Five-year-old Raven skipped happily between her mom and Azar. "Oh, look," Azar gasped, "they're in bloom."
"What are?" Raven asked with wide eyes.
"My darling," Raven's mother crouched to her daughter's level, "do you see those red and orange flowers in the distance?"
Raven squinted her eyes, staring hard at the flowers that seemed miles away from her. The flowers in question were part of a forest on the other side of the plain. "Yes," Raven nodded.
"They are called fire cosmos," Raven's mother continued. "They come to full bloom on the hottest day of the year."
"It's really hot, today," Raven replied seriously. "Do you think my vision was about the fire cosmos flowers?" Raven asked with a frown. She completely missed the look exchanged between Azar and her mother.
"Maybe," her mother stroked Raven's hair lovingly. "Why don't you run all of the way over there and pick some fire cosmos?"
"May I pick a lot?" Raven asked eagerly.
"Pick as many flowers as you want," her mother replied before pulling her into a tight hug. "I love you so much," her mother muttered.
"I love you, too, mommy," Raven replied before taking off in a sprint.
Several minutes later, Raven reached her destination. "Woah," she fell onto her back amongst the flowers, completely out of breath. "That was far," she spoke to no one. After catching her breath, Raven sat straight up and began gently picking the cosmos flowers surrounding her.
Humming to herself, completely lost in her own world, it wasn't until the smell of smoke reached her nostrils that she looked up. Her eyes widened in horror. Flames and black smoke arose from their camp. "Mommy!" Raven screamed, dropping her armful of flowers. She began the long run back to camp, screaming and crying the entire way.
It was a five-minute run, but once Raven entered her camp's boundaries, she froze. Smoke was everywhere; she could barely see. There were soldiers on horses, soldiers on foot, soldiers setting fire to tents. Her family and friends were running in every direction. The men were fighting with weapons while the women were using their powers…or trying to use their powers.
A shout got Raven's attention. "GET OFF ME!" It was her mother!
"Mommy!" Raven screamed, running through the chaos, dodging fire, debris, and soldiers as she did. Her little size was finally coming in handy.
Raven reached the tent she shared with her mother, rather, she reached what was left of the tent. "Mommy!" Raven cried out again, willing her voice to be heard above the noise.
"Let me go!" Raven heard her mother scream from several feet away.
"Mommy!" Raven cried, running towards the voice. She found her mother fighting three guards. Raven wasn't sure what the guards were doing. One was holding her mother's arms down; the second had her mother's legs pinned; and the third was tugging on her mother's belt, which Raven didn't understand. If they wanted belts, they could have just asked.
It wasn't until the soldier slapped her mother in the face that Raven burst back into action. Screaming as loud as she could, drawing her powers to her, Raven released a burst of energy that sent all three soldiers flying into the flames behind them. The smell of scorched flesh reached Raven's nostrils, and she immediately vomited her breakfast, falling to her knees. A split second later, her mother was by her side. "Raven!" her mother was crying desperately, "Raven, are you okay?" Raven began to sob hysterically into her mother's chest.
"It's okay," her mother gathered her into her arms and began to run, "it's okay." Her mother had made it a few feet when she dropped to the ground, screaming in pain. Raven turned to see her mother grasping and clawing at a purple chain burning her ankle. "Raven!" her mother looked at her in terror, "run!"
"No!" Raven crawled back to her mother and wrapped her little hands around the chain surrounding her mother's ankle.
"Raven, no!" her mother tried to warn her. It was too late. A searing pain shot though Raven's hands as soon as she touched the chain. Raven screeched in pain, grabbing at her clothes. Anything to make the burning in her hands stop. Tears ran down her face in torrents as she looked at her hands. Deep, ugly, red burns covered her palms. "It's iolite, baby," her mother gasped. "It hurts us. Remember?"
Raven nodded. At the moment, she had no idea what her mother was talking about as she could recall nothing from her lessons in that moment. "Honey," her mother cupped Raven's face, "you need to run. Okay?" Raven shook her head. "Yes," her mother nodded. "You need to run. You need to get help."
"No, mommy, no!" Raven cried.
"Go," her mother gave her a gentle shove. However, Raven refused her mother's orders. Instead, she threw her arms around her mother's neck and refused to let go. Her mother hugged her in return. The two sat in the middle of the conflict, holding onto each other for dear life. Her mother whispered words of encouragement into her ear. "You're a cosmos," her mother whispered. "Don't be scared. I love you. Raven, don't be scared. Raven, don't be afraid. I love you. I love you! I love-
"Sorceress!"
Raven shot up with a gasp, tears streaming down her face. "Sorceress," the voice called out once again, "are you okay?"
Raven placed a hand over her heart, willing the beating to slow. "Sorceress, should I – "
Raven held up one hand, ordering the guard to be silent. "I just need a moment," she said, "just a moment." Inhaling the poisoned air, Raven closed her eyes and silenced her mind. She was safe – as safe as a hostage can be; she was in her own tent surrounded by luxury, sleeping on her own cushions; surrounded by iolite air – the poisoned air. "Okay," Raven sighed, "what is it?"
"Your presence has been requested."
"Thank you," Raven dismissed him. Great, she thought, another day of smiling, pretending, and protecting her family.
"I don't trust her," Damyan sneered, looking at their guest in disgust. The 'al Ghul family sat on cushions beneath a canopy. The guest was a dark-tanned female with short black hair. She bowed at the waist to her grandfather, the head of the 'al Ghul clan, Ra's al Ghul. A large map lay on the ground before all of them. Guards stood watch on every side.
"Habibi," Damyan's mother, Talia, spoke calmly, "Mara is your ibnat khal. She's family. Family doesn't betray family."
"Have you told Mara that family doesn't betray family?" Damyan glared at the female whose head was still bowed as she showed deference to her grandfather.
"That was one time," Mara muttered, "I only tried to kill you one time a very long time ago."
"Tch," Damyan tutted. "Mara would sell us out in a heartbeat."
"How dare you‽" Mara's fiery temper rose as she went into a fighting stance. "I am just as much an 'al Ghul as you, Damyan."
"Your loyalty has never been in question, Mara," Talia sighed, annoyed with her son and niece's ongoing rivalry.
"I question her loyalty every day," Damyan responded.
"Enough!" Ra's al Ghul exclaimed to everyone's shock. The patriarch never yelled, never yelled. Things must be worse than I thought, Damyan frowned. "Do you know why we were given this task?" Ra's continued. "Because the Shadows is the only clan able to carry out this mission. For us to succeed, however, there can be no strife amongst us," he glared at his grandchildren. "Am I understood?"
"Yes, Grandfather," both answered.
"Good," he smiled. "Now," he looked down at the map, "according to Mara, we should reach Slaede's encampment by nightfall."
"Assuming he really is on his way here," Damyan mumbled.
"Ibn al Xu'ffasch!" Ra's growled.
"Apologies," Damyan sighed.
"As I was saying, Slaede will be travelling with his sorceress as per usual. Damyan, you will kill his sorceress."
"Seriously?" Mara scoffed. "The sorceress will easily seduce the boy."
"No," Ra's replied, "not if he's wearing this. Bring it here," Ra's al Ghul ordered a guard. Moments later, the guard returned with a small chest. He handed it to Ra's, then silently returned to his station. Opening the chest, Ra's said, "We will each be wearing one." He withdrew three leather cords, each adorned with dark gemstone. "Iolite."
"Iolite?" Damyan's eyes widened. "I thought Slaede destroyed all of the mines."
"Not all of them," Ra's al Ghul displayed the necklaces proudly. Even Mara seemed impressed. "The most powerful being on Earth reduced to nothing by a small. And people say the gods have no sense of humor."
"So…" Mara cleared her throat. "Damyan is taking out the sorceress. Am I to eliminate Slaede?"
"No. That will be me."
"What?" Talia asked in surprise.
"Grandfather, are you sure?" Damyan asked as he tried to mask his worry. Ra's al Ghul was nearly 80. There's no way he can fight Slaede, much less assassinate him quietly.
"Then what am I to do?" Mara seemed to pout. "Do I stand watch?"
"I am sure. He and I have unfinished business." Ra's al Ghul looked his granddaughter in the eye. "You will keep watch."
"But- "
"End of discussion!"
Mara stormed away with a growl as Ra's turned to Damyan. "Make preparations. We leave at sunset."