So so so so sorry for not posting! My document that I had with this story on it got deleted, so I had to get everything straight and so on. Thanks to all of those that have reviewed and I hope you enjoy the next chapter of Spirit's Life! Please R&R!
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, I was being jostled awake by Rogue.
"Wake up, Spirit. Classes are going to be starting soon," the Southern girl said, pulling on clean clothes.
The faint smell of blood was still in the air and I followed it to the nightshift Rogue had worn the night before. Blood tinged the edges of the stab wounds where Logan's claws had shot through her chest. I shake myself free of the memory and jump down from the bed, giving myself a nice, long stretch.
'You going to be alright?' I asked Rogue with my thoughts, not feeling like changing into my human form at the moment.
Rogue didn't answer immediately, which made me think that she either hadn't heard me or she didn't know. And since I knew my thoughts were transmitting, then it must have been the latter.
'You going to b-?' I start to ask again before Rogue whipped around, fresh tears in her eyes.
"I don't know, Spirit, ok? I've been stabbed through the chest and the rest of the students don't even want to be around me now because of my powers! I thought being here would help, but apparently not," Rogue shouted at me. I pinned my ears flat against my skull, giving a soft whine.
'Sorry,' I tell her before going over to the door and rearing up onto my hind legs, grabbing the doorknob in my mouth and twisting, pulling backwards as I did so. I start to leave before Rogue stops me.
"Wait. I'm sorry, Spirit. Things have been...difficult. I'm sorry, alright?"
What can I say? I'm a wolf, loyal to those who are of my pack. And Rogue was part of my pack. She was like a littermate to me. I went over to her, giving her glove covered hand a gentle nuzzle before leaning against her leg.
'No need to say sorry. My fault,' I told her, partially closing my eyes as she started to scratch between my shoulder blades. I didn't have to turn to see the smile on Rogue's face. I could feel her emotions flowing off of her as she stroked me.
After about thirty seconds, I had to get going. I still had to get myself ready. I gave Rogue's hand another quick nuzzle before darting out the door and into the hallway.
"Remember, I'll be in the garden after class. Meet you there!" Rogue called after me.
I give her a nod as I slid for a few seconds before my claws find their purchase on the flooring. Only then do I bolt for my room to get ready for the new day.
'Logan!'
I shot out from under the Professor's desk, having caught the familiar scent of beer and cigar as Logan entered the room. As I jogged towards him, I change into my human form, a bright smile on my face.
"Did not think I see you today. You smell tired," I added. Logan gave one of his rough chuckles.
"Thanks Sprite. Good to see you, too," he said. "The Professor around?"
"He just left," I inform him, ignoring the nickname Logan used to try and bait me. Instead, I looked towards the clock on the wall. I still don't understand the concept of using such a contraption to tell the time. The sun worked just as well. But the Professor was determined to teach me how to tell time both ways and since he was a pack mate, I did what I could to make him happy. When I did manage to make out the time, I gave a quick yelp.
"I late! I need to meet Rogue. Bye, Logan!" I tell him, shortening my sentences as I rushed to make the time schedule.
Once I was out of the Professor's office, I thought about it for a second before thinking about a form I had read about in another of Xavier's books. It was a big cat, lean and agile, the fastest of them all. As I think of the form, I start to become it. True, it was painful, but nothing that I couldn't handle. Seconds later and, badda bing badda boom, I was a cheetah. I gave myself an extra second to get accustomed to the new form before bolting towards the garden where I knew Rogue was. The cheetah body ran quicker than I expected. It was amazing! It went even faster than my wolf form! With a yowl of delight, I sprinted outside and into the garden.
Like she had promised, Rogue was in the garden, sitting on a bench under a tree. However, there was a boy coming to sit next to her. Surprised, I slow myself and change back into my wolf form. I gave a soft growl to myself when I smell the deception coming from the boy. And something else. I couldn't place it though. I recognized the boy as the one that always smelled like ice and was almost always around Rogue. But his scent was off. I didn't like it. I didn't like it even more when Rogue stood up suddenly and started back towards the mansion. I turned to go after her, but not before I saw the boy's eyes flash gold.
'What's going on Rogue? Why are you packing?' I ask Rogue, having followed her to her room. She was currently holding back tears, shoving her clothes and other necessities into the green duffel bag she had brought with her.
"Because I'm not wanted here," Rogue replied bitterly. "The Professor is mad at me for what happened to Logan. I just...I can't stay here any longer, Spirit."
I give a soft whine, leaping up onto the bed and turning so that I could look at Rogue.
'Why would you think that the Professor is mad at you? It was an accident,' I tell her, confused as to why she was acting this way.
"Bobby told me. He said the other students are freaked out and that the Professor is furious," Rogue said, a tear running down her cheek.
'The boy that smells like ice?' I asked her. When she nodded, I growled softly. 'Something wasn't right with his smell. He smelled weird.'
"It doesn't matter Spirit. I'm leaving and that's final!" Rogue zipped up her bag and pulled on the green cloak I had first seen her in.
'Wait,' I tell her, jumping down from the bed.
"Don't try and stop me, Spirit. I'm leaving," Rogue repeated.
'I'm not,' I told her. 'I'm going with you.'
Rogue gave a small smile. "Thank you," she whispered softly before exiting the room, me following quietly behind her.
We took a taxi into the city. I had changed into a German Shepherd (very similar to my wolf form) before we left the taxi so that everyone wouldn't be watching us as we made our way towards the subway. Surprisingly enough, the cabdriver didn't even look twice as I leaped out from his car as a different type of dog. Guess he had seen stranger things. Though I wouldn't put it past the pedestrians to notice a white wolf. I wouldn't blame them. It's rare to see a pure white wolf, even more so in a crowded place like New York. That and Rogue didn't want anyone calling Animal Control on us.
I knew we were in trouble as soon as we stepped into the train station. My hackles lifted slightly, sensing danger. But when I looked around, I didn't see anyone or anything that could be a threat. Unless you counted the rats the size of terriers and the excessive amount of mold from leftover food. I gave myself a firm shake to get my fur to settle back against my back before trotting to catch up with Rogue.
As we waited for the train, Rogue told me a bit about her past in Mississippi, before the incident with her boyfriend had caused her to run away, mostly about how she used to dream of traveling and exploring when she was older. Looks like that had already happened, sooner rather than later. To me, Mississippi was a new word and it felt funny on my tongue. At least, as well on a dog's tongue as it can get. Rogue laughed as my long, pink tongue flicked in and out of my mouth as I attempted to form the word with so few vocal cords. I finally just gave up trying to form the word and leaped up onto the bench next to Rogue and licked her face.
"Hey! Quit it Spirit! That's gross!" Rogue said, trying to push my muzzle away and laughing at the same time. I gave her face one last lick before backing away, wagging my tail. A few bystanders were watching us now, hiding giggles behind their hands.
The train came up a few seconds later and Rogue got quickly to her feet, almost tripping over me as she rushed to get to the door. I grabbed her cloak sleeve in my mouth, pulling her back.
'Hold it cowgirl. The other people have to get off first,' I reminded her. A few people, the ones that were closest to us, looked around, startled expressions on their faces. Oops.
Rogue nodded and took a few steps back, ignoring the looks. Saying or doing anything would only lead to more attention that we didn't want. Or need for that matter.
Once everyone was off the train, we boarded. Rogue slid into a vacant seat, sitting down with a relieved sigh. I leaped over her lap and onto the seat to her right, looking out the window. My breath fogged up the window and I wagged my tail slightly, poking my nose against the window before pulling back. I chuckled to myself at the print I had left before doing it again. Fog up the glass, press nose against it. Fog up the glass, press nose against it. Fog up the glass, press nose against it. Rogue seemed distracted, not watching my antics. I got bored after a while with putting my nose on the glass and I laid down the best I could on the small train seat, resting my head on Rogue's lap. She absently stroked my head, rubbing my velvety ears. I was wise enough to know when to stay quiet.
I had just closed my eyes, getting ready to take a doze, when the scent of cigar and beer hit me. My head shot upright and I gave a sharp bark, ears aiming straight at the burly figure that made its way through the aisle of the train and towards us.
Rogue looked over her shoulder at my bark and hunkered down in her seat when she saw who it was, looking like she was wishing for the seat to just swallow her right then and there.
"May I sit?" Logan asked, motioning to the seat on Rogue's left. She just nodded absently, not meeting his eyes.
As Logan sat down, he gave me a small smile, but didn't say anything. His eyes showed how worried and hurt he had been when we had left. I pinned my ears slightly. His looks were worse than him yelling at me. Give me an angry, charging stag any day! Logan started talking softly to Rogue. I blocked him out, knowing that this wasn't the time for eavesdropping. His words were for Rogue, not for me. I started to fog up the glass again, not having anything else to do. As I wiped the moisture from the window, I saw Storm and Scott by the ticket area, probably still looking for Rogue. I start to wag my tail before I remember that they can't see me. Not all the way over here in the train. I open my mouth to fog up the glass for a seventh time, I paused, something catching my eye. A large, burly man, larger than even Logan, was making his way over to Storm, tossing a man out of his way. Alarm bells went off in my head and I growled softly, instinctively lowering my head to raise up my shoulders to make myself look bigger than I actually was. Something was very wrong here.
My suspicions were confirmed when he suddenly grabbed Storm by the throat, throwing her up against the glass of the ticket booth. People started screaming and running away. If I hadn't been so worried about Storm, I would have scoffed. Humans can be such weaklings at times. All superiority and no instinct. It was only when I caught movement from the corner of my eye and say something lash out at Scott, taking his glasses away from his face, did I start howling up a storm, snarling and barking at the commotion going on outside. Seconds later, the back end of the train exploded outward, letting in the sunlight. I snarl again, white beginning to streak my black and brown German Shepherd fur. An older man stepped into the train, dressed in purple and red with a weird helmet over his head. The larger burly man stood behind him, off to the side. His scent was wild, like male wolves during mating season. And he smelled like dead rats. In other words, it was a very foul combination. I got to the floor and under the seat, gathering my hind legs under me, ready to spring. The man with the metal helmet and the foul smelling man had yet to notice me. This would work to my advantage.
I watched Logan carefully as he rose, taking a small step forward so that he was just behind Rogue's seat, keeping her from view. I keep to the German Shepherd form for now. Though similar to my wolf form, it was smaller and lighter. Changing now would cause me to become stuck under the seat. Not something I needed right then. I shook my head to clear it of thoughts, paying more attention to the commotion on the train.
The metal helmet man was lifting his hand, like he was lifting something. I knew that gesture. Jean used it sometimes when she was levitating something heavy and used it more like a beacon to help her. The man was doing the same thing. Only what would he-
My thoughts cut off when I heard Logan giving a growl of pain. I turned my head slightly so that I could look at him from the corner of my eye while also keeping a better eye on the two assailants. Logan was now levitating in the air, his arms stretched out to the sides. He gave a yelp of pain as his claws were forced out and my lips lifted from over my fangs. The metal helmet man was doing it! I knew that he was! But there was nothing I could do, but watch.
"What...do you want...with me?" Logan gritted out, trying to keep control over his own body. I knew that it was pointless. The other man controlled metal, that much I could tell. And Logan's body was literally full to the brim of it.
"My dear boy," the man started to say. "Whoever said I wanted you?" His light colored eyes looked over at Rogue and I stiffened.
Logan forced his head to turn slightly so that he could look at Rogue before the metal helmet man gave a wave of his hand, sending poor Logan flying backwards. That was enough for Rogue. She hesitated for a few moments before bolting from her seat, running down the aisle. I started to crawl out when I heard a whistling noise and saw something strike Rogue in the shoulder, knocking her out.
"Why do they always run?" the older man grumbled, starting towards Rogue. Thoughts clicked into place as I realized this had to be Magneto, the man the Professor had been talking about. Rogue was now in even more danger than I thought. I snarled loudly and sprang from my hiding spot, completing my shift from German Shepherd to white wolf. I leaped into the air, landing on Magneto's back. I clawed at his helmet, trying to find purchase, as I sank my fangs into his shoulder. He gave a scream of pain, but my fangs never hit flesh. Instead, they hit something harder, like armor. I withdrew my teeth and started to bite again for his throat. They never made contact. I had forgotten about the bad smelling man. He grabbed my scruff, ripping me away from Magneto and throwing me to the ground. I yelped, the wind knocked out of my. I saw him coming towards me, raising a heavily muscled arm. I tried to scrabble to my feet, but they were numb under me. Looks like he had thrown my harder than I thought. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to get away, I just watched the bad smelling man come towards me, fist raised. I didn't even flinch as he went to slam it into my head. His name came to me seconds before he touched me. Sabertooth, I thought grimly, watching the fist coming closer.
"Wait." It was Magneto that spoke. "Bring the shifter. We may need her."
Sabertooth pulled back, his fist millimeters from my head. I stayed frozen under him, eyes wide enough to flash the whites of them. But I would never flash my eyes to him. Never would I submit to one like him. I peel my lips back from my white fangs instead, daring him to bring his hand closer.
He did, ignoring my jaws as I snapped at his hand and curling it around my throat and crushing my windpipe. The choking sensation only lasted for about a minute before I lost consciousness.
A large heavy collar was around my neck. That was the first thing I felt when I woke up. That and the rattling of the even heavier chain in Sabertooth's hand. Great. They were treating me like a dog. How humiliating! Then I remembered the predicament I was in. Right. Being kidnapped. Or would it be wolf-napped? We were standing on the stairs leading away from the train station. Throat no longer crushed...check. Healing power fixed that. Still in chain...check. Rogue in a black body-bag carried by a swampy smelling man wearing Scott's red visor...check. Policemen aiming guns at us...check. Rescue party in sight...no check. I growl and feel the collar tighten. Even greater. It was one of those choke chain collars. They really believed me to be a dog. And that only made me hate them worse.
I felt a familiar presence brush against my mind and I almost cry in relief.
'Professor!' I cry out to him with my thoughts, eyes whipping around to find him.
Magneto seemed to sense Xavier as well. "We are no longer alone," he told his pack. Or was it a posse? Rogue had made me watch movies with her. People like Magneto always has something called a posse. Sabertooth suddenly did something I didn't expect: he grabbed Magneto's throat with a clawed hand. Since when was he on our side?
"Let them go," Sabertooth said tonelessly, his eyes black as a starless and moonless night.
The swamp smelling man said the same thing, his eyes the same color. What was going on? Was the Professor doing this?
While I mulled this over, Magneto said something that I didn't catch. I looked up at him and snarled, taking a few steps forward. The metal chain tightened around my neck, cutting off my breath until I had backed up. I shot ice daggers from my eyes at Magneto.
"Nice little guard dog you have here, Charles. I'm surprised the little bitch isn't by your side right now," Magneto said calmly, as though this was something he did everyday.
My hackles raised and my lips pulled back once more from my fangs. How dare he! Calling me a little female dog! I was no dog! I was a wolf, damn it! The chain tightened in warning around my neck and I was forced to relax myself, though my hackles stayed raised. I sat down next to Sabertooth, not really knowing what else to do. While I searched the crowd for the Professor, I jumped at the sound of a gunshot. My head whipped around to see a bullet grinding into one of the police officer's head. I flinched, ears pinned flat against my skull. I wanted to help, I really did. But if I moved, Magneto would kill me, of that I had no doubt.
"Don't press your luck Charles," Magneto called out. Guns clicked all around us as he locked a bullet into each chamber. "I don't think I can stop them all."
There was a few moments of tense silence, waiting. I started to shake, adrenaline pushing me to do something when I could do nothing. I thought about possibly changing form. Maybe to that of a lion or a bear. I shook the thought out of my head before it had even been fully formed. Shifting now might kill me. Magneto could tighten the chain as I shifted, or the chain might not accommodate to a larger sized animal and choke me to death before I could shift back. So no. Wolf I was and wolf I would stay. These thoughts whizzed by in my head in the amount of time it took for the Professor to release Sabertooth from his mind clutches. The large burly man removed his hand from Magneto's throat. I whined softly, quiet enough that no one, especially Magneto or Sabertooth, could hear it.
'Professor?' I called to him, making sure that this time I sent my thoughts to him and only him.
'Don't worry Spirit. We'll figure a way out of this. Just keep calm. We'll find you,' Xavier promised me.
I don't say anything else, head lowered in distress and weariness. I didn't know whether or not to listen to the Professor. I had been betrayed too many times in my life to fully trust him. But he was of my pack. I would have to trust him. And so I would. I knew that the Professor would find Rogue and me. He had to.
I looked up at the sound of helicopter blades, snarling again. Sabertooth was the one who pulled the chain now as I growled, cutting it off before it had even fully formed. I glared at him and he only gave me an evil, chilling smile before he dragged me towards the helicopter. He picked me up by my scruff, throwing me inside. He tied the chain through a hoop in the ground and I closed my eyes, shaking as the cold metal pressed against my fur. Once everyone was loaded, the thing lurched, almost making me vomit as my stomach did the same.
I prayed to the Moon Goddess that Rogue and I would make it out of this alive as the helicopter flew us away. To where, I didn't know.
Hope that you guys enjoyed this long chapter! Please review! Thanks!
ML