The Sparrow's Burden

7

The sounds of bells filled her ears as Starfire's ligaments began to tear. Her muscle tissue was beginning to break through the skin as Mandibore forced her limbs past their flexibility limits. She wished to scream, but a tentacle was encompassing her mouth and forcing her head back. Starfire's attempt to struggle against the foul creature only caused it's grip to tighten.

As her vision fell to darkness, a new figure appeared in Starfire's peripheral vision, one which she thought had fallen in battle. A fluctuating blue cloak rose from the alley, orbited by many large objects Starfire could not make out.

Mandibore took heed as well, and turned to face the recovered challenger. With his attention upon another, Starfire's restrains were relinquished just enough so she could move her head. Raven was floating before the creature, protected by swift moving articles that created a defensive parameter. Among these were a large trash disposal, an iron pallet, and two motorised bicycles. There was no indication of Raven's previous fear in her disposition. There was only rage and determination, almost as though her victory was assured.

Rising even higher above the gap, Raven howled; "Put the girl down!"

Mandibore seemed to understand the order, his comprehension verified by his defiance to comply. Starfire felt the arms tighten again, her hands and feet becoming dark shades of purple.

Raven would accept no more of the creature's contempt. With a raising of her hand, the trash disposal crashed into his body with tremendous force. The tentacles involuntarily recoiled, and the newly freed Starfire fell into Raven's telekinetic grasp. Requiring little attention from her liberator, Starfire was gently placed upon the rooftop. Safe but unable to stand upon her own power, she struggled to watch as Raven advanced past her.

Raven floated as an irrevocable pillar, not turning her sight to anything but her chosen target. Mandibore had been crushed between the large projectile and a firm brick wall, but he was not vanquished. Both the stone and the steel had given way to him, and he seemed uninjured as he tossed aside the mangled iron box.

None of the fright and shock that was felt by Starfire could be detected on Raven as she ruthlessly hurled the other missiles at the beast. The strength of the impact obliterated all of them to shards, and not even the mighty lizard could go unscathed from such bombardment.

Smoke covered the rooftop. Burning debris and twisted metal fell from the air as the battle subsided. Through the billowing ash, Starfire could not see any sign of the creature, but she did not see Raven waver from her position or even look away from where it had been. Her manner was one of inevitability. She knew something Starfire did not, and she waited. Starfire was better learned than to question Raven's instincts, so until Raven spoke to her, she would not rise.

Mandibore sprang from the mist, this time every surviving arm wrapping around the Sorceresses body. Her adrenaline fuelling her recovery, Starfire pushed herself towards the renewed melee. Although she seemed helpless at the many hands of her attacker, Raven did not appear to be alarmed, she did not even appear to be struggling. She almost appeared expecting.

"Azrah..." The first of Raven's mystical words filled the sky and boomed like thunder in Starfire's ears. It was followed by violent tremors that shook so hard they halted Starfire's dash and forced her to the ground. Mandibore did not seem to take notice, continuing to attempt to squeeze the combat ability out of Raven.

"Metrion..." The next word caused the sky to darken. Through to the horizon,
sunlight seemed to disappear into shadow, and Starfire feared she may have suffered an cranial injury that had affected her sight. This was not the case, as she witnessed in awe what occurred upon Raven's finalization.

"Zinthos!" The word cracked the air and echoed through the sky. Raven vanished from the monster's grasp in a shapeless vail of black. The shadow that took her appeared behind the stupefied creature and struck with such lightning force the gravel upon the roof was tossed into the air. Once again, the darkness vanished and revealed itself on the opposite side of the last attack, driving into Mandibore again. It vanished once more and struck once more, and again it happened. Countless more followed. After every attack, the shadow seemed to increase in speed and frequency, and the attacks became little more than a blur. All Starfire could make out for certain was the convolutions of the helpless lizard, now utterly outmatched.

The final blow flew upwards from beneath Mandibore's feet. The shadow enveloped him, and for a moment, the two seemed to exist as one entity. Trapped in the confines of a dark halo, the lizard twisted and jerked with great, but restrained force. As malignant as the seizure was, he did not waver from his stance. He looked to be resisting,
however not knowing how to fight such an enemy.

The creature's tentacles flailed ferociously in a last act of hopeless panic, and Mandibore's body broke apart. Starfire could not be certain if she actually observed what she thought she observed. The creature's body was tossed in many directions, and the small fragments simply disintegrated. There was nothing left, as though the Teen Titans had almost met their demise at the hands of a horrible dream. All that remained was the destruction Mandibore had left in his wake, and Starfire's recovering muscles would tell a tale of a monster that was once very real.

The bringer of Mandibore's demise now stood where he once did. Hidden in the shadow of her garment, standing as tranquillity followed a storm. Raven only looked to the ground, the battle may have been repeating itself in her mind. She did not appear to be in pain. She appeared to be in a state of reflection. What Raven wished to reflect on after such an ordeal, Starfire did not know.

The young alien tilted her head, attempting to find Raven's eyes. "Raven? Are you unhurt?"

The comatose saviour did not meet her eyes with Starfire's. She continued towards the ground. "Starfire . . ." Starfire smiled with a sigh of relief. Now hearing Raven's unmarred response she moved to embrace, but the words that followed struck Starfire like a blade to the chest and halted her mid-step. "Get away from me."

Her words were cruel. Raven did not say them out of caution, but out of malice. It was perfectly safe for Starfire to approach, only Raven did not want her near. Starfire was at a loss, the shock now giving way to the pain as Raven's silence resolved her doubt. "Raven, I . . ."

Raven held up an open hand to hold Starfire's tongue. The hand was shaking and so was her speech. "Don't Starfire! Don't touch me!" There was urgency in her command, but still without merit. Starfires' body filled with tension and sorrow. For some reason, Raven now despised her.

Starfire was not angry, for she did not have the strength to be angry. Raven's words had broken her. They had taken hope and contentment from the girl, things Starfire could not bare to loose after last night. She had connected so profoundly with Raven then, it was afterward difficult to be apart from her. Now this beautiful, exquisite girl, whom Starfire gave so much of herself to, refused to be near her.

What had she done? How had Starfire wronged Raven that there arose such spite? If Raven did not wish to be near, then Starfire would inquire from where she stood. "I do not understand. Please tell me what has happened to make you so cross with me, and I shall correct it." She did her best to hide the quiver in her voice and fought the urge to approach.

The plead fell upon closed ears, and Raven did not seem satisfied with the distance that lay between them. She turned away, and moved towards the edge. "I'm sorry, Starfire." The apology brought no repose, for there was no penitence in it's delivery. "I'm not on this team to make friends. From now on, we work together and nothing more. We are not friends."

With the last awful words, Raven lifted into the air. No remorse in her tone, no lingering in her flight. Starfire closed her gaped jaw as the tears began to run down her cheeks. She watched in silence as Raven disappeared into the distance.

Starfire lost track of how long she stood in place after Raven left her. Why she remained, she did not know. Many things did not make sense to her now. Perhaps she expected Raven to return, to land beside her and amend them. She did not. Perhaps Starfire did not wish to return to the tower, where she would have to face the girl who broke her heart.

All Starfire knew is that she did not move. Not until a large metallic hand placed itself upon her shoulder. "Starfire?"

Starfire turned as though she was being awoken from a slumber. There stood Cyborg, covered in debris from wherever he landed. He was smiling, and try as she did,
Starfire could not smile back. "Looks like you and Raven made short work of that iguana."

The mention of Raven's name caused Starfire's diaphragm to tighten. She could not respond with more than a meek nod. "Beast Boy's gone back to the tower," Cyborg continued, not noticing the dried teardrops that held the dust to Starfire's face. "Robin should be back too. Where's Raven?"

Again, the name brought grief to the girl. She did not want to respond, for the fear that she may weep. "Raven..." Starfire laboured with the answer. It would not pass her lips, as it seemed as heavy as lead. "...Has left me."

Cyborg, although very compassionate and intelligent, did not distinguish emotions well. Starfire felt her speech was so bleak, her troubled heart could not be bypassed. Cyborg, however, proved her wrong. "She's at the tower too? Okay, let's me and you get back. I think we all earned a little R and R, huh?"

He turned without pause for the trip home. Cyborg did not see that Starfire was incapable of following. "Cyborg," she called out in a whimper. The hulking boy turned back, hearing her address. "Please wait for me. I do not think I am able to fly."

>

Her vision was obstructed with moisture as Raven ordered the door closed behind her. Now the confines of her room, she forced her back against the door to slow her fall to the ground. Raven pushed a white-knuckled fist against her teeth to muffle herself, and squeezed her eyes closed, pushing out the tears.

Raven sobbed quietly, not knowing how much noise she would make if she cried as loud as she wanted to. Her crying began the moment she ordered Starfire not to touch her. She did not show it then of course, but at her own words, her soul tore apart.

Love had not left her mind when Sparrow did. It remained and stayed as strong as ever, and like all of Raven's emotions, it had to be repressed. There was no telling what would happen if she allowed it to surface.

But Raven could not contain the guilt and sorrow that caused her to cry. She had told the person whom she loved, the person who taught her love, that she hated her. And as much as she wanted to tell Starfire the truth, as much as she wanted to hold her, to run her fingers through her scarlet hair and tell her how sorry she was, Raven grieved that she would never be able to. Starfire needed to be pushed aside, and their relationship harshly severed. It would be easier on both girls if Starfire was convinced Raven was hateful.

It was unavoidable that Raven would have to interact with Starfire, but as long as the time they spent together was minimal, Raven's love would fade into memory. After all, without somebody to receive it, how could someone love?

Raven calmed her tears by repeating to herself; "it will get easier. Just like all the other emotions, control this one, and it will get easier." It would get easier, Raven was sure. Every other feeling she experienced faded with time. This one seemed more powerful, much more powerful, so Raven would have to take extra steps to ensure it withered. Her outburst on the rooftop was a painful, but necessary start.

Looking to the future, Raven felt condolence. Starfire would forget and so would she. Her crying had stopped, her composure returned, and Raven began to meditate.