Props. Good. Props good.

DarkSideOfBlue: Mugged in Buffala-ha ha ha! They can't catch me with all those layers of clothes… No, I don't even hate Buffalo-it's just an easy comedic target. And strange people come from Buffalo…

Lady of Faerie (& her little psychopath feind): (Thank you.) Thank you. We are still unsure about 'undifferentiated,' but we shall take you at your word that it was not meant as an insult. Keep cool, and keep writing utterly delightful inanities!

AstaOmega11: I can't write replys here? Damn! (Brain: Well, then-I guess this is not an officially sancitioned by FFAdmin 'reply'.)

Pyrotechnic: (Brain: Who you gonna fry? Me or…him?)

Nibbles: Hi! Glad you are not suffering from the indignity of being from Buffalo! (Brain: But apparantly, you are vertically challenged…so sad.)

Contrary to what some may think (those of you from Buffalo-I really respect Jim Kelly and Marv Levy. Too bad about being in the record books forever…

Change-of-heart-2: Smack Robin? I hope you mean you want to slap him…

Yume Taketo: Thank you for restoring my faith in the youth of America. (Brain: Have you ever heard such a load of…)

ShadeyMike: Hey-from what I hear, in Buffalo, a green (person) would be nothing to comment on…

BrianDarkSoul: Interesting Review… (Brain: Robin. Procreate. Not.)

PimpoftheTitans: (Brain: Try 'spell check.') No, he is not a criminal. No, he was not free of his 'condition' for 2 months. Yes, you would be paranoid of the possibility of facing the wrath of a (probably)unstable, unpredictable, borderline-psychotic-control-freak team leader like Robin. (Brain: Do you sell Titans, or are you degrading yourself on their behest?)

ShelsSMG: Sorry? Really-I do feel for you. And Marv. And Jim. (Brain: If it makes you feel better, he rooted for you against the Giants…Jets fan.) Oh, and sorry about all that snow…

Warprince2000: Can't wait, eh? (Brain: Heh heh-'jokes on you…)

WickedWitchoftheSE: Prolly, eh? Yeah, I gits like that when I'm insanely tired, too… (Brain: But that is not an excuse for short reviews!)

Chickenluver: Ummm…your wish is my command? (Brain: Do not presume to order ME! Perhaps they will form their own rock band in Buffalo…the Billfighters…)

DM: Think you got it bad? How about the White Sox having that song as their anthem in this year's World Series…(true.)

Heidi Dracona: Thank you! (Were you glomping me or the story…?) Stop it, Brain! (Brain: You were thinking it, too.)

Visigoth: Thank you, and thank you. I'm (kinda sorta) back! I'll try to wrap this up before it becomes a book…

Fuzen Ninja: FORMAL APOLOGY To all who read these props:

Fuzen Ninja is a girl! A girly-girl, I infer from her indignation at possibly being perceived as a male of the species…

Diana, D,f,v,c: Thank. You. More. Coming. Promise.

Teltathra: Pffft! Details, details. You like the story, don't overanalyze, or you'll piss off you-know-who…

RaeRoth: I updated-sorry about the 'soon' part…

GolemrealmDestoryer: Does your name mean you deconstruct stories about the Golem Realm? (Brain: He probably misspelled it…) What is a 'Golem Realm,' andywaay?


Raven looked up from her reading, as a haggard-looking Beastboy entered the

apartment. "Bad day at work?"

"The worst. One of the idiot feeders let a bunch of monkeys escape. Guess who had to spend all day rounding them up again?" He allowed a small grin. "I guess they can just tell that I'm the best suited for a job like that."

"Because you think like a monkey, or look like one?" Raven said, face hidden safely behind her large book.

"Hey!" Beastboy pouted, in mock injury. "If Cyborg said that, I'd kick his tail-but from you, I know it's just an expression of love..."

Raven peeked over her book. "Hmm; sure of yourself, aren't you? What if I really meant it?" She exhibited her normal expressionless mask.

Beastboy flopped down on the couch next to her, and propped his head up in his two hands, looking a cross between miserable, and contemplative. "I don't know if I could survive without you-without knowing that you care for me."

The dark girl surveyed her friend with concern. "Something else is bothering you, isn't it? C'mon, B-tell me about it."

"It's getting to be about that time of the month again," he said with a sigh. "What am I gonna do?"

"What are we going to do," she corrected. She carefully placed her book on the end table, and turned back to the worried changeling, taking his hand in hers. "You've never talked to me about it. What's it feel like to be a Werewolf? Do you still have your own thoughts? Do you have any control over your actions?"

The green one blushed slightly. "Well, yeah-some. I still know who I am, and recognized you, when you were tracking me. But the animal urges are so strong...I really need to hunt when I'm like that." He hesitated, frowning. "That's probably the worst part-eating animal flesh-and remembering afterward..." His face took on a sickly expression.

"It's not your fault, Beastboy," Raven soothed. "It must be very hard, trying to control those wild instincts." She gazed deeply in his eyes. "But you have. You managed to stay away from the city, and away from people you might hurt."

"Yeah, I guess so." He contemplated, and brightened somewhat. "And I've taught some of those wild packs to stay away from humans-they seem to naturally assume I'm the leader, when I join them." He chuckled. "I guess they have a healthy respect for Werewolves."

"Have you ever figured out how you were infected," Raven asked. "From what I know, you have to be bitten by another Werewolf. It might be important to know, if we're going to find a cure for you."

The changeling grimaced in concentration. "I don't remember ever being bitten by a wolf." He bit his lip. "The last time I was bitten or scratched by any kind of dog, was one of the times we fought Johnny Rancid. One of his dogs..."

He and Raven looked at one another. Rancid owned a lot of different dogs, some of which accompanied him on his periodic raids of Jump City...but a Werewolf? Was it possible?

"I should check my library, I probably have-" she cut herself short, recalling all of her books were back at the Titan's tower. "Err-I guess I can see if they have anything at work," she sighed, imperceptibly, she thought.

"Hey, Rae," Beastboy hesitantly suggested, "you can go back-you know, if you want to-they won't have any problem with you..."

Raven stared at her Beastboy with caring eyes. "Beastboy, you know you're a bonehead?"

"You miss them, don't you," he said, matter-of-factly. "And don't you miss your room, your stuff, your-house?"

The dark girl shuffled closer, laying a hand gently on his shoulder. She spoke softly. "Of course I miss them. I miss living at the tower, like you do, I'm sure." She looked meaningfully into the changeling's eyes. "We're together, though, and we're healthy, and that's all that matters." She smiled shyly at him. "You're stuck with me, I guess-unless you want me to leave?"

"No! No way!" The changeling blushed slightly at his outburst. "I want you to be around always. I guess I just kinda feel guilty about making you leave everything you had, too."

Raven smiled softly. "Not everything," she breathed, embracing the green one.

They held each other comfortably for a bit, and lightly kissed.

"What would I do without you, Rae?"

"Probably something stupid, like join the traveling circus," she teased.

"Hey!" He said, feigning injury. "What's wrong with the circus? I could probably help a lot of animals with their problems."

"Yes," she demurred, "but then, who would watch out for you, my brave little green man?" Raven clucked.

"I'm bigger than you!" He huffed, "and I'm still growing, you know!"

"You know I'm just teasing you, B." They bussed again, sweetly. "You know-you may have a point, though." Her expression became more thoughtful. "I can go back and get some of my books and stuff. It's only a couple of days until you change again. I need to find a cure for you-and check on the connection with Rancid. See if it's possible for a dog to be a carrier of the curse."

"You can't go now-what if you're not back by the next time I... You've got to keep an eye on me."

"Yeah, you're right. I'll stay until after... but this time, I'm coming with you."

Beastboy looked horrified at the demon-girl's suggestion. "But-but you can't come with me! What if something happens?" He turned away from Raven. "I don't know if I want you to see me like that-a hunter-a killer..."

"No way I'm leaving you alone. Maybe I can help." She chuckled softly to herself. "Actually, it's kind of sexy-you being the macho hunter, leader of the pack..."

"Rae!"

After a full week's worth of searching, Robin reconvened the Titans back at the tower. Their individual searches had yielded no useful leads.

"Anybody have any other ideas?" The frustration and strain of the past few weeks was plain to see in his haggard face.

Starfire touched the leader's arm. "Sadly, I have none. But we must continue searching for our friends. We cannot give up." She looked down at the boy wonder with admiration shining in her eyes. "I know you are upset and tired, but I have confidence in you. Just as you have always placed your confidence in all of us."

Robin choked back an incoherent thought. Why was it always so difficult to think clearly around the Tamaranian?

Cyborg made a throat-clearing sound. "Actually, Robin, I do have a lead," the mechanical man advanced. "I've got three reports of people claiming to have seen BB and Raven on their way north."

"How did you get that information!" Robin voice was demanding. "I've been checking every source I could think of!"

The gentle giant blushed slightly at the thought that he had unnerved the great self-proclaimed detective. "I tapped directly into the Homeland Security computer network." He shrugged his massive shoulders, grinning sheepishly. "They recorded three or four sightings as suspicious occurrences."

Robin shook off his fit of pique. "Good work, Cyborg!" Under his breath he added, "I don't know how I could have missed that…"

Cyborg fiddled with the controls of the Titan's giant flat screen display. "The interesting thing about the reports is-" he began projecting points on a map. "-If you follow the heading of the connected points, it looks like they point straight to this city here…" He shot a meaningful glance at Starfire, who was beaming proudly. "This one that Star suggested—you know—the one you dismissed as 'ridiculous.'" He could hardly suppress a chuckle at Robin's reddening countenance. He was clearly enjoying himself.

"Ooh—they are in the Buf-fa-lo City!" Starfire twirled upward, arms spread wide. "We will go there now, and bring our friends back?"

"It's not that easy, Starfire," Robin stuttered out. "They obviously didn't want us to follow them, and we still don't know how dangerous Beastboy's 'affliction' is."

"I'll follow you in my astral raven form. That way, I won't attract too much attention from your 'friends.'

"I didn't know you could do that. I thought you only used your shadow form in really bad situations. How long can you stay like that?"

"There are lots of things you still don't know about me. I can project my 'shadow' form whenever I want, for quite a long time."

"Is it safe for you to stay that way?" Beastboy seemed doubtful, obviously concerned for his love. "What about—you know—if you need to stop me from doing something bad or stupid-"

"Believe me—I can do whatever is necessary. And don't worry about me. It's perfectly safe. Projecting my self is something I've practiced and used many times. No problem." The halfling demon-girl hoped that she sounded more convincing than she felt. Although she felt comfortable that she could maintain her projected form as long as she needed to, controlling her actions in that state was quite a different matter.

By leaving behind her physical body, Raven also would leave a bit of her humanity, meaning that her dark side had greater control of her actions. For that reason, Raven was more powerful in her astral form, and more deadly. It was a calculated risk that she felt was necessary. She would be able to react faster and more decisively, in addition to being well concealed from any potential foes. It was also possible that the sorceress's judgment was clouded. She was very concerned about the other Titans.

What if Beastboy was infected by one of Rancid's animals? Shouldn't I warn my friends to be careful, just in case? Don't they deserve to be made aware of information that has the potential to be life-saving?

"Raven?…Rae?" The girl finally reacted to Beastboy's worried inquiry. She realized that she had been withdrawing into her own thoughts, and sought to reassure a worried changeling.

"Sorry. I'm fine, B." She spoke calmly, deliberately, carefully modulating her tone. "I was just lost in thought for a moment. I—we need to discuss something else which is very important."

"Okayyyy…"

She fixed him with a direct stare. "Just allow me to finish before you make up your mind, okay?"

"Promise," the green one returned, forcing a smile, and holding up two fingers on his right hand, in imitation of the salute used by the Boy Scouts of America.

"I've been thinking…. It may be possible that you were infected by one of Johnny Rancid's dogs. I don't know why a dog couldn't be a carrier…" She inhaled deeply as she considered her next words. "


Hopefully, I shall be back soon.

(Brain: Hopefully, I shall be back, and Vin will die soon...)

(Brain: Oh-and please review! Or suffer a horrible dearth.)