Chapter Twelve: Arella

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans (wish I did but sadly I do not)

(The next morning)

Raven awoke to sunlight filtering through her window. She yawned quietly so as not to wake the sleeping kitten by her side. Its sides rose and fell easily. One tooth stuck out from its mouth. Raven got up and pulled on a pair of black jeans then put on a black T-shirt. She sat down and started to brush her hair out slowly. The raven that Beast Boy and Cyborg had been chasing cawed softly from inside its large cage that Cyborg had made for it. Raven smiled and let it come out and perch on her shoulder. She had named the creature Ebony and was trying to get it to trust her a little more

"Morning Ravens." a voice mumbled from the bed. Beast Boy lay there still curled up in a ball

"Morning sleepy head." Raven returned. Ebony cawed lightly then flew around the room her cries getting louder

"Easy little guy." Beast Boy murmured holding out an arm. After a moment the bird stopped flying around and eyed him suspiciously before landing on the arm

"So what'd you name the little dude?"

"Ebony. He's still a little shy but I guess getting him used to you is a start." the boy grinned then set the bird down on the bed before getting up and pulling on his shirt (no they didn't do anything last night. Let's take our minds out of the gutters and put them back in our heads where they belong.) It got stuck on his large elf like ears and after a moment of struggle he stood there with it halfway on

"Would you like some help?" Raven asked laughing lightly. The shirt nodded and she pulled it over his ears then ruffled his hair. He morphed into a kitten and leaped into her arms. She smiled and started rubbing him under the chin. He purred loudly then jumped to the floor then started playing with the edges of her jeans

"You goofball." the cat stared at her before giving a movement of its shoulders and running under the bed. Raven laughed and sank down to see a pair of green eyes staring at her

"Come out of there." the cat meowed then darted out and turned back into Beast Boy. A few seconds later the sound of the alarm reached their ears

"Let's go." Raven said grabbing her cloak and starting to fasten it around her shoulders

"Raven what about your…" he paused and Raven sighed remembering her back and the fact that her powers were gone for the day. This would be hard to explain

"Let's go see what's wrong first." she said pulling her hood up. They ran down the hall into the main room. The screen showed a picture of a large white shield that looked a lot like Raven's

"What is that?" she asked descending into the room. The other Titans turned around to look at her

"We don't know but the energy signature matches yours exactly." Raven frowned then approached the screen and started tapping out some commands. It soon showed an overhead view of the shield. It looked like a five pointed star with a circle around it. Raven's hands shook lightly

"Friend Raven what is wrong?"

"It's a portal rune. Mages use them to teleport themselves from different dimensions."

"Is there a way for you to know who's using it?" Robin asked. Raven shook her head then sat down on the sofa

"The only way to see is to go there." Robin nodded and everyone headed for the doors while she sat on the sofa

"You coming?" Cyborg asked. Raven looked up at him in surprise

"I can't. My back…"

"We might need your help talking to whoever's using this thing." he smiled and Raven followed him out the door.

Starfire clutched Robin's waist as they rode his motorcycle down the road directly behind Cyborg's car. Terra and Static were flying above them while the others were all in the T-car. Raven sat in the front seat chewing on her fingernail nervously. Soon they pulled up to the edge of town where they had first met Terra where the shield was. Several police cars were parked around the scene when the Titans pulled up

"Has anyone come out of the shield?" Static asked looking over at the glowing orb. The police chief shook his head

"No. We don't know what it is really."

"It's a portal used to travel from place to place." Raven explained absently while staring at the white dome. Even without her powers her instincts screamed that someone she knew was inside the shield

"I'm going inside." she took a step towards it but a hand caught her elbow

"What if it's some kind of slug monster or something?" Beast Boy said looking the girl in the eye

"I'll be fine BB." he released her hesitantly. Raven walked towards the dome her cloak billowing out behind her. She stopped near the walls then put one hand to it. White power streamed around her hand as if it was welcoming her. Someone yelled loudly from behind her and she turned around. A woman was walking towards the police and the Titans slowly as if she wasn't paying attention to anything

"Where is Raven?" she demanded in a soft voice. Raven knew that voice. She had rarely heard it at all but she knew it well enough

"I am here Arella." the woman turned around and stared at her. She was tall and thin with high cheekbones. Her raven colored hair was curled around her face limply. Her eyes were the same color as Raven's cloak

"Raven." the woman rushed over to her and seemed to hesitate. Raven finally closed the gap and hugged her tightly. The Titans watched for a moment then walked over

"Raven, is this woman a friend of yours?" Starfire asked floating beside Robin. The woman looked at the teens

"Who might you be?"

"Oh I am Starfire of Tameran." the woman smiled then her gaze fell on Beast Boy's green face. Their eyes met for a long moment

"Are you Raven's mom?" he asked slowly. The woman nodded then looked down at Raven who was still holding her tightly

"Raven you are crying!" she said in alarm. Raven looked up and smiled. A blast of cold wind whipped over the raised land

"Let's go back to the Tower." Robin yelled over the wind. The sky was turning a darker grey and snow was falling onto the ground.