nextgen_misc:

The skies were cleared and the cat-people seemed to be calming, if still nervous, as Elder Shadow addressed them.

"My people, we have been so very wrong. Look at the anguish and fear that has only been elevated in our attempts to protect ourselves and our world." He looks towards Lucas, before hurrying down the temple steps to tend to his wound personally, still addressing the others. "We cannot let the suffering and violation of one of our own blind us to the consequences of our actions. The Rituals will never be invoked, for they can only bring more pain and madness."

As he heals the wound, his tone becomes more personal. "Lucas Moonstar, Chris Pym, all members of the X-tribe.. we cannot offer enough apologies, and I give you mine personally. I will take whatever atonement you see fit to repent for the actions of my people's will and my own leadership."

pym_kitten:

Chris' eyes opened sharply, the trance over her breaking. The people at large, and most of the honor guard, had had their resolve shaken by the outsiders' actions. The connection with the energy that fueled their civilization was disrupted. The stream of light cut off abruptly, and Chris sat up.

"...what?" She blinked, holding her head. The rattling of the jewlery that had been placed on her prompted her to open her eyes. "I... where am I? Who the hell... this... why am I tarted up like tribal fetish Barbie?!" She screamed, rolling off the altar, transforming back to her human form in her disorientation.

nextgen_misc:

At Elder Shadow's command, the honor guard threw themselves forward as the Ritual of Transformation began and the crowds pulled back. As light poured down from the cavern's ceiling onto the altar where Chris lay, each of the guard members chose an opponent.

nextgen_misc:

On the other side of a portal in the woods... there is a small empty cave, connected to a tunnel, descending deep into the earth. As the end of the tunnel comes closer, light grows brighter. The end of the tunnel opens into a cavern that seems simply too big to exist and not be known. The air is warm and humid, and there's light at the top of the cavern, like a miniature sun, but it doesn't burn the eyes to look at it. It seems to pulse and thrum with a gentle life of it's own, keeping life sustained here.

Those among the X-Men who have seen the Savage Land will feel much the same here. There are vast tracts of jungle, threaded through by areas of plain, with sandy shores along a huge lake that takes up it's own fair share of the cavern. At the center of the cave wall furthest from the tunnel's exit however, lies a village with dozens of huts, and smaller caves carved into the wall. These are all dwarfed by a ziggurat, rising up to an ornate platform. The base of the temple, and each ascending tier, are packed to the brim with bodies, arms and voices raised. Some are singing songs of celebration, some are arguing with one another. At the top however, lays Chris, still unconscious, body dressed in tribal finery that would leave her classified as indecent back in New York. Surrounding her are Elder Shadow and the honor guard that accompanied him.

By the time the X-Men could be within sight range of the individuals, the elder's voice rings out, magic carrying it to every mind in the cavern willing to listen. "My brothers and sisters, I speak to you, as ever, as the servant of your will! The spirits and our people's will have provided for us! We have brought the chosen one into our midst, and the time of alignment for the Ritual of Transformation is at hand. Although one of our kind was brutalized, and their blood perverted for the humans' science, we will not be like them. We will not rise and spill blood. We will make them as our own. They will hear nature's voices once again, and we will rise to live in peace with them!"

Another voice, that male with the moss and mud caked onto him, also carries, as if piggybacking on the magic the elder was using. "Even though there are those among us who feel the Ritual of Cleansing would be more justified, for the horrors the pink apes commit upon our mother... the greater voice of the people will be upheld.."

Elder Shadow wheels around, baring his teeth against the druid. "Cracked Claw, you are our most gifted life-weaver in three generations, and yet your mouth brings nothing but disasters and poison. You will stay your voice. The Ritual of Cleansing is an embarrassment in our people's history, and we will not speak of it."

"But Elder Shadow, they--"

The old male takes a hard step towards the younger, arching his back. "You wish to challenge my place as our people's guardian, kitten?" He does not yell, but his voice speaks with the force of a thundercloud, looking at Cracked Claw with shame and disappointment.

"...no, Elder Shadow. Your voice is the people's voice." His ears flatten, as he lowers his body towards the stones of the temple, before taking his place in a ring around the altar Chris is laid upon.

The elder turns his face out to the crowd. "If there are any who should speak against the great Transformation... now is the time to speak."

nextgen_misc:

"They sense us, we have no more time to delay." The magus seated himself on the forest floor. Their numbers had gathered, and they were ready to retrieve the chosen one. The others would not let her go without a fight though. They would need to be isolated.

He reached a clawed hand into a deerskin pouch, retrieving a handful of small bones and scattering them across the circle he had seated himself in. He chanted under his breath, calling on not only the primal spirits, but the collective energy of his people. Slitted eyes came into focus, showing a youth of mind that the grayed fur around his face obscured.

"Scatter."

He, and those around the circle, vanished.

~~~

A wave of magical energy came towards the Xavier Institute like a tidal wave, a roar to those who could perceive it. It came through the walls and struck at Chris and those around her. They all vanished from sight, reappearing in various locations. They would each find an opponent waiting for them as well.

The invaders... well, there was no way around it, they looked like Chris. From ears to tail, they were built on the same model as her hybrid form. A mix of colors, ages, and body-types, but they were fighting a bunch of cat-people.

nextgen_misc:

"It is agreed then. The time is now."

A ring of faces nod agreement, each speaking one by one.

"They imprison one of our scouts and pervert our blood for their monsters."

"We only wish to live peacefully, and keep our own domain."

"They hunt and murder their own kind for skin color, powers, beliefs."

"We can make them better."

"One race. One people."

"There will be no bloodshed, only transformation."

The tallest of the group stands, holding up a totem. "The chosen one has already been found. She has the gift to make herself one of them with no aid from our magics. Her coat is the color of royalty. She will be the centerpiece of the Ritual of Transformation. For now, watch her. Take her to come among us when the time is right." The totem blazes to life, and two of the members of the group assume human form. Attendants step forward with clothes for them, and they depart.

"No bloodshed. Only transformation."

~~~~~

Two pairs of eyes follows Chris Grant-Pym as she walks through town with her friend.