Hello! Hope you enjoyed the other Chapter! Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. I do own Shasta, Garth, Kym, the Keeper of Stories, Rivrin Battleblade, and the Order. (Just not the members.)
Chapter 17
The Keeper and the Order
"He's dead. I can't believe he's dead."
Those were the words that Raven continued to mutter to herself as she sat on the medical bed next to her love. Tears still streamed from her eyes. Raven was content to stare into space, not caring what happened to her.
The other Titans were affected just as much as Raven. Garth was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall with his head in his hands. Kym sat next to him trying to comfort the black cloaked teen, but she was just as torn up as he and she stared at the opposite wall, tears falling unchecked. Robin, who had become good friends with Shasta, was standing near the door, his head bowed and a strong look on his face, but it was clear he was fighting back tears. Star was next to him, and she was usually quiet, with her hand on his shoulder. Cyborg had just finished with exact cause of death, and was over at the medical counter. He leaned on it and stood un-moving for many long moments. BB and Terra were holding tight to one another, quietly crying into each other's shoulders.
The only other two living people in the room were the Keeper of Stories, and the bird, Rivrin Battleblade. They had returned with the Titans to the tower, and both remained quiet, though a light of mischief glimmered in the Keeper's hooded eyes. Rivrin nervously preened her chest feathers, her good eye warily watching the Keeper, and she shifted from foot to the other on her perch. When the Keeper was like this, one needed to watch out, for the being could easily lose its sanity at a moment's notice.
Raven put a hand to her head, trying to bring back memories of Shasta, and they came easily. A new flood of tears filled her eyes. The vision of seeing her love, bloody and limp in Slade's hands haunted her. Then the image of the Keeper mercilessly slaying the villain, appeared. Raven tilted her head enough to catch sight of the robed being. Its eyes were closed and it appeared to be asleep. Swiftly, as if it could sense Raven's eyes on it, the eyes opened and a sly gaze met Raven's. She quickly looked away.
Then Raven felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw the hand belonged to Terra. The blonde haired girl's red rimmed eyes were filled with sympathy. She sat on the bed, careful not to bother Shasta, next to the dark heroine. Raven almost pulled away, but something in the caring eyes of the geomancer kept Raven still. More tears fell from the dark titan's eyes and she fell into Terra's arms. The blonde haired girl was surprised for a moment, and then wrapped her arms around her friend.
Raven wasn't just crying for Shasta anymore. It was because of everything that had happened to her. It was for her disability, her old feeling of uselessness and for the last time that she had seen her love alive. The tears were long over do, and the titan had been strong for too long. She had finally broken down in the geomancer's arms.
Rivrin finally broke the silence. "Perhaps…"
All the eyes went to her. The bird glanced around. Raven looked up the bird, a glare in her eye. She snarled, "Perhaps what?"
Rivrin looked down as if she had found her feet rather interesting at the moment. The Keeper stood up, and went to the bird. "Yes dear Rivrin? What?"
The robed being flicked a pale finger under the bird's chin, forcing the bird to look up. The eyes of the being sparkled with laughter. Rivrin suddenly, snarled, "Keeper! You are hiding something! This is not the time to be happy!"
Raven's cruel eyes watched the Keeper. She would murder that creature! She had endured its vile torture long enough.
The Keeper shrugged it's shoulders, and said, "Who said I am happy? I do however have to say, all of this is quite enjoyable."
Suddenly, before the Keeper could react, Raven pinned it to the wall, a hand around its throat. Raven yelled in its face. "You, vile, god-forsaken bastard! I've had enough of you!"
Raven figured the Keeper would be afraid for its pitiful life, but instead of fear the eyes reflected laughter and cunning. The dark titan was through not seeing the face of her enemy. She pulled down the hood and gasped in amazement.
The Keeper was a girl, almost the same age as Raven. The shoulder length hair was almost black, and the green eyes danced with excitement. A sly smirk was on the girls face, enraging the dark titan even more.
Raven's nails dug into the girl's neck, as Raven drew her face close to the Keeper's. "I would kill you, but it would not be worth it."
The Keeper let out a gurgling laugh. Then it said sneeringly, "Silly little Raven, you can't kill me."
"Don't play games; your life is on the line." Raven growled.
"Raven…" Robin was about to command the titan to let go of the girl, but he hesitated not wanting to get in the path of Raven's rage.
The Keeper bared her teeth in a clever smile, and said in a hoarse voice, "I don't play games little Raven. I never have."
Raven glowered and slammed the girl against the wall again. "After that dream? After denying me help when I needed it? It seems to me that you thought it was a fun game! And now you laugh and smile when the love of my life is lying there dead?"
The Keeper wild eyes squinted and her mouth twisted into an annoyed frown. "Oh, but I gave you a little helpful nudge each time didn't I? And for your information it breaks my heart to see your love on that bed, un-living. But I smile and laugh because I have a remedy."
Raven squeezed tighter, the girl beginning to cough. "There is no remedy for death."
Despite the pain and lack of oxygen, the Keeper smiled slyly. She whispered, "Ah, but you do not know my power…"
Suddenly, the Keeper put a hand on the arm that held her captive, and Raven screamed in pain as jolts of light blue energy surged through her. She let go and fell back, falling and twitching on the ground. The other titans were shocked.
The Keeper pushed herself off the wall and said, "Now I will help you…if you will allow it."
Raven struggled to her hands, and looked at the Keeper with pure hatred. She was about to snarl a reply back, when Rivrin finally intervened.
"Try to trust the Keeper little Raven. She may be insane and un-reliable at times but, she most often speaks truth." Rivrin said.
The Keeper shot a glare at the little bird. The bird turned her head and gave the robed girl a smart- elec smile. The Keeper said pointedly, "I'll be mad at you later."
The Keeper turned back to the grounded Raven, and from her brown sleeve, pulled forth a small crystal sphere. Inside was a small, glowing, light green orb. She regarded it was curiosity as if she didn't know what it was.
Turning to Raven she asked, "Do you know what this is?"
Raven, who was still fuming, shook her head. The Keeper smiled. With a finger adorned with a brilliant blue ring, she tapped the crystal wall. The green orb came to life, and reformed itself into the shape of a praying mantis. It turned to Raven and tapped on the crystal with a forelimb.
Raven's eyes grew wide in astonishment. "Is…Is that Shasta's spirit?"
The robed girl smiled widely and said, "Yes dear Raven. I foresaw his death. I couldn't just let him die so I came here. But to my surprise, I found you and you were in trouble too with you paralysis and all. So I paused to help you also."
Raven lifted an eyebrow. "Came here?"
The Keeper chuckled, "What? Did you actually think I was part of your dimension?"
Raven did not respond.
The Keeper laughed and walked over to the side of Shasta's bed. She held the crystal ball gently, in both hands, eyes closed. Then she crushed the sphere, and the Azerathian was sprinkled with light green which quickly disappeared.
The Keeper pulled her hood back over her face and watched the boy. Raven rose off the floor and came to Shasta's side. Suddenly he stirred. His light green eyes opened and he at Raven.
"Raven…what happened?" he asked. Tears sprang into the girl's eyes. She smiled and looked back up at the Keeper in a silent thank you. The robed girl laughed.
"You better heal him before he dies again!" The Keeper said then chuckled.
Raven, seeing the girl's point, put a hand on her love's wound and healed it quickly. He stared up at her then weakly turned his head and spotted the Keeper.
"Who…are you?"
The Keeper's eyes were bright with happiness, but she said nothing. Instead she turned to Rivrin. "I believe our job here is done."
The bird sighed and lifted off her perch and onto the Keeper's shoulder. Then the two walked out the door, the Keeper lifting a hand in goodbye.
The bird and robed girl had reached the rooftop edge and were about to leave when the Keeper heard her name called.
"Keeper, wait!"
The robed girl turned back to see Raven floating quickly towards them.
"I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. You did help me along, and I'm sorry for losing my temper." Raven said when she had reached them.
The Keeper waved a hand dismissively. "Most people are disturbed and annoyed by my strange ways. No worries, all is forgiven."
Rivrin snickered. "Even your own acolytes can't stand you sometimes."
The Keeper glared at Rivrin. Again the bird snickered. Then the Keeper said, "Well, if your going to be like that, I might just tell our little friend here about how you and Sh-"
"NO!" Rivrin screamed and covered the Keeper's mouth with a wing.
Suddenly remembering they had an audience. Rivrin put on a sheepish smile and stuck her beak in her feathers. The Keeper nodded. "That's more like it."
Raven tilted her head, but did not ask. Instead she questioned, "Why do you call me 'little Raven'?"
The Keeper smiled slyly. "Because dear Raven. There is the Order."
"What?" Raven asked confused.
"The Order of the Raven. Did you think you were the only 'Raven' around? The Order is made up of your counterparts from other dimensions. Each is different, despite being the same person and each story odd in its own way. Perhaps, you could join one day. What do you think Rivrin?"
The bird shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I'll have to think about it."
Raven backed up in horror. "You mean…you are me?"
The bird smiled a little and replied, "That is correct. Just from a different dimension."
Raven, who was still highly confused, let it go and asked, "When will I meet this, 'Order'?"
The Keeper smiled. "Not for a very long time. Now I and Rivrin must be off. Important duties calling!"
Rivrin chuckled quietly and whispered, "To do what? Torture a pour innocent creature?"
The Keeper flicked the bird in the head and she fell to the ground shaking her head. The Keeper then leapt off of the building, transforming. As a small half white and half black cat with wings, she hovered, waiting for Rivrin. The bird lifted off the roof and the two flew off into the ocean of clouds and sky. Raven stared after them, and then she smiled. Shasta was waiting for her.
THE END
The type after this is some insight into what is to come in future stories, and to clear some rather confusing things up. You don't have to read it if you don't want too but you can if you want.
Rivrin- this is a very powerful "Raven". She is the Keeper's favorite and is very old, (I'm talking millenniums old!!! Keeps the body shape and looks of someone who is 21 though) she is also a care taker of the world, tending to living creatures and those that are dead or deities. She is also the leader of the Order of the Raven. She has the ability to transform into many different forms. Her normal human form is recognizable from other "Ravens" because she wears a silver coronet embedded with a star sapphire, and wields two sabers.
The Keeper of Stories- This is the slightly insane (OK maybe really insane) creator of stories. She has an unstable personality; she can be quite and sane one moment and running around causing mischief in the blink of an eye. She can also transform, though her transformations are based on her mood. Her most common transformation seen is a half black half white cat with wings known as Starteller. (Wink wink) She is responsible for making things happen, and is a living deity. The Keeper can control what happens where ever she is. She can also copy and use any power that she wants. (She is credited with the creation of the dimensions, but is not well known.)
The Order of the Raven- If you read more of my stories you will probably see many different "Ravens" of the Order. Their ranks are constantly swelling, (0ver 30 individuals Now!!!!) They are all from different dimensions, although their personalities differ from each individual. (Usually personality depends on background) They are all very powerful and immortal. To keep themselves organized and unconfused, each Raven has a nickname. Ex…Rivrin
Final word- Most of the stories I write can be read separate, but actually a part of an even larger story. Also, for those of you wondering, "Why the heck is it called the Chronicles of Wisdom?" Well my answer is that this particular Raven's nickname is Wisdom, since she does become part of the Order.