A/N: Phew. Got it! Yay! Hope you guys enjoy!


Chapter Nine: A World of Connections

Taichi dragged himself under the hollow of a tree with a drained sigh. "Oh thank god it's over!"

Tailmon raised an eyebrow, but that was all. She uncurled her large ears with a grimace, shaking herself to get rid of all of the sand. When done, she glanced at Hikari. She was drooping a little, sleepy. Her shoes were already starting to wear and she was covered in sand. There was a dull thudding in the back of Tailmon's head. Maybe it showed how exhausted she was. She stumbled over to Taichi and curled against his chest. Taichi's eyes flickered with concern and he patted her head.

"You okay?"

Hikari lifted her head, managing a smile. "Un, tired a bit..."

"Well, we did walk all that way..." Agumon said, sniffing around. "I'll go find some sticks..."

Tailmon tried and failed to not roll her eyes. He had missed his human's wince, but Tailmon, after decades of reading her master's moods, had not. Guilt, thick like storm clouds. "I will go try and fish and gather some water. I thought i smelled a stream on our way here."

Taichi nodded and Hikari peered at her through the fabric of her hood. "Be careful."

Tailmon paused, as if touching the words with her paws. "...I will. Thank you."

She hurried away, blinking any possible tears. What a silly thing to be overwhelmed by. Simple words like be careful. When she was out of sight, she took two breaths, then a third. Then she checked her bandages. Cleaner, which was good, not much sand had gotten in. Still. It'd do her good to go wash them out in the stream. She needed to check her muscles for how they were doing after the electric blasts she had taken. It wasn't that long ago, or was it?

She wound her way up a tree. She was no monkey, true, but she could hide in the trees perfectly well. She moved from branch to branch until she could hear the gentle slosh of water. Tailmon paused, leaning against the trunk to catch her breath. She opened her ears, crouching and slowing her breathing. So far, it was quiet. No unusual scents, no unusual smells. When Etemon ruled the Server Desert, most Digimon tried to steer clear of the whole continent all together. The monkey was an idiot, but he was also a sadistic idiot. The Gazimon were rarely seen without a jolt over their fur or wire tying their ears or legs. However, even he cowered before her own former master. If that nutjob knew terror, then all the more reason to get out of dodge.

If only she had been smart enough, fast enough, to do the same. She had been a Child-level, the world always needed those.

Tailmon let out a noiseless sigh. She really did think on the past too much. She watched the stream for a moment, then gently scampered down to the soft earth. Her claws scraped the ground, but she doubted the fish would notice. She crouched low, then leaped. The hunt was on.


That night, they had wanted to argue over who stood watch. Hikari had settled it by falling asleep on Agumon's leg. Taichi took first watch without a word then, which Tailmon was quietly grateful for. She let herself curl up by the fire. Perhaps it was the exhaustion of the past few days, but she slept like a log until it was time for her watch.

There, she dreamed. She dreamed of gloved hands carding through her fur and the lash of red. She dreamed of years drenched in snow and curling up in lonely caves. Last of all, she dreamed of tiny fingers tying bandages around her waist and careful brushes of her ears. In her, sleep, it was easy to believe she had always had the last happen to her over the first two, and that she had no scars.

When Agumon woke her, she almost clawed his face off. She barely managed to look apologetic, mumbling gracelessly and stalking closer to the fire. He hadn't looked surprised, only yawned and gone back besides Hikari. She looked up at the stars, letting her mind clear and her soldier wit take focus. If someone showed up, she was the best one to hear it.

The ache in her muscles made her want to sleep. Discipline forced her eyes open and she made herself stand and stretch. She paced around the fire, lashing her tail out in experimental swings. It wasn't strong without her Holy Ring on, so she was never supposed to lose it, but that was fine. Tails were for balance. The ring glowed in the firelight

A yawn pulled her from her practice. "Tail...mon?"

She looked over to see Hikari yawning, eyes sleepy and half-closed. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

Hikari grunted, a breathy noise. "It's okay, slept too long."

Tailmon sincerely doubted that. "Need me to lead you to the bush?"

"Mmhm..."

Tailmon was half-sure she hadn't even heard, but took her tiny hand anyway. She led her away from the fire, keeping it within running distance. Hikari was still rubbing her eyes, barely even protesting when she nearly hit the tree. Tailmon turned away to offer privacy. As she did, however, she saw something a few feet away.

In the dark, for ordinary eyes, it should have been impossible to make out. Tailmon, thankfully, had no such issues. She slunk into a silent crouch, creeping through the grass. For a moment, Hikari was forgotten. There was a threat. The threat had to be eliminated.

As she came closer, the creature's breathing quickened, and she saw stubby legs and a white body. Tailmon paused. The Digimon was out like a light. Pouncing could make things worse. She took slower steps and frowned.

Why was a Tokomon here?

Baby levels stayed on File. They couldn't survive well anywhere else. Had this Digimon died here and been reborn? How unlucky. She came close enough to shake him and blinked.

What were those? Those trinkets...

Hikari had one. Her... brother had one.

"Tailmon?"

Hikari had caught up, her rose eyes bright in the dark. "What's wrong?" Tailmon pointed as the creature began to mumble. Hikari knelt beside the Digimon and scooped him up, only noticing the trinkets when they hit the ground. "We need to go back to Onii-chan."

Tailmon nodded and lifted the little things into her paws. A gentle wave of fear struck her then. Fear, confusion, dismay. Was it her own? Was It Hikari's? Was it both of theirs?

Any of those answers was right. They had every reason to be afraid.