|
Post by Ember on Mar 4, 2008 1:11:52 GMT -5
Aideen locked her legs tightly against Cyclops and glanced up as the sound of the hanger opening caught her attention. This is it, they were actually going to do this. The bike started up and Aideen braced herself, not knowing what to expect. When the sky-cycle rose up incredibly sharp, Aideen flung her arms around Cyclops' waist and held on tight. This looked like it was going to be a bit of a bumpy ride. Thankfully Cyclops was able to recover quickly, but that didn't stop Aideen from loosening her hold. After all the battering her body took the previous day, she did not feel like being thrown off a flying motorcycle at this height.
They went higher and higher after Cyclops punched some numbers into a keypad and the noise and flashing lights started up again, indicating that the hanger was closing. Aideen held on tight and nodded her head against Cyclops' back when he mentioned the particularly nasty wind from outside. She already felt the cold bitter wind beating against her lithe form the second they were outside, and concentrated on keeping as much of her warmth inside of her as she could. Then again, Cyclops was acting as a good shield at the present moment since he faced the direction of the wind.
Aideen did her best to numb what was left of her heart. She refused to allow herself to have any ounce of hope or faith. It failed her too much in the past and she didn't think she could take it if it failed her again. Therefore, the only logical thing was for her to not allow herself to have any. Aideen was very stubborn and extremely strong-willed, not allowing herself to feel anything was something she was determined to do. She had yet to know how successful she would be.
She turned her head in the direction of the forest she remembered running very vividly. This is it. No turning back now.
|
|
|
Post by Cyclops on Mar 4, 2008 21:43:36 GMT -5
Cyclops felt her cling tightly as they lifted higher and higher up and out of the Hangar. He swung the nose of the Sky-Cycle around to point out toward the wood-line beyond the hedge. He had known approximately where to fly out, but would need Ember to direct him to a more specific spot.
He hunkered down a bit behind the windscreen, but not so much as to let the wind get to his young companion. Reaching to the center control panel he turned on the spotlight and a sharp white beam cut through the darkness to show the landscape below. "Which way?" Cyclops called out over his shoulder needing to get a general direction and they would narrow it down as they went.
|
|
|
Post by Ember on Mar 4, 2008 22:02:46 GMT -5
It had gotten pretty dark outside, and it looked like it would begin snowing again soon. Winter in the country was always quite harsh weather wise. Aideen looked around as Cyclops Asked her which way. It was a good thing that she had her face shield otherwise the wind might have gotten to her though Cyclops was doing a pretty good job shielding her, which she appreciated immensely. He really was looking out for her a lot despite the fact that she screwed up big time by not speaking up about Logan's whereabouts sooner. That was really good of him to do that, though she didn't exactly earn his kindness.
It took Aideen only a minute to retrace her path from the previous morning and her eyes landed on the tall tightly compacted cluster of trees that she strayed off the path into. "East from us into that area of clustered trees up there," She called to Cyclops. "The clearing where it all took place is just beyond that area."
It was a good deal away from them but they should get their just fine since they were airborne on the sky-cycle.
|
|
|
Post by Cyclops on Mar 4, 2008 22:27:58 GMT -5
Cyclops adjusted his foot pressure and leaned the bike off to the right a bit. The tight cluster of trees that Ember had indicated would be beneath them in mere moments. Thoughts raced through Scott's head about what they would see. The sights of a battle between Wolverine and Sabertooth were never pleasant. To think what might go on in Ember's young mind, knowing she felt responsible for Wolverine's giving up- if even ever so slightly, for her to be able to escape.
|
|
|
Post by Ember on Mar 4, 2008 22:51:19 GMT -5
Though Aideen was shielded quite well from the harshness of the wind and she wasn't as cold as before since her and Cyclops were able to share body heat that was a very good defense from the bitter cold and the nasty wind, she still felt the sting in from the wind as her long loose hair flew around her. They were approaching the cluster of trees that Aideen remembered running through rather quickly. A lump formed in her throat at the thought of going back there. She needed to do it though, she deserved to see all that she had caused.
Once they were over the cluster of trees, Aideen looked slightly over Cyclops' shoulder at the area. Far beyond the cluster she already saw the area where it all happened. It wasn't hard to find seeing as there were missing trees everywhere and it was the only area that didn't fit with the whole landscape. Plus Aideen ran all they way with Mystique in her arms. It wasn't hard to remember the path she took. "There, the broken area," she said to Cyclops, moving one arm away from her hold on him so she could point to the area before replacing her arm and holding on tight. She was still a bit wary about the bike.
|
|
|
Post by Cyclops on Mar 4, 2008 23:27:02 GMT -5
Slowing as he closed in on the clearing in the woods, cyclops felt the girl tense up slightly. She probably didn't even know she was doing it but she was beginning to shake and even though it might have been from the cold, he doubted that was the real reason for it.
The trees opened up beneath them as the clearing revealed the scene he had feared she would have to be witness to. The snow on the ground was painted crimson and black, as blood tends to turn- after it's been exposed to the air. the whole of the clearing seemed to be made over in gore and destruction.
Trees at the far edge of the clearing were felled and splintered and the swath of destruction and upheaval led them in a zig-zaged line that scrawled back and forth across the forest. Cyclops followed the trail from the sky for quite some time before deciding to touch down. The place he chose was where the trail appeared to end and they would have to look more carefully, on foot. From the sky they just couldn't follow what little clues there might be. "We're going down there, hang on!" Cyclops called out.
|
|
|
Post by Ember on Mar 5, 2008 2:22:35 GMT -5
Aideen's eyes were glued to the scene as she felt her insides turn. This was the result of everything that happened the morning before. She was the reason why it got so bad. The snow and dirt was all covered in pools of blood, some still a deep red color and there was also the dried blood that stained the ground and the trees and that were destroyed in a zig-zagged path. She clearly recognized the tree that she was hiding in the first time and where Sabretooth found her. Everything was so vivid in her mind from the following morning. She saw the tree that Logan was first trapped under, the place where he risked his life to get Sabretooth's attention off of her. She saw where the fake Haven had been laying down, looking wounded beyond belief. How could she have been so stupid? Why did she have to go running? Why didn't she listen to Logan when he told her to just go back to the school? Now because of her he was gone. And Aideen would never forgive herself.
She unconsciously tightened her hold on Cyclops as they zoomed to where the path ended not too far away from what looked like cliffs. Aideen's eyes were glued to the massive amounts of blood that stained the broken trees. This was not a good fight at all. Despite the fact that Aideen had worked so hard to try and numb her heart, her efforts proved to be futile. If possible, her heart began to break even more, knowing she had lessened his chances. If it weren't for her, Logan would have been okay, and safe.
When Cyclops announced that they were going to land, her grip on him tightened and she tried to dull out the tremors of sorrow that were going through her body. Hopefully Cyclops will assume it was from the cold. She wasn't about to break down now though, she nearly did at the bookstore, but what Cyclops think of her if he saw her break down? She was the one who was expected to be strong, that's what she was appointed a temporary leader. Strong leaders don't break down and cry. Crying. Aideen never cried before since she was very young and for the first time she wanted to. She would do her damn best not to though. Tears are a sign of weakness, and she was not weak in the least bit.
|
|
|
Post by Cyclops on Mar 5, 2008 23:20:47 GMT -5
Finding a secure spot to land Scott set the sky-cycle down and killed the power. He pulled a flashlight out of the small gear kit under the seat and turned it on. The beam was weak compared to the spotlight on the sky-cycle, but they needed to be at ground level to look for clues as to Wolverine's whereabouts. Finding the blood trail they had nearly lost from the sky Cyclops followed it off to the left heading in the general direction of the cliffs. "Looks like they headed off this way."
He shone the light about and determined some theory of what might have happened. "It almost seems like by this point in their fight one was stalking the other. Can't say exactly but let's keep looking we might get a clearer picture."
|
|
|
Post by Ember on Mar 5, 2008 23:41:39 GMT -5
Aideen got off of the sky-cycle and took off her helmet. She placed it on the back of the sky-cycle seeing as it would be easier to look around without it. Her long thick dark hair was now loose and she adjusted her bandanna to keep it back, but not up because then her ears would freeze up and he thick her was a good shield from the cold.
She followed Cyclops and felt her stomach turn at the sight of the trail of blood. Logan must have been in immense pain. The lump in her throat grew as she followed him and looked around. Reaching up at some of the trees that weren't broken and wet, Aideen searched for a dry branch. After a bit of searching, she found a good sized one and with a flick of her hand, she gave up a bit of her heat to make a torch so they could have more light.
She came up alongside Cyclops and held up the brightly lit torch. "Do you think it ended at the cliffs?" Aideen asked in her quiet voice as she looked around for a sign, any sign that could help them piece together what happened. It made her sick to know that this could have ended differently if it weren't for her, but she would do anything to help make up for it, even if it is just a little bit because something like this you can't make up for.
|
|
|
Post by Cyclops on Mar 6, 2008 0:25:34 GMT -5
"Looks like the struggle was heading that way, it might have ended there. Let's follow the trail though." He said lifting his visor a bit to prevent it from fogging up. He pointed the light off toward the direction of the cliff and saw that the blood was indeed painting the snow in a spatter pattern that Jackson Pollack would have envied. It was chaotic and violent and the underbrush and leaves beneath the snow were scattered about and painted bloody as well.
The trail was singular and then joined again and off shoots led them to follow out and then back as if stalking or hiding was a part of the struggle. Where the blood trails would come together again there was much pooling and gore and collateral damage to the trees and rocks. This was a long fight to be sure and the two combatants were not playing for points, they were not playing - period.
The winding trail led them out away from the Sky-Cycle. It was nearly two hours before they emerged at the far edge of the forest and found themselves looking out over the cliff. "Guess your hunch was right. Cliff looks like the thing that separated them." Cyclops said and he noted that Sabertooth's footprints, as he had come to recognize them in the snow, had gone south while an obvious splayed out spattering of blood depicted the place where Wolverine had been thrown over the edge of the cliff. "Maybe he is down there..." Scott thought aloud.
|
|
|
Post by Ember on Mar 6, 2008 0:43:05 GMT -5
Hearing that Logan was probably thrown over the cliff made Aideen sick to the stomach, but she hadn't eaten since yesterday and had nothing to empty her stomach of. Oh god, Logan's body might be down there. She couldn't imagine the condition it would be in. But then again Cyclops said he had a healing factor, like Ian. But can anyone truly survive being thrown down a cliff, healing factor or not? Plus he must have been in terrible condition as it was and if he was alright, he would have come back to the mansion by now.
Aideen took her torch and looked down at the blood that had winded all along the long trail. It had started snowing, but it was light snow. The wind had gone down, but not by much and Aideen had thrown her concentration during the entire time they were on the trail to keep her body heat in.
When they reached the edge of the cliff, she walked to the edge and held up her torch, seeing nothing but blackness. That must mean the cliff is incredibly deep. She stepped back and bent down balancing on the balls of her feet as the wind gently whipped her long hair around her and she set the torch close to the ground so the wind wouldn't blow it out. "What now?" Aideen asked in a small quiet voice, feeling almost dizzy at the thought of taking away Logan's chances to fight back, even if it was for a moment.
|
|
|
Post by Cyclops on Mar 6, 2008 23:46:35 GMT -5
"Well I think we have to go down there. Keep looking for him. It's obvious that those are Sabertooth's footprints, so Wolverine must be down there." Cyclops said as he pointed down over the edge of the cliff to the revene below.
"looks like he got thrown over the edge here and he was pretty bloody when it happened, so he must have been really beaten down. Look over there it appears that he was jumped and took a serious blow, maybe gave some damage back." He pointed to the wood-line where there was a huge gory spot of blood. Cyclops rubbed his chin as he shifted his helmet under his arm, he had removed it during their trek out to the cliff edge.
He took a knee at the cliff's edge and looked down saying "... but Sabertooth's trail doesn't seem to have that much blood on it so my guess is that Wolverine took the worst of it. He's down there, I'm sure of it."
|
|
|
Post by Ember on Mar 7, 2008 0:02:16 GMT -5
A small sharp gasp escaped Aideen's lips before she could hold it back, but hopefully Cyclops didn't notice. What the hell had she done? The pain Logan must be in... surely he can't still be alive. Healing factors have their limits, there had to be a place where it just doesn't work and after all that Logan had been through there was no way he could be alive. If there was a chance to find his body... no no it was too late for her to weaken. She had come this far and it's not like she had never seen a dead body. Living in South Boston, she was no stranger to dead bodies or murders... but she had never been this directly involved and it had never been someone she cared about so much.
Aideen pushed some of the hair out of her face and closed her eyes for a moment to prep herself. "Alright," she said quietly. "Which way are we going down?" Aideen asked in a small voice as she looked over at Cyclops swallowing hard. She didn't mind climbing at all, though was a bit wary that in the dark, but she trusted Cyclops and knew he knew what he was doing. She could do this, after all what doesn't kill you makes you stronger they say.
|
|
|
Post by Cyclops on Mar 7, 2008 0:50:15 GMT -5
"Hold your horses Ember. I think we oughta get the sky-cycle for this. It's hundreds of feet down, it's night and it's snowing. Plus we don't have any climbing gear." Cyclops said.
"It wont take us half as long to get back to it, we know where it is and wont be following a blood trail looking for clues." He said as he stood up and started to walk back into the woods toward the relative position of the sky-cycle.
|
|
|
Post by Ember on Mar 7, 2008 1:02:32 GMT -5
"Yes sir," Aideen said in her soft quiet voice. Of course, the obvious choice is to take the sky-cycle. She was surprised she overlooked that option, but after all the blood she saw and the pieces of the puzzle that they were able to put together shaking her a bit, she wasn't too surprised. Climbing gear was something she wasn't used to, but the again climbing down fire escapes from tall building and down the drain pipes didn't exactly involve climbing gear.
Aideen stood up gracefully and looked down at the black abyss once more before she turned and followed Cyclops back to the sky-cycle. At least with that there was a high beam light, and they could see easier. She was still a bit wary of it, but so far, other than that one time it bucked when they were rising to the air. Either way she stayed on though, she was trained on a horse by her uncle when she was younger and riding a racing bike took some sort of balance and ability to stay in the seat.
The snow was still falling lightly, but the flakes had gotten larger. Almost the size of her thumbnail. Aideen looked at her torch, which was surprisingly still burning brightly and didn't seem to be too affected. She made her way silently behind Cyclops to the sky-cycle, wondering and almost fearing what they would find at the bottom of the cliff.
|
|