Sorry, I was gone in Yosemite for a week, otherwise this would have been up sooner.
However, I got some good ideas for locations for the story, not in this chapter, but later.
Please enjoy!
(Kari's POV)
His Eyes…
I watched the lion stare at me from the boulder. The Savannah rippled with the wind, the trees shook and the sound ceased.
His eyes are burning…
The Black Lion. It bore into my senses, I couldn't breathe. I became dizzy, the colors faded.
Monochrome.
The Lion stood and jumped from the rock. It paced toward me slowly, never breaking eye contact. It stopped In front of me…
Fire. It won't stop…
And it bowed.
Superior…
I felt myself raise a little, feeling the growth of superiority.
What was this feeling? Why was this Lion bowing? Why didn't it attack?
Lead…
It looked at me; its golden eyes gazed into mine, nothing like that of a lion, but like a human.
It spoke.
"Mountain God, we are here."
God…
Silly, to think that they thought I was their God… and yet….
Lead them…
I nodded and lifted my gaze. The Sun breeds, the Moon Breeds, the villagers dressed in black.
My followers.
God? As if. I couldn't lead these people, these creatures.
We'll help…
I felt the heat of flames engulf my body, though there was none. I enjoyed the feel.
The Tiger.
Tygris…
It's golden gaze, its muscular body, its dominant features. True power.
Power…
"My strength is yours." It said.
Silence….
They roared.
--
I gasped as I was pulled out of the vision. I collapsed to the ground, dripping in sweat.
I looked up; Karakin stared down at me through her lashes.
"What was that?" I asked.
"What do you think?" she asked.
I was silent.
"You have the potential to rule the Creatures. However, you lack the heart." Said Karakin.
"Meaning?" I questioned.
"Leave the boy." Karakin growled. "He's of no use to you."
"What?" I questioned, standing.
"Believe me." She shot roughly, "He can't give you anything. I can!"
I stared at her with my brows slightly furrowed.
"How would you know?" I asked.
Karakin looked away angrily. She didn't answer for a moment, and then she spoke, still looking away.
"Men. They do that to you." She chuckled and shook her head. "They have no strength of their own, so they must take it from women." She looked at me.
"We are too much alike. I have felt pains that you haven't even faced yet. Take my word for it. It's like I said…."
"You're greatest enemy is the one you trust." I finished, looking down. I felt my heart grow hot.
Karakin tilted her head a little, looking down at me.
"Good girl." I felt her take and play with my hand, massaging the fingers and palm lightly.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Nothing." She said lightly, obviously enjoying herself. I blinked and watched her play with my hand. Karakin tilted her head a little to the side, looking down her nose at my hand.
She placed her hand in mine, spreading our fingers and lining the hands together. They matched.
"Yeah, you're a blade. They are pianists, we are the blades." She spoke lightly.
I looked at her strangely.
"Who?" Karakin looked at me.
Her lashes lifted and she looked at me.
She smiled, but didn't answer.
It was strange, at that point I thought of how I saw Karakin when I first met her; cold, cruel, deadly. For some reason, I had forgotten all of that and saw only a young, melancholy woman seeking something out of reach. What it was, I couldn't tell. I could only tell that we were indeed much alike.
There was a knock on the door and Tai walked in.
"Hey Kari, it's getting late, you should get to bed so you don't exhaust yourself. You got Chemistry, remember." He said. I looked over at him, my hand still in Karakin's. She smiled at him devilishly.
"Yeah, sure." I said. Tai nodded and left, shutting the door.
He never saw Karakin.
--
It's been 2 ½ months since the incident with T.K and the dark canyon. He worried us very much over the period. He would either get little to no sleep at night, he wouldn't eat, he couldn't focus or concentrate on anything in school, and he became deeply depressed often. Sonya worried the most over him; I'm sure she saw the worst of what was happening to him. I couldn't blame her. I was terrified, I thought that what Gennai had said might have come true, that he would have mutilated himself in the first week or two.
He proved to be stronger than that.
It was December 13; winter had approached quickly with large flecks of white snow. The ground was white and the trees were wilted with the weight of the frozen water.
How I hated the snow.
I met Davis and Cody on the corner by the school.
"Hey." I greeted.
"Hi Kari! Look at the snow! It keeps getting thicker and thicker!" said Davis excitedly.
"That's nice, Davis." I said dully.
"What's wrong with you? Sleep badly?" asked Cody humorously.
"Kinda." I said with a shrug.
"You ready for Chemistry today?" asked Davis.
I shrugged.
Chemistry had been moved further into the term because a freshman had 'accidentally' burned up some of the lab equipment and Mr. Hughes needed to re-stock. I'm just sorry I wasn't the one to blow it up.
I heard T.K and Sonya come around the corner toward us.
"Hey Guys! How are you?" asked Cody.
"Alright." Sonya yawned. "It's hard trying to sleep in the city, with all the noise and movement anyway."
I looked up at T.K for a response, but he was silent, as usual.
I felt myself sadden at his blank expression.
"Come on. Let's hurry before we're late." He said suddenly, making us jump.
We nodded and made our way through the crowd to the school.
I looked at T.K again, thinking about his misfortune. He had lost a lot and sacrificed much for nothing, shortly followed by being purged by Darkness. I felt my heart sink lower and lower in my chest.
He looked at me for a moment, and then smiled warmly at me, reassuring me that things were okay. I doubted that.
I smiled back, though, feeling joy in his recognition for me.
I looked over at Sonya, noticing the bags under her eyes that matched the ones under T.K's.
Something was going on, but I couldn't figure it out. We reached the school and entered our classes just before the bell rang. Mrs. Takamori was preaching to the German girl, Kira, about dabbing glaze on ceramic, not brushing. Kira was flustered and angrily went to work on her overdue project. Gayle was behind her, trying to talk to her and cheer her up. Lieko sat drawing in her sketchpad and consoling as well.
"Do you think the digital world will be open today?" asked Sonya. We shrugged.
Indeed, the Gate was shut and locked after we left. We've spent two months trying to open it, but to no avail.
We sat at our table, watching Mrs. Takamori make her rounds like a lioness on PMS.
"What's with her?" asked Cody.
"She's either having bad relations with Mr. Takamori, she's on a constant PMS, or she's just got a squirrel up her ass." I said.
Cody snorted. "Gee Kari; I didn't know you had such a high opinion of your teachers." He said with a laugh.
Sonya and T.K had put there heads down and were snoozing away. I knew they had fallen asleep when their breathing became light.
Mrs. Takamori saw this and walked over with a large ruler in her hand. She snapped the ruler against the edge of the table hard, making a loud ring through out the room. Everyone jumped and Sonya woke abruptly.
"Wake up. There is no sleeping in my classroom!" she said sternly.
"Well, apparently there is." I said, gesturing to T.K.
Mrs. Takamori looked at T.K and shook her head when he didn't move. She tapped him on the head with the ruler, but he didn't stir.
"T.K, wake up. Kari, would you get his attention?" she requested. I looked at her and tried shaking T.K awake.
"It's no use, he's not going to wake for a while." Said Sonya with a yawn.
"Very well then, T.K has detention." Said Mrs. Takamori and walked away. T.K still didn't move.
"Huh, well that sucks." I said.
"Hey T.K, did you hear her?" asked Cody, trying to shake T.K awake.
"No, he can't hear you." Sonya yawned again, putting her head on the table again.
"Ah, you look tired." Said a voice suddenly from behind us.
We jumped and looked around. Behind us was a tall boy with long dark hair and light blue eyes. His uniform was slightly out of place, being unbuttoned and not tucked in some places. He gave Sonya a goofy grin.
I raised an eyebrow.
"And you are?" I started.
"My name is Saktan Haru! You can call me Sky, though. I'm new here, from Tokyo."
"That's nice." I said, turning away.
"What's the matter with you?" he asked Sonya.
Sonya looked at him unsurely.
"Nothing, really." She answered.
"Doesn't look like it, but okay. Anyway, I'm going back to my seat. Bye!" he said then went across the room to his table.
"Another one?" I questioned. "What's with all the new kids?" I sighed.
"They're everywhere, like mosquitoes on a marathon runner in Alturas." Mumbled T.K. we looked at him.
"You're awake!" said Cody.
T.K groaned.
"You know you have a DT, right?" I commented.
He mumbled into the desk.
"What?" Sonya asked.
T.K turned his head to us.
"I'm not going. Maybe tomorrow." He said and yawned.
"You're going to get in trouble." Said Cody.
Sonya leaned in a little.
"What is a 'DT'?" she asked. Her cute and confused little face looked up at me.
"Detention. It's a punishment for kids who don't obey the rules of the school and don't listen to the teachers. You have to stay after school, at lunch, or come in the mornings really early. It's quite annoying actually." I explained. She blinked and nodded her head, then she leaned in again.
"What happens if you don't attend?"
"You get a second detention on top of the first. If you continue to not show up, you get suspended, then, eventually expelled. That's quite annoying as well." I said with a shrug. Sonya continued looking at me, then turned her head to T.K.
"You aren't afraid of that?" she asked.
T.K sat up.
"Don't worry. That only happens if you duck out a great number of times." He said reassuringly.
The bell rang soon after, releasing us from the paint fumes and out to break.
I walked with T.K and Sonya and we watched as Cody hurried to G's class to make up missing homework.
I turned to T.K.
"So, what's going on? The both of you look really tired." I asked.
"Bad nights. Can't sleep." He said. Sonya nodded her head.
"Reason…?" I continued.
"Nightmares usually." He said.
"He wakes up in cold sweat" Sonya added.
"Usually wakes up Sonya, too. Sorry."
"It is alright."
I watched as they finished each other sentences with a raised brow, then realized what they said.
"What are the nightmares about?" I asked.
They were silent.
"Nothing. They're just nightmares." T.K said finally. We saw Davis and some of his soccer buddies walk into the cafeteria, laughing and joking as usual. Sonya bit her lip as she watched him enter the room.
"What's that about?" asked T.K with a hand on his hip.
Sonya looked up at him.
"Huh? What? What's what about?" she asked, a red tint showing on her cheeks. T.K smirked, lighting his tired and pale face somewhat.
"I'm going to go to the cafeteria for a little bit. I will see you in third period." She said quickly and left to the cafeteria.
"You know, I think I'll go play supervisor." Said T.K and followed after her. I stopped him and pulled him back.
"Wait. T.K. are you alright? You've been so tired, depressed, you've lost so much weight…." I said worriedly.
T.K looked at me and his expression softened. He smiled.
"I'm fine, Kari. It's just that, things have been kinda rough is all. I mean, I need to find a job so I can keep paying the bills, buying food, electricity, and then there's coming to school and dealing with the pressure of getting into college, and of course I'm still worried about what's happening in the digital world." He explained. I nodded in understanding.
"T.K, listen, if you need help, I will always be there, and so will the others. You don't have to worry about all of this by yourself." I said. I felt myself grow hot. I knew that Karakin was growing angry with me.
T.K's smile widened.
"Kari, what am I going to do with you?" he said playfully and ruffled my hair.
I felt a little happy of his cheerfulness, but couldn't get the thought of his troubles out of my mind.
"I'm going to make sure Davis didn't get Sonya in trouble." He said and turned to leave. He had gone several feet before turning around to say something else. He stopped himself and shook his head, turned around and continued to the cafeteria. I watched him leave, then left for G's class.
When I entered the class, there was only Ashley and some of her friends in the room.
I sighed inwardly and put my bag by my seat. In my peripheral vision, I noticed Ashley giggling and looking at me evilly. I knew they were talking about me.
"Hey Kari, did you know that the sports teams have to be searched every time they go on trips?" she asked from across the room.
"Okay, good for them." I said.
"Did you hear why?" she smirked at me.
I knew what was coming next, the usual attempted torment.
'Wait for it.'
I sighed. "Why?"
'Here it comes….'
"They said it was because you snuck Jack Daniels and Vodka on the busses during one of your soccer trips." She said, earning a giggle from the girls behind her.
'What'd I tell ya?'
'…Is this girl mentally ill?' asked Karakin distastefully.
I quirked an eyebrow.
'I see….'
"Is that so?" I asked her, not really caring for the rumor. She stopped smiling, obviously mad that she hadn't gotten the reaction she wanted.
"You know what Ashley? She's just going to say she didn't do it, that she's all innocent. She's not even worth it." Said the girl, Brittany.
They snickered again.
Ashley made to speak again, but I felt something over come me and I interrupted her.
"Do you have some incentive nagging need to be an annoying little bitch?" I said darkly.
Ashley stiffened. She wasn't sure just what I'd said, but I knew she didn't like the way I said it.
The bells rang and kids started pouring in the class. Mr. Gatanaki walked in with Gayle.
"So yeah, I'm going away for a week and I need the homework for then." She said.
"That's next week, right?" G asked.
Gayle nodded.
"Yeah, sure thing hon." G dismissed her to go to her seat.
"Alright guys, all we're doing today is watching Saving Private Ryan." He said and turned on screen on the board.
We sat through the movie and listened when G explained the many 'symbolic' parts of the scenes. I had a lot of fun watching Ashley writhe when people were shot and blown up.
I grinned.
The day went by strangely. Mrs. Maxwell was gone to get surgery done on her eyes, Mr. Iwado and his sons had gone to the championships for wrestling, and some of the teachers were out sick. Each of the substitutes were lazy and boring and we got everything finished in class, so we were bored as well. Chemistry was interesting, though. T.K, Sonya, Gayle, Trent, Kira and I walked into Hughes's class, ready to blow something up.
"Alright. Now, you're going to separate into groups of 4 or 5. There will be a Senior at each table to help you out. Don't kill anyone. Go!" Hughes dismissed the kids to their tables. Four of the kids came to my table with goggles, gloves and books.
"So, which project does he want done?" I asked.
"He wants us to start crystallization." Said a boy.
"Alrig-…" I stopped for a second, then smacked my head with my hand and started giggling.
"What?' the freshman asked.
"Kari's reminiscing." Said Trent from the other table.
"About what?" asked one of his kids.
"Kari's famous in this class for a reason." Said T.K with a raised brow as he began pointing out the needed chemicals.
"Yeah, The first time I did this, I made mustard gas instead of Crystals. Just about killed Mr. Hughes." I said with a grin as the freshmen started moving nervously.
We worked semi silently. The freshmen were getting along nicely and the first part of the assignment was almost finished. Mr. Hughes got a phone call from the office and announced that he'd be gone for a moment, then disappeared from the room. Later, Ashley walked in the classroom with a small paper. She looked around, but couldn't find Mr. Hughes, and she sat in a desk with a huff and crossed her arms. I rolled my eyes.
"Is that Ashley Chikako? She's really popular, isn't she?" asked the boy, turning to look at Ashley.
"Yeah, popular with the boys and the Playboy magazines." I muttered.
"You don't like her?" asked a girl.
I shook my head.
"Oh, Kari Kamiya? I thought you were above the Freshman level! I didn't know you were still in lower chemistry." Said Ashley, noticing my presence.
"May you burn in the deepest pit of Hell." I said, not taking interest in her.
"Oh, but you know I'm right. You're so dumb you have to be held back with the little kids." Ashley huffed, angry with my comment.
"And I repeat my previous comment." I said, pouring the hydrochloric acid in the breaker to the given amount.
Ashley growled and was about to retort, but was stopped.
"You know what? Shut the fuck up! What do you think gives you the right to mouth off and treat people like that, huh?" said Gayle from her table. We looked over in shock. Her happy-go-lucky exterior had melted into a dark eyed, angry girl.
"Uh, Excuse me? Just who are you?" said Ashley putting a hand on her hip.
"Just a Lunatic Desperately needing a hobby." Muttered Kira from her table.
"Shush." Gayle hushed Kira and looked back at Ashley with flaring eyes.
Ashley narrowed her eyes, but was interrupted by Mr. Hughes coming in the room.
"Ashley, yes. What do you want?" He asked.
She handed him the note.
Hughes read it to himself, then aloud.
"Cheerleaders, meeting after school in the Quad area. Coach Brookes has your winter uniforms." Hughes handed the note back to Ashley and she left.
I rolled my eyes and looked at Gayle who smiled at me happily.
I felt Karakin's interest spark in me.
'Interesting. So a girl's light can be darkened with influence.' She said.
School ended quickly afterward. T.K., Sonya and I went to the computer room and met with the other digidestined. The digimon ate merrily on the snacks Yolie brought from her store.
"Is the digital world open yet?" I asked.
Yolie shook her head.
"The gate is still closed." Said Ken.
"I'm sending another Email to Gennai. Maybe he'll receive it this time and tell us what's going on." Said Yolie.
Suddenly, a message appeared on the screen.
I'm working on opening the gates right now. Step back from the computer.
We all stepped away from the computer as a bright light shined. When it was gone, the gate was opened.
"Come on guys, before it closes!" said Davis. We entered the portal and were sucked through to the digital world.
We landed in the White Plain again. The fortress lay just ahead of us. Looking around, we saw it was clear and we made our way to the village. "Hurry." urged Gatomon. "I hear something behind us." we arrived at the gates, where Taurus recognized us and let us in quickly.
"You must be more careful when traveling here!" he said. "Those damn Blood Harvesters are everywhere, looking for their leader."
"Their leader? Shadow?" asked Davis.
"Nah, not him, nor Megara. I hope they're not looking for who I think it is…." Said Taurus anxiously.
Gennai and Hyperion walked from a hut and greeted us.
"Hello again, digidestined." Said Hyperion
"Well, it looks like you got here safely. Good." Said Gennai.
"What happened?" asked Cody.
"Shadow found a way to close the gates. It took us forever to open them again." Said Gennai. "We need to reprogram the gateways, but it disturbs me how he was able to figure it out. He will do it again… maybe to lock you in next time, though it's clear he doesn't want you here."
"We guessed that." Said T.K.
Gennai and Hyperion looked over at T.K.
"You're alright?" said Gennai shocked. "How are you feeling now, T.K?"
"I've been better." T.K muttered.
"He just needs more sleep." Said Patamon from his friend's shoulder.
"I imagine so. Anyway, it's no longer safe here. A Bloodfall occurred just recently. It was one the plains haven't seen before. That means that trouble is growing nearby. I can take you to Chloe in the Satie territory, but I'm not sure of the voyage." Gennai explained.
"No problem. We can fight anyone who gets in our way!" said Davis with confidence. "Take us there!"
Gennai nodded and said goodbye to Hyperion.
"Be careful, Hyperion. Contact me if you need any assistance here." Said Gennai.
"Of course. Be safe." We left discretely on the edge of the woods by the tall grass. The shadows covered us, camouflaging our bodies somewhat with the brush.
"You will have to digivolve. The Satie are a long ways away." Whispered Gennai.
The digimon nodded and digivolved to their airborne forms. We rode the flying digimon over the plains and small groves, the dark sky hovered low and ominous over us.
"Gennai, what can the Satie tell us? How can they help?" asked Cody.
"The Satie are a well informed tribe. They get their news from Teramori and the Fawns. I'm not sure how they can help, but I know that Chloe will do what she can." Answered Gennai.
"Chloe is the leader?" Ken asked.
Gennai nodded.
"She's a powerful woman. She and I are good friends, I know she won't let us down."
Gennai directed the digimon where to go after leaving the plains and we flew swiftly. I wondered in my mind about the Satie. Karakin seemed Hell bent on keeping away from both Centaurs and the Satie.
Why? I recalled what she had said before as well.
"So, either get eaten by darkness or die a potentially painful death from a failed exorcism….Sounds like fun." Said T.K humorously.
'Wait a minute. I know that sarcasm.' Said Karakin with a growl.
She was unnerved by something in T.K. I felt her uneasiness, a kind of nervous familiarity.
'What is it?' I asked her.
'It's nothing. It better not be who I think it is.' She said with a growl in my mind.
I blinked, looking strait ahead. I glanced over at T.K. His features were troubled as well. He was still exhausted, famished, and he was nervous about something. His gazed shifted every now and again, looking for signs of something behind him, stalking him.
It was 10 minutes before we saw a small village below us. Gennai told us to land and we approached the ring of huts.
The village was larger on the inside than out, homes were built into the trees themselves as camouflage against the outside. The trees surrounding the village protected it from view. There was a large fire in the center of the huts. The sound of music was everywhere. Children danced and played with goats and Shepard Dogs, People wore animal masks and bright robes. The music was cheerful, lively, celebrating something. We walked through the huts, slowly being noticed by the villagers.
Everything stopped and they looked at us with black eyes, their masks hiding their faces behind their depicted animal.
A woman with long blond ringlets stepped from the crowd. Her mask was carved as an eagle, her eyes and face were hidden behind the rich wood. Her light robes fell to the ground in heavy drapes.
"Who enters this village unannounced?" she demanded in a strong voice.
Gennai stepped forward. "It's me, Gennai. These are the digidestined. We are here for your help." He said.
The woman's figure hardened.
"You trespass on our territory, you interrupt our festivities, and you expected us to aid you?!" she said dangerously.
There was a silence, shortly followed by the woman beginning to giggle and then burst out laughing. The crowd followed and Gennai's expression relaxed. The Woman flew at him and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
"Welcome, friends! We were just in the middle of our festival! Would you join us?" she asked cheerfully, removing her mask. Her honey brown eyes revealed themselves and her smile was bright and warming. She reminded me of Sonya.
Gennai smiled.
"Certainly." He said.
The music started again and everyone began dancing once more. The woman led us to some fallen logs outside of the dancing circle. We sat and watched the festivities. Noticed that it wasn't just people who were dancing, but other creatures as well. Faeries, fireflies, and fawns with flutes danced merrily with the villagers.
We watched in awe.
"The creatures of this forest are our friends. They celebrate with us and join our merriment, spreading our joy through the woods." Said the woman, sitting next to us.
"Digidestined, this is Chloe, the Satie leader. Chloe, these are the digidestined children from the scrolls." Gennai introduced.
Chloe smiled at us and we greeted her back. Only I remained staring into the fire.
'What's wrong?' I asked.
'It's not time yet. She'll give us away.' Answered Karakin.
'What?'
'I know her. She was a follower once, but then she turned. She will recognize us.'
I nodded and turned my faced.
"Please excuse me. I must join the dance." Said Chloe and she put her mask back on to rejoin the crowd.
"I like her. She's really nice." Said Armadillomon.
"She is. I hope she will be able to tell us something about Shadow, as well. She used to be a follower of his, but left when he killed her brother. Her tribe has lived in secret ever since, in fear of Shadow's return." Gennai explained.
The dancers' shadows expanded as the remaining daylight grew dim. No one showed signs of tiring. The music was ongoing, constantly improvised.
Chloe came to us once more with a tray of beverages.
'Don't take it.' Said Karakin.
The others accepted the wooden goblets, but I refused, turning my face from Chloe. She looked at me in confusion, but shrugged it off and sat with us.
She observed the digidestined as they watched the merry event.
"Gennai, can I speak with you alone?" she asked politely.
"Certainly." Gennai and Chloe got up and walked several feet away. I watched, feeling something dark and hot grow in my chest, like a rage.
'Traitorous bitch….' Karakin growled lowly.
I huffed and looked back into the burning fire.
--
(T.K's POV)
I felt exhausted, dizzy, and depressed. I looked away from the bright light of the fire and into the darkness of the trees. There was a slight movement. The smell of blood and wet dogs were in the air, but only I seemed to notice.
I heard the panting of the wolves, a shout from a coyote, and the sound of padded feet on the forest floor.
Everything was blocked out except for the music and the animals. Chloe came to us with wooden goblets and a smile. The others except for Kari accepted the offer.
"It will soothe the pain." She said to me when she saw my hesitation. I looked up at her, wondering how she knew about the pain in my chest and head. I took the goblet and thanked her.
Taking a small sip of the dark liquid made me grow cold inside, then I became very hot. I felt my sinuses clear suddenly, my head stopped spinning, I was a little more awake. I felt a small rush of adrenaline run through me.
For a brief moment, I heard only the sounds of the animals in the woods around us, for a brief moment I felt alive and well again, for a brief moment I connected with the music.
For a brief moment, I felt wild.
Then it was gone.
"Interesting, isn't it?" asked Sonya lightly. I looked down at her. Her eyes shone brightly in the fire light, matching finely with the forest around her. She looked at the cup.
"Such a bitter taste, then the senses create their own. It's quite enjoyable." She smiled.
I chuckled and nodded.
"Gennai, can I speak with you alone?" asked Chloe.
"Certainly." Said Gennai and they stepped away several feet.
I looked into the goblet at the liquid for a moment, then heard Gennai and Chloe's voices.
"Gennai, What are you thinking?" Said Chloe quietly.
"They're all we have left, Chloe. They're very strong, maybe strong enough to destroy Shadow forever." Said Gennai.
"They're just children, Gennai." Chloe argued. Gennai shook his head.
"They're tougher than they look. I know they're young. They may have less experience than they need for this, but our troops are fading away! We need them, our last resort, but if they are going to help us, they need to know everything."
"You intend to actually send them into his den?" said Chloe, shocked.
"With me assisting them. Will you help us?" Gennai asked quietly.
Chloe looked him hard in the eye.
"I hope you know what you're doing. For their sakes." She looked at us and noticed I was listening. I didn't break my gaze with her. She smiled at me and walked away.
"I think she'll help us after all." Said Gennai, sitting beside us.
"Does she know anything about Shadow?" asked Ken.
Gennai nodded.
"I don't know what information she carries, but she's willing to tell us what she knows."
"Good. Maybe we'll find out where he is or how to defeat him." Said Cody, looking into his goblet.
"It may not be that easy, but it will certainly help us." Said Hawkmon.
"Kari? What's wrong?" asked Gatomon, looking up at the girl. We looked at her. Her eyes were dark and angry, her expression was firm.
"Nothing." She said with gritted teeth.
Sonya looked at her knowingly, making me wonder if she knew what was wrong. I was suddenly filled with a freezing need to know what she knew. Whatever Sonya discovered about Kari was the primary device in Kari's pain.
"Yeah right, Kari. Something is obviously bugging you." Said Yolie.
Kari's eyes flared once more, but she quickly composed herself and shook her head.
There was a tremble and everything stopped. The villagers looked around in shock, the Faeries and Fireflies fled into the trees and the Fawn's retreated from the village.
Chloe ran to us.
"What happening?" Davis shouted.
"We've been discovered!" she said urgently. "Quickly! Take this!" she shoved a scroll into Sonya's hands. The villagers retreated to the huts, then returned with bows and arrows. They lined up uniformly around the village in a tight circle. "You can escape through here." said Chloe, pulling some bushes back to reveal a tunnel underground.
"Follow this until the third doorway on your left. There will be a flight of stairs that will take you to Teramori's forest!" she said.
"No! We're gonna stay here and fight!" said Davis. We nodded. Sonya nodded as well, stepping forward beside me, but her expression was troubled.
She didn't have a digimon. How could she help?
A series of Centaurs appeared from the trees, trampling the brush and ripping the trees.
"What do you want here?" Chloe demanded.
"The Satie owe us a large sum of debt! We've worked 'till the sweat on our backs washed our hides in protecting your village!" shouted one of the creatures.
Another stepped beside him.
"You're payment is strictly overdue. Where is the gold and food you promised us?" he demanded.
"We have no food or gold for you here! Please, come back when we actually have something to offer you!" said Chloe. I felt myself grow uneasy around the creatures. They were angry, restless, and nervous about something. Kari turned her face from them to Gatomon.
"We have already waited long enough! Pay us now, or lose your village!" shouted the first centaur.
A group of Satie villagers ran in front of Chloe uniformly into two rows with bows and arrows. The first row knelt on one knee and prepared to fire.
"You cannot defeat us, creature. I said, come back when we have something to offer you." Said Chloe, more slowly this time.
The centaurs flared and growled with rage.
"You dare challenge us?!" yelled the first centaur, stamping his hooves. One side of the circle pulled out their bows and arrows as well, aiming for the archers in the middle.
The digimon ran beside the archers defensively.
"You heard the lady! Go away!" shouted Veemon.
The Centaurs tightened their circle around the village, stamping their hooves threateningly.
"Very well! It's you're death wish!" shouted the second Centaur and they released their arrows. The villagers fired their arrows as well and dodged the on-coming danger. The digimon jumped forward and digivolved. Raidramon, Shurimon, Digmon, Stingmon, Pegasusmon, and Nefertimon leapt into action, firing their attacks at the creatures. Centaurs flew from the forest into the village, swinging at people with their spears and bows. We backed up from the fight, watching the digimon in their battle.
Pegasusmon donkey kicked one of the centaurs, then turned around and star-showered him. Raidramon and Digmon work as a team, creating ditches and landing the creatures in. They filled the holes with dirt after they fell. Shurimon ninja jumped, kicked, and spiked the creatures with expert precision, jumping from tree to tree stealthily. Nefertimon flew around the Centaurs, using her Rosetta Stone against and them and pushing them toward Stingmon, who spiking struck them in the legs.
We cheered the digimon on, but I noticed a shadow appear by my legs.
I turned around and saw the black lion, Jaganu, standing behind us.
I felt my hair stand on end, my teeth bared and I growled at the Lion.
The others noticed this and turned as well. Yolie gasped.
Jaganu didn't give anyone time to speak. He pulled the large axe from his back and attacked us.
We dodged the swings and slices. They seemed choppy, playful almost.
Only Kari didn't look all that afraid. I wondered why.
Gennai jumped in front of us with a staff and blocked a blow.
"Kids! Go to your digimon! You need to leave!" he ordered.
"What? Bullshit! We're staying!" I said sternly.
The Lion high-kicked Gennai, sending him into a tree. He ran to us and chopped with the axe. I jumped out of the way just in time. The tree stump that was behind me had been split down to the root. Sonya backed up to a tree, Giving Jaganu a hard look.
He saw this and hurled the axe at her. It sun rapidly like a Frisbee, the blade gleaming as it went. Half a second after the throw, Sonya lifted her arm over her head as though summoning something.
I had already run to her and covered her against the tree, ready for the impact. Instead, a series of roots shot from the ground and took hold of the axe in mid-flight. The digidestined watched in awe, Kari wasn't paying attention. I turned and saw the phenomena only a few feet from us. Sonya looked over my shoulder and smiled in relief.
I felt the relief as well, but a though also crossed my mind.
'It worked.'
What worked?
Had Sonya summoned the roots from the ground? Jaganu didn't seem surprised by the event. He ran at us once more with a roar, tearing the roots from the ground as he stormed past. Pegasusmon noticed and rammed into Jaganu's side, sending him to the ground several feet away.
"Get to safety!" said Pegasusmon.
I pulled Sonya to the tree line where the others ran to as well. The battle had turned bloody in our conscious absence. Villagers and Centaurs lay on the ground in bloody masses. The clouds above us began to gather and turn red. A large group of crows flew overhead.
Chloe jumped to our direction from a tree.
"Children! Take this!" she handed Davis a piece of paper. "We have no time to talk for a while. I have what you need there. Now take it and leave before you're killed!"
Davis put the paper in his pocket and looked at us.
Sonya looked past him with alarm and clapped her hands together. Davis turned and saw roots and vines trap a stampeding Centaur in its tracks just behind him.
Sonya was shaking at that point and I caught her shoulders.
Kari was knelt on one knee, watching around cautiously and holding her pendant defensively.
Nefertimon was suddenly thrown to Kari's feet by Jaganu. He grinned maliciously as she was reverted to Gatomon.
"Gatomon." Kari picked up the beaten digimon.
"Kari. We need to get out of here. There's a really dark power here, It's too strong for us." Gatomon said weakly.
"Gatomon's right, I can feel it too. It seems to be growing." Said Raidramon. The Digimon noticed the blood everywhere and backed up to protect us.
Chloe looked down at Kari and for a moment seemed to show a glint of curious recognition. Kari was unafraid and not unnerved by the events around her.
Chloe then frowned and looked out at the battlefield grimly.
"There is a demon among us." She said darkly. Kari looked up at her.
"It's started again." She muttered. Kari's eyes shown red.
Jaganu appeared atop a boulder by a burning hut. Megara and Shante stood beside him, laughing.
"This is really funny, don't you think? All the chaos, little people running around, it's very entertaining." Shante put her hands on her hips. Jaganu was silent and unsmiling once more. He rolled his eyes away from the blond toward us. Toward Kari.
I growled at this.
"Ah yes. The digidestined! I see you're still alive." Said Shante in a strong voice. The digimon wearily stepping in front of us and readied for a fight.
"Uh, I don't think you want to fight me." She laughed and jumped from the boulder.
"Jaganu, come." She ordered over her shoulder. The Loin gave a huff and jumped beside her.
"Perhaps you should let me take care of this, Shante." Said Megara in a low voice. Shante looked at her disgruntled, but didn't argue. Megara and Jaganu walked toward us through the decay and fire.
"Star Shower!" Pegasusmon shouted, sending a shower of needles in Megara's direction. They were deflected by an invisible barrier. They kept walking.
"Keep away from them!" Chloe shouted and she and Gennai stood in battle stance.
"Why, hello there Chloe. Come back have you?" Shante teased, jumping in front of them.
Chloe readied her bow and arrow and shot at Shante. The attack was deflected just like the star shower.
Megara and the Lion were closer now.
Kari stood and brought Gatomon closer to the group. A centaur stampeded past, making her jump. The pendant around her neck lifted with her and was suddenly snatched by a crow. It broke the chain around her neck and flew away. Kari clasped a hand to her collarbone, then ran after the bird. I held her by her arms, trying to keep her away from the continuous fighting.
"Let me go! I need that back!" she yelled, struggling to pull away.
"No way! It's too dangerous!" I shouted back over the growing sound.
The crow landed on Megara's shoulder and handed her the pendant.
She examined the golden Pentagram in her palm, watching the light reflect from it.
She began to grin.
"What a lovely ornament. Where did you get this from dear?" she asked in a mockingly sweet voice. Kari's anger grew and she struggled harder.
"Megara! Give that back!" she shouted. I started to drag on the ground, leaving imprints in the soil. Davis and Ken helped retain her.
"Kari! Calm down!" said Ken
"Yeah! It's just a necklace!" said Davis, finding trouble in keeping her from leaving.
Kari growled at him, showing her surprisingly threatening teeth.
Megara's grin widened and laughed to the sky.
"Karakin, is that you!?" she shouted, as though greeting some pleasant surprise.
Kari was breathing heavily from her struggle to escape our hands and didn't answer.
"What are you talking about?" questioned Yolie.
Gennai looked at Kari with a disturbed look.
"Either way." Megara tossed the pendant to the lion, who caught it and closed his massive paw over the golden chain.
"We must take our leave. It was quite a nice surprise to find this." Said Megara as she disappeared in her vortex of darkness.
Kari broke free and ran after her. Jaganu stepped in front of her calmly as she ran at the portal.
Everything went silent to me after that. Everything slowed down, everything stopped.
We watched in horror as Kari slowed, gently stopping in front of Jaganu. The arrow was pure black and seemed to pulsate in her chest. The blood slowly appeared from her flesh, running down the ebony arrow. Her eyes were widened in shock. Her chest rose and fell slowly and heavily, trying to find air.
Shante chuckled, putting her bow over her shoulder disappearing into black.
Kari put her hand to the arrow in her heart. She looked up at Jaganu and fell forward.
I ran to her as fast as my legs would allow me. Sonya followed, as did the others. I turned Kari over in my lap, watching the blood roll from her chest.
"Kari! Kari, say something!" I said.
Sonya skidded and knelt beside me.
"Kari, hang on!" she said, frightened.
"We need to get her to a doctor!" said Cody.
Jaganu stepped away and left. The bloodshed around us had slowed. The villagers were nowhere in sight, as well as Chloe.
Gennai walked up to us.
There is a computer here you can transport through.
Kari's breathing was becoming staggered.
"Where is it!?" I shouted urgently.
"This way. Help her up." Said Gennai and led us through the burning village.
"Gennai! Why are you moving so slowly? Kari's hurt and needs help!" shouted Davis angrily.
Gennai didn't answer. He stopped by the spent bonfire and pointed across the village to a screen a good distance away.
I didn't say anything. I lifted Kari from the ground and ran to the computer as fast as I could with Sonya behind me.
My ears perked as I ran, hearing the others speaking.
"Why are you doing this?" shouted Ken at Gennai.
"There is something about her that isn't right. Said Gennai.
"That's no excuse!" said Cody. I could tell he was shaking with anger, for his voice was uneven. I heard them start to run after us.
The digimon ran on our sides, ensuring that stray weapons or creatures didn't attack.
I pulled out my D3 to open the portal, but nothing happened. I skidded to a halt and tried again, but nothing.
"Damn it!" I yelled.
I set Kari down gently, letting Sonya take her in her lap so I could try again.
"Kari, please… Hold on." said Sonya gently. Kari tried to sit up, not accepting Sonya's help. She coughed roughly and blood sprayed to her palm. I gritted my teeth and tried hacking into the gateway system.
Behind me, Sonya was checking the wound, making sure there was nothing to infect it. As I was searching the codes to access the mainframe, I heard Sonya gasp.
I turned and saw a woman sitting behind Kari, leaning over her shoulder and whispering in her ear. She looked just like her, only her eyes and skin were darker. She had a malicious feel about her.
"Hey! Who are you?!" I demanded. She looked at me with a small smirk and whispered to Kari again.
The others were closing in quickly.
"Who's that?" Ken questioned.
The woman then faded away and disappeared.
I stared for a moment, then realized that I needed to get back to the gate. I turned and continued working on the decoding.
"Kari, lay back down, sweetie." Said Yolie.
Kari didn't lie down. Instead, she brought her hand to the ebony arrow and grasped it. Suddenly, a black light erupted from the arrow and it dissolved into the wound. A wave of black raced through Kari's body. I stopped again and knelt beside her once more. Sonya and I picked her up and set her in our laps.
Then, the damnedest thing happened.
Her breathing evened out, the blood stopped flowing, and her body regained its color.
We stared in awe at what happened. Kari was unconscious, but still alive. I looked at Sonya in disbelief. She had a worried expression on her face that somehow reminded me of a quote, "Arrived too late. Act already done."
Why did that come to my head? Maybe I'll never know….
What's going on?! OMFG!
14 pages, pretty good size chapter. Please review!