A shot. A scream. Flash fire and crackling. Bright lights amongst the concrete and stone, followed by darkness yet again.

The lamps flickered above as a hooded figure rushed across the streets, startling the driver of a passing car. The figure paid him no heed; they rushed forwards, their webbed feet splashing through puddles and sending up spray in all directions, hunching over as they tried to remain hidden in the midnight gloom.

They heard footsteps, and dived into the nearest alleyway again, where they shuffled forwards. Raising a hand, they pulled the collar of their cloak inwards, even further around their small frame. It did little to hide them, nor to stifle the silvery drops of data that trickled down from their wounded shoulder.

The data hit the cold night air and flickered, spiralling back and forth as it tried – and failed – to return to the surroundings. With nowhere to go in this unfamiliar world, it fluttered downwards, and settled in the nearest puddle.

The runaway shrugged it off, and picked up the pace.

In less than a minute the pursuers were congregated around the glittering substance, hovering just above the puddle water. One of them bent down, and ran their finger around the edge. The others waited quietly, hands curling around rods of metal and silicon.

The head of the group pointed.

Further on, the runaway’s neck bristled as they sensed the danger closer in. Fighting against exhaustion and pain, they sped up regardless, scampering half on two legs and half on four. The back streets were a labyrinth and they knew they were at a disadvantage on the terrain. More than once they made a wrong turn, and with every second they spent backtracking, the more they could hear the footsteps approaching once again.

Footsteps. Nothing else. There were no battle cries, no shouting, barely even any talking amongst their pursuers. Only footsteps. Constant pursuit, chasing you down, until you made your last mistake. No sounds until they had you.

As if in response they felt a stab of pain in their shoulder, and they crashed into one wall, hissing in pain and fear. Stumbling forwards, they turned a corner, diving out of the reach of their pursuer’s grasping hands. The streets opened out, and the figure found themselves crashing into railings. Then down further, tumbling down a set of steps and rolling across a concrete path. There was the barking of a dog nearby, and another flicker from the lights above, but aside from that...nothing.

The runaway pushed themselves up, before stumbling backwards, disorientated and fatigued. They could hear something else now. Running water, rushing with the rain, lying just ahead beneath a road bridge. They pressed themselves up, took another step, and felt their legs give way from beneath them as they slipped downwards into a seated position.

There they sat, the sound of their own heartbeat ringing in their head, along with the raindrops clattering from the bridge into the canal below.

They felt dizzy. Sick. Ready to collapse. Holding a webbed hand up to their shoulder, they squeezed the wound, and allowed themselves a tiny little cry as pain racked their body.

A warm feeling started up in their other hand, sending a tingling sensation up to their wounded shoulder and numbing the pain slightly. The creature raised their hand, which still was still clutched tightly around a small, grey device. They blinked, their eyes reflecting the orange light as they clutched it with both hands.

“Please...where are you...?”

They stood up, shaking the device and whispering under their breath.

“Who are you-“

A single step. The creature looked behind them. Three figures on one side. Two on the other.

They’d been found.

The orange glow retreated, replaced instead by a harsh, flickering white, coming from the rods and devices the attackers held in their hands. The largest of them took a step forwards. It made no sound. No remark.

It only lashed out, and its attack was heralded by a blinding, crackling light.

“Acid Arc!”

White met orange, and the burning substance hissed and spluttered as it came into contact with the water. The others closed in; some firing, others swinging, and yet others going in with their bare hands. Two of them struck true.

But they still weren’t quick enough.

The five beasts heard the splash as the runaway fell into the river below. They stood beneath the bridge, watching as the waters crashed and rippled against the sides, and waiting for any sign of their quarry.

The largest turned away, and the others followed. They walked away, leaving their newest victim to the mercy of the surging waters.

Little Hampnett, Sussex, England

14^th September, 2016

It was a grey and blustery Wednesday morning, and the morning commute was well underway; cars stuck in the ring road, cyclists stuck between said cars, and pedestrians stuck in the most random places and shouting at both of them. Well, shouting inwardly, at least.

The sounds of the street mixed with the rush of the river, full and energetic from the storm the night before. Still, it was dry now, and while it wasn’t the warmest day to be walking down the riverside it was still a better pathway than trying to squeeze through town.

“No, I’m telling you, genuinely, his newest thing is going around telling people he’s making a flamethrower.”

“No way. You believe him?”

“What am I supposed to say to that, Courtney?”

Courtney absent-mindedly brushed a wisp of hair from the side of her face, as she thought about it. Her friend Harriet waited patiently, her face becoming more and more incredulous. Eventually she sighed.

“I dunno. Brennan’s a weird one.”

“Is he allowed to do that?”

“You’ll pardon me if I don’t ask too many questions. I don’t want to be an accomplice to someone like that.” Harriet paused, and looked behind her. “God, Lonnie, hurry up already!”

Lonnie pushed herself back from the railings by the side of the path, and grinned in the direction of her two friends. “Have you guys seen the river right now? It’s really high!”

Harriet sighed audibly. “Yeah, I know. Whatever. We’re gonna be late; it’s weekly this morning. And you know Ms Fitzgerald’s been off on one lately.”

Lonnie let out a puff, and jogged over to her two friends, barging straight into the middle of them. “You two have no sense of wonder.”

Courtney picked at one of her nails, muttering half to herself, “We walk past it nearly every day you know...”

Lonnie pouted, and found her mind drifting away again, away from the lack of imagination her friends were sporting this morning. She peered over her shoulder, and squinted, trying to spy on the people on the other side of the bridge and see anybody she recognised. No luck on that front, though she was sure she’d seen something. A bright flash of colour amongst the grey and green waters.

She slowed, and edged a little closer. No sign of anything there now. Probably nothing, she told herself. It was usually nothing.

Then again, you really didn’t know what you’d end up finding these days.

“Lonnie? Lonnie! Cloth-ears!”

“Huh?”

The girl snapped out of her distraction, and looked forwards to see Harriet and Courtney already descending the steps, and onto the road that led to their college. Courtney smiled sweetly as she called back, “We’re leaving you!”

“Hey, wait! Hold up!”

Lonnie pulled her shoulder bag closer and set off in a jog towards the steps. As she approached, her eyes turned towards the little fence just beside it. She sped up a little, and began to veer.

Harriet held her forehead. “Oh for the love of...don’t do it...”

The other girl paid her no heed; she ran at the railings and vaulted herself up and over, letting out a “Wahey!” as she prepared to sail over the fence and land next to her two friends with a perfect ten.

It was a valiant attempt, but her foot caught the railing and hooked beneath it at the top of her swing. Instead of carrying herself forwards, Lonnie turned ninety-degrees, before going straight down, straddling the rail with an audible clang.

“Ow.”

Courtney and Harriet watched as the girl slid forwards a few feet, before gravity took over and she tumbled sideways onto the pavement. She unfolded, and lay there, staring up at the sky as it spun in her vision.

Her two friends wandered over and looked down at her with all the concern that one would expect.

Harriet folded her arms. “Lonnie, how old are you?”

“Seventeen.”

“What happened when you tried to do this last week?”

Lonnie raised a weak arm and pointed as she replied, “I fell off the other side.”

Harriet raised an eyebrow. “Okay, so what the hell did you think was gonna happen there?”

Lonnie took in a breath. “Just you watch. One day I am gonna make that jump and it is going to be frickin’ sweet.”

The other girl raised her arms and walked away, muttering under her breath. Courtney gave Lonnie a sheepish smile, before wandering off herself. Lonnie blinked, and raised both arms up skywards.

“Please don’t leave me! I’m in an awful lot of pain.”

The sound of Harriet’s voice wafted back through the wind, “I’m not helping you ‘cause you’re not gonna learn anything if I do.”

“Traitors!”

Lonnie lay helplessly on her back, folding her arms and staring up at the grey swirling sky, all the while gathering a fair few puzzled looks from her fellow classmates.

In a few seconds, after the initial shock was over, she decided that the pain wasn’t quite that bad after all, and hopped to her feet.

After allowing herself a little cheeky jab at her best friends’ expenses, she set off with a spring in her step, skipping across the pavement and garnering even more weird looks, though by now they were close enough to the college that most people were more accustomed to her general shenanigans.

Not that one would have been that surprised if they looked at her in the first place. Lonnie McMillan just had that kind of trouble-maker’s appearance; bouncy ginger hair in pigtails, and a round freckled face with a permanent sparkle in her eyes. She was rather tall, easily standing above her friends and even a lot of the boys at college, and she carried herself with such vigour and energy that she seemed to take up twice that amount of room again.

True, she was a complete physical disaster...and a fashion disaster, having currently donned a purple vest over a pink T-shirt combined with light-up trainers...and she was a complete space-case to boot...but that was really what endeared people to her. Lonnie was secretly very proud at having made such good and reliable friends in the short time she’d been at this college.

Her friends, true to form, were already long gone.

Five minutes later, Lonnie threw open the doors to the college common room and marched inside. She looked around, and cleared her throat.

“Sorry...”

She shuffled her way back through the rows of seats as, up front, Ms Fitzgerald rolled her eyes and carried on with her catch-up. Lonnie soon found Harriet and Courtney, but they were stuck on the end of a row. Lonnie puffed her lips out, and stared around, looking more and more conspicuous by the moment. A couple of rows behind, another of her friends shook her head and shuffled sideways, making room on the end of the row. Lonnie scooted over, pressing her hands together as she did so.

“Thank you so much.”

She looked ahead, trying to make out the college dean over the various heads of her classmates, before leaning in again, “Have I missed anything?”

The other girl thought for a minute, then shook her head. “Nothing we can’t already read on the noticeboard. You know how she likes to be though.”

“Cool, cool. Whatever makes her happy.”

The dean stopped again, and fixed Lonnie with a glare. The girl smiled apologetically, and gently lowered herself down as far as she could on the tiny chairs.

Jan Fitzgerald sighed, and closed the book in her hand. “One more thing. I know a lot of you are in clubs and the like, and the nights are getting darker. You may have seen there have been a few more incidents in the past week; some leading to students like you getting hurt in the process.”

The mood had quietened down significantly, with a few whispered murmurs in the front rows. Lonnie tilted sideways again. “This again? She’s paranoid.”

The other girl didn’t answer, instead staring intently ahead as Ms Fitzgerald continued.

“I know you all know about this, but I must remind you that there are creatures out there, and they are dangerous. I’ve been informed that the incidents are being investigated, but for your own safety, please keep in small groups if you’re travelling around in the evenings, and if you see something strange then get out of the area immediately.” She ran a finger through her hair, and smiled weakly. “Other than that, hope you’re all settling in alright. Have a good week.”

There was a shuffling of seats as the students picked themselves up and began to prepare for their morning classes. Lonnie got to her feet and stretched, before turning angrily towards her two traitorous friends as they wandered up to her. “Where do you get off? Leaving me all alone like that?”

Harriet raised an eyebrow. “You heard the woman. It’s dangerous. We thought the monsters had gotten you. We were frightened.” She scratched her cheek, her voice not even humouring the utter fear she had apparently felt.

Lonnie pouted as she reached inside her pigeon-hole and rummaged around for her timetable. “ I don’t believe you. You just don’t want to rescue me.”

Harriet sighed. “That’s because you have the self-preservation tendencies of a moth. If you saw one of these creatures or whatever they are you’d probably want to go and pet it. I’m not taking responsibility for removing you from its mouth.”

“Why are we all so convinced they eat people? Maybe they like being petted?” Lonnie looked over her shoulder, grinning. “Do you think, Grace? Come on, back me up here.”

The other girl, Grace, pulled out a couple of homework sheets and placed them neatly in her folder as she contemplated it. “I don’t know...from what I’ve heard they’re attracted to eccentric people.” She chuckled. “Better watch yourself.”

She stood up straight, and brushed a lock of hair from the side of her face. She was smartly dressed as usual; a long skirt and denim jacket over a t-shirt with a stylised snowflake embroidered on it. Her chestnut hair travelled down her back in a long ponytail, sat underneath a small green flat-topped hat. Her hazel eyes were bright and jovial, though they relayed a faint cheekiness that Lonnie frequently found herself the target of.

Lonnie narrowed her eyes. “You’ll see. I’ll find one of these guys and ride them into college tomorrow. Then you’ll all be sorry!”

She accentuated the last word by slamming her drawer back into her pigeon-hole, though she managed to drop her books as she did so, spilling paper everywhere.

Courtney sniggered under her breath. “I’m quaking. Really I am.”

Lonnie tried her best to remain stoic, but eventually she had to bend down and sort her mess out. Again. Her two other friends marched off to their lesson, but Grace crouched down and helped her, organising the bits of loose paper into something resembling the messy pile it had started off as. She smiled as she passed it to Lonnie. “I look forward to it regardless. I’m sure you’ll cut a truly heroic figure.”

“Thank you. Somebody appreciates my ambition.”

Grace gave a little laugh into her hand. “Why not? It’s a good thing to keep hoping, and frankly you do blind faith better than any of us could ever manage.” She backed off, beaming at the taller girl. “I’ll see you in history?”

“Sure thing.”

Lonnie winked, watching the girl leave. When she was sure all her friends had disappeared, she opened up her timetable and tried to figure out what room she was supposed to be in and whether any of the multiple bits of homework in her exercise book were actually the right ones, her face growing more and more furrowed the more she looked.

Ambition was indeed good, it appeared, but sadly it didn’t write essays.

“I’m just saying, this isn’t how democracy works. Punishing the individual with the unlucky topic, I ask you.”

Courtney raised her eyebrows above her spiced gingerbread latte. “You’re really strung up on this 48%, aren’t you?”

Lonnie folded her arms, slouching. “It’s unjust.”

“We all had the same topic, Lonnie.”

“Then it is down to bias due to fatigue or general disdain for classroom humour.”

“And I’m sure the fact that I saw you scribbling that essay down about five minutes before it was due had nothing to do with it.”

Grace sat at the end of the table, poking at her own hot chocolate as her gaze bounced between the two other girls. Harriet had band that night, so that just left Courtney to provide Lonnie with moral support. And Courtney, with the best will in the world, had all the motivational energy of a pillow.

Lonnie sat back, grumbling as she drowned her marshmallows in her own coffee. She stuck her lip out. “I am trying. I just got really stuck. And couldn’t think of anything.” She pulled out her marked paper, pointing at the red scribbling all around it. “Look at this; he says my claims are unsubstantiated and inaccurate! This is a true obstruction of free thought and interpretation!”

Courtney leaned forwards. “Lonnie, it’s history. It’s about things that happened. You know. Facts.”

Lonnie snorted, and turned the other way. “You are a terrible friend.”

“I try.”

Grace sighed, and pushed her chocolate forwards a little. “Look on the bright side, Lonnie; your art score’s up. That’s got to count for something.”

Lonnie allowed herself a little smile, which was soon dashed as Courtney finished her latte. “Yeah, you’ve gotta be proud of yourself. A for doodling. Aim high.”

Lonnie promptly deflated like a stabbed beach ball. Grace gave the other girl an exasperated look.

“Courtney...”

“She knows I’m teasing.” Courtney stuck her tongue out.

“I know, but it’s got to be difficult.”

Lonnie sighed, and straightened up, placing the offending essay back in her bag. “Ah, don’t worry about it. If, to enable my muse to blossom, I must accept mediocrity in basic critical thinking skills, then so be it.”

She winked at Grace, who giggled. “And we’re back again. Though you should look at your maths at least.”

“I can count good, you know. They just decided to put a load of letters in with the numbers. I’m worried for them. They look lost.”

Courtney leaned back, poking at her phone and not looking up as she spoke, “Lonnie, what exactly are you in college for?”

The ginger girl thought for a moment. She clasped her hands and rested her elbows on the table, her brow furrowing.

“I dunno.”

“You have to have some idea.”

“To make something of myself? That’s what people say, isn’t it?” She nodded forwards. “What about you two, anyway? We’ve got all these careers peeps coming round all the time; surely you’ve been collared.”

“I haven’t,” said Courtney, with a hint of pride. She brushed her bangs back away from her face. “Probably work in a shop. Or become a social media celebrity.”

Grace rubbed her hands beneath the table as Lonnie watched her expectantly. “I’m not sure at the moment. I have other things to think about.”

“Hmm...”

Lonnie poked thoughtfully around at the bottom of her mug, before downing the remaining contents in one. She brought the cup down, the mocha having exactly the kind of effect you would expect.

“Right, okay, this is boring now. It’s windy outside and I want to go and fly kites or something.”

Grace tentatively raised a hand. “I...uh...didn’t bring mine.”

“Then we shall make do with a brisk walk.” She pushed herself up and all but dragged the confused girl out the shop, beckoning to her other friend. “Come on Courtney, darkness falls, chop chop!”

Courtney watched as the two girls disappeared from the shop, and raised a hand.

“I’ve literally just got on the wi-fi...”

The wi-fi, as if in response, went screwy for a second, then fizzled out of existence, leaving Courtney and several others with irritated expressions and dazed, disconnected phones. Courtney rolled her eyes, grabbed her bag, and ran after the other two.

“Hold up!”

The girl hopped out of the cafe, looked left and right, before scarpering off down the pavement and catching up with the two girls, breathing heavily. “Do you mind not ditching me with no warning? Again?”

Lonnie looked back, blinked, and scratched behind her head, slowing to a stop. “Sorry...my bad...”

Grace pulled her hand away, and held her own knees, clearly out of breath herself. She gave the redhead an irritated look. “Oh don’t mind me, I love being dragged around for no reason.”

“My bad again...”

The three girls continued, making their way through the streets which were quieting down in the late afternoon. Courtney pulled her fleece more tightly around her and shivered. “Bloomin’ heck, it’s only September and it’s bitter.” She glanced over at Grace, who became aware she was being watched. “How are you not freezing right now?”

The girl smiled sweetly, and did up a button on her thin jacket. “I’m used to the cold.”

Courtney muttered, and did her best to hold her phone out from beneath the warming embrace of her fleece. She scowled, shaking the device. “Oh for god’s sake...”

“What?”

“This thing has been utter crap. It keeps glitching and dropping out for no reason. I literally got it like seven months ago when the last one did exactly the same-“

“Courtney, mind your feet!”

The girl heard Grace’s cry, and swerved outwards as they turned the corner. Lonnie, slightly less aware of her surroundings, barrelled right into a pile of debris that crackled beneath her feet. She yelped, and hopped away, brushing the sparking fibres from her shins.

“Yowch...hot...”

She paused, and looked down at the pile, her legs smarting.

“Another one?”

Piled up against the bricks was a mass of fine, particulate matter. Mostly white, but as the girls stared, it seemed to shimmer just a little. Blues, greens and pinks, flickering as if alive. The footsteps had caused it to spark and release a little charge of energy. A little pile of the dust shifted, revealing it to be hiding a large, golden object; one much like a knight’s helmet, but designed for something far more bestial than human.

This wasn’t a freak occurrence. Similar such monuments had been appearing all over the town in the past year and a half; starting small, like miniature piles of salt, and more recently gathering together into sizeable heaps, and some even harbouring strange artefacts like this one. Occasionally they were cleared away by unseen and unknown forces, but they kept appearing regardless.

Another new oddity in the town in which they lived.

Lonnie ran a finger around one pigtail, sighing. “They just keep getting bigger, don’t they?”

Courtney put her hands in her pockets. “That and the property damage. It’s all naff.”

“Ah, nothing we can’t handle. Right, Grace?”

She turned to the side, but Grace didn’t seem to be paying attention. Her shoulders were tense, and her face was showing an odd expression. She caught Lonnie’s gaze, and pulled her handbag strap a little further up her shoulder.

“I guess someone should probably do something about-“

Ding

Grace stopped mid-sentence, and pulled her phone out from her bag, scrolling through several messages. She sighed, and placed it away. “I’m gonna have to catch you later.”

Lonnie pouted. “What, again?”

“Sorry. My brother requires assistance back at school.” She backed away, raising both hands sideways. “What’s a big sister to do?”

She smirked, and waved goodbye before disappearing back around the corner. Lonnie put her hands on her hips, shaking her head.

“No time for anyone, that woman. No time at all.”

She felt a nudge in her hip, as Courtney beckoned behind them. “We might wanna move on. People don’t look too happy.”

It was true; while most of the evening crowd were just ignoring the phenomenon, there were a few people sat on the other side of the street, just keeping an eye on the translucent pile, and on the two girls still stood next to it. Lonnie shrugged, and she and Courtney hurried on.

“Geez...people are so on edge about everything nowadays-“

Lonnie had gotten a few steps around the corner, before she stopped, and looked at her phone. “Ah darnit.”

“What is it?”

Lonnie grinned sheepishly. “Well...so...I might have promised to be somewhere about five minutes ago and I kinda only just...remembered...”

Courtney raised her hands, a hurt expression on her face. “You serious? Now?”

Lonnie tried to figure out what to say to one of her best friends of many years. Coming up with nothing useful, she resorted instead to thrusting her head forwards in a hurried bow, yelling out at the ground. “I’m so sorry for leaving you please forgive me I’ll see you tomorrow!”

She jogged backwards, giving Courtney a final wave before dashing back up the very street she’d just marched down. Courtney gave a blank stare after her, her own hand still stuck in mid-wave.

“Unbelievable. Ditched twice in the space of ten minutes.”

She rolled her eyes, and carried on down the street, still poking away at her unresponsive phone.

The wind was picking up again, causing Lonnie to pull her jacket a bit tighter as she skipped up the steps to the last house on the terrace. The tree in the garden swayed, letting off little whistles as it did so.

Lonnie pressed her face up against the frosted glass, even though for the past five-hundred times she’d done that she’d never been able to see through even once. She gave a brisk knock, calling out.

“Uncle Ali?”

After a brief pause, a voice called back from inside.

“Please let yourself in.”

Lonnie unlocked the key safe and did so, gingerly hopping from foot to foot to try and warm up. After hanging her coat on the peg, she walked down the hall and poked her head round the doorway into the sitting room, where the TV was on in the background. A man sat a little distance away in front of a games table, on which was laid a puzzle that was about one-third finished. Lonnie grinned, her pigtails falling over her face.

“It’s been too long.”

“You saw me yesterday, Lonnie.”

“I know, but I miss you.”

The man chuckled, and pushed himself away, wheeling himself towards Lonnie. She bent over and gave him a quick hug, before straightening up. The man brushed himself off, and turned towards the kitchenette at the end of the living room. “Tea?”

“Please, let me.”

Lonnie walked over and stuck the kettle on, before sidling over to the radiator in a vain bid to warm herself up a little. Alasdair sat back, and allowed himself a little chuckle. He was a fit, well-built man despite lacking most of the use of his legs, and in his younger days he’d often try and beat Lonnie to the kitchen. But as willing as he was to be accommodating, it was getting more and more difficult with each year. He leant back, running a hand through his wispy white hair, his deep brown eyes glowing almost red in the dim light.

“Are you supposed to be here? I didn’t hear anything from Carrie.”

“Mum knows I was coming.” Lonnie furrowed her brow as she poured two teas. “At least I think she does. I think I told her. Maybe I didn’t.”

She put the kettle down, and snapped her fingers, rushing for her bag. “That’s what it was. I was supposed to bring them yesterday, but I forgot to tell you and then forgot to tell her so I’m doing it now and...aha!” Lonnie rummaged in the bottom of her bag, before brandishing a Tupperware box like a sword from a stone.

“Brownies!”

“Oh, fantastic!” Alasdair looked a little sheepish, and glanced over to the side of the sofa. “I...still have two boxes...”

“Oh...”

“I’ll get through them eventually. They are delicious.” Alasdair smiled, as he opened the new box and christened the first brownie. He waved it back towards Lonnie. “Care to join me?”

“Sure!” Lonnie sat down in the spare chair, carrying a cube of confection in one hand and the two teas in the other. She nibbled the corner a little, savouring it as much as she could. “I don’t get a look in at home. Sian and Anna have already marmalised the whole tin; they were flying off the walls all night.”

Ignoring the dull drone of the evening news in the background, Alasdair twisted himself so he was facing her. “I seem to recall you’re not much better in that regard.”

“True, but I am self-aware. That counts for something, right, Ali?”

She waited for a response. When she got none, she looked up. Alasdair was looking sadly at the TV screen, which was showing a local segment; one which seemed to be cropping up more and more nowadays.

“...while efforts are continuously made to clear them, the heaps of unknown substance are growing more numerous every day. In addition to this nocturnal activity has been more prevalent, with several cases of property damage and injury, and five disappearances including the most recent one last week. While the creatures responsible remain unidentified, local authorities have released a warning saying that their behaviour is unpredictable and contact should be avoided. The public is reminded to take all necessary precautions, to avoid travelling after dark, and travel in groups if necessary. If you encounter such a creature, do not engage or provoke them, and leave the area as soon as possible. They cannot be reasoned with, or calmed, and will turn hostile if they are-“

The screen went black. Lonnie turned back to Alasdair, who put the remote control down with a sad look on his face.

“We don’t need to be hearing that,” he said, running a finger over his close-cropped beard. “They don’t know what they’re talking about.”

He wheeled himself back to the small table, and scrutinised the part-finished puzzle for a little bit. He frowned, and peered up at Lonnie, who was sat back in the chair, holding her mug with two hands.

“Do you have to look at me like that?”

Lonnie’s eyes veered off to one side, and she took a very conspicuous sip. “Like what?”

“I’ve said too much again, haven’t I...”

“Uncle Ali, I know you know about these guys. You told me about them since I was tiny.”

Now it was Alasdair’s turn to look sheepish. “That...was probably a mistake on my part.”

“I don’t think so. Mystical monsters that bond with humans and gain remarkable powers? That’s awesome.” Lonnie shuffled forwards, and knelt down next to the man near the puzzle-board, fitting a couple of loose pieces. “But I don’t know what’s going on. No-one does, except you. Or maybe someone does.” She grinned over her shoulder. “Maybe there is something super secret you’re not telling me.”

“I’m sure there is.”

“I know there is!”

“Alright then, but you have to earn the answer.”

Lonnie’s grin bounced downwards into another frown. Alasdair chuckled at the gesture, and leant forwards. “I have been having trouble with the second wing. Maybe you could find the pieces which might fit there?”

Lonnie obliged, digging through the box in search of anything which was just the right shade of green. She looked up on occasion, watching her firm friend for many years as he fitted a few more pieces. It was only a vague outline at this point, but it was definitely taking shape. The noble glare of an emerald green dragon stared out at her, his face only half-complete, yet still commanding. She glanced up, and noted a wistful light in Alasdair’s eyes.

She was obviously staring for longer than she meant to, since Alasdair’s gaze switched towards her, and he looked away. Lonnie winked.

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

“It always has been.”

He paused, before clasping his hands together. “Lonnie...”

“Yeah?”

The old man fidgeted a little, staring at the black screen of the TV as if he expected it to begin talking once again.

“...if it was you...just if you did come across something...something that’s out there...”

He trailed off, before swallowing, and turning towards her.

“...what would you do if you came across someone from another world?”

For a moment Lonnie looked at Alasdair, trying to gauge his expression. Then she smiled.

“Same as always, Uncle Ali.”

She turned back towards the puzzle, and fitted three pieces in quick succession. Alasdair breathed out, and gave a quick glance at the outside window. It was already beginning to turn dark.

“Of course you would.”

The moon hung in the sky, half-covered with thick black clouds, as a gust of wind spun over the pier. Lonnie shrugged, and pulled her arms more tightly around her body. She did slightly wonder whether she’d spent a little too long at Alasdair’s house. She had warned her mother that she was going, but more often than not she tended to find herself staying far longer than she intended. It wasn’t her fault. Well, mostly not. Uncle Ali was just that much fun to be around.

Still, her visits had become somewhat heavier recently. It was rather unavoidable, as the increase in local incidents had become more noticeable. But even so, Alasdair had definitely had a funnier look in his eyes of late. Concern? Possibly. He had always been a good friend to her and her family, and he still was. But at the same time, there was something else there. Something nostalgic, or even the tiniest bit sad.

Lonnie’s pace slowed as she turned a corner, staring across the road. She hadn’t really been paying attention to where she was going, and had found herself taking the long path around back home; the one which took her down by the riverside. She glanced to her left, and slowed to a stop, looking out over the green. She passed it every day, of course. It was an advantage of living so close to the sea; there were genuinely nice coastal features, and the green had always been one of them; somewhere she would play with her family or go to barbeques with her friends.

That felt like a distant memory as well, since most of the old green was now off limits, taken up by the grey, oddly-shaped mass that was the facility.

She’d been there when the breach had happened. Not at the exact location at the exact time, of course, though she’d heard stories from her classmates who were. And from Alasdair, who’d been very busy before and after the incident, although he’d never disclosed anything to her in detail. The invasion of a great destructive being, which was subsequently fought off by six other monsters. The whole thing had only taken about twenty minutes, and all of them had disappeared shortly after. A likely hoax, save for the obvious damage. The fields had been scorched, and several houses had been damaged irreparably.

And then of course, there was the breach itself. That she had seen herself; from a safe distance, behind a police barrier and a gathering crowd. But that had been unmistakeably something not of this world. That didn’t last long either though. The vortex was covered; first with tarpaulin, then a warehouse, and then within weeks, by the facility that stood below her. She assumed it was still inside, somewhere, but the place was now locked down. A threat to public safety was the official line. There had been all kinds of stories and rumours. Was it a gas fire? An aurora? Or something more sinister; a chemical or hallucinogenic weapon, perhaps? That would make sense.

But after six months, it just became another part of the scenery. Nobody paid it much heed.

Much.

Until recently, only in the last year, when the oddities had really begun to step up. Shifting and volatile weather patterns. Odd localised tremors. Spots around the city where all telecoms would inexplicably fail.

And more dangerous incidents again, with the increased level of damage and disappearances and assaults, late at night.

Lonnie shook her head as her mind wandered into unpleasant territory. She could feel herself harking back to Ms Fitzgerald’s words that morning. Her better judgement won out over her curiosity, and she pushed herself away from the rail, picking up the pace as she headed down the riverside walk. Peering around, she could feel the darkness becoming slightly oppressive. Usually at this time in the evening there were some people around, but right now the paths were completely deserted. There was silence, save for the gentle lapping of the river against the walls. Lonnie peered upwards, watching as the clouds expanded across the burnished sky, slowly smothering the moon entirely and leaving only the streetlights to illuminate her way.

She grimaced, pulling out her phone and tapping the screen. It flickered, showed a few random numbers, and flashed orange, before dying away.

“Oh, not again...”

Lonnie persevered, pressing the power button again, but the phone remained unresponsive. The girl pocketed the useless device, shaking her head.

“Mum’s not gonna be happy with me.”

“...where...”

The girl slowed, and pulled her phone out again, putting it to her ear.

“Hi mum, sorry, got really distracted, I’m just...on my way-“

She frowned, and shook the dead device. “Mum? Was that you?”

Mum was not listening. Lonnie stared at the screen, poking every button she could, but save for a few angry buzzes she was getting nothing. She looked behind her, then checked her schoolbag, wondering if she’d accidentally smuggled one of her classmates with her.

(It was a long shot, but definitely worth a check)

“...where are you?”

Lonnie stood stock still. She stepped backwards, gripping her shoulder bag tightly as she glanced over her shoulders. She tensed, feeling her arms bulge beneath her sleeves.

“Hi, so...um...who are you?”

Lonnie looked all around her, but there were no people in sight.

“Anybody?”

“Hello? Who’s there?”

Gingerly, Lonnie turned around, facing towards the river. The voice had definitely come from there.

“Leave me alone!”

There was a scuffling, followed by a soft thud. Lonnie tiptoed forwards, taking slow steps but steady ones. There was a gate in the fence; one which led down some steps and onto the riverside itself. It was locked, as it usually was this time of year. Too much of a risk of the river flooding over the concrete bank. Also too dark. Anybody could fall in. Many people had.

Lonnie placed her hands on the gate, and leant over, staring down the steps towards the riverbank.

It was unmistakeable. Somebody was down there, flat out on the very lip of the concrete, with one arm dangling over the edge.

“Hold on! Don’t move!”

Without even a second’s hesitation, Lonnie vaulted the gate and rushed down the steps two at a time, speeding towards the figure. They flinched, and dragged themselves forwards as the girl approached, but Lonnie was too fast and grabbed them by the arm, pulling them firmly back onto the bank.

“What the heck are you doing? You were about to fall in!”

The figure struggled, reaching up and pulling their hood further over their face. They swiped at Lonnie and pushed themselves back, before collapsing over on their knees.

“I said leave me alone!”

“No! You’re gonna hurt yourself!”

Lonnie shuffled sideways and planted her body firmly between the figure and the bank, holding them firmly by the wrist. They pulled back, still covering their face, but Lonnie was having none of it.

“How old are you? You look like a kid; you know it’s dangerous here!”

“You don’t understand...”

Lonnie gritted her teeth; she didn’t want to hold any tighter, but the figure was panicking now, not even looking her in the eye as they pulled their hood over further and further.

“You’ve gotta let me go!”

“Stop this! Who are you?”

Without thinking, Lonnie reached out, aiming for the figure’s shoulder or something, but her hand grasped nothing save for cloth, and she pulled away the tattered cloak, the material coming apart in her grip.

“I’m trying to help! Stop struggling and let me-“

Lonnie paused, the dim streetlights above allowing her to see the fully-revealed figure in front of her. The girl held her breath, her eyes widening. The figure just lay there, taking short, shallow, panicked breaths and gripping against the concrete with one hand. The other was held to its chest, holding something so tightly that its hand was shaking.

It wasn’t a kid. Lonnie wasn’t sure what she was looking at, but whatever it was, it wasn’t human. Its body was squat, with short, chubby legs, a round belly and a long slithering tail, which flapped against the damp concrete. Its arms were also short, although the forearms were different to the rest of its body; green gauntlets leading to webbed hands, with a long spike that protruded from the central finger. Further webs travelled up the creature’s back, culminating in a fluttering crest at the top of their head. Fins spread out from their cheeks, masking what looked like feathery pink gills.

The creature shook their head and tried to shuffle backwards, but they let out a little cry and their hand went to their side. Lonnie instantly crouched down, holding out her hands, “No, shush, it’s alright-“

“You’ve got...gotta leave me alone...I’ve gotta find...someone...”

They blinked, their eyes glowing green in the dim light. Lonnie swallowed, and clasped her hands in front of her. She’d never seen anything like this before, and yet somehow, she felt compelled to ask what she already knew.

“Are you...a Digimon?”

The creature stopped struggling, and blinked again, opening their eyes fully. She lay there, breathing heavily as she stared at the girl above her.

“...are you her...?”

Before Lonnie could answer, the Digimon’s arm gave way and she fell backwards. Lonnie rushed forwards as the little newt’s other arm curled outwards, letting go of what it was holding. The girl didn’t pay attention; she put her head down on the Digimon’s chest, listening to her breathing. It was ragged now; a mixture of exhaustion and something worse. Lonnie straightened up on her knees, taking stock of the creature’s wounds. She caught the Digimon’s eyes, and gave a reassuring smile.

“It’s gonna be fine. I know someone who can help. Really.”

“...it’s...you...”

Lonnie blinked, her eyes finally travelling towards the creature’s other hand. The salamander was holding something; a small device, not too much bigger than a mobile phone, which was beeping and letting off a faint orange glow.

“What’s that?”

“...it’s yours...”

The salamander coughed, and grinned herself, holding out her arm and placing the object into Lonnie’s own hand.

“I’m...Dendromon...”

Lonnie didn’t say anything. She just stared at the device in her palm, feeling a strange static buzz emanating from it. There was a display on the front, still showing the orange glow which was getting brighter by the second.

“But...I don’t understand? What do you mean it’s mine? What happened to you?”

Dendromon’s gills quivered, as her voice fell to a hoarse whisper.

“...please help me...”

Lonnie swallowed. Her mind was racing, and coming up with absolutely nothing of any use. She looked down at the device in her hand again, which was similarly unhelpful.

“Uncle Ali, I could really use your help right-“

She stopped, frozen in place. She could hear Dendromon’s breathing, and the gentle lapping of the river beside her. And something else. Footsteps on concrete. Several footsteps. Behind her.

Lonnie stood up, and turned around, slowly but deliberately, looking up at the four figures at the top of the steps. Instinctively she gripped the device tightly, feeling a sharp acidic pain pulsing through her arm as she did so.

“Who are you?”

The figures didn’t answer, just staring down at her as the moon hung lazily in the sky behind them. The one at the head of the group took a step, holding the rail as they descended down the steps after her, each footstep making a hefty click on the stone. Another two made the descent after them, seeming to step in unison. One held out an arm, and a ringing sounded out across the river; metal on metal, crisp and clear.

The first one reached the bottom of the steps, and slowed, rolling their neck lazily. Lonnie stood up, planting herself between them and Dendromon. The Digimon reached up, tugging at her leg weakly, but she waved her hand.

“Ssh, ssh...it’s gonna be alright. I promise.”

She rolled her shoulders, allowing her backpack to slowly slide down her arm. The figure saw the movement, and raised a hand, bringing everyone behind them to a halt. They took one more step, and folded their arms, staring down at the girl.

Lonnie smiled, rolling her fingers by her side.

“Well then...you guys are definitely human, aren’t you...”

She held her breath, not that she expected a response in particular. It was hard to glean anything from the person before her; all clad up as they were in thick, dark, padded clothing, gloves, boots, and what seemed to be a modified crash helmet, with a stylized shark’s head scribbled across it in blue and yellow fluorescent pen.

Lonnie took a step back, clutching the device in one hand, and the straps from her bag in the other.

“So this is what goes on around here after dark. Figures it wouldn’t be book club.”

The vigilante raised a hand, swinging a large glowing baton around in one hand. Lonnie flinched, little flashes of light crackling momentarily as it spun around. The figure held it still again, and cocked their head, speaking for the first time.

“Get out of the way.”

It was definitely a man’s voice, but it sounded almost artificial, muffled by the helmet. The words burned in Lonnie’s ears. She could feel Dendromon’s hands on her legs, shaking horribly. The girl swallowed.

“What do you want with her anyway?”

“None of your business.”

“It might be.”

The figure sighed, swinging his baton lazily. Lonnie watched the light dance back and forth, feeling an intense static in the air even from this distance. She noticed wires travelling back to the person’s backpack, along with a lot of other strange and sinister looking equipment. The figure sighed.

“You’re another one of those arseholes, aren’t you? I’ve seen your gear. I know the way you work.”

Before Lonnie could retort, he snapped his head to one side. “Nile, Rick, move her. I’ll take the newt.”

The two figures behind him stepped forwards, and Lonnie took a step back, keeping her face as straight as she could. “I wouldn’t do anything like that if I were you. Move me? Not throw me in the river? What, are you gonna get in trouble? Or are you just not after me? I have a feeling you’re not gonna hurt me, so if I stand here between you and the Digimon then there’s nothing you can do.”

The two other vigilantes stalled, glancing at one another. The first one just laughed, gripping his baton tightly.

“That’s a dangerous assumption to make. What does this thing even matter to you anyway?”

Lonnie grinned, crouching down as the two figures reached out towards her.

“That is none of your business!”

With all her might she grabbed her bag and flung it forwards as far as it could at her assailants. It wasn’t exactly a highly effective weapon, but the combination of sneakers and history textbooks had added some much needed weight to it. It struck the left one on the shoulder and they stumbled, staggering backwards into their leader.

“Idiot!”

“Sorry Kade...”

Rick was already running, but the distraction had done its job. Lonnie was already sprinting down the riverside path away from them, holding the barely-conscious Dendromon over her back.

“Nile, get going!” Kade looked up at the top of the steps. “Kley, you too. Cut her off somewhere.”

The two ran off ahead, with Kade following the two along the riverside. He jogged for a minute, his voice rasping beneath his helmet.

“Bad move, kid. I wouldn’t get attached.”

He picked up the pace, and his hand went to his baton, which crackled all the more as he rushed off into the darkness.

Lonnie powered down the riverbank, trying to block out the sounds of approaching footsteps from behind her, as well as trying to process what exactly she was doing. The girl was admittedly very good at track events at school; a fact which was doing her an immense service right now. That being said, she wasn’t usually carrying a good fifteen kilos of amphibian on her back, nor being chased by four self-righteous grown adults wielding homemade electro-sticks.

Clearly she wasn’t the only one having doubts, as she felt a weak tug at her collar. Dendromon pulled herself upwards and whispered in her ear.

“This place doesn’t go on forever. We’re gonna get stuck! What the hell was your plan again?”

“Oh ye of little faith...”

“I don’t even know you!”

“Look, you’re the one who asked me to help you!”

Dendromon gave a small hiss. “I meant help me with your miraculous human powers or something! This is what I was doing before! I don’t need your help just to keep running away!”

Lonnie grinned, her breath escaping in clouds in front of her. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m the best person to help you with running away.”

“Huh?”

“You know I used to sneak down here all the time, right?”

Lonnie glanced to one side, and suddenly veered off at a right-angle down a short alleyway. Dendromon scrabbled around on her back as the girl leapt a short fence and powered down through the gap, aiming for a wall-mounted ladder at the end. The girl misjudged her approach and slammed painfully into the wall, but as she heard the footsteps behind her she knew she didn’t have any time to waste, climbing up the ladder like she’d done many (unsupervised) times as a child. Dendromon hung on for dear life as she bounced up and down with every rung.

“What...OW...the...hell...is...OW...wrong...with...OW...you?”

“And clear!”

Lonnie gripped the gate at the top and forced herself over, stumbling as she hit the ground and scraping her knees. She hissed in pain, before laughing, and glancing over her shoulder at the shaken amphibian.

“What do you think?”

“I think I’m having regrets.”

BOOM

A sudden sound rocketed through the air, followed by an immense rumble that nearly sent them both toppling. Lonnie tensed, looking around. She knew this part of town fairly well as well; an old industrial estate which had been lying unused for ages. Helpful in the sense that she could stay out of the way of any prying eyes. Although in that regard, so could the vigilantes.

“Lonnie, watch out!”

The girl jumped to one side as one of her pursuers rushed out of nowhere, thrusting a sparking baton in an arc. She turned to run, but he was too fast, grabbing onto her shoulder. She could feel his pulse even through the thick leather, and she struggled, but he pulled her closer.

“I’m sorry, but you’ve gotta let go.”

“Leave her ALONE!”

Dendromon leaned forwards, bringing her jaws around the gloved arm and biting furiously. When that didn’t work, she raised a hand, wincing with the effort as her palm glowed bright orange.

“Searing Skin!”

She clamped it over their assailant’s palm, and pressed down, setting the material alight. The man howled in pain and drew his hand back, but the cry had alerted the other three; two coming up the ladder, and one coming from the other direction. Lonnie started running again, aiming for the cover of the buildings, but another boom sounded and the ground shook once more, causing her to fall to one knee.

Dendromon looked behind her, biting her lower lip. “They’re splitting up again. Hurry!”

“I’m...trying!”

Lonnie breathed heavily as she turned one corner, then another, trying to put distance between her and the vigilantes. But the adrenaline from earlier was wearing off, and she knew her stamina was going the same way. She stumbled again, placing a hand on one wall, her vision swimming.

“This...could have gone better...”

She heard voices, and forced herself round the next corner, only to see Kade standing in front of her, looking all around him. She rushed forwards, only to see two of the others in the alleyway. One pointed, and they rushed forwards, one letting off a sharp whistle.

“Shit...”

Lonnie dove through a doorway and out the other side of the building, but it was a futile gesture as she could hear all four of her pursuers running once again. She turned a corner...

...into a dead end.

“Shit, shit, SHIT!”

She placed a palm against it, looking up, but she could tell it was too high for her to scale even if she wasn’t exhausted. She heard footsteps behind her, and turned, watching as the four hunters walked towards her. Kade stood at the front, running his baton down the wall.

“We’re not after you, kid. Let that parasite go.”

Lonnie clenched her teeth, and shook her head. “You’re not having her.”

“Her?” Kade laughed, and took another step. “What a funny girl; you think she’s people. How cute.”

Lonnie could feel her anger rising. She backed up, keeping her body planted between the approaching man and the salamander over her back.

Suddenly she flinched, feeling Dendromon’s arms tighten around her neck. She glanced back, and saw the amphibian’s face. She was terrified, her gills fluttering in an instinctive response.

“Lonnie...something’s...”

Now the girl could feel it; a change in the atmosphere. A sound. No...a vibration. She held a palm against the wall behind her, feeling the tremors rising.

“Run! NOW!”

Lonnie didn’t even look back; she sprinted forwards at full pelt, straight towards Kade and the others.

A microsecond after, the wall practically disintegrated behind her as something very big, very powerful and very fast shot straight through it.

The hunters scattered as bricks and wood flew everywhere. Lonnie barely got out of the alleyway in time before the creature burst out, shaking the rubble off of its golden armour plating and letting off a great bellow to the sky.

Lonnie stared up at the beast in awe and shock as it pawed the ground. It was huge; looking very much like a rhinoceros, although with several key differences, like being covered from head to toe in golden and iron armour plating, studded with red jewels on each shoulder. More jewels adorned its visor, which covered the whole of its head and culminated in a vast pike from its snout. Its true face was completely covered, with only what seemed like a knight’s visor over its muzzle, which was letting off great clouds of steam as it whipped its head back and forth.

Lonnie pushed herself to her feet, holding Dendromon around the shoulder as she stared up at the behemoth in front of her. “Geezus...what is that?”

“A Rhinomon.” The salamander bit at the tip of one of her talons, looking decidedly worried. “I’ve never seen one looking so pissed before...”

As if on cue, the Rhinomon’s head snapped sideways towards the hunters, who were just getting their bearings. Kade and the front two had their weapons in their hands, forming a barrier against the beast’s presence. Rhinomon just stared, its jewels flashing wildly.

“You...give him back to me...”

Without warning he roared, the volume causing another shockwave that sent dust clouds flying in all directions.

“Where’s Maildramon? Give him back!”

The hunters circled around, putting distance between themselves and the giant rhino. All except for Kade, who stayed where he was, laughing nastily under his breath.

“Maildramon? The other metal prick we smoked last night? You’ll be lucky.”

A recollection flashed in Lonnie’s mind; the pile of quicksilver from that afternoon. The helmet. The sense of static. She shook her head.

“No way...”

Rhinomon seemed to take it even less well; he screamed, causing the earth beneath him to crack and dust to fly out in a vast tornado. Lonnie and Dendromon held their heads down, the noise pulsing through their entire bodies.

But the vigilantes were unfazed.

Kade raised his baton, screaming out his own war cry among the noise.

“Don’t worry about it! You’ll be joining it soon!”

He ran forwards, and the other three joined him, brandishing rods and gloves and blades that they swung in unison. Lonnie watched the four move in separate ways; chaotic, but persistent. One struck the rear tendon of the beast, their weapon colliding with a flash. Another tried to sneak underneath, only to get knocked away. Kade attacked head on, swinging and missing. Rhinomon wasn’t so sloppy; he brought his head around and struck the man with a brutal sideswipe from his horn. Kade was sent rolling, but he stopped himself, planting a hand against the ground. He staggered up, winded, but still very much alive and ready to fight.

“Rick! Kley! Behind the head!”

Rhinomon heard him, and responded with a devastating kick outwards, catching the nearest vigilante with a glancing blow. But despite his fast reactions, he was still being outmanoeuvred, and more and more blows were landing on him. His armour was standing up to them, but the flesh beneath was beginning to tire.

Lonnie watched the whole display, even as Dendromon tugged at her arm.

“Come on! We can go! We can get out of here-“

The salamander stopped, looking up at Lonnie’s shaking fist.

“...you’ve got to stop...”

“Lonnie, NO!”

It was too late; the girl was running before Dendromon could stop her; running at full pelt towards the battle in front of her. Anger clouded her vision, and her judgement. So much so that she wasn’t aware of Rhinomon crouching down, nor his jewels glowing a bright, flaming crimson.

“You’ve gotta stop this right now!”

Dendromon’s eyes opened wide, and she ran herself, stumbling and tripping as she tried to keep up with the girl. “Lonnie, get out of there!”

Kade stumbled backwards as he took stock the girl running towards him. His own focus shifted, and he stared up at the golden behemoth, who was now covered in a great glowing shield of light, blocking any and all attacks that they were throwing at it.

“Shit. RUN!”

The hunters scattered, and Lonnie slowed, as Rhinomon’s shimmering head snapped up towards Kade.

“Atomic Burst!”

Rhinomon’s feet pawed the ground, and he was moving far faster than he should have been able to, his body a golden blur in the darkness. In a last ditch effort, Kade flung himself to one side as Rhinomon barely shot past him, the energy eddies still causing the man to spin into the dust. Rhinomon carried on, an unstoppable force that crashed directly into one of the buildings.

The noise was unbearable; a subsonic boom mixed with a rending of rock and mortar. Kade was blown backwards, as were the rest of the hunters. And Lonnie, who raised her arms just as the golden wave flew outwards. Dendromon reached her in the nick of time, throwing her to the ground, but they were still caught and thrust backwards into the dirt.

Lonnie snapped into focus, and looked up at the salamander on her chest.

“You...saved me...”

Dendromon smiled, coughed, and slumped to one side, the effort having taken everything out of her. Lonnie forced herself to her knees, trying to ignore the pain that coursed through her limbs as she pushed against the salamander’s prone body.

“Hey...get up...Dendromon!”

A deep rumbling stopped her, and she looked up to see Rhinomon turning around, his head flicking back and forth, as if he was pained, or trying to shake away a pestilence.

“Maildramon...you killed him...”

Lonnie looked around, seeing the hunters tending to their own, having also been shaken by the blast. But Rhinomon wasn’t paying attention to them. He had turned around fully, and was focused intensely on Lonnie.

“...it’s your fault...it’s all your fault!”

The girl tried to stand, but her legs would no longer listen to her. She resorted to holding her hands out. “No! It wasn’t me! I didn’t...I don’t know...”

“Murderers! All of you!”

Rhinomon shook his head, his armour igniting with a golden sheen once again. Lonnie could do little more than watch as his feet pawed the ground, and he began to run towards her.

“I’ll make you all pay! Our crusade is coming! We’ll kill every last stinking human on this godforsaken world!”

Lonnie closed her eyes. But even so she could still feel the approaching footsteps, bringing imminent death with them.

She heard the beast’s manic breathing.

And a pulsing, burning energy running up her arm, from where she still held tightly to the mysterious device.

And a long, sonic whistle, growing louder and louder with every microsecond.

“Barrel Drive!”

There was a bang and a rush of wind, knocking Lonnie and Dendromon to one side yet again. She opened her eyes to see that Rhinomon had veered past her, staggering as he looked around. A faint scarlet trail remained in the airspace, looping upwards into the sky. Lonnie squinted, and could just make out a silhouette at the end of the trail; a bird-like creature calling into the night sky.

Lonnie whistled, before shivering, her body reacting to the sudden cold fog that was now enveloping the parking area. She looked around, her vision obscured by white mist, but even so she could just make out some unfamiliar figures at the edge of the battlefield. The bird above cried again, and looped down, hovering just above the other three as they walked forwards.

As they walked forwards, Lonnie could hear Kade’s muffled voice, a renewed spite coming through behind the helmet.

“Not you again...”

Lonnie didn’t pay him much heed. She just stared, transfixed, at the new arrivals.

A scarlet falcon, hovering effortlessly above, with a shining helmet and bronze wings.

A fox, crouched down, with a crimson pelt over its back, and a glowing blue horn protruding from its forehead.

And two masked people, each holding a glowing device; one red, and one blue.

The taller person took a step, speaking in a muffled, but definitely female-sounding voice.

“That’s enough.”

Rhinomon trembled, his armour shimmering as he did so.

“Leave me alone...”

Lonnie watched as the figures stepped forwards, the white fog illuminating them and giving her a better view. Like Kade’s gang they were dressed in thick clothing; fleeces, hoods and scarves, although their garb looked even more homemade. The taller one wore a fox mask over her face; handmade, with painted-on markings and a wicked-looking stare. The shorter figure wore something simpler; a scarf around their mouth and nose, and a pair of large, tinted goggles.

The shorter figure raised both palms, walking slowly as he spoke in a young-sounding male voice.

“That’s enough. I can promise it’ll be alright, but you have to stop.”

“No...”

Rhinomon shuffled back, his jewels glowing red again.

“You said that about Maildramon!”

The shorter figure held his breath. “I’m sorry-“

“ You said you’d keep him safe! You lied!”

The taller one stepped forwards. “Please, calm down!”

“You’re with them!”

Rhinomon thrust his head to one side, facing the hunters who were recongregating behind him, weapons in hand. The behemoth’s head fell, as golden dust emanated from his visor.

“You’re...you’re all...here to kill me...”

“Stop!”

“I won’t let you! Ain Sof Aur!”

Rhinomon roared, as lights burst out from his jewels, strafing all around in a storm of energy. Everybody moved in an instant; the two humans darted to one side, while the fox and the falcon leapt forwards, eyes reflecting the golden glow.

“Vulpimon! Slow him down!”

The fox nodded, her paws barely touching the broken ground as she danced left and right, avoiding the golden lights. She edged around to one side of Rhinomon, a silver pendant around her neck glowing brightly as she opened her mouth.

“Snow Blast!”

Lonnie watched, transfixed, as the fox blew a cloud of ice crystals over the rhino’s leg, freezing it to the ground. The rhino shook, and kicked out with a rear foot, the move only glancing the far smaller Digimon as she ran to a safe distance.

Lonnie watched the fox’s movements in awe; quick, agile and dextrous, as if she had danced this deadly duel hundreds of times before.

Then something caught the girl’s eye, and she cried out, “The electro-stick guys! Watch out!”

Vulpimon looked back, then to her right, before ducking as a sparking glove swiped for her head.

“Go away!”

She spun, her tail cracking against the hunter’s midriff and sending him backing away. But the other three vigilantes were active, and they had bigger things on their minds as they approached the temporarily stuck Rhinomon, all aiming for the gap in the armour at the back of his head.

“Die, beast!”

“Not today, a-holes! Wind Tunnel!”

A column of air shot outwards, blowing them back in unison. Lonnie looked upwards and saw the bird looping above and letting off a victory caw. His eye glanced down, and he called out. “We have a bystander! And her...pet frog.”

Lonnie grimaced, but the bird looped around again, giving her a definite wink. “Cheers for the assist, lady. We’ll take it from here.”

There was a huff from down below. “Perimon, will you stop showboating and help me?”

“I have a responsibility to my fans, Vulpimon.”

“You have a responsibility not to run your damn beak, is what you have.”

“Traitors!”

With a vast roar Rhinomon shuffled, breaking free of his icy prison and swiping his horn upwards, very nearly striking Perimon through one wing. The bird squawked, and arced around, blasting a column of air into the beast’s shoulder. It did little but to enrage him even more, as he stomped his feet.

“Why are you siding with them? Ain Sof Aur!”

Perimon corkscrewed in mid-air, barely avoiding the beams that blasted outwards, and ending up far further away than he intended. Vulpimon was less lucky as one of the blasts clipped her legs, sending her crashing into the dirt. She rolled away as Rhinomon charged, just dodging getting crushed by his gargantuan feet. Big and bulky he may have been, but he was also deceptively fast, and very soon the fox found herself running for her life as the behemoth chased after her, rage blinding his senses.

Lonnie watched everything in a fascinated horror, so engrossed that she didn’t notice the other two newcomers until one of them placed a hand on her shoulder. She yelped, raising her arms in a faux-defensive manner, but found herself staring into the fox mask. “You’re here to help, aren’t you?”

The figure in the mask reared back a little, seeming shocked. She looked down, then back up at Lonnie’s face again. “You’ve got to get out of here. It’s not safe.”

Lonnie tensed, realising she was still holding onto Dendromon. “What about her?”

“...Her?”

Lonnie swallowed. “You’re...tamers, aren’t you? These are Digimon. They’re your Digimon.”

There were footsteps behind the masked girl as the other tamer rushed up, looking over his shoulder. “Hurry up; we need some space here.”

The fox-masked girl shook her head, staring at Lonnie. “How...how do you know about us?”

Lonnie bit her lip, looking between the two as they stared at her. She laughed nervously. “I...know...things...?”

“Look! A D-SEND!”

The goggled-figure started and pointed at Lonnie’s free hand. She looked down, and held it up, showing them the glowing device.

“What is this? What do I do with it?”

The two masked tamers looked at one another, but before they could say anything there was a squawk and a flash of light from behind them. They turned to see Rhinomon swinging sideways, knocking away the hunters as Perimon tried and failed to drive the behemoth back.

“We could really use some assistance here, if you don’t mind!”

The fox-masked girl rolled her shoulders, and faced Lonnie again, close enough that the girl could see the hazel eyes behind the handmade mask.

“We need to talk. I’ll find you later. But right now you need to get out of the way.

“But Dendromon-“

“She’s alright. She’s unconscious, but she’ll be fine. I’m serious; we need some space.”

She raised a hand to the muzzle of her mask, and pulled it forwards, revealing her face to the stunned girl. Lonnie gasped, holding her breath.

“I don’t...Grace? Is that...you?”

The other girl smiled. “As I said...we need to talk.”

“Anytime now!”

Grace nodded reassuringly. “Go. It’ll be fine.”

Lonnie took in a deep breath, before pulling Dendromon up over her back and running back, away from the centre of the courtyard. She placed herself behind a short wall, and peered over, watching as Grace and the other figure stood in front of the battleground.

“You ready, Jack?”

“Always.”

Lonnie watched from the sidelines as the two raised their hands, each holding a device of their own; the same shape as hers, only one glowing blue and one glowing red. They moved in unison, and as they did so bright lights congregated at their fingertips. Vulpimon retreated first, backing up as her entire body began to glow, the form shimmering at the edges. Perimon’s was doing the same as he spiralled upwards, hovering in mid-air with a red aura around him.

Grace and Jack placed the devices against their palms, before drawing them away with an electronic scream. Trails of light followed their hands, glowing brightly and spinning around their palms like miniature tornados.

“Vulpimon, Soul Accelerate!”

“Perimon, Soul Accelerate!”

Time seemed to slow. Vulpimon tensed, her tail whipping back and forth as her form distorted, blue patches growing over her pelt. Up above, something similar was happening to Perimon, no longer even flapping his wings as the energy seemed to keep him in stasis. Lonnie held her breath, taking in the sights and sounds as red and blue beams danced around the courtyard. She could hear the energy crackling, and the devices whining; even the one in her hand seemed to be responding. And on top of all of it, she could hear the sharp, almost painful sound of an electronic whistle.

All of a sudden, Grace and Jack brought their hands together, slamming their palms against their devices as they yelled in unison with their partners.

“Evolution Activate!”

A shockwave burst out from both tamers, rippling through the air and over their partners’ bodies. Vortexes opened around them, spinning rapidly as they slowly enveloped the two Digimon. As they did so, their bodies morphed; ribbons of shining data being pulled away and replaced by a new, glowing mainframe. Patches of digital flesh and skin knitted together over the top, still shimmering; not quite completely corporeal yet. The rings of light spiralled upwards, reaching the Digimons’ heads, as the two opened their eyes and called out into the night.

Then, another burst of colour as the rings dissipated, revealing the two new forms.

Vulpimon had grown to her partner’s height at the shoulder, though she was still entirely canine. Her frame was more slender than before, and her pelt had shrunk into something more like a scarlet mane over her back. Her blue fur seemed to glow in the dim light, and her limbs were adorned with silver rings. Her face was covered with a bone mask, with a single white horn protruding from the top, and six golden eyes dotted down the muzzle.

Perimon had grown vastly; easily standing clear of the helmeted men nearby, and he had a crimson wingspan of at least five metres from tip to tip. His entire chest was covered with bronze armour like a Roman soldier, and he wore a long purple cape over his back. His tail was long, ending with a ceremonial-looking blade, and he wore a similarly extravagant helmet over his head, which laid claim to a viciously hooked beak and piercing green eyes.

The whole process had taken only seconds, leaving Lonnie to try and fathom what it was she had just seen, as the newly evolved Digimon shook themselves, dissipating the last of the data from their transformations as their voices rang out through the courtyard.

“Alopemon!”

“Mistramon!"

Rhinomon shook, letting out an anguished cry as his armour rang out like a bell.

“How...how dare you side with them!”

Mistramon hovered slightly lower, his face grave. “Please, listen-“

“NO! YOU’RE LIARS! YOU BETRAYED ME!”

Before anybody could stop him, Rhinomon was running again, aiming directly for the tamers as a shield of light enveloped his body once again.

“Atomic Burst!”

Grace and Jack rushed to one side, and their partners dodged expertly; Mistramon keeping himself aloft with slow, powerful wingbeats, and Alopemon running round to one side as crystals of ice began to shimmer all around her.

“Mistramon, hurry! Stop him!”

The bird dove down, hooking Rhinomon’s back beneath his talons and pushing himself up. It wasn’t enough to stop the rampaging beast, but he did deflect the attack enough to make the beast career into another building. Mistramon winced as the wall collapsed in on itself with the impact, followed by the rest of the warehouse. Alopemon glared up at him.

“Without the property damage, please!”

“Have you seen this place? It was falling down anyway!”

“Atomic Burst!”

“Uh-oh...”

The great eagle turned as Rhinomon charged again, this time aiming directly at him. He held his talons out, and spread his wings wide as red energy billowed beneath them.

“Pressure Wave!”

An arc of spiralling wind rushed outwards, buffeting Rhinomon to the point where Mistramon was able to grab him and stop him in his tracks. But the behemoth wasn’t deterred; he jumped up onto his hind legs and rammed his whole body forwards, dislodging Mistramon and sending him corkscrewing away.

“Icicle Barrage! ”

Shards of ice flew out from the dim light, striking Rhinomon on the flank and making him stagger. He looked to his left at where Alopemon stood, with several icicles still hovering around her body like miniature moons; sharp, sleek and refined. Rhinomon tried to turn, but the ice had hardened where it struck, getting in beneath his armour plates and wedging them in place.

“Ain Sof Aur!”

The beast summoned another ring of energy, cracking the ice that held him, but Alopemon was already on the run. He focused, firing the golden beams towards her, but she was as agile as she was swift, ducking and leaping over them with minimal trouble, and firing more icicles as she went.

Rhinomon changed tack, forcing his energy back into his limbs as he crashed out of his icy prison. He stood for a moment, the effort having exhausted him, but he was aware enough of his surroundings to swing outwards with his horn, slicing Alopemon across the front legs. She stumbled, and Rhinomon rushed forwards, ramming her with the tip of his visor and sending her rolling backwards. She glanced up, and saw Mistramon diving down, wind beneath his wings as he began to corkscrew.

“Pressure Wave!”

The eagle banked sharply, and an arc of rolling wind flew outwards from the end of one wing and struck Rhinomon over the back with a clap like thunder. The behemoth roared in pain, giving Alopemon enough time to retreat and recharge, even as Mistramon banked again and curved back round. Rhinomon glared up at him, firing beams of gold into the sky.

“Turn around! I’m innocent! It’s them! It’s these...these humans! They’re the evil here; why can’t you see that?”

“Tail Frost!”

Alopemon ran out from nowhere, her body spinning like a ballerina as she swung a hardened blade of ice from her tail, striking Rhinomon across the head. He staggered back, grunting, and stared forwards as she landed expertly in front of him, glaring back with her yellow gaze.

“You’ve injured dozens of them with your ‘crusade’. They have a right to live.”

Rhinomon shook, his gems pulsating.

“So did Maildramon!Ain Sof Aur!”

“Icicle Barrage!”

The air erupted around both Digimon as they rushed to one side, firing icicles and golden blasts back and forth. As they approached the edge of the courtyard, Alopemon leapt away in a flurry of white smoke. Rhinomon was less lucky, crashing into a pile of rubble. He stumbled, cracking the earth with the force of his footsteps, and reared up to make another assault.

“Pressure Wave!”

Mistramon flew practically vertically downwards, and fired at point blank range at the rampaging behemoth. The blast of air cascaded off Rhinomon’s armour and blew apart the rubble behind, but even the strength of the attack wasn’t able to knock the beast down. Rhinomon leaned forwards, and stabbed with his horn, tearing a hole through the bottom of one of Mistramon’s wings. The eagle wrenched himself away, and rose again, his wing whistling as he did so.

Lonnie was mesmerised as she watched the battle in the courtyard, as the three figures danced back and forth. Rhinomon was powerful and deceptively quick, but Mistramon and Alopemon moved with a grace and a synchronicity; occasionally slipping, but slowly gaining the upper hand.

The girl whistled, and glanced over beside her at where the two tamers were watching, poised and ready to step in. Jack looked down at his arm, his facial expression obscured, but when he spoke his voice was grave.

“We’re running out of time...”

Lonnie looked around, feeling a definite sinking sensation in her gut as she realised something...someone...was definitely missing.

“Tail Frost!”

Alopemon spun twice, striking Rhinomon across the visor and blurring his vision. He stumbled backwards, trying to get a grip on the rough ground, but his joints were seized by icy cages. With a roar he tried to summon his energy once again, but his jewels glowed dimly, drained from such stress.

“Why are you doing this?”

He cried out, and with his remaining strength forced his body forwards towards Alopemon. But with a rush of air Mistramon appeared, brandishing his talons. He spread his wings wide, and pushed with all his might, finally forcing the rhino to submit. Rhinomon pressed against the ground as the two Digimon stood over him, definitely out of breath themselves.

“Why do you fight so hard for them?”

Mistramon glanced up, watching as his partner tentatively walked forwards.

“Because we care about them, dude. Isn’t that always the case?”

“...and what about me? And the hundreds like me? Don’t we matter?”

“Why do you think we’re here?”

Jack reached out, and tentatively put a hand on the rhino’s visor.

“This is a crap world to be stuck in right now. But we can help you get home. Please...it’s gonna be alright.”

Grace stood behind him, her hand instinctively going to her pocket, but she tensed her fist and kept it out, making sure her movements were entirely visible. Further behind, Lonnie was stood up as well, holding Dendromon over her back.

Rhinomon shuffled, his jewels pulsing erratically.

“Maildramon...I...I...”

Alopemon felt her hackles rise, and she tensed. Mistramon just closed his eyes.

“I won’t LET YOU!”

Rhinomon pushed upwards, energy cascading around his forelegs and causing a small shockwave. Mistramon spread his wings, but without warning the goliath turned his head and stabbed upwards, striking him through the wing once again. This time Rhinomon flung his head sideways, tearing the feathers and sending the eagle down to the ground.

“Mistramon!”

“Jack!”

Grace rushed forwards and pulled the boy back as Rhinomon pushed himself up, calling on reserves of energy as his jewels glowed a pure orange. He snorted, and pointed at them, already rushing forwards.

“It’s YOUR FAULT! You’re the ones who need to die!

“Please! We’re just trying to help you!” Grace called out, but it was no use as the behemoth picked up speed towards them.

“Atomic Bur-”

CRACK

“AAAAARGH!”

Rhinomon stumbled again, crashing down to the ground as a cable wrapped around its leg. He struggled, but yet more electrified weapons struck him; wires, hooks and harpoons, digging below his armour plating and warping his very flesh. Alopemon cursed under her breath, and ran to Mistramon’s aid as, from out of the shadows, more and more people came running, all dressed in the same sinister attire as the original four hunters. Kade himself was standing up, swinging his baton and laughing subtly.

“’Sup Vex. Took you long enough.”

“We had another incident ,” sounded another voice from the shadows. Lonnie and the two tamers watched, aghast, as another figure strode out; a good deal taller than Kade himself, with a long jacket and utility belt, a helmet emblazoned with a pair of wings drawn on either side. He stopped, and looked over the four, his face hidden behind tinted glass.

“You alright?”

Kade looked behind him; at Kley who was holding Rick over one shoulder, and at Nile who was clutching their wrist from where Dendromon had burned it.

“We had it under control. You didn’t need to come.”

“Don’t play the hero, Kade.”

Vex turned around, and stared at the Rhinomon, unmoving even as the beast grew angrier and angrier.

“Remember me?”

With a sound like a hundred knives, Rhinomon screamed, his jewels flashing wildly as he struggled beneath his bindings. The man didn’t respond; he just reached within his coat, walking towards the fallen creature.

“VEX!”

The man’s head snapped around as Grace and Jack ran forwards, staring intensely even behind their masks. Vex raised a hand, and the two stopped in their tracks.

“Stay out of my way.”

“We won’t let you do this! Not again!” yelled Grace, her fist shaking as she held it by her side.

Vex didn’t stop; he reached within his coat and pulled out a strange device; halfway between an electromagnet and a bolt gun, with coiled wires trailing back beneath his jacket.

“I’m not going to hurt you. But I will make you understand.”

“Don’t you DARE!”

Mistramon flapped on the ground, but a crackling swipe from the surrounding hunters made him back off. Another one stepped ever so slightly closer, but Alopemon rushed around, summoning wickedly-sharp ice sculptures. Even so, the two were surrounded.

Vex wasn’t paying attention to the actions around him. He merely pressed a switch in his palm, and raised the weapon towards Rhinomon.

“STOP!”

The new voice stopped everybody in their tracks, and they turned to see Lonnie run forwards. She staggered as she held Dendromon over her back, but still moving forwards, desperation in her eyes.

“Don’t kill him! He’s scared! He’s...you can’t! You have to stop!”

Grace held her breath. She felt her brother do the same, and she flinched as he pulled her backwards.

“Rhinomon’s moving!”

Grace pulled herself away, and held both hands out towards Lonnie, “Don’t come any closer-“

“AaaaaaAAAAAARGH!”

With a snapping of cables and a roar of bloodlust, Rhinomon rose again, energy swimming all around as he forced himself forwards. Wires tore into his armour and blood dripped from his visor, but he didn’t even notice as he drew all his energy into his body at once, and aimed at Vex. The man turned around, stepping back as the behemoth reared up in front of him, standing at least twice his height as white lights spiralled through the air.

“ATOMIC...BURST!”

Several of the hunters ran forwards, but the force of the energy was so great that they were swept to one side.

Vex held his ground though; without a word, the man raised his weapon, aimed, and pressed the switch, just as Rhinomon’s body clattered towards him.

There was a snap, and a sharp hum as the spear shot out of the end. It spun through the air, pulling cables behind it, and spiralled beneath Rhinomon’s visor, just into a gap in the armour where the beast’s throat was.

There was a noise; a horrendous, rasping crackling, mixed with a sickening pulse as Rhinomon juddered and slammed downwards, the energy flying out chaotically. Grace and Jack were knocked back. The hunters were scatted, allowing Alopemon and Mistramon to break free from the circle and rush towards their partners. Even Vex was floored by the shock, careering to one side and falling to one knee. Still, he held himself up on one hand, watching as Rhinomon lay, stunned and quivering before him, and still attached by the shivering coils.

Vex raised his hand, and reached towards a pad on his upper left hand, which sparked and crackled from the sheer charge running through it. His fingers closed around a dial, and he twisted it hard to the right.

“Got you.”

The cables jerked, and Rhinomon screamed inhumanly as white lights burst from beneath his armour plating. He struggled back and forth, his cries becoming more and more pained, and with a huge effort was able to pull himself free of the device, which crashed to the ground below, smoking and spluttering.

Mistramon raised his wings, blocking the view from Grace and Jack, who were already turning away. Several of the hunters cheered, while others stepped back. Vex wrenched out the remainder of the harpoon from his jacket, and sat there, staring at the blinking lights.

They all knew it was already too late.

Lonnie picked up the pace, just for a second, hoping to get there in time.

Then her eyes widened, and she slowed, her legs giving way as she watched the grotesque display before her.

Rhinomon was trying desperately to stand, but his legs wouldn’t listen to him. They spasmed. They jerked. Even as he tried to put pressure through them, great chunks of armour broke away, revealing the flesh beneath. And even that began to warp, and crease, and crumble. As the affliction spread to his whole body, Rhinomon’s screams grew louder, although they were becoming less like a beast and more like a faulty TV station; just unstable static and harmonics and barely legible voice. Rhinomon tried to speak, but he had no throat left to do so. His front legs collapsed, followed by his right side. His jewels flickered, still miraculously intact, but the colour drained from them and they fell away, bouncing over the ground with a chink.

Lonnie could do nothing but watch as the behemoth’s cries faded away, and the last of his body literally collapsed in on itself, like the husk of a flower. His visor creaked, and split open, and a stream of silvery sand dripped out like quicksilver, joining that from the rest of his body.

Within the minute, there was nothing left but a pile of dust, studded with jewels, and pieces of golden armour, now tarnished and greyed.

As the static in the atmosphere faded, the sounds of sirens could be heard in the distance, getting ever so slowly louder. Dust hung in the air, mingling with snowflakes and little blinking lights. Vex stood up, holding his shoulder. He turned around, and saw Lonnie, still kneeling on the ground. The vigilante tilted his head slightly, looking behind her back.

“Kade, you missed one.”

He took a few steps forwards, but Lonnie snapped out of her stupor in a millisecond, turning her body and keeping Dendromon out of his sight.

“You...you killed him...”

Vex reached out and grabbed the top of her head, turning it to face the mountain of dust in front of them, which was already leaking away.

“Look at it. It was never alive. It was a threat, and a killer. Take a long look and remember-“

A hand shot out and grabbed his, wrenching it upwards. Vex looked up, and saw Grace, her eyes dark behind the muzzle of her mask.

“Don’t. Touch. Her.”

Vex pulled his arm away, and took a few steps back, clutching his wrist. He looked at the small group in front of him; Grace and Jack flanking Lonnie, and Alopemon and Mistramon beside them, both staring with venomous eyes. Kade and a few of the other hunters took a step, raising weapons, and the two Digimon tensed once again. But Vex raised a hand.

“That’s enough. We’ve done what we needed. Mira, Jai; pick up any gear we can still salvage.”

Kade looked over at him. “Vex-“

“I said we’re done, Kade. Some of us need seeing to. Let’s go.”

The two tamers watched as the gang returned to the shadows, as quietly as they’d appeared. Vex turned around just before he went, and fixed another stare at Lonnie.

“Think very carefully about what you get involved in, kid.”

Lonnie looked up towards him, but he’d disappeared before she could say anything. Only Grace and Jack were left, looking across the ruined courtyard. Grace held her fists tightly.

“You didn’t have to see that. I’m sorry.”

No answer. The girl knelt down, looking into the girl’s vacant stare.

“...are you alright?”

Lonnie closed her eyes, feeling something catching in the back of her throat. Dendromon felt like a dead weight on her back, although even now she could feel the salamander’s shallow breathing.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Grace hung her head for a moment. Then she turned to the boy next to her. “The police are coming. We need to get out of here. Take her to the safehouse, alright?”

“What about you?”

“...I need to make a call...”

The boy nodded, as Lonnie stood up beside him. Mistramon shuffled forwards, lowering his body as the two humans hoisted Dendromon up, before Lonnie climbed on herself, staying crouched over the amphibian’s body. Jack mounted last, shuffling up to the eagle’s mane with an expert agility. He glanced back, pulling down his goggles ever so slightly.

“Can you hold on alright? We’ll take it slow.”

Lonnie nodded. “I can.”

Mistramon tilted his head back. “Come on, man; I don’t take things slow. You know that.”

Jack chuckled, and rubbed beneath the bird’s feathers.

“Come on. Let’s get outta here.”

The eagle stuck his tongue out, but obliged, raising himself very gently off the floor, before arcing upwards with a long, controlled sweep of both wings. Grace watched as the eagle flew off, with Alopemon pawing the ground beside her, looking conflicted.

“This is going to be complicated.”

Grace sighed, leaping onto her own partner’s back. “Isn’t it always?”

With a shimmer and a ringing sound, Alopemon herself sped off into the night, leaving only the river of dust and crumbled gold to mark the terrible events.

White noise. Rushing lights. Burning flesh. Sparks. Pain. Footsteps. Running. Endless running, up, down, down further, then falling, falling towards the man as he turned towards her; heavy helmet melding with dead-eyed stare as he raised his fist and

Lonnie’s eyes snapped open and she yelled out at nothing, her entire body in spasms. For a moment she hung practically in free-space, her heart racing and her eyes darting back and forth, trying and failing to get any bearing on anything.

She closed them again, and swallowed, her body finally relaxing. She became aware of a throbbing pain in her legs...and arms...and all over, come to think of it. Her vision was swimming, still showing her the vague and terrifying visions she’d had during her restless sleep. She bit her lip, and as she’d taught herself to do many times before – and had taught her sisters to as well – she shut her eyes tighter and tighter until the visions went away. Only blackness. Nothing left to hurt her.

She tried looking around again, but the room was still spinning, so instead she just stared up at the ceiling, trying to focus on the patterns as her brain slowly slotted back into the semi-organised chaos it usually was.

Something definitely felt a little bit off. She couldn’t be entirely sure how much of the previous night had been real; so much of it just felt so far away and...impossible. She remembered running, and vaguely remembered masks and helmets and...a small red amphibian...and death.

The horrible image of a beast crumbling to dust flashed in front of her eyes, waking her up instantly. Then, just as suddenly, it vanished, as her eyes finally focused properly in the dim light, and she looked around from her odd position.

This was most certainly not her house.

“What the...”

She shifted sideways, trying to get a better look. Then a little further. Then a lot further as her body slithered off the edge of the sofa she’d been lying on.

“Crap!”

She landed with a thud, and got a hefty mouthful of carpet as she flailed wildly. After a few failed attempts at getting her bearings, she managed to roll onto her back, and lay there, eyes wide and staring up at the ceiling.

“Well, this is new. But at least it can’t get any more awkward.”

A shadow drifted into view, hovering just in the top of her field of vision. She blinked a couple of times, before her brain finally connected the dots, and she realised that she was staring directly into the eyes of an upside-down dragon.

Lonnie blinked, waiting for confirmation that she was, indeed, looking at an upside-down dragon. The upside-down dragon stared back and appeared to be waiting for any kind of reaction.

As such it took about three minutes for any kind of meaningful interaction to actually take place, before Lonnie could take no more and raised a hand in a peace offering.

“Hi.”

The dragon looked down. Or up. Perspective is key, and it gave Lonnie enough pause for thought to realise that, not only was a handshake going to be difficult during this upside-down greeting, it may in fact be impossible due to the fact that the upside-down dragon had no arms. Only two, dark, leathery wings, which beat only a couple of times a minute and provided very little explanation as to why the dragon was hovering a few feet above her head.

The dragon seemed to sense her growing confusion, and thankfully decided to continue the impromptu conversation.

“’Sup.”

Another minute or so.

“You awake?”

“Yeah, I think so. This your house?”

“No. But I live here.”

“Alone?”

“No. I’m not allowed to rent. I squat.”

“Ah. I see.”

The girl realised she was still holding her hand out, and let her arm fall to the floor.

“I’m Lonnie. Nice to meet you.”

The dragon nodded, his eyes piercing even in the dim light.

“Colchimon.”

The conversation trailed off awkwardly. Colchimon twisted in mid-air, and scratched behind his headcrest.

“So...this might be a bit of a shock, but...I’m not from your world-“

“I know. You’re a Digimon, right?”

“...yes...how did-“

“My granny told me about you. And Uncle Ali. And I met a couple of you last night. I’ve sussed that point.”

“Really.” The dragon sighed. “Well, I guess that’s saved us about an hour of conversation already.”

Lonnie gestured. “Do you mind if I sit up? I’m still not totally sure I’m awake yet.”

“Please do.”

The girl pushed herself upwards, leaning against the sofa as the dragon curled around to look at her properly. Now she was the right orientation, Lonnie could see just how big he was; at least a metre wingspan, and a long curling tail that ended in a slightly curved blade of some kind of dark metal. His head had a spiky crest, and a diamond gem in the middle of his forehead, which seemed to glow with black light that stood out against the gloom. He smiled, his hooked beak curving upwards in a manner far friendlier than his shadowy form should have allowed.

“We don’t usually have guests. Well...we do, but not usually ones we can introduce ourselves to.”

Lonnie laughed. “It must be very hard for you. Do you ever get out?”

“Quite often. But we need to stay hidden.” The dragon shuffled awkwardly. “So...you seem like a kinda sensible girl so I hope you understand that...we don’t want you talking about us? Or our tamers?”

Lonnie sat up, and gave a Scout salute. “Never. I promise. I won’t tell no-one.”

“Colchimon...?”

The girl and the dragon looked over at the doorway, where a figure had just walked into the room. She was a young woman; tall and stocky, with cropped red hair and sea-green eyes, wearing a dark green dressing gown and grey slippers. The light level in the room increased as another figure slowly hovered into view beside her, yawning and rubbing her eyes with the edge of one wing. She was another dragon; very similar in size and shape to Colchimon, although with white skin, feathery wings, golden bands adorning her body and a blue gem instead of a purple one. Her tail was coiled around a small stuffed mouse in a waistcoat; slightly threadbare, and very well-loved.

The new dragon looked around blearily as she moaned, “Why are you talking so loud? It’s still dark out. You know I’m not a night person.”

Colchimon gestured. “Our guest woke up.”

“Oh, really?” The white dragon looked to one side, and gave a tired smile. “Nice to meet you. I’m Ladomon.”

Beside her, the young woman pulled her dressing gown inwards a bit. “I’m Eloise.”

Lonnie waved a tentative hand at the two, before focusing her attention on the new woman. “I guess...this is your house?”

The woman switched on a light, nodding as she did so. “I share it with my boyfriend, but yeah. It’s a...permanent rental. Sort of.”

Lonnie leant forwards, placing her palms on the carpet. “Thank you so much for the bed. I’m really sorry for the bother.”

“Oh please. I’m a student; it’s not like you’re the first young woman who’s barged in and slept on the sofa.” The girl chuckled a little, before noticing the guilty expression on Lonnie’s face. “Besides...you were in a bad way last night. Both of you.”

“Both of us...” Lonnie’s eyes widened as she exclaimed, “Dendromon? Where is she? Is she alright?”

“She’s fine. Shaken, but fine. She’s borrowing the spare room for the minute.” Eloise’s expression hardened a little. “How much do you know?”

Lonnie held her hands together. “Only what I saw. And I don’t know how much of that was real. And I saw...some horrible things...I think...I don’t know what happened-”

Eloise held her hand, stopping Lonnie in her tracks, “We can sort that. You should get your head together first. We can talk later over breakfast.” She gestured upwards. “Kai’s already gone to work, so the shower’s free if you need it.”

Lonnie looked down at herself, and realised she was still wearing her normal clothes. She pulled the collar of her shirt out, took a sniff, and made a face.

“That’s probably a good idea.”

“Upstairs, straight ahead.” Eloise turned around, nodding as she did so. “Take as long as you need.

Mornings were never Lonnie’s strongest suit at the best of times, but this was rough even by her standards. The girl barely managed to drag herself up the stairs and into the shower, and spent a good twenty minutes letting the water run over her aching body, as the grime from the last twelve hours fell away and the bleary fog over her mind was cleared.

Eventually she freed herself from the water’s embrace, and stood in front of the mirror, barely able to recognise herself. She could just about remember what had happened after the terrible incident; her flight here, Jack dropping her off, before rushing off once again. Eloise and another person had helped her and Dendromon inside, where she’d been so exhausted that she’d collapsed on the nearest flat surface.

It was enough to totally convince her that she wasn’t dreaming, or hallucinating, or imagining any of the things that her friends thought went on in her head on a daily basis. It was real. And it wasn’t a good feeling.

Looking down at herself, she saw the extent of her bruising and grazing from the pursuit. That wasn’t awful. That would heal.

But the damage was more than physical. The images from last night flashed at the forefront of her mind, no matter how hard she tried to push them away.

She’d watched something...somebody...die in agony in front of her eyes, and she had been powerless to do anything.

Lonnie slapped her cheeks, and glared into the mirror. She was letting confusion and frustration get the better of her again. That wasn’t the way she rolled. Last night was last night. This was a new day after all, and there were more important matters to attend to. Matters such as breakfast.

After dressing and spending a little while reorganising her hair, the girl tentatively made her way downstairs, walking into the kitchen. Eloise was already up and about, and gave the girl a quick, if slightly frazzled smile as she walked past.

“I’m afraid there’s muesli or honey puffs. We don’t really have much in the way of variety.”

“I’m...not really hungry.”

“You sure?”

“...no, but it feels weird just randomly eating someone else’s cereal.” The girl held her forearm. “I should really call my mum; she’s probably really worried-“

Lonnie stopped mid-speech, and her shoulders sagged downwards, “Oh nooooo...*

Eloise poked her head out. “What is it?”

“My phone’s in my bag. I don’t have my bag. I threw it at some leather-wearing weirdos.”

“Well that was stupid.”

“It had all my textbooks in it as well.”

“Doubly stupid.”

Eloise allowed herself a tiny giggle, before closing the cupboard door and looking at Lonnie, who was appearing remarkably deflated by the revelation. Eloise shook her head. “If it helps, I can sympathise. It happens more often than you want it to.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. I nearly failed a module because my lab report got eaten by a bunch of living nuclear sewer waste. Spent two all-nighters on it as well.”

Lonnie cocked her head. “You said you’re a student?”

“Mechanical engineering. And part-time Digimon wrangler.” Eloise pulled the milk out of the fridge for her own breakfast, her eyes taking on a slightly manic, over-caffeinated expression. “Basically I have made a lot of very smart life choices.”

Lonnie let out a sigh, lamenting the loss of her own essays and reports, and trudged into the main room. She looked down at the dining table, and paused, staring.

Dendromon stared back, one hand still holding a tablespoon, and with fragments of honey puffs dotted around her mouth. She had a couple of very damp-looking plasters on her muzzle, and a bandage around her shoulder, but all in all she looked far more alive than she had the previous night. If a little bit more confused.

The salamander swallowed, roughly put down her spoon, and waved at the girl in the doorway. “Hi again! Thanks again! I...I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you, but I was just...my god, human food is so good.”

Lonnie looked at the three empty bowls already in front of the salamander, and whistled. “Well, I can see that.”

“I do apologise. We can be a bit gluttonous at times.”

Lonnie jumped and spun herself ninety-degrees, but relaxed as she saw Ladomon and Colchimon hovering around in the corner of the room, busy partaking in their own snacks. Ladomon caught Lonnie watching her, and blushed, twisting herself around. “Don’t stare! It’s hard, alright? We’re not used to your metabolisms.”

Lonnie turned around, staring back into the kitchen. “How the heck do you afford to feed all these guys on a regular basis? On a student budget, no less?”

“We have a bit of help,” said Eloise, walking through and joining the salamander at the table, beckoning Lonnie to join her. “I have my loan and Kai works, but all the extra amount we get from our friend Alasdair. It means we can afford the extra food and supplies and have the house without people asking questions.”

“Alasdair?” Lonnie blinked. “You mean Uncle Ali?”

“You know him, don’t you? He’s mentioned you several times.” Eloise pointed with her spoon. “I bet he didn’t expect you to get quite so involved though. But I guess that’s the way it goes. Welcome to the club. You too, Dendromon.”

Dendromon grimaced, and gingerly pushed her third empty bowl away from her. “I don’t really know what I’m doing here either.”

Lonnie leaned forwards. “How did you get here? I mean...you were running from those guys when I found you, but...you come from the digital world, don’t you?”

The salamander held her muzzle for a few moments. Then she shook her head. “I don’t remember. It was all blurry. All I remember is finding that device, and then it told me to find you and...well...I was in your world...”

“Ah!”

Lonnie’s eyes widened, and she fumbled in her pockets, before turning to Eloise in panic. “The device! I don’t have it! Did I drop it somewhere?”

The older girl raised her hands, “Relax, it’s in good hands.”

Drrring

“Crap, they’re here already.”

Eloise wolfed down the rest of her cereal and practically threw all the kitchen crockery down on the countertop, before rushing out the dining room door. Lonnie was left sitting alone with Dendromon, who stared around the room, half in curiosity, and half to avoid any more awkward conversations which Lonnie was happy to offer.

“I hope...last night wasn’t too hard on you.”

Dendromon folded her arms, pouting. “Your people have some very nasty habits.”

“Yeah...I guess they do...” The girl looked down at her hands, fumbling with them. “Is it really me?”

“What do you mean?”

“When I found you. You asked if I was ‘her’, like you were looking for me specifically.” The girl looked into Dendromon’s acid-green eyes.”Wasn’t it just a mistake?”

Dendromon didn’t seem too sure for a moment. Then she sniffed, and nodded vigorously. “I know it’s you. The digivice told me it was you. You were the one person most important in the world to me.”

“But...why?”

“...I don’t know...I just know that you are...”

“I know what you mean.” There was a rustling as Ladomon appeared, poking her head up over the lip of the table. “It’s hard to explain. I feel the same for Eloise, and Colchimon for Kai. It’s just...a feeling, isn’t it.”

Lonnie held her hands tightly together, not quite sure how to respond. Luckily she didn’t need to, as Eloise walked back in the room, leading a few people behind her.

“We thought we ought to get together and properly explain everything. Lonnie, this is Jack.”

Lonnie nodded at the boy, before tilting her head. “Are you the guy from last night?”

“Yup. Your knight in bronze armour.”

The boy grinned, his pale-blonde hair waving around all over the place as it stuck up in erratic spikes. He wore a loose T-shirt and shorts even in the cold weather, and Lonnie noticed a neoprene sleeve over one of his legs. His eyes were lively and a rich blue.

Lonnie stuck her lip out. “You’re younger than I thought you’d be.”

“Hey!”

As if by magic, a bird flapped its way inside; the same bird from last night, although in the enclosed space he seemed even bigger and more boisterous. Perimon squinted at Lonnie, making the bird-equivalent of a scrutinising face. “Don’t you go dissing me or my boy like that; we flew you here last night, you know! Don’t make me start charging for first class!”

A chilly presence manifested itself behind him, and Perimon suddenly felt somebody grabbing him by the long neck feathers. Eloise pulled him sideways, a deceptively friendly smile on her face.

“Perimon, darling, what did I tell you about flying inside? Regarding the lampshades? And the dresser?”

Perimon swallowed, and promptly pulled his wings in, bouncing lightly to the floor. “Yes mum.”

There was an exasperated sigh as Vulpimon wandered in, rolling her eyes. “You are impossible, you know that?”

Before Lonnie could comment, the final two people entered, and she held her breath. Grace stood at the back, waving in a friendly fashion, before going back to pushing the wheelchair.

“I can take it from here, thanks Grace.”

Lonnie watched as Alasdair manoeuvred himself around, pushing his legs under the table. He looked up at Lonnie; a very tired, yet inordinately kind look in his eyes.

“I’m sorry this is so abrupt. We just figured it would be best to all go through this together.”

Grace re-entered the room, holding a cardboard tray underneath her arms. “And we brought doughnuts. We got extra chocolate ones with the jam filling.”

Lonnie sniffed. “Oh my god...you really do care...”

In fairness, it wasn’t the most comfortable table to try and fit three young women, an elderly gentleman, a teenage boy, two dragon-serpents, a salamander, a fox and a mullet-wearing bird around all in one sitting, but after a little fishing around for chairs everybody was at least involved in the conversation. A little too involved in some places, as Dendromon found herself sitting between Perimon and Colchimon, and feeling very dwarfed by comparison. She shuffled on the seat, her legs dangling in the air.

“You’re bigger than the Rookies back home.”

Perimon smirked, and swung his head off to one side. “We get fresh air and sandwiches here. It does wonders for the body. You should try it sometime.”

Dendromon’s shoulders hunched with embarrassment, and Colchimon gave his comrade a glare. Grace noticed the salamander’s posture, and smiled reassuringly. “It’s nothing to feel bad about.” She reached out and stroked Vulpimon behind the head in an affectionate manner, continuing “These guys have all been here for a while now. They’ve all grown up a bit.”

Lonnie looked all around, whistling to herself. “Is it true? Have you all been here for four years?”

Perimon shrugged in mock-annoyance. “I’m offended you haven’t heard of me before now.”

Ladomon coiled up at the corner of the table, rolling her eyes. “I’m surprised she hasn’t heard you before now. Stealth has never been your strong point.”

Perimon raised an eyebrow at his draconic companion, who simply went all coy in response, coiling herself around her plushie. “Colchimon, he’s looking at me again.”

“Your plush toys cannot protect you forever.”

“Don’t you talk about Duke Squeakcheeks that way! He’s more upstanding than you are!”

As the two threw playful banter at one another, Vulpimon and Colchimon both shared a silent look with one another; a look which said ‘you think you’ve got problems; I’ve got to go home with this later.’ In not so many words.

Lonnie just laughed at the spectacle, having almost completely forgotten that she was talking with mysterious otherworldly creatures who had saved her life the night before. Almost. Her smile lessened a little, and she turned to Alasdair. “Four years? You serious?”

The man beamed. “They’ve certainly gotten used to life over here, haven’t they.”

“And you knew about them all this time...”

The man cast his eyes down just for a second. “Yes. I did. I’ve been doing my best to look after them; the tamers and the Digimon. They’re all remarkably clever, but trying to get along in a world like this? I need to do what I can to keep them all safe.”

Lonnie pouted, and chomped down on a doughnut in an irritated fashion. “You could at least have told me about it.”

“I did tell you about it!”

“I mean...properly! You know. You always told me stories about the digital world and the remarkable monsters you met, but I didn’t realise that one of them was my school friend.”

She glanced behind her at Grace, who was scratching her cheek, laughing nervously. “I...uh...sorry...”

Alasdair raised an eyebrow. “No need to apologise. Let’s be honest; if I told this one the full truth about the digital world she’d already have gone off to kidnap herself a magical digital companion.”

Lonnie raised a finger. Then she lowered it, grumbling.

“...I hate it when you’re right...”

“Yes, well...” Alasdair trailed off, as he looked at Dendromon who was sat patiently, with Duke being knocked against the side of her head as Ladomon and Perimon kept snarking at each other.

“I had a feeling I’d need to tell you one day.” He clicked his fingers. “Which reminds me...”

After fumbling for a bit in his pockets, he pulled out a device, and placed it on the table in front of Lonnie.

“Sorry for borrowing it, but I had to be sure. I believe this belongs to you.”

Lonnie reached out, and tentatively pulled the device back, finally getting a good look at it in the light. It was larger than she’d originally thought; about one and a half the size of an old mobile phone, chunky and with a bit of weight to it. The base was ergonomic, fitting snugly in her grip, while the top rounded off slightly, with a domed circular screen at the front and a small wheel protruding from the side. The whole device was a mixture of orange and green, with golden embossing over the edges, and a green flame pattern etched into the top half. Lonnie thumbed the wheel around, watching as the screen burst into life, showing a 3D projection of what appeared to be a map, a squiggly line over some audio levels, and other screens which she was absolutely lost over.

Jack snickered as he watched the girl struggling over the small device. “Don’t worry too much about it. It makes more sense when you’re busy chasing things.”

Lonnie looked up, as the boy grinned, and pulled out his own device; a near-identical one to hers, with the exception of the colour scheme; red and bronze, with pink swirling patterns at the top. Grace held hers out as well; blue and silver, decorated with jagged spikes.

Lonnie whistled, and looked down at her device again. “You sure do get the hardware here, don’t you.”

“We call them D-SENDs.”

“Huh?”

Alasdair placed his chin on his clasped hands. “Digital Spontaneous Evolutionary Nucleal Devices.” He shrugged as Lonnie raised an eyebrow at him. “We have to call them something. And I work with nerds. Sorry.”

Lonnie giggled, only briefly. Then she stopped, feeling the multiple people around the room staring at her.

“So...does this mean I’m one of you now? Why do I have this?” She looked at Dendromon. “Why me?”

Grace and Jack looked at one another, and the girl put a hand on Lonnie’s shoulder.

“We don’t know. But we do know that we need help.”

Eloise leant forwards, clasping her hands together. “When we came back to our world, four years ago, the gate didn’t close. That’s where the facility is now.”

“But...that should be okay, right?” Lonnie looked at Alasdair. “You’re guarding it. Nothing else should be able to get through without you knowing about it.”

Alasdair sighed. “I wish it was that simple. But the gate’s presence has an effect on the surrounding area; in the digital world as well as ours. New gates have been opening up for a while now; that’s how more Digimon have been coming through. And it’s getting more frequent.”

Jack nodded. “It started with the six of us. But it’s getting harder. Eloise has uni, and Kai works, and they don’t have the time they used to. Aaron moved towns, and Kent...has more important things to work on. For a long time it’s just been me and Grace, but there’s too much for us to handle by ourselves.”

The girl looked to the side, as Vulpimon placed a paw on the table.

“You’ve seen how bad it can be. We’re just trying to get the Digimon home before the gates close up, but they can be stubborn or difficult or downright dangerous.”

Lonnie swallowed. “And...what about Vex? And those people?”

A shiver rolled around the table. Grace’s eyes narrowed. “They’ve only been around for about a year now. They’re very human, but they just want to take matters into their own hands.”

“Can’t we...reason with them? Or get them to help?”

Grace looked into Lonnie’s eyes. “Are you willing to try?”

Lonnie clenched her teeth together. She couldn’t think of an answer, and resorted to staring at her D-SEND once again. Alasdair gently wheeled himself forwards, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s a big ask, Lonnie. I know as much as anyone here. But even if the digital world has chosen you, you deserve to know the responsibility you’ll be-“

“I’m in.”

Alasdair blinked. “I...didn’t-“

“You’re asking me to join you, right? Run around, help Digimon, kick this Vex guy in the shins and keep the world safe?” The girl’s face split apart into a huge grin. “Of course I’m gonna be in!”

“Wait a second!”

There was a scraping as Dendromon pulled herself up onto the table, as Eloise watched on despairingly, muttering “Please don’t scratch the varnish...”

Dendromon didn’t hear, as she marched over to Lonnie and thrust a finger in her face. “I came to you cause I thought you were gonna help me!”

Lonnie blinked. “I am gonna help you.”

“You’re gonna send me back to face those arseholes! I didn’t sign up for this! I came here to...I came to...to...”

She trailed off, very aware of the group looking at her. There was a dull whistling from one corner, and Dendromon turned to see Colchimon looking very nonchalant.

“Sure is a tricky one to get over, isn’t it...”

“You’re not helping!”

“Hey...”

Lonnie reached out and gently held the salamander’s hand. Dendromon flinched, before softening, turning back towards the girl. Lonnie stood up, looking the salamander in the eyes.

“I’m not gonna abandon you; I promise. Wherever you go, I’m gonna have your back. But I really think we were meant to meet here, now, in this place. Because the world needs us.”

Beside her, Alasdair shrunk back a little, feeling the exasperated looks of the other tamers boring into him. He raised his hands, in a very surreptitious ‘I-didn’t-teach-her-that’ kind of manoeuvre.

Dendromon didn’t notice. She looked down. Pulled her hand back temporarily, then stopped. Her crest fanned out.

“I...don’t know why I came here, or why I got the device, or what I can even do. I don’t know any of that.”

The salamander took a deep breath, and pulled Lonnie’s hand up, cupping it in hers.

“But whatever I need to do, I’m happy to do it along with you.”

“Yes!”

“Ack!”

Dendromon flailed as she suddenly found herself in Lonnie’s deadly embrace, and croaked in a distressed manner, “Too close! Too close! I’m gonna get flustered!”

It was too late; her skin was already warming up to dangerous temperatures, and while Lonnie had yet to notice, Eloise certainly did as she noticed the smoke emanating from the salamander’s footpads.

“MY TABLE!”

Dendromon yipped, and leapt off, further into Lonnie’s arms. Her burning feet caught the girl’s bare arms, and sent them both hopping back yelping. Lonnie’s centre of gravity shifted wildly, and she staggered sideways, sending her and Dendromon veering into a wall before anybody even had a chance to catch her.

Lonnie looked up in a dazed manner to find Dendromon sitting on her tummy, with the rest of the tamers and Digimon gathering round, wearing various looks of concern, mirth and secondhand embarrassment. Dendromon rolled off apologetically, as the girl laughed nervously.

“Sorry about that!”

“It’s alright. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.” Grace remarked, as she leant down and held out a hand towards her fallen friend. “Welcome to the club.”

Lonnie grinned as she took her friend’s hand.

“So when do I get my own mask?”