Where the Wild Things Go

by squeekness

Book five and conclusion to my Children of the Gods series. Sometimes the Wild Things just need a place to go. Logan and Kyle need some recovery time after their ordeal.

3. Chapter 3

(Three)

True to his word, the next morning Scott met the Professor in the Complex's large underground Solarium. Their going to Twilight wasn't kept a secret and Remy had made sure to tag along for this venture, wanting to see Logan and Kyle for himself. Rogue had also invited herself, using the conjuring of a door as an excuse for Simone to see to Leroy, the tiny goat man was a good friend of his. Their visit with Leroy would allow the others the privacy to deal with Logan as they wished without having to worry about being overheard.

Once everyone had assembled, Simone worked his magic and conjured up a doorway to Twilight, motioning for them to pass through. He was in a much better mood now that his Mistress had been returned to him and he was much more agreeable, smiling and happy.

Xavier motored through the doorway Simone had created, unable to help feeling a bit awed by what he was seeing. No matter where in or around the Complex Simone might conjure a door to Twilight – topside or here underground - it almost always opened out onto the same locale.

This was a bit of an adventure for the Professor. Being in charge of such a large facility and all of its various crews, he had little time for any sort of field work, even for just a quick visit such as this. It was a bit of a treat. Having the underground Solarium meant that he could leave his office for a park like experience but it would never be as good as traveling to an official, authentic environment that was different than the Arizona desert outside the Complex itself. Getting there through a simple floating door just added to the excitement and adventure of it all.

Before Charles now was a dirt road that acted as a border between a spacious field of brightly colored flowers and the beginnings of a generous forest. The trees looked and smelled like pines, but the eye knew otherwise. They were just a little off looking, a little alien, and could never be confused for the real thing.

The air was rich with the smell of Honey, a syrupy substance produced by the nearby colorful Yum Yum flowers. They looked like tulips but were anything but. They smelled great, wholesome even, but it was well known now that the Honey they produced was toxic to mutant humans, producing secondary mutations that most often killed the host. Both Hank and Gryfon had survived the experience but had been forever changed and somewhat damaged from the ordeal. They would have to be careful not to get too close. Even the smallest amount of Honey could be dangerous if they got it on their hands by accident.

There were no paved roads here but the group entered onto a smooth dirt pathway that had been since been strengthened with crushed stone. The motorized wheelchair Xavier was currently using had been rigged for the rougher travel with more power and thicker wheels. He could handle the rougher roads here with it easily as long as he wasn't reckless. He had to admit that the longer he was here, the more exhilarated he felt. He was having a blast in this new environment even if the reason for his visit was less than pleasurable. He would have to do this more often.

Once fully through the door, he took a better look around, trying to get a feel for this new place. He had to admit that the field reporting from his people was impressive, they had captured the details of this place quite well. The flowers, the trees, the slight gloom. It was bright but there was no exact sun you could point out. It was warm here and slightly humid. This was an island but being surrounded by fresh water instead of salt so that ocean tang was missing from the air. He could see why his people loved it here and were happy to take the chance to stay for a while.

It was Charles' first time out here and long overdue. He had people coming here for months and he should have taken the time to visit himself but life as usual kept getting in the way. He knew there was a village of sturdy log cabins not far from here, but he didn't expect his visit here would take that long.

His people were not alone here, some low level SHIELD forensic staff still remained temporarily from their joint investigation of Jason Frost. Most of the evidence had already been removed but they were still digging up the cemetery and bringing the remains back home in the hopes that maybe some of the victims could be identified. DNA samples had been given to Hank and he was adding them to his vast database, doing his part to help out. Xavier was hoping that the news that Jason Frost had been murdered in jail would not hinder any of those endeavors.

Once everyone had passed through the door, Rogue took Simone's arm and nodded slightly at the Professor. "We'll be vistin' with Leroy just up the way. We won't be long."

"We should only be a half hour or so," Remy offered, taking his best guess. Most times Logan was a blunt man and kept his conversations short. He didn't think this would take much time at all.

"De altar dis way," Remy then directed and moved in the opposite direction. The Thief had been out here a great many times recently, checking on Grace's progress with Kyle. So far the poor girl hadn't achieved much but he was trying to keep her from losing hope.

As they moved along the dirt road Xavier was becoming more and more aware of the strangeness of this place. The air was too clean, there were no pollutants here to taint it. He could hear birds but the songs were different. The woods thickened as they moved along, but still seemed somehow empty.

"Is there much game here?" he asked, curious.

"Non, dis why we been bringin' de boys deir food."

Remy wasn't empty handed. He carried a good sized picnic hamper and a gallon jug of bottled water. Most of the food supply for the Pack the trio had formed did come from the village, but he thought today he would bring some special extras, perhaps Logan could be encouraged to come home with them this time, maybe not. Gambit was a patient man these days and wasn't too concerned either way. While he couldn't picture John ever leaving this place, he didn't see Logan staying forever. With Kyle he was still unsure.

They arrived at the altar and Remy began unpacking the hamper. He had brought some of the usual fare – two roasted whole chickens and two raw, but as an extra treat he had also brought along some chocolates, roast beef sandwiches, cheese, and fresh red apples, the kind he knew Logan favored.

"Do they always eat here?" Xavier questioned nervously. The stone slab was clearly not set up as an actual table. There were no chairs and while the food was laid out on clean butcher paper, there were no actual dishes or eating utensils. A spray bottle of an organic cleaning solution had been left here and Remy did use it to clean the surface before laying out the food, but this would not be considered fine dining by far.

"Dey like it well enough."

Scott was quiet this whole time. This wasn't his first visit but this place had always unsettled him. It never left his mind that if not for Simone, they could be trapped here forever. He would rather be home, especially today. He wasn't looking forward to Logan's reaction to Xavier being here.

Done with setting out the food, Remy picked up a cow bell that had been placed on top of the slab and gave it a brisk shake. "Chow's on, mes amis!" he called out. Now they would have to wait. Could be a couple of minutes, could be longer depending on their mood. The island was large, but the Pack's territory wasn't and with the Pack's enhanced hearing, there was no way they could have missed it.

Today there was not a long wait. There was a sound of breaking foliage followed by sharp barking. Kyle and John came barreling out of the lower shrubbery on their hands and feet like dogs, snarling and scratching at each other in a race to see who could get to the slab first. It looked savage and mean, but Remy's sharp ears caught the laughter in the barks and his eyes saw the brightness of their playful shines. This was a game, nothing more. They came up to the slab but didn't actually take anything yet or even acknowledge their guests. They were still fussing and rolling about in the grass when Logan strolled up, dirty and naked and yet the only one that came out on his feet like a man.

"Cut it out, boys," Logan growled, his piercing blue eyes all on the man in the chair. "We've got company today."

The two smaller men complied, but Remy smiled to himself when he saw their shines. As gruff as Logan was, he wasn't in charge. It was John. There had been a slight nod as Logan had spoken, a sign of respect. Funny how that was. Remy had assumed Logan would be top dog, but then, perhaps not because his stay was only temporary. Remy had no doubt Logan would come back home, it was just a matter of when.

Logan went up to the stone slab, looked over what was offered, and smiled when he saw the sandwiches. His eyes met Remy's in a brief thanks before he took a wet nap and washed his hands, the only of the group to do so. He then took one of the sandwiches and bit deep, savoring the well made meal.

Remy was looking him over but trying not to be too obvious about it. The man's shine was ten times better than it had been at the cabin. The time out here had done him good. Well, it was a bit darker once that he realized Charles had come, but it was still much better. Remy's quick eye also caught the white streaks at Logan's temples, something new. The resemblance to Romulus was uncanny and gave the Thief a bit of a start. He didn't like the idea of his teammate being anything like that freak.

As good as Logan looked, Kyle was many times better. He had finally put on enough weight that it was actually noticeable, quite a feat considering how long he had been out of shape in their care. He was where he needed to be, obviously. Two weeks here at Twilight had done more for him than the months he had spent at the Complex. Not all of the changes had to do with better living conditions. Remy quickly spotted that Kyle's legs were continuing to straighten and his snout was less pronounced as if those big fangs were shrinking. His hair was full of streaks that were almost as white as John's.

Any sign of Kyle's terrible burns were gone. He had healed fast and you would never know that anything had been done to him at all. Of course Remy knew, he could still hear the boy's screams in his dreams. It was going to take some time for him to forget them, assuming he ever did.

Kyle and John ignored the sandwiches and went right for the chickens. John grabbed for one of the roasted chickens, tearing into it with his claws and gorging sloppily, not caring that he swallowed bones as well. He was making quite the mess but grinning all the while. Kyle took one of the raw ones, eating it with the same animal relish. Remy was hoping for some kind of change in that regard, but ever since raw meat had been offered on the slab, he went for it every time, leaving the cooked meat to the others. It would have bothered Remy more if the boy's weight gain hadn't been so obvious. At this point he would take whatever worked.

Once Logan had downed his sandwich and reached for another, Xavier began what he hoped was going to be a productive conversation. "You've been gone a while, old friend. We understand that you needed some time off, but we need you back."

"Sorry, not up fer killin' no little girls today," came the sharp reply.

Scott and Charles were taken aback by his rude candor, but not Remy. He had seen this kind of rebellious anger in his Siskans, Zander in particular. Logan was hurting and so wanted them to feel bad – as well they should for making him do that terrible thing.

"It was never meant to be that way," Xavier tried, though he couldn't deny the facts. "If there had been any other option, believe me I would have taken it."

Logan just snorted. "You think that just because my body heals quickly that my mind does as well, but that ain't true. You shoulda told me what I was walking into. It shoulda been my decision how it was to be handled."

"You're right and it won't happen again. The situation was so vital that I just reacted while we had the chance. I couldn't let her go. We had to act."

"Mindy," Logan snarled gruffly. "Her name was Mindy."

Xavier sighed, rubbing his brow in frustration. "Mindy, of course. I know you think I regard her as less than a person, but that is not the case at all. I don't know if you can appreciate the pressures I was under. I am the number one telepath on the planet, there is little I don't know or can't find out. They all come to me from time to time - government agencies, freelance, World Health agencies. This time, it was all of them at once, demanding my help. They wanted me to help for the same reasons they fear us so much – because I have weapons and resources at my disposal that they can never have. The fact that many of these weapons are actually people never seem to factor in to their many requests. In this case, they were demanding I end it.

"Knowing how many have died, I was more than eager to help. But perhaps only you can appreciate my horror when I discovered the source of the disease was actually a child. But even after that terrible knowledge, how could I not act?"

Remy found himself nodding here in spite of himself. Julien had lost most of his family to the disease and he was only one of many who had suffered such losses.

And then Charles said the most surprising thing. "Logan, you don't always think this way, but sometimes you are merciful Death." Logan bristled at that, but Charles raised a hand that asked for patience as he tried to explain. "There was no hope that we'd be able to contain Mindy, I am so sorry. And if not us, then who? Do you have any idea what they would have done to her? They would have made her a prisoner, tortured her, experimented on her. You know this to be true just as I knew that you would do what they would not - treat her like a person, give her dignity and the respect that she deserved. And you did so with gentleness and caring. Better for Mindy to have met your kindness than their cruelty."

Xavier continued, pleading Logan with his eyes. "So yes, I did unleash the weapons I had at my disposal. I didn't tell you about her age and circumstances because I knew if there was any other way the situation could have been handled, you would have found that way. As it was, you and I both came to the same conclusion. There was only one way to halt this epidemic and you were in a unique position to handle it because of your healing abilities. I am sorry to have involved you in this way, but the truth is, in order to save so many lives, I would do it again. This is what it means to lead, sometimes you have to sacrifice one in order to save the many."

Remy looked away, a flush warming his cheeks. Even though Xavier was speaking to Logan, he couldn't help but think those words had also been meant for him in regards to what his team had just gone through.

Scott had something else to add. His voice was gentle as he asked, "Can you say you wouldn't have done the same exact thing if you had known ahead of time?"

"No," Logan answered honestly. There hadn't been much choice about any of it really. He had already had the same reasonings about Mindy's death even as he had murdered her. He had known it had to be done and why. "But I wouldn't have felt so ...used. I can't be your point and shoot weapon, Chuck. No matter what you might think about me, I ain't wired that way."

The Professor nodded in quick agreement. "We understand and we have both agreed that you have done more than your share. You will never be asked to go out on a mission like that ever again, not without all of the facts. You have my word."

Logan squinted and sniffed, using his own special means of lie detection. At least for the moment the man seemed to be sincere. "All right."

He then looked at Remy. "I never got a chance to thank you for coming after me. I know it cost you."

The Thief smiled in appreciation. "I'd like to t'ink you woulda done de same fo' me and mine, mon ami."

Xavier gave them a moment and then said, "I do hope that you will return to us though I would understand if you didn't. Perhaps we can arrange a permanent residence here for your family if you wish it."

"I gotta think some on it," Logan replied, not yet ready to make a commitment to anything. He had been mollified by the visit but there was still some lingering hurt. He was already looking back at the trees.

"Just so you know," Remy interrupted with a smile. "Set' investigate dat file Butch hand over. Got some merit to it. Nice to know Butch don't lie about everyt'ing."

"He lies about enough," Logan snapped in reply, but he was interested. "So I got another kid runnin' around out there."

"Oui, so long as you consider a clone to be yo' kin. But Set' ain't quite sure where she at fo' sure. Once we know we'll put some kind of plan in place. You'll be de first to know."

"Thanks."

Remy then turned to Kyle who had gleefully finished the first raw hen and had started on another. "How 'bout you, fils? You ready to come back? We could use you, too."

Remy doubted the boy would say yes this early and he was right. "Mrr!" Kyle growled. "Not ..yet."

The Thief just smiled at him. He had wanted to ask so that at the very least Kyle would know he hadn't been forgotten. "You take all de time you need."

It wasn't a brush off and Kyle knew it. He smiled at his Team Leader and grabbed what was left of his chicken and trotted off into the trees, wanting a little more privacy.

Remy expected John to follow him, these two were rarely separate, but the feral man was hesitating, something gleaming in his eyes. Gambit knew what it was – John thought Kyle should stay with him. It wasn't anything more than fatherly concern, but it was very strong.

"It still 'is decision, homme," Remy said, making the Professor smile a bit in wonder. The man hadn't said anything and yet the Thief still had known what was on his mind. "Ain't nobody goan make 'im do what 'e don't want, least of all me, je promets."

John nodded, accepting this for now, and then followed him out. Only time would tell which of them was right.

(break)

"This is a bad idea," Karen groused. "He's not going to come."

"Give it time," Grace advised, a faint smile on her lips. Her eyes were searching the woods though, her words betraying more optimism than she actually felt. "Sometimes they just want to take a look first."

Karen nodded, knowing that already. She was one of the Complex's resident psychologists, but her specialty was dealing with ferals, helping them to integrate to a normal human life, or as close as they could anyhow. It was this interest in ferals that had led her to Logan's side and later, into a marriage with the gruff loner X-man. Three children later and it hadn't gotten any easier, especially with his tendency to run off for days at a time when things were bothering him. He ran away instead of talking to her which would have made the marriage easier. The loneliness had hadn't been easy but her love for him was still very strong.

It was that love that had brought her to this strange place. Twilight was different she had been told, but she hadn't fully appreciated just how odd it might be until she came here for real. The bright yet gloomy lighting was odd in itself, but more than that was the strong smell of Honey that pervaded this whole place from the flowers that grew here and nowhere else.

Karen had come the day before and settled in a cabin with Grace, wanting someone familiar as her guide. Karen had counseled Grace before on how best to deal with her feelings for Kyle, though she hadn't been told about how far Grace had taken it that day before the mission until afterwards. Now there were no secrets between them.

Grace had been in Twilight for three weeks now but this was Karen's first trip out. Grace was quick to help out and get her settled in for what might end up being an extended stay. It was easy company, helped by the fact that the cabins had been improved since Grace had been here last at Jason Frost's unwanted behest – running water and real toilets had been installed, a major plus. It wasn't even like camping.

Grace had been kept busy these past days while she had tried to lure Kyle out for the occasional conversation. As promised Kyle's information jacket had been delivered and she had pored over every word. She had been made to sign a Non-Disclosure agreement of course, since most of what was in it was deemed classified and she might yet return to the Complex without her intended in tow. Now that Karen was here, the resident psychologist and an expert on ferals, Grace had plenty of questions that Karen had done her best to answer. So far the answers were only fueling the hope that Kyle wouldn't be out here in the trees forever.

Karen hadn't come alone. She had dared to bring Carter, her and Logan's three year old son and his favorite. She was hoping to use the child as a lure to bring Logan out where they could talk. She knew Charles and Scott had come out to speak with Logan but they hadn't been able to persuade him to leave though they had come very close. She wanted her husband home and safe. It was time.

Carter at least was having a good time. He was the only one of their three children to test X-gene positive but the exam had been only a confirmation of what was pretty much blatantly obvious. He had the blunted fingers that betrayed future claws and the enhanced senses to match. Right now his nose was fully engaged, he was sniffing around in the dirt and grass, thrilled to smell such vibrant scents in this unpolluted world. While some mutations came later in life, around puberty, Carter's enhanced senses had kicked in right from the get go.

Carter's head snapped up at something only he could hear, his eyes wide. "Daddy's coming."

"How does he know that...?" Karen muttered though it was rhetorical.

There was the sharp pop of a tree branch breaking and then a pale white head poked out from some nearby shrubs. Not Logan, but close. John.

"Hey, old man," Grace greeted warmly enough, though she was cautious. John had become the leader of this impromptu Pack early and he was always the first one to check out anything new or unusual. Grace was hoping he wouldn't think Carter was a morsel tasty enough to eat.

Carter and John eyed each other, noses going. John slid out from the brush, coming closer. He was as white as a person could get but that perfect brightness was marred by dirt and leaves, he clearly hadn't had a wash since he had come out here. His beard was filling in and his hair had grown out some, making his ears look less pointy and large. He was still a strange sight.

John wanted to get a better look at the child but his eyes were all on Karen. John might have been the most wild of the trio but he had lived as a human long enough to know a mother always protects her young. He was wary she might attack him and was taking this nice and slow.

A gruff bark halted John and he looked behind him as Logan finally made an appearance. He bullied past John, unusual since he had accepted second position here, but that was his kid. Rank and file ended where family began.

"Geez, Karen," Logan growled as he put himself between John and his son. "Why did you bring him?"

The question was sharp but his anger didn't hold. Carter toddled forward and into his father's arms giggling with happiness. Logan was smiling now, his big arms swallowing up the lad. It was an odd sight, Carter was dressed in bright toddler blue while Logan was naked and as filthy as John was. His hair was tangled and matted, though Grace's sharp eye didn't miss some bright streaks of white at his temples that hadn't been there before.

"Daddy's all dirty!" Carter squealed, but not out of revulsion. He began tugging sticks from Logan's matted hair as if it was the best game in the world. "Daddy needs a bath!"

Karen watched this, letting them have their moment. She did gasp softly when John crept closer to give Carter a deeper sniff. Logan growled at him just a bit and he backed off easily enough. He hadn't meant any harm, he just wanted the introduction. "His name..?" John grumbled, curious.

"Carter. He's mine."

"I knows he's yers," John complained irritably. "My nose is just as good as yers. If yer thinkin' of him runnin' with us he's yer problem he can't keep up."

"He's not running with us," Logan was swift to correct. "What kind of idiot do you think I am?"

John sniggered at that, but he was watching Karen again. She didn't seem to find any of this banter funny.

She didn't. She was crouching in front of Logan now, not to retrieve her child, but to look Logan in the eye. "It's time to come home."

Logan didn't answer immediately but his arms tightened a bit around his son. He knew why she had brought him now, clever girl. Now that he had Carter in his arms and hearing his happy cries, he was loathe to let him go.

At the same time he couldn't argue that the time here hadn't been good for him. All that guilt and horror and shame had bled away from him with every romp and chase. There wasn't much large game here but there were some rabbit like creatures that had proved tasty enough if you could get a hold of the damn things. Kyle had dubbed them 'Hoppers' and the name had stuck. Kyle had proven to be the more nimble hunter, but being low man, often gave up his winnings to the dominant pair of males after they gave him a merry chase. It hadn't bothered the boy much, the town kept them well fed. Hunting here was simply done for pleasure, not out of necessity.

The Pack order had hadn't taken long to establish, they had just simply fallen into a routine. John had been Bree longer than any of them and took point, dictating where they would nest and when they would hunt. Logan had just rolled with it and Kyle was too weak to fight them over it. When the two larger males didn't try to beat him or humiliate him for being lowest man, Kyle settled in just as easily as the others had. The terms of his submission had been gentle enough as to be hardly noticed. The loss of a few Hoppers was worth it to be in an established Pack that felt like family.

It was quiet here, peaceful, and the company good. They nested in the trees, failed miserably at fishing though it had been fun to try. No one from the small collection of cabins had hassled them or tried to run them off, nor had any of the Pack come to town looking for trouble. It had all gone smoothly and there had been peace. Logan wasn't sure if he wanted all those easy days and pleasant nights to end.

"Come to town at least," Karen offered, trying to compromise when she saw him hesitating. "Have a bath and shave. Put some clothes on and see how it feels."

"Mrr! Do what... she says," came a gruff, broken voice. "You.. Mrr! ...ain't the same as us."

Logan closed his eyes, knowing it was the truth.

Karen stood, wanting to see who had spoken. She should have guessed, this Pack was a threesome after all. Kyle had finally made an appearance. He had been noiseless as he had entered the clearing and silent again throughout their whole conversation until now. His head was down, keeping his eyes off of Carter. He was the low man here though the others hadn't given him any grief over it. Just the same, he wasn't about to risk Logan's ire if the man thought he might go for the child. He might not be the only cannibal among them – John was guilty of that darker appetite himself – Kyle was the only one that Logan had actually seen hunting down and eating his own kind.

Kyle hadn't spoken much since he had come here and it showed in the broken tones of his voice. Words had always been hard for him, something that hadn't changed even after all the good rest and well rounded meals.

Grace smiled at him, happy he had come. She had let Karen and Logan do their thing. It was Kyle she had come for and now that he had finally showed himself to her, he was all she wanted. She had come to the woods every day since relocating here and while she had often heard the boys crashing through the trees around her and caught glimpses of John and Logan, Kyle had been keeping his distance. He was well aware she was in Twilight, she had seen dirty hand and foot prints on the steps around her cabin that she knew had come from him visiting her in the night. He had even once left her a crude bouquet of wild flowers, though never the Honey filled Yum Yums, they were too dangerous as he well knew. He left her other things – some pretty stones polished by the large lake. Another time he had left her a large fossilized canine tooth wrapped on a rawhide string from some ancient creature that he must have found. She had been hoping that now that some kind of actual contact with the Pack had been made that he would come back to her. She couldn't keep the hope from her voice as she asked him, "What about you? It's been days, Kyle. I really miss you."

Kyle grumbled deep and low, but it wasn't out of anger. While he had known from the start that Logan wasn't going to stay he wasn't so sure about himself. He had found this particular life to fit as comfortably as nice soft pajamas. This bed was sweet and he wasn't close to being ready to give it up. He stamped his hands and feet, something he did when he was frustrated.

She reached out to touch him and he shied away. It made her sad and she retreated, disappointed. He seemed to sense it and took a step towards her to make up for it. She reached out, encouraged again, but he still shied away from her. It tanked her spirits once more but not all of her hope was dimmed. Karen had explained to her earlier that he might do this. It looked like he was teasing her but what it really meant was that he still wanted to be near her, but he wasn't quite ready for full contact. He needed more time. Good thing that she loved him enough to give it to him.

Meanwhile, Karen was having better luck. She had managed to get Logan to agree to come back to the cabin with them and get cleaned up, all the better to have more quality time with his son. Not wanting to give him time to change his mind, the group packed up and headed back to town, Logan carrying Carter up high on his shoulders.

Grace followed, happy for Karen but still just a little bit jealous. The rest of the Pack stayed close, but off of the road and moving through the trees, barking and dashing about. Once the trees thinned, though, they gave a couple of sharp barks and then vanished.

Their departure made Grace sad but she kept it to herself, not wanting to disrupt Karen and Logan's increasing happiness. Knowing they might want to some alone time back at the cabin, Grace offered to take Carter, something that made Karen smile.

Grace was happy to have the boy. One thing she had seen quickly was that Carter was as much as an even keel person as she was. He was happy to have seen his dad, but then was just as happy to have Grace show him around the camp a little more.

Grace took him to a quiet place, one she had visited often. Here was the little cemetery that Jason Frost had once filled with the bodies of the young mutant kids who had died under his less than tender care. Most of those bodies had been removed for identification and burial with their real families back home. Some had been returned, those who'd had no families to go back to. It was the hope of the living that maybe they would find real rest even here now that the island had been liberated and friendly people had moved back in.

It was in this same place that the body of the brave young Cristof had also been laid to rest. He had explained to Grace back in the day that he had no family and so here he was. He had a nice marker and it was to this nice shady spot that Grace led Logan's young son. She pointed to the gravestone and began by saying, "Do you know who this is? No? Well, then you're in for a treat. Let me tell you about one of the bravest people I have ever known..."

(break)

Several days later, Grace returned to the stone slab and lay down the half carcass of a slaughtered goat upon it as though giving an offering to the gods. Today the fruit and bread that she had brought there from the morning remained. Sometimes it would be taken, other times not. But the meat was always gone when she came back. In all of her time, even with Cristof, she had never imagined herself doing this, feeding the wild one she had grown to love. It was quiet now and so she sat down, her back to the slab and opened her Kindle to read. The Pack was unpredictable. Sometimes they came right away, sometimes not at all. Their number had shrunk by one – Karen's visit had proved fruitful and Logan had gone back home with her that same day. Grace had yet to share her good luck.

Today was a short wait, after only a few minutes there was a rustling through the nearby shrubbery and a head poked through, giving her a sniff. As usual when the Pack came it was always John who came first.

"Hey, old man," Grace greeted softly, careful to make no bold moves. She was still as he slithered all the way out and came up to the slab, his wary eyes never leaving her face. His large white hands touched the altar, but not the meat. He stretched up like a dog, his teeth clacking loudly around the ankle of the hind leg before dragging the carcass down to the ground. They never ate the meat on the slab, using it as a table like a normal human might, it was always taken down to the dirt as though it added extra seasoning to the meal.

At first Grace was disappointed, thinking Kyle wasn't going to show today but then there was a soft bark and John next had some real competition for his dinner. John had the hind leg, but now Kyle was grasping the fore leg, growling playful laughter around the bone. He was half in, half out of the shrubbery. He had been hiding there perhaps to gain better position when the inevitable tug of war was to begin.

Grace sat as she was, smiling slightly as they argued over the meal. They were never angry or mean about it, probably because there was plenty to go around regardless of the outcome, it was just a game. They tugged and pulled, muscles bunching as they tested each other's strength. There was a loud crack as the poor carcass gave way under the abuse and John danced quickly away with the larger portion, dashing off into the branches before Kyle could try and claim more for himself.

Most times Kyle might give chase but today he was content enough with the lesser half and with animal absent mindedness, flopped down next to Grace and began gnawing away, grumbling contentedly as if in a purr. He was sprawled out on his belly, his legs outstretched behind him like a dog on a cool hard floor, the hunk of carcass across his arms, his face right down it as he tore off what he wanted with his large, sharp teeth. Grace slowly lay a hand across his back, petting him gently, waiting for him to finish eating before trying anything more.

The first time she had tried to touch him while he was eating he had snapped at her, protecting his meal. But gradually after much time and persistence, he came to realize that she wasn't trying to take anything from him, but rather was trying to give him something instead - reassurance and company.

Kyle ate greedily, swallowing whole chunks of the goat meat without chewing them much. Once down to the bones he broke the smaller ones down and crunched them loudly, a sound that Grace didn't like all that much. It was something she had done her best to get used to. It was true that being in love meant you could forgive much, but it was hard. That and the smell of blood on his breath. He at least did his best to wash his face when he was done, at first by licking his chops, but then later accepting wet naps Grace would bring for him.

As she touched him gently Grace looked him over, seeking out war wounds. She was seeing over time what both Logan and Hank had suspected – the changes that Skye had wrought were slowly coming undone. There could now be no doubt that his legs were straightening and his face flattening out some, looking less bestial in spite of his large canine teeth. At least his healing factor seemed unaffected, there were no injuries or scars that she could see on his skin though she had seen John slash him with his claws over a meal more than once now.

There were other changes in him that she could see. His light blonde hair was now streaked with bands of bright white, like a professional highlight job gone awry. His skin was slightly pale now, but since there was so little sun here, it was hard to say if that was a Bree effect or simply the boy losing what minor tan he might have had from running Remy's drills back in the Arizona sun.

Kyle finished his meal and nosed the larger, now cleaned bones aside. He rolled onto his back and grumbled at Grace, his lips spread in what passed for a grin these days. She handed him a wet nap and he used it without complaint, releasing the soft scent of fresh lemons into the air. He was all bones and lean muscle, but while he might look emaciated by normal standards, he was actually putting on weight, thriving here in this feral environment. He was certainly eating more than he ever had at the Complex, mainly because so much of it was raw. Grace was beginning to despair that he would ever return to a normal human diet.

He took her hand, careful with his long sharp claws, and rubbed her palm to his face, smelling her, probably learning more in this way about where she had been than if she had tried to tell him with words. He closed his eyes then and taking a long slow breath, softly growled her name into her fingers. It took Grace by surprise. He hadn't talked much since they had set him free here and like his old eating habits, she had feared that he had discarded proper speech forever.

"Well hello to you too, Kyle," she answered back, leaning down closer with a smile. "It's been a while."

He squinted at her in confusion and she knew why. She had seen him just that morning and had been there at least twice a day since he had began accepting food from the stone slab.

She gently tapped a finger on his nose. "I miss this Kyle."

"Still...mrr! ..here," he grumbled back in a coarse chuckle, the words coming out in rough chunks like the meat he had just eaten. He was looking at her intensely now, something that was happening more and more. Like there was so much he wanted to say but he just couldn't quite manage it.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" she questioned earnestly, it being so important to her not to lose this form of communication. Her biggest fear was losing him altogether in a separation as permanent as the loss of Cristof had been. Her luck with ferals didn't seem to be holding up all that well.

Kyle could sense the sadness in her words and raised a hand to her face, again being careful of his claws. He had scratched her in the past without meaning to and he was always leery of touching her now, something she hadn't wanted. It was almost worse than losing his words.

Impulsive now and well, pretty much tired of waiting, she came down to him and kissed him, gently at first but then with greater passion when he didn't fight it or turn away. He took the kiss, grumbling that rough purr of his at first, but then outright growling as he let his emotions get the better of him. He had always wanted her as much as she had wanted him but he had been fighting it, not wanting to lose control again.

It was a real danger. Their kiss continued and the deeper it was growing, the more he felt that slim control start to slip. Before he knew it, he had rolled her and was on top of her now, forcing her down like he had before, his claws bloodying her arms as he pinned her down with his teeth at her throat. The movement had been instinctive - he had always hunted his human prey this way, first rolling them and then strangling them with his teeth. With the few women he had been with there had been little distinction between the rape and the kill.

"Kyle, stop!" she gasped, losing her air. She struggled feebly against him, forgetting just how strong he actually was. He was so slim in his build, but yet far more powerful than she. Being better fed than the last time they had gone through this, she was even more powerless to stop it.

"Wait! Wait! Don't hurt me!" she continued to scream, tears swelling out of her eyes as spots appeared. She was going to pass out, she just knew it. So stupid to think she could ever have controlled the situation. She could see them in flashes now, the faces of the women he had raped and then killed, the photo images a gift from Logan who had made sure she had read Kyle's full jacket before she had dared to come out and see him. She was going to be like them now, just another in a long string of dead girls.

The black was closing in so she didn't realize it right away when she was actually able to breathe normally again. The terrible pressure of his teeth at her throat had eased and the claws that had bitten deep into her skin had retracted. He was still atop her, but he was shaking now, just breathing in hot pants against her skin.

Grace, clearer now, shifted and reached for his face. "Kyle...?"

He let her move, lifting his upper body some but not quite letting her go either. He kept his face turned from her, not letting her hands get their way.

"Kyle... look at me..."

He continued to passively disobey, still in control. "You...know... mrr! ...what... I am.. Mrr! And you... you come anyways. Mrr! Why?!" The last word was a barely audible snarl of frustration. He was still hard against her.

Grace sighed and let her hands rest on his neck since it was all he would allow. As much as he was complaining that it was Grace pursuing him, she also knew that he was doing more these days than simply leaving her wildlife jewelry at her doorstep. Three times now she had found her cabin broken into and she knew now that it had been him there inside, disturbing her things. Nothing had been stolen besides one of her favorite sweaters and she had no doubt that he had taken it back with him to whatever nest or den he had for himself. Was that all he had done? Had he seen the file that Logan had given her? Probably. It wasn't like she had tried to hide it or anything. It didn't matter, she told herself. She wouldn't let it. Her vision was still blurry from tears as she replied in a voice roughened from his teeth, "You know why. Because I love you."

"S-someone like .. me? Mrr!" he questioned sharply, shaking his head a little in disbelief. "Impossible!"

She raised one hand to palm one of his cheeks. She had stopped trying to get him to look at her, but maybe she could still get him to listen. "A wise man told me... sometimes you don't get to choose... who you fall in love with," she replied to that, thinking of their fearless team leader. Granted Remy had used those words in describing his Siskans, but she felt they still applied nonetheless. "Sometimes... things just happen. It's no use trying to fight it."

He shook his head again. This was impossible. Twice now they had tried to act upon this connection they shared and both times all he had done was hurt her. "Mistake.."

"It doesn't have to be," she insisted, this time making him look at her. He allowed it, but his eyes were small and hard as glared down at her, filled with frustration and shame. "Listen to me," she said, happy now to finally have his full attention. "We can do this, you and me, if you slow down and just listen to me."

He tsked her, not believing her for a minute. This had already gone on too far.

"Don't give me a hard time, mister," she teased oh so carefully, making sure the laugh was clear behind her words. "All you have to do is trust me, can you do that?"

"Mrr! Don't ... trust ... me."

"Well, I do," she insisted though in reality she wasn't sure she could pull this off. She did feel, though, that if they didn't get past this stage of things now, they never would. She wasn't one to put off things. She faced them head on, the sooner they would be behind her. "So let me show you."

She kissed him then and he let her, stiff at first, but then slowly melting. He had hurt her enough to bring her to tears but still she wouldn't let him go, not until this was done.

Grace wiggled out of her clothes, just as impatient for this as he was. The moment he finally plunged into her was one of pure joy at first, that big rush. It had been a long time for Grace - in spite of her playful and somewhat flirtatious manner, there hadn't been anyone like this since Cristof. But that joy faded fast. The better it felt for him, the more urgent his need became, the rougher the play went. He was growling now, his sharp teeth snapping at empty air with each thrust as he did his best to fight the urge to actually bite her.

It was frightening and it killed her previous high. The pictures Logan had insisted she see in Kyle's jacket had showed that the women Kyle had raped had been all chewed up. The sounds he was making now were scary and she grew more and more tense. This was no tender lovemaking. It was all rough and animal and not the least bit fun or loving for her. At least it was quick, he shuddered hard as he finished after having made no attempt to make it nice for her at all.

Now that it was over, she couldn't help but compare. Doing this with Cristof had been very different, he had already learned to control this part of his life when they had met. Kyle was miles behind the curve and she had been much more abused.

Now that this was done, she was bruised and hurting, not really happy with how it had gone. He had relented with his teeth but still dug in with his claws. He needed the scent of blood, she reasoned. Some of the other girls had had their throats ripped out. She had been so very lucky.

The feeling of disappointment was mutual she could see as he heaved himself off of her. He hadn't finished her and he now knew it to his shame. He could see the blood and the damage he had caused, but that wasn't the only reason he was feeling so sick inside. The only one who had even come close to teaching him what real love was was Skye and the Siskan had used the empathy to do it. Kyle had been in his thrall and that special magic had not only healed Kyle's poor broken body from Jael's cruel work, it had also ensnared it with a powerful addiction. That same empathic power had cooled the rougher edges of his passion, allowing him to finally learn how to make love and not simply brutalize his way to a climax. The rush of that power had been amazing. That was gone now. As much as he felt for Grace, it hadn't been the same. It was cake without the frosting - still sweet, but definitely lacking. He couldn't keep the disappointment off of his face as he backed away. At least he hadn't caused her serious injury.

"Kyle.." she begged, fearful he would run.

It was justified. He shook his head and retreated even further towards the trees that beckoned. "Told you.. Mrr! Mistake!" he hissed in a furious growl before he turned and in a blur of green leaves, was gone.

"Crap..." she muttered to herself and tried to compose herself. Her clothing was torn and bloodied, her body lead heavy and stiff. She hurt in places she didn't know she could and tried feebly to console herself that at least she was still alive to feel it. The others hadn't been so lucky.

She dressed as best she could, rising on legs that barely held her. She was limping and had only shuffled halfway back to camp when a white shape melted into her path. "John?" she questioned, surprised to see the older man this close to the cabins.

"You can't have him," John said in reply. "He belongs to them trees just the same as me. He might comes to ya now and again, but it won't never be fer reals. You should just lets him go."

John should have known better. As much as what he had said stung her, all his words did was make Grace stand a little taller, ignoring the crack of poor abused bones as she did so. "You'll have to forgive me, Dear John, if I don't consider you the best person to be giving advice on love."

He just chuckled bitterly, showing her a fearsome bit of fang. "Not love, kid. Bree. He's gone it and he ain't never comin' back, not the way you wants him to. Best if you just let him be and be done with it. Before he hurts you fer real."

Grace frowned angrily, her feathers ruffled. He might be speaking the truth after all, but she was in no mood to hear it. "I need a bath and a hot meal. Let me by."

He growled at her, disgusted that she wasn't listening, but he complied and like a banished bad dream vanished back into the shrubbery.

She stumbled back to her cabin and slipped inside, happy that no one had seen her in this state. She was a mess with her rumpled clothing and mussed up hair. Her neck was probably one huge bruise by now from Kyle's teeth. She wasn't the only one messy – the inside of the cabin was a bit of a mess, she was never that tidy. As if in answer to her earlier unspoken question, the file Logan had given her on Kyle was still out and opened just as she had left it, the bright ugly pictures all splashed with red there for anyone to see if they'd had half a mind. He had to have known that she had seen his earlier, less beautiful works of art.

Grace was lucky, they had given her one of the few cabins with running water. They were still upgrading the rest but it wouldn't be long before this was a small town for real. She had a nice hot soak, taking her time about it, and felt much better. With so many of her aches pleasantly soothed away, she took a nap and then went outside to sit on the front steps and think things over. She had taken a blanket out with her and had it now up over her shoulders for comfort. She wasn't quite ready to give up on Kyle, not even after today, but she was going to have to change her game plan if she didn't want to get mauled again like that. It was dark now and she sipped a cup of sweetened coffee, listening to Twilight's version of crickets, happy creatures always ready to share their night time songs. Music to plan by, she teased herself, laughing softly.

She cocked her head when she heard the soft sounds of breaking branches to the front of the cabin and then Kyle was there, creeping up slow to the steps. He came in low, his shoulders slumped in submission. No, it was contrition as he lay himself at her feet, not daring to look up at her.

Grace, her heart huge, smiled at him. "It's okay, " she said gesturing for him to come.

He did and tucked himself up against her, taking the lower step so he could put his warm body between her legs. She shared the blanket, giving him most of it and he lay his head on her knee with a mournful sigh. "I didn't...want .. to keep hurting you."

"I know," she replied, petting his poor tangled hair now. There was mud and twigs in it, how they would ever get it clean she couldn't hazard a guess. "It'll be hard, but I still want to try. I won't give up on you, even if we can't be that way again for a while, okay?"

"Okay..." he breathed, his lips pulled back in a dreamy grin now. He was glad he had come now, glad for this. She was so nice and warm, her lovely scent filling his nose.

Grace just smiled to herself. Now she knew John was beyond wrong. Kyle was hers and only hers. It was just a matter of time and well, she had nowhere else to go. Not until this was finished.