To Catch a Fox

Authors Note/Disclaimer:
I do not own the X Men or the fictional universe they live in. This is a work of fan fiction. I’m just borrowing them for my own amusement and yours. I am making no money from this.

Please tell me what you think by posting a review or emailing me at ginevrasn@yahoo.com. Put AFF in the subject line if you do so, so I don’t delete it by mistake. I do not have a beta to proof for me, so don’t be shy.

Warnings: There will be some M/F sex in later chapters. There will also be some violence and a smattering of profanity. There is some nudity and sexual tension in this chapter.


Chapter Two: Shelter

They seemed to travel for hours before Kit stopped at another tree, peeling off one glove to touch the bark with questing fingers. She still carried two packs with no sign of tiring. She dropped them at the foot of the tree. The sunlight was beginning to fade around them.

“We’re getting close.”

“How do we know you aren’t lost?” Scott was fed up with her secrecy and the grueling pace.

“Not possible. Not here.” She went to Logan who was settling the shivering Cajun onto a fallen log. “How’s he doing?” She touched his face with a bare hand and frowned at how cold it felt. Remy seemed barely aware of their presence.

“Not good.” Logan rumbled. “No body fat, the heat just leaches right out of him.” Kit nodded.

“Wait here.” She stripped off her parka and draped it around Remy’s shoulders.

“Ain’t you cold, kid?”

“I’ll be fine.” She strode back over to the tree and snatched up the two packs and set off at a jog into the growing gloom.

Logan dug into his pack and pulled out another thermal blanket to wrap around Remy and suggested Scott do the same for Jean. She’d become quieter and quieter and they could hear her teeth chattering. Scott did as he suggested and they waited nervously for Kit’s return.

About a half hour later they heard something scraping along the path Kit had taken. A few seconds later she came jogging out of the gloom towing a sled behind her. She pulled it around before shrugging out of the rope harness.

“Load him up. Bundle him with whatever you got handy. It’s almost dark.”

Scott and Logan hurried to move the shivering man into the sled. They dug in their packs for their bedding, using it to wrap him up warmly. Kit let Logan take her place in the harness and she pulled on her parka at Scott’s insistence. She took Logan’s pack from him and led them down the trail and into the growing gloom.

Even with the aid of a flashlight, Scott and Jean were stumbling by the time Kit called a halt. They’d reached a stone outcropping and she flicked on a flashlight to pick out a break in the stone, just large enough for a man to pass through if he ducked his head. A faint mist could be seen around the opening as the light played across it.

“Here it is. We’ll stay here tonight. We can light a fire inside and there’s a hot spring behind the den.” Kit ducked through the opening and shone the light for them as they filed in.

The air inside was noticeably warmer and moisture hung in the air. The interior was relatively large, though the ceiling was low, forcing Scott to duck his head. A pile of foodstuffs and other supplies lay discarded against the left wall. Kit had dropped the two packs next to the pile of supplies. A neat stack of firewood was found along the right wall. Near the center was a soot-blackened fire pit lined with stones and at the rear was another, somewhat smaller break in the stone walls. The floor was bare stone scattered with a few bits of leaves and other debris. There was enough room for Logan to pull the sled completely inside before pulling off the harness.

Kit busied herself with digging in the pile of supplies until she located a bundle of candles and some waterproof matches. She quickly lit several candles, fixing them in small hollows along the edges of the walls.

“Can you start a fire Logan?”

“On it.”

Kit carried the bundle of candles as she slipped through the rear opening. Soon a faint light flickered through the opening. She returned and checked on Remy, who was still resting in the sled. She shook him to make sure he was conscious.

“Hey! You still with us?”

“Oui.”

“Help me get him in the next room.” Remy began to stir as Kit pulled the blankets away. He tried clumsily to cooperate with Scott’s efforts to help him walk. He was still shivering uncontrollably when they eased him through the narrow opening.

Inside was a smaller chamber. This one was dominated by a deep depression dug into the stone by the flow of water that came steaming up from the earth. Here the air was heavy with moisture and it was almost warm.

Along one wall was a series of shelves mounted in the stone stocked with what looked like vacuum sealed towels. Another trickle of water flowed from a crack at the back of the chamber and ran into a smaller basin. The two pools were separated by a small wooden floodgate. The excess water from the larger pool flowed away through a crevice along the far wall. Kit took down two of the sealed bags and opened them with her pocket knife, pulling out a small stack of towels that she placed near the pool.

“Help him get undressed.” Kit started shedding her clothes, piling them on one of the shelves. Unclothed she looked even smaller and younger than before. “The air’s too wet for anything to dry here. Everything comes off.”

“You can’t just dump him in hot water.”

Remy’s hands were still shaking and after watching him fumble for a moment, Scott took over the task. The Cajun’s skin was pale and cold to the touch.

“It’s not as hot as it looks, besides, that’s what this is for.” Now dressed only in bra and panties, the girl knelt beside the smaller basin and opened the floodgate. She dipped a hand in the water to check the temperature before rising and closing the gate. She picked up Remy’s discarded clothing and piled it on the shelf next to hers.

Kit quickly shed her remaining garments and slipped into the water, motioning Scott to help the now nude Remy into the pool. She braced herself against the edge and reached out to support the shaking man as he slid into the water. She wrapped her arms around him and held him steady, keeping as much of his body submerged as possible. Remy floated stiffly, unable to feel the warmth of the water around him.

“Relax. I’ve got you.” She looked up at Scott who was scowling. He looked like he wanted to object, but he just turned to leave. “Scott?” He stopped and turned his head. “Somebody should fix a hot meal.”

“I’ll get right on that.”

“I think he’s pissed at me.” Kit muttered.

“Oui.” Remy’s shaking was slowly subsiding as he floated in the gradually warming water. The heat slowly seeped into his body and he was able to feel Kit’s warm body next to his. She shifted around until she could reach the floodgate and used it to adjust the temperature without letting him go. They were silent for a long time, listening to the sounds of their companions setting the outer room to rights.

“I’m sorry. I should have checked everyone more closely.” Kit murmured in his ear.

“Remy de fool. Not you, hmm?” As the warmth returned, so did some of his energy.

“It’s my responsibility, bringing you all out here.” So close to her, he couldn’t help but sense her guilt and worry.

“We all grown men…and women.” He let his feet sink to the bottom and tried to stand. Kit released him reluctantly. He turned to face her, resting his arm along the edge of the pool for support, letting the water rise to his shoulders. “Dere are easier ways to get Remy out ‘o his clothes.”

“I’m sure.” Kit skimmed around him to reach for the floodgate again; the water had begun to heat up too much. Remy trailed a lazy hand along her arm as she passed. She ignored the touch.

“The men at the bar tell strange tales about de ‘Wylde Woman.’”

“Do I seem that wild to you?”

“Remy see somethin’ dere.” He reached out to touch her hair, holding a lock across his fingers where the color faded from red to white.

“It always fades out this time of year. In a few days it will be snow white.” Kit closed the floodgate again and pulled her hair free.

“How long we stay here?” Remy moved closer to her. Now that he was acting more like himself, she seemed shy. She fidgeted nervously as he studied her with his strange eyes.

“Just tonight.” She glanced at the flickering firelight coming from the other room. “I need to get you all to the cabin before the full moon. This detour has probably set us back half a day.”

“Why de full moon?” When she didn’t answer right away, he moved closer still until she was backed against the floodgate. She avoided his gaze. “Why?”

“The…the people of the forest…are unpredictable then. More aggressive, less…reasonable. More territorial. This first moon of the season will likely be the worst.” Remy leaned closer, enjoying her discomfort as she tried to distance herself from him.

“Ah.” He glanced toward the cave entrance, watching the shadows for a moment. “Dey said Winter Moon came from de forest. Dat she was already wit’ child and was wild as a cat when your papa brought her home.”

“That much is true.” Kit’s eyes were wide and dark. Her tone was cautious. She’d given up trying to run for the moment and she let one hand rest lightly on his chest.

“Where your mama, now?”

“She returned to the forest two years after Papa died.”

“Dey said she dead.”

“They lied.” Kit ducked under the water and slipped away from him. When she reached the other side of the pool, she stood and pushed her wet hair behind her ears. “She went home.”

“Where would dat be?” Remy turned to face her.

“Out there.” Kit spread her fingers wide and gestured toward the mouth of the cave. “Somewhere.” She moved quickly and crossed the pool to pull herself out.

“I think we’ve soaked long enough.” She wrapped a towel around herself and held a second for him. “You seem to be feeling much better.”

“Oui.” Sensing that he’d pushed as far as he could for now. Remy dropped the subject and concentrated on getting himself dry.

By the time Kit led Remy out of the bathing chamber, the others were settled around the fire, eating a hot meal and sipping warmed cider. Kit’s eyes scanned over them all, checking to see that they were well. Jean’s color was better and she no longer shivered. Remy immediately spotted his pack and dug into it pulling out the still unopened thermal underwear.

Logan started to offer Kit a plate, but she walked past him and stood at the entrance of the cave, one hand resting on the stone. She pushed a strand of still damp hair behind one ear as she gazed out into the darkness. She was in her stocking feet and long johns, seemingly unconcerned with the cold. She cocked her head to listen to something outside.

“What do you hear, Kit?” Logan asked her quietly. She answered without looking behind her.

“The people of the forest call to one another.” She turned her head slightly at some sound no one else save Logan could hear. “A female to the east calls for her mate.” She turned her head again, eyes closed. “He answers from the south, he must pass through another’s territory, but he comes.”

“Bullshit.” Scott snorted. Kit turned, looking over her shoulder, her look fey. Her golden brown eyes flickered in the light, making them seem slitted like a cat’s. She turned back to the night as they all heard another eerie shriek like the ones they heard earlier, this one far away.

“Two bachelors from the west boast of themselves. How fast, how strong, how clever they are.” Her tone was derisive. Another call sounded, much closer this time. “The young one, this is his territory. He answers them. He is barely old enough to be on his own, and they challenge his borders. He is anxious.” Her tone was gentler.

She was silent for a long moment as she listened to the night. Remy finished dressing and joined the circle, wrapping a blanket around himself and accepting a plate of food from Jean. He watched the girl as he ate slowly.

“You’ll catch your death of cold, come back to the fire.” Scott scolded her. Logan scowled at the interruption, his gaze also intent on the night outside.

“The bachelors call again.” She raised a hand for silence, her stance tense.

“Will you answer them?” Logan asked so quietly, Remy wasn’t certain anyone was meant to hear, but Kit answered him anyway.

“Not tonight.” She dropped her hand from the stone and turned around. At last she seemed to feel the cold and she rubbed her hands along her arms. She shivered briefly as her eyes sought out Remy, her look still fey.

“Aren’t you cold, cher?” Remy lifted the edge of his blanket in invitation. Kit nodded and moved to sit next to him, allowing him to wrap the blanket around her shoulders. When he wrapped an arm around her shoulder she let him pull her close, ignoring Scott’s scowl of disapproval. He accepted Kit’s plate from Logan and pressed it on her. She ate silently, her eyes focused on the plate in her lap. Everyone fell silent as fatigue set in.

“You can’t really tell what they are saying can you, Kit?” Jean asked curiously. Remy felt her body tense beside him as she considered the question.

“They speak. Sometimes I answer them.” She set aside her now empty plate. “Mostly I just listen.”

She looked at Jean and smiled. Her strange mood seemed to have passed. “Why don’t you folks try the spring? It’ll probably be last chance you have for a good hot soak this winter.”

Remy watched the couple leave and Logan began to clear the remains of their meal. He pulled Kit a little closer, wondering at how tiny she seemed. She was blinking slowly at the fire now and settled her head against his shoulder with a sigh.

“Tired little fox?”

“Hmm?” She rubbed her cheek against his shirt.

“They think I take advantage.” He rubbed his chin across the top of her head, enjoying the silky feel and the warmth of her body next to his. Logan was carefully ignoring them as he moved about checking the fire and sorting through supplies.

“Not yet.” She tilted her head to look up at him. Something in her eyes made him forget what he had intended to say. She yawned tiredly and dropped her gaze back to the fire.

“Don’ worry. Remy not up to taking advantage of anything tonight.” He stifled his own yawn, letting his mind drift. Soon the girl was snoring softly. He was nearly asleep himself when Logan nudged him.

“May as well turn in, Gumbo.”

“An excellent suggestion, mon ami.” His friends had already laid out the bedding while he had been soaking in the spring. He gently moved the girl to the pile of bedding and stretched out beside her, pulling a sleeping bag over them. The girl immediately curled up against him without waking.

By the time Jean and Scott finished making use of the spring, Logan had disposed of the remains of their meal. Now he was settled with his back to the fire, listening to the night. Kit and Remy were curled up together, sleeping soundly. Scott scowled at the pair.

“Leave it be, Slim.” Logan spoke without turning around.

“What about Rogue?”

“She’s not here.” Logan took a deep breath through his nose. “Best Kit’s got a reason to stick around, I’m thinking.”

“What do you mean, Logan?” Jean sat closer, looking carefully at the sleeping girl, reaching out to touch her mind. She was sleeping deeply.

“I met her mother, fifteen years ago. Winter Moon wasn’t like most women. Not sure she was a woman at all. I think she was one of them.” Logan gestured at the darkness outside. “Kit’s changing. Her smell is changing.” He tapped his nose.

“These ‘bachelors’…are calling for her?” Jean’s brows furrowed in concern.

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“Superstitious crap.” Scott scoffed, sitting next to Jean.

“We all know Rahne. We’ve seen other shape shifters. It’s not so farfetched that they might choose to live out here.”

“Then why risk exposure by bringing us along?” Jean snuggled closer to Scott as she watched the sleeping girl shift position.

“When I approached her and her partner, they had some sort of argument. I think he backed out on her. I’d say Gumbo there is plan B.”

“She didn’t strike me as so calculating.” Jean shook her head.

“I’m not saying it was a conscious decision.”

“What the hell are you getting at Logan?” Scott scowled at him impatiently.

“I’m saying let nature take its course.” He turned and gestured for silence.

“The youngster is trying to work up the nerve to take the plate I left for him. I can smell him.” Logan whispered.