Thank you for the reviews!The reason for not updating in awhile is the fact that I had to study.I made it into faculty.The subject I took is croatistics and south-slavic philology's.Trust me,it wasn't easy getting in.Anyway,you could say that this chap is the beginning of the end.I encourage and expect reviews.Enjoy!

All standard disclaimers apply

Chapter20:

Towards Babylon

They are lying next to each other.It is completely dark and silent.Only the breathing of the two can be heard.Outside,a bird that ate eyes is sleeping.Jackalls are calling eachother in the distance.Ravens pale hands caress the sleeping Blackfire.She speaks gentle words to her.It is cold in the cave,but she keeps the alien princess warm with her body.Raven is drained but she doesn't dare to fall asleep.The last few hours were…painfull.She used all of her power,all the healing spells she knew to make sure Blackfire lives.She restored her eye.The scars were still there,but she sweared she will make them go away…

It hurt her to see Blackfire so powerless,weak.When they arrived she was barely breathing,and Raven almost panicked.She used the very core of her power just to keep her alive.Then she helped her with her hygiene,washed her…and now she sleeps.

At first sunlight she'll have to go to the city to buy food.And cigarettes.Slowly,very slowly,Raven got up and went to the small pond.She drank a sip of water and went outside,almost collapsing.Every muscle in her body was a instrument that took his part in a orchestra of pain.The air is cold and fresh.She stretched,trying to relax the tension a bit.The sky is filled with stars.The raven was still sleeping,his feathers bristled and his head partially under his wing.A few hours until sunrise.

She knows there is no place in the world where the goverment won't find her,and she is worried.The only thing she has now is Blackfire…

When the morning comes she'll go to the city and even if she doesn't know how,she'll have to buy stuff.The bird will bring a message to Starfire.

She returned to Blackfire and wrote a message on a small piece of paper.Then she snuggled close to her girl.

XXX

The raven sleeps and dreams.He dreamed only once before,so he knows he is dreaming,and it confuses him.He is a bird.Birds don't dream.He is a black bird.He can't see colors,but he knows that he is black.And it fills him with pride…to know such things.He is old,and he will live another thousand years.He doesn't fear death.But he likes to live.It is nice to fly,to eat and mate…he sees all these things in his dream.Then he sees his past,when he was a young bird.

His tribe was big and powerful.They traveled far and long,slaying their way through the lesser tribes.He remembered their fights with a strange tribe and their chess-bord banner.Those were nice fights.His keeper was a shaman.A really old and wise one.He would send him through dimensions,to do his jobs.The raven was happy.He always had food to eat,and warriors respected him as incarnated wisdom.One day,when they settled in a nice,rich land filled with tasty bugs,the old shaman died.He had a young son who retreated to the mountains to seek power,so before he died the shaman transfered all the knowledge and power he had into his bird.His last order was to bring the knowledge to his son.The raven searched for him…and found him,eventually.The boy summoned a demon…and the demon ate his sanity.The raven couldn't give him his late fathers knowledge.He returned to his tribe just in time to see them being defeated.All the knowledge his master gave him was still in him.He knew spells,chants and rituals no one else knew,but he never used them.He didn't have use for human magic.

Then he dreamed about locusts,many of them.And he was happy.

XXX

Starfire woke up for no reason and felt familiar heat coming from her lovers body.He held her close and she smiled.He looked so cute!Robin was still mad at poor Beast Boy…Starfire tried to reason with him but he simply refused to listen.And BB was feeling bad because Robin was his friend.Starfire once again looked at her boyfriend.His hands were wrapped around her naked body and he was smiling in his sleep.It was strange how you could find happiness even in worst situations.They army boys told them what Raven did.And everyone except Starfire was shocked when it became obvious that Raven was in a relationship with Blackfire.Star kinda expected something like that.Both girls were dark and lonely…

She slowly stood up and stretched under the moonlight that came from her bedroom window.

It was a pretty night.

XXX

She poked the bird with her finger and he chirped and looked at her with annoyance.

'That was rude.'

''Silly bird.I have a job for you.'' Raven asked while stroking him.It pleased him and he settled on her shoulder

'I do your bidding,like I promised,sister.'

''Go to the Tower and give this message to Starfire.She is the girl that looks much alike my friend here.'' She waved towards the cave.The raven flew inside and landed on Blackfires knee.She looked at him in mild amusement.He spread his wings and flew out,leaving the girls with a piece of paper in his beak.

''A friend of yours?'' Raven heard Blackfires voice.

''You could say so…but why are you standing?''

''I'm okay…still weak but I feel good.But you should get some sleep.'' Blackfire wrapped her arms around the girl.

''No I'm…'' She was silenced by a kiss.

''Go to sleep,Raven.'' Blackfire gently spoke and Raven allowed herself to get lead into the cave.

Raven felt her whole body and mind relax under Blackfires touch.

''I need to go to the city…to buy stuff…'' She whispered.

''No.Sleep.'' Blackfire kissed her again and Raven slipped into unconciousness.

Blackfire stood beside her like a hawk,watching her every movement.She gazed upon her lovers beauty…and tried to forget the things they done to her.Her body was healed,and the scars will dissapear,but something was still hurting from the inside.She hoped it will pass…she was accompanied by pain and humiliation her whole life,and this was just another cut,a slash of fate…and it will,must,pass.

Raven turned in her sleep.Blackfire kissed her gently and her breath tickled her face.Raven faintly smiled.Blackfire began to cry silently.

Sometimes it is the only thing a girl can do.

XXX

Starfire was on the rooftop,waiting for the sun.She almost screamed when a raven landed on her shoulder,and she tried to shoot him with a bolt.But the bird just croaked and made circles around the Tower.Star realized it probably has something to do with the Raven.The bird landed and carefully approached her.She saw something in his claws and she started to speak gentle words,worried that it may escape.But it showed no fear and she actually took the bird in her hands.He was holding a small piece of paper and Starfire took it from him,and read the message.

She rushed to her room,grabbed her sisters clothing and the sword,went back up,and followed the bird.

OK,a strange chapter but I hope you will like it and review.Warning:next chap contains much violence and character death.