Disclaimer- Please see the first chapter.
Back at Camp…
Sora, Tai, and the others all stared at the empty campground. Sora was in shock and close to tears, while Tai was standing there, mouth open.
"But… I thought for sure that…." Tai said in disbelief. At that very moment, Matt burst from the trail carrying Mimi. "What the…."
"Joe!" Matt cried, springing forward and stopping in front of him, looking anxious. "Hurry, she's burning up with fever!"
"Are you serious?" he asked. Matt gave him a dirty look. "I mean, of course you're serious, I mean are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure!" Matt said, exasperatedly. "Just hurry, before it starts to rain harder!"
As if Mother Nature had heard him, the rain swiftly fell from the sky, causing the group to scatter. They finally settled on taking refuge under another large fir tree.
"Great. This is just prefect. Now what?" Tai said, exasperated.
"I suggest that we find a more dry area to camp until the storm dies down." Izzy recommended.
"What are we going to do about Mimi?" Matt asked. "She's sick, and this weather will only make her worse."
"I agree" Joe announced, backing Matt up. "If what Matt said is true, then if she doesn't get out of these conditions soon, I fear that she…" he trailed off, not wanting to believe that losing her was even a choice. Matt knelt down and laid her on the soft moss that covered the base of the tree, taking off her hat and purse and placing them next to her.
"Joe? Sora? Kari?" Matt asked, standing back up as the three at once crowded around her. "Can you three watch over Mimi while T.K., Tai, Izzy and I search for a better place to camp?"
"No problem," Joe said. "Just hurry back, ok?"
"We'll try," Tai said. "Just stay safe, alright?"
"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Sora declared.
Tai and Izzy headed off into the forest, while T.K. and Matt took off towards the hills on their right. Tai and Izzy searched for about an hour, but the only possible place they saw was a group of clustered trees that provided a little more protection than that of the fir tree.
"Perhaps it would be a good idea to take back some of the dry wood for firewood." Izzy counseled. "Maybe Matt and T.K. were able to find a better place to camp."
"Good idea." Tai agreed. "But what are we going to light it with? Agumon isn't here, remember?"
"It is possible that someone has matches or a lighter." Izzy implied, but the idea didn't sound too probable to him. It was a million-to-one shot. If only he remembered that million-to-one chances, usually occurred nine-out-of-ten.
Meanwhile, Matt and T.K. were busy checking out a cave that T.K. had found. The rain had been coming down into their eyes, and if it had not let up for a few seconds, they would have missed it all together. The entrance was not of large size, but just right for a few people to rush into at the same time, without anyone getting bumped or bruised. As the two brothers inspected the cave for any signs of any Digimon possibly living within, Matt came across a strange tunnel that wound back into the rock. As he looked into it, he noticed a faint light coming from what could only be the end of the tunnel. Intrigued, he stepped forward, intent on discovering where it led. His brother, seeing this, called for him, before he could get lost or hurt.
"Wait a minute Matt," he lectured as his brother turned around in surprise. "We need to get back to camp and let the others know about this cave right away. If we wait any longer, Mimi might get worse."
At this, Matt grew troubled, and decided that it would probably delay them for too long if they went in search of it now.
"Ok then, let's go," he decided. Shivering, the two boys headed out into the cold rain and hurried back towards the Cam fir tree as fast as they were able. They reached in a few minutes, and too their relief, Tai and Izzy were back as well.
"Did you find somewhere to go?" Tai asked as they arrived. Matt ignored him, and headed towards where Mimi lay.
"How is she?" he asked, kneeling down beside her.
"Not too good," Joe replied, a look of worry present on his face.
"Hell-o?" Tai asked Matt again. "Did you find a better place or not?! Answer me Matt!"
Matt turned around, his temper fueled by the stormy weather, and frustration of having someone sick who might not make it.
"You know, Tai, I wasn't the only one in the group! If you needed an answer right away, you could ask T.K. He was there too," he spat. "For your information, we did. There's a cave a few minutes away from here. It's hard to see, but T.K. and I know where it is. It's dry, large enough for all of us and more, and it's uninhabited."
"Fine. Let's get going," Tai said sighing. Matt turned around once again. Sora was also kneeling next to Mimi, a worried and pale look on her face. Matt knew… if something was to happen to her…
"Sora, take Mimi's bag and hat for me, ok? I'll carry her," he asked of her, and she nodded, taking up them both along with her own hat, that she had just taken off only a few minutes before Tai and Izzy had arrived. Matt picked her up once more, placing her in the same position she had been before, and gently laid her head on his chest. Standing up, he shuddered, noting that the temperature was dropping. Pulling Mimi close to his body for warmth, he set off, leading the way with T.K. for the others, who were following close behind. The going was tough, even worse than before, because now the rain was coming at them with incredible force. After ten minutes however, T.K. finally spotted the cave, and they all rushed inside, glad to be out on the rain. And not a moment to soon, for just as Matt stepped through the opening, large hailstones began to pelt down from the sky, most the size of a golf ball.
"That was close," he whispered, giving thanks that he had not been outside. He set Mimi down on some leaves that Kari had brought to lay her down on. Sora also placed her stuff on the ground next to her.
"How come Mimi gets the extra comfort?" Tai whined. Matt and Sora both turned towards him, giving him a fierce look.
"Because she's sick!" Matt said through gritted teeth.
"Good grief! Don't get all irritated at me, I just wondered," Tai said.
Matt turned back to Mimi, thoroughly appalled by Tai's behavior. Sora and Joe isolated themselves from the group in a corner and began discussing what might help or hinder Mimi's state. Tai however walked over to Izzy who was organizing the wood into piles with the help of T.K. and Kari.
"So, Izzy, what are we going to use to light this anyway?" he asked.
"I already told you, matches or a lighter," he replied.
"Izzy, do you actually have a lighter or matches?" Izzy stopped for a second, thinking of a good comeback.
"Uh…" he responded. "How about you go ask and see if anyone has one?"
"Grrr…" Tai retorted, but went around asking people like Izzy had asked.
"T.K.? Kari? Do either of you have matches or a lighter?" Tai asked. Izzy heard him though.
"Tai, you idiot! Think! Would T.K. or Kari carry matches or lighters in their pockets?!"
"Uh, I don't know… yes?" Izzy sweat dropped.
"NO TAI! THEY WOULDN'T!" he yelled, and Tai jumped in surprise.
"Whoa, calm down man! Chill, ok?" Tai advised.
"Tai, just go ask them, ok?!"
"Ok, ok already, I'm going! Sheesh!" he proclaimed as he went over to Joe and Sora, who where sitting in a corner, conversing about Mimi's condition.
"Do either of you have matches or a lighter? We need one to start a fire."
"No, I don't. Joe?" Sora replied.
"No, unfortunately I don't." Joe answered. Tai walked away. "This is bad. If we can't light the fire, Mimi won't be able to get warm. She'll catch hypothermia if we don't do something quick."
Tai, at this point, walked over to Matt.
"Matt, you got a lighter or matches? We need to light the fire."
"No…" he replied, and Tai turned to walk back to tell Izzy that there were none to be found. "Wait Tai, I know where some matches are!" Matt called, remembering where he had seen matches. Tai came back just as Matt reached for Mimi's bag, grabbing it and opening it up. Tai was totally shocked.
"Matt, what are you, psycho?!" Tai shouted, as he realized what he was doing. "When she wakes up, she'll kill you for going in there!"
"Tai, if I DON'T, she won't be able to wake up and kill me, SHE'LL BE DEAD!" Matt yelled. Everyone in the cave suddenly became as quiet as a mouse, for he alone had dared to say that she might die, and with each passing second, it became more apt to occur. Matt started to rummage through Mimi's bag again, the noise echoing across the large cavern, and he soon came across that he was searching. He pulled out the box of matches and tossed them to Tai. He caught them and, looking dumbfounded, carried them over to Izzy. Izzy stuck them in a pocket, and together, both boys brought over kindling near Mimi for the fire. T.K. and Kari had been busy crumpling up paper and old receipts they found in their pockets, and now had enough to start the fire. They carried the pile over to where Izzy and Tai were busy working, trying to figure out how to ignite the wood without wasting all the matches.
"Izzy? Will this help any?" T.K. asked. "Kari and I emptied our pockets of any paper we had. Will it help start the fire?" Izzy, who had looked worried only moments ago, turned to them both and smiled.
"Yes T.K., this is enough to start two fires. Thanks to you both."
"Nah, it was nothing," T.K. said. "Besides, it was only drawing paper and stuff, but I don't have any crayons."
"T.K., when we get home, I'll buy you two boxes of crayons, ok? Kari, you too." Matt said, smiling.
"Me too!" Sora said. "And I'll make you my secret batch of homemade chocolate cookies!"
"Oh boy!" T.K. and Kari both cried. "Sora cookies!" Everyone laughed at how prominent Sora's cookies had become. All of a sudden, Mimi gave out a small cry. And then, as suddenly as lightning strikes, everyone became sullen and depressed.
"Well, let's light the fire." Tai said, trying to be cheerful, but failing miserably.
"Ok, let's get to work," Joe said.
"I thought you said you were allergic to work Joe," T.K. asked.
"That's only when it doesn't save a friend T.K." Joe answered, embarrassed.
"Oh…" T.K. said.
Five minutes later, the fire was lit, and Mimi was laid down next to it. Everyone was tired but Matt, and Sora was too worried to sleep, so both of them had the first watch. It was decided that around one in the morning, Tai and Joe would take up watch, and then Izzy and Matt would relieve them at four. Matt volunteered to stay up the whole night and take the watch by himself, but no one would hear of it for everyone felt that they owed it to Mimi for almost leaving her to die. It was about midnight when the rain finally stopped after caring on for a good couple hours, and the faint 'drip…drip…drip…' could be heard echoing throughout the cave. Sora had finally relaxed and decided to go to bed, but Matt remained by Mimi's side, unwilling to take a break, let alone call Tai and Joe for their watch. He didn't know why, but he felt as if he was responsible. Maybe he just felt that he couldn't trust anyone anymore after they had almost left her to die. Or maybe… just maybe….
'No. NO. NO. NO! NOT THAT WORD AGAIN! NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!' He refused to think it, to believe it without any proof, and there were none, no butterflies or feeling that you're on top of the world. He refused to listen to it, he'd resisted before, and he could do so again. But it kept persisting that he listen, and he thought for a minute he'd give up, that he'd give in to it. Hah, he wasn't weak; he'd never give in, never!
Looking around the room, he remembered the small tunnel. Curiosity got the better of him, and he stood up, planning to go investigate it. He walked over to the opening and looked inside. Yes, the light was still there. He stepped forward, deciding that nothing would stop him this time from discovering what was at the end of it.
Mimi stirred suddenly and gave out a small moan. Not thinking about the vow he had just made, he dashed back to her side. She shivered, even though she was right near the fire, and Matt began to worry. He leaned over her, removed the handkerchief, and felt her forehead. It was still burning hot. He took out the water bottle from her bag, dampened the handkerchief with cooler water, and placed it back on her forehead.
'Ok, think, what did mom used to do when T.K. or I got sick with the fever? Well, first we took medicine that tasted horrible. She also made sure we had lots of fluids to drink. Ok, water I can do.'
Matt sat down against a stalagmite that was next to her and he picked her up and moved her into his lap, holding her head up with his left arm. Then taking the water bottle, he slowly pressed it up to her lips, making sure that a sudden movement would not result in an unexpected shower for the both of them. Matt smiled as she slowly drank the water until it was empty. He set the water bottle down next to him and carefully laid her back next to the fire.
'Ok, what else did she do? She let us watch TV in bed all day…. Sorry Mimi, no TV here, let alone anywhere to plug it in. Well, she also let us eat bread and other foods that wouldn't make us sicker. Sorry, I don't have anything like that. She told us stories too. Nope, that's not happening. Even so, I don't think I could do that without waking anyone else up. Oh… and she made sure we were always warm. Ok, that I can check.'
Matt bent over Mimi again, and felt her hand. It wasn't very warm at all, and little goose bumps covered both of her arms.
'Great, the fire's not helping. She needs a blanket or something.' Matt thought as he looked around the room for ideas. Nothing. Not even more leaves. 'Great. Now what?' He debated about going into the forest to find more leaves, but thought against it.
'She could get worse, and no one would know. Also, there's probably none in a fifty mile radius that are dry anyway.'
He scanned the cavern once again, looking for anything that could be used. Nothing.
'If only Gabumon was here, he'd know what to do.'
Matt remembered every thing his friend had done for him, from protecting him from evil Digimon like Devimon and Myotismon, to even giving up his own fur to keep him from dying from hypothermia….
'Wait! That's it!' he thought suddenly. He knew he'd be cold, but if it stopped her from dying, it was worth being cold or even sick. He quickly took off his shirt, and draped it over her arms. He shivered at the quick change of atmosphere.
'Boy, it sure is cold,' he thought.
Matt moved over next to the fire near her head, and huddled close to the fire. He looked at her face once again after about a half an hour and he noticed that Mimi wasn't frowning. In fact, a small amount of color had crept back into her once death pale skin and it appeared that she was already returning to health. Matt sighed with relief.
'She'll be ok now,' he thought, slowly laying down next to the fire for warmth. Then changing his mind, he moved next to Mimi to make sure that she stayed warm. He took her hand in his. That way, if she got cold, he would feel it and wake up. 'She'll be ok.' He told himself, and with that, he slowly passed on into the world of dreams.
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M&M Forever