The Eternal Avenger: Book Two

Chapter Four: Reckoning

(Claray's POV):

I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. There was a gaping hole in the ground and bits of the campus I had grown to love were visible among the wreckage. There was equipment standing idle – it was after dark, but it looked like construction crews were starting the cleanup. I couldn't imagine what happened here. I stepped closer, almost tripping over my own feet, reaching out and clutching the chain-linked fence in front of me to steady myself and find my balance. As I looked along the fence-line, my eyes caught something that made my heart drop into my stomach. No. I let go of the fence, stumbling further down, trying to take in everything at once. Tony. Steve. Natasha. I felt a lump in my throat. Their pictures, their names, little notes, all pinned to the fence, and on the ground below, lit candles flickered. This looked like a memorial, which meant...No. I fell to my knees with the weight of it. As I did so, however, I leaned forward clutching my head, pushing my forehead into the dirt. There was screaming in my head, and it wasn't mine. Other noises too. I could hear Wanda's voice every once in a while, but the things she was saying made no sense. It almost sounded as if she were reciting lines, and every once in awhile I swore I could hear what sounded like a laugh-track. The pain in my head, however, paled in comparison to the sensation in my chest. It felt like my heart was literally breaking. I felt my muscles tighten, expectantly. No. I shook my head violently. I am absolutely not going to shift right now.

I shifted anyway.

(Carol Danver's POV):

I returned from my informal patrol around campus just to make sure everything was as wrecked as I was when I left it and not more. I sighed as I landed lightly on my feet. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled slightly, and as I moved my head to the side, I swear I heard a howl. Weird. Then I heard it again. I started towards the sound as I realized it was getting closer, heating my fist just in case. It dashed around the chain-linked fence, coming straight towards me, and before I could raise my arm to fire, it tackled me to the ground. I glared, pushing my hands against its shoulder bones. It tilted its head to the side, ears perking. There was something strangely familiar about this... "Claray?" I said softly. The wolf lowered its head, licked my nose and dashed off. I climbed to my feet, laughing. If she wanted to play hide and seek, she was going to have to do better than that. I shot a blast at her, playfully, which she easily dodged, skidding around on her hind legs so she faced me, still sliding in the opposite direction. She lunged, and I spun to the side, laughing. She was quicker, though, and righted herself almost instantly, her front paws thwacking onto my shoulders, knocking me down flat on my back. I laughed, raising my arms in mock surrender. Then I held out my hand, palm up. The pressed the tip of her nose to it and then slowly backed away. I stood up quickly, giving the hybrid her privacy.

(Claray's POV):

"Carol?" My voice was hoarse. Now that I was back and found one of the many stashes of clothes I previously stored around the compound, I couldn't believe my eyes. She turned to face me, a mixture of emotions on her face.

"Is it really you?" She asked. Then she frowned raising her fist. "How do I know it's really you?" I laughed.

"Does a Skrull know what a wolf is? " She tilted her head to the side slightly before a wide smile broke out across her face.

"Probably not."

"Good to see you, Danvers." I reached out to shake her hand at the same time as she pulled me into a hug. This was new. She pulled back quickly, clearing her throat. "Did you miss me?" I teased softly. She smirked and nodded.

"Yeah. I did." We both looked down at the ground.

"Carol, when did Natasha..." I couldn't finish the question. When the answer didn't come right away, I glanced up at her. She looked confused.