With Seth, AJ, Wade and Zack all missing, things seem even more impossible for the group of Digidestined. Their numbers had already been dwindling due to releases and injuries, and now... now. Dolph closes his eyes and buries his knuckles into his eyes, wondering how Zack's doing, if this is hindering his recovery. Shaking his head almost violently, he forces himself to think about something, anything else. Impmon is quiet by his side, also feeling the tension as Luke paces before them, lost in thought. He had no idea what to do, or where to even begin in attempting to regain their friends, and it had added to the general frustration as he had been considered as the go-to for all things involving the Digiworld.
Patamon suddenly whimpers from where he's sitting on Dolph's shoulder and he automatically reaches out and pets the little guy's forehead, like Zack used to. When the Digimon calms, Dolph turns his focus back onto Luke. "What are we going to do? Or are you just going to continue going in circles? We need a plan. Now." He'd lost his job, he'd lost his title. He was lucky just to be here at all. He wasn't about to lose one of his best friends on top of everything else. I'll get him back, somehow. I miss his obnoxious grin... and even his stupid WOO WOO WOOs... Forcing himself to listen to Luke, he digs his hands in his pockets, trying to forestall his anxiety.
"I'd suggest, if you all insist on going to search for your teammates, you don't split up this time. We're not sure how many Digimon are involved in this, but it appears as if there are multiple responsible, and I don't want to lose any more of you. Be viligant and careful," he advises them.
Dolph's just opened his mouth to respond when there's a loud squeech overhead and a shadow flies over them, all of them immediately on alert and scanning the sky for the culprit, Luke's words fresh in their minds. They all stand in tense anticipation when another squeech is heard and the creature swoops down lower, a blue mechanical looking body visible before disappearing again. Impmon shifts next to Dolph, but he makes no move to encourage Digivolution or anything else, expecting a third appearance of the Digimon and-
It happens, the creature going so low this time that his hair is ruffled, but it quickly turns back around and aims an attack at them, a heavy mallet type weapon coming out of its tail before impacting basically at Dolph's feet and sending them all flying back a few feet, the force of a minor earthquakre rattling through Luke's home due to the pure power of the strike. "After him!" Dolph says, having a suspicious feeling about the creature. He's a fast flyer but even after they take the time to Digivolve their partners to follow easier, he's still in sight and remains so as they chase him through plains and by an ocean, finally cornering him by some tunnels leading into caves.
He stares at them, eyes dark and piercing, before issuing a bland, monotone kind of laugh, abruptly flying upwards and away. Dolph glares upwards, pointing after him. "Catch him, Wizardmon!" he orders, angry at whatever this Digimon is playing at. But before Wizardmon can say or do anything, Patamon stirs from his precarious balance on Dolph's shoulder, bright blue eyes blinking open. "Patamon?"
He sits up and stares blankly ahead at the cave for a few moments before fluttering forward, avoiding Dolph's attempts at reclaiming him with what seems like a sort of sixth sense. He's only a few feet away from the cave when Dolph hears footsteps, glancing over at the dazed Digidestined. It's only then that he realizes- Viximon too is free, Miz looking stupefied as the small creature follows Patamon's path from the ground. Alicia lets out a faint gasp and Heath mumbles something to himself when the shadows from the cave darken, the forms of their missing friends appearing in the sunlight, Betamon and Lunamon reuniting with the other two Digimon as they stand side by side with their partners.
Ziggler gingerly steps forward, looking the missing four people up and down desperately. It had been so long since he'd seen Zack that it almost hurts, especially now that his best friend is barely registering his presence. His worry eases- Zack is standing before him, whole and alive and healthy, which considering the appearance of his bedroom after he'd been taken, the window pulled out and everything trashed, Dolph wasn't sure what shape Zack would be in when he'd next see him- then returns full force when he realizes just how dark Zack's gaze is, no recognition in his eyes. "Zack? Kid?" he ventures.
There's still nothing, no response, no life in that usually goofy face. He swallows hard, wondering what happened to him, when he glances at the others and sees similar expressions on Wade, AJ and Seth's faces. It's only when their Digimon turn towards them, their eyes slowly deadening to match their human partners', that he realizes just how much trouble they're really in. "Oh, hell," he breathes.
