Discovering Bai Hu

"Glad to hear it. You remind me a lot of my first grand child. Your personalities are nearly identical. Makes this old 'mon's heart leap and skip." Theos smiled softly as he was told he was like his first grandchild. It made him warm inside to make this old digimon happy. He closed his eyes as water is poured over him. He shakes his head lightly afterwards. "Here ya are son." Theos took the small towel and started rubbing himself as he steps out of the tub. "You don't know how much it means to me that you decided to stay, it's like I got a chance to take care of one of my own again."Theos looked up at him. "It will be dark soon, you can rest on the soil if it suits you when you grow tired. Let me ask you Theos, what is your goal in all this?" Theos stopped thinking about it.

"My goal...." he says thinking to himself. "Beyond gaining experience. I'd really like to meet humans. They sound like interesting beings. Oh, and I heard about a place of hot water in the middle of a big area of snow. One of the Harpymon went there for a hot water treatment.....there is just so much..." Theos chuckles at himself. "I just don't know where to start."

"I definitely don't want to go back into the desert though. My body nearly became solid rock out there." He says looking at himself.

Jared looked surprised when Theos mentioned humans, "That is rare in today's age. It's been a long time since I have seen a digimon actively seek out a human, ever since the great war and all. Are you looking for W.A.D.A. humans?" Jared asked, his stomach gurgling once more. It seemed he was so caught up with caring for young Theos that he neglected his own hunger, he simply patted it and waited for Theos to finish drying and speak when ready. "You should really be careful, not all humans are as they appear." He added.

"That is rare in today's age. It's been a long time since I have seen a digimon actively seek out a human, ever since the great war and all. Are you looking for W.A.D.A. humans?" Theos looked confused a moment. He had no idea about the war. "You should really be careful, not all humans are as they appear." He added.

"Neither are all digimon...honestly I really do have so much to learn." He looked downcast a moment. "I was never told about a war. Are things okay between our species? I've heard so many things but the mountains are so isolated. Who knows how old or if even certain news reaches our ears...." He realized there was a lot more he didn't know than he had originally thought. He knew he was naive but this naive was a surprise even to him.

He'd heard so many stories as he grew up. Since he looked like a rock when he was younger he'd camouflage himself outside of nest eating scraps. During those times he'd hear stories from parents to children or from between parents. Though no one even interacted with him directly he never felt alone. The sounds of their voices kept him company. He continued this til he became a rookie and could no longer hide. It didn't matter though. Orphaned as he was many of the mountain digimon took pity on him. Some didn't but he learned to avoid their territory and he managed to survive this long.

He didn't let his naivete get him too far down though. sure he had more to learn than he originally thought. Yet, that also meant it was good he started this early. He was young and he would have more time to learn what he could. That is right.

"I'd love to learn from someone such as yourself...if you don't mind that is." Theos said determined. He would beat his own naivete. He was good at being patient and listening; and listening to Jared stories would help him all the more.

Jared chuckled to himself, "You are very right son. Digimon maybe more shady then humans!" Jared listened to Theos' request and moved away from the table and hobbled over to the kitchen and began fixing himself a plate of what Theos left in the pot. It wasn't much but Jyagamon didn't need to eat much, afterwards he took two clay cups and placed them under the sink and ran hot water filling them both. "Ah yes, I'd be more then happy to fill you in. I to was ignorant of the world before coming down that mountain so many years ago." Jared took coco beans from a plant he had been growing nearby and crushed them into the hot water. He began to stir until it turned into a mucky brown, "Where to begin..." he asked himself hobbling over towards the table. "Well many years ago, the human government...." Jared then told the history of the world to Theos, handing him the cup of hot coco when he began, they spoke for hours. They spoke first about the war, then W.A.D.A., then the different kinds of humans Jared had met, the kind, the dangerous, the big and small. He spoke of times before the war that he learned. The different chosen humans who saved the Digital World from peril many times. How the right human could make a Digimon unbeatable. The sun had long set and the moon was already high in the sky, they had talked and laughed and talked some more. The conversation naturally fell into talking about Jared's family and the times they spent together.

"Ha ha ha....so yes my family was great. I will see them again one day, I know I will." Jared looked out the window. "Dear me, where did the time go? I'm sorry I kept you so long." Jared said.

Theos enjoyed himself greatly.He listened intently. Commented often and laughed even more often. In the end his curiosity about history was sated. Though he was sure there were some things even Jared didn't know he felt like he had learned it all. It made him content. The subject turned to his family and he gave him a warm smile. He could see the great love Jared had for him family. It made him feel like he had missed out on something great. Yet, just hearing about it made him happy. Even if he never experienced such things it was good to know others had. That was a great thing in itself.


"Ha ha ha....so yes my family was great. I will see them again one day, I know I will." He stared at Jared's profile as he looked out the window. It was easy to tell he was remembering things. "Dear me, where did the time go? I'm sorry I kept you so long."

"Not at all I had fun. I learned a lot and laughed even more. I'd love to talk some more sometime." Theos says smiling. Though he could only hear a certain amount before they repeated he didn't mind. It made Jared happy and that gave him the feeling he was doing something good. "For now though....I guess we should be heading to bed." he says also looking out the window at the sunset.

"You know it never ceases to amaze me. The sunset... How blue skies can become so many colors and then turn deep blue again. It is never the same either.....each day is like that sunset." he says and smiles. He then heads over to the dirt pile snuggling down his short tail wagging and his mind turning at all he learned.

He falls asleep with a smile on his face.

Jared hobbled over to the soil as Theos made himself comfortable, "Alright son, you have yourself a good nights rest. Sleep as long as you like." Jared went over to a clay drawer he ha near the bed and pulled out a large quilt. It was sewn to be big enough to fit the entire Jayagmon family under as Jyagamon sleep together as a herd. Jared threw the quilt over Theos and tucked it into his sides. "It has been a while, since that quilt was used. It feels good to use it again after so long." Jared thought allowed. Jared hobbled back to his dining table and sat there, watching Theos. He'd have to find another sleeping arrangement for himself, though the thought of sleeping on the soil alongside Theos crossed his mind, he felt it best not to over step. It was bad enough Jared felt like he was treating Theos like one of his own without Theos approval. "Jared you old codger. It's time to let them go. That boy isn't one of the kids, stop pretending he is." He said allowed. Jared would stay seated at the table unless spoken to and eventually fall to sleep in the early morning when his body would fall to sleep on it's own.

"Alright son, you have yourself a good nights rest. Sleep as long as you like." Theos stirred as he was tucked in. "It has been a while, since that quilt was used. It feels good to use it again after so long." It also felt good to be coddled a bit for the first time in his life. "Jared you old codger. It's time to let them go. That boy isn't one of the kids, stop pretending he is." Theos twitched his ear at this. He wondered if he was helping or hindering Jareds healing. "It is your bed you are welcome to join me." Theos murmured sleepily. Theos slowly fell back into a fitful sleep not registering whither he joined him or not.

He awoke close to noon the next day. He stretched slightly his head plopping to the side and his tongue lolling in a yawn. He got up stretching and did a slight jog around the table. He squatted into the toilet and finished with a flush. He stretched again his front legs out before him. He then sat and started scratching his ear with a hoof. His tongue catched in his mane as he licked himself. his morning routine spiking and texturing his clay like body keeping it pliable and unsettled so it would not harden. If he had joined him in bed last night he would look back over to the bed at the sleeping Jared. If not he would go grab the blanket to put on the sleeping Jared where he laid.

He would sit there at the table watching the world outside. It seemed kinda lifeless. He saw very few digimon and it was odd. The mountains were vast so you could go hours without seeing another soul. Yet this was a city. A mining city but a city none the less. He expected more life to it. It felt depressing and he wondered if many cities who had big jobs were the same. His thoughts wandered to the weather and the daylight and if he should leave or stay for a few days. Putting off his adventure while appealing didn't feel right. He couldn't waste time doing nothing when he could be learning.

Jared turned his head when Theos offered a spot in the soil, "Oh I couldn't I don't want to intrude." He said but alas a few hours later, Jared had joined Theos though he normally slept under the soil then on it he made an exception this time around. It was an odd experience but the warmth of Theos' body reminded him of the old days. Jared was happy, he kept trying to forget but Theos made him realize that remembering made him much happier then forgetting. The memory of his loved ones gave him the urge to live and for the first time he was not lonely or felt depressed. Theos was not a Jyagamon, far from it but at this point it didn't matter, they had shared their pasts with each other and Theos had never known the care of a parent as his had left him as a newborn. Jared had known that care and was able to give it to his late family but had lost that opportunity and feeling over time, he wanted to make Theos an offer in the morning. As Jared lie next Theos, Jared stroked his sleeping head twice before falling asleep himself.

By the time Theos had finished his morning routine, he'd look to the bed but not find Jared there or anywhere in the home. Jared instead was hobbling through the front door wearing a sack on his back, "Oh you're up Theos. Good good, just in time for breakfast. I got these fresh from the factory, the W.A.D.A. agents were especially kind today. I fail to see the rest of the cities distrust of them." Jared hobbled to the table where Theos sat and threw the sack on the table causing it to open up. Inside were stones of every color and size, "These are minerals that can only be found here in Bai Hu. When I was a kid, I'd come home from the factory with one of these and savor the taste. Being a stone Digimon like yourself, I was able to appreciate the taste of it. I thought you might like to try some." Jared said happily. "I already ate so don't hold back." Jared hobbled away from the table towards the bed and began to clean up. He paused suddenly and spoke, "So, uh Theos. What do you plan to do now that morning has come?" Jared asked his voice sounding a bit shaky.

Theos wondered where Jared is. It was about that time he appeared. It was a speak of the devil moment and he smiled. The humor there in his mind though lost to Jared.

"Oh you're up Theos. Good good, just in time for breakfast. I got these fresh from the factory, the W.A.D.A. agents were especially kind today. I fail to see the rest of the cities distrust of them." Theos watched him approach the table and stood as he threw it upon it. His gave it a curious glance before looking back to Jared. "These are minerals that can only be found here in Bai Hu. When I was a kid, I'd come home from the factory with one of these and savor the taste. Being a stone Digimon like yourself, I was able to appreciate the taste of it. I thought you might like to try some." Theos eyes lit up. "I already ate so don't hold back." Theos quickly dug in trying first the red ones then the blue and so on, "So, uh Theos. What do you plan to do now that morning has come?"

"I don't really have a plan...but I think I should go experience things. Go exploring a bit you know. I traveled so far perhaps too soon..... I'm not exactly strong. So.... the stronger I get the farther I should go." he nodded to himself. It was better than setting off immediately like he had initially done. Now that he had time to look back on it it was really stupid. He was extremely lucky he had not run into any digimon who would have done him harm.

"So maybe I can use this as my home base for awhile..." he says questioningly. He didn't wish to intrude on Jared. Yet, somehow he felt as though they did well together. He was learning so much from him it felt like he had gained a friend, a role model, even a father to a degree. With more time he was sure they would create a similar bond to a child and parent. Yet when it came down to it he wasn't sure if that was best. He had never had a family so it felt odd and unnatural.

Jared had finished packing away the quilt and was a little sad that Theos said he wanted to go on a journey, Jared knew all along that this was temporary but he had hoped Theos would decide to live here and grow up under Jared's roof. Of course Jared would never say that. Theos then mentioned that he'd like to make Jared's home his home base for awhile and Jared closed his eyes with a smile. He turned and hobbled over to Theos and sat in the seat next to him. "Theos, I want to tell you something...this past 24 hours your being here has brought up so many memories of my past and for a long 60 years I had not spoken of them. You have made me the happiest Digimon in the world in a day, I am blessed you crossed paths with me yesterday. You are young and adventuress and I wasn't lying when I said you remind me of my first grandchild, this may be a bit inappropriate and premature but during this whole time you were my family. If my life were to expire now, I'd have no regrets. From this day on, even when I am gone from this world, this home and everything in it is your home too. Now, I cannot replace your folks no sirree, but I'd be more then happy to act as your grandfather or father whatever you prefer. Perhaps, one day we can make it official and petition Bai Hu to grant me guardianship over you, or we can be friends. I want you to know that no matter how far you go, should it be back across the desert or all the way to the human world, my door will always be open to you lad." Jared smiled, a small tear escaped his right eye.

"I don't know how much time remains for me on this world as I approach my second century but I would love to spend it being someone you can rely on." Jared looked at his wall with the pictures of his family. "They would want me to." Jared looked to Theos. "You don't have to return the feelings I have, after all I am just some old codger with century old memories that you just met for the first time yesterday. Heh heh heh! You might even think I'm a loon! It wouldn't be the first time ha ha ha! But these things I've said are what you planted in this old man's heart. So, you are welcomed here all the time." Jared patted Theos' hoof closest to him. "Will you be leaving after you eat?" He asked.

"Theos, I want to tell you something...this past 24 hours your being here has brought up so many memories of my past and for a long 60 years I had not spoken of them. You have made me the happiest Digimon in the world in a day, I am blessed you crossed paths with me yesterday. You are young and adventuress and I wasn't lying when I said you remind me of my first grandchild, this may be a bit inappropriate and premature but during this whole time you were my family. If my life were to expire now, I'd have no regrets. From this day on, even when I am gone from this world, this home and everything in it is your home too. Now, I cannot replace your folks no sirree, but I'd be more then happy to act as your grandfather or father whatever you prefer. Perhaps, one day we can make it official and petition Bai Hu to grant me guardianship over you, or we can be friends. I want you to know that no matter how far you go, should it be back across the desert or all the way to the human world, my door will always be open to you lad." Theos was surprised at this declaration. They hardly knew one another and yet Jared was ready to give it all to him. His heart ached. He couldn't help but to feel a connection how could he not call this digimon grandpa after such a heartfelt admission.

"I don't know how much time remains for me on this world as I approach my second century but I would love to spend it being someone you can rely on." Theos knew he was a care taker. "They would want me to." Theos met Jared's eyes softness in them. "You don't have to return the feelings I have, after all I am just some old codger with century old memories that you just met for the first time yesterday. Heh heh heh! You might even think I'm a loon! It wouldn't be the first time ha ha ha! But these things I've said are what you planted in this old man's heart. So, you are welcomed here all the time." Theos moved closer to him. "Will you be leaving after you eat?"

He threw his hooves around him and gave him a big hug. He stayed there a moment.

"You may be a loon but you are my loon grandpa." Theos says smiling. He felt it was sudden and quick but he loved him for it. "I probably will go out for a bit but i will definitely be back before sun down and tell you all about it. " He stood his body tingling with excitement. "I hope when I am old and wizened that i am like you."

He finished his meal shortly there after. He smiled and waved again giving his assurances he would be back soon before leaving the house. He headed down the streets to the desert to do some training. He'd run a bit, maybe push rocks around. He would get stronger. His steps hit sand before long as he was soon to make those plans a reality.

Jared's eyes widened as Theos embraced him. It wasn't the reaction he was expecting but Theos pierced his heart and Jared embraced him back. Tears rolling down the old stone digimon's face. For the first time in 80 years he had a family. It was refreshing and it was like everything dark in his past melted away in their embrace. Jared felt like his life had been rejuvenated and he could live for a third century and a fourth.

He couldn't bring himself to stop crying, "Oh Theos, I'd be honored to call you grandson." He exclaimed. He released Theos and wiped his eyes which were puffy and red. Theos in a flash, ate the rest of his breakfast and headed out the door saying he'd be back. "Okay, son. I will be waiting!" He said waving as Theos ran off. It was now silent and Jared was alone and for the first time, this clay dome no longer felt empty and alone.

"I will be waiting." He said to himself with a smile. He looked to the pictures of his past and specifically looked to his late wife. "You'll have to wait a little longer, my dear Isabelle. I have another to raise." With that he cleared his face when a single droplet escaped his eye. He jumped down from the table and hobbled off towards the kitchen to prepare supper for his new grandson.

Theos trotted back into the dome stretching slightly. It felt good to be home. Let alone to have a place to call home. It felt oddly reassuring. While he was in the desert he was regretting having come down as he had struggled to move. Yet ow he didn't regret a thing. He found family and a home. His feelings had changed so fast. Not to mention his life.

"I'm home," he declared.

Theos let out a smile as his nose took in the aroma of dinner. He'd never been so well fed in his life. Sure he could eat all the rocks on the mountain but there was nothing like having it made into a proper meal. His tail wagged and he approached the table.

"You look like you've been busy too," Theos said as he watched Jared.