Valamon was flying over one of the arctic areas of the Digital World. She was headed back to her favorite spot after finishing her routine check of everything. As she flew, an anguished scream reached her ears. She looked down and, with her keen eyesight, spotted an IceDevimon standing over a small shape. She watched as IceDevimon picked up the shape and hurled it up. The shape was really a Digimon, an Impmon. As the small viral fell, IceDevimon hit it with an attack. Driven by some unknown instinct, Valamon dove down and landed just in front of IceDevimon.

Seeing Valamon, IceDevimon gasped. "Aw, crap."

"Put him down." Valamon said icily.

IceDevimon complied hastily, dropping the small Digimon and flying away. Valamon stooped down and picked up Impmon. He was badly hurt and his fur coated in a layer of ice and snow.

The small Rookie looked up at her through unfocused, pain and tear filled eyes. "Who're you?"

"The Guardian."

His bright green eyes widened. "Yer Valamon?! But that means…you kill virals. Are you gonna kill me?"

"No. I only kill virals if they're doing something bad."

Impmon trembled violently. Valamon wrapped her wings tightly around them both and pressed Impmon against her to try to keep him warm, causing him to blush deeply.

She began walking, snow crunching under her boots. "You don't belong here. Why were you here?"

"'Cause I was tryin' ta get away." Impmon muttered weakly.

"Away from who? IceDevimon?"

"Yeah. I was just havin' some fun. He got real mad and tried ta delete me."

Valamon knew that Impmon loved to play pranks just as much as Soulmon, who were major pranksters. So she was not surprised by the news. "I see."

"Why did ya save me?"

"I dunno. Just thought I had to. Why?"

"'Cause I know that you don' like virals and usually kill 'em. Besides no one likes me."

"I know how that feels."

Impmon scoffed, "How would you know? Yer the almighty Guardian. Everyone loves ya, 'cept virals o' course."

"No they don't. Even though it seems they do, they only like me 'cuz I protect 'em. I don't have any real friends. And the ones I did weren't very true."

"Oh, what did they do?"

"Used me, stabbed me in the back, and left me for dead on countless occasions. One really did stab me in the back. I still have the scar. I have many scars from my so-called 'friends' betrayals and from my ex-lover. I've been alone for 4,000 years. No one could ever know what it's like for me."

Impmon was stunned. "How old are ya?"

"10,000 this year."

"WOW! You're like, as old as…the Sovereign!"

"Not quite. I'm at least a hundred years behind Ebonwumon."

"Yer old."

"Thanks a lot." Valamon said sarcastically.

"Yer welcome." Impmon snickered.

They continued in silence for a while. The cold was finally beginning to affect Valamon and she shivered, the water soaking into her shirt from Impmon was not much help either. At this rate we won't be out of here by nightfall. I'm gonna have to fly. She opened her wings. "Impmon, I have to fly otherwise we aren't gonna get outta here anytime soon."

"Uhh..."

"What? Afraid of heights?"

"N-no!"

"Then hold on tight." She spread her wings and launched herself in the air.

Impmon clung to her for dear life. He buried his face in her shirt as the icy cold air whipped at his face, whimpering.

After a moment, Valamon slowed and hovered in the air. "You Ok?"

"F-fine." Impmon muttered, quivering.

Valamon stroked his fur comfortingly. "Alright. I'll fly slow, kay?"

"Uh-huh." He tightened his grip as Valamon began flying forward.

After awhile the snow began to give way to grass.

"Look Impmon! We're-" She stopped when she looked down and saw him asleep. She smiled.

An hour later Valamon spotted the lake, which was nearly a mile away. Finally! Almost there. I'm getting tired. Since he's asleep, I can kick it up a knock. With a thrust of her wings, she was propelled forward. Now this is more like it!

Within fifteen minutes, she reached the lake and landed. She walked over to one of the trees and sat down with her back against the trunk. She sighed and closed her eyes, draping her wings around Impmon and herself.

Impmon slowly opened his eyes and sat up. He felt sore all over. Suddenly he noticed Valamon was not there and started looking around frantically for her, afraid that she had abandoned him. He froze and his eyes widened when he saw her standing in the middle of the lake with her back to him. A light blush crept to his cheeks and he tore his gaze away. He saw her clothes near the edge of the lake, making him blush deeper. Oh my God! She-she's ewww!

"Impmon!"

He looked up and saw Valamon swimming towards the edge. He gulped and looked away.

"Hey Impmon, wanna join me? The water's quite warm."

"N-no thanks. I'm fine." He shook his head quickly.

"Come on," she urged.

"Nah."

"You need to get cleaned up. Don't make me come get you."

"I said I'm fine!" Impmon snapped, turning away.

Valamon shrugged, then smiled mischievously. Using her wings, she launched water at him.

Impmon squeaked as he was drenched. He glared at Valamon, who was giggling. "That wasn't funny!"

"'Course it was!"

A small flame appeared above his fingertip. "Badda-Boom!" It grew two times its original size as he hurled it at Valamon.

Valamon easily caught the fireball and crushed it in her hand, giving him a half smile.

Impmon cringed and shrieked as another wave of water washed him. "Alright fine! You win."

Valamon smiled.

After he had untied his bandana and set it on the ground, Impmon walked over to the edge and tested the water. Just as he was about to get in, Valamon reached out and pulled him in.

He came up sputtering and coughing. "What are ya tryin' ta do? Drown me?" he demanded.

"You can't drown." Valamon said simply, smiling.

Impmon frowned. "Whatever." Suddenly he started splashing water at Valamon.

"Hey!" she said, putting her arms up to shield her from the water.

"Ha! That's fer gettin' me!"

"Why you little-" She giggled and started splashing him back.

They spent several minutes splashing around in the lake before it was time to get out. As Valamon pulled herself out, Impmon turned away.

A couple minutes later, thinking she was done, he dared a glance over his shoulder. Valamon stood with her back to him. She had her pants and boots on and was busy fighting to get her shirt on without ripping it, which really wasn't working.

Impmon saw an insignia on her back between her wings. It was glossy black with a gold outline in the shape of an eye with the Chikara sign for power in the middle. Curious, he turned around to get a better look. He could also see the scar she had been talking about that cut the insignia in half diagonally. He found himself staring at the insignia and watching it move as her muscles rippled.

Valamon sensed him looking at her and looked at him over her shoulder. "What?"

He blushed deeply. "N-nothing!" He quickly looked away.

Valamon shrugged and continued pulling on her shirt. After she was done, she turned around. "You gettin' out anytime soon? Or are ya gonna stay in there all day?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah 'course!" He swam to the edge and Valamon picked him up and set him down on the bank. He walked over, picked up his bandana, and tied it around his neck, then sat down.

Valamon walked over and sat down in front of him.

"Someday soon I'm gonna get outta this hellhole."

"Where ya gonna go?"

"The Real World. There at least I can get away from every one of these morons."

"Sometimes I wish that I could leave. But of course I can't. It's my duty to protect the Digital World. Humph." Valamon folded her arms.

"Yeah, that must really suck."

"Yer tellin' me." Valamon muttered.

"What's that thing on yer back?"

"It's…just a design."

"Hmm," He stood up. "Well, I'm gonna go find something ta eat, see ya later."

"Alright then." Valamon said as she watched him leave.

Valamon draped her wings over her shoulders. Wonder if he'll come back? Probably not. Oh well it's nice that I got ta help 'im out. She closed her eyes.