Hi y'all. Just thought I'd update and let you know that I'm not dead yet.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Knights, though if I did, none of you would ever see Rune, Alfeegi, or Tetheus ever again. Muahahaha…

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Rune looked shocked at what he took to be an image of a guardian dragon carved on the tombstone. "Is that…?" He faltered.

Rath nodded. "Yes, it's the grave of the light dragon." He turned his head and looked away. "I didn't really mean what I said before. About you going off and dying I mean." Rune looked like he was about to comment but Rath continued. "You're like an older brother to me. Thatz too, I just…I'm not good with people. And I was afraid…" He went silent.

Rune snorted. "You just like me for my tail." He smiled when Rath looked up. "I think of you guys as my brothers too. That's why I sometimes go too far. I'm just trying to protect you. I don't want to fail again." He frowned suddenly. "Speaking of Thatz, where is he?"

"Probably sitting here and wondering why it's taking you guys so long to notice him." The red haired thief was leaning was leaning against a tree watching the other two knights. "Not that I don't appreciate the love of course." He grinned and sauntered over to them, throwing his arms over the two of them. "And of course, Rune's tail IS just an added bonus. Did you know that it twitches while you talk?"

Rune blushed and mumbled something under his breath.

His ears twitched and he turned to look at the wall, an unreadable expression on his face. Rath and Thatz quieted and watched him intently.

Suddenly his face contorted in a mixture of pain and fear, and he fell to the ground clutching his head and panting hard. Rath looked at Thatz with confusion written on his face. "Rune what's wrong?" They both rushed over to him.

"G…get aw…away fr…from m…m…me." He stuttered. "Get away!" Ignoring their confused glances, he slowly stood up. His head turned slightly and he looked up at the wall again.

Rath tried to approach him again, but as soon as he got close, claws swept out at his midsection. "I said get away!" Rune growled. When he finally turned to look at his fellow knights there was nothing in his eyes except for a fierce passion. His spirit was no longer there.

He turned away then, and jumped onto the wall. Thatz stared, not really knowing what to think as another figure appeared on the wall next to Rune. "Karl." Rath said softly. Thatz threw a quick glance his way.

They watched in silence as Karl placed a hand on Runes head. Rune leaned into the contact, his pupils elongated in the coming darkness.

"How do you like my experiment?" Karl called down to the remaining dragon knights.

"You, how dare you do that to Rune. Release him!" Rath shouted, his fists clenched. He'd left his sword in Rune's room.

"Now where would be the fun in that?" Karl asked innocently. "Besides I do believe that the demon army is searching for him. He'll be much safer with me. We wouldn't want any of them to get the wrong idea after all. This way they'll leave you alone for a while. I suggest that you improve your defenses though. This place is so easy to enter." He laughed again, and threw a smoke seed to the ground. When it cleared, he and Rune were gone.

"Awww, man. Now what are we gonna do. Rune's gone again!" Rath pounded his fist into the ground. "Oh sorry Lord Lykoulyon, but we went for a walk and Rune disappeared again. When's lunch? Crap!" Thatz pulled Rath off of the ground.

"Then we'll just have to go after them won't we?" Rath looked up in surprise. "Karl lives on Arianas right? So, I've been there before. All we have to do is take a ship to the fairy forest there. But we probably should take Water and Lightening huh?" He looked at Rath. "Well what are we waiting for, lets go pack. Don't worry I'll take care of the food, just meet me here in an hour."

With that they split, running back to the castle in order to pack what they needed for their journey. When the next morning came, there was no sight of any of the knights. This put the castle in an uproar; Alfeegi's voice heard foremost is the chaos. Pursuit was sent out, but without knowing exactly where the knights were headed, it was doubtful that it would make it in time.

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Fedelta had waited long enough. Obviously something had happened to the turned dragon knight. He had felt Karl's aura around Rune many times, while Rune had been living with them. He knew who to go to.

"My lord, I believe that Karl has betrayed us." He spoke quietly and quickly to Shadyman. "I have felt his presence around the water knight many times but didn't think anything of it. But when I felt the presence of his servant in the dragon castle before Rune disappeared, I started wondering. Perhaps he's the reason Rune didn't return Nadil's head to us."

Shadyman looked thoughtful. "Perhaps it's time we paid him a little visit, ne?"

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KNK: Hey, guess what, I'm not dead after all. XD

Rune: Darn

KNK: What was that (flames begin to rise)

Rune: Nothing oh powerful and mighty one.

KNK: (looks suspicious) good!

KNK: Anyways, it's good to be back, and hopefully now I'll be able to update sooner. But only if you review. (shakes finger)

KNK