I don't own Di-Gata Defenders or the Di-Gata Defender characters.

Chapter Two: The Morning After

It was a magnificent morning. The morning dew sparkled in the sun creating the illusion of a thousand gems on the ground and trees, while the birds greeted the day with their sweet songs. However, in the clearing that the defenders had chosen to sleep, the birds' songs were absent or else were drowned by Seth's snoring. One of the two.

Adam woke up and slowly got up from his sleeping bag. He felt like he had just ran halfway across Rados while carrying a Dakowolf on his back. A good night rest? I seem to been denied it. He looked around with weary eyes to check on the other defenders.

Seth was still snoring away on his sleeping bag, Mel was putting away hers, Erik was fiddling with his Stormer, Kara was bothering or helping Erik(who knows which one), and Rion… well, Rion was nowhere to be seen. He spotted his bag and reached for it, hoping to find some grub cakes. Just before he could reach it, he stopped, his eyes opening wide. He couldn't believe it; his hand was shaking. He quickly snatched his hand away and looked closely at both of them. They were shaking, just slightly, but still shaking. Why are they shaking? Are they cold? They don't feel cold. Am I scared? Why would I be scared? He tried to think of reasons to be scared but all he drew was a blank. An uneasy feeling began to build in him and he suddenly decided that he wasn't hungry and needed to be alone.

Adam's sudden departure went unnoticed by everyone except Mel. After she had finished putting away her sleeping bag, she had looked in his direction. She had been curious over why Adam was looking at his hands and was surprised when he suddenly and silently left the clearing. She decided it was best to follow him, just to make certain that everything was okay.

After he had slipped out of the campsite, Adam had begun running into the woods. He ran until he came across a small pond and immediately kneeled down to look at his reflection. He was not the least bit pleased with what he saw: his face was as pale as a ghost and his eyes looked frightened. A closer look revealed that it wasn't only his hands that were shaking, it was his whole body. Something has scared me. Scared me good. But what? He dipped his hands in the water and started to splash some water into his face. Hopefully this will calm me down. He was relieved when he saw that his face was regaining its color and that the shaking had ceased. The uneasy feeling had also vanished and was almost a distant memory.

"Adam, are you alright?"

Adam bolted up and turned around to see a very concerned Mel behind him. "Mel… it's great to see you. What brings you out here? Why aren't you at the campsite?"

"I was worried about you. Are you alright? Why did you run away?" She looked at him directly in the eyes, pleading for an answer.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I… um… just needed some exercise and… well, when I came across this pond so I decided that I wanted a drink." Water dripped off his chin as he smiled and said "I guess I'm a little messy. Going to have to work on my eating habits or my drinking habits, at least."

Mel couldn't help but giggle at that, although she suspected that Adam was lying to her.

"Thanks for um…. worrying about me. You really didn't have to," said Adam as he started to walk over to her.

"Oh, it was nothing really. I was just doing what comes naturally to me, I guess." She placed her hands on her cheeks while smiling profusely and acting coy.

A small blush appeared on her cheeks when Adam got very close to her and said "it's not nothing. It means a lot to me, especially that it's coming from you." He held her wrists with his hands, give her a dashing smile and looked right into her eyes.

They look at each other with dreamy eyes as they get closer… closer…. closer….

"Aiyeeeee!"

They both bolt away in shock and looked in the direction of the camp. Adam is the first to speak; "What was that?"

"I recognize that scream anywhere, its Erik's! The others must be in trouble!" Mel cried as she ran towards the campsite with Adam right behind her. With their stones ready to cast they both burst into the clearing only to find...

"A spider? This was all about a spider? I can't believe you. What kind of man are you?"

"I'm sorry, Adam" said Erik as he watched Adam pace back and forth. "It's just that I really don't like spiders. I mean they have all those creepy little eyes and those gross little legs and let's not forget those icky webs they make and…."

"But still," said Adam as he stopped and faced Erik, "it's just a tiny little harmless spider. You scared Mel and I half to death with your girly scream and for what? A tiny spider crawling on your sleeping bag?"

"Hey, that's not fair" huffed Erik, who was a little miffed about the comment about his scream being 'girly.' "I wasn't expecting it to be there; it caught me off guard, that's all."

"Don't be silly, big brother" giggled Kara, "you screamed because you're afraid of spiders. Especially the itty bitty nasty spiders that crawl on your sleeping bag."

Erik's face became flushed as Kara and Mel laughed hysterically but he quickly regained composure and walked over to his sister. "I am not afraid of spiders" he huffed as he glared down at her.

"Yes you are," she shot back.

"Not I'm not!" "Yes you are!" "Am not!" "Are too!" "Am not!" "Are too!" "Am not!" "Are too!"

"Relax guys, relax" said Mel as she stepped in between the two. "Everyone's afraid of something, right Adam?"

"Ummm… yeah" he muttered as the uneasy feeling started to build in him again.

"Oh reeeeally?" Kara grinned mischievously as she chirped. "What are you afraid of Adam?"

Adam stiffened as small flashes of the dream the other night came back to him. "Nothing!" he snapped. He cursed at himself for snapping at Kara knowing that nothing good could come out of it. He really hadn't meant to snap at her but the morning surprises had upset him and he was still mad at Erik for ruining the moment that he was having with Mel.

"Hey," growled Erik, "there was no need to snap at her." He stomped over to Adam and gave him a small shove. "She asked you a simple question, not to yell at her. Now… what are you afraid of, Adam?" He crossed his arms and gave Adam a glare that showed that he wanted an answer.

"What am I afraid of?" he whispered. Suddenly, he remembered the whole dream; shadow hand, ball of light and all. He felt himself involuntarily shudder and was grateful that it wasn't visible. "Nothing," he uttered as he turned away from the others. He rested his left hand on his right shoulder as he whispered "nothing that I understand."

"Hey," snapped Erik, "don't give me this nonsense. I want an answer." He was still really angry at Adam, but now he was a little concerned. He had seen the look of surprise and fear on Adam's face. He had also heard him mutter something, although he couldn't quite make it out, and wanted to know what was wrong. He placed his hand on Adam's free shoulder but Adam swiftly knocked it away while turning around to face him.

"I'm not giving you nonsense! I'm not telling you anything because there's nothing to tell!" Adam inwardly cringed as his words and his rashness. I shouldn't let that dream get to me. Not like this. Although, I suppose it's more my pride that's the problem right now. He looked straight into Erik's angry eyes and felt anger start to overtake him again. "You know, Erik, you're more than just a little coward. You're a Dako brained Yin Yanner with Nega lumps whose is probably afraid of his own shadow."

"Why you slime-sucking rotten Infinis scumbag… I oughta…"

"You oughta what? Hide behind one of your friends? Maybe your little sister?"

"Hey! Don't talk about my big brother like that!"

"Umm… guys, maybe you should calm down before you say something you might regret."

"You're right Mel," Adam said as he smiled warmly at her. Thank goodness for clear heads. Almost completely lost it there. I think I may have gone too far though but I've got to try and pick up the pieces. "We're letting our tempers get the best of us and we should calm down before we say some…"

"So you're backing down," snarled Erik. "Can't expect anything less from a slimy spineless scoundrel…"

"Erik, calm down."

"…who would have the nerve to betray us twice…"

"Erik, calm down!"

"…and hand over my sister to Nazmul for a host."

"Sorry about that, but it was a trick to…"

"Shut up! You're a betrayer and you can't be trusted anymore than…"

"Erik! Stop!"

"…than Brackus himself!" Filled with rage, Erik punched Adam in the stomach, hard.

"I suppose I may have deserved that," groaned Adam as he slid to the ground. "But certainly not for the actually reasons you punched me. I need some time alone. See ya guys later." Adam put on a fake smile as he got up and walked off while clutching his stomach. Okay, I was expecting the anger and maybe some insults but I certainly wasn't expecting the punch. Especially one that actually hurts.

Adam walked right by Seth who had just returned from his morning snack in the woods. "Hey Adam" he greeted, only to be ignored rudely. What's his problem? He then turned to the others and saw that they seemed concerned, even Erik who had calmed down immediately after his outburst. "Did I miss something? And where's Rion?"