Chapter 7: Intruder on the Island
The ride back to the tower was uneventful. No conversations were struck. The group was weary after the long day. Raven stared out the window avoiding any eye contact with Robin. Had he been convinced or had he noted the brief hesitation in her story? She wasn't sure. She had been very close to revealing her vision to Robin. Now she was convinced that Robin would not fully understand her predicament. As they neared the tower Raven felt a presence on the island. More dread filled her weary body.
"Home at last," Cyborg announced the group's arrival in the main room. Beast Boy slowly trudged into the room. "I don't know about the rest of you but I'm getting a shower and hitting the hay."
"By all means," Cyborg replied as he waved his hands pretending to drive away a horrible stench emanating from Beast Boy.
"I think I'll go outside for a walk," Raven announced. "Come on Starfire." She firmly grasped her hand and led her from the room. Robin looked at the pair as they left. Something was up but he figured all of his prodding had come up with nothing. Maybe someone with a lighter touch would have more luck.
Starfire and Raven made their way outside as the ocean waters lightly lapped at the rocky shore. "Raven, what is this walk for?" Starfire inquired. Raven stopped and turned to her friend. Of all the people on the team Starfire was the one to discuss the presence she had felt and what had happened at the university. She would not question her.
"Starfire," Raven paused trying to choose her words carefully. "Something happened at the university that I didn't feel comfortable sharing with the rest of you." Starfire's face showed concerned for her friend. Raven smiled recognizing she would not unfairly judge her.
"The intruder at the university is on the island, I can sense it," Raven continued. Starfire's eyes quickly darted away trying to focus on her surroundings. "Shouldn't we get the others?" Starfire replied. Raven placed her hand on Starfire's shoulder to regain her attention. "It's just a feeling, I'm not really sure if it's here," Raven continued. Starfire's green eyes focused on her friend's. Raven looked down. "Starfire, I kind of let it go. It used my powers. I couldn't stop it." Starfire raised her hand and gently clasped Ravens arm. Her eyes came up and met her's once again. "We should tell the others."
Ravens eye's filled with panic. "No Star, it's just a feeling. I don't want Robin to freak out if I'm wrong. Let's take a look around. We can handle this." Starfire lowered her hand and nodded. Raven's head turned and focused on a corner of the island. "It's over there. Come on." Raven released her grasp and led them towards the presence.
Raven thought she could make out a silhouette crouched on the rocky shore ahead. She raised her hood and then pointed in the direction of their intended target. Starfire nodded as they quietly made there way towards their target.
Starfire's thoughts raced through her head. A being that possessed the power to control others was not something to take lightly. She wished Raven had summoned the others. Fear grew in her. She would strike fast and hard and not allow this creature to claim her mind. She could not see or feel their intended target. That was the worst thing about the situation.
The darkness was almost complete. Starfire proceeded slowly, gingerly working her way over the rocks. Raven proceeded slightly ahead of her. They were several yards from the shore when Raven's foot slipped out from under her. She grunted and quickly shot her hands down in a vain attempt to break her fall. The rocks clacked under her, breaking the soft silence on the island. Ahead of her, Starfire saw one of the large boulders near the shore move. A pair of glowing yellow eyes pierced the darkness. Starfire's skin crawled at the sight. She quickly shot a couple of fast starbolts at those eyes trying to slip a quick punch in on the creature before her mind fell victim to it. The instant green flash overwhelmed the darkness and briefly blinded them all.
Raven quickly recovered and regained her stance. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she could see a figure cowering near the shore, its arms raised over its head in a defensive posture. Raven turned to Starfire who was poised to unleash another more potent volley. She quickly reached out and grabbed her friend's arm.
"Wait Starfire," Raven said. Starfire's eyes were a bright green consumed with fear and poised to strike. "But you said that," Raven quickly interrupted her. "It's ok Starfire." She fixed her gaze on her trying to reassure her. Starfire began to relax as the glow in her eyes slowly receded. Raven released her grip and Starfire's arms fell to her sides. The creature lowered its arms and fixed his gaze on them trying to assess the girl's intentions.
Robin and Cyborg quickly scampered over the rocky shore towards the source of Starfire's bolts. Each carried an industrial light whose beams wildly bounded through the darkness. Robin had been watching out the windows when he saw a green flash on the corner of the island. Him and Cyborg were the first to reach the area, Beast Boy followed behind them struggling to pull his shirt over his matted hair. Robin and Cyborg's lights focused on Raven. She turned her head and raised her hand to shield from the sudden intrusion.
"Chill out with the light guys," she calmly implored. Beast Boy straightened his shirt and took his place behind Cyborg and Robin. Both lowered their beams slightly and took stock of the scene. Raven turned her back on the boys to see what their lights revealed. Starfire stood with her back to them. Her hair gently rustled in the night breeze. Beyond her a strange creature stooped on a large rock near the shore. Its dark skin faintly glistened in the light. It turned its head and tried to overcome the light that shone on it. Its eyes tightened at the oncoming glare. It was roughly humanoid in form. Its hands and feet were webbed and a large tail wrapped around its feet.
"Ok, what is it?" Cyborg's voice interrupted the silence. He lowered his light slightly removing its focus from the creature. Its eyes unnerved all of them. The rest of the Titans turned to Beast Boy.
Beast Boy suddenly became aware of the group's communal stare. "I don't know what it is. What am I some kind of animal expert?" He blushed as he suddenly realized what he said.
"What's it doing here?" Robin continued.
"I'm not sure," Raven replied.
"Can we communicate with it?" Cyborg added. Again the group turned to Beast Boy.
Beast Boy shrugged. "Hey, I can only turn into them, not communicate with them. Besides I don't even know what that is."
After a brief silence a faint idea popped into Raven's mind. "I think I may have something." She started back to the tower gingerly making her way over the rocks. Robin followed in silence.
Raven reached her room door with Robin following behind her. She paused at her door and turned her head slightly glancing at Robin. He paused as her door slid open and she walked inside. Robin was stranded at the threshold wondering if he should enter. After a moment's pause he decided to wait for Raven's return.
Raven stepped into her room, stopped and noted Robin's hesitation. She said nothing then turned towards one of her bookshelves and pulled out one of the ancient tomes. She flipped through the pages and found the spell she was looking for. She glanced over the page, closed the book and returned it to the shelf. She turned to exit her room. She reached for something on the shelf next to her door and proceeded out of her room. She stopped in front of Robin as her door slid closed behind her and casually flipped a small stone in the air and caught it in her hand.
Robin shot her a puzzled look. "A rock?" he asked hesitantly.
Raven smiled slightly. "A speaking stone. It's an old spell." She continued down the hall.
"Oh," was all Robin could offer in response. He turned and followed her down the hall.
"Snake."
"Frog."
"Snake."
Cyborg sounded exasperated at this pointless debate. His light still illuminated the corner of the island where they had discovered the creature. There was nothing to do but wait for Robin and Raven to return. In the mean time he was struggling with Beast Boy to figure out what this thing was. "Come on Beast Boy look at its hands and feet. It's some sort of human frog."
"What about the tail?" Beast Boy quickly countered. Cyborg sighed. He couldn't explain that one. "Well maybe Raven can put an end to this," he replied. Him and Beast Boy turned their attention back to the tower.
Starfire stood several yards from the creature her arms folded across her chest. She was casually listening to Beast Boy and Cyborg's debate. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on the creature that still crouched on the rock by the shore. She had felt a bit of remorse over her actions. The creature appeared harmless to her. She opened her eyes. The creature sat crouched on the rock as before staring at the lights of the city. She took several halting steps towards it. The creature turned its head on her approach. Their eyes met. Starfire felt a great sadness in them.
"I'm sorry I attacked you," she softly said to the creature. Its eyes broke from hers and returned to the city. "We will find out why you are here," she added. She stepped forward and took a seat slightly behind the creature and stared at the city lights reflecting off the wavy surface of the ocean that separated them from the far off shore.
Cyborg and Beast Boy saw the beam of Robin's light emerge from the tower. They would be back shortly. Both turned their gaze back to the creature. Starfire had quietly taken a seat next to it.
"Man what is it with her and strange animals." Beast boy whispered to Cyborg. Cyborg shrugged. Both waited for Robin and Raven to join them.
Raven and Robin returned. Both took note of Starfire's new position. They both turned to Beast Boy and Cyborg who shrugged in response.
"Ok, let's see what you are," Raven announced. Starfire and the creature turned and fixed their gaze on Raven. Starfire place her hand on the creatures shoulder. "Do not worry she is my friend," she gently reassured him. She stood and walked back to join the others. Raven stepped towards the creature. Its eye's focused on her as it remained crouched near the shore.
Raven raised her right hand. Her focus passed to a small stone gently clasped in her fingers. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her spell. "Percepio." Ravens voice echoed in the darkness. The stone began to glow softly under Raven's enchantment. Raven opened her eyes and quickly popped the glowing stone in her mouth.
"A rock?" Beast Boy said in a hushed voice.
"A speaking stone, it's an old spell," Robin replied. He continued to focus on Raven.
Raven took another step towards the creature. The creature stood up slightly in some sense of recognition. Raven paused as she realized she wasn't sure what to say. "We are the Teen Titans. What have you come here for?" It was a lame introduction but she wasn't sure what else to say. The creature tilted its head slightly and blinked its eyes. No response.
Raven sighed. She turned around and looked at the others. "I don't think it worked." She turned back to the creature. It looked down then shuffled towards her. Raven was unnerved by the creature's sudden movement but she did not yield her ground. It scrambled to Raven's feet then slowly stood up in front of her.
The creature's stooping posture had masked its size. It was still slightly stooped as its yellow eyes met Raven's. Its front arms extended slowly towards Raven and its webbed hands opened up, palms facing her.
Raven's instinctively raised her arms. "Ok, we'll try it your way." She said. She took a deep breath and pushed her open hands against the creature's webbed hands. Its head slowly extended towards her. She could feel its warm breath hit her face as her eyes became locked on the pale yellow disks that slowly drew closer. She was falling into them drawn slowly at first, then faster into their deep cavernous expanse. The smell of smoke filled her nostrils as darkness slowly receded around the creature's eyes.
The rest of the Titans watched as the creature slowly drew closer to Raven. Soon the creature's head towered over her. Both of their eyes were locked in an unblinking gaze. The creature's large mouth opened emitting a white smoke that soon enveloped the pair.
Cyborg had seen enough. He raised his sonic cannon and took aim at the white cloud that had formed around the pair. "I don't like the look of this." Robin grabbed Cyborg's arm. "No. Raven knows what she's doing." Cyborg looked at Robin, then dropped his arm back to his side.