OMFG! The wait and suspense has been killing me! lol
Sorry it took so long. I got sick, then Some really depressing stuff happened with an old friend, then I had Finals. But it's here now, so everyone be happy and enjoy.
(PLEASE READ BEFORE CONTINUING. VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW)
This story is nearly 30 chapters and I'm not even HALF way to the end. This, evidently, is going to be a very long story. So I've decided that, at the 30 chapter mark, I'm going to end the story where it's at and continue in a Part 2. When I come up with the title, trust me, I'll be sure to inform you of it. I don't have a set date on it yet, but I know it's going to be my personal favorite part of the story.
I just wanted you to knwo before you thought it was over. ^^
Please enjoy!
Footprints on the Sea – Song written and composed by Gnomusy (David Callabero). Commonly interpreted as the Footprints of God or Jesus.
Rats crawled up and down the leaking stone walls of the dungeon. Skulls, corpses, and dead or dying prisoners lay chained or strapped to the walls and floors. At the very end of the dungeon lay a large cell, filled with decrepit digimon, some dead and rotting, making the others grow sicker and sicker. Gatomon lay sick and bruised on the stone floor. She looked up weakly at the digidestined girls, tied and stripped nude on the metal table. Mimi struggled against the chains, feeling the soreness in her legs and ribs from the previous beating Ven had bestowed on her. Sora merely lay, bleeding from the stitches in hr side. A large, black and red scar unprofessionally stitched and ran through Sora's body, making her too weak to fight.
"Sora, we have to get out of here. Keep fighting! We're going to be alright!" Mimi said desperately, if not to comfort Sora, than to comfort herself. Thoughts of their death ran through Mimi's mind, causing her great distress. She fought harder and harder, but to no avail.
"Sora…." Biyomon muttered from a cage high above the ground. Blood dripped from her head and making the bird grow pale.
"You have to fight, Sora. Can't you move?"
"Biyomon…I can't feel my legs…. I can't make them move." Sora murmured back.
"You have to keep trying, girls!" Shouted Jyou from across the dungeon. He struggled against the chains that tied him to the wall. "You need to get out and get to Tai and Matt! You need to tell them where the castle is and what Shadow is doing!"
"Shut up." Said Shante as she suddenly appeared from nowhere. She slapped him across the face with a loud CRACK and a snap was heard in his jaw.
"Jyou! You leave him alone you whore!" Mimi screamed at the blond.
"Whore?" Shante shot her gaze at Mimi. She disappeared, then reappeared before the tethered girl with a furry in her eyes.
"The last time I was called that name I tore the bitch's eyes out and fed them to her! Unless you want the same thing, I suggest you shut your fucking mouth!"
Mimi spat in Shante's eye and continued to struggle.
The digimon in the cage stood, shaking and weary, but stood none the less, to face the angry blond.
"You don't have a chance, Shante." Said Palmon.
"The others will come and they will rescue us. Then we'll see who's tough." Wormon added.
"You'll never win!" Tentomon screeched from the bars and Biyomon started tearing at the bars on her cage.
"You foolish creatures… You have no idea what is planned here. This boy perhaps has grasped the concept of my master's plans, but he's so incoherent, he's suitable for a mental ward." Shante teased, fingering Jyou's cracked jaw. He winced with pain.
"You leave him alone!" said Sora weakly. In a weak attempt, Sora bit at the shackles on her wrists, trying to break free.
"You are quite a funny little girl. Tell me, did that Tiger's claw hurt you that bad? Can your really not move so well? Are you feeling sick? Poor baby" Shante laughed.
Sora looked up at her, pain filling her body from the Scar on her side. Infection overcame her and she started writhing in pain.
Shante laughed harder and louder and shriller at the red-head's pain until the girl fell unconscious.
December 20, 5:56 A.M
He couldn't think of why it happened; only that it happened, even then as he stood in the fields with the dead soldiers, covered with their blood. He continued to gorge on their lifeless corpses with the wolves. A natural impulse, a natural need to survive, to feed and provide for those around him. There was plenty there, but was to be soon taken.
T.K lifted his head from the torso of a soldier and looked around at the other feeding wolves.
At his family.
"Son, we are so glad you have finally joined us." Cooed Sheba, the White Wolf, beside him. The other wolves gave their barks and howls of agreement and continued their frenzy.
"They have not eaten in weeks. Shadow has disconnected our prey from our territories, and we cannot leave. The massacre of these soldiers is grim ad unfortunate, but it came as our benefit, don't you think, Son?" She asked T.K. He looked at her with a smile.
Looking to the sky, he saw the dark clouds turn darker with blood.
"A Blood Fall is coming." He said. "Should we go?"
"Yes, Takeru…. Would you like to call the others?" Sheba asked tenderly.
T.K nodded and stood. Cupping his hands to his mouth, he gave a loud, unearthly howl. The wolves assembled and they ran to the trees as the blood began to fall. The exhilaration of the flight through the blood and trees made T.K's head and Heart soar.
The rush caused his vision to whiten on its edges.
14 Hours earlier
December 19, 4:43 P.M
He lay against a tree, tending to his bleeding arm. It was penetrated deeply; bits of bone were slightly visible through the torn flesh and tissue. He looked up at Tzadik, who sat across from him, dangling the silver chain from T.K's pendant in his paw.
"Be careful with that, Sonya gave it to me." Said T.K.
"Why do you treasure the humans so?" Tzadik questioned, his voice deep and darkened.
"I am a human. I couldn't live with animals all my life." T.K answered, tearing off a sheet of cloth from his shirt.
"Of course, but understand; your mother has required for your help and your attendance."
"My Mother?" T.K looked up at the wolf.
"Sheba. You agreed to help us fight, yes?"
"Of course."
"Then you will be surrounded by animals for a great deal of this fight."
T.K. looked up at the nightwalker.
"We need you now. The Blood Harvesters have begun to overrun the minds of the leaders. Our hopes of life will diminish before the next month is out. There will be no more Nightwalkers, No more Wolves, no more of our kind. We'll be gone, because of those cats."
"And why did you attack me?" T.K questioned.
"We needed you away from the humans' influence. They were poisoning your mind, trying to make you believe we Wolves are evil."
"Are you evil?" Asked the blond, wrapping his arm with the cloth.
"On the contrary, Sir. The only evil is that which dwells in us all. Only when it gathers is it a danger, such as our situation now." Tzadik answered.
T.K clicked his tongue with a smirk.
"I don't even get a strait answer out of my allies." He said with humor.
"You will see what I mean, Sir…." The Wolf licked his teeth and looked away.
---
6 Hours later
December 20, 10:33 P.M.
The lonely path through the snowy woods led deep into darkness, deep into the lair of whatever lay within. Tzadik had wandered off, scaling the trees and enjoying the chilled, blood soaked air.
'They no longer need you, T.K. They can take care of themselves. It's the Nightwalkers you need to worry about." Said Tojima suddenly in T.K's head.
'Him again….' T.K thought in agitation.
"Of Course me again."
"You've been in my head talking to me for the past three hours. Why are you so hell-bent on making me abandon the other digidestined?" T.K questioned.
"They're a danger to you." Tojima's voice was becoming irritated and hard.
"And so are you."
"You don't understand, T.K…."
"Don't I? If everything Shadow's told us is true, you're the one who wants to take over my body for your own 'lively preferences'." T.K said with irritation.
"No, T.K, listen to me-"
"It's very disturbing to think that you, of all-"
"No, Listen-"
"-Demons, would be stuck in my head, of all heads. Do you-"
"T.K…."
"Honestly believe that I would let you try and-"
"Kari's dead."
T.K stopped immediately.
"That's a dangerous thing to joke about, Demon." He said darkly.
"I know…But you need to hear this. The other digidestined are a large threat to you. They killed Kari."
Silence….
"How?"
"Impalement. By her own brother."
T.K leaned against the tree and slid to the ground, devastated by the news.
"You would not have believed me if I didn't tell you… I'm Sorry, T.K."
"But...Why? She… She never did anything… She never hurt them, did she?" asked T.K.
To anyone, he was talking to the frozen air. Snow began to fall, accompanying him under the tree.
"For the sin of concealment. A pity, she was a lovely girl. And I know you loved her."
T.K didn't answer as he felt the tears sting his eyes and threaten to fall. His hair was frosted with snow and ice. He suddenly realized the snow had piled greatly around him, though it came in little flakes. He had been there a while, contemplating Kari's death.
"And they did this to her?" he asked finally, voice cracked and dry.
"Yes. And they would do so to you. It doesn't matter anymore."
"No…It doesn't…." T.K agreed, looking at the whitening ground.
There was the sound of soft footsteps, padded from the snow. A set of white paws stopped before the blond and he looked up at Sheba, who, in dark sympathy, nuzzled his face.
"It'll be alright, son." She said in a motherly tone. T.K held the wolf around the neck in embrace.
"Thank you, mother."
3 Hours Later
December 20, 1:27 A.M.
"I will teach you what you need to know in hunting, killing, spreading times among food items, and division of resources to others. It's very important for you to be able to use your goods wisely, seeing as the Blood Harvesters have already gained the villages trust enough to steal their supplies." Said Sheba.
The pair walked the snowy woods in solitude, leaving a calming and peaceful note in the trees.
"What do you mean?" asked T.K.
"At Hyperion's village a time ago, when you and the other children saw the Blood Harvesters carry out supplies from the village; that is what I mean."
T.K. thought back, trying to recollect the event.
---
"So, you trade with them? What do they want?" asked Cody.
"Supplies, food, equipment. Not very much, actually." Said Adrella as she stirred the fire.
"They can get some of that from the woods, though. Right?" asked Veemon.
"Yes. That's why we're so unnerved around them. Why are they asking for items they don't necessarily need?"
---
"I see. What are they doing with it?" T.K asked the Wolf.
"The supplies they do need they keep, use, toss, but everything else gets burned so nobody can use it." Said Sheba.
"Well… That's… Dumb. That's a huge waste." Said T.K.
"I know, however their reason for it is plausible. Very smart on their behalf, it doesn't help anybody else. The reason they burn the items is so the villages would soon be left with no defenses and the Nightwalkers can't advance." Sheba explained.
T.K looked down at her in bewilderment.
"They are planning something big, I can smell it. I just need to find their weapons for the Nightwalkers use. If we can only get a few items, we can recreate and advance as well. Then, our casualties wouldn't be so great. T.K, our clans are diminishing. The Waterpaw tribe lost half of its clan members in but a few days. Their bodies lie rotting, just as the plainsmen's bodies lie rotting. A fields of horror…." Sheba shuddered, causing her fur to shake and convulse. The body of the wolf seemed to sag and grow tired. She sat.
"Forgive me, Child. My bones are weakened with age…." She panted.
"Sheba? Are you well enough to be fighting?" T.K asked the old wolf.
"Aye, I'm old and sick. However, I will fight for my tribes for as long as I breathe, Takeru. You needn't worry for me. My time will come when it's due…." Sheba breathed easier, her thin chest heaving slowly with air.
There was a silence as T.K looked out beyond the trees to wherever the darkness led. How short a time, it seemed, when Tojima had told him of Kari's death. Was it true? Was he deceiving him and Kari was alright? Or was he telling the truth?
Sheba seemed to sense T.K's uneasiness.
"Son, I know your trouble. I know of your loss." She said.
T.K looked at her.
"Is it true?" He asked, bending to his knees before her.
"Aye, it would seem. The Nightwalkers on patrol saw it themselves, and they are my best watchmen."
"But, maybe it was a trick? Set up by Shadow?"
"No. She lies dead in a pit, darling. Unless the animals have left her, she's been picked and ravaged by now. I'm terribly sorry."
It was true….
"Don't lose yourself in such thoughts, son. There's a change in the wind for your friend. Whether good or bad, I don't know, but a change. You can look forward to that." Sheba rose from the ground and they treaded through the woods once more. T.K couldn't stop thinking about the Brunette, lying on the forest floor somewhere.
How could the digidestined kill something so pure?
"I wouldn't use pure, in her case. Not anymore…." Came the demon's voice in T.K's head, but T.K ignored it vaguely.
Vaguely….
3 Hours Later
December 20, 4: 42 A.M.
T.K and Sheba sat with the pack of wolves. Sun Breeds and Moon Breeds alike lie in the snow, conversing with each other about the strange weather.
"We hadn't seen snow like this since our world." Said Knox, the old Wolf. He swung his Iron hammer, causing the other wolves to duck and shout.
"Put that away, old man. You'll take someone's head off with that!" cried a Coyote, narrowly avoiding a hit.
"Knox, dear, calm yourself." Said Sheba. "Save your strength for battle."
"I can't help it, milady…. There is so much flesh in those plains…. And I'm starving!!" Knox cried.
"He is right, Milady." Said Nicoli beside Sheba, his voice calm and soft. "It has been a while since the packs have had a good meal. As indecent as it may be, those corpses is the most food they've seen in the longest time."
"I see your reasoning…." Said Sheba. "But, for one, we're unsure if disease has ridden their bodies, yet…. Also, the blood will attract the Blood Harvesters and we can't afford another battle. Besides…A Blood Fall will arrive shortly."
"Can't we at least pick a few bodies and take them with us?" Asked T.K, arms crossed. Everyone looked at the human questioningly, but looked back at Sheba with agreement.
Sheba began to pant.
"I suppose… But we cannot take them to our homes, lest the scent attracts the Cats. Let us go." She said, a hint of hunger and relief in her eyes.
6:01 A.M
The Blood Fall poured, weighing down the branches of the trees and causing decay among the lower plants.
The Pack of wolves lay safely in a small stone cave, away from the flow of blood.
"It's so dark…." Said T.K, maneuvering through the blackness.
"Theses are a small portion of the Spider caves, named after the shape the caves take. This is one of the lower legs, but it is large enough to hold us. We can leave when the Fall ends." Said Sheba, ducking and belly crawling through the tiny passage ways.
T.K followed suit, finding his lankiness quite handy with the size of the tunnels. He felt the roof of the cave lightly touch his back as he belly crawled the floor.
Shivering, he finally found himself in the main portion of the cave. The other wolves lay and sat, conversing about their satisfaction of the meal.
"Such a wonderful feast." Came a familiar voice. "If only I was able to save my pack…. They would have greatly enjoyed this…."
"Sorano?" T.K asked.
"Takeru, you're here?" Sorano's voice shifted closer to the blond.
"I'm glad you're here. I only know a couple of these guys, I was getting nervous." Said T.K.
"I'm glad you're alive. Have you heard? Word through the trees is the other digidestined children are searching vigorously for you." Said the Nightwalker.
"I bet. Did the word also mention them killing Kari?" the Blond asked bitterly.
"It did. It was a grisly death… The nightwalkers that followed them saw it through the trees. They told me what has happened, and I'm sure it'll be hard for you to forgive them…."
"No, it won't be easy….." T.K growled darkly.
"You must not hang your love for humanity for one death, Takeru."
"But, Sorano… You don't understand. I loved her. Ever since the day I met her there was something between us that I couldn't explain. And finally, when I able to be with her… She's gone…. Because of them…"
"Is there no other?" Sorano's soft voice asked, cutting through the darkness.
T.K shook his head. There was a light silence. He knew the others were listening. There was a sniff of someone crying.
"That is a very sad story, love." Came an accented voice from below.
"Those vile children… Cats I'll bet! I bet you they put them up to it!" came another.
"What will you do?" asked another voice from the right.
There as a pause.
"I don't know…" admitted T.K.
"Well think, sonny." Came the distinct roughness of Knox's voice. "What are your options? What are the circumstances that you're under?" the cave became filled with soft murmurs of suggestions and ideas.
"You could throw them in a bear trap! We could hang over them all night long and see if they don't die of fright!"
"We could brand them as universal traitors. No one will side with them with that brand!"
"You could kill them. Take the life which took your lover's." T.K listened to the remarks with serious consideration.
"Would you really consider something so dark on your friends?" asked Tojima, suddenly beside him. Rather than jumping with fright, like he would have normally, T.K merely looked over.
"Wouldn't you?"
Tojima Shrugged.
"Perhaps, with enough persuasion. Only, my girl wasn't killed."
"Your girl?" T.K looked over, disbelieving.
"Later perhaps. Where's Sheba? Ladies and Pups! Where's the Lady of the Hour?!" Tojima's voice echoed through the cave.
"Ah! Tojima! I was wondering when you would join us." Came Sheba's voice from across the cavern. There was a shuffling and padding as Sheba came closer to the boys.
"Are you finished with your task, Tojima?" asked the wolf, authority in her voice. T.K almost felt a sense of inferiority from the strength of her voice.
"As a matter of fact, I'm just finishing that up." Tojima shifted toward T.K.
"T.K. Do you love the girl?" he asked randomly. T.K looked over at the voice with confusion. "Yes."
"Would you do anything for her?"
"Yes."
"Would you die for her?"
"Yes." T.K nodded, feeling depression overwhelm his being until there was nothing but an icy chill in his heart.
"Would you kill for her?"
There was a pause.
"Yes."
"…Very good…."
---
The ground was cold and frozen as the snow drifted lightly over the land. The ground was covered by a thick sheet of ice and snow. The bear pits caved on themselves, the animal traps were set loose or buried, and the trees were dressed in formal white.
One bear pit, which had been previously broken, lay silent and waiting for an animal to come by and feast on its kill. Within, however, lay not a bear, but a girl. Her hair was bloody and matted, her once tanned skin now lightly paled with death and eyes as white and soulless as that of a demon's. A Deity of Beauty, however, seemed to hang over her, for her features were still strong and gentle as that of a warrior's and her skin was otherwise unbroken. Life, though, did not seem to leave her completely, for there was still a slight blush in her cheeks and bosom. As the snow poured over her body and time passed on, her eyes seemed to shut slowly within each passing hour. Her features grew whiter and whiter and her blush began to fade. Then suddenly….
"Only the weak will accept death." Came a strong, dark voice. "Are you weak, Kari Kamiya?"
Kari's eyes opened suddenly. She didn't move right away. She looked around her, taking in the sensation of the snow on her skin. Life had been taken from her, then it was thrust back when hope was lost. She sat up and rested her arm on her knee.
'What is this? What happened?' she asked herself.
"They killed you." Came Karakin's voice from above Kari. The girl looked up at the woman. She wore her black coat over her shoulders and had her hands in her pockets. Her face was concealed behind the shadow of the raised hood.
"I brought you back."
"Why did they…Why did Tai….?" Kari started to break into tears.
"They reviled you. Your talent and unique strength threatened them. They thought you would turn." Karakin answered.
Kari looked down, then back at Karakin.
"What will you do now?" the woman asked the girl, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Kari's face lit with anger.
"They thought I would turn on them? They thought I would go to Shadow and become evil like him?! Well fine!" She stood abruptly, ignoring the stabbing pain in her pelvis and ribs. "If that's how it's going to be, then I WILL turn on them! I WILL go to Shadow and fight against the digidestined!" she pulled the digivice and D3 off of her person and smashed them against the walls of the pit.
"I only want to fight beside you, Karakin." She said, much softer, looking at the cloaked woman with sympathy and care. "You haven't played against me this whole time…."
"This is true. Come, darling. We will fight." Suddenly, Karakin disappeared and was replaced with Jagar, the Scottish Accented Lion. He looked down at her with Blazing green eyes.
"Miss Kari. We'd like you to come with us, please. Your Pride awaits you." He said.
"My Pride…?" Kari accepted his large paw as he offered it. He pulled her out of the deep pit and stabilized her as she stumbled.
"The Fire Clan, milady. You are to meet with them and Lady Karakin will give them instructions of our next plan." Jagar explained as he led her through the woods.
"What does she plan to do?" Kari asked absently.
"I'm not sure quite yet, but you can be sure that you'll see your digidestined friends again. Then, if instructed, you can do what you want to them."
Kari listened, enjoying the sound of the lion's voice and the sound of the plan's outline.
"I do know, however, that you will have quite a large role to play, my dear." Jagar continued. "You'll be honored enough to find what she has in store for you."
"She's a great woman… isn't she?" Kari looked at the lion.
"Aye, lass, she is. The actions of her personality are terrible, yet great. There has yet to be a match for the Lady. Every leader that has fought her and lived, lived only because she would become bored of ruling without an enemy." Jagar laughed afterward.
"I'll give you a warning though…Don't do anything that would piss her off. There's very little sign if she's going to do something or not. There's only two ways to tell. Her right arm twitches when she gets irritated, and she raises her left brow when she grows angry or annoyed. Any of those signs will give you fair warning to either leave or simply know that you're getting hurt."
"Really…?" Kari felt her own arm twitch as she thought.
A large Crow flew over and landed on Jagar's shoulder as they walked.
"Lord Jagar! CAW!" The bird squawked, making the cat's ears flatten with annoyance.
"What is it Crowe?" he growled.
"The Nightwalkers! They've adopted a new leader! CAW!" crowed the bird.
"What?" The two stopped. Kari knew this was alarming for the cat, but why so much?
"Who is it?" he demanded.
"CAW! A boy! A Child of the Moon, with sunny hair and he carries the old skies in his eyes! CAW! He's a smart one, sir. He and a Blood Pack just took hold of the White Forest Village! CAW!" the Crow informed.
"Damn. That's one of our suppliers." He said to Kari. "If the weapons are taken to the Nightwalkers, they'll grow in technology and that could be bad for us. Crowe, when did they take the village?"
"An hour ago. CAW!"
"What about the Puma Platoon in the area? Why aren't they doing anything?" Jagar questioned.
"They're dead. CAW! All mauled like kittens in a dog pound!"
The cat stopped and stared ahead with shock. Looking down at Kari, he narrowed his eyes.
"Are you ready for a fight, lassie? It would seem we need you more than I thought."
Kari nodded.
'T.K. I knew he would turn….' She thought.
---
1 Hour Earlier
The Digidestined, after deciding to leave and find the others, then find help, volunteered three of them to stay and watch after Kari's body.
Tai, his digimon Augumon, and Sonya remained to watch over the girl. Tai's eyes had lost all light and laughter, his form sagged with guilt and shame and his heart sank with sorrow the more he thought of what he had done. Sonya watched, depression sinking on her as well.
'This couldn't have been helped….' She thought to herself darkly.
"I should have known…" Tai muttered to himself. He glanced over at the Bear pit every now and again, but dared not look within.
"Tai… There was no way you could tell. It was a real thorough trap set up by Shadow. There was no way you could help it. He made you believe she was already dead, Tai." Augumon said, trying to comfort him.
Tai turned his head. His stomach lurched at the thought of her bloodied body impaled among the stakes within the pit and the damage he had inflicted on her; his own sister. Why? Why couldn't he tell? Why didn't he listen to Sonya? She knew….
…
How did she know?
Tai looked up at the girl with dazed confusion.
"Sonya…." He started softly. She looked up to acknowledge him.
"You knew…. You knew it was a trap. How could you tell?" he asked her.
"Her eyes." Was Sonya's dim response. Her voice was cracked from trying to control previous tears. "They were not Kari's eyes. They are a Mahogany color; Shadow's are a cold grey."
"But I couldn't see that." Tai urged. "I saw Grey eyes, not Mahogany, so why were you able to notice and not me, her brother?" he became more desperate with his questioning.
"Tai, calm down." Augumon said, trying to calm his friend, but to little avail.
'The sight… the sounds and smells acquired from Shadow… only by joining him… The knowledge on gains…. He cannot know this.' Sonya thought.
"She can see because she has the wisdom that you lack greatly, lad." Came a ruff, accented voice. Looking up, the Trio saw Jagar, the Scottish Accented Lion they saw from Hyperion's village. He looked at them with deep jade eyes.
"You, young man, should be deeply ashamed of yourself for your sin. You have killed your sister, has this sunk into your conscious yet?" he asked. Tai was silent, but stared at the cat with despairing eyes.
"Don't listen to him Tai! He's just trying to draw you into another one of their tricks!" Augumon shouted, throwing himself between the lion and the man.
"There is little for you to do here, lassie. You have been called to the palace for safe keeping." Said Jagar to Sonya. Sonya looked at him with slight bewilderment, then realized what he meant.
Tai looked at her, then at the lion.
"Sonya, what does he mean? What is he talking about?" he questioned suspiciously.
The blond didn't answer. She walked toward the lion with faint confident.
"Sonya!" Augumon called, but she didn't answer. The lion directed the girl behind him and the Black and Gold Gryphon from hours before flew before them. Tai and Augumon tensed aggressively, but stopped with Shock when Sonya climbed on to his back and flew away.
"Sonya…." Tai murmured, coming to a sudden revelation.
'Traitor….'
"You, son, are no longer needed here. I will take over your obligations until Karakin has arrived." Said Jagar, stepping forward.
"Pepper Breath!" Augumon screamed, sending a shot of fire at the lion, who dodged it and was quickly in the digimon's face. He grabbed the little digimon by the neck and lifted him in the air.
"You will stay out of my creature." The cat muttered to the digimon and threw him aside.
"What are you going to do to my sister?" Tai shouted at the advancing cat.
"What you never did." The cat thrust the man aside and Tai, in a rage, tackled the lion. He wrestled for the lion's weapon to end his life, but was quickly turned around by a loud CRACK and a smack in Tai's chest. The lion kicked him off his chest and stood.
"Not bad boy. You would make a fair Forward Advancement. Have you come to consider whether you would join the Blood Harvesters or the Nightwalkers?" the cat grinned.
"Never…." Tai growled, holding his chest.
Augumon was at his side once more after recovering from his minor neck wound.
"I have no time for this. Karakin will be here soon. Either you join us, or you die." Said the Lion severely.
Tai growled with deep hatred.
"Burn in Hell you mangy Demon…." He said.
"…Very well." Said Jagar and was suddenly in Tai's face. He grabbed him by the neck and chucked him into a tree some meters away. Augumon was soon to follow. The lion sprinted at the two and, before Tai could scream, was tearing away at his throat.
---
Meanwhile
"Davis! Matt!" Yolie shouted as she, Ken, and their digimon ran to the group.
"Yolie! Ken! What is it? Did you find them?" Asked Matt. Patamon sat on his head weakly, but picked himself up at the sight of the running teens.
The two were doubled over from running.
"You need to come quickly!" said Hawkmon.
"What is it? What happened?" Izzy asked.
"There's been an accident." Said Ken, looking up at the group.
---
Ken and Yolie ran ahead, leading the group back to the bear pit where Tai and Sonya waited. There was, however, a change in scenery. Suddenly it was as if the trees had up and moved from their spots. The layout of the forest changed completely, confusing the digidestined.
"What happening?" Cody asked, looking around with bewilderment.
"The trees have a mind of their own," Said Armadillomon. "But I didn't think they'd try and trick us…."
"The ground's been moving, too!" said Gomamon with sudden realization. The whole forest is set against us!"
"What'll we do?" asked Yolie with fright.
"Come on guys, we need to find our way out or we'll never find help for Tai and Sonya!" Davis said aggressively, clenching a fist.
"But Davis, we need to find our bearings before we can find our way out." said Izzy as he began to feel the fright creep over him.
"Well whatever we do, we need to do it fast." Matt interjected. "This place doesn't settle well with me at all." Patamon shuddered in agreement.
'T.K… are you okay out there?' he thought.
"It'll be alright, Matt." Coughed Gabumon from the blond's arms.
The digimon suddenly tensed.
"What is it?" Cody asked Armadillomon.
"Something's coming." Answered the digimon.
"Is it bad?" Ken questioned.
"Where's it coming from?" Matt added.
"I don't know… There's a cold presence." Said Veemon.
"There's something familiar about the air, too…." Patamon added, his ear stiffening as if listening to the cold air.
"Like, T.K?" Yolie asked.
"I'm not sure. It definitely feels like him… but not…. It's like his body's moving, but his soul is gone." Said Patamon.
"Like a Nightwalker…." Said Gabumon.
"Do you think T.K lived from the attack?" Asked Matt optimistically.
"It feels likely… but I wouldn't count on finding the same boy." Said Hawkmon, leaning against Yolie's leg with exhaustion.
"This sky of Shadow's is really bringing me down." Said Gomamon. "Always draining my power and making me weak. I'm getting fed up with it!"
There was a sound of padded feet, panting, and bushes rustling. The digidestined looked around at the sounds in the forest. Suddenly catching a glimpse of something moving, they all ducked beneath the roots of a large tree. The tucked themselves under the unearthed roots, almost expecting the tree to swallow them as they hid. The sound came closer. The digidestined could make out the sounds of dogs panting and howling above them. In a small opening in the roots, Davis could see a pack of Nightwalkers panting and stretching. The view of the wolves, although only slight, show Davis enough to frighten him. The wolves were desperately thin in the waist with long arms and massive paws. Their feet were long and slender, likely for bounding after their prey and their fur was sickly, making the wolves carry the look of aged disease. A pair of padded feet landed beside the crevice with Davis was looking through. The feet, however, were not padded like a wolf's, but formed like a human. They were blackened with dirt and pale with the snow. Fur hung around the feet and swayed back and forth as they walked toward the pack. The figure was a little shorter and was obviously not a wolf. The figure wore a fur coat, reaching past his feet in many colors; a Wolf's head adorned as the hood. The hood was risen to hide the owner's face, but the locks of blond hair that fell form the shadows gave Davis the answer as to who the character was.
He spun back around with shock.
'Is that T.K? Why is he with the Nightwalkers?' he thought. The others seemed bewildered by Davis's actions. He held a finger to his lips, signaling them to stay quiet as he watched further. The wolves were already moving when Davis looked again.
They ran through the trees to their unknown destination until no sound remained. The digidestined crawled from the cramped, wet roots with relief.
"What was it Davis? What did you see?" Asked Veemon.
"Nightwalkers. Real scary ones too…. It was like they were looking for something." Davis answered.
"Us, probably." Said Hawkmon with disdain.
"I think T.K was with them…." Said Davis, looking where the Wolves had run to.
"What?" Matt screamed, clutching Davis's collar. "And you didn't say anything?!"
"There was something wrong! It was like he was one of them, matt! I couldn't just call everyone out if it turned out he wasn't on our side!" Davis defended.
"But Davis! T.K is a sweet, loyal boy who wouldn't harm us! Why would you think such a thing?" Asked Patamon, heavily disappointed.
Davis didn't answer, but looked out to the woods.
'I know what I saw, and I know my gut is never wrong when it says something's not right….'
---
2 Hours Later
"Milord, Lady Sheba wishes to speak with you." Said a Coyote to T.K. The boy sat in a tree overlooking the village the wolves had just plundered. After much negotiating, the Nightwalkers allowed the villagers to live and remain in the village in exchange for weapons and technology. It was a great victory for the Nightwalkers, thought T.K was still light in understanding just how much.
T.K jumped form the high branches to the ground, finding himself lighter than he originally thought, and followed the coyote to Sheba.
"What does she want?" T.K asked the animal.
"I'm not sure, milord. But I know it has to do with you and Tojima." The Coyote looked over his shoulder. "I'd say she's leaving you in our charge."
"What? I've only been with you guys for a day!" Said T.K, shocked.
"That's what I thought, but she seems confident in you. That or it's something else altogether."
"Well you're a lot of help." Said T.K with sagging shoulders.
The two walked among groups of wolves, coyotes, hyenas, foxes, and dogs, all conversing with each other. T.K looked on with raised brow as he saw a group of Basset Hounds play poker under a tree, and on his other side a German Shepard and a Spotted Hyena sat with tin cups filled with beer. They nodded to him in greeting, which he nodded back.
"Sometimes I feel like I've burned too much grass." Said T.K jokingly to himself.
"If you want grass to burn, Old Man Knox has a great place for you in the White Forest. Grass everywhere! Bushes, too. Something for every smoker." The Coyote laughed.
"Uh… I'll look into that…." Said T.K, blinking at the Coyote taking his joke literally.
'Great… I'm surrounded by a bunch of drug addicts.' He thought.
"Meh… not quite." Came Tojima's voce beside him.
T.K raised a brow with surprise.
"Would you stop doing that?" he said.
"But it's fun watching you jump! You get Sheba's call?" Tojima asked.
"Yeah, we're on our way now." T.K answered.
"Well alright. Tak, I'll take it from here." Tojima said the Coyote. The little animal nodded and trotted off with a group of dogs, most likely on their way to gamble.
"Fun place. Drugs, Booze… all you guys are missing are the women." Said T.K sarcastically. Tojima noticed the tone and grinned.
"Well, if you're not into female dogs, we could always take something else form the village." He suggested.
"Shut up, I'm not you." T.K growled.
Tojima threw his head back and laughed.
They continued to walk until they reached a large Sequoia Tree. It was burned out in the center, leaving a small hole in the front.
"Through there." Tojima pointed. T.K and Tojima fitted through the hole and crawled under the roots of the tree. It was pitch black and the tunnel touched T.K's back as he crawled through. He began to feel his breathing shorten with claustrophobia. It grew freezing as the two finally reached a lit room under the earth. It was stone built with roots for the ceiling. Torches lit the small room, revealing Sheba lying in the center. The boys walked over to her.
"Sheba, you okay?" Asked T.K, touching her back.
"Yes, Son. I'm okay. She shuddered. Sheba stood painfully and sat once more.
"I'm just a little weak is all. Boys, do you understand why you're here?" she asked.
T.K shook his head while Tojima merely watched.
"Takeru… Tojima has been monitoring you under my orders. You're mental abilities in the face of danger is quite impressive. We need a leader who will lead their army into battle without fear and without backing down. Your intellect suits this need greatly. You once said that you would fight beside us if required, and we now require your assistance. Will you do so?" said Sheba.
"Of course!" Said T.K energetically.
"Wonderful. You may not be aware of it, but Tojima has prepared you for battle since he invaded your mind. As you come to battle, you will find strategic methods already formed in your mind, it is merely up to you to give those orders. Your strength and stamina has also increased. You are now able to wield a weapon without killing your own tribe." The wolf laughed now, causing her bones to shake. T.K raised a brow with embarrassment.
"I was never really BAD with a weapon…." He muttered. The three laughed further.
"Once this war is over, we will come together like this again. Laughter has been thin in our tribes for some time." Said the white wolf, lying down wearily.
"Sheba, I promise the war will end soon." Said T.K. "I'll make sure of it."
---
"Sonya," Shadow called. "Come."
The girl walked over to the man with hands behind her back.
"Yes Sir?" She asked.
Shadow gazed into the water basin before him, watching the scene lay out.
"Has Kari been separated from the children?"
"Yes Sir." Sonya answered.
"Has Takeru been separated from the children?"
"Yes Sir." She answered again, her voice low.
"Where are they now?"
"Takeru has joined the Waterpaw and Kari has joined the Fire Clan."
Shadow grinned.
"Very good. Now they have been initiated with the creatures, we can finally begin the Dark Guards program. Sonya, bring them to me."
"Yes Sir." And the blond disappeared into the shadows.
Shadow looked into the Basin and the water rippled, revealing the image of a middle aged blonde woman pacing her house.
'What has the old woman undergone in this experiment?' Shadow thought as he watched.
---
'Oh…Where could T.K be? He should have been home last night.' Nancy thought as she paced the room. Her eyes were dark with sleepless activity and her wrinkles showed deeper with worry.
A ring of the telephone drew her out of her thought and she rushed to pick it up.
"Hello?"
"Nancy, Has T.K gotten home yet?" Asked Mrs. Kamiya's voice on the other line.
Nancy fell back on the couch.
"No, he hasn't." she said, filled with worry.
"Neither have Kari and Tai…. Where could they be?"
"Your kids are missing, too?" asked Nancy, shocked.
"Yes. Tai said that he was taking them to a winter camping trip, but they haven't answered their phones since they left, and there was something in Tai's voice when he left that made me doubt his words…. I'm just so worried."
Nancy was silent. The children had gone missing, could their friends have gone off with them? A sudden thought clicked in her head.
"Sandie, what if they went to the digital world?" said Nancy.
"What? Nancy, that's nonsense. I forbade Kari to go there after their last ordeal five years ago." Said Mrs. Kamiya.
"So did I, but He snuck off anyway. I wouldn't doubt it if Kari went with him and Sonya. I bet you they're there." Nancy insisted.
"Oh, that little brat is getting grounded for this!" Came Mrs. Kamiya's voice on the other end.
Nancy thought a moment. Mrs. Kamiya was being strict and harsh, just like she was. What if she cut off her connection with her daughter? Nancy couldn't imagine what would befall the woman if the same thing happened to her.
"Sandie, you shouldn't be so rash. Calm down and when they get home, let her explain what happened. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this."
"I don't care, when I tell her to do something, she better damn well do it! I've had enough of her arrogance; she's been like this ever since her father died!" Mrs. Kamiya's voice cracked.
"Oh Sandie…."
---
Shadow laughed at the woman as she sat worrying over her son.
"He's never returning, not to you. You'll never know what happened to him. You'll begin to wither away and fade into suicide. Then I'll have the pleasure of sending your children back to you. But by then, it'll be too late." He chuckled.
'Oh, what fun it is to mess with a woman's life.'
"Sir, The prisoners in Dungeon 3, Block 4." Sonya said suddenly.
"What about them?"
"They've gone." Sonya said, looking the man in his grey eyes.
"What?!"
Shadow jumped from his seat and ran to the computers that the girl was sitting at.
The screen showed an empty room with bloody and rusted cages, doors swinging off their hinges.
"Damn." He muttered and rushed out the door. Sonya watched as he ran out and then back at the computer. She minimized the screen of the fourth block and brought up the third, where the digidestined and their digimon were being held.
'Just a few more hours. He should be confused by the time he gets there….' She thought, glad that the man never really paid attention to where he held his prisoners.
'This is the way it's supposed to be….'
---
"Sora, are you awake?" Asked Mimi quietly. The red head didn't stir.
"Sora, answer me… please?" Sora moved her leg a little.
"Stay with me Sora. Help will come soon." Mimi assured the wounded girl.
"Mimi, is she alright?" Asked Jyou from the opposite side of the room.
"No, she's losing consciousness. She can't hang on for much longer." Mimi called back.
"Sora, you have to stay awake!" Jyou called back. "Think about Biyomon and Matt!"
"It's so hard. I can't see…." Sora breathed.
"Come on…." Biyomon muttered hopelessly.
There was a howl form out the window and a cry from a large bird. Mimi looked to the dungeon window, wondering what the sound was. The moon shone brightly behind the metal bars.
The figure of a large bird appeared in the light of the moon, flying toward the castle.
"What is that?" Mimi asked, more to herself than anyone else. Jyou strained top see out the window as well, but to no avail.
"What do you see? Is it the others?" He asked.
"No, It's a bird." Said Mimi disappointedly, but still perplexed by the figure. It grew larger and larger as it came toward the window. She was soon able to make out the shape of the wings and the color of the bird.
"It's a Bald Eagle!" she said, shocked. The bird landed on the outer sill of the stone window. It poked its beak through the bars and squawked.
"What's an eagle doing here?" Asked Jyou.
"Are you the digidestined?" the bird asked in a deep, solid voice.
"Uh… yeah." Said Mimi, perplexed with the talking bird.
"I have a message from Tojima." The big bird opened its wings and picked at the feathers a moment.
"You are to be freed shortly. There is little need for you to be here, he will make sure you are released safely. Is your friend alright?"
"No, she won't last for much longer, we need to get her out now." Said Biyomon.
"I cannot carry either human, but I can steal away with one of your creatures, to tell your friends of your ordeal." Answered the Eagle.
"How can we trust you?" Questioned Gatomon.
"Why wouldn't you?" The bird asked back.
"You are an ally of the Nightwalkers!" the wounded digimon shouted. There was a short silence.
"Aye, I am an Eagle of the Wind Tribe. I fight beside the Wolves, but you must understand that they're very reliable and loyal to their allies. They are determined to set you free." The bird reasoned.
"Why do the wolves want us out?" questioned Tentomon.
"And why would they be willing to put themselves in harm's way to save someone they've already tried to kill?" shouted Palmon from her rusted cage.
All the digimon watched the bird with angry eyes.
"You're kind has swept down and carried children off into the sky. Why should we trust you to free us?" Wormon asked, frowning.
The bird ruffled his feathers and looked the digimon in the eyes, then turned to leave.
"Think of it as your last choice. A diversion has been set. Be ready." And he flew off into the night.
"Why would they want to help us?" asked Jyou.
"Probably to join the nightwalkers." Said Gatomon. "They're numbers are thinning and they're looking for recruits. Don't fall for it, ever."
Jyou felt his wrists grow weak under the metal restraints. He pulled at the chains from the wall, but, again, to no avail.
"We should take up their offer." He said finally. The digimon looked at him.
"What?"
"Yes. If they're willing to get us out of here, we need to take up this opportunity and find the others when we're free." Jyou reasoned. That way, we can tell them where the castle is and what's going on here!"
"Jyou's right." Murmured Sora.
Mimi looked over. "What do you mean?"
"We need to … tell the others… about T.K… And Kari…." She breathed.
Silence, then befell the room.
---
"We're here!" Said Yolie. The group ran through the trees to the clearing qwhere Tai and Sonya were waiting. They stopped only to find blood, tron earth, and no one around.
"Tai! Sonya!" Matt called.
"Where'd they go? What happened?" Davis questioned, looking around. Ken ran to the pit and doubled back with shock.,
"She's gone." He said. Everyone looked at him.
"What?"
"Kari! She was here, now she's gone!" He exclaimed.
"Impossible, She was cold as ice when we left." Said Hawkmon.
"What are you talking about? What really happened here?" Cody asked.
"We found Kari, but there was some kind of trap…. She was disguised as Shadow, but we couldn't tell. Tai hurt her, and she fell back into the pit. She was impaled in at least four places, there's no way she could have lived!" Ken explained.
"We checked her for life…." Said Yolie quietly. "She was dead…. Where could she have gone? What could have happened?"
The group spread out through the area, searching for a sign of what events took place.
"Matt." Came a ragged voice form the trees.
Everyone looked up with recognition of the voice and ran toward it.
Tai lay on the forest floor in a broken and bloody mess. His throat was ripped and his clothes were shredded.
"Tai! What happened to you?" exclaimed Matt taking his friend in his arms.
"Jagar…. He took Kari with him." He said weakly.
"Where did they go?" Wondered Ken aloud.
"She's alive." Tai said hoarsely and the others watched in shock.
"Kari?" She survived?" asked Izzy, kneeling to Tai's eye level.
"She thinks… we wanted her dead…. Karakin has her… against us… completely." Tai's vision began to fade slightly.
"We need to get help." Armadillomon said.
"Where? It took us this long to find our way here, how will we get out?" asked Yolie.
Davis was looking around anxio0usly.
"Where's Sonya?" He asked nervously. "She was here too, where'd she go?"
"She must have been taken away, too! We need to find Jagar!" Patamon said.
"No, we need to find help for Tai first. Once he's taken care of, then we'll go search for the others." Said Cody.
"No…." Tai breathed. Matt looked down at him. Tai tried to speak, but was barely audible to the blond.
"What? I can't hear you…" He leaned in closer to hear Tai's words.
"Traitor…." Was all Tai could manage before falling unconscious.
Matt felt his heart race as the fear for his friend and the accusation given raced through his mind. He could hardly stand as he tried to lift the brunette form the ground.
"Hawkmon, can you digivolve?" Asked Yolie.
"I'm not sure…. I'll try." Said Hawkmon.
"Digiarmor energize!" Yolie shouted and a bright light surrounded the digimon. He was replaced with Halsemon and he lowered himself to be boarded.
"I don't have very much strength in me, Yolie. We must hurry and get as far as we can." He said. Yolie climbed on the digimon's back and took Tai in her arms. We'll go ahead to find a village. We'll mail you when we do." And they were off.
"Gabumon, do you have enough strength?" Asked Matt.
"No, I'm afraid I can hardly walk, let alone digivolve." Said the tired digimon.
"The digimon keep growing weaker because of the dark sky." Said Izzy, looking up to the dark clouds over their heads.
"If only we could break the clouds and let the light back down on the digital world." Said Cody.
Davis was paying little attention as he search frantically for Sonya's whereabouts.
"I can't even find a sign of her, guys! Where could they have gone?" He asked, his nerves strained.
"We need to get away from here, Davis." Said Veemon, tugging on Davis's sleeve. "We'll find Sonya soon, once we regain our energy."
"But, she's out there, alone somewhere. She doesn't have a digimon partner to keep her safe!" Said Davis as he kicked a broken, hollowed tree. It cracked and groaned and fell over. As it hit the ground, the digidestined saw the tatter and ravaged body of Augumon laying a few feet from where Tai had been.
Everyone stopped with fear. The little digimon that lay dead before them was once their leader's digimon. It appeared from his broken form, that he had no chance.
There was an airy silence.
"Those Nightwalkers are to come around once they smell the blood. We have to hurry." Said Gomamon.
"You're right… Let's go…." Said Gabumon, tears in his eyes.
"Should we take him with us?" Asked Cody, trying to force his tears back.
"No, he'll attract creatures to us, and we can't afford a fight." Said Patamon remorsefully.
"Then we can at least give him a burial…." Suggested Davis.
"You're right. He deserves it." Said Matt.
The group set to work digging a grave for the broken digimon. Matt covered Augumon with his jacket and placed him in the ground. They covered the body with earth and said a few words, the silence. Nobody could speak, nobody could believe that one of their own had gone.
They wanted to retreat to their memories of happiness, but found they could find none. After a good deal of time, Matt spoke.
"We have to go. We need to follow Yolie incase she finds Tai help. He needs to know this, if he already doesn't."
Everyone nodded and followed the blond away form the grave, looking back silently until it was gone.
There was a great length of time as the digidestined traversed through the woods. Hope of finding their lost friends lingered dimly, but only dimly. Darkness and Sorrow stressed through everyone's mind. Davis, in his haze of fear and worry, began recollection his memories of Sonya. The times he sat and conversed with her, the times he watched her in class, the times he wanted to be in T.K's place beside her. The memory of the Prophecy scroll began drifting in and out of his thoughts until it suddenly stuck in his mind.
When the Sky Turns Black and Nature turn on the Innocent, the battle of the Soul will begin.
Hope will fall to despair, Light will give way to hate, Faith will become blind.
The Children of Light shall be consumed by Darkness, all their Life will drain to Death.
The last shard of Light will fall before the Darkness, leaving only Hate in its Soul.
The last shred of Hope will Wither and grow Cold, leaving only Ice in its Heart.
The last trace of Faith will Fade into a Dark Abyss, leaving only Emptiness in its Wake.
Only the Reliability and Kindness of Love and Courage can pull Hope back to Day.
The Children of the Sun can Renew their Faith, and Revive their Hope, Yet they have only this to ask themselves:
How much Darkness must be tread to bring back the Light?
Davis's mind stopped and he back tracked his thoughts.
The last shard of Light will fall before the Darkness, leaving only Hate in its Soul.
'Kari….'
The last shred of Hope will Wither and grow Cold, leaving only Ice in its Heart.
'T.K….'
The last trace of Faith will Fade into a Dark Abyss, leaving only Emptiness in its Wake.
'Sonya….'
The Prophecy was taking place faster than Davis would have imagined. Kari had fallen into Hate, T.K, if he found out about Kari, undoubtedly followed, and Sonya….
'What if… Sonya was sided with Shadow?' he thought. 'Did the Prophecy already take her down?'
"Davis… what's up?" asked Ken.
"Nothing, just thinking…." Answered Davis.
"Where are we, do you think?" asked Cody.
"I remember this place!" Said Veemon after a moment.
"Yeah, me too. Listen, can you hear the waves?" spoke Armadillomon.
Everyone hushed and listened and found they could indeed hear oceanic waves.
"We're close to the sea, there's always a fishing port on the coast by a village somewhere along the beach. If we follow it, we're bound to wind up in one." Said Veemon.
"Great! Follow those waves!" Exclaimed Davis and ran to where the sound was emitting from.
After a short distance of running, the group landed at the Cliffside of a large beach. The sand was deep and light and the water was warm.
"This looks like the Brann Sea, under the Helvete Mountains." Said Patamon.
"We need to be careful here." Said Armadillomon. "Wolves have been here."
The digimon pointed to the sand beside them and saw a set of paw prints. They walked toward the water steadily.
"Well, I don't think it's here anymore." Said Davis, stepping away from the Cliffside to the water.
He watched the prints as he walked beside them and saw a change. They grew larger with each step and then there was a heel print after each. The paws began to change until they were suddenly human footprints. Davis stopped at the edge of the water, looking out to the sea, perplexed with what he saw.
The other digidestined came up beside him, looking up at the dark mountains and felt the warmth of the water sprays.
They looked to the water as well, not saying a word.
Beep, Beep, Beep! Came the sound of Matt's digivice. He looked down and found an email from Yolie.
'There is a village just under the Helvete mountains I'll meet you there.' It said.
"Yolie found a village under the mountains. We need to meet her there." Matt announced and the group began to the long walk to the mountain base. Davis turned slowly, still watching the see with wonder. Curiosity crept through his head as he watched the foot forms from the sand lead into the sea, leaving footprints on the water.
The Name of the Sea (Brann) is Norwegian for Fire and Helvete is Norwegian for Hell by the way. Just a little fun fact.
I'm not sure if this chapter makes much sense to me. It seems a little choppy, what do you think? Please review and tell me what you think.
Maybe I can fix it....