Awake and Alive

Chapter Four: From the Ashes

Following the previous night and all of its strenuous events, the children and Digimon found themselves trekking the rest of the forest. It was an unanimous decision to start a little bit later in the day because of all the exhaustion and their breakfast was technically considered brunch.

In a change of pace, Rikka walked silently in the back instead of in the front with Tai and Agumon. Her thoughts continuously trailed back to last night and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't keep the smile off her face. For the first time in a long time, she felt whole and complete and everything felt just as it was supposed to be. Now all she needed was –

She felt herself slam into something before bouncing off, her foot slipping as she fell to the ground.

She blinked, a bit dazed at what had just happened. She saw Joe was beside himself as he helped her up, then realized that she probably bumped into him. The commotion that he was making, though, drew the attention of everyone else.

"What happened?" Sora asked.

"I stopped walking because I had a rock in my shoe, but I didn't say anything and Noelle crashed into me," Joe hastily explained. "I–It was an accident!"

"As long as nobody was hurt." Tai eased, trying to prevent Joe from having a panic attack.

Rikka waved him off. "It's nothing, really."

Tai nodded and then encouraged everyone to keep walking. Joe called out that he still had a rock in his shoe, so Noelle waited patiently for him.

Whilst he was doing that, she noticed Gomamon at his feet. He looked a little worn out and she could tell he wasn't trying to make a show of it. She lifted the seal Digimon and dropped him on her head – much to Joe's surprise – with his back feet resting on her bag and his front paws on top of her head. Lunamon remained standing at her side, pressing her side against Rikka's leg. Gomamon's sigh of relief told Rikka that he appreciated being off the ground and before anybody else could have a say in it, she already resumed walking and Joe scrambled to catch up.

It seemed that their little break had energized the group as the conversations had started near the front. TK and Patamon were laughing as they pretended to be explorers investigating the shrubbery alongside the path they were walking upon.

A little before they spotted for a lunch break, a whirring noise flew overhead, shocking them all; the sound was a bit dull, signaling that it was still far away but drawing closer with each passing second.

But Rikka began to feel a bit lightheaded and as the noise drew closer, a ringing noise pounded in her head as her heart felt like it was being squeezed painfully. She staggered briefly and then promptly sunk to her knees, pressing the heel of her palm to her forehead. Gomamon and Lunamon shouted in alarm, the former jumping off of her and to her side. Their calls caught the attention of Joe.

"Rikka, what's wrong?" Joe asked, a hand on her shoulder. "Tai! We have to stop!"

Tai was at her side before anybody could blink, his arms wrapped around her comfortingly. Rikka clung to his front and pressed her forehead against his chest. She took in a ragged breath as the noise and abrupt strange feeling faded away. Eventually, she pulling back, looked at Tai and everyone else who had crowded around her in concern.

"Are you alright?" Tai pressed, both hands planted firmly on her shoulders.

Rikka nodded slowly and hesitantly pressed her hand against her chest. What in the world was that? She had never felt like... that... before...

Her mind flashed back to that time encountering Duskmon, how she had a similar reaction like now. But what exactly did that mean?

"Rikka." She jerked slightly and looked at Tai's worried face. "Is there something wrong with your heart?"