And we're back! Sorry for the wait guys, writers' block. And I've been doing some ahead writing for the Spirit's Life series. Speaking of which, I have a contest for you guys. Whoever is the 50th reviewer, they can give me one of their own stories and I will write it again and incorporate Spirit into it. So, please review! And I hope you enjoy. ;)
I ran outside, feeling my powerful hind legs propelling me forward with ease, following the sound of fighting. I dug my claws into the metal of the statue, anchoring myself so that the wind wouldn't knock me off. My eyes glowed luminously in the darkness, allowing me to see things that others wouldn't. Night vision, more or less. I watched for a few seconds as Logan and Sabertooth fought. I saw Logan grab for something around Sabertooth's throat.
"These are mine," he growled, pulling away with his dog tags wrapped around his claws. Sabertooth started towards him, snarling angrily. It was then I made my own move.
I roared loudly and lunged forward, landing on Sabertooth's back and sinking my massive fangs into his shoulder. Sabertooth howled in pain, twisting and turning, trying to dislodge me. I faintly heard Logan ask, "Spirit?", but I ignored it, too occupied to answer. Sabertooth landed a lucky blow on my head, making my grip on his shoulder loosen. He made that his advantage, grabbing my scruff and throwing me off, almost managing to toss me off the statue. I growled as my hind legs hit empty air, hanging on with my front claws. I dug my claws in deeper, heaving and pulling my large body back up onto the statue. I finally was able to dig my hind claws in as well, giving me extra leverage to pull myself up. I gave a slight pant in relief as I was finally able to plant all four paws firmly on something solid. I couldn't really say on solid ground because, well, we were on a statue, not on the ground.
I looked around, assessing what was going on around me. I couldn't see either Logan or Sabertooth. I snarled angrily, ears pinning back as I didn't really have much of a tail to lash. Seeing as I couldn't fight an enemy I couldn't see (scent was out of the equation, since there was so much wind that I would have had trouble telling the difference between a mouse and a rat!), I headed back inside the statue, furred paws completely silent as I made my way back. I froze at the entry way when I saw Sabertooth approaching the others.
'My pack,' I snarled savagely towards Sabertooth, his blood still fresh on my fangs from where I had bitten him.
The large mutant looked towards me, startled. When he saw who it was, he bared his own teeth, which were longer and sharper than those of a humans.
"You!" he spat.
'Me,' I replied smugly.
Sabertooth started towards me before I heard a loud thump come from behind me. I didn't turn to see who it was, keeping my eyes firmly locked on Sabertooth.
"Jean..." came a familiar voice. My whiskers twitched slightly in amusement. This was not a fight that Sabertooth was going to be able to win.
"Scott, when I tell you, you need to open your eyes," I heard Jean tell Scott.
"No!" Scott said harshly, squeezing his eyes harder together.
"Just trust me," Jean replied.
"You dropped something," Logan said and I stole a quick glance to see what it was. It was Scott's glasses!
I watched as Jean used her telekinesis to move Scott's glasses from Logan's hand to an angle by Scott's face.
"Now," she said and I saw red. Literally.
Scott's optic beam hit the glasses and started towards Sabertooth. I ducked just in time as Sabertooth was hit with the beam and sent flying from the statue. I tried not to listen, but I couldn't help to not hear the sounds the large mutant made as his body crashed to the ground. Curiosity getting the better of me, I looked through the hole Sabertooth had left and looked down. His body wasn't in sight, but the mangled, broken boat that he had slammed into was very evident in my eyes. I aimed one last hissing snarl towards Sabertooth's body before I turned away, heading back towards the others, who were getting rid of the last of their restraints.
"Thanks," I heard Scott say to Logan.
"Don't mention it," Logan replied.
We started towards the edge of the torch, trying to find Rogue. I stayed in my sabertooth cat form, trying desperately to find Rogue's scent. I snarled in frustration when I couldn't pick it up, shaking my head from side to side.
'Where is she?' I yowled to the others.
"Calm down, Sprite. We'll find her," Logan promised, just as all pandemonium broke loose.
Rogue's screams reached my ears first. I gave a vicious snarl, something that would make even Muhammad Ali hesitate to fight. Logan glanced over at me, the same anger and rage that I felt reflected in his own eyes, before his eyes rose slightly, looking at the torch as it blew away and there was Rogue, strapped into some machine with a curved beam whipping around her at high speed. I gave a growl of frustration, looking back at Logan.
'What do we do?' I asked him. Logan looked towards Scott.
"Can you get a clear shot?" he asked him.
Scott placed a hand next to the button on the side of his glasses. "I can't, it's spinning too fast," he said after a while.
"Just take a shot," Logan said, shouting to be heard over the wind.
"I'll kill her!" Scott hollered back.
I snarled and stalked forward, digging my lethal claws into the metal beneath my paws to give myself a grip. I could see Rogue, could hear her screaming in fear and pain. Yet there was nothing I could do to help my pack mate, and that's what tore me up inside. I started to wonder if I should change into something that could fly and go to help, but I didn't know how to fly, and the rescue mission for Rogue might turn into a rescue mission for Rogue and me. I turned my head to ask Logan what he thought just as I heard Storm say, "Hold onto something."
I crouched low, digging my claws in as far as I could as I felt the wind picking up. I saw Logan fly over me and land on the top of the machine that held Rogue just as a white sheen started to surround it, getting larger each second. Logan managed to jump down inside the spinning orbit and unsheathed his claws to free Rogue. I caught a faint scent of Magneto and turned my head to see him just as he raised his hand towards Logan, freezing him in place.
'Logan!' I yowled, using both my thoughts and my voice.
I could see the sweat that rolled down Logan's face, his teeth gritted in pain and frustration as he struggled to move his clawed knuckles towards Rogue. The white sheen had spread, now covering us. My stomach rolled when it touched me, making me feel nauseous. Scott's voice drew my attention.
"I have a shot," he said. "I'm taking it."
I whipped my head around to see his gaze not on Rogue or Logan, but Magneto. I gave a growl of approval and he gave me a hint of a smile before he shot off a beam into Magneto's shoulder, making him spin and fall to the ground. Logan, suddenly free from Magneto's magnetic pull, cut through the ring, causing it to break and splinter apart, falling to the ground. I purred in my throat, making my bulky frame vibrate, happy that Rogue was safe. But my joy was short lived when I saw that Rogue wasn't moving. I growled, my hackles lifting, this time more from fear than anger. I saw that her brown hair now had a large streak of white through the front, probably from the strain.
I could only watch as Logan freed Rogue from the machine and held her in his arms. He tried to rouse her, but even I could smell the faint scent of death that had entered the air. I felt my sabertooth cat form slip away into my natural wolf form, exhaustion and loss showing in very feature that I possessed; sweat streaked my fur and blood coated my muzzle. I looked up to see Logan take off one of his gloves and press it against Rogue's face. I instantly saw what he was trying to do and a spark of hope flashed through my blue eyes.
Nothing happened. I tried to feed the spark I had, but I just couldn't. I lowered my head in grieving as Logan pulled Rogue close. The fading scent of death caught my attention. I looked up suddenly, ears pricked forward and my heart pounding in my chest. Logan's skin started to tighten and split as his life force was taken by Rogue, reviving her, the scent of blood replacing the scent of death. Rogue's eyes flew open and she pushed Logan away from her as he collapsed in a dead faint.
I gave a sharp bark and suddenly felt myself being lifted as Jean brought us up to the torch, leaving Scott and Storm to go get the jet. I didn't like not having my paws on the ground; it wasn't a very comforting feeling. When my paws did touch the solid flooring, I turned to glare at Jean.
'Please don't ever to that again,' I told her. She gave me a ghost of a smile before going over to check on Logan and Rogue.
"Spirit!" Rogue exclaimed, kneeling down and wrapping her arms around my neck. My tail was going a mile a minute and I whined happily, gently licking her face.
'Rogue, I'm so glad you're ok,' I told her.
"I thought you were dead," Rogue whispered to me, running her fingers through my sweat-streaked fur.
'I'm very much alive,' I promised her. Rogue released me and we turned to look at Jean, who was in turn looking over Logan.
"We need to get back to the mansion," the redhead said without looking away from Logan. "His condition is critical."
The roaring of the jet made everything around us vibrate and I looked up to see what I had heard was called the Blackbird. It was the strangest looking jet I had ever seen, but it was beautiful, black and sleek. Graceful even.
I flicked my ears back at the sight of it. The helicopter ride was all too fresh in my mind.
"Come on Spirit," Rogue urged, stepping onto the ramp and walking up to into the Blackbird. Jean had already gone ahead, using her telekinesis to carry Logan inside. I turned to take a quick last look at the unconscious Magneto.
'You don't know half of my story,' I thought to him before I trotted up the ramp and into the belly of the jet.