7/9

7/9 James Proudstar joins the Hellions with a grievance that reaches past the New Mutants. As Thunderbird, he carries the name of his dead brother, John. His anger is directed at the X-Men, whom he blames for that loss. Emma offers him training and the prospect of confronting the people he holds responsible. James supplies the original Hellions with formidable strength and physical ability. His encounter with Sunspot immediately puts him opposite the other team's powerhouse, while his position among his classmates gives him responsibilities beyond winning his own fight. There is also a limit to how neatly he fits Emma's plans. Fighting Xavier's younger students does not satisfy the reason he came here. He wants the X-Men themselves, and he says so. His behavior among the Hellions supplies something beyond that anger. When Jetstream confronts Empath, James initially tries to calm the argument. He has to deal with personalities that do not naturally fit together, including a boy who can interfere with the very emotions they are arguing over. Later, when the Combat Room goes wrong, his warning includes both teams. He is capable of recognizing immediate danger without stopping to sort everyone into allies and enemies first. Those moments give him responsibilities in the present even while his reason for joining is rooted in the past. He has classmates to look after, however much he wants to reach the X-Men. That leaves Emma teaching a student whose commitment depends on a promise of revenge. James has the ability to hurt people and a personal reason to keep training. The question hanging over his place in the school is how much of his future he is prepared to let Emma arrange.