Like an Animal
Chapter 15
I do not own Teen Titans
I wrote the last chapter knowing I was going to get flames… and flames I did get. BeastBoy and Raven will get back together (eventually), and there will be better writing. But some people still don't seem to get I'm writing the story as I go, as I'm typing it. So I'm sorry if some things seem a little farfetched or out of order, but that's just who I am. Farfetched and out of order. I assure you that it will get better, you just have to keep reading, ya know
Now, let's see how mother and daughter interact, shall we '?
Raven slowly stirred awake, rubbing her eyes and getting into a sitting position.
'Where am I?' she thought.
Then yesterday's memories came back to her and hit her like a brick wall.
First her fatal operation that her mother conducted with a poisoned dagger that was given to her by an assassin sent by a certain blondie. That passionate scene she had with Tempus underneath the stars, on a rooftop no less. Then… then catching BeastBoy and Cere' together.
She didn't really know why she blew up like that because she was doing the same thing just a few minutes ago.
But then again, if you think about it, when you're mad at someone you tend to forget about all your faults and just focus the mistakes of the person you're yelling at.
She knew, eventually, she would have to face BeastBoy and try to sort this whole thing out. As much as she hated to admit it, she still desired him. In body and in soul.
Raven leaned against the headboard, sighing and running a hand through her hair.
"Can't my life just ever be normal? Just one day of nothing going wrong? That's all I ask of you."
Starfire's face flashed into her mind's eye just then, and she dragged a hand across her face.
'Oh yeah… that too.'
She looked around the room, finally noticing that Tempus wasn't around. She stood up and looked down at her white leotard with great disgust.
She closed her eyes and willed it to be its original blue.
When she looked up, Tempus was at the doorway, looking very tired but still seemed happy to see her.
"Feeling a little better?" he asked.
Raven looked down at her feet and took in a breath.
"Yeah. I guess I can't be too mad at him because… well because I did the same thing… at nearly the same time."
She plopped down on the bed and covered her face with her hands.
"I never imagined things to turn out like this. All the bad things in this lifetime seem to transfer to me. I guess now I know how Jesus felt before dieing on the cross. Carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders."
She shuddered, trying to suppress her cries.
"Sometimes I think I would be better off dead. I've done so many bad things, and caused bad things to happen."
"Corvus, don't say that," Tempus said as he sat down next to her, putting and arm around her shoulders.
"Personally, I like you alive. And I'm sure you couldn't have done anything that bad."
Raven looked up at him, her eyes red and weary.
"But I have, Tempus. I've done something very bad."
"Oh, and what did you do bad besides summon up Trigon to destroy the earth willingly? But then again, you did destroy him afterwards… so I guess that doesn't count. Okay, how about when you threw that rock at one of my friends? But he did call you a very rude name-"
"Tempus… please."
"Alright, I'm sorry," he laughed. "So tell me then… what have you done cruel that you think you don't deserve life? Run over a squirrel?"
"No… something much worse…"
"Will you just tell me already?"
Raven's body shuddered again as she looked down to the floor.
"I… took the life of an innocent person."
Tempus paused.
"I'm sure it was just an accident."
"No. It was intentional."
Tempus jerked then hesitated before asking, "How did you kill them?"
A tear dropped to the floor as Raven looked up at him again.
"She was thrown off a cliff, and I went there to save her. I found her clawing up the side. Her legs were broken and she was struggling to get up. She cried for help… but I just hovered over her and watched her struggle before I took a boulder and… and crushed in her head."
Raven sniffed and watched Tempus' widening eyes before she continued.
"After I crushed her head, she was still twitching and moving… so I started beating and kicking her. After that, I fell to the ground… and started crying…"
Tempus turned his head and looked straight ahead, his jaw clenched tight.
"Who was this person you killed?" he asked, not looking at her.
"She was part of our team. One of my good friends. Always cheery and uplifting."
"And why did you kill her?"
Raven's throat clenched at the sound of Tempus' voice.
"I… snapped," her voice cracked.
She felt Tempus' grip tighten painfully on her shoulder for a second then immediately loosen.
He sighed and then stood up.
"Tempus-"
"Have you told anyone else of this?"
Her eyes widened at how harsh his voice sounded.
"Um… no I-"
"Good. Don't."
"But I can't just keep it a secret from my friends. I have to tell them eventually."
"No you don't. You're part of a super hero team right? Justice and all that stuff? Imagine what will happen if you told them that you killed not just a civilian, but a coveted super heroin. You'll be sent to jail, or worse."
She looked down at the floor again and slowly nodded.
"What should I do? I feel like I'm going to crack. My head… it feels like I'm going to lose it, and soon. I don't want to be in a straight jacket again."
"Again?" Tempus asked, turning around to face her.
She took in a deep breath.
"After I killed her… I went temporarily insane. I don't remember any of it… but Robin showed me videotapes. It scared me Tempus, it really scared me. I don't want to end up like that again…"
Her body shuddered.
"All I remember during that time period was Starfire's face… or lack thereof."
Tempus looked down at her, an unreadable emotion scrawled on his face.
"What has happened to you?" he asked.
"Time has happened. You should know that better than anyone, you're name being Tempus and all."
Tempus sneered.
"It's just I've never known the Raven to be so… weak."
Raven stood up.
"I am not weak."
"Really? I thought going mental was pretty-"
Raven slapped him across the face. Tempus cupped his cheek and looked at her face which was now contorted with anger.
"Raven… you hit me…"
Raven's anger faded, and she quickly regained her composure. She pulled her hood over her face and brushed past Tempus saying a quick, "I gotta go."
Tempus didn't stop her as he heard her footsteps quickly fade into the other room and close the front door with a loud bang.
He sat down on the bed, crossed his legs, and after a time of thinking, fell back.
R
Raven started running down the streets again, a reenactment of last night. She laughed to herself as she felt tears pricking her eyes. She probably couldn't fly even if she wanted to. She hadn't chanted in such a long time. She could feel that her powers weren't intact.
Where would she go?
No where near the boys, she knew that.
She bumped into a crowd of young adults, and was stopped in the middle of them.
They had circled her.
Raven looked up and around the group, wondering why they had blocked her off.
"Well would you look at that?"
A young, arrogant looking man grabbed Raven's chin, forcing her to look up at him. She stared at him, her eyes full of shock and anger, before yanking her head away.
"If it isn't the Gem, The Demon Spawn. And my has she grown."
He eyed her up and down, and she lowered her cloak, trying to shield herself from his eyes.
She knew this man, this whole group actually. These were the kids that beat and teased her, abused her as a child. All grown to man or womanhood, but still their same unmerciful selves.
"What do you want Mark?" she spat.
He smirked and Raven heard the crowd giggle.
Mark put an arm around her shoulder and started walking casually down the street, the mob forming a semi-circle behind them.
"Why, I can't say hello to an old friend? I haven't seen you in such a long time. We've missed you. Have you ever thought about us while you were gone? I'm sure you have."
"Like hell."
Mark's smile grew wider.
"Oh, I'm sure you know all about that place. How many times have you been there now?"
Raven pushed away from him, and turned around to sprint, but was stopped by the crowd circling her again.
She spun around, trying to find a way out, or at least some one passing by to help, but she had chosen an alleyway rarely used.
Her eyes landed on one of the females, and she said, "Move Luxues."
The woman grinned, then without warning pulled her fist back and landed a clean right hook on Raven's cheek.
She fell to the ground, and the mob laughed around her as they watched her spit out a mouthful of blood.
She cringed as she tried to get to her feet, but was stopped by Luxues' foot slamming into her back, grinding her into the ground.
She bent down, letting her long brown hair brush against Raven's cheek.
"You didn't say please."
"Fuck you," Raven retorted as she tried to stand up again.
Luxues replied by swinging back her foot and digging it in Raven's side.
She let out a loud oomph! as she rolled to the side and clutched her stomach tightly.
She knew what was coming next. It's what they would always do once they got her on the ground.
Luxues took her foot up again and kicked Raven's face, causing her head to snap back. She let out a few shuddered cries of pain as she curled up into a ball, the blood from her nose and mouth pouring onto the ground mixing with her tears.
"Aww, look. We made Raven cry. Why don't we put her asleep so she won't have to cry anymore?" Mark said.
Raven heard knuckles cracking around her, and she clenched her eyes as tight as she could.
"But I must say, Raven. I love how you've let your hair grown out. It's a shame we might bloody it up."
'Why me? Why me? Why me?' she thought as she felt the mob close in around her.
She let out a small whimper before they all started kicking and beating her.
This time they went as far as to find a firm stick and beat it across her back and ribs.
When they were done with her, Mark took her roughly by the arm and forced her to stand.
She stared at him, wondering what he was going to do next. Normally, they would just beat her to a pulp, then leave her there. She didn't have the strength to ask, let alone keep her head from lolling form side to side.
"I have to admit Demon, you have some guts to come back here after all these years. But if I ever see you around again, we'll do more than just ruff you up. Get it?"
"You bastard… why don't you go… suck a dick," she said between each painful breath, trying not to lose consciousness.
He chuckled, somewhere deep within his throat.
"Oh, someone will be sucking, but it won't be me. Understand?"
Raven's swollen eyes widened as she got what he meant.
"Give me that stick," Mark said to one of his comrades.
"Good, now hold her."
Luxues came up behind her and grabbed both of her shoulders firmly.
She put her lips up to Raven's ear and whispered, "Don't worry, this won't hurt… much."
Raven yanked her head away in disgust.
She felt warm blood trickling down between her eyes and at the corner of her right eye. Her nose was broken and her bottom lip busted wide open, both her eyes swollen almost shut and she knew a couple of ribs were broken.
Her clothes were ripped in several places and her belt was in pieces on the ground.
Mark raised the stick above his head, intending to hit Raven with it, but was stopped by Luxues.
"Hold on."
Luxues wrapped her arms around to Raven's front and started to unhook her cloak.
"I've been wanting this for a long time. I absolutely love blue," she said in Raven's ear.
"Just hurry up and take it you bitch," Raven said halfheartedly.
Luxues grinned and accidentally groped one of Raven's breasts as she whisked off Raven's cloak and exchanged it for her own.
"You're right Mark, she has grown," she said, lightly licking Raven's earlobe.
'Why me? Why me? Why me?'
Luxues took hold of Raven's shoulders again.
She ducked behind Raven as Mark brought down the stick.
It hit Raven's head with such force, that it snapped in half and went flying into the heads of one of the minions.
Luxues let go of Raven and backed away and watched with amusement.
Raven had her mouth agape, saliva dripping from it, and her eyes rolled in the back of her head, yet she was still standing.
Luxues cocked an eyebrow and turned to Mark.
"Do you think you hit her to hard?"
"No. She'll come around. Watch."
Eventually, Raven started staggering backwards.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Four.
And then she fell flat on her back, her arms and legs sprawled out and her head to the side, her tongue lolling out. Almost making it look like she was…
"Mark," Luxues said, her voice cracking. "I don't think she's alright…"
Mark looked down at Raven's limp body, and the group crowded around her again.
"Is she alright?"
"Is she still breathing?"
"Maybe we should get a priest."
"No way. Are you crazy? They'll kill us if they found out we hurt the High Priestess' daughter."
"She is?!"
"Yes you idiot, now keep your voice down or we'll be-"
"You! Wait right there!"
Everyone turned to the voice, and then ran the opposite way.
Arella ran up to her daughter's lifeless body and lifted up her head.
"Raven! Raven wake up! Raven!"
Raven, finally, let out a small, stifled breath, and her eyes rolled back. They wavered, unfocused for awhile, until she weakly said, "Hey… Arella."
Arella smiled down at her, and then hugged her tightly.
"Arella… I can't… breathe."
"Oh, sorry."
She pulled away from her daughter and put on a serious face.
"Raven, who did this to you?"
Raven's eyes traveled somewhere else.
"Raven."
She sighed.
"Just some kids I knew from awhile ago. Dropping by to say hi," she said sarcastically.
Arella knew she wasn't going to get anymore out of Raven, so she asked something else.
"Can you stand?"
"Arella, I can barely breathe."
"Okay… how much do you weigh?"
"Enough."
Arella sighed.
"Enough for me to carry?"
"Yeah."
Somehow, Arella managed to get Raven on her back, where her arms hung loosely around her mother's neck.
"Couldn't you just teleport us?"
"Honey, I'm human, not Azarathian."
"Oh… right," Raven said as they started walking.
"I know I'm your kid and all, but can you not call me 'honey'?"
She felt Arella's body stiffen for a moment.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I suppose I'm being too familiar?"
"Yeah, you kinda are."
They remained in an awkward silence for awhile as they walked down the streets. It looked desolate.
"Um… where is everyone?"
"Noontime prayer. Some people weren't paying their respects to Azar, and they received serious consequences from her. I didn't like seeing them punished, so I passed a law that states that they have to go into a building, preferably their homes, and pay their respects then."
"I guess that was thoughtful of you."
She nodded in response.
Raven's face stung horribly and she was 100 sure that some of her ribs were broken now.
Before long, she passed out again.
Arella stopped walking and called Raven's name until she woke again.
"Hon… Raven, we're almost to the temple. Do you think you can stay awake until then?"
"Sorry. I'll try not to pass out next time."
Arella cringed at her tone.
"Are you always so-"
"So what? Cold? Bitchy? Heartless? Yeah, I am. I have to be. Deal with it."
"Raven, that's not what I meant-"
"Oh really? For every one else, that's normally what they mean. And I get beat up just because he's my father. Just because I was born."
"Raven…"
She didn't know what to say. She was at a loss for words. But nonetheless, she felt Raven's arms tighten around her neck and her head rest against her shoulder.
A small smile danced around Arella's lips, and for the first time in a long time, she felt truly needed.
'I shouldn't be getting this close to her. Why am I doing this?'
'Because you love her."
Raven paused for a moment, wondering if she should respond.
'But why do I love her?'
'Because, all in all, she's still your mother and you feel attached to her, and in the end, you know she made the right choice in giving you up to the temple. Think about it Raven. If she hadn't left you there, you would have been the reincarnation of your father in full. Don't you see? She wasn't just protecting herself, she was protecting you, too.'
Raven remained silent, so Cere' continued.
'Do you know how old she was when she had you? Sixteen, Raven. She was in her junior year of high school. A cult tricked her into mating your father. She was going to kill herself, but she couldn't jump off the edge. She just couldn't. Then Azar came and saved her, birthed you and trained you to control your emotions.'
'H… how do you know all this?'
'Why… I simply read her mind.'
'What, now you can read other people's minds too? Just peachy-'
'Oh, don't be jealous Raven. I'm still yours. All. Yours.'
'Just go you perv. I'm still mad at you.'
'Like you're one to talk-'
'Please Cere'… just go.'
She felt their connection break, and she jerked her head.
The cut on her forehead was still bleeding, and it felt like her pain had intensified sevenfold.
The last thing she remembered before passing out was the tall spire of the temple, and the sweet smell of her mother that she really took in for the first time. Almost like it was lulling her to sleep.
BB
BeastBoy was curled up in his bed, in the dark, clawing at his head.
Why did he make such a stupid mistake? Thinking with his dick instead of his head.
He sniffed up unshed tears.
He felt like a little boy again. For some reason it brought up the memory of his parents.
How he loved his parents. Always asking him what he was doing with a smile on their faces. Always there for him, caring for him. Their hugs always so warm. How he yearned for their touch again.
Just one last touch.
He shuddered as the memory of seeing their boat explode off the coast. All in slow motion.
He remembered the unfurling of the flames, making the boat sink to the grimy deeps below.
He remembered hearing a screech so inhuman that it made him crumple to the ground. Later he found out, it was his own scream.
"Mom… dad… why'd you have to leave me," he sobbed.
He heard the door crack open, but didn't bother to look up to see who it was.
A ray of light shone in before disappearing into darkness.
A weight sat on the side of the bed and started stroking his hair gently.
"Why me?" BeastBoy said quietly.
"I'm starting to think that's a universal question now. The truth is, no one has a clear answer to that. Say a mad serial killer kills your family. You ask why. He killed them because they were there. They didn't necessarily do anything, but they were alive and breathing, and he wanted to change that. Understand?"
BeastBoy shook his head no, and Cere' sighed.
"Will it make you feel better if I said I'm sorry that I tempted you into something I knew you couldn't resist?"
"A little."
"All righty then. I apologize whole-heartedly, and I hope, my dear BeastBoy, that you will find a smidgen of kindness in you heart for a poor, old, deformed piece of imagination and invite her back into your life, even though she might cause something else bad to happen, and I assure you, something bad will happen again. Maybe worse, maybe not. But I hope you will forgive this… perv, as Raven so loves to call me."
BeastBoy chuckled softly.
He sat up and drew Cere' into an unexpected hug.
Cere' stiffened, still not completely used to these things, but didn't pull away from him.
"You're so weird," he said to her.
Cere' smiled and relaxed her body.
"Yes, well, at least I don't have green skin."
"Well at least I don't have legs as hairy as a bison's."
"Point taken. I'll shut up now."
BeastBoy laughed again, pulling away from Cere' and wiping the tears off his face.
"Just promise me one thing though."
"Hmm…?"
"If you wanna… you know… get some dude in bed with you again. Please go and seduce Rob. Heaven knows he needs to loosen some screws. Okay, Cere'?"
She thought about this, then nodded.
"Alright, but I still get dibs on Raven."
"Um… what?"
"Oh nothing, never mind."
Cere' stood up and stretched. They had found some more clothes for Cere' after Raven stormed out. Now she was wearing a pair of Robin's jeans and one of BeastBoy's tank tops.
No one had asks questions about why BeastBoy was sitting against the wall covering his face, because they pretty much got what happened when Cere' walked out into the hallway naked.
"I am famished."
"Then go eat you perv."
Cere' shot him a look before accidentally hitting him in the face with her thick tail.
"Oops, was that my fault? So sorry. I'll be down in the lobby place where they serve the food," she said smugly as she walked out the door, making sure she swung her tail a little more than necessary.
"I'm hungry, too," BeastBoy mumbled to himself.
He stood up and rummaged through his belongings looking for a shirt to wear. He soon found a black polo and slid that on, then walked out the door.
Once when he reached the food place… cafeteria… tavern… fuck it. Once when he reached the lobby of food, he quickly shielded his eyes and shouted, "Dudes! Cere' when I said go after Robin I didn't mean now!"
He had caught Cere' and Robin in a furious make-out session, right in the middle of the lobby.
They broke apart and Cere' looked over and smiled over him.
"I couldn't resist mate. He's just so damn cute."
Robin looked over at BeastBoy and smirked, shrugging his shoulders.
They started again, then Cyborg walked in through the front doors, surrounded by his fan girls who probably have never seen a man darker than having a light tan, which might explain why they were so fascinated with him.
"Good Lord man, get a room or somethin'. Nobody wanna see that."
They broke apart again and Robin grabbed Cere's hand, leading her upstairs where the bedrooms were.
As they walked past them, BeastBoy could swear Robin was winking at him from underneath his sunglasses.
BeastBoy rolled his eyes and went up to the counter to order his meal and Cyborg's.
R A
Raven's eyes slowly fluttered open. Her eyes wandered around the area warily.
She was in some small room with about two dozen candles surrounding the tiny perimeter.
It was then, she noticed that her leotard was zipped partway down, revealing her sides and back, and she was lying on her stomach which didn't feel to comfortable.
Arella was kneeling next to her, rubbing some sort of balm over her back and sides.
It took her awhile to notice that she felt no more pain, that all her wounds and ails were healed, save for the blunt pain where her ribs were broken, but it felt a whole lot better also.
Raven took in a deep breath and rolled around, propping herself on her shoulders.
She looked up at Arella who had abruptly stopped rubbing balm over her.
"I'm sorry. I know you don't like to be touched, but I thought that this ointment would help with your ribs. They were hurt badly, and it should make them heal faster-"
"Arella, it's all right, calm down."
She stopped talking and lowered her head some, shadowing her beautiful face.
Raven felt a pang of… what was it? Pity? Maybe guilt run through her. She knew Arella was probably yelling at herself in her head, punishing herself for acting so familiar to the daughter she ignored for so long.
Raven sighed, then rolled over on her stomach again.
"Can you… keep… the ointment helps."
Arella obliged happily, and picked up the small vile of oil again and started rubbing it into Raven.
She almost felt herself lulling to sleep again. She felt so comfortable, so… safe. It was an odd feeling, but not new… but then again, it wasn't all that memorable either.
Arella was lost in her own thoughts, thinking about how much Raven had matured and how she had such a striking resemblance to herself at that age. It was almost scary. Raven looked more of like a reincarnation of herself rather than evil, she mused.
She was soon tugged out of her thoughts by the sound of her daughter's voice.
"What was that Raven? I didn't quite catch it."
"I was just wondering what it would be like if we were normal. If I didn't have powers and we just lived on earth with a real house and a real life."
Arella thought for awhile.
"Well… let's see. Last time I saw you, you were 16, but it was just for a brief moment, so I don't quite remember it. I would've been teaching you how to drive then. After that, the next big thing would be attending your high school graduation. Taking pictures of you and your friends together, holding your diplomas up in the air. From there, I'd be paying for you to go to college, and you would come and visit me on holidays and breaks I suppose…"
Raven heard Arella sniff, and she felt her own throat knot up with tears of what could've been. Or actually… of what never could be. This was just a fantasy. A silly fantasy of what a normal, American, human life would be like. Arella had had a taste of it, and Raven could sense that, somewhere inside of her, she missed earth. Not her parents, but the atmosphere. Well, not he atmosphere either. Just the sense of being in your home, in your area, where everything is known to you.
They sat in a very still silence, just feeling eachother's presence. And somehow, it brought Raven at peace. She wasn't sure what war was raging, but it was at peace now.
But now something was clear. Cere' was right.
She did love her mother.
She just didn't want to admit it to herself… or anyone else for that matter.
Raven darted her eyes up to her mother's face and examined her.
High cheek bones, pale skin, but not naturally pale. It was caused by depression, she was sure of it. Small lips and healthy looking hair.
But it was her eyes that really caught Raven's attention.
The color of her eyes, she realized, wasn't the normal purple. It almost seemed to swirl… or rather sparked with something lying dormant inside of her. A need for something, or rather, someone. And also there, was a hidden strength. Most people in Arella's past situation would've killed themselves by now, yet here she is. Fit as a fiddle.
She couldn't help but stare in silent awe, until Arella locked eyes with her.
They stayed that way for a few moments before Raven looked away.
An awkward silence hung in the air until Raven disrupted it.
"Arel… Mother…"
Arella remained silent for a moment, surprised that Raven actually called her what she did.
"Yes Raven?" she replied.
She felt Raven's body tense up underneath her hands.
"I'm… I'm glad that… you're my mother… and no one else…"
Arella's body froze, and she felt herself being overwhelmed with emotion.
A tear dropped to the floor as she continued massaging her daughter, and said, "Surely, you don't mean that."
Raven turned over and sat up, looking her mother straight in the eyes.
They locked eyes again; Arella's filled to the brim with tears and Raven's serious yet un-intimidating.
Then, without warning, Raven wrapped her arms around Arella's neck and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I'm glad you're my mother. I wouldn't want anyone else. I want you," she said, her voice cracking.
Arella's hands were at her side, and her mouth was partly open in surprise. She could taste her salty tears and feel them running down the sides of her face.
She slowly wrapped her arms around Raven.
"I've missed you so much Mother. I felt so alone, so confused…" she cried as she buried her face in the hollow of Arella's neck.
She felt like a little kid. Only little kids would hug their moms like this. But that's a lie. She needed a mother. She needed her mother. She wanted true, genuine love from somebody she could always come to.
Raven felt herself breaking down. Just letting herself crumble into a million pieces. All that pent up frustration and loneliness, just pouring out now.
And nothing was breaking. Not a single flame flickered the wrong way. Nor did the wind stir.
"Mother it's been so hard. All this stuff is going on. I just want it all to go away. Why me," she sobbed.
Arella moved a hand up to the back of Raven's head and stroked it softly.
"Shh… it's okay. Everything will be all right."
She felt Raven's head nod 'no' in response.
"It's never going to be all right, because I'm me. I was supposed to be dead three years ago. I shouldn't be alive. What right do I have to live anyways? All I bring is chaos and discord," Raven mumbled.
"That is not true. You brought me joy when you were born."
"But you were suicidal before that. You were going to jump off a building."
Arella's eyes widened, and she held Raven at shoulder's length.
"Raven… how did you know that?"
Raven hesitated before answering.
"I… read your mind," she lied, bowing her head in mock shame to go along with the act.
Arella closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
"Raven, I don't mean to make excuses but… I was sixteen with not a very pleasant home and I was just raped by the most powerful demon known to the universe. Then I was homeless, wandering the streets, and carrying something I had no knowledge of. I didn't know whether you would rip out of me, or kill me once you were born, or if you would just come out like a normal child. It also didn't help that your eyes shone through my stomach on and off, depending what time of day it was, or what the temperature was at the time. I guess you could say that I was scared of you for a time."
"But then, when you were born… and I heard you cry for the first time… I felt… happy. Proud. They let me hold you, only once. They had to take you to the main temple very quickly since your mind hadn't matured, and things started exploding."
Arella sighed again, and backed away from Raven, and held out her arms like she was holding a baby.
"You were so small, yet so strong. As soon as they handed you to me, you stopped crying. Then you opened your eyes and we just stared at each other for the longest time. Then you reached up your hand, and I let you grab hold of my finger…"
She paused again, and then dropped her arms to her sides.
"That's when they took you away from me. At first I wouldn't let them, but then you started crying again and things went awry. They said they could help you… so I locked eyes with you one last time, and then... you were gone."
She looked up at Raven, tears in her eyes again.
She made a noise that sounded like the mix between a sob and a laugh.
"Sixteen… isn't very sweet."
Woah! Had no idea where that came from. So, whadaya guys think of this chapter? Okay, but could've done more. I think the first half of the next chapter will be more Arella and Raven bonding moments, and then they'll be goin back ta dah earth. Not sure wat ima do yet, so bare with me and be patient
Azarathians believe in absolutely no violence, so that duel that Tempus and Raven had earlier would've never happened, but I didn't like that, so I made them fight anyways.