Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights and I don't want to 'cause then I'd just mess up the whole thing like I do to everything else, he he he

Oh! Summary! Right! Here: After a horrific tragedy sends the Dragon Tribe into a state of concern, a girl is brought to the Dragon Castle to be healed. The only survivor of a city-slaughter, she may be more than she appears. No name, no powers and soon no memory, she can only rely on the ones asking for her help. But is her place to help…or hurt?

Chapter One: Bleeding Rain

The city was a mess. Buildings were burnt down and bodies were thrown everywhere, painting the ground red with blood. It was a horrific site, one the Dragon Tribe had never before seen.

"C-check for survivors," The Dragon Lord Lykouleon commanded as he gazed down at the smoke-filled village. The Dragon Officer beside him nodded and commanded his troops.

"We should send the knights as well," the stern Tetheus suggested without meeting his lord's eyes. Lykouleon could only nod. Tetheus sighed and turned to locate the three dimwits before Rath went off to look for demons dragging the other two along.

Lykouleon stood alone on the hill watching the others move out. How could this have happened without anyone knowing? Surely a demon of this power would raise suspension of SOMEONE. I should have known Nadil would try something, the Lord thoughtas he ran a hand through his hair; he's been too quiet. The scene had Nadil's stench all over it. I should've known…

Lykouleon nearly jumped at the touch of something on his shoulder.

"Sorry, your highness," Ruwalk said, "I didn't mean to startle you." He looked down, suddenly interested in the ground. "The death count so far is a few hundred. No survivors."

"Yet," Lykouleon tried to reassure himself more than the other. It didn't work and he found himself looking down as well.

"It wasn't your fault," Ruwalk said replacing his hand on the Lord's shoulder, "It wasn't anyone's fault."

Tell that to the dead. He said nothing, though, as he walked down the hill toward the nightmare.

"This is seriously gross," Thatz mumbled while still pinching his nose. He carefully stepped over the mangled bodies and ran to catch up to his crimson-haired buddy.

Rune was trying desperately trying not to gag and limited his breathing. The air was foul and rancid. The sight of disassembled corpses broke his heart over and over again. It had been a massacre. Not even the animals had been left alive.

Rath ran ahead searching left and right for any sign of the demon(s) who had done this. The three passed mini squads of soldiers lining up the victims of Nadil's latest raid. It sickened and enraged him. Nadil, you son of a gun, I'm gonna kill your little pet. Whoever did this will pay. Of course, you don't even care, do you?

"Rath! Rath, wait up!" Thatz called running after him followed closely by Rune. Rath didn't reply and instead turned the corner sharply where he stopped mid-step.

"…No good, demon obsessed, little-oof!" Thatz came crashing around the corner knocking both the boys down. "You wanna give a little warning next time!" he yelled. Then he saw the expression on his fellow Knight's face. He cocked his head in the direction Rath was looking at only to see something scurrying out of a puddle of red. "What is it?"

"A demon!" Rath yelled almost cheerfully as he gave chase.

"Rath!" the others called, "Rath, get back here!" But the obsessive boy was out of sight now and the two sighed.

"That's Rath for ya," Thatz said shaking his head.

"We'd better follow him before he does something stupid," Rune replied.

She stumbled and caught herself by grabbing the closest wall. Her side was badly bruised and her shoulder stun as she clutched it to stop the bleeding. She didn't know where she was going, her eyes were nearly blinded with blood and she couldn't remember anything outside of the pounding in her head and the fear she felt. Blood…I'm covered in blood… Her thoughts moved in and out and after a while she felt like she was walking in a dream, a nightmare. Whose blood? Mine? No… No, it's his blood. I'm covered in his…No, it can't be, NO!

She fell to her knees from the sudden pain in her head and shoulder. Gasping for air, she didn't notice the rain that began until it pounded upon her with such strength she was sure she would be bruised. But the blood was washing away, some of it anyway. It was getting cold. What time was it? Night? Morning? She didn't know. For a time, she didn't know anything…

Tetheus could keep a straight face even if the world was coming to its end. He had a duty to do and he'd do it even if it meant turning over the corpses of the dead. He'd seen many tragic things, this was just one of them. His men, however, were not made of the tough stuff Tetheus was. So he dismissed the ones lingering on the town's edge. The deeper into the village you were, it seemed, the worst the scene got. And now it was raining.

It had been hours since they had begun, and he had searched most of the city for survivors. There were none. He was about to turn back when he spotted the Dragon Lord, stepping over a pile of fallen bricks and almost slipping in a puddle of both blood and water.

"Lord Lykouleon," Tetheus said offering a helpful hand, "You should be back at the castle. Nadil's demon could still be around."

"I know," Lykouleon regarded the officer with a soft tone. He seemed distant, confused. "Are there no survivors?"

Tetheus answered carefully. "I haven't made my final assessment," he said not wanting to distress His Highness more.

"There aren't even any bodies anymore," Lykouleon went on in disbelief, "He slaughtered everyone." The rain made his bangs cover his eyes so Tetheus could no longer read his expression.

The sound of running footsteps and swooshing water echoed down the street and Tetheus readied himself for a fight. If the demon responsible had returned, he'd have to get His Highness out quickly.

"Rath, you idiot! Slow down! You'll get yourself killed!"

Tetheus relaxed, not that you could tell if you were looking at him. He had a talent for hiding his emotions, as everyone at the castle well knew.

Not longer after the shout was heard did Rath Illuser emerge from a neighboring street. His sword was drawn and seemed to be tiring from running.

"Oh," he said when he saw the Dragon Lord and Officer, "it's only you. Which way did the demon go!" The boy almost looked upset to find them instead of a demon. Tetheus silently sighed.

"Rath," he regarded the knight with a steady voice, "You will escort His Highness out of the city while I finish the search. Understand?"

Rath shook his head, "I'm gonna kill that demon first!"

"What demon?" Lykouleon asked. He seemed rather jumpy.

"The one that did this," Rath said angrily, pushing his damp hair out of his face. "He passed by here not too long ago and-"

"GOTCHA!" Thatz exclaimed coming out of a side street and jumping on Rath.

"Get off me!" Rath fought back.

"Oh, no. You're not getting away this time!" Rune said sticking his head out from where Thatz had emerged. "We've got more important things to do then chase imaginary demons."

"Like turn over dead bodies?" Rath shot back as he squeezed out of Thatz's grip. "And there was a demon."

"There was not!" Thatz yelled. "You just wanna get outta doing work."

"I thought that was you!"

Tetheus shook his head at the embarrassments. He was surprised to hear Lykouleon chuckle.

"It's good to know nothing brings those three down," Lykouleon said quietly. He would've said more, if at that moment something dark caught his eye. It dashed into another side street just beside him, only he couldn't believe what he thought he saw. "A dragon…?"

Tetheus turned in time to see the Lord disappear into a back alley. Great…He wasn't the only one who saw, either. Rath immediately raced after him and Rune followed.

"Great," Thatz said, "Here we go again."

Tetheus didn't reply and ran after the others.

Was that a dragon? Lykouleon wondered as he ran after it. He had every reason to believe that he was pulling his own leg. The creature he had seen was black. No dragon he had seen and knew about had ever been that color. But still, it was the only thing he had come across in this city that wasn't dead or ripped apart. Even a small life was better than nothing, right?

He turned the corner and saw the thing run up to one of the bodies. So this was someone's pet. Lykouleon stopped running and pushed his bangs away from his face. He was soaked to the bone and cold. He didn't need to see more death in a city full of it. He studied the figure from a distance for a moment. It looked like a girl but she was too bloody to tell anything else.

The girl moved! Just barely did she raise her head but it was enough. She was alive! Lykouleon was immediately at her side.

She didn't hear him approach. Her vision was blurring, but she saw something black, then white come her way.

"Hold on," A voice whispered in her ear. It was soft and kind, nothing like she remembered. Other voices joined in a few moments later and she felt herself being lifted. Weakly, she turned her head and her vision cleared just enough for her to see who was carrying her out of the rain.

to be continued...