Author's note: Holy smokers! I just had the pull to write another Tamers story. It might be multi-chaptered, could end up as a one-shot. If I end up going into like 15-20 something pages- it'll become multi-chaptered.
Disclaimer: I disown Digimon: Season 3. Too many lawsuits are on me. "I only downloaded 50 some songs! Is that so-" Uh...oops.... Oh, of course, my three lovely characters will be making their appearances. Not necessarily how they usually make them but they will be here.
Becoming the Hunted
"Miss Nonaka, report to my office immediately. I repeat, Miss Rika Nonaka."
Rika tried to not to blush as a few snickers from the back of the room caught her attention.
Some of the girls from school hadn't been so quick to be nice to her, especially after the D-Reaper incident about a year ago. None of the girls had grown up even after they had all entered high school.
"Miss Nonaka, please bring back a slip from the office when you're done." The teacher said.
The clock read 1:45pm.
Rika bowed her head respectively and left the room.
One of her good friends, Maya Owania, raised a concerned eyebrow as Rika left the room in a hurry.
***
"Nonaka, Rika, can you tell me how you found your way into my office? This is the second time this year and school only started two weeks ago." The principal looked at Rika quizzically.
"I apologize, Mistress Owania, but, I really haven't a clue as to why I've been called down," Rika replied.
"Well, your name was brought to my attention by one of your fellow classmates. It just so happens that it will unfortunately lead to a detention today after school. I believe Ms. Kashick will be expecting you. Here is your return slip and your detention slip. Miss Nonaka, please, I don't like to see a fine, smart, young lady like you in my office. Stay out of trouble."
Rika nodded and left, not realizing she passed Maya, who was racing down the hall. Rika re-entered the classroom and handed her teacher a piece of paper.
"Get into more trouble, Nonaka?" One girl in the front sneered.
"Too bad you had to blame it on me." Rika hissed as she continued to her seat near the window, keeping her eyes upon her shoes. She sat down as the bell rang.
"Class dismissed. Have a nice weekend."
The girls left the classroom quickly, three stopping at the door to stick their tongues out at Rika.
Rika gathered her books and slowly left the room. After she had made a stop at her locker, she headed to Room 250 to serve her hour detention.
***
The hour passed painstakingly, and because the teachers hadn't given homework over the weekend, Rika had to write a 4000 word essay on why students shouldn't belong in detention.
So, by the time Rika left, she was not in the best of moods.
"I can't believe that teacher... Now, I have to go home and then run to the park because Takato had to go and call this meeting. Then, I'll get to watch Dumber and Dumber play the Digimon Card Game that they still haven't grown out of playing, and listen to Ryo ask me twenty-one questions. Then again, the walk to the park will calm me down. After that teacher made me write a 4000 word essay and re-write half of it over, it would be a miracle if I wasn't fuming right now." Rika muttered angrily.
"Detention didn't go so well?" A yellow, fox-like digimon asked, leaning against the gate that led in and out of the school grounds.
"Well? How can you possibly classify detention as ever going well? Can you tell everyone I might be late? I have to go home and change and then I could take a taxi to the park probably if I'm not completely broke." Rika said.
"I'll tell them. Did one of those girls get you in trouble again?" Renamon questioned.
"I don't really want to get on the subject. But, yeah, one of them did. Thanks, Renamon. Sometimes it's like you're the only one who will listen. You're the best partner a tamer could have." Rika commented with a smile.
Renamon vanished.
Rika began to walk home as fast as she could. She got in through the gate and went inside her house, leaving her shoes at the door. There was a note on the counter that was from her grandmother. She was at the grocery store and they were have chicken casserole for dinner.
Rika went to her room and dumped her bag on the floor. She changed and saw there was a note stuck to her computer screen. She read it.
Hey honeybunch! I'm sorry, we're going to have to have a late dinner. A photo shoot was re-scheduled. How was school? How did your presentation in Literature go? I hope it went great. Love you lots!
Mom
Rika smiled. She and her mother had gotten much closer after the digimon had went back for their short period of time to the DigiWorld. Her mom had become her friend. Now, her mother was always interested in what Rika wanted instead of what she wanted for her. Rumiko supported her in everything she did.
Rika scribbled two notes of her own. One to her mother and one to her grandmother and then left the house. She got a taxi and headed to the park.
***
"A-CHOO!"
"A-CHOO!"
"A-CHOO!"
"A-CHOO!"
"Bless...um, everyone?" A cheerful female asked quizzically.
"Thanks, Jeri," Takato Matsuki said.
"Kazu, do you need a tissue? You guys too?" A curly redhead offered around tissues.
"Thank you, Jo. I bet that it was Rika talking about all of us. That's why we all sneezed like that." Kazu Shiota muttered.
"She's on her way here now." The rookie fox digimon's voice met their ears and then cut off curtly.
"All right. I'm here. Let's do our daily scout of the neighborhood. And make it quick." Rika said, leaning back on the jungle gym.
"How was school?" Jeri Katou asked with a smile from her spot on one of the swings.
"It was okay." Rika replied, managing a smile.
Ryo Akiyama sat on one of the bars of the jungle gym. "How are you, Wildcat?"
"I'm alright, Akiyama. Now, why are we all here, President Gogglehead?" Rika asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I just thought we should all hang out. It's been awhile and..." Takato began.
"Hey! Sorry I'm late." Henry jogged over and stood beside Rika.
"I haven't seen you in awhile. How are you?" Rika asked.
"Fine. You?" Henry replied with a question.
"I get by," Rika replied.
"Takato, why don't we just go up with the digimon and hang out there?" Jodie Jamison asked, winding a red curl around one finger.
"I agree. There's nothing to do here but play on the swings like little kids." Kenta Kitawaga complained.
"Kenta and Jodie are right," Lina Nokira voiced, smoothing her blonde hair out of her navy colored eyes.
"Fine. C'mon, troops. Let's move out." Takato said and they headed to see their digimon.
***
"Run, Calu! RUN!"
A pint-sized digimon ran as fast as his short legs could carry him.
A beast followed behind him, lips were pulled back into a snarl, revealing pointed teeth that were each twice as big as the little digimon that was its' prey.
"Wolf Fire!" A wolf like digimon, blue in color with a white chest and paws and two short gray horns grew from his head, sprang from the brush, unleashing blue and white colored flames at the non-digital creature.
The beast made one last attempt to get the digimon who he'd been tracking by lunging towards it while fighting the horrid flames. But he never made it that far as blood droplets flew into the air. The beast collapsed, dead.
"That...was close..." A voice said breathlessly. The human had been showered in the green and black blood. She bit back a scream as the acid began to burn her skin.
"Healing Wind." A voice boomed.
The black and green blood slowly evaporated as a sparkling wind fell upon the female.
"Thank you. You saved me." The girl said shakily as she cautiously retrieved her sword and wiped the blood from it with a cloth that had been stained by the black and green substance.
"It is my job, little one. You saved me from turning into a monster who would've allowed the Huntress to be unstoppable." The creature that had saved her did not belong in the Digital World. Neither had the beast that had tried to devour Calumon. The Huntress had summoned the two of them and many others to overtake the world.
The girl, petite in size with black hair and black eyes, re-sheathed her sword. She adjusted the bow on her back and made sure the quiver of arrows were strapped there still. She looked normal, like a ordinary human teenager. What made her different was she'd lived in the Digital World since she was an infant, fourteen long years ago. A belt went around her waist, a dagger, a D-Ark, and other small weapons were secured on the strap. The sheath of her sword was tucked snugly against her side.
A tan, black, white, and mahogany colored collie came from the bushes, followed by the wolf digimon, who was now carrying the small white digimon on his back.
"The Huntress seems to be bringing more and more creatures from the other dimension. Maybe we should head back to the caves. So you can rest easily, Kila." The girl's partner digimon, Wolfmon suggested.
"Okay." Kila murmured.
"I will carry you." The creature said. He looked similar to a human except for his size. He was taller than any normal human being should be. He was as tall as a full grown tree.
"Thank you, Healer." Kila managed to reply.
Healer nodded. He picked up the girl and cradled her, supporting her body in one arm while carrying his staff in the other.
The collie looked up at Kila, whining.
"He wants you to walk with him." The giant stated.
"Then, I shall do just that." The female said.
Healer placed her back on the ground and they began walking.
After walking until the sun was starting to begin to sink, the group had reached a set of caves.
The young teenager dropped to her knees as soon as she entered the cave.
Guardian cushioned her head as it dropped back and nearly hit the stone floor.
"Thanks, Guar. You're the best..." Kila murmured as she closed her eyes and slept, snuggling against the collie, her face burrowed against the dog's ruff.
Wolfmon dragged a blanket over and pulled it up over the girl with his teeth and circled once before laying at his tamer's feet.
"I will stand guard. Sleep well, you three." Healer spoke softly as he sat outside the cave, waiting for the evening and the moon to rise directly overhead.
***
"Hey, check this out." Rika said softly.
They had all been sitting outside of where Takato had Guilmon stay, talking and catching up.
Rika held up her D-Ark where the compass swirled on its' surface, detecting a digimon. "Renamon, who's here? My D-Ark isn't receiving any information."
"A tiger." Renamon replied, blue eyes flashing.
"Devas..." Takato murmured.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
It had only been a little less than two years ago when the devas had appeared; the first one had been a tiger like digimon.
"Ready, Renamon?" Rika asked, pulling a card from her pocket.
A digital field surrounded the area and a flash blurred as something attacked.
"Diamond Storm!" Renamon didn't get to attack fully as she was hit forcefully by this large, black and green creature. She was thrown back into a tree and hit it hard.
"That's no digimon!" Jeri exclaimed.
"Renamon!" Rika exclaimed, feeling a sharp pain on the skin of her back.
"Pyro Sphere!" A red dinosaur type digimon unleashed a sphere shaped blast of red energy.
"Bunny Blast!" A cream colored rabbit with overgrown ears, green stripes going across the bottom half, shot his own attack at the creature.
"Desolation Claw!" Cyberdramon attacked as well.
The creature dodged the barrage of the attacks. It lunged for the tamers when they heard an attack.
"Tigress Flame!"
Red and white flames devoured the creature, burning it alive. The field disappeared.
"Thanks. You saved our lives." Jeri said appreciatively.
"Leomon asked me to watch out for you." A voice answered. A large cat, resembling a tiger with its blue, black, and white stripes came from where the creature had once stood. Nothing, but burnt grass, remained there.
"What are you?" Kazu asked.
"More like, who are you?" Rika muttered, "Baka..."
"Hey!" Kazu exclaimed indignantly.
The tiger cleaned her fur and looked them over with pink colored eyes. "I am Tigressmon. I was sent to make sure none of you tamers got tangled in with what tried to kill you moments ago."
"What was that?" Renamon asked, getting to her feet.
"Something from beyond this dimension. It is best to incinerate one rather than fight it with physical attacks. It dies faster. No blood that can burn your skin either." Tigressmon replied dryly.
"How did you get here?" Takato asked, interested.
"The portal. You children are all needed in our world once again. The Huntress has entered the digital world, imprisoned the Four Sovereign, called demons from another dimension, and has begun to take over. There is a small resistance fighting the Huntress but the digimon allies she has are powerful, these demons from another dimension even more so." Tigressmon said.
"Maybe you could tell us a little more about this enemy, Tigressmon?" Ryo asked politely.
"The Huntress has very little known about her. She is strong, a hybrid, as well as a sorceress. Only one has ever escaped her. Her demons kill digimon. The digimon can't even be reborn as they once were. Their data is now absorbed by these foul beasts. The only way the digimon's data is released is if the demons are destroyed, allowing the data to be returned to Primary Village," Tigressmon replied.
"Who leads this resistance? The digimon?" Henry asked.
"I do not believe she is of data. Digimon do not carry this hatred, resentment, and anger. Her skills are nearly too strong. With the fire of her partner digimon, I have witnessed her battle many of the same creatures you just fought-all of them at once. She killed them and-" A silky sounding voice interrupted Tigressmon.
"Tigress, do not bore them with the finer details. Kila is a human, like yourselves. She was transported to the digital world when she was only a baby. The Huntress raised her, teaching her all of the skills she has now, ones of magic, others of weaponry. The eerie fact about the young one is she has begun to be hunted. Kila was the only living being that escaped the Huntress. Nothing escapes the huntress and lives to tell of it. She's been fighting her more powerful forces for over three years now. You tamers must return."
The new speaker was spotted like a cheetah with wise gray-blue eyes."Cheetahmon, thank you for interrupting..." Tigressmon grumbled.
The leaner cat grinned, his eyes sparkled with mischief. "It was my pleasure, dear one."
"We will wait for you here. We would prefer you bring what you must and we leave as soon as possible. Cheetahmon and I will be guiding you until we reach Kila. She will lead you on from there. Leomon will be waiting for you, Jeri. We leave tonight. Ready yourselves." Tigressmon warned as she faded into the night.
"We will be here when the moon is overhead. Be ready, tamers. The Huntress is like nothing anyone has ever encountered."
Cheetahmon slid into the shadows."So, we need to go back." Ryo said, his muscles tense.
"Things were getting kind of boring around here. I'm overdue for adventure." Kazu declared, a saucy grin on his face.
"We should all be ready to go by ten o'clock. We'll all meet back here then, okay?" Takato suggested, his voice came out a bit shaky.
"Scared, Gogglehead?" Rika asked, trying to maintain control over her emotions.
"Kitamon and I will see you all later," Jodie said as she her cat like digimon hovered beside the redhead, aloft by her wings.
"Rotamon and I have a train to take to and back. We'll be back by 10." Lina picked up her backpack and her blue colored feline champion hid herself within the bag.
"C'mon, MarineAngemon." Kenta said as he walked away with a quick wave.
"We'll walk home together, okay, Takato?" Kazu asked. "Guardromon, stay here."
"Guilmon, you stay here too. We'll be back at ten if not a bit earlier." Takato explained to his partner digimon.
"Okie doke." Guilmon replied cheerfully as he curled up and went to sleep.
"Jeri, I'll walk with you to your house." Henry offered as Terriermon perched on his shoulder, ear wrapped tightly around Henry's other shoulder to keep him in place.
Takato smiled at Henry gratefully and Jeri accepted the offer. The four began off together and went out of sight.
"Shall we walk home together, Rika?" Ryo asked.
"If you plan on insisting-"
"I do insist. Cyberdramon, I'll be back in about three hours. Rika?" Ryo looked at her.
Rika rolled her eyes and seized his wrist. "Let's go." She muttered and dragged Ryo behind her.
***
"Kila... Kila, wake up...."
A small young girl stood in an immense field, the grass blew wildly.
"Kila, are you ready?"
The young toddler, barely unable to still be called an "infant", scrunched her eyebrows together, thinking, struggling to recognize this voice. It was a man's voice.
The man was not incredibly tall, only a bit taller than an average man's height. Perhaps over six feet. He had dark black hair and blue gray eyes.
"Sweetheart, don't you know me? Your father?"
The girl's black eyes widened as she turned and ran.
Kila recognized the form of her younger self.
I do not have a father. I have no family. The Huntress was my mother. Why is this dream so vivid?
The teen's eyes widened.
Is it possible... Could she have lied? Father! Wait for me! Tell me!
"Kila...Cheetahmon's here."
A dog's long tongue licked her face, forcing the girl to awaken.
Kila placed a sweaty hand on Guardian's head. "Good dog..." She smiled as she scratched the dog's ears.
"I traveled to the Real World, Kila. The Tamers are coming." The lithe cat explained.
"The Four Sovereigns would be pleased if they would be here in order for me to tell them everything. Particularly Azulongmon. I, on the other hand, feel they will be a burden. But, I made a promise to the Sovereigns when I was no more a orphan fugitive myself." Why'd I say that? I'm no orphan. The Huntress still lives. She's my mother. But... Kila struggled with the small voice in her head that she had been weaved carefully into the Huntress's web of lies.
"They will be here soon. In about an hour's time. I'm going back to aid Tigressmon in masking their arrival. Such a large group they are."
Cheetahmon said."Healer will meet you in the designated location. He will be able to mask your presence until you come here," Kila added.
The cat nodded. He began out of the cave and stopped at the entrance and looked over his shoulder back at the warrior.
"They would be proud. You've done a good thing here, Kila."
Cheetahmon continued on his way into the dense fog, his shadow faded to nothingness."Easy for him to say. He doesn't have to lead a bunch of amateurs around." Kila muttered angrily.
Guar whined in sympathy.
"You're the only one who understands..." Kila said, scratching the collie's head.
"Don't I understand too?"
The girl looked up as her partner digimon stood at the cave's opening. "Of course you count, Wolfmon."
The wolf feigned hurt as he flopped down to the ground. "I find no sincerity in those words," he murmured, placing a white paw upon his muzzle.
Guardian took a leap and pounced on Wolfmon, both began rolling around on the floor, allowing Kila to settle back into sleep.
***
"Where are they?" Tigressmon questioned.
A pale white orb hung overhead. Moonlight spilled over the park from the full moon. The lights in the park had all strangely gone out, allowing the digimon to be hidden easily.
"I'm sure Kazu will be back any minute now." The large brown android commented cheerfully.
Guilmon nodded his agreement and Cyberdramon growled.
"You have the most unhappy nature. So tense."
Cheetahmon murmured, his eyes pierced the darkness, waiting for the tamers to make their appearance."They all need to say good-bye to their families. Good-byes are important to human beings." Renamon said simply.
"I am not." A voice snapped indignantly.
"Well, why are you bringing so much stuff? Planning on living there?" Another voice retorted icily.
"Can you two stop fighting for one second?" A third voice interceded, male, like the first, but not the same one.
Cyberdramon relaxed slightly. "Ryo's back."
"And I heard Kazu." Guardromon exclaimed.
"I smell Takatomon." The red dinosaur announced.
"That was Rika. Only her voice can be so snippy. She's had a long day." Renamon offered in explanation.
"No, she's just being herself." Terriermon said as Henry and the other tamers entered the clearing, Ryo, Rika, and an arguing Kazu brought up the rear.
The fox-like digimon's eyes glared intensely at the loudmouth rabbit.
"Now that you're all here, may we leave?" Tigressmon asked.
The group entered Guilmon's "hideout" and headed for the digital portal. They all soon stood in a fog.
"It looks different then how we came last time," Henry remarked.
"I don't like how it feels. It's like something foreboding is pressing down on us, trying to kill us." The speaker was a small royal blue colored cat with a long ice blue and navy colored tail, a ring went around the tail just before the tip.
"I'm taking you eight."
Cheetahmon said, indicating Lina, Henry, Rika, and Ryo."That leaves me with you nine. Best keep close. I'm not sure what might be traveling around lately but it will be too late for us to figure out friend of or foe if one of you is snatched up." Tigressmon said, speaking to the group.
The tamers separated into the groups specified. Henry, Terriermon, Rika, Renamon, Lina, Rotamon, Ryo, and Cyberdramon surrounded Cheetahmon. Jeri, Takato, Guilmon, Kazu, Guardromon, Kenta, MarineAngemon, Jodie, and Kitamon stood near Tigressmon.
"We'll catch up once I get Leomon at the gate. We'll meet you at the caves in a day." Tigressmon said, mostly to Cheetahmon.
"Be careful. Take care."
The cat approached Tigressmon, nuzzling her once before he returned to his own group. "This way, Tamers."The two groups separated after a short farewell. Both headed into different directions, slowly enveloped by the fog.
***
"My mistress, the tamers have arrived. Just as I informed you they would. You wanted to let Kila go last time and see how much trouble she's caused for us? Do not let these children get away." A shadowy figure, cloaked in black, advised.
"If I remember, Shadowstalker, you are my servant. You do as I say. You know what will happen if you vex me." Sparkling fire flashed from the speaker's fingertips, illuminating the dark room with a glow.
Shadowstalker cowered slightly. He knew what could become of him if he disobeyed the Huntress. Thinking about it made him worry.
"You should worry. I can easily destroy you with just a point of my faithful finger." The female reminded her servant.
"Then again, great-granddaughter, he is right in saying how you allowed Kila to escape. The youngling has much of the Digital World on her side. But, your Night Mares cause her some difficulty, don't they?" The voice that spoke now came from a portal. The speaker sounded old and he was wise.
"She was my niece. Kila is Amarante's as well as Akio. I could not abandon my older sister's child. I trained her. She would become a strong ally if I am able to gain control of her. These tamers may be of use to me. My forces in the north have already captured one of the tamer's digimon. They will be arriving soon. I'll have half of these so called "threatening" tamers at my disposal. I will see to that, great-grandfather." The Huntress bowed low, her face holding no expression.
The portal closed and the Huntress's face twisted into a scowl. "That fool. Disgusting. I have to keep him around. He's the one who's in charge of sending me dream apparitions. ShadowStalker, I leave you to greet our delightful guests. Take the Twelfth Squadron to deal with them." The Huntress ordered, seating herself upon her throne.
Shadowstalker bowed low, his ice-sword glinted, a pair of daggers sparkled with in the depths of his cloak. "I am pleased to be at your disposal, Lady Huntress. The Twelfth? Are they in need of some light exercise?"
The Huntress's laugh filled the room with a chill. "You do amuse me, Shadowstalker. Take care of those tamers. The Twelfth have been waiting for some fun for quite awhile."
The figure cloaked in black brushed the Huntress's fingertips with a light kiss. He bowed once more and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Author's note: I had this posted but I got a negative review, (the first one) and I partially agreed. Rika and her mother seemed a bit out of character I guess. So, I decided to re-write the beginning part. Anyway, I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can. Please, review and give criticism (constructive) if you think it's needed it. I will take it seriously. By the way, there will be more romance very soon, okay? (That's for all the Ryuki, Jurato, and my couple fans.)
{You are reviewing, right?}