Lashana and Telca own only themselves, Tvashtar, Kadrith, the three dragons and Telca's cat. Every other character belongs to someone that isn't us.

The Elf and The Digimon

Chapter 10 : Hope Regained

Uugggh... what hit me? Groaning, Lashana weakly opened her eyes only to grimace and shut them again, the bright light from the sun having momentarily blinded her. Another desert? As the memories of what had happened slowly resurfaced in her aching head, she became aware that she was still lying on the back seat of the Jeep, but that it wasn't moving. We've stopped. How long was I out? Where's Blackwargreymon?

Wincing at the stiffness in her shoulders caused by having her arms pinned to her sides, she somehow managed to get herself semi-upright, blinking at the nearby group of factories and warehouses and the clouds of smoke that were coming from it. Pleased chuckles drew her attention over to the two Digimon standing a little ways to her right, and she scowled at them for a moment before twisting so that she was kneeling on the seat. Gotta get out of here and stop Blackwargreymon from destroying whatever a 'Destiny Stone' is....

Shooting a glance at the duo to make sure they weren't looking, she rose to her feet and jumped out of the Jeep, turning her head to rub the side of the gag against her shoulder in an attempt to loosen it...

"Hey! Get back here!"

Whoops. Time to go. Gasping for breath, she turned and slid down the side of the sand dune they were parked on, frantically trying to either free herself of the gag or free an arm. Unfortunately, it seemed that Mummymon had somehow gotten smarter since last time, because he had tripled the layer of bandages around her, keeping her from simply breaking free. All she could do was wriggle around so that her hands were at the small of her back, the position just barely allowing her fingers to move. Need a plan! Oh hellfire this is killing my shoulders!

Another explosion drew her frantic gaze back to the buildings ahead of her, watching as one of the empty water towers toppled to the ground with a billow of smoke. Gotta get Blackwargreymon's attention... Barely keeping herself from stumbling, she rubbed her cheek against her right shoulder roughly, over and over until the gag slid down, dangling around her neck like a bizarre necklace.

Can't make a fireball, but I can get his attention another way! Yells from behind her spurred her onwards, and she tried to speed up as she twisted her hands around so her fingers pointed at the sky, her breath coming in rasping gasps as her bonds tightened against her still tender ribs. "Light which burns beyond crimson flame! Gather to my hand and become my power! Lighting!"

The sphere of bright white light flew from her hands, soaring upwards and growing in intensity until it rivalled the sun, making her loose a triumphant laugh before Mummymon tackled her to the sands, trying to pin her. "Get offa me!"

Meanwhile, Blackwargreymon was taking his frustrations out on the warehouses, plowing through them and demolishing them, envisioning Arukenimon and Mummymon in the path of his attacks as he searched for the Stone. He was just about to loose another full-power attack when a bright light caught his attention, making him pause in mid-throw to stare at the white sphere as it flickered urgently. That's Lashana! It has to be! Dropping the Terra Destroyer, he turned away from the explosion it created and leapt into the air, soaring back to where he had left the other two Digimon, hoping that the light meant that Lashana had somehow gotten free and was alright.

It turned out that he had been half right. As he approached the dune, he spotted two forms on the sands below, a growl rumbling out of him when he saw Mummymon grappling with a still tied-up Lashana, the latter's fangs bared in a snarl as she planted a foot against the Digimon's face and tried to shove him away.

Roaring, he dropped from the sky and landed heavily close by, distracting Mummymon as he did so, enabling the Elf to give him a solid kick in the face with both feet, sending him sprawling. Not deterred in the least by the panic in the other Digimon's eyes, he reached down and grabbed Mummymon by the throat, lifting him up and snarling into his face. "Big. Mistake."

"....mummy!"

"Lookout!"

He jerked his head up at Lashana's scream, eyes widening when he saw the Jeep shoot off the top of a dune and head straight for him. Something slammed into his side then, knocking him over and making him loose his grip on Mummymon, leaving the Digimon to land on the hood of the car while he tumbled to the sands. Snarling as he rose to his knees and glared at the retreating Jeep, he was moments away from giving chase when he remembered Lashana, his gaze darting around him before settling on the Elf that was lying on her back next to him, her eyes clenched shut as she gasped for breath. "Lashana?"

"What... the hell... took you... so long?" she gasped, cracking an eye open to look at him as a weak smirk spread over her lips.

Growling in worry, he slammed the blades of both gauntlets into the ground and freed his arms from them, leaving the Destroyers there as he quickly yanked his helmet off and tossed it aside, reaching out to rip the bindings off of her. Once she was free, he lifted her to her feet and frantically looked her over, running his hands over her arms and sides as he tried to see if she was okay. "Are you alright?! Are you hurt?!"

"I'm fine," she said hurriedly, alarmed by the tone of panic in his voice. "I'm just a little sore, that's all."

"Oh, Goddramon, you scared me," he whispered, hauling her into his arms and resting his cheek against her hair, holding her for a long moment before frowning and pushing her away, holding her at arms length. "Are you sure you're alright?"

When she nodded, he sighed and ran his hands over her arms, tracing the light marks that the bandages had made on her skin as they slowly faded. She closed her eyes and let him skim his hands over her sides and then up into her hair, wincing a little when he touched the bruise that was hidden by her bangs, the mark left behind from when Mummymon had knocked her cold with his gun. "It's okay. I'm fine."

"You could have been killed," he murmured. "I can't believe I let them get to you."

"You were a little busy fighting the giant spider at the time."

"Still...." Sighing, he reached for his helmet and hooked it onto the waistband of his armor, pausing only long enough to don his Dramon Destroyers before gently scooping her into his arms. "Let's go somewhere safe. I think we have to talk."

"Can you do me a favor first?"

"Sure."

"Follow 'em."

"What? Why?"

A decidedly vengeful glint appeared in her eyes. "I wanna blow their damned Jeep up. If they happen to be in it at the time, I'll consider that a bonus."

He stared at her a moment longer before an answering grin spread over his lips, and he tightened his hold on her as he leapt into the air, soaring after the duo. "You're sure you have enough energy for an attack?"

"Even if I don't, the sheer satisfaction of doing some damage will be worth it!"

Chuckling, he shifted his hold on her so that he was tightly gripping her waist, carrying her so that she'd be able to feel as if she was flying on her own. A flash of sun reflecting off of metal in the distance caught his attention, and he gently prodded her with a talon before nodding in the direction of the speeding vehicle.

Lashana cackled.

~*~

"But Arukenimon! It wasn't my fault!"

"Shut up! You should have been able to handle one measly human! I swear Mummymon, there are days where I think Goddramon's punishing me by sticking you with me! This is one of them!"

"But darling--"

"And don't call me that!"

"Yo! Bitches!"

"Huh?" The two Digimon paused their bickering and looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. A familiar shadow on the sands behind the Jeep made them look up at the Mega that was flying over them, the Elf that he was holding securely in his arms grinning like a maniac as she gathered blood red energy in her hands. "Oh no...."

"Payback time! Darkness beyond all twilight..."

Arukenimon whacked Mummymon. "Drive faster!! Faster!"

"...Crimson beyond blood that flows..."

"I am! The pedal's to the metal!"

"...buried in the flow of time..."

"Then shoot them!!"

"...in thy great name I pledge myself to Darkness..."

"I can't shoot and drive at the same time!"

"...let the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I possess!!"

The two Digimon gulped and exchanged glances before they threw themselves out of the moving Jeep, crying out in terror as they tumbled down the side of a dune.

"Dragon Slave!!"

Blackwargreymon narrowed his eyes as the explosion envelloped a huge expanse of the desert below them, privately awed by the power she seemed to effortlessly conjure as he turned his gaze back towards the Jeep, grinning when the only evidence he saw of it was a flaming tire that was wobbling down the lee of a dune.

"There!" Lashana beamed as she cheerfully waved down at the cursing and screaming duo below them. "Now, we can go relax."

~*~

"You enjoyed that, didn't you?" Blackwargreymon rumbled to her as he alighted next a small stream twenty minutes later, taking a moment to make sure they were alone before setting her on her feet.

"Emmensely!" Grinning, she threw herself down into the ferns and stretched out on her back, staring up at the tree canopies above them as she laced her fingers behind her head. "What? You didn't?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "I didn't say that."

"Mmhm. So, what's bothering you then?"

"Nothing."

"Don't make me go through the list of your tells again."

Chuckling weakly despite himself, he removed his gauntlets and dropped them to the ground before sitting so that he was leaning back against a tree, just a little ways to the left of her. "I'm just relieved that you're alright. Speaking of which, come closer, would you?"

Ignoring the stiffness in almost her entire body, she oblidgingly sat up and scooted over to sit by his side, listening to his soft rumble as he draped his right arm around her, letting her rest her head against his chest. She smiled slightly as he rubbed his hand over her back, his continuous rumbling relaxing her as he pulled her a little closer and securely tucked her under his arm, nestling her against his side. "Turning protective already?"

"Maybe just a little," he replied, smiling down at her. "Besides, you're lying about being okay." When it looked like she was going to protest, he grinned at her and playfully tugged at a lock of her hair. "Want me to point out your tells?"

"I don't have any tells."

"Ah, you have one that you can't hide."

"Oh?"

"Your scent."

"....what?"

"I... uh... memorised your scent... after the nightmare," he muttered in embarrassment, avoiding her surprised gaze when she looked up at him. "Anyway, I can tell that you're hurting. And you've got a cut somewhere too, because you're bleeding." Still not looking at her, he mustered his courage and blurted out what had been bothering him for the past day. "I did a lot of thinking.... during the time that Arukenimon and Mummymon had you."

Not knowing where he was going with this, as she sat up a little straighter and looked at him worriedly, frowning when he refused to meet her gaze and instead chose to stare up at the sunlight that was streaming through the leaves.

"I.... I do consider you a friend, Lashana. My first and only....maybe more, I don't know. All I know is that I have never felt so afraid before in my life. I would have destroyed the Digiworld itself to get you back, do you know that?" He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree, the fingers of his left hand digging into the ground as he fought to keep his emotions under a semblance of control. "I.... I know that I can't stay here anymore. This world holds nothing for me.... but I.... I want to protect you, I want to keep you safe.... I don't want to lose you...."

"....I'd miss you too."

Startled, he turned his head to look at her, rumbling softly as he met her gaze. "Then what do we do?"

"I don't know," she admitted, glancing away. "Telca an I are just sorceresses 'in-training', until one of us gets the hang of the portals we're basically confined to our own dimension. And the Real World isn't exactly the most inviting place for non-humans to live, trust me. I have to put a spell on myself every time I leave the apartment so no one notices that I'm half-Elf."

He sighed and ducked his head down to tenderly nuzzle her cheek. "I don't care about the humans. Tell me what you want."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"It wouldn't be fair to you. My apartment isn't exactly spacious."

"You haven't seen some of the caves I've taken shelter in."

"You wouldn't be able to go out in the daylight."

"I can content myself with going out at night. And before you think of another excuse, I can live on very little food and I'll even sleep on the floor if I have to." Moving carefully, he hooked a talon under her chin and rose her head so that he could meet her gaze. "Let me come with you."

"....alright." She paused and lowered her gaze, chuckling as she shook her head slightly. "Telca's gonna have a fit."

Grinning, he slid both arms around her and gave her a gentle hug, sighing contentedly as he rested his cheek on the top of her head. "Let her."

"Hmpft. Easy for you to say, you won't be the one she'll be yelling at!"

"LASHANAAAA!!!"

"See?"

Blackwargreymon gulped a little as the scream echoed around them and looked up at the glowing doorway that had appeared in the air in front of them, glancing at the Elf nervously when she pulled away and got to her feet. "Lashana...." he hesitantly rose and grabbed at his Dramon Destroyers and helmet, hooking the latter onto the waistband of his armor again as he moved to her side, suddenly unsure.

Smiling, the Elf stepped into the portal, then paused and turned to hold a hand out to him. "You coming, or am I going to have a celebratory fudge sundae all on my own?"