The Empathic Wind Rider

by: Savannah

Author’s note: The setting is during season 3. This happens just before the episode “Self Possessed”. An Empath is someone who can feel other people’s emotions and know how people feel. In this case Savannah seems to develop this trait, and finds it difficult to harness with her other powers that are constantly in tune with her emotions. Italics are telepathy. In case you are confused please read the other stories I have written dedicated to my characters and it will make sense.

Chapter 1: Feeling Sorry

            “Now if you will turn your books to page 125...” said Mrs. Perkins as she turned towards the massive chalkboard behind her. Savannah could care less right now about Trigonometry. Her mind wandered off into a daze, as always in Mrs. Perkins’ Trigonometry class.

            She thought about her life and how much it had changed ever since she hit puberty. While normal people where worrying about zits and their appearance, Savannah was worrying about why she kept having massive headaches and why constant nightmares about hurricanes kept her awake at night. When she moved to Bayville a year ago she found out that she was a mutant. Her headaches were the result of her gravity manipulations going off without her control. Her nightmares where the result of her dream-giving mother who tried to tell her she had the gift of wind manipulation. Her mind was a jumbled mess when her powers finally unleashed that day. Mystique didn’t make Savannah’s head any clearer. Trying to get her to join her team and to use her; she hated Mystique’s guts. Thank goodness for people like professor Xavier who helped Savannah. He helped clear her mind of all confusion, and not mentally, but just by explaining everything to her. He helped her headaches go away, and taught her to be calm so that she could harness her wind abilities. The Professor, Mr. Logan, Mr. McCoy, and especially Miss Munroe taught her how to be a hero and use her powers for the good of mankind. They came in handy really well when the existence of mutants was revealed to the world. She and the rest of the X-Men survived, but people in school still made fun of mutants and the once wise, calm, and popular Savannah known at Bayville high became known as a mutant, a freak. People made fun of her, but she did her best to try and ignore it.

            “Now who will answer this question?” Mrs. Perkins asked amusingly roaming her eyes around the classroom. Everyone slouched lower in their seats hoping they wouldn’t be it.

            “Ah! Savannah! Come up to the board and answer this question!” Mrs. Perkins demanded. Savannah came out of her daze and looked at Mrs. Perkins for a second.

            “Great,” she thought. “I knew I would be chosen just because I’m a-“

            ”Savannah! We haven’t got all day.!” Mrs. Perkins yelled holding the chalk out insistently.

Savannah got up and walked to the chalkboard. A few chuckles could be heard in the backroom. She began writing on the board solving the problem step by step. Mrs. Perkins’ face went from an evilish smile to a surprised look. When Savannah finished she laid the chalk down on the slate, and began walking back to her desk.

            “Uh... correct.” Mrs. Perkins said dumbfounded.

            “No way! She used her stupid powers man!” one boy said.

            “Yeah! Cheater!” another replied. Soon the classroom was filled with people complaining and accusing Savannah. Savannah stood there listening to everyone. Their sharp words seem to stab her in the head.

            “No! That’s not true. My powers have nothing to do with that.” She tried to explain over the bustling commotion. Her head began to pound. She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes trying to focus herself.

            “Class! That is enough!” yelled Mrs. Perkins. The class hushed and now all eyes were on the teacher.

            “Savannah, please leave the classroom!” Mrs. Perkins said.

            “But-“ Savannah tried to say but Mrs. Perkins interrupted her.

            ”No excuses! Just leave. Your disrupting the class of its learning, now leave before I send you to principal Kelly’s office.”

            Savannah didn’t want to argue so she left. Small bits of laughter could be heard as she closed the door behind her. This is what she had to deal with everyday. People who hated mutants, teased and made fun of her and every other mutant that existed. After putting their lives on the line and saving the world from Juggernaut and the Sentinel, this is how the X-Men were repaid? It wasn’t fair, but this is what Savannah knew would happen and yet still she couldn’t bare with the fact. The professor said some people will just never live with the fact that mutants walk the earth, but as X-Men we must ignore that and help those in need.

            Savannah shook her head. “This is nothing to worry about. Just be patient and things will turn around.” she thought. Not knowing where to go, she decided she would hang out in the bathroom until the period was over.

            When she arrived at the bathroom Savannah couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of sadness inside her. She didn’t know why, but she felt like crying.

            “This stupid mutant problem is nothing to cry about.” Savannah thought as she tried to hold back a tear. “Why am I feeling this way?” Opening the bathroom door she immediately saw another girl in there. The girl saw Savannah and ran into one of the stalls slamming and locking the door behind her. Savannah shrugged.

            Turning to the mirror Savannah took out her make-up bag and began touching up. There was a certain someone she wanted to catch the eye of who just happened to pass by the halls between 6^th and 7^th period.

            The sadness in Savannah still lingered there and it wouldn’t go away. As she applied some lipstick she could her faint sniffles coming from the bathroom stalls. She remembered that that girl had run in there, but didn’t think anything of it... until now. The sniffles could be heard clearly and now Savannah knew that the girl in there was crying. “Weird.” Savannah thought. Wanting to help her she walked over to the occupied stall and lightly knocked on the door.

            “Excuse me, but are you alright in there?” Savannah asked.

            “Go away!” yelled the voice inside. It was raspy and Savannah knew the girl had been crying for quite some time. Growing stronger, the sadness inside Savannah made her really upset.

            “Look I know you must be upset about something, do you want to talk about it?”

            No reply.

            “Please, I want to help you I-“

            ”You can’t help me! You’re a mutant!” the voice said.

            Savannah’s urge to be offended by this comment didn’t happen. Instead she was very much sad. Closing her eyes and reopening them, a small tear came from her eye. She sunk to the floor and wrapped her arms around her legs.

            “Listen,” Savannah said barely able to speak as she tried to hold back tears. “What ever it is that’s making you cry is making me want to cry too.”

            The sniffles began to slow down but the girl said nothing. Savannah had a good heart and when someone was not feeling right it made Savannah unhappy, but this was just ridiculous to her. Crying over something she didn’t even know why?

            A faint click could be heard as the door to the stall opened slowly. A face appeared. Her eyes were swollen red and watery.

            “You’re crying because of me?” the girl asked.

            Savannah got up and looked at the girl. “I guess so.” she responded.

            “How can you be....” the girl said. She opened the door completely and walked out. Savannah had a complete look at her now. She had waste length shiny brown hair pulled back into a braid. Her green eyes were covered by her tears, and so was her pale complextion. She wore a regular plain white t-shirt with jeans.

            Savannah walked over and pulled out two pieces of Kleenex tissues from their boxes. She handed one to the girl, and used the other to wipe her own tears away. The girl took the Kleenex and blew her nose clearing it up.

            “Thank you.” she said weakly.

            “My names Savannah-“

            ”I know your name! Everyone knows the Xavier kids’ names. Your Savannah Caughlyn, otherwise known as the human wind rider.” The girl said under her sniffling.

            “I uh...” was all Savannah could say.

            “The name’s Sharla.” she said.

            “So Sharla why were you uh, you know crying?” Savannah asked as kindly as she could.

            “No-no reason.” Sharla said acting stubborn. Savannah felt this too and started acting stubborn as well.

            “Oh I see,” she said. “Well then uh, I won’t tell you why I was crying.”

            “You already told me! You apparently were crying because I was crying remember?” Sharla replied. “In any case, why would I tell a mutant.” she added.

            “Not all mutants are bad you know? We X-Men, were different we-“ Savannah said before being interrupted.

            “Yeah you’re different all right. Freaks is what you are!” Sharla yelled. “Look stay out of my business and I’ll stay out of yours ok?” she said. She grabbed her backpack and headed out the door. She stopped herself just before leaving and looked at Savannah.

            “Your pathetic crying for me act won’t work either! You and the rest of the X-Men have been lying to us and keeping secrets this whole time. Why should I believe you now?” Sharla said and with that she left.