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.

I'm still doing final edits on the remaining chapters. I will be posting them as soon as they are ready. I am always open to reader suggestions and comments.

Warnings: None for this chapter. More sex, some violence and a little profanity in later chapters.

Chapter Five: The Cabin

“Where is she?”

Logan awoke to the fox-girl’s angry glare. She crouched next to him and he could see her bared teeth in the dim light. She leaned closer and sniffed, then growled.

“Now hold it there, darlin’.” He sat up cautiously. “She ain’t here.”

“She marked you.” The statement was an accusation. He could hear the others beginning to stir at the sound of their voices.

“Back off, kid. You got no reason to gripe, I’m thinking.’” He nodded at Remy’s sleeping form. “Besides, your momma left you a present.” Kit’s eyes narrowed as he reached slowly to pull the bundle from its niche. He handed it to her cautiously.

“I can see why she didn’t stick around to do it herself.” He commented dryly as he watched her examine the bundle. She retreated to the pallet she shared with Remy and opened it carefully.

“What’s going on?” Jean sat up and yawned sleepily.

“We had a visitor last night. Left sommat for Kit.”

He watched as the fox girl unfolded the bundle’s contents. The outer covering proved to be a furred wrap and inside were a pair of soft cured hide trousers, a matching tunic, and a pair soft hide boots. Each piece was bleached white and the boots and tunic both bore beaded embroidery, also white.

“They’re beautiful, Kit.” Jean whispered appreciatively, only to receive a hostile glare from the fox-girl.

Kit examined each piece carefully before trying them on. Before lacing her boots, she shifted back to human form. In the dim light they could see her hair had bleached completely, even her lashes and brows were snowy against her dark skin. She ran curious fingers over the embroidery and pulled the wrap over her shoulders to stroke the fur.

Jean shook Scott awake as she watched the girl.

“What?”

“Time to get up.”

Remy stirred and Kit’s attention shifted to him. He looked puzzled as he took in her changed appearance and reached out to touch her hair. He ran a lock of the snowy stuff through his long fingers slowly.

“You look de proper Winter Fox, now.”

Logan cleared his throat and gave them a carefully edited version of Winter Moon’s appearance. Kit shot him several pointed glances, but didn’t speak. Instead she busied herself with repacking their things and assembling a quick meal from supplies she found in the niches. She pointedly avoided both Logan and Jean as she moved about the confined space. Remy followed her lead and spoke little as they ate and prepared to leave.

“Kit.” Scott hadn’t forgotten the talk that had been postponed. “We need to know what’s going on, here.”

“I don’t understand all of it myself.” She crouched next to Remy to double check his pack. Remy placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her an encouraging look. The look she returned was thoughtful.

“My mother was…is…one of them. A Winter Fox.” She ran a hand over the embroidery on her tunic. “Reynard, my father, was a Wylde. We Wyldes have always had a … a bond … with the people of the forest. He claimed to be descended from them.” She fell silent for a long moment. Kit set Remy’s pack aside and sat next to him, close enough that her knee touched his thigh.

“I go into the forest every winter, as my father did before me. His father and his uncle did the same, as did their mother. So on and so forth. It isn’t a tradition, its…a drive…something instinctive. For that time, we are…like them.”

“You change.” Logan prompted. Kit nodded slowly. She seemed to be searching for words.

“My father could become the fox, but only during this time, or if there was some sort of danger. Mother could do it any time and so can I.”

“What’s so special about this time of year?” Scott was struggling to put aside his skepticism. Kit licked her lips and hesitated to answer.

“Dis is de season to take a mate, non?” Remy answered for her and she looked away.

“For some of them…us…they…we…don’t all cycle each year. This has never happened before, for me.” Kit looked extremely uncomfortable and at the moment, very human. “This is a sensitive time – the worst possible time for the outside world to discover us.”

“Then why did you bring us here?” Scott pressed further.

“I think there are some things my mother didn’t explain before she left.” Kit looked down and studied her hands.

“What she means is…” Logan leaned forward. “She was runnin’ on instinct.”

“Something like that.” Kit mumbled, still looking at her hands. Remy wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.

“Little fox brought her own date to de party. Only problem is, he didn’ come alone.” Remy pulled the girl into his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist possessively, burying his face in her hair. The girl covered his hands with her own and closed her eyes.

“You can’t be serious!” Scott glanced at each of his companions. “What about Rogue? What about your wife!” Jean’s brow furrowed in concern but Logan nodded solemnly.

“Wife?” Kit stiffened. Remy could feel her anger wash over him and paled at its primal nature. He could see the image of her teeth at his throat, could almost feel their phantom presence.

“A long story, cher.” He reached through the growing bond between them to soothe her anger. He glared at Scott.

“Dis is not the time or de place.”

He closed his eyes and pulled the girl’s stiff body closer. He had heard her earlier confrontation with Logan, had felt her rage at the idea of another female coming so close. Scott’s revelation had come close to bringing her to the breaking point.

“Remy promise to explain later, in private.” He murmured in her ear. She tried to pull away but he held her tightly, murmuring reassurances in French until she began to relax.

“Drop it Summers.” Logan raised a hand as Scott opened his mouth to protest.

“Scott.” Jean touched Scott’s arm and gave him that look – the one their teammates knew meant she was using her telepathy to speak with him privately. Scott scowled behind his red lenses, but he held silent.

“We should get moving.”

Logan suited actions to words and quickly repacked his things. By the time he was finished, Scott and Jean had finished their silent argument. When Remy finally released the girl she shifted immediately into her fox form and slipped outside. Her mother’s gifts shifted with her and Logan wondered idly how it was done. He doubted the girl knew, or she wouldn’t have had to shuck her clothes the day before.

Soon everything was loaded onto the sled and Kit waited impatiently for Logan to adjust her harness. Then they were off again on their grueling march. Periodically, Logan roamed ahead to check the trail. Twice he saw rather than heard the foxes who led them. Once, at a fork in the trail, he saw an old man who pointed down the right hand fork before stepping behind a tree and vanishing.

Shortly after noon, they were led to another den, this one above ground and smaller. Warm tea, roast rabbit, and some sort of flat bread waited for them. The floor here was bare earth and the walls were smooth. Kit remained outside and would not allow Remy to coax her inside. Finally, he gave up and joined the others.

“Where’s Kit?” Logan looked at him sharply.

“She still mad.” Remy answered him, shooting a glare at Scott. “You don’ got de right to meddle in my affairs.”

“What right do you have to fuck around with these women’s lives? She’s hardly more than a kid! And so is Rogue. Maybe your wife doesn’t care, but we all know Rogue does.”

“Dis none of your business.”

“It’s too late anyway, Slim.” Logan reached for another piece of bread. “She marked him ‘fore we ever left town. Otherwise we’d never got to that first fork in the trail.” He took a large bite of the bread and chewed thoughtfully. “Probably didn’t know what she was doin,’ but that don’t change nothin.’”

“Marked him?” Jean asked, placing a restraining hand on Scott’s chest as he inhaled in preparation for another tirade.

“When she kiss me.” Remy grimaced as he sipped the herbal tea, wishing it was something stronger. “Remy, don’ know what he did, until it too late.”

“Shit.” Scott let out his breath slowly and concentrated on his meal for several long moments. The others ate silently and warmed themselves at the fire. Then he grabbed the plate of food and mug of tea Logan had reserved for the absent Kit and started to head outside.

“Don’t think that’s a good idea, Summers.” Logan cautioned him. “Let Gumbo do it.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Scott called over his shoulder as he exited the den. He blinked at the white on white landscape. The fox was no longer tethered to the sled. He looked around for a tense moment before he spotted Kit’s white clad form resting against a tree. Her face was expressionless as she watched him approach.

“You should eat something.” He offered her the plate and mug. When she made no move to take it, he frowned. “Kit, I know you’re angry…”

“You should see to your own mate.” Her voice was low and her expression never changed. “The weather is changing and it will be getting colder.”

“My…” Scott paused, considering his words carefully. “How much farther is it?”

“If we can keep up this pace, we should get there just before dark.” Kit’s eyes rose to study the sky through the trees, briefly. Her eyes returned to him and she reached for the mug of tea.

“Remy thinks I’m meddling.”

“We are all slaves to our genes.” She sipped at the tea studying him over the edge of the mug.

“Kit…”

“Remy is right. You are meddling.” Something about her gaze was disturbingly direct. He shuffled awkwardly. She reached for the plate. “But, you mean well. Go…See to your mate and send me mine. It’s best I keep my distance from her now.”

“All right…” Scott recognized a dismissal when he heard one and left her alone, returning to the others.

“She wants you, Remy.” He watched the Cajun leave the fire reluctantly to brave the cold. Then Scott busied himself with making sure Jean was well bundled for the trip.


“You don’ want to come sit by de fire?” Remy approached her with what he hoped was a charming smile. The look in her slitted eyes was strange and hard to read. The emotions that rolled off of her were at odds with her calm expression. She was still angry and confused, a little hurt, but beneath it all wound a powerful coil of lust.

“No. I don’t trust myself right now.” She sipped at the mug of tea and grimaced when she found it empty. Her empty plate already sat on top of the sled.

“You still angry wit’ Remy.” He drew closer to her, moving cautiously.

“This was supposed to be someone else.” She turned over the mug and shook it dry then sidestepped him to place it next to the plate. “I don’t know you.”

“We got all winter for dat.” He reached a hand to take her elbow. “You be sick o’ dis Cajun by spring.” He pulled her closer, reaching to push a lock of hair from her face.

“You’re married…It doesn’t matter to me now…” She ducked his attempt to kiss her. “But it will.”

“If it not Remy…Who would it be den?” She was pulling away from him, but he wouldn’t let go. “One o’ dem ‘bachelors?’ You know dem any better?”

“No…The only one I know well at all is Gray Mantle. The fox at the spring…I remember when we used to play tail and chase when we were younger.”

“He only a boy…” He leaned close again to brush his lips across her forehead, brushing her mind with the gentlest trace of his charm. They needed her…and this was at least partly his fault.

“We’re not so far apart in age…” Her tone was softening and her body was beginning to yield. “If he were just a little older…”

“You a woman grown, you need a man…” This time she didn’t pull away from his kiss. Her response was fierce and the surge of lust that came with it nearly blinded him. He pulled back with great effort. He could hear the others emerging from the den. It was time to go.


Too soon they were on the move again. The girl was right about the weather turning colder. The trek had become a misery of dragging cold-numbed feet along a trail that seemed go on forever. Remy could feel the fox-girl’s fatigue along with his own, though she gave no sign besides slowing a little as the sun began to set.

“How much farther?” Scott panted as he pushed himself to march beside the fox’s head. The only answer he got was a short whine from the creature. Then she stumbled, causing the sled to catch her hind paw and she yelped in pain.

“Mebbe I oughta do the draggin’ for a bit.” Logan moved to reach for the harness but she snapped at him, teeth flashing in the gloom.

“Don’ do dat.” Remy panted, leaning over, hands on his thighs as they rested a moment.

“Her? Or me?” Logan shot him a look.

“Both o’ you…She tired an’ twitchy. Push de damn ting from behind.” Her bad mood was infecting him and he was ready to snap at the man himself.

“Maybe I can help for a while.” Jean spoke for the first time in hours. The sled began to slide slowly forward and the fox turned to stare at it. “Just keep me from walking into a tree or something.”

“Gotcha Jeannie.” Logan snapped his fingers at the fox, who was backing away slowly from the sled, as far as the harness would let her. “Just keep pullin’ kid.” The fox’s ears twitched, then she began again, moving faster now.

The moon was rising high and full and cast strange black and white shadows around them. Several times they heard the strange calls of the giant foxes. Remy could feel Kit’s agitation growing as conflicting desires rose within her. She desperately wanted food and rest, but her instincts were driving her towards something else. Fatigue, fear, lust, and aggression warred with her determination to get her party to safety.

Remy struggled to blot it out, but he seemed to have no defenses against her. How could a few nights in her company erode his shields so thoroughly? He could still feel the others, but their emotions were muted with fatigue.

Suddenly they broke through the trees into a clearing. The sled skidded to a stop and the fox whined and chewed at her harness. Before them was the squared dark bulk of a man-made structure.

“Dis de place?” Remy moved to stop her from destroying the ropes. She whined at him and he could feel her frustration. There was very little of Kit in the beast now. He carefully peeled off his gloves and fumbled with the ropes, trying to free her. The moment she was loose, she dashed off into the darkness, leaving them alone.

“Hope so, looks like we ain’t going anywheres else.” Logan trudged up to the door and tested it, finding it unlocked. “Looks like she ain’t too worried about burglars.”

“Where did she go?” Scott helped Jean up the steps as he flicked on a flashlight. The interior was roughly finished and furnished with simple homemade furniture.

“Don’ know.” Remy shouldered past them, eager to leave the unfamiliar wilderness outside.

“Gone to hunt mebbe…Check her territory. This here’s her place, her territory. We crossed the borders mebbe a mile or two back.” Logan busied himself finding the makings for a fire and getting it going in the old wood stove in the center of the cabin. Nobody bothered to question how he knew; they were too tired and too used to his ways.

The cabin was sturdily built of logs along three sides and the fourth appeared to be dug into the hillside behind. The others huddled around the fire as Logan prowled around, exploring. He found some candles and lit a few around the room. The place seemed to be well insulated and the air was slowly warming.

Above the front room was a loft reached by a sturdy ladder. Along the earthen wall was a crude kitchen and he quickly found the makings for a hot meal. Soon a large pot of soup was heating on the stove. Beyond the kitchen was a hall that was really more of a tunnel. It was plastered over, but his fingers could find the marks of claws in the earth. The first chamber was outfitted as a bedroom and the second as a store room.

A third chamber proved to be a bathroom of sorts, containing a basin fed by crude pipes and an ancient looking wooden privy. He wrinkled his nose at the smell, wondering exactly what lay beyond the dark hole and if it would be up to the use it would get this winter.

Past the bathroom were two more underground chambers that smelled of disuse. Several pipes snaked along the walls of the tunnel. One of the pipes was noticeably warm and he surmised there must be another of those warm springs somewhere. The tunnel ended in a heavy wooden door that was locked securely.

The air was a little warmer in this part of the cabin, or den, or whatever this strange place was called. Logan had never seen such a building before. He grunted to himself and returned to the others. Time enough to sort things out in the morning. He returned to the group in the main room and began to dish out their meal.

The others were tired and listless, and for tonight at least, they would all sleep huddled as close to the stove as possible. Logan made a quick search of the storage room for extra blankets, deciding it was best not to disturb the bedroom. While it was old, the girl’s scent clung stubbornly to the chamber. It wasn’t long before his companions were sound asleep.

For a while he lay awake listening to the sounds outside the cabin. He could hear Kit and the others calling to one another. He remembered Winter Moon’s promise to call him and wondered if he would be able to pick her call out from the rest. Eventually sleep crept up on him and his dreams were filled with shadowy shapes and silvery laughter.