At least Rowan’s form was slowing or distracted now. Maybe the kid was just full of angst maybe all he needed was to let out a little aggression? Sam sat there for a moment studying the kid as he chewed the ice that was made to look like him. The icemancer was glad he wasn’t the one that caught the attack. The ice would have protected him enough but the thrashing would have probably knocked him out. He’d seen wolves in the wild do that to their kill usually the same meal he was chasing.

Sam’s lone eye shifted to the clock again and then back to the kid. Was he slowing because he was about to turn back or was it because he thought he had taken care of his prey? Sam had a lot of questions but was pretty sure he’d only get a few of them answered in this first interaction.

Stepping out of his armor and creating another clone Sam started to coat his body again. Noting the blood from his shoulders. Kid got deeper than Sam wanted to admit. The icemancer whistled loudly trying to get his attention his new clone now waving his arms before running away from both Sam and the wolfboy. Sam this time didn’t move figuring he was far enough away.

Rowan had almost been shifted for a five minutes, which he claimed to be on the lower end of his shift duration scale. But Rowan had also never specified how many times he had shifted, and even if he was sure about the duration of his shifts. And with the amount of running and fighting it had been doing it was fair to assume Rowan was getting to the end of his shift.

The whistle immediately got Rowan's attention. Any signs of exhaustion were blurred by it's renewed aggression. The monster completely forgot about the clone on the floor, turning to face Sam and his new clone. And when the clone began to run the Monster gave chase but very quickly dug it's nails into the icy floor, screeching to a stop.

The monster had a very simple mindset to follow. Attack what attacks you, attack what is scary. And right now the three creatures it could perceive were; in a crumpled heap on the ground, actively fleeing, and just standing there. But only one of these target's smelled like blood. It let the clone flee, no fun chasing a target who wouldn't fight back, and turned it's attention back towards Sam.

Ears pressed back against it's head, lips curled back in a snarl, the monster began to stalk towards Sam. It was moving slowly, but it was hard to tell if this was because it was tired or because it was being cautious. Or maybe it was hoping Sam would lower his guard. Regardless it was still plenty ferocious. Eye's locked on Sam. Challenging.

The icemancer’s eyebrows lowered as he watched Rowan stop chasing the moving target and focused on him. It was starting to feel like a familiar situation he was in years ago in the very same room. His friend Sara was part cat and could smell the difference between him and his clones. He had tricked her with a used sock in one of the clones. He doubted he’d have time now to pull something similar not while Rowan was slowly stalking towards him.

Instinctively Sam looked behind him making sure he wasn’t being surrounded. He looked like a wolf to Sam and from what he had seen he was hunting similar. However Rowan was alone, Sam wasn’t. The clone stopped and turned back running to Sam’s defense as ice from the ground started to build onto his new armor making him several times larger than he was before even larger than the wolf creature before him.

The timer continued to tick in the background. Right now Sam was going through the his checklist on what would constitute as a target from the kid. ”How about a bigger target? Angry sure, smaller targets alright. Lets see if your interested in attacking a larger target.” he said allowed more for the recording than for Rowan. The temperature continued to drop the more he used his powers. While he was trying to understand Rowan’s powers he was also trying to figure the best way to diffuse him.

Any thoughts of targeting Sam vanished when the clone reengaged, much larger than before. Now that was a threat. The monster pivoted, now turning to face the clone. It charged in, moving in large bounds, and stopped right in front of the clone.

It's first attack was a quick bite to the clone's side, teeth sinking into the icy abdomen. This clone was much larger than the Sam sized clone, and it couldn't quite get it's jaws around it. Seeing as how this attack really wasn't effective Rowan switched back to it's hind legs, eyes glaring up at the clone, as it began to claw at it's chest. Rowan's claws scrapped and gouged into the clone, leaving deep scratches.

The dropping temperature, as well as the monster being in close proximity to a large icy creature, was causing it's heart rate to drop. It was still much higher than a human's, but it was lower than the rapid pulse it was before.

And while seeing it's new foe seemed to have given Rowan a burst of energy, it seemed temporary. The swipes were coming slower, the monster taking longer and longer pauses between them, and the claws weren't digging in as deep. It was breathing heavier, chest heaving.

The timer read 5 minutes 12 seconds.

The monitor showed the heartrate slowing. Which was good to Sam it meant the kid was probably going to revert soon. They could talk then. Sam however didn’t slow the cold until he was sure that was going to happen. The ice golem that was getting chewed and clawed pushed back against the large creature. Sam was trying to make sure it was playing nice.

The strikes were coming from him slower now as well. The scratches and claw marks filled in with ice healing itself under Sam’s gaze. The icemancer’s golem shifted it’s weight and took a step towards the creature. Intimidation didn't’ really seem to do much.

”Rowan,” Sam yelled, looking up at the time and then back to the creature. ”.... Growl if you can hear me.” he shook his head and smirked, ”I mean give me a sign you’re in there.” Sam watched for any recognition.

The monster slowly raised an arm, preparing to claw the golem again. In the past few second's it's energy continued to drop. It's breathing was rapid and labored, swaying slightly as it tried to keep itself upright. He paused, arm held weakly over his head, distracted by Sam calling him. Rowan. Oh yeah, that was his name. The monster slowly lowered his arm.

He looked over in Sam's direction.

While his red eyed gaze was still piercing, aggressive, he didn't growl or show his teeth. Another drip of blood fell from his lips. For a moment he just looked at Sam, struggling to breathe. Several seconds passed, and slowly the monster closed it's eyes. It took a half step away from the golem, which looked more like falling.

The timer read 5 minutes and 34 seconds.

The shift back into his human form was far less...showy, than the shift into his monster form. It was almost as if he was too tired for theatrics. The hair simply vanished back into his skin, his body shrinking and morphing back into the teenage boy. Rowan stumbled and fell onto his knees, too exhausted to stand.

Rowan's eyes were still shut. He weakly moved his arms, wrapping them around his head. He was defenseless now, and was hoping that the golem wouldn't want revenge. Rowan was gasping for air. His lungs were burning from the over exertion, his heart felt like it was going to explode. The young mutant was shaking, both from the physical exhaustion and the cold. The frost that was once clinging to his fur now covering his exposed skin.

He attempted to speak, to explain himself, but was struggling.

"I-I'm...s...sorry Mr. J-Johnson...I tried...I tried to...s-stop..."

Another burst of hyperventilation, Rowan's head was swimming.

"P...please...don't ex-expel me...I don't...wanna g-go to...jail..."

Rowan looked or rather his shifted monstrous form looked over when he was called which was good that either meant after some time passed he could respond. Sam’s elation was short lived until the form of the kid staggered and fell backward. The ice golem stood by and waited and Sam waited for a second not sure what to say.

Another moment passed and the hair started to vanish as he shrunk back down to his normal size. Sam finally released his control on the temperature and the room quickly shot back to normal. He waved his hand to the golem that stood a few feet from and it shattered into snow which quickly vanished into the air the rest of the ice around the room followed suit watching the kid hold his head on the floor.

”Computer, heat the kid up to normal temp.” he said as he slowly approached. His voice was weak but apologetic. Instantly Sam’s heart went out for the kid as he pleaded not to go to jail. He'd had been there when he was a child not sure how to control his powers. It’d be different for Rowan, different than what he had to go through.

”You didn’t do anything wrong kid.” Sam said as he walked over to the kid and crouched offering a hand to him, ”Take a breath. Your safe no one was hurt.” lied the icemancer as the ice stared to fall from his body the longer he let his guard down. The spot where his skin was punctured remained covered in ice. He didn’t need to see any blood.

”Why would I expel you?” he asked clearly. ”I don’t even think I have that power. Listen to me now Rowan. You are in a safe place kid, this school will never abandon anyone one who wants to control their abilities. You aren’t too far off from where I was as a kid only difference is the time limit you got lucky with that.” he offered a sad smile.

”Now I got to ask... will you shift again with another loud noise?” Sam asked probably too casually. ”How you feeling? Sorry about the cold.”

Rowan flinched as Sam offered him a hand, fully expecting the adult to hit him. It was completely obvious, to the terrified Rowan, why he would be expelled.

"I...I sh-shifted and...that's bad...I'm n-not supposed to..."

He could hear what Sam was saying, about how he didn't do anything wrong. And that he was safe. But he couldn't believe him. He had gotten it so deeply ingrained in his mind that being a mutant was bad, and using his powers meant punishment.

"A-and I was t-told that if I got...expelled I'd have to...to go to a prison for mutants...so that b-bad people won't use me...cause I'm a w-weapon..."

Rowan was barely able to get that last thought out before he erupted into another set of panicked gasps. It took a bit of time but eventually his hyperventilating became deep, but still shaky, breaths. Rowan sat quietly, just breathing, trying to pull himself out of his panic attack.

After a short pause Rowan spoke again. His tone was no longer full of anxiety induced stammering, he just sounded...tired.

"...I...I don't think...I'd shift again...I'm...too weak..."

Normally Rowan could feel the beast at the back of his mind, growing louder and closer the more stressed he became. Right now it was quiet, satiated.

"I'm...okay...tired...really thirsty...and...my mouth hurts..."

His mouth tasted like blood, and felt like he had been chewing on pushpins. He could feel the small cuts in his mouth with his tongue. But in reality it was a minor injury, nothing worth mentioning.

Rowan's shaking had nearly subsided, both as he calmed himself down and warmed up. He slowly raised his arm, wrist limp, accepting the help in standing.

The icemancer tried not to react when the kid flinched at the offer hand he had seen it all too often. It was a learned reaction one he hoped the kid would grow out of during his time in the mansion. Sam waited patiently and quietly for Rowan to finish his thoughts before Sam helped him up with a small tug on the arm.

Sam offered a little smile and crouched down placing his hand on the kids shoulder with a little pat before speaking, ”Now you did exactly what you were asked to do, this was to study your abilities and see what your other form could do. You don’t want to hurt anyone right?” the icemancer asked rhetorically, it was clear to Sam he didn’t. ”So why would I expel you for listening to me?” he asked before standing.

”I don’t know who is telling you what around here or in your life, but you’re not a weapon. I need you to repeat those words back to me.” he said a little more serious than usual for Sam now that there was no longer an immediate threat. ”What’s your name?” Sam knew ‘weapons’... this kid was anything but.

”So there is a period of a cool down then?” he said getting back to his laid back attitude while scooping up his clipboard and jotting the information above them down on paper so he could bring it to the other staff members. ”That’s good. We are just gonna have to figure some ways to diffuse your triggers is all. Who knows one day you might be able to control your monster. It takes time kid, trust me. You aren’t the only one. Just got to be patient though got it?”

”You did good kid.” he said with another pat on the back. ”How about we get you some water then?” he asked looking down to his coffee. ”I’m heading that way anyways. My coffee is cold and man, I hate cold coffee.”

As Rowan was pulled to his feet he wobbled slightly, legs shaky. He was eventually able to find his balance, but was thankful for the help standing. Was this...the first time he remained conscious after shifting? The previous time he fainted shortly after, and the first time he didn't regain consciousness until almost an hour later. In a way Rowan kinda wished he was fallen unconscious, it would mean he would get to skip answering followup questions, but he doubted the floor of the Danger Room was the best place for a nap.

He also wished that he hadn't, accidentally, opened up about his fear of expulsion. Because Rowan fully believed the teacher was lying to make him feel better. Rowan knew he was a weapon, that was all his mutation was good for. He wasn't making flowers bloom or phasing through walls. His mutation was bad. Rowan wanted to argue, but he was so tired, and the adult seemed pretty firm in all of this.

"I'm...not a weapon, I'm Rowan...".

He grumbled half-heartedly, eyes on the floor. And getting praised for his actions? That felt even worse and strange. Rowan never got praised, especially not for attempting to maul a teacher. This wasn't something he wanted to control. It was something he wanted to fix. He just wanted to be normal again, he didn't want to be patient.

Rowan was pulled from his gloomy thoughts by that final comment. Mr. Johnson...didn't like cold coffee? Rowan laughed, but it sounded more like a wheeze. And yet the tiny curl to the corner of his mouth showed that he found that comment funny. He hadn't meant to laugh, the comment had just caught him off guard and the young mutant was too tired to hide his reaction. Rowan quickly began answering Sam's questions to cover up his momentary lapse in his grumpy persona.

"Yeah...I think there is a cool down period...I don't feel anxious, or stressed, or angry or anything else I feel when I have the urge to shift...I think I feel...calm? Or maybe just tired..."

Despite the pat on the back nearly knocking him over Rowan was still confident that he would be able to make it to the kitchen, but his pace would be slow. He really didn't want any other students to see him so...spent. Especially not the two girls he had met earlier in the week. If he was lucky class would be in session and the halls would be quiet.

"To...tell you the truth, Mr. Johnson, that was only my third time shifting...so I don't know a lot..."

Sam jotted some more information down when it was given ”Well we can all learn together. Honestly kid, I couldn’t even dream this place up when I was younger.” the icemancer said truthfully. Heading to the exit of the danger room. ”Danger, save information under ‘Rowan’." The doors ‘whooshed’ open and he waited for Rowan before leaving the door shut behind them. More to make sure no one snuck in when they left.

”It’s important you remember what you are feeling now. That feeling, is what we can work towards. A sense of calm.” Sam said as he walked down the metallic hallway until they reached the stairs he made sure to wait for Rowan making it clear he was in no hurry.

”Never appreciated hearing this when I was a kid but maybe you’re smarter than I was when I was younger,” his voice turned harsh as he tired to imitate his teacher that taught him not only to control his power but his mind as well. ”The true battle is within. It’s easy to fight and impossible to master.” he shrugged slightly as he rounded the stairs.

”Do you remember anything when you turn? Shift? Change?” Sam asked as he entered the hallway waiting for Rowan. Hearing several different words for changing.

Rowan followed Sam, his pace slow and still pretty wobbly. There were a couple times Rowan had to pause to catch his breath, or put a hand on the wall to keep his balance. But he never asked Sam to stop, or for help walking, he needed to prove to himself that he could do it.

>> ”The true battle is within. It’s easy to fight and impossible to master.”

He snicked a moment, that sounded like something straight out of a fortune cookie.

The young mutant wasn't exactly sure if he liked the feeling of being calm. Especially if calm felt like sore muscles and a cut mouth. Well...that wasn't entirely true. Rowan glanced up at Sam, figuring it wouldn't harm him to talk more about his experience.

"I think...this is the quietest it's ever been...normally I can feel it...like in my head? But right now it's just...I dunno...maybe it's as tired as I am."

At the stairs Rowan paused, teetering slightly, holding onto the rail. Okay...walking was one thing but stairs were another.

"Do I get extra credit for not failing down the stairs? I was aiming for a B on my mutant evaluation, but I'd settle for a C-"

Despite the joking it was pretty obvious Rowan was scarred about fainting on the stairs. His grip on the rail tightened, as much as his exhausted muscles could, taking the stairs one step at a time. He looks up at Sam, answering his question without much pause.

"I remember almost everything, mostly the...ya know...fightier parts."

He takes another shaky step.

"And...I can see too, when I shift. But...it's harder to hear things. And it doesn't really listen to me..."

”Well you’re gonna be disappointed kid this isn’t really a graded exam. It’s more to show us what you can do.” he said with a smirk slowing down again waiting for the kid. ”but I can give you an A if you’re looking for one.” he said giving him the Fonzi followed by a long ”Aaaaaaaaa.” if he had a jukebox he would have hit it to help sell the reference.

At his initial question Sam was standing next to him but he waited till Rowan passed him on the stairs incase the kid couldn’t make it up the steps without falling. ”You more afraid of the quite?” he asked, ”Or is it more unsettling?”

Sam jotted down a bit of the information that was given to him again, ”Well at least you have that going for you. Couple of the other kids that can do what you can do don’t really remember what happened during their shifts...” Sam considered it a good thing. Others might not.

”It doesn’t listen to you now.” Sam agreed, ”You said this is your third time shifting. Maybe once you two get used to each other it won’t be as scary.” he said with a smile, ”I couldn’t turn my powers off when I first got them. Everything froze and I mean everything.”

Rowan starred blankly at Sam when he did his Fonzi impression. Oh...so this guy was old old. He still found himself giving a tiny, wheezy, laugh, despite the dated reference. It was almost as if he hadn't tried to maul his teacher less then ten minutes ago. Rowan climbed a few more steps, considering his teacher's questions.

"I don't think it...scares me? It's just feels weird...to have it suddenly gone?" Rowan pauses a moment. "Well...not gone, it's still here. Just quiet..." He wobbles a moment, catching himself on the rail.

"It's never been this quiet...even after my last shift...I don't think it was satisfied last time."

Rowan climbed the rest of the way in silence, listening to Sam. He wasn't exactly sure how he felt about 'getting to know' the horrible wolf he turned into. He was far happier having a distanced relationship from it. Luckily he was all done shifting, he got his evaluation out of the way. Once the two finally reached the top Rowan sighed in relief. He'd never been happier to be at the end of a staircase.

"You got your powers when you were a kid...just like I did." Rowan continued to follow Sam, changing his stride so he was walking more alongside as opposed to behind the adult. "When did you start controlling them?"

He tried to pick up his pace, his thirst still bothering him, stumbling slightly.

The icemancer smirked, he knew his jokes were good but he would have gotten a few knee slaps out of Saph or Shin with that one. Why were they never around when the kids set him up for all the good jokes? He’d ask them later.

”Well you didn’t have a chew toy last time. Maybe your monsters just trying to understand everything like you are?” Sam asked spit balling, ”Or maybe he just wants to stretch his legs. Either way you are gonna have to get used to him. Like it or not he’s a part of you. It’ll just take time.”

Sam slapped the kid on the back with a congratulatory pat on the back after he finished theS stairs. ”There you go! Almost there!” Sam at this point picked up his pace pushing the kid a bit more to fight past the exhaustion. It built more than just character.

”Younger, a lot.” he said not looking back on that time fondly. It was important he shared some of his experiences with Rowan and all his other students. If it helped any of them to Sam it was worth remembering.

”I stopped freezing people outright when I was six. My powers freeze practically anything, lot of power to control for a kid. It was lonely... Hold up.” he trailed off and stopped Rowan short for a second holding out a hand so he didn’t get run over by two students who were running from one room to the next.

”Nathan you keep running in the hallway next lesson is gonna be ten times worse than the last one.” the kid looked back through his bright red eyes and gave Sam a wave then started to walk into the next room.

Lowering his hand Sam continued walking with Rowan till they entered the kitchen. ”Still controlling them.” he said honestly, ”Even now.” Sam said walking over to the cupboard and grabbing a glass for him and filling it with water. Handing it off the glass frosted over before it left his hand offering it up to Rowan chilling the water in the process.

”Some powers you can master right away others... it takes time and patience. Why I know you can’t be a weapon. You don’t want to hurt anyone.” he offered a sad smile before poring himself a cup of coffee. The steam was pleasing to see.