Whistle while we...work?

The trip itself was hot and sweaty with so many in such a small space. He wasn't sure but maybe walking would have been better. At least if he walked there everyday his leg muscles would build up and over time it would be difficult right? Maybe he'd start doing that after a few days. After all it was still early enough in the morning the heat outside wouldn't be to bad.

He watched the scenery go by. Sand.....sand....and crosses. A graveyard for those who perished in the mines. He listened to Butchs words but he did really hear them. He was busy trying to count how many there were. What ever the amount it was a lot and well more than he could count in such short time. Finally they arrived the giant dirt entrance was dimly lit in a deep brown hue.

He hopped out almost immediately after seeing the first few get off. Dan was thirsty and so was he to a degree. His body kept moisture pretty well and even if he sweated most would be absorbed back into his clay.

The usually talkative Theos said nothing though it would only make matters worse to say it himself. No it was better to not dwell on it. He listened as the Mamemon spoke. Hostiles? wouldn't have been better to lock up the mine in someway then so hostiles couldn't move in? Something felt off about it.

"We'll manage somehow," Theos replied to Dan before butch walked up. It seems they had their third member and he was kind of glad for it. They could use a senior member in their group. He walked after him making sure his eyes didn't leave the Spadamon's back as they headed deeper into the mines.

"I'm worried too. You know what though. There is three of us and we all can watch one another backs. I knew this was going to be hard coming in but I also know i'll just get stronger for it. We both will," Theos said and cast him a smile.

They finally came to a lift. Rusted with age and not looking to good. It took the teams down one at a time. Though it also looked like there was another way down. A very steep path off to one side that a few of the other teams were disappearing down. He looked to Spadamon questioningly. Which would they take?

Dan followed behind Theos keeping his head drooped down and kept mostly to himself, the mines at the entrance were only as hot as the desert outside, in fact it was cooler because the sun was not beating down, Dan felt a bit better feeling the coolness. Butch had walked up to the freight elevator as it began to go down with a group of digimon, they would need to wait there turn. Butch looked at Theos and Dan "Mamemon said we're to go down to the deepest level, so that's where we'll go. The slope over there leads to the toilets...well...if you could call an open room with no privacy a toilet. Most digimon go now because once we're down there, coming back to use it is impossible. If either of you have to go, now would be the time." Butch leaned against a metal railing as he would wait for the elevator to rise back up. Dan looked at Theos and then at Butch, "I am fine. I think..." Dan said, Mamemon had walked by Butch, Dan and Theos and gave a smile and a wink at the two new faces. Dan smiled back, "I wouldn't be to friendly with the foreman." Butch said. Dan looked at Butch and wondered why, "The guy is a scum bag. He has a thing for us kids. If you expect to ask him for a favor or rations, I hope you're prepared to pay the price." Butch said he turned away. It seemed Butch had a history with the foreman, though what that was eluded Dan. He didn't quite understand Butch's meaning behind his words.

Mamemon then began to speak up, "Listen up! Now that your group has been made, make sure you select a group captain among you! They'll be in charge for the remainder of the day. If you pass a group who went down already be sure to tell them. As usual, if you need anything of me, you just need to ask. I'm always in my chamber here on the first level." Mamemon seemed friendly enough. Once he was done talking, he walked into a room with a door. The boys could catch a glimpse of it's interior. It had A/C that much they could tell, and it seemed quite comfortable looking with all of the bright colors. Then the elevator came back up to take the next group down, "Butch are you going to be our captain?" Dan asked. Butch shook his head in disagreement, "Nothing ever good happens when I'm a captain. I suggest one of you two become one." Butch said walking onto the elevator. "I-I don't think I should, I vote Theos." Dan said patting Theo's back, "He seems able enough." Butch agreed. "Now are you two coming or not?" Butch said. Dan looked at Theos and then walked onto the elevator. Once Theos was on it, it would begin to descend "Hey Butch, the foreman seemed like he cared about our well being, is he really so bad?" Dan asked. Butch did not respond, the question merely made him cringe a little, Dan did not pursue it any further.

As the elevator descended the temperature slowly started to increase, after they passed the ninth level it was hotter then the very desert itself. "Why...is it so hot...?" Dan questioned. "That's because this mine exists over a lake of molten hot magma, it has veins running through the walls. If we're not careful when we're digging, we could spring a leak and that could be disastrous. One other thing, these mines are home to a lot of Dokugemon and their children...do not grow complacent or you'll end up as someone's snack." Butch said. "Why are there only kids like us doing this kind of work?" Dan asked. "The older digimon usually work the factory back in town. It's just how things are here." Butch explained. Finally, the freight elevator reached it's destination and the doors opened up, it was very poorly lit and the other groups dispersed. "Okay guys, we can pick a spot to start mining...do you see that big wooden cart in front of the fright elevator? That is where we will put all of our ore in. Once it's full they send it up and out, then send the cart back down." Butch explained. "As captain, you can pick a room to start working from. I don't care where you decide. It's the same hell no matter what." Butch said to Theos. Dan was looking around, being a mammal his eyes were good in dark places so he could see things pretty clearly despite the dim lighting. He was worried about these hostiles Mamemon had mentioned and was looking around.

"Mamemon said we're to go down to the deepest level, so that's where we'll go. The slope over there leads to the toilets...well...if you could call an open room with no privacy a toilet. Most digimon go now because once we're down there, coming back to use it is impossible. If either of you have to go, now would be the time." Theos thought about five hours before they could come back up for break. Now that he thought about he had skipped breakfast so he shouldn't have to go for awhile anyway. He nodded in agreement as Dan said he didn't have to go. His gaze turning to mamemon as he passed by. He seemed a friendly enough fellow with a smile, "I wouldn't be to friendly with the foreman. The guy is a scum bag. He has a thing for us kids. If you expect to ask him for a favor or rations, I hope you're prepared to pay the price." A price? Theos couldn't image what price that could be. However, Butch had been nothing but kind even if he was a little gruff. So he took his word for it. Whatever the price was it was too high a price for something small.

"Listen up! Now that your group has been made, make sure you select a group captain among you! They'll be in charge for the remainder of the day. If you pass a group who went down already be sure to tell them. As usual, if you need anything of me, you just need to ask. I'm always in my chamber here on the first level." A captain that was an idea, "Butch are you going to be our captain?" Theos had to agree with butches experience he'd make a good.... "Nothing ever good happens when I'm a captain. I suggest one of you two become one." Or maybe not...It seems he has issues with being near others or leading them. "I-I don't think I should, I vote Theos."Theo's looked back at him in surprise, "He seems able enough." Butch agreed. "Now are you two coming or not?" Butch said.Theo's followed Dan onto the elevator. It shook slightly with the descent it fell strange to be moving when standing still. "Hey Butch, the foreman seemed like he cared about our well being, is he really so bad?" Theos did not bother to watch his reaction instead he watched the walls. Each floor seemed huge as they passed them. It seemed they had thick ceilings probably to prevent cave ins.

"Why...is it so hot...?" Theos had to agreed this was a worse hot than the desert heat. It was humid almost. "That's because this mine exists over a lake of molten hot magma, it has veins running through the walls. If we're not careful when we're digging, we could spring a leak and that could be disastrous. One other thing, these mines are home to a lot of Dokugemon and their children...do not grow complacent or you'll end up as someone's snack."Butch said. "Why are there only kids like us doing this kind of work?" Dan asked. "The older digimon usually work the factory back in town. It's just how things are here." Butch explained. It made a lot of sense since the older one was the less likely they were to be able to withstand this heat. "Okay guys, we can pick a spot to start mining...do you see that big wooden cart in front of the fright elevator? That is where we will put all of our ore in. Once it's full they send it up and out, then send the cart back down." Butch explained. "As captain, you can pick a room to start working from. I don't care where you decide. It's the same hell no matter what." Theos paid close attention to what Butch had been saying. He had to. After all he was suppose to be the captain.

"Alright then let's see," Theos said and began walking down the corridor. He looked down the first then second and so on. The corridors seemed full of workers. They all took the closest ones to the corridor probably so they didn't have to go back and forth so much. It was first come first serve.

He noticed a small divet not really a corridor but the beginnings of one. He wondered if it was an abandoned project or not. He looked back questioningly at Butch checking to see if he approved this spot. He didn't know a thing about mining so he couldn't really tell.

Butch and Dan followed after Theos as he scoured the area for a good place to start mining, when Theos finally picked a place he looked back to Butch as if to acquire his approval. Butch although bipedal was still pretty short, not that much taller then Dan and Theos so it was important given he walked on two legs, that he could fit inside the desired area. It was to be expected after all. Butch shrugged and walked past them into the chosen section and Dan followed in, "If this is the spot you wanna dig in, it's good enough for me." Butch went to the nearest wall and felt to see if there was any hot spots. Dan looked at him and was confused, "What are you doing?" Dan asked. "Checking to see if there are any magma veins. Last thing we need is getting cooked five minutes into the day." Butch was satisfied with the wall. "Usually, you can tell because the wall will be very hot to the touch. This wall is fine so listen up before we dig, you need to know about the different ores we can find. We take ore that look like shiny metal. They're Digizoid, the most basic and common form of ore. Then there is Red digizoid, blue digizoid and black digizoid. All of which are pretty rare. The rarest of them all though is gold digizoid, that one makes the most money and the bosses very happy. They'll even let you end your day early and send you home. Though no one has found gold digizoid in this tunnel yet so chances are there aren't any." Once Butch finished explaining he took out his sword. "I suppose you two have a method to dig? Just be careful not to go overboard and you wind up destroying the resources." Butch began to slice into the wall. It was very thick and so his sword often got stuck and he had to exert a lot of energy to remove it.

Dan sighed, he wasn't good at remembering the small stuff. He did know one thing, he was good at digging, he guessed he'd just look for pretty rocks and put them off to the side. He looked at Theos, "I think we're going to find gold digizoid! It's because you're our captain and picked this spot!" He said with a smile. His fears started to subside, once they got to work. So far, there was no sign of any trouble so perhaps they'd live to see the end of the day after all. Once Theos got to digging, it would be three hours of hard work. They would make great strides and their tunnel had gotten wider. Butch for the most part minded his own business, but would occasionally point out that Dan's rocks were nothing at all. Theos would be able to tell here and there that this team of his would be good together. If anything, he had made two very good friends. After the fourth hour, the group stopped to count their progress, Butch took deep breaths as he was exhausted and Dan was sweating out his own river. The boys were filthy and Dan's claws were chipped and bleeding a little from digging in the hard stone. "Okay, we've been working for a while...what have we done so far?" Butch asked. Dan looked at his collection, "Well...it looks like I have a ten of the regular rocks...and that's it." Dan said gathering them together. Butch nodded and looked at his own, "I have two red digizoid, one blue, and about twenty regular ones. What about you captain?" Butch asked. Dan and Butch looked to see how Theos did.

Theos listened as he explained the ores it was good to know there were so many. He remember finding a cave full of blue ones in the mountain one time. No one else could get in because the hole was so small. It became his home for a time while he was an In-Training. He never realized they were valuable. Still though he much rather leave it as was.

Theos hooves scraped at the wall to little avail. So...he'd have to eat his way through. He started crushing the rocks with his mouth. He'd swallow some and use his hooves to clear the rest. he always looked before biting since he didn't want to chip his teeth or bite through the digizoid. Though he wasn't exactly sure he could. This continued for a long time. It felt like eternity really and he couldn't tell the time. His body was hot and dripping though oddly enough he felt fine. The sun baked him and the lava just seemed to heat him up to almost melting. It was an odd difference it had to do with water in the air that's all there was to it.

Theo's looked up as Dan and Butch spoke. He looked at his findings and counted. Honestly he hadn't been keeping track. It took a moment but he got his number. As he counted he rubbed his tongue over his gums they were sore and he was pretty sure bleeding a little. He hadn't tried crushing so many rocks in a long while.

"Thirteen regular," Kind of disappointing considering how long they worked. Still it was better than nothing. "We did pretty good," he said his tail wagging.

Butch crossed his arms and nodded with a smile, "It's a good haul, we still have an hour before break so let's continue to dig until then." Butch had been working so long, it was like he had a clock in his head always telling him how long they had been working. It was usually accurate to. "I think this wall should still have some ore lef--!" Butch said raising his sword and plunging it into the wall, but something was different. His sword went through it like a hot knife through butter and he didn't expect it as the hilt bashed up against the wall with the blade all the way inside. Butch hit his face against the wall, "Ow..." He said, he squeaked a bit on his way to the wall which was kind of endearing and betrayed the gruff look he was attempting to go for. "Butch are you okay?" Dan asked, "Yea...but I was not expecting no resistance." He pulled his sword out as easily as it went in and peaked through the hole it had made. The kids had dug so much, they had gotten to a false wall. "There is another tunnel beyond this wall....I think I see something shining." Butch backed up from the wall and went a few inches back. "Stand back." He warned and Dan did as instructed, once the other two were clear Butch charged the wall. "Yaaaaah!" He jumped into it and it broke outward allowing them passage beyond it. "Whoa!" Dan said clapping. Butch rubbed his head as he got up from the ground, he looked around and the walls and ceiling were almost glittering. This tunnel was also a bit brighter and hotter. Once they boys walked through, they would notice to their left was a very deep cavern with a lake of magma at it's bottom. One could estimate it as a fifty foot drop. "It's hot in here." Dan said peaking over the cliff side. "Well captain, I gotta admit, you definitely know how to pick your spots..." Butch complimented examining all of the ore.

"Should we tell someone about this?" Dan asked. "If we do, we may get rewarded but then we could lose this section to work in. I'm sure the other groups will come through here and strip this place clean. If we don't, we could work this whole area ourselves and we would be set for the next few months with all the ore here." Butch said allowed. "I think we should tell the foreman." Dan said, "No, lets keep this place to ourselves. We found it, it's only fair we work it." Butch said. Dan didn't seem so sure, "What do you think we should do Theos?" Dan asked. Butch nodded, "Yea, it was you who pointed us in this direction you should decide." Butch added. They both anxiously waited for Theos to agree with them instead of the other.

Theos agreed that they continue to work. Just as he was about to take another bite of the wall he heard Butch yelp. His head raised quickly as he watched his friend. 'No resistance?' He walked up where Dan stood and watched Butch kick down the wall. He walked in and looked around in amazement. He hadn't been expecting this. His gaze was more on the walls and ceiling than the lava.

He listened to them bicker. It wasn't really an argument more of different opinions. He thought about it for a long while. This place could be their key. They would be able to work less for the same result it was dangerous to keep it a secret though. He looked to Dan a moment then Butch.

"Would you mind keeping it a secret Dan," Theos asked him.

"We wouldn't have to do as much work for the same result. And so long as we don't take more than we do today no one will become suspicious and try to follow us. Which would leave us to be more refreshed. Though we would still have to try and look exhausted," Theos said.

"The only thing that worries me is the magma. We should stay as far from it as possible," Theos looked at them hoping his logic made sense.

Dan's ears drooped and he frowned when Theos sided with Butch. "O-okay, I'll keep this to myself." Dan agreed to keep it a secret despite his feelings. He thought Theos and he were growing close. This change of face certainly came as a surprise to him. Butch smiled and crossed his arms, "Theos gets it. This is a big break for us, we can relax for a while and work leisurely." Butch patted Dan on the back. "You'll see, it's the right decision." Butch said. Dan gave a half hearted smile.

Butch walked examining the ore and took out his sword. "Hmm. We should take back eight or so as to not arouse suspicions. Sound fair?" Butch said he appeared a lot happier since they had all met. His tough persona had all but disappeared at this point. It was a different look for him. Dan didn't find him so intimidating anymore which let him relax more. "Yea I'm okay with that." Dan said walking up to a different section. "Awesome." Butch threw his sword into the stone and it was much harder then the wall from before. His sword bounced back leaving a small chip in the rock. "Whoa. It's hard." Butch said. Dan clawed at the stone but only succeeded in getting out a small stone at the cost of hurting himself. "Ow...I'm gonna have huge blisters." Dan said. He looked to see if Theos had problems as well. Butch tapped his chin in thought. "We're gonna need something stronger to get the ore out." Dan said.

"Not if we work together." Butch responded. "What do you mean?" Dan asked. "We have all the time in the world to mine this, no need to seperate our efforts right?" Butch walked over to Theos. "Sounds like fun!" Dan exclaimed, "So, how do we do it?" Dan inquired and Butch pulled out his sword. "Tee hee. You didn't know this but I come from a family that are considered weapon digimon. We are at our strongest when we're used with friends. All you two have to do, is place your paws on my sword and I'll do the rest!" Butch said and Dan smiled. "Cool! So all I have to do is this right?" Dan placed his claw on the hilt and Butch looked at Theos with a smile and waited for him to follow suit. As soon as Theos aided them, Butch looked at the wall with a grin. "Okay, here goes nothing!" 1, 2, 3...swing!" Butch swung his sword down at the wall with his friends added strength and the blade cut the wall but still lacked the strength to jar free an ore. "I guess that's all I can do at my age..." Butch said disappointed. Dan frowned but then perked up rather quickly with an idea. "Hold on! That crack is wide enough that I can dig!" Dan said Butch perked up. "If I can dig and loosen it, perhaps Theos can yank it out with his strong jaws!" Dan said happily. "Good thinking Dan!" Butch pumped his fists. "Okay then, time to get serious! Dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig!" Dan dug into the crack that Butch had made and the full glow of the blue digizoid was in complete view.

Dan wiped his forehead and was breathing deeply. "You're up captain!" Dan said. Butch watched as their teamwork was about to come into fruition. Once Theos successfully pulled the stone Butch and Dan cheered for him. Butch investigated the digizoid which was much larger then any stone they dug today. "So, we can do this together after all." Dan said. "We should collect our stones and head back. Break will be going on soon. We have to load up the cart after all." Butch said.

"Yea, good idea we're almost out of water. Here Theos, you should drink the last of it. You earned it." Dan said handing him the bottle. Butch meanwhile was gathering the stones together. "Guess we'll come back after we're full of energy and reenergized." Butch exclaimed. "Come on you guys let's go." Butch began walking with a handful of ore cradled in his arms. Dan ran up to an ore and began to roll it with his head. He looked back at Theos and smiled, and would wait for him before continuing. "Thanks for keeping your promise so far Theos. It wasn't as bad as everyone made it sound." He said.

As Dan agreed he could see his disappointment. He couldn't say much to defend himself. Butch was experienced and this would allow them to work less. So it would help them in the long run. Maybe they could store water they didn't drink back in here for emergencies and things. Really they could do a lot with this place if they managed to keep it a secret. Butch tried cheering Dan up which made Theos smile. Butch seemed a lot more friendly now that there was less work to do.


"Hmm. We should take back eight or so as to not arouse suspicions. Sound fair?" Both Dan and Theos agreed. Theos took a bite of the rock. It was extremely hard and nearly gave him lock jaw.



"Not if we work together." Theos cocked his head at this. It sounded like a good plan. "We have all the time in the world to mine this, no need to seperate our efforts right?" Butch walked over to Theos. "Sounds like fun!" Dan exclaimed, "So, how do we do it?" Dan inquired and Butch pulled out his sword. "Tee hee. You didn't know this but I come from a family that are considered weapon digimon. We are at our strongest when we're used with friends. All you two have to do, is place your paws on my sword and I'll do the rest!" Butch said and Dan smiled. "Cool! So all I have to do is this right?" Theos placed his hoof on the hilt. It was interesting to know there were digimon out there who drew power out of being with others. Then again wasn't he strong because of others too. It was a little different and yet also very much the same. Theos hoof moved with the sword in it's swinging motion. "I guess that's all I can do at my age..." Butch said disappointed. Dan frowned but then perked up rather quickly with an idea. "Hold on! That crack is wide enough that I can dig!" That was a relief. "If I can dig and loosen it, perhaps Theos can yank it out with his strong jaws!" Dan said happily. "Good thinking Dan!" Butch pumped his fists. "Okay then, time to get serious! Dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig!" Theos watched as Dan dug and Butch cheered. He added his own voice in for the fun of it. But soon stopped they didn't want to be to loud. It might draw attention if it echoed.



"You're up captain!" Right then. Theos stuck his head in the hole. His Jaw clamping down on the ore and pulling....pulling....pulling and free. It came out with a pop that landed Theos on his rump. "So, we can do this together after all." Dan said. "We should collect our stones and head back. Break will be going on soon. We have to load up the cart after all." Butch said.



"Yea, good idea we're almost out of water. Here Theos, you should drink the last of it. You earned it." Theos shook his head no even as it was pushed towards him. They all earned it. he looked at it a moment and wondered if they needed to keep it to be refilled or if they got a new one each time. He kind of doubted it so he picked the bottle up in his mouth and followed. "Guess we'll come back after we're full of energy and reenergized." Butch exclaimed. "Come on you guys let's go." Theos had to smile at the excited Butch. He looked to the rocks and rolled onto them. He stayed there a moment and rolled back onto his feet quickly. They stuck to his clay like back in little duvets they made. "Thanks for keeping your promise so far Theos. It wasn't as bad as everyone made it sound." Dan said as he caught up.


"Yeah it isn't. And I'll always keep my promise," Theos said through the water bottle. "Though I get the feeling it could have been harder. I'm not sure everyday will be as easy. For now though we have it pretty good," as much as he wanted to stay positive there was a reason for those warnings. He had to be realistic to. He was a go getter sure but this wasn't a game. His gaze went to the cart as it came into sight. He'd probably need help picking the ore off his back. Useful yes but annoying when he couldn't reach it himself.

The three happy boys approached the cart and dumper their ore in. They had the second largest haul of the day it seemed as another group came back with an impressive amount nearly doubling Theos' group. Butch was happy about that, it meant no suspicion would fall on them. At least not today, Butch plucked the ore from Theos and placed it into the cart after dumping in his own. Dan threw in his one ore that he had brought along. "Okay, now we go up and eat and drink." Butch and Dan went into the freight elevator, standing beside the cart that was wheeled onto it with the group going up. Once everyone was on the elevator, it started its ascent. It got gradually cooler as they made their way towards the entrance. Many of the young kids made a relaxing face to the change, Dan being among them. Butch had a smile all the way to the top, some of the other groups did as well, but for the most part, the other groups were drained and exhausted and frustrated.

Once they reached the top, a pair of Golemon grabbed the cart and wheeled it to a truck to dump it in. Mamemon was also waiting at the top clapping his hands. "Well done everyone, it seems we have made quite some progress." Mamemon walked up to the three boys who had made the most progress and congratulated them. They seemed a bit tense and uncomfortable but nothing came of it. Dan was watching when he heard Butch call his name. "Catch!" He said tossing an apple at him. Dan juggled it a bit before catching it and looked to Butch who had one bitten into already and smiled at the armadimon. "It seems it's fruit today." Butch said taking a seat in the shade of the mine entrance. Dan looked over to a serving table with fruits of every kind and water bowls for drinking. Dan collected a multitude of different fruits and took a bowl of water, he went to where Butch was and possibly Theos and took a seat.

"Wow, these all taste delicious!" Dan exclaimed. Butch nodded, "They feed the workers really well, it does them no good to leave them famished or dehydrated. Despite it feeling like one, this isn't a prison sentence." Butch replied. "It makes sense." Dan nodded. Suddenly, Butch pouted and he looked down at the sand between his toes. "I'm sorry...for what I said this morning....I didn't mean to scare you guys. You're actually really cool digimon." Butch said. Dan looked at him and blinked twice, then he smiled wide and replied, "It's fine. I thought you were scary with a name like Butch and such a serious attitude but you turned out to be fun!" Dan said. Butch smiled and looked at Theos hoping to be forgiven by him as well.

"Okay, now we go up and eat and drink." Theos got on the cart with a sigh. after being plucked of the stones he was ready to go up and relax. Though in truth he wasn't that hungry. As he had crushed the wall he had eaten some of it. Not the est tasting stuff but it actually kept him full. If anything he was probably the one doing the best of them. The heat melted him a bit sure but he didn't lose water to badly. He could eat the wall and could carry a lot of rocks on his sticky back. It was odd to say the least. He didn't expect it to be.....well this.


Theos saw Mamemon greet the youngsters. However his gaze didn't linger there long. It turned to the table of food and water. He walked over with Butch who tossed Dan some food which spurred his appetite. Theos went over and grabbed some water for himself and sat beside Butch lapping it up. Dan followed behind shortly after plopping between them.


Theos listened to Butch as he explained they they fed them so well. It made a lot of sense really. "I'm sorry...for what I said this morning....I didn't mean to scare you guys. You're actually really cool digimon." Theos listened to Dan accept his apology.

"No harm no foul," Theos said smiling. Lies didn't matter in the face of friends. Since everyone else was eating he guessed he'd go relieve himself while he could.

"I'm going to go use the toilets," he said leaving Butch and Dan to talk. He made his way down the slopes to find a room filled with holes along the walls. Well it was better than nothing. He walked up to one a relieved himself. Instincts kicking in he kicked some dirt on it and started back up the ramp.

He sat back down beside Dan. Feeling much better He put his hooves on either side of his water bowl and watched the other teams relax and talk. Which did leave them with the delima of what to talk about besides mining.


"You mentioned doing this for your family," Theos said questioningly to Dan.

Butch was relieved to be forgiven by his new friends and speaking of relief, "I'm going to go use the toilets," Butch heard Theos say, "Yea me to. You Dan?" Butch asked rising to his feet. Dan shook his head, "I'm fine." Butch followed Theos down the slope and picked a spot not to far from Theos' own. There was no water to clean their hands with besides their drinking water so most wouldn't bother. Butch finished before Theos, and departed back first. "Butch..." Mamemon would call. Butch winced when he heard his name and turned to look at his superior. "Y-yes?" Butch asked, "Your group made quite a lot of progress for their first day. Did you guys discover anything down there I should know about?" Mamemon asked. Butch shook his head, "No sir, our captain just found us a good spot to dig from. If we find anything of importance, we will be sure to bring it to you." He replied. Mamemon rubbed his chin, "You're not lying to me are you? Never before have newbies done so well, even with a veteran. I don't take kindly to liars. I'd be very disappointed." Mamemon spoke with a calm demeanor but the threat behind it sent chills down Butch's spine. "Y-yea...Guess there is a first time for everything." Butch responded. "I guess so." Mamemon replied walking away. Butch let out a sigh and hurried over to his friends.

He arrived just in time to hear Theos question. Dan nodded at Theos, "That's right. Specifically, for my brothers. I come from a family of nine. We live in a burrow and they all are great miners. They each worked the mine at one time or another. I'm the youngest so this is my first real time working. I want to be a good miner like them. It's kind of like a rite of passage. Only problem is, I scare easy and I'm a coward when it comes to things I don't understand. I've always been dependent on them and now they're not here. They work with the government on super secret projects. My brothers don't like that I'm such a scardy mon. I'm trying to earn their respect and admiration." Dan explained pausing here and there to drink or eat. "What about you guys?" Dan asked. Butch finished with his apple and was fondling with its core. "Hmm...well, I'm an orphan to put it plainly. I come from a hidden village way east of here...at least I think it's east. When I was still just a cub, my village was attacked by a dark guild. There were oddly dressed humans and Digimon at their command. They stormed my village with no warning, grabbing the children and infants of the village and killing the adults. My pa...he hid me in the house. A secret compartment. I stayed in there for hours listening to the crackling of fire and the sounds of pain and death. I remember crying the entire time. I eventually fell asleep. When I woke up, I heard nothing. So I got out and went into the village. There was blood everywhere, Digimon and human. I could tell, even though there were no physical corpses, everyone was dead. Many humans died to. They had a rose insignia on their clothes. I learned later that it belonged to Dark Helix. I was to scared to leave the village and I stayed for a week, trying to survive. I was eventually found by W.A.D.A., they took me here. I've been living here and working the mines ever since. This is the only life I know. I made a lot of friends here, but...because I was captain...they....they...." Butch teared up and tried to choke back his urge to cry. He clenched the core of his apple tightly.

Dan frowned and went over to Butch nuzzling against him. "I'm sorry Butch. I wish I knew how to take your pain away..." he said. Butch sniffled and rubbed his eyes and put on a smile. "You guys have nothing to be sorry for....it's not your fault." Butch looked at Dan then at Theos. "I tried to close my heart so I didn't have to feel anymore pain but after meeting and working alongside you two. I didn't want to anymore. I haven't felt like this in months." Butch said. Dan smiled and looked to Theos. "What about you Theos? What is your story?" He asked.

"That's right. Specifically, for my brothers. I come from a family of nine. We live in a burrow and they all are great miners. They each worked the mine at one time or another. I'm the youngest so this is my first real time working. I want to be a good miner like them. It's kind of like a rite of passage. Only problem is, I scare easy and I'm a coward when it comes to things I don't understand. I've always been dependent on them and now they're not here. They work with the government on super secret projects. My brothers don't like that I'm such a scardy mon. I'm trying to earn their respect and admiration." He was far from a scardy mon. He was here after all it took a lot of guts considering all the bad things they heard before coming here. "What about you guys?" Dan asked. Butch finished with his apple and was fondling with its core. "Hmm...well, I'm an orphan to put it plainly. I come from a hidden village way east of here...at least I think it's east. When I was still just a cub, my village was attacked by a dark guild. There were oddly dressed humans and Digimon at their command. They stormed my village with no warning, grabbing the children and infants of the village and killing the adults. My pa...he hid me in the house. A secret compartment. I stayed in there for hours listening to the crackling of fire and the sounds of pain and death. I remember crying the entire time. I eventually fell asleep. When I woke up, I heard nothing. So I got out and went into the village. There was blood everywhere, Digimon and human. I could tell, even though there were no physical corpses, everyone was dead. Many humans died to. They had a rose insignia on their clothes. I learned later that it belonged to Dark Helix. I was to scared to leave the village and I stayed for a week, trying to survive. I was eventually found by W.A.D.A., they took me here. I've been living here and working the mines ever since. This is the only life I know. I made a lot of friends here, but...because I was captain...they....they...." A life of tragedy no wonder he put up such a strong front in front of others. It was better not to question some things didn't need to be remembered.

"I'm sorry Butch. I wish I knew how to take your pain away..." he said. Butch sniffled and rubbed his eyes and put on a smile. "You guys have nothing to be sorry for....it's not your fault." Butch looked at Dan then at Theos. "I tried to close my heart so I didn't have to feel anymore pain but after meeting and working alongside you two. I didn't want to anymore. I haven't felt like this in months." Their companionship was all he needed to heal. He didn't doubt it was hard for him to be alone. He himself knew that feeling. "What about you Theos? What is your story?" He asked.

"Well I never knew my parents I was abandoned over on Mountain Savage. So I grew up there pretending I was a rock. An odd thought I know but I did look like one. I stayed near the nests of aerial types and ate any scraps leftover from their meals. I was never really lonely though they don't know I was there. I grew up listening to the stories parents told their children. I was happy. I didn't know anything else so I never longed for it.

"I heard about humans though and became more and more curious. Until one day I decided I wanted to meet one for myself. I already knew most if not all of the mountain. I didn't know about anything else And that mountain was my island out past a sea of sand. So I swam it," Theos chuckles at this. "Not literally of course but it was a hard trek across the desert. Once I got to Bai Hu I met Jared the Jyagamon. He took me in and became like a grandfather to me. They stopped by yesterday saying I had to work or else. Honestly This only makes the third day I've been here. I wasn't expecting this when I came off my mountain," Theos said and looked out at the other miners. He was expecting to go exploring and learning about the city.