Chapter Five: Together Again
Raven woke sometime later and saw that her vision had gone white. While she had slept, she had been covered in snow. The snow insulated her, keeping her body heat from leaving her. She was warm. As she shifted positions, she felt the wolf stir. The animal turned her yellow eyes to Raven with a mixture of concern and relief that she had survived the storm. Raven twined her fingers in the animals fur and it helped her stand. As she broke through the layer of snow, about a foot deep, she realized that the storm had stopped, and the sun had poked it's head meekly out of the smoky clouds. She smiled. The wolf touched it's nose to Raven's hand.
"I bet you're a she-wolf aren't you?" she asked and the wolf barked a response. Raven nodded. "I thought as much." She scanned the field and found no trace of the titan's shelter. She felt the wolf nudge her legs. She started walking. "Can you help me find my friends?" she asked. The she-wolf darted a little ahead of her and Raven had no choice but to follow. Every few feet, she would check to be sure that Raven was still behind her. Raven soon felt tired, and she tried to levitate, but her powers were still unaffected. She was still too cold and weak.
Raven sat down on a rock for a few minutes and realized that they were very close to the cliffs. She looked to the she-wolf, who nodded. Nodded? Yes, it was definitely an affirmative jerk of her head. Raven wondered why she was putting her trust in this strange animal. After all, she knew that the cliffs were far from where the titans had made camp. The wolf was urging her on again and Raven followed.
The white wolf leaped gracefully down the rocks and Raven followed slowly. The wolf barked. "I'm coming," Raven said. She saw the animal's bushy white tail disappear into a cave and Raven followed. There was no light inside, but Raven didn't need to see. She could hear the wolf's breath along with a familiar voice. "Aneko, where have you been?"
Rowan!
Rowan, alive and safe!
Raven bolted into the narrow tunnel and soon found herself in her sister's embrace. "Raven! You're safe! I asked Aneko to protect you and she did."
"Yes she did, baby!" Raven lifted Rowan off the ground an cuddled her close to her chest. Aneko joined the warm embrace as both girls wrapped their arms around the animal they owed so much; saving both of their lives and bringing them together again.
Raven woke to a loud noise. Trying not to wake Rowan or Aneko, who were snuggled close to her, she slipped quietly away from them and out of the cave. Something didn't feel right.
She screamed as she was knocked to the ground. Kestrel stood over her, and Raven smiled wickedly. "I was wondering when you would show your ugly face again," Raven snapped. Kestrel sent a fire ball at her and she dodged. "Azarath Metrione Zinthoes!" Raven cried, sending a jet of dark magic at the woman. Kestrel dodged her attack as well. Raven looked at the cave and saw her bleary-eyed sister at the entrance. Before she could hiss at her to get back inside, Kestrel had grabbed her by the arm. Rowan yelled.
"Come any closer and the little brat dies!" Kestrel said wickedly. Raven stopped as she heard a familiar growl.
"Fine. I won't come any closer." Aneko lunged, digging her teeth into Kestrel's arm and she released Rowan. Kestrel sent a fireball at the animal, who yelped in pain.
"Aneko!" the girls cried simultaneously, but the animal rose, turning her milk white gleaming fangs to Kestrel. Raven remembered something that her mother had once told her.
"Hell hath no fury like a mother defending her babies."
They were Aneko's cubs.
The white wolf gave an almighty howl and lunged at the woman again. Kestrel tumbled backwards and off the side of the cliff. Using the fire demon as a launch pad, Aneko made it back to safety. Panting, she came to rest beside her cubs. The avenging angel licked Rowan's bleeding cheek. "Aw mom!" Rowan said with a giggle. The girls heard another noise as the T-ship ascended the cliffs. The girls giggled as Robin poked his head out of the window with a wry grin.
"Let's get the heck out of here. I'm cold." Rowan giggled. She turned and gave Aneko one final hug, as did Raven.
"Thanks for everything, girl." The girls climbed into the T-ship, and the heard a howl as they waved until the wolf was out of site.