In the Eye of the Storm" Ch. 11b

1. In the Storm's Wake, (Part 4-b) by Wolverine6Claws

Dated: 8/5/03

Ororo stilled as she held the small twig in her fingers. She found herself transfixed by the way Logan studied her. As she watched him quietly she could see his mind working fervently behind those striking blue eyes as he tried to figure her out.

Then his gaze dropped and he blinked a few times and the moment was gone. He shot her a quick glance then he began to move along the riverbank, hunched
over or on hands and feet, stopping every now and then to show her something.

Ororo followed a short distance behind him and spoke to him now and again. She knew at this point he couldn’t understand her language, but she hoped that sooner or later he would come to recognize the words she said.

At first, he would try to quiet her by placing his fingers over her mouth while she
was talking, but she would gently pull his hand away telling him that it was
okay. Then he’d move on and she would follow.

They spent the afternoon this way. Logan showed her the plants that were
safe to eat and showed her the best places to fish. Ororo watched him as he sat near the shore - as still as a statue with the claws of his right hand exposed. Then, with lightning speed he’d strike into the water, and as he followed through with a single sweeping motion, he’d toss the fish onto shore without even looking up.

Ororo relaxed nearby. She found him to be extremely entertaining to watch and she had to admit that she felt a little bit better knowing they would at least be able to have supper tonight.

He was teaching her the art of survival in his wilderness, and he not only accepted her presence within his territory but he was offering to share it with
her. The first crucial step had been accomplished - he trusted her. And the more comfortable she became interacting with him, the more relaxed he
became in turn.

As the afternoon drew on Logan began to gather brush and moss to make her
a place to bed down for the night. He was certainly capable enough to take care of himself, but he proved his inherent intelligence by recognizing that she was unaccustomed to this kind of living. He knew instinctively that she would need assistance to rest comfortably through the summer night’s chill.

After he finished making up her bedding he invited her to lie down. Ororo hesitated briefly as she wasn’t sure if he intended to join her in the makeshift ‘nest’.

But she couldn’t decline his hospitality, that would be rude. So she made her way over to the primitive bed and Logan watched her closely - with that serious scowl etched on his face - as she carefully climbed in.

Once she was in he proceeded to tuck her in, pulling the brush and warm moss up around her. Ororo was amazed that it was actually quite warm inside this
so-called nest. And she accepted his "gift" graciously, although her own powers would've served her well if she were to become uncomfortable during the night.

When she was all tucked in to his satisfaction, Logan moved a short distance away and curled up near the large rock to go to sleep. He seemed to be perfectly comfortable with lying out in the open, even wearing almost nothing, but she imagined that was the whole purpose for the thick soft hair that covered him from head to toe.

He wasn’t hirsute like Hank - who was covered with a thick animal-like pelt - but it was enough for him. Mother Nature had incredible ways of looking out for her
children, and she had endowed Logan with the abilities he needed to survive in the wilderness.

But, their Mother also seemed to have known that Logan would be born into a
society that didn’t readily accept that type of behavior. So she also gifted him
with a high level of intelligence, so he could make his way through a more civilized society, if that’s what was to be thrust upon him.

Ororo couldn’t help but think as she watched him, how much their Mother must
really favor Logan. He was her favorite son, and right from his first breath she'd
made sure to do her best to give him the tools that he would need to survive any challenge, any situation.

Ororo fell asleep watching him, and a few times throughout the night she woke to find him perched atop the rock, as if on guard duty… or perhaps just unable to stay asleep.

He just sat there quietly, staring across the river to the forest on the other side.
And she wondered if he knew that he wasn’t completely free.

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In the morning he woke her up with an offer of breakfast. He'd gone fishing,
and now he dropped four large trout on the ground beside her bed.

Rainbow trout.

Ororo thought how beautiful they were. Beautiful, yes except for the gaping holes now penetrating their sides. Logan crouched beside her looking at her, and she smiled sleepily at him.

Logan looked down at the trout that he'd flopped into the dirt beside the bed, as if making it clear that they were now hers to deal with, then he moved away.

‘Okay', Ororo thought to herself with a smile as she swept her hand across her sleep filled eyes, 'day two, begins'. She emerged from the timbered bedding, scooping up the fish and headed for the river.