Chapter 12: "Titans United"

She felt both weak and pleasantly relaxed, but waking up nevertheless. Her eyebrows rose up, and then a gently wry voice called to her. "Raven? Wake up there, sleepy head." She groaned, pulling her eyes open, and focused up on Cyborg as he leaned over her from the right. The half-metal Titan was grinning, and Robin, Starfire, Rith, and Beast Boy wrapped around her bed in the med-lab of the tower.

Raven sat up, smiling a bit. Her cloak was still on, but she wasn't sure how long it had been. "Has Terra woken up yet?"

Beast Boy grinned at this. "Not yet, really, but she's doing fine."

Robin added, "Rith helped get that armor off her, and Starfire got her some fresh clothes."

Raven blinked, and focused on the blind Titan, who blushed faintly as he sensed her stare. "…Fundamental frequency?"

Rith nodded. "She'll take some time to heal, but she'll fully recover from the armor's interface with her nervous system." Starting to smile again softly, he continued, "It's good to see you awake again."

Starfire rapidly bobbed her head in agreement. "Very much so. You frightened us with your collapse, friend."

Raven touched her temple, just feeling weary still. "I can barely remember what happened at the end there… I fell, I think… Someone caught me?"

Starfire blushed with happiness, trying to stay humble, as everyone pointed at her happily. Raven tipped her head. "I owe you then. Thanks, Starfire."

"Think nothing of it, Raven!" the alien girl stretched her arms down her front bashfully. "I know you would do the same if called for!"

Cyborg leaned to Raven with mock gravity on his face. "We're also leaving out that Rith was the one who made us all get in there and take care of y'all before anything worse happened."

Raven smirked, saw Rith's darker blush, and nodded to him sincerely. Between the two of them, it was intrinsically understood as a deep thanks, even though, in truth, she wasn't surprised in the least. Then, her powers waking up with her clearing mind, she realized Terra was in the same chamber with them. She blinked, and looked just around Cyborg. He and Starfire split, and lying in the next bed was Terra, asleep, in a set of pale blue pajamas, lying under the covers. Raven could still see bandages on the girl's neck, but considering her body had been bonded to a suit of armor, she probably could use the additional cover until she more fully healed. "Any problems? Normal brainwave activity?"

Beast Boy grinned, hopping into view again. "She's a-okay! She managed to wake up a bit earlier, but she was so wiped still we let her fall back asleep."

"She didn't do much more than smile, but it's a great start," Robin continued, proud of his team as a whole, happy for Terra, and glad to see Beast Boy and Raven both so happy.

Raven was smiling in her subtle manner, but when she got off her bed, wavered a bit from her enduring weariness. Cyborg caught her first, helping the young woman steady gently by the shoulders. She blushed a bit, and thanked him with a softer smile, which he just returned before letting her stand on her own power again. "How long has it been?"

Beast Boy was a bit more calm. "Just a few hours." He stepped closer to her, Raven puzzled by his sincere, serious face. "I know you took the brunt of that spell for both me and Terra, Raven. I can't tell you how much that means to me…" Blushing a bit with a nervous half-smile, he offered his gloved hand.

Softened further, Raven smiled gently at first, glanced at his hand, pressed her lips between her teeth for a moment, and then came close, hugging Beast Boy lightly. He smiled, and hugged her back. "What are friends for, right?"

He laughed a bit. "Right…"

They parted, and Raven stepped directly up to Terra's left bedside, resting her hands on the short railing. "I felt it… how guilty she was about what happened…" Her tone was low and sincere as she closed her eyes. "I wish I'd believed in her like you did, Beast Boy. I feel like I… like it was partly my fault she wound up in stone."

Robin came closer. "If it was, then we're all a little to blame, Raven. And you've taken responsibility for us all."

Cyborg rested a hand on her right shoulder. "Exactly. You found the spell to bring her back, Ray. You've made up for any mistakes you made, at least as much as anyone can ask."

Rith smiled gently, remaining a bit further back. "Since we all know you'll both get along much better this time around."

It let the mood lighten again with mild laughter. After a moment, Robin set his hands on his hips. "Terra needs her rest anyway, so shall we go get some late lunch, Titans?"

Beast Boy looked up to them. "You guys go on ahead… I'd like to stay here. In case she wakes up…"

Everyone understood, and either smiled or simply nodded to the green boy before quietly filing out. Raven waited for last, shared a sincere smile with Beast Boy, and left as well. He looked back to Terra's gently resting face, and let his happiness and relief shine in his eyes. They had done it, they really had Terra back… for good.

(Later…)

Though she'd woken for a short spell earlier, her mind had still been so hazed over as to include it in her dreams. This time, she was starting to come back to reality. The bed was soft and warm, and for some reason that felt so nice right then. She moaned softly, and then inhaled. A faint sting etched over her body, and she cringed. "Ouch," she muttered.

"Terra?"

Her bright blue eyes blinked open, surprised to find herself actually awake, and Terra looked up, seeing Beast Boy grinning at her. Still weak, she smiled warmly. "Beast Boy… It's real, I'm actually awake…"

"Well of course!" Beast Boy exclaimed, chibi and pathetically anxious at her comment. "You didn't think it was real?"

Still smiling at him, his innocent silliness so cheering, Terra tried to sit up. She was very weak, though, and found it difficult. Beast Boy quickly came close. "Take it easy, you just woke up," he muttered, blushing a bit as he helped her sit up.

Terra was blushing as well, but her smile remained as her hair fell around her head. Everything was so gentle and soft, not like it had been with Slade, and she wasn't lying this time, they knew, he knew the truth. Abruptly, she managed to get her arms around him, her left cheek resting on his left shoulder, so they still faced away, but were hugging. Beast Boy almost couldn't breathe, but managed to return her hug more directly, letting his eyes close with contented smile.

"You did it… You brought me back."

Beast Boy pulled back gently, propping pillows up for her lie back against. "Actually… Raven did the real work, I just had to reach out to you." He was poking his fingers together, still blushing, and looking down and around self-consciously.

Terra blinked, able to sit up thanks to his help. Her blue pajama shirt was adorable as it hung loosely around her lithe body, and bandages were still visible around her neck and shoulder area. "Raven…?" She remembered more of what he'd said during the spell. "Oh my gosh, I'd forgotten… She did all that for me?" Terra was sincerely guilty, looking at her dear friend pitifully herself.

Grinning, Beast Boy nodded rapidly. "She sure did! Everyone wanted to help, but Raven figured it out, and it could only work out with just us three. Oh! We have a new teammate, too! His name's Rith, he's a really cool guy." He popped up beside Terra, both chibi, whispering conspiratorially as Terra blushed a bit with a moue, "We're all pretty sure he's got a thing for Raven, and I'm thinkin' she's okay with that, if ya catch my drift?" He nudged Terra with a wink.

Terra giggled, but winced a bit, holding her elbow. Beast Boy immediately collapsed into anxiety, his hands hovering out. "I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you? You're okay, right?"

A bit overwhelmed, Terra started giggling again. "I'm fine, Beast Boy, but thank you so much… Oh that's right…" she glanced down at herself, blushing a bit at the idea, "the armor… Slade said I couldn't get it off…" She sweatdropped. "Ah… who…?"

Beast Boy smiled nervously. "Don't freak out, because it's not as bad as it sounds… Rith got the armor off" Terra turned lobster red, twitching violently,"butStarfiregotyou clothesand Rith'sblindanyway soitdoesn'tmatter youshouldrelax!"

Terra did relax, blinking. "He's blind? Whoa…" She smiled again, scratching her head nervously herself. "Sorry I freaked out… It's not like I can complain as long as that awful stuff is off me. Explains the stinging though," she muttered, glancing down at arms and chest. Feeling a bit tired again, she eased back, still smiling at her friend. "Rith, huh? He sounds like a great guy… better than I was, for sure…"

Beast Boy turned more sincere and sympathetic. "Hey, don't talk like that, okay?" He reached over, blushing a bit yet again, and took her left hand in both of his. She meekly glanced up at him from her bowed head, through her shimmering gold hair. "I won't pretend you didn't mess up, big time, but that's okay because we're friends. You were dealing with some major problems, and now we get to help you work 'em out for real. We've just had some rocky times, okay?"

Terra giggled gently, squeezing the hand of his under hers. "Yeah… that's why I'm so grateful. I… thought I'd ruined my chances at really being friends with anyone. …You helped me realize I could, Beast Boy."

They both started blushing violently, and Beast Boy quickly hopped back, both staring off and trying to act casual. Then Beast Boy realized something, an exclamation point flashing over his head as his finger shot up. "Oh right! I need to tell the others you're awake. Wait right there!" he said, leaping into the air, and then zipping out of the med-lab with a dust-trail.

Terra was left with flailing hair and wide eyes, but then relaxed into giggles. "Same old Beast Boy!"

(A Few Minutes Later…)

Cyborg charged in with a huge grin and pleased blush on his cheeks. "Terra, girl! How ya been?" Robin, Raven, Starfire and the others marched right in after him.

Terra giggled. "Cy, it's great to see you. Everybody. Wow…" She was actually tearing up. "Raven…" her eyes focused gently on the darker girl.

Raven just smiled back in kind. "I could have trusted you more, you proved that in the end, so consider it my making amends."

The blond girl scratched the back of her head as the other Titans came up around her bed, Beast Boy glowing on her immediate left. "I don't think you had to make amends, you were totally right about me, just… Beast Boy helped me change into someone better… Thank you so much, all of you, I just…"

Robin grinned. "Hey, they got you out of that stone, so we understand." He offered his hand. "Welcome back, Terra!"

She blushingly shook his hand, everyone laughing or at least smiling as they all chorused, "Welcome back!"

After the mood calmed a bit, Terra kept a meek smile on her face, sitting in her bed. "So you're gonna let me stay in the tower?" She was almost afraid she'd spoken to soon, but everyone immediately countered her fear.

Cyborg shook his head violently. "You think we wouldn't? Girl, what's wrong with you? You're a part of the team!" He was grinning again.

Terra flushed. "R-really? You… you still think I'm a Titan…?"

Robin was smiling with everyone. "You pulled through for us when it mattered most, Terra. You saved the city and beat Slade. I won't sugar-coat it, I think you probably need some more discipline over your power," he continued with a calm tip of his head, "but you're definitely part of the team. We'll all practice together."

Though seriously embarrassed by his criticism, Terra knew she deserved it, and was grateful all over again. "Geez… I can't repay you guys for this… I really treated you terribly and you're just… letting me off, basically."

Raven stepped a little closer, and rested her hand on the girl's shoulder. She could feel nothing but sincere guilt and gratitude, which let her smile even more. "You took up your slack, just like Robin said. We'll work on your control as we need to, but you're one of us now, for real."

All this time, Rith had just been standing back, smiling at the happy occasion. It was so beautiful to see reconciliation in action. Yes, challenges would come in the future, but right then, friends were back together who thought each other lost. There was no greater gift. He blushed a bit when Robin, Starfire, and Raven backed away from Terra, gesturing to him for the bed-ridden girl. Terra blinked, and smiled. "Hey… You're Rith?"

The blind boy smiled pleasantly, and drew forward with his staff. "Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, Terra. Beast Boy especially speaks very highly of you, but all your friends make a glowing report." He offered his hand.

Blushing with a bashful smile to Beast Boy and then the group, Terra shook his hand. She was surprised how gentle he was, and how confidently he moved. "Thanks… I hear you're a super-nice guy yourself!" She tried to change the subject with nervous happiness.

Rith's blush returned as he dipped his head down meekly. "I try to help out…"

Raven nudged his arm, smirking in her characteristic manner. Everyone else saw how the boy's blush deepened at her proximity, and Terra noted it with gentle amusement herself. Raven, however, simply said, "He's been a major help in several major missions, so don't take his modesty too literally."

"R-Raven…" he tried to quiet her as gently as he could, but his expression was adorably hopeless.

Terra found herself grinning. She had welcoming friends, it was actually real (the dull sting over her body actually relieved her for that very reason), and Raven had never seemed so at ease. She was almost giggling! I think Beast Boy's right, Rith definitely has a thing for her, and I don't think she minds… She gave Raven a sly wink, which made the purple-haired girl blush a bit, and quickly try to appear as though she hadn't noticed.

Starfire floated up and down joyously, glowing with happiness. "Oh this is such a glorious day, dear Terra! You have returned, we are all well! Please, how do you feel? Will you be with us on missions soon?"

Terra blushed, a bit wary of a crushing embrace from the alien girl. She sighed with relief when none came (yet), and grinned. "I feel really good, just tired. Thanks to Raven," she added with a nod of deeply sincere thanks to the other girl, who actually blushed a bit again. "Whenever I feel solid enough to walk around, I'll be happy to get to training," she said seriously to Robin. "I need to get this done right. I've got to take control myself." The grim effect of Slade was clear in her suddenly focused eyes, but it was a relief to her friends.

Rith offered his kind, sincere smile as he tipped his head to her. "For my part, I will be happy to train with you, Terra." He gave Raven a subtle nudge in the back of her foot with his staff. She blushed a bit, and smiled. "Me, too. I think meditation might really help you with your control."

Terra listened seriously. She, honestly, felt a little intimidated by training with the Titans, but she had to go along with it. Because of how much they'd already done for her, and how much she needed to put her fears of Slade behind her. "I bet you're right, just… go a little easy on me, okay? I'm… kind of a slow learner."

Rith's smile turned bright. "Fear not, madam. I am sure your green protector will keep us from tormenting you too much." He was chibi, and winked.

Terra giggled with a blush, Beast Boy popped up, chibi himself, in a suit of armor brandishing a flag of 'Maiden's Shield' proudly. His chibi grim focus made everyone giggle or burst out laughing, deflating his attempt. Terra's adoring hug melted him again in a much better way. "That's my rescuer alright." He only managed some murmured babbling.

Starfire hopped up and down. "So much has happened while you were sleeping, Terra! May we please update you with stories of adventure and excitement? I have very much wanted to lead a 'story time' since I heard of them!" Her adorable hopefulness left Terra almost afraid of refusing her.

"S-sure… Starfire. I could use the update anyway."

The alien girl whipped a chair over, and sat down beside Terra's bed. Beast Boy and Cyborg hunkered down to help with bits of extra info and chibi-diagrams. Rith, Raven, and Robin watched for a few seconds as Starfire began with an animated depiction of one of their first missions after Terra turned to stone. Rith started to back away. "I'll make her some breakfast. The poor girl is probably starving."

Robin and Raven shared a look, and then Robin grinned. Raven eyed him with a sweat-drop and suspicion before he nudged her gently after Rith. Disgruntled (and blushing), Raven finally hurried after Rith. "I'll help."

He glanced back to her in the hall with clearly pleased surprise. "Oh! Thank you so much!"

(In the Kitchen…)

At first, Rith, under Raven's suggestion, started to make waffles for Terra. He discovered one of Cyborg's waffle-makers, but when he activated it, the machine blew up. Raven leaned back, sweat-dropped as the blind-boy stood, chibi, black with soot, just before waffle-goo showered him from above. "…Perhaps not."

Raven couldn't resist an amused smile, blushing for his sake, and then helped him clean everything up. Deciding on simple pancakes, made the old-fashioned way, the two set up a simple but effective system. Rith was stirring the mix with comical enjoyment, grinning to himself as Raven actually cooked the pancakes in… a pan, setting the finished ones aside on a large plate.

Idly, the pale girl wondered if Rith wasn't so happy just because she was helping him. It was hard to miss how much he cared for her, but she couldn't help feeling uncertain, a little self-conscious about it all. Abruptly, she realized she'd left her current pancakes on one side too long, and quickly flipped them. Rith poured the last of the mix into the pan for her as she moved the finished ones onto the plate.

"Where'd you learn to cook, anyway?" she asked simply.

Rith chuckled. "You're doing most of the cooking…"

She smirked at him. "You know what I mean."

"True, true, madam. When I lived with the old Master, we cooked for each other regularly. Simple things, of course, but I learned the basics, got a feel for how things go when heating up."

Calming to a prettier smile, she nodded. "Fair enough."

"Pardon me," Rith muttered softly, reaching around her to pull a whisk out of the drawer.

Raven moved a little out of his way, but was blushing as she realized he was almost wrapped around her. To control herself, she quickly covered with, "What now?"

"Scrambled eggs!" he proclaimed with overdone seriousness, letting them both laugh afterward.

It was strange. She realized that she didn't just feel comfortable around him, she felt comfortable near him. The calm anxiety that stayed with her whenever she interacted with others simply didn't bother to form around Rith. It was just so… nice. Again, she distracted herself by taking the pan to the sink and washing it off. "Want to reuse this one for the eggs then?"

"Sounds like a plan," Rith answered, seeming oblivious to her pensive moments as he whisked eggs rapidly in a large basin.

Raven smirked a bit, glancing over her shoulder to him. "So what are they talking about?"

"Just got to the Nufu incident with the cows. Hadn't heard that one myself…"

Raven couldn't resist a giggle, only realizing afterward how often she was smiling or even laughing recently. "Is Beast Boy telling it still?"

"Of course!"

Both giggled again. Raven finished drying off the pan, and prepared it for the eggs. Once he poured the beaten food into the pan, however, Rith took over, easily keeping them even and well-cooked as he added some yummy ingredients. Raven stood by, leaning against the counter behind him with crossed arms. Her calm smile and gentle expression clearly showed her fondness of him. Right then, in the kitchen, she just knew she could trust him, and remembered how kind he was.

Turning a bit serious, she glanced down. …I wonder how I'd respond if he decided he wasn't so devoted to me in particular? She seemed a bit sad. I think I'd get jealous. Not exactly fair to him, though. Sure, we get along well, she smiled a bit as she looked at him again, but… I don't really treat him any differently than the others. Okay, except for the kiss, but that was half-joking anyway… The realization didn't stop her from blushing a bit.

Rith, who had been quite focused on the eggs, abruptly noticed Raven's expression. He turned his face to look at her over his shoulder. "…Are you alright, Raven?" His voice was softened, gentle and kind as ever.

A bit startled, she quickly smiled in her calm manner, and nodded. "I'm okay, sorry. Just thinking…"

He switched off the stove, and turned around, soft concern on his scarred face. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Looking at him, into his unique lack of a gaze, Raven realized how handsome she thought he appeared, how his manner seemed to soften and warm his actual characteristics so wonderfully. She started to blush, but didn't look away. "Actually… um…" She stood up from leaning on the counter, seeing Rith become a bit more attentive, waiting for her to speak. Raven smiled a bit, and then came close, hugging him.

She felt his rush of shock, physically and mentally at once, but his arms wrapped around her shoulders in a warm, gentle response to her embrace, and she could feel his frame relax to her touch.

"You sure you're okay?" he whispered softly in her ear, patting her right shoulder fondly.

Almost sleepy with her relaxation, Raven just nodded against his shoulder. "Yeah… I'm fine… I… just wanted to hold you, if that's okay…" She rightly guessed he was blushing at this point.

Allowing himself a gentle laugh, he nodded, and said, "Of course it is… You're so sweet, Raven…"

Her blush returned, but she was smiling, both sincerely and with a touch of humor. "I think you're the only boy who thinks so…"

"Forgive me if I think you're mistaken."

They shared a soft laugh, and then Rith sensed something. He gently spoke again. "Robin's coming."

Raven just stayed where she was. "That's fine… If you're uncomfortable I'll let go, but I'd like to stay like this for just a few minutes." She felt wonderful, but in the strangest way. It was a new feeling, and a lovely one, both wholly relaxing, and exciting. It was so safe right in that moment.

She only felt a soft pat on her shoulder, and knew he was just as happy as she was to stay as they were. When the door opened, the only one suddenly blushing was Robin, but he quickly started to smile. "Sorry, I just wanted to see if I could lend a hand."

Raven did finally blush a bit, but was smiling as she pulled back from Rith. She felt almost sleepy. "It's alright. I was just giving Rith another 'thank you'," she finished with a more wry turn to her smile.

This time Rith blushed, smiling as he scratched his hair. "She… has a way with words…"

Robin grinned, walking down to join them. "No kidding. Congratulations, you two."

Raven blinked. "About what?"

The leader of the team allowed himself a mischievous grin. "Nothing, I guess, just felt like saying it."

For some reason, Raven's face was turning red again rapidly, and she became a bit flustered. "A-ah, right. I think the… food is ready. Rith?"

She looked almost afraid, asking for his help. Rith just smiled kindly, not wanting to imply anything before she wanted it so, and nodded. "It's all ready, yes. Robin, shall we spare the lady the work?"

The boy-wonder winked his agreement, and the two boys picked up the plates and food needed. Raven, her blush cooling down, giggled gently, and walked on after them as they returned to Terra's room.

The door opened to show Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Starfire animatedly depicting the final battle with Trigon, Starfire and Cyborg holding small puppets of the Titans, Beast Boy pretending to be Trigon. Terra was sweat-dropped, as she had been since they told her about Slade's return, and had an adorable moue on her lips as she tried to keep track of the story amid their interjections and Beast Boy's random story-style.

Rith, Raven, and Robin paused, blinked (if possible), and smiled together as the others stared at them, the three presenters blushing a bit. Beast Boy popped up near Terra as Starfire and Cyborg hid the small set, dolls, and cut-out effects behind the other bed, which somehow hid them all perfectly. "Anyway," Beast Boy started, "Raven kicked Trigon's butt back to his dimension and then we woke you up. So that's the deal."

Terra was blushing, smiling as she scratched the back of her head, and then gave Raven a sympathetic smile. "Wow… I had no idea you'd gone through all that Raven… and you still helped me so much. I… wow…"

Raven just walked up, Rith and Robin zipping over and dropping the mountains of food on lap-trays for Terra. The darkest Titan girl said, "Don't worry about it. I just hope you like the food."

Robin grinned over the pancakes. "She and Rith made it together." Chibi, he leaned over near everyone except the two in question, the others turning chibi conspiritorial as well. He whispered, "I walked in on a 'romantic' moment, too."

Raven was blushing, but also had her characteristic twitching rage snapping soulself off her hands as she shivered, turning more chibi by the second. "Rooobiiin…"

Starfire beat her to the punch, so to speak, by tackle-glomping both she and Rith around the necks, swinging them around in full chibi-glory, the pair sweat-dropped and helpless as Terra and the others tried to stop laughing. "What a glorious day! Raven and our newest friend openly express their affection while sharing the preparation of a welcome-home feast for another dear friend!"

She stopped, and Rith managed to raise one hand. "S-Starfire… Raven… needs… to breathe…"

Blushing, the alien girl let them both go with an 'eep!', and the pair gasped on the ground before springing back upright. Cyborg grinned with the others. "Don't worry, Ray, we're just pokin' some fun. 'Sides… if ya'd actually been doin' anything too romantic, he'd be the one blushing," he jerked a thumb at Robin.

Raven smirked. "True… Well, him too." She nodded to Rith, who blushed at the simple idea, causing another round of giggles and laughs, including his own.

Beast Boy leapt into a spider-monkey, hanging over Terra, squawking eagerly at the food. Terra clapped her hands together. "He's right! This stuff looks great! Come on, let's dig in!"

And so they did. The now seven reunited Titans spent the rest of the afternoon sharing home-made food, silly stories, and having an all-around wonderful time. Privately, Terra was anxious about practice, afraid she might hurt her friends, but she knew that the only real way to stop that very thing from happening was to practice as much as she could.

This time it wasn't a trick, a mere fantasy. They really welcomed her as one of them, and she'd do everything she could to earn that. Realizing it made her grin all the more easily as Beast Boy nearly flew into the mountain of pancakes thanks to a back-clap from Cyborg. It was so good to be home.

(That Night…)

Klaxons and emergency alarms flooded the entire complex, moaning through the night air. Men in lab-coats and technicians were fleeing a sea-side building with all possible speed. Inside the crimson-lit halls, a monotone computer voice, female, alerted any stragglers, "Warning. Containment unit breech in lab 2-4-A. Subject loose in hall 4, hall 5, hall 7…" The computer kept rephrasing itself as a massive shape burst through the wall, rubble raining down as it twisted toward the large exit doors.

A huge metal blast-door slammed down into place as the lab tried to seal itself off, but something struck it so powerfully that the metal mass warped outward in a single blow. A second sent it flying off. The beast leapt free, slamming down to all fours as it bared rows of razor-sharp, glistening teeth. Red, glinting eyes sharpened over a long, dark snout as the creature growled.

Giving an earth-shuddering roar, the creature shot off… toward a distant city and glistening water. Its massive claws tore into dirt and cement alike, wrenching it toward its goal. So much… So much to DESTROY!

(Later…)

At a busy intersection, people were milling about even late at night, carousing bars, goofing off with friends, or even driving around the town. A bus that had pulled to a stop near a small park in the center of eight blocks suddenly hefted off the ground as the passengers screamed and shouted in dismay. People began to stare, scream, run, or all three as the great beast stood beneath the bus, holding the massive vehicle over his head without a visible strain.

The creature was three or four times a human's size, with relatively lean, well-defined legs, a sturdy torso, shoulders, and highly developed, long arms, with clawed hands lifting the bus from beneath. The beast's head was wolfish, bearing unnaturally sharp, glistening rows of teeth as he growled at everyone not already fleeing from him. Almost all black with red marks, the creature also had hardened spikes, like extensions of his tough skin, shooting off the forearms, upper back, shoulders, sides of the thighs, and shins. A werewolf without fur, and natural spikes, the beast gave a ground-shuddering roar, and abruptly tossed the bus down the street to his left.

He narrowed his crimson eyes as the bus was engulfed in darkness, and gently lowered to the street. As the passengers fled, Robin leapt down, putting his grappling hook back into his belt under his cape. Starfire flew up on his left, Cyborg and Beast Boy stepped out on either side, and Raven floated up on the right, her eyes glowing as her cloak undulated around her feet. Rith stepped up calmly underneath Raven, his staff in hand.

Robin focused on the creature with grim determination. "We're not gonna let you wreck the city. If you understand me, stand down now."

Drawing his gaze onto the leader of the Titans, the beast gave a disturbing half-smile at the base of his snout. Then he spoke in a deep, rumbling voice. "Oh, I understand you, boy, but I've taken enough orders for a lifetime." He dropped to all-fours, grinning fiendishly. "You seem like a very serious lot for a bunch of kids. Maybe you should take a load off!"

His fists shock-snapped into the street, tearing it apart in a blast wave toward the Titans. Robin snapped his bird-hook out. "Titans, GO!"

As he flew over the crest of the cement wave, Raven, Starfire, Rith, and Beast Boy, as a hawk, flew at the beast, Cyborg blasting down part of the wave with his cannon and charging in after them. Raven focused her soulself, pushing her hands at the werewolf to try and restrain him. Starfire and Rith backed her up with sonic blasts and star-bolts from either side as they floated upright together.

The beast growled, blocking their onslaught with his left forearm while calmly ramming his body free of Raven's attempted grasp. She grimaced, and then shouted her chant, sending a ram-wave of soulself into his chest as Rith and Starfire also enhanced their attacks into solid beams, Starfire using her eyes. Finally, the beast stumbled back, taking a staff-slam from Robin to his head between the sharp, long ears, a sonic-blast from Cyborg to the stomach, and a rhino dropping on him as the others held off.

Beast Boy leapt off in his human form as the beast was smashed down into the street. Rith's brow creased, letting himself land. "He's not done, get back!"

The green Titan followed the warning, flying back as a small bird as the street exploded upward again, the beast crashing to his haunches in front of the team. Everyone braced, Robin pulling blast-discs free of his belt, Beast Boy warping into a dire-ape, but the beast lingered ominously. "Not bad, for kids, I'll give you that," he muttered with his rumbling voice. "I suppose that earns an introduction… Call me…" he seemed to ponder his name with relish, "Canis."

Raven gave him a dry stare. "Wow, that's imaginative."

Canis growled at her, his eyes narrowing. Abruptly, he back-flipped. Power-bolts, blasts of sound, soulself, and blast-discs stormed after him, but he contorted and coiled in the air with astonishing agility before dropping down into the massive hole again. Rith shot forward to chase him.

"Wait, Rith!" Robin called urgently.

The blind boy halted, twisting to look back at the leader. "I can follow him!"

"Splitting up is too dangerous against that thing. Can you track him?"

Rith raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Yes."

So the Titans followed Rith's senses through the city. Canis stayed underground, but moved at incredible speed. Soon Starfire had to help Robin, and Rith carried himself, Cyborg, and Beast Boy in a sound-bubble to keep up, Raven flying along under her own power. As they shot over another intersection, Raven's brow creased. "We're almost at the bay, where is he going?"

Rith shook his head. "I can't figure it out either. He seems to be focused on random destruction."

Beast Boy remained awkwardly crouched on distorted air behind the blind boy, along with Cyborg. "Well the thing did bust out of a military genetics lab…"

Starfire kept up. "Though violent, he seems quite intelligent. Might we not reason with him?"

Robin frowned. "He didn't seem like he was in the mood to talk much, and we're getting too close to Titans Tower for my liking. Terra's still vulnerable there."

(Meanwhile…)

In fact, back at the tower, Terra was very much worried about her friends. She stood in her blue pajamas at the window of the med-lab, looking out at the city. The trouble alert had sounded just as she was starting to drift off to sleep after the wonderful 'dinner party' they'd put on for her, so she understood why the others just took off. She was still very weak. Resting her hand on the window, she frowned guiltily. If I hadn't been so stupid, I would've really been here to help them fight off the bad-guys for all this time. …I didn't even finish off Slade for them… She closed her eyes and bowed her head, her long, bright hair falling down around her face. Letting her hand down, she clenched both into fists. "I can't screw up like that again. I've got to train really hard. I'll be a real Titan, and then I won't be some stupid ditz making trouble for everyone…"

Then she sensed it. Her powers gave her a sixth sense for shifts in the earth, and something had just caused a major disruption out in the bay. Looking out with her pale blue eyes, her eyebrows flashed upward as she saw a huge beast burst out of the water near the harbor, stone from the sewers he'd leapt from raining down around him before he slammed back into the water and started power-stroking for the tower's island. "Whoa… That thing means business…" Then she grinned, "But my friends are right on his tail!"

Raven, Rith, and Starfire, with their friends, flew over the water that instant, chasing the beast down. Robin focused ahead grimly. "Figures… he's after our home."

Starfire's expression turned sour as her eyes blazed. "I am quite fond of our home. I will not let him destroy it!" She suddenly shot ahead of the others, Raven and Rith a bit stunned, and then rushing to keep up.

Canis just reached the shallow water off the coast of the tower's island, laughing to himself as he waded forward.

"Canis! Heads up!"

He twisted his head around only to receive Robin's boots to his snout as Starfire swung the boy at him. Canis reeled back, toward the tower, and Starfire quickly looped around, dropping Robin on the shore as she floated up with power gathered over her fists and in her eyes. Flying past on discs of shadow, Cyborg and Beast Boy landed on either side of Robin, Raven floating up to face Canis with them. The beast roared, turning to face them again, but his back arched from a vicious blow, the water exploding out from him as Rith slammed his staff into Canis' back.

Roaring in fury, Canis lashed around. He only struck empty water as Rith flipped high over him, crashing to his haunches between the island and the beast, staff along his back with a faint smile. Canis, facing away for a split-second, smirked, and snapped around abruptly. Rith leapt up, but no attack came. His eyebrows rose in controlled shock just before Canis roared in his face. The sound was not the same as before, but rather a focused, beam-blast of distortion from the beast's throat. It engulfed Rith's head for a fraction of a second, but everyone knew what it would do.

Raven's eyes flared. "Rith?"

The boy reeled back through the air, groaning as his hand let go of his staff. His body limply crashed into the water. Canis sent his fist down after him, but struck a black wall, Raven shooting down to pull Rith (with his staff) out of the water, and flying back to the island. Canis growled up at her, but a barrage of star-bolts, blast-discs, and sonic-blasts struck him like a wall, blasting water and steam away as he stomped back a step. Canis loomed through the scattering smoke only to lock gazes with a T-Rex, which snapped around, tail-ramming him to the side.

Raven landed with Rith, his staff dropping from a black aura to the ground just near them. The girl's hood folded down as she turned the blind boy on his side, shaking him as he didn't respond. "Rith? Come on! You have to wake up!" She touched his head, closing her eyes, but before she could use her soulself, he sputtered, coughing water onto the rocks, and leaned back against her weakly. She sagged with relief. "Are you hurt badly?"

"Just… need a second… Thanks again," he managed a wan smile up at her.

Despite the battle, she found herself smiling back. "Just stay here. I need to back them up."

He only nodded with calm acceptance, and she shot off again, pulling her hood up. Rith winced, holding his head once she wasn't focused on him. "I'd rather avoid that in future…"

Canis was being pestered by long-range attacks from Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg while Beast Boy got right in the beast's face as a gorilla, elephant, various dinosaurs, even a buffalo. Clenching his claws together, Canis sent Beast Boy flying back and reverting with a swing to his chest. As the green Titan flew back with a shout of pain, familiar words rang through the air.

"Azarath metrion ZINTHOS!"

Canis' smirk was cut-short by a black wall of water ramming into him from his left, Raven rushing down as she swept her arms along the path of her attack. Canis started to recover, eyeing her darkly, when Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg charged past the darkest Titan. Robin shouted up to her, "Get ready to guard our retreat!"

"I'll be waiting," she called seriously, already focusing as she raised her hands on either side, her legs crooked faintly beneath her writhing cloak.

Canis swept a claw at Robin, who ducked while Cyborg and Starfire blasted the creature in the chest. While Canis tried to recover, Cyborg grabbed the right arm, Starfire the left, and Robin threw two cryo-discs into Canis' front with a quick snap-twist of his body, his arms lashing out in turn. Canis' body was frozen over almost completely, but he roared, tensed, and his bulging muscles shattered the ice. Robin's eyes flared. "Let him go!"

Cyborg and Starfire did so, and Canis wrenched his arms down at Robin.

"Star, take him high!" Cyborg bellowed, charging a shoulder-ram into Canis' shins.

Starfire roared with righteous fury herself, eyes blazing, and dove into Canis' head from the other side. His body angled toward Robin, Canis was struck on opposite sides, high and low, at once, causing his relatively light body to snap-coil in mid-air, water spraying out from his flying feet. The three attacking Titans beat a hasty retreat, Starfire swooping in from her through-charge across Canis' head to pull Robin and Cyborg to safety, rushing past Raven.

Rith finally rose to his feet with Beast Boy on the shore, the pair 'watching' as Raven summoned her soulself to her hands as Canis splashed into the water. The beast quickly reared up, and roared as it charged at her, but Raven dipped her hands to wrench them vertically over her head with a sharp shout of exertion, a wall of black water erupting between her and the advancing brute.

Unfortunately, Canis tore through it like so much paper. Raven grimaced from the violation of her soulself's domain, and started to fly back, but not nearly fast-enough.

"Raven!" Rith shouted, already starting to fly off the ground despite the roaring pain in his head.

"BACK OFF!"

A boulder the size of a bus rammed out of the water ahead of Raven, crashing into Canis with such vicious force that he actually yelped, hurtling back through the air and crashing into the deeper water thirty meters off.

Everyone suddenly looked back to the tower in shock, which quickly turned to relief and, in Beast Boy's case, star-eyes and chibi glee. Terra stood there, still in her pajamas, with her hair flailing around her head, and her yellow-glowing eyes sharpened with firm anger, her right fist closed straight forward. Rith was already well-disposed to the young woman for helping Raven so directly. Raven herself quickly flew back, landing as she pulled her hood down. "Terra… thanks, but are you okay?"

Terra smirked a bit, lowering her fist as her eyes faded and her hair relaxed. "Not a front-liner today, but I can back you guys up. 'Sides, I still owe you big time," she finished with a light smirk, setting her hands on her hips.

Beast Boy appeared beside her in chibi adoration. "Isn't she the coolest…?"

Cyborg jerked a thumb back out to the water. "Not to interrupt this Kodak moment, but we still got a big-nasty to deal with?"

Everyone quickly faced out again, Rith spinning his staff into his hands as his clothes dripped water on the stone. Beast Boy quickly turned serious and hopped a little further ahead, Terra bracing her legs and fists, focusing for a quick attack again.

Canis lumbered back to the shallower water, his chest heaving with frustration. "Who did THAT?" Rith winced faintly again at the sharper noise, still recovering from the sonic-shock before.

Terra grinned. "That'd be me."

Raven floated back above Terra, both arms out with soulself writhing around the fists, legs down, body braced, but faintly smiling. "Terra, how big a chunk of rock can you get up in the air as fast as that last attack?"

Thinking, the blond girl quickly replied, "About… a little bigger than that one, if you just need it up in the air."

Raven's confidence grew in her smile. "Just toss it up and let go. I'll finish it." Her arms tightened a bit further.

Terra smirked. "You got it."

"Rith?" Raven called.

"What do you need?"

"The biggest sonic blast you can manage right now."

He twirled his staff in front of himself, focusing with grave determination. Raven couldn't let the concern he would push himself too hard for her request distract her from pulling her own part off. "On my signal," she said more quietly.

Robin nodded to the others, and they launched a full barrage at Canis, who started to dash toward them, the water exploding in his wake as he roared in bestial fury. Starfire flew straight in, slamming his chin upward with a two-fisted uppercut, only to eye-blast him down into his chest. She shot back, twirling like a top as her fists glowed, unleashing a rapid-fire assault with her star-bolts, keeping Canis pinned back while Cyborg and Robin teamed up their sonic-blasts and cryo-discs to slow the werewolf creature down even more.

Raven watched as a green elephant charged in, ramming Canis back violently. "Beast Boy, get out of there! Terra!" Her own arms pulled back as her power blazed from her eyes and around her hands in solid spheres.

The green elephant transformed into a bird that squawked in dismay as it looked back to the tower, quickly flying out of the way. Starfire, Cyborg, and Robin shot to either side as Terra screamed, wrenching her clawed hands upward as her power flared out of her eyes like twin suns, her hair flailing upward. A huge block burst out of the water, quickly losing its golden aura only to be engulfed in a black one.

"Rith!"

The boy grunted without a sound, straining his body lower as a wall of distortion three meters wide shot from his body, slamming Canis back through the air with a pained shout from the beast. Canis looked up as he started to rush away, only to widen his red eyes as the massive block smashed into him, exploding from the force of the impact. He flipped over himself rapidly, skipping across the water, and slamming into the far harbor with a shattering blast of wood and cement. He groaned, and fell limply unconscious.

Raven landed, panting with Terra and Rith as the others hurried up to the trio. "Booyah!" Cyborg shouted happily first. "That was a tag-team slam if I ever saw one. I gotta have five for that!"

Rith and Raven gave both he and Terra smiles, and she grinned, slapping the metal hand with her own. "Just helping out…" she muttered, sincerely wiped out as she kept herself up with her hands on her knees.

Starfire landed, wiping her gauntlet across her forehead. "He was a most challenging foe. I am most relieved to see his defeat. May we please rest now?"

Robin nodded, smiling. "Of course. I'll contact the proper authorities to come pick our new friend up." He focused on Terra, Raven, and Rith. "You three did a great job together."

Raven managed to stand up, pulling her hood down as she caught her breath. "It wouldn't have worked without everyone giving their all. It was a team-effort." She gave Terra a gentle side-long glance, which the girl noticed and responded with a sincerely grateful, though wan, smile.

Rith palmed Beast Boy toward Terra with an innocent expression on his face, the green Titan blushing as he stood in front of her. "C-can I help you get back to your bed, Terra?"

Terra blushed a little herself, but nodded. "I'd appreciate it, Beast Boy…"

He came up, grinned, and actually swept her off her feet. The girl yelped playfully, but then wrapped her arms around his neck, and just relaxed there, almost asleep already. Beast Boy blushed powerfully again, but smiled with surprising sincerity, and started walking. Cyborg watched them start back into the tower with the others, and then smirked slyly at Rith. "…Gonna offer Ray the same, Rith, my man?"

Rith blushed, Raven also though she hid it with her hood rising over her head again, and helplessly raised his arms out to the sides. "I'd just get her soaking wet." His sleeves were still dripping onto the rocks.

Everyone still outside shared a sincere laugh, and then made their way inside to get cleaned up and some rest. Beast Boy gently lay Terra down in the bed in the med-lab, the poor girl already fast sleep. He pressed his lips together, and gently caressed her cheek, dropping a few strands of her hair down from her face, onto the pillow. She made a gentle murmuring sound, obviously happy with the touch, but never quite woke up. Blushing gently again, the green Titan pulled her blanket over her, and walked to the door.

With a soft pause before he turned out the lights, he looked back at her. "Good night, Terra… Welcome home."

When the door swept shut, Terra smiled in her dreams. Thank you, Beast Boy.

Author's Note…

Firstly, my apologies for the long delay before this chapter got posted. It's also a bit longer than usual. I have a tendency to underestimate the page-requirements for my scenes, especially battles. Secondly, the story is very near completion, I'm just not sure if it will be one more chapter, two more chapters, or some combination thereof with an epilogue.

Thanks again for the positive reviews, they really do keep me writing. I never really stopped writing this chapter, I was just very slow. My spring break has started now, so hopefully I'll get this wrapped up by the end of next week, but we'll see. Please continue to review, critiques are welcome, I just make sure I gives thanks for the compliments.

Also, for those who may not know 'canis' is the Latin for 'dog', hence Raven's comment. The girl knows so many archaic languages, I thought it would make sense if she called him on it.

Revision note: I've completely revised all the chapters on my computer, and am in the process of uploading them. Of course, I may have still missed typos and such, so feel free to report them to me over email. I'd appreciate it, in fact. Thank you.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you continue to enjoy this story.