Pierce was in a state of pure relaxation, sipping the cool waters of the bubbling brook she found. It wasn't far from her camp, a few minutes in the woods, almost concealed completely by the thick brush. She craddled small puddles in her cupped palms, and splashed her face with it, sighing.
Her camps never lasted long, before she was forced to move from an area, but it was worth it. She never had much trouble finding water and food, the digiworld was ripe with resources. Even moreso in her last home, she'd lived in a village, had a real home in a building and had access to a market. That had lasted about a month before she and her partner were discovered and run out of town. They were lucky enough to steal a tent and some supplies in the confusion and chaos.
The tent was cold at night, when the sun went down in the digiworld, it became frigid even in the tropical areas. Her blankets were thin, and keeping a fire going was much too dangerous. Having her partner beside her was not only comforting, but life saving. Pierce shivered, the day was almost over, and the sky had darkened while she was drinking and washing. The cold was approaching.
She turned to hurry back before night truly arrived, but paused. There was an eerie feeling in the air, a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. The feeling of being watched wasn't a pleasant one, not when she was alone especially.
"Hello?" Pierce stuttered, looking frantically around her, but seeing only forest.
She walked faster towards the camp, stopping only when she heard a rustle behind her, "stop it!" she yelled, louder than she expected.
The creature revealed itself, it was red and stunk of rotten tomatoes, with long arms that ended in bulbous green hands, covered in spikes. It bounced up and down, it's mouth gaping wide, showing it's jagged teeth and purple tongue.
"What are you?" Pierce asked in disgust.
"Redveggiemon, pretty lady," it snorted back, drool bubbling down it's chin. It wiggled closer to her, a little to close.
"Leave me alone," the girl demanded, walking away briskly.
Her back was turned to Redveggiemon when she felt it, a sharp thud between her shoulders, knocking her to the ground roughly. The dirt met her face painfully, and she tasted the familiar twang of blood in her mouth. She groaned as she propped herself up on her elbows, and caught sight of her attacked bouncing around, over joyed.
"Mean lady pay," it babbled, raising it's spiked club hand to strike again.
Pierce braced herself for the impact, whimpering slightly, but it never came.
"You touch her again, I'll blow your fucking face off," snarled Pierce's partner, holding his gun towards the vile red digimon. It took one look at him, and fled from the scene, flailing in terror. The rotten stench left with him.
Pierce shambled to her feet, she felt a stinging on her cheek, likely from falling. She wiped it, her hand becoming streaked with red blood, much to her dismay. Her saviour stared at her with a horrible expression, both concern and disappointment, "are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," Pierce whispered, "it's just a scratch."
"It's late, and you're bleeding. You shouldn't wander away from me for so long. It's not safe Pierce."
The girl started to sniff, she despised making him worry, and in this world, it happened on a daily basis. She couldn't be as strong as she wanted to be, and tears began to pour down, not for the first time. She bounded into her partner's arms, sobbing and holding her head tight to his chest.
Compared to her, he was tall, and though he had a lanky frame, he was full of raw power. His arms were long and warm when wrapped around her. He squeezed her tiny figure to him, and softly cooed down to her, "I'm sorry, you know how protective I get. Just try to be more careful."
Pierce came alive at the sound of his returned sweetness, she gazed at him, flushing lovingly, "can we go home now, Beelzemon?"
It was colder than usual, perhaps due to the changing seasons. Pierce was wrapped tightly in her blanket, alone in the tent, as Beelzemon insisted he kept watch outside. Without his body heat, she was stuck shivering and unable to sleep, and most of all, frustrated.
The digiworld was frightening at times, and she felt so weak not being able to defend herself. Back in her world, she had life figured out, or so she thought. It was one fatal gift that brought her here, and until now, she hadn't looked back.
Her father had given her a virtual pet, one of the new portable companions that kids loved to go crazy over and collect. She was eighteen when he gave it to her, he never was good at figuring out her interests. But one bored session of tinkering with the device had her hooked, she took it everywhere. The attachment to her electronic pet grew and grew, and then, when she turned nineteen, it happened. Pierce's present responded to her affection, it opened up the passage to the digiworld, and she gladly entered.
When she laid eyes on him for the first time, she knew he was the pet she had tended to for an entire year. He was dark, mysterious, and constantly armed with giant weapons. His eyes were red and had a protective glare in them when he saw her, a want to be by her side forever. The first leap into his arms was all it took for her to know they belonged together.
And now, after a full year of roaming the digital world, they were still a couple. But even with all the oddities in the digital realm, a digimon and a human romance was frowned upon. Nowhere accepted them, hence their gypsy lifestyle.
Pierce didn't care much, she had him, and that was all she needed. And in that moment, she particularily needed him, she whined for his company, frigid teeth chattering, "Beelze..."
She heard him sigh, and casually slip into their 'home' beside her. His height caused him to have to lay awkwardly at an angle in order to fit, and his arm settled around her slim waist, "what's wrong?" he asked, yawning.
"It's freezing without you."
The digimon scoffed lightly, "I see. You women are all the same, always using a guy for their own gain."
"Us women?" Pierce snapped playfully, "How many others are there?"
Beelzemon chuckled, kissed her on the forehead, and they both drifted to sleep without a proper answer.