Elizabeth: Hey, tayk?
tayk: Yes?
Elizabeth: I'm bored. Do you think our fans have waited long enough for an update?
tayk: I think so. Let's find Naomi and tell her.
(Elizabeth and tayk run off, and appear an hour later wandering through the woods. They finally find Naomi)
Elizabeth: Naomi! Finally! We've been looking everywhere for you!
Naomi: You have?
tayk: We have.
Naomi: Ok, what do you want to tell me?
(Elizabeth and tayk look at each other)
tayk: I forget.
Elizabeth: Me too.
Naomi: Ok... Let's go update our story! (Naomi is not a cheesy idiot, unlike some people I know. CoughcoughInuGhostcoughcough)
A Matter Of Trust: Chapter 14
"Cyborg, get a fix on her location," said Robin.
"She's a little bit west of here." Cyborg answered. Robin ran into the woods, due east. Raven grabbed his cape again.
"Not so fast. Don't you remember the last time you ran off without us?" said Cyborg.
"Raven! Lemme go!"
"Not a chance." Raven turned him around then let go of the cape. Robin turned around to face the direction he was headed, and ran off again. Raven grabbed the cape, AGAIN. Robin suddenly gained a half crazy, half fierce look.
"Raven, let me go!" Robin tried to pull out of her grasp, but she encased him in her black aura, and he had no hope of getting away.
"If you're going to run off, at least run in the right direction." Raven's voice was normal, with the slightest hint of annoyance.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Robin demanded. Raven released him from her aura, and he stood facing her, a furious expression on his face. Raven pointed over his shoulder.
"That way would be east." She pointed her thumb over her own shoulder.
"That's west. Get a compass." A compass magically appeared in her hand, and she held it out to Robin. He took it, and then ran west. Raven grabbed his cape, still facing away.
"We gotta find Starfire! Slade kidnapped her! It's always Slade. He's a moron. An idiot." While Robin yelled the first two sentences, his voice sank to a mutter. Then, he yelled again. "We have to find her! Lemme go!" Raven loosened her grip, but did not let go.
"Robin, calm down." said Cyborg.
"No!" Robin made a quick grab at a pocket in his utility belt, and drew out a small knife. He turned to Raven.
"Let me go, and no one gets hurt." Raven tightened her grip, a look of cold defiance on her pale face.
"Take deep breaths. Breath. Don't do anything stupid, and concentrate on the search, not your emotions," Raven advised. Robin relaxed visibly, but didn't let go of the knife.
"Robin, we'll find her. Just put down the knife." said Beast Boy. Robin looked suspicious, but put the knife back in his belt.
"Are you ready to start?" asked Cyborg. Robin nodded.
"Ok, Robin, you go with Cyborg. I'm pretty sure I can take care of Beast Boy," said Raven.
"Take care?! I can take care of myself!" exclaimed Beast Boy.
"I highly doubt that."
"Can we just go already? Every second we waste could be a second when she gets hurt or... or killed..." Robin said with a shudder. Cyborg led him into the forest, and Raven did likewise, leading Beast Boy into the woods.
As they walked, Raven looked at him.
"I know what you did." She said quietly.
"What? What'd I do?" Beast Boy looked alarmed, as if he really didn't know what he'd done. Raven narrowed her eyes.
"Don't play stupid with me. Back at the tower. Think! Even your tiny brain should remember." Raven's voice carried anger, slight as it was.
"I know you pulled that prank."
"Oh... That." He kept walking, and Raven followed.
"Use your tiny brain once in a while. The arguing has really affected Robin and Starfire in ways we never thought of. I never knew Robin was capable of violence, but he is. That knife back there means he's suffering emotionally. He's too proud to tell Star how he feels, and she doesn't know how to say it." Raven kept walking.
"Ok! Ok, I'm sorry. I'll tell them it was me, I'll tell everyone if you want" He seemed a bit scared, as if he was afraid she would harm him if he didn't apologize.
"That's not all. I would suggest that you don't pull any more mindless pranks."
"Scouts honor," Beast Boy said, holding up the Boy Scouts sign.
"You aren't a scout."
"So?"
()
Robin and Cyborg had probably been walking in silence for about half an hour. The sun was risen all the way, and it was very hot out. Robin (to put it mildly) was not completely sane (is he ever?). In fact, he was only a little bit sane.
"Slade...Must find Slade...Moron, idiot...Snakes frogs toads...Slade...Find and destroy...Starfire...Moron...Find Slade and kill him...Yes kill, make him suffer. Find Starfire and kiss her..."
(AN Elizabeth: Yes, Robin is being a bit gross; but then again, I'm the one who's writing this...(Naomi starts puking in the background) tayk: Okay...Elizabeth um...And now back to the story! )
Cyborg was a bit amazed. Ok, so completely dumbfounded, but then again, Robin wasn't exactly himself. As Robin mumbled to himself, oblivious to his surroundings, he ran head first into a tree, and was knocked unconscious. Cyborg sighed, relieved to have finally gotten away from Robin's thinking out loud. He picked Robin up, and carried him back to the campground.
()
Raven and Beast Boy had been traveling at a fast pace, and in the last 30 minutes or so, they had covered about 5 miles.
"When do we eat? I'm starving!" exclaimed Beast Boy.
"You aren't starving. And if you were hungry enough, I guess we could always roast a deer over an open fire..." Beast Boy shot her a look of pure venom. Raven returned a mildly amused half-smile. Beast Boy shook his head dismally, and continued searching. Raven looked along the ground, and saw footprints leading to a clearing.
"Beast Boy, let's follow these foot prints. They might lead us to Star."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" he yelled. Raven glared at him, and he looked at the ground. They raced along the footprints, and saw, laying in a pile of dead leaves, Starfire! Beast Boy ran over and checked her pulse. It was faint, but it was a pulse.
"She's unconscious. And still in shock from that infernal box. We should take her back to camp. First, let's call Cyborg and Robin, tell them that she's ok," said Raven, as she took out her communicator. She called Cyborg.
"Tell Robin that we found his girlfriend, so he can stop being a psycho maniac."
"You mean you found Star?"
"Duh."
"Cool. Well, we're already back at camp. Robin was mumbling, and hit his head on a tree. He was knocked out for a while, but he's back. I can't really decide if that's good or bad. Anyway, we'll have lunch ready when you get back." Cyborg nodded, and hung up. Raven did likewise, and put her communicator back from wherever she pulled it out from.
"Beast Boy, change into a horse so you can carry her back." Beast Boy, obliged, and Raven levitated Starfire onto his back. She rose into the air, but kept her aura around the unconscious alien girl to prevent her from falling. They made their way back to camp.
Author's Notes: Well, that wasn't too bad of a cliffy, was it? We've decided to stop trying for 'Most Cliffhangers in a Row', so be grateful and review! For all those who want Robin to stay insane, include CRAZY in your review. If you don't want him insane, put in SANE. Either way, if you don't review, you don't get to vote.