Frontiers Unexplored

21) Winds of Determination

Fioremon's actions were measured and slow as she made her way towards the area of the beach where Lobomon was waiting. Blitzmon was busy fetching the rest of the group, leaving only the Warriors of Wood and Light to stare at each other silently. Lobomon had already called his sword to his hand, and he grasped at the handle as tightly as he could manage without hurting himself. 

Fioremon's eyes were hidden behind her mask, but her expression still told a clear story. She didn't want to be there as far as Lobomon could tell, and he couldn't blame her. He didn't want to be fighting with her either, and yet, there he was. After all that had happened in the past day, he was in a sour mood, and the idea of charging into battle against Fioremon gave him even more of a headache. 

He studied her for a moment before her head tilted to the side. Everything about her read as if she was resigned to her fate, not caring about the battle to come but already understanding the outcome. Fioremon let out a sigh before shaking her head. She was far enough away from him that he couldn't attack quite yet, but Lobomon still kept his gaze trained on her in case of the slightest movement. 

Lobomon was vaguely aware of voices behind him, and he knew that the rest of the group had arrived. Fioremon sighed before raising her bow slowly. An arrow formed from thin air before she released it, and Lobomon snarled at the attack before slashing his sword up to chop it in half. The two halves of Fioremon's vine arrow fell to the ground ineffectively before disappearing into the sand. 

The next action was far from being one that Lobomon expected. Cybelemon came up to his left, and he instinctively flinched away. As far as he was aware, they didn't know how to keep the Beast Spirit under control. Even so, they seemed to be managing, and with a quick flick of their wrist, the sand began to stir in a large twister before flying at Fioremon in an angry puff. Cybelemon frowned heavily as Fioremon vanished into the sandy cloud. 

Lobomon continued watching Cybelemon out of the corner of his eye to make sure that they weren't about to fall apart due to a lack of control. Cybelemon didn't shift at all, not caring at all that they had his attention. They seemed to be fine for once, not flying off in a thousand directions at once or splitting mountains in half. The attack at Fioremon had been deliberate and careful, and Lobomon only looked away when he was sure that Cybelemon was truly alright and that such an action hadn't been accidental. 

Fioremon reappeared when the sand cloud had dispersed fully, and a frown had appeared on her face. Aside from that, she hadn't changed in the slightest. She stepped forward carefully, fully lifted onto her toes, and plants began to rise up from the ground in a steady line between Fioremon and the rest of the Legendary Warriors. 

Lobomon managed to slash at the vines that grew near to him, but the rest of the group wasn't as lucky. Blizzarmon hacked away at a set of vines going for his right arm, completely missing the tendrils that went after his left side. Vritramon's wing was grabbed forcefully before he was yanked towards the sand, hitting the ground with a large puff of sand. Cybelemon was tethered to the ground soon afterwards, leaving only Blitzmon and Lobomon freed. 

The two Warriors immediately went to work to free the rest of their companions, Lobomon using his sword to cut the vines to ribbons. Blitzmon recognized that Lobomon had the rest of the party taken care of, prompting him to dive towards Fioremon. He prepared an electric attack before allowing it to fly free. 

Fioremon took a graceful step to the right, too fast to be hit by Blitzmon's blow. The lightning hit the sand off to her side, singing it immediately, and the smell of burnt sand made Lobomon cringe instinctively. He moved away from the rest of the group after finishing his hurried slashes at the vines from the ground. 

"What are you doing here?" Cybelemon questioned angrily as Fioremon steadied herself once more. They were on the verge of launching towards the Warrior of Wood, and their claws seemed to gleam dangerously sharp in the midday sunshine.