"Sabretooth: Blood & Prey"

Sewers are never really nice places to be, but this one was especially not so. And the reason for that was rapidly stalking through the refuse, pausing periodically to wipe the decaying sewer stench away from his face.

"C'mon out, girlie! You're only making it tough on yerself!" Creed roared.

Sabretooth smashed over a huge pile of garbage with his arm, scattering it up against the sewer wall. Frustration was beginning to set in. His team of Marauders had been hunting in the Morlock tunnels for hours already, and the easy kills had already dried up. Victor Creed separated himself from the rest of the pack and began his own hunt.

He had caught her scent about forty minutes ago, and had begun the chase, stalking her through the tunnels. He caught up with her once, but the panicked mutant had let go with her powers and caught him full in the face with some kind of sonic blast. Creed was so stunned he released her, but he recovered quickly.

He lived for this. He had been hired by Mr. Sinister to be a part of his Marauders, a team of killers who were sent into the tunnels beneath New York City. There was a group of mutants living there who went by the name Morlocks. The mission was a simple one. Find them, and kill them.

And to Victor Creed, who went by the professional name of Sabretooth, the only thing better than a good kill was a good hunt.

As long as it ended in a kill, that is.

In the distance behind him, he heard explosions and faint screams. Probably Scalphunter or Arclight, he thought, racking up the body count. They're the only ones with any guts in this team. They're the only ones who live for the hunt. For the kill.

Like me, he thought.

He froze. A scent crossed his path. He blocked out the sounds of carnage behind him and leaned forward. Then, ominously, he began to silently stretch forward into the darkness, leaning over like a jungle cat. And then he was gone.

She quietly shook in the darkness. A refrigerator box that once housed a Morlock's pet served as her temporary shelter. Why is he down here? she thought. Why are they killing us all?

She should never have come to the city, she thought. She had a life of her own in the suburbs. Her mutant power was strange, but she had it under control. It was her father that couldn't stand it. To him, her sonic voice meant she was different, a freak. She left home when she became a teenager a year ago, and she never went back. A street friend led her to the Morlocks, and she found she fit in with the outcasts. She missed her parents, but she was determined to never let them see how much they hurt her.

Now it began to look like she never would.

Wiping back her dirty blonde hair, Lori peered out from under the box. The damp tunnel was still empty. Perhaps she had lost him? If she did, what could she do? She had run toward the tunnel opening -- maybe she could escape. The X-Men were supposed to be their friends, or at least that's what some of the Morlocks said. Storm led the Morlocks, but she was never around. If I can get out of here...

A rustle petrified her body and mind all at once. Suddenly, her shelter was ripped from her and he stood above her. He was huge, towering over her, backlighted by the single red emergency light in the tunnel. His body was rippled with muscle, and his teeth of pointed fangs were locked in a devil's smile.

"Hello, honey bunch," he spoke. "You gave me a good run, but nobody escapes Sabretooth. Nothin' personal, you understand?"

He paused as if something she could say would make a difference, then snatched her up. In desperation she screamed out, but Sabretooth whirled her face away and her sonic bursts shattered only the refuse strewn about the subway tunnel. She was in an instant held in front of him, his shining claws at her throat.

"I'll give you credit," he said. "You ran me pretty good. But when it comes to hunting and killing, I'm the best..."

Her silent prayer was answered as she fell to the ground. She spun to see her attacker wrapped up around the throat by a shiny metal coil. His hands were clutching at it as the loops glowed with electricity. She tried to move, but shock held her body as she watched Sabretooth get whipped across the tunnel, smashing into the tunnel wall.

A blue and gold figure stepped in front of her, facing the opposite wall.

"Get up, Creed. I just needed to get your attention. I know that didn't hurt you bad enough to keep you down."

-- Continued On Page 2