Chapter Three: Bread Crumbs

Terra silently sped away from Titans Tower. It was time she prove herself to the others. Maybe she could earn their forgiveness. That was the only hope she had left. The moonlight lit her silent form as she soared off into the night. She was alone, abandoned, and rejected by those she had called her friends.

She let the wind hit her face and didn't feel the pain. She'd prove them wrong, Terra told herself, she'd show them she was good. So she would begin to discover herself in a city that didn't want her, in a place where she didn't belong, and among those who distrusted her.

"Follow the bread crumbs and you'll find your way home," she frowned in thought, mauling over the words, she stared at the holoprogector "This is the first bread crumb, I wonder where I'll find the rest?" Terra's mind continued to ask as she flew back from the Island to Jump City. "Well, I'll have to find a place to stay," she told herself, "I don't have a home anymore."

She found a nearby bridges and sighed, "I never thought I'd be a homeless person...maybe I should just forget it and go back to Xavier's school. At least there's a warm meal and a place to sleep there. And my friends." She sighed, she'd made many friends while training at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. There was Kurt Wagner, the mysterious blue elf like creature who could teleport himself anywhere he wanted, he seemed very understanding of her and he always gave her advice whether she wanted it or not. There was Bobby Drake, Iceman, he was the first person to talk to her on her first day there.

But the person Terra missed more than ever was a man she met named Logan, the Wolverine. They were alike in a lot of ways, fiery tempers, unpredictability, and they both had a past which they wished, in some ways, they could forget about. Terra smiled, she could use his wisecracks right now, but he wasn't there. She sat underneath the bridge and shivered, pulling her leather jacket tighter about her shoulders.

"Ya know miss, this isn't exactly a place for a little girl," a voice said in the darkness. "Stay way from me, I can take care of myself," Terra replied to the voice, which sounded strangely familiar. "I see, well I guess me and my friend will join you then.," the voice said, Terra heard some noise as the man and his companion sat down.

Terra saw the other man look at her, then back at the man who had sat down, "Hey, you got a light?" "Logan, is that you?" Terra asked, recognizing his voice. "Terra, little girl, what are ya doing under a bridge for, eh?" The man pulled out a playing card, which glowed red with heat. The other man used it to light his cigar. "Gambit!" Terra rushed forward and gave the man a hug. She pulled away and did the same to Logan, who to her surprise, pounded her on the back.

"So what are you doing here?" Logan asked. "I should ask you guys the same question. " "Well, Terra, the Professor sent us recruiting, ya know, find more students to take back to New York," Gambit smiled. "Did he tell you I was here?" Terra asked, wondering if that was why they were here. "Well, yeah," Logan smiled, "wanted us to look out for you; make sure you didn't get into trouble." They all laughed.

"Come on, we'll take you to the hotel and book you a room," Logan smiled, "You better take care of yourself; I'm not one for babysitting." Terra smiled back, "Don't worry, Logan, I'll be just fine."

"So, now that that's settled, where we gonna eat?" Gambit asked. "I know a great pizza place nearby, we can go there." "Good, I'm starving," Gambit said. They walked to the small place where they went in and ordered a pepperoni and sasuage pizza. They all sat down to eat when the door opened and the Titans walked in. They didn't seem to notice Terra who was quietly staring at them.

Starfire saw Terra and walked over to her, "So, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Getting something to eat," Terra replied, "look Star, I don't wanna bother you guys so just pretend that I'm not here." "Well, Terra," Starfire replied, "You have got a lot of nerve staying in Jump City, especially after all you did here."

"Does this have anything to do with that story you told everyone at the School, Terra," Gambit asked, "The one about Deathstroke and the Titans and how you were the mole and stuff?" "You told people about this?" Starfire glowered. "Yes, I did, I told them so that they'd understand where I came from," Terra said simply.

"Well Terra, I hope your new friends understand that we don't want you around," Starfire turned her back on Terra, "remember that." "I will Starifre," Terra said sadly, "I will."

She turned back to Logan and Gambit. "Nice friends you got here," Logan muttered sarcastically. "Anyway, do you know anything about the crimson bloodline?" Terra asked him. "No," he replied, "don't even know what that is." "What is it?" Gambit asked, curious. "I don't know for sure, but the Professor told me to follow the crimson bloodline and I'd know where it goes."

Raven noticed Terra, but didn't say anything. Starfire went over to the Titans and began talking and laughing with them as if she didn't exist. Terra missed the camaraderie they had had, it was too bad she'd messed it up for all of them. She let out a sigh, and tried not to think about it. She pulled out the holoprojector and handed it to Logan. "Xavier told me this was my first step in my journey." "Journey? Journey to what?" "I don't know, to who I am I guess."

"Ah," Gambit looked amused, "self discovery, always an interesting topic." "Yeah, the Professor told me to follow the bread crumbs and I'd find my way home." "Hansel and Grettel, interesting he said that," Gambit smiled.

Terra noticed that the Titans were done and they began leaving. Beast Boy drifted closer to Terra, "Are you alright?" "Yeah," she replied. "Have you found what you're looking for?" "I can't say. I don't even know what I'm looking for." "Well, I'll see you when I can. They don't exactly want me hanging around you." "See you around, Beast Boy," Terra replied.

"Come on, Shorty, let's get going," Logan smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Who's this guy?" Beast Boy asked. "Oh, this is Logan, call him Wolverine." "Hi," Beast Boy shook his hand, "I'm Beast Boy. Welcome to Jump City. You know her?" "Yeah, she goes to school and I see her sometimes." "Oh, I'll catch ya later, Wolverine. I gotta go, they're probably wondering where I am." He ran off.

"Nice kid," Logan said, "You say you knew him?" "Yes," Terra replied quietly, "He had a crush on me." "Oh, old flame, eh? Logan raised an eyebrow. She chuckled, "Sort of. Come on, let's get back to that hotel you were telling me about. I'm ready to crash."Ya know kid, this may sound kinda odd, but I have a wierd feeling that we should help you," Logan smiled, "So about the whole bread crumb thing, I have no idea what'll happen, but I'll be around."

"Thanks." Let's hope I find more bread crumbs tomorrow.