Well, I'm being bogged down with a touch of writers'
block, but nothing serious enough to deter me from writing another chapter.
Besides, hearing Matt's "I Turn Around" over the weekend was spiritually
uplifting. So without further annoyances, chapter four…
The sky overhead was a deep blue intertwined with shades of violet and black, the smothering bubble of atmosphere hazy with billions of stars, each seeming so small and insignificant to those who stood on terra firma. Terriermon and I were aching to stop for the night, but our little map announced in its colorful diagrams that a village lay nearby, and the two of us had reached the mutual agreement that we would keep walking until we came upon the village. Hopefully there would be someone there that could give us further directions, as our map only went so far.
"Lia, you're going to make yourself sick staying up like this. C'mon, let's stop and sleep, okay?"
I hesitated for a moment, my body eager to follow the command, but my heart longing to keep to the road before us.
Terr…I can't. If you want, I'll carry you a ways.
"I'm fine. I know you wanna keep going because of Matt, and I'm sorry he's gone."
His words brought tears to my eyes, already drooping with exhaustion. Was that my motive? Was that why I was making myself suffer? For my own selfish purposes? No, no it had to be a lie. I was doing this for the sake of the two worlds, for without us to protect them the forces of darkness could gain total control. It was just a tragic twist of fate that Matt got caught in the middle of everything.
Just then a wailing cry pierced the stillness of the night. It sounded as though something were in the utmost of agony. Terriermon and I exchanged glances for a moment.
"Is it just me or did that sound like…"
A wolf in a hunting trap? I finished for
him.
"But that means we'll have another day's worth of walking to that village!" Terriermon whined as I turned towards the direction of the howls.
Terr, what if that was Willis, eh? I will not let
some creature, Destined or not, die in a hunter's snare when I know I could do
something to help it.
"What if it's old Belladonna?"
Then she'll be owing me her life. You could always stay here.
"Oh no you don't. Willis told me I was to guard you, and that's what I'm gonna do."
~*~
About ten heartbeats later we came upon a glade littered with fallen leaves the colors of rust and paprika. There was a clank of cold steel, and more anguished yelps. Terriermon whispered to me that he could smell blood and fear, and the combination could result in a hostile and unwilling patient. In the midst of the clearing was indeed a wolf, his front left paw stuck in a bear trap, the heartless metal teeth of the hideous mechanism biting into the creature's flesh. The poor animal glanced up at me with wild eyes, dark as the night sky. Ragged and matted fur dampened with perspiration, bracken water, and mud hung limply over a haggard frame. I could count the ribs under his pelt, which, under the filth, was an unusual shade of what looked like blue.
Ken? Ken; is that you, my little brother?
I knew he wouldn't answer. Terriermon
flicked his dark eyes at me as I used the sibling term I gave to all my younger
peers.
"I'll go stand watch or something," he
offered, bounding off in one direction.
The
young wolf growled, foam curling around his jowls. I scouted around for
something to use to pry the jaws of the trap open, knowing that if I didn't
work quickly the wound would spill its life's blood onto the forest floor
before it could ever clot. There was a short branch and a stone the size of my
fist just inches away, to my good fortune.
Ken, you have to hold still. This is going to hurt, but I promise it'll only hurt for a few moments.
My stiff fingers pried at the edges of the
trap, tugging with all my strength until I could open the great jaws enough to
thrust the stick in. Easing the wolf's paw from the orifice, I ran my fingers
over the wound to feel for any broken lumps, and massaged the tense muscles in
the limb. A hand went to my satchel and pulled out a skin of water, the soap,
and the little knife. The wolf yelped in fear at the sight of more cold metal.
Shhh, I won't harm you. You remember me, Ken. You came to see me just a few nights ago.
I washed the wound
as best as I could given the conditions, and used the knife to hack a fraying
piece of cotton sleeve from my shirt to use as a bandage. The wolf stared at me
gratefully before limping off into the woods. I heard a short bark from one of
the lead males, and in that call I could almost make out the voice I so longed
to hear.
Thank you, my Lia, for saving him.
I know you would do the same, Matt. Be safe, love, and the same to the others.
At this point I could hear Terriermon
bickering with someone. Picking up my belongings, I ventured over to the
clearing to listen in.
~*~
"Who goes there?"
"I'm Terriermon."
"So? There are plenty of Terriermon in the Digital World."
"Yeah, well, I'm not your average Terriermon. Now who are you?"
"The guardian of these woods, and the spring behind it. You are trespassing, prepare to die."
"Whoa, whoa, prepare to die?"
"That's right. Unless you can give me reason to spare your life, you're one dead bunny."
"I deserve to live because I am the Guardian of Miracles and right now the Guardian of Faith so if you kill me two of the Chosen Children will have no one to protect them!"
"Miracles and Faith, eh? I've never heard of them."
"The Child of Miracles is sort of new, but the Child of Faith, well, Lia's been here for a while, enough time to get herself very acquainted with the Child of Friendship."
"Lia, did you say? And where is this Lia? Why isn't she pleading for her life?"
"She can't."
"She's mute?"
"You could say that."
The huntsman of the forest raised his sword to strike, when I hurtled from my hiding space and, panting heavily, stood hairsbreadths away from the sharp point of that cruel blade. The golden eyes of the great Leomon stared back at me.
"Impertinent mortal!" someone else cried. Ogremon sauntered out to stand beside his former enemy.
"Ogremon… So, you are one of the Digidestined?" Leomon inquired.
I nodded; eyes burning with fury that one of the most renowned digimon in this world would dare strike a Guardian Monster.
Tell him that on the crests of Tai Kamiya and Matt Ishida if he ever threatens someone like that again may the four Digi-gods strike him down.
Terriermon repeated my statement, and the two champion beasts gaped at us.
"You mean she speaks?" Ogremon asked incredulously. I nodded again.
"But she doesn't choose to?" Leomon inquired. Terriermon nodded this time.
"Well, you obviously have your reasons, and we will not keep you from your path. May the Digi-gods protect you in your endeavors."
~*~
"Leomon said there was a spring nearby. You think it's the Wellspring?"
If Ken and the others of our pack were in this forest, then I believe that's a good assumption.
Just then we entered a field where the grass was lush and kept only as long as my thumbnail. There was a stone fountain pool in the center, and the fountainhead in the center of the pool spouted liquid that fell in bright droplets with the crystalline sound of water splashing on water. But upon closer looks, my rabbit friend and I discovered it was not water at all, but liquid flames.
"You have to put that into that little bottle?"
I already had the red vial unstopped and was kneeling beside the fountain. Heat radiated up from the bubbling fluid, and as I dipped the bottle into the substance I could feel my flesh crawl with searing warmth. I bit back screams of pain as my skin cooked, boiling in the fiery water. Soon the bottle was full and I was able to thrust my raw, red left hand, my strong hand, out of the fountain and quickly stopper the bottle.
"Oh Lia, your hand! Your hand is all red and burned!"
It doesn't hurt that much, don't worry; I lied, slipping the vial over my neck. It was pleasantly warm on my chest.
Terriermon went into the satchel and pulled out a roll of bandages and a pot of a cream that smelled of aloe that I was certain hadn't been there before. With my good hand I spread the cream over the burns and wrapped my charbroiled hand with the bandages.
They're only first degree, if even that.
"That's a relief. But at least we have one ingredient. Now all we have to get is the water or whatever from the Forest of Ice and the roses of Darkness and Light. That shouldn't be too hard…should it?"
I don't know. The Forest is probably miles and miles from here. Shall we get walking?
Terriermon nodded, and as we consulted the map, the sun began to climb over the horizon, lighting our way on the paths of destiny.
~*~
And this is where I leave you for now. Chapter five will be out sooner or later, stress on the later since I'm not one hundred percent positive of what'll happen next, but I have a good idea. Keep those reviews coming! I love hearing from you guys! A review from you readers is worth half a dozen hugs from Matt!