Not what you usually do? And that could be a criticism? This is beautiful; the imagery so rich and the language incredibly evocative. I suspect you've seen Red Riding Hood recently and managed to find something worthwhile in there ... good for you! And haven't we all wanted to subsitute "wolf" for "wolverine" at some time ... because it fits Logan so damn well. Bated breath until the next one.

And here, I must enquire, what are you smoking woman? The idea of a strand of HAIR as a weapon ... so twisted, and logical, and sinister, and original ... insanely good. An idea for the ages. One thing I adore about this fic is its timelessness, and how well it meshes with the X-men universe without being set in it. I'm going to think of it as the official, medieval-era prequel. You should bill Marvel, really.

I'm doing the happy bounce at finding yet another AU to play with - it's so much fun to explore the Rogues and Logans that might have been. Very interesting to see Rogue already has a few traits often attributed to Logan, without having absorbed him yet, which promises to make the ride all kinds of fun. Looking forward to it!

Author's Response: Yeah. The idea that Rogue might develop a taste for good whiskey even without Logan\'s influence was just too fun. I had to use it :P. Thanks for reading!

Isn't it funny how we all have such a different understanding of action. This chapter has two emotional peaks - Logan giving her his tags, and then the scene with Carol. "The cage began to rust, to crumble and disintegrate before her very eyes." That last scene is just beautiful: simple, minimalist, even, but an absolute turning point for Marie. Plenty of action for me. *happy sigh*

Author's Response: Thank you very much. That makes me smile. I suppose action *is* more than people running around attacking each other and doing badass-ish things, heh. It\'s nice to know the scene between Carol & Marie came across well. It was a powerful scene in my head, but of course you never know whether you got that across until someone gives feedback. So, thanks for the feedback, and thanks for reading :).

You gave me a pang for Jean, which is pretty much a testament to your genius. Loved Logan's understanding of Rogue at the end there ... he knows what she needs, when no one else does. Sob.

Author's Response: Yay! A pang for Jean! Whoop! :oD Trying to write a fic where Logan loves Jean, where Jean is nice and non-evil, is getting lots of Jean hate (should have seen that coming really!) I\'m really not trying to make her the villain in this one, though. Maybe she needs to save some puppies or something. Kittens? Bunnies..?

This is a great chapter, really has me hooked. Your scene with Logan, Colossus and the runts was incredibly visual and the dialogue was perfect.

Lots of great lines too ... " While during the school year, he was perpetually annoyed, during the summer months, he was only inclined towards annoyance", just sums up Logan SO perfectly - I started cackling away. (Enough to make my husband look up from the Tour de France highlights!!!) "defence AND offence classes" ... same!

Don't worry too much about your word lengths - 1000 words is short, yes, but if you feel you need to write that, that the chapter stops there naturally, stop. Forcing it doesn't work. Similarly, if you want to write 5000 words, write that. Once things are flowing, its the story that counts.

A lot of writers actually like to have a few chapters up their sleeve, and that means you have the freedom to massage where one chapter ends and the next starts if doesn't feel right on the reread.

Happy writing, I'm really looking forward to more of this!

Wow. That's like a punch to the solar plexus. Incredibly powerful and vicious. That's the thing about Rogue ... such potential for things to go so very wrong, and this feels like a very authentic future for her, having to rebuild and rebirth personalities to maintain control: brilliance. The interaction with Logan was almost unexpected and just climbed from one sorrowful moment to the next; even so, I was shocked when she chose to drain him ... great work. Magnificent, truly superb psychodrama.

Author's Response: Thank you. I really admire your writing (although I know I haven\'t shown it--will get back to reading Sleeping Dogs asap!), so that means a lot. I\'m glad Rogue came across as authentic. It felt realistic to me, but I put the OOC warning up just in case.

Holy plot twist! I didn't see THAT coming ... last time I take you for granted ;) So glad you succumbed to posting early; feel free to do it again :D

Author's Response: Glad I managed to surprise you. As you can see, I succumbed again. ;-) Thanks so much for reviewing!

The trouble with reading a whole bunch of chapters at once is that pesky next button. And you with the suspense, of course. (I feel I can pause before the smut ... anticipation, you know ;) You balanced the suspenseful elements of this perfectly with Marie's emotional battle to rediscover herself and her own strength; unputdownable. Wonderful work!

I have never wanted to see a picture more in my ENTIRE life. Poor, poor Rogue. (Loving this!)

Author's Response: I know, right? It doesn\'t exist anywhere besides my own head (mores the pity). As a consolation prize, here\'s some sexiness.\r\nhttp://file.unluler.in/hugh-jackman-8.jpg \r\nhttp://imstars.aufeminin.com/stars/fan/hugh-jackman/hugh-jackman-20060619-138324.jpg\r\nhttp://suspensoarg.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/hugh20jackman20wolverine.jpg\r\n\r\nThanks for reviewing! Kiss Kiss

Guh! This has so very much promise. Your style is so tight and punchy, yet evocative and poignant when it needs to be ... I'm so looking forward to the ride.

Author's Response: Awesome. I\'m really glad you liked the start and I appreciate the feedback. Thanks for the review. :)

Woah! I've refused to let myself read this, you know, until I finished Sleeping Dogs. It was my own little incentive plan. But I caved, and you've had to take a sabbatical, and WHAT A PLACE TO LEAVE IT!!!!! *breathes*

All the very best for your exams, and may you return refreshed and raring to go. This is a wonderfully gripping story, and it's an interesting take on what Marie might have become left to her own devices. You've written the Wolverine (as opposed to Logan) beautifully, and I'm really enjoying the few twists that make this Logan a shade different to all the other Logan's out there. And kudos for 21 chapters with no smut ... didn't know that was possible :D

Author's Response: Aw, sabbatical sounds like I\'m taking a year off. Just two weeks to go! Although I won\'t argue with an incentive plan for finishing Sleeping Dogs. Pretty please? Thanks so much for your lovely review. And yeah, a smut-free record for me! I\'ll have to make it especially smutilicious once I manage to get them there to make up for the delay.