CHAPTER 115 – FAREWELLS IN THE GREEN
The Savage Land stretched wild and endless around them. Smoke from the campfires curled up into the canopy, the scent of roasting meat mixing with damp leaves. The X-Men stood gathered at the edge of Ka-Zar's village, where paths split — one leading back into the jungle, the other downriver to the makeshift raft that would carry them out.
Zabu, Ka-Zar's great sabretooth tiger, padded forward. Logan crouched low to meet him, cigar tucked in the corner of his mouth. He ran a calloused hand through the beast's thick fur.
"Gonna miss ya, furball," Logan muttered. Zabu rumbled, almost a purr, and headbutted his shoulder hard enough to nearly topple him. Logan chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get soft on me. You keep Ka-Zar outta trouble, huh?"
Ka-Zar smirked nearby, arms folded across his chest. "He's the one keeping me out of trouble, Wolverine. Not the other way around."
"That tracks," Logan said with a grin. He gave Zabu one last scratch behind the ear. "Smell ya later, big guy."
---
Cyclops shook Ka-Zar's hand firmly. "We owe you more than we can say. Without your help, we'd never have survived this land."
"You owe me nothing," Ka-Zar said. His blond hair shimmered in the sun, his tiger-skin cloak billowing lightly. "You stood against Garokk when no one else could. That is debt enough."
Banshee, leaning on a staff carved by one of the villagers, gave Ka-Zar a roguish grin. "Aye, but if ye ever get tired of jungle livin', we'll find ye a pint in Dublin. First round's on me."
Ka-Zar laughed, clasping his forearm. "I'll hold you to that."
---
Storm stood among a circle of Savage Land women, their arms draped in woven vines and beads. They pressed small gifts into her hands — feathers, shells, a carved charm.
"You brought us the sky," one whispered. "May the winds always carry you safely."
Storm's eyes softened. "And may your skies stay clear. You've shown me beauty here I had nearly forgotten. A people at one with their land. I carry that with me."
She bowed her head, regal as ever. For once, her smile wasn't distant. It was warm, even fragile.
---
Thunderbird slapped forearms with a group of warriors, their grips iron-strong.
"You fight like men," one said.
"Damn right I do," Thunderbird barked with a grin. "Next time I'm back here, we'll hunt something bigger."
"Like what?" Sunfire muttered dryly beside him.
Thunderbird smirked. "Eh. Maybe a volcano. You can handle the fire, right, hotshot?"
Sunfire rolled his eyes. "That joke is beneath even you, Thunderbird." But there was a faint curl of amusement at the corner of his lips.
---
Nightcrawler stood flanked by giggling Savage Land girls. His tail swished nervously, his yellow eyes glowing as they offered him garlands of flowers.
"Mein Gott, I do not deserve such attention," he stammered, bowing dramatically. "But if I must accept your affection, I will do so with grace!"
They giggled louder as he bamfed behind one, tapped her shoulder, and bamfed back before she even turned. The laughter rang through the trees.
Colossus approached, cheeks reddening as some of the same girls pressed blossoms into his hands. "I… I will treasure these," he said earnestly, clutching them as though they were sacred relics.
Nightcrawler leaned over with a sly grin. "Careful, Piotr. If you keep that up, you will have a wife in every jungle tribe."
Colossus blushed deeper. "I… that is not…!"
The girls laughed again, delighted.
---
Finally, all the goodbyes were said. The villagers watched from the clearing as the X-Men gathered. Jean was gone, Hank was gone — ghosts lingered in their absence. The team stood heavier, older.
Cyclops adjusted his visor, his voice clipped but steady. "Alright. Time to move. We've taken enough of their kindness."
Logan glanced back one last time at Zabu and Ka-Zar. He muttered under his breath, so quiet only he could hear it: "Try not to die, friends."
Then he shouldered his pack, stepped onto the jungle path, and led the way toward the river.