The cat who walked by herself
The cat who walked by himself had ceded his place to a leopard in search of some spots! And somewhere along the line the awkwardness between Michael and Racheal had dropped away leaving only growing friendship in its wake.
The reading sessions, out under the tree when weather permitted, in the library when it didn’t, had become a regular fixture and one that Michael had to admit he looked forward to. They were a welcome part of this new life he was carving out for himself at Xavier’s Institute, a life which, if it had its up and downs, and lets face it what life didn’t, still made him happy and fulfilled in a way he had never been before. And that was all anyone could ask for when you got right down to it.
A bonus though, on this particular day, was that the sun was shining bringing a gentle springtime warmth that not only felt good to be out in but also chased away any lingering traces of dampness from the atmosphere. And that was always good where Michael was concerned. If frost sent icy daggers stabbing through his muscles, damp was just as insidious and a lot more frequent. It wormed its way into his damaged joints and cranked the whole pain experience up a notch, taking it from liveable with to unacceptable in one not so easy lesson.
Not today though. Today Michael was feeling well. By his standards anyway! His backpack was settled snugly on his shoulders and his crutches swung across the lawns with an ease that almost approached grace. He was getting used to them again, his degree of expertise increasing with each passing day. A steady intake of food had worked its own wonders on him as well, bringing back his strength and taking the half starved look from his face and body. Now, if he was still way too thin, he at least looked as if he was being cared for. Which was of course nothing but the truth!
And as people cared for him, so Michael in return cared for them. For Ben and Paige and Madison….for his team mates, for the doctor who got him through the worst of times with a smile. For a weird eccentric vampire who should have died a millennium ago and yet who was somehow still here trying to find a reason for his existence. It was in Michael’s nature to care. Some people saw it as his fatal flaw, others as the source of his strength. But one way or another they all saw it. Even Max. And certainly Racheal! Though where she was concerned it was hard to miss.
You could see it in the smile that he wore as he went to meet her. In the way the thought that she might not come never seemed to cross his mind when he reached her favourite spot and found it unexpectedly empty. Well no, not exactly empty. Michael grinned broadly as he saw the young ginger cat installed under the tree. “Hello puss” he said softly, shaking off his backpack as he spoke and settling himself onto the grass beside it. “Come for a part in the story, have you? You’re just a wee bit late to get the starring role, you know. We’re auditioning leopards this week. Though if none turn up....." He reached his hand out to stroke it " we’ll certainly take you into consideration”
Skye… since meeting and, almost accidentally, naming Lucky, her mind had been focused on the small silver tabby kitten. Some humans were inexplicably cruel. The kitten was only about six months old, barely that even when she had found her small drowned corpse. The youths responsible almost found themselves going the same way, chased in anger by a mountain lynx. Skye had been Racheal’s only companion at the time, her only pet. A beautiful, playful creature, so friendly. The memories brought tears to her eyes… which is why she preferred to be in animal form when she did think of it. Animals don’t have the ability to cry because of emotions.
It was a warm day… well, warmer than it had been that was. She had a meeting with Michael today, a nearly daily occurrence now. Sure, it would have been easier for her if they had been meeting at the same time each day, but unlike herself, the astral mutant actually had enough of a life to make that difficult. Still, she was getting used to timing about when she should be there, by the sun and the school bells.
Walking out to the familiar tree, human for now, she placed her small bag beside the tree, hidden from the mansion, and therefore, later, Michael. She stretched slowly. ”Early” She purred softly to herself in thought. As she was early, she might as well do some training. Something simple which wouldn’t scare off any students who walked past.
The change was easy. It always was for the cats when she was in full condition. Long, soft fur slowly sprouted. Not silky, more downy. Features shifted gradually, making her appear more like an anthro creation, and in truth perhaps she was. Neither cat nor human in that moment, she seemed caught for a moment between the two. Then she shrank, tail appearing slowly, more elegantly than sometime. And it wasn’t long till, in the place of the human female was a young ginger and white domestic feline long hair. Soft green eyes looked lazily around before curling up in the roots of the meeting tree.
The way this cat was, her fur fluffed up somewhat, making her look a little larger than she really was, in comparison to when she stood fully, and her soft fur ran close to her body, making her appear more streamline. Eyes were half opened, watching the others quietly, ears slightly perked but mostly relaxed. Tail tapped the ground softly, contentedly. She’d not morphed this cat for a while.
A familiar sound reached the feline, one ear flicking towards Michael as he approached. The familiar sound of clunking metal as the pin holding the crutches at the right hand moved against the metal support. Or more rightly, the other way around. The first time she’d heard it since arriving at the institute it had been an unwelcome disturbance to her much needed sleep. But now, it had become the announcement of a time she had really started to enjoy. She had actually started to view Michael as a proper friend, someone she could actually trust. But… that didn’t change anything did it? She was still leaving. Did that make her a bad friend? To leave without telling anyone. Perhaps it did… but she had little experience in friendship.
“Hello puss” Head turned towards the astral mutant as he spoke, watching him settle on the grass. Green eyes specked with a little golden brown fixed on him in that strange, relaxed feline manner. “Come for a part in the story, have you? You’re just a wee bit late to get the starring role, you know. We’re auditioning leopards this week. Though if none turn up....." Inwardly Racheal laughed. She’d completely forgotten that Michael had never knowingly seen her in morph. He must honestly think a stray cat had found it’s way to their meeting place. Not that she blamed him. Most people couldn’t just randomly shift to an animal form. Even most mutants couldn’t morph animals it seemed, though it felt so natural that they should be able to. "we’ll certainly take you into consideration”
The outstretched hand threw her slightly, and the ear it almost touched flattened, making her look almost bemused as her head tilted slightly. ~Well a leopard could be arranged… ~ She said slowly into his mind. Telepathic speech could be a surprise at times, she had seen it in the eyes of others the few times she used it, like when she spoke to Garnet that time. The best thing, she had long ago decided, was that she could either speak to everyone, or just a select few.. or even just one person in a crowd. It was purely about focus. A light purr escaped the feline as she stretched and sat up, looking straight at the other.
~But I didn’t really want to cause too much of an uproar. You know me… I enjoy the peace and quiet~ There was actually a chuckle in that mental voice, as she settled in a sit, stretching her head up briefly, before her head tilted almost cheekily to the side. ~Hi Michael~ She seemed to say finally, still mentally chuckling softly. Connor, of course, had guessed who she was but then he had an advantage over most students. Even her own team mates had taken a moment on the island to realise that the bird dropping rabbits on their heads was her. In some ways, it was actually quite amusing!
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: The cat who walked by herself
It was probably a good thing Michael had been feeling particularly relaxed when he had installed himself to wait for Rachael. It was undoubtedly an even better thing that he had already been sitting down when he had reached over to stroke the comfortable looking cat behind its all too normal looking ears. Because if he hadn’t been then there was every chance that for the third time in as many weeks he would have found himself sprawled in an ungainly heap on the ground. And that really would have been once too many.
As it was, when the feline in question casually began talking telepathically to him he managed at least to retain his balance. If not perhaps his composure! The hand that had been heading down towards the silky fur froze in mid air and a look of startled shock widened his grey eyes as his absolutely rhetorical question received its unexpected answer. ~Well a leopard could be arranged… ~
Had he not spent so much time around Talia, he would probably have thought that he was going quietly mad. And it had to be said that even given his previous experience of telepathy he still did have a serious moment of doubt. It was a cat, for gods sake and while Michael was willing to admit that cats could perhaps do many more things than he gave them credit for he was pretty certain holding a conversation wasn’t one of them. Except that this one was undoubtedly doing just that. And considering the difficulty Michael was having making sense of what it was saying it suddenly felt that of the two it was the human who had taken his brain momentarily out of gear. .
“~But I didn’t really want to cause too much of an uproar” the feline continued in what sounded like a completely reasonably tone of mental voice. OOhh even the concept of that made Michael’s head spin. You know me… I enjoy the peace and quiet~ Wait! Come again. Had he missed yet another chapter here? He was supposed to know this cat? From where? * Spot check.. Dogs yep. I ‘know’ at least one dog. Fairies .. yep definite tick in that box.. assorted demons.. almost got bought by those.. vampires yeah.. got one of them on my visiting list but.. what do you know . No cats. Though more mutants than you can shake a stick at…..* And with that thought things clicked into place *that’s it…. how could I have been so dumb! *
~Hi Michael~ the cat who probably a cat at all said laughing slightly at his confusion. “Racheal? Is that you.” he asked tentatively. “Oh hell” He blushed realising his thoughts had probably been easier for her to read than the book they were making their way through. I’m sorry about all that dog, demon, vampire, rubbish just now. Though I suppose you’re used to people’s thoughts getting a wee bit erratic when you spring this on them.”Anyway” he went on rallying Wow. . . this is …. really cool. Your power I mean. But then.. you probably knew I was going to say that.”
Re: The cat who walked by herself
The feline smiled inwardly with a silent, mental chuckle as she watched the astral mutant closely, ears perking once the ‘threat’ of the idle stroke was gone. Not that she didn’t mind offering people affection when they needed it, but normally that was in her canid form. Her felines were normally less willing to put up with the attention. Still, Michael’s reaction to her sudden speech was clear, and although she was honestly apologetic for making him jump, she had to find some amusement in it all.
“Racheal? Is that you.” A small nod was given by the feline, and if she had been given the chance, the feline would have responded, apologising to the astral mutant carefully, but before the thoughts could form in her mind, he was speaking again, making her head tilt in that curious feline manner.
“Oh hell” Pointed auds flickered at the light curse, seemingly at himself as he continued. ” I’m sorry about all that dog, demon, vampire, rubbish just now. Though I suppose you’re used to people’s thoughts getting a wee bit erratic when you spring this on them.”Anyway” … Wow. . . this is …. really cool. Your power I mean. But then.. you probably knew I was going to say that.” What?! The cat actually mewed softly at the strange outburst. What on earth was he prattling on about? Sure, she struggled with language sometimes, but this was odd. She watched him carefully, ears perked, trying to make sense of what he meant. And then an image flashed through her mind.
Standing on a beach, she looked back at the original Exiles, already small markings of a jaguar appearing on her own face as the feral mutant looked back at the small gathering. Paige was soaked through after falling from the raft, Max and herself had just had their row and the group was tense. Garnet was trying hard to hide her own exhaustion at the situation. And the fire mutant’s eyes were on her as she was sent off to scout a head, and a mouthed ‘Thank you’ was given, missed easily had she not had some improved vision.
It seemed an easy mistake to make, to assume that the mild telepathic abilities she had allowed her to read the minds of others. And it was a pitfall Michael and seemingly wandered unknowingly into. She gave a light purr now, trying to offer some stable calming as she stretched, sitting up with her tail wrapped around her, the fluffiness of her fur hiding her sleek frame. ~I’m not able to read your mind Michael~ She sad slowly ~When I’m morphed, I can… ‘thought-speak’ to people, but that’s it.. I can only direct my own thought words… I can read anyone elses~ Not strictly true though. There had been Jake, but that wasn’t something that needed mentioning right now.
~Sorry to startle you… though to be honest I’m yet to find an effective way of actually not startling anyone. I don’t really think about it, and by the time I’m in animal form… it’s a little too late~ Her head stretched upward before shaking it slightly and relaxing once more. Had she not been speaking, it would have been impossible for anyone to tell the difference between her and a normal feline. Even now her speech was whispered so anyone walking by would merely see the astral mutant having a one way conversation with a house pet. ~Still…~ She continued ~I guess I could have warned you somehow…~ She chuckled softly.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: The cat who walked by herself
It was very probable that he had stuck his foot firmly in his mouth so to speak.. and given his physical situation that wasn’t something that he could do without falling flat on his face. So he was mentally getting to his feet when Rachael’s telepathic voice rang out in his mind again Michael, she explained rather as a teacher would to a backward child l~… When I’m morphed, I can ‘thought-speak’ to people, but that’s it.. I can only direct my own thought words… I can read anyone elses~
Michael had to admit that he felt slightly better knowing that his every errant thought wasn’t being broadcast to this girl he considered to be a friend. Though of course if it had been he’d have lived with it, After all Talia was a telepath in the true sense of the word and he had got used to that idea. Still, he had known of her powers from the very first moment they had met and so taken some care to compose his thoughts around her. Or at least he had tried too. With Rachael though he hadn’t taken any such precautions and so it did come as somewhat of a relief to know that while mental chatting was on the cards mind reading wasn’t.
Sooo… Michaels thoughts wandered safely back to the other aspect of Rachael’s power, this fantastic ability to transform herself.. morph.. that was the term she had used… into this totally cat like cat. Heck even her silent words when she spoke again seemed to be purring ~Sorry to startle you… she told him though to be honest I’m yet to find an effective way of actually not startling anyone. Well yes he could imagine it wouldn’t be easy to prepare someone for something like this.. though.. ‘hey would you like to see me turn into a family pet’ might have been a good way to start he thought with a grin. . I don’t really think about it Rachael explained, and by the time I’m in animal form… it’s a little too late.
Was it so easy then for her to change? Michaels head had been filled with scenes of werewolf transformations gleaned from old movies, none of which had seemed particularly pleasant or enjoyable. It was good then to know that Rachael’s power didn’t put her through all of that. To be honest Rachael sounded almost more relaxed and at ease in this form than she did in what he had up till now considered to be her normal one. Is this in fact her Hood he wondered suddenly, is this her passage into freedom as he is mine? Certainly she sounded nothing but amused as she went on ~Still… I guess I could have warned you somehow…~.
“What and spoil the surprise” he answered matching his tone to hers.” Though I am glad you let me sit I down before you sprung it. Soo tell me what does it feel like to be able to morph like that he asked genuinely curious. ” I mean I know I can change into Hood but that’s not quite the same thing. Even if he’s pretty different from me he’s still sort of human. Whereas this….it looks as if you really are a cat…. yet its still you inside….I can’t imagine what that would be like. But I can tell you that from where I’m standing it looks like a whole lot of fun.
Re: The cat who walked by herself
One thing the morpher had always wondered was whether she would pick up someone’s words if, as an non-psychic, they could knowingly project their words to her mentally. It wasn’t something she’d ever really tested. It, she decided slowly, was probably under the same category as group speaking. She found it harder to project her mental voice to more than one person at a time, unlike her brother who had the reverse problem. Her walls were just built too strong to keep others out, and she had to lower them to talk to groups. It was strange that something so automatic, when broken down, was such a long process.
“What and spoil the surprise” A smile softly spread through her mind, although it showed only in the eyes of the domestic long hair. The fact he managed to match the soft lightness she had placed on the situation said a lot. Some people would have seriously freaked, but not Michael… well, ignoring the previous mild confusion but when this was launched on you that could hardly be taken offensively. ”Though I am glad you let me sit I down before you sprung it….”
“…Soo tell me what does it feel like to be able to morph like that” How was it, Racheal pondered slowly in that moment, her tail tip flicking slowly, that Michael managed to pick one of the most difficult questions to ask in that moment.
” I mean I know I can change into Hood but that’s not quite the same thing. Even if he’s pretty different from me he’s still sort of human. Whereas this….it looks as if you really are a cat…. yet its still you inside….I can’t imagine what that would be like. But I can tell you that from where I’m standing it looks like a whole lot of fun.”
Silence greeted Michael for a moment as she stretched slowly before settling again, one ear twitching slowly. ~It’s a little… more complicated than that~ She seemed to actually purr in thought now, head tilting as she tried to find a way to explain it all. One paw moved, stretching her leg out, claws being revealed slowly, harmlessly, as she rested it one a small mound of earth.
~I am still me.. in my mind. But at the same time I have the instincts of which ever animal I morph. And some of them, like this one, have developed into their own personalities. And even when I’m human, if I’m stressed or anything like that, they start to show in my mind, giving their opinions.~ Her words were thoughtful, slow. As if she was having to work it out for herself as she went along.
~I can change into any cat you can name, provided I can picture it, as well as a few others, a horse, a golden retriever, an European kestrel, orca and a couple of others still. And Some, yes.. it’s like they are their own living creature. Just.. they’re living in me. I’m sharing my body with them.~ It was hard to explain. Not like she was a cage keeping them in, though they certainly didn’t always get along. Slowly she shifted, starting to feel a little awkward but disliking the idea of shifting back to her human form. Her ears twitched once more, as if sighing outwardly, a paw raising to groom her whiskers a little for a second.
~But.. it is amazing.. it’s how different way to see the world. Everything is clearer. And it’s just a release. Each creature has their own gift, the horse can run and is so alert, the felines are all amazing hunters and observant when they have to be~ The adoration for felines came out in those last few words, and she settled slowly once more, watching him, before ears perking. ~However.. none are too keen on reading, so I should shift back..~ She suddenly sounded excidingly awkward. ~So.. I can vanish off for a moment if you like. As painless as it is, it’s not always a pretty picture~
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: The cat who walked by herself
He was sitting there talking to a cat. Or rather being talked to by a cat. That wasn’t a cat. That was really a girl. And… after the initial shock.. it did t feel weird at all. But then the whole experience of being at the Institute was a little like falling into one of his beloved books. One he hadn’t read yet and which held new surprises on each and every page. And if some of those surprises were dark and scary well………….if you decided to go and have tea with Bilbo there was always a risk that you would have your ass handed to you by a passing nasgul now wasn’t there? It didn’t make the magic any less wonderful.
And so Michael listened, drinking in each unspoken word, trying to imagine what it would be like to have a power like Rachaels as she in turn struggled to explain what it felt like to be able to transform as she did. ~It’s a little… more complicated than that~ she started out her cat form falling into very feline contemplation. Lines from Eliot’s poem filled Michaels head “When you notice a cat in profound meditation,The reason, I tell you, is always the same:His mind is engaged in rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable
Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name.” Not that Rachael was contemplating her name exactly. Though in a way maybe she was Michael thought suddenly, working out where the girl ended and the cat began. Or if in fact there was no boundary between the two at all.
~I am still me.. in my mind” she told him. But at the same time I have the instincts of which ever animal I morph. So his wasn’t her only morphing possibility then. Michael longed to know what other forms she could take on but he forced himself to be quiet. After all she might just tell him if he gave her a chance.
“ And some of them”, she went on affectionately “ like this one, have developed into their own personalities”. And even when I’m human, if I’m stressed or anything like that, they start to show in my mind, giving their opinions.~ Michael blinked, not sure whether he was more surprised by what she had just said or by the fact that it didn’t seem to bother her. But then if they all coexisted happily why should it he told himself, though somehow he didn’t think it was the kind of thing he could ever get used to himself. Thank god Hood didn’t have his own personality.That would just have been too strange for words, having an alter ego that led its own separate existence. Nope that was he decided definitely something to be avoided at all costs!
~I can change into any cat you can name, provided I can picture it “Racheal continued providing him with the information he had wanted, as well as a few others, a horse, a golden retriever, an European kestrel, orca and a couple of others still. Wow not just land then but also air and sea were open to her. How amazing that must be. And how strange. Did it mean that she missed her wings when she was back in human form just as he missed Hood’s strong pain free body when he was only himself? Or was the knowledge that she could regain the sky whenever she wanted to enough?
And Some, yes.. it’s like they are their own living creature. Just.. they’re living in me. I’m sharing my body with them.~ Well.. that would provide company he supposed, but he would without a doubt find it too intrusive. Sociable as he was there were limits and Michael needed his alone time just as much as he needed friends. For Racheal it seemed to work though. In fact, talking about her power t=like this she seemed more relaxed than she had been at any time since he first met her. After all this was essentially who she was and if she was happy to be a host to friends then he was happy for her. And it did seem that the benefits far outweighed anything that he might see as an inconvenience.
~But.. it is amazing..Racheal continued delighting in her own abilities, her enthusiasm driving away any negative overtones to bring Michael back to the intrinsic wonder of it all. “it’s a different way to see the world. Everything is clearer. And it’s just a release.” Ahh now that he could understand only too well. It was what he felt every time he let himself become Hood. It seemed, as he had previously surmised that they did have this in common after all, this sense of freedom which their mutant powers allowed them to have no matter what the world threw their way. And if his was at first glance more necessary due to his physical limitations he wasn’t sure that Rachael’s need wasn’t just as great or that she would be any less crippled than he was if it were to be denied to her.
It was clear by the way she spoke about them how much she loved her abilities and indeed the animal companions that had been generated by them “ Each creature has their own gift, the horse can run and is so alert, the felines are all amazing hunters and observant when they have to be~ Michael smiled, happy for her happiness, glad that unlike so many others at the school she could embrace her powers fully and rejoice in them as he did in his. Pleased also that she had shared this moment with him, she who was usually so shy and reserved.
It seemed though that she felt the digression had gone long enough . Or perhaps she had simply no other words left that could describe what she felt when she changed. In any case she brought the subject back to their main reason for being out there today by saying ~However.. none are too keen on reading, so I should shift back..~ Some of the usual shyness seemed to be slipping back into her manner already though when she spoke again Michael realised it wasn’t for the usual reasons. . ~So.. I can vanish off for a moment if you like. she said hesitantly As painless as it is, it’s not always a pretty picture~” Oh” the young Scot said in surprise suddenly catching her drift. “You mean the transformation.”
He hadnt got round to imagining what that would involve. But now that he had he couldn’t help being curious. As always. Oh yes that would be something to see he was sure. But not if it made Racheal uncomfortable. Thought to be honest he didn’t know what would be more impolite. To ask her to stay and risk sounding like some voyeur or to ask her to go and sound as if the whole idea disgusted him. Well he didn’t have three hours to thik it over. The cat that was Racheal was waiting for a reply and he was going to have to come up with on and right now.
“Well.. you don’t have to go on my account.” He told her finally “I mean.. I admit I’m pretty curious to see how it works.. your power that is…. but if you’d rather go somewhere else to do it then that’s ok. Whatever you feel most comfortable with will be fine by me.”
Re: The cat who walked by herself
As had been proven on the training island, there were times even in her feline morphs she didn’t pay enough attention and her morphing took an ugly turn. And she had become almost painfully aware of how it looked, and people’s reactions to it. Normally, morphing back to human wasn’t too bad, as it usually meant loosing limbs, rather than gaining things like tails, where the bone could appear before the flesh or fur. Oddly, despite this, it didn’t hurt at all. Sometimes it itched, or felt wrong, like if part of her legs developed, forcing her to stand differently, whilst perhaps her hips hadn’t. A smooth transformation needed her concentration. And sometimes that couldn’t be afforded. But right now it could be, which was why she’d given Michael the option.
” Oh”… “You mean the transformation.” Really, she silently scolded herself, she should actually explain her personal terminology at times. She had semi-created terms when she was younger to explain to herself what was happening to her body at such a young age Some came from memories of TV shows, some just words she’d picked up as life went on. But just because she understood it, didn’t mean anyone else would!
“Well.. you don’t have to go on my account.” Well, if she was staying that was yet to be seen. “I mean.. I admit I’m pretty curious to see how it works.. your power that is…. but if you’d rather go somewhere else to do it then that’s ok. Whatever you feel most comfortable with will be fine by me.” Racheal had to admire Michael’s response. In retrospect it hadn’t been the easiest of questions, so leaving the option up to her was cleverly done. So which would she prefer. If he was curious though… She was tempted to just go for it, to gain a new response to the morphing. At the same time the last thing she wanted to do was upset him somehow. Her ears twitched slowly in thought before giving one small, more human behaviour. She nodded.
~Okay.. well.. I’ll stay and try and keep some control on it. I haven’t done too much training today so it should be alright~ Her eyes closed briefly in thought, before she stood, stepping back a way to place some more distance between them, so in demorphing she didn’t end up accidentally hitting him. Once satisfied she sat again, her eyes on him, blinking slowly in thought.
At first the changes were small, almost insignificant. The long fur shortened around her, and slowly she seemed to increase in size. Suddenly there was movement in her tail, and her eyes half closed, slowing the movement to afford her some more control as it finally vanished. As her fur started to fade, revealing her clothes (which, thankfully, unlike her brother she was able to morph), there was some rather.. disturbing crunching sounds as her joints realigned, bones shortening and changing. After a few moments, Racheal was sat there, seeming for a moment rather dazed, as she frowned, checking her arms, legs, as if trying to work out what was wrong before one of her still feline ears caught in her hair, and she morphed them back rather swiftly, sighing. “There’s always something I miss when I do it like that..” She said softly, for a moment sounding slight tired out from that.
Controlled morphing was draining, stealing all her attention. Which was why during battles and the like, the transformation was usually a mess. Effective, quick, but not exactly a pleasant sight. Almost hesitantly she looked to Michael, trying to gauge his reaction, hoping not to see the disgust in his eyes that she’d seen before. Admittedly, the others had all been in the reverse direction. As she watched him, she paused, before speaking slowly. ”Animal to human is… more sight-ly. So is animal to animal, provided it’s not mammal to bird or something like that. With the exception of the orca. If I get that wrong it’s never pretty” She chuckled awkwardly, sighing a little, sitting there crossed legged.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: The cat who walked by herself“~Okay.. well.. I’ll stay and try and keep some control on it.” So she was really ok with him watching? Michael couldn’t help a little excited grin from slipping into place at the prospect. In the past couple of weeks he had learned the difference between mutant powers and magic, but that that hadn’t done anything to lessen the rush of wonder he felt whenever he witnessed what his fellow students could do. And logical or not it still looked like magic to him. Especially something as spectacular as this!
To be able to turn into different animals! If he hadn’t been there talking to Rachael he wouldn’t have believed it possible. But it was. And now she was going to show him how it was done. How he wished he had Connor’s ability! Then he could have found out for himself what it felt like to run and fly and……No, Michael realised suddenly, the thought bringing a hint of sadness to his otherwise eager face. Whatever he turned into would carry the same stigma as his actual body. A lame tiger…. An eagle with a broken wing. And that would be truly tragic.
How incredibly fortunate then, that his disability didn’t interfere with his own power, as it would have with so many others. *I really should give thanks more often* he told himself If that’s even possible. Because I surely did get lucky when I ended up with Hood! * It was sad how many people at the Institute didn’t seem to be comfortable with their powers. But then again not all of them were as benign and easy to control as his was. Or as well adapted to the person who had been born with them. Rachael though… she was like him. She loved what she could do. Or at least that’s how it seemed from where he was sitting!
I haven’t done too much training today she told him so it should be alright~ At first Michael was a little confused, after all training was usually designed to make you better at doing something rather than worse but after a moments reflection he concluded that perhaps it was a question of tiredness that Rachael was referring to, that all the energy spent in training left her with less to use in controlling her transformation. In any case she looked composed enough.. if a cat could look composed that was.. as she walked off a little bit and settled herself down, no doubt to begin morphing as she had promised.
Michael held his breath, his eyes widening as the small changes snowballed into larger ones, fur becoming cloth and flesh , paws becoming hands… The sounds of bones and cartilages cracking and realigning were worthy of a horror film but there was no sign of pain on Rachael’s rapidly transforming features, just an expression of rapt concentration that reassured Michael letting him accept this miracle for what it was, something as natural to her as leaving his body behind was to him. Even if it seemed that it didn’t always go entirely according to plan.
Michael couldn’t help but grin as Rachael searched for anomalies, her cat like ears all to clearly visible from his viewpoint. “There’s always something I miss when I do it like that..” she told him when the offending appendages had been tracked down and assimilated . ”Animal to human is… more sight-ly. Rachael went on So is animal to animal, provided it’s not mammal to bird or something like that. With the exception of the orca. If I get that wrong it’s never pretty”
“But I bet its a lot easier to find any bits you missed,” Michael answered with a grin. “Wow, Rachael” he continued enthusiastically “ that was….awesome. Scary round the edges of course. in fact if you hadn’t told me it didn’t hurt Id probably have been really worried but then again…… you looked peaceful during the whole thing, your face I mean. As if you were just changing your clothes instead of, you know, everything.”
He was probably talking too much, he knew, but then again he didn’t really care. This had been something special and Michael wanted Rachael to know how much it meant to him that she had felt able to share it with him. So he wasn’t going to let a little thing like looking foolish stop him from doing just that. “ Thanks so much for letting me see you do that,” he told her sincerely “ it really helped me understand, well, as much as anyone who cant morph themselves can hope understand what it must be like to do what you do. And that’s a real privilege.”
Re: The cat who walked by herself
Emerald feline eyes had watched him curiously, waiting almost uncertainly for his response, though it didn’t take long to come. Granted, she was still somewhat embarrassed about the ears. Although neko look could have been taken as fairly cute, it wasn’t really something she would appreciate. “But I bet its a lot easier to find any bits you missed,” Well, that was true, she nodded a little at his response to her marine morph. Especially, she added silently, when you’re in the middle of the ocean with a massive head and teeny human legs!
“Wow, Rachael” … “ that was….awesome. Scary round the edges of course. in fact if you hadn’t told me it didn’t hurt Id probably have been really worried but then again…… you looked peaceful during the whole thing, your face I mean. As if you were just changing your clothes instead of, you know, everything.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle softly as he spoke. In some ways, his comparison hit an interesting point. At least she could morph clothes, though she preferred to be barefooted most of the time as trainers were the most difficult thing to shift. Saying that, some clothes she really struggled with. Although Racheal herself couldn’t say what it was, she knew what she was looking for. And for that first fateful mission, when she’d first seen the ‘uniform’ she was to wear panic had set in. Thankfully, be it by chance or someone thinking ahead and guessing, her uniform was actually perfectly easy to morph. Although perhaps a little.. tighter than she’d normally be comfortable wearing, Racheal had to admit that it made it like morphing skin. And in an emergency, she found, that was what she needed.
“Thanks so much for letting me see you do that,”… “ it really helped me understand, well, as much as anyone who cant morph themselves can hope understand what it must be like to do what you do. And that’s a real privilege.”
The feral mutant didn’t mind him babbling on at all, to her it wasn’t babbling. She shifted to lean against the tree, watching him with a faint smile. Truth was, she missed human company. At least she had Michael and Connor to talk to. But they couldn’t be there all the time. Not that she didn’t enjoy time alone as well, but part of her still longed for her brother, for everything she’d lost. For that constant, reliable company. Not that Jake could have necessarily been described at reliable!
”Peaceful? A light chuckle escaped her, smiling at his description of her. ”I wouldn’t exactly call it a peaceful process.. but it’s something I can relax into, particularly with felines” She noted slowly, sitting there, cross legged as she watched her reading companion closely. ”Although I can morph a fairly wide range of animals, I’m a feline specialist. I mean, I can do horse, bear, dog, orca and a couple of birds. But give me any cat and I can do it. Though I tend to have my favourites. That kitty was one, as is the leopard and the tiger” Fingers lifted to tuck her hair back behind one ear. She was talking without thinking really, happy to keep the tone light, chattery. Of course, eventually this would bring them back to the story she supposed. But there was nothing wrong with some chatting first. And from what she could gather the astral mutant was in no more of a hurry than she was.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: The cat who walked by herself”Peaceful? Michael could see that is choice of words had amused Rachael greatly. ”I wouldn’t exactly call it a peaceful process.. but it’s something I can relax into, particularly with felines”
Somehow it didn’t surprise him this affinity she had with cats. And it certainty explained her choice of reading matter. But on reflection there had always been something slightly feline about Rachael right from the beginning and he didn’t just mean her eyes. There was also her grace! The way she tilted her head when something puzzled her! The need to keep her own company at times.
At the moment however she seemed perfectly happy to be in his as she went on with her explanation, telling him readily enough ”Although I can morph a fairly wide range of animals, I’m a feline specialist. I mean, I can do horse, bear, dog, orca and a couple of birds. But give me any cat and I can do it. Though I tend to have my favourites. That kitty was one, as is the leopard and the tiger”
“I’m sure I would too given the choice. Have favourites that is!” Michael answered enthusiastically. “ As it is though I only have one form I can transform into, not that I’m complaining. My astral form “ he explained “appeared for the first time on the day of my accident. And it’s stayed the same ever since. It was….. “ this time he was the one struggling for a way to explain “ the person I most wanted to be like at that time. And since I was fifteen and a book worm that could have lead to a whole lot of complications”
He grinned again. “Thank god I wasn’t in my Lord of the Rings phase or I could well have ended up with hairy feet and a talent for gardening! As it was I got lucky. Ever heard of Robin Hood?.” he asked , already anticipating the answer. “Well anyway he’s this sort of half historical half legendary figure in English history. Protected the helpless! Stole from the rich to give to the poor….fought against those who oppressed the people…….. yeah it’s a bit cheesy I know but hey I was fifteen .
To cut a long story short” Michael continued lying back on the warm grass and folding his arms under his head “we were doing a project on him at school when I was knocked down and I guess he made a bigger impression than I realised. Because when my powers emerged that’s who I became. An outlaw, with a thing about living in a forest and rescuing damsels in distress! The fact that he was one of the greatest archers ever doesn’t hurt either.”
And when I turn into him… well…. “Michael looked up at Rachael with a grin. “Its not as visual as your transformation.. but it can be just as disturbing if you’re not ready for it. And its an awful lot more awkward for my teammates. Here let me show you!
And with that he closed his eyes, letting the familiar process of separation take place, feeling Michael fade as Hood took shape. At a safe distance that was, easing himself through the ghostlike transitional phase to full substance, his real body lying now almost lifeless on the ground. “Here he is. Hood!” he announced rather shyly ”I can’t come any closer with him or he’ll get reabsorbed. And I’ve only got a two mile autonomy from wherever my physical self is. But apart from that…hes perfect ”
The face was slightly older, better fed, the skin tanned instead of pale and there were no pain lines drawn around the grey eyes but it was still undoubtedly Michael looking out from behind the handsome features he would perhaps one day have possessed if life had gone differently.
He refrained from spinning round this time as he had for Paige, worried that Rachael would have the same reaction. Instead he stood hesitantly, waiting as she had waited previously for his reaction. “ See I got the bow and the sword and everything. So please don’t think I’ve got some kind of leather fetish…..” Even though he mentioned it Michael was still blissfully unaware of just how figure hugging his outfit actually was “the costume just came with the deal.”
“I’m sure I would too given the choice. Have favourites that is!” The feline eyes had quietened, smiling still as she watched Michael’s enthusiastic response to her gifts. Favourites.. sometimes she didn’t like to think of it like that, but it was true. She’d said so herself. But in away these morphs were her creations, her children if you like, and natural instinct said that amongst children, amongst cubs it was not wise to have favourites. That it was just something that shouldn’t be done.
“ As it is though I only have one form I can transform into, not that I’m complaining. My astral form “ … “appeared for the first time on the day of my accident. And it’s stayed the same ever since. It was….. ““ the person I most wanted to be like at that time. And since I was fifteen and a book worm that could have lead to a whole lot of complications”
Racheal listened silently as he explained, that feline habit of her head tilting a little as she listened closely. Astral form.. he’d said that before, back in the library. And she still didn’t really understand. She guessed it meant a different form to his current one, like a morph perhaps? She didn’t want to interrupt him, ask all these questions. Besides, with time they might reveal themselves anyway.
“Thank god I wasn’t in my Lord of the Rings phase or I could well have ended up with hairy feet and a talent for gardening! As it was I got lucky. Ever heard of Robin Hood?.” A small shake of the head was given a he continued. “Well anyway he’s this sort of half historical half legendary figure in English history. Protected the helpless! Stole from the rich to give to the poor….fought against those who oppressed the people…….. yeah it’s a bit cheesy I know but hey I was fifteen .
Cheesy? No, she didn’t think so. It was, an ideal perhaps, the idea that someone would almost be so selfless. Fighting not only for himself, but for others. Wasn’t that the ideal, in away, of the institute as well? Actually, it seemed pretty appropriate. However, the earlier comment about Lord of the Rings went completely over her head, confusion once more finding it’s place. Hairy feet? Of course, if she’d read the classic novel she’d have understood. As it was it just brought a confused blink before he had gone on to explain the form he had instead.
To cut a long story short we were doing a project on him at school when I was knocked down and I guess he made a bigger impression than I realised. Because when my powers emerged that’s who I became. An outlaw, with a thing about living in a forest and rescuing damsels in distress! The fact that he was one of the greatest archers ever doesn’t hurt either. And when I turn into him… well…. Its not as visual as your transformation.. but it can be just as disturbing if you’re not ready for it. And its an awful lot more awkward for my teammates. Here let me show you!
Before Racheal had time to make sense of it, Michael was lying seemingly lifeless before her. Thankfully sensitive hearing could pick up the faint signs of life, but it made it no less worry. And it took a moment for her to see the other form now, though her eyes lifted slowly, taking this in, trying to work it out. Michael’s essence was still there, visible, despite the changes, and she relaxed slowly, though her eyes regularly flicked back to the still body lying before her. Shocking.. disturbing, yep she could understand that. Part of her wished in that moment she was still in her feline state, a hundred questions coming to mind. Did this.. astral from have a scent, a heart beat? Did it spill blood like a human or did it just vanish if wounded. So many questions, ones which might not normally come to mind, others more obvious.
“Here he is. Hood!” ”I can’t come any closer with him or he’ll get reabsorbed. And I’ve only got a two mile autonomy from wherever my physical self is. But apart from that…hes perfect ” Auto – nomy. Her brain silently tried to work around the usual word. In the sentence it sounded like he meant distance or limit. That would make sense. A soft chuckle escaped him though. Well no one was perfect, but she could see why Michael would find this form like that. He could walk, run! He would have a freedom his real body didn’t. Of course, that then pestered questions in her mind. Was his real body the left lifeless behind. That seemed highly dangerous, and she was glad at least with her changes her body came with her.
“ See I got the bow and the sword and everything. So please don’t think I’ve got some kind of leather fetish…..” “the costume just came with the deal.” That counted as a ‘whatever you say’ moment. But not for the obvious reason. Instead it was a honest confusion, perhaps a small dip into a world she was perfectly clueless about. Though something about the outfit did ring a bell, a faint memory. And even if she could truly recall where she’d seen not exactly similar outfits, but possibly related ones, most likely Michael wouldn’t want to know. Of course, if Racheal realised the truth behind it she wouldn’t want to know either. It was strange really. Sometimes she could seem so knowledgeable about the outside world, about the streets and fashion of those who wandered the streets at night, from clubbers to others, at the same time she was perfectly innocent.
”Astral..” She repeated the word from before slowly. ”You’ve mentioned that before.. I guess this would be it” A soft chuckle escaped her as her watched Michael, head tilted in that characteristic manner. ”And Autonomy..” The word was spoken slowly as she repeated it, testing the sound. It was as if the lesson which would, perhaps, start shortly, had in fact already started. Michael would know that familiar testing of words she not come across. ”I guess you mean.. distance.. limit?” She had started to like how he didn’t ‘dumb’ down the language, later explaining it if needed. It gave her a chance to understand and she now new Michael was willing to give her the time to understand. Which was all to important to the feral mutant. Willing to learn, not willing to look a fool.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she voiced her earlier thoughts. ”I wish I’d stayed a cat now.. you have no idea ho many questions are milling through my brain. Or perhaps you do” She countered herself. After all, so many questions could be asked about her own morphs. ”But.. probably the biggest.. do you.. does you’re real form just stay lifeless like that?” She asked softly, lacking perhaps the subtly of others. ”It just seems dangerous.. like freedom at a cost” She said slowly. She was trying to think of how she could relate it to her own morphs.
”I wonder if your body is a little like my mind.. when I morph, my body changes but I have the consciousness of the animal surface as well. And it’s easy to loose myself in it. Especially if I stay in morph too long. So rather than my body in danger it’s my mind” She nodded slowly, sitting there in quiet contemplation. It was clear she didn’t disapprove of his power, quite the opposite. But it was her nature to explore the weaknesses and try and work out how bad it was. After all, if you knew your own weaknesses and could then cover them, find a way over them, then you could then go at your enemies, at life, with less worry.
”But still..” She continued, a smile coming to those gentle features, nodding. ”It still looks like a fun power.” And in part, wasn’t the important thing? Not that it was hugely powerful, not that it could destroy all enemies in a single blow, but that you enjoyed it. That you were comfortable with it. You could hold all the powers in the world, but if you hated them, then the would be a curse and not a blessing. Where as even the smallest gift could be a blessing if you could embrace it and enjoy it.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
”I wish I’d stayed a cat now..Racheal told him with a soft laugh you have no idea how many questions are milling through my brain. Or perhaps you do” Michael answered her smile with one of his own. She certainly was getting to know him.. or was it just that his overwhelming curiosity really was that obvious. In any case she was right n thinking that he had as many questions running through his head concerning her powers as she did about his. And it was only right that he should try to answer them. Even if sometimes that was less pleasant than others. Especially when she cut to the chase, going directly to the fatal flaw that lay at the heart of Hoods nature.
Maybe he should have expected it but somehow he hadn’t and so it caught him off guard when Rachael said ”But.. probably the biggest.. do you.. does you’re real form just stay lifeless like that? .It just seems dangerous.. like freedom at a cost”
Michael couldn’t help but feel deflated. Even if he had already admitted to the drawbacks inherent in his power, even if they were indeed all to flagrant, still it would have been nice to share perhaps one moment of happy wonder at its possibilities before they focused on its limitations. ‘If you wanted that then you shouldn’t have separated right here in front of her’ he reminded himself sternly. ‘I mean she can hardly be expected to see anything but the problems when you’re lying sprawled out on the grass like so much dead meat!’
Michael waited a little apprehensively to hear what had to say next. ”I wonder if your body is a little like my mind..she went on finally when I morph, my body changes but I have the consciousness of the animal surface as well. And it’s easy to loose myself in it. Especially if I stay in morph too long. So rather than my body in danger it’s my mind”
It was kind of her to point out her own weakness but they both knew that it wasn’t close to being the same thing. It had after all been made abundantly clear that he was a liability on a team. As if he hadn’t already worked that out for himself. And if the day ever came when what he could contribute as Hood failed to outweigh the problems he caused as Michael then he would resign from Green rescue squad straight away, even though it would break his heart to do so.
”But still..” Racheal went on, her gentle tone dragging his thought some way out of their downward spiral ”It still looks like a fun power.”‘Oh aye it is that all right’ that he said wistfully, the elated good spirits he had shown just moments previously now tempered by the more serious considerations Racheal’s comments had brought to mind. “And I suppose that should have been enough for me. Wanting more, wanting to be on a team, that’s just greedy given the..” he nodded back down at his prone body “obvious difficulties. But here I am all the same. On Green rescue squad. Nothing short of a miracle really!
Hood sat down beside Rachael, neither sword or longbow hampering his movements as he drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped tanned unmarked arms around them. “I mean if my team mates hadn’t been supportive, if Dr McCoy hadn’t given me permission, if Mr Summers had decided I was responsible enough not to let myself become a burden then it would all have been over. But then again “ remembering how well Racheal and Connor seemed to have been getting on the previous day at the zoo Michael’s smile rallied a little as he said “if Connor hadn’t recommended me in the first place it would never even have got started.
Re: The cat who walked by herself
Soft feline eyes watched Michael... no, Hood. They were two different entities, but at the same time one. Again she could see a parallel with her own power. Although it was still her mind, her instincts, the consciousness of the animal and it’s body were not. It was strange. Part of her wondered if Hood had a separate consciousness than Michael, or if it was purely himself, with a new body. Restrictions probable, but still a freedom from his own body.
‘Oh aye it is that all right’ A smile softly teased her lips at those words. It was good to hear that he considered his power enjoyable, fun and not just a release. It made a nice change from some of the others, although she didn’t really know anyone like it, she’d heard some complaints about powers, and whilst she admitted some seemed a little, difficult, she also thought it was by far worth looking at the up sides, whilst recognising the weaknesses. But those weaknesses didn’t have to rule the power at all.
“And I suppose that should have been enough for me. Wanting more, wanting to be on a team, that’s just greedy given the..” … “obvious difficulties. But here I am all the same. On Green rescue squad. Nothing short of a miracle really!” A smile crossed her lips as a thought crossed her mind. He was able to have that, to have more, because he was on a team like Green, one which actually looked out for each other. They worked around individual weaknesses, and using each other’s strengths. Like a team should do! Not like the Exiles which seemed to use every weakness to the individual’s advantage to bring them down. At least it seemed, pardoning the poor usage of words, Michael had landed on his feet with his team.
“I mean if my team mates hadn’t been supportive, if Dr McCoy hadn’t given me permission, if Mr Summers had decided I was responsible enough not to let myself become a burden then it would all have been over. But then again “ Feral watched as the astral projection moved to sit beside her, she watched the ease of the movement, unable to help but compare it to the difficulty he’d have in his physical form. She nodded a little as he spoke, echoing her thoughts a little about his team. She wasn’t terribly surprised by the rest. And Michael did seem responsible. She wasn’t really sure where she got that idea from, but he was definitely smart and brave – strong, in his own way. If not physically then in his determination and his heart. She’d decided all that on their first meeting. Well, second really if you take the accidental waking in the med bay as a meeting. She was dragged from her thoughts though as leather-clad male continued his sentence. “if Connor hadn’t recommended me in the first place it would never even have got started.
At first the feral mutant didn’t even notice the smile which had come across her features at the mention of Connor’s name. A light entered her eyes. Truth was she wasn’t really sure, nor really understood how she felt about the male feral, but she knew she enjoyed his company, and looked forward to it. Not more than Michael’s as such, but differently. When she noticed though that she was smiling, bordering on grinning, she tried to tone it down a little, feeling a little awkward that just Connor’s name had caused that reaction. What was there to look forward to anyway? She was leaving in the next week, there was little time left. Sure she could enjoy it, but she had to stop getting attached. After all, in the end it would only hurt them as well as her. And she didn’t want them hurt.
”You should thank him then..” She suggested slowly. ”Even if he can’t remember what he’s done, to know he’s helped someone else, perhaps it will help” She said softly, thoughtfully. She wouldn’t, couldn’t divulge completely what she meant. But it should have been clear in part. Perhaps to know he’d helped someone in his past, to know he’d not been the one always falling in trouble and being helpless, it would give him something, confidence in himself. The bright smile returned at the thought and she gave a small nod.
”I have to admit, you have a great team..” She paused for a moment. ”Okay, I’m the first to admit that I’m no Riley fan. But from what you’ve said it really is a great team, and functioning properly.” A dry chuckle escaped her lips. There was no need to say who she was comparing them to. The misfits of her own team, where co-operation only happened if it meant they could bugger off quicker. She didn’t know the members of Michael’s team too well, but what she did know was good enough. She’d met Scott very briefly on her first day, though no names were mentioned, and had seen him when she’d been disturbed from her sleep in the med bay. Riley was, well, Riley. Seemed most people knew him for one reason or other. Then there was Ben. Originally, like herself, a member of a second team before they were broken up, she owed him her life. Or at least the fact she’d not suffered any broken bones!
”And, although I don’t know your team too well, I’d happily vouch for Ben. Without him, I’d not be sitting here.. not comfortably anyway” She said with a smile, nodding a little. ”Haven’t spoken to him as much as I should I guess. We started here on the same day. Were both, invited out for our first night. Which was eventful enough as it was. But yeah, He saved my life a few weeks back. I can’t even remember if I thanked him” She frowned a little at that thought. Of course, she’d discovered in the library that first time that it was there where Michael was first picked up, but she didn’t make the link for him now. She was happy for him to be unaware that she was there, she didn’t feel like she’d helped rescue him in away. All she’d done was protect the van. It still puzzled her some, that two creatures she’d been fighting had just.. ‘poofed’ out of existence. She didn’t know about vampires too well really, and at the time she’d just thought of it as getting rid of a threat. She didn’t try and think too much about it. Else she might realise that she’d killed something she’d consider alive.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: The cat who walked by herself
It seemed that he hadn’t been too far off the mark with his guess about Racheal liking Connor. Her face positively lit up at the mention of his name though Michael didn’t suppose that she herself was aware of just how much her expression gave away. Nor was he about to inform her. Still he couldn’t help grinning in return. They would be good together, of that he was sure. And Connor could certainly do with a bit of good fortune coming his way after all he had been through. You should thank him then..” Racheal told him thoughtfully, unaware that he had already done so, even if the meeting hadn’t gone exactly to plan.
”Even if he can’t remember what he’s done, to know he’s helped someone else, perhaps it will help” the feral went on, her concern for their mutual friend clearly present in her voice. It didn’t surprise Michael that Racheal had seen how fragile Connor was at this moment. After all it was obvious to anyone who spent even a little time in his company and Racheal was more sensitive and compassionate than most.
Which is why she would be such an asset in helping him get back on his feet again, the young Scot thought as he watched her sitting beside him on the grass. Connor needed to know he had friends around him, that he had a place here at the Institute whether he could remember it or not. Most importantly, he had to come to realise that if the past was forgotten then the future was still there waiting to be lived. And that there were people who wanted to live it with him!
Racheal too seemed to have been thinking about the importance of friends at least from Michael’s point of view for she started talking about teams, the supportive structure that had proved such a blessing as far as he was concerned. ”I have to admit, you have a great team” she told him, her words only confirming what he already knew. ”Okay, I’m the first to admit that I’m no Riley fan.” But from what you’ve said it really is a great team, and functioning properly.”
Once again Riley had been singled out for sanction, just as he had been with Max. It seemed that bad first impressions might be somewhat of a speciality as far as the older boy was concerned, which was a shame, because he definitely improved as you got to know him. Something Michael had learned from the very fact of being on a team with him. Although he had to admit that, left to his own devices, Riley might not have been someone he would actively have tried to make friends with.
Riley’s vision of the world was just a little extreme. At least it seemed so at first glance. Some things in life did separate themselves nicely into black and white. Right and wrong! Good and evil maybe! There were barriers that were in place for a reason. Boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed! Come up against one and you knew it. But in between… there were many shades of grey. And, Michael now realised, they went further than he had ever imagined. A few short weeks at the institute had taught him that. Maybe Riley just needed to realise that admitting that didn’t mean you lost your values just that you gave people the benefit of the doubt before assuming the worst. That you could base your relationships on what people did not just on what they were.
But if Riley seemed to have difficulty making friends Ben it seemed had no such problem. Though from what Racheal now said she had good reason to appreciate the darklight mutant. “He never mentioned that” Michael told her when she had finished speaking. “But then again” , the young Scot smiled”there seems to be a lot of life saving going on around here. I suppose it comes with the territory.“
Even so Michael couldn’t help being curious about what had happened between these two people he considered to be his friends. Whatever it was he was pretty sure it hadn’t occurred since he’d been at the Institute unless it had been during the time he’d been in sick bay. But then again Racheal herself had been injured at that time so she probably hadn’t been out on any life threatening missions. Which mean that….
There was an image in Michael’s head, one that had been there all along but which until now he hadn’t known the implication of. A tiger…. At the auction.. Out of place even on an evening where everything had been strange and terrifying. “Oh” he said softly, “I should have realised when I saw you transform. Wow I really am slow on the uptake. You were there weren’t you? At the marketplace? You were with the team that saved us. And that’s where you almost got killed. Why did you never tell me?”
Re: The cat who walked by herself
For a moment, Racheal couldn’t help but think of her team. Dysfunctional was certainly a good word to describe them. The feral was worried about them, and on that level she did care. She felt the need to try and protect them, despite the fact it wasn’t like she was friends with any of them. But perhaps it was because each seemed busy looking out for number one, that she felt the need to protect them as a team. Because if they were too busy on themselves, could they see a danger coming as a team? Like many things, Racheal struggled to understand yet alone explain those feelings. Those desires to protect people she didn’t really care about that much. Take Max. Probably the most obvious tension she had with anyone was with him. Whilst they clashed on their reasons so often then agreed, in some respects, on the answer. And perhaps that was what really infuriated her sometimes. And yet that Thursday something had cracked in the stone mutant. Racheal wasn’t going to pry and she had no idea what it was that had set him off. But her concern for him had shown briefly as she encouraged Garnet to go and speak to him.
“He never mentioned that” The girl’s attention was once more drawn from her thoughts, smiling faintly, giving a nod. She wouldn’t suppose Ben would have really. It wasn’t exactly something which came up in normal conversation. And at the same time she wasn’t sure Ben was aware just how much he had done for her that night. “But then again” , …”there seems to be a lot of life saving going on around here. I suppose it comes with the territory.“ She wasn’t sure about that much. But if she thought about it, she guessed perhaps more than usual. Racheal’s slightly detached nature meant she knew surprisingly little about what happened around the school. That was growing though. But she wondered if all the life saving was quite as literal as that. If it was, the school was a more dangerous place than she imagined.
“Oh” Eyebrows rose slightly at the soft exclamation. “I should have realised when I saw you transform. Wow I really am slow on the uptake. You were there weren’t you? At the marketplace? You were with the team that saved us. And that’s where you almost got killed. Why did you never tell me?” It was a sound question, and she gave a small thoughtful nod at it. She didn’t really have an immediate answer for that. Although now sat as a human before the astral form of her friend, there was still that hint of feline thoughtfulness as her eyes seemed to drift skywards a little, head canted just slightly to the left.
”To be honest..” She said slowly, focusing back on Michael. Hood. Whichever name was the more appropriate. ”I guessed.. I’m not sure. I had little idea what was happening that night in someways. And as I said in the library, before you said, I only knew we’d picked up Connor and Madison.” Images quietly danced through her mind, and for a moment a frown found her features, her eyes loosing focus as she recalled that night. Such a strange night, a strange mixture of emotions. There was a pride, in being able to help, to be of use. Elation at being part of a team, a buzz she could never really describe. And that was what sat at the surface. Like a calm sea. She had known it had been a serious mission, but at the same time, the adrenaline which had filled her at the time, it had prevented her feeling the dangerous ones beneath the calm surface.
Because in the depths lay a dark abyss, a silent hole which lingered and waited. She’d killed that night. Could what had happened… what those creatures had been to have vanished in such a strange way. Was that really ‘death’ in true sense, or was it some trick, some magic she knew nothing off? Still, part of her knew that death had been the truth there, she was hiding from it. Another blotch in that life she kept hidden.
”And.. I suppose” The words came softly as she looked again to the astral mutant, slowly the smile finding her face again. ”I.. didn’t really see it as a topic of conversation. It was my first time as part of a team though. And I guess.. going from X-change to Exiles hasn’t really improved my opinion of the latter” It was true. Thrown in the deep end, they’d been more or less forced by circumstances as to work as a team, along with X-treme. And it had work. Michael was proof of that in some ways. To go from that, to a team which spent most of the time either fighting or ignoring each other, it was a bit of a hard change for the somewhat loner mutant.
It was a question she actually found she struggled with. To say it wasn’t important wasn’t right. Because it was. But at the same time there was something she felt uncomfortable with. And even then, Racheal couldn’t be totally sure just what that was. Was it what had happened, or the idea of gaining recognition she might just feel uncertain of having. Whatever it was, it was making her squirm a little mentally, though she sat totally still. Lips parted briefly, before closing again, wanting to steer the conversation away from such thoughts and memories, whilst at the same time the feral didn’t want it to appear so dramatic a change.
After a moment, she smiled a little awkwardly as she forced herself to relax. At least this was Michael, a friend she could relax around, open up to. Well, somewhat anyway. She had thought so, but still felt herself guarding her thoughts. ”I suppose in ways, it’s not something I want to dwell on too much” She admitted softly, silently thinking how much worse it must have been for Michael there.
”Anyway” The words left the feral after another short moment of thought. ”Shall we get on with the leopard whilst the weather is still in our favour?” She suggested softly. This could be her last reading session with him ever. A soft sadness found her at that. She had to tell him. But.. perhaps afterwards. She wanted to enjoy it, though for the briefest moment, the corners of that smile flicked downwards, a brief lapse of control.
Hannah: In this world we're forced to make choices everyday. We don't always know the consequences. But it's how we react to them which makes us who we are
Re: The cat who walked by herself
Rachael’s face took on the now familiar puzzled expression as she sought to reply to the question he had just asked, as if her reason for not having broached the subject before was as big a mystery to her as it was to him. ”To be honest..” she said seriously”I guessed.. I’m not sure. I had little idea what was happening that night in someways. And as I said in the library, before you said, I only knew we’d picked up Connor and Madison.”
He could well believe that his own rescue had been secondary on that most eventful rescue mission . And yet, if the X men had come initially to reclaim two of their own, they had not left that terrible auction until each and every mutant, known and unknown alike had been taken to safety. Nor did Michael doubt that they would have intervened with just as much dedication even if Connor and Madison hadn’t been in the cage beside him. It was what they did. More than that , it was what they were teaching him to do and for that he was eternally grateful.
”And.. I suppose I.. didn’t really see it as a topic of conversation.” Rachaels voice was soft, her words slow to come but coming all the same It was my first time as part of a team though. And I guess.. going from X-change to Exiles hasn’t really improved my opinion of the latter”
Her first time in action! Well she certainly had been thrown in the deep end. Michael only hoped he would do as well when his turn came. Still Rachael’s reluctance to make a fuss over something which had had such life changing consequences for him shouldn’t have surprised the young Scot. Not now that he was getting to know her. Boasting wasn’t her style. Even when she had something to boast about!
Though from the look in her feline eyes there was perhaps something else other than her natural modesty making this subject a difficult one for her. And not just the problem she seemed to be having with the team she was on. There was something, a shadow that passed across her features as she thought back to that night and it wasn’t one Michael wanted to be even faintly responsible for putting there. So when she said ”I suppose in ways, it’s not something I want to dwell on too much”, his insatiable curiosity inevitably took a back seat to his concern for a friend, making him back quickly away from the subject just as she obviously was trying to do.
Not that he would forget it though. The fact that she had placed herself in danger to free him and the others! The rest of the frightened mutants saved from the auction had gone safely back to the homes that were waiting for them. He alone stayed at the institute. He alone could in someway repay that particular debt. And he fully intended to do so. But not by making her feel uncomfortable about the whole thing.
So when the conversation turned from life and death and back to the safer ground of Kipling he smiled and didn’t press the point. Ah well he said with a smile. “Being Scottish I never let a wee bit of rain ruin my day. Otherwise I’d be perpetually depressed. Still.. soggy books are no fun.. So yes.. lets get back to reading.. but.. He might be letting it pass gracefully but he still couldn’t let it go of the moment without adding one thing. A small truth that was nonetheless a big thing for him! “I’m really lucky to have met you Racheal he told her a sincerely. And I don’t just mean because of what you did for me back then.
The institute is wonderful… he went on earnestly better than anything I could have hoped for… but I’d still be lost here if it wasn’t for the friends I’ve made. Soooo… I’m really glad you’re here. I just thought I should tell you
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