AAAAH! This is practically a double update! YAAAAAAY! I'm so happy! But now that I got that out... it might be a while before my next update. D: I hope not... So I'll try not to be lazy on you guys! Thanks to everyone one who is following this story! There are 60 of you! Yay! 3 Love you guys! Thanks for putting up with my crazy updates.

Chapter 11

The older Strider dropped down out of a nearby tree, landing perfectly, hat on his head, shades on his face, and katana slung loosely over his shoulder.

"Why are you here? How did you know where we were?" The troll demanded, eyes glinting angrily in the half-moonlight that filtered down between the trees.

"Calm the fuck down, Vantas." Dirk said, his face deadpanned.

"Were you following us? If you were how come you didn't help us earlier, you bastard?"

"Do you ever come out of your own little world, Mr. Vantas, and consider that there are possibly things more important than you and your friends?" Roxy's voice rang out irritably as she stepped from behind a tree to join Dirk, a rather large gun in hand. "We had no idea that you would be visiting the hospital—which by the way you're in a lot of trouble, little troll. We only knew that your ancestors were going to be here, and we wanted to know why. And now we do. They were hunting you. What we want to know now is how they knew you were coming here and we didn't!"

"How the fuck should I know? The only other person who should have known about Vriska's and my little mission would have been Gamzee. I talked to him about it before I left. Though I guess Vriska or Gamzee could have told other people. But no one outside of our group." Karkat shrugged, still eying both of them.

"And that is what has me concerned. There is a spy somewhere, and it seems like our only option is that it's someone in your little 'group'." Roxy lifted an eyebrow.

"No way!" Karkat flung his hand out. "There is now fucking way any of us turned traitor! We have an oath! If any of us trolls even had an idea that our lousy ancestors were here we would have told the others! After all we went through, we work together now."

"As much as I'd like to believe that, there is simply no other possible answer." The blonde countered.

The red-blood ground his teeth together. "Piss off!"

"Oh? I guess you don't want any help then? It's quite a ways back to the school on foot, and Miss Serket over there looks like she needs a bed sooner rather than later."

Karkat wrinkled his nose, pondering his choices. "Fine. But only because I'm too fucking exhausted. I'm so pissed at you two right now. I would kill you if that didn't cause issues."

Dirk snorted, his mask never slipping for a moment. "You might think you're tough, Vantas, but consider your circumstances before spouting off shit like that. You have no weapon, and we're both armed. Not to mention that we have years of experience on you. Even your natural troll assets couldn't help you in this situation. Any leader worth half his ass would know when he should or shouldn't start a fight."

The troll started at him for a long moment. "I don't know whether to get angry or be shocked. I don't think I've ever heard you say that much to me since our unfortunate introduction."

The human let a smirk slip. "Cocky bastard."

Karkat grinned harshly. "To the death."

Rolling her eyes, Roxy started to walk back deeper into the woods. "If male trolls don't have testosterone I'll pour all my alcohol down the drain. Let's go. Grab Miss Serket."

The red-blood snatched his shirt off the ground, giving it a good shake before hanging it around his neck. Dirk strode over quickly and slung Vriska over his shoulder.

"Strider." Karkat held out his hand.

Dirk faced him silently for a few moments, his face cold as stone. Then he drove his katana into the soft dirt at his feet and extended his hand. Karkat grasped it firmly and then released, heading after Roxy. He couldn't hear Dirk following, but he knew he was. The Strider brothers were probably the only two people that could habitually sneak up on the trolls. Even though he disliked both of them, Karkat could respect them.

Up ahead he could see the pale flashes of Roxy's hair as she struck patches of the fading moonlight. After a few minutes of silent travel they broke through the trees onto a worn dirt road. Not even bother to cast a glance behind her, Roxy continued down the road until they came to a little clearing. At the edge was her hot pink hummer.

Karkat scoffed. "Are you trying to draw as much attention as possible?"

"We were in a hurry, and Mr. Strider refused to bring his precious vehicle out into the woods."

"You're a lot more fun when you're drunk, Rox." Dirk said as he dumped Vriska's body in the backseat.

Scowling, Karkat climbed in as well, nudging Vriska over until there was space for him.

"I've grown out of some of my childhood inclinations. I prefer to be sober when dealing with strenuous situations. I only resort to drowning out the stress afterwards, thank you very much. Too much stress isn't good for your body." Roxy sniffed primly.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you alcohol isn't exactly a beautiful package either?" Dirk grunted.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you smoking isn't exactly a beautiful package either?" Roxy mocked.

"Ladies, can we not talk about our addictive tendencies right now?" Karkat butted in. "I really want to get the fuck back to the school so I can sleep."

"You could at least show some concern for your fellow troll." Roxy narrowed her eyes at him before she sprung lightly into the driver's seat. Dirk's door clicked shut quietly as he joined them.

As the blonde revved the engine, Karkat rolled his eyes silently, desperately wishing he could rip the obnoxious woman's tongue out.

It was a short drive before they burst out from the trees and onto a back road. Roxy's headlights sliced ahead, piercing the dark morning. Karkat rested his head on the seatback, staring at the ceiling before letting his eyes slowly drop, exhaling softly. His head nodded as he felt sleep beginning to wash over him. Abruptly, there was a sharp jab at his knee and he jerked forward, eyes wide.

He was faced with Dirk twisted around in his seat, katana in hand.

"What the fuck was that for, you asshole?" Karkat demanded, rubbing his knee. "And look, you bastard, you cut my jeans!" He pointed furiously at the small rip Dirk's sword had created.

"Those pants are already shot, dumbass. And as part of your punishment you don't get to sleep yet." Dirk rumbled, and Karkat could feel his heavy gaze boring out from behind his shades. Baring his teeth, the troll rolled to his side, ignoring the human entirely. He was repaid with another pointed prod, which he rewarded with his middle finger.

"I'm not going to fall asleep, you fucking tyrant. Buzz off."

Dirk made a noise of irritation in his throat, but otherwise left Karkat alone. Smirking silently in his victory, the red-blood passed the time watching the buildings flash by. They'd already made it on the highway.

Suddenly he heard a soft moan and a rustle, and he snapped his head around just in time to see Vriska's fingers twitch.

"Here." Dirk tossed back a water bottle and Karkat caught it just before it smashed into Vriska's face.

"Oh, thanks a ton, shithead." Karkat snapped.

"No problem."

Hissing, Karkat clenched his fist, but then turned back to Vriska when she groaned again.

"Mmm… Karkat? Where are we?" She struggled to sit, and Karkat felt obligated to give her a helpful shove.

"Lalonde and Strider found us. The bigger versions." He responded, handing her the bottled water.

"Oh shit." She blinked drowsily. "This looks like the witch's hummer, am I right?" She took a swig from the bottle.

"The "witch" is right here, thank you." Roxy piped up.

"I know." Vriska took another drink. "How long was I out?"

"45 minutes, give or take. I had to drag your shithead self to safety, just so you know. It was a pain in the ass so you better be grateful." Karkat snapped. "Since you were so brilliant as to strand us out there with no form of transportation, you should count yourself lucky that those two showed up. I was not carrying you all the way back to school."

"Get over yourself, Vantas. And get out of my face."

Karkat blinked. He hadn't realized he'd gotten so close to her. Falling back against his seat he grumbled loudly. "This is going to be a long day."

"You have no idea, Mr. Vantas. You have no idea."