The Friends of the Stones

by Debbie Dai-chan

Finally, the Stories of the Ten Digidestined and a new enemy that has a role to play . . .

2. 2 The First Stones

Friends of the Stones: Part Two:
The First Stones
By Debbie (Dai-chan)

An entry from Frankie's journal:

Heh, you won't believe what happened after I arrived to this Digiworld place for the first time! But get used to it, journal, because from here on everything's gonna be weird so hang on tight! It started when we were walking through a forest. You see, I heard this voice and it kept calling me 'Keeper'. Of course, I didn't know what a 'Keeper' was. Well, at least then, I'll get to that later. Anyway, I told the others about it and the leader, Tai, said that hearing a voice was bad and said that I might 'meet my equal'. I didn't believe him then, and continued on. When we reached a fast-flowing river, I found a way to get across by using stones on the river. But I slipped and fell in the river. Just when I thought I about to drown from the heavy current, Joe jumped in the river and began to glow! To make things more odd, he made the water harden and got me out of the river safely.

                Afterwards, Izzy explained to me about what happened. It turns out that everyone in the group, including Joe, have their own unique 'power'. I guess, Joe's power has to do with water. Sometime during this conversation one of the younger kids, Kari said that I have a power. That freaked me out. I mean, after Joe got his power, he seemed to…change. Well, by change I mean that he seems so, how can I put this? Composed. Yeah, that's it. His voice has changed too, like its more calmer, but too calm. I just couldn't accept this. Joe is my best friend, and I've always known him to be a little clumsy at times, but it just seemed like he wasn't the same Joe - or even if he was Joe at all. And that scared me. It made me wonder if I would change if got my power. So I went back to the river alone. After Elecmon and Joe came over to help pull myself together, Joe asked me the question I knew he would say eventually. He asked why he didn't see my parents. I told him I was orphaned after some weird monsters took my parents a few years back.

                But Joe then said that I do have family in Japan - himself. He sees me as his brother. And he's right. It seems we're destined to be brothers. Well that's when he--

Just then Frankie felt something strange and unconsciously made a sharp inhale. He didn't know what it was or why it happened, but it seemed so abrupt that he stopped writing in journal and got up. He looked around hastily, a worried expression on his face, only to find the other Digidestined and their Digimon sleeping peacefully, sans Yamato and Gabumon. And yet, something didn't feel right when he looked at the nine Digimon. It seemed like they were in…

Danger? He thought, muddled. But how? There hasn't been a single encounter with another Digimon for days… Then he noticed Yamato sitting down by a campfire with Gabumon sleeping not far from his side. I guess Matt's keeping watch. I should tell him about this.

And so Frankie put his journal in his backpack (of course he would finish writing in it afterwards) and silently walked past the sleeping group of Digimon and Digidestined to talk to Yamato.

  

***

Yamato was standing watch that night. The children had been wandering through the seeming never-ending jungle for a few days, without any threats. It seemed that perhaps because of their newly-found powers, any kind of Digimon - good and evil - became apprehensive to face them. They must have their own reasons to fear them, even their Digimon guardians, who seemed more silent, pensive. Yamato just couldn't see why would the Digimon fear them. They were just average kids with incredible powers that they shouldn't have.

Yamato brushed his hand through his ash-blond hair, and he could see the lone lock of pure white swaying in motion into his line of vision. It seemed out of place, a white lock of hair to match his nightly power and attitude. But then it seemed right to him. The changes of hair were the only physical appearances the kids had after finding their powers. Odd as it was, Takeru and Hikari were the only ones who had no changes, the same as before. Only, often when he gazed into their azure and tan eyes, Yamato could swear that he saw something different in them that seemed unconnected to the youngsters, like they were possessed by someone insightful and aware.

He listened quietly to the familiar deep breathing of the kids and the Digimon around him, comfortable to his ears. They were exhausted after the long walk, and even though Yamato was rigid to admit it, he would like to have some sleep. Already, his eyelids dropped bit by bit. Quickly rubbing his eyes, Yamato stifled back a strong yawn and kept himself busy by poking a stick in the dying fire back to life. He was so engrossed with the fire that he was nearly startled by a voice singing out of nowhere.

Yamato raised his head, trying to hear any better. It was a male voice, but it was too soft to be carried with the night breeze. It was like the breeze, frankly, humming through the leaves, teasing his hearing. He could hear words, but they were too vague, as if the voice was mumbling, not singing them. Perhaps he could hear the voice because of his power. Because it was accustomed with souls, Yamato tended to hear any voices that no one could, hear the voices of ghosts and the dead. Yamato found it odd, because the voice wasn't singing to him. It was singing to someone else.

He heard a shifting near him and saw Gabumon turning his head toward a point in the jungle, his ruby eyes narrowed In doubt. His eyes seemed glowing, as if by a light within.

"Gabumon?" Yamato whispered. The wolf-like Digimon didn't answer, still staring at the point. Yamato turned his eyes at that point, but saw nothing except shadowy trees that were untouched by the firelight. "Do you hear something?"

"A voice," Gabumon whispered back, now cocking his head in puzzlement. "He is singing to us."

"Us?" Yamato wondered who were this 'us'. As if was answering his unspoken question, he heard more shiftings from behind him. Turning around, he saw, one after another, the Digimon waking. He noted that they were staring at the same point Gabumon was staring, their eyes oddly glowing with an eerie light.

Yamato still heard the voice, but, already it faded into the breeze. He saw that the Digimon were blinking their eyes, as if they were waking from a sound sleep. Soon, they went back to sleep beside their humans. Gabumon had a look of puzzled wonder on his face. He answered nothing to Yamato's question of the voice, and went back to sleep.

Yamato was perplexed about the voice, the Digimon's reactions to it. He was pondering about it when he heard footsteps coming closer. Looking up, he saw Frankie arriving to his side. Although he was older than Yamato, he had a childlike air that he used to cheer the kids up. He always had the expression of alacrity and briskness on his face, always smiling with mischief. But Yamato saw his face changed into the visage of ambiguous tension.

Frankie sat down beside him. His odd bright orange lock in his russet hair were like fire among dirt. "I sensed something, though I don't know how…" he whispered.

Yamato cast him a slightly surprised glance. Did he hear the voice, too? "It must be a side effect from your power. What did you sense?"

Frankie's hazel eyes flickered to the flames for a moment, and spoke with a bit of confusion. "I don't know, really. I'm sensing something out there, somewhere. It's this weird feeling like we are in danger."

Yamato narrowed his eyes. "What kind of danger?"

Frankie was silent, then spoke, "I think this danger is different. It feels like we will lose something."

Yamato crossed his arms and rested them upon his knees. "You mean that we could lose our friends?"

Frankie closed his eyes, looking uncommonly serious. "It's that kind of danger, yeah. I feel uneasy when I any of our Digimon."

Yamato almost turned to watch for the point in the trees before he stopped himself. He wondered if this voice was what Frankie was sensing. But he also considered Frankie's tensions when seeing the Digimon. Could Frankie's feeling be that voice? Amid all of his thoughts, he took a deep inhale and said, "Well, let's hope that this danger would not happen. We had enough of dangers to last our lifetimes."

Frankie opened his eyes, glancing sidelong, a slight smile on his lips. "I have noticed. We need some peace here, don't we?"

Yamato sighed tiredly. "Any kind will be acceptable."

Frankie made a small chuckle. "I think you should sleep. You sound drowsy."

Yamato snorted, shaking his head. "Oh, no, you won't make me sleep. It's my watch, and I will stay awake through it, you hear me?"

Frankie held up his hands, the foxy smile still on his lips. "I will stay back. You are definitely cranky. Wake me when you are ready to sleep." He went to his Digimon, Elecmon's side. Yamato thought he saw a bittersweet look passing his face, but he turned his head away and went to sleep.

Not soon after, Yamato suddenly received a wave of exhaustion, nearly making him groggy. Yamato blinked, dropping the stick he had used to poke the fire, and held his head in his hands. He felt his body slackening, and he laid back, his grey-blue eyes meeting the stars, his mind fighting the urge to lethargy. And his eyes met darkness as he plunged into a secure slumber.

***

The sudden realization that struck his mind that he feel asleep during his watch shook him from a dreamless sleep. Yamato popped open his eyes and reflexively squinted against the brightening sunlight. Morning? Already? As if an alarmed thought was meddling in his mind, he sat upright and gaped at the sight around him. The Digimon were gone! There were only ten children, some snuggled together for warmth, but none of the Digimon was present. Even his faithful Gabumon had been vanished.

Frankie! He was right! Stepping around the dozing kids as quietly and quickly as he could, he arrived at the twelve-years-old boy's side. He shook him roughly until Frankie woke up, slightly annoyed for being rudely awaken.

"Frankie, you are right about last night!" Yamato hissed softly. "The Digimon are gone!"

Frankie's eyes widened, and he sat up, instinctively gazing over to where Elecmon slept. An expression of pain passed over his face. "It can't be. I sensed the danger, and I couldn't stop it."

Yamato's and Frankie's words weren't quiet enough, and they roused the kids from their peaceful slumbers into terrified reality. The boys heard various cries of their Digimon's names filling the air. Frankie's face paled as his lips mouthed his Digimon's name. Yamato's heart clenched at the thought of being alone without Gabumon.

"Matt! What's going on here?!" Yamato flinched at Taichi's hot voice as he arrived to the boys. His eyes may be pale tan, but they were fiercely blazing, nearly like his peculiar red strand among his dusky hair. "Where are the Digimon?!"

Yamato stood up, trying to explain what he had remembered. "Last night I heard a voice. I don't know what it was, but the Digimon woke and listened to it. They were still here when I fell asleep."

Taichi became a bit disbelieved, eying the blond boy. "You fell asleep during your watch?"

Yamato fell silent, becoming confused. "Not on purpose. It's like . . . someone made me."

Of course, Taichi didn't look so happy about it. His fists were slightly shaking at his sides, like he wanted to punch someone to vent his vexation. Since he got his power, Taichi was more calm and deliberate, but Yamato knew that, like wildfire, Taichi's temper could be easily provoked.

Yamato saw a flash of red, and Kimika stepped in between the boys, holding on Taichi's hands. "Tai, please." Her soft voice seemed to calm Taichi, and he took a deep breath to cool down himself. Kimika turned to Yamato, the golden braid swaying among her black braids, and asked, "Tell us what really happened last night."

Right now, all the nine kids were watching him, and Yamato felt uneasy, as usual. But he continued, "During my watch, I heard a voice, and it was singing. I couldn't understand the words, but I noticed that our Digimon woke up and listened to it." Yamato then scowled in thought. "You know, I saw that their eyes were glowing. Like by a different light. The voice then was gone, and the Digimon went back to sleep."

Frankie then stepped in and added, "Last night I sensed something weird. Something like danger is coming. That's the kind of danger that you feel you will lose your friends. I couldn't rest easy when next to Elecmon for some reason as if the Digimon would be gone." He then nodded, "My feeling come true. I told that to Matt, but I heard no voice."

"How could you hear the voice and not Frankie?" asked Jyou from behind the group, his dusky eyes piercing.

Koushiro spoke for Yamato, "I believe that because of his power is Spirit, Matt could hear voices that we can't." Yamato nodded in agreement with him.

Taichi was watching Yamato the whole time, deep thought in his eyes and face. Yamato no longer had any distasteful feelings against him, now closer to him than before. "Tai," Yamato spoke quietly, "Are you upset with me?"

Taichi was quiet for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "No, Matt, I'm not upset. It's just strange here."

"Can we go search for them?" Takeru asked softly. He had a deep, worried expression on his young face, as if he just couldn't understand why the Digimon left them, especially his devoted Patamon. Hikari had a similar look on her freckled face.

Yamato felt a tinge of guilt and knelt by his brother, giving him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, TK. We will find them soon." Takeru answered back with a hopeful grin.

"I think it would be a problem," Sora spoke with an air of doubt.

"What's it, Sora?" Frankie said as he went to her side.

Sora had the look of anxiety on her face as she gestured around the campgrounds. "There aren't any tracks that prove that the Digimon left."

The kids gazed around, seeing that Sora was right. There were no shiftings of the dirt or paw prints in the ground. There were shoe prints of the kids, but nothing like the paws of the Digimon. It was like the Digimon just vanished into thin air without having to go anywhere.

"That's bad," whispered Mimi, light tears misting in her hazel eyes.

"Mimi," Taichi turned to her, "Can you sense their essences?"

Mimi gazed to him, her face hesitant. "I don't know, Tai. The Digimon share our essences. If I try to sense them, I could only sense the same essences as yours. It would be hard."

Taichi said encouragingly, "Try, Mimi. It would be worth a try."

Mimi nodded, and soon, the kids saw a pale green aura glowing around her, a thin outline surrounding her outline. So simply, yet powerful. Mimi seemed to perceive within, searching for the essences, then the green aura faded into thin air. Mimi shook her head at Taichi's waiting look.

Taichi made a small sigh and scanned around. "Ok, get your things ready. We will leave as soon as we are finished. The sooner, the better."

The kids went to their usual duties, packing their backpacks and pouches with food and possessions, covering the fire with dirt, and the final clean of the area to leave no traces of their presences.

It was later when the kids looked up at the voice of Hikari. She was kneeling by a bush, holding something in her hands. Taichi went to her and took a look at the object. It was a kind of stone, shaped into a three-dimensional diamond, small enough to fit in Hikari's palm. Taichi noticed that there was Hikari's crest symbol of a flower on each of the eight sides.

"Is it pretty?" Hikari said, smiling up to her brother.

Taichi didn't feel anything that he would distrust the stone. It was a plain stone, that's all. It wouldn't harm anybody. Taichi smiled, nodding, "Yeah, it is. Come on, Kari, let's go."

Hikari putted the stone in her pocket and went with Taichi toward the kids, who were ready for yet another walk. This time, it won't be an aimless wander. They had a goal, and it's to find their missing Digimon companions.

As they walked through the jungle, Kimika noticed that Yamato was in thought, his eyes musing, as if he was still unsure about something. She slid her hand into his hand and squeezed it affectionately.

"Matt, what's the matter?" Kimika asked, waiting for him to answer.

Yamato said, "I'm uncertain about this. I tried to remember about the singing voice, and I could hear one word, however, that I didn't realize until now."

"What's the word?"

"'Come'."

Kimika raised both her eyebrows. "'Come'? That's what it sang?"

Yamato shook his heard. "I think there's more to it."

Kimika lowered her brown eyes, also pondering. "Do you think the voice was the one responsible for the Digimon disappearing?"

Yamato was silent, thinking that Kimika would be right. After all, anything could happen in the Digiworld. "If it's so, then we will be in some crazy adventure."

Kimika made such an exhausted sigh that made Yamato gazing down to her in concern. She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. "I'm so tired of fighting. I wish to end it all."

Yamato held her close. "Don't worry. We will go home sooner than we think." Then he suddenly stopped in his tracks, so sudden that Kimika appeared surprised at his movements. He heard something.

"Matt?" Kimika noticed the cautious expression on his face as he scanned the jungle with narrowed eyes. Kimika looked back and saw that the three of the kids were like Yamato, scanning around with cautions. Taichi stared at one point in the distance as Frankie had the distrustful look, staring at the same point as Taichi. Mimi had her hand on her chest as if she was feeling heartbeats that were not hers. The rest were standing in perplexity.

"Tai," Yamato spoke, his voice taut, " I heard voices, Growling."

Taichi was nodding, not taking his eyes away. "I feel body heat. From there." He pointed toward the point he had been staring at. Because of his power, he tended to sense body heat, similar to Mimi's power.

"I sense many essences coming," Mimi murmured. "Six or seven, I think."

"And they are dangerous," added Frankie.

"Just great," mumbled Taichi.

Jyou spoke with concern, "Should we leave now?"

"I agree with Joe," Yamato said as he cautiously stepped back, holding Kimika behind him.

But before they could escape, middle-sized figures were seen rustling through bushes, aiming for the kids. They looked like stocky wolves, almost like Gabumon, except that they were evil-looking in nature. They ran on fours, their fur shining red and black. Rings of sharp spikes surrounded their long tails.

Koushiro suddenly hissed, "Get away, they are Medawmon! Their bites are very lethal!"

"How could you know that?!" Sora said before Frankie pulled her out of the way. Koushiro didn't answer back, having a confusion expression on his face.

Takeru ran to Yamato and Kimika as Hikari headed for Taichi and Koushiro. The rest escaped together. The Medawmon were too quick. Two of each aimed for the three groups. Yamato gazed over his shoulder and saw two Medawmon sprinting toward them, seeming so fast that they seemed red blurs.

Yamato quickly turned as Kimika and Takeru kept running. His crest began to glow, and soon, the night aura surrounded him like a night cloak. The Medawmon paused in their tracks, eying the Guardian warily. "Vigor of Spirit!" Several rays, the colors of the night sky, emitted from his open hands. One of the Medawmon ducked out of the ways, but the night rays struck the other Medawmon, sending it to fly backward and crashing into a tree. It shook its dazed head. The first Medawmon wasted no time, sprinting past Yamato with his yell of "Look out!"

Kimika whirled around at Yamato's yell and gasped at the coming sight of the Medawmon. She roughly pushed Takeru aside and faced the Medawmon, now surrounded by her silver-black aura. However, the Medawmon swiftly knocked her in her stomach with its head. making her stagger to the ground. The Medawmon jumped on her, its large paws on her shoulders, pinning her to the ground. Kimika gazed upward frighteningly at the wide-grinning fangs of the Medawmon.

It raised a paw, and she saw a strange golden glow around the five-fingered paw. The Medawmon made a guttural growl.

"Being of Life!" A white beam of light with a golden ray spiraling around it struck the Medawmon, knocking it off her. Kimika saw the beam surrounded the shrieking Medawmon until it dissolved into a few feathers, drifting down to the ground.

Takeru ran to his side, his aura of golden just fading. "Are you okay Kim?"

Kimika nodded in answer, then both looked at another yell of Yamato. They saw the second Medawmon sprinted toward them as Yamato unleashed a ray toward the Medawmon. The Medawmon agilely leaped out of the way, and the ray crashed into a tree.

"Go!" Kimika yelled to Takeru before she dashed away. She could hear the running sounds of the Medawmon behind her. What did they attack me for?! was her only thought to pass through her mind before a heavy mass impacted her onto the ground, banging her head. Bursts of white stars danced in her dazed vision for a moment, then she shouted in agony as the Medawmon scraped on her right shoulder, drawing five deep gashes in the skin. Pain stabbed in her shoulder and right arm, leaving them numb.

Kimika heard the angered yell of Yamato, and the Medawmon leaped off her back. Kimika agonizingly gazed up to see the Medawmon disappearing In the jungle. She saw that its right paw was glowing with a golden light, just like the other Medawmon.

Yamato arrived to her side, holding her up so gently. Kimika flinched in deep pain as Yamato gently checked on her new wound. Takeru was at her other side, also watching his brother. Kimika noticed that Takeru had a puzzled expression.

Yamato said, his eye full with guilty concern, "They're not bleeding badly, but you need to be careful."

"Why did the Medawmon hurt her?" Takeru asked, worried. "They weren't trying to hurt us."

Yamato and Kimika gazed at him, then to each other. Yamato spoke, "We will think about it, but we need to find the others. Come on." He putted her left arm around his neck and held her up by his arm around her waist. Every step stabbed pain in her shoulder, and Kimika bit her lower lip, trying not to cry from the pain.

***

Koushiro turned his head over his shoulder to see two Medawmon gaining space between. Panic built in his chest, giving him more strength to run faster. He heard Taichi yelling to him, "Take Kari to safety. I can handle them!"

Koushiro protested, but seeing Taichi's stern face, he nodded and grasped on the girl's hand. They dashed on as Taichi paused in his tracks. Koushiro could hear his words, "Passion of Fire!" and the pained yell of a Medawmon.

Koushiro and Hikari slowed down, panting from the strain. Koushiro suddenly heard a rustling and quickly looked up to meet the orange, savage gaze of a Medawmon in the dark bushes. Koushiro's mind raced maniacally, and his crest glowed, the vivid purple aura surrounding his body, sparkled with crazy lightning bolts.

The Medawmon charged. A dome of purple lightning bolts suddenly crackled around the kids, and, as the Medawmon came in contact, it yelled in raged agony. "Awareness of Lightning!" Koushiro bellowed. A silver rugged lightning bolt charged from his hand and soared through the dome. The bolt struck the Medawmon, and it disappeared into the jungle, its howls of anguish heard.

"Go!" Koushiro and Hikari ran in the opposite direction, heading for wherever Taichi was. Eventually, they saw Taichi running toward them.

"Are you all right?" Taichi asked, heavily panting. Hikari clasped on him, frighteningly.

Koushiro nodded, unable to answer during his own loss of wind. He took a deep breath. "We need to seek the rest promptly."

Taichi nodded in agreement, then his eyes widened. "Look out!" He warned just as the aura of fire surrounded him.

Koushiro have no chance to react because a heavy bulk struck him on his back, pressing him onto the ground. His breath was knocked out, and Koushiro blinked in dizziness. It went too fast. He received a yelp of sudden pain as sharp talons slashed on his right shoulder. Pain burst beneath his skin; his shoulder and arm went senseless.

Taichi emitted a gigantic beam of angry flames toward whatever was on Koushiro's back, and he heard the grunt of a Medawmon before it escaped. Koushiro felt strong yet gentle hand holding him up. Koushiro crouched, holding his limp arm, his eyes tightly shut from the pain as the siblings checked on his wound. He felt a few tears of anguish streaming from his eyes.

"Izzy, your wounds are bleeding, but not badly. Come on." Taichi may be tall, but he crouched just enough to support him as Hikari walked in front.

***

Surrounded by her blood-red aura, Sora kept her arms upward, holding up a dome of red breezes, solidified enough to protect the four kids from the two angry Medawmon. Frankie noticed that the Medawmon looked like they won't give up. They kept on ramming with their masses, trying to weaken the solid air. He could sense their innate rage boiling, as if they were maddened to succeed their hidden goal. But what goal?

"Frankie . . ." The boy turned to the girl. She looked drained of energy, had pushed all of it to her power. "I don't think I can keep it up any longer."

"When I tell you so, dissolve the shield." Already his crest glowed, and the aura of snow-white surrounded him. He faced the growling Medawmon and ordered Sora, "Now!" The dome seemed to weaken, then faded into soft breezes. The Medawmon rushed forward.

"Heart of Ice!" Shreds of blue and white ice discharged from his fists, aiming for one of the Medawmon. It dodged the shreds as he tried to aim. He noticed the Medawmon was dashing at him as if he wasn't there at all. After sidestepping quickly, Frankie extended a leg out toward the Medawmon and tripped it. Just before the Digimon could even get up, Frankie again used his power to send sharp icicles to pierce it. A sigh of relief and a smile passed his face as the Digimon lied there motionless. He turned around to the others; he couldn't battle the other Medawmon, which ran past him and Sora, and towards Jyou and Mimi.

"Essence of Earth!" Mimi sharply gestured toward it, and a few wiggling vines sprouted from the earth, writhing like snakes in front of the Medawmon. It stopped, its orange eyes widened in alarm at the vines. It had no time to attack or escape as vines encircled around the Medawmon's flanks, obeying from the Guide's gestures.

Sora just had enough energy to call on her power. A single red gale whistled through and surrounded the Medawmon. The vines uncoiled from the Digimon, and now it was floating in midair, growling in alarm. Sora flickered her hand like she was throwing an invisible ball. The Medawmon was suddenly launched up in the sky, then disappeared. Frankie ran to Sora's side, done with his recent battle with the other Medawmon.

"That's close," said Jyou from Mimi's side. He was the only one who didn't attack. His power was Water, so he only can use it if there was any evidence of water present. He only can use his aura to shield him, but that's it. Right now, he didn't have to worry about his power because the Medawmon were gone.

"Now we need to go and find the others," said Frankie, helping an exhausted Sora back to her feet. He turned to scan the jungle, wondering about the others. "I hope they are okay." He turned to Jyou and barely had time to yell a warning before it attacked him.

Jyou heard Frankie's warning just a few seconds before the Medawmon that Frankie thought he killed hurdled at him from behind, pushing him down to the ground. As quickly as it happened, the Medawmon drove its talons on the boy's right shoulder, releasing a cry of agony from him. Jyou was slow to anger, but this bout really provoked his temper. He summoned his aura to brighten into blind radiance. He felt the weight coming off, and he quickly turned to the blinded Medawmon.

He pointed toward the Medawmon; his right arm was laying limp, numbed from the throbbing pain. "Balance of Sea!" The aura shot from his finger like a missile and stabbed right in the Digimon's forehead, shattering skull. The Medawmon seemed to stiffen, then collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The Medawmon dissolved into air.

Jyou made another cry of pain as he held his shoulder. He could feel warm wetness flowing beneath his shirt. Blood. Mimi knelt and held him in her arms, soothing him as Frankie and Sora examined the wounds.

"Well, the wounds aren't deep, but we need to stop the bleeding," Frankie said, his brow wrinkled in observation. Then they turned around at the sounds of footsteps. They saw three kids - Taichi, Hikari, and Koushiro - walking toward them. Taichi was supporting an injured Koushiro, who held his right shoulder, tears of agony on his face.

"What happened?" Sora asked as she ran to them. She saw five slashes on Koushiro's shoulder from between the torn holes of his shirt.

"They aren't deep," Taichi said as he let Koushiro sit down. "But we ought to do something about the bleeding."

"Hey! Can anybody hear me?" the kids heard the voice of Takeru echoing through the bushes. Soon, they saw Takeru coming out, with his brother and the girl behind. Yamato was holding an anguished Kimika with his arm around her waist.

Seeing his best friend's pained face, Taichi ran to her, glaring at Yamato. "What has happened to her?"

Kimika quickly withdrew his arm from Yamato and held on Taichi's arm, calming him down. "Tai, please. I just got injured. I will be fine in several days."

Taichi held her by her waist and gazed around the injured boys. "Let's get out of here before the Medawmon come back."

As they helped the wounded kids through the jungle, Yamato caught a glimpse of something odd He saw a plain, flattened stone near a bush. He went to it and picked it up. It was a kind of stone that was shaped like a disk, yet small enough to fit on his palm. It had his crest symbol on both sides.

Yamato sharply looked up at a sound, a rustling. He thought he saw a flash of green, but he wasn't sure. He narrowed his eyes, trying to search, then the voice of his brother called for him. Putting the disk stone in his back jeans pocket, he took a glance at the trees and headed for his friends.