**Presently**Rena

These silly humans fraternizing. Aren’t most of them still supposed to be working? Oh well, I can’t blame them. It is so very nice to have a connection, perhaps many connections. Friends, relationships. I attempt not to grit my teeth or lock my jaw as I sit in the dark in frustration.

One of them wises up and asks, “Ms. Rena? Are you still there? Do you want your food?”

Narf. Trying to think of a lie that is mostly innocuous, I call back, “Yes, though I, um. I’m not certain, but perhaps I might be a tad sick. Sewers you see. I don’t want to risk getting any of you sick.”

Contrary to what I’d hoped, this draws more attention my way. Several voices are calling out things to the effect of, “Oh you poor dear, are you homeless? If you’re sick we, err I could give you a lift to the Balth.”

I facepalm at my lie backfiring. I know we’re programmed to hide ourselves from humans that aren’t our partners, but corrupted dark-data Digis are becoming more bold, causing incidents that make the news. Is it really so awful if some teenagers think they saw a Renamon? A yellow fox-woman? I don’t want to delay reuniting with Jaku any longer. I’m sorry for breaking more rules, for acting risky. I suppose I inherited it from my partner. Jaku also had to break many rules and take many risks when they lost it all.

I clean up my lie as I prepare to step out of the sewer, “No, no I don’t think I’m that sick, if at all, just a bit of a frog in my throat. I’m not exactly homeless though either, I um, I simply cannot go to my apartment at the Mentaten in this state.”

There are vague questions of what state and so on, but I ignore them as I gnaw my bottom lip while stepping into the light. There’s far less shock than I would have expected. I glance around, and notice mostly ambivalence, or excitement. I’m at a bit of a loss for words.

One calls out, “Is that a, I mean, it has to be! That’s an amazing Renamon cosplay! Holy moly the details! Did you do all this yourself? Were you too embarrassed to walk home in your cosplay? Do you have like a secret little craft workshop in the sewers? Wowee zowee! Guys come take a look at this, check her out. Oh I’m sorry, her or him or them. I’m so sorry, I don’t know who you are under the suit. Sorry. I’m Tiffany, super pleased to meet you!”

Tiffany extends her hand, and I attempt to keep my jaw from landing upon the floor as I take it. She has at some point, seen another Renamon. Somewhere out there is at least one Renamon famous enough to warrant excitement upon seeing another.

Tiffany continues her excited rambling, “Guys, guys, remember that super obscure manga I told you about? Look, check it out. I mean, maybe some artistic license to make it realistic enough for someone to fit inside, but it’s almost identical, isn’t it? Although, wow, how did you get the fingers to feel so realistic, and how did your head fit in through such a tight neck on your. Uh. There’s not a single seam, anywhere. You are a god amongst cosplayers. Wait.”

I curse under my breath as she continues to scrutinize me. This time I allow myself to grit my teeth, avoiding eye contact. She begins to ask, “There’s really, really no seams, when your jaw opens, those are real teeth, and a tongue, and throat. Are you like, this Jaku person piloting an animatronic? Is that why you can’t go home? Because you’re working on some super secret, mega advanced animatronic? Do you mind if I touch you? Or her?”

Several of the humans crowd around me. I facepalm, at having allowed myself to come under far too much scrutiny. I shake my head incredulously, accidentally answering her question in the negative, and suddenly my form is being explored by her curious hand. Her finger reaches towards my eye and I’m forced to blink, wince, and pull away.

Tiffany comments, “You’re so warm, and, and like, I don’t feel joints or cables or anything.”

Tiffany’s eyes widen as realization seems to dawn on her. She suddenly announces, “Oh I know who you are! You big jerk, awe you got me good! BFF it’s been so long! I didn’t know you were up to this! You old kidder! So that’s what all this food is about huh? Sure sure, look, we’ll load it all up in my car, my shift is over anyway, I’ll drop you off. Here I’ll grab these ones, you grab those.”

Turning to address the other humans, Tiffany calls back, “Anywayz, laters all, gotta go get my besty back for pranking me so hard. Amiright? Totes, right? Haha. Catch ya on the flip side. Hey Stevie, give your gramma a kiss for me, tell her I said hi. Pete, lay off the League, your roomie friggin’ hates how much you swear when playing it. Bye Sam, love ya hun!”

Tiffany hooks an arm under mine while both of our hands are laden with bags of food, and she begins leading me away to her vehicle. I’m baffled, yet I’m almost certain she’s trying to help me. We load the food into her rear seat, to my dismay. Tiffany then sits in the driver’s seat, leans over, and opens the passenger door. She pats the passenger seat, and shoots me a curious glance whose meaning I can not place at the moment.

**An hour prior**Jaku

As somebody, or some creature approaches, the clack of their footsteps draws nearer and nearer into the depths of this cave. I’m almost certain it’s going to be the crazed werewolf biker with shotguns and his metal-claw toed boots. I’m struggling to maintain my consciousness. I’m almost ready to black out from fear with my heart rate as high as it is, while I’m as injured as I am.

Can I make a break for it? Rena said I’ve got more chi than a novice normally would have. Has it been regenerating while I’ve been resting? Or have I been using it up to heal my injuries? Do I have enough to protect me during a fall from great heights? Maybe I should struggle to get up and run past the creature drawing nearer.

Oh no. My eyelids are drooping so heavily. I forgot how hungry I am. I can’t see straight as my eyes won’t stop rolling around in their sockets. Come on, please don’t do this to me. I keep thinking I’m going to die, and then end up not dying, but if I pass out as a kaiju cometh, how will I survive that one?

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

A voice like a chainsaw growls out, “Hungry.”

I nearly faint, or perhaps I do for several moments. When I open my eyes, there’s a figure obscured by shadows approaching in the darkness. The only reason I don’t shriek in fear is because the air is only weakly escaping my lungs in a frightened hiss.

The voice like a lumberyard full of active power tools repeats, “Hungry.”

For some reason, one of the figure’s limbs is flailing wildly. In fact, that limb is honking, and flapping wings. I’m beyond confused. I’m pretty certain the werewolf biker didn’t have geese for hands. Finally the figure is near enough that I can make it out clearly. It’s the cybernetic dragon-man. He seems to have a goose gripped by the neck.

I barely manage to squeak out, “Is, is that a live goose?”

The half-machine dragon-man looks at the bird squirming in his grip, and twists his wrist quickly, resulting in an audible snap. His chainsaw voice growls, “Not anymore.”

Meep. I am most definitely going to pass out soon. As in, basically right this second.

**Presently**Rena

I hesitantly sit next to Tiffany, and shut the car’s door. She buckles, and glares at me until I do the same. I could certainly break free of the meager restraints, or even flee her vehicle entirely, but now I’m curious what she knows, or thinks she knows.

Tiffany finally speaks as we take an exit that leads to the countryside, near the mountain range thankfully. She pulls over into a park’s rest stop and calmly asks, “You’re real, aren’t you? Like totally, completely, one hundred percent, you. That figure, form, fur, everything.”

I gnaw my bottom lip as I raise my brows at her curiously. She shrugs at my non answer.

Tiffany begins to ramble, “It was just too perfect, and then you got so nervous when we got close, and you flinched when I got near your eyes. Like, wet, squishy eyes flinched, I heard them. That manga artist never got picked up by any major jump mag or anything, only had a short self published run with a few thousand copies of each. Toshi, Tori, something or other. Sorry, I can’t remember the name. Do you know the artist?”

I shake my head, so she continues, “Too bad, I thought maybe the manga was based on you, since you’re the real deal. Sorry for putting the spotlight on you. It seems like you wanted to stay a secret. Does that mean there’s more of you? More Renamons? What about other Digimon? Are they real?”

I frown and gnaw on my lip before I decide to answer, “I think perhaps if you allow me your phone, someone more qualified might be able to answer for you.”

She hastily draws out a newish model cellular smart phone, and hands it over without a single worry. I struggle to carefully signal into the Digital World without allowing myself to accidentally fall back into it. I don’t want to leave Jaku behind at all, much less alone, hungry and cold up in the mountains. There, I was right. She has a partner who is watching even now. Can I set up a channel for them? What about an app or applet? Something like a face to face video call, or a stream. I copy the data from her most used video calling app, then dissect it, parse it, add the relevant requirements, frown as I make a mistake, redo the entire thing, then compile it. Sure enough. A Labramon appears shocked to see me, more oddly, a Lalamon sits next to her.

Does this young woman have two partners? I have to ask, “Tiffany, are you perhaps a twin?”

She gasps and responds, “Totes! How did you know? Are you looking through my pics and my contacts? That’s rude you know. Or maybe you don’t.”

I shake my head and fail to stifle a chuckle. My answer is simple, “I found it unusual for a human to have more than one partner, but there are two waiting to speak to you, and perhaps your, hm, sister maybe? Brother, or other.”

Tiffany nearly cries as she accepts her phone as I return it. Labramon and Lalamon begin excitedly chattering at her, and she appears quite overwhelmed. Tiffany exclaims, “This can not be real! A partner? Me? Me and Sissy? But those manga. I thought only special people got partners. I’m, I’m nothing special.”

At this, I have to admonish her, “Tiffany, everyone, every last person is special, especially to your partner or partners. You seem like a wonderful, bright young woman. I need to return to my partner, with this food. They’re injured, in a cave, high in the mountain range. They’re starving, and cold, and can’t be moved.”

Tiffany gasps as tears well in her eyes. She hugs me and pleads, “Take me with you, please? I want to help. I’m on my way to being an R N. Don’t look so shocked, I only do delivery to pay for college. I’ve got emergency supplies, medical kit, flares, heat packs, thermal blankets, the whole works. Please. I know you could just take them and run, but please take me with you?”

I scratch the back of my head in chagrin. She is quite earnest, and in truth, Jaku would greatly benefit from her aid, her supplies, and perhaps her company. A smidgen of jealousy bubbles up within me, that selfish side of me that wants to keep Jaku isolated, distracted, all to myself. Jaku is truly wise to have recognized that before I did. I huff and drop a long, weighted sigh.

I explain, “Tiffany, there are several dangerous dark-data Digis, and a cranky Cyberdramon in the mountain range. I cannot guarantee your safety. You seem like a wonderful young woman. I don’t think I shou—“

Tiffany interrupts, “I accept.” I raise my eyebrows and she continues, “I accept the risks. You’ve informed me, you’ve been diligent, and, and, and, and everything. Now let me do what I do. I want to help people. It’s my greatest desire. Your partner is injured, you said so yourself. Please? Renamon?”

I can’t think of a way or a reason to continue to refuse Tiffany’s aid. I’m rather embarrassed. Between responses, she shares excitement at meeting her partners with them on her phone. She will have to embrace me tightly for me to ascend quickly enough. This will slow down my return ever so slightly, but, like I thought previously, Jaku won’t starve to death simply from a few hours without food. I do regret every moment not spent at their side though.

My face fights to find an appropriate expression as I shrug helplessly and admit, “I. I suppose I cannot refuse your offer for aid. More than anything I wish for my Jaku’s safety. My partner is everything to me.”

Tiffany grins and maneuvers her car into a slightly more hidden, more permanent parking spot amidst the park’s rest stop campgrounds. She nods emphatically and hops out of the vehicle once it’s in a suitable position. She calls, presumably, her sister, as she begins filling in Sissy that she’ll be out of town tonight, for possibly a few days, and not to worry. She somehow tells exactly the whole truth, without actually revealing any of the touchier, more private details. It’s mind boggling how efficient she is at communicating an almost-lie.

In moments, she has fished out a massive hiking backpack, an emergency aid bag, and begun filling the backpack with the majority of the food we’ve, well, I purchased. She condenses down several meals into fewer boxes in order to make it all fit. She fastens several large thermoses of water to the backpack, and nods triumphantly as she straps it to her back.

I cringe and shake my head as I state, “I’m sorry Tiffany, it’s not a simple hike. I’ll have to be the one wearing the backpack. I’ll be needing you to hold tightly to me. I’m far faster than we could be while hiking.”

Tiffany’s eyes sparkle, she is far too gleeful about the prospect of being held and carried. Or perhaps some other facet of what we’re about to do. She doffs the backpack, and offers it to me, making sure the emergency aid pack is secured tightly to it. Once she assists me in securing the whole works to my back, she virtually leaps into my arms, giddy as a schoolgirl.

I struggle to fight my own smile at her infectious glee. Precocious child. Perhaps a year or a scant few years Jaku’s junior, but still. Gripping her tightly, I begin moving between moments to make up for lost time. Dashing from shadow to light, from shade to bright, I take off high into the night.