I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Another chapter! Funny, I always thought Matty's Spirit Chip was going to be the hardest to write, but now I'm thinking it's actually Mickey's. That's one of the reasons why it's definitely taking me longer to write this arc over Kara's, but I will continue to struggle along and get to the end. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter, and I'll try to get the next one done as soon as I can!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 336: Dark Stalkers
Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
All around him, the cold wind blowing through the mountains howled with malicious intent, and as the swirling snow ruthlessly pummelled his already weary body, Makiya Takaishi reluctantly had to accept the fact that there was no evading the blizzard he had been hoping to miraculously avoid ever since leaving the safety of the village. Although they were passing through an open valley with the rocky cliffs looming in all four directions, he could barely see a few feet in front of him, which did not bode well for his sanity. The lack of visibility was starting to make him feel very nervous, especially because it meant he was having a hard time keeping his eyes on Matty.
And Sam, too. I don't want to let either of them out of my sight, but the storm is making it difficult for me to keep track of where they are. I know they're close by, but it's not enough. Considering the seriousness of our situation, Matty should be sticking to my side like glue, and Sam...Maybe I should ask him to hold my hand again?
Whether it was a conscious decision or not, the raven-haired Digidestined had pulled away after they exited the narrow mountain pass, and since them Mickey hadn't been able to work up the courage to reach out and twine their fingers together in a desperate attempt to restore some form of physical contact between them. He couldn't deny the fact that he was craving Sam's warm touch, and the longer it eluded him, the more he yearned for it.
If only he would feel the same...
"How is everyone holding up?" a voice called out from somewhere up ahead, the words almost getting lost in the midst of the storm.
Though he couldn't see the large digimon, who for obvious reasons tended to blend in with the snow, Mickey was certain the voice belonged to Frigimon, and from somewhere behind him, he heard his father shout, "I figured it was going to be bad, but this is worst than I thought."
"Visibility is near zero," Ken added, also raising his voice to be heard over the wind. "At this rate, we'll freeze out here."
"Maybe we should look for a spot to rest for a bit?" Yolei suggested, coughing as the raging blizzard stole her breath away.
As much as it pained him to admit it, Mickey had to agree with the concerned adults who were likely more worried about their children than themselves. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed only silhouettes of his parents and the Ichijouji couple, which indicated just how hard it was to see through the snow. He couldn't even spot Gatomon at all, and if it wasn't for the light coming from his Digivice, he likely wouldn't have been able to see the Izumi couple and their partners either.
What if we can't find a place to hide from the storm? I've been cold and unmotivated ever since coming to the Digital World. I just want to feel warm and safe...
Which was why he needed Sam and Matty.
"I'm already on it," Izzy called back from the front of the group. "According to Frigimon, there should be an abandoned woodcutter's hut up ahead. If we can make it there, it should provide some relief from the storm and give us a chance to rest. We can plan our next move from there, and hopefully in the meantime the snow might ease up a little."
"I wouldn't count on that if I were you!" Dai shouted from the back of the group. "Ugh, I can't feel my nose! We better pick up the pace if we don't want to freeze to death."
"Keep your eyes peeled for a log cabin!" Frigimon instructed. "That'll be the hut we're looking for!"
Unable to prevent a weary sigh from escaping his lips, Mickey continued on with as much strength as he could muster, which he had to admit wasn't very much. His whole body felt numb from the cold, and what little warmth he did have came from Celestimon, who was clinging tightly to his neck in order to prevent both of them from losing track of each other. The little rookie was clutching his glowing D-Coder tightly in one small hand as if it were a lifeline, an analogy that Mickey quickly realised wasn't too far from the truth. As the wind continued to howl, the icy snowflakes swirling through the air proceeded to assault him from every direction, their sharp edges relentlessly stinging his already freezing cold cheeks. The exposed skin on his battered face felt like it was on fire, except the burning sensation was frigid rather than hot.
I don't know how much more of this I can take...
Just when he thought he couldn't take another step, he felt something warm touch his arm, and knowing instinctively what that something was and who it belonged to, he panted, "I don't know if I can move another step."
"You can with my support," a soft voice murmured in his ear, sending shivers down his spine.
This time his goosebumps had nothing to do with the cold, and as the hand on his arm slid down to grasp his fingers, he whispered, "You can see me even in this horrible wintery nightmare of a storm?"
"Bit dramatic, wouldn't you say?" Sam replied, sounding amused.
Is it? Sounds pretty accurate to me. This blizzard is like a nightmare I can't wake up from...
Blinking snowflakes out of his eyes, Mickey gave the raven-haired boy's hand a grateful squeeze, and knowing his words might get lost in the wind, he mumbled, "I'm not so sure about that."
"It was your D-Coder," Sam said gently, tugging on his hand to pull him closer. "Not even a storm this bad could hide your light."
The words sounded almost symbolic, and chewing nervously on his lower lip, Mickey wasn't quite sure how to respond. Perhaps the raven-haired boy hadn't heard his words, but even as the thought crossed his mind, he was certain that wasn't the case. Mostly likely Sam had chosen to ignore his outburst in favour of trying to encourage him to keep going, and though he wasn't quite sure if the attempt was successful or not, he still appreciated the sentiment.
My light used to be strong, but even I can tell it's wavering in the darkness. Maybe it was never truly as strong as everybody wants to believe it is.
"I'm sorry my light isn't a bit brighter," Glowmon lamented, his small body curling itself deeper into the fold of Sam's other arm. "If I could turn up the intensity, then you wouldn't have to worry so much about losing sight of us."
"Your light is plenty strong!" Celestimon protested.
"Is that it?" Sam asked, his deep blue eyes glimmering with an intensity that rivalled the raging storm swirling around their tired bodies. "Were you worried we'd end up getting separated?"
That look almost took Mickey's breath away, and stumbling along next to the raven-haired Digidestined in an effort to keep up with Frigimon's hurried pace, he managed to gasp, "Considering the weather, I think that's a pretty valid fear to have."
"I don't disagree," Sam said simply, leading him gently by the hand. "After all, the feeling is mutual."
Does that mean you're afraid of losing me?
Mickey wasn't quite sure how to respond, and thinking it was probably best to remain silent in case he said something stupid in return, he allowed the raven-haired boy to guide him through the storm. To his left, he caught a glimpse of yellow light, and realising he hadn't heard his brother's voice in a little while, he called out timidly, "Mickey?"
It felt strange using his own name, but despite the awkwardness of the situation, he received an immediate reply. Matty was at his side in an instant, and giving his shoulder a quick squeeze, the younger twin said warmly, "I'm right here. I've been close by the whole time."
"Me too!" Halomon insisted, his small body cuddling against Matty's chest. "You know we wouldn't go very far without you."
The words were somewhat reassuring, and squinting to see through the storm, Mickey said wearily, "How much longer do you think it's going to be before we find that hut Izzy was talking about?"
"Getting tired?" Matty asked, watching him closely.
Even in the middle of a blizzard, Mickey didn't fail to notice the way Sam and his brother exchanged worried looks, and sounding a bit hesitant, the raven-haired Digidestined said quietly, "Hopefully not much longer now. We have been walking through this open area for quite a while. I'm pretty sure it must come before the valley splits off in different directions."
"I hope so."
If it doesn't, somebody might have to carry me.
"Lean on me if you need to," Sam instructed, his firm tone leaving no room for argument. "At least that way I can provide some warmth."
"What about me?" Matty joked, smiling in amusement. "I'm just supposed to fend for myself?"
"You'll survive," Celestimon teased, giggling as the younger twin leaned over to scratch his fluffy ears.
He wants to keep me warm...
Blushing, Mickey decided to take the raven-haired Digidestined up on his offer, and still holding tightly to the other boy's hand, he snuggled in a bit closer and said softly, "Any sign of DarkAngelicmon?"
"No, but he and the other two angel digimon aren't in the mountain pass anymore," Halomon replied, his words taking on a more serious tone. "They're in the valley navigating through the storm, just like we are."
"We should probably tell Izzy," Celestimon added, wrinkling his small nose.
Mickey figured that was probably the best course of action, but before he could respond, Matty grumbled, "We'll wait until we find that cabin we're supposed to be looking for. Can't say I feel like shouting to be heard over the storm."
As long as they don't catch up to us in the meantime. They could strike at any moment, probably when we least expect it...
The thought alone was enough to make him feel sick to his stomach, and reaching out to grab Matty's arm, he said shortly, "Stay beside me. Now that they're so close, I want to be able to see you at all times."
"Shouldn't I be saying that about you?" Matty asked quietly, though he didn't pull away.
Having lost his perch, Celestimon proceeded to flutter along at his shoulder, and battling the strong winds, the little digimon said firmly, "Let's keep going. If we all stick together, we'll be just fine."
You have no idea just how much I want to believe that...
Now that he had a grip on both Matty and Sam, Mickey did feel a little bit better, and attempting to be heard from the back of the group, Ryoko shouted, "Any sign of the cabin yet?"
"I think I speak for everyone when I say I'm almost out of energy," Takara moaned, the heated tone of her words cutting though the blustery air. "If we don't find shelter soon, somebody's going to end up with frostbite!"
"There!" Mina called out. "I think I see something just up ahead. We're almost there!"
Squinting through the storm, Mickey could just make out what looked like the outline of a small building, and sighing in relief, he took a moment to glance at what little he could see of the terrain to gain his bearings. In the distance, he could just make out the mountain ridges looming in all directions, and though he was sure the river was still to his right, the sound of rippling water had long ago disappeared thanks to the storm. Truthfully, it wasn't what he could see in the distance that had caught his attention. It was his immediate surroundings that were a far greater concern.
What is that thing? No, there's more than one. They're...they're all around us.
Just past his brother, Mickey could see something dark and shapely flitting in and out of the snow at the edge of their small group, and the longer he watched the thing's bizarre movements, the more it began to take form. Within moments, a second and then a third one popped up, and before he knew it their entire group was surrounded. The dark shadows moved silently like wraiths in the howling wind, their lanky bodies keeping pace with little to no effort. It was both terrifying and fascinating to watch, and holding his breath, Mickey glanced first at Matty and then at Sam to see if they had noticed.
It's just like before. I'm the only one who can see them. Even Halomon and Celestimon haven't noticed their presence. It almost feels like we're being escorted to the Spirit Chip, and the moment I falter they'll break free from their formation and converge on me with a savage hunger in their desperation to steal my light...
There was no doubt in his mind that the shadows following along with their group were the same ones that had been crawling all over the rocky walls in the mountain pass earlier, and shuddering at the very thought, he pulled Matty and Halomon even closer to his side. Stumbling a bit at the unexpected movement, Matty quickly tightened his hold on Halomon to ensure the little rookie didn't end up tumbling into the snow and said curiously, "Something up?"
The truthful answer was an obvious yes, but instead of voicing his concerns, he hastily averted his eyes from the shadows and said shortly, "I just...really want to get out of the wind."
"Ugh, I second that. Anything to get warm."
I doubt they'll try to follow us into the cabin, but that won't stop them from gathering outside.
Mickey didn't even have to turn his head to know that Sam was watching him closely, and feeling guilty he chose not to acknowledge the other boy's sharp gaze. Though he had no way of proving it, something about the raven-haired Digidestined's expression indicated there was a good chance his odd behaviour had not gone unnoticed.
Sam might not be able to see the shadows yet, but I'm pretty sure he can tell there's something wrong with me. I want to say something, but if I do it will only make him worry even more.
"We've finally arrived!" Tentomon announced, earning himself a few cheers. "Let's hurry up and get inside."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Embermon replied, making a beeline for the door. "I'll start the fire!"
Rosa was quick to follow after the fire rookie, and letting out a loud snort, she said, "This place better be stocked with wood because I am so not going out again to collect any. Not after last time."
"Was that directed at me?"
"What do you think?" the female Digidestined shot back, raising her eyebrows at Embermon.
Mickey never did hear the little rookie's response, mostly due to the fact that he couldn't keep his eyes off the shadows. As the rest of the group began to file through the open door of the cabin, he paused to take one last look at the landscape. Upon reaching their destination, the shadows had proceeded to surround the cabin, their violet eyes glowing eerily in the storm. For the time being, it looked like they were content to simply watch and wait, but Mickey knew that could change at any moment depending on his mental state and how he handled the conflicting emotions swirling around in his heart.
For now, though, he intended to leave them to their own devices, and acknowledging Sam's tug on his hand, he said softly, "I'm coming."
They can sit there watching me forever for all I care as long as they don't come after the people I love.
With that thought in mind, Mickey turned his back on the shadows and entered the log cabin, and taking a quick look around, he had to admit the simple interior was a welcome sight. The hut did indeed have a small fireplace, and mercifully it looked like there was plenty of wood and kindling to get a decent blaze going. Other than that, there was a table and chairs located to the left in what looked like it had once served as the kitchen area, and to the right a few benches remained along with an old area rug and a few other odds and ends. The stack of wood indicated the hut was likely used fairly often as a rest stop for weary travellers, and there was even a back entrance to the left of the fireplace that was large enough for Frigimon to use since he wouldn't fit through the front door. That was another sign that the hut was often used by both small and large digimon alike, and as Candlemon and Embermon began to fill the fireplace with carefully chosen logs of wood, Mickey allowed Matty and Sam to pull him over to one of the benches lining the walls in the living area. Once seated, he was unable to prevent a sigh of relief from escaping his mouth, and sitting down on his left, Matty said, "My sentiments exactly. I nearly forgot what it felt like not to have snow blowing in my face."
Mickey had to agree, and letting his head fall back against the wall, he mumbled, "I feel numb."
"Maybe we should move closer to the fire?" Sam suggested, sitting down on his right.
"In a bit. I don't think I have enough strength to move right this second."
"Is it okay if we join the others by the fire?" Celestimon asked, his emerald eyes straying toward the group of digimon that had started to gather around Embermon and Candlemon. It looked like all of their partners had collectively decided to partake in a nap by the fireplace, and smiling at the celestial rookie who was standing in his lap, Mickey said gently, "Of course you can. We all might as well get some rest while we still have the chance."
"You'll be okay without me?" Celestimon asked, his tone indicating he wasn't convinced that would be the case.
True to his word, the little rookie had stayed with him the entire trip, fluttering just by his shoulder when unable to remain in his arms, and taking back the offered D-Coder before giving the angel a warm squeeze, he said, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Besides, I'll be right in your line of sight the whole time. This cabin isn't exactly what I would call big."
"No kidding," Matty joked. "Poor Frigimon takes up the entire corner by the back door all by himself."
"At least he has room to sit down," Halomon giggled. "I'm sure he'll be comfortable enough and he'll be close by so we can chat with him!"
"Go ahead then," Matty encouraged, giving the little rookie a fond pat on the head. "You too, Glowmon. You guys might as well enjoy yourselves. You've earned it."
As the three rookies headed off to join the rest of the digimon by the fire, Mickey took a quick look around to see what everybody else was up to. Izzy had quickly set himself up at the table with Mina, Rosa, and Cody while Ken, Yolei, and his parents lounged on old stools lining what used to be the kitchen counter. That left Dai, Ryoko, and Takara, who were all sprawled out on the carpet by Sam's feet. Since every human and digimon was now accounted for, Mickey felt himself relax a little, but even so his eyes kept straying towards the windows.
They're still out there watching us. The only way to escape them is to overcome myself...
"So now what?" Dai asked, flopping over to stretch out on his back, his arms resting behind his head. "We can't just hide out here forever."
"Exactly," Ryoko agreed, leaning back on his gloved hands. "There's no telling when the storm will let up, and we're on a bit of a time crunch. If we don't find the Spirit Chip by tonight, that leaves us only one more day."
Mickey didn't want to admit it, but the other two boys were right, and letting out a sigh, Takara said, "What you're both saying is we can't wait for the blizzard to end."
"We also can't knowingly walk into a death trap either," Sam argued, nudging the female Digidestined's boot.
Then what do we do?
"It seems we have ourselves a bit of a dilemma," Ken sighed, his arm going around Yolei's shoulders. "What do you think, Izzy?"
The computer expert was seated in one of the chairs typing on his laptop, and without lifting his head, he said, "I'm working on it. We're close to where a bunch of new paths start to split away from the valley. I think it's probably best if we take the one that stays closest to the river. For now, we'll take a break and see if the storm lets up a little, but if it doesn't there should be a few more spots where we can take shelter from the storm before we reach the heart of the Glacial Waterfalls. If we can manage to traverse the storm between rest stops, we should be able to make it at least that far before the evening sets in."
"Once we step into the Glacial Waterfalls area itself, that's where my expertise ends," Frigimon warned. "My knowledge will still be useful and I can still protect you all, but we'll have to rely on Izzy for navigation and the real detailed info."
"That's fine. You two make a great team," Patamon encouraged, basking in the fire.
"With the D-Coders, I'm sure it won't be too much trouble," Gatomon agreed.
All of the digimon looked quite content to snuggle in a cozy group, and holding up his Digivice, Matty said calmly, "Speaking of D-Coders, that reminds me of something super important that we almost forgot."
Intrigued by that statement, Mickey turned to his brother and said curiously, "What's that?"
"Here."
Huh?
Mickey blinked in confusion as Matty held out his Digivice, and frowning slightly, he said, "What's this for?"
"Remember, I'm supposed to be you and you're supposed to be me. If we're going to be convincing we also have to switch D-Coders."
That's right. If the Digivice I'm holding shines with orange light, that'll give us away for sure. Hopefully, we haven't already messed up...
Matty must have read his mind because the older twin shook his head and said nonchalantly, "I doubt it, especially in this blizzard. Even if they were close enough to see the light from our Digivices, it would have been way too hard for them to tell exactly who was carrying which D-Coder and where the light was coming from."
"Best to change them now, though, just to be on the safe side," Sam added, his words sounding strangely neutral.
Mickey wasn't quite sure what to make of the raven-haired Digidestined's tone, and pulling out the Digivice that Celestimon had given back to him, he stared at it for a moment with a sense of uneasiness. It was the last piece of his identity, and if he gave it up there really would be no turning back.
Not that I have any right to complain. This is what I wanted. If I'm Matty they'll come for me, and that will keep him safe.
Sensing his hesitation, Matty said quietly, "I promise I'll keep it safe."
Mickey bit his lip, and holding out his Digivice, he mumbled, "I know you will. That's not what I'm worried about."
You are what matters to me, not my D-Coder.
"I'm not going to let anything bad happen to me," Matty insisted, taking the offered Digivice and handing over his own. "If I did, that would make you sad, and the last thing I want to do is make you said."
"You better stand by those words," Sam butted in, the warning tone in his voice indicating that his statement was a demand and not a request.
Matty had the decency to look a little embarrassed, and avoiding the raven-haired Digidestined's intense gaze, the younger twin grumbled, "I will."
He doesn't sound convincing at all, which is why Sam's giving him such a hard time about it. Like me, Sam still believes Matty might do something to put himself in danger and that's why he won't take no for an answer. I'm glad, though. If Matty won't listen to me, I hope he'll at least listen to Sam...
Despite Matty's weak attempt to reassure the raven-haired boy, Sam refused to drop his challenging stare. The heavy atmosphere between them made Mickey feel like he was stuck in the middle of a standoff, and clutching Matty's Digivice tightly to his chest, he said timidly, "I'll be okay as long as the two of you stay safe."
Startled by his words, both boys immediately backed down, and reaching over him to give Matty's shoulder a quick squeeze, the raven-haired boy said quietly, "Just remember how much we care about you. We would never want to see anything bad happen to you either."
"I know," Matty said quietly, his amber eyes softening into a warm smile that was directed at Sam. "That's just one of the reasons why Mickey cares about you so much."
"Matty!"
"You're supposed to call me Mickey, remember?"
Thoroughly embarrassed, Mickey didn't even bother dignifying that remark with a response, and raising his eyebrows, Sam said slightly, "Really? So what are the other reasons?"
Blushing furiously, Mickey could barely speak, and desperately trying to change the subject, he squeaked, "Shouldn't we be more worried about our enemies right now? Halomon and Celestimon said they're in the valley. They must be pretty close by now."
Having overheard his frantic outburst, Armadillomon turned to the two angels and said, "Now that you mention it, how close is close?"
"Oh, that's right!" Halomon responded. "We were going to mention it to Izzy!"
"Mention what?" the computer expert asked, looking up from his laptop.
It was Celestimon who answered, and curling himself into Alopemon's tail for warmth, the little rookie said, "DarkAngelicmon and the others left the mountain pass a while ago. They've been following behind us through the valley, and...oh."
"Oh what?" Dovemon asked.
"I already don't like the sound of that," Alopemon grumbled, his icy blue eyes glittering in the light of the fire.
It looked like Celestimon was concentrating on something, and clutching the fox digimon's tail in his small hands, he said slowly, "They're really close now. In fact, I think they've caught up to us."
"You mean they're right here outside the cabin?" Gotsumon asked, his gaze immediately drifting towards the windows.
"Maybe not directly outside, but they're definitely really close by," Halomon answered. "DarkAngelicmon and the other two fallen angel digimon for sure."
"And who knows who else," Candlemon added. "There could be even more of them."
Maybe DarkAngelicmon's brought a whole army. I wonder if the shadows are still outside.
"I don't think we should panic just yet," Izzy said calmly, turning in his chair to address the whole room. "I won't deny it's concerning, but we expected this to happen. I'm sure once we leave the cabin they'll be right on our tail, and at that point anything can happen."
"Don't panic, he says," Dai muttered, making a face. "Is that your way of trying to reassure us?"
That comment earned the goggle-headed leader an elbow to the ribs from Ryoko, and ruffling his feathers, Hawkmon said, "In all seriousness, Dai does have a point. Shouldn't we come up with some sort of plan in case we're ambushed as soon as we leave the cabin?"
"Or at any point while we're trying to navigate the rest of the way through the valley?" Yolei pointed out.
Sitting between Rosa and the computer expert, Cody said slowly, "Even if we did come up with a counter strategy, with the weather the way it is, it's almost impossible to plan anything."
"The best we can do is stick together as much as possible and make our way as quickly as we can towards the east passage that runs alongside the river," Mina replied, reaching out to take her husband's hand. "If we can make it that far without any hiccups, the path will narrow again and it'll be easier for us to keep an eye out for our enemies."
I know Izzy said not to panic, but I feel like in this situation a little bit of fear is justified...
The anxiety building in his heart must have shown on his face because Sam suddenly shifted closer to him and said softly in his ear, "It doesn't matter how close they are. I'm not leaving your side."
Would you still make promises like that if you knew how much I love you?
Mickey wanted to respond, but the guilt in his heart was making it difficult for him to put his thoughts into words. The fact that he was now holding onto Matty's Digivice was also a constant reminder of his own deceptive behaviour, and as the weight of what they were fully up against hit him with the force of a storm that felt even more dangerous than the one howling outside the windows of the cabin, he suddenly felt exhausted. At this point, he couldn't even bring himself to worry about what Sam might think, and closing his eyes he let his head fall onto the raven-haired boy's shoulder. It felt warm and solid against his cheek, and hugging Matty's D-Coder tightly to his chest, he whispered, "I'm cold."
I want to hold onto you for as long as I can.
Sam immediately responded by wrapping an arm around his waist, and whispering in his ear, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "It's okay. I'll keep you warm."
At that point, Mickey decided he might as well just savour the moment, and snuggling closer, he let his mind wander in the hopes of distracting himself from the presence of the shadows lingering outside. Sam's arm felt strong and secure around his shivering body, and the rise and fall of the raven-haired Digidestined's chest helped to calm his heightened emotions somewhat.
It feels like every nerve in my body is responding to his touch. I feel overstimulated and yet it's still not enough...
The warmth of Sam's skin was electrifying, and attempting to remain indifferent on the surface so as not to give himself away, Mickey slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at his parents. So far, the couple had remained relatively quiet since entering the cabin, and realising they were both watching him silently from across the room, he felt himself blush in embarrassment. In response to his shy reaction, his mother gave him a warm smile, and glancing briefly at Sam, she said, "I'm sure the Digivices won't be a problem. Right, Izzy? DarkAngelicmon and the others wouldn't have gotten close enough for it to make a difference until after we were near the cabin."
"I wouldn't worry about it," Izzy responded. "I'll admit I forgot about the D-Coders myself, but I'm inclined to agree with Matty. Let's just concentrate on not making any blunders from here on out. Once we leave the cabin again, we have to absolutely make sure to stick close together. Since we have Frigimon at the front, it might be a good idea to have one of our larger digimon watch our backs in case they try to sneak up behind us."
"Any volunteers?" Wormmon asked. "I would offer, but I don't think I'm large enough as Stingmon or JewelBeemon."
"I'll do it," Embermon announced, poking the fire with a stick to keep it burning brightly. "I could use the exercise, and I'm more than big enough as Dragermon."
Having settled the matter, everybody went back to concentrating on resting while Izzy continued to type away on his laptop, and soaking up Sam's warmth, Mickey felt his eyes start to droop.
Sensing the change in his body, Sam leaned over and murmured, "Feel good?"
"I always feel good when I'm close to you," Mickey sighed, speaking without thinking.
There was a slight pause, and then giving him a squeeze, the raven-haired Digidestined said lightly, "How so exactly?"
I did say that out loud, didn't I. I really need to be more careful about what I say, but it's getting harder and harder to keep my feelings in check...
Realising his blunder, Mickey felt his face heat up, and scrambling for something to say, he stammered, "I-I...you know, being close to you makes me feel more like myself again, and...I can sense how much you care about me. That feels...really good."
"Does it feel even better when we're like this?" Sam asked, his husky tone immediately causing a stir in the air between them.
Unable to look at the raven-haired boy, whose warm thigh was pressing against his own, Mickey struggled to form a coherent sentence. Luckily, he didn't have to because at that moment his father suddenly sat up straighter on the stool he was using for a perch and said sharply, "What was that?"
"What was what?" Patamon asked, immediately fluttering into the air on high alert.
The golden-haired man's outburst was successful in catching everyone's attention, and jerking away from Sam, Mickey quickly stood up and moved across the room to join his father. Wrapping an arm around the older man's shoulders, he said anxiously, "What is it, Dad?"
Shaking his head, his father said slowly, "I thought I saw something outside the window just now."
Was it one of the shadows? Has my heart finally succumbed enough that they're now starting to become visible to the others?
Panicking at the thought, Mickey quickly leaned over his father to glance out the window that had once overlooked the now decrepit kitchen counter, and pausing to study the view, he frowned in confusion. The shadows were definitely still out there, since he could see a row of them perched a few metres away, their lanky bodies crouching in the snow, and speaking softly, he said hesitantly, "I don't see anything out there. Do you?"
His father leaned around him to take a second look, and despite the fact that the golden-haired man was gazing directly at where the shadows were observing them, he shook his head and said, "No, nothing at the moment. Maybe it was just my imagination?"
So if it wasn't a shadow, then what could my dad have seen? I doubt he was just imagining things.
"There!" Takara shouted, jumping to her feet. "I saw something move past the back window! I couldn't tell what it was, but there was definitely something there!"
At this point everybody was on their feet, and clutching his father's shoulder, Mickey turned to glance at the back window. Just as he was about to look away, he caught something flitting past the front window just to Sam's right, and letting out a gasp, he cried, "It's by the front window now!"
Is it...DarkAngelicmon maybe?
Mickey cried out in surprise as his father quickly grabbed him around the waist in a protective embrace, and directing his words at Izzy, the golden-haired man said in a tight voice, "Any ideas?"
"Whatever it is, I believe it's circling the building," the computer expert replied, his dark gaze focusing on the window above the counter as the dark shape once again hurried past. "Almost like a warning that it has us surrounded."
"Is it DarkAngelicmon?" Glowmon asked.
Halomon quickly shook his head in response, and fluttering over to curl himself into Matty's arms, the little rookie said, "He's very close, but not that close. If I had to make a guess, I would say it might be a digimon who's with him, but it's not one of the fallen angels."
Definitely not one of the shadows then. Everybody can see the thing moving past the windows. But if Halomon's right and it's not an angel then who could it possibly be?
"Matty, come here," his mother called out, motioning for the younger twin to join them.
Though he looked more than a little confused, Matty didn't protest, and joining their circle with Halomon in his arms, the younger twin said, "Do you think they're trying to scare us?"
No, they've come for you...
Mickey quickly held out his arms, and taking the hint, Celestimon fluttered over to snuggle against his chest.
Obviously concerned, Sam joined them, as well, and watching the windows as the shadow continued to circle the small cabin, the raven-haired Digidestined said in a surprisingly calm voice, "What do we do now? Like we said before, we can't stay here forever, and I don't think whoever's out there plans on leaving anytime soon."
"Sam's right. Sooner or later we'll have no choice but to confront them," Ryoko warned, motioning for Alopemon to join him.
As everyone began to pair up with their digimon partners, Mickey hadn't failed to notice that his father wasn't letting go of him, and glancing at Sam, he could tell the raven-haired Digidestined had also noticed. Clearly, his father was scared of somebody stealing him away, and considering the way his mother was holding onto Matty, the couple clearly felt the same about both their children.
Maybe if we do confront whoever's outside, all of this waiting and wondering will finally disappear.
Because as far as he was concerned that was the worse part of all. He just wanted to get everything over with, and if stepping outside the cabin did the trick, then so be it.
"Izzy?" Mina inquired, giving her husband's hand a gentle squeeze.
The computer expert quickly shut his laptop, and getting to his feet, he said, "Ryoko and Sam are right. I don't think we're going to get much more rest so we might as well act now. Dai, as soon as we leave the cabin, have Embermon digivolve. The path we want to take is directly to our east. In other words, we need to go right as soon as we exit the cabin. All of you stay close together and focus just on the east path. The entrance shouldn't be too far from the cabin. Keep the light of the Digivices pointed outwards incase they come at us from the north or south. Frigimon will watch the front. If any of you spot anything unusual no matter how irrelevant it might seem, speak up immediately. Our best bet of staying together is through communication."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Cody agreed, turning his back on the window as the shadow once again rounded the cabin.
Mickey almost fell over as Sam quickly grabbed his hand, and without looking at him, the raven-haired Digidestined said quietly, "Hang onto me."
Something about his tone must have been reassuring because Mickey suddenly felt his father reluctantly let go of him. A moment later, Matty was also standing by his side, and grabbing his other hand, which forced their digimon to take to the air, the younger twin said, "And me. Let's do this together, okay?"
Unable to respond, Mickey nodded before moving towards the door, but before pulling it open, Frigimon said, "Let me head out first through the back. Once I give the all clear, the rest of you can head out the front."
That's actually probably a good plan.
Having said his piece, Frigimon exited the hut with a burst of blowing snow, and as soon as he was outside, Mickey saw the shadow immediately back away from the front window and disappear. A moment later, the large digimon appeared at the front of the cabin, and pulling open the door, he shouted above the howling wind, "All clear!"
They're playing with us. That was a blatant attempt to lure us out of the cabin, and we're falling right into their trap.
Not that they had a choice. In that respect, Izzy and the others were right.
Once they do have us outside, I wonder what their next move will be...
There was only one way to find out, and allowing the other two boys to drag him out of the safety of the cabin, Mickey blinked as the blowing snow assaulted his eyes. A few feet away, the shadows began to climb to their feet, their actions indicating they were ready to continue following along. Other then their dark stalkers and the light from Dai's D-Coder, indicating Embermon had digivolved, he couldn't see anything else out of the ordinary.
Much like earlier, none of the other Digidestined or digimon appeared to notice the shadows, and waving his hand in the air, Izzy shouted over the wind, "This way! Everybody stay in formation and stick together!"
Holding tightly to both Sam and Matty, Mickey quickly hurried after the computer expert, and just as he left the vicinity of the cabin, he thought he saw something flit into a small grove of trees that stood slightly to the north. Further along, he just barely spotted something black in the distance, and whatever it was immediately made him feel very uneasy.
Was that...an angel or was it one of the shadows?
"Faster," Sam urged, pulling him along. "We can't afford to stand around getting ourselves distracted."
That was true, and picking up his pace, Mickey attempted to keep up with the raven-haired Digidestined and his brother. Stumbling a bit, he was about to say he didn't know if he could continue moving at that speed when something hard hit him in the back of the head, causing him to lose his hold on Matty's hand. Letting out a gasp, he fell face first into the snow, and the last thing he remembered hearing was Halomon's shrill voice shouting something about an angel being close before the howling wind muffled the world around him.
After that, it was just silence and the shadows.
Shadows everywhere, their violet eyes warning that the worst was yet to come.