I'm back! And rather quickly too apparently. Considering I last updated two days ago. Lol! Oh! so you all know. I am planning on a few guest slots in the next coming chapters. So watch for that! The idea for this chapter came out of the blue... so it might seem kinda random after the events in last chapter, but trust me. it will all make sense in the end I promise.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned DK. I'd be surrounded by the sexy bishounen all the time if I did. And Kai-stern and Alfeegi would still be alive. but that's okay. Kiari is mine though, as is the basis behind this story and those to come. Okay?

Later that night, close to when the moon reached its highest point, Rune was awakened by what he thought was some splashes in the nearby river. Curious, he sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and looking around confused. Thatz' and Rath's beds were still stuffed, but from what he could tell, the other two were empty. Another loud splash caught his attention and he finally forced himself to go check out the noise, and possibly even find where his two comrades disappeared to.

There. Down in the river was one figure, and judging by the silhouette's shape, it was Kiari. She seemed to be talking aloud to herself, but Rune was just out of earshot to make sense of any of it. He crept down the steep hill leading to the river, trying not to knock any rocks that lay in rubble at his feet.

A hiss out of the shadows as her voice cleared forced Rune to jump. He turned, staring straight into the all-to-familiar eyes of Sor—no… "My Lord!" he whispered in surprise, gazing surprised at none other than the Dragon Lord himself.

He pressed his fingers to his lips and smiled at Rune, gesturing down the slope where Kiari's voice was now audible. And now, a second silhouette was visible behind her, though still masked by her form.

"Give me a break," her sweet lighthearted voice etched hidden daggers into whomever she was talking to. She was waist deep in the water, the moon reflecting off her short black hair, giving her almost an eerie, incomplete appearance. "I have to get him to trust me completely before I can give it to him, Lord Kharl."

Rune gasped. So it was Kharl, the renkin wizard himself! What did he want with Kiari. Moreover, what was she doing talking to him as though she knew and respected him!

Though still hidden in the shadows, Rune could almost see the smile on Kharl's face grow, almost as though he knew something that she did not. "The quicker you get it done Kiari, the quicker we can move along and the less time it takes, the more those dragons—" he jerked his head in the direction of Rune and Lykouleon, who ducked their heads quickly so they were completely hidden in the bushes—"aren't any wiser to you."

From the way she crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg, Rune could tell that she was aggravated, and most likely rolling her eyes. "I'm working on it. You wanted me to use my… feminine charm to get him to take it willingly. That takes a little time." She turned in the water and made to climb out of the icy waters.

"It's time we're running out of, Kiari."

She paused, looking back over her shoulder at him, a malicious smile across her lips. The moon caught her crystal green eyes, making them appear almost white, glowing in the darkness. "Then you'll keep Garfakcy off my back. I can work quicker without him breathing down my neck in his jealousy." Without another word she turned and walked back up the slope, passing a glance towards the bushes where the two dragons lay hidden.

As Kharl vanished, and Kiari disappeared from view, Rune turned to look at the Lord, a look of pure and utter bewilderment spreading across face.

Haku Kitsune - Here ya go. I think I hurried it for ya. Glad you came back and hope you keep coming!

Firey Flames - My other dedicated reviewer from the beginning! (sorry I missed your review on last chapter... I think I read that 6 as a 5 or something.) Rath can spell, quite well in my head at least. He just didn't hear them in that chapter. And don't worry. She will use her female charm. In one way or another.

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Question 5 for thought: Rune and Lykouleon just overheard a very little of Kiari's plan. What do you think they will do?