Chapter 2-
The group had been walking all day, the sun was beginning to drop below the horizon and their energy began to fade. They had been walking on empty stomachs which became all the more obvious when Tyde's abdomen let out a large moan, the group took this as a sign to stop for the day.
The group of humans and digimon settled down around a fire, they had re entered a dense forest within the past hour, the soft earthy soil in stark contrast to the loose sand they had become accustomed to. Davis had left with Kasumi to go find food for the evening. Whereas the Alcheri twins had gone to find more firewood for the rest of the night.
Tyde poked the fire with a stick, Finn watched on, his glasses reflecting the flickering orange light. The stick had set itself on fire and Tyde was swinging it around, staring at the flames. Finn was growing uneasy, "That's not exactly safe you know?"
Tyde shrugged, "So? Nothing here is safe."
"That doesn't mean you can be irresponsible." Agitation seeping into the teens voice.
"Fine, I'll get rid of it if you don't like it." He shoved the flaming stick into the fire where it lit up and fuelled the flames.
"Thank you." Finn returned to his book, it was one of his school books on the Digiworld.
"Why are you even reading that?" Tyde asked in confusion at Finn's reading choice.
"Firstly, because it's smart to know the sorts of things we're up against in the Digiworld. And secondly, we only have the stuff that was in our school bags, so I only have school books to read." Tyde stared in shock at the other teen, Finn noticed his gaze "What?"
Tyde shook himself out of his daze "Dude, we're in the Digiworld and you want to bury yourself in a book about it?"
Finn let out a large sigh, clearly tired of the conversation "It's just smart to be prepared, especially in a place like the Digiworld."
Monodramon approached his partner after playing with the other digimon, "Don't worry Finn, I'll protect you." He beat his chest proudly.
"I know you can protect me," the dark haired teen grinned and wrapped his arm around his partner, "I mean you took down Meramon easily enough."
Monodramon grinned broadly, "I was pretty great wasn't I?"
"Alright Ego, no need to get a big head." Finn laughed at his partner, it was odd, in many ways Tyde and Monodramon were very similar. But Tyde irritated him and Monodramon just made him feel happy.
Tyde smiled at the pair, he turned at the sound of feet approaching "Tyde, I'm dead on my feet." Gazimon approached, dragging his feet behind him.
"Why don't you get some rest buddy, you've had a big day?" Gazimon nodded and sat down, leaning himself back against Tyde and quickly dozing off. Tyde looked at the digimon and smiled, he knew just how lucky he truly was.
Davis followed Kasumi and Floramon, the girls cinnamon hair was pulled up into a ponytail which swung happily as the girl walked. They were tasked with finding food and Davis figured that they would just find some fruit tonight, considering everyone wanted food quickly. The maroon haired teen jogged up to the girl so they walked next to each other, she didn't acknowledge his presence. "Where do you think is best to look for food then?" he tried to start a conversation.
"I dunno, just look for fruit in the trees, Floramon said that she could tell us if the fruit is safe to eat or not." Davis glanced at the plant digimon who nodded and smiled at the boy.
"Okay, so tell me about yourself, we've never really talked." Davis had never actually been alone with Kasumi, he was attracted to her. But in the month she had been at the academy they had never properly talked.
"There's a reason we haven't talked Davis." The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them, she refused to look at him, but instead glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He looked stunned and hurt by the bluntness. She immediately felt guilty, but she was too stubborn to apologise.
"Why don't you like me Kasumi, I'm just trying to be friends."
Kasumi scoffed, "Davis you want to be more than friends, Kari's already told me that you're always staring at me."
Davis blushed bright red, he felt like w eight was pressing against his chest "Oh…" He quickly pumped his chest up and regained his composure, "I don't know what you're talking about." He then walked ahead pretending to look for fruit, but actually hiding his blush. Kasumi sighed, she knew she shouldn't have been so harsh with him, he can't help it. Plus he is kind of cute in his own way. A little voice whispered in the back of her head, she forced those thoughts away. Now wasn't the time or place.
Back in the real world, Izzy hadn't left his computer since the new Digidestined had been taken. He was currently examining the digiports that were open, "It's like they've systematically cut us off from the Digiworld," he spoke to Ken who was working with him. "They've closed all of the digiports in Japan and New York, the only two places in the world where the D-3 digivices can be found."
Ken rubbed his head, "Why didn't they close all the digiports?"
"It would've been easy to notice, I can't find the virus they've used because it's so subtle. If they had cut off all connection with the Digiworld it would have been easy to identify the source. But this is so specific; I don't know how to fight it." The purple haired teen sighed and leaned back in his chair, cracking his back. Suddenly his eyes grew wide and excited, Izzy turned in shock as his companion shot to his keyboard, furiously typing. "Ken, what is it?"
"I've thought of a way to help the Digidestined in the Digiworld, Mimi has a D-3 now doesn't she?"
Izzy nodded, "Yeah, it changed when all of ours did."
"And all the gates are closed only in New York right?"
"Yes, just New York and Japan, where are you going with this Ken?"
Ken was frantically typing out an email to Mimi in New York, marking it as urgent, "I've told Mimi to travel with Michael to Colorado, the gates will be open there and then they can travel into the Digiworld with Willis."
Izzy's eyes grew just as excited as Ken's, "Of course, why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you were focusing on ways of getting them back, but this is just making sure they survive in the Digiworld."
Izzy nodded, "Okay, well you keep trying to make sure they survive and I'll work on getting them back." Ken nodded and the pair returned to typing, a new energy filled the room, a sort of anticipation that something might be going right for them for once.
Luca and Lyra were sat panting against a tree, a large pile of wood laid out in front of them. Their digimon leaning against them. "Luca, I-I'm scared." Lyra's voice was quiet and timid.
"So am I Sis, but we have a duty now as Digidestined." Luca spoke softly to his sister.
"But, we have no idea what our duty even is."
"Well, something's happening here in the Digiworld. The sooner we find out what it is and stop it, the sooner we can go home."
"And how exactly are we going to do that, Luca?" She suddenly burst out, "By blindly following Takeru, because he has no idea what he's doing!" Luca stared at his sister who was now panting, leaning her head against the tree eyes closed. He reached over and grasped her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Tapirmon nudged her head under Lyra's arm and laid her head on the girls lap. "Lyra, no matter what happens I'll be with you every step of the way." Lyra opened her eyes and looked down at her partner and smiled. She let out a large breath and began to calm down, "Sorry, I guess everything is just getting on top of me."
"That's fine Lyra, if your friends don't see you at your worst they'll never know what you're like at your best." Gotsumon spoke up and smiled at his partner's sister.
"Thanks Gotsumon, I guess you're right." Luca turned and smiled at his partner in silent thanks. The four of them then got up and picked up the firewood again after their brief break and made their way back to camp.
Kari sat with Takeru, they spoke in hushed tones so they didn't arouse any suspicion from the rest of the group. Kari spoke quickly, "How was it that Nefertimon, Pegasusmon and Flamedramon combined couldn't beat Meramon, but two attacks from rookie digimon took him down, it just doesn't make sense?"
"I don't know, it doesn't make any sense." Takeru responded under his breath, he glanced at Patamon and Gatomon, "Do you two have any idea?"
Gatomon and Patamon exchanged a nervous glance, "We didn't want to worry you." Patamon began.
Takeru cut in, "Why, what's wrong?" worry laced in his voice.
"Ever since we came back to the Digiworld we've felt weaker than before." Gatomon answered, she sounded ashamed. She looked to the ground and began kicking the dirt, before Kari pulled her into a hug.
"Why didn't you tell us, we wouldn't have sent you out to fight if you were feeling ill?"
"No, this is different, it's not like we're ill. More like we're weaker."
Takeru looked thoughtfully at the other kids around the fire "Maybe this is why they were chosen, because something has changed here, making our digimon weaker?" Kari paled, she felt sick to her stomach, "It's a virus that's done this." She spoke quietly, guilty that she hadn't realised what was happening sooner.
"How can you know that Kari, it could be anything?"
"Keru, there's something I never told you," she looked up, Chocolate eyes meeting cobalt blue, "I've been having these dreams, they're in the Dark Ocean, they were working to break down the walls between the Dark World and the Digiworld so they could release the virus. I guess they succeeded." She stared into Takeru's eyes, searching for any signs of anger or resentment, but she didn't see any. The blond closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Kari's, "Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you." She closed her eyes, enjoying their closeness, closeness that was ruined by Kasumi who emerged from the forest carrying fruit, "What's going on over here, young love?" she winked at Kari, Davis soon emerged after her his own hands full of fruit, but he didn't look anywhere near as cheery as the other girl, still sullen from his previous conversation with Kasumi. Their digimon both appeared after them also holding fruit.
The group spent that night talking around the fire, Lyra absent-mindedly twirled her curly hair between her fingers, her other hand rested upon her dozing partner in her lap, "I meant to ask, why is it that all our clothes changed when we came here?" the blonde girl asked,
"Izzy explained it once," Takeru spoke up, "it's something to do with our subconscious and how the clothes we change into are clothes that reflect our true personalities." The new kids all looked down at their fresh attire.
Tyde was wearing a tight black shirt that showed off his muscular body and burgundy trousers that hugged his legs tightly, a fang necklace hung around his neck and a grey slouch beanie sat upon his head, a silver earring glinted in his earlobe, grey hi-tops were on his feet.
Finn wore a navy button up short sleeved shirt and sandy coloured shorts that fit tightly around his legs, he also wore a pair of pale blue beach shoes and a number of bands upon his wrists.
Kasumi wore a pair of moss green jeans and white crop top. Upon her feet she wore black pumps and her hair had been braided into a loose plait, flowers laced throughout her lochs.
Luca's new attire consisted of a pair of blue skinny jeans. He wore a simple red and white plaid shirt with rolled up shirt sleeves and three buttons undone, showing the top of his well defined chest. A pair of black hi-tops finished the outfit
Lyra now wore a pair of denim shorts which stopped mid-thigh with a pair of brown sandals. She also wore a flowing white top which exposed her arms which were now adorned with a number of silver bangles. Around her neck hung a silver chain with a small pendant.
"That's pretty cool, I love this top, I would've never worn it in the real world but here it just feels right." Lyra examined her new shirt admiringly, luca just rolled his eyes. He knew his sister had the right intentions but she often came across as shallow.
"So how far away from the coast are we then?" Tyde turned towards Takeru,
"Well, we've been walking steadily for the whole day from the Yokomon village. So I think that if we keep going at this pace it should be a couple more days." The group listened avidly.
"That's great, but how are we even going to get across the ocean?" Finn put forward, pointing out the problem most of them had been thinking.
"I'm hoping that I can get into contact with an old friend." Takeru smiled knowingly, only Davis and Kari seemed to understand what he meant, leaving the rest of the group confused.
The next morning they awoke early and set off, the rays of sunlight shone through the branches of the trees in the forest creating a mosaic pattern across the environment. They continued their trek through the dense foliage as the sun rose higher into the sky. It must have been around noon when they finally stopped for a rest. Kasumi opened her drawstring bag and pulled out some fruit for her and Floramon, the rest of the group followed suit. As they ate the bushes began to emit rustling sounds. The group weren't perturbed because there was a slight breeze anyway.
They had been resting for about half an hour when Luca began to feel uncomfortable, the rustling noises hadn't stopped and it was beginning to make him uneasy for some reason. It suddenly hit him, the breeze had stopped but there were still sounds coming from the foliage. "Guys, don't be alarmed, but just get up slowly and quietly." Luca spoke calmly trying to not arouse suspicion. The rest of the group stared at him oddly, "Do it!" he whispered frantically.
Slowly the group raised to their feet the digimon looking around slowly for the threat. "Turn around, look in the bushes." Luca turned around along with the rest of the group. Just as their eyes met the bushes a creature burst forth from the greenery followed by a number of other similar creatures. The Digidestined turned and sprinted away from the green creatures that were now throwing pink slime at them with force. One of them hit Kasumi in her back causing her to fall and hit her head, she was out cold. Floramon wrapped her arms under her partners, pulling her into the trees away from their attackers and out of sight. "Gazimon, go on with the others, me and Kasumi will be safe here, we'll find you with the Kasumi's D-3!" Floramon waved off the other digimon who looked on at the situation concerned, "Go!" Gazimon nodded and ran after the others before the green digimon got too close.
Floramon looked down at her unconscious partner with concern, Please wake up Kasumi, I need you, I can't lose you after we've only just met…
A/N
Okay so this is the next chapter, please leave me a review or follow or something so that I can see how you guys feel about it... Anyway, thank you for reading! the next chapter should be up soon!
