Meeting a Legend (OPEN)

[LASERBIRD]

To the left.
To the right.
Right again.
Sharp left.

Shila did as she was told. Granted her own mind was ordering her but, it was how she trained. Her mind reacted quicker than her body. Always giving orders. She had her, oh-so-wonderful father to thank for that. Always drilling and training and ordering her when she was a child. When they had found out about her powers, her father suddenly took a keen interest in her. Stupid man, she thought, as she gritted her teeth and continued running and dodging.

She was in the forest, not too far from the SHIELD base. She walked over here, wearing long spandex pants that flared at the ankles. She had on a maroon tank top and black running shoes. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. She had wanted a change of scenery from the cold hollow halls of SHIELD. It was so quiet within the walls. She had yet to meet any of the many legends she had researched about.

Though, a thought popped in her head, I could have gone to the Resistance if I wanted company. True as that was, she didn't much care for The Resistance. Sure, SHIELD was their arm to use, but that was it. We use them for backup and information. Otherwise, the small base held no interest for her. The members were too loose in their fighting and not uniform. Nothing like SHIELD. SHIELD was what she had always searched for. A uniform, almost military-like, life. It was her nich.

Running through another group of trees, she saw a overhanging branch not too far ahead. Putting another burst of speed, she reached up and spun herself upon the branch. She landed, her knees in the air and almost sitting on the branch. Looking up, she saw a clear path to another slightly thicker branch. Squatting lower she launched herself into the air and caught the branch. She grunted slightly as she used all her upper strength to pull herself up. Sitting atop the new branch she let out a small sigh. I'm getting better, she thought with a malicious little smile to herself.

[sabertooth]

If you go down to the woods today...

He chuckled quietly to himself as he watched the girl from a distance as she dragged herself up her chosen tree in the gloom that had settled over the densely packed forest, the spandex of her suit doing nothing to hide the well defined body she hid underneath it. He watched her body tense as she steadied herself and balanced on the branch much like the creature in her codename. She looked almost more at home perched there on the branch than she had racing through the snow.

He knew who she was even without having met her, the other members of the team were known to him already, their scents and sounds part of his long history but she was something new...the odd one out as it were. There was something very interesting about her scent, mixed in there amongst the sweat, perfumes and various deoderants, something familiar that nagged at the back of his mind, something he couldn't place. But as with many things that ran through Creeds mind he chose to ignore it and savior the hunt.

It had been one of those rare days he had been allowed out of the compound unescorted to burn off some of that tension that rose when you kept a dangerous wild animal caged for to long, the fact that he could be tracked almost anywhere in the surrounding hundred miles by the low orbit satelite above the base was beside the point. Out here he was free to do as he pleased for a couple of hours...within reason of course...he knew for now they still held his leash.

The micro ear-piece squarked to life making him bare his fangs in a grimace, the sound breaking the silence he had been enjoying as the handlers issued him with an unusual order. His nostrils flared as he got the full scent of the woman ahead of him on the breeze, a grin spreading across his face.

The lump of snow shifted, chunks of white powder falling away from his motionless body as he stirred, his experienced eyes quickly picking out the best route to his new quarry, making the best use of the cover that the thick tree trunks and heavy snow drifts provided. His muscles tensed and relaxed a few times as he tested the air, all his senses kicking in as the blood began to rush round his body, excitement coursing through his veins.

Eerily silent for such a large creature he began to move slowly and deliberately, careful not to dislodge all of the snow from his hair and fur, knowing it provided excelent natural camoflage in the coming darkness...

[LASERBIRD]

Shila leaned against the trunk of the tree, her legs crossed Indian style beneath her on the branch. Leave no limbs hanging. They can be deadly. Another rule good ol' dad had drilled into her. He was always so demanding. And sadly...those were some of the only days they spent together. Her mother wasn't in her life too much. Oh sure, she cooked, cleaned, was a doting housewife. But nothing super imposing in her life. I got daddy issues, Shila thought with a grim smile and a roll of her eyes. Wonder what dear old dad would think of me if I told him I was working hand in hand with Wolverine she thought with a slight chuckle to herself. He'd probably disown me. Go on about how that bitch Jean would never turn her back on him.

She could feel the heat approaching. Despite the cold weather, she could feel it. It started in her head, it felt. Then slowly worked it's way right behind her eyes. Shila sat up straight, her legs hooking the supporting branch she was sitting in. She grabbed her temples, her palms sweaty. Her eyes were squeezed shut. She knew what was happening. Anytime anger, true anger, flared up within her, the lasers would start to come. She hated them. They were so hard to control for her. Whenever her thoughts trailed to The Phoenix. Jean Grey. Her middle namesake. A woman who had made her father insane and her mother depressed.

She shook her head slightly. Anger was hard to get rid of when it was mingled with such strong passion and hate. She shook her head again, slightly harder, which caused her to lose balance. She tipped off the side of the tree, catching herself on her hooked legs. She swung upside down slightly. She slowly let her arms drop from her temples, hanging and swinging with her body. Slowly, her eyes opened, adjusting to the white-ness before her as the heat left.

"I seriously need a ice bath" she said to the air around her. It was nice to hear nothing back. Being alone was one of the things she generally liked to do.

[sabertooth]

Creed crouched low and came to a stop in the deep snow, peering through the scrubs and fallen branches that littered the forest floor as the girl toppled backwards from the branch, catching herself at the last minute, her legs hooked round her perch leaving her hanging like something left out to dry. He watched in silence as she swung there for a few moments before letting her arms drop away from the side of her head, hanging under her, somewhat akin to a ragdoll.

The night was coming in fast, the thick snow covered trees creating a canopy high above them that blocked out the fading light and deepened the already gloomy shadows. His enhanced sight allowed him to pick out every detail ahead of him as he crept quietly closer, easing from tree to tree, decades of experience and training letting him pick his way through the snow drifts and foliage without so much as a whisper to close the distance between him and his prey.

Thats what she was now. Not a team mate or a training partner. the order had been simple. She was now prey, if she couldn't cut it here then she wouldn't be missed. With the odds stacked against them there was no room for a weak link. Viktor allowed himself a smile as he recalled those words coming through to him only a few minutes before. She was within a stones throw of him now...to far to lunge, but close enough catch her off guard.

He didn't know what she was capable of, or even who she actually was, to him she was going to be just one more bloody corpse in the snow. His hand dug into the snow around him, finding what he was looking for as his claws sunk into the thick bark of a heavy fallen branch. Without so much a grunt of exertion he heaved the great log out from under the snow and sent it racing towards the hanging figure.

As soon as the log was airborne he ducked away, moving swiftly through the undergrowth, circling round the soon to be fresh kill...hopefully the missile wouldn't kill her before he could have some fun...

[LASERBIRD]

Shila sighed again as she opened her eyes fully to the bright snow before her. Next thing she knew, a giant log was flying at her exposed body. She immediately un-hooked her legs and fell to the snowy ground, landing on her back. As soon as she felt the powdery cold on her back she rolled to the left, away from the tree, and the flying branch.

She stopped at a huge rock, jutting out of the ground. She lept up o the top of it, the cold not effecting her at the moment. She crouched low, still completely visible to her attacker.

Glancing left she saw more woods. Covered in snow. Nothing moved. Looking too the right was the tree she just left. Funny how as soon as she left herself hanging, she was attacked. Dad was right. Wow, she thought with a coy little smile.

It had been awhile since she had been through a real session. That's what she assumed it was at least. I mean, they were right ear the SHIELD base headquarters. They wouldn't have let a real threat go this far. She just had to find out who was behind this. She would get the best of them. People underestimated her. She was thin. She had muscle, but nothing super noticeable.

Looking up she noticed a low hanging branch. Leaping off the rock and into the white powder she ran towards the tree, her hands out, to grasp the branch.

She grabbed the branch with ease, using her feet to climb up the trunk and perch herself up the small branch. Looking up she could see a maze of branches up above.
I got this, she thought with anther smile as she stood up and hoisted herself up five more branches.

[sabertooth]

The heavy log, easily double the weight of the young blonde woman crashed against the tree where she had been only moments before, splintering the branch she had been perched on and sending it spinning off to the snow covered ground below. The sound of the log striking the trunk and branch echoed though the gloomy forest slowly dying, leaving them both once again in silence. The lack of any kind of scream or sound of pain from the target told him she had avoided his throw. He just smiled, it just meant more fun when he got his hands on her.

He slowed to a stop in the snow, partialy crouched under a stunted evergreen, the scent of its sap and pine needles filling his nostrils as he listened, his head tilted slightly to one side as he focused on the smallest sounds. There. To his left, the soft crunch of snow underfoot...she was running, away from him it seemed. He turned un her direction, creeping quietly, letting her footsteps guide him to her like a pulsing beacon.

Creed stopped. Something wasnt right. The sound of her footsteps had disapeared, simply vanished. Either she had stopped or...there it was...the creak of a tree, groaning under the extra weight of something that shouldn't be there, the barely audible sound of snow falling as she disturbed the twigs and leaves. His prey had taken to the trees it seemed.

He moved forwards cautiously, pausing behind a large trunk, his breath swirling around his lips as he moved his gaze over the scene ahead. In the failing light he could make out the fresh prints in the snow, his eyes picking out the place where she had launched herself into the trees from the way the snow was flattened and strewn about. She was agile and athletic he'd give her that, to have been able to reach the lowest branch of the tree she now made her home in.

It wasn't going to save her.

He could feel the rush of adrenline coursing through his blood now, his own heart beginning to race at the anticipation of the kill. He licked his lips as he watched her scale the tree, up into the smaller branches, branches that would never bear his weight. But he wasn't planning on climbing up after her.

Sabertooth burst from the undergrowth in a blur of fur and snow, covering the distance between him and the tree in a fractionof the time it would have taken a normal human. With an almost bear like roar he slammed into the base of the tree with the force of a speeding car, almost uprooting it in one go, his razor like claws sinking into the hard flesh of the trunk, threatening to tear of from the ground as he heaved, roots and wood beginning to splinter under his grip.

Oh no he wasn't going to go to her, she would be coming to him...

[LASERBIRD]

Shila peered through the leafy top of the tree. Looking for any movement or colour that would appear on the white canvas below. Not seeing anything she relaxed a little. Seconds later she was thrown against the trunk of the tree. Luckily she grabbed a branch in front of her as the hit took place.

Looking down she saw a animal ramming the trunk. Upon further inspection she immediately recognized the culprit. Saber tooth. There had been quite a file on him during her research. Her father had, had stories on him too. Nothing intense, but he had said that Creed was a very dangerous animal.

Alright, she thought, I can do this. Be stealthy. Animalistic. A wicked grin splayed itself across her face as she looked down at Creed again. She scurried herself up a few more branches as she looked across the forest.

Finally, she found what she was looking for, a high tree, with thicker branches. She knew his weakness. He was heavy. But he would get tired at some point. And there was no point in attacking him unless he delivered the first blow.

Breaking a few branches above her she backed herself up against the base of the tree. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and remembering all her gymnastic abilities she took ran, as well as she could on a branch, and leaped off of the end.

Free flying thought the air, she made her body as straight as possible as she grabbed for the next tree. Missing the branch she aimed for she tumbled through the branches, hearing the snaps, her arms burning slightly at all the scratches she could feel. She finally found her foot rest, a good seven feet off of the ground. Not high enough, she knew. She climbed up five more feet before immediately planting herself in case of another tree bum rush.

She closed her eyes and let her transformation begin. She could hear the bones growing thinner and smaller as her owl form took over. A minute passed as she was smaller and more frail looking, her clothing ill fitting and loose.

One more and she had feathers, her fingers dissipating. A few seconds later and her shirt, pants, shoes ad undergarments fluttered to the ground. She perched on the branch, her head cocked as she moved closer to the edge, awaiting movement from the beast below.

[sabertooth]

He growled as he looked up, watching her keep her hold on the branches, a glint of recognition and fear in her eyes as she realised who was waiting below her. He let out a laugh as he heaved against the trunk again, making it groan and shudder as the roots began to snap and tear up from the ground. He pulled again, his claws sinking in deep into the tree, tearing chunks out of it as his hand slipped before finding purchase again.

With an agonising creak the trunk split under the vice like grip of its attacker, splintering and showering the ground with shards of wood. Creed looked up as the tree began to topple, falling to one side and coming to rest leaning against another nearby, still mostly upright, the dense network of branches keeping it partialy standing. He snarled up into the branches as he realised she wasn't there anymore, catching a glimpse of her ahead, falling through the branches.

He leapt with the intention of tackling her to the ground, but at the last moment she caught herself, climbing higher, out of his arc, leaving him to crash through the branch her feet had been resting on, tumbling to the ground and rolling, coming to land back on his feet, kicking up snow as he spun to face her. Something wet trickled down his face, dripping off his chin onto the fur of his jacket. Slowly, his finger ran across the wound, feeling it seal under his inspection, a simple scratch and nothing more. He wiped the blood on his sleeve, his head cocked to one side as he watched her, wondering what was happening as she seemed to begin to waste away.

To late he realised what was happening, letting out a roar of fustration when he saw the clothes fluttering to the ground. In her place sat a pristine white snow owl, watching him as he watched her.

"Is that it?"

He started to laugh, a deep booming sound that seemed to vibrate round the forest and sent animals surrying for their burrows,

"IS THAT IT?!"

He roared up at her. Creed walked slowly round the base of the tree, his amber eyes never leaving her new form, his claws dragging idly across the rough bark, gouging out four deep clean lines, snarling and snapping his teeth at her up in the branches.

"This is the best they could find? Its pathetic..."

He spat out the words, all the while planning his next move...

[LASERBIRD]

Shila shook herself as the owl. She loved this body. It was free and small. And she blended rather well with the current background. Perching at the end of the branch she heard Sabertooth laugh. Cocking her head uncomfortably her eyes drifted downward as she saw him circle. Yelling words and being brutish. She managed an eye roll in the owl head. Dad wasn't kidding. This guy is an animal.

She jumped lightly off the end of the branch, opening her wings and soared through the air in a small arc, keeping an eye on the raging animal below. Looking for an open air of attack she couldn't see one. She knew his senses were probably on a high. Hearing everything she did, and no doubt the owl would give off a scent.

Circling slightly lower, a plan started forming. If she managed to get low enough perhaps he would launch at her. She had the talons. They rivaled his claws in sharpness and strength she knew that. It was her wings she had to worry about.

Well I suppose it's worth some sort of shot. I don't see him giving up anytime soon, she thought grimly as she dived straight for him, careful to keep to the side and out of the way of his dangerous hands. Her talons were at a ready, her eyes blazing as she felt the rush of cool air all around her small body.

[sabertooth]

He couldn't help but chuckle as he saw the large owl perched on one of the higher branches out of his reach for now. Creed had circled the tree a number of times now, deep tracks gouged into the hard bark where his fingers had trailed, slicing out ribbons of wood like a plane running along a plank. He growled up at he like a fustrated tiger pacing its cage as she sat there and shook her feathers, that giant head turning to follow him below.

He crouched and scooped up a ball of snow, bunching it in one hand and launching it up into the trees towards her, bursting against the trunk, a bemused smile on his lips. They were wasting his time and their own, she wasn't even worth the effort anymore if that was all she could do. What use would she be on a mission.

Viktor began to turn away, his nostrils flaring out again as the wind shifted, letting him pick up the scent of something in the distance, something more interesting than a bird in a tree, something that smelled like...fuel...petrol, engine fumes...leather...and alcohol. He grinned. A biker bar of some kind. He licked his lips, his clawed hands flexing, they wouldn't be much of a fight, but at least they would fight instead of running away. He began to walk from the base of the tree, his head turning sharply as he heard the rustle of feathers as she took flight and falling snow from the branch striking the ground.

To late he reacted to her diving attack, the snow owls talons raking across the side of his face as she swooped past, tearing strips of flesh from his eyebrow and cheek, puncturing his eyeball and tearing it to pieces in its socket. He roared in pain and slashed at her wildly with one hand, the other up covering his ruined socket, his depth perception out of phase for the moment with the use of only one eye, blood streaming down his face even as the flesh and skin began to knit together, his eyelid swollen shut for just a few seconds longer than it took the bleeding to stop.

Still screaming and cursing he lower his hand slowly, both eyes open again, the last trace of the tear in his eyeball disapearing as he scanned the dark forest. Owls were silent creatures, almost undetectable in flight and even Sabertooth was having a hard time pinpointing her in amongst the sounds of the forest...but every animal had a scent...and she had passed closed enough to his face for it to have filled his keen nostrils.

The big hunter crouched low, sniffing the air, testing it before bounding off in the direction she had gone.

He was going to rip her little wings...and then he was really going to hurt her...

[LASERBIRD]

Shila realized she was in serious danger halfway through her flight attack. Her fears were slightly quelled as she felt her talons catch on fur and flesh. As she was still flying she felt what she was sure was an eyeball. Releasing the talon she landed in the snow, turning quickly as she saw the wound heal rather quickly. Oooo, that has got to hurt, she thought with grim satisfaction.

Unfortunately that satisfaction was short lived as she saw the eye heal completely up. Well, she had his attention now. No use in letting slip away. She struck down low in the ground, making sure not to let herself get too cocky due to her previous strike.

Sinking lower to the ground she narrowed her round oval eyes, keeping an eye on the massive beast before her. He seemed to be looking for her. No use keeping him waiting, she thought with a deep smile in her head.

Opening her owl beak she let loose a powerful screech as only a Canadian Snowy Owl could. Beating her wings up high she left the ground, circling dangerously close to Sabertooth, eying him carefully.

[sabertooth]

She was close. The scent of the oil on her feathers filled his nostrils, as did the coppery smell of his own blood on her talons. His eyes flicked this way and that in the gloom as he sniffed, drawing in even the tiniest particle that would tell him she was nearby. There. Not far ahead, the soft crunch of snow under the foot of something ever so light, the smell of rich, fresh blood told him that she was ahead of him now. No more playing games, no more toying with her, she was dead when he got his hands on her.

His snarling continued as he crashed through bushes, and slashed his claws along the trunks of trees as he went, all thoughts of stealth were gone from his mind as his blood pumped through his veins, driven by the need to kill something now. He burst through the undergrowth, the owl screeched loud, just out of his grasp again as it took to the air, flapping around him. Creed bared his fangs, snapping at the bird as they circled each other, avoiding him as he dived and leapt at it, dropping just out of reach everytime.

"Your daddy isn't here to save you now girlie. No ones going to miss you after i tear that sweet little head from your shoulders"

His voice was cold and cruel, the threats very real, his amber eyes gleeming in the growing darkness. He had watched her long enough, he knew there were limits to what she could do. He circled, feinting this way and that till he had her where he wanted her. He leapt, slashing at her with his left arm, swinging wildly, missing as she ducked to the side again. Right where he wanted her.

Landing with his back to her, his left hand in the snow, his right round the trunk of a little sapling. Sabertooth spun quickly in a crouch throwing up the handfull of powdery snow with his left hand, the motion adding momentum to his turn, with grunt he tore the young sapling, roots and all, from the ground and swung it in a wide arc, the branches turning it into a cross between overgrown fly swatter and a bat...

[LASERBIRD]

Shila considered herself lucky as Sabertooth came tearing at her with a vengeance. She quickly made her way in the air above him, circling him overhead. Dodging his enraged jumps at her. In a humorous way she almost wished she could stick her tongue out at him.

When he yelled at her, she allowed an owl eye roll. Really? Stupid animal. 'Daddy' would never save me, idiot mongrel, she thought angrily, wishing she could yell that out right now. Dad wouldn't even save mom if he had the chance to. No, it would be Jean. Dear Jean. Sweet Jean, Shila thought angrily as she felt the heat, even now in the owl form.

This left her distracted and she wavered in her flight as she tried to calm down. Her flight lowered her as she gained control of her brain. Too little too late and a tree came crashing over her. Trapping her like a net. Her bird instincts took over as she started flailing wildely and hooting crazily. She had an internal struggle with the bird brain and her human self.

She cast a terrified up above her, expecting to see Sabertooth land on top of her, crushing her. It wouldn't kill her, but would seriously damage the owl form. Finally taking over the bird brain she convinced herself of what to do.

[sabertooth]

The big man smiled with grim satisfaction as the braches of the tree caught the owl in flight and slammed it into the ground trapping it in the snow. She was still green. The young girl had been manipulated into a situation out of her control, without back-up, and without a means to escape. He could help but smile, his teeth flashing as he observed the struggling bird, sqreeching and flapping under the leaves and branches of the improvised net.

"All to easy little girl"

He stepped forward, his foot coming down heavily on the trunk of the tree, applying pressure to the trapped creature as he bent low, his clawed hand reaching through the branches, ignoring the pain that registered as hooked talons and a sharp beak tried their best to fend him off. His ear piece burst to life, making him draw back a little in surprise, a snarl on his lips,

"Sabertooth stand down"

His hand stretched towards the struggling owl again, his eyes meeting its own,

"Dammit Creed thats an order, the exercise is terminated"

Adamantium laced nails stroked lightly against the belly of the owl as it fought to free itself from beneath the tree, his weight holding it in place. He could already hear the choppers winding up in the distance, the sound carried out across the forest on the wind. He touched the throat mic built into his outfit with his other hand, activating it,

"Think you can get here fast enough to save her? Your welcome to try boys...shall i save you a piece?"

He flexed his fingers, his hand moving quickly, grabbing hold of one of the owls flapping wings, restraining it in his hand, squeezing, feeling the bones beginning to strain under the pressure of his grip. He tightened his hand on the wing in his grasp, his fingers closing with crushing force round the fragile bones of the bird...

[LASERBIRD]

Shila could hear the ear com piece in her owl form. It was a test? she thought crazily. A sick form of entertainment from the head no doubt she thought angrily as Sabertooth stepped on the trunk of the tree. She could feel the pressure, her owl side scared to the max.

It's fear was heightened twice old as he reached into the branches, attempting to grab her. She stabbed and ripped at the fur claw with her talons and beak, but to no avail it seemed. She squirmed, terrified, as he stroked her feathery belly. Almost toying with her. It scared her owl half, it pissed her off.

Before she knew it, she was in the air again, being held by Sabertooth, more and more pressure being put on her wing. She had to do something, fast. Or else her owl form would be useless for months.

She quickly let her human form take over, quickening the change. It would be much harder to break human bones over a bird's. Before she knew it, she was naked, in the snow and in the grasp of Sabertooth.

"Sorry, don't think I'm your type" she said as she delivered a side kick to his face, attempting to wriggle free of his grasp.