Raquel brushed her forehead as she stepped out into the alley behind the cafe, holding two rubbish sacks over her shoulder. She immediately shivered, pulling her cardigan around her to protect herself from the cold night air. Looking out towards the road, she could see a faint mist rolling down, though it seemed to be getting thicker.

She binned the two bags and leant back against the wall, exhausted from a long day in the cafe. It wasn’t exactly back-breaking work, but today had seen a fair few awkward customers and her tips had been minimal at best. Not that it mattered overly, since her father paid her well for the work she did, but still, getting your own bit of validation was nice once in a while.

There was a slight rustling behind her, and a large, wet paw slowly edged over one shoulder, followed by a pathetically nasal whine.

“Help me, Rackley...it’s been so long...”

Raquel huffed, and pushed Knuckmon’s paw off her shoulder, the dragon’s watery skin not even leaving a wet patch. The girl turned on her heels, facing her friendly squatter, “I saw you this morning.”

Knuckmon coiled backwards, placing a paw on her snout. “Y’abandoned me once again...always...I’ve been dyin’ of starvation, I have...”

Raquel folded her arms. “No ‘how was your day’ then? Just like usual, only after the banquets I can scrounge you from the kitchen?”

Knuckmon fluttered her eyelids hopefully, but Raquel poked her nose in the other direction. “Tough. I can’t do it anymore; papa’s putting his foot down. No scavenging.”

“Butbutbutbutbutbut...” moaned Knuckmon, before she groaned and collapsed in a jellylike heap on the ground. “Iiiii’llll diiiiiieeeeee.”

Raquel gave in, holding out the arm she’d been hiding and producing two chocolate éclairs. “Maybe just a little then.”

Knuckmon’s eyes sparkled, and she lunged forwards, only to stop in her tracks as Raquel held them away, holding out a finger.

“Uh uh uh, what do we say?”

“Gimme.”

“No, the other thing.”

“Now?”

Knuckmon gave a cheeky grin, but she quailed a little as she felt the teen girl’s gaze burrowing into her very core. She cleared her throat, and lowered herself down a little. “Please, Raquel marm, may I have one of those sweet puddens?”

Raquel smiled, and tossed one of them into the air, where Knuckmon caught it expertly. Raquel took a bite out of the other one as she watched Knuckmon’s meal do its bizarre ritual of spinning round the watery vortex on a one way trip into the black void in the wall. The girl often wondered what actually lay beyond the mysterious hole, if anything at all. To be honest though, she wasn’t quite brave enough to check it out, and she wasn’t sure Knuckmon would be accommodating as to let her swim that far anyway.

She laughed, and took another bite of her own éclair. “How on earth did I end up with someone like you lodging in my back yard?”

Knuckmon pressed her coils together, and whistled, staring up at the stars. “Mabbe it’s just meant t’be.”

“You think?” Raquel leant back against the wall, her mind whirling as it often did after a long day’s work. “You think we could ever be partners?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Come on; it’d be fun. You and me with the others, going around saving people.” Raquel beamed. “Wouldn’t it be cool?”

“Saving people?” Knuckmon wiggled uncertainly. “S’never really been my thing. Besides, I’m comfy here. I’m practical. Don’t go looking for no trouble there, that’s just how I am.”

“What, lazy?”

“...if y’want.”

Raquel shrugged, and finished off the rest of her cake, brushing her hands off afterwards. “I do kinda want to, but...I’m working too much, so I guess it wouldn’t pan out...” She sighed, and placed her hands in her pockets. “Still nice to have you around though. Maybe we just need some time to-“

Crash

“Hey, get back here!”

BANG

The noise caught both the girl and the dragon off guard, and they turned towards the main road where it had come from. Raquel edged forwards, holding onto one wall as she gingerly poked her head out. There was an alarm going off from several doors down the high street, as well as the distinct glow of something on fire. Raquel leant further out, when all of a sudden a gaggle of small Digimon ran past, turning around and yelling back down the street.

“And that’s what happens when you don’t give us any damn respect, ya nerd!”

It was a weak insult, but it did wonders to fire up the motley crew, which included a walking plant, a small, chunky beetle like creature, and Mr Noisy himself, what looked like a mangy black dog bound up in rags and wearing a torn cloak, his red eyes glowing from the distant flames.

Raquel looked down, and jumped as she saw another one mere feet away from her; a tiny meerkat with goggles over her eyes and carrying a shovel. She hissed as Raquel glanced down at her, before running backwards and shouting at the others in the middle of the street.

“Oi Yethmon, we got ourselves a peeping tom back here!”

The hound snapped his head sideways, catching sight of Raquel before she thought to duck out of sight. His eyes flashed, and he turned towards her, pointing with one finger. “You didn’t see nothing, right?”

Raquel shook her head rapidly, but the Digimon huffed, and with a quick flick of his wrist he pulled a hunting knife from his cloak; short, serrated, and sharp.

“I don’t believe you...but I can make sure of it!”

“Rampaging Coils!”

Raquel lurched backwards as Knuckmon pulled her to safety, and the girl watched, stunned as the dragon’s body rolled over her in a rush of swirling water. She couldn’t see beyond the vortex, but she could hear a series of pained yells and one or two nasty sounding crunches. In a few seconds Knuckmon had pulled back, standing up and snorting as she looked over the damp battleground in front of her.

“An’ stay out!”

Raquel got to her feet, watching as the five Digimon scrambled to get to theirs, with Yethmon coughing and screaming obscenities. “You god-damn human piece of trash, you can’t hide behind that overgrown bogworm forever, you-“

BOOM

The noise made the entire street vibrate, and another gaggle of Digimon rushed past the others, holding piles of stolen goods and dangerous items as they gunned it in plain view. They were headed by a four-foot faerie carrying a large, bent cylinder over one shoulder, and dropping glimmering gold coins as he ran.

“Shit, run, run, the reapers are on their way, let’s move it!”

Yethmon growled, but as his gang made a hefty retreat he decided to follow them, giving Raquel and Knuckmon a very pointed stare as he ran. Raquel poked her head out again, looking at the crime scene further down which had now gotten significantly more fiery. There were people rushing around panicking around the small blaze, and already the distant sounds of sirens were cutting through the night. Raquel swallowed, laughing nervously.

“Whose idea was it to give that leprechaun a damned bazooka?”

“Raquel, back away! Hunters!”

The girl had seen them too; the telltale helmets and dark outfits, and the distant crackle of their weapons. Knuckmon had already pulled right back into her mural, and the girl took the hint, keeping an eye out as she stayed well out of their way. She heard their boots as they ran past, but it was clear that they weren’t after her. Or Knuckmon.

The sounds of the altercation began to die away or fade into the background as the girl sighed. “That was intense...”

Knuckmon shuffled uncomfortably, her muzzle pressing the mural plates outwards in a nervous fashion. “Y’see now why I don’t go out much?”

“Maybe a little.” Raquel sat down on a nearby crate, holding her head in her hands. “It’s getting worse. This is the fifth time round here. The Digimon are getting more aggressive and those helmeted guys aren’t backing down either.”

“Still wanna be a tamer?”

Raquel laughed, and whistled. “They’re gonna have their work cut out, aren’t they...”

She stood up. “My dad’s going to want to know what’s going on. I should get in.” The girl placed a hand on the dragon’s snout, her fingers entering the living water.

“Stay safe, alright?”

“Always have, always will, marm,” replied Knuckmon cheerily, but as the girl re-entered the cafe through the back door her eyes grew heavy.

“You too...Raquel...”

She swallowed, and pulled herself back into her hole, the pieces of her body rearranging themselves and shutting out the night’s events.

“NO!”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to-“

“No, I-I-I can’t...I can’t...not...this...”

Lights flickered on from inside as the sounds of hurried footsteps sounded, concerned voices already calling out. Syngnamon’s eyes were wide as he looked back and forth, between the house, his palm, the young woman before him as she crawled backwards, terror evident in her eyes.

“You...I...I just-“

“LEAVE ME ALONE!”

“INEZ!”

Syngnamon turned tail and ran, his glowing tail disappearing into the foliage as the door swung open. Inez just stared forwards into the darkness, as her parents ran to her side, crouching down beside her. She could feel the hefty form of her father above her, scouring the bushes for any sign of the intruder.

Inez closed her eyes, her heart and her breathing pounding in her ears. One. Two. Three. Slow it down. Let it go.

It felt like ages. It always did. But her pulse calmed, and her breathing relaxed. She opened her eyes, white lights dancing in the corners of her vision. The intruder hadn’t come back.

It couldn’t have been. Why her? Why...why now?

Something caught her eye, and she looked down. Her heart caught in her throat. But as if by instinct, she reached out, grasping it in her palm. Her father crouched down next to her mother, and together they all looked at the small, glowing device. It shimmered, and shone, warming in her hands. The grey sheen gave way to black and sea green, and little circular lights emerged all over it. The screen shone, illuminating their faces. Her parents looked at one another, eyes wide, unable to hide their fear.

“Oh no...”

“I’m just grabbing an energy drink.”

Inez hopped down the stairs two at a time and skidded into the kitchen, the sound of her stereo system pulsing through the house. Over in the living area, her mother muted the television as her father twisted around and rested an arm on the back of the seat.

“Don’t stay up too late, alright?”

“Yes dad.”

Leandro pulled his reading glasses down, staring intently. “That goes for the music as well.”

Inez paused at the foot of the stairs, and smiled, nodding obediently. “I won’t be too long. I promise.”

She disappeared, and the music from upstairs quietened down as she shut her door. Inez’s mother held the TV flicker in her hand expectantly, but a sigh from her husband caused her to pause.

“You’re worried as well?”

There was no answer. Clara’s hand fell downwards, and she pried a little further.

“This isn’t...this isn’t right. You remember what happened-”

“How could I ever forget...”

Clara looked into Leandro’s tired eyes, looking for an answer which she knew in her heart he wasn’t able to give. Eventually he looked up at her, a resigned look on his face.

“She warned us this might happen, and she said she might not have a choice.”

Clara shuffled forwards, and leant on her husband’s shoulder, feeling the rough skin around his cheek and shoulder from a myriad of old scars. Leandro held her close, the stub of his right arm wrapped around her as she began to cry.

“It’s her decision. And right now, we just have to keep her safe.”

Inez did her best to blank out her parents’ conversation as soon as she closed her door. She held her hands behind her back, breathing out, before placing her drink down and wandering over to the other end of her room. Her parents being as rich as they were, it was larger than average, with its own TV, multiple wardrobes and a large music centre in the corner, which was currently blaring out a series of chords which were so atonal and messy they actually twisted back around and formed something quite listenable again. Depending on who you asked.

As large as the bedroom was, a good chunk of it was currently half taken up with a large oblong fishtank, with a filter chugging gently away in one corner. Inez watched as the tank’s new inhabitant stared at her through the side of the walls, before spinning around gently and emerging, placing his arms carefully on the rim of the tank.

“Thank you for this. It must have been an awful lot of trouble.”

While Syngnamon had protested that he was perfectly okay on dry land, he had seemed to get ever so slightly antsy being out of the water so long. Digital he may have been, but clearly the seahorse still had his preferences.

Inez shook her head, smiling. “It’s nothing. I mean, we had it around anyway, so we might as well use it.”

She sat down in her computer chair, taking a sip from the can on her desk. When she became aware of Syngnamon still staring at her, she placed it down. “Is everything okay with it? Do you need me to get you anything? Are you hungry? Thirsty?”

“I’m alright. But thank you so much for the offer.” Syngnamon glanced down, running a hand over the rim of the glass. “You really just had this lying around? What did you keep in it?”

Inez swivelled round, avoiding his gaze. “Fish.”

“They must have been fairly big.”

“They...well...he was. But we...had to leave him behind when we came over to this country. Not enough room.”

Syngnmon rested his head on his palms. “Do you miss him?”

“What about the music?” said Inez, swivelling back around and gesturing towards the music system. “I usually have something on while I work and stuff, so I hope you...don’t mind...”

Syngnamon widened his eyes at the abrupt change of conversation, but he played along, descending beneath the water’s surface and listening at the soundwaves that rippled through the water. Inez gestured enthusiastically.

“Do you like it?”

Syngnamon slowly rose again, looking uncertain. His hands tapped against the rim of the tank.

“It’s...um...”

The seahorse’s gaze fell upon his partner’s face, and he could help but notice her expression falling slightly. Panicking, he looked around for inspiration, before giving up and putting his chin below the surface.

“It’s...advanced?”

Inez looked slightly disappointed, but she shrugged. “That’s fair. People always said my taste in music was...well...advanced is a nice word. Shall I turn it off?”

Syngnamon poked his head out. “No, wait...what else do you have?”

“Are you sure?”

“We don’t get things like this in the digital world. I am curious.” The seahorse tapped his front fingers together. “I don’t mean to be picky though...”

“Hey, at least you have room to be picky.” Inez wheeled over to her CD shelf, and began flicking through a few of her more regularly played albums. “Ekko Lokation, Concrete Playground, NecRomancers...or maybe something more along the lines of Marina...”

She looked back hopefully, before pressing her lips out when she saw the seahorse’s blank expression.

“...okay...maybe I ought to show you something slightly special first.”

She paused the CD and switched the input, before hurrying over to her computer and bringing up a tab full of videos, talking excitedly all the while. “I’ve only found her recently but I absolutely love her. The quality’s a bit interesting at times but you have to listen to her. There you go...try that.”

Syngnamon descended beneath the water again, waiting for the new sounds to come rippling through. He was down for a little while, before raising his head again, a new composure having come over him.

“Well?”

“That’s...quite something.”

“Isn’t it?” Inez transferred herself to her bed, and absentmindedly plucked an acoustic guitar off a nearby stand, plucking quietly at the strings. “Lyra’s really something else. It’s a shame she doesn’t release any of her songs; I’ve had to make homebrew mixes to take out and about with me. But you can see it in her videos. She has this...feeling with the stuff she plays. A real emotion.”

There was a gentle sloshing as Syngnamon pulled himself up to the shallow end of the tank, staring up at the ceiling. “Humans never cease to amaze me. Digimon, we’re capable of building great structures and levelling mountains, but we’ve never come close to the sheer artistry and creativity that you hold.”

Inez laughed under her breath, still tuning her guitar string by string. “It’s not easy. I’m not the best person to teach you I’m afraid. But they tell me it’s never too late to learn. To start over.”

Syngnamon swallowed, and turned around, resting his palm against the glass.

“Inez?”

“Yeah?”

The seahorse looked down, his eyes glowing dimly and his voice almost a whisper.

“Why are you being so welcoming? I’ve...I’ve barely done anything for you. You barely know me. And after...that night when I saw you for the first time...I never thought...I...I don’t understand...”

He didn’t get an answer for several seconds. There was the faint sound of an off-chord on the guitar, as Inez raised her finger to her mouth, biting on the knuckle gently. Syngnamon pushed himself away, and edged to the other end of the tank.

“It’s nothing. Please forget I said anything-“

“No, I...wait...don’t be mad...I...”

“I’m...not angry?”

“I...what I mean is...”

Inez looked up, and held her hand behind her back, putting on a convincing smile. “You’re my partner. And I’m yours. It’s only right that we try and welcome each other, and s...support each other. That’s how it’s supposed to be...right?”

Her hand tightened around the neck of her guitar, as her eyes seemed to be hidden behind the reflection of her glasses. “Right?”

Syngnamon‘s expression as unreadable as always. But he gently swam forwards again, and coiled up in the corner of the tank next to her, nodding reassuringly.

“Of course it is. Thank you.”

Inez grinned, and raised her palm, pressing it against the wall of the tank. “Partners?”

The seahorse reciprocated the action, matching her handprint with his, and ignoring the fact that he could feel her rapid pulse through the glass. He smiled sincerely.

“Partners.”

“Did you see what happened last night?”

Lonnie folded her arms and leant over the back of the armchair. Alasdair just sighed, putting his pad away and nodding grimly. “Quite some damage. And apparently the owner was threatened at bazooka-point.”

Lonnie wiggled her phone in front of her. “We got a text from Raquel; she said she’d seen the group running away. Some little dog dude called Yethmon?”

“What, again?”

From below him, Dendromon raised her head and blinked. “You know him?”

Alasdair placed a hand on his shoulder, looking remarkably put out. “I’ve had a few run-ins. Both him on his own and him with whatever gang he has at the time. He seems to have a personal vendetta with humans in general.”

Dendromon gurgled. “It seems to me that a lot of Digimon feel that way.”

Lonnie slid to one side, resting on the armchair’s arm and crossing her legs. “Well, with Vex’s gang and everything it’s hard to blame them.”

“Maybe, but it’s hard to blame you guys too much as well.” Dendromon flicked her tail back and forth in a pondering fashion, “Let’s face it; most of us Digimon are born scrappy.”

“That’s not true.”

Alasdair leant down and ran his palm over Dendromon’s crest, causing her to purr instinctively. She immediately clamped her palm over her mouth, while Lonnie looked on, giggling a little. Alasdair sat back, a little smug.

“See? Comfort, satisfaction, critical thinking and general affection for an old boy like me. Does that sound like somebody whose only purpose is to battle?”

Dendromon blushed (as much as possible given her already red complexion) and coiled up in an embarrassed fashion, refusing to look him or her partner in the eye. Lonnie twisted round, and sat down in the chair properly. “She’s a good kid, Ali. So plucky.”

The old man clasped his hands in front of him. “Have you had any luck yet with your D-SEND?”

Lonnie furrowed her brow, and reached into her handbag, pulling the device out. “It’s so frustrating. I’ve tried everything; willpower, bargaining, good old-fashioned violence. But I just can’t get it to do what I want it to.”

She stood up and passed it over, and Alasdair placed his reading glasses on to have a more thorough look at it.

“You said Inez was able to use hers?”

“Almost straight away. Mark as well, from what I heard, though he may have had practise from Kent.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” remarked Alasdair, before shaking his head and handing the device back. “All seems perfectly standard to me. No errors or glitches or anything. It definitely responds to Dendromon, but it just doesn’t seem to be providing her with any power.”

“Great. Why do I always get the impossible I.T. issues?”

She flounced over to the chair, and slumped down, holding her head in her hands. “It’s just frustrating. I promised Grace I’d help her out and try and lead the team, but at the moment everyone else is leaps and bounds ahead of me and it’s just...gah!”

Alasdair smiled warmly. “It’s alright to slow down a bit, you know. Just because it takes you longer to get to their level doesn’t mean you won’t still reach it.” He glanced down at Dendromon. “I have faith in you both. I know you’re going to be some of the strongest partners out there.”

Lonnie couldn’t help but smile at her mentor’s kind words, though she still folded her arms and pouted. “Would be nice if it would happen a bit sooner though.”

The old man shrugged. “Well, humility’s a good lesson to pick up as well.”

“Awwwwww...”

Alasdair winked. “All part of being a good leader, Lonnie. I’m just saying; it might be helpful to gain some situational awareness. It’s as invaluable in battle as the giant flamethrowing frog.”

Lonnie huffed, and looked in the other direction, blowing one pigtail out of her face.

“Can’t believe that being a Digimon tamer comes with more poxy homewo-”

She gasped, and scrunched her face up, planting a palm on her forehead. Alasdair raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess; another assignment?”

“Yeah...I forgot...I have another assignment...that I haven’t even opened yet...” Lonnie sighed, and draped herself over the back of the armchair, staring into the pretty lights hanging above. “Grace really is going to disown me...”

Unbeknownst to Lonnie, Grace was already planning her friend’s ‘little accident’ as she poured through the day’s essays, the themes and central conflicts of major historical decisions in a vague attempt to get them in some semblance of logical order, and all the while fully aware that all her hard work would be borrowed and likely mutilated the next day by her good and well-meaning friend.

A friend who hadn’t even had the decent common courtesy to stay with her in the three free periods she had until the end of the day, for moral support if nothing else. Grace had always tried to be diligent with her college studies, partially brought on by the fact that with a preppy fox and a loud boisterous bird around, effective revision at home became something of a pipe dream. Still, Wednesday afternoons were always a tedious affair.

She sighed, scanning another paragraph in the textbook. It was about as well-written as you’d expect, and seemed to jump through as many hoops as it could to explain that actually these events were caused by socio-economic clashes of the native people at the time and this whole thing was really inevitable anyway, and that actually it was impossible to attribute any more than the tiniest fraction of the bloodshed to follow to the inexplicable presence of ‘the white man’. A riveting read, and one which she had to quote from a minimum of three times while justifying the position the author was coming from.

“You look like I feel.”

Grace moaned, vaguely aware of a presence as somebody hovered around her table. She thought she could recognise the voice, but her mind was so full of points and counterpoints that it was difficult to pin down.

“Can you help me out? I’m looking for the student office.”

“Yes, of course,” said Grace as she shuffled herself around. She reached over to remove her bag from the seat, when she finally looked up and recognised the blonde boy in glasses and a sweatshirt, right about the same second he recognised her.

“Aah!” he yelled, before clamping his hand over his mouth.

“Aah!” responded Grace, which did wonders for the situation. She fluttered, before yanking her bag away harder than she intended and sitting up straight. “I’m sorry, I...didn’t...think...”

The boy waved his palms in front of him in a marvellous jazz-hands rendition, before sitting down. “Please, no, it’s my-I should have remembered you-well...I suppose, we did only meet that one time-“

“YES of course I mean I took a taxi so I’m sorry I didn’t...I...I don’t...”

Grace smiled, turned and took a swig of water, before leaning one arm on the table and starting again. “I vaguely recall you said you were starting here but we got...interrupted. Nice to see you again, uh...Nicholas, right?”

Nicholas nodded, adjusting his glasses. “I started yesterday. Had a few things to sort out, and...well, they’ve ladled me up with all the work already.”

Grace pulled a face. “Chemistry? Blegh. Too many random letters and numbers for my liking.”

“Tell me about it.” Nicholas shrugged. “Mind you, they say I can pull it up to an A with enough self-motivation.”

Grace nodded, hearing Ms Fitzgerald’s mantras drilling into her mind. “Don’t worry about all the self-motivation stuff; that’s this place’s thing. It should come easily enough.”

She leant forwards, pointing at the boy’s plastic wallet, which showed a map of the school at the top. “Student office? It’s on the other side of the road, take the double doors, turn left and follow the corridor. It’s on the right.”

Nicholas squinted, and picked the folder up. “I...see...and that equates to room number FGL6G4.41?

Grace stifled a chuckle. “The room numbering is another thing you’ll have to get used to.”

“I’ve figured.”

Grace rested an elbow on the back of her chair, finding her eyes wandering over Nicholas’ curious face as he tried to decipher the local higher education system. “Honestly? You do seem like you’re pretty good at having a handle on things.”

Nicholas gave a half-smile. “You think so?”

“Compared to the people I work with? Yeah, definitely. Probably better than I am.”

“It’s just an act. But nothing that I can’t better myself at. Especially with a little help.” He leant one palm on the table, holding the folder to his chest. “It’s a new town for me and there’s a lot I need to get used to, and that’s not counting the random monster encounters.”

Grace felt a tingle at the base of her neck as she smiled and replied, “Well, maybe I can help you with that at some point, while you get used to the new place. Just ask me whenever.”

“Are you sure?” Nicholas’s hand went to his collar as his eyes flicked back and forth. “Maybe over dinner or something?”

The tingle now turned into a complete sparkling deadlock that gripped Grace’s body from head to toe. She stared ahead, unable even to remove her smile as her brain tried to process every thought in its repertoire at once, came up blank and sat in the corner of her skull crying.

Nicholas cleared his throat, and gathered up his things. “Or just coffee maybe, or...we can do it another time, or...whenever...or not at all. Please, forget what I sai-“

“Tonight!”

The boy jumped as Grace pushed herself to her feet, the chair toppling backwards behind her. Her breathing slowed, and she straightened up, holding both hands to her chest. “I’m...not doing anything tonight if...you’re not.” She smiled. “And I do know a food place. Do you know where the Dragon Bay is?”

Nicholas’s knuckles tensed, and he nodded. “It’s not far from me.”

“Is...that something you’d maybe...”

“I’d like that.” Nicholas smiled, his eyes shimmering warmly behind his glasses. “So...about five?”

“Make it half past. I’ll try not to be late...”

“...”

“...”

“...well...um...thank you.” Nicholas pushed his glasses up as he shuffled backwards towards the door. “I’ll see you there then. Have a good afternoon.”

“And you...”

Grace trailed off, standing alone next to the table as she watched Nicholas through the double doors, the young man still managing to go in the wrong direction towards the student office. Not that she could comprehend much, as the emotions and hormones and anxieties were currently swirling throughout her body in one great big twinkling mush.

She took a deep breath. Then another. She stared down at the open textbook still on the table, but the words were just swimming now, her mind completely unfocused.

Without a word, she gathered up her things and signed out for the day, walking quickly out of the doors and away from the college grounds. After about half a mile, she slowed a bit, her brisk walk taking her around the back entrance of one of the town parks. The rush was beginning to fade by this point, and as she walked over crimson leaves and underneath greying, rough trees, she could definitely feel the chill in the air closing in, despite it being so sunny. She shivered, and rested by one tree.

There was a rustling behind her, and the faintest whistling of data as her partner’s figure stepped out next to her.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Grace smiled, but she didn’t reply, just sliding down the tree until she was sat on the side of the footpath, her arms around her knees. The fox sat down, and pushed her chest out in her usual confident way.

“You’re out early. Felt the need for some fresh air?”

Grace held her hand over her chin, staring at the fallen leaves below.

“Vulpimon, I...think I...might have just accidentally asked a guy I barely know out on a date.”

Vulpimon blinked. “Oh. Wow.”

“Yeah, it was...sudden.”

“Who is it?”

“...you know the boy I fell on top of that time on the train?”

Vulpimon’s expression morphed into something resembling tiredness, and she clutched her forehead. “Oh for the love of...tell me he’s not into that kind of thing.”

“Vulpimon!”

The fox stuck her tongue out, and deftly hopped backwards as Grace threw a piece of tree bark at her. Vulpimon padded backwards, staring up through the canopy. “Well, I suppose it’s as good a time as any to get to know him. Do you think you’ll go ahead with it?”

No answer yet again. Vulpimon turned on her heel, and padded back towards Grace, sitting by her feet. “I’m serious, Grace. You...shouldn’t have to do this if you don’t want to-“

“I know that,” said the girl, “It was my decision, or fault, or whatever. I don’t know why I did it; I just...yelled out and now I...I don’t know...”

She reached out, absentminded stroking her partner behind the ears. “I don’t know why I said yes. I mean he just seemed so...so...”

“Blindingly handsome, charismatic and appealing?”

“...normal.”

“...oh.”

Grace smiled weakly at her partner, who was now looking more than a little awkward. The girl exhaled. “Look at me, huh? I’ve been fighting to stay on top of things all this time but the moment someone comes along with the promise of a normal life, I jump in without thinking.”

The fox blinked, not meeting her gaze. “Do you want to stop? With being a tamer, I mean?”

“I can’t. You know I can’t.”

“That’s not what I asked. Do you want to?”

Grace sat up, before looking at her partner properly. The fox tilted her head, causing the pendant around her neck to bob back and forth, glistening in the light. Grace reached out, and gently rolled it through her fingers, feeling the familiar ripple of the chain that used to be around her own neck.

“I don’t want to abandon them. Or you. But the more I keep going, the more I feel I’m just losing bits of myself. Eloise and Kai stepped back. Maybe someday I need to do the same. And maybe that day is sooner than I thought it was.”

She held her forehead, laughing weakly. “God...I am such a wreck of a woman. I can stand with you staring down the death of the digital world in the face, but the idea of being a normal girl as well? With normal problems?” She bit her lip. “That scares me, and I never thought it would.”

Vulpimon looked into Grace’s eyes with her own golden ones, her expression as kind as ever. “Well, whatever you decide to do, just know I will always support you.”

Grace smiled in return, and the two sat together for a bit longer, watching the leaves fall. The girl rested her chin on her arms, whispering under her breath.

“That’s what you always say.”

Mark stood with his hands in his pockets, staying back away from the barriers and watching men in hi-viz jackets remove crumbling beams from the building. Jack stood next to him, rubbing his hands together.

“Yeesh...they really did a number on this place.” He sighed, kicking at the pavement. “I feel sorry for whoever owned it.”

“Feeling sorry won’t help them now,” replied Mark, without thinking. He stepped back, but caught sight of Jack giving him a dark look.

“What?”

“It’s true but you don’t have to say it.”

“I just...yeah, okay, you’re right. Sorry.” Mark scratched behind his head. “I’ve been doing a lot of heavy thinking recently and I’m not as empathetic as I usually am.”

Snnkt.

“Stop laughing.” Mark huffed, and shrugged his jacket up his shoulders. “Why are you even here anyway? Shouldn’t you be in school?”

Jack walked slowly along, wiggling his right foot as he did so. “It’s P.E. My knee’s still tender from a couple of days ago so they let me off.”

“...and you’re here and not resting at home because?”

“Because I’m a rebel.” Jack grinned, before looking back at the scene of the carnage. “And I wanted to see what had gone down. Raquel filled me in.”

“Did she say what caused all the damage?”

“Not directly, but she said she’d seen a bunch of Digimon running in the opposite direction with like flamethrowers and rocket launchers and things.”

Mark rubbed his cheeks in a worried manner. “That’s...concerning. Where did they get them from?”

“I dunno, man. Digimon are weird.”

“Are they that weird?”

“Could be. I once fought a shark lady with a magnet stuck in her head.”

“...you have been around the houses, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, well,” Jack placed his arms behind his head, his voice taking on a slightly harder edge, “I still try and learn new things. I don’t always get it right but I’d like to think I’m getting better. Experience and all that.”

Mark slowed a little, his expression lowering. “Have I said something?”

Jack planted his hands in his pockets, and turned away. Mark waited patiently, until the boy finally spoke, “It just...sometimes, when you look at me and talk to me...it feels like you don’t think I should be here. Doing this. You keep me at a distance and just...say things. Like you can do better than me. I’ve had it a lot.”

“I don’t mean it like that-“

“Then how do you mean it?” Jack snapped, kicking at the pavement. “I may be younger than you, but I’m not any less useful, and I’m not dealing with this kind of crap again. At least in the digital world the others all accepted me as one of them.”

Mark tensed, his own voice deepening. “I’m sorry I didn’t get invited on your life-changing adventure. It’s not my fault I was left behind!”

“I didn’t mean it like...that...”

Jack took a breath, and held his forehead. Mark seethed quietly as well, trying not to let his emotions show.

“I don’t want babying or anything. I just want a little respect, just as part of the team. The new team, with you and with everyone else. Is that alright?”

The boy could feel his throat tightening, half-expecting Mark to hit back again. The older boy kept quiet for a few seconds. Then he looked down at Jack, his face softening.

“Alright.” He bit his lip. “You might have noticed but this is the first time I’ve ever really done anything on this scale. In a group like this. But I’m sorry for making you feel that way; I genuinely don’t mean to. I’ll try and do better.”

If Jack had looked down, he might have noticed Mark shuffling awkwardly on his feet. But then the older boy turned around, pulling his coat around him. “Come on then.”

Jack started. “Wait, where are we going?”

“To find the losers who caused all this damage, where else?” He turned on his heel, giving a stern smile back. “That’s our job, isn’t it? Come on then.”

Jack laughed under his breath, and walked off down the high street after Mark.

“Thank you so much! Have a great day.”

The bell above the bookshop door jangled as the customer left, and Kai found himself with little to do behind the counter once again. Weekday afternoons were always slow, but if nothing else it gave him time to think. Or psyche himself up for the inevitable Saturday rush. He shivered at the thought. So many confused people who didn’t know how to read instructions or price tags.

“Don’t look so glum. It all counts towards the hour.”

Kai turned to greet the new customer, but as she placed a couple of books on the counter, he recognised her. “Hi Sara.”

The elderly lady before him winked, and slid her books over. “I was wondering if I’d bump into you today.”

Sara was a small lady, though she stood straight and seemed quite active for a seventy-one-year-old. She had silver hair tied back in a ponytail, and half-moon spectacles that magnified her vivid green eyes. Kai had originally known Sara as Ms Malhotra, as she used to act as the student counsellor for the school he went to, and had partaken in many discussions with him back in his...less stable school days. She no longer worked there, but he kept in touch anyway. He’d always said to Eloise the fact he was working where he wanted right now was mostly all down to her help.

The young man smiled warmly as he ran the two books through the scanner. “Still working on the retirement projects?”

“Always.”

“Calligraphy, and...electronics. Excellent.”

Sara whistled. “Don’t give me that look. It was very wearing speaking to all those college kids saying they were going to be engineers and rocket scientists and hackers all the time. It’s very easy to get left behind, you know.”

Kai shrugged. “If nothing else, it’s always nice to have a hobby.”

“Mm-hmm.” The woman smiled, and handed over a loyalty card. “So how’s Eloise keeping?”

“University is terrible and I never want to touch one with a barge pole.”

“Oh dear...that bad?”

Kai shook his head, “Not at all, she’s absolutely slamming it from everything she tells me. It just seems to be wearing on her sanity a little.”

“I see. Well, send her my regards.” Sara struggled with her basket for a moment, before pulling out a foldaway carrier bag and opening it out. “And what about the other two?”

Kai glanced left and right, before shrugging. “Nothing to say. They’re doing very well, considering. We haven’t managed to get out as much as we used to.”

Sara looked at him over the bridge of her glasses. “That’s probably no bad thing, if you don’t mind me saying. You two are young adults now; you have plenty to worry about without getting too involved with the side business.”

“Maybe, but we help out where we can.” Kai handed her the books, his hands working automatically as he carried on. “There’s a group of newcomers and they’re...enthusiastic. Mostly. I’m sure they’ll cope fine but it’s just early-“

He stopped mid-sentence, his hand hovering over the cash register as he stared out the front window. Sara followed his gaze, and looked up. From their place near the window they could see a large section of the shopping centre, including the balcony and the ugly modern-art structure beyond. And on top of that, shimmering in the artificial light and almost looking like a mirage, was a small, meerkat looking creature, peering all around with a mischievous grin on her face, and dangling a shovel over one shoulder.

Sara whistled again, clutching her bag tightly. “Wow...that’s bold.”

Kai closed the register. “That’s trouble, is what it is.”

He checked his watch, and looked back further into the bookshop, before leaning in towards Sara. “I’m on break in five minutes. Please can you just keep an eye out for me?”

The old woman sighed. “I would have hoped we’d be past this by now.” She clutched her bag. “Alright. I’ll be down on the plaza.”

Five minutes later, Kai stood next to Sara, who was resting herself on the bench. She smirked, resting both hands on her knees. “You really do like to keep up old habits, don’t you...”

The young man shrugged, and reached behind his head, retying his ponytail. “What can I say? Digital espionage has its perks. And you did say you wanted to keep an eye on me; you can quit this whenever you want.”

“Cheeky. I’ll tell your uncle. Again.”

“He’s used to it by now.” Kai leant forwards, glancing up at the structure above. “Have they moved any?”

“They went for a handbag once but backed off.”

“Pickpocketing. Right.”

They sat together, keeping an eye on the meerkat Digimon as she glanced left and right. It was difficult, even for Kai who was used to this by now. Every errant sunbeam through the skylight, or flicker of the shopping centre lamps, sent the Digimon’s shape spinning and twisting as if it was made of glass. A perfect shimmer, unnoticed by nearly everybody there. Just a flicker in the corner of the eye of a passer-by.

All of a sudden there was a glint, and the meerkat twisted down, her body spinning through the sculpture and shooting out just behind a passing man. He stumbled, and looked behind him, but she was already gone, dangling beneath the balcony on strong claws.

Sara squinted, watching as the meerkat held the man’s phone in her hand. Even at this distance the cheeky grin on her face was unmistakeable. Sara sighed. “Bingo, I suppose.”

Kai didn’t answer, pulling out his own phone and running through his contacts, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the meerkat’s movements. She shimmied across the underside of the balcony, and twisted her body down one of the pillars, her shovel grasped tightly over her back. Reaching the ground, she hid beneath the stairwell, picking her moment, before darting out once again through a gap in the passers-by.

Kai got through on his phone, and spoke, keeping his voice flat and unintrusive. “Hi Jack, it’s Kai. Is this a bad time?”

Kai felt a nudge from Sara, and they watched as the meerkat pressed herself against the wall of a disused shop front, her body juddering and flicking in and out of view.

“About this thing from last night, did Raquel ever tell you about how many Digimon were there?”

The meerkat’s ears perked up, and she glanced backwards, before pressing herself against the door of the establishment.

“Awesome. Did one of them perchance happen to be a meerkat with a shovel?”

There was a brief flicker and a short pat-pat as the door slid open and closed in a split second, the meerkat finally disappearing from view completely. Kai nodded, his face as collected as ever. “You’d be absolutely right, I think I have found one. It’s the disused hardware store four doors down from mine. I don’t know how many we’re going to find in there though.”

Sara waited patiently as Kai finished his conversation, before he finally pocketed his phone once again. They waited for a few minutes, before casually walking over to the front of the building, looking nonchalantly inside. There didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary; half-peeled walls, dust-covered shelves and a myriad of posters over the front window proclaiming a closing-down sale that had ended January prior. But despite the normal appearance, Kai could feel his own digivice reacting in his other pocket.

“There’s definitely some sort of gathering going on in there, isn’t there.”

Sara laughed under her breath. “It never ceases to amaze me. Right under our noses, all the time.”

“Well, if nothing else, I think we’ve found our culprits.” Kai pushed his glasses up, his voice taking on a faint hint of excitement. “And I think it’s about time we called in the cavalry.”

Suricamon scampered through the back rooms of the old shop, scuttling down towards the basement with her shovel banging on the steps behind her. She burst through the door, and gave a brief trill.

“Another successful scouting mission, dear friends. Witness me and tremble!”

The volley of unimpressed looks she got from the other Digimon in the room didn’t dampen her spirits in the slightest, as she wriggled up to their makeshift table and deposited a few phones, music players and a pedometer. She snickered, placing her hands behind her back. “They’ll never know it’s gone.”

There was a scoffing sound from beside her, as an acid-green plant Digimon shook her head. “You think way too highly of the apes up there. They won’t go five seconds surviving without staring at one of their damn touching stones.”

“I’d hold off on the ape comment, Alraumon,” came another voice, as a squat ginger imp named Liopramon with a russet flat cap, ragged shirt and waistcoat, and a golden-laced grin smiled wickedly, “I do resemble that remark, though it pains me to say.”

Suricamon leant back against one wall, her eyes darting amongst everybody in the room. In one corner a Kokabuterimon was trying to restrain a small Hyokomon, who had managed to get her head stuck in an old paint pot. A Troopmon stood at attention in front of an bookcase, and near the table a MudFrigimon was trying his best to prevent an all-out fight between Alraumon and Liopramon.

And from the corner of the room, the gang’s boss stepped forwards, arms folded in front of him as he glared at the miscellaneous set of human items in front of him, many others of which adorned the cramped office space they had wound up in. Yethmon spat, and picked up one of the phones.

“Goddamn machines.”

Suricamon whistled beside him, peering over the edge of the table. “I dunno; I think they look pretty neat myself. Look, that one’s in a little jacket that looks like a kitty-“

“I couldn’t give a flying hell what they look like. It’s all showing off as usual. These damn punks thinking they’re better than me.”

Liopramon rested an elbow on the table next to him, swaying gently. “You may not like them, but the boss mon certainly does. Says he finds them reeeally useful!”

Yethmon turned on him, his hackles rising beneath his cloak. “I’m the boss mon, remember? He’s got nothing to do with us.”

“The benefactor then. But either way, we wanna keep those explosives and shit then we gotta pay up. He made that clear.”

“He didn’t make anything clear. It was that fox bastard bootlicker of his who gives us the orders. Never take orders from a slimy prick in a mask; you have no ground with them.”

Liopramon stuck his bottom lip out. “Well we could always give them back if you feel that way.”

“I didn’t say that,” snarled Yethmon, turning his back and kicking a box aside. “They are useful; I’ve got that far. I just don’t like scrounging off of human technology.” He reached inside his cowl, and lazily pulled out his hunting knife, twirling it over his knuckles. “S’why I work with my hands. You know where you stand.”

There was a clatter behind him, and he whirled on Kokabuterimon and Hyokomon, who had just knocked an entire toolbox onto the floor. “Watch it, arseholes!”

The bug buzzed quietly, “Sorry boss. Won’t happen again.”

Yethmon snorted, picking himself up and moving to the other corner. There was a snickering beside him and he glanced back, watching as Alraumon gave provocative ‘ooh’ gestures much to Liopramon and Suricamon’s mirth.

“You startin’?”

The plant twisted her legs together. “Well you do love that little blade so much. Is there something you wanna confess?”

“You little-“

Yethmon marched forwards and took a swipe at her, but she ducked and reappeared on the other side of the room. The hound seethed, folding his arms. “Is it too much to ask for a bit of respect?”

Alraumon raised an eyebrow. “After we lost the last hideout? Good luck, chuck.”

“You wanna take on the hunters, be my guest.” Yethmon glared around at everyone present, his eyes narrowed. “Face it; we’re royally screwed if we go against them or those tamers or anyone, so as long as I’m the one carrying your arses then you do as I say and don’t complain.”

There was a reluctant hiss of agreement from around the room, with the exception of Troopmon, who lowered his head and gave a small whine. Yethmon sat down on the table, exhaling. After a few moments he turned to Suricamon.

“It’s a decent haul. Keep an eye on it and we’ll pass it onto Reynarimon tomorrow.”

There was a pop from across the room as Hyokomon finally removed her head from the paint bucket, shaking her ragged head feather out with a high trill. Liopramon smirked, before turning his attention back to Yethmon. “What do we do ‘til then?”

“Same as we always do.” Yethmon replied, grinning beneath his mask. “Take no shit.”

The sun was beginning to dip below the rooftops as the group of tamers convened next to the shopping centre, having all received Jack and Kai’s instructions. Only one was missing. Mark looked around, tapping his foot impatiently.

“Where the hell is Owen?”

“He won’t be here,” answered Jack, as he pulled a thick jacket over his t-shirt. “Said he had other commitments.”

“Surely this is more important.”

“There are five of us, Mark,” interjected Lonnie, “I’d have thought that would be enough.”

Inez had arrived first, and now stood awkwardly, with Syngnamon stood straight next to her, watching the other tamers getting ready. At Lonnie’s request she’d brought an old theatre mask that her mother had once used, with a sad face adorning the blank white plastic. Grace had been slightly later, and she stood a little way away, her hands clasped together as she shuffled awkwardly. She pulled her phone out from her hoodie, looking at the time. Two minutes past four. She pressed her teeth together, her mind elsewhere.

“You okay, Grace?”

“Huh?” The girl started, looking up at Lonnie and nodding. “Of course. What’s the situation again?”

Jack stepped forwards, bringing up the details that Kai had texted him. “We think we’ve found the gang who went on the rampage last night; they seem to be holed up in one of the old shops here.”

Mark placed a hand in his pocket. “Wouldn’t it be best to wait a little later? There are still people around in there.”

“We just want to have a look. I’m guessing they usually sneak off at night so we want to catch them before they do. Also they’ve been nicking things all day; the longer we leave it the more trouble they’re gonna cause.”

Mark folded his arms. “It still seems risky to me.”

Inez raised a hand beside him. “It’s not like we can get into the centre during night time anyway; they lock it up and alarm everything.” She tapped her front fingers together. “We...can’t do an awful lot to help if we’ve all been arrested...”

Mark still didn’t look convinced, but Grace stepped forwards and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’re just checking it out. We’ll be careful, and if we’re right, we’ll come back later when it’s less busy.”

The boy sighed. “Alright. But a couple of us should head inside the main plaza and just keep an eye out.” He looked around, before settling on Inez. “Syngnamon’s quite small; do you reckon he’ll fit in your bag?”

Inez opened her mouth, and she huffed. “He is a knight, Mark! Show some respect!”

Mark just waited. Inez sighed, and looked down apologetically at the seahorse. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Syngnamon just stared ahead, his expression unreadable. “I will do what I must.”

Grace stepped up. “I’ll go in as well. Vulpimon’s slightly more inconspicuous than anyone else here, if it comes to it.” She smiled awkwardly. “No offense...”

The other Digimon didn’t so much take offense to Grace’s comment, as much as to the unbearably smug look on Vulpimon’s face. Perimon rolled his eyes. “Never one to back down from a compliment, are you?”

“I can’t help it that I’m just better than you. It’s not my fault you never really figured out how to shimmer.”

Perimon looked at her blankly, and held his wings out. “I. Can. Fly. It’s not a skill I really need, princess.”

“Alright, alright, you two,” said Grace, holding her arms out. “Save it for later. Coming, Inez?”

The two headed round the front, leaving Mark, Jack and Lonnie stood around the back door. Mark pulled his coat buttons up, and pulled his mask down. “This could go really well, or really badly.”

“Isn’t that always the way?” said Lonnie, before turning to the door, which had obviously been forced open multiple times as it stood buckled and barely in one piece. With a quick yank she managed to open it, and gestured to the others.

They headed down some stairs into the rear storage of the shop, keeping their footsteps as quiet as possible. Perimon hopped up onto one of the shelves, his keen eyes blinking in the darkness. Chromon kept his movements to a minimum, while Dendromon scuttled ahead, her claws emitting a dull glow.

Lonnie pressed forwards, steadying herself on an empty shelf. She frowned, and turned back towards Mark. “Is this...I dunno...trespassing or something?” she whispered.

“I’m trying not to think about that, but thanks for bringing it up.”

“Sorry...”

Jack held his hand around one elbow. “I mean...I don’t think we’re the first ones to barge in here so I don’t think it counts if we’re trying to boot someone else out?”

“...how many times have you done something like this?”

“Look man, when you take it upon yourself to save your town from monster attacks, you end up doing some legally dodgy stuff now and then.” He pointed at the mask over his face. “Hence the identity protection.”

“Wait...”

Dendromon held a hand up, stopping the others in their tracks as her gills vibrated behind her. “I can sense other Digimon.”

Lonnie edged forwards. “How many?”

“About six or seven,” replied the salamander. She edged forwards, then a little to the left, her eyes glowing in the dark. Then she pointed at a set of steps nearby which led towards a door.

The others gathered in a little closer, trying not to make any noises. The door itself was solid, so they couldn’t see anything, but there was the unmistakeable sound of muffled squabbling going on behind it. Perimon hopped closer on his shelf, tilting his head.

“I can’t hear what they’re saying-“

He took a step forwards, but the shelf, unchecked from the neglect, slipped out of its holder at the back end and tilted downwards. Perimon stifled his own screams as he flapped wildly, just managing to keep his balance and perch on the end. But his efforts were not enough to stop the shelf itself from toppling to one side and falling to the ground with a massive clang.

The others froze, all of them turning towards the bird in unison. Even with the masks on it was clear they were all wearing the exact same ‘ you had ONE JOB’ expression on their faces.

Down below, Yethmon held a paw up, and sniffed the air. He growled under his breath, and gestured to Suricamon, who scuttled up into her air-conditioning vent. The atmosphere in the office was tense, as the hound’s eyes narrowed.

“I have a feeling we’ve been rumbled...”

“WAAAARK!”

Suricamon’s screech cut through the building, causing everybody in the office to start scrabbling around in a panic, while Yethmon bellowed instructions. “Leave everything, just get out! Take ‘em down! No mercy!”

Outside, Perimon leapt down in a babbling frenzy as the others rushed towards the steps. “Look, this place is old and come on how was I supposed to know that-“

“Leave it!” yelled Jack, rushing to the top of the steps. “Stealth can wait till another day. Let’s just greet these jokers properly.”

Lonnie and Dendromon waited at the top of the steps, the salamander’s claws glowing. “Don’t worry, it’s all okay, we’ve got everything under control-“

“Heavy Punch!”

There was a bang and the door flew outwards, busted by MudFrigimon’s brutal fist. Lonnie and Dendromon covered their eyes as splinters flew in all directions, but before they could react they leapt out of the way as they were nearly mown down by a barrage of gang members, kicking and punching and yelling in every direction.

“Nemesis Ivy!”

“Scoop Slash!”

“Karatakewari!”

Lonnie gave an ‘eep’ as a series of vines shot past her head, and she backed off as the horde rushed past. “Okay, no, I lied, I do not got everything under control!”

“Devilish Digger!”

With a war cry, Suricamon descended from the vent above Lonnie’s head, shovel in hand as she brought it down. Lonnie raised an arm, yelling in pain as it connected.

“Boink!”

“Hey!”

Lonnie stumbled back and fell on her behind as the meerkat landed and snickered, holding out the gardening tool towards the tamer. “You’re in the wrong place, human. Go back to your mansion and cry your life away.”

She giggled, before her face fell and she turned to see Dendromon rushing toward her, arms alight with fiery energy. “Wuh-oh...”

“Searing Skin!”

Suricamon ducked as Dendromon swiped, but the salamander was getting faster with every new battle. She turned swiftly, smacking the meerkat across the chest with her tail. Suricamon spun on her heels, her disorientation giving Dendromon the opportunity to land a brutal punch on the meerkat’s cheek, sending her down. She hissed, and scuttled away, as Hyokomon and Alraumon rushed for the two.

“Wind Tunnel!”

A blast of wind from the grounded Perimon sent the two rolling into one another. He gave a little victory crow, when all of a sudden there was a glint of gold near him.

“Lucky Doubloon!”

A coin shot out of nowhere and struck the bird directly in the eye, causing him to squawk and fall off the shelf. Liopramon pocketed the coin again and gave a quick bow. “Glad t’make your acquaintance, ya bloody great pigeon.”

“Liopramon! Everyone! Stop pissing about and get out of here!”

Yethmon rushed forwards, dagger in hand and cloak billowing out behind him. There was a yell from beside him as Lonnie and Dendromon ran forwards, but he turned to the side and his eye flashed blood red.

“Deadeye!”

An invisible wave struck the two, and they screeched to a halt, their bodies gripped in a sudden, paralysing fear. Yethmon kept running, heading towards the door, but Lonnie shook her head and yelled out. “Mark! Stop them!”

Mark currently had his hands full with Kokabuterimon, but he yelled over his shoulder. “Chromon!”

“Shield Reflect!”

Yethmon reached the door just moments after the attack hit, and he was blown back by the round metal barrier. He snarled, watching as two more blocked out the entire exit, before turning towards the others. His gang was being pressed in ever so slowly, as the three tamers and their Digimon hemmed them in. Mark held his fists up. “You’ve been causing enough trouble. Give it up.”

“Fuck you! I don’t take orders from cosplaying lunatics! Rabid Ripper!”

His hands glowed red as he rushed forwards, stabbing and slashing in a frenzy and breaking through the wall of Digimon. He roared out as he ran, aiming for the other end of the room.

“New plan! We get out the other way!”

Suricamon raised a paw, “But you said not to-“

“OUT!”

He burst through the door, with the others in hot pursuit behind him. Lonnie rushed forwards, holding onto the doorframe as she saw the light from the main shopping centre breaking into the back store room.

“Oh crap, they wouldn’t-“

“Hurry!” yelled Jack as he stumbled forwards over the debris. “They’re getting away!”

With a shattering of glass and splintering of wood, Yethmon and the seven gang members burst out of the front of the shop, screeching to a halt right in front of a crowd of people. The hound looked around, ignoring the gasps and screams around him as he looked around for options.

“Uh-oh!” came Suricamon’s chirpy voice, and she shimmied up onto a nearby bin. “Look, boss-man, we’ve still got company!”

Yethmon growled, watching as Vulpimon and Syngnamon stepped into the light, causing yet more confusion. There was a series of shouting behind him as the other three tamers burst into view, heading right for the group.

“Scatter!”

The bystanders rushed out of the way as the eight Digimon rushed off in different directions. Vulpimon chased after Hyokomon but was barged out of the way by Kokabuterimon, while Syngnamon tried hard to grab onto Liopramon but was tossed aside. The other tamers exited the shop, already out of breath. Grace and Inez stepped forwards, already in their own disguises. Grace straightened up, as Lonnie scratched behind her head.

“That didn’t really go according to plan...”

“It doesn’t matter now; they’re out.” Grace turned on her heels, watching as the chaos began to spread through the shopping centre. “We’re just gonna have to go after them directly. Pick a target and try not to hit anyone else. Now go!”

As the five rushed off, Digimon in tow, Kai remained just to one side, watching the events unfold with a growing unease, but also a mild amusement. He could already see shoppers rushing for the main doors, desperate to get out, while Yethmon’s gang marched forwards in their quest to deal as much carnage as possible. The young man pulled his phone out, and hit a number on his contacts.

“Hi love, it’s Kai. Yes, I’m still at work. Sort of. Listen...are you free right now?”

There was a series of yelling above him, followed by a crashing sound and Suricamon’s maniacal laughter. Kai gave a posed expression.

“Yeah...I think they might need a little bit of help. How soon can you get down here?”

TO BE CONTINUED...