Shivering even in her clothes, Tonya breathed out to warm her palms, hugging Agumon to her chest like he was a toddler.
Her butt was numb from the ice as their personal little island moved steadily through the water, and the Digimon was asleep.
Rubbing his back and trying to keep him warm, Tonya shivered, her sneakers crunching through the thinner layers of ice.
Night had given way to day, but the sun's rays barely thawed her chilled skin against the nipping wind.
Eyes half-lidded and growing heavy, the only thing keeping her awake was worry for her friends.
Tonya hadn't caught sight of anyone since she'd floated away…
'Damn it…'
Resting her forehead on her partner's head, Tonya tried to calm herself and think.
'I need to find the others…But where would they go? Would they stay where they are? Would they go to other islands?'
Eyes found the mountain still looming in the distance, and narrowed.
'Would they go to Infinity Mountain? It's dangerous…I can't let them go alone…'
"Tonya?"
Blinking, she looked down at Agumon, and he lifted his head to look at her properly.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah…Why?"
"You feel cold…"
"…I'm okay, Agu. Don't worry. Are you cold?"
"I'm fine…"
Sighing, Tonya watched her breath mist on the air…
"…We'll get out of this alright. I'm sure we will."
"I know, Tonya. You wouldn't let anything bad happen, remember?"
Smiling slightly, she nodded, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Yeah…We'll find all of the others, get back to Infinity Mountain, and beat Devimon. Then everything will be fine."
"If you say so…"
Silence settled over them, and Tonya shifted, pins and needles spreading across her butt cheeks as feeling tried to return.
"I wish we reached land soon…"
"Yeah…"
Gold eyes widened once the gaze rose, and she tightened her hold on Agumon…
"But we should be careful what we wish for…"
"What for?"
"Because it's about to come true!"
Green eyes followed her stare, and widened in surprise…
"I'm starting to agree with you!"
The large island loomed over them, spikes of ice shielding it almost like a bowl, and their little sliver of snow was rushing towards it at full speed.
"Oh…CRAP…"
"Hold on!"
Holding each other tight, the pair cried out as the collision sent them flying.
Luckily, they went over the sharp, curled spikes and hit the soft snow on the other side.
Rolling head over heels, they were both covered in the frozen blanket as they stopped, Tonya on her back and Agumon on his belly beside her.
"OW…"
"Feeling okay?"
"I'm fine, Agu…"
Sitting up, she shook the snow out of her hair and looked around in a slight daze.
"WHOA…I don't remember walking through this place…"
"Maybe we just didn't notice?" Agumon suggested, standing up.
"Maybe…I'm pretty sure Lizzy would have noticed something…Or Meg…"
Getting onto her feet, Tonya looked at the ice cliffs and sheer walls, wondering how anyone could have missed this…
"What's that?"
"What?"
"Over there, by that cliff wall."
Heading towards it, the redhead shook the snow off her shoes so her toes didn't freeze up and squinted to get a better look.
"Mailboxes?"
"What are those for?"
"For letters and packages…"
Walking up to the line of bright red, iced metal mailboxes, Tonya studied the numbers on the little doors.
"Maybe people really did live here once?"
"…What are we going to do now?"
"…"
Tonya sighed, hoping she could have avoided the question longer, before turning to her partner.
"…I don't know."
Rubbing her forehead, she plopped down on the ground to be at the same level, looking lost and frustrated.
"I don't know where everyone is or how they are or if I can even get off this island or if…"
The words caught in her throat, and she hugged Agumon close, as if it would make the pressure go away.
"…I just don't know, Agu…"
Returning the embrace, the dinosaur Digimon plopped down on his own butt.
"I don't expect you to ALWAYS know what to do, Tonya…"
"Really?"
Pulling back to look into the Digimon's eyes, Tonya rubbed at her eyes to try and hold back irritated tears.
"Yeah…It's just that you usually DO, and we count on that."
"…I guess…"
Grumbling a bit, Tonya pulled back, patting his head as a smile crossed her face.
"Sometimes, the best plans take a while. I'm sure something will come up."
Agumon grinned, standing up so that the redhead could follow suit.
"That's the Tonya I know!"
Smile widening, she looked around, noting a dead-end canyon and snowdrifts.
"Maybe we'll be alright for a while. I mean, we haven't been attacked yet, right?"
"It's too quiet here for that."
Something shook, and neither moved as something busted out of the snow behind them…
"…Please tell me it's not a Digimon…"
Agumon looked over his shoulder…
"I could, but I'd be lying…"
"…Great…"
"Sub-Zero Ice Punch!"
"RUN!!!"
With Agumon flying behind her like a flag, she started running, skidding in a turn when a polar bear Spirit Evolution tried to cut them off.
He was a large, snow-white pale man, brawny, with bear claws and sharp teeth.
"CRAP-CRAP-CRAP-!"
Sliding on the snow, throwing up the frosty flakes, Tonya tried evading the large snow Digimon and his angry, hungry-looking partner.
"Agu, who are they?!"
"It's Frigimon and Bearclaw!!"
"Great names!! They really strike terror!!"
"Sub-Zero Ice Punch!"
"AH!!!!"
Slipping onto her butt, she slid under Frigimon's fist and managed to avoid Bearclaw's pounce.
Ending up on her back, Tonya pushed Agumon to his feet before rolling onto her stomach.
"We've got to do something, Agu…"
"But what? I'm still too weak to Digivolve…"
"…Why are they even attacking us in the first place?"
The pair backed up, and they shared a glance…
"Black Gear."
Frigimon and Bearclaw charged as one, and the smaller partners slid between their legs, spotting a Black Gear in Frigimon's back.
"We've got to hit it!"
"But I need to get up close!"
Eyes narrowing as a plan began to form, she got to her feet.
"I'll distract them!"
"But-!"
She was already off, her sharp movements catching the wild-eyed partners' attention as they chased after her.
Agumon began panicking as the very dangerous pair practically stalked his partner, already feeling that dull ache in his soul from their stretching bond…
Running after them, the dinosaur Digimon only caught up because Tonya accidentally got herself caught in the dead-end canyon.
Twirling around, she faced the angry creatures and locked eyes with Agumon as he ran up behind Frigimon.
Bearclaw jumped for her, and Tonya managed to whirl out of his path…
"NOW!"
Agumon leapt onto Frigimon's back, and there was a moment before Tonya's elbow met Bearclaw's back…
"Pepper Breath!"
Their opponents cried out, and Tonya backed away as the Black Gear fell from the Digimon's back and Agumon rushed to her side.
"You think they're alright?"
"I don't know, Agu…"
"Whoa, what happened?"
Frigimon sat up, shaking his head, as Bearclaw stood beside him.
"Who are you?"
"Tonya and Agumon. You guys just…attacked us."
"We're so sorry."
"That Black Gear must have 'rewired' us."
"So you two are…okay now?"
"We're fine."
"Frigimon honor."
Relaxing slightly, the redhead tilted her head up to look both in the face.
"Have you seen any others? Girls like me?"
"In fact, I just saw a girl with a Gabumon. She landed on another island, right Bearclaw?"
"Yeah, they did. That should be the one."
Turning to follow his gesture, Tonya sighed, seeing the island flowing parallel with their own.
"Meg WOULD land that far away…"
"What do we do now, Tonya?"
"Find a way over there, I guess…"
"We could help."
"You got rid of that Black Gear for us, after all."
She looked up at them hopefully.
"Really? How?"
"Like this."
"Sub-Zero Ice Punch!"
An ice bridge spread out a few yards into the ocean, and Tonya grinned.
"We'll be there in no time!"
"But what if it breaks? We'll be Seadramon bait."
"Have some faith, Agu!"
Tonya smiled brightly, and Agumon was happy enough to let go of his concerns if they allowed her worries to evaporate.
"Alright. Let's go!"
"THAT'S the Agu I know! Come on, guys!"
'We'll find the others in no time!'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"TAMMY!"
…
"TAMMY, WHERE ARE YOU?"
…
"TAMMY JANE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?"
Meg paused, an involuntary shiver rushing through her frame, as she leaned against a pine tree.
Snow was still falling from the sky, littering her hair in white and chilling her skin through her damp clothes.
Gabumon's concerned voice barely registered anymore, ringing vaguely in her ears as her vision blurred with exhausted tears.
Rubbing her eyes in an attempt to clear them, she pushed herself off, continuing her trek.
"Meggie…"
"You should rest…"
"You can't keep pushing yourself…"
"You're sick…"
The voice came in and out of focus, static filling her ears slowly before the world seemed to spin.
"MEGGIE!"
Everything came back into perspective, and blue eyes blinked dazedly at the sky, finding herself on the snow.
Gabumon soon came into her view, orange eyes concerned and nearing panic.
"Meggie, are you alright? You look flushed…"
"I'm alright, Gabu…"
Rising with some difficulty, she shook off some snow, no longer feeling the cold…
"Meggie, you must rest. I'm sure we'll find TJ soon."
"No time…"
Her voice was getting scratchy, and a cough followed her words, causing her statement to lose its strength.
"Meggie, you will be unable to help anyone if you persist. You must rest."
"But…Tammy…"
"Patamon can take care of her until we arrive." Gabumon soothed, feeling the fever radiating off her cheeks already.
"B-But…"
Eyes glazed and cheeks almost glowing, she hit the ground on her knees, resting her forehead on Gabumon's shoulder.
"I-I can't stop, Gabu…She needs me…Can't stop…"
"Relax, Meggie…"
Gabumon could feel the feverish worry wriggling into his soul, and helped her up.
"Come. I spotted a cave nearby where we can warm up."
Leading his partner, the blue-furred Digimon tried to keep her from stumbling through the snow until they reached the large cave mouth.
It was considerably warmer inside, but not enough for Gabumon's liking, and he settled her on the smooth rock floor before gathering dried twigs.
Collecting them into a safe pile, he surrounded them with rocks.
"Blue Blaster!"
As a fire lit the cave with golden light, Meg shivered, ice already beginning to melt from her clothes.
"You'll be alright, Meggie. We'll just stay here-."
"We can't."
Meg shifted, as if to stand, and Gabumon put a hand on her shoulder.
"We will. But we must rest."
"Gabumon-."
"I don't believe Tammy will be very happy if you continue to harm yourself. Now you sit down there and warm up."
Unable to argue with him, Meg curled up on her side, body involuntarily trembling still.
Gabumon sat against her stomach, leaning alongside her as her legs curled around to hold him in place.
"Cold…" She muttered, her thoughts becoming jumbled now that she wasn't holding one in place.
"It's alright, Meggie…We'll warm you up in no time…"
The warmth was lulling him to sleep, and Gabumon couldn't help his eyes closing or his brain shutting down…
What pulled him from his dreams was a dull pain in his very spirit, but it was sharpening the longer he stayed where he was.
Blinking, he sat up, and looked around as the pain finally registered.
'Where is Meggie?'
Scrambling to his feet, Gabumon rushed out of the cave, looking around in alarm.
"MEGGIE!"
Running through the snow, he followed the feeling of their bond to find her underneath a tree, covered in white.
"MEGGIE!!!"
She seemed barely conscious, frigid to the touch and eyes glazed in fever.
"Oh, Meggie…Come on, now…We'll get you warm and everything will be alright…"
He could feel her exhaustion, her sickness, in the back of his mind, and did his best to pull her towards the cave.
The fire was beginning to die when they returned, and Gabumon coaxed it back to life as he rested his partner on some dry leaves.
"What do I do now?" He muttered to himself.
"If I don't warm her up…"
Not wanting to think of that, Gabumon rubbed her arm, slightly warming the skin.
"But what can I use? All I have is my fur…"
Pausing, he smiled a bit as the idea truly registered.
"Of course! Besides, she needs it more than I do!"
Pulling off his fur, Gabumon spread it over his partner like a blanket before sitting beside her and starting to rest…
It was cold, except around the fire, and he wasn't about to take away any heat from his partner.
Sure, he was getting a chill, but he'd rather it be him than Meg…
"Gabu?"
Shifting at the voice in his ear, the Digimon was beginning to awake…
"Gabu, come on. Wake up."
Almost conscious, he blinked up at Meg, who smiled softly and patted the fur she'd placed on him.
"You were so out of it you didn't notice me putting it back on." She explained.
Uncomfortable now that he knew she'd seen him without his fur, he almost clammed up…
"Don't worry, Gabu." Meg assured, looking towards the cave mouth as the morning sunlight reached them.
"…I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to."
"…Thank you, Meggie."
Patting his head, she pulled her long hair into a ponytail and pulled Gabumon into her lap.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine-Ah-CHOO!"
"…Forget I asked…"
Smiling playfully, she covered him as best she could, and looking towards the warm rays lighting up the cave around them.
"Sorry, Gabu…You helped me with my cold, and now you caught it…"
"It's alright…" Gabumon sniffled.
"…Thanks…I know I was being stupid…I just kept thinking about Tammy being all alone…"
"She's not alone. None of you are."
Gabumon nuzzled her arm comfortingly, and Meg breathed out softly, muscles relaxing.
"Yeah…Guess not…"
Silence fell over them, and she gazed out with half-lidded eyes…
"Meg…"
Perking slightly as her sensitive hearing caught the sound of her name, blue eyes narrowed…
"Meg."
She knew that voice…
"Meg!"
It couldn't be…
"MEG!"
"Tonya?"
Standing up, the black-haired teen ran out of the cave, Gabumon on her heels.
"Tonya?!"
"MEG, OVER HERE!"
Rushing through the snow as the clear sky shone blue, she dodged through the trees before skidding to a halt at the sight of Tonya.
Meg hadn't thought she'd ever be so happy to see the redhead, but she was proven wrong.
Knowing she wasn't alone, seeing someone she knew, made her feel secure again.
"What took you so long?"
Tonya beamed, almost tackling her friend in joy, as Agumon raced up to see Gabumon.
"You're alright!"
"How'd you find us?"
"Frigimon and Bearclaw helped us get off another island."
Looking up at the massive pair, Meg's mind raced with all the possibilities for their alliance.
"It's nice to meet you."
"They saw you land here. After we got that Black Gear out of Frigimon, they told us."
"Really?"
The black-haired girl stepped forward, ignoring the slight mist tickling the back of her mind.
"Have you seen anyone else?"
"Nope."
"When it rains kids, we usually notice."
Sighing as her hope deflated, Meg rubbed her temple…
"It's alright, Meg. We'll find the others."
"Yeah…"
Gabumon's sneeze brought her out of her thoughts, and Meg turned to him.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine…"
"He has a cold?" Tonya wondered, brow furrowing slightly.
"A cold, huh?"
Frigimon and Bearclaw seemed to come up with the same idea, and walked off as if in search of something.
"Guys, where are you going?!"
Receiving no answer, Tonya sighed, hands on her hips.
"I guess they'll be back later…"
"What are you planning now?" Meg wondered, rubbing her partner's back to soothe him.
"Me and Agu want to find the others as soon as those two get back."
"We can't go just yet. Gabumon needs rest."
"If we wait too long, the others will float too far away."
Meg's hackles rose, feeling guilty for being able to rest and not giving the same chance to her partner.
"NO, Tonya. He needs to rest, or he'll get worse."
The redhead sighed, getting frustrated.
"We don't have TIME."
"MAKE time." Meg snarled, almost bristling.
The two Digimon tensed, feeling the hostility crackle in the air, and went between their partners.
"I'm not a genie, Meg! We need to find the others and get out of here! Stop being selfish!"
Blue eyes flashed, and Meg tackled her friend to the snow, and they wrestled for the upper hand, ignoring their partners' cries.
"You don't know anything about it!"
"Try me!"
Rolling through the snow, the chill began to sting their skin, but neither girl seemed to care very much about it.
Even a slope didn't stop them from wrestling and slapping and scratching, adrenaline taking over their bodies.
Meg managed to pin her opponent down, teeth bared in an angry snarl, as Tonya struggled beneath her.
"You don't know what it's like! I can't even sleep without worrying about Tammy!"
The redhead growled, baring her own teeth in a hiss as she managed to flip their positions.
"Of course I do! I'm an older sister too, Meg!"
The fire flickered in Meg's eyes, dimming slightly…
"My little sister is back home, and she's probably worried about me! But I have to protect the others, too! So don't talk to ME about not knowing!"
"…"
Tonya's rage was dwindling as well, and she relaxed her hold…
"I understand, Meg…But we have to think of the others, too…"
"…I know…But…"
The redhead's eyes softened, seeing her friend's eyes shimmer with tears…
"It's my fault he's sick…And now I can't help him…"
Meg almost shook her head…
"What do you expect me to do?!"
"…I expect you to do what you can."
Tonya carefully shifted off, and Meg sat up, looking at her friend and wondering where this strange wisdom was coming from.
The gold-eyed teen smiled, almost giggling.
"You always have, after all. That's all I can expect of you."
"…Thanks, Tonya."
"TONYA! MEG! GET OUT OF THERE!"
"THE CLIFF IS GOING TO BREAK!"
Looking up at their partners in surprise, the snow shifted beneath them…
Eyes widening, Tonya grabbed hold of Meg's arm before the tip of the cliff gave out, and they tumbled off solid ground.
Reaching out blindly, the redhead managed to grab hold of a root jutting from the cliff.
Cringing as her shoulder cried out at the jerk caused, Tonya breathed deeply a moment before looking up.
They hadn't even noticed they'd ended their 'battle' on a cliff…
'We need to keep a better eye on our surroundings…'
"Are you alright, Meg?"
"I'm okay…"
Meg was trying not to grind her teeth, her forearm hurting a bit from the hold keeping her from free-falling.
"Agu! How are things going up there!"
"Are you alright, Gabu?"
"We're fine!"
"We'll get you! Hold on!"
"I wasn't planning on letting go!" Tonya replied, flexing her fingers tighter around the harsh bark under her palm.
The two Digimon tried climbing down to reach them, but it was apparent that their need for food would endanger the girls once more…
"Tonya, are you able to hold on?"
"I'm…trying…" Tonya forced out, fingers burning with the force of her hold.
Meg looked around, trying to find a way to take weight off her friend's arms, when something made the rocks rattle, ice chips falling away.
"What's going on-?"
Tonya's cry was the only warning before the rock shattered and they fell down head-over-heels, their Digimon following suit.
Gravity only accelerated their descent, and they couldn't release each other when something soft broke their fall.
Hitting the snow with a bounce, the four looked up in a daze at Frigimon and Bearclaw.
"Whoa…Nice timing…"
"Thanks for breaking our fall…"
"Well, if it keeps raining kids, I should start carrying an umbrella."
"If you had listened to me, you would have been."
"Don't start that AGAIN, Bearclaw…"
Frigimon shook his head, holding out some berries in his hands.
"We got you some food."
"YES!"
Agumon and Gabumon jumped at the chance to eat, and Bearclaw shook his head a bit, revealing some green herbs.
"An old cold remedy. It should help, but-."
Gabumon immediately put it all in his mouth, pulling a face at the bitter taste…
"You shouldn't eat it all at once…It's very bitter…"
A Digimon the size of Frigimon jumped down from the cliff, a black rabbit Spirit Evolution on his shoulder.
"We'll take care of them."
Bearclaw roared, and the she-rabbit jumped to the snow, red eyes flashing as the Digimon revealed the Black Gear in his chest.
"Oh MAN…"
"We've got to do something."
"WHAT?"
"Why are Mojyamon and Rosie fighting us?" Agumon wondered.
"I don't know, maybe because HE HAS A BLACK GEAR IN HIS CHEST?"
"…Oh, right…"
"…"
Frigimon and Mojyamon were trading blows, but Bearclaw couldn't seem to catch up with Rosie.
"We've got to help." Meg insisted, looking down at her partner.
"I think we can take it."
"You ready for this, Agu?"
"Ready!"
The girls shared a glance, putting hands over their colored charms…
"Tiger!"
"Wolf!"
The light returned, almost blinding…
"Tonya, Spirit Evolve into…TAWNY!"
"Agumon, Digivolve to…GREYMON!!"
"Megan, Spirit Evolve into…FANG!"
"Gabumon, Digivolve to…GARURUMON!!"
Mojyamon, noticing the threat first, threw Frigimon to the side and faced both Digimon.
"Boomerang Bone!"
Garurumon leapt up, catching it in his teeth and snapping it cleanly in two.
Rosie skidded to a halt, eyes zeroing in on Tawny before rushing her.
Snarling, Tawny took the charge head-on, holding a stand-still before twisting her opponent and throwing her onto her back.
Rosie retaliated by kicking Tawny in the shoulder, and the tiger-girl backed off in pain.
Fang pounced on her, and they struggled harshly as Greymon tried catching Mojyamon in his jaws.
The she-wolf was forced back when Rosie kicked her in the stomach, but Bearclaw caught her in a tight hold.
"Frigimon!"
The snow Digimon copied the move with Mojyamon, and they both held strong.
"Tawny!"
"Greymon!"
"ON IT!"
Tawny charged, fist pulled back, and it flew forward, almost touching…
"Nova Blast!"
The two attacks connected, and sent them into the cliff wall.
The rock shattered, revealing Black Gears turning within the earth, as the one in Mojyamon came out, disintegrating.
"WHOA…"
Fang and Garurumon shared a look, and the former nodded.
"Howling Blaster!"
The Black Gears were cracked now, sparking as they stopped moving altogether, and light came to return the two pairs to normal.
Rosie shook her head, light blonde hair returning to normal, and cerulean taking place of crimson.
Mojyamon also shrunk, now free of evil control, and everything seemed peaceful now.
Tonya breathed out in relief, leaning a bit on Agumon, when the Black Gears began to move…
In the opposite direction…
"What's going on?"
Meg looked around, eyes landing on the now-growing Infinity Mountain.
"We were moving away from the island's center before. Now we're moving towards it."
"Maybe the others will do the same thing, and we can meet up there."
"Possibly…"
After a moment, Tonya put a hand on her friend's shoulder, smiling softly.
"She'll be alright, Meg. She's got Patamon."
"…I hope so…"
Staring at the mountain, both girls almost relaxed, as if this would be the end of their adventure…
Little did they know, this was only the beginning…