Chapter Four: Fleeting Night

"Curse the man!" The Queen raged as she picked up the crystal observing sphere and threw it onto the cold stone tile of the throne room. The sharp, loud crack made Sabertooth wince in spite of himself as the crystal ball shattered into dust. "How dare he betray me! And if it's not bad enough that he betrayed me, but he had to go over to Xavier's side! Damn the man! Curse him!"

Sabertooth held his tongue, because he knew that if he did not, he would lose it. It was not wise to cross Queen Mystique when she was angry, and she was definitely not in the brightest of moods. In Saber-tooth's mind, though, he had seen this coming a long time ago. The man had always had a weak heart; why the Queen kept him around, he would never know. But even as much as he hated to admit it, Wolverine was a good fighter, and people with those skills seemed to be hard to come by these days. Even worse than the fact that Wolverine was a good fighter, Sabertooth grimaced at the fact that Wolverine was almost a better fighter than he was. He certainly gave the man a run for his money, and Sabertooth took that in the worst possible way anyone could process a piece of information, and because of that had vowed himself that he would bring Wolverine down. He was well-aware that if the Queen ever tired of taking out her rage on the fragile crystals that she used to watch over the land, he would be their substitute, but having Wolverine out of the way was well worth it. "What does my Queen plan to do now?" Sabertooth's question was slow, careful.

The Queen glared at him, a look at could have shattered glass, but then, surprisingly, her face smoothed into cool composure. "Nothing." She said. That came a bit of a shock, and Sabertooth almost blinked in confusion and anger. The one chance he had to see Wolverine's blood spill, possibly by his own hands, but the Queen almost looked like that she did not want that. "I had a feeling that it would come down to this, but not so soon. That's why I summoned the Deadcliff Hounds after he left. Now that he has…betrayed me…" The word caused a shiver to run down Sabertooth's spine. "The Hounds are on his trail. They will kill him and return the girl to me. Once Aignéis is in my hands, you, Sabertooth, are to go out and collect the rest of the children for me."

At this, a cruel smile curled Sabertooth's mouth, baring his long, sharp fangs. She may be a Queen, but she was still sometimes a fool. She should have known better than to assume that the Deadcliff Hounds could finish off Wolverine. They were no match for the man, no matter how many there were. He would cut them down as if they were flies. And with their failure, Mystique would have no choice but to send him out to finish what the Wolves began. All he had to do now was wait.

"As my Queen commands."

* * *

They had made good time, but it was not good enough. The Deadcliff Hounds were still following them, and drawing closer all the time. Now dusk was falling, and they were still deep in the woods with no apparent place to stay for the night. And anyone who knew that Deadcliff Hounds knew that they were as good as dead during the night more than during the daylight.

"Don't you think we should stop for a while for the horses?" Kitty asked as she urged Tabby to walk harder behind Wolverine's black warhorse. "We've been pushing them for a long time. Maybe we should let them rest for just a few minutes."

"Not enough time." Wolverine said gruffly. "We have to keep moving, possibly through the night."

"Through the night?" Kitty repeated. "In the dark? Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, there are dangerous people on the roads at night…bandits and rapists. And then the wolves…" She was cut off shortly when a low moaning howl rose and fell on the twilight wind. For a moment Wolverine had to consider if the Deadcliff hounds were still far enough away that only he could still hear them, or if they were close enough now that he actually had to begin to worry. But when he saw Kitty tense out of the corner of his eye, he knew that it was now time to worry about them. "See what I mean?" She said in a hushed whisper, as if trying to make an attempt to hide themselves from the Wolves. Wolverine knew better, though.

"Those aren't wolves, Kitty." He said, motioning for his horse to move a little faster. "They are, however, the reason why we have to keep moving." The girl seemed to have no more objections. She too kicked her horse in the flanks to get it moving as well, almost moving faster than Wolverine was. "Not too fast there, kid." He said, trotting up beside her. "You don't want to draw any more attention to us then need be. Just keep close to me, stay alert, and do as I say. We're going to be all right."

Face pale and eyes wide, Kitty nodded and obeyed.

For a long time neither one of them spoke as they picked their way carefully along the trail. As they headed deeper into the forest the trail became thinner, more thickly grown over with shrubs and other low growing plants. Soon it became to narrow that, even though he did not like it, they had to move in single file, Kitty riding Tabby in front. All sounds seemed to be exaggerated in the still of the night. They seemed to be drawing those demonic howls closer and closer to them.

"Mister Logan, what…are those things?" Kitty asked in a near whisper, turning her head slightly over her shoulder to look at him. "They…don't sound like regular wolves."

"You couldn't be more right, Kitty. Those…are Deadcliff Wolves. Specially born and bred by Queen Mystique, and her most loyal killers."

Kitty's face turned even whiter at his words as her head snapped back around, her large blue-green eyes wide and wild. "You don't mean that she means to have them kill us, do you?" Her voice was only a hoarse whisper, but Tabby seemed to sense his master's distress when he danced a bit in mid-walk. Or maybe it was the howl of the wolves, or whatever they were. They could not be more than a few miles away.

"Yes, they do." Wolverine paused, considering his words. "Well, maybe not you, but certainly me. Mystique won't tolerate any betrayal, in all its shapes and forms, and I have betrayed her. You, though… they'll just bring you back to the queen, then she'll send out Sabertooth to collect the others."

"Sabertooth?" Kitty asked, her voice quivering a bit.

Wolverine waved a hand as if it was no big deal. "Another assassin that she's been keeping around for a while. Something tells me he'll be less gentle on those kids and the Wolves will." He paused, listening. The silence seemed to be pressing down all around them like a giant hand. Kitty twisted around in her saddle, wanting to watch all sides at once, as if those horrible creatures were to leap at them from the shadows in between the trees. "Let's keep going, at a walk, but be ready to run when I say, understand?"

Scared as she was, Kitty nodded without hesitation. The girl had a good head on her shoulders. Although she was obviously more terrified now than she had ever been that morning, the fear was not making her foolish. That was a rare trait in people. She turned Tabby back around, kicked his flanks, and continued to tread down the path, the hoof falls muffled by the thick debris of the forest. The canopy overhead was so think that it completely hid the sky from view, taking the light of the moon and the stars with it. The trees were growing closer to the path, sometimes making it so thin that she wondered how she could get her horse through. The branches were dipping lower into the path as well, often making her and Wolverine duck out of their way. That was going to be a real problem if they had to break into a run anytime soon…

It was then, Kitty noticed with a sinking, cold feeling in her stomach, that she realized that the howls of the Wolves had fallen silent some time ago. She knew very well what this meant; growing up so near the forest teeming with wolves taught her enough. When a pack of wolves would close in on their kill, they would fall completely silent, no matter how much noise they were making before, as to not let their prey know that they were close by…

"Kid." Wolverine's voice was so hushed that even in the silence, Kitty had to strain to listen. "When I give the signal, run. Straight ahead, following the path. There's a village only about two miles from here, and the Deadcliff Wolves hate the light. Run there, and wait for me. Get ready…"

Sweat poured down Kitty's face as she stared straight ahead, biting her lip so hard that she could have drawn blood. She was gripping the reins in so tightly that her knuckles were white and her fingers hurt, but she kept her legs relaxed so she could give a hard enough kick to Tabby for a quick start.

"Get ready…" Something rustled in the bushes to their right. "NOW!"

Without needing to be told twice, Kitty kicked Tabby hard in the flanks, making him spring into a gallop as something large and hairy snarled and launched itself from the thick undergrowth, missing Tabby's back legs by inches. The palomino screamed at the thing rounded on him, hideous jaws snapping, and Kitty kicked him harder, urging him to run as the Wolf's snarls turned into a strangled gurgle, and Kitty risked a quick glance behind her shoulders to see the three medals claws protruding through the Wolf's neck. Black blood bubbled from where the claws protruded from the flesh.

"RUN! NOW!" Wolverine shouted at her again as two more Deadcliff Wolves leapt from the forest, clawing and snapping at the legs of his war-horse, trying to de-saddle him, only to be cut back by the flashing claws. Kitty only got a brief glance at the creatures. They hardly looked like wolves at all. There definitely had a dog-like quality to them, but they also looked as if they had been crossbred with a huge mutant rat. Their fur was thick and coursed and knotted, their heads long and teeth bared and sharp. But their legs were anything dog-like. They were instead hairless and scaly with claws like a possum's, and their tails were like fat rat's tails. They were, undoubtedly, the ugliest things that Kitty had ever seen before in her life, but there was still no time to dwell on the thought. Leaning forward in Tabby's saddle, she urged her horse to run through the forest regardless of the trees or narrow path, pushing him harder. She only wished that there was something, anything she could do to help Logan as she heard those things swarm around him.

The wolves only ignored her for those first few seconds that she got for a head start. The growling and snarling that was beginning to sound farther away was rising quickly again as the things gave chase. Kitty glanced behind her shoulder and saw half a dozen Deadcliff Wolves chasing her, snapping at the heels of her horse. She could no longer see Wolverine; the shadows of the forest had hidden from view, but the ring of medal cutting through flesh could still be heard. "Come on…" She urged her horse. "Faster…"

She already knew that those things were much faster than her horse, and there was little to do as they closed around her, leaping at her, ready to pull her off her saddle and drag her back to the Queen. Tabby screamed as the jumped closer, missing his heels by inches. Please… Kitty prayed, closing her eyes and leaning forward on Tabby's neck. It was like she was living in some horrible nightmare that she could not wake up from. Please, someone…anyone…help us get through this. Don't let them kill us…

Then, as if answering her pleas, another cry rose out from the forest. Oh no…not more Deadcliff Wolves… They were closing in around her from both sides. There was no escaping them. They were going to kill Wolverine and take her back to the Queen before they even stood a chance to get to the Sorcerer Xavier…

But there was something different about the howls of the wolves that were coming the in the direction. Their howls were not the demonic shrieks of the Deadcliff Wolves, but they were not ordinary wolves either. They sounded…musical, and Kitty felt as if she had swallowed a glass of warm honey, warming her in the inside, making her feel peaceful, safe.

Something white flashed from in between the trees; a dozen large white shapes, making their way through the dense forest as if they were ghosts but not making a sound, their howls escalating. The nearest ghost leapt at them from between the trees, and Kitty gasped when she saw it was an enormous white wolf with two different eyes; one pale blue, the other deep gold. If the Deadcliff Wolves were big, they were nothing compared to these white wolves; they were nearly twice as big and twice as powerful. And they were beautiful, their fur slick and shiny like shinning silver. They dove at the Deadcliff Wolves from the forest, biting and snapping at their necks, stopping them from getting Kitty. They were helping her escape, but she did not dare stop to watch. She dug her heels into Tabby's flanks and sped onwards, thankful to who ever sent her the miracle.

Kitty's spirits sunk again as she saw something loom before her; something huge, black, and looking her solid. A huge boulder was blocking the path, and she knew at once that they were going too fast and were too close to it to slow down and avoid a crash collision. If there was only some way to get around, but it looked as if either side of the path was blocked…there was nowhere around…

Go through…

Kitty wondered if she was hearing things. It sounded as if someone told her to go through the boulder…

But she understood almost immediately, and wondered why she had not thought of it sooner. Releasing her death-grip on Tabby's reins, she lifted herself in the saddle and leaned over her horse's neck, hand outstretched beyond his head. Would Tabby go through as well? It was a little late to worry about that. "I'm sorry, Tabby." She told her horse, and embraced the feeling of nothingness.

With a scream, Tabby jumped into the air merely feet away from the face of the boulder, Kitty waited for impact, to hear the horrible crunch of bone and flesh slamming into the rock at full speed…but nothing happened. She was still running, unhurt. She looked behind her, and saw the outline of the boulder fading into the shadows of the forest. Kitty felt like laughing. She had escaped the Deadcliff Wolves, and she had just put her newfound powers to a helpful use. For the time being, she knew that she was going to be all right.

Wolverine… A sudden sadness came over her. Did he escape the Wolves all right? Were those white wolves going to help him as well? His words echoed in her head.

"Get to the village." For one last time, Kitty spurred Tabby and they continued to gallop down the dark forest path.

Something winked at her through the trees, which were not beginning to thin rapidly; a light. Several lights, shining at her through windows. It was the village. She had finally made it. She and Tabby burst through the last few trees, coming down and coming to an immediate stop in the middle of the town square, onto paved street. The small buildings of the town rose up all around her, warm and inviting. It never felt so good to be back in civilization.

There was an inn directly across from where she stood, the sigh creaking in the wind. In the weak glow of the light in the windows below, she was just able to read "The Traveler's Retreat." It looked to be the only inn in the area, and probably the first place Wolverine would look for her if he did not see her in the square. She de-mounted from her horse, who was still breathing very hard, and led him over to the inn. There was a gruff-looking man waiting by the door, but asked her rather politely if she wanted her horse stabled.

"Oh…umm…yes, just for a little while. I'm supposed to be meeting someone here."

"Well, he looks a wee bit tired. Some water ought to do him good." He took the reins from Kitty and lead Tabby towards the stable. Kitty took off her traveler's bag, fished inside of it and found three copper coins. She gave them to the man, thanked him, and went inside the inn. It was warm and comforting on the inside, and very inviting. There were very few people in the common room, as late as it was; only a few late-night travelers such as herself, smoking pipes by the fire.

"Room for the night, dear?" Came a voice from behind her. Kitty turned and saw a plump, kind looking man standing behind a bar, cleaning a glass with a cloth.

"Oh, no…just waiting for someone. Is it all right if I stay here until he arrives?"

"Go right ahead." The innkeeper said kindly, smiling at her. Kitty smiled back and took a seat in front of the fire, away from the other men. She did not realize how cold it was outside until she sat before those crackling flames, feeling as if there was ice melting inside of her. Was Wolverine still alive, she wondered? Did he make it away from those wolves? There was no telling. He seemed to be a good fighter, especially with those claws of his, whatever they were. The only thing she could do was wait, but the mere though made her edgy. She had escaped the Deadcliff Wolves, Queen Mystique's own creations, that were supposed to bring her back to her. Surely the Queen would know in time, and send more.

Kitty shook her head, not wanting to think about it. The warmth of the fire was making her sleepy…she wanted to lay down right here, right now, on the woven hearthrug and sleep…

"'tis dark times, it is." She heard a man to her right saying. "To catch one so close to the village…"

"Aye…every man has a right to worry when a demon runs astray so near his family." Kitty, being as curious as she was, roused herself to listen.

"But not a very dangerous one, is it?" Said another man, joining the conversation. "I mean, they got it tied up in a cage outside, don't they? Could escape any time it wanted."

"Prayith that never happens." Said the first man glumly. "I've seen a demon work before. I had nightmares for years."

A demon? And tied up outside?

Something told Kitty that she should not go see, but her curious side won her over. Slowly she sat up and made her way away from the fire, moving so slowly and without sound that none of the men or the innkeeper saw her go. Not wanting to draw attention, she made sure that no one was looking, embraced the nothingness, and slid silently through the door.

The village outside the inn was as dark as ever, but Kitty saw the cage almost immediately. It looked like a giant birdcage, suspended on an iron pole, hanging four feet from the ground. From where she was standing, Kitty could see that there was someone…or something…inside.

She made her way stealthily over to the cage, and as she approached a sign came into view, stationed a few feet away from the bars. Warning: Mothers and children keep away. Demon caught from the very depths of Hell.

Oh, what nonsense. Kitty snorted, and pushed past it, still approaching the cage carefully.

The figure on the inside was unlike any demon she had ever red about. In fact, even in its dark silhouette, it looked like a young boy, no older than she, his legs drawn close to his chest and his arms wrapped around them, face buried against his knees. He certainly did not look dangerous. Kitty felt sorry for the boy…if he was a boy, that was. She took a deep breath, and said. "Hello. What's your name?"

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To Be Continued…

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