Cheshire and Retro ... solid as always.

Blackhawk ... oh Blackhawk ... I have never had a fan like you before. I assure you I'm NOT letting this die and I promise to explain what's slowed me down whenever I get to the end of this book (closer than you think). But thank you thank you for sticking with me. A lot of what you've been commenting on I've noticed for a while and I assure you righting a lot of those things is in my sights.

You all keep reviewing and I'll keep (slowly) posting


"What's goin' on Troy?" Amara had meant to head back to college after Spring break but as things tended to do when you showed up to hang out with the X-Men ... she got sidetracked. Greer and Vanyss being snatched by some crazy Russian hunter dude called 'Kraven' being the latest reason she'd decided to call Boston and say she was taking the semester off. She really wasn't teaching, more keeping an eye on students and helping out where she could, running missions with the team. But keeping an eye on the students had become a priority when mutants were being picked off on campus.

"Troy ... you OK?" Amara leaned over so she was eye level with the sandy haired Troy who she'd noticed unlike the rest of the kids hanging out, playing games or watching TV after dinner was simply standing alone near one of the windows and staring out towards the grounds. She'd remembered Ororo and Bobby mentioning that Troy and a few of the other psy students had been off lately ... so Amara was careful to keep a special watch on kids like Troy.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Amara tried again and Troy shook his head, a deep frown on his face.

"Is it your powers?" Troy glanced over at Amara and seeming to judge her OK to talk to gave a slight nod.

"Yea just ... I've been getting these bad feelings - all the time? I dunno ... Professor Grey said I should work on blocking them but ... this one keeps getting through." Troy said hesitantly, like most kids his age trying to put their powers into use. Empaths were always tricky ... never sure if you were dealing with their emotions or everyone around them.

"Is it the other kids? I know all the rumors going around but I promise the X-Men are doing everything they can to find Greer." Amara smiled but Troy just took a shaky breath.

"It's not the other students ... or even the professors - I think."

"Then where's the 'bad feeling' coming from?" Amara tilted her head as she rubbed Troy's back.

"Out there." he pointed out towards the forest and Amara's hand froze as she gave Troy a more serious look. If he could be effected by whatever emotions he was feeling ... this could be very bad.

"Troy ... what exactly are you feeling from - from out there? Professor Grey told you that bad feelings - mad feelings you can't let that -" Troy shook his head again and took another shaky breath and Amara realized that he was fighting back tears.

"I just - I've never felt anyone so sad." And Amara barely had time as Troy leaned into her and started sobbing quietly, Amara doing her best to soothe the boy and shield him from curious eyes. But Amara couldn't help but look out at the dark woods and wonder.


"Greer… Greer…" and the tigress's eyes shot open.

"Vanyss? VANYSS!" Greer lurched forward, choking against the collar on her neck as the gargoyle's voice seemed to echo around the darkened room. Greer guessed the place had to be warehouse sized but since she barely saw a few feet into the darkness around her ... it was hard to tell. But that mystery didn't matter right then. Vanyss was alive.

Getting down to a crouch and then her stomach before finally finding the most accurate source of the noise.

"VANYSS CAN YOU HEAR ME?" and she tried to control her own breathing... She needed to hear Vanyss as clear as possible. Where was she coming from?

"Greer help me please me ... He's going to kill me. He said so… Please Greer."

"Vanyss you have to keep calm, I'm going to get you out of here. OK? We are going to be ok."

There was a bit of silence, Greer crawling a bit closer, unsure if the silence was brought on by vanyss or something else before dry laughter escaped from the other side.

"I just realized that this is all your fault ... mon dieu why did I agree to come to this god damn country…" and the tigress lowered her ears, guilt swirling in her stomach before another laugh caused her to look up.

"I don't mean that ... I was careless. I've just been here so long ... I think - I think I'm losing my mind ..." and Greer took a sigh of relief and joined in. The two sides just laughing cryptically before Vanyss suddenly stopped. Her breathing heavy.

"Oh god he's coming… Shit! He's aghhh!' and the tigress's eyes widened as she heard the gargoyle's screams followed by footsteps.

"Vanyss? VANYSS!" and Greer started to bang against the wall.

"LET HER GO KRAVEN! KRAVEN!" and Greer lay kept roaring into the inky darkness as once again silence closed in around her cage.


"Whatcha doin' on Red?" Logan had been leaning in the door long enough to know that Jean was just ignoring him at this point. He'd come upstairs lookin' for K but had stopped at Jean's door to find her packing a bag and looking like she'd worked herself up quite a bit. He'd wondered why his beer had been shakin' like that ...

"I'm going after Greer. Surprised you haven't taken off already. What makes Colton think he's got the sole rights to finding her ..." Jean was mostly grumbling at this point and more pacing then packing. Logan stepped into her path forcing Jean to stop and look at him.

"We're gonna find her. And Vanyss." Logan rumbled low but his tone wans't harsh ... Greer being taken had brought back a whole host of bad memories for the red head. This wasn't the first time Greer had been taken and last time it had only been Greer being pracitcally beaten to death that had gotten through. Jean had spent most of her time locked in cerebro and the rest racked with guilt waiting for Greer to reach out to her like last time. K and Logan felt the same but in their own way ... and with way more practice.- Doc Manager

"Runnin' off and causin' more chaos ain't what we need right now. Colton's got that covered. We keep an eye on him ... odds are he'll lead us where we wanna go. Kid's never let me down before. Once he's focused on somethin' he won't stop."

"That's what I'm worried about ... what if you're not the only one that knows that?" Logan's brow wrinkled as Jean let out a breath but didn't relax as she looked at Logan, "what if he's hunting the wrong thing?"


"Any bright ideas?" Scott drew a hand down his face as he glanced around the table at the equally worn out X-Men. It had been a week since Greer was taken and almost two since Vanyss. Normally that would mean most if not all the X-Men would be out scouring the globe and chasing down leads in search of their missing teammate and student.

But that didn't take Apex into account.

"Is keepin' outta the way still on the table?" Rogue grumbled while Scott could almost audibly be heard grinding his teeth.

Once Logan, K, and Betsy had been confident that Colton wasn't about to run off, K and Betsy had headed back to the Mansion to update Scott and the rest of the team about Greer and the triggered panther.

Naturally Scott was pissed that Colton had brushed him off and the fact Scott had actually been right about what might happen if he did didn't make things any easier. Jean had been taking turn with Xavier on Cerebro since finding out her best friend had been taken. Kitty had reached out to Spider-Man but Parker hadn't heard anything about Kraven for almost 3 years.

And that brought the team back to Colton.

Scott and Xavier had been reluctant to listen to Psylock's advice to simply keep out of the panther's path. It had actually been Remy who had suggested that if Colton wanted to hunt for Greer and Vanyss they should let him ... and reap the rewards. So Scott had organized a number of teams to operate around the clock but always with either K, Logan or Betsy leading. It was pretty obvious that the three had the best handle on what was going on with Colton and the best chance of getting through to him. Or stopping him. If that was even possible.

He just didn't stop. Couldn't stop? It was hard to tell.

K or Logan would sit in the Shack - it was a hard sell to lock anybody without high level healing in a room with him - and relax while Apex searched. Then without a word he'd skip grabbing any sort of ammunition or protection and head for his next target on whatever list he was working off of but the theme was obvious: the Hellfire Club. He'd started with their revenue streams and lower level lieutenants and been steadily working his way up.

X-Men were quick to grab who they could and try getting answer but Jean had verified none of them knew anything about Kraven, Greer, or Vanyss. The ones they didn't grab ... well most of the team tried not thinking about it. The blood soaked panther was picture enough.

And that was another thing ... the panther wasn't looking good. It didn't take Hank to point out that just because Colton was triggered didn't mean he didn't need to eat ... to drink ... or sleep. But thus far no one had seen him do any of the three.

Find a target. Look for Greer. Kill everyone else. Repeat.

And all of that might have been fine if Betsy hadn't come running when she'd figured out who Apex was going after next: "It's Harry Leland ... Colton's going after the Black Bishop of the Hellfire Club."

And that was what had spurred Scott to call the meeting. Thus far they'd been able to keep everyone off their backs - SHIELD being the most important - with the general understanding that when someone takes an X-Men ... it's best to let them handle it and look the other way. But the Hellfire Club was beyond well connected not to mention more than a handful to deal with all on their own.

"So ... what're we going to do about it?" Bobby asked outloud and a range of options were tossed around. K volunteered to simply walk up to the panther and stick him with whatever cocktail Hank could cook up ... not like the X-Men couldn't find Greer and Vanyss on their own. That was only partially shut down when Hank wasn't 100% sure Colton's state could be shut down that way ... or at least safely enough to ensure he'd ever wake up. Ororo also pointed out that it was clear Kraven had taken Greer as a means to target Colton and if he was taken off the board there was no telling what Kraven might do to draw him back out.

As the discussion wore on Jean tried fighting off yet another migraine. Rogue and Peter were going in circles over letting Colton go after Leland ... and that just made Jean think of the voice missing from all of this ... Greer's. Her best friend. Taken. Again.

The image of Greer locked in a cage flashed through her mind again - images from Greer's memories at Weapon X or nightmares - and giving Scott a silent apology the red head slipped off. She didn't even know where she was going before she came up short and spotted Colton stalking around the corner. Jean froze for a moment - it was late and the students were mostly upstairs - was the first somewhat guilty thought that ran through her head. Despite everything Colton had avoided the school during daylight hours only coming in for whatever supplies or intel he seemed to need. She knew he'd never hurt any of the students. From everything she'd seen Colton was very protective of the students ... of everyone ...

"Colton - wait!" Jean hurried after Colton and when she didn't see him reached out for the blank space she knew she'd find him. It didn't take long and Jean almost ran as she ventured into the older and less used parts of the Mansion until she saw the dark back of the panther.

"Col - Apex!" Jean finally shouted out and with some slight effort got him to finally stop, though the very audible growl rippling down the hallway showed Apex wasn't happy about being stopped. Jean couldn't help but hear Logan and Betsy's very clear instruction that under no circumstances should anybody actually get in Colton's way. Jean shrugged it off as she came around and placed herself directly in Colton's path and steeling herself looked into that white glare.

"You need to stop." Jean said it as calmly as she could but the only response she got was a louder growl but Jean stood her ground, "I said you need to stop. Stop whatever this is. Now."

Jean's brow furrowed as she felt Colton strain against her hold and when that didn't work she braced herself like Xavier had been teaching her for the roar he let out and instead of stepping down Jean actually pushed the panther back a bit as she roared right back.

"Enough! You think you're the only one that cares about Greer? About Vanyss? You don't get to do this! You don't get to shut the rest of us out and go after her alone ... suffer on your own! You're killing yourself!" Jean's voice trembeled as Apex might have not appeared to process anything Jean was saying but for his muzzle tipping towards the floor. Eye contact ... Greer was always going on about eye contact ... Jean stepped closer so she could keep looking up at Colton.

"I know that you care about Greer. More than any of us. But you can't protect us and shut us out. I don't know what's been going on with you since you came back but I know you care about the rest of us - hey!" Jean fought to keep her eyes on Colton's, "I know you do. You've been pushing all of us away but you can't do this on your own. You can't keep Greer - all of us safe on your own."

Jean let out her breath as she released Colton who's growls hadn't quieted and eyes hadn't cleared as he took a menacing step closer to Jean so that he towered over even the tall red head who didn't back down.

"Let us help you. Let me help you." Jean's voice was clear as she stared Apex down.

...

K had just turned the corner into the kitchen when she came up short and took a moment to take in what she was seeing.

Colton was sitting back in his corner quietly eating with his head bowed with a gently smiling Jean across from him. Just as quiet was Amara who was sitting right next to him. The fiery co-ed had come in a few minutes before K and the moment she'd seen Colton back to normal she'd quickly crossed the room and slid in next to him. K took in the entire scene and casually walked over to the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee before joining the table, sharing a brief nod with Jean, and sitting down to enjoy her late night cup in comfortable silence ... though when K joined them it seemed Colton was about to say something but Jean made a noise in her throat and gestured back at the mound of food and with a slight rumble the panther went back to eating.

Even if him and K shared a brief look as he noticed the top of an injector poking out of her pocket. K for her part gave a noncomittal shrug and went back to her coffee.

When Apex had finally cleared his plate and Amara and Jean seemed satisfied, the panther looked to K first.

"Did any of the students ..."

"You avoided the school most of the time. You never came near any of the students. Promise." Amara quickly rushed in before either of the older X-Women had a chance to answer, the pair giving her a look that got her to blush but stay where she was. She was in college now damn it ... she could stay at the grown ups table. But Apex kept his eyes on K for her answer.

"You didn't hurt anyone here if that's what you're worrying about. But you sure didn't make any of our lives any easier."

Apex's ears turned down at K's comment and he shifted his eyes back to the table. He knew what he'd been doing ... mostly. It was really anything outside of hunting for Greer that was out of focus. Greer ... he had to find Greer ...

"Hey! Cut that out," Jean's tone was firm but she had a smile as Apex blinked and the brief hint of white faded away and Amara relaxed back into her seat, "so ..." Jean gave a look around the table, "what do we do now?"

"Well why don't we -" Amara started but K cut her off.

"Why don't we wait and see what Rogue's gotta say." K turned over her shoulder to see the entry where sure enough the group could hear running footsteps before Rogue appeared and like everyone else took a second to take in the scene before seeming to remember what she'd come running for.

"You all might wanna get yourselves togetha ... we got some company."

"Who?" Amara asked curious while Apex felt his fur go on end while Jean simply pulled the information and frowned.

"Emma Frost is comin' up the drive. Said she was here to talk to him." Rogue gestured at Colton.

"What on earth does Emma want with Colton?" Amara had a frown similar to Jean's, the diamond psychic not too popular with any of the X-Men.

"It isn't obvious?" K huffed a bit as she turned back around and leaned back in her seat as she looked at Apex, "she's here to parlay on behalf of the Hellfire Club."


Dr. McCoy and Professor Xavier had been waiting for the ex-White Queen when she came out of her Mercedes dressed with her typical dramatic flair in a mix of skin tight white leather and fur. It seemed Emma had decided to embrace her role as negotiator and remind everyone the position she'd once held. Needless to say no one was very impressed.

"Would you mind bringing the beast to the study in the East wing Charles? And for once that doesn't mean you Hank." Emma's tone was a combination of confidence and condescension regardless of addressing arguably the two smartest mutants - or humans for that matter - on the planet. Xavier to his credit didn't take the bait.

"The room's already prepared. Please, Ms. Frost ..." and the Professor wheeled towards the East wing as Emma followed, her designed boots clicking in her wake.

Emma was shown into the study and didn't break stride when she was confronted by the waiting Colton, Logan, Scott, Jean, and K. Everyone had been a bit surprised when Colton had asked each one to be there when Emma arrived. It seemed Jean's confrontation had gotten through and the panther was making an effort to include those that had been watching his back all this time.

"So ... you're the shadow everyone's been looking under their beds for," Emma sounded relaxed as she appraised Colton and sank into one of the leather chairs while the rest of the room stayed standing, "I have to say I'm just the slightest bit underwhelmed. Although… you would make a lovely new handbag." and the glare between the two intensified before Jean suddenly took a protective step in front of Colton.
"Don't even try it," she snapped dangerously the room just shaking just a little as Emma shot her a hurt look, "I'm keeping a close eye on everyone here."

"Well you can't blame a woman for trying," Emma explained as she smoothed the leather on her boot, "though it seems at least one of the rumors were true," she shifted her gaze back to Colton who while center amongst the ground stood the furthest away, "you really are shut tighter than a lead trap aren't you? You know if you wanted I could probably take a crack at it ... more than these amateurs at least." Emma smiled as a low rumble finally filled the room.

"You came here to just to talk shit or you got somethin' real to say?" Logan's voice reasserting control of the room. K for her part just straight up didn't like this woman ... personally or her horrendous fashion sense. Emma shot Logan a much different look and seemed to resettle herself into the chair as she addressed the group.

"As you all know I've given up my so called evil ways to become a productive member of society... but that doesn't mean I don't keep in touch with the old life and it seems I've been asked -"

"She means paid." Jean smirked.

"more than you ever will be sweet heart," Emma tutted, but clearly did not appreciating being interrupted, "to come here on behalf of the Hellfire Club and see if we can move past this ... little misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Scott's tone was of disbelief, "your friends paid a mad man to hunt down their own kind for sport and as of now our only lead to finding Greer or Vanyss is through the Hellfire Club."

"My aren't you perceptive… " Emma mused shooting Scott a look that made jean positively fume before wagging finger,
"But you're wrong, all of you. I have been assured that this is a very false lead. Yes, the Hellfire Club and Kraven had some business once upon a time but that turned sour. Kraven went rogue and the two parties have been at each other's throats for months. They almost had him until a certain someone got involved and I don't know… decided to start killing everyone." Emma finished with a pointed look at Colton who continued to simply glare.

"No." Apex rumbled and Emma fixed him with a smile.

"Ah - so it does speak. You know I'd been wondering since I walked in ..." Emma pretended to lean forward to seemingly examine the panther closer but all that got was a growl from K and a sneer from just about everyone else.

"None of us believe you Emma. And I'd be careful who you call an 'it' after some of the monsters you've stood next to." Scott spoke for the group and Emma rolled her eyes.

"Of course you don't. That's why I made them prove it to me ... go ahead Jeannie, check my memory. You might even learn something when you're in there." Emma offered and giving Scott a quick nod, Jean scanned Emma's mind.

The two women locked gazes for a moment before fje red head scowled.
"It - it's true. Or at least the part with the Hellfire Club and Kraven going after each other." Jean shot Colton a 'sorry' look ... she knew his history of being used and the fact Kraven had gotten the better of him she knew must have hit hard despite the panther barely moving.

"So why send you here to make a deal? If this is the 'big bad Hellfire Club' I've been hearing about why not just s*** us out? Not like they haven't tried to before." K mused and Emma looked like she clearly wanted to snoop into the brunette feral but a quick look back at Jean cut Emma short.

"Oh I'm sure they discussed it ... but it helps when one of the members isn't sure he has that long to debate and keeps checking dark corners looking for shadows," Emma's tone was dark and clearly amused as she once again was clearly sizing up Apex. Jean didn't like it and the other ferals in the room liked it even less. They knew that look from enough times as being appraised for what type of weapon they could be.

"So what do they want?" Scott pressed and Emma turned her attention back to him.

"They want ...," Emma rolled her hand dramatically and looked around the room.

"Apex." Scott answered.

"Apex," Emma nodded a thanks to Logan, "to stop burning down their investments and killing all their members. And in exchange they'll provide the location for Kraven the Hunter. And your missing friends I presume ." Emma shrugged as she again pretended to fix her pristine outfit as she let her offer hang for dramatic effect. She knew they'd take it. Everyone in the room did. Scott only looked back at Colton for a nod to make sure it was official.

"Done." Scott answered and Emma clapped her hands.

"Wonderful. Now before I leave I have just one more bit of information to relay to Apex but for this one I'm going have to insist the rest of you to leave." Scott and Logan were ready to tell Emma to shove it but Apex cut them off.

"It's alright ... go." The entire group shared a look but Logan motioned for them to go and one by one they left, Emma giving each one a little nod and Scott a mock salute. Once the X-Men left Emma seemed to shrug off the performance she'd been putting on and stood up so she could lean against the unlit fire place as she casually shifted to her diamond form. Apex assumed the ex-White Queen didn't want anyone snooping and he noted she also happened to move closer to the windows that faced her parked car and the closest highway.

"You didn't tell them." Emma started with a smirk Apex almost read as approval.

"Logan knows." Apex answered back but Emma huffed as she waved a hand.

"If Logan thought the Hellfire Club was harboring Weapon X I'm fairly certain he'd have been the one out there casting shadows and hacking off limbs ... not you."

"Weapon X ... Stryker ... they're with the Hellfire Club." Apex rumbled and Emma gave a noncommittal shrug.

"Like I said before I don't run with that crowd anymore. I'm honestly not sure ... but they did have a message just for you," now Emma squared up and looked directly at Apex, "Forget. Forget him. Forget her. Take Kraven off the board and consider yourself lucky they have other interests." Emma's tone had gone cold.

"Or what?" Apex challenged, seemingly unaffected by the Emma's message.

"For the record, I told them that if you were anything like the other ferals I knew that threats would likely just make you that much more of a pain ... but yea, assume they threatened you, your friends, everyone you might think about protecting ... they'll come after. And trust me precious ... the Hellfire Club doesn't threaten lightly."

Emma ended her warning with a smile and confidently strode over to the glowering panther and tucked a card into his folded arms, "in case you need to recognize my number. Who knows ... I just might need some killing done myself."

The group watched as Emma slipped back into her Mercedes and drove off.

"Did I hear right that you actually got with that Summers?" K half-joked as she leaned in the doorway next to Logan.

"Really rather not talk about that." Scott groaned as he took the information Frost had handed over and headed downstairs to analyze it and figure out where their missing gargoyle and tigress were. Colton waited until Emma's lights couldn't be seen and taking a breath headed down after Scott.


Greer shifted and tried to get some sleep … She was hungry… and judging from her cracked lips, dehydrated as well. It had been days ... weeks? She couldn't tell. Except for the light above her cage that never went out it was always darkness around her. She could practically feel the filth build up around her ... if the grime building around her collar wasn't an indication enough.

The few times she'd actually been fed Kraven had slipped some small animal into her cage ... a rabbit ... some type of shrew maybe? ... and while the old her would have cringed she'd slit their throats and stripped them down all while smiling for the camera and giving a 'fuck you' salute.

Oh and she felt like she was going insane. She'd always been claustrophobic but the term 'pacing like a tiger' had never really rung true until now. She felt desperate to move. To run. She felt damn chain never came off ... Kraven had come back once and she'd tried attacking him again but it wasn't nearly as successful ... the ass had dislocated something in her back and it'd taken forever to get it to crack back into place.

At least she had space to move around in Weapon X. At least they treated her like a commodity. At least she interacted ... well ok forced to hunt and kill and tortured but at least there was something.

Sometimes she wasn't sure what was real or what wasn't ... sometimes she heard Vanyss - had entire conversations - and sometimes she wondered if she was making it all up.

All of this made the voice Greer was hearing seem distant and at first she was sure she was imagining it but nope ... the asshole himself had returned ...

"Tigrista ... I believe it is time we prepare for the final hunt. It won't be long now ..." Greer whipped onto all fours and gave a hiss as Kraven came into view.

"Let me out of this cage and it can be over right now." Greer growled and Kraven gave her a cocky smile.

"In a moment," Greer actually relaxed she was so shocked for a moment, "but first I need to show you something." Greer's ears flattened as a knot formed in her stomach as Kraven sauntered over to his left and as he did the darkness that surrounded Greer started to lift.

"I was always the greatest hunter. But the hunt had grown stale ... unfulfilling ... until I found Apex. Finally an equal. An animal that was as much prey as predator. Perhaps the ultimate predator," Kraven clenched his fist seeming at the memory as Greer glanced around the quickly brightening massive room ... library ... oh shit - "as you look around you'll notice I have killed most things on this planet worth killing. All except him ... and I could have lived with that ... but you ruined everything!" Kraven suddenly thundered, spittle flying from his mouth as he rounded to glare at Greer who did nothing but stare at him and try to ignore the literally hundreds of dead and stuffed animals littered around the room. Some staged, others in cases, some simply standing on their own.

It all gave Greer the creeps.

"Don't worry I'll let you die this time! One time mistake ..." Greer growled the last part to herself.

"Yes ... yes it was a mistake," Kraven nodded suddenly back in control, "but not only for you. But for myself as well ... I needed to heal. Retrain my body. My mind. And for that ... I needed practice." Kraven came to a stop before one of the larger displays set in the center of the room, this one still darkened, "and so, inspired my pursuit of the greatest predator, I hunted."

Kraven must have clicked something because the light in the display came on and Greer forgot everything ... where she was ... who was there ... as she slowly got to her feet and walked as far as the chain would allow her until it gave a light tug and she came to a stop.

Wild Child ... Feral ... Puma ...

"oh my god ..." Greer covered her mouth as Kraven glanced over his shoulder at the display with a smile.

"I was a bit surprised you couldn't sense her. After all ... you kept calling her name ... not that it could hear you."

"V - Vanyss ..."

He'd killed her.

Killed all of them.

And had them displayed and posed like animals.

Greer never noticed the front of the cage falling to the floor with a clang or her chain slipping to the ground. Greer welcomed the red as it covered her vision and with a roar the tigress charged Kraven who simply braced himself with a smile.

"Finally ... the hunt begins."