Companions (X men Fanfiction)

Everyone Has Secrets

I pressed my head against Logan's hand before I strode toward Tony who was laying at Erik's feet, probably soaking up his warmth.

I cleared my throat and the group turned to face me and I felt my fur prickle. "Tony," I growled as I pawed at the ground, churning up grass.

Tony blinked open an eye and raised his head. "Starlight is everything alright? Do you need something?" His voice was surprisingly gentle and that made me very suspicious.

I shuffled my paws. "I'm going after Poultice and I'd like to come. You're an excellent tracker."

Tony looked up to Erik who nodded. "Go on," he urged. "That pup needs you whether or not he's in the X-Pack or not."

Tony hauled himself to his paws and stretched out. I realized as I held my breath I could see everyone of his ribs as they jutted from his coarse black pelt. "Alright. You can lead the way until my muscles warm up."

I nodded and strode forward, aware that Tony couldn't move as fast as I could. I pushed myself into the forest with my father following me although I hated calling him that. I slowed once we were out of view of the mutants so I could speak with him and not call over my shoulder.

"I assume you want to talk," he barked after a while as he lowered his head down in his shoulders.

I nodded but I didn't know what to talk about. "Why are you being so nice to me," I inquired as I romped forward. "I mean why now? When I was a pup all you wanted to do was kill me."

Tony's eyes widened in fury. "I did not want to kill you," he spat before he bristled the fur along his shoulders.

"But when I was a pup I remember when you had a group of wolves or mutants or whatever and they attacked me and killed my mother," I pointed out as I narrowed my eyes to slits.

Tony shook his head. "They didn't kill your mother," he rasped in agony. "They killed your adoptive mother."

"Maroon wasn't my mother," I gasped in shock. My eyes widened in shock and my body began to shake.

Tony shook his head once more. "No she adopted you once your real mother died. She was killed in an accident soon after you were born. I er well I knew that Erik would never approve of me having a pup and I didn't know how to raise one without your mother so I gave you to Maroon."

I felt my wings tighten against my side. "Did you want me?" I never thought that I'd have this conversation with my father and it was making me very confused.

Tony let out a growl. "Of course I did! But every time I looked at you I saw your mother. I loved her more than anything Starlight, know that. I also knew that I was well with the Brotherhood and I couldn't care for a pup with all of the fighting. I would have been sentencing you to your own death! I couldn't do that to you."

"I remember you trying to kill me," I wailed and I didn't know why. "How could you care about me then."

"I had to show the pups that I was loyal to them and Erik. Who do you think told Muffler about you and when to get you," he asked as he let his fur lay flat once more. "I was the one who told him that I had a pup that he could care for and call his own."

I was beginning to understand but I didn't want to. "Why did you kill Dagger on that night? You said it was to bring me pain but-"

"I never meant that," Tony sighed as he threw his head away from me so he didn't have to look at me. "I killed him because I was afraid he would hurt you."

"He would never-" I began but once again Tony cut him off.

"I would do anything to keep you safe and I was afraid he would harm you. I do have to keep my loyalty and show it to Erik and that was another way," he rasped as stopped suddenly and turned over his forleg. I gasped as I saw a flame mark over his foreleg as if it had been burned with numbers on it. "When I was young I was tortured with Erik and I was taught never to show weakness. I couldn't show weakness for you either."

I lashed my tail. "I'm sorry but I will never consider you my father. Muffler was my father and I will never call you dad," I told him bluntly but he didn't seem surprised or discouraged which confused me.

"I would never think you would and that's why I call you Starlight and now daughter. I am not a father that you can be proud of," Tony wheezed before he closed his eyes and took in a rattled breath and I could tell it was tight.

I didn't want to admit that he was right but he was. I didn't want to think of him as my father even though now I knew he had a reason for everything that he did. "Can you at least tell me how my mother died?"

Tony's eyes clouded in grief and I suddenly realized I probably shouldn't have asked him. "It was my mistake. That's all you need to know."

I gulped and watched as Tony pushed his way forward, staggering a bit. I bounded to his side and tried to help him but he growled and I backed off. Again he didn't want to show weakness.

"You know it would be faster if I could fly. Do you want me just to fly ahead and scout," I offered since no offense to him but he was slowing me down.

He shook his head and he let out a raspy breath that seemed to me like he was fighting back tears. "No no I can pick up the pace if you just ask." He tromped forward, favoring his paw a bit but I didn't make any comment about it.

"Was mother a Wolvy," I pressed as I strode a bit in front of him.

"Yes full Wolvy," answered Tony as he continued forward, half walking and half staggering.

"And you're a full Claw Wolf," I recalled although I already knew the answer to that question. "You know how rare it is for a Claw Wolf and Wolvy to mate."

"Yes I'm well aware," Tony muttered as he continued forward, lashing his tail. I didn't know why he was so angry about a simple statement like that but I wasn't about to argue.

Suddenly Tony halted and flicked his ears. "I hear him!"