Kari was sitting on the grassy forest ground. She bit her lip wondering where the distortion had taken her.
"TK?!" She called out though her voice wasn't very loud.
"I can't find him." Tokomon jumped onto Kari's lap. Kari smiled at the little digimon,
"we'll find him. We should find you something to eat though." Kari stood and Tokomon remained in her arms.
"I am hungry." He stated and Kari giggled,
"I'm sure you are." Kari pushed through some low hanging branches and smiled as she recognised a berry bush.
"Look Tokomon, berries." Tokomon jumped out of her arms and started devouring berries off the bush. Kari smiled and looked around. It was silent in the woods but she didn't feel alone. She felt as though someone was watching her.
"You stay here and eat Tokomon, I'll be right back." Tokomon didn't acknowledge Kari's words though she wasn't bothered. She moved past Tokomon onto the path.
The trees were dark and Kari shivered slightly.
"You shouldn't be out here on your own." A voice spoke and Kari turned to look behind her. She couldn't see anyone.
"Hello? Tai?" She heard a low chuckle,
"no your brother isn't here." The hair on the back of Kari's neck rose as the voice spoke again.
"Who are you?" Kari peered through the trees and suddenly saw red eyes staring at her. She stepped back and gasped.
"Don't be alarmed, child." The eyes moved towards her and Kari put her hand out,
"stop, don't come any closer." The voice chuckled,
"your partner isn't here." It said and Kari gulped. The eyes were attached to a tree that was moving. Kari tilted her head, she recognised this digimon.
"I know you." She whispered and the digimon chucked again.
"Well we weren't ever formally introduced. Though I'm sure friendship told you all about me." Kari's mouth was open slightly as she stared. She couldn't remember the name but she knew he had been around the first time she came to the digital world. "Who are you?" She asked and the tree smirked.
"Cherrymon." Cherrymon replied. Kari moved back and shook her head,
"how do you remember me?" She asked and Cherrymon rested on his walking stick.
"I remember everything. I also know you are weak right now." Kari became stern,
"I am not." She spoke and Cherrymon laughed again. She wasn't a fan of his laugh.
"Stubborn. I like that. Well it's no use trying to act tough for me. I know too much. You're trying too hard to impress those you care about. Your partner, Gatomon. She has a dark past. This reboot has made her forget and so you think this is a good thing." Kari winced slightly. Cherrymon continued
"And then there is your brother. You are trying so hard to make him feel better it is hurting you. He doesn't care about you." Kari then got angry.
"That's a lie!" She snapped and Cherrymon laughed,
"look at you! You have to defend him even from the truth. Answer me this child. If your brother cares so deeply, why hasn't he found you yet?" Kari kept her mouth in a straight line,
"I haven't found him yet either." She countered. Cherrymon gave her a look that made Kari question herself.
"But he's the older brother. He promised to protect you. He swore he'd never let you get hurt again. Didn't he?" Kari felt her heart beat increase.
She remembered years ago after she had been in the hospital. Tai was tucking her into bed, "I promise never to let you get hurt like this again Kari." He said to her.
Kari then shook the memory away.
"We were just kids. And anyways he's kept his promise." She said strongly. Cherrymon nodded,
"really? Has he really kept his promise? You've been targeted by darkness. Your light makes you the most vulnerable of all the digidestined and yet where is your brother? Chasing the child of love is he not?" Kari couldn't believe what Cherrymon was saying what scared her more was, she was starting to believe it. She tried to stay strong.
"Sora and Tai have been friends for a long time. That's what Tai does, he looks out for his friends. He's our leader." Cherrymon didn't buy her words,
"but you're his sister. You should come first. He should protect you and make sure you're safe before he looks after the others." Kari shook her head. It hurt how much sense the digimon was making.
"You don't know what you're talking about. This isn't about me!" She said sternly.
"It never is, is it?" Cherrymon asked and Kari felt her knees shake.
"You are always forgotten. Left to make sure everyone else is okay. Why can't it just be about you for once?" Kari's hands shook as she clenched them into fists.
"Please stop." She whispered. Cherrymon ignored her plea,
"you are on your own. No one not even your brother can save you now." Kari felt tears roll down her cheeks.
"BOOM BUBBLE!" A shot of air hit Cherrymon and Kari looked to see Patamon flying towards her.
"Patamon!" She yelled and Cherrymon growled,
"hey!" Patamon stared at Cherrymon,
"leave her alone you big bully!" Kari smiled at the small digimon. Patamon flew next to her and stopped right in front of her and stared at Cherrymon. Cherrymon went from angry to amused.
"Sure I'll leave her alone, for now." He the looked with his red eyes at Kari.
"Kari, don't forget what I said. Completely alone." He then made his way back into the shadows of the trees. Kari held her arms out and Patamon flew into them.
"Thank you Patamon." Patamon smiled,
"you're a friend of TK's and Salamon was right, you are really nice." Kari rubbed Patamons head, Patamon then continued,
"besides, he made you cry. That's not very nice." Kari nodded, "thank you. Let's go find TK." Patamon flew out of Kari's arms and led the way through the woods. Kari watched the little digimon and followed behind. She was no longer smiling however, since Cherrymons words were on replay in her mind.
They walked when suddenly Kari stopped and gasped,
"I recognise this place." She said aloud and Patamon turned in the air to face her.
"Are we close to TK?" Kari shook her head,
"I hope not." She was staring at a house. She knew the house, it was Puppetmons. She bit her lip remembering when TK was taken inside on their first adventure. He could be in there. She thought but then another thought came to her.
And so could Puppetmon.
She wasn't sure what to do. She needed Gatomon.
"TK might be in there." Kari began and Patamon perked up.
"But we need to be careful. If we are going to look, we can't be seen." Patamon nodded and Kari and the flying digimon slowly approached the house.