Digimon VIRAL
Episode Two
Wild Dog Howling

   The dust from the attacks cleared quickly. The scene earned a shocked expression from the team. Though slightly roughed up and with ice crystals in her fur, the Kiwimon appeared unfazed. And she was cackling evilly.

   "You amuse me so, you know. I could understand the Hydramon being beaten oh so easily but me? Beaten by a bunch of Rookies? How absurd!" She laughed some more, obviously very full of herself.

   "Oh just please shut up." Ospreymon had electricity crackling around his claws. "Lutramon?"

   "It'd be my pleasure" The otter Digimon opened her mouth, her jellyfish tentacles rising up. "MARINE CRASH!" A thick jet of hot water was shot at the bird, who was soaked but otherwise unaffected.

   "I get it now..." Nathan muttered, "Why Lutramon always soaks them before this..."

   "Electrical Outlet!!" The bird flew directly into Kiwimon, almost crashing but managing to get his claws into her feathers. The same voltage that destroyed Hydramon coursed into the giant kiwi. The water from the otter Digimon helped the electricity penetrate!

   Kiwimon screeched, but the screech soon became a disturbing laughter. She obviously faked being affected. Ospreymon was thrown off as she shook herself wildly, flinging the smaller bird into a tree.

   "Ospreymon!" Audrey ran over to his partner, hoping he wasn't terribly hurt.

   "Damnit." Canismon glared at the Champion-level Digimon. "We can't take him on one by one...like that. We wouldn't stand a chance."

   "Then let's do it the way we always do." Kotamon pulled her claws back, forming five arrows this time.

   "Here here." Lutramon ran over to the Kiwi, and began spinning quickly. "Aqua Twister!" The bird winced, she was being hit right in the eyes.

   "Glacial Arrow!" The blue feline shot all five of the arrows at Kiwimon's feet, which would hold it for at least a little. "Canismon!!"

   "Landmine!" His feet were once more bathed in that red glow, and he made sure to circle the Digimon as many times as he could. He leaped away from it and the mines exploded once he hit ground.

   "Nice job guys!" Gin called out.

   "That seemed too easy..." Zuru pondered.

   Once the dust cleared it seemed she was correct. Kiwimon shook off the dirt, water and remaining ice that covered her brown feathers.

   "You meddling weaklings! You have angered me, and that will be for the last time! LITTLE PECKER!" Small brown birds with tiny white helmets and black feet shot from the beak of Kiwimon. Shooting into the remaining Digimon like missiles. They exploded and the Digimon were knocked back, significantly injured.

   Their respective partners ran over to check on them.

   "Lutramon, please say something!" Gin had slight tears in her eyes.

   "I'm okay, Gin"

   "Kotamon? Are you okay?" Zuru apprehensively reached towards the large cat, who nodded a response.

   "Canismon, that was insane..." Nathan really had no idea what to do.

   "No, Nathan..." The white dog struggled to get up. "What's insane is...giving up."

   Kiwimon cackled evilly. "That's not an insane idea at all! Why, it's exactly what you should do!"

   "SHUT UP YOU STUPID BIRD!" The purple haired boy violently gave the thing a rude gesture with his finger. "Why can't you leave us alone!?"

   "Nathan!"

   The giant Digimon's eyes widened, then filled with more anger. "You ignorant little creature. How dare you address me in such a manner! AVIARY MISSILE!" A large white beam shot from Kiwimon's mouth - another unnatural attack.

   The boy stared forwards in shock, he hadn't expected it to attack. But before it hit, his Digivice produced a bright red glow, which expanded and surrounded his partner.

   "CANISMON EVOLVE..."

   The Digimon expanded in size. The feathers on his back fused together to become rather finlike. His front paws elongated, and now only had two, long claws. His back paws transformed into white goat-like hooves. The one, curled red tail split into two larger ones. And he now had a red, zigzagged bandana around his waist, gold rings on his ears, and one in his nose. 

   "ARAINUMON!"

   The great dog leaped forwards, catching the white beam in his fore claws, tearing it apart. Kiwimon gasped.

   "No one dares attack my partner in such a manner, you disgusting thing!" His voice was deeper, and more gravelly now. "WILD STONE LANDSLIDE!!" The sky flashed quickly, with a bright white light that faded as soon as it had appeared. Red static shapes appeared around Kiwimon, which suddenly took on the form of giant pointy stones. They hung in the air for a second before plummeting down into the opposing Digimon.

   Kiwimon screamed in pain. But Arainumon wasn't done yet, he moved between the rocks - very quickly for his size - and caught the bird in the side with one of his hooves. She was pummeled by the giant stones as she slid, finally stopping when she hit a thick tree, breaking it in half.

   "You...How dare you! I CAN NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS NOW!" She leapt at him once more, but his claws caught her in an uppercut before she got too close, and held her skull in place.

   Arainumon pulled her close, until she was inches from his face. The golden ring in his nose gleamed in the sunlight.

   "As if I need forgiveness from something like you. You cannot even think for yourself. Your mind is swept clean of your own thoughts. It is as if you were voluntarily possessed by your master."

   Kiwimon could barely move her beak as she spoke. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing. I would voluntarily serve my master until the day that I die."

   "Then you must be really, really stupid." Arainumon whipped his arm around, flinging the bird away from him. "DEMON FISSURE!" He flexed his long claws, and thrust them into the ground, producing a giant crack in the ground which headed for the now landed Kiwimon.

   "No! It won't end in such a way!" The giant bird leaped out of the way of the crevice. "A simple hole can never defeat me! Little Pecker!" The tiny bird missiles shot out once more.

   "You're just proving to me your stupidity." Arainumon knocked the tiny things down to the ground, where they exploded weakly. "Plus, my attack hadn't finished".

   "What!?" Kiwimon was then caught off guard when multiple, shadowy claws reached out from the fissure the giant canine created. They scratched and grabbed at Kiwimon, pulling her into the darkness. "Nooooo! This cannot be! I could not have been defeated so easily!!"

   The claws gripped tighter, squishing the Digimon. She soon exploded into fragments of data and the claws retreated. A small grey computer chip was left in her place. It began to fall to the ground but a remaining claw snatched it out of the air, and pulled it into the gap, which closed with a resonating rumble.

   Nathan stared at the giant thing that was his partner in awe. "Arainumon...how?"

   He looked at the boy with his black rimmed, blue eyes. "I told you there was a use for the Digivices...This must be it." He sighed quietly. "Are the others alright?"

   Lutramon sat up. "I think we are. Wow, Champion level."

   "Congratulations Cane." Ospreymon was on his feet, and he and Audrey had come over during the battle.

   Kotamon just stared at him, seemingly speechless.

   "Will our Digimon be able to do that too?" Zuru poked at her green Digivice.

   "I don't see why not." The giant Digimon nodded slowly.

   "Cani-err-Arainumon?" Nathan apprehensively approached his partner.

   "Hm?"

   "Thanks...for saving me back there...I shouldn't have been so stupid." He lightly punched his head repeatedly. He was also blushing red from embarrassment.

   "Kid, I told you...it's my job. If you hadn't provoked it then...it most likely would've chosen them all as targets. And without such...concentrated energy, this could have been much more difficult."

   Kotamon pouted, her own face was red. "Arainumon I'd like to thank you too." It was almost too obvious she didn't want to have to say this. "If it weren't for you..." She sighed. "We probably would'a ended up like that turkey. Or worse."

   The giant canine smirked. "I wouldn't let that happen to my friends...Besides. I'm sure you, captain amazing, could have taken them on if I failed." He put his paw on the blue feline's head, as if he were going to give her a noogie. Instead, he underestimated the weight of his fist, and thus knocked Kotamon to the ground.

   Lutramon chuckled. "His size is getting him overconfident. I'd hate to see what happens once he's back to normal."

   Audrey, who was sitting beside the otter, looked at her curiously. "Why? What'll happen?"

   Ospreymon grinned. "Ever see a cat beat up a dog?"

   The white haired boy blinked, and then shook his head slowly. "No but...I'm sure that'll be an interesting sight."

   A drop of sweat ran down the back of Nathan's head. He could see the tension building up in front of him. And at that moment, a red light enveloped Arainumon and he returned to his Rookie form. The boy smiled nervously.

   "Canismon..." A little anneurysm was visible on the blue feline's forehead as she peeled her face out of the dirt.

   The white dog blinked, his pupils small. Apparently, Digimon change personality a little when they Evolve. But now...he had lost his calm edge and was staring fearfully at the angry Digimon.

   "And after I brought up the nerve to say something nice...you...you...THREW MY FACE INTO THE FLOOR!"

   Kotamon leaped up onto her feet, and then pounced at Canismon, who managed to dodge. Without wasting any time, he was off and running, the feline right behind him.

   Gin and Zuru were speechless watching the scene. And didn't really know whether to be amused or concerned.

   Nathan walked over to the group and plopped down onto the ground. "Please, someone tell me this is safe and normal."

   Lutramon was on her back laughing hysterically.

   Ospreymon tore himself from the amusing sight to answer. "Normal, sure. And if by safe you mean that they won't slaughter each other with special attacks, then unfortunately that's the case too."

   "Looks like Kotamon is a little sensitive to being thrown into the ground." Gin mumbled, and then chuckled a little.

   Zuru let a disturbed smile creep onto her face. "A little?"

   It seemed that for the next hour or so, all they saw was the two Digimon chasing each other around. And when Canismon couldn't get out of the way, he'd get wrestled to the ground. Then with the right amount of writhing and biting he'd get away again, and the scene would replay.

------------------

   The four kids sat on the roof of the old barn, their eyes on a flaming red sunset. The light gleamed on the metal shingles, except where they were rusted. It looked like a field of lava. The river below them sparkled with the same intensity, and they could hear the water bubbling over the rocks. Occasionally a gentle wind would blow through, making the leaves on the trees rustle, and disturb sleeping birds which chirped their protests.

   "I'm still amazed how much this place looks like our own world...it makes me feel comfortable here." Nathan muttered in awe.

   "Like the countryside...it's so quiet and...natural." Zuru commented, trying to re-tie the yellow ribbon in her hair.

   "I just love hearing the water." Gin was sprawled out, warming herself with the setting sun's warmth. "So relaxing."

   It was quiet for about a minute after that.

   "Why do you like this place, Audrey? If you do..." Lutramon absentmindedly played with her long feet as she asked this.

   The boy was quiet for a few seconds, then he frowned. "Because there's people here that talk to me."

   "Why? Are you some antisocial freak that no one likes back in your world?" The green bird Digimon piped up rudely.

   "Ospreymon!"

   The bird let out a squawk as he was kicked off of the roof by a long white paw. At least he could fly.

   "You ho, that was completely uncalled for." Kotamon, the offending kicker, crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance.

   Audrey smiled lightly. "No, it's okay. He's like that a lot, I'm sure you know."

   Gin opened her eyes, and seeing the boy's sad face, promptly rolled over and then sat up beside him. "Even so, no reason for you to let him be like that."

   The white haired boy looked at her without moving his head. "I don't mind, really." And then went back to being silent.

   "Well...all right." Gin frowned lightly, then lay down again.

   Zuru looked up at Nathan, who was sitting a little higher than her. "You believe 'im?"

   Nath shook his head.

   Canismon sighed. "Humans..."

   "You're one to talk." Ospreymon was back on the roof, perched right at the top.

   "Shut up, please." The white dog then went back to curling up to sleep. He still had dirty and matted areas on his fur from his previous scrabbles.

------------------

   The sun had barely finished descending when the eight of them returned to the run-down, gray building. Whatever light had been inside was now competely gone, either cut off by the trees or taken away by the sun's own need to sleep. And it wasn't long after that they were all asleep.

   Canismon was on watch, and he himself was feeling drowsy. Nathan slept with his back against a wooden crate, his fleece blanket haphazardly draped over his body. Zuru was several crates up, curled up in a tightly wrapped ball - Kotamon was on the next crate over, sleeping in a stereotypical feline position. Audrey was silently sleeping in one of the darkest corners. He could have been not sleeping at all, his face was even covered with his blanket. Ospreymon was perched above him, and was furthest away from the other Digimon, still offended but purposely dragging out his grudge. Acting like an upset girlfriend. Gin and Lutramon were sleeping in some sort of blanket-covered lump of human and Digimon, and would occasionally snore in duet format.

   The sky outside was an inky black. It almost looked like it was a soup of squid ink. Now that must be a pretty unappetizing soup. Of course, there was the large glowing sphere of the moon, stealing the light from the sleeping sun. There was the occasional owl hoot, or a gentle breeze, but nothing else really seemed to move. Or did it? Something moved down in the bushes, making faint rustling sounds. Rustling wouldn't usually wake up sleepers, but Canismon has really good hearing, doesn't he?

   And not a second too soon the canine Digimon was snapped out of his drowsy state, and was keenly staring at the ground from the window in the loft. Three Woodmon sneaked - well, sort of sneaked - out from the bushes. One of them was larger, and had a gouged-out scar running down his side. His two partners seemed uneasy, but followed close behind.

   Canismon's black-rimmed blue eyes narrowed, and he leaped down from the window. He couldn't land on his feet, but he rolled over once and stood, unharmed. He bared his teeth and confronted the slightly startled Woodmon.

   "Who do you think you are and what is your purpose sneaking about at this hour?"

   "Oh because you have a clock to know what time it is, for all you know it's still early." One of the Woodmon snapped back, throwing the white dog a smirk.

   In return the walking tree got a nice big stone smashing off part of it's head. "I don't have time for stupidity... Just answer me."

   The larger Woodmon took a step forward. "First off, don't be treating my comrades that way. Second of all, what we're up to is irrelevant to you because you're just going to step aside and let us go about our business."

   Canismon growled lightly. "Some nerve... I'm not allowing you...to take a single step further...until you tell me why you're still in my face."

   The third Woodmon spoke up this time, "Whatever we're here for ain't for you to know, for sure. We already know our master doesn't like you."

   In response, Canismon's pupils dilated slightly. "Master..." He quickly got to his feet and howled. Really, really loudly. Definitely loud enough to awaken his sleeping team. But the howl was cut off when the largest of the Woodmon smacked him into the barn wall. A high-pitched whimper was mixed in with the resonating thump.

   Audrey was the first one out, bursting through the doors. Guess he really wasn't sleeping as soundly as he appeared to have been. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed the three leafless trees outside. The other three Digimon arrived right after him. Nathan ran out, and noticed his partner crumpled up by the wall. Gin and Zuru jogged out, their eyes still full of sleep.

   "Canismon! Come on man, are you okay?" Nathan lifted the dog's long red ears, and strained to find signs of life.

   The white dog stirred, and his eyes eased open. "We have to...destroy them." His pupils were unfocused, but the panic in them was visible.

   "I think we could've guessed that much." Kotamon had her claws tensed and ready.

   Lutramon tripped slightly when she stepped forward, her feet still not completely awake. "Let me guess, they were sent here?"

   "Well that seems only a little obvious." Seemingly knocked from his grudge, Ospreymon stood at Audrey's side.

   Canismon pulled himself up, gently shook his ears from Nathan's grasp, and the boy's hands dropped to his sides. "They were...sneaking around in the bushes. Probably planning a sneak attack of some sort..."

   Zuru frowned. "Who would've thought something that ugly could come up with a vaguely intelligent idea like that." She then smiled.

   The three Woodmon were clearly offended. The largest one flung a thick splinter at the red-haired girl, but it was frozen in place and fell to the ground.

   The remaining ice crystals fell from Kotamon's paw. "Don't provoke them!"

   "Seems like they're already provoked..." Gin muttered.

   Nathan stood up. "Gin's right. We've got no choice now..."

   His partner was already on his feet. The other Digimon had been ready the whole time.

   "You sure don't!" One of the Woodmon commented. "So just surrender and it'll make this easier..."

   Ospreymon snorted loudly. "Good luck. Lightning Typhoon!" His giant tornado of electricity spiralled up and forwards.

   "Summon Stone!"

   "Glacial Arrow!"

   "Marine Crash!"

   The scalding water hit first, softening and burning their wooden bodies. Then the high-voltage twister sent pain coursing through them. Kotamon's nitrogen-like arrows froze them in place, and the great stone spikes knocked them into the air, setting them down painfully.

   Of course, it all seemed to have worked for a few seconds, as the four teenagers let a feeling of success sink in. But sure enough, the three Woodmon crawled to their feet, more angry than ever.

   They raised their spiked arms in unison. "WOODY SMASH!" Great, sharp splinters shot forwards like a barrage of high-speed shrapnel. The Digimon did the best that they could to stop the shards from hitting their partners, but they were terribly damaged in the process. One of the splinters passed through and cut a little part of Nathan's cheek.

   "Owwww. Canismon! You have to...oh, what was it called..." The boy messed up his hair in thought. "Evolve! You've got to Evolve again!"

   The white dog opened his eyes, and struggled to his feet. "I can't Nathan...not only have I used up...most of my energy on it last time...but that time you were in danger...and that must have...triggered it..."

   Nathan pointed to his cheek with a pouty face. "And you don't call this being in danger?"

   Kotamon sighed. "You know what he means, kid..."

   Audrey, who had been so quiet the entire time, stood up. His amber eyes were set in a frown, and he was staring at the Woodmon.

   "In danger..." He quietly muttered.

   "Oh God. Audrey, don't be a dumbass." Ospreymon smacked his own forehead with his wing.

   Gin stared at the teen in shock. "Oh no, don't do it..."

   The white-haired boy tilted his head to the side to throw Gin a glance, smiled, then looked back at the angry yet slightly confused tree Digimon.

   "He's a madman." Zuru simply stated.



BACK