Darkshift arrived at Sanctuary in a foul mood, normally understated black cat claws instead large black eagle talons, her head resembling that of a panther, mouth full of serated teeth and all.  A panther's tail swished behind her, clearly agitated.  It was an effort not to attempt to take a chunk out of the wall with her talons.  She was angry, angry and hurt.  Her emotions kept fluxuation between the two extremes and what she wanted to do most was hit something or hurt someone and get all her frustration out in a satisfying explosion of violence and blood.  

Aura had left.  In truth, Aura had left weeks ago but it was only now that she had finally accepted the fact.  Aura, only a few years older than she was, who had become something of a mentor and who had recruited her into the Order and who had instilled within her a drive to help out other mutants when she previously thought only of helping herself.  She had begun to look up to the other mutant and form real attachment to her so, of course, she would up and leave without word or notice.  That would show her what happened when she actually let down her barriers.  She deserved it for being so naive.

How easy it might have been for her to simply abandon Sanctuary and the Order (sad state that she could now admit it was in) and never look back.  The weekly stipends that continued to show up in her account were nice but she knew how to take care of herself.  That's what she kept telling herself she wanted to do but in the end, she couldn't quite do it.  After all, it wasn't just Aura that kept her coming back to Sanctuary, defending mutants and bringing mutant runaways into its welcoming walls; it was the fact that she had actually come to believe in what she was do it.  Damn it all to hell anyway!

With the mood she was in, now was probably not the best time to go looking for this Tempest fellow she had heard about from one of the runaway she had recently brought in.  Someone who cared and was also trying to make a difference.  Darkshift wasn't sure what to think of that but, if she was actually determined to stick around, then she should probably seek him out and actually have a conversation.  Thus, there she was wandering the sanctuary halls, anger almost radiating off of her in search of some newcomer who may or may not actually prove to be useful.

"There's something wrong with you," the youthful voice sounded condescending. "You shouldn't listen to anyone who speaks to you like that," it changed abruptly, almost commanding in its tinge of anger. "None of you are wrong. None of you are abominations. None of you are worthless. None of you are freaks. Are you unique? Yes, more unique than any person can typically claim to be."

It was silent a moment, still as the man's voice quieted. It was coming from a door slightly ajar down at the far end of the hall. "The only thing wrong with you is that you allow yourself to believe that's true. Be sad someone would talk to another person like that. Be sad that that person might actually believe that. Hell, be angry because either they're stupid or afraid. They might even be a mutant themselves. Now I don't want you to put yourself in harms way if you think you're outnumbered by some dumb mob or there's a chance some 'bot is going to attack you for disturbing the peace for what you, but you make it clear how proud you are to be you because the only thing more amazing than the fact this Earth manages to keep spinning is the genetic wonder of your evolution."

"Mr. Hadden-" another started.

"Devon, please."

"Okay, Devon. It's easy to say that but some of us don't look so normal, you know? It wears on you being hounded every day for what you are," it explained.

"I know and I'm sorry. You're right that I can't understand that exactly, but you need to remember they are harassing you. They are in the wrong, not you. No one should be punished for whom they are, what they look like. African american, spanish, gay men, lesbian women, transgendered individuals... This country even the world at times can't understand the different, can't seem to recognize how different we are and yet... what harm does it do? None," Devon asserted. His voice was indeed angry, echoing out over the second floor, unaware that his Mutants-Not-So-Anonymous group was not alone this evening.

"They are wrong. You don't deserve that but the sad truth is that you can't make them stop no more than they can make you stop being you. It may take one person at a time, but you will find those that will stand besides you, mutant and human alike. We've many here amidst the mutants that realize all too clearly we are the same and we need one another. We have to take care of each other but first you have to take care of you."

"Yeah, it's hard not to fight," said another.

"And sometimes you will have to. Some humans are going to go too far. Some mutants do too, but if someone starts a fight with you, then I encourage you to end it in the best way possible. Make a statement, let them see your strength both of power and conviction. Like I said before, don't put yourself in a bad situation. If you have to leave, you find us and then we go back together. We show how not alone you are, how not alone we are," Devon's haughty tone had a tinge of righteousness to it, but clearly tempered with emotion as it faltered ever so slightly on that final we.

"Yeah, we gotta look out for one another," said a young man with metalline hair. "Telia backed up when we were at school a couple days ago."

A girl grinned as she proudly folded her arms over her chest. Her finger nails looked almost like small circuit boards and her eyes glowed like a cell phone in the dark. "They were dumb, and your hair is bad ass."

Devon nodded excitedly, "Damn right. Now why don't we-" He heard something then and stopped, glancing at a clock on the wall. "Ah it's late. Some of you need to get to bed and some of you need to get home. Anyone not have a buddy? Anyone need a ride? Be honest, guys, as we can't help you if you don't say what you need. You have the right to need help."

Everyone grinned and Devon's smile broadened. They stood and started to filter out of the small room, one middle aged man clapping Devon on the back on the way. A slow breath left Devon as he poured himself some water from the small pitcher on the table near the door.

Darkshift could have easily asked any one of the the other residence of Sanctuary where to find Tempest but she preferred to find him on her own.  The place was busier than she had ever seen it in her months working there and she took some satisfaction in that.  Several of the mutants not staying here were there because of her good work, helping to take them off the streets and offing them a safe place to stay.  Several more hand made Sanctuary a brief home in a quest to find stability elsewhere, back in the real world.  For all the bitterness she felt at Aura, there was also satisfaction in the difference she was making in the lives of so many mutants.

It was an obviously impassioned speech that caused her to pause just outside the common room.  Someone with some obvious charisma to go along with his passion was speaking to the younger members and she paused to listen, not yet making herself known.  The message was good, one she largely believed in herself.  Of course, it was also delivered a lot more eloquently than she could ever hope for.  Her skills lay elsewhere.  This had to be the person she was looking for.  

Darkshift waited with as much patience as her tumultuous emotional state would allow her to while everyone filtered out of the room, smiling and acknowledging a few of the figures that had come in at her side.  Only when the last person left did she peel herself away from the the wall and enter the room, walking with purpose.  

"Nice speech.  I'm guessing you're the one I've been hearing about lately.  Tempest?"  Talk was easy.  It was time to see what lay hidden behind the pretty words.

Devon didn't recognize that voice as he turned away from the water to see whom it was, the Dixie cup of water still in hand. He hadn't expected to see a ferocious woman of dark additions. He clearly studied her and the not so normal features as he sipped his water for a moment before he smiled gently. Still, his blue eyes narrowed at her.

"That's me," he nodded and set the cup down. "And thanks, though I really shouldn't have gone off that far. One of them had told a story about overhearing a couple teachers referring to her as 'it' rather than 'her'. Teachers!" Tempest looked at her, eyes widening. "It's not just the students or kids on the bus. It's even the teachers." He chuckled, but it was a bemused chortle, "Funny how normally people say 'they're only human' when they mean to forgive someone and in this case, that's the reason why they don't understand."

"Still, we have humans here who don't care, don't act like that. They do understand," Tempest nodded again, slowly this time. "More mutants than humans though. More every day. I'm one of them. You can call me Tempest but you can also call me Devon. Either way, that's me. Care to take a seat or is there something else I can help you with?"