The groups shuffled along in awkward silence, sun beating at their backs. Although the Digimon had slept well, the humans had not. Even Tavaras was feeling the events of the previous day catch up to him. He glanced beside him at Dorumon and gave him a thumbs up; he wanted to put on an illusion of confidence even though he knew the little purple dinosaur could feel what he did. Although he wouldn't admit it, Edward did have a point. This was dangerous, and would be getting even more so.

Those explosions were not accidental; someone wanted them dead and knew the environment well enough to get it to do their dirty work. Tavaras's first instinct had been Kiwimon, but Leomon had shut that down instantly.

"No way a member of the Sanctuary council would do such a thing!" Tavaras remembered the Lion's strong voice rebuking that thought, as if he had insulted the Champion’s own mother.

What then? A Nightmare Soldier? Probably. Maybe this one was a little bit smarter than the ones they had fought on their first day. Despite his bravado, Tavaras still remembered the fangs of Devidramon closing in on him and it gave him nightmares. He shook his head. This was depressing, and that wasn't even thinking about if they could actually make it back home.

Well, if they were going to be stuck together for a time, they may as well learn about each other. Tavaras knew he'd probably have to initiate any conversation; Deon was very withdrawn. Senna, though bubbly on the outside, seemed to have very little social experience. And Imogen, oh boy. He gave the cocoon a side eye - it seemed as though the Digimon responded to their emotions. If that thing was anything to go by, getting her to open up, let alone trust , would be something even Pravo would have trouble with.

Speaking of. "Hey Imo" Tavaras knew nicknames were a relatively safe way to show familiarity, and he knew the author would have an easier time with it too. She looked up, shocked out of whatever thought was in her head. "Does this thing have a name?" He asked, giving an upwards nod at her partner.

Imogen nodded. "Chrysalimon." Tavaras eyed it up and down. Chrysalimon , he repeated the name in his head. Fitting. He groaned as silence took over once more, only broken by the occasional drag of their feet on the dirt path below. He had hoped for a little more than a one-word answer.

"So when did you figure it out? Why won't it talk in front of the rest of us?" Imogen put a finger on her cheek and looked at her partner.

"I don't know if it can talk. The name just came to me during that storm." Now that was interesting. They were so focused on Senna and Biyomon’s flight, Tavaras didn't know what anyone else was doing during that time.

"What were you up to during all that?"

"With Palmon and Floramon, playing with some of the babies." Tavaras's quirked his eyebrows. He had noticed in their previous battles that even though Chrysalimon never attacked , it was always front and center.

" Ohhh " Senna squealed and grabbed Imogen's arm, and Tavaras noticed the blonde girl wince and pull herself back, though Senna didn’t seem to notice the discomfort. "I'm so glad they're safe! They were so nice to us!" Leomon chuckled from the front, his deep voice almost echoing between the large trees. Senna puffed her cheeks and pouted. "What! They were!"

"I know, I know," Leomon said defensively, throwing his hands up. "I wasn't laughing at you. Those two seem like they will never grow up, even as the oldest children in the village." He glanced back at Senna and Imogen. "I'm glad you took a liking to each other. The village isn't just full of stuck up old Digimon like myself." At that last bit he gave Tavaras a knowing look. Tavaras blushed and fought the urge to bury his head in his sleeveless black shirt; it seemed the Lion was well aware of what the young man thought of him.

"Do personalities change when Digimon evolve?" Deon piped up. Tavaras was always impressed by the messy haired young kid. Although he looked like his mom dressed him, he asked very good questions. This was a guy he wouldn't mind hanging out with when they got back, though sparingly - he probably played with lightsabers. Leomon thought long about that while the group stared at him as they walked, sun now almost beating down from overhead.

"Sort of." Their gruff protector finally answered. "At their core Digimon are the same beings, but more mature. It really depends on what we turn into. For example I used to be a frightful little Elecmon, and then I turned into me." Leomon flexed and threw his head back laughing. Tavaras chuckled and he heard Senna coo teasingly; so he did have a personality after all.

"Hmm" Deon was looking at his partner. "Guess I haven't really spent a lot of time with Veedramon, have I?" He smiled at his partner. Veemon jumped on the boy's back.

"Growing up is tiiiring " They all laughed, and Dorumon emulated Veemon, jumping on Tavaras.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The little guys deserved it, especially after yesterday.

—

"No no, like this. " Senna sat beside Deon again when they stopped for their break and took a bite of her persimmon. For some reason the boy was trying to peel it. The group was in a better mood than when they started off in the morning; Tavaras was good at getting everyone to at least temporarily forget about Edward’s departure.

She stole a glance at Imogen as she ate. The poor girl had been through so much, and even though she would claim her brother leaving them didn't affect her, Senna could tell from her downtrodden glance and the close proximity of Chrysalimon that she was taking it hard. Finishing her fruit and some of the mystery meat, Senna gently touched Deon's leg and gave him a smile, much to his shock, and went to Imogen.

She found it funny to slightly tease the boy; Edward was too old and quite frankly his personality was not one of someone she would consider a friend. Tavaras was almost too cool. He'd either take it as a sign to flirt with her or stoically ignore her. Deon though, he was sweet and awkward. She hoped it wouldn't get to be too much when they had to leave her and go home.

She knew in her heart this would likely be the last group of humans she'd ever see. Not that it was t hat much different from the past five years. Giving herself a derisive snort under her breath, she sat down next to Imogen. Reaching into the blond girl's bag, she took out a piece of fatty jerky and held it out to her. "Come on, eat."

Imogen nodded and wordlessly took the food. Senna didn't really know what to say, so just sat there. She smiled as Biyomon sat down on top of her head and held another piece of jerky down in front of her face with her beak, the pink bird making a mess of her short black hair. Although it had been hard to eat, Senna knew she needed to eat more than she had been. Taking the food in her hand, she heard her partner's wings flap as the young girl suddenly lay down on the log staring up at the sky, the large scar in the sky a stark reminder of being in a whole new world.

—

Deon smiled widely; Tavaras's arm was around the boy as the sun started to go down in front of them. The older guy was telling him about a friend of his who found a stray dog on the side of the road.

"And then, he brings it home to his parents. His mother literally kicked him out of the house. Dude was almost in tears and he clutched his ass like Brutus Beefcake himself was standing behind him with a stick." Tavaras started laughing, tears coming down his face. "And then. AND THEN. The dog just fucks right off. He scampers off like a little shit right through the bush my buddy Pravo and I were hiding in. That look on his face. Oh man." Tavaras wiped his eyes and Deon chuckled, the image of a large wrestler with a stick standing behind a guy who looked like Tavaras going through his mind.

Suddenly he shivered and crossed his arms. Leomon had stopped dead in his tracks in front of them. Ahead of them was something Deon would have never expected. The tree line suddenly gave way to a frozen, snowy landscape. As far as he could see, rough, snowy plains dotted with small curves of pure white hills covered what Deon assumed used to be forest. This was just like what happened with the desert they arrived in, only on a much grander scale.

What looked to be a few miles away, Deon could see a large building of stone on a larger hill. Was that the temple?

Leomon growled. "This is worse than I expected. The Ice World should not have overtaken this much of the forest." He turned to the humans. "We will turn back a little bit for toni-"

"Can you help us?" A tired voice from the field of snow suddenly cut Leomon off. Deon glanced passed the Lion, who swiftly turned around, hand on sword hilt. What looked like a snowman/bear hybrid came wearily walking up to them from behind one of the small hills. It was about the size of Leomon and had two red buttons on its pure white body. Behind it he saw a second one guarding multiple child Digimon. The larger of the species was an ice dragon about Veemon’s size, wearing a blue leotard and had white fur around its neck. The smaller species looked like a baby made of snow, with a small icy beak.

Frigimon, Bulucomon, Hiyarimon [https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/immortalfork/97476102/1817/1817_original.png]

"Who are you!" Leomon demanded, halting the new Digimon in its tracks.

"P-please." It flinched, looking scared of Leomon's imposing figure. "We don't know how we got here, and we just want to get home." Sensing no malice, Leomon lowered his guard and the snow-bear straightened up a little. "My name is Frigimon. We were looking after the children here, and suddenly we all fell unconscious. When we awoke we found ourselves surrounded by this!" From the corner of his eyes he could see Senna's eyes and mouth open wide with glee, and she put a hand over her mouth to stop from squealing while grabbing Imogen's shoulder with another hand.

"How long have you been here?" Leomon asked.

"Three days now." Leomon closed his eyes tightly. Deon understood what their guardian had realized; images of Valemon dancing among the falling hailstones flashed through his mind. "W-what is it?" Frigimon looked at them with a concerned expression. Leomon sighed.

"It's nothing." He pointed at the building in the distance. "Have you tried going there for answers?" Frigimon nodded, looking terrified.

"We tried, but we heard loud crashing and screaming from there. It died down by now, but we didn't want to run into whatever it was." Deon gulped as Leomon got a blank look on his face. He took a deep breath and turned to them.

"We go now. We need to find Clockmon and the Keeper of the Chronicles if we're to get any answers." He turned to Frigimon. "Will you come with us? There is safety in numbers." Frigimon glanced back and shook her head.

"We're not fighters. The small gang of Snowgoblimon are enough of a pain for us to deal with; we don't need a scuffle with something dangerous with these kids to protect." Deon looked at her inquisitively, and the snow-bear noticed. "Ah yes, they are little hoodlums who got stuck here with us. They try to feast on these little Hiyarimon." She glanced back at the cute little white babies. "Between the Bulucomon's and the two of us though, they're not a threat we can't handle."

Leomon simply nodded. "We hope to find answers on how to get you home." He turned to Deon and the others. "Unpack your coats and have something to eat. We leave as soon as you're ready."