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Chapter 10

The Hopeless Jungle Village

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           "Rukan you have a strange distortion that seems to be watching you. It's headed off back to the northwest but I suggest keeping alert. Datamon says this thing is really dangerous. Keep a lookout for a SkullRenamon She looks just like yours only darker... We don't have a clear picture it seems." Came the fuzz of Taka's voice making Rukan wake suddenly from his dreams.

           He picked up the com and rubbed his eyes before he looked around at the now illuminated waste they had camped in the night before. He could see Michiko and Shademon far off in the distance but still the edge of the crater loomed far beyond that.

           The young tamer lifted his digivice and spoke into it in reply, "Alright. I'll keep a look out for anything suspicious. Thank you for the heads up." He lay back down against Renamon with a deep breath and a soft moan as he didn't want to get up yet but knew he had to.

           "I'm guessing it's time to move out?" Said Renamon in a tired voice.

           Rukan just nodded and made another sleepy moan as he yawned and snuggled into her soft fur, "Five more minutes."

           Renamon smiled a bit and rolled over forcing Rukan off of her and onto the soft dust with her form looming over him, "no more minutes. It's time to go."

           Rukan smirked a bit and poked his fingers into her sides making her squeal in surprise and roll off of him becoming prey to his tickling, "alright alright I'll get up already." Said the young tamer as he continued to torture his companion with tickles. He stopped after a bit and just sat there on Rena's belly with a smile on his face. It was times like this that made all the bad things that happened to the two of them worth it.

           He leaned down slowly and kissed her softly for a moment before getting off, standing up and stretching with a big and rather loud yawn. Renamon didn't miss the opportunity to stand up behind him, hug the boy from behind and rest her chin on the top of his head as she was about a head taller than the boy. The two of them looked out at the camp they should have slept the night before and saw Michico and Shademon getting ready to leave as well.

           Renamon knew they had been seen so didn't worry about the other two wandering about aimlessly trying to find her and Rukan. The last thing they needed was lost people, "We have a long trip don't we?"

           Rukan nodded and leaned back against his digimon, "It's a pretty long walk. Taka said forty K at least. And since it's in a mountain range I'm guessing a bunch of the terrain will be a bit rugged. We don't have the luxury of streets and alleys anymore. We really have to rough it here."

           Renamon smiled a bit and tilted her head a little, "is ‘roughing it' all that bad when I get to spend every night with you? It seems better than when we were back home in some ways."

           Rukan just chuckled softly and waited with the fox woman for the other two to get their things together and start out on their long journey. It wasn't long before the other two joined them and they started their long trek east.

           "You shouldn't have wandered off like that you know. It could have been dangerous. Judging by what's been going through on the com it sounds like we are being followed." Said Michico in a slightly irritated voice.

           Rukan nodded as he adjusted his backpack a bit, "I'm sorry about that. We really didn't plan on falling asleep out there. We just got tired... It won't happen again. I promise."

           Michi nodded and frowned, "It had better not. Without you around I don't know what would entertain me."

           Rukan couldn't help but chuckle at the comment and he looked to the path ahead of them. In the distance he could see the tops of trees over the rim of the crater. There would seem to be some sort of forest just over the rim. It was welcome shade compared to the hot sun, which beat down on them in the dust bowl.

           It took an hour to reach the edge of the crater and when they finally stepped out they found themselves face to face with a thick jungle ahead of them. Rukan frowned as he realized this was going to be harder than he had planned. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the one remaining tonto as he knew there would be some bushwhacking ahead.

           "Well... at least it's not out in the sun." Said Rukan with a bit of a smile.

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           "Sir it seems the blur has returned and is following our companions in the digital world. I would estimate it will catch up to them within the next two hours. Unfortunately I have not been able to put in the proper time algorithms yet. We are completely unable to warn them of the danger." Said Datamon in what sounded like a sad tone but it was hard to tell with his machine voice.

           Taka nodded but still had a frown on his face. The steaming cup of coffee in front of him and the bags under his eyes only told that he got little to no sleep the night before. The young tech wiz looked a bit closer at the screen and frowned a bit deeper, "You think it is her? Even if it is she's a rookie level. Renamon and Rukan shouldn't have a problem taking her by themselves let alone with Michi and Shade's help."

           "Negative. She has a tamer to, remember, a tamer who made the cards in the first place. She has a definite home field advantage as well as back up in the cards." Replied Datamon.

           Taka leaned back in his swivel chair again and brushed some of his black hair off of his glasses with the same frown, "I don't know... Rukan was considered for the longest time the digimon king. He doesn't need all the cards to get a strategy. I only hope his card game tactics can apply to the battle coming... Then again he can get pretty hot headed and reckless in the heat of the moment."

           Datamon nodded slowly and sat himself down putting his hands on his knees, "I hope you are right Taka..."

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           "At least it's out of the sun he says..." Said Michi rather indignantly. Rukan couldn't really blame her as they were surrounded by a group of Garurumon that didn't look too happy to see them.

           "Now isn't the time for criticism Michi... what should we do?" Replied Rukan as he remained very still along with the other three.

           "You're the fearless leader. You come up with something." Said Michi with a frown on her face, "And do it fast... I don't think these guys are gonna wait around forever."

           "We aren't going to hurt you. We are trying to find our way to the trails. Our human tamers are trying to become more than they are so they can face Tenshi and put an end to the virus." Said Renamon softly but still she remained frozen where she stood. There was simply no way they could take on seven champions at the level they were at.

           "Shut your filthy yap you dirty lapdog!" Shouted one of the Garurumon as it snarled and its hackles rose to show it's massive teeth.

           Rukan swallowed hard and thought for a moment before he took his D-Infinity off and placed it on the ground, "There... now she is just like you." He took all of his bags and his tonto out and placed them on the ground, "I really am just trying to help... I know you guys have been through a lot and I am really sorry that it's interference from my world that has caused all of the trouble. I am just trying to help fix the damage and remove the cause."

           The Garurumon snarled and one of them snapped its jaws in Rukan's direction, "Go home human! We don't need your help! You'll just turn into another dictator! You are too tempted by power to ever withstand the seduction it has!"

           "Rukan's not like that!" Shouted Renamon with a frown, "Before I met him I was like one of you and I was power hungry! I wanted to be the strongest and most powerful so no one could ever stand in my way! The time I spent with him taught me that I was wrong! It's not important to be powerful and unstoppable! What is important is that one is true to their ideals and morals... What is important is taking care of the ones you love and Rukan is trying to do that!"

           Rukan's heart sank as she spoke and he let out a soft sigh, as he knew the reaction probably would not be a positive one. So this was it, this was how it ended, not at the hands of his enemy but at the hands of the ones he was trying to protect. He heard movement and opened his eyes to see the world in slow motion as one of the Garurumon leapt at Renamon with it's mouth open and ready to bite.

           Rukan shouted as he saw for a moment a blade heading for him that was caught by another body. This was his chance to set things right and he wasn't about to give it up. With all of his might he leapt in front of Renamon, with his hands outstretched he caught the top and bottom jaws of the monster and was forced to the ground holding the jaws away from him. The creature was simply too strong for him and he felt his arms giving way.

           "Don't hurt her! If you hurt anyone make it me! Let the others go... please. They will go back to the other world and never bother you again... I could not live without Renamon in my life. She means more to me than you could ever understand." Said Rukan as the beast's saliva dripped from it's gaping mouth on his face and chest. The others all seemed taken aback by his actions, including the other Garurumon.

           "Back down son... This human seems different. He would give up his life to save his companions. Just like anyone of us would if given the choice. Perhaps not all humans are like Tenshi." Said one of the older looking digimon. His body was riddled with scars and his right eye seemed to be missing.

           The wolf digimon lifted his head away from Rukan's face and looked to the older one of its species, "He's lying! It's all an act Ridley! Let's just remove the threat now and not take the risk!"

           The old Garurumon growled deeply and snapped its jaws at the younger one that still had Rukan pined under its weight, "You will not harm him or any of his friends Narwith! Get off of him now! He might be able to help us back at the village. His device has the ability to make his companion more powerful than any of us. He and his friends might be the only chance we have against Her."

           Grudgingly the Garurumon got off of Rukan with a grunt and stood by the one known as Ridley, "I still think it's too much of a risk... How do we know they won't just become like Tenshi and that devil woman?"

           Ridley shook his head slowly and let out a loud sigh, "You'll have to forgive my son Narwith. He is young and still does not see the value in life. While risk is an important thing to avoid... sometimes we have to take risks to reach our goal. Don't make me regret this human or I will be the one ready to rip your throat out. Follow us and we will show you the way to the village. Help us and we will give you the fast route to the place you want to go. We here know it quite well and stay away. It has become an evil place ever since that terrible man used it."

           "I value life... the life of my pack mates... Not of outsiders." Growled Narwith as he turned to leave the clearing obviously disgruntled.

           Rukan lay there for a bit before getting to his feet. He brushed the dirt off of him and put his backpack back on, tucked his tanto back into it's sheath at his ribs and his D-Infinity went back on his wrist. He took a deep breath and took the first glace as his companions. They all seemed spellbound.

           Renamon quickly held him close and spoke softly, "Don't you ever do that again... You had me worried sick. I thought I was going to lose you."

           Rukan hugged her back but let out a soft cough as she was holding him a bit too tightly, "Rena sweetie... my backbone is going to break if you hold me only a little bit harder."

           Renamon quickly let go and gave him a look of apology. He just shrugged it off and nodded to Michico and her digimon, "Lets follow them and see what they need help with. This is what we came here for after all." He smiled as if nothing had happened but his heart was still racing and adrenaline pumping through his veins. He had been terrified. For a moment he thought he was surely going to die.

           He smiled a bit though his hands were still shaking as the other Garurumon started off into the foliage. Rukan didn't give his group any time to say anything as he turned to leave with the canines.

           The tamers and their digital counterparts were led through the jungle and into a village built into the trees. It was certainly quite the sight. It almost appeared as if the trees themselves had created the homes that the digimon were living in. Rukan looked about the clearing completely awestruck. He had never seen anything like this before.

           "Welcome to our jungle home. It was once an ogremon village but they were afflicted by the corruption. They now serve Her and Her master. We need your help young tamers. Our scouts spotted a large group of roving corrupted nearby and we fear they will attack the village any day now. We want your help in defeating them. If you do this for us we will give you safe passage through the jungle and to the cave." Said Ridley with a bit of a frown on his face.

           Rukan nodded slowly and replied solemnly, "We'll help you..."

           He took a look around the village and saw not one smile. Everyone was working hard tending to the injured or simply rebuilding parts of the village. Rukan couldn't help but feel his heart sink as his eyes began to burn with sorrow. This village had seen more than its share of hardship and bloodshed. The people were no longer living. They were just surviving.

           The now sixteen-year-old boy looked up at his partner digimon and continued to frown as he saw the same sorrow on her face. She felt it just like he did; these people were completely without hope. Rukan grit his teeth and shook his head, as he knew it would take a miracle to turn the people from their lives without hope. They were already defeated as is, he would change that, and somehow he knew that he and his friends would make it happen.

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