It had taken over four hours to finish saving the mother and the child.

Sweat was pouring down her face in rivulets before being wiped away. Raven couldn't allow any to come in contact with her patient.

She had never operated on a human form before. The cattle on her Father's farm back home the only knowledge she had. Every so often a calf would become 'blocked' and had to be cut from the cow's womb.

Raven now had to apply a similar strategy on the Angel woman.

The cut hadn't been too hard. The baby was already taken care of and bundled into a soft fur blanket. It was quite hard to imagine how it wasn't melting in the heavy humid night though.

But no, the stitching had been the hardest to accomplish. The woman's skin in spite of the heat had a clammy cold touch to it. The symptom didn't bode well for the mother.

The injury she had sustained during her escape from an Angel camp had become infected again.

Fern, as Raven had learned, was the lead physician in the encampment. Although Raven had quickly realised that the women's medical skills were nowhere near those of people on Earth.

After a prolonged period of time Raven had been able to cut away most of the infected flesh from the long jagged cut on her ribcage. The wound, she had dosed with a bottle of emergency vodka from her pack. All wounds were cleaned and disinfected.

The stitching on her caesarian was red and inflamed as well but Raven had done everything in her capability.

"Get me more of those Glooms. In a paste and fairly thick." Fern had been on standby for the entirety of the surgery. Now she worked as Raven's lackey, got her instruments from her kit and handed her whatever else she needed.

Anaka had long ago left the tent as the smell of the infection 'sickened her'. Wuss.

She sighed in relief when she was finally able to sit back on her heels. Her back had been crooked for four hours straight.

Raven removed the cloth from the mother's mouth. They had had no choice but to gag her. Her screams could have already attracted the attention of the earlier patrol or other Angels. A thing that Anaka was adamant to avoid from happening.

Fern came back with a bowl and a glowing blue paste in it's contains. The stuff didn't have a smell to it making Raven thank whoever was out there keeping an eye on her.

The moment the paste touched the wound it miraculously spread into all the crevices of the injured flesh. One could watch as the blue stuff absorbed into the flesh like a dry sponge sucking all the water up. The substance had a rubbery feel to it as well, a quite peculiar sensation.

The woman's vein lit up as the electric blue light moved through them. As soon as the paste had seeped in Raven reapplied more. The last amount she smeared on her own arm before declaring the operation complete.

She changed into one of the breast slings a woman had provided her with. Her last brown shirt was full of sweat and dirt and made her welcome the fresh simple garment. Their fashion was not only comfortable but practical in the moist and humid environment.

The simple cotton shawl was looped around her back to the front twice, crossing up and over her breast on the second loop and knotted securely behind her neck. She had also tied the long loose ends to the loop around her back so it ran in between her hidden wings and prevented her neck from developing red pressure marks.

This had allowed her easy access to her own injury which Raven was now treating.

She hadn't looked at it before but now discovered it was bloody and bruised.

Taking the vodka flag she dribbled the rest over her arm hissing as the alcohol stung her sore flesh. Taking the paste she applied the meagre leftovers onto the open wound and watched fascinated as the blue spread through her veins. A soothing sensation enveloped her as pain and feeling in and around the wound disappeared.

Finally she got to her feet. The baby had been quiet and stirred when Raven lifted the little girl.

Placing her on her mother's chest the babe snuggled close. The small hands grasping Raven's finger while the other entangled in her mother's golden locks.

Something warm spread through her chest, a sense of belonging and appreciation. Happiness for having been able to save two lives.

Packing her stuff up she left the make shift tent and walked to where Fury had settled under a broad leaved succulent plant. Rain drops were irregularly dripping from the heavy petals and the misty air began curling Raven's braided hair. The volume of it pressed down heavily onto her back and an uncomfortable sensation unfolded from her tightly clenched wings.

Her back fell with a moist thud onto the heavy ground. Kneeling she got to work on the straps around her loyal Nightmare's body. Her saddlebags slid off the lithe creature, protected from the rain underneath the leaves above them.

With a heavy sigh Raven flopped down in between Fury's curled legs. The inside wing lifted in invitation and she snuggled into the comforting body of her friend.

Her emotions were all over the place. The Nightmare's head nestled into her lap and her shaking hands began to stroke the long narrow face.

A single tear ran down her face. A cause from the emotional overload she had experienced over the last five days. Now was a good time as any to let it all out.

Excitement, longing, desperation, anxiety, stealth, purpose, and fear.

Even though she hadn't voiced it, even though she hadn't thought it, and even though she hadn't expressed it. She was still fearing what she would find.

Who was her father?

Who was her mother?

Why was she the only woman with wings?

Why?

Frustration was fraying her temper more than usual.

She realised there was nothing she could do to ease the building turmoil deep in her soul.

For now she would settle in. Any of her worries could still be dealt with in the morning.

Further away soft footsteps neared. Raven's half lidded eyes opened in awareness once more.

The other inhabitants of the "war camp" had avoided her so far. It made her weary of their intentions as well as thankful for the lack of confrontation she had experienced. The stranger that was now approaching turned out to be no stranger at all.

Anaka crept through the brush like a big jungle cat. Her bare feet were soundless on the damp forest floor as she skillfully avoided twigs and branches. Her tall figure stopped metres away from Raven and Fury's hideout.

The glint of a string of light reflected from something shiny clutched in her hands. Automatically, Raven's hand reached for the comforting touch of her deadly claw dagger.

Her fingers had almost closed around the end when Anaka's snake like hiss stopped her in her tracks.

If poison could be spoken this would be the substance voiced aloud.

"I don't appreciate your stay here, nor do I appreciate your attitude Raven. I don't like you. But I am indebted to you for saving my sister. This is to settle the debt"

A thunk came from the impact of the heavy pendant when it hit the ground. Fiery light reflected off it's ruby surface and the dagger lay motionless, settled into the leaf litter.

Fury's cautious eye was watching it suspiciously, although she hadn't e end stirred.

The footsteps told Raven of Anaka's departure and her tentative hand grasped the flaming metal.

The dagger was beautiful.
A deep maroon which glinted like harvested blood.

Inside the blade, which swirled with milky red smoke, rested a flaming feather.

The glass like steel felt surprisingly hot in her touch and an electric twinge raced through her body straight into her wings.

They wanted to flare out. Beat the air. Ride the currents over the dead forest and bathe in the starlit sky.

Holding the dagger close to her chest made her feel like being a step closer to home.