"And now for chapter 8," Breezyfeather says. "Runo's part!"

"Fun," Ren says.

"I still don't trust Ren as far as I can throw him," the Fabia on the computer screen says.

"You know, I really think that that doesn't really fit with Fabia," Runo says.

"Yeah, cause she can throw Dan pretty far. What makes anyone think that she can't throw Ren farther?" Jake asks. Fabia glares at him. "Oh yeah, and she can even throw SHUN! Man, that has to be tough!"

"Okay, the one person I wouldn't be able to throw would be Jake. I throw Dan, Shun, Ren, Marucho, anyone weighing under 150 pounds," she says.

"You measure?" Breezyfeather asks.

"... Maybe."

Runo sighed, lying on her bed and staring at the ceiling. It was dark in her room and she guessed that it was some time around midnight. Briefly she wondered why she couldn't sleep, but she didn't brood on that thought for very long. She was more concerned with getting away. It was night after all. None of them would be expecting her to be up at this hour. But what if they had installed security cameras in her room? She doubted that they would have done that, but she sat up slowly anyway.

Her hair was down, some of it resting on the pillow as she looked around the dark room. She was wearing a white pair of long sleeved pajamas with pants. They were completely plain and reminded Runo of Joe's hospital garments when they first met him. She sighed, standing up and walking over to the far wall, which was really just one large window made of very thick glass. There was a seat against it where the window met the wall and she sat down there, wrapping the blanket she had taken form the bed around her shoulders as she stared out into the dark night.

It was gray all around her and Runo was puzzled that she couldn't see the starry night. It was nothing like when she had been caught between dimensions, when the sky was streaked with purple and blue and stars were scattered around in random spirals. Instead, it was just... gray. Desolate. Runo didn't quite understand.

Then she noticed a familiar swirling in the air. Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized what it was. It was snowing on New Vestroia! She was tempted to smile as the snow sparkled in the light of the palace and spiraled through the sky, spinning and twisting as it danced its way through the air. It was enough to lift her spirits and soon she found herself smiling as the tiny white crystals dove and swirled through the air less than 2 feet from her form, yet she could feel none of the chill the beauty of the frozen water droplets brought with them. It was peaceful.

"Runo, what are you doing up this late?" Tigrerra asked softly. Runo jumped, breaking out of the trance that the snow had locked her in. Runo looked at the small Haos Bakugan and then back out the window into the swirling snow storm.

"I couldn't sleep," she murmured, taking Tigrerra into her hands. "But look. It's snowing," she smiled. Tigrerra shifted her gaze out into the swirling snow, taking in the sparkling snowflakes as they spun and flew through the sky. The two sat there in a companionable silence for a little while, just letting the snowfall calm them. When Runo broke it, she seemed timid.

"Tigrerra? Can I ask a favor of you?" she asked quietly.

"Of course, My Lady," Tigrerra said. "What is it?"

"Do you think that it's possible for you to maybe take one of the others and go find Dan?" Runo murmured. "He's with the Resistance somewhere in a huge white trailer... or at least that's what I remember. If he's not there then can you come back?"

"Runo, I can't leave you here alone," Tigrerra exclaimed. Runo looked at her and sighed.

"Well I need one of you guys to go and find Dan and bring him back here. That way I'll be able to get out," Runo said. "And we'll get answers. And then we can get revenge on Hydron and Spectra."

"Runo, I don't believe that revenge is the best reason for finding Dan. I understand that we must depart for your well being, however. I just don't think that it is wise for me to leave. You will be left here with the others, yes, but Hydron and the others will expect me to be by your side. I am your partner, Runo, and it is my responsibility to watch over you and make sure that no harm comes to you." Runo smiled at her partner and was about to open her mouth to say something, but Tigrerra continued.

"Runo, I care about you. You are my partner and my friend. I have let you down. I must make that up to you. I will always be by your side, Runo. I promise you that from now on I'll always be there when you need me."

"Tigrerra," Runo whispered. She smiled and nodded. "Okay!"

"Hey, what are you two doing up so late?" Preyas asked, bouncing over to them.

"Yes, what are you doing up at this hour?" Skyrus questioned them.

"I am curious to know that as well," Gorem said in his deep voice.

"Would you... care to tell... us Runo?" Hydranoid asked. Runo and Tigrerra exchanged glances and Runo turned back to them.

"I need three of you guys to go and find Dan and the others," Runo told them. "That way, we'll all be able to get out. Tigrerra can't go because the Vexos will be suspicious. And I'd like maybe Skyrus to stay here with us as well."

"But we can't just leave you here," Gorem protested.

"Yeah, Gorem's right," Preyas said. "You'll still be here."

"Yeah, well, I won't be able to get out unless you find Dan and tell him where he can find me. Also, I'm gonna need you to tell him that they had a plan to get Alice, Julie and I. They needed us for something, and it wasn't just to get Dan mad at Spectra," she said. "They need to know that. And if it's you guys that go then the Vexos won't be as suspicious. They'll maybe think that you betrayed me to go and find Marucho, Julie and Alice. Or maybe that you just got lost wandering the palace. I dunno, I'll think of something."

"Alright Runo," Preyas said. "We'll go! Besides, I kinda wanna see Marucho again."

"Julie would be very pleased with your plan Runo," Gorem said.

"Alice... maybe not be here... but she would be proud as well," Hydranoid praised Runo. She smiled at them.

"I think that you guys should try to find a way out now," Runo said softly. "I doubt that they're watching me right now, so you guys should use this to your advantage. Find a way outside and then look for the Resistance's trailer."

"You got it, Runo!" Preyas said. She grinned, then got an idea.

"I think I'll try something tonight, too," she said, smirking and standing.

Within minutes, Runo was dressed and ready to go. She walked over to the door and looked at it curiously in the dark, unable to find a way to open it from the inside. There was a keypad near the door and a button there that read "Emergency", but Runo didn't think about pressing it. If she did, it would alert the Vexos and probably diminish her chances of getting out.

She turned away from the button, running her fingers over the door. Preyas and the others hovered nearby, Preyas a little too close to the button for comfort. Runo didn't notice though, and then she found herself looking at the button again. The small red circle with the white word "Emergency" printed across it. A small caption underneath said, "Warning: Alarm will sound". Runo stared at it, then stood up, placing her hand over the small red device.

"What are you doing?" Skyrus asked. Runo looked at her, then pressed sharply down on the button. A huge, sharp alarm tore through the building, making Runo jump. The door in front of her sprung open and she sprinted through it without hesitation, her Bakugan friends following as she dashed down the hall.

"Runo, was that wise?" Skyrus asked.

"I dunno. We've gotta try to get out though," Runo responded.

"Someone's coming," Gorem warned. Runo gasped, skidding to a halt as a few soldiers ran by. None of them stopped for Runo, which puzzled her. Maybe they thought she was still in her cell. If that was the case, then she'd have to really step on it. Runo ducked around the corner, Tigrerra fighting to stay on her shoulder.

Suddenly, they passed a huge open doorway. Runo gasped as a blast of cold air slapped her in the face. Her arms were instantly overcome with goose bumps and she shivered, turning her gaze to the source of the freezing air. She was standing in the doorway to an open chamber in the palace, and the ships for the Vexos were currently docked there. Runo glanced around, scanning for the said Vexos. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a fire alarm and Hydranoid followed her gaze, hurrying to pull it down. "That way... the Vexos... won't think she pulled it," Hydranoid explained to Preyas.

"Oh I get it!" he said.

"Runo, this way!" Gorem urged. Runo nodded, dashing after the Sub-Terra Bakugan. Tigrerra and Skyrus stayed close to Runo as Preyas and Hydranoid lagged slightly behind. Gorem led Runo to the edge of the hanger, the huge gap in the wall that allowed ships to pass through and take flight. Runo stood at the edge of it, suddenly at a loss at what to do.

"Are there any parachutes around?" she asked Tigrerra, who looked around the room. After a moment, she sighed.

"No, Runo."

"Then... I guess I'm not getting out of here for a while, am I?" Runo asked.

"You got that right, girly," a laughing voice came from behind her. Runo jumped, whirling around to see Shadow Prove standing in the doorway to the hanger. He was smirking, standing clearly relaxed and confident that she wouldn't be able to escape. "You're not getting out of here for a long time. Now come on back with us before Prince Hydron gets mad." Runo stares at him, she and the Bakugan frozen around her. "Running is useless. You're not going anywhere. And your friends aren't coming for you."

"He's right. We've seen them," Mylene smirked, coming up behind him. "They're all going on as if you never existed. They don't care."

"Yeah right," Runo muttered. "Shut up!" But she could feel something inside of her falter. Were they really continuing on as if they had never met? Did they really not care? Julie and Alice, surely they at least had heard.

"Your friends on Earth, the Sub-Terra Brawler and the Darkus Brawler," Spectra said, pushing past the two Vexos, "they don't care. They both know and they both don't think it matters. Julie just went back home and Alice didn't even sound upset on the phone when Julie told her."

"What?" Runo whispered. Julie? Alice? They really didn't care? Julie just went home? Alice didn't even seem upset? But that didn't make sense.

"Julie wouldn't do that," Gorem protested in Runo's ear, but every sound was drowned out as Spectra held up a picture. Runo's eyes widened in horror and despair as she recognized the figure depicted. The familiar mocha skin, the white blond hair. It was Julie, sitting on a plane reading a magazine. Runo couldn't believe it, and the date was printed on the corner of the picture. 12/20/10.

Runo fell to her knees, her eyes wide open in shock. They had abandoned her. They didn't care. And Spectra wouldn't shut up.

"And Dan. Oh Dan. Julie had asked Alice to pass on the message to Dan, thinking that he deserved to know that his girlfriend had been kidnapped. But when he connected with him, when she told him, he didn't care. I have an audio recording from him, even, if you'd like to listen."

"Play it anyway, Spectra," Shadow laughed.

"Very well." Spectra pulled out a small device and tossed it to Runo so that she'd be able to hear it over the wind rushing in her ears. It landed in front of her and then began to play.

"She was taken yesterday during a snow storm," Alice explained in a monotone, sounding unconcerned like Spectra had said.. "Her parents went out to get some groceries and Julie was getting a hot chocolate for both of them at Starbucks and some of Runo's favorite cookies. The Wardington Police got a call from her saying that two people broke into her house."

"Are you serious?" Shun asked. He didn't sound interested, but Runo didn't remember that he was good at guarding his emotions, and she misread it. It sounded like he also wasn't upset by her disappearance.

"That's terrible." Baron said, but he, too, sounded like he didn't care. Runo couldn't believe it.

"I'm not done," Alice said. "They played back the call for us, and she said that two teenage boys broke into my house. She know they're interested in kidnapping her. The lady on the other end of the line asked how she knew that and she said that they kidnapped her a few months ago. I think that was when you guys came back from New Vestroia and -"

"Spectra got her," Dan interrupted her. But he didn't seem concerned. He said it with a finalization that scared Runo, because it sounded like he could care less. The tears stung her eyes and Tigrerra noticed.

"Runo, Runo snap out of it! They're lying!"

"Runo, listen to Tigrerra," Skyrus told Runo. "The Vexos are playing you! They're trying to trick you."

"Julie wouldn't just turn her back on you like that," Gorem insisted. "She has told me how much you mean to her! You are her best friend!"

"Listen to...Gorem and Skyrus... Tigrerra is telling the truth," Hydranoid told her. "Alice... wouldn't... be so cruel as to forget... how you... have helped her... in the past."

"Yeah, they're right," Preyas cried. "They all care about you!"

"You yourself admitted it, Runo," Tigrerra insisted. Runo froze, looking at her Bakugan with tears in her eyes. "Back when you were taking your test! You said that even though you were selfish sometimes, Dan was always there for you! You unlocked your power then! You and Dan are best friends-more than that! Can't you see that?"

"Tigrerra," Runo whispered.

"They abandoned you, Runo," Gus said. He and the rest of the Vexos were aware that they were loosing the battle. They had to gain control over Runo once again in order to deceive her. They had to pin her by the throat, give her no way to escape. Hydron shouldn't have allowed her to have her Bakugan back. They were just causing problems.

Tigrerra realized that Runo was back with her, so she continued. "Don't listen to them, Runo," she whispered. "They're trying to trick you into believing that your friends have abandoned you. They wouldn't do that to you, Runo, dear."

"Julie cares about you," Gorem told her.

"Alice wouldn't... abandon... you in this time of need," Hydranoid repeated.

"My Shun is best friends with Dan. Dan cares about you more than you will ever know, Runo," Skyrus said.

"Marucho is a good kid. He wouldn't just leave you," Preyas reassured her.

"Listen to your heart, Runo," Tigrerra said softly. Runo stared at them, then closed her eyes, placing her hands over her ears. Listen to your heart.

"Don't fill yourself with false hopes," Lync called. "You'll just end up hurt." Runo pressed her hands over her ears harder, trying to block out the voices. Her face screwed up in concentration, trying desperately to think. To listen. But her heart didn't seem to want to talk today.

"Don't let yourself be put in pain again by these lies," Mylene ordered. "You'll regret it."

"Mylene is right, Runo," Spectra growled. "Listen to her." He was about to continue when Runo lost it.

"Shut UP!" Runo screamed. "I... Dan..." She stood up, eyes still closed. Then, she opened them, glaring at the Vexos. "You're lying. Dan and my friends wouldn't just abandon me. They care about me. I know that they wouldn't just let me be left at the mercy of you jerks. You're lying!" Suddenly, an intense glow built up from her chest, making Runo gasp. She rocked back on her heels, the light concentrated around her torso. The Bakugan and the Vexos gasped in shock as Runo's eyes were wide. Tigrerra was the first to recover, and then the glow vanished. Runo shook it off quickly, glaring at the Vexos. "Dan and I are-and always will be-friends! We're there for each other! And I... I love him!" Runo shouted. "I love him!"

Then, golden light swirled around her and Runo wasn't surprised. Individual little beams orbited her body, leaving a trail of sparkles behind her. Skyrus and the Bakugan stared in shock while Tigrerra floated in front of her human. "That's a girl, Runo! I'm proud of you!" she said. Runo smiled, the little rays suddenly shooting toward her chest. She covered her heart with her hands, closing her eyes and smiling.

All of a sudden, white and pink wings shot out of Runo's back. The Vexos cried out in shock and Volt walked up behind them, looking unsurprised and maybe even a little satisfied. "There we go," he murmured. None of the Vexos heard him though. They were made of light and sparkled, branching out to the sides about 2 feet each. They had no individual feathers, instead looked more like tree leaves than anything else. Three large leaves branched out of Runo's back on each side, made of pink, white, and golden light. They sparkled with the snow that swirled around her.(If you have trouble with that description, just think of Contesteer's Battle Gear. He's Zennet's Bakugan and you can see the Gear in episode 20)

Runo opened her eyes with a smile, grinning genuinely at the Vexos. "I'd say that this is goodbye," Runo now smirked. She grabbed Tigrerra and Skyrus in one hand and Gorem, Hydranoid and Preyas in the other. None of them protested, in fact all of them seemed prepared. Then, she jumped backward, out of the hanger. As she fell, she twisted her body so that she was head first going down, then she focused on moving her wings, which turned out to be easier than she thought. She was gently pulled up and found herself floating, her wings waving from side to side.

She cupped her hands together in front of her, allowing the Bakugan to look up at her face. "Wow, you have wings!" Preyas cried.

"That's amazing," Tigrerra said.

"I've never heard of anything like this happening to a human," Gorem said.

"Masquerade mentioned... something... similar to this...once," Hydranoid said. They all stared at him curiously. "I think... that it would be best... if I told you when we were on the ground and hidden."

"Good idea," Tigrerra agreed.

"We are a good target in the dark now," Skyrus spoke up. "Your wings are very bright. If they are using their ships they'll be able to spot you very easily."

"You're right," Runo realized. "Alright then... um... okay, Skyrus, how do you fly?"

"My suggestion would be to angle yourself downward for this part, and as we go down you can practice pulling up," she said.

"Okay then," Runo murmured. "Do you think you guys will be able to keep up with me or should I try to keep holding on?"

"I'll fly," Skyrus said.

"As will I," Hydranoid told her.

"You'll have to hold on to the rest of us," Tigrerra said. Runo nodded.

"I think I might have a pocket... no I don't. Okay, looks like I'm holding you in my hands," Runo said. She gently closed her fist around Preyas, Tigrerra, and Gorem, then looked down at the ground. It was far, far below her. Gulping, she closed her eyes and angled toward it, allowing gravity to take hold of her. Her stomach dropped as she was pulled to the earth miles below her, feeling like she was on an intense roller coaster ride.

"Pull up, Runo," Skyrus ordered Runo. She obliged, spreading her arms out on either side of her and straightening her body so that she was parallel with the ground. Her wings caught the air, acting as a parachute, and slowed her until she was floating again. The whole thing had taken place in about ten seconds.

"That's good," Skyrus praised her. Then Hydranoid caught up.

"Maybe it would be best... if you could... hold me in your hand until you reach the ground," he said. Runo nodded, opening the hand that held Tigrerra. She closed it when Hydranoid landed there and then looked at Skyrus. It was almost hard to identify the Ventus Bakugan in the dark, snow night, and Runo felt freezing. She shivered, wishing she had a jacket.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," she said. "Even if I do get down to the ground and manage to hide from the Vexos, I don't have a coat or even a sweatshirt. I'll freeze."

"You'll have to stay in the air then and look for the trailer then," Skyrus said. "It's your only option."

"Hm," Runo said. "Lets go."

"Okay," Skyrus agreed. Runo ducked down again, spreading her arms out to her sides and keeping them tightly fisted. Her wings tingled where they met her back and she wondered why exactly she had these powers and how she would able to activate it, or even if she was able to voluntarily activate it at all. She didn't think that she would be able to, but it would be worth trying in the future.

Suddenly, she heard a mechanical sound that reminded Runo of an airplane. She gasped as she pulled up, searching for the source of the sound. "Runo!" Tigrerra cried. Runo opened her hand and looked at her Bakugan worriedly. "Keep going! If you slow then they'll catch you," she cried. Runo nodded, allowing Skyrus to jump into her fist. She heard the sound again and glanced around, then dove down again, shooting through the snow.

She knew that she had to loose whoever was after her. It wouldn't be easy to do with her glowing wings, but she had to try. Biting her lip, she angled herself to the left, her wings staying straight as she glided swiftly down. Runo wondered who her pursuer was, and if the Vexos had all gotten into their individual ships to search for her. She hoped that they hadn't all decided to search for her. If they had, then there would be very little chance of escape.

Runo shook her head, her hair flying back and her hair bands coming loose. She couldn't think that way. If she did, then she wouldn't be helping anybody. She had to think positive, that she would be able to get away. But it was hard to do when she was fueled by terror.

She pulled up again, checking her distance from the ground. She could see what looked like a tree down below her, but she couldn't be sure. It was too dark and the snow obscured too much of her vision. She listened carefully, trying to determine if she had been followed. She thought she could hear the roar of an engine, but there was a horrible ringing in her ears and she couldn't tell. She assumed it was silent. Runo sighed, taking the temporary stillness to open up her hands and check on the Bakugan.

"Do you guys hear anything?" Runo asked.

"No, I don't hear a thing," Tigrerra answered.

"Nope," Preyas agreed.

"It's silent," Gorem said.

"Okay," Runo sighed in relief. "I think I've lost them for now."

"You should get on the ground and put your wings away," Tigrerra told her. "You risk less if you are masked in darkness."

"Yeah, you're right. But if I don't find somewhere to stay or at least somewhere warm then I won't even last the night," Runo protested.

"You're right, Runo," Gorem said. "I think that I can sense a heat signature nearby."

"Really?" Preyas asked. Runo looked at him hopefully.

"Yes. Down below somewhere," he reported. "But it is nearby."

"Thank you, Gorem!" Runo gasped, closing her fists once more and diving for the ground.

Runo could see the ground rushing up quickly and started to be able to make out individual objects: a boulder here and there, a tree every so often. Even a group of Aquos and Ventus Bakugan clustered together. The sound of air rushing in her ears completely and effectively blocked out any other sound that she could have detected.(.com/watch?v=bfqbY3GqlC4&feature=related )

Suddenly, a mechanical whir started up through the air, startling Runo. She gasped, pulling up as a huge gust of air tore around her, sending the snow into an even greater frenzy. She closed her eyes in agony, yelling out in pain. The snow stung her skin, making Runo feel as though she was being pricked by dozens of needles, everywhere on her body. Her face was raw and her arms were freezing. She felt like she was on fire.

Runo felt tears pricking at her eyes and she gasped as the whir came around again, catching a flash of blue. Mylene! Runo shook her head. No, she couldn't let it end this way! She opened her hands, tears in her eyes. "Gorem, how close?" Runo cried, tears threatening to spill over.

"Go down and to the right!" he cried. Runo let out a sob and closed her hands, diving again. Her tears spilled over and were lost in the air, and suddenly the ground was there, 30 feet away from her. She gasped, pulling up, and descended the last few feet slowly. Her feet touched the snow covered ground gently within seconds and she yelped in surprise. Her legs were unable to support her weight and she fell to her knees, feeling the chill stab her. Her tears were hot compared to the cold she felt and she guessed that it must be at most -10 degrees out.

"Runo!" Tigrerra cried.

"It's close," Gorem told her. Runo sobbed, struggling to get to her feet. Her wings vanished, evaporating into the air like mist. Runo's teeth chattered as she managed to gain footing, her arms reaching to conserve what little warmth was left in her limbs. The tears froze on her cheeks and she let out a wail of despair. The Bakugan rested on her shoulders.

"Just a little farther, Runo," Gorem urged. "It's just ahead!"

Runo didn't remark that she couldn't see anything. She didn't make any complaints. She was just too cold, to exhausted. Her hair blew back in the harsh wind, the hair ties long since lost in the wind. She forced herself to trudge through the drifting snow, finding little success. "Just a little father," Gorem shouted over the wind.

"Come on, you can do it, Runo!" Preyas encouraged her.

"Runo, keep going!" Tigrerra cried.

"Don't let this be for nothing," Skyrus told her.

"Keep...going...Runo," Hydranoid urged her.

And then, Runo was suddenly against something freezing, but solid. The cold, hard touch was like a canon ball of needles against Runo's nearly frostbitten skin. She yelled in pain, jumping back and sobbing. "Go to the left," Gorem ordered. Runo didn't disobey. She didn't know what kept her going. She just wanted to lie down in the snow, to curl up and go to sleep. But something kept her from doing that.

Runo felt against the rock wall with freezing fingers as harsh physical blows. It was like someone was sticking pins into every millimeter of bare skin. She couldn't feel her toes and her teeth just wouldn't stop chattering. She was tired and the tears that spilled over her eyelids were freezing on her cheeks. She wished she hadn't pressed the button.

Suddenly, her fingers fell on open air. She gasped, falling into the snow. This time, she didn't have the strength to stand up again. She started to get to her hands and knees, but the dancing snow and her weakening body just wouldn't let her. She fell, limp, into the snow, what little heat left in her body quickly fleeing into the blanket of snow that began to cover her. She hair was laced with tiny, freezing snowflakes. Her skin was pale and her lips began to grow purple. Her cheeks were red from the cold and now the flakes were caught in her eyelashes. This was it. This was the end. And there was nothing she could do about it.

"Runo!" Tigrerra shouted.

"Runo, wake up!" Skyrus yelled.

"No, it can't end like this," Preyas said softly.

"Come on, we have to get her inside here," Gorem ordered.

"Inside where?" Preyas asked.

"There. It's a hot spring," Gorem revealed.

"Gorem you're a genius," Tigrerra shouted. "Runo! Runo can you hear me?"

"What... I wanna... sleep," Runo mumbled.

"Runo, Runo, just move inside," Tigrerra begged. "Just get inside!"

"But I wanna sleep here," she mumbled.

"No, Runo," Skyrus said sharply. "Not here. It's not safe here."

"But... I'm so tired..."

"Runo!" Gorem yelled. Runo didn't respond.

"Runo, come on!" Tigrerra begged, panicking. "I just need you to get inside!"

"She's not... going... to listen," Hydranoid said, bouncing back. "But I brought... some help." Behind him trailed several Bakugan, the Bakugan Runo had spotted from the air.

"Hurry, get her inside that cave and out of the snow," Gorem ordered. All of them quickly moved to grab a piece of Runo's clothing each, tugging her into the cave mouth much faster than they thought they would. The heat from the hot spring was instantly felt, the steam already beginning to please Tigrerra.

"Runo, just hang in there a minute more," Tigrerra urged her. They all pulled her into the cave together, Runo's cheeks slowly becoming flushed and the purple disappearing from her lips and fingers. The Bakugan all stopped pulling to gasp for air, and then Runo moaned.

"Runo, wake up!" Preyas cried, jumping on her cheek. She didn't move. "RUNO WAKE UP!" One of the Bakugan dragged over a leaf full of water from the hot spring, and with the help of several Bakugan, they lifted the leaf and poured the water onto her face. Runo whimpered, opening her eyes.

"Huh...?"

"Runo, you're okay!" Tigrerra cried happily. Runo blinked, looking around. It was completely dark. She sat up, then realized that she was alive.

"I'm... alive... I'm alive!" she looked around in surprise. She smiled, grabbing Tigrerra in her hands. "We got away!"

"That's a girl, Runo," Tigrerra praised her. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, Tigrerra," Runo whispered, giving her Bakugan a hug. She turned to the other Bakugan that had helped her. "Thank you, guys." Words of response echoed throughout the cave and Runo smiled. Then, she sighed.

"I'm so tired," she yawned. "I'll look around in the morning."

"Good plan, Runo," Tigrerra said. Runo yawned again, curling up on the floor. The warmth of the cave was enough to keep her alive for the night, and in the morning maybe she'd soak in the hot spring. Provided she found a towel. But she didn't worry about that then. All that mattered was that she had a few days until Christmas, and it looked as if she might actually get to spend her Christmas with Dan.

The faint light that the mouth of the cave let in was suddenly blotted out by a single figure with a small dragon-like Bakugan floating over his shoulder, just as Runo was sent, spiraling, into a blissful darkness.

"Well that was fun," Breezyfeather says.

"Fun? FUN! You had me nearly KILLED and you call that FUN?" Runo yells. Breezyfeather sweat drops.

Shun coughs. "Run."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"BREEZYFEATHER!"

"Run."

"Don't need to tell me twice!"

9 PAGES! A NEW RECORD!

Tell me what ya thought!

Click. Here. Easy.

xD