CHAPTER 177 — THE CURSE BROKEN
Snowbird, no longer goddess but beast, tore into Wendigo with a fury that made even Logan blink. Claws and fangs ripped into the white-furred giant, blood spraying in arcs across the snow. Wendigo bellowed, swinging wildly, but the smaller wolverine-beast was relentless, gnashing at his throat, raking at his face.
Nightcrawler hissed, "Mein Gott… she's lost herself completely!"
Vindicator cursed under his breath, firing another concussive blast into Wendigo's side. "She's going to kill herself—or us—in the process!"
Logan wiped blood from his lip, eyes narrowing. 'That ain't Snowbird anymore. That's pure gulogulo instinct. Savage. Hungry.' His chest tightened. 'Like me, when I let the claws take over.'
Wendigo slammed Snowbird hard into the earth, but she rolled up, snarling, more animal than woman. She leapt again, teeth sinking into his shoulder, chewing with sickening crunches.
Logan growled. "Enough of this."
He sprinted forward, claws drawn, intercepting Wendigo as he staggered under her weight. Logan's slashes came fast, a whirlwind, forcing Wendigo back, blow after blow, carving bloody furrows that knitted but slowed him just enough.
Snowbird spun on her paws, eyes red with hunger, and turned—not to Wendigo—but to Logan.
She stalked low, foam dripping from her muzzle, every movement a predator sizing up prey.
Nightcrawler shouted, "Logan—she thinks you're food!"
Logan didn't flinch. He lowered his claws, palms open. "Easy now, Snowbird. I know that hunger. Know it eats you alive. But you're not a beast. Not really."
She snarled, saliva dripping.
He stepped closer, voice rough but steady. "I've walked this line my whole damn life. The animal. The man. The beast inside don't gotta win. You're stronger than that."
Snowbird's head twitched, jaws snapping inches from his throat. Logan didn't move.
"Come back, darlin'. Don't let the hunger own you. You're Snowbird. Not me. Not this." His chest tightened, Jean's face flashing in his head. "Don't make me lose another one today."
For a long, terrible heartbeat, nothing. Then her eyes flickered—beast fading, humanity sparking. She whined, collapsing to the snow. The shift began, fur retreating, claws shrinking. In moments she was Snowbird again, trembling, tears streaming down her face.
She clutched at Logan, sobbing. "I—I couldn't stop it—I wanted—blood—"
Logan wrapped an arm around her, patting her back awkwardly, claws retracting. "You fought it. That's what matters. You ain't alone."
---
Behind them, Wendigo staggered, dazed, weakened from the brutal assault, and fell asleep. Shaman seized the moment. He raised his pouch high, chanting, voice booming with mystic power. Green energy spiraled from his hands, wrapping around the beast.
"By spirit and spell, release the man within!"
The Wendigo howled, thrashing as the magic burned across his flesh. White fur receded, bones cracked, shape twisting. The monstrous form shrank, contorted, until a man lay shivering in the snow—Georges Baptiste.
His eyes fluttered open. Tears spilled. "I… I'm free…" He clutched his face, sobbing. "The hunger… it's gone. At last."
Snowbird wiped her eyes, whispering, "He is himself again."
Vindicator landed beside them, arms crossed, gaze hard. "Not entirely free. Georges, you'll answer for the lives lost under the curse. Canada will judge you."
Georges nodded, still weeping. "Do what you must. I'll accept it. I'm just… grateful to be myself again."
---
The snow fell silent at last.
Vindicator turned to Logan, his voice quieter than before. "You didn't have to come back here. You didn't have to help. But you did. For that, I'll speak to the government. No more manhunts. No more Alpha Flight dragging you in."
Logan smirked faintly. "'Bout time you saw reason, Jimmy."
Vindicator extended a hand. "Then we're done fighting each other. Come by sometime. Heather misses you."
For a second, Logan's face softened. He shook the hand firmly. "You don't need to tell me to see Heather. That's one visit I'll make on my own."
Inside, though, his thoughts burned. 'James and Heather found me once. Broken. Starving. They gave me a life. Guess I still owe 'em more than I thought.'
Snowbird lingered close, still shaky. Nightcrawler beamed at her gently. "You did well, fraulein. Do not dwell on the hunger—you overcame it."
She looked at Logan, eyes grateful. He just grunted, lighting a cigar with shaky hands.
Smoke curled into the cold air. He stared into the trees, hearing Jean's voice in the back of his mind. 'Maybe beatin' monsters won't bring you back, darlin'. But it sure as hell keeps me breathin'.'
The snow swallowed the silence.
And the Equalizer Wolverine walked on.