Dragonelf 8: Some of you had questions to the safeguard… Well if I told you I'd spoil the story now wouldn't I. So it's secret. I know it's been a long time, I'm seriously not been doing well on updating all of my stories, any of them! I feel a little low on the inspiration end lately so it might be a while before I update a chapter on any of my stories.

Chapter 20: Luwa.

Ryu opened her eyes to the bright morning dawn. She had camped out in the woods that night with the other dragon knights. But it was the freezing morning air that woke her form her slumber not the sun. Wisps of fog issued form her mouth as the cold air mixed with warm.

" Good morning, Ryu. Did you sleep well?" greeted Rune noticing her walk up to the fire.

Ryu sat next to the morning fire to warm up a bit. Thatz handed her food to eat that Lero brought back from his hunt. Rath was already chewing on one of the strips of meat. Lero was knawing on the hind leg of the deer, preferring the meat raw.

"Rune, I could sleep on a sharp rock and not notice it, but yes, I slept well," answered Ryu digging into her own food.

"How close are we too reaching Luwa?" asked Thatz turning to Rune.

"Well," began Rune taking the map out, "we'll be there in five more miles. We can stock on supplies there and look for this dragon treasure or for rumors where they might be."

"There are bound to be demons guarding it, right?" questioned Rath eagerly.

"Originally the dragons used to guard their treasures, but when balance fell the treasure was said to have been scattered about to other keepers most probably not being dragons, and the dragons themselves forgot about the treasures. So we could possibly run into demons that are acting as keepers," answered Lero.

"How do you know all this stuff?" asked Thatz in amazement.

"When you travel through the hearts of people, you pick up things they know. I learned all about this that way, especially Divine's but he caught me. I met his first master's spirit and that's how I knew what was going on. Clow Reed also mentioned it to me as he taught my the songs."

"Clow Reed?" question looking up form the map.

"He was a very powerful sorcerer from another world, but he died a while ago," explained Lero, "He passed the songs on to me."

"Well that explains a few things," muttered Rath as he finished swallowing a bit of egg.

"We should hurry and pack up I want to get to town before too long," said Rune as he put a few things away. "We need to restock supplies."

Later Elsewhere

Kura slowly opened her eyes to the loud buzzing of people not too far away as they went about there business shopping. She lifted her head off the rock floor and looked about her and the other wolves' surroundings; it was a dark alleyway a little away from a street filled with humans that were carrying sacks in their arms. The others soon stirred awake and were looking around as well. Kiba went over to Cheza as soon as he saw her wake up.

"Are you okay Cheza?" asked Kiba gently as he knelt beside her.

"This one's fine," answered Cheza as she smiled.

"Where are we?" asked Toboe as he reverted to his human form and stood up, the others did the same.

"Well there's only way is to find out, right?" said Hige as he walked out into the sun.

The wolves then walked about the streets. A few people stared at them but other than that they were pretty much left alone and ignored. The civilians that still stared all turned to there neighbors and whispered in hushed voices.

"Such strange clothes… Do you think they're the demons?"

"I don't know, but we better stay away just incase."

The wolves could feel the tension in the stares. Kage looked down as he felt something lightly tap his toe, it was a small red ball the size of one's fist. The others stared at it; Kage picked up the ball just as a little boy rushed to get it.

"Can I have my ball back mister," asked the boy.

The boy whom was no bigger than one's knee had a mop of red hair, and big brown eyes, he wore shorts, small boots, and a baggy sweater. Large innocent eyes watched Kage with great curiosity.

"Pwease?" added the boy.

"Sure, here you go," said Kage handing the ball over.

"Um, little boy do you know were we could get information?" asked Blue kneeling down next to him.

"Over there," said the little pointing to a pub, " Daddy says that bartenders know everything. The bartender, Mike, might help you."

The eight turned to the bar to see its appearance. It wasn't shady or anything in fact it looked like a bright happy place to go if someone wanted a meal. Kura turned to the little boy and rustled his hair a bit.

"Thanks," she said and she walked to the pub with the others.

The pub was fairly well and a few people were in there eating and chatting away happily. At the bar was a middle aged man wiping the counter with a clean white cloth, his blonde hair streaked with gray with age, with small wrinkles around his mouth. They all approached the bar and sat down in the red velvet seats.

"Well, hi. Haven't seen you around here before, what can I get you?" asked the bartender in a friendly way, apparently Mike.

"We were told that you could give us information," said Kiba.

"I pick up a few things here or there, but what type information would you like: Fairy spells, Demons, Local happens, or are you hunting treasure?" asked the bartender smiling.

"Fairy spells?" questioned Hige dumbfounded.

"Demons?" said Toboe in equal confusion.

"Well can we start with where we are?" asked Blue.

The bartender stared at them in confusion for a while, and then smiled in his ever-friendly way.

"Why you're in Luwa, the closest province next to Draqueen and the Dragon lord," answered Mike, "Did you get lost?"

"Draqueen?" questioned Tsume.

Kura however understood. They had transported to Dragon Knight World. Ryu was here! Kura smiled a huge smile and talked to Mike.

"Luwa huh? I thought for a second that we were in Chezarre?" distracted Kura.

"That's on the other side of the planet," laughed Mike.

"Kura? You know this place," whispered Kage in her ear.

"Tell you later," whispered Kura then she turned to Mike again. "Were looking for-"

But Kura didn't finish when someone else walked up to the bar. His face was hidden by the black and orange hat he wore, only part of his ears were visible, but it was obvious he had thick black hair, he also wore a black jacket over a orange tunic, brown leggings, black gloves and boots. The man sat down in the soft plushy seat sniffling for a bit.

"I'll have the usual," said the man in a low deep voice.

"Alright just a second," said Mike as he went off to fill the order.

The man and the wolves stayed silent for a while. Kiba intently watched him getting bad feelings from him.

"So wolves, what brings you here?" asked the man with the hat.

The wolves all jumped back when they saw that he knew what they were. Kura glared at him, he seemed incredibly familiar. The man smirked at their response; it was no surprise to him.

He merely stood up; his hands on his hat obscuring his face a little.

"Lord Nadil has been looking for you ever since you escaped him and ran back to the wolves world… Kura," smiled the man.

Everyone in the bar was now watching the conversation that was brewing up into a melee. The man merely glanced at the people and with a single fling of his wrist. They burst into flames along with the doors. The wolves looked in horror at the sight then turned to the man. Flames pulsed out of his hand and around his feet.

"Who are you," demanded Tsume in anger.

"My name, wolf, is Fedelta," answered the demon as he took off his hat revealing his red and black eyes.

Elsewhere

Luwa seemed like a peaceful place to Ryu as she entered the beautiful city. Unfortunately, she was separated form her party as soon as she entered. Apparently there was a fire and everyone was rushing to help put it out. Lero left early, heading towards the smoke and claiming he had smelled something weird and it wasn't too long afterward that Ryu lost sight of Rune, Rath, and Thatz in the confusion. The crowd was pushing her in the direction of fire.

"RATH, LERO, RUNE, THATZ," called Ryu over the crowd, but it was too noisy, no one could hear her.

Finally unable to take the pushing anymore she ran to an abandoned alleyway. There, she sighed heavily with relief form the crowd. A pair of hands reached her form behind, as she looked at the crowd, too relieved to notice.

"There you are!"

"AH!" screamed Ryu as the hands grabbed her.

"Calm down, it's just me," said Rath, making himself known.

"Rath! Don't scare me like that!" scolded Ryu turning to Rath.

Rath stared at her innocently for a moment before answering.

"Okay."

"How'd you get here?" asked Ryu.

"I followed you, but I don't know were Rune, Thatz, and Lero went," answered Rath.

"Do you think they were drawn to the fire?" asked Ryu looking worriedly at the crowd. "I hope they're okay."

"I wouldn't worry," said Rath putting a comforting hand on Ryu's shoulder as he smiled down at her. " They're strong knights and know how to take care of themselves. They'll be fine."

Meanwhile

Kura and the wolves stared at the fire demon as he stalked towards them; each step he made set new floor planks on fire. Balls of fire surrounded his hands form the wrist up to his fingertips. The wolves backed away, growling at him. Fedelta smirked as he moved forward.

'CRASH!'

All those alive in the fire looked up to see a white wolf burst in through the window, a silver dragon on his back looking extremely vicious at the time. The wolf stalked towards Fedelta keeping his gold and blue eye on the man.

"I thought I smelled a fire rat," growled the wolf pacing forward.

"Well if it isn't the prince of wolves, and Metal Dragon Knight. You're Lero, correct?" said Fedelta as he turned to Lero.

"And your one of Nadil's servants, the fire demon Fedelta," replied Lero. He then looked to the other wolves; there was something familiar about them. "Why are you attacking these wolves?"

Lero put up his human illusion and stood in front of them. Fedelta smirked at the wolf.

"That wolf," began Fedelta pointing to Kura, " Is a personal guest of Lord Nadil. She's going to help along with Kamui; to bring down Ryu Kami."

"She's a friend of Ryu's?" questioned Lero as he turned and Kura.

"Yes. Now if you don't mind, hand her over," ordered Fedelta.

"I don't think so," answered Lero as he thrusted his arm out metal forming at his fingertips into sharp sword like claws.

Lero ran forward returning to his wolf like state as he pounced on Fedelta digging his claws into the demon and biting into his arm. Fedelta light his hand on fire again and tried to burn Lero. Lero jumped to the side onto a table and attacked again. Fedelta dodged and attacked leaving an angry burn on Lero left flank. Lero growled and tried to attack but his leg wouldn't let him as he tripped on his paws.

"LERO AND ANYONE ELSE THAT'S NOT A DEMON IN THERE HOLD YOU BREATH!" yelled a familiar voice form outside.

Lero took a huge breath returning to his human illusion holding onto Metal as he stood beside the other wolves. Kiba grabbed onto Cheza and all the wolves, the flower, and Dragon held their breath. Water poured in from the windows into the small bar quenching all of the fires, and forcing Fedelta to retreat. The door burst open with the water pressure and the water spewed out. When it was all gone, all the wolves were soaked to the bone and looking slightly irritated as two dragon knights entered the building.

"Smooth move Rune. You put out the fire and gave Lero a bath at once," whistled Thatz complimenting the water dragon.

"I did not need a bath," growled Lero standing up and walking to his comrades shaking the water out violently.

"Sorry Lero but if we hadn't put out the fire as soon as we did, it would have spread to the other buildings," apologized Rune, " So what caused the fire?"

"That fire demon Fedelta," answered Lero trying to shake off the last bit of water but still being quiet damp.

"Really? For a second there I thought it was caused by our favorite pyro," said Thatz.

"Speaking of which where is he, and Ryu?" asked Lero a little worried.

"We lost them in the crowd, but I'm sure Rath's with Ryu," answered Rune; "They can defend themselves against demons."

"Uh-huh, you know how much he likes to kill demons," agreed Thatz as the three pondered on what Rath would do. All three of the sweat in nervousness at Rath's future actions.

"I feel sorry for the poor demon," whimpered Lero feeling his wolf ears seriously drop.

"Wait! you know Ryu!" exclaimed Kura turning to the three.

"Of course," answered Rune turning to the wolf. "We've been looking after her for the past few months."

"Please, take me to her!" pleaded Kura walking up to Ryu.

Everyone in the room was silent as they waited for the knight's answer. Suddenly the kitchen doors flew open as the waiter Mike came out with a tray of food.

"Here's your food sir," started Mike but then he noticed how damaged up his bar was, that his customers were gone and how burnt and wet the place was. "WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BAR!"

Thatz and Lero looked at each other then pointed at Rune.

"HE DID IT!" they cried in unison.

Dragonelf 8: All right that's that for now, hoped you liked it.