The group slept surprisingly well that night. They slept under the watchful eyes of the crest guardians in the openness of the village courtyard. None made a fuss about sleeping in the outdoors, or about being so exposed. For some strange reason, each of them, from Roten and Seimei to Tanshin and Tomo, felt safe.
When the light of day peaked over the rooftops onto the group, the group almost immediately began to stir. Seidaku was the first to actually get up, followed by Denkou and Seimei. Each were prodded by their partners into getting up. Soon, everyone was up and about, stretching and getting the last of their yawns out of their systems. As they took their time waking up, a round of digimon brought breakfast. Mikemon was among them and was the only one who would serve Kodimon. However, the digimon didn't try to avoid him, and went past him as though he weren't there. Or, that's what he thought until a Yokomon hopped by and said with much excitement and energy, "That was awesome last night how you fought that Grizzlymon!" Some digimon around her nodded in agreement as they went about serving the digimon. It made Seidaku smile to see some acceptance beginning to sink in.
The kids ate breakfast much more slowly than they had eaten breakfast, taking the time to talk to many young and curious digimon. Denkou and Leormon were the most popular. The young digimon all wanted Leormon to digivolve. At a low point of the excitement was Seimei and Lopmon, who kept themselves somewhat distanced from the rest of the group. Seidaku knew that there was a lot from the night before that she didn't know. She had a feeling that Seimei and Lopmon's distancing might be caused by events from the night before. Granted, Seimei had tried to distance herself often during the trip, but this felt different. Seidaku got the impression that the others were keeping their distance from her as much as she was from them. She kept her wonderings to herself as she continued to eat the rice in her bowl. At least, she hoped it was rice. It didn't move, so she took that as a good thing.
From their place at the main entrance to the courtyard, the crest guardians watched the group of kids and digimon as they ate and conversed. The guardians were short one, as Quetzalmon was recovering from his injuries. He told his fellow guardians, in great detail, of his quarrel with the girl named Sen and her digimon BlackGatomon. The appearance of Sen and Hikage worried the guardian's greatly. The crests were all claimed, but the elements still remained. They worried about the consequences of two of the elements falling under Soritamon's command. "We must send them on their way at once," Orcamon said. "They must get to the temple and claim the elements."
"They need to, but they cannot," Boarmon said. Several of the other guardians looked at him in confusion.
"Certain members of the team are yet unprepared," Saggitarimon added. "Among many things that this group is unprepared for is the lack of Digivices. Shoki and Tanshin to not have new ones as of yet. It is not even clear if Tanemon is to be Tanshin's partner, or Tokomon to Shoki."
"We cannot keep them here, no matter how unprepared they may be," Kabukimon argued. She lifted her arm and motioned to the group. "They must continue on their way. Every moment we waste here in argument, Soritamon becomes exponentially stronger."
"Then we should travel with them," Opossumon said. "I volunteer!" The excited cat-like digimon stretched her hands into the air, nearly being lifted off of the ground by her many balloons.
"I believe some of us should go with them," Aurumon said in agreement. "I, too, would volunteer for such a quest."
"Some would need to remain behind," Togemogumon said, "But I believe that this will be necessary. They will need much guidance in the days following their departure. Many trials await each of them, most of all being the temple."
"I shall remain behind with Quetzalmon," Orcamon said.
"I, too, shall remain behind," HoneyBeemon said. "However, that does not mean I do not wish to go."
"I wish to go," Saggitarimon said.
"As do I," Kabukimon and Boarmon said in unison.
"Then it seems three shall remain while six go," Togemogumon said. "Very well. Orcamon, HoneyBeemon, the village is yours. We shall leave as soon as possible."
"Say…" The guardians looked at Boarmon as he stared at the group. "What would you say to inviting the enthusiastic one along?" The guardians knew who he was talking about, but why he asked eluded them.
- - - - - -
"I see," Seidaku said. She had been pulled aside by Togemogumon, who wished to speak with her. "So there are other humans in the Digital World, and they work for Soritamon. This is sad news, though sadder that Seimei has been effected by the boy. To be so kind and have it thrown back at you…" Seidaku shook her head. She really wished she had been awake for the events of last night.
"He repaid it, though," Togemogumon said. "He let her go unharmed, at least physically." Seidaku nodded.
"We shall leave for the temple immediately," she said. "It will be good to have your lot along for the ride."
"I fear there are many trials in store for them," Togemogumon said as he followed Seidaku back to the courtyard. "They are in for some rough times, with or without us."
- - - - - -
"Adventure, here I come!" Mikemon shouted in excitement as she bounded far ahead of the group. The group was even stranger looking that before now that six of the guardians were in company. Add the hyperactive Mikemon into the mix, and Seidaku knew things were only going to get hairier. Mikemon kept bounding ahead. Then she spun around and bounded back. "This is going to be awesome!" she shouted as she leapt onto Kodimon's shoulders. "I've never left the village before! This is going to rock!"
"Remember that we are on a serious and dangerous quest," Kabukimon gently scolded. Mikemon nodded and leapt down from Kodimon's shoulders.
"Why did you invite Mikemon along, anyway?" Roten asked Kabukimon. Kabukimon shook her head with a smile.
The group walked for a long time with the sun to their faces. It wasn't comfortable and it wasn't easy to see where they were going. They finally went off onto a forest path that cut off the sun entirely. The shade was a nice reprieve. The group walked for the whole day. Mikemon made rounds with a basket of snacks to keep everyone's stomachs content. Aside from her rounds Mikemon spent most of her time in Kabukimon's company.
The shade of the forest began to turn dark with night as the group came to a fork in their path. It split the path into three others. "Which way is the right one?" Seidaku asked. The guardians looked between themselves before looking at Seidaku.
"We are unsure," Boarmon said. "To our knowledge, this fork never existed. Why it is here, we do not know."
"So, which way do we go?" Seimei asked.
"We shall have to separate," Togemogumon said. The kids immediately began to object. Their objections were, however, silence by Seidaku.
"Then we will separate," she said. "We'll have three groups, obviously." Seidaku set to work making groups. However, not everyone was happy. For one, she separated Anchuu, Shinai, and Kanki. Each were in a different group. Then she put Roten and Kokoroe in a group together. They both argued it. Despite the arguments and opposition, Seidaku made the groups. "Going down the far left path will be me, Denkou, Shoki, Tomoshibi, and Shinai with our digimon," Seidaku said. "Saggitarimon and Opossumon will be with us. Going down the middle path will be Anchuu, Roten, Kokoroe, and Tanshin with their partners. Kabukimon, Kodimon, and Mikemon will go with all of you. Down the far right path will be Kanki, Seimei, Shinzen and Tanomoshii with their partners. Aurumon, Boarmon, and Togemogumon will be with them. Does everybody understand?" Everyone nodded and set off without another word.