Logan was not pleased.
Not at all.
Skyfur-mate had headed into the trees, toward where the black not-bird thing had come down, and he was restless. Swaying slightly to the almost-silent tune of the wind, he ignored Fire-Eye and Stripe yipping, and the cautious movements of Nightfur.
He rose to stand fully on his back legs, sniffing the air, catching the scents of the three two-leg cubs and sighed to himself.
Skyfur-mate was strong, his mate.
But...the black not-bird brought a faint snarl to his face as he prowled the glade, watching the cubs and the lioness.
Waiting for his mate.
Moving with a graceful combination of anger and resentment, Ororo made her way through the underbrush, and came to a halt near a great elder of a tree, hand absently stroking it as she listened to Warren and Jean talking.
Scott and Hank were looking down at a small screen in the leader's hands, and Bobby had a curious, awed expression on his young face.
"We've got to find Ororo and Logan." said Jean, eyes sweeping the area.
"I just hope Wolverine hasn't hurt her." Warren said, lip giving the faintest curl.
Ororo almost laughed.
Almost.
Hurt? she snorted. I've never been so healed!
Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the clearing.
"It's not too late." the small figure said, absently, running a fingertip over a small pendant she wore.
"Too late?" Rogue asked, turning to stare curiously at the girl.
"Long story." the other replied, eyes closed, deep in thought. "But it look...ahem...looks like it may get worse before it gets better."
"Ce qui?" asked Remy, and opened his mouth to translate.
"I mean that people have already died."
Remy's mouth snapped shut with an audible click, and the girl leaned back again.
Logan returned to pacing, rumbling uncomfortably under his breath.
Mate. Protect. was the feeling/thought most dominant in his mind. Mate. Safe. Mate...Mate...
"Ororo!" Jean's raised hand and smile seemed to wither when she saw the expression on her friend's face.
"What are you doing here?" Ororo's voice was curt, falling just beneath hostile.
Jean looked taken aback, and Warren frowned, jumping into the converstation.
"We've come to take you home." he began.
Ororo laughed, almost harshly. "This is my home." she said, quietly, eyes blazing.
"But Logan...."
"This is also his home."
"Ororo," Scott said, softly. "Is Logan all right?"
"Now you ask." the weather mutant said, feeling fury blazing in her stomach, up her throat. "Now that you need something, now you ask! So now he means something, because you need him?" Her voice was rising, rage blazing so bright her eyes sparked and flashed. "When one among you - the X-Men - must suffer, call in Wolverine? When someone has make a sacrifice, he's one of you?"
Everyone was gawking, completely caught off guard.
Warren sputtered, "Wait a minute now, we gave him a home..."
"YOU GAVE HIM NOTHING!" Storm roared, in excellent imitation of her lover. "You gave him a mission! Where were all of you, when his heart was breaking? Where were you when his life was ripped apart?" She mimiced various ones of their voices viciously. "Oh, it's just Wolverine. He'll get over it. He's just having one of his tantrums!"
"Ororo..." Scott extended a hand, eyes pleading. "Maybe you're right, but things....are very bad. More than twenty-five thousand people are dead...or dying. I wish to God there was another way, but we need Logan...desperately. Please understand, Ororo. Please....forgive us?"
A metal click around her neck and a sickening feeling of being - disconnected - and Ororo cried out in anguish.
The very friends she had prayed would understand....were using her as a trap.
Logan's head snapped up, and he growled a command. Instantly, the lioness came over and pressed her head against his stomach.
Holding either side of the big cat's head, Logan let her know to guard the cubs. To keep them safe from those that had invaded his territory.
Then he leapt up into the treelimbs, and headed for the clearing.
"No!" Ororo cried, pulling frantically on the thin metal band. "Stop! Don't do this!"
Then there was a roar, and Scott reflexively snapped open his visor, ruby beam striking the charging man.
Ororo's eyes closed, then opened.
The bright beam caught Logan full in the chest....
And nothing happened.
Swiping the younger man to the ground, Logan kicked Jean's legs out from under her, snatched Warren's left wing, and sent the mutant known as Angel flying unceremoniously into Jean.
Logan sniffed the air, extended a claw, and Ororo felt the thin adamantium band fall away.
"No." The voice was low and raspy, claws out, swinging Scott in front of him. "Bad. Stay."
Ororo rested a hand on the tense arm, felt his welcoming nuzzle, then Logan tossed Scott into the tangle of arms and legs. "Logan?" Gently, she caressed his sharp-swept mane from his eyes.
"Bad. Go." He growled, indicating the recovering X-Men.
Ororo held his face gently, aware of the glowing gold of his eyes. "It's all right." she soothed, stroking his shoulder, then gently winding her fingers through his.
"No. Not hurt Mate. Bad." Logan growled, canines glinting in warning.
Jean started to concentrate, and Logan's response was memorable. He popped all his claws, and snarled. "No! Not in! Bad!" And cuffed her hard on the temple.
Jean landed on her backside, eyes huge in disbelief. No-one had struck her since she was fourteen years old, least of all Logan, whom she knew still had a wistful love for her.
Logan scooped Ororo up and leapt easily into the trees. Once there, he nuzzled and sniffed her, tucking her under his chin and uttering soothing noises.
"They won't leave, my love." Ororo said, softly, closing her eyes as she felt him move easily from limb to limb. "They...need you."
There was a long pause, and, using sensitive fingertips, Logan began to groom her hair.
"Mate...need?" Logan asked, voice still a rasp-growl.
"Yes, love." Ororo felt tears fall, saw them flow faintly down his forearm. He nuzzled her, licking her face reassuringly in an oddly tender gesture. "I...need you." More than you can imagine.
"Mate...safe. Keep...here...den...safe." The labored, raspy-words were almost incomprensible, as his eyes began to return to amber.
Ororo cupped his chin, whispering, "I love you too."
Logan grunted, then held her tighter, fangs visible as the X-Men began to explore the area.
Ororo frowned suddenly.
Jean Grey was one of the most powerful telepaths on Earth, yet from their voices, she could not detect Logan - at all?
Ororo looked up at Logan, who was utterly still, face hidden in shadow save for the faint glow of amber eyes.
"What is that?" asked Rogue, partially curious, partially bored.
The girl smiled faintly, stopping the spin of her pendant. "This?" she asked.
"Oui." Remy added, smiling innocently at Rogue, who actually smiled back.
"It's old. Got it from a - very good man, who's gone now."
"It looks like it might be Japanese." Kurt added in his voice, from where he sat indian-style, the tawny lion cub asleep in his lap.
"It is." She replied, tucking it away. "Symbol of a very old clan."
Now Rogue WAS curious. "Which one?" she asked, grateful for Remy's warmth.
"Clan Yoshida."