Rath: Demon?!

Suzi: Yeah. Right there! *points at Adeena*

Rath: Cool! ^-^ *starts to run towards Adeena*

Adeena: *Hits Suzi over the head with the notebook of death and then threatens Rath with the same*

Suzi: *lying on the floor, probobly knocked out for the chapter*

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights.

Chapter Ten: One less to find

**************************************************************

Mt. MFartha, late evening

Camp was set and all were relaxing. Everyone but Rune and Adeena were trying to work out the soreness of their legs from the long ride. Those two were hunting firewood and getting water, since they were the only ones able to move, thanks to their healing abilities.

"Could you two be kind to us poor fools?" asked Lykouleon from his position near the fire pit.

"We'll take care of it when you get your food so quit griping" Adeena replied as she quickly made tea and sandwiches for everyone, extra for Thatz who was complaining about being hungry as well as sore.

Rune handed Zoma and Thatz their tea and used a slight touch of healing power, easing their sore muscles. Adeena did the same for Ruwalk and Crewger before approaching Lykouleon.

"Hungry?" she asked with a smile.

"A bit" he replied with a grimace. "You don't intend to leave me in pain all night do you?"

"Can't," she replied handing him the tea and sandwich. "If I tried, Rune would take care of you. This way I get to let you squirm for a while."

"Thanks" he said sarcastically. "Where do we start tomorrow?" he asked the entire group.

"Let's see what the locals say and maybe Crewger or Fire can pick up some trace" from Ruwalk who was lying down, prepared to go to sleep now that he didn't hurt any more.

"Sounds like the best we'll get from anyone tonight" commented Lykouleon when no one else suggested anything. Then he looked around and noticed everyone else was asleep, except him and Ruwalk – who was rapidly falling asleep. "Good night Ruwalk" as the other closed his eyes.


Next morning, approximately three hours after dawn

When they awoke the next morning, they found Adeena arguing with Fire and Crewger. As Lykouleon approached he heard her say "We can't go without the others. I know you can feel him, Fire, but we need to find Cesia first, and we aren't leaving without the rest."

She paused as if listening to someone's comments then continued, "I'm sure you smell blood. I can see there was a battle here. If I could I would leave but I'm going to need three of the others at least, so that's a moot point. You can wait – they should be awake soon."

At which point Lykouleon broke in with "We are awake. Rune's fixing breakfast and the others are packing up. It won't be much longer before we're ready to leave." He then looked at her face and caught site of an unvoiced battle raging in her eyes. "Adeena, what's the matter?"

"I'm trying to keep my mind here, with you all. Kai-stern complained about my drifting, said I needed to stay with the group instead of focusing on the problem of Rath – kinda like I did on the way to Draqueen after he told me about Crewger."

"Kai-stern was the only one with you. If you can handle camp chores while working on the problem of Rath, the rest of us will live without the sound of your voice or your complete attention. Fair?"

"Fair. I did that with Kai-stern but he didn't enjoy it" she replied with a smile. "Is breakfast ready? These two are about to go off on their own if we don't hurry."

At that moment Rune called out "Breakfast! Come and eat before Thatz gets to it! Aaack!"

Looking towards the campfire, Adeena and Lykouleon see Thatz holding a large rock above Rune's head and Ruwalk and Zoma laughing.

After breakfast was done and Thatz had finished cleaning up and packed the dishes away, he asked "On foot or dragon today?" hoping for the former. When it was, he practically jumped for joy.

"I gather you didn't enjoy the experience," commented Lykouleon as he picked up Adeena's pack and his own and moved to her side. Handing her the pack, along with the bow and quiver of arrows, he said "Which way?"

"Huh?" came the slightly confused reply, along with a matching look on her face.

"Which way do Fire and Crewger want to go?" he repeated, now that he had her attention.

"Oh, that. They've already started," she said, pointing to where Crewger was disappearing into the trees. "We'd better get moving if we don't want them to get too far ahead."

"Agreed" he replied, and then called to the rest "Come on. This way" and started moving in the direction Fire and Crewger, and then Adeena, had gone.


Late afternoon, two days later, clearing with a creek

"Adeena!" Ruwalk called for the fifth time. As she finally responded, he continued, "Could I have the bow and arrows? We need some fresh meat."

"Sure" she replied handing them to him and then walking to the creek, once more playing space cadet.

As Ruwalk started heading out of the clearing to search for fresh meat she called to him and pointed in the opposite direction from which he was going and said "That way" so he went that way.

Minutes after he left Adeena called out for Rune and went running up the creek bed, following Crewger. Rune quickly joined her with his sword drawn. Suddenly Crewger stopped and crouched in an attack position. Rune and Adeena stopped right behind him and stood side-by-side, listening.

In the stillness they could hear two sets of running feet, a slight distance apart but the distance was quickly eroding as if someone was being pursued. As the sounds drew nearer Crewger started to whine.

Adeena put her hand on him and said "Quiet. I can't hear if you're whining." She then returned her attention to her surroundings. The steps were closer together and closer to where they stood. As she looked in the direction the sounds were coming from, the first figure appeared.

The figure was female. She was trying to get away from something behind her but was starting to have trouble with her footing, from fatigue as well as the fading light.

As all this registered in Adeena and Rune's minds, the second figure came into sight. It was a demon, and clearly wanted to reach the female quickly. What it intended to do with her, when it caught her, was not readily apparent.

"Her or it?" Adeena whispered to Rune.

"I'll take it, you get her" he replied, then stepped clearly into view of both runners and called "Over here!"

Both the female and the demon stopped momentarily at the sound of his voice then changed direction, both heading towards him, the female calling his name and moving a little more rapidly than she had been.

As she got within twenty yards of the three by the creek a massive gust of wind blew her out of the way of the demon's attack. As she picked herself up she saw Rune destroy the demon.

"One swing. Nice job Rune" said Adeena as she walked over to the female. "Are you alright?" she asked as Crewger came running over and knocked the female down again.

"Cesia" called Rune as he too came over. "Crewger, give her some space. She looks like she could use it." Then turning to Cesia, he held out a hand to help her up. As she took it and started to stand he asked, "Are you ok? Why was that demon chasing you?"

"He was chasing me because Rath didn't get him before I got away. Otherwise I'm ok" she replied brushing herself off. "Who's your friend?"

"Cesia, this is Adeena, the Dragon Knight of Wind. We're looking for Rath. Do you know where he is?"

"Don't answer yet Cesia. Wait until we get back to camp. Come on Crewger, back to camp. We'll go after Rath in the morning" she said pushing Rune and Cesia in front of her.

They were greeted by the scent of roasting meat as they entered the clearing where the others had already set up camp.

"We need another bedroll set up" Adeena said as she led Cesia to a spot between Lykouleon and Ruwalk. "We found this young one being chased by a demon upstream a little ways. Seems one of the missing children has been found."


Camp, next morning

"So what happened that you and Rath got separated? I thought he was protecting you," said Zoma from his position at her side.

"He told me to run while he took care of the demons. He looked like he was going insane, really mad" Cesia replied, looking closely at Zoma. "Did Rath do that for you?" indicating his legs.

"Yeah. I think he did it so that I'd owe him. He had me impersonate him so he could slip out with you."

"Had us all fooled" smiled Ruwalk as Lykouleon laughed.

"Oooh! He is going to pay when I get hold of him," Cesia hissed.

"Now, now" said Lykouleon, still chuckling. "He didn't mean any harm and he did help Zoma. He just wanted to get out of the castle. He did manage to help you, didn't he?"

"I guess. But I didn't ask for his help."

"Do you think I could have a word with you Cesia" asked Adeena. "I need to ask you some questions."

Cesia stood up and followed Adeena to the far side of the clearing. They talked for a few minutes, then Cesia called forth her crystal ball, removed Nadil's seal from within, and handed it to Adeena. The two girls then returned to where the others sat finishing breakfast.

"Ready to go?" Adeena asked the group.

"Just about" replied Ruwalk for the group.

"Hurry up. I have a feeling we don't have much time."

Adeena: Chapter ten over. Only one to go.

Kelly: WHERE IS MY RATHY?!?!

Suzi: Well, if it isn't the other major critic, my friend, Kelly. She's a big Rath fan.

Rath: *Hiding in a random closet and hoping Kelly doesn't find him.*

Adeena: Um, Kelly, Rath is in that closet. *points at Rath's closet*

Suzi: ^___^ I FOUND THE NOTEBOOK! -_-; Oh, wait. I got the wrong one.

Adeena: *hits Suzi with the notebook of death. Again!*

Kelly: *hugging Rath* Do you STILL use that to beat Suzi to a bloody pulp?

Adeena: *cute, innocent angel face* Now why would I do that? ^-^;