It had been a few days since Regan had a decent meal and her stomach was getting very angry. She had been hiding in a patch of woods, figuring that she would find some creature to make a meal of eventually. Her mind was starting to get foggy from the lack of food, she needed to hunt, and she needed to do it soon!

Sitting down on a rock, she tossed her back pack onto the ground and started to unlace her boots. It was time to give in to the beast and she couldn’t have anything on that would slow her down. Standing back up, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Her eyes shot open as the scent of a stag was in the area and she was going to catch it!

It was time. Hunching down onto all fours, her back popped and cracked as she started to take on her saber tooth state. Her small frame started to bulk up with muscle as her fangs extended from under her upper lip. Her already large claws extended a little longer and she dug them into the soft ground beneath her. She let out a low growl as her heightened senses picked up the scent of her prey, the stag was close.

Regan’s ears flicked around wildly, picking up the faint crunch of the ground fodder cracking under the stag’s hooves. Her emerald eyes darted around the woods, finally spotting her prey, she took off after it at full stride. Her enhanced speed didn’t give the stag much of a chance to run, it barely turned around before Regan pounced on it. Digging her massive claws into the stag’s shoulders caused it to scream out, but it wasn’t for long. Regan slid her massive saber fangs into its throat, and with a quick movement of her head, snapped the stag’s neck. They tumbled to the ground but she didn’t release the stag’s throat until it stopped moving and the life drained from its eyes. Releasing her catch, she made her way around to its tender belly and started to devour her meal.

It had been a long time since Sara had stepped onto the mansion grounds. The woods surrounding the back of the mansion and including part of it's property once were a wonderful retreat. It felt good to visit them now and again with Roxy her dog.

The wooded areas of New York City was such a contrast from it's Inner thick walled city. At one time, Sara hunted like her more animal self. For the last few years, she had adapted to life in the city much better than expected. Hunting went to pick pocketing and stealing from delivery boys. Then that went to attending said delivery boys restaurants. Sara was well fed. It was a good thing with her mutation.

Her German Shepard, Roxy, was off leash and crossing back and forth with her nose on the ground excitedly pacing and finding different smells. Sara was just enjoying the difference from the city.

Suddenly Roxy's head shot up from the dirt in front of her paws responding to the noise of the struggle then the smell of blood. Sara stared in the same direction sensing everything Roxy could. Maybe more. She'd never really had her senses measured.

"Roxy heal." Sara commanded and the dog reluctantly did as she was told staying right next to Sara. Though as the two of them took off in that direction at a run, Roxy had no choice. Curiosity driving them both. Neither of them being very quiet as they approached.

Regan purred and growled softly as the stag fed her empty belly, every bite calmed her. The stag’s muscular flesh was no match for her sharp, massive fangs. They easily sliced through the tough flesh like a fork cut through a slice of cheesecake. Each bite drawing her face into the bloody hole she had created in the stag’s side. Blood was all over her face, from the tip of her pink nose to the ends of her whiskers.

Regan’s heavenly meal was sudden cut short as her head shot up from behind her mutilated feast. Her ears flicked forward in the direction of rapidly crunching twigs and ground cover, something was headed her way. She sniffed the air, another feline, coming for her kill; but there was something else too, a musty smell that she couldn’t quite place. She slowly moved her front half over her meal, her paws covered in blood and dirt clawed at the ground, planting herself in case she needed to fight. Regan let out a loud warning roar, it sounded similar to a tiger’s, but it was deeper and lower, coming from her belly rather then her throat.

Her eyes darted around in the direction of the sounds and smells, her long tail whipped around angrily behind her as she waited to find out what was really coming.

The smell of blood got thicker in the air and for that very reason, as Sara and Roxy closed in on the scene, Sara clipped the leash back on her dog. Normally Roxy listened well enough, and if she didn't Sara was fast enough to catch her, but they were close to the mansion. Meaning that it was likely that the thing cause all of the blood flow, was likely to be... abnormal.

Roxy offed at the leash but nonetheless, staid at Sara's heals. It wasn't the type of scene that the dog was used to. Where Sara had seen similar things, Roxy was very much a city dog and, since one of the xmen had rescued her as a puppy, she'd been a very spoiled pooch.

Sara on the other hand, had more experience than she really liked to admit and as she got closer she picked up the distinct, musty yet somehow sweat smell of venison. Sara and Roxy stepped out from around a set of thick trees and Sara made the two of them slow to a light trot type of move and then slowed to a halt. It didn't take a lot of work to spot the other feline making sure that her kill staid safe, and out of curiosity, Sara staid to watch. Kneeling at a distance of about twenty feet away. Roxy kept just behind her. The dog barked sharply, but Sara's hand staid on her collar making it so Roxy was forced to stay put.

"You know. Those things taste better slow cooked with Barbeque sauce." Sara said trying to see if this odd mutant or creature in front of her spoke English.

Regan watched as the new feline came out from behind the trees, she growled and let out a nasty hiss. Her emerald eyes watched the pair of creatures approach with caution, but when the dog started barking, she went right back into defensive mode. Her ears went back and she opened her maw, showing off her massive fangs. She hissed again and swiped her paw on the ground in front of her sending dirt and leaves flying. She had worked so hard for this kill and she wasn’t going to give it up.

Regan tilted her head to the side as the other feline spoke, to the onlooker she most likely looked like a confused animal, but the shred of humanity that was still in control, understood. She then let out a softer growl and a few murmurs before licking the blood from her face. It was an odd sight to see as her rough tongue really wasn’t effective with her sabre fangs in the way.

Regan realized that this creature wasn’t here to take from her and she slowly crawled back behind the dead stag to sit on her haunches. She still wasn’t sure about the dog though, because it just wouldn’t stop barking. Her eyes glanced at the dog and she nudged her head in it’s direction before looking back at the other feline. It was going to take a few minutes for her to calm down enough to shift back to normal, but as long as the sabre tooth side of her felt threatened, it wasn’t going to happen.

Sara's tail flicked back and forth across the grass just behind her heals making a rustling sound. Now and then her tail thumped against Roxy's feet. Mean while Roxy was barking her head off and giving Sara a head ache. A harsh sharp 'Hey' at Roxy quieted her though the dog still whined at Sara nosing at her arm of the hand that held her collar then staring at the saber tooth tiger before the two of them. Roxy was nervous, but Sara had a mix of other emotions. One was curiosity. The other was a sense of protection towards those in the mansion. If this mutant, or monster, was a threat, Sara was sure to take care of it. Eliminate it if she had to.

However as that last thought passed through Sara's mind when the tigress roared, it faltered just as quickly when the other feline tilted her head at her. "That's right." Sara had her left hand holding Roxy's collar to keep the dog protectively just behind her hip. The right hand raised up with her fingers held together, but her palm was open. "No threat here. Unless you want to roar again."

Had Roxy been any other dog, She'd of probably still been barking her head off. But she'd been raised with many different types of mutants at the mansion. This was her old stomping ground. And if Sara had been any other type of person, or mutant, she'd probably turned around and ran for her life, or tried to kill this other feline. "Where are you from anyways?" Sara mused, still very curious about the feline with emerald eyes and matching stripes.

With Sara's own amber eyes still focused the tigress, Sara tied Roxy securely to a young tree. With Roxy secure and whimpering, Sara stood and took two strides closer to the other feline and her kill just to see how far she could push the other with shortening the distance between them.

Did I mention Curiosity made you stupid sometimes?

Regan watched the lioness very carefully as she inched closer. She jumped when she had yelled at the dog, but was thankful she made it stop. Regan’s hearing was already heightened as it was, but as her sabre tooth it was twice that of normal, The insistent barking was like having a dog bark directly in each ear even though it was 20 feet away. Her eyes locked onto the other feline’s amber eyes with appreciation in them.

Finally starting to relax, Regan’s humanity was starting to take control of her mind. The beast was sated for the time being thanks to the belly full of venison. She was still very cautious and as the other feline stepped forward, she skittered back, keeping the distance between them. Slowly Regan’s massive fangs started to retract back under her lip and the bulging muscles under her fur started to look more normal. Her back popped and cracked once more and she shrank a little in size. Finally she slowly stood up, rolling her shoulders and neck around which allowed them to snap back into place.

Regan coughed a little and stepped back a few more feet, she was going to leave a gap between them in case she had to run, and in her normal state she was a distance runner. Unlike in sabre tooth, she was like a cheetah, a burst of impressive speed, but short lived. In the meekest voice that someone could muster, she squeaked out in a hoarse voice, “Ireland.” Her English was clear, but there was a hint of an Irish accent.

Sara was amused as the other feline moved backwards when she took two steps forward. There was just something satisfying to have that type of respect from another feline. even if Sara had no quarales with her.

It seemed that this other feline was just happy to keep the distance between the two of them, but as amused as Sara was, she still enjoyed seeing how far the other feline would let her push her. Then the saber tooth tiger started to turn her form, and Sara thought that she was going to turn completely into a human. A surge of jealousy went through the back of Sara's mind but she did her best to keep her emotions on the outside steady. How she wished that she had the ability to change the way that she looked at will. However when the change seemed to stop at a form that was so much like Sara's own form, well. That made it so that it was Sara's turn to tilt her head.

"So you do talk." Sara said with her head still tilted. The only thing that broke the silence for a few seconds, was when Roxy's voice made a questioning pitch. The dogs tail fanning lightly behind her now that tension had seemed to cool down and the other feline had turned into something more recognizable for the dog. "Do you want me to help you process the rest of the stag?" It was one thing to know how to hunt and survive. Sara wondered if the other feline knew how to make the meat last. "You got somewhere to go? To stay?"

Regan wasn’t sure what to make of the lioness, but seeing as this wasn’t her territory, she would respect the larger cat before her. Besides, she was spent from the hunt and shift, she didn’t have much pick up and go left for a battle right now.

She noticed the other feline’s tilted head as she shifted and then spoke. “Yes, I do speak.” she replied very quietly. Nervously, her long tail curled in front of her feet, they were shaped like human feet but covered with fur and had claws where the toenails should be. Regan fidgeted, twisting the bottom of her dark green tank top around her clawed fingertip, it was wet. Looking down Regan gasped as her top was rather soaked in blood, and so were her black jeans. She looked up at the lioness with shame in her eyes and looking so very embarrassed.

Regan kind of snapped back into reality as the lioness started to speak again. “Ummm, sure, I’m not sure what you mean by that though.” she looked at the badly mutilated stag and shuddered. “I’m staying nearby.”, she lied, her voice quivering as she said it.

She didn't understand what Sara walk talking about when it came to the process of processing the stag? Well Sara hadn't really learned the terminology till she'd started living in the city with those who hunted more for sport and for a culinary treat. "You know." Sara took another step closer as she spoke still testing that distance thing though she was also headed towards the stag."Process the meat. Preserve it, cut it up. remove the organs so it doesn't get gamy or spoil." Sara said with a shrug.

Sara's head was still tilted and when she noticed that the other feline seemed to shudder at only a glance back at the dead deer. But in Sara's mind this was nature. Most things, even people, killed in one way or another to eat. Just most people now a days payed for their food to be killed for them. Or maybe it was embarrassment for the moment that.... That what was it that Sara was picking up on? Damn it she was terrible at trying to figure out this type of stuff.

So she did stay somewhere close. That was a good thing because Sara would hate for her to go out onto the New York Streets covered in blood that way. The norms out there would definitely get the wrong idea about all of the blood. "Do you live at the mansion then?" Sara motioned in the direction of the huge building where the x-men resided. Well then. She'd have to seek her out there later.

Mean while Roxy had completely lost interest in the two cats and had started shuffling her paws over the leaves, and digging into the soft sandy dirt at bugs that hid under the soil.

Regan tried to wipe the blood off her hands onto her pants, but they were already dried. Looking back at the other feline as she commented on the rest of the stag, she nodded. “Sure, I would appreciate that.” Once again her voice quivered a bit, she didn’t really want to take the meat with her; but she had no idea when she’d get her next meal, and she wasn’t just going to cart around a half eaten deer carcase. Looking down again at the dead animal she sighed “I don’t normally do…”, she pointed at the torn up creature, “…this.”

As the lioness moved closer, Regan stepped back just as much. She didn’t trust anyone, but then again she didn’t know anyone either; and this feline was the first creature she had ever seen that looked somewhat like her. She was curious, but she was also cautious, she had to keep her own tail safe in the end.

When questioned about the mansion, Regan lied again “Oh, ah, yeah. It’s a nice place.” she squirmed a bit, she hated to lie, but she didn’t want anyone to know the truth right now. She’d make her way over to the mansion that night, maybe find an open window to crawl into.

Regan noticed that the dog had lost all interest in them and gave herself a meek smile. “Seems the dog is bored with us now.”

It seemed that the other feline was willing to let sara help her a little and yet there was still a sort of pause about the way that she spoke, that Sara sensed that she didn't want to open up fully to Sara. Normally it would be Sara acting the same way but there was something that she finally admitted to herself that excited her about meeting another mutant who was so much like herself. For the longest time Sara hadn't had family, and even though Sara wasn't one to just adopt someone as family that easily, there was something that was nice about knowing that Sara wasn't the only one like... well.... Like herself. She just didn't know what terminology to put to that feeling.

The other feline tried to explain how she didn't normally hunt and Sara shrugged shaking her head. "No explanation is needed." Most people that Sara knew, did things to survive when they needed to. This stag wasn't human, it was a prey animal. "How do you normally eat then?" Sara asked casually. Even though Shamrock was keeping the same distance between them, Sara closed the rest of the distance between herself and the deer, she lifted his limp head by an antler as she tried to see what was going to be the best way to hang him up. With it's neck broken she shifted it back and forth, then decided that the back legs would be a better choice to handle it from and hang it. Even with a large portion of his stomach missing, the stag would still provide a few more meals.

"It is." Sara said agreeing with the comment about the mansion being a nice place. she hadn't chosen to stay there permanently, but instead, Sara rented an apartment in the city. Still gabbing on and on was something that Sara hoped would put the other mutant at east. "Sam, Shin, Shawn, and the other x-men run a wonderful school for a lot of people who need it." Sara nodded moving the the deer's feet where she flexed the two back legs, then tested the deer's weight against weather they would hold of not. Lifting the back end of the stag by them.

Satisfied that the back legs would hold, Sara stood, elegantly. Dusting her hands off on her pants. Glancing back at Roxy, Sara shrugged. "What can I say. She sees no threat now, and she'd rather dig in the dirt." Sara walked back to where she had tied her dog and undid the leash once again so that Roxy could roam. "This is Roxy. I am Sara." Roxy padded a few feet towards Regan with her tail swaying behind her hocks. tongue lolling out the side of her mouth. "What's your name?"

Regan was slowly starting to relax a little; it helped a lot that the beast was sated by the bloody hunt. She was so curious about this lioness that she had to stop herself from staring more than once. She was so much taller than Regan was and quite built. Regan felt rather tiny around her even though she was sleek and toned herself under her emerald, stripped fur. Regan knew she was built for endurance and agility in her normal form. Speed and strength were the saber tooth’s traits, though they were short lived. But this lioness looked like she was built for all of them at once, it made Regan feel a little inferior. She would respect this lioness and her territory.

Regan breathed a sigh of relief when the lioness said she didn’t have to explain herself, it was something she didn’t want to have to explain right now. She watched as the other feline inspected the stag, seeing what way to best take care of it. “Well, “Father’s” cook used to make our meals.” Regan felt like it was alright to open up a bit to the feline; after all she had caught Regan in such an embarrassing situation as it was. “Since “Father’s” passing, I’ve had to kind of fend for myself.” Her soft Irish voice was a little strained when she spoke, she did miss “Father” so very much.

She watched the lioness lift the stag with little effort, testing the hind legs for their strength. She tilted her head as she named off the different names that were associated with the mansion. “Oh, I haven’t met them yet. I just got here.” Regan was only half lying, she did only recently get here and she hadn’t met these people yet.

Regan smiled a little as the topic had gone back to the dog. She hesitated slightly as the dog came over, she was still covered in blood and hoped she wouldn’t think she was a snack. “Nice to meet you Sara,” Regan smiled and nodded to the silly looking dog, “And Roxy.” Looking back at Sara, who was still assessing the stag, she replied, “My name is Regan, but “Father” called me Shamrock. I’m sure you can figure out why.” She extended her arms showing off her emerald stripes and smiled.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Sara said as she reassessed the deer's body. yup. The legs were definitely the best place to hoist him from and she did so with a little effort only because she was hoisting him away from her body and her tail flicked out from behind her heals to assist with her balance. If it were summer, the flies would be out in a higher force and already rendering the deer's body uneatable. Luckily the cool fall weather already had most of the insects at bay. Hibernating or dead.

Sara might have been able to over look Regan saying that she hadn't met Sam, or Shawn, or even Shin yet. The men were busy men, but there was something about the way that she spoke of having to fend for herself and hunt that stood out against the rest of Regan's story for Sara and part of it bothered her, making her right ear twitch and the tip of her tail flick. she spoke as she used the leach to tie the deer's back legs to a heavy branch. "I don't blame you for being so secretive," Sara started. She of all people knew how being secretive was instinctive to cats. "but you really would be welcomed at the mansion. And they have their own huge kitchen. They really would feed you there." After all. The mansion just had that hole peace, love, share, and kindness thing going on. Sara couldn't complain too much.

Hanging the deer up caused more of it's blood to seep out but draining it was part of the job. Along with removing the innards but Sara could wait another moment before the meat would start to change it's taste. "For that matter if you needed a place to stay, my apartment is a two bedroom." Sara suggested. It would make getting the venison back to Regan easier. "I could also suggest a few abandon buildings." Sara said stepping back from the deer now that it was tied up to drain.

"Mean while Roxy padded a little closer to Regan. The dog's tail swishing behind her legs. She was interested in the blood a little, but not overly so. Again Roxy had been highly domesticated and kept that way. However the interesting smell and curiosity that the dog had wasn't unusual.

Regan nodded in appreciation to Sara’s condolences, “Thank you, he was a very nice human.” She watched Sara with the stag, making note of what she was doing with the stag in case she needed to hunt again. She was glad that she had run into someone who could help her with the stag, and who understood the situation she was in.

Regan chuckled softly and rubbed one of her clawed hands on the back of her head, ruffling her bright red hair. She was caught in her lie, if her face weren’t covered in fur, Sara would have seen her flush. “I’m sorry.” she muttered softly, “It’s not that I want to lie to you, I just don’t know who I can trust.” She felt awful, Sara was trying to help her and all she was doing was lying her tail off.

Regan smiled as Sara offered up her home and other hiding places for Regan to stay. She was starting to feel like Sara was someone she could trust in this world, that maybe it was ok to open up to her. “Thank you, you are very kind Sara.” She looked at Sara with appreciation in her emerald eyes. “I will check out the mansion, but if that doesn’t work out, I would like to take you up on that offer.” She smiled and stepped closer to Sara, starting to become more comfortable near her, “I don’t want to burden you with my presence in your home.”

Regan smiled softly at Roxy, she put out her hand for Roxy to smell it. She knew that Roxy would smell mostly the blood on her hands, but she wanted to be friendly towards the dog as well. Regan had a feeling she would be seeing these two more in the future.