From out of the night sky, Raven floated down to earth
and looked carefully about her. Up ahead an ancient wooden wharf extended an
intruding finger of land into the depths of the ocean. She took note of the
continuous sound of water rolling up against the concrete barrier that divided
land from sea. Old lampposts stretched away from her, arching out to cast clear
islands of light along the ancient cobblestone path. The solitary Titan scanned
the area for occupants of any kind, but to her relief, there were none. She was
alone.
Raven caught the tang of sea air and let out her breath,
along with any tension. Now she could finally relax. She had not expected to
find anyone here, this being a spot two miles out of town, possessing nothing of
exceptional interest to commend itself to the public. Nothing, that is, except
solitude. Raven had discovered this abandoned place months earlier, and had
soon deemed it an ideal spot to go when she needed to get away from her
comrades in
Checking about one last time, the sorceress from the
free-dimension of Azerath lifted off the ground and floated over the luminous
tip of a lamp. She was alone now, but you never know, someone might come along,
and up here she was out of any pedestrian's field of view. Closing her eyes,
Raven steadied herself, spared one last moment of attention to the ocean's
steady song, and...
"Azerath Metrion Zinthos. Azerath Metrion Zinthos.
Azerath..."
The words slipped from Raven's lips, and the sound of
surging waves gradually receded. Her awareness of the world not entirely
obliterated, Raven used her occult mantra to focus her mind, enabling her to
calmly and objectively deal with her emotions. They swarmed inside her head,
seeking an outlet to make their presence felt in the world, but the dedicated
young mystic placed herself between her feelings and the crackling, eldritch
energy that was her father's legacy. As she had countless times before, Raven
mentally divided and relegated her own emotions, ranging from incapacitating
panic, to bone-cold sadness, to red destructive hatred. This last she took
special care to subdue, and when the final rebellious flicker of herself was
sealed away to her satisfaction, the blue-robed spell-caster was free to let
her mind go.
Her astral form extended beyond any known planes,
allowing her to contemplate herself in a new dimension. Around her, Raven saw
without eyes a limitless gulf of calm black water, its placid surface throwing
back a mirror reflection of far-flung stars high above her. She was at peace,
finally. No distractions to preoccupy her, no worries or fears to upset her.
Just calm, and contentment.
Azerath Metrion
Zinthos
She was this place, and it was her.
Azerath Metrion
Zinthos
She felt herself approaching something, a new
understanding of some kind.
Azerath Metrion
Zinthos
Without eagerness, but intrigued, she moved Azerath towards it Metrion and Zi...
KER-PLOP!
A small green fish leapt from the glassy ebon water and
immediately dropped in again.
Raven paused, momentarily taken aback. She searched for
any sign of disturbance, but found nothing, not even the suggestion of a ripple
to mar the mental ocean. She waited.
Nothing.
No importance, she decided. And so once again, Raven
began to focus on her new discovery. Soon she could make out a presence, maybe
even an awareness. Was she about to achieve contact with a heretofore unknown
phase of existence? What marvelous wonders awaited her? Was it of the ocean,
coming from it, the starry sky or...?
KER-PLOP!
A
star dropped straight down to hit the water.
Raven
involuntarily focused on this occurrence, and in the moment her concentration
strayed, the next word of her unconscious chant failed to come out, and she
dipped down low. A burning pain suddenly erupted in her calve, and with a hiss,
she found herself thrown back abruptly into the physical world. Her bare leg
had descended to touch the hot metal of the lamppost, leaving a blossoming red
mark.
Raven
cursed her incompetence, and then willed herself to enough calm to bring her
healing powers to bear. A sparkling blue energy collected about her hands,
Azerath's teachings going into effect in her fingers, and Raven clasped them
about her sore leg. The energy infused the damaged spot to null the pain,
correcting it. As it did so, she thought about her interruptions. What had they
meant?
KER-PLOP!
There
it was again!
Startled,
Raven realized that the sound was originating from somewhere around her. With
her injury now healed, she looked about to locate the source. And found it.
Some
twenty feet away, a person was walking along the jetty towards the pier. Even
from this vantage, Raven could tell that it was a man. As he strolled, the
figure would casually bend down to pick a pebble from the ground. He would then
send the stone out in a lazy lob over the ocean, to end in an audible KER-PLOP.
This was what had disturbed her.
Raven
glowered at the retreating form. Of all the rotten luck. Why did some
miserable, aimless soul have to choose this night to come out here, to her
private spot? She had been on the brink of something major, she was sure of it,
and now this! Irritation flared up in her, and as the intruder bent to retrieve
another missile, the sullen sorceress absently considered redirecting its
course to give him a painful rap on the head. She shivered at the thought.
Mustn't resort to violence. Whoever he was, he would probably leave soon. Until
then, she would just have to make do.
The
man had reached the wharf and was turning along its length. Raven once again
drew up her legs, and prepared for meditation. As her spell droned softly out,
she cast a furtive glance at her unwanted companion. He had reached the end of
the dock and was now leaning out over the railing, apparently lost in the sight
of the ocean.
"Azerath
Metrion Zinthos." Raven continued to chant, seeking clarity, but the
knowledge of the man's presence still distracted her. As her lips formed the
words, she glared darkly at the starlit figure. Still he was just standing
there, as if he owned the place. His lack of purpose served to fuel her
irrational anger. Raven realized that she was now trying to force herself to
meditate instead of letting it come. This would never work, but she kept on
stubbornly chanting.
And he was still just standing there!!
The
hovering spell-caster ground her teeth in frustration.
BLAST
IT, WOULD YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?!!!
And
at that, the man climbed up onto the railing.
Raven
gaped, and her incantation stuttered to a halt. NO! She hadn't meant that!
A
chill stole over her.
Was
he going to...?!!
Then
the figure flung out his arms and fell towards the water.
______________________________
He
walked aimlessly beside the border of earth and ocean, thinking about nothing.
He did this intentionally, until he grew bored. A small rock in his path caught
his eye, and on impulse he picked it up. Here, he thought as he chucked it into
the water, try a new outlook on existence, courtesy of me. Strolling along, he
repeated his altruistic gesture on other inanimate objects. Now if only someone
would do the same for me. However, no giant hand descended from the heavens,
and as he glanced around, there seemed to be no one else available. Of course,
lack of company was what had brought him all the way out here, to a spot that
perhaps he alone knew about. How ironic that what we most desire can so swiftly
become a regret, he mused. Then he spied the dock.
Well,
if nobody was here, perhaps he should just do himself the service. And with
that, he marched down towards the wooden construct.
Reaching
the end of its length he gazed out across the ocean. It was a clear night,
warm, and the moon had already gone below the horizon. Only the stars to accompany
him. Good. He wanted no gawkers to watch this moment. So, he thought, I've
already decided? Oh, yes, he replied. But still, he took the time to enjoy the
view. Then without hesitation, he clambered atop the railing.
Perched
on the top rung, the man swayed heavily, catching his balance as he adjusted
himself. He looked up at the sky.
"Maybe
this time will be different," he mused in his own voice. Yes, maybe he
would find himself in Atlantis, or turn into a fish. Maybe he would just sink
down forever, with nothing to disturb him. Anything was possible. And with that
fact securely in mind, the man spread his arms, closed his eyes and pitched
himself forward.
Here
I come, he thought.
Nothing.
No
water, no splash.
What
the...?
Did
somebody move the ocean?
Perplexed,
the man opened his eyes. No, the ocean was still there, he was looking right at
it.
Actually,
to be more precise, he was hanging right over it. The man stared. Was this
really happening? Was he really...?
The
implications of the situation finally hit him.
"I
can fly!" he exclaimed incredulously.
"And
to think," a cool, throaty voice spoke from above him, "that's only
the second-stupidest thing you've thought all day."
Surprised,
the man turned his head to find a pair of very shapely legs floating before his
face. His brain then registered a little more. There was a body that came with
those legs, a petite, curvaceous feminine frame clad in a skintight leotard,
possibly blue, with a belt of gold-set red gems draped around the hips. Craning
his head around a bit higher, he picked up a fluttering cloak, two hands that
seemed to be glowing black, and a pair of large, luminous dark eyes gazing out
from the shadowy depths of a broad hood.
How
was this happening?
Wait, what did she just say?!!
He
suddenly remembered his predicament, hanging out over the water, and something
occurred to him.
"Ah,"
the man stammered, fumbling for words. "This...isn't what it looks
like." Even to him, it sounded weak. The flying girl stared at him, and he
fidgeted.
"How
would you know?" she asked pointedly. "I'm the one looking at
it." She did not sound happy.
"What
I mean is..." the man began, and then trailed off. He looked helplessly
down (or rather across) at his feet, and finally noticed something. His clothes
were glowing black, just like the girl's hands. Well, that explains that, he
thought. But what am I supposed to do now? He wiggled his hands and feet. The
action produced no discernible result. Apparently any change in his situation
would have to derive from her. Once again he turned his neck at an
uncomfortable degree to view his captor's face. "Look, I'm not sure what
is going on, but could we possibly continue this on the ground?"
She
looked at him, and gave an irritated sigh. The girl then gestured with one hand,
and the man found himself floating back towards the dock, where he was quickly
righted and placed back on his feet. The ebony aura around his clothes
vanished, and he suddenly felt a good deal heavier. That had been rather
pleasant, he reflected. Then the strangely clad maiden drifted over to settle
in with her back to the ocean, her gaze set on him. The cloak came down to
cover her body, leaving only her face and eyes to fill his attention.
For
her part, Raven took the time to study the man she had rescued. He had on a set
of dark grey pants and a coat. The style looked Oriental, and possibly
expensive. His shoes were definitely expensive, Italian leather, and apparently
the whole ensemble was comfortable enough to be tailor-made. This last she decided
upon because of the man's unusual build. He was tall, maybe 6 ft. 3 in., and he
carried himself very straight now that he was back on terra firma. His posture
was so erect he almost certainly suffered from lower back pain, and his
shoulders were squared resolutely, like he was determined to keep them from
slumping. The man seemed in good shape, fairly big, but his arms were a little
long, and there were short curly hairs on the backs of his hands. He had a trim
black beard, slicked back hair, and deep-set, heavy-lidded dark eyes. He might
have been military, Raven could not tell. But enough time had passed without
either of them speaking. Her night had been ruined, and this man was going to
answer for it.
"So
now would you like to explain what was going on?" Raven inquired in a firm
tone.
The
man gave a small jerk, as if he had been lost in thought. For a moment he just
stared blankly at her face, and the magic-user pursed her lips in a grim line.
She waited for him to say something, and then it seemed to dawn on the man.
"You
see," he began haltingly, "I had ...business in town, and ...I
finished it, but afterwards I didn't really feel ...like..." He paused.
"I
just wanted to be alone," he concluded. There, that should be enough for
her.
The
girl's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. "And?" she prompted
dangerously.
The
stranger glanced from left to right, as if for help. "And...then you came
along," he added.
Raven
felt her teeth clench. This was going nowhere. It could be he was in shock, or
he was just ignorant. Either way, it didn't look as if she would be getting any
cooperation. He did not seem suicidal or depressed. Well, forget it then. She
decided it was not really important. And with that, Raven suppressed her
justified annoyance and levitated upwards.
"I'm
going to be leaving now," she said, speaking slowly so that he was sure to
understand. "Whatever choices you make are up to you, and I strongly
suggest you think about their consequences. Good night." With that, she
floated off inland.
The
man stood staring after her. That had been an unusual confrontation. What an
interesting girl. Quite a find...
HEY!
Did she just say
'Good night?!!'
"Wait!"
the man cried, and hurried after her.
Raven
halted and looked back. The suicide caught up to her and stopped.
"I
just wanted to be alone," he stated again. She arched an eyebrow.
"And I came out here because I knew it would be deserted. Anyone who knows
about this place could guess that. And if you are here, then you can't have
been just waiting around to see if somebody showed up and needed rescuing, so I
assume you came here to be alone too."
Raven
was mystified as to where this was headed.
"But
two people can't be alone together," the man continued, "so if we're
both here now, why don't we see what happens next?" He offered up his hand
invitingly.
Raven
remained perplexed. What was wrong with him? First he's looking to drown
himself, and then he's asking her to spend the night with him. He might be a
psychopath. He obviously had some kind of mental abnormality. After all, no
normal person would ever want to spend time with her. This was definitely an
odd character, but did he actually expect her to accompany him? He seemed to
just jump from one impulse to another. It was very confusing. She did not sense
any hostility from him, but all the same...It was not as if she had much
experience around people who wanted her company. What should she do?
The
man still stood with his hand outstretched, waiting patiently. He did not try
to press her any further. And that was what decided it.
"Fine,"
the sulky Titan stated brusquely. This night was a wash for peaceful
contemplation anyway. And she could leave anytime she wanted. Drifting down,
Raven ignored his open hand and settled in beside him. She looked up at him,
and the dark man gazed down on her. Everything was quiet now. Even the ocean's
tumult had receded. The man crooked a smile at her, and then held out his arm
to indicate the path. Raven glanced down it, then back at him. She did not
move.
"If
I were you," she said in a low voice, "I wouldn't try anything."
The
man's face did not change. He just gave a short nod, while still gesturing down
the lane. With a final warning glare, Raven turned and strode off, her boots
crunching on gravel. Her companion soon joined her, and together they walked
beneath the stars.
The
way wound around hills dotted with limestone boulders, bearing inland. Trees
began to sprout up, forming a sparse forest further on. After a few minutes of
walking, neither of them had said a word. At first Raven kept a brisk pace. She
remained wary of this strange individual, tensed and ready for action. But
after while, with no evidence of danger and nothing but the night-time sounds
and smells to occupy her, she began to relax, though still cautious concerning
her situation. Her swift, steady pace became more of a stroll, and she took
some time to enjoy herself. It was a nice night, after all.
For
his part, the stranger was proving less of a burden than she had expected. He
had not attempted to strike a up a conversation, pester her with questions, or
even offer an explanation for their encounter. Raven had assumed him to be a
verbose person, similar to her teammate Beast Boy. But the man seemed content
to continue in silence, and for that she was feeling grateful. She realized he
had not even asked for her name, and had also failed to supply his own. Not
that it mattered. Everyone in this city knew who she was, and he had implied
some familiarity with the surroundings, so he was probably a resident. The
magic user terminated this line of thinking and once again observed the
landscape. The trees had grown more dense around them, though starlight still
glimmered faintly overhead. There were no lampposts here, as they were now a
fair distance from the coast, and its presence was no longer audible. Nothing
of any interest to speak of, so she just walked. And stole an occasional glance
at her companion.
The
man still had not spoken. His attention went from the stars, to the ground,
about the trees, and sometimes at her, though in the last case he would quickly
look away if she seemed to notice. Raven frowned to herself. She had not known
what to expect from this potential lunatic, but it was certainly not this. Was
this really all he had in mind?
Lost
in thought, it took Raven a few moments to notice she was walking alone.
The
dimensional sorceress whirled about, her powers at the ready. A few feet behind
her, the stranger had stopped and was peering off into the forest. He took note
of Raven, and gestured off to the side.
"This
way," he stated simply. "There's a good spot a little way back."
And with that, he moved into the woods. After a moment's hesitation, Raven
followed.
The
stranger made a lot of noise moving through the undergrowth, so she had no
trouble keeping track of him. There did not seem to be a path, and the young
mystic had to pay close attention to the ground and any bethorned plant-life
looking to adhere to her cloak. But despite this she still noticed when the
sounds of her companion's progress diminished, and Raven soon learned why as
she stepped out from under the canopy and into a clearing.
The
low-growing trees in this area had given way to a bare hill with thick grass,
and the quiet man was climbing it. Raven quickly floated up to follow him. She
had had her fill of walking. Reaching the summit, the view struck her
motionless.
You
could see everything at this height, from the ocean in the distance to the
lights of town. She must have not noticed that the land was sloping upwards to
this rise. The hill was the crest of that slope, the landscape now flowing down
towards the endless expanse of water. With the stars out and not a cloud in the
sky, Raven had to admit that this was a very beautiful place.
The
stranger too was contemplating their surroundings, standing with one hand
resting on a large, narrow boulder that crowned the hill. Raven glided over to
join him, and the man looked down at her. She returned his gaze steadily, her
face betraying nothing. Then he gave the stone a quick pat.
"Here,"
he said, "you can take the throne. I'll lie on the grass."
Raven
looked at his offering. The rock came up to her eye level, which made it about
a foot below his head. Its top half was shaped in a smooth S-curve, a natural
cradle for a person to lie back on. It was the final touch to complement this
perfect locale. However, Raven did not immediately take him up on his
suggestion. She had already spent a few hours here, and although the place was
enticing with natural beauty, perhaps she should be returning home to get some
rest. She was just about to voice her concerns, when the man simply plopped
down on the ground and stretched his length in the grass. Pillowing his head in
his hands, he stole a peek at her, and then turned his attention to the sky.
Raven
watched him lying peacefully there. Then with a shrug, the young Titan
levitated up to the top of the boulder and lay down. The contours of the rock
matched her dimensions well, her thick cowl made an excellent pillow, and the
dark-souled girl felt herself relax on this odd perch. Together they looked up
at the midnight-blue heavens bedecked with celestial lights.
The
man lay on the soft, damp grass. He felt quite at ease. There were no demands
on him, an attractive girl was lying next to him (albeit five feet above him),
and he could see the distant lights of the Milky Way. It was most pleasurable.
Of a sudden he was taken back to his youth, when he had enjoyed similar easy
comforts, without the perils and stress afforded by modern adulthood. He had
looked up at the sky a great deal then, wondering who was up there and why. The
man remembered searching the night's blackness for familiar references, the
circling, unchanging stars whose patterns and stories he had faithfully memorized.
Even now, so many years later, he could still recall them clearly. Some of
those old comrades were visible here, far from home and with the bright lights
of the city dimming their luster.
He
lifted a finger and sought out a guiding point, the North Star. His hand moved
downward, located one of those eternal star paintings in the sky. "Taulis
the Horse," he murmured to himself. Then another. "The Four
Stones." They were coming faster now. "Gods' Home. The Circling
Wolves."
"What
are you doing?" The girl's rich voice came from above. He looked at her in
surprise, his arm still raised skyward. She was sitting up and staring down at
him questioningly. He must have been speaking out loud, he hadn't noticed. He
had not meant to disturb her.
"My
apologies. I was just naming the constellations."
Raven
continued to eye him. "Those aren't their names," she said flatly.
The
stranger looked over her shoulder at the sea of stars. "They were where I
grew up."
"Where
was that?" Raven asked automatically, and then rebuked herself. She had
not intended for this to become a conversation. Who knows where it might lead?
But the man's face had grown distant, his lips parted in thought.
"I
took the time to figure this out," he mused softly. "It was... in the
"In
what is now
"Yes."
The man smiled, pleased. "Yes, have you been there?"
"No,"
Raven said and looked out across the ocean. "I just read about it."
She hoped he would leave it at that. The talk of a homeland gave rise to
memories of her own, uncomfortable ones. But the man continued undeterred. He
seemed to have found a topic of interest.
"Our
society was rather primitive in comparison to this country. But we didn't know
that, so what did we care? The community was small, and we did not welcome
outsiders. But we did attend some local gatherings on occasion. By the Bol'
Raven
listened, interested in spite of herself. Not many people she knew could
converse fluently on such a topic.
"We
worked all summer and spring long," he continued, "and hunted. It was
an important tradition, and when the cold came, we would range farther to find
game. It wasn't like it is today, with boundary lines everywhere, and people
shooting you off for invading their homes. Back then we had a different sense
of the word 'home.' It wasn't like a house, it was about the people you
trusted, your family. Wherever they were at the time, that was home."
His
voice was animated, and he gestured excitedly. Raven found herself mesmerized.
These words meant something to her.
"I
know what you mean," she whispered softly.
He
looked at her with interest. "Oh?"
The
young woman drew up her legs and clasped her arms about them. She rested her
chin on her knees. "Where I grew up," she began, choosing her words
slowly and carefully, "things were never simple. For as long as I can
remember, I was treated differently. People were always watching me, like they
were afraid I might try something, or I might explode." Raven frowned with
bitterness. "Or that something else would. It made me feel bad."
"But
when I was with my mother," her voice became more resonant," I didn't
feel scared or lonely then. No matter where we went, as long as I was with her,
I felt safe. Everywhere she was became home. She carried it with her."
Suddenly
Raven realized how much she was revealing to a man she had just met, and
quickly stopped talking.
The
stranger had sat up during her story. He wore a faint smile.
"It
was my mother who taught me the names of the stars," he spoke wistfully.
"Sometimes, when I was a child, I couldn't sleep, and I would cry. My father
would become angry..." Raven flinched at that, "...so my mother would
take me outside and show me the stars. She told me their stories until I fell
asleep. It was one of the few kindnesses we were permitted."
Raven
watched him again. The man fell silent for a long time. He did not seem so
strange and disturbing now. She did not doubt his honesty, and even felt a
little ashamed for being so cold to him earlier.
"Why
did you leave there?" the sorceress asked.
He
did not answer immediately. A few moments slipped by. Then the man stirred, and
when his voice came out now, it was grim. "My father was a very important
and wealthy figure in our community. He was the one people looked to for
leadership, to make the important decisions, and I was supposed to follow in
his footsteps. That was what he wanted, what I thought I wanted. I believed
that it was my right, that I was the only one who could do it. I was proud,
arrogant. A few years after he resigned, when I had proven to everyone what I
could do, times got bad. When the cold came it stayed, and did not let up. We
became cut off from our natural way of life."
There
was a slight hint of spite in his tone, old and worn out. "I took actions
that I thought were reasonable. I was a fool. By that time my mother was long
dead, and I listened to no one but myself. Unbeknownst to me, dissension was
growing. Before I knew it, the other families in the community had turned
against me and mine. We were blamed for the hard times, and in a meeting of all
the people, we were cast out of our home, sent to find our survival elsewhere.
We lost everything."
He
paused for a time. He seemed to be weighing his next words with care.
"They thought I would die, but I didn't. I carried on. By then it was just
my father, myself, and two loyal friends. I tried to lead them to safety, but
they would not follow, and so I was left alone. I never knew what became of
them, but for myself, I became a wanderer, living aimlessly. I had a lot of
time to think, and after a while, I realized that I did not belong there
anymore. I was too different, and there was nothing of value to keep me. By the
time I finally caught a boat away from that area, it wasn't home anymore. In
any sense of the word."
The
man finished, and grew silent. His face was not angry though, or sad. He seemed
thoughtful. Raven realized she was staring at him. She told herself to look
away, but before she could, he turned his eyes upon her. "You?" he
asked shortly. "How did you come to be here?"
Raven
did not know what to say. There was much she could not tell this man, things
she had told no one. But she had to say something. To her amazement, she did
not want their talk to end, and she still did not know his name.
"My
mother left me," she said simply. "After a while, she couldn't go out
as much as she used to, and I stayed with her. I couldn't leave." Raven
remembered the feelings of helplessness and pain she had experienced at the
time. They were still the worst years of her life. "Her health began to
fade, and she never got any better. I tried to help her..." the
enchantress looked at her hands, flexing the slender, supple fingers,
"...but I could do nothing for this. Others came too, and told me she was
beyond anything they could do. I sent them away, and they did not return. I stayed
with mother. For the rest of her life, I was always with her. And when she
died, I came here." Raven thought about why, and finally said,
"Because this had been her home, long before." And that was the
truth.
She
looked down at her audience. His lips quirked. He lowered his head, and gave a
brief chuckle. Raven was immediately offended. "What's so funny?" she
demanded.
The
rude fellow looked up and grinned. "I just thought to myself," he
said brightly, "that you and I should be gardeners." She glowered at
him, confused and hostile.
"Because,"
he continued, "we are both very good at hedging!" And at that he laughed, in a loud and carefree way.
Still
upset, Raven watched him incredulously. Then, as his laughter continued, she
thought about it, and slowly, hesitantly, a tiny smile came to her lips. It did
not reach any farther, but it was there, and she could not make it go away.
The
man noticed this, and felt strangely pleased to see her smile. For some reason,
it made him prouder than anything he had done lately. He was actually enjoying
talking to this dark-eyed young woman. He wanted it to keep going.
"So,"
the man said in a convivial tone, "This place must be your home now."
Raven
felt a surge of suspicion, her emotions doing a complete 180. "Why do you
say that?"
The
man swept out his arms in an all-encompassing gesture. "Like I said
before, because you knew about this area, that you could be alone here. Only a
local would know that. And..." he continued in a pedantic tone,
"...you intended to return here again. That was why you saved a complete
stranger from drowning. You could have left me alone, but you didn't want to
remember this as the spot where someone had thrown it all away while you stood
by watching."
Raven
relaxed, her brief concerns forgotten. "You're half-right. I do come here
often, but I didn't rescue you just for myself. I would have done it no matter
where I was. It's what we do."
"We?"
he asked.
"My
friends and I," the Titan supplied. She turned her head in the direction
of town, where
"Ah,"
the man breathed sagely, "so you have friends here."
Raven
blinked, surprised. And then her face softened. "Yes, I really do."
It was most pleasing to acknowledge. "What about your friends?"
In
response, the stranger reclined back on the grass, hands resting on his
stomach. "I have none," he said carelessly, and raised a hand to
forestall her. "Oh, I know, you see the expensive apparel, the easy
nature, you think I must be swimming in people who want to befriend me."
Raven
hadn't, but said nothing.
"But
I'm serious," he remarked. "I have no friends. I have acquaintances,
and people with whom I am friendly, but there is really no one I can trust. I
have come far, my dear, farther than my father could ever have hoped to achieve
for himself. I am in higher standing now than anyone I left behind in the
Raven
gave a small "Hm" of understanding. She watched him lying there,
seemingly at ease. She knew what it was like, to have no friends. It was not
unbearable, but neither was it particularly wonderful. This man seemed resigned
to it. "So I found my home," she murmured, "while you lost
yours."
The
loner inclined his head in agreement. They both grew silent and gazed at one
another. She studied him, not really thinking, just looking. And he, for his
part, watched her, and his thoughts he did not care to utter. Neither felt
uncomfortable under their partner's stare. They both knew a great deal more
about each other now.
After
a time, the beautiful spell-caster stirred, and her eyes fastened on his.
"Raven,"
she said.
"Come
again?" he asked, sitting up.
"My
name," she spoke slowly. "It's Raven."
The
man stared at her, a look of surprise on his face. He did not seem to have realized
that they had never introduced themselves. He opened his mouth to speak, caught
himself, and looked hastily at the ground. He seemed uncertain. And, she
realized with concern, a little frightened. Like he did not know what to do.
Could he not remember his name? Raven suddenly recalled the circumstances that
had led to this conversation. Perhaps there really was something wrong with
him. And just then, the man looked up.
Raven
watched him closely. He was trembling a little, and he looked nervous. Then he
appeared to reach a decision, and all signs of disturbance fled. The man met
her eyes squarely. He held himself very still.
"My
parents," he said calmly, "named me Kultuq."
Raven
cocked her head to one side. "Kultuq," she repeated. He gave a brief
nod, then let out his breath. "So now you know," he said in a light,
casual manner. He was acting relaxed, but also a bit jangly, like something had
just taken the edge off. The curious Titan finally decided to pose a difficult
query.
"Kultuq,"
she asked carefully, "why did you try to kill yourself?"
A
grimace crossed his face, and he rubbed his beard briskly. "I wasn't
really thinking about dying," he said with a sigh. "I just wanted to
see what might happen. Like if I would turn into a minnow." Then he flashed
her a big smile. "But I'm glad I didn't."
Raven
looked at him, and then leaned back. "So am I."
Kultuq
grinned even more broadly. It made for a captivating sight, the alluring
enchantress reclining on a bed of gray stone, silhouetted against a backdrop of
stars. He would have given a lot for a camera. No, he thought, this moment
belongs to me, and no one else. He copied her move, and let out a long sigh.
How could he have ever thought of leaving this world?
Raven
continued to watch the sky. She was calm now, totally at peace. And all without
meditation. She was not having to force down any emotions, they were naturally
in check. How had that happened? She could have drifted off to sleep right
here. But, she decided, that would be a waste.
"So,"
Kultuq breathed. "This is what happens next."
"Yes,"
Raven spoke.
"I'm
tempted to fall asleep here," he whispered. "But I doubt any dream
could be this good."
Raven
spread her hands out and gazed at the stars from between her fingers. "I
try not to dream. You can be so helpless in them. And I need to keep things
under control."
"You're
a true child of man, then," he murmured in a teasing tone.
The
hybrid daughter of magic closed her eyes.
"Do you really think that?" Her voice quivered, and something
about her tone made Kultuq sit up and take notice. What had he said? He hoped
he hadn't offended her. It was never easy to know what might hurt someone.
Please don't let this be one of those times. His next words could ruin or
salvage this moment, he knew.
"Of
course," he said at last, and took a deep breath, praying he was right.
"There's absolutely nothing else in existence so confused and unsure about
itself as we are. That's the only way you can be human, really. Not knowing for
certain."
He
watched her, his heart pounding.
If I
ever said anything right, let it be...
Slowly,
Raven rose to a sitting position. Her head was bowed, her cowl cast low over
her face. Kultuq knew when to keep quiet. This could be important. He waited.
Raven
shifted on her perch, and Kultuq leaned forward intently.
"You
know," she spoke at last, though a trifle hesitantly, "that almost
makes sense to me." Raven glanced at Kultuq, a questioning look in her
eyes. "How did you come up with that?"
The
older man grinned, feeling an enormous and unprecedented relief. "Well,
don't give it too much thought," he advised. "True wisdom seems less
profound and more kitsch the longer you examine it."
A
star fell from the sky.
And
then, very slowly, Raven of Azerath smiled. An open, honest smile.
"Thank
you for talking with me, Kultuq."
The
eccentric traveler opened his mouth to respond, when suddenly the shadows under
Raven's hood vanished. Lit by an orange light, her face was finally revealed,
and Kultuq stared dumbfounded. It was a wonder. Her eyes glowed, her skin was
gleaming. Light flashed from a jewel set in her forehead, dark hair swept down
to frame her face perfectly. Kultuq's words caught in his throat. This was
magic.
Raven
squinted and raised a hand to her eyes. Looking up at the horizon, she saw the
orange crest of the sun. Morning was here. It took a moment for her to register
this. She had talked to this man 'til the sun came up. Now the night was over.
She realized with a twinge of disappointment that she should be getting home.
Her friends would be rising soon.
The
mystic girl slid down off the rock. Kultuq stared entranced at her. Then he
scrambled to his feet. They both turned their heads to watch the sunrise, then
looked back at one another.
"I
have to go," Raven said, almost like an apology. Her face was again
half-lost in shadow, but her eyes were free.
"And
I," Kultuq affirmed. He brushed the dew from his pants.
The
young woman crossed her arms and said in a mock-serious tone, "If I leave
you here, are you going to try anything stupid again?"
Kultuq
was silent. He shook his head. "No. I have to go to
Raven
nodded. He was telling the truth. They had enjoyed a night together, but now
there were lives and responsibilities that needed attention. It was only one
night. But it made a difference. "We might never meet again, Kultuq."
He
sighed. "Perhaps not. You and I do run in different circles."
"I
think you mean 'swim'," she corrected him.
"No,
I was right the first time." He winked at her. "Get it?"
Raven
gave him her most wintry stare. "Yes. And No."
He
shrugged. "Maybe later. Unlike wisdom, jokes can get better with
time."
The
dark-robed Titan shook her head. "You'd have to live forever to improve
that one."
"Then
I'll let you know," he shot back.
Raven
lifted one foot off the ground, and floated up before him.
"Goodbye,
Kultuq. I'm pleased to have saved you."
Kultuq
smiled faintly, and raised a hand in parting. "I won't forget it, Raven.
May you always have a place to call home."
The
mystic inclined her head, and was enveloped in a pitch-black shroud of energy.
When it cleared, she was gone.
Kultuq
shook his head in wonder. After a few moments, he withdrew his cell phone and
called to bring the limo back.
______________________________
Raven
appeared in her room and sat on the bed. She suddenly gave a yawn, and realized
how tired she was. Her jaw was sore, probably from all the unaccustomed
talking. She had not expected to be so at peace. Lying back on her mattress,
the exhausted superheroine closed her eyes. Maybe another hour before combat
training. She could skip breakfast. It might make her a little snarly, but she
was feeling good...
The
Titan signal on her cloak began beeping, and Raven's eyes came open. She felt
groggy. Had she actually been asleep? She groaned. It had not helped.
Someone
was pounding on her door. "Yo, Raven!" Beast Boy's voice called.
"We gotta get to the zoo! Some mutated animal-rights circus freaks are
letting all the attractions out of their cages. Wake up, this sounds like
fun!"
So
much for that. Raven rose and crossed the room. Snarly might actually make this
go easier.
She
opened the door. "Then let's go."
_______________________________
The
limo cruised along the freeway towards the airport. Reclining inside, Kultuq
absently stroked the leather interior. He was alone again, but his good mood
had not evaporated, which was unusual. Briefly he wondered if she had placed a
spell on him. It made him laugh. She did not seem like that type of sorceress.
Raven was a completely new type of person to him. Maybe one day he might
return, and see her again. 'Til then, he hoped she would remember him. If only
there were something he could do for Raven, to thank her for what she had given
him.
The
airport was drawing nearer. Planes were taking off and landing. Even this early
in the morning, air traffic was brisk. An El Al Israel flight roared over him into
the post-dawn sky. That got him thinking. A new type...yes...
Kultuq
picked up the car phone. His faultless memory brought a number to mind, and he
dialed. A succession of trace-eluding transfers later, a phone rang in the
"Good
afternoon, Emanuel," Kultuq spoke. "This is your old friend."
A
pause. "No, the other one." Then, "Yes, that's right. Now
listen, Emanuel, I want to talk to you about your recent breakthrough. "
Again, a pause. "If I told you how I knew, it would only upset you more.
No more questions. I understand that the government and the breeders are
already giving you grief. The way things are going, they might never see the
market, and even if they do, you won't get a cent out of it. However, if you
already had money of your own to bring to bear in the courts, your options
would not be so bleak. Here is my proposal: I want, say, a dozen of your finest
results, and I want them shipped to a specific location. I can arrange for
their transport out of the country so that no one knows. In return for this, I
will pay you $2 million apiece, plus an extra million if you assure they arrive
at their destination by the end of the day where I am. That's thirteen hours.
And $25 million. Have you got all that?"
Kultuq
waited.
"Glad
to hear it. When I know they have arrived, I'll send you the number of a Swiss
account with your name on it. You'll have the address in 15 minutes. Goodbye,
Emanuel. And congratulations."
Kultuq
set the phone down. The limo coasted down the runway until it reached his
private jet. The gangway was lowered. Kultuq left the car and boarded the
plane. Taking his seat, he waited for the flight clearance. While he did so, he
replayed the events of last night in his mind. He had plenty of time.
____________________________
Streaking
along the road, the T-Car carried its five owners home. Raven stared out the
window. She was feeling weary, even more so than before. Barely any sleep could
do that to you. The other Titans seemed to be riding an adrenaline rush from
their latest adventure. The battle with the so-called League of Vertebrate
Entrapped Rescuers had lasted all of 10 minutes. However, rounding up the
escapees from the city zoo had taken the rest of the day, compounded by the
fact that the local news channels had picked up on the story and insisted on
trying to interview the Titans while they chased marmosets, rhinos, and even a
panda pair around the streets.
Fortunately,
the daily ritual of urban workday traffic jams had actually served a benevolent
purpose, namely that none of the animals had been hit by a car. With the help
of local law enforcement, the retrieval had been conducted as smoothly as
possible. The only major injury was a member of L.O.V.E.R. who had lost a hand
while attempting to carry a Komodo dragon to freedom. And, of course, sometime
tonight Raven was going to show up on several news programs with a 12 ft.
python draped lazily around her neck. Beast Boy had enjoyed that a great deal,
and had offered her his services if she wanted to repeat the experience. Raven
had declined.
As
the sun finally began to set, the T-Car completed its tunnel trip beneath the
bay to arrive on the rocky island that sported
"Looks
like there was a lot of out-of-species love today," Beast Boy sang
cheekily. "I'd stay to help, but I have to get the VCR primed to tape the
evening news. On every channel." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at
Raven.
The
Titans stepped out into the sea-cooled dusk air. They made their way up to the
main entrance, with Robin still trying to console Starfire.
"Really,
Star, you can go and see it again tomorrow, I promise," the Titans' leader
spoke in a placating manner. Starfire drifted along beside him with a bereaved
expression on her face.
"But
I liked the tiny bear of Koala, and it liked me." The alien princess
seemed to be fighting back tears. "It reminded me of a small grublup on
Cerriak's shadow side that I befriended, especially when it began to eat my
hair."
"It's
just an hour's drive away," Robin tried to encourage her. "I'll take
you there after training tomorrow and you can see it again."
Starfire
brightened. "I will be able to hug and pet the tiny sleepy bear
again?"
"Sure,"
Robin insisted. "Well, maybe not hold it. That's not really allowed, today
was just a one-time..." Starfire's eyes flooded with tears. "But I'm
sure if we talked to the zookeepers..." Robin blurted hurriedly.
"Hey."
Beast Boy suddenly stopped. "Did somebody order take-out this morning and
forget to cancel it?"
The
other Titans looked up to where he was indicating. Raven, who had been lost
momentarily in the splendor of the sunset, followed suit. In front of the
Tower's colossal main portal, a dark-clad figure was standing.
For
a moment Raven's eyes betrayed her. Then she picked out the cheap shoes, heavy
belly pooch, and the brown uniform. A man was waiting for them, shifting from
one foot to the other and handling carefully a conical shape wrapped in blue
tissue paper. The Titans exchanged questioning looks, but finding nothing to
explain this situation, they proceeded to approach their visitor.
The
superheroes filed to a halt in front of their home. The man gave them a hasty
nod of greeting. He smiled clumsily, his eyes darting from one strangely-garbed
figure to another. Sweat dripped down his flushed face. He looked as if he had
been running. Robin stepped forward.
"Can
we...uh... help you?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes,
well, you see," the man started, his jowls shaking. "I'm from
Pan-Mundo Delivery, and, ahh..." A closer examination of his uniform
revealed an emblem of a satyr-like figure leaping along and beaming joyfully
while clutching a ribbon-bedecked box. "Is there, possibly, someone named
Raven who lives here?"
Four
pairs of eyes turned to regard their midnight-blue teammate. Raven raised her
head a little. "Me," she said in a flat voice.
The
delivery man grinned. "Oh, that's just great. Please sign here." He
whipped out an electronic pad and pen with one hand and proffered them to her.
The other teenagers stared. Raven directed a cold look at this person, and just
as he was beginning to quiver, she grasped the offerings and wrote her name.
Handing them back, she watched as the man snatched them up and then held out
the mysterious bundle.
Raven
paused slightly, but took it from him. She waited for an explanation, but the
delivery man just beamed at them. He glanced down at the pad for confirmation,
and his face took on a bewildered look as his brain tried to puzzle out the
word written in one of the several dozen languages of Azerath that Raven knew.
Then, with a quick shake of his head, he sidestepped around the silent group
and began a stumbling trot down to a small boat anchored off the shore.
Their
sweaty guest gone, the Titans turned all their attention on the object in
Raven's hands.
"Doesn't
look like food,” Cyborg hazarded.
Starfire inhaled deeply and smiled. "It smells glorious!" she
exclaimed in delight. Raven thought so too. The aroma coming from this bundle
was completely new to her, and quite impressive.
"We
should be careful," Robin warned. "It might be dangerous."
Beast
Boy frowned. "Dude, whoever heard of aromatic explosives?"
Raven
had to agree, and before another word could be said, she reached up and peeled
back the tape-clad cerulean tissue from the cone's top.
What
lay inside took her breath away.
Cyborg
whistled, and Robin stared. "Are those roses...blue?"
Nestled
within the folds of paper were a full dozen unmistakable flowers. The fresh,
delicate petals were without a doubt roses, but their coloring was simply
amazing. The outer tip of each bloom was a brilliant blue, like the tropical
coast. As they descended back to their fount, they turned a rich shade of
indigo, even deeper than Raven's cloak. The startled mystic took in this
unexpected miracle in total wonder. The others crowded around her.
"I
have never seen Earth flowers like these," Starfire mused dreamily.
"That's
because they don't exist," Robin exclaimed in confusion. "There are
no blue rose breeds, people have been trying for decades, cross-pollination and
gene-splicing, but there hasn't been any success. Something about the pH, you
get this lemony..." His voice trailed off.
"Are
they silk?" Cyborg guessed. "Or painted?"
Raven
brought the petals up to her lips. They brushed against her ash-grey skin and
mouth. She closed her eyes and breathed in their fragrance. "No," she
whispered. "These are real."
"Incredible,"
Robin muttered. "Is there a card? Who are they from?"
Raven
reluctantly broke away from her treasure to examine the wrappings. But there
was nothing. No note of any kind.
Beast
Boy snickered. "Maybe that snake you let cuddle you wanted a second
date." Raven absently resisted launching him into the bay.
"No,"
she spoke softly as realization dawned. "I know who sent them."
"Who?"
Robin asked warily.
Raven
stroked the flowers. "Someone I helped last night."
"You
went out last night?" the team leader demanded, but this time Raven
ignored the question. She floated languidly into the Tower, leaving her
perplexed companions behind. They gave up and followed after her. Just one more
mystery about Raven. What else was new?
____________________________
His
eyes closed, Kultuq barely noticed when the plane reached its cruising
altitude. Another few hours and he would be halfway across the world. He had
not set foot in
One
of his employees, a woman named Ubeca, came out of the back. Having served him
effectively for several years, she spoke without waiting for permission.
"May I get you anything, sir?"
Kultuq's
eyes flicked open and located her. "Whiskey, with ice."
She
nodded and moved back to the bar, returning a few moments later with his drink.
Taking
it, he waived a hand in dismissal. Ubeca bowed away.
"I'll
be aft should you need me, Mr. Savage."
The
immortal Kultuq, now known to the world as supervillain Vandal Savage, sipped
his drink in pleasure. Just one night, one girl's company, and he felt alive
again. Lucky for him.
"Let's
see what happens next," he whispered.
To be continued...