In a few minutes, everyone was moving again, in his or her previous positions. Tai and Sora were both wrapped up in their own thoughts. Biyomon and Agumon were beginning to worry. Around noon on the second day of travel, Tentomon claimed that he detected water. He was right, and they soon found a large stream. Joe, Izzy, Matt and TK started looking for food, while Mimi sat down and began to complain immediately. The Digimon had collapsed in an undignified heap and were snoring loudly. "Some help you are." Sora muttered. Joe pointed out. "Someone needs to collect firewood and start a fire."

"I'll do it." Tai and Sora said simultaneously. They stared at each other, both trying to hide the panic. Oh, come on Tai, you're just going to go get firewood.

"Um, split up, or stick together?" Sora asked nervously. Oh man…I want to stay away, so I don't embarrass myself, but…

"Might as well stay together. That way there will be two of us if trouble comes up." That sounds logical. I hope. Maybe I should have just said we should stay separate. Well, too late now.

"Yeah, okay."

Except for the fact that neither could so much as look at the other for more than half a second, nothing particularly interesting happened during the firewood excursion. What is this? Sora thought. I've known Tai longer than anyone here, but I can't talk to him? All because of a silly dream?

Agumon had finally woken up, so Tai got him to start the fire with a Pepper Breath. Everyone crowded around the fire, trying to cook the food.

"FOOLISH DIGI-DESTINED." A voice boomed. Myotismon appeared, flanked by two unknown Digimon. One resembled Ogremon, but was purple and covered in quills. The other was a vague, boxy shape with eyes.

"Agumon digivolve to: Greymon!"

"Gabumon digivolve to: Garurumon!"

"Tentomon digivolve to: Kabuterimon!"

"Biyomon digivolve to: Birdramon!"

"Gomamon digivolve to: Ikkakumon!"

"Palmon digivolve to: Togemon!"

"Nova Blast!"

"Harpoon Torpedo!"

"Howling Blaster!"

"Needle Spray!"

"Meteor Wing!"

"Electro-Shocker!"

"Boom Bubble! POW!"

It was no use. While the attacks hit dead on, they did practically nothing to Myotismon. He laughed evilly. "Crimson Lightning!"

The red whip of electricity arced down and knocked away most of the Digimon.

"Electro-Shocker!"

"Meteor Wing!"

The red arc struck again, bringing Kabuterimon and Birdramon down to earth. The kids ran toward their injured friends.

Tai reached Greymon and noticed a slight burn on his side. "C'mon Greymon, get up! We can't lose, we're the Digi-Destined, remember?"

"I can't move, Tai." Greymon said in a strained voice.

The purple quilled thing stepped forward at some voiceless command. "Quill Missiles Launch!"

Tai followed the path the quills would take. Who's he aiming at? The quills are headed straight…for…"Sora!"

Without stopping to think, he raced towards Sora and shoved her out of the way. The missiles intended for her struck him instead. Tai was knocked back about thirty feet, slamming into a boulder. "Tai! No!" Sora yelled, and ran back towards him.

"GREYMON DIGIVOLVE TO: METAL GREYMON!"

"BIRDRAMON DIGIVOLVE TO: GARUDAMON!"

"Wing Blaze!"

"Giga Blaster!"

The attacks destroyed Myotismon's flunkies and wounded Myotismon. Wrapping his cloak around him, Myotismon disappeared with the chilling words. "Next time, Digi-destined. And then I shall have to deal with only six of you."

"Tai!" Sora knelt by his unconscious body and searched desperately for a pulse. There, weak, but steady. After making sure he was breathing, Sora tried to pull the quills out. Fortunately, they were not barbed, so the quills did no more damage exiting his body than they had entering it. Sora had cleaned and bandaged all the major wounds and was starting on the minor ones when her friends arrived. "Is he gonna be okay?" TK asked worriedly.

Matt flashed him a confident smile. "Of course he is, little bro."

I hope so. I really hope so.

"I suggest that no one touch the points of those quills, since we do not know if they have poison or venom on them." Izzy pointed out.

"Yeah, that would be bad." Joe affirmed. "How do we, ah, dispose of them?"

"I say we burn the vile things." Sora said. Izzy shrugged. "I suppose that would be the best way." He and Joe dragged the pile that Sora had made away from the camp and set it ablaze.

No one said much that night, or for the next week. Yokomon and Koromon digivolved back to Biyomon and Agumon. Sora and Agumon kept watch over Tai, taking turns during the night so that one would be getting some sleep. Finally, Tai regained consciousness one night during Sora's shift. His eyes recognized the blurry shape in front of him. "Sora?" he asked weakly. Sora took one of his hands. "I'm here, Tai." Tai struggled to get into a sitting position, which helped his eyes clear up. "Sora…are you all right?"

"Tai, you're the one who has been unconscious for a week, and you're asking me if I'm okay? But thanks for asking. I'm much better now that you're awake." Did I really just say that? He's going to know that I like him…just like I finally realized. I have to know…"Tai?"

"Yes?"

I can't go through with it! But I already have his attention. "You must be in tremendous pain…Is there anything I can do to help?"

I can't let her find out how much it really hurts. She'll only worry and probably lose sleep. Of course, I could be a better actor if it didn't feel as though a volcano had just erupted inside my blood. The burning…I can't let her know. "It hurts some, but it's nothing I can't handle." He flashed her a confident smile.

I can't take it. I have to know. "Why did-why did you save me?"

Does she suspect…? "Because you're a friend." She's more than that, but how can I tell her?

Is that all I am to you? Sora thought, somewhat hurt.

I've always been blunt…the worst that could happen is that she'll think I'm joking. "And because…I love you." Tai closed his eyes and felt the blush creeping across his face as he waited for her reaction.

He loves me? "You-you love me?" Sora stuttered, happily shocked.

Tai nodded his head. Oh, no, she hates me now.

Sora didn't get the chance to clarify her feelings. "SO, DIGI-DESTINED, IT SEEMS YOUR LEADER STILL LIVES." Myotismon boomed, startling everyone awake.

"Digivolving time!" Agumon yelled.

"Agumon digivolve to: Greymon!"

"Gabumon digivolve to: Garurumon!"

"Tentomon digivolve to: Kabuterimon!"

"Biyomon digivolve to: Birdramon!"

"Gomamon digivolve to: Ikkakumon!"

"Palmon digivolve to: Togemon!"

"Grisly Wing!" Myotismon yelled. The stream of bats swooped towards the Digimon.

"Needle Spray!"

"Meteor Wing!"

The bats fell, either scorched or stabbed. The others pressed on their attacks.

"Nova Blast!"

"Harpoon Torpedo!"

"Howling Blaster!"

"Electro-Shocker!"

"Boom Bubble! POW!"

"Meteor Wing!"

"Needle Spray!"

Myotismon was apparently still feeling the effects of the last battle, since this time, the attacks had some effect on him. Greymon reared his head back for another Nova Blast.

Tai watched his friends battling. The fire pain in his veins was rapidly increasing. "Sora…I'll always love you. Please don't forget me…" His body sank back to the ground.

Greymon shrank back to Agumon, then to Koromon. Sora stared, then it clicked. "Tai! Oh no!" She ran back to where she had left Tai. She frantically searched for a pulse, or breathing, but could find nothing. Nothing. He's gone. Sora thought miserably. And I never told him how I felt.


Section 3