Chapter 4 Ice Realm Surprise

Okay peoples. Here's the next chapter. It's a bit longer. And I don't think I've said this yet, but I don't own Digimon or any other thing from the real world I may use. This will be the first and last time that I say this. R&R.

When Ruki landed, she could tell she'd picked a bad data stream to travel in. This data stream had taken her to a cold dreary place. There was snow as far as Ruki could see and more was falling fast. "Great. Just what I needed. An empty barren place full of snow," she muttered. She could also see big black patches in the snow. She guessed that these were areas that had not been reformatted yet.

Ruki, not wanting to be a quitter, began walking in hopes of finding some type of cave for shelter from the falling snow. She had no coat for warmth. Instead she kept rubbing her hands, arms, and face to try and keep them at least a little warm. She trudged onward through the snow slowly.

At one point she saw some Frigimon in the distance. She decided to take her chance and called to them. "Hello? Can you guys help me?!"

The Frigimon either didn't hear her or didn't want to answer her because they burrowed under the snow and stayed there. Ruki silently cursed at herself for thinking they'd actually answer her.

After walking in the snow for about a half-hour, Ruki was almost frozen to death. She felt faint and wanted to sleep, but she knew that if she did, hypothermia would set in. She didn't want that to happen. Unfortunately, her body thought otherwise. She collapsed face first into the cold, biting snow.

Everything was a blur as Ruki woke up. Her head hurt and she didn't have the strength to sit up. So she lay there, swirling around in her thoughts. Where am I? Am I dead? By all reason I should be. What happened?

Ruki kept her eyes closed and listened to the sounds around here. She heard a rustling here and there and she thought she heard a fire crackling nearby. She was very curious as to where she was and who had helped her if she wasn't dead. So she decided to take a chance and open her eyes. She did and found her rescuer to be a big surprise.

"Re-Renamon? Is it really you or am I dead and this is all part of a dream?" she asked, too confused.

"You are not dead Ruki nor is this a dream. This is all very real," coolly responded Renamon as she tended to the fire.

Ruki tried to sit up again, but found she couldn't. She just didn't have the strength. Renamon saw this and moved over to where Ruki was. She propped Ruki up in her arms like a mother would a child. "Please try to save your energy Ruki. You were almost frozen to death when I found you and you have been out for almost 24 hours."

"24 hours? Oh man. I really need to contact Yamaki and tell him what happened. Will you please hand me my backpack? My laptop's in there."

"Of course Ruki," answered Renamon. She reached down to the spot where Ruki had been unconscious and somehow unzipped it, got out the laptop, and handed it to Ruki with one graceful move of her left hand. Ruki now realized that she had been laying on it for a pillow.

"Thank you, Renamon," said Ruki as she took the laptop from Renamon. Ruki yearned to ask Renamon many questions, but she knew that she needed to contact Yamaki least he think she was dead. "Renamon will you please prop me up against the wall? Your arms probably ache from holding me."

"Yes," was Renamon's only reply before she picked up Ruki and carried her to the wall nearest the fire.

"If you'll look in my backpack, you'll find some food. Take what you want to eat."

"But that is your food Ruki and you need it to get better," protested Renamon.

"I will be fine. Take something to eat. It's the least I can do."

Ruki opened her laptop as Renamon searched her backpack for food. Renamon found something she apparently liked, because she smiled when she picked up the package. Ruki tried to squint to see what it was, but it made her dizzy. She shook her head to clear it away. Ruki pulled up the email program and began to type a letter to Yamaki. It read as follows:

Yamaki,

Sorry to take so long emailing you, but I had a problem. I collapsed in the snow, and when I woke up, I saw that Renamon had rescued me. I am weak, but fine and am writing this to let you know.

I found out a few things while I was in Primary Village. I arrived there and talked with an Elecmon. He told me that the Digital World still had at least 30% to reformat. I then asked him about our Digimon partners and he told me he had only saw Guilmon who disappeared after being sucked up by a data stream.

I spent the afternoon in Primary Village and then left toward mid afternoon. I chose to be sucked up by a data stream and was taken to a snowy place. It was there that I collapsed in the snow from the cold and lack of shelter.

When I woke, I found Renamon by my side. She's taking care of me. That's all for now. Ruki

She sent the email and shut down the laptop. Renamon was busy cooking the packet of food that she had picked out and from the smell wafting over from the fire, Ruki could tell that it was lasagna. She took this time to take a good look at her surroundings.

As Ruki looked about, she could tell that they were taking shelter in a medium, prehistoric like cave. They were located in the back against the farthest wall to protect them from the storm, which was still raging outside. Renamon had piled stones against the entrance to keep out most of the icy winds.

Ruki again glanced over at Renamon whose food had now finished cooking. She was surprised though, to see Renamon carry over some to her. "Here Ruki. Have some."

"I can't. It's yours."

"No. I found two packets of it and decided to make some for you. Besides it will warm you up." She handed Ruki the lasagna in the dish it came in and a fork.

Ruki accepted them and began to eat. She decided that now was a good time to ask Renamon some questions. "Renamon, may I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course, Ruki."

"First of all, what is this place? I don't like it."

Renamon stifled a laugh, glad to see some of Ruki's humor return. "This place is known as the Ice Realm. It's a very harsh place and only Digimon that have adapted to the cold can live here."

"Why were you here? You don't like the cold."

"Well, I, like you, had picked a bad data stream to travel in. I landed here. My fur kept me warm from the cold, but it wouldn't last long. I went walking in the snow, hoping to find another data stream. Instead, I found you. I quickly found shelter in a cave and proceeded to make a fire and take care of you."

"How did you know I picked a bad data stream?"

" I know how you are. You just pick any one to travel on like me. We're alike in more ways then one, Ruki. It's from the bond. We're connected yet not connected through it."

"Oh," was Ruki's only answer. Both of them ate in silence for a few minutes.

"Ruki, may I ask you a question now?"

"Sure."

"Why are you here? I thought the gate was closed."

"So did I, but Takato found out that it was open weeks after you guys left. He told Yamaki. Yamaki and the Monster Makers set out to create a device that would allow us Tamers to visit you guys and then be returned home with the push of a button. It took them 6 months to come up with a prototype, and I'm here to test it."

"Shouldn't you be returning home?"

"I asked if I could stay for awhile and was allowed to."

"Oh." Renamon noticed Ruki beginning to grow tired. Her head was drooping and she couldn't seem to keep her eyes open. "Ruki, I think it is time you went to bed. You look tired. You need to rest."

Ruki couldn't argue. She knew Renamon was right. She was feeling very weak. She didn't know if it was because she was tired or if it was still from being out in the cold. Either way she needed to sleep. "Okay Renamon."

Renamon carried Ruki back over to where her backpack was. She zipped it up and fluffed it like a pillow. Then, she lay Ruki down on it. "Goodnight Renamon," replied a sleepy Ruki.

"Goodnight Ruki. I will watch over you."

What'd ya think? Ruki may be a bit OOC, but remember it's been 6 months, movie 6 never happened, and she hasn't seen Renamon for a long time and she's had a chance to change a bit. Review it please. Oh yeah. I'd also like to advertise a fic that my best friend wrote. Her author name is Ravwrin. Read her Abduction fic. I guarantee a few laughs. That's all for now. Byes.