Her eyes gingerly opened, hearing the sound of someone humming a tune. Her vision remained blurred, but she noticed the things around her, seeing that she was in some kind of shelter, a cabin maybe. Made of logs, long cut ago, built with master craftsmanship, withstanding the test of time. She also took keen notice to her location, in the corner of a room, lying upon a bed, comfortable as she could be. A window to her left allowed daylight to shine in with its brilliance, basking the entire room in warmth, also eliminating the need for lighting. Her vision finally focused in, seeing the owner of the tune was a woman, one that appeared to be elderly at that, turned away from her, as if she were retrieving something from a table next to her. Her head adjusted to see better, finding bandages, as well as gauze sitting there, fresh, white with cleanliness to the left, blood-riddled, dirty, hardened ones to the right. She quickly turned away in disgust, feeling the bandage over her eye move somewhat. She was sore, but she felt better than ever, finally receiving much deserved rest. The grey-haired woman finally turned around, gauze in hand.

"Gut froh," the old woman's voice, one of sincerity stated, "Sie zu sehen seien Sie wach, Junge eine."

Raven cocked an eyebrow at the woman's statement, knowing it was in another language, but didn't know which. The woman also noticed Raven's confusion.

"Was die Angelegenheit ist," the woman consolingly questioned, putting her hand out to run it down Raven's face, "können Sie nicht mich verstehen?"

She jumped, but allowed the woman's warming touch embrace her, as she ran her hand down her face, the side that contained her only functioning eye.

"Wie erhielt eine junge Dame wie sich Wunden wie diese?" The woman questioned once more, Raven still having no clue as to what she was saying.

Before Raven could even make any kind of reply, the sound of a door opening down the hallway grabbed the elderly woman's attention.

"Ich bin Haupt, Mutter!" A man's voice called out, the door closing shortly afterwards, his heavy footsteps being heard, coming down the hallway, growing closer.

"In hier," the woman replied, grabbing his attention. No sooner than the words exited her mouth, the man appeared in the doorway. He was relatively tall, taller than average, build the same way, as if he worked for a living. His facial features were chiseled, blonde hair, blue eyes; he appeared to almost be a perfect living example of the perfect male human being. No sooner than Raven's eyes met with his, she felt something, along the lines of a draft. She looked under the covers of her bedding to find she was completely naked. Embarrassed, her cheeks growing red, she pulled them up to her chin, trying to sit up and be respectful at the same time.

"Hienrich, Ich denke nicht, daß sie ein Wort versteht, das ich sage." The woman said to her son, who Raven picked up on the name, Hienrich, and that was about it as it went for understanding what was said.

"Das ist okay, Mutter, Ich kann mit ihr sprechen, erinnern Sie sich, Vater brachte mir etwas Englisch bei," Hienrich replied to what Raven assumed was his mother, and how "mutter" and "mother" sounded close to the same. "Sie scheint, zu mir amerikanisch zu sein, so ist es wert einen Versuch."

She nodded, scooting backwards in her chair, allowing Hienrich to step forward and kneel down, down to where he was eye-level with Raven.

"Hello," Hienrich managed his accent heavy, "I am Hienrich, and you are?"

"R-R-Raven," she managed, still embarrassed, as well as frightened.

"Raven?" Hienrich questioned, her nodding as an answer. "That's an unusual name, but no matter, your name it is."

"Where am I?" Raven managed, still trying to conceal herself. "And where are my clothes?"

"You," Hienrich replied, "are in Germany, close to the Swiss border, and your clothes, or what was left of them, are outside, drying off."

"Germany?" Raven thought, "of all the places in the world, why here, especially why to this particular place."

"How did you get in the forest?" Hienrich questioned, wanting to know of Raven's origins, "you don't appear to be from around here, and how did you get all those wounds, they would have killed a normal person."

"It's a long story," Raven replied, realizing that Hienrich could understand her.

"You are in no condition to be going anywhere," he informed, "and we have all the time in the world to listen."

"Even if I did tell you," she managed, adjusting her posture to ease some of her pain, "you wouldn't believe me."

"I will believe anything that comes from such a beautiful lady such as yourself," he replied with a smile, "besides, I haven't heard a good story in quite some time."

Raven smiled, still blushing. She didn't view him as a threat of any kind, but still didn't feel comfortable around him. He pulled the other chair that was under the table the woman had her gauze on, sitting, awaiting for Raven's telling of a tale.

"To truly understand what has happened, especially why I am here, and why I am injured to such an extreme degree, I will have to go back quite a ways in time." Ravens started, grabbing Hienrich's attention, what she presumed to be his mother exiting the room.

"Go on," he pleaded, anxious to hear.

She nodded, trying to find a good place to start from in her recent endeavors, both good and bad.

"About a year or so ago, I left my friends, the Titans, you've probably never heard of them, but we were a group of crime-fighting superheroes that protected Jump City, that, is where I am from, and yes, that happens to be in America. Anyway, back to what I was saying. I had to leave them because I was losing control over my abilities, which I no longer posses. I left, promising them I would return someday, I didn't specify when, but I said I would. I was ambushed by one of our most notorious villains, Slade, or by his robots for that matter, taken captive, and forced to be his apprentice, do his bidding, all that stuff. At first, I'll even admit, I liked it after I saw past all the evils, he was something I never had in life, a father, and he looked upon me and treated me like I was his own flesh and blood. This, though, soon deteriorated after having to fight my friends after being unmasked, and nearly ending their lives in his name without a second thought. I know that they weren't about to give me a second chance, but one of them, the one that I truly can call my friend no matter what, convinced them otherwise. They, along with many of our allies around the world came to my rescue, fighting insurmountable odds, yet they pressed forward against his robotic army. They managed to defeat it, but when it came down to my choosing them or him, the choice became crystal clear when he was about to kill our leader, and I still considered him that too. Anyway, I fought Slide, a battle that raged back and forth, blow for blow, but eventually, he came out on top." Raven gestured, pointing to her eye bandaged up, "I lost control of my powers, destroying everything around me, including him in the process. I thought I was a goner, the underground lair of his or whatever you want to call it started caving it. Unknown to me, my mother saved me with the help of the rulers from my homeworld that exists in an entirely different dimension. After speaking with her, learning why all of these things happened to me the way they did. I was put back on Earth a short time after that, in the forest here. I stumbled about for the longest time, at least a day if I remember correctly, I awoke at sunrise, and lost consciousness around sunset, and now I am here." Raven finished, knowing that Hienrich was either extremely confused or just in complete disbelief as to what she had just said. "Speaking of that, how did I exactly get here?"

"Wait a minute," Hienrich replied, "you are saying you are a superhero?"

"Was," Raven informed, "I no longer have any powers and what I do have, I can hardly control, it is very dangerous for me to be here."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Hienrich said with a smile, "especially for you."

Raven smirked a little, knowing that he cared for her.

"Are you going to answer my question?" Raven stated, ready for an answer.

"Which one?" Hienrich replied, confused.

"How did I exactly end up here?" She reiterated, looking him in his eyes.

"Well," he replied, "while I was out looking for firewood, not far from here, I saw something back in the forest a little ways. I walked up on it, seeing it was a person, lying face down in the mud. I rolled it over, turning out to be a female, you. I saw you were injured, exhausted, and near death, so I carefully picked your unconscious body up, and carried you back here. My mother saw to it that you were properly cleaned up and taken care of."

"How long ago was this?" Raven questioned, knowing that the extent of her injuries would have taken a noticeable amount of time to heal.

"About," Hienrich thought, "three weeks ago, give or take a few days. Today is the first day you've awaken."

"Wow," Raven thought to herself, "three weeks? That's surprising to say the least. Compared to how bad I was hurt, that isn't all that long, and I'm starting to feel a whole lot better."

"Anyway," Raven finally said, "how about my clothes?"

"My mother removed them when she cleaned you up," Hienrich informed, "she has tried to mend them, even washing them several times trying to remove the blood from them, but it isn't going to come out. I will go into town today and see if I can't find something for you to wear."

Raven nodded, but quickly thought.

"What am I to do until then?" She questioned as Hienrich started getting up from his seated position.

"I'll see if I can't get my mother to bring you some food, as well as a house robe or something," he informed.

Hienrich left the room, going down the hallway once more, talking with his mother in the kitchen. Raven, again, didn't understand German enough to piece together what they were saying, but if she was truly in Germany, in Europe, and halfway around the world, she'd have to start learning something quick. She looked herself over, seeing that all of her most grievous of wounds were bandaged and wrapped tightly, but healing, her smaller wounds had finally healed, only the pinkness of fresh skin remained. Raven picked up a small, ornate hand mirror next to the bed, looking into it with her only good eye, seeing her face.

"So this is what I have become," she thought to herself, looking her face over, even staring at the bandaged half.

"Is this not what you wished for, apprentice?" Slade's eerie voice chimed in within the confines of her head, his image appearing in the mirror.

Raven, shocked, furrowed her brow at him.

"All I know is that you are dead, and any injury, maiming or not, was worth it," Raven snapped back.

"Are you sure about that, child?" He questioned once more, "because to me, it was all in vain."

"Shut up!" she replied within her head, "you are trying to make me lose control, I will not harm these people, and you aren't going to force me to."

"I've forced you to do my bidding before, dear Raven," he hissed, "what makes you think I can't now?"

"I won't," she boldly stated, "you are dead, I am alive, I am in control, not you."

"When are you going to learn," Slide stated, "that you cannot kill what is already dead. As I have said and will continue to say, as long as you draw breath, I will be here, watching your every move. Part of me lives on within you through my teachings, Raven, whether you want it to or not. It has been imbedded into your subconciousness, child, I am as much a part of you as your other thoughts, emotions, and feelings are. When you realize this, then and only then, will you be able to do what you must."

"I don't have to listen to the likes of you," she growled back, "I am sick and tired of your constant drivel. You are nothing more than a figment of my imagination that is plaguing me, and when I find a way to block you out for good, believe me, I will."

"Petty threats, Raven?" Slade replied, "come now, I know you better than that."

"They're not threats, they are promises," she quickly snapped back.

"Whatever you must tell yourself to connive yourself otherwise, Raven, but remember, if ever need someone to talk to, I'm always here," Slide replied, letting out a small chuckle at the end, enjoying Raven's emotional pain.

She quickly sat the mirror back down, face down, preventing her from speaking to him again, knowing that he would only cause her to lose control of her powers and harm the people that just brought her in and saved her from sure death. Raven looked around the room, finally able to truly take in her surroundings. The room appeared to be old, built long ago, as was the rest of the house. The odor of the wood was distinct, basking the air with it. The floor was made of wood as well, worn from the many years of use, but just as solid and sturdy as the day it was constructed. Her daydreaming and taking in of the sights was cut short, the elderly woman entering the room with a tray, a piece of linen underneath of it.

"Hier gehen Sie, junge Dame, eine Schüssel der heißen Suppe und der Robe, damit Sie tragen." She soothingly said, Raven feeling comfortable, but not sure to what she said. Raven thought for a moment, knowing that she knew at least two words in German.

"Danke," Raven replied in her best accent, speaking "thank you" in German, the woman nodding and leaving.

She looked upon the tray, finding a spoon, napkin, and a ceramic bowl of soup. The soup didn't look very appetizing, the broth dark and murky, its contents unknown. Raven took a whiff of the aromatic steam rolling off of it, only to cringe at it, its smell atrocious.

"Hopefully it tastes better than it looks," Raven said to herself, picking up the spoon, "a lot better."

She ladled a spoonful of the soup, finding some vegetables within it, and bringing it to her mouth.

"This is really good," Raven commented, her mouth still full, "it just seems to melt in my mouth.

Raven continued to eat, the warming feeling of a full stomach was something she greatly welcomed, especially after not having anything to eat for the longest time.

"That Hienrich guy," Raven thought, still ladling some of the contents of the soup, "he seems...nice, but if I'm not mistaken, I could have sworn he was hitting on me. The man looks like he is easily 10 years older than I am, but as I said, I could be mistaken, people here are a lot different than they are in the 'States, they seem more...outgoing, emotional about things."

Raven set her spoon down, letting out a small laugh, remembering something.

"I always did say I wanted to visit Europe," she told herself, "guess now is a good time to start. I always expected it to be on a grand vacation, meeting people, staying in the best hotels, eating the finest foods, traveling to exotic places, but we don't always get what we want. I still have no clue as to where I am to go, what to do, all that crap, I mean, here I am, middle of nowhere, and no idea as to what to do next. At least I can say I have the meeting the people part down."

She looked at the remaining portion of soup.

"I don't know about the finest foods, but that was very good, I don't know what was in it, and I don't care, it tasted good," she thought, trying to keep her mood light in order to not dwell on all the evils that have taken place so far, as her mother foretold, there might be many more ahead of her, she only said to be cautious, and nothing more."

Raven picked the bowl up with both hands, and slurped the rest of it down, setting the bowl down again, and wiping her chin. She sat the tray on the table beside of her, making sure not to knock anything over upon it. Raven picked up the folded piece of white linen, unraveling it, finding it to be a robe. She felt how soft it was to the touch.

"This will surfice for now," Raven told herself, examining it, "at least until Hienrich returns with actual clothing for me."

Raven pulled the covers off of her, shivering from the chill of the room, her exposed body showing all of its damage from that fated battle with Slide. She swung her feet over the edge of the bed, touching the rustic, wooden floor. She forced her sore body to stand, feeling the pain within her muscles cry out, telling her that she wasn't quite ready to be moving about, but her mind said otherwise. To keep the cold chill of the stagnant air lashing at her skin, Raven quickly donned the robe, wrapping it tightly around her sore body, tying the sash in the front into a tight knot, feeling the nearly-instant warmth hit her, soothing her.

"This is more comfortable than I thought," she commented, finding a pair of house slippers next to the bed as well, matching the robe. Raven gingerly slid her feet into them, getting the soles of her own feet off of the wooden floor. She made an attempt at walking towards the paned window, but it was more along the lines of a waddle, still unable to move normally due to her extensive injuries, all still healing, halting her progress. Her body stopped moving, leaning against the windowpane, looking out it.

"Wow," Raven commented, taking in the view outside the window, "this place is beautiful."

What graced her vision was the forest's edge, wildflowers, a running stream, much similar to the one she drank from, and upon the visible horizon through the treetops was mountains, majestic and just as beautiful as the forest that laid directly in front of her.

"This place doesn't seem too bad," Raven stated, still looking out the window, watching various birds, as well as small animals go about their usual business, "I wouldn't mind staying here, if I didn't have to return to them, especially to Beast Boy."

A wave of grief fell over her.

"I can't go through life being alone," she thought, "if I can't be with Garfield, if I can't be with him for the remainder of my days, then there is no sense in living. No other person makes me feel the way he does, just his presence makes me feel the way I do. He is the only thing that is missing in my life, and I will not let distance, control, or anything stand in my way, I will be reunited with him, I don't know when, but I know that I will, I know I will."

Raven sat in the windowsill, allowing the warming sun to grace her pale skin that was exposed.

"As soon as I am able to continue upon my journey, I will," she told herself, pushing some of her violet locks out of her face, revealing even more of the bandaged side of her head, concealing her eye, the very one she would never be able to see out of again. "I have no idea as to where I am going or what, but I will let my heart tell me, as it has done in the past. If not, well, I have always relied on guessing, because that works as well."

She noticed some of the pictures hanging on the wall, taking particular notice to one that appeared to be aged quiet a bit, the photo black and white as well. Raven, curious, stood up, and walked across the room in a similar manner as she had done before, her soreness reverberating through every inch of her being. As she grew closer to the hanging picture, its clarity coming into focus, showing a man, having similar features about him as Hienrich, and wearing a military uniform. The uniform was nothing of new, but of many years ago. Raven took an even closer look to the uniform itself, seeing the distinguishing factors about it. It was black, lined with silver, but most of all, there were two emblems upon it that burned into Raven's mind, a sharp angled "SS" symbol on the collar, gracing either side, and a falcon with a very well-known symbol; the swastika.

"Must have been his grandfather, maybe his father," Raven thought, "but I seriously think it is the first of the two, Hienrich is a little young for his father to have served in World War II."

Her eyes looked just to the right of that picture as well, also in black and white. It appeared to be a family photograph, a couple and their young child. Raven noticed how much of a resemblance the male that appeared to be the father of the child bore to Hienrich.

"So that's Hienrich's father," Raven deduced, "they seem to be the perfect family, or what one would consider one for that matter. I haven't seen him or heard him, maybe he is at work, or not. They seem to live pretty simple lives, almost as if they are farmers, or even just living out the rest of their days, Hienrich taking care of them. I don't want to impose, but maybe I could just ask him when he returns."

She thought for a moment, realizing what he was going to do for her.

"I hope to Azar he doesn't get anything I can't stand to wear," she hoped, "if he does, I will probably just have to put on those rags of what was left of my uniform, that's better than nothing. But, I do commend him for trying, at least he shows that much compassion for another human being, especially a complete stranger like myself. I am surprised as well, most people are usually…disturbed to an extent by me and my image, and I don't blame them, I mean, I am quite different looking than the normal person, but Hienrich didn't seem to care one bit, he looked past that, unlike most people. He seems…nice, very sincere."

No sooner than Raven finished her thought, the sound of the front door resonated its opening throughout the homestead, assuming Hienrich himself had returned. Raven sat back down on the bed, pretending that she hadn't moved from her bed, just getting up to move around. As soon as she did, Hienrich's figure appeared in the doorway, holding several bags, rather large ones.

"You didn't have to do this," Raven stated, knowing he meant well.

"I know," he replied, "but you are very deserving, whether you yourself knows this or not."

Raven only smiled at his reply, something she seemed to be doing a lot lately, not being one to do so, especially after the tragedy that has taken place in her life.

Hienrich sat in the chair that he had done previously, setting the bags down around him as well. Raven waited anxiously, wondering what he had bought for her to wear while she was to stay at their residence.

"I guessed as to your size from what you were wearing, giving a little bit of leeway, of course," he stated, preparing to pull something out of one of the bags.

Raven nodded, still as anxious as ever, crossing her legs, feeling what seemed to be a blast of cold air directed towards her, but her robe blocked most of it.

Hienrich pulled out a pair of pants, dark in color, almost black, but a hint of blue. The only distinguishing factor about them was they weren't made of denim, but in fact, wool. A long sleeve shirt made of the same material came out as well, not quite a turtleneck, but resembling one. Next, another matching outfit, one of dark brown, consisting of white undershirt with a long sleeve button up shirt, pants to match the button up shirt. Besides unmentionables, Hienrich also purchased a pair of shoes, though they resembled boots, and black in color, they were much more suited for her than the boots she wore with her former uniform.

"This," Raven managed, looking through the articles, "is just so...overwhelming, I really don't know what to say."

"You need not to say anything," he replied with a smile, "I can tell by your reaction you are very thankful, and that is all the gratitude I need."

Heinrich rose, as if he was to leave the room, but Raven quickly focused her vision on him.

"Hienrich?" she questioned, getting his attention.

"Yes, Raven?" He sincerely replied.

"Could you tell me about those pictures on the wall there?" She asked, pointing to the photographs of the man in the SS uniform and the family portrait.

"Ah," he enthusiastically answered, "those, well."

He motioned over to the one of the man in the Nazi SS uniform.

"This was my grandfather, Otto Von Yeager, Major in the SS." Heinrich explained, "I only met him as a mere boy before he passed away, but from what I heard from my father, he was quite the character. His original mission throughout World War II was to decipher coded Allied messages they intercepted and whatnot, thus, his ability to speak English very well, passing it down to my father, and my father to me. He didn't believe in Hitler's cause, only serving his country, not the man. I know it sounds...weird, but that is what he swore to, and continued to do so until his final days."

"That's understandable," Raven replied, taken with the history lesson, "no sense in fighting in something you don't believe in."

"Exactly," Heinrich quickly added, "that's why he did all he could to stay away from the front lines, choosing to go into Intelligence. Anyone in that branch hardly ever set foot on a battlefield, lucky for him, he was never required to."

"Still doing what he thought was right," Raven deduced, "yet, keeping out of a fight he didn't belong, intriguing. Funny though, history books in the U.S. have them pegged pretty much all the same as Hitler, but I see otherwise."

"I'm glad someone other than me does," Heinrich replied with a laugh, getting a smile out of Raven.

"What about the other one there?" Raven pointed out, diverting his attention to the family photograph right next to it.

"That," Hienrich began, "is my family, my father, mother, and me in the center, granted, I was...ten, if I do recall correctly, and that was nearly twenty five years ago."

"So," Raven questioned, "where is your father? I met your mother, or what I would assume is your mother, but I have yet to see him."

Hienrich's demeanor seemed to change slightly, enough for Raven to clearly see.

"My father," he started, almost regretfully, "died shortly thereafter that photo was taken, he came down with a strange illness, and never recovered. They never did find the cause, all I know is it took his life away from him. Ever since, I've lived here, with my mother, taking care of her. I know she is elderly now, and, her time will soon come as well, but this time it seems more worth while, allowing her to live out her days in happiness. I only wished my father could have done the same."

"I'm sorry, Hienrich, I had no idea," Raven apologized, seeing he was deeply hurt.

"It's ok, you didn't know," he replied, forcing a minute grin.

Silence overtook them, Raven having no idea to ask of him, he having nothing for her.

"Wait," Raven stated out loud after a moment, grabbing his attention, "you said you stay here to help your mother out, did you not?"

"Yes," he replied, "why?"

"What kind of work do you do for her?" Raven continued to question.

"I mainly do chores for her outside, why do you ask?" Hienrich stated, cocking an eyebrow.

"Tomorrow morning," Raven announced, "I will be assisting you, I need to for my own good, and don't deny me the right to do so, I need to."

Hienrich thought for a moment.

"As you wish," he replied, "I will find something for you to do tomorrow, but be prepared, the day starts as soon as the sun breaks over the horizon."

"No problem," Raven finished with a smile, "whatever you got for me to do, it will be done."

Hienrich nodded, leaving the room, closing the worn, wooden door behind him. No sooner than he did, Raven picked up the near-black set of clothing, unfolding them. She laid them out on the bed, undoing her robe, dropping it to the floor. Her tattoo upon her lower back, taking the form of a raven, its wings spread across it, the beak of it facing downward, stood out upon her pale grey skin. Raven quickly reacht for one of the pairs of underwear, as well as a bra, putting them on before gracefully sliding in the pair of pants.

"Man," she quietly commented, "this stuff itches like crazy, but its better than nothing, besides, I assume being around here, especially in winter, this is going to come in handy."

Raven slipped the sweater over her head, fixing her hair that became ruffled as she pulled the collar over her head. Her own body heat kept her content within the woolen clothing, much more comfortable than the robe. She picked the robe up, folding it, and placing it at the foot of her bed upon a chest made of wood, the very same wood that the entire house seemed to be made of. The chest itself seemed to give of an odor similar to that to the rest of the humble home, only adding to its intense aroma. Raven gingerly slid her feet into the black shoes, only after putting on a pair of socks that Hienrich purchased along with the articles of clothing. Raven was very grateful for his generosity, seeing how he bought them for her out of the kindness of his heart. She overlooked herself in an ornate mirror that was hanging upon the wall, from the floor, all the way to her head, she took in her image that reflected upon it, seeing how she appeared normal, almost as if she was just that, but the scar that will remain upon her face and her eye that will no longer see soon shatter any hope of that happening. She could tell that only having one functioning eye was affecting her vision drastically, her depth perception was way off, often testing how far away from things she was to the best of her abilities, but she knew she would never return to the same state that she was in before fighting Slade. Raven quickly shook the past notions from her head, turning, and heading for the door that lead to the hallway. She cautiously peered around either side of the door, finding two entrances to other rooms of the home to her right, assuming they belonged to the other bedrooms, and to her left was the entrance into the kitchen, where Raven could hear the elderly woman, Hienrich's mother, stirring about, doing something. Raven's form glided gently into the kitchen. The kitchen itself was just as quaint as the home that Raven managed to catch a glimpse of anyway, consisting of nothing more than a table with four chairs at it, looking as old-world as the rest of the furniture in the house. A cast iron stove, ablaze, sat in the corner of the room, warming the home with its contained fury of flames. The only other noticeable difference within the confines of the room were the cupboards upon the walls, and a wash basin that sat in its own space in the countertop, lacking running water. Her eyes wandered from the kitchen to her right, going past the door that led outside right in front of her, across the kitchen, and finding their way to another room, no wall separating it from the kitchen. From what Raven could tell, this was what could be considered the living room of the home. Two chairs, slightly more ornate than the ones in the kitchen, and with a matching couch between the two, facing a large window that contained a view of the mountains out it to the west. The walls were graced with more photos, Raven assuming that they were more family photographs of some kind, whether they be old or new. Two small tables were respectively at each side of the chairs, oil lamps upon each. Raven turned to see the elderly woman bringing two cups to the table, a ceramic matching teapot, steam rolling out of its small vent atop.

"bitte," the woman motioned"nehmen Sie einen Sitz, genießen Sie eine Tasse Tee mit mir."

Raven noticed the woman's generosity, and took heed, feebly stepping forward, pulling the chair out carefully, and gently sitting in it, the chair creaking as the old wood shifted to hold her weight. The elderly woman sat one of the decorated cups in front of Raven, pouring the hot contents of the teapot, the aroma uplifting into the draft of the air, finding its way to Raven's nose.

"Ich hoffe, daß Sie Kräutertee soviel wie I genießen," Hienrich's mother stated with a smile, pouring her cup before setting the teapot down in the center of the table.

Raven had no clue as to what she was saying, but she knew it was all in kindness, smiling, and taking hold of the handle of the fragile cup. She lifted it to her mouth, pressing it against her lips to take a small sip, just enough to taste, as like the soup, the liquid didn't look too promising, dark, nearly black, but the taste was something she didn't expect. It was very similar to what she had grown accustomed to drinking, except for this was a little more…bolder, when compared to what she drank, it was easily twice as strong. The warm feeling made her feel immediately better, the tea almost acting as if it were revitalizing her body, a small trace of power that still remained within her vessel converting into her healing abilities at the moment, unable to actually control how it was used or it what magnitude of energy.

"ich weiß, daß Sie nicht ein Wort, das ich sage, verstehen, mein liebes," she stated, seeing Raven was content with her tea, "aber alle das wird kommen mit passender Zeit. Hienrich hat mich, daß er Sie genug der deutschen Sprache für Sie zu unterrichtet informiert, gut Funktion im Land, oder Sie mindestens erhalten, wo Sie gehen müssen."

The only thing that Raven managed to understand or comprehend out of Heinrich's mother's statement was just that, "Heinrich", and something to do with German, the rest, unknown to her. She only meekly smiled, acting as if she had truly understood what she had said.

"Hienrich informierte mich auch, daß Sie ihm heraus morgen bei den Chores helfen würden," she continued, as if she were speaking with an old friend, "ehrlich, lieb, Ich denke nicht, daß Sie so bald sich anwenden sollten, besonders nach allen Verletzungen hatten Sie nach Ihnen, als er Sie fand. Meine Länder, lieb, eine normale Person würde leicht an jenen Art der Wunden gestorben haben, Ich werde durch Ihre Ausdauer überrascht, über Tod auszuharren."Raven only nodded, being respectful, lifting the cup to her mouth once more. She finished off what was left in her cup, reaching for the teapot in the center of the table, helping herself to another invigorating portion of the tea.

"These people seem nice," Raven finally told herself, still listening to the elderly woman speak in her native tounge to Raven, even though she couldn't understand enough to comprehend the language.

After a while and several cups of tea later, Raven returned to her room, the sun beginning to sag to the west, signalling the day was coming to an end, and her chance to get back on her feet started tomorrow, a long and difficult journey was the only thing that laid ahead of her, the only thing that was in her path, keeping her from returning home, but she knew she must take it, it was the only possible way for her to do so.

"Where is it?" She said to herself, searching the contents upon the table that sat next to her bed, rummaging, even opening the drawer, trying to find whatever item it was she needed.

"Looking for this?" Hienrich's voice announced, standing in the doorway.

Raven quickly wheeled around out of surprise, finding him there, and what she was desperately looking for, her communicator.

"Yes," Raven replied with a simle, taking it from his hand politely.

"What is it?" He questioned, stepping in behind her, sitting down upon the chair that went to the desk.

"This," Raven announced, flipping it open, "is my communicator. I use it to contact my friends, allies, all that stuff. I have access to the assitence of over 100 different heroes in the world with the push of a simple button."

"Then why don't you find one that is near by and ask for help then?" he questioned again, putting two and two together.

"I would," Raven reasoned, "but, the battery is almost dead and I can't get a signal out here. It acts a lot like a cellphone in a sense, but it seems to be doing what I don't want it to do. I don't have anything to charge it with, and by the way it is acting, something's fried on the inside of it."

"I see," Hienrich answered, rubbing his chin, "well, hopefully you can find someone to repair it for you, the sooner you are reunited with your friends the better."

Raven nodded, flipping the the communicator open, seeing the same message as she had read earlier, closing it in disgust.

"It's not the fact that it doesn't work that bothers me," Raven commented, setting it down next to her necklace, she just noticed it sitting there.

"What is it then?" He questioned her, not understanding where she was going with it.

"This thing usually tells them where I am at at all times, like a tracking device, and not even that seems to be working, if it was working, then they could find me," she explained, Hienrich beginning to understand.

"As I said," he announced, standing up, the sun setting, darkening the room, "if you can find someone to repair it, you'll be set."

Raven nodded, agreeing with him. He smiled, turning around, leaving the room.

"H-Hienrich?" Raven called out, reluctant to get his attention.

"Yes?" He replied, turning around.

"I'd like to thank you again," Raven started, "for everything, for saving me, giving me shelter, food, clothing, all of it. There aren't many people like you and your mother left in this world, its sad really. If it weren't for you, I would have died out there."

"Not a problem," Hienrich replied, "you could almost consider it something of the divinve, as if I were destined to find you, help you, and nurse you back to health. It's sad though, but I know you must do it."

"What do you mean its sad?" Raven questioned, confused.

"That you must go," he replied, "you see, only me and my mother here, it is often a lonesome place, but I understand that you must begin your journey, Raven, your journey to find your friends. I really hope you do, a person of your will, courage, and strength is very deserving."

"Thank you," Raven finished, knowing that no matter what she felt, Hienrich was right.

He stopped in the doorway once more, turning around, as if he forgot to say something.

"One more thing," he stated, "I am serious about tomorrow, Raven, if you really do wish to help me with the chores, you must get up at the crack of dawn, there are no exceptions."

"I completely understand," Raven heeded, knowing what he was truly getting at.

No sooner than he closed the door behind him, Raven undressed to nothing once more, putting the folded-up robe on over her exposed body. She neatly folded the clothing up and placed it where the robe once was.

"So," Raven quietly said to herself, fluffing her pillow, "tomorrow, I truly start my journey, I may not leave here for some time, but I will see to it that I pull my own weight around here, I cannot stand to use someone, especially after all the help they are giving to me without a second thought. After I get up enough strength and are fully healed, I'll bid them adieu, sadly, I really do wish I could stay here, its so peaceful, calm, and serene, nothing would ever upset me here."

"Are you sure about that?" The voice of the appirition she hated with all her being spoke up, knowing just when to shatter the peace she would make with herself.

"Why do you keep pestering me, Slade?" Raven seriously questioned, "I mean, what help will it be to you, you're dead, and out of all honesty, the last time I checked, the dead cannot make the living do their bidding."

"Are you that dense, child?" Slade's calm, yet threatening voice replied, "Think about it, I can tell you many times over, and you still won't get it. My physical being may no longer exist in this realm, but as I said, part of me, through my trainings and teachings, lives on through you. I may not be here physically any longer, but as long as you draw breath, so will I in a sense, you cannot kill me unless you kill yourself, and we all know that you haven't the courage, nor the tenacity to commit such an act."

"Its not that I am dense," she calmly replied, as if she was mocking him, letting him know that he was not getting to her at all, "its the fact that you don't know when to give up, your efforts in unsettling me are futile, it isn't going to happen."

"I've done it before, Raven," he snapped back, "I will do it again, and again, as many times as I see fit, so don't tell me what I can and can't do."

"Since I know you aren't my concience speaking to me," Raven replied in the same tone, "please, and kindly do so, shut the hell up, I'm tired, and I got things to do tomorrow."

Raven heard Slade growl out of rage, knowing that she was right and in control, for the moment, not allowing him to gain any kind of advantage that would cause another catastrophe like the very same that happened deep within the confines of the forest only a day ago.

"Now that he is done ranting," Raven thought, "maybe I can get some sleep, I've got a big day ahead of me tomorrow."

She slowly closed her eyes, watching the last of the sun disappear behind the mountains out her window, knowing the old saying "early to bed, early to rise" was going to be a reality tomorrow.