Raven, the Bird of Night, and Iren, the Forest Wanderer
Raven… Where are you Raven? Don't go yet… it's not over. I'm here and I'm not leaving yet!
"What time is it?" Raven asked, stretching and yawning.
"It is 7:00 PM. You have been asleep for two days now." Raven then looked down at her back, because when she stretched, it didn't hurt. What she saw was a cloth bandage wrapped around her back and upper-body very tightly, with strange goo oozing from under it.
"What's that?" Raven asked. "And how long have you been sitting there?"
"That, is a bandage with medicine rub, that I learned to make, under it." The stranger said. "And you needn't be angry for, wanting to protect both of our dignities, applied the medicine and bandage without undressing you."
"Thanks." Raven said shyly, and then looked at the stranger. What she saw was a boy, near her age, with shoulder length blonde, almost white, hair that covered his ears. He wore a forest green tunic with a greenish-gray cloak, held up by a emerald green leaf brooch etched in gold, wrapped around it. By the chair, which he sat in laid a longbow made of white wood, a white leather quiver with snow swan arrows, and a short sword in a green sheath. The sword's hilt and handle looked as one with nature as its owner. Around the handle of the sword a golden vine wrapped around, with small leafs coming off of it. A single emerald stone was inlaid into the pommel of the sword. The pommel was just the simple design of a crescent moon, with the emerald held between the two ends. The emerald was like a masterpiece within itself. If one would look deep into it, and for a period of time, could begin to see images, like a meadow full of flowers, a wood during the fall, or a simple look up at a star filled sky.
"So, Iren, how do you know me and my name?" Raven asked looking him deep into his emerald green eyes. What she saw was kindness, mercy, love for nature, and hatred towards that which is evil. "Some say that the eyes tell more about a person than their actions, I now believe this."
"Some do say that. In your eyes I see hatred towards your father, loneliness because no one understands you, and a deep kindness you show only to your friends, if only a little."
"How did you do that?" Raven asked, still looking into Iren's eyes.
"How did I do what?"
"How did you talk to me, in my mind."
"Once you are one with nature, you can hear things others don't hear. And at the time your thoughts where the only other things that I could hear. Here I give you advice, be careful of what you think, some may use it to take advantage of you."
"So you heard what I thought about your eyes?" Raven asked half blushing.
"I did. Be not ashamed, just be careful of what you think." Iren said, smiling softly.
"Ok… But how did you know my name?" Raven asked again.
"Did you just learn nothing?" Iren said his voice had the tinge of slight annoyance. "I knew your name because I heard you thinking, and also because I half entered your mind."
"You entered my mind! I don't let people into my mind!" "And that time with Beast Boy and Cyborg was a complete accident."
"I understand your anger, but I thought I lost you. You grew cold yesterday, and you began to shake. Your mind was quite unstable then, so I didn't enter into your mind, because I was afraid of hurting you. Just last night did I dare enter, for you could have been in coma, and if you were you would need the help of your friends. But you should have known I entered into your mind, didn't you hear another voice in your mind?"
"It's starting to make since now." "I thought I did, but I wasn't sure." She said with a yawn, "I guess I better get up now, everyone is probably worried." "I think…"
"Raven, do not think harshly toward your friends, they didn't want to leave your side when I brought you in. Starfire had to tell them what I did…"
"But I thought she was asleep, under some strange spell."
"Please do not interrupt, that is what he wanted you to think, Starfire was only crippled under that spell… how can I say this, she was umm… unable to help. Now, Starfire had to tell them what I did so they would trust me, but some of them still didn't trust me… And I can understand, a stranger coming in after a stranger. I felt harsh and angry thoughts towards me by some, but I have learned to shrug off anger towards me, I do not mind them."
"So… I guess I better tell them I'm all right." Raven said a she stood up.
"That is a very good idea, and I shall come with you. I need to give trust, not mystery. Oh, bring your sword, and then, once we are done explaining things, we could take a walk. Would you enjoy that, I want to talk to you."
"Yes, I would like that." Raven said, again slightly blushing, "But first, what was in this rub on my back?"
"It is a concoction of herbs, that I have collected on my many travels." Iren said standing up, "Why?"
"My back… it doesn't hurt." Then Raven stood up and grabbed her sword from where it lay on her bookshelf.
"Shall we?" Iren asked standing up and hooking his sword onto his belt. He then picked up his bow and quiver and hung them on his back, walking to the door. As Raven walked past him the door opened with a hiss and Iren bowed, placing his right arm behind his back and putting his left hand onto his sword pommel. When Raven walked out of the room, Iren straightened his back and strode out of the room, right behind her.
Raven and Iren easily walked through the halls with no one noticing them, mainly because they where all probably in the living room watching a movie. Raven entered the room first, and everyone turned around shocked. Quite suddenly Beast Boy and Star Fire stood up and practically tackled Raven in a hug.
"Boy, I missed…" Beast Boy said.
"Raven… are you…" Starfire said.
"Can't breath… hugs too hard…" Raven struggled out.
" Sorry." Beast Boy and Star Fire said at the same time. Then the room filled with the chatter of people asking if Raven was all right. As Iren walked into the room everyone stopped talking and stared.
"What did you do to Raven?" Beast Boy blurted out. Iren stepped forward and placed his right hand behind his back, and placed his left hand on his pommel.
"Seala Undasa?" Iren said, turning to Raven.
"Undasa Seala." Raven replied. Then Iren turned and bowed towards the other Titans. But as he bowed his hair hung forward, and Raven saw that his ears were pointed. "He's an Elf! If only I knew that before. He spoke in Elfish and I replied. I just thought he may have studied it."
"Yes, I am an Elf. And I was actually surprised that you know Elfish."
"I do, but only a little."
"Well… we shall talk later." "My name is Iren, I am the guardian of Raven… protecting her from ones like Nevar."
"But," Cyborg said, raising his cannon, "Can you protect her from yourself. Your words are smooth, like her brother."
"He is not here to kill me." Raven said walking forward, and pushing his cannon down, "He is here to guard me, for that is what he said, and that is what I believe. Not all have evil intentions, Cyborg, you just need to learn deep trust with those around you." "That was the most I have spoken in front of everyone, ever. I'm scaring myself."
"Raven, we are all glad that you are okay… and we will all enjoy having your friend join the Titans, if he so wishes."
"Uhla sunda fendreck?" Raven said looking at Iren.
"WhIsu san dolah ehelh." Iren replied.
"And I shall go with you." She said. As they left the room, Cyborg punched Beast Boy in the arm.
"He's a dark character, isn't he?"
"No… I think he's a light character."
Dictionary
Alasa unda saladan- We shall be here when you come back, my friend.
Seala Undasa- Do I have your pardon?
Undasa Seala- You have my pardon.
Uhla sunda fendreck- So, what do you think?
WhIsu san dolah ehelh- I shall think on a walk.
"I love walks… and I shall be taking a walk with an Elf. That's different. And why did he want me to bring my sword."
Alasa unda saladan.
May the Light guide you and shield you from harm.
Write fast,
Write Well…
Never stop wandering the Forest.
Forest Wanderer