I do not claim Teen Titans, or anything to do with werewolves.
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Crimson Fangs Recap: A werewolf had invaded the city in search of the Titans. He took a woman as bait, luring in Raven. The woman escaped, but Raven did not; she fought the werewolf, but in the end, he bit her. What happened?
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"Oh my god, Raven! I'm so sorry!"
That voice. Though it was high with fear and hard to recognize in her current state, she knew exactly who it was. She trembled slightly when that hand grasped hers lightly, gently cradling it as the other caressed it softly.
Eyelids flickering open, she found herself looking up at Beast Boy's face. His eyes were closed and tears stained his cheeks. She went to turn her head to look around, went to rise up, but every movement hurt. With a barely audible moan, she lowered herself back down on the bed.
Upon hearing this, Beast Boy's eyes flashed open. They were blood-shot-most likely from crying, Raven guessed-and were filled with worry and dread. He released her hand when he noted she was awake, a slight blush creeping to his cheeks.
"I thought you weren't going to make it," he blurted.
Her violet eyes wandered around the room, finding it empty apart from herself and the changeling. She tried to move again, but grimaced, making the changeling flinch.
"When do I never make it?" she murmured, looking around again. "Where are we?"
"In the hospital. A woman set off the alarm and we all searched the city. She was panicked and coated with blood," he answered, cringing as he remembered everything. "She was so afraid that she couldn't tell us anything, only that she had been attacked. So we searched the entire city and I found you."
Suddenly memories came flooding back to her. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she lay on the bed, listening to the green bean.
"You were in worse condition than the woman, dude. You were lying in a pool of blood in an alleyway. What were you doing?" he continued.
She gripped the bedside tightly. Her neck began to throb.
"Well, I was walking because of our argument when I heard a scream. So I went to investigate. There was a man-" she said, but Beast Boy interrupted.
"A man? That's what attacked you and the woman?" he inquired, his face puzzled and it didn't look convinced.
"Shut up and let me finish," she hissed, silencing the changeling. "There was a man with long black hair and he wore a torn tee-shirt and ripped pants-every article of clothing was black. I think… I think he was a shape-shifter. He changed into a wolf and that's why I'm like this. Then he bit me."
Her body grew taut with anger at the man. She vowed to herself that she would make him pay. At this though, Beast Boy's eyes grew wide.
"That's why you had bite marks on your neck. Ya know, Cy woulda fixed ya, but there was so much blood and ya needed to come here. He wouldn't have been able to really stop all the bleeding," he commented thoughtfully.
"And what did you think the bite was from?" she scoffed.
"Uh…" he fumed, but got no answer, his mind drawing a blank before he glowered at the girl.
"You didn't know."
She was almost disappointed as she said this.
"Um, sir, visiting hours are over. I'm going to have to ask you to leave," a nurse said from the doorway.
The changeling and Goth fixed their gaze on the nurse. Rubbing the back of his head, he rose from his chair.
"Guess I gotta leave now. I'll see ya tomorrow, Ravey," he said playfully before disappearing out the door, following the nurse.
"Don't call me Ravey," she hissed after him, before settling into the bed.
She closed her eyes, pondering over the day's events before she drifted into an uneven sleep.
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She woke with a start, her hands gripping the bedside tightly. A pain erupted throughout her entire body and she cringed in agony. Her nails grew sharper and her teeth became fangs. She opened her jaws to cry out in surprise, but no sound came from her parted lips. Her ears became pointed and slits formed for pupils in her eyes.
Her hands became furry before they became black paws. Her ears were now on the top of her head, slightly rounded, but still pointy and black. A tail sprouted from her tail bone and she morphed.
It seemed like forever to her, but it truly was fast. Her violet eyes became amber; her hair had disappeared and she was covered in black fur. Her fangs grew larger in her jaws. She dropped lightly and easily to the ground.
There was no pain any longer.
Her nails scratched the floor as something compelled herself to the window. She rose on her hind legs, resting her fore paws on the window ledge. She stared out at the city, with an unknown desire now. Her tail began to wag from side-to-side before she caught sight of something on top of a roof just a bit ahead of where she stood.
It was the man that had bitten her, but now she didn't want to kill him. She wanted to follow him; be loyal to him and only him. He grinned at the sight of her, brushing his hair away from his eyes. He opened his jaws to reveal his fangs before his body shrunk.
Like Raven, his clothes disappeared as he morphed. He was bigger than her, but was dark brown, the wolf she had fought.
Her amber eyes flowed down her body and she realized she was no longer human; she was a wolf. He had made her whatever he was-she didn't think that shape-shifters could make a human another shape-shifter.
The wolf disappeared and she searched for him eagerly before she scratched at her window. Another face pressed itself against the glass; the wolf had reached her floor and was standing there, his paws on the ledge.
It wasn't high up, only a story. He barked softly and she understood clearly what he said. She backed up swiftly.
He waited for her before he broke through the glass, giving her an opening to freedom. He barked again before he dropped down. Sprinting towards the open window, she lunged out, dropping down. She landed on all fours beside him. Up in her room, she heard a nurse open the door.
"Raven, are y-what the hell? Where the hell is Raven?!" she screamed, running to the shattered window.
She looked out, but by then the wolves had gone.
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"Titans!"
Beast Boy yawned, dropping from his bed and shuffling to the common room, where the boy wonder had summoned them. The changeling stood next to Cyborg, stifling yet another yawn.
"Yo, man, what's up?" the metallic man inquired.
"I think it would be easier to show you all," Robin whittled, pressing a button.
A picture came up on the window. The vision moved around the room, focusing on a black object standing near the middle of the room. The glass broke and barking could be heard from outside the window.
The camera moved to the window, showing a brown wolf.
"Is that the wolf?" breathed the changeling, waking up fully, but the others didn't pay attention.
The black object came flying towards the window. It appeared to be carrying something as it leapt out of the window and disappeared. Then the screen went blank.
"This is the security tape taken from the hospital in Raven's room," Robin explained.
Starfire covered her mouth with her hands.
"So you're sayin' that wolf took Raven?" Cyborg questioned, confused.
"It would seem so," the boy wonder commented dryly.
"But why would a wolf wish to harm, or steal friend Raven?" the alien blurted.
"Because it was controlled by that brown wolf that attacked Raven earlier," Beast Boy finished, rewinding the video to the wolf that had broken the window.
"Then we must bring a party of search to find friend Raven!" declared Starfire.
"Uh, yea…" Robin answered. "Problem is, we have no leads as to where they went."
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Raven followed the brown wolf easily, the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She had never felt so… alive. And the longer she stayed like this, the more the brown wolf's venom erased her memory. It started out with the more recent, progressing to the past events so the new wolf wouldn't be reminded of her past life and wish to return to it.
The wolf ahead of her slowed down and she sniffed, scenting others like her. He plodded on happily, seeming to be at home while she followed more cautiously.
He stopped, coming into something that appeared to be a camp. Wolves looked up at their arrival and hostile glares were thrown at the black wolf from some others, while others regarded them with joy.
The brown wolf ordered her to sit, while he climbed onto a rock. The other wolves joined Raven, staring up at their leader. He changed into human form and the others followed in suit.
"Welcome to the pack. These are your pack mates and I-as you should already know-am your alpha male. You will learn to be like all werewolves!" he announced.
So that's what I am. I'm a werewolf, Raven thought, staring up at her new leader.
Murmurs of approval rose throughout the werewolves. Then a man with shaggy brown hair rose to his feet.
"So, Chander, do you know her name yet?" he inquired.
A blush crept up the alpha's cheeks. He glanced at the werewolf standing, then at Raven. Her shredded cloak was draped around her.
"Well, um, to be honest, no, Kushtim," he admitted, cursing at himself for his stupidity. "So, who are you?"
"I'm Raven," she answered calmly, gazing up at him.
"Certainly she needs a new name?" Kushtim suggested.
"Why would that be?" she questioned.
"So you are truly one of the pack," the brown-haired male replied with a sly smirk.
She nodded her answer, a dumb look crossing her face for only a second before it was wiped clear.
"Then from hence forth, you shall be known as Agwang!" decided Chander.
Raven looked stunned, clearly not enjoying her name. The others didn't seem to notice, merely chanting her name four times before they hushed. All eyes rested upon their leader, who had jumped off the rock and was making his way towards 'Agwang.'
"If you need anything," he whispered into her ear: "Come into my den over there. In fact, I'd like it if later you joined me so we could converse."
He pointed a finger at a cavern. She followed his pointing index finger, nodding slowly. An eager look flashed across her face.
"Yes. I will join you later. It would be an honor," she breathed back and he grinned.
He motioned for Kushtim to come over, told him something, then disappeared. The pack split up into groups, leaving Agwang and Kushtim alone together. She looked at him expectantly.
"I am Kushtim, beta male of the pack," he introduced, bowing slightly.
"Pleased to meet you, Kushtim," she replied, bowing slightly as well. "You must be a very loyal pack mate to have such a high status. I do have one question though: where is the alpha female and beta female?"
He chuckled softly before he spoke again: "My dear, Agwang, Chander and I are single currently. Chander was just appointed alpha not to long ago and a day after, he made me beta. I am sure he has plans for you."
"Plans?" she whispered, a puzzled expression written on her face.
"Yep. Why do you think he went into the city to retrieve you? Enough talk now though. I should show you to your den," he answered, before turning and walking away.
She followed behind willingly. He continued forward until he stopped nearby Chander's den.
"Why am I so close to Chander?" she inquired peacefully.
"My dear, have I not told you that he must have plans for you?" he murmured, touching her hand lightly.
She nodded slowly, stepping into her den. It was wide and there was already some moss bedding in a corner for her to sleep. Kushtim followed behind, standing near the entrance.
"Do you like it?" he questioned softly.
She looked up, a broad grin on her face as she replied: "Like it? I love it."
"Good to know!" he exclaimed happily.
With that, he left, leaving her to admire her den. She looked at the carvings of wolves on the walls, running her fingers along the engravings. She closed her eyes, breathing in a deep sigh. This was like paradise for her.
Deep within her, her memories were fading quickly. Memories of the Titans; of the villains; of the town. The longer she stayed as a werewolf, the more her memories would fade until they were nothing at all.
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After a while, the beta male returned to her den to find her sitting cross-legged, staring at the walls calmly.
"Hello, Kushtim," she greeted, not even looking his way.
He was surprised at this: she had her back turned to him and he had not made a sound coming in.
Must be her powers, he decided slowly.
"Agwang, Chander wishes to see you now in his den," he commented.
"Already," she breathed, though it was not a question.
She straightened swiftly, walking towards the beta male. He stepped outside of her den, heading towards the alpha male's den with Agwang following behind. He came to an abrupt halt before the den; the entrance was covered in lichen.
"Chander?" he called into the den.
"Did you bring her?" was the short, impatient reply.
"Yes," Kushtim answered.
"Good," Chander replied with his voice happy and calm. "Please, send her in."
"Yes sir."
He nodded to the female behind him, backing up slowly in a bow before he disappeared. Glancing behind her, she entered the den, pushing the lichen out of her way. Chander sat before her in his bedding of moss, nibbling on a plump mouse. Obviously he had caught it in his den, since he hadn't left and wolves don't normally catch mice. Especially werewolves.
His eyes looked up to her before he tossed the finished mouse into a corner. He motioned for her to take a seat before him and she obeyed willingly. She sat down carefully, crossing her legs. His green eyes were gentle, although there was hungry ambition blazing deep within them. She could see it.
"Hello, Agwang."
"Hello, sir," she answered.
"Please, do not call me 'sir.' Just call me Chander," he said, rising his hands.
She nodded, apologizing swiftly.
"Do you know why I have summoned you here?" he inquired, curling his fingers together as he rested his elbows on his knees, his chin on his clasped hands.
"No, si-Chander," she corrected.
"Well. Let's start off simple and get to the point. You have amazing powers and there are others like you with amazing powers in that city," he began. "Do you remember the city?"
"The city you saved me from? Yes," was her mere reply.
"Good. Now, there are villains and those who stop them. Those who stop the villains will be out to get us. Are you following?"
She nodded slowly.
"All right. If we convert those who stop crimes to werewolves, then they will not be a threat to us because they will be one of us. You see, Agwang, they are out to destroy us; kill us," he continued.
"And this is where I come in," she finished.
"Exactly. If one of us were to go out, they could severely injure us. But since you have powers, you can defeat and convert them. This is your mission: track down those with powers one by one-mind the villains-and convert them. Track them down one by one, or you could be defeated and our entire race could be wiped clean from the face of the earth," he spoke urgently.
"Then I shall depart now to stop them," she decided, rising to her feet.
"No, it is too late for that now!" he complained.
She looked behind her through the den. She could see the first rays of morning slowly shining through.
"Late? The sun is rising. It is early," she corrected softly.
"Ah; early to humans, late to werewolves. We are stronger by night and weaker by day. That is why we mostly hunt for our prey during the night. Get something to eat; go to sleep. When the moon rises, then you may go out hunting for your prey.
"And if you need something, just howl. Howl for the pack or for one of us and we will help you. Do not howl if you do not need our help," he answered, lowering his clasped hands into his lap before he broke his two hands apart.
"Yes, Chander. I will wait for moonrise before I depart," she replied obediently, rising to her feet.
She backed out of the den slowly in a bow, before she turned around. She regarded the fresh-kill pile, which would not be filled until the moon rose into the sky and shed her beams of light onto the earth. She scowled before she picked up a rabbit, carrying it into her den.
She devoured it, tossing it into a corner like Chander had done with his mouse. She crawled to her bedding, lying down on it. She tried to change into a wolf, but to no avail.
"This is what Chander meant by us being weak," she fumed softly, curling into a ball in her moss.
Tonight. Tonight I will prove myself worthy to the pack and to Chander. I will not let them down; she vowed softly before she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to pull her into its spell and soft, sweet lullaby.