Moonbay and her savior had been up most of the night taking care of her damaged ribs. They sat in silence as the tape wrapped around her midsection over and over again. The erythematic dance of wrap, wrap, pull. Wrap, wrap, pull, was all she heard for a while.

But she soon couldn't stand the silence anymore. She wanted to know who her savior was. She wanted to know who was helping her and taking her. They were so gentle, though unorthodox. And she didn't recognize their touch.

" I'm finished. Go back to sleep." Her savior moved away from her and started putting the medical supplies away.

" Wait." She whispered.

He stopped moving. " What?"

She carefully turned around to face him. His face was still partially hidden by his black hair. The light of a candle only made the bottom of his face visible. His skin was pale; the bottom of a red mark was on his right cheek. His mouth was set in a line.

" Who are you?"

She heard him shift around. He was going back to his sleeping bag and going back to sleep without telling her. But she couldn't wait anymore. She needed to know who he was.

She reached for his gloved hand as he moved. " Please? I'd just like to know who it is helping me."

***************

Raven looked at Moonbay in front of him. He didn't know how she would act if he told her who he was. She might not want his help. She might be afraid of him. And for some reason, that bothered him.

He didn't want her to run away or fear him. She needed help and would not make it on her own. If she stumbled around out there, who knows what or who might find her?

And why was he caring all of a sudden?! He didn't give a ZOID core about anyone but himself and Shadow, why was he starting to be compassionate now? Why was he still helping her? And why couldn't he turn down those pleading eyes?

" My name…is Raven."

****************

Moonbay gasped. Her savior was the person that she had feared might find her in the first place. He had made attempts on the lives of herself and her friends. He destroyed bases all by himself. He would even go so far as to destroy his ZOID to win a battle. She couldn't believe it. Her knight in shining armor was

Raven.

But still, she wasn't as scared as she figured she should be. She should fear for her life. She should run and try to get away from him while he wasn't attacking her. She should get help or alert the nearest army base or go to the nearest city. She should be terrified right now!

But, she wasn't.

In fact, all she wanted to do was go to sleep now. She did just want to know who had saved her. Then that brought a question. Why did Raven rescue her? Well, Shadow helped too. He must have carried her here she figured.

She didn't fear him. She wasn't afraid of what he might do to her. She didn't trust him completely, but she didn't distrust him either. He had been gentle when he could have been violent. He was taking care of her when he could have killed her. 

" You're Raven?"

" Yes."

Moonbay let go of his hand and reached her hand to touch his face. He backed away at first, but when her fingers brushed against his cheek, he froze.

She traced the red mark on his cheek with her fingertips. It was like a dream. He was Raven and he was really in front of her; taking care of her.

When she pressed her hand completely against his cheek, he closed his eyes and made a content 'mmm' noise. He leaned into her warm touch. He was like a child with its mother.

Now she had no idea what possessed her to want to touch him, but Moonbay did. She knew if he responded like this to her touch, then he couldn't be all bad. He had to have some humanity left in him if he was taking care of her and this proved it.

Suddenly, Raven opened his eyes and jerked away from her as if he had been stung. He fell backwards onto his sleeping bag and scrambled away from her.

" Raven-" She stood shakily and reached out for him again.

" Don't touch me!" He smacked her hand away and retreated to the back of the cave.

Shadow was awake by now. He uncurled himself and looked up to Moonbay to see what was going on. She looked down at him with confusion in her eyes. Had she done something wrong?

*********************

Raven sat in the back of the cave. He was slumped against the wall and watching the water run from a small river inside the cave. He was actually thinking about what had just happened.

He unconsciously put his hand where Moonbay's hand had been. It still tingled. Her touch was so warm and affectionate. It was like his mother's.

That's why he jumped away from her.

Her touch reminded him of his mother.  So gentle and alluring. And he couldn't think of his parents now. Not now. Not when he was so close to destroying all the ZOIDs and still had to destroy Van Flyheight. He couldn't afford to be distracted now.

But the tingling sensation didn't go away.