Mikhail sank back into his mind, holding Raven to him, taking as much of her pain as he could. The trip home was a blur to him, the rain pelting the windshield, lightning sizzling and snapping. He would have preferred the dizzying speed of their mode of travel, but he dared not risk further damage to Raven. The village was deserted and dark, the electricity out in the terrible ferocity of the storm. Inside their houses, people were huddled and praying, hoping to live through the ferocious storm, not understanding that their very lives could depend on one small human woman's courage and tenacity.