Synopsis: Yamato, Kira, Ka'renna, and J'kkin begin to speak of the horror of the night, while Mimi and Jou are lured into the lair of the Vampyrum. What is the connection between Kira and VampPyromon? Who is 'The Marah'? And just what is the purpose of the dragons?
Part 4
It was cold that night. Tai and Sora had not returned, nor had Mimi or Jou. The remaining Digidestined and the dragons had sat about a meager fire until Kira had stood up at the moment Dai lifted Kari from between the gentle forepaws of Ka'renna.
"I know of a waterfall where we can bathe. When we come back, you boys may go to the falls." Kira had said, a blissful smile staining her features.
"Oh, yes," Dai said fervently. "A bath is just what I need."
Kari nodded her assent, and the girls trooped off, followed by their digimon and Ka'renna to the falls. Senji, Izzy, and Yamato all looked at each other, and then at the lean mass of J'kkin, who was watching Ka'renna leave through the corner of one russet eye. They sighed, and Senji pulled out his poker chips.
Kira sighed happily as she splashed the surprisingly warm water about her, letting it drench her hair. Ka'renna had taken Kari to the shallows, and the digimon had declined on the bath, so it was just Dai and her in the deeper end of the pool.
"Kira?" Dai's voice came out of the steamy water, and surprised Kira.
"Yes?"
"What is going on here? I want to know. VampPyromon came after me and Izzy today, and I'm seriously freaked."
Kira sank into the water until it was lapping at the lashes at the bottom of her eyes.
"Oh. That." She looked at her hair fanning out in the water, and glanced at Dai, marveling at the marked differences the two had in appearance and nature.
"Yes, that." Dai mimicked, splashing her with one tanned arm.
Kira put up a hand in surrender, and began to speak, the gentle hum of the water in her ears and the rushing heat from the pool buoying her up.
"He came out of the forest one night. He was younger, and he was hurt. I was only ten. He looked at me, and his eyes weren't clear then. The pupils were a deep scarlet color, and he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. A small female was at his side, in a white gown. She had saffron colored skin and rose-colored hair that flowed down and coiled like it was alive. She was crying 'Master, master' and he could barely stand. I went to help them.
"Katamon was perched nearby, and I didn't remember what had happened, so she told me. The female, who had flat, reptilian eyes and a hissing voice, struck me. She said 'Leave him! He is my master, and I will care for him!' and he struck her. Not hard, but enough to get her attention. And he looked at me, and rasped out a few words. He said, 'What--who--are you?' and I answered, 'I am human.'" Kira paused, and licked her suddenly dry lips. "I remember a sudden pain lashing though my neck, and a bright light and I ran, bleeding, crying, and frightened as far as I could, as far as possible from the light, from him, from the woman." Her green eyes were wide, and Dai's dark brown eyes were focused entirely upon her face. Then, the younger girl spoke.
"Is that why you cried that night? Is that why you cringed when Matt carried you back to the fire?"
Kira shook her head, and dove down beneath the surface for a long moment, then surfaced, throwing her hair back.
"No. I was not frightened of Yamato. I was frightened that if I cared for anyone, VampPyromon would have the advantage. I thought that if I let anyone close to me, and if I revealed my secrets, I would be weaker. The cats and the foxes always do so. But I am more; I am human, and I see from both sides.
"And I see that I was wrong not to care."
She shook water droplets from her skin, and they scattered, sparkling like diamonds until they hit the mossy ground. Dai was the one to break the scilence.
"Let's get back to camp."
The girls walked onward in scilence, and would not speak a word the rest of the evening.
Senji awoke. No preamble, like slowly awaking in a soft, warm bed in your home, with warm coverlets up to your chin and a stuffed animal by your side, no, nothing like that. He awoke in a cold, clear snap and felt as if he'd lost something.
He placed a hand on his chest, as if to make sure his heart did not jump out because it beat so rapidly. There was no gash, just the cotton of his shirt on his chest, and he relaxed a moment, until he saw the blood on his fingers.
It was his blood, blood from digging his fingernails into the soft flesh of the palms of his hands in anger. He looked about, saw the others- Kira, Yamato, Hikari, and Takeru - all sleeping with their digimon. He did not notice the two slumbering forms of the dragons nearby. Nor did he notice the forms of Jou and Mimi watching him and then leaving as the dawn broke.
Senji left the camp, tired at heart, leaving Acidomon lying on the bank, asleep. He was so angry now…he couldn't burden his best friend with his own problems.
Senji walked, and was concealed by the mists.
Kira opened her eyes slowly, their almond shape seeming almost cat-like in the near dark that is everywhere before dawn. Lifting herself up, she pulled her hair away from her lap- she had let it down and kept it so since the night of the attack, and it fell long past her thighs. With an almost weary sigh, she pulled her leather boots off, and dipped her small feet almost delicately into the frigid water of the stream. After a moment, she pulled her hair in front of herself, and finger-combed it until the dawn rose, in full glory of pink and crimson hues.
Unlike many people, who love the dawn and it's charm of the sweetly warbling birds and the soft whispering caresses of willow branches on water, Kira was almost nocturnal, and found herself more…alive at night, with all of its gentle pleasures. Like the pale, wavering glory of the moon or the almost blatant scent of night-blooming flowers that shone like beacons in the deep twilight, Kira thrived in darkness, her eyes shining, until one could mistake her for a Sidhe or some other magical creature.
But in day…
Sun almost scorched her fair skin if it was not covered, and she was ungraceful in the golden glowing hours that most humans find so wonderful, and felt as if she were melting along with the last snows of winter. Perhaps it was the fact that most of her life had been lived with cat-kin, and the fact that she felt less obtrusive in the darkness then if she were surrounded with light, shining like beacons.
As she though of this, a pale hand, with a complexion that could rival hers, placed itself gently on her shoulder, and the owner of the hand turned her suddenly stiffening body to face them.
"Please…go away…please…please…" she whispered, as the owner of the hands almost lovingly pulled her deep auburn hair away from her neck, and she looked into the deeply colorless eyes of VampPyromon. His long, corn-silk pale hair hung loosely until mid back, where it was caught in a simple leather holder, much like the one in MagnaAngemon's hair when he digivolved.
"Saying please won't work, Kira. I vowed I would have you be one of my kind long ago, before you knew that you were alive, and I never go back on my promises. If you come quietly, your friends-and yourself-will not be hurt." He wrapped her thick hair in his hands, and if she moved in the slightest, it pulled cruelly.
"Stop! Stop! I'll come, just don't hurt me, don't hurt my brother, don't hurt Yamato or the others! Promise me!"
He looked at her, and loosened his grip on her hair.
"Very well, Kira Moondaughter. I always keep my word. They will come to no pain." He touched her face gently, trailing ice-cold fingers across her features. "You have nothing to fear, little one. I never go back on a promise."
In the sudden burst of full sun, he whirled his cape about them both, and they were gone, leaving only a fluttering paper, that landed neatly at the paws of the slumbering dragons…
The voice that had cried out for Karnivormon to stop came from the throat of a male Katamon with yellow fur and bright red stripes and orange wings and eyes.
His name was Firebright.
"Moonpaw, run!" he called to the slender female as he pounced and landed, claws outstretched, on the beast's back.
She shied away from the flame and dirt that was kicked up, and stood, undecided until she caught sight of Tai, Sora, and their digimon on the path. Making a swift decision, she jumped into their way.
'Taichi! Sora! Please, you must help Firebright!" with that, she jumped into the broiling melee.
Almost casually, Karnivormon slashed at her, and sliced her wing deeply. Blood pouring from the wound, her eyes blazing, she attacked.
"Ice Ring!" a wall of ice surrounded them, and enclosed her enemy. Katamon dug her claws into the ice-coated fur of Firebright, and dragged him clear from the shards of ice that had come from the downy feathers of her wings and her silver claws. He stood, and threw one orange wing across her back, supporting her as Karnivormon thrashed and howled in pain as Piyomon and Agumon attacked simultaneously, and caused him to lash out again, catching Piyomon in the neck with a deep black paw.
"Die, Moonpaw! Nightshade Lash!" he attacked, hitting Katamon full on the chest. As the purple-black stream hit the little cat, Sora was struck stock still at the familiar scene. Hadn't she seen a like of this before? Myotismon, when he had caught Birdramon full in the chest with his Crimson lightening…
"No! Karnivormon, stop! Please, stop!" she cried, rushing into the battle, trying to protect Katamon.
A streak of purple beat her to the fallen cat. Standing defiantly over her fallen sister, Sweetwhisker looked straight into the eyes of her mate, her blue eyes blazing. Her pale lavender fur stood out against the blood-spattered earth, and she had blue wings and deep purple stripes.
"Please, husband, don't. She is my sister…" her eyes were hard, and from the look on her face, Sweetwhisker knew that if she lived through this, she would pay later.
Karnivormon started to lower his paw, but suddenly he struck his wife away from Katamon's small body. With a sickening crack, Sweetwhisker hit a rock, and fell into a position that was not natural. Her eyes glazed over, and rolled back as she choked out her final words: "Don't… ever… hate…"
Karnivormon looked at the lifeless body of the one creature that had cared for him, dead by his own paw. He felt his dark eyes widen, and he looked shocked; he hadn't meant to kill her…
Katamon staggered to her feet, leaving the unconscious body of the male Katamon behind her. Blood streaming from many cuts and from her mouth and nose, she hissed out words thickly cloaked in hatred.
"I will…kill…you…you…bastard." With the last of her rapidly fading strength, she launched herself at him, burying her sharp little teeth into his neck, fighting past the thick coarse fur that protected his vulnerable throat.
"Die!" she bit open his throat, tore at his windpipe, and threw herself away from his shocked, dying form. As he drowned in his own blood, he gurgled a few words that none could understand. With one last angry glance at the cat-like creatures, the humans, and their digimon, Karnivormon died.
Katamon looked satisfied at the body, and collapsed.
It had been a long time ago… so long…
Why can't I remember this? It should be important… I think…
Isn't it? Isn't it supposed to be important…? Wasn't this supposed to be explained? Help…Help…who are you?
I want to go home…
Senji woke with a start. He must have dozed off…
What was that voice? There had been a voice, a voice in his head!
Senji came alert at once; he wasn't anything more then a coddled city kid, but he had taken self-defense, and knew from his teachers to be 'ever vigilant'. He kept his soft, watery gray-green eyes up, and swept his carrot-colored hair out of his face. He looked around, panic rising--
The only other one in the clearing was a small blonde boy with silver skin.
He seemed gentle enough; and he was certainly quiet. Senji studied him, taking note of the child's starved appearance and marine eyes. The boy could not be very old; perhaps nine or ten, at the most. He came towards Senji, and raised one hand to touch his arm--
Senji realized that he could see right through the boy's body.
"Ghost!" he hissed, and fell back, trying to keep out of reach of the childish fingers--
The child/ghost spoke without words; his 'voice' echoed in Senji's head, and made his teeth ache.
I want to go home.
"What was that!" Senji yelled, shivering. H was suddenly cold…He pulled his green jacket tighter around his body, and pulled on his tanned, pale yellow leather gloves.
I want to go home.
"So go home! What do I have to do with it?"
I can't go home. Something is stopping me…I need a heart.
Senji looked at the ghost/child, compassion washing over him like a warm rain.
"You need help?"
Yes.
"What's your name? I'm Senji."
I…I'm not sure I have a name, Senji…but Kira called me 'Kadomon'.
"Kadomon it is. What do you…need to go home?"
A heart. A sacrifice. I believe that your digimon would call it 'compassion'.
Senji winced as Kadomon placed a small hand on his arm, and was surprised to find that it was not cold or clammy, as he expected it to be. Rather, it was warm, and faintly buzzing with power.
But the heart I need…well, Senji, you will die in that taking. And I cannot promise that it will be worth it.
Senji shrugged, but he was horrified at the mere mention of being hurt. Mustering what courage he had, he asked Kadomon a question.
"Why did my sister call you Kadomon? And can you help her?"
She told me that 'Kado' meant 'Gateway' in her language… and If I had a heart, I could help her, but only in her most dire need. As if she were to die, or our enemy the Vampyre were to hurt her or break an oath. Then I could aid her, and gladly.
Senji hesitated; savage wind blew through the canopy of trees, and the leaves whistled forbiddingly. He made his decision.
"I'll do it."
Kadomon seemed surprised, but smiled his child-like smile.
Thank you, Senji…May I? He placed his light hand flat on Senji's chest, right above his heart, and smiled. This will not hurt, my friend. And then you will be able to see my world. Kadomon plunged his hand into Senji's chest, and touched the heart. At first it slowed, then stopped.
Senji did not fell any pain; perhaps a peculiar coldness spreading throughout his body, but there was no pain as Kadomon pulled out his heart from his chest.
He felt incredibly light… Senji kept his eyes fixed on Kadomon, watching the younger being gain some sort of strength, and resolutely tried to keep his eyes open…
Kadomon placed a hand gently on Senji's brow, and made a beckoning gesture. Somehow, a ghostly form of Senji glided out of the small shell that had been his body, and looked at himself in wonder.
Am I…dead? He wondered.
No, Senji. Not completely. In a moment, you will turn into something far more powerful and beautiful then any human. That is your gift.
Senji started at hearing Kadomon's voice so close to him, but nodded jerkily, and watched, as his hands became nimble, three fingered, one thumbed foreclaws, and his skin turned a grayish white. His eyes turned from bright green-gray to smooth jade green with whirling black pupils, and his hair lengthened, and be came sparser and spikier, running down his snake-like back into razor sharp spines of pale cerulean. His face lengthened, and he became truly dragon-like, with a long, winding body and a smooth creamy underbelly.
The dragon stretched; It was a hatchling, perhaps a hundred years old, with no wings as yet. It blinked, all three of Its eyelids going back and forth, the smooth membranes gliding over Its dark/pale green eyes and It looked in wonder at Its smooth, sooty gray hide.
In wonderment, the Dragonling touched the egg tooth that protruded above his snout, and was in awe --and control-- of his new body.
A quiet voice at his side startled him; he had forgotten Kadomon was there.
Hello, Se'am'je. He said calmly.
The dragonet started, but steadied himself as Kadomon touched a smooth, white patch on the dragon's forehead, shaped like a pure diamond.
The dragonet disappeared.
Kadomon looked about, satisfied, and faded slowly out of sight.
A small body with orange hair and gray-green eyes that were tight shut fell to the ground, dead.
It was Senji.
Ka'renna woke herself slowly, stretching her smooth, supple hide carefully to avoid rips that would stop her from flying later. She frowned, and slowly pulled herself from within J'kkin's embrace, her heart aching at having to leave the secure comfort of his arms and wings.
As she wiped her foreclaws dry after washing them quickly, she noticed a slip of pale, silky white paper. Hastily, before it blew away. She caught the flimsy stuff in one of her hand-like paws, and began to scan the note, written in Kanji. Carefully, she spoke the words out loud, causing the rest of the camp to awake. They all leaned close to her, crowding her wingspace as she read the note slowly --she was not a born Dragon of this world, so the writing was strange, but almost familiar as some of the scratch-marks La'ket and the council used.
I am sorry if I caused you any undue trouble,
But I have to leave, for reasons of my own.
I've made sure you'll all be safe. If you need
Help, try to look with your heart. Ka'renna
Knows what I mean. Take care, and don't
Ever give up. Goddess Bless all of you, and
Please watch out for Katamon.
~ Kira
Ka'renna looked up from the note, and scanned the faces in front of her. Yamato, scowling, Takeru, trying not to cry, Hikari, crying freely, Dai, looking fearful, and J'kkin --her J'kkin-- looking as if his heart was torn between two worlds, and perhaps it was.
Suddenly, she scanned the faces again. They were missing one! Where was Senji!
There was a cry of 'Hello!' from the edge of the clearing, and Taichi and Sora appeared, bearing two cat-like digimon; Kira's Katamon, and a male of her species, Fire element from the look. Red stripes, yellow fur, orange wings, orange eyes with a stockier build then most females. But what struck Ka'renna like a reeling blow was that they were bloodied, and barely alive. Taichi and Sora looked exhausted, and their digimon not much better.
In a swift movement, Ka'renna bounded over to the pale Bearer of Love, supporting her with one flank and nosing the still form of Katamon.
"What happened!" she cried, her eyes whirling red-black, black-violet, violet-blue in alarm.
Sora gazed at her dully, and Ka'renna could see that she could barely stand; if she hadn't bounded in when she had, Sora would have fallen, and wouldn't have woken for a long time, if ever.
Ka'renna was appalled at the state of the children and the digimon; immediately, she laid a spell of healing upon all of them and led the girl away from the mad press of the others, who gathered about Taichi, clamoring for information about what had happened. Out of the corner of one eye, she saw J'kkin watch her leave, and could hear the unsaid words in his eyes.
Slinging Sora onto her back, Ka'renna ran to the stream, and suddenly, spread her wings and transferred the girl to her forepaws so as to keep away from any jarring that might accured while she rode the dragon.
Flying quickly, she soon arrived in a place where no human had ever been; the Healing Springs of Harmony, all that remained of Ka'renna's birthplace. Carefully, she changed her form into one of a human, shrugging at the horrid bone-twisting sensation as she turned into a soft-skinned human and leaned over Sora's body, lowering the stricken girl into the springs. With any luck, the healing would work.
Ka'renna had become the human known as Karren, a petite green-haired girl with fire-opal eyes that restlessly changed color.
When Sora had fully soaked herself in the warm, soothing waters of the spring, she opened her eyes to see a green-clad human in front of her with opal-colored eyes and red hair. She started, but the girl placed a hand on her shoulder, and spoke in a voice that was oddly familiar and comforting.
"Hush, Bearer of Love. It's me. I brought you here, to my home, where you can rest for awhile."
"Ka'renna? Is that…you?" Sora croaked, her voice sounding alien in her throat.
"I'm a human now; so call me Karren. Soon, though, I will be Dragon Kyn again, and then we can go back; your mate and your kyn are worried." Ka'renna --Karren-- had a small smile on her face, and Sora could see her skin was a pale blue color and smooth.
"Mate…?" she asked.
"The Bearer of Courage. Taichi."
Sora blushed, and sat up, warm water running in rivulets from her hair and skin. "He's not my mate. We're just friends."
Karren looked at her wisely. "Perhaps you are more then that, Sora. Come on. My J'kkin and your Taichi are waiting. It was foolish of me to bring you here."
"Why? It's…wonderful."
"It's dead, Sora. And it will stay dead, and in the past as it should." Karren shrugged agitatedly, and her bones made a shifting noise as she turned back in the familiar form of Ka'renna.
As the two flew away from the pool, Sora still held protectively close to Ka'renna's breast, she saw something opalescent in the sky… it was a portal, and Ka'renna flew towards it in powerful, sure strokes of her wings.
They entered, and both felt the by now familiar pull of the Digital World.
Here we go, Sora thought, closing her eyes tightly, Back to the beginning of the whole thing…
"Quite, Sora Takenouchi. We must right a wrong." Ka'renna said, as if she had heard Sora's thoughts, and perhaps she had.
Onward they flew back to loved ones in another world, grimly silent. For with a slight premonition that comes when you are soul-bound to another, they could see what they would have to do…
End part Four. Wow! That took awhile! Please send feedback to KRkitten@aol.com, or contact me on Yahoo Messenger at kira_yalnami. Thanks and I hope you enjoy. Please check out Nexis' site to see the fabulous artwork she's done on this story; www.angelfire.com/anime/starfrostpalace
~ Kira_Chan ^_^*
