Raven had slept well that afternoon. But when night fell, her internal schedule kicked in and she awoke.
She couldn't sleep nights any more. She was too used to patrolling the streets of St. Canard with
Darkwing and Launchpad. Raven had wandered the ramparts of the castle. She perched herself along the
wall facing south toward the village. Faint glowing fires could be made out through the dead forest. They
went out one by one as the night went on. Raven sat motionless on the wall as Moloculo came up behind
her. Were it not for her ebony hair floating in the wind behind her, any one would have mistaken Raven
for a statue. Moloculo stood next to her, starring out over the land.
"None of them come out at night." He commented, following Raven's gaze to the village. "They
never have and probably never will. They're too afraid that some werewolf or witch will get them. They
fear us..." Raven's sight never left the village.
"The same as you fear them." She said, calmly. Moloculo scoffed.
"What on earth makes you think that we fear any normals?"
"Because they're different. And to them, you're different. And if by some twist of fate you ever
fell onto good terms with each other, you may someday become friends. And from there, in time, your
two cultures may meld into each other. And the ways and traditions that you both have upheld for
generations would be lost. They have separated your groups and there would be no use for them. And
that scares you to death."
"That's a foolish theory." Moloculo sneered.
"It's the reason you can't bring yourself to accept Darkwing." Moloculo froze. He turned
suddenly and glared at Raven.
"The reason I can't accept that....that idiot, is because he's an egotistical fool with a sharp toung
and a dull brain!" Raven shook her head.
"You know how much Morgana loves him. And how much he loves her. If they were to marry,
and have children, they'd be his as much as Morgana's. They'd be raised to respect both normals and
monsters. If your grandchildren married and had children, then the chance that Morgana's traits will get
passed down get weaker and weaker. Until the magic heritage disappears completely. No, you don't hate
him because he's rude, or even just because he's normal. You hate him because he's a threat to your blood
line. You're afraid of dying out."
"You think so, do you?" Moloculo asked, harshly.
"That's the only true reason you could dispise him. You have too much in common with him to
hate him simply because he's normal." Moloculo growled.
"I have nothing in common with that arrogant, moronic, normal!" Raven smiled.
"You both have many things in common. You both love Morgana, you're both smart alics,
you're both great fathers, you're both smart, you're both nice when you want to be,both of you prefer night
to day, and whether by blood or by choice, you're both far from normal. You're both misunderstood, and
most of all, you both have too much pride to admit that you can be wrong." Moloculo shook his head.
"He's just using Morg, he couldn't possibly love her. Normals are too scared and narrow minded
to show kindness to monsters, let alone love."
"I beg to differ." Raven replied. "I love your daughter very much. She's my best friend. If it
weren't for her, I'd surely be dead by now. Or on death row in some American prison. She took me in
when I had lost everything. She believed in me and the goodness in my heart when I was on a fast road to
distruction. And when my vision was clouded, she helped me see where my life was headed. And Gods
know how she must have changed Darkwing. He sends her flowers for no reason. I can't tell you how
many times we've had to put night patrol on hold so he can drop by her house and see her. Or how many
times Launchpad and I have gone out on our own so he can spend time with her. Neither one of us care
what she is. We just know that she's a kind, loving person. She gives so much and expects so little in
return. How can any one not love some one like that?" Moloculo starred at Raven for a moment, trying to
figure out whether or not she was serious. The look of sincerity on her face told him she was.
"Since you're such good friends with Morg, why don't you tell her to keep that man inline when
he's here. She never listens to me." Raven looked down for a moment.
"There are things she won't listen to me about either. She's just as proud as you are. Although I
should tell her how lucky she is to have a father to argue with. My father taught me to respect those who
are fair and kind, no matter who they were. He said that underneath our skin, our attitudes, our flesh, we
are all spirits on the same journey. He said to look to the heart before the face. He spoke wisely and I
repaid his wisdom of life and respect by abandoning him and my family. By the time I came to my
senesces, it was too late."
"You lost him, didn't you?" Moloculo asked. Raven nodded. Her gaze had traveled down to the
ground below the castle.
"My pride kept me from my family when they needed me. But not Morgana. She knew that you
were in danger and she came as soon as she could. She has pride, but she won't let it destroy her. I wish
she could have taught me that lesson sooner..."
"Why did you come with Morgana, any way?" Raven looked Moloculo in the face.
"I wasn't going to let her walk into a potentially bad situation alone. She was having bad
premonitions, for all we knew she could have been wandering onto a battle field." Raven shook her head.
"I already lost one family. I'm not going to loose another." Moloculo, dispite the beginning of their
conversation, smiled.
"So, my daughter has a guardian angel then?"
"Morgana's safety and well being has always, and will always, come before my own. After she
befriended me more than a year ago, I swore to protect her, with my life if need be. My blood will run
cold, my heart will stop beating and the breath of life will be gone from my body before I see any harm
come to your daughter." Moloculo gave her a strange look. He opened his mouth to speak, but Raven
stopped him.
"If the words 'normal' or 'monster' come out of your mouth one more time, so help me I'll throw
you straight to the ground!" Moloculo grinned and threw his hands up in mock surrender.
"All right! All right! You're on our side, I get it!" Moloculo looked out at the village again.
"How about 'villagers', can I say that?"
"Yeah sure, knock yourself out." Raven answered. Moloculo sighed.
"I don't know what we're going to do. They have us trapped in our own homes. The Academy
had to be evacuated. We could easily transport ourselves to where we need to be. But when that is your
only means of transportation, it takes a lot out of you. And not all of us have that gift. That girl will surly
die with out medical treatment. And they probably aren't getting her any. They think it will just take a
few charms and potions on our part."
"And when she does die, they'll blame you for that too." Raven thought out loud.
"That's when they'll really get violent..." Moloculo said sadly.
"You need to keep them at bay some how. Until some form of solution is reached. You can't do
anything locked away."
"We tried casting shields around our lands. But we can only give so much energy for so long."
"Then we need something physical." Raven thought for a moment, but couldn't come up with
anything. Moloculo gave a frustrated sigh.
"All this, just because some one's daughter went ill." Raven's ears perked up.
"Now there's an idea..." She mused.
"What is?"
"Starwen's daughter, she's the whole reason this thing started right?" Moloculo nodded. Raven
continued. "They won't take any coarse of action that would harm her. But they will tare down your
homes if they think it will get you to cooperate. If Starwen's daughter were to be in your home..."
Moloculo starred at her.
"Are you saying we should kidnap Starwen's daughter?"
"Hey, if you've got any better ideas, I'd love to hear them." Moloculo shook his head.
"I don't know..."
"Well at the moment, it's the best shot we've got." Raven told him. "We don't have many other
options, at least none that wouldn't end with the death of innocent people. If we have her, then they
wouldn't dare to destroy your homes or harm your people. And who knows, when we get a look at her,
maybe we can think of a way to cure her."
"This won't help our relations with the villagers any, you know." Moloculo observed.
"What other choice do we have right now?" Raven asked.
"All right then, how do you propose we pull this off? Most of us that have the ability to transport
ourselves have run low on energy from the shields. If we got there and then weren't able to get out in a
hurry, we'd be dead." Raven thought for a moment. She looked out at the dark forest. She remembered
the path from the village to the castle. She pondered the length and the amount of time it took to walk
from one end to the other. She looked to Moloculo and nodded.
"Leave it to me."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" Morgana slammed her hands down on the large wooden table. She
stared hard into Raven's eye. Raven returned the hard gaze, her face set in determination.
"We've reached the end, Morgana. What other options do we have?" Raven asked. Morgana
looked to her father who stood next to Raven on the opposite side of the table. The residents of McCawber
castle had assembled to discuss the plan mapped out by Raven and Moloculo. An uncountious divide had
been made by the monsters. They faced each other on opposite sides of a long table in the main hall of the
castle.
"Father you can't be serious about this!" Morgana protested. "It's suicide! If not for us all then
at least for what ever poor soul you talk into brining Starwen's daughter here. They'd be killed before they
reached the woods! What fool is going to take that job!?!" Raven and Moloculo exchanged glances.
Raven turned to face Morgana again. Raven tried to speak, but was cut off harshly by Morgana.
"My gods Raven! Have you gone insane? You'll be killed!" Raven sighed and shook her head.
"As ever, my dear friend, your faith in me is over whelming..." Morgana narrowed her eyes and
nearly hissed.
"Oh don't start, Raven..."
"Morgana's Right." Morgana's Aunt Nasty stood by her niece's side. "It's too risky. There's no
way she could make it to the village and back with the girl."
"Let Raven worry about that." Moloculo answered his sister. "She's assured me she can handle
her part." Aunt Nasty snorted and glared at her brother.
"Since when have you started trusting normals, brother?" Raven answered for him.
"All the more reason I should go. You don't need to put your people in danger any more than
they are already." Raven looked into the eyes of the monsters on the other side of the table. "If I fail then
you've lost nothing."
"Raven!" Morgana starred at her in shock. A cocky mage from Morgana's side of the table
commented harshly, glaring at Raven.
"That'd be one less normal to worry about, at least!" Morgana turned to cast an evil look at the
offender. Raven only nodded solemnly.
"That's right." She replied. "One less normal to worry about."
"Raven please! You don't know what you're getting yourself into!" Morgana pleaded with her
friend.
"I'm doing your people a favor." Raven replied. "If any one's blood should spill, it shouldn't be
that of the oppressed." She looked to the monsters as she finished. "It shouldn't be yours."
"Why should it be yours then?" Morgana reached across the table and grabbed her friends hand.
"Raven look, this skirmish isn't your problem. I'm sorry I dragged you into it. You don't need to go
risking life and limb for no reason. I can get you back to St. Canard as soon as...." Her words were halted
as Raven leaned herself across the table. She pulled Morgana's hand, bringing her face close to Raven's.
Raven whispered into Morgana's ear in an edgy tone.
"I chose to come because I'm not letting my friend get hurt! I realize that I am here of my own
free will. I also realize that I am risking my life of my own free will. I am NOT leaving you and your
family here to be slaughtered by a band of bigoted third worlders. I don't care if this battle doesn't concern
me. You're here and your entire family is in danger. That MAKES it my problem! Nothing that you say
or do is going to get me to leave, so get used to it!" Morgana gave an exasperated sigh and pulled away
from Raven.
"Fine!" She shouted. "Go ahead and die if you want to! Loose your life for an impossible plan!
I was only trying to look out for a friend. I don't know what in the hell you plan to accomplish any way,
Raven. You think they'll stop attacking when we kidnap one of them? That won't get them to listen,
they'll do what they have to do to get her back!" Raven tried to talk calmly through the building chaos.
"If the girl can be healed then maybe we can get her to listen. If she can understand she explain
to the others. I'm willing to do what ever I can to avoid a blood bath, here." Morgana shook her head.
"What makes you think she'll listen? Just because we have her cornered doesn't mean she can't
ignore us."
"Ah yes I forgot, sitting people down and talking things out with them NEVER works, does it?"
Raven snapped.
"Some times I wonder if it's worth the trouble." Morgana glared at her friend. "You've obviously
already made up your mind. Go ahead with your plan. I won't try to stop your self destruction." With
that, Morgana stormed away from the table and up the large stair case to her room. Moloculo started after
her. Raven laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Let her go." At Morgana's exit, the monsters began to question Raven's motives.
"Why are you helping us?"
"Why risk your life for strangers?"
"What do you stand to gain from this?"
"Your kind hate and dispise us! Why should we believe you're any different?" With out a word,
Raven removed the swords from her back and placed the blades on the table. She turned them so that the
tips of the blades faced her.
"I mean none of you ill will. Morgana is my best friend. And I will do all I can to protect her
and those she cares about. But if you can't trust me, if you truly think I am here to distroy you. Then get
me first." She motioned to her swords. "Kill me." Raven stepped away from the table and folded her
arms across her chest. The band of monsters looked to Raven, then to the swords. They had never seen a
normal as unafraid of death as Raven. Moloculo took the swords from the table and handed them back to
Raven.
"No one in these walls shall bring you harm." The group dispersed into the castle. They left
Raven and Moloculo to work out any details of the abduction on their own. Raven sighed and sheathed
her blades.
"I'll leave tonight, when the villagers retire. Right now I should talk to Morgana."
"It's usually best to let her cool down some after a conflict." Moloculo warned.
"I don't like to let things hang in the air for too long." Raven replied. She made her way to
Morgana's room. She knocked softly on the door. When there was no reply, Raven gently turned the
knob and entered the room.
Morgana was seated infront of a large vanity mirror. She sat with her head buried in her arms.
The dull light from an oil lamb reflected in the sheen of her long black hair. Her trembling shoulders
caused the reflected light to move about. Raven could barely make out small sobbing noises. Guilt stung
her in the heart. She stood behind her friend and spoke softly.
"I'm sorry I spoke so harshly to you, Morgana. This is the only shot we've got. And there's no
need for one of you to risk anything. I won't have one of your loved ones getting hurt." Morgana looked
up. Her tear stained faced met with Raven's reflection in the mirror.
"What do you think you are? Just a hired body guard." Morgana stood quickly and hugged
Raven. She buried her face in the leather jacket that still hung around Raven's shoulders. "I love you too,
damn it! You're my closest friend in the whole world. What am I going to do if something happens to
you?"
"Nothing will happen to me." Raven smiled. "I'm indestructible!" Morgana sniffled.
"I mean it! What happens if..." Raven stopped her.
"Look, Morg, I know this is dangerous. And I know there's a chance I won't come back. And I
accept this! We all have to go sometime. You know I won't be around forever! Hell, there's also a chance
that I'll get shot in the head some night when I'm on patrol, but you never stop me from going out then.
There's no stopping fate." Morgana sighed.
"I know..." She said. She pulled herself away. "I know." She looked up at Raven pleadingly.
"Just promise my you'll be careful!"
"I swear on my father's grave!" Raven said. She grinned. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to
take a nap. It's gonna be a long night!"

Raven and Morgana stood out side McCawber Castle. It was a windy night. It chilled Morgana
to the bone. But Raven looked as stone. She stood unmoving, wearing a tightly cut pair of black pants
and a black tank top. Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid. She had left her eye patch off. She feared
it would get in the way and besides, none of the McCawbers seemed to mind the way her face looked with
out it.
The two were shortly joined by Moloculo. He carried a dark bundle in his arms. He unwrapped
it to reveal a long flowing black cloak. He handed it to Raven.
"It's a family relic that has been handed down over the centuries. It will shield you from all eyes.
But be careful, its magic can only last for so long." Raven nodded. She took the cloak and held it to her
chest. She turned to Morgana and smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it." Morgana nodded.
"You remember the directions?"
"Yeah." Raven said. She bowed to them both before she turned and headed for the boarder.
Raven stood at the white line in the moonless night. She unfurled the cloak and swung it around her
shoulders. The two at the castle watched as Raven's form vanished into thin air.
Moving as swiftly and as silently as possible, Raven made her way through the woods to the
village. She paused at a well momentarily to look about her. She headed south wards. In a flash, she was
in front of a large house. Raven crept up the stairs and placed a hand on the door knob. She paused again
to look up at several glass 'witch balls' that hung in the door way. Raven rolled her eyes and opened the
door slowly.
The inside of the house was pitch black. Raven winced as she stepped on a creaky board. She
froze and waited for someone in the house to stir. When there was no sound, she picked her way through
the house. She silently climbed a stair case to the upper half of the house. Imediently at the top was the
open door of Starwen's room. He slept soundly, snoring. Raven passed his door and turned into another.
She saw the form of a young lady laying still on a bed. The young lady was very lovely, long blond hair, a
delicate beak and soft white features. If she were a few years older and not so helpless looking, she would
have reminded Raven of Morgana.
Softly and gently, Raven slipped her arms under the young lady. Once she had a comfortable
holding position, Raven crept down the stairs. Raven was horrified to see that the door had shut itself
while she had been upstairs. Ever so carefully, Raven tried to free a hand to open it again. She had
succeeded in opening it when she accidentally let the girl's head slip and fall back. A slight murmur
excaped the girl's mouth. Raven froze. She quietly prayed that along with being a pure jerk and bigot,
that Starwen was also a poor parent. No luck.
"Linda?" Raven heard Starwen call from his room. She heard footsteps fly from one room to the
other. "Linda!" Starwen cried out. He heard the door down stairs crash open as he ran down the stairs.
It swung in the night wind when he reached the front room. Starwen dashed out the door in time to see
his daughter held up by an invisible being flying away from his home. "Guard!!!!!" He shrieked. Armed
men ran from their night places to his side. He pointed to the receding form of his daughter. "Get her
back! And call out the others. The village is under assault!"
Raven was making a mad dash for her life. At least the guards couldn't see her. They could only
see Starwen's daughter. A flood of villagers seemed to rush out of the night and pursue Raven.
"Crap..." She muttered to herself. Raven looked down at her feet for a moment. In a flash of
panic, she realized that the magic of the cloak was already wearing off. She ducked behind some large
trees before a rain of arrows landed at her feet. Flying in between trees, Raven picked her way back to the
boarder. Once there she hid behind a tree. The villagers were behind her and she had a large stretch of
open land to run. Not only that, but she was completely visible now. If Raven was going to make it, her
friends would have to be ready.
"MORG!" Raven called as loud as she could as she hit the open field. Arrows flew on either side
of her. She dodged them as best she could. Maybe if she looked unstable, the villagers would fear hitting
the girl. Morgana and her father waited at the door as Raven drew closer. Raven practically hurled the
girl into Moloculo's arms as she reached them. Morgana held the door for her father as he went inside.
In the transaction, Morgana heard a strange noise. She turned to see Raven hunched over. Raven waved
her hand, signaling for her friend to hurry in. Morgana followed her father inside. She turned to see
Raven going slower. In frustration, Morgana reached out and pulled on the edges of the cloak, pulling
Raven inside. The door slammed shut and dissapared from the side of the castle. Only once they were
inside did Morgana notice the arrow head protruding from Raven's side.
"Raven!" It was the last word Raven heard before she collapsed on the castle floor.