Wolverine and his new ally are forced to fight, or flee, the Wendigo!

In the barn on the North Battleford, Saskatchewan, farm of Jim Jarman, his son, Tommy and Tommy's dog, Jake, discover the badly mauled body of Wolverine, lying unconscious. The boy watches over him for a time, until he comes to, trying to croak out a request for water. But the frightened boy runs away, and Wolverine passes out again.

When he awakens, he finds food and water left for him. As he feeds himself, he recalls the savage attack of the Wendigo that left him in this condition. He also remembers what may be a significant detail: two of the fingers on the Wendigo's left hand were missing.

Miles to the northwest, the Wendigo licks the wounds Wolverine gave it as he defended himself. It also ponders its missing fingers, and a dim memory of its former life as a human. He had been a school headmaster in Wisconsin chopping firewood in the forest when the ground beneath him collapsed. He had found himself pinned under the log and his two fingers severed by his axe.

Back at the farm, Tommy is becoming bolder, bringing Logan more food, first aid supplies, and a kerosene heater, while keeping his presence a secret from his family. Befriending the boy, Logan tells Tommy about himself and the X-Men, about the unjustified prejudice against mutants and about how sometimes one may have to do terrible things in order to survive.

Approaching from the northwest, the Wendigo again stalks Wolverine, following his trail. Again, the memories flicker in its mind; the man had spent days in the sinkhole, his hunger so great, he resorted to consuming his own fingers. This cannibalism triggered the northwoods curse of the Wendigo, dooming him to an existence as the vicious creature.

Wolverine's healing factor has made him nearly whole again, and, realizing the Wendigo will probably come after him, he departs, leaving a goodbye note for Tommy in the barn. Some distance away, Wolverine abruptly stops in his tracks, realizing his foolish move: with Wolverine's scent in the barn, Tommy and his family are in serious danger.

The creature does indeed reach the farm, and Tommy, who had come to bring Logan more kerosene, is now hiding with his dog in the crawlspace beneath the barn. The Wendigo sniffs around the barn, while Tommy tries to keep Jake from barking. Desperately, Tommy grips his struggling dog tighter, begging him in whispers to keep quiet.

At the moment the Wendigo pinpoints Tommy's location, Wolverine leaps onto the monster's back and draws its attention away from the boy. Knowing he's in no condition to battle the beast, Wolverine douses it with kerosene. The Wendigo upends the heater, setting the barn on fire. Wolverine gathers Tommy into his arms as the Wendigo lunges at him. Wolverine grabs an axe off the wall and slashes the beast's face. Injured and aflame, it runs off into the woods.

Wolverine carries Tommy back toward the farmhouse, an empty dog collar gripped in the boy's hand.