Awake and Alive

Chapter Two: Burn - The Spark of Evolution

Rikka could easily appeal to the concept of heights. In fact, she loved high places. 

Yes, she was scared at the thought of falling, but she had enough balance in her to keep her up and right. Whether it be on the balcony of her apartment, on the Ferris wheel at the amusement park, or simply on a hill overlooking the horizon of the city, Rikka reveled in the fact that whenever she was up somewhere high, all the stuff that looked confusing and messed up would suddenly become crystal clear. Back when she was Eosmon, the sky was her home and alongside Kazemon, the two were an aerial force to reckon with.

Now, back to the present...

"WHAT THE HELL!!"

Gravity forcefully yanked the children down to the awaiting surging river. Tentomon, Biyomon and Patamon each grabbed onto their partners, but their charges were too big to keep in flight and so their wings gave out and they resumed plummeting. Palmon was creative, wrapping one set of her vines around Mimi and lashing out her other set around another outcropping. But she didn't account for the rock to come loose and her attempt was feeble at this point.

Rikka practically smothered Lunamon into her chest as she curled her body around her. Her heart began to pound uncomfortably against her ribcage and thoughts became erratic.

What only Tai knew was that Rikka wasn't exactly the best swimmer. Actually scratch that – she was horrible. No matter how she moved her limbs in the water, she couldn't and wouldn't move in any body of water (except for a bathtub or hot spring); in the end, she would sink like a rock.

When she hit the water, she accidentally gasped in shock and water rushed down her throat into her lungs. Joe was after her and his partner, Gomamon, used his abilities to summon a school of multicolored fish to act as a raft for them. Lifted above the water, Rikka released her hold of Lunamon to cough and splutter, her body fighting to expel the water she swallowed.

The tip of the cliff they had been standing on crashed in the water behind them, creating giant waves that nearly sent them all of the makeshift raft. Above them Kuwagamon let out a miserable, pained cry before disappearing below the turbulent water.

Once the water settled down again, the fish raft dropped the children and Digimon off at a nearby shore. They all took the opportunity to relax and ease their adrenaline-pumped systems.

Rikka took off her normally poofy white hat, frowning when it flopped into a drenched pile in her lap. As she began wringing it out, along with her hair, a certain rabbit Digimon began to blubber.

"I'm so sorry, Milady! If I had just acted quicker, I... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm – !"

"Hey, hey." Rikka cut her off just as she finished her hat. "There's no need to cry. I'm okay and there's no need to worry. No one could've predicted that fall."

"But – !"

"No buts. I know when another situation comes up, you'll have my back. That's all I can ask for."

Lunamon stilled looked unsure as Rikka placed her hat back onto her damp hair, the head accessory still looking a little weighed down by water; but once it dried, it would return to normal.

"You're the best, okay? We haven't known each other long, but I already know you're a very sweet and dedicated Digimon. Don't let trivial things make you doubt yourself."

Lunamon nodded, slightly hesitant, and muttered a soft 'okay'. Nonetheless, in her mind, she was chanting to herself to try harder and not screw up next time.

Tai looked at Rikka with a bit of concern. After all, he knew that she wasn't a swimmer and that she feared large bodies of water. His heart stopped when he saw that she hit the water first. But at the sight of Rikka's assuring smile, his worries were snuffed.