erika, but I can't find any of them." He looked at the X-Men, his eyes settling on Vixen who was trembling with rage. "I'm sorry. I'll keep trying, but I can't promise you anything."