SNOWBIRD: Page 3 of 4

Publication Date: 30th Dec 2007
Written By: Peter Luzifer and Daytripper.
Image Work: Peter Luzifer.
Biography

BIOGRAPHY - Page 3

In truth however, Snowbird returned to Doug Thompson, for in her short life she had been a goddess and a super heroine, and now she felt it was time for her to learn what it was like to be a woman with the man she loved. Though she enjoyed her time with Doug Thompson, Snowbird could not stay away from Alpha Flight for long.  Eventually she sensed they were in need of her, and so she donned her costume again, and quickly ventured to the West Edmonton Mall where her friends were under attack from Omega Flight. However, she didn’t turn out to be such a great help, as she was apprehended by the Delphine Courtney, the villainess leading Omega. With everyone else incapacitated, Shaman had to choose whether to save Snowbird or his daughter, who was trapped in his open medicine pouch. Believing Talisman capable enough of helping herself, Shaman chose Snowbird and Talisman paid the price by being consumed by the void. If not for the mysterious Beyonder she would have been imprisoned there forever. Snowbird tried to calm Talisman after she had been brought back to them, but the young woman was too enraged and severed her ties with Alpha Flight. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #24, 27-28]

Another time, Narya helped a decimated Alpha Flight battle the Hulk, and during the fight she once more assumed the white Sasquatch form. Eventually the Hulk returned to the States, and Snowbird stopped pursuing him at the Canadian border. When she returned to the battlesite, she found her team at their worst.  Shaman had lost the faith in himself, and Walter Langkowski’s soul, which had found a temporary home in the Box robot, seemed finally lost. Team leader Heather Hudson was about to give up, but somewhat more human now that she had been spending much time with Thompson, Narya gave a heartfelt speech, admitting that she was wrong in thinking that the destruction of the Great Beasts and Omega Flight’s capture meant Canada was safe and that it still needed heroes to protect it. This speech was an important factor in keeping Alpha Flight from disbanding again, and also in the government giving funding back to the team, as Gary Cody, former team liaison, heard the speech. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #29]

Snowbird officially rejoined the team, though she was somewhat of a detached member, and unlike the rest of Alpha Flight she did not move to their new headquarter on Tamarind Island but stayed in Doug Thompson’s house. In a surprise move she even married him, though kept this secret from her teammates. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #35]

Visited by Shaman on his pilgrimage after he quit Alpha Flight, Snowbird was concerned for his mental well-being and decided to secretly track him across the wilderness.  Despite his dislike for Alpha Flight, Doug Thompson even joined her. While following Shaman, Narya suffered a momentary pain, nearly dropping Doug in mid-flight. At her husband’s request, Narya agreed return to Alpha Flight so she could be examined by a doctor. Not even Alpha Flight were able to help, and Snowbird’s situation deteriorated, her being struck by incredible pain at irregular intervals, causing her to reveal her True Fires and angrily lash out at those around her. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #30-35]

No longer in full control of her shape-shifting powers, Snowbird managed to break free of Mansion Alpha, hungry for prey, and upon killing a hare she proceeded to eat it – until the pain surged through her again, stopping her from eating.  It was then that Shaman returned from his quest and correctly diagnosed that the goddess was pregnant. Alpha Flight tried to calm an increasingly irate Doug Thompson, when Snowbird came back and to prove Shaman right, appeared already eight months pregnant, apparently her child growing and aging at the same rapid rate that she herself had. Shaman knew that just like Snowbird, the baby needed to be delivered in a place of power, but when he contacted the Arctic Gods for help, they refused as they claimed Narya had rejected them for selfish human motives – love. Instead Shaman summoned Dr. Strange who directed him to a place of power up north.

For Doug Thompson, this was all too much to take in, and holding Alpha Flight at gunpoint he abducted Narya to take her to a “proper” hospital. However, they could make him see his error, and soon the team departed to the place of power where the childbirth was about to occur, unaware that there was an ancient sorcerer buried beneath the frozen wasteland. The Arctic Gods suddenly appeared and offered Snowbird one last chance to join them in Paradise; ridding herself of the stench of mortality. They warned her that after the child was born they would have nothing to do with her. Afraid and suffering unbearable pain, Narya almost agreed – except that she was afraid of losing the people she loved and who loved her back. Snowbird told her mother that she couldn’t leave what she had found on Earth and with that, the Gods left.

Lusting for revenge, Talisman joined with the heroes. She was aware of the danger, but kept it secret as she wanted to watch her father fail and then save the day by controlling the spirit with her powers. Soon the birth was set in motion, and almost instantly, Pestilence, the ancient sorcerer, possessed and corrupted the child. Talisman laughed at her father for his ignorance, yet she found herself due for a surprise, as Pestilence was no dead spirit she could command, for he had been buried alive and held in suspended animation by the low temperatures of the frozen ground. None of Alpha Flight were able to stop the sorcerer, and when Snowbird transformed into her white Sasquatch form to fight him, he showed himself capable of magically binding any incarnation of the Great Beast’s to his will. Only when Shaman accepted the mantle of Talisman, the evil being was driven away, but likewise was the baby whose body he still possessed. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #36-38]

Right after Alpha Flight got back to their base, they learnt of the whereabouts of the long missing Alphan, Marrina. Snowbird proclaimed that they must go in search of her,  until Thompson interrupted, telling her that they should be searching for their son. Coldly, Narya reminded Doug that by marrying him and having his child she had become mortal and was no longer welcome in Paradise. Insecure, she actually considered forswearing her “mistakes”, hoping that her family would re-welcome her into Paradise. Hearing this Thompson angrily stormed off, vowing to find their son himself. He realized that not being human, he could not expect Snowbird to know what motherly love meant. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #39]

However, the changes in Snowbird were more than skin deep. By forsaking the Gods and giving birth to Douglas’ child she was now truly mortal, and also no longer bound to the borders of Canada or limited to shapeshifting into animals native to the Arctic circle. As such, Narya could accompany her teammates to Atlantis where they aided the Avengers in freeing Marrina, and eventually witnessing her wedding to the Submariner. However, Snowbird felt no joy; she carried a certain death-wish, hoping that if she were to die, she could return to the Gods. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #39, Avengers (1st series) #272, Alpha Flight (1st series) #40]

Soon after, while the rest of Alpha Flight were busy with another mission, Shaman and Snowbird located Pestilence in the mining town of Burial Butte. Once they got there, the pair learned that Douglas, Snowbird’s husband, had gotten there before, and had been infected with a fatal disease by Pestilence. All he could do was send the pair of heroes to the mountains, while he alone waited for his death. In the mines, Shaman took mental control of Narya, trying to force her to slay her possessed offspring. However that was actually the sorcerer’s plan for the baby’s pure spirit was slowly overcoming his influence. Only by it being killed could Pestilence could roam free and possess someone else again. When Alpha Flight showed up, they stopped Shaman, but Pestilence then assumed control of Snowbird’s Sasquatch form himself, commanding her to slay him. A desperate Vindicator, aka Heather Hudson, instinctively knew that the only thing preventing Pestilence from escaping again was for him to remain in the baby – although that meant killing Snowbird before she would harm it. Pondering this no-win situation, Heather hesitated too long, and by the time she released the lethal E-M burst at Snowbird, she had already slain her child. While Pestilence’s spirit escaped, mother and child were dead. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #44]

Alpha Flight took the bodies of Snowbird, Doug Thompson and the baby back to Tamarind Island, and mourned them in a funeral. Shaman summoned the Arctic Gods who forgave Snowbird for taking a mortal husband, and allowed her to assume her rightful  place in paradise nonetheless. As Narya’s spirit rose from the white Sasquatch form she had died in, she told her mother Nelvanna and the other gods that it was their undoing to take away her immortality, as no price could have survived such a sacrifice. To her own shame, Narya admitted her error of ceasing to love Doug and thinking of their marriage as a mistake. Now she announced to never leave his side again. The Gods discussed it and eventually agreed for Snowbird’s family to enter Paradise with her, and the three spirits of Doug, Narya and their child rose, while their soulless bodies were buried near Alpha Flight’s headquarters. [Alpha Flight (1st series) #45]