Chapter Two: Avenging Angel

By the time Rowan was aware that she was, once again, Kestrel's captive, it was too late to call her friends. Rowan's teeth sunk into Kestrel's hand and she was dropped. Kestrel turned to her, rage in her eyes. "I should have gotten rid of you when I had the chance, you little brat!"

"Well why don't you?" Rowan snapped brazenly. She forced herself to stand and slammed her foot forward. Kestrel caught her in mid air, jerking her ankle to the side. Rowan felt the sickening crack of her bone. She forced herself not to cry out as the pain hit her like a white hot knife had been pressed into her ankle. Kestrel used her grip on her ankle to thrust her into a tree. Rowan cringed as she felt splinters of pain in her head, neck, shoulders, and back. She couldn't keep back a pain filled cry any longer. She heard a sound like a roar as a white blur connected with Kestrel's arm. The fire demon shrieked out of pain and surprise. Rowan heard growling and snarling as Kestrel hit the ground. She stood and took off running, the avenging angel behind her, nipping at her heels. Rowan cringed as the white wolf turned her luminescent yellow eyes to her. Rowan was crying now, as she saw the blood and salvia dripping from the animal's snout. Her head tilted and her tail gave a few tentative wags of her bushy tail.

"I'm all skin and bones," Rowan whimpered. She felt a cold nose on her forehead and she shivered, the adrenalin of the fight leaving her, she was cold again. The wolf's nose drifted to her chest where it sniffed the wooden amulet before her teeth locked on the neck of Rowan's cloak and she gave an experimental tug. Oh no, she's going to take me to her pack now. They're going to eat me. The pain in her head was now unbearable as she slowly drifted into unconsciousness.

Rowan woke slowly. Her entire body radiated pain as she tried to move. She heard a low growl and, with panic, she realized she was in the wolf's den. The white wolf was still watching her, her head tilted with curiously. Rowan tried to move again and the wolf stood, padding herself over to Rowan. She whimpered, wagging her bushy tail. She placed a paw on Rowan's hand.

"Aren't you going to eat me?" Rowan groaned. The white wolf gently licked her on the forehead. Rowan cringed as her tongue spread down the little girl's face and her shoulders. The animal reached the gash on Rowan's collarbone, and she cleaned up the blood. She's bathing me! Rowan realized astonished. She thinks I'm her cub! Rowan found herself giggling. "Hey, that tickles." The she-wolf's tail wagged in response as she gently nuzzled Rowan's cheek. Rowan realized that her cloths were soaked with icy water, and she stripped them off, knowing she'd be safer naked then wearing wet cloths. Rowan, who was suddenly aware of the cold again, gave a shiver. She felt a warm body snuggle next to her as the wolf laid down. She smiled affectionately at her surrogate mother, the wolf laying her head on her shoulder, her warm yellow eyes staring concernedly into Rowan's. "Thank you," Rowan whispered softly. "Goodnight Aneko." Aneko watched her protectively as she drifted off to sleep.

Raven came to slowly as Starfire gently tended to her cracked shoulder blade. Raven was healing herself, but she was still sore. "Where's Rowan?" she asked groggily. Starfire bit her lip as she tried to find words to explain what had happened to her little sister.

"Kestrel got her," Beast Boy said angrily. Raven tried to stand, but Starfire and Terra pulled her down.

"I'm going to find her,"

"No you don't. First of all, you're injured, and second of all, the whether has turned bad. It is fifty below zero and there is no visibility through the snow. You'll die out there," Robin said gently.

"And so will Rowan,"

"Raven…"

"Robin…"

"Dudes…" Beast Boy interrupted, "shut-up both of you, stubborn asses. Robin's right. As afraid for Rowan as we are, if we go out there and get killed, there will be no one to help her when the blizzard passes." The others nodded in agreement. Cyborg put a hand on her arm.

"You should rest," he said gently, pushing her back down to rest on her back. Raven meditated. She tried her best to concentrate on finding her little sister through the mental bond that had formed between them. She sifted through her own emotions and tried to lock on Rowan's. She could sense that the small child was frightened and injured and Raven tried desperately to find where she was. Rowan's mind was panicky and incoherent and she had no idea where she was. But she's alive, Raven thought. She's ok which means she found shelter. She told the others her discovery. Robin made no effort to disguise the relief in his eyes. Be safe little one. We will find you soon.