Alpha Flight HQ

It was a normal day for the super team named Alpha Flight as they relaxed in the Alpha Complex. Suddenly, Walter Langkowski entered the main meeting room to reveal an announcement that was close and dear to his heart.

"I am sorry that I was not able to fight alongside you against Gamma Flight but-but Aurora has left me. She blames me for Jean-Paul's death. I think she knows that I did not pull the trigger of Caliber's machine gun but I may as well have for all she is concerned."

Snowbird stood up and comforted Walter. "My apologies, Sasquatch. I know how much you have loved that dear woman. I'm sure she'll get over it, soon."

"Yes, friend Walter,' Shaman said. "You can persevere. I know you can. Maybe a little adventure can distract you from-"

The alarm went off and an image appeared on the main screen. Mr. Gentry turned the sound up and cleaned the image of any blemishes.

"It's Dan Thompson of the RCMP," Snowbird said. She turned to the screen, seeing her new boyfriend for the first time in weeks. "What is it, Dan?"

'We need your help immediately, Alpha Flight. Several days ago, a logger by the name of Jean Baptiste slaughtered his entire family, wife and child included. Parts of the bodies were eaten by a cannibal. Our dental records show that the teeth marks in the flesh and organs to be human in origin. We believe that cannibal to be Baptiste himself. Our detectives did some digging in Canadian mythology and we came up with this-" An image of a white, furry 'sasquatch' like creature appeared next to an image of Thompson. One thing made this particular creature different from the white sasquatch that Snowbird can shapeshift to was that it had a prehensile tail. "Some other loggers, unrelated to the case, have taken pictures of this creature on a killing spree in Northern Canada. We believe this creature to the Wendigo of legend. Only you, Snowbird, can stop it and maybe that Sasquatch creature you have working for you. Thompson out."

The image on the screen faded to black again.

Narya stared at Walter imploringly. "When I go home tonight, I'll speak to Dan about that crack. That was unnecessary. If you do not wish to go, Walter, I will understand and go in your stead."

Walter balled his fists. "No, it is all right. We should go together. We make a good team."

"Yes, we do, don't we?" Narya responded, with a hint of a smile on her lips.

Northern Canada Logging Station

"Sorry about that remark earlier, Langkowski," Dan Thompson of the RCMP said, as he drove in his pickup jeep to the area where the Wendigo was last seen. Narya sat shotgun, while Walter Langkowski sat in the back.

"Forgiven and forgotten," Walter responded, not letting the remainder of the crack hurt him further.

"My brother told me that you were made of stern stuff, Langkowski," Dan said. "Y'know, before he died."

"Didn't know he had a brother until recently."

"Yes, that is true," Narya commented with a smile. "But then, you were never a big conversationalist with Doug now were you?'

"No, guess not."

"We're here, folks, eh?" Dan revealed to them as they made a stop at the logging station. There were a group of loggers chopping wood that was already chopped down from trees. One or two of them had seen the jeep make its less than dramatic entrance onto the area but made no move to greet them or acknowledge their existence.

"Either they are the ones who saw the Wendigo or they are extremely antisocial," Walter commented. "I'm the ex-pro football player so I should be the one to make contact with them. Narya, stay back. Dan, you're backup. Keep your rifle holstered if possible."

The logger that was the front man took his axe and threw it in the ground, mere feet in front of Walter. Langkowski had to guard himself against the logger's brashness and not flinch.

"You got a problem, mister?" the logger asked harshly. He kept one hand on the axe, imbedded in the grass. He was twisting it as if he was ready to swing it again this time on top of Walter's head.

"First off that is really annoying," Walter said, as he changed into Sasquatch and taking the axe in hand threw it in the woods to his left.

"SHEEEEOOOOTTTT!!!" The logger tripped over himself and fell onto the grass. Walter could see a wet spot on his groin where the logger must have urinated in his pants. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"We came here to-"

Before he had a chance to finish his sentence, the two Alphans heard an animalistic scream originate from the direction of the woods. Walter and Narya vaulted into action to chase after the being they believed to be the Wendigo.

Still in his bestial form, Sasquatch ran as fast as he could into the woods, cleaving the trees with his claws. Snowbird had followed him, thus transforming her lithe form into that of White Sasquatch. Two sasquatches were better than one.

Dan Thompson of the RCMP, for the first time, scared out of his wits stayed behind in his jeep and called for backup in case the two Alphans died on this mission to kill the Wendigo.

Inside the woods, Walter heard screams of horror and terror as the Wendigo was feasting on another unlucky victim. The more he feasted, the more bloodthirsty he became. In a clearing, the Wendigo was chewing on the cloudy skin and organs of another logger. Sasquatch saw him first and rushed to stop the creature's feasting.

Walter punched the Wendigo across the jaw, separating him from his meal. The Creature dropped the dead body, growling. Snowbird knew a fight would ensue. The Wendigo looked mad, pronouncing his name slowly and surely as a bloody mantra as he approached Walter for the kill.

"Walter, no!!" Snowbird screamed at the top of her lungs as she separated the two combatants. "We must find a way to cure him."

"There is no cure," Walter admitted. "Only death."

"Wen-di-go! Wen-di-go!!" the creature responded in kind, as if agreeing with Walter's sentiments.

"He's not at fault, Walter. He is an innocent bystander."

"No, he's not. Jean Baptiste gave in to cannibalism and once he feasted on the flesh of another human being, tho dead, caused him to be forever transformed into the Wendigo. He is no more innocent than serial killers."

"This is mystical by means, maybe a mystical being can free him."

"You're crazy, 'Bird."

"No, she's not, Dr. Langkowski." A rip and tear in time and space had occurred just then, and the mystical beings that Snowbird spoke of had appeared. The Northern gods and goddesses had taken form. Nelvanna approached them.

"Wen-di-go! Wen-di-go!!" The creature seemed to face these beings as a threat to his very existence. He wanted to kill them. He wanted to feast on them.

Nelvanna stroked the creature's long white mane and with an outstretched arm, filled the creature with even more mystical energy.

The Wendigo transformed back into Jean Baptiste.

Then, the man collapsed.

With the threat over, Thompson had arrived with his backup. He handcuffed Baptiste. "Jean Baptiste, you are under arrest for the murder of your family. Hope you have a good lawyer."

Sasquatch returns to the Alpha Complex with Snowbird. The battle was good. It allowed him to blow off some steam but the tact remains that Aurora is still gone and he is all alone. His clothes and body is covered with the blood of the Wendigo. What he needs right now is a good, long, hot shower.

He strips his clothes and throws them in the hamper for a good washing. It's so late now that he decides to do the laundry in the morning.

Naked, he turns on the water, his muscles aching and rippling. When he steps into the hot onrush of water, steam everywhere, he thinks that he has gone to heaven.

The shower takes minutes but it feels like hours to him. When he steps out of it someone, a very pretty someone, hands him his towel so that he can dry himself off. His eyes are closed for a second and when he opens them, he can't believe them.

It is Aurora.

It is at that time that Walter collapses. The image of his love soon fades from existence and he is asleep for long minutes. He does not know exactly how long he is out or if Aurora was real or whatever it was.

He slowly opens his eyes moments later and sees Snowbird in her bathrobe standing over him.

"Are you unhurt, Walter?' she asks him.

She reaches out her lithe hand to his and gives him a helping hand up.

"I think so. I saw Aurora. I don't know if it was real or not but it felt like an apparition."

"Or it could be that you were just tired from the fight. You know, you could have Michael examine you to make sure you are indeed all right."

"He is a medical doctor not a psychiatrist. He can check to see if my body is healthy not if I am mentally unbalanced."

"You are correct. Maybe you need a vacation. I suggest you take one."

"You know, I thought I could deal with her not being around me. But I can't. I feel that she's gone for good."

Then, Walter cries like he's never cried before.