Snippet #2477200

Ryan stood, enjoying the company of Memory, and the rest of his family in the kitchen. Though Miss Cara’s question had caught him slightly off guard, as he wasn’t expecting anyone to flirt with him at all, much less openly declare it might happen. Ryan blushed slightly, before speaking. “I think that refraining from that would be best, if you please. I’ve… umm… I’ve recently learned I’m the… uhh… the jealous type, and though I’m sure such minor flirtations would be a joke to you, I would really appreciate if you didn’t tease me like that. I tend to take things like that rather… umm… poorly.” Though Ryan had spoken what was in his heart, it made him nervous. He didn’t like sharing such intimate details about himself with anyone really, even Jean or Memory, but he knew that answering honestly was never a bad thing to do. He smiled weakly, before answering the other question he was posed. “No thank you. I’m not a fan of coffee. To my nose, the smell is absolutely wonderful, but to my taste buds… not so much. Thank you anyway.” At that, Ryan turned and headed towards the fridge, grabbing a glass along the way. “I am a fan of juice though.” He said, directing his thoughts to Cara. At that, Ryan poured himself a glass of orange juice, putting the carton back when he was finished, before returning to Memory’s side once more.

Meanwhile, Terra and Canaan walked the halls of the Xavier Mansion. After a while, they neared the source of the most interesting scent Canaan had ever smelt before. “What’s the yummy smell Terra?” He looked back at her with a raised brow, “Um… Canaan, not everyone has such a sharp nose as you do. But my best guess is that is where all the people are. At least the ones we haven’t seen from that time.” Terra continued walking and eventually he too could smell something in the air, it was a scent he was unfamiliar with but it made his mouth water. What is that smell, it’s making me hungry. As they drew closer the sound of people talking could be heard, and Canaan’s tail twitched as she recognized some of the voices from before. The two stopped just outside of view of the kitchen and shared a pointed look with one another before stepping into the kitchen.

Ryan sighed contentedly. It was turning out to be such a pleasant morning. He felt himself relax and his hand found Memory’s waist once again. Her touch, her scent, and her warmth was truly doing wonders for his anxieties. He felt so much calmer with her, so much more at ease. He laughed more openly now than he ever had before in his life. She was so good for him. However, such tranquility never lasts long. Suddenly, and much to his surprise, the smell of earth filled Ryan's nose. It was odd to be certain, to smell such a strong, earthen scent in the kitchen, which had previously been nothing but the sweet aroma of pancakes, the warm scent of coffee, and the sharp bite of citrus fruits. The smell of wet clay, dried out dust, and black dirt was nearly overwhelming in contrast to the gentle smells of breakfast that permeated the kitchen of the X-Mansion. Intrigued, Ryan turned his head to the strange new smell, which was accompanied by a pair of footsteps and the smell of an animal. It was the same type of smell that Ryan, Logan, and even the predator, Sabertooth, carried. The smell itself wasn't very strong, it never really was, but Ryan would recognize it anywhere, and it wasn't one that he was used to smelling within the house. Immediately, upon seeing the face of the boy who he had fought only just a few days ago, Ryan's nostrils flared, the hair on the back of his neck stood up straight, and he opened his mouth, showing his rapidly sharpening canine teeth, and growled loudly. His vocal chords beginning to shift into their more bestial, and raspy counterparts. So too was his bestial form threatening to come forward, as his eyes had already shifted into the golden, slitted eyes of the Leviathan, and small pockets of scale had begun to spring up all over his body and face. He set down his glass and stepped forward, throwing his right arm out, in front of Memory and Miss Cara, as if to protect them from the threat. “What're you doing here? You wanna fight again?” Ryan asked, his voiced was edged, and threatening. Even after he had finished speaking, his growl continued, low and rumbling.

The moment Canaan and Terra entered the room, they were met with hostility. Something the two had experienced many times before, at least before their time with the Morlocks. Terra took a step back while at the same time, Canaan took a step forwards. Her arm shot out in front of Terra to protect him. “Stay back Terra you’re in no condition to fight. I’ll take him on.” She said through her teeth, as anger clouded her vision; it was this creature before her, threatening Terra, that caused her beloved brother to go into that coma-like state the last time. Already her hair began to grow into a more raggedy appearance and the faint strips on her body were becoming visible, taking on a darker hue than before. “I’ll rip out your throat before letting you anywhere near Terra.” Growling her voice took on a more ferocious and feline tone.

Ryan only responded by deepening his transformation. Rage clouded his vision, as he stared down Canaan. Those two were a threat to his family, and if they were here to fight, Ryan would tear them to pieces. Though his bestial form was already threatening to come forth at the pair’s appearance, but it had hastened in response to Canaan’s challenge. As she growled at him, Ryan returned the gesture, growling louder and deeper than he had before. His eyes burning with anger, Ryan’s gaze never wavered. Claws shot from his fingertips, his tail snaked out from his pants, and his skin darkened, becoming gradually more covered with scales. His ears lengthened, and his teeth sharpened. Lastly, a barbed hook grew out of the end of his tail, which thrashed wildly, and large spines, made of thick, dark scales, shot out his back. His horns erupted from his temples, and swept back to his neck before jutting out in front of his mouth. The transformation was complete. Ryan was ready to fight.

Terra gulped, well aware of the results of the fight that was about to become reality, so taking a step forwards again he pushed aside Canaan’s arm. “I can fight my own fights Canaan and although this one may be one of them it isn’t worth our time, especially mine. Think about it for a second, why in the world should we fight amongst the very people who took us in? This isn’t how we repay our hospitality even if you had no other choice.” He put his hand on Canaans shoulder and squeezed it; with his strength it sent pain into her body which helped snap Canaan out of her near rage. “Besides you wouldn’t have won anyway, not against those armor-like scales.” Canaan shuddered, hearing the cold truth escape from Terra’s lips and in an instant her body relaxed. The tiger stripes lost their color and faded so they were near impossible to see against her already pale skin. Looking back at Terra, she rubbed her shoulder, rolled it around, and frowned, “You didn’t have to hold me that tightly you know.” Terra glanced at her but only for a moment, a look of apology flashed across his face before it once again went back to a calmer state as his attention was fixed on the black creature before him. “I’m Terra by the way, Terra Reye’s. This temperamental feline here is my sister, Canaan.” He continued to speak. “Now I don’t know what happen while I was asleep but from what my sister tells me, you guys offered us a better place and possibly a future, one that wouldn’t have been possible with the Morlocks. I thank you for the offer but we have no intention of staying her for long but I am curious as to what it is you guys had planned for us.” Terra cleared his throat not really used to talking so much, it was starting to make him anxious to get out of the room. Not to say he was shy or anything, he was just so used to letting Canaan do all the talking. But seeing as she nearly went into her rage-mode it wouldn’t have been wise to have let her negotiate with them.

Though the boy, Terra was his name, didn't appear to wish to fight, Ryan's instincts told him differently. There was no open hostility about him, he was actually very calm, and was negotiating wisely. Regardless, something within urged Ryan forward. Ryan had to suppress another growl as Terra introduced himself to the group. Ryan watched the new boy closely thinking only of fighting. Should he and his sister prove a threat, Ryan would be at their throats. Wait... their throats? What am I, some kind of animal? Some kind of... "Monster..." Ryan whispered to himself, finishing the train of thought out loud, but trailing off. A monster... Am I... what's wrong with me? Ryan had never thought like this before, had he? He had never wanted to viciously kill someone before, had he? Then, with a sickening lurch in his stomach, Ryan remembered. His hands flew up to his face, covering his eyes. He stumbled, and hunched over, fighting wildly with the anger within himself. His transformed state fluctuated. His scales became thicker in some spots, but much thinner in others. His spines grew and shrunk randomly, and his eyes fluctuated between green and gold with alarming rapidity. Ryan felt the Leviathan’s presence in his mind, and suddenly, with a surge of adrenaline, Ryan remembered. Against his will, Ryan saw red, and his memories opened up and swallowed him.

Ryan remembered that time with David; it had only just been last night. Ryan had wanted to rip him to pieces... Ryan had wanted to... eat... the pieces. That was different; it was because I was jealous of him and Memory. It's totally different to want to kill someone who's going after the girl you like, isn't it? Isn't it? Ryan thought, desperately trying to rationalize his wicked thoughts. His eyes stared blankly through his fingers, as the Leviathan crooned in his ear. With a jolt, Ryan’s transformation stabilized, and his scales filled in. With horror rotting away at his gut, Ryan remembered what he had done as the Leviathan. He remembered hurting his friends. That girl, with the tiger stripes, Ryan had fought with her as well. He’d nearly killed her. He had wanted to… to devour the black haired boy, he wanted to rip his enemies to pieces and feast on their soft flesh. He remembered how he had fought with the Juggernaut, how his feral mind had pushed him past the point of humanity, and into the realm of true, bestial strength. He had been… he had been a monster. Ryan growled, and he shook his head, as if to shake the thoughts from his mind. He needed to speak with Vincent about this. This was… this was… scary.

Standing up straight, Ryan halted the reckless transformation, and reversed his form back into the pale skinned boy he knew he was. He knew he was. His roiling emotions were getting the better of him. He shouldn't be thinking this way. It wasn't right. It wasn't what the Professor, or Vincent would have wanted. Ryan needed to think calmly and compassionately. His scales withered away, his teeth and claws retracted, his tail snaked its way back into his pants, and his golden, slitted eyes, returned to their normal, human green. Stepping forward, somewhat awkwardly, and offering his hand to shake, Ryan spoke. “Well, since you’re not here to fight, in that case, let me be the first to say, welcome to the X-Mansion. I'm Ryan. I’m sorry I yelled at you. It wasn’t very nice of me." Though Ryan smiled, his mind was working furiously. He needed to get out of here. He needed to speak with the professor. This wasn’t the first time he’d been like this. It needed adjusting. He needed help.

Terra watched patiently as the black creature seemed to fight with himself on his next course of action, seeing as his opponent didn’t want to fight him. The black beast transformation was interesting. Watching him, Canaan couldn’t help but feel a bit of jealousy towards him. On the other hand Terra merely watched with cold eyes, ever since he entered that room, even when the black beast started to threaten him. Not once did Terra break character and lose his composure, instead he kept a passive face, unlike his sister. Seeing Ryan’s offered hand, Terra took a few steps forwards to reach it and take it into his own hand. Continuing forward, Terra stepped a bit closer and put his other arm around Ryan’s shoulders in a brotherly hug, “Next time I won’t be so peaceful. I only stopped the fight because I knew Canaan wouldn’t stand a chance against you. Besides if it were me, I’m betting you won’t get off so easy like last time.” His voice was quiet so only Ryan would hear, and know that Terra had meant every word of it. Ryan suppressed another growl. “There won’t be a next time.” He whispered back. “This is my home Terra. My home. I grew up here. I belong here. I have nowhere else to go back to. I don’t care what you do here. If you’ve been invited then it’s not my place to tell you to leave. However, you remember this. If I get even the slightest inkling that you’re planning to hurt my family, my precious friends, I’ll rip you to pieces.” Breaking apart, Ryan maintained fierce eye contact with Terra, neither boy willing to admit defeat to the other.

After a few seconds, Ryan realized that his transformation had ripped his clothing to shreds. Suddenly remembering where he was, with everyone looking at him, Ryan became rather shy. He was practically naked. “Well then, if that’s settled, I’ll be taking my leave. Please, help yourself to something to eat. This is your home now too.” Ryan said coolly, trying not to cry from embarrassment. Turning on his heel, he sent Memory a fumbling, apologetic glance. Hopefully she would get the message that he wanted her to stay. Ryan wanted her to talk with him, to calm him down, and make him feel better, but he knew that he couldn’t rely on her for everything. Ryan then headed for the door, intent on getting back to his room to put on some clothes that didn’t make him look like he’d just been sent through a wood chipper.