Just one more day....

"That Bomber Nanimon is the head honcho that oversees the entire mining operation, the only person higher then him is the leader of Bai Hu. At least when it comes to the mines and factory, his name is Malcolm. He's Nanimon's older brother. As for the woman, I don't know...maybe a human from W.A.D.A.?" Theos frowned. She didn't give the same feeling as Max. And the head foreman.....something was off, "Ah, here they are...oh boys!" Mamemon said calling them over. "Us?" Dan questioned, "I wonder what's up." Butch said they would follow Theos to Mamemon and the three looked at them. "These are them, the new guys who have been absolutely killing it in the mines. The first to do it." Mamemon said praising them, "These runts!?" Malcolm expressed, "Huh, I don't see what's so special about them! So they've been exceeding expectations for an entire month? What's the story? I know those mines better then a mother knows their child. I know for a fact that newbies don't go on a string of thirty days and exceed their quota every single day. Unless, they found a ore vein and decided to keep it to themselves?" So that was it. Despite being careful they were still discovered. Something told him denying it would make things worse, "I interrogated them everyday, they swore to me they weren't." Malcolm looked at Mamemon, "Huh!? Interrogated them huh!? You fool! I ought to blow you from here to Bai Hu! Any young boy with a cute face could convince you of anything, stupid foreman. Had you truly done your job, Joe, I wouldn't be here!"


"Now now Malcolm dear, I'm sure the boys had a perfectly good reason. Perhaps this rare breed of Digimon had something to do with it? I haven't seen your kind in many many years. In fact, I saw two of them in my lifetime. I'm surprised you're kind is still around. I'm very very intrigued. My name is Ara, by the way." His ears perked as she mentioned seeing his kind before. That in and of itself was amazing, "Still.....they must be punished for lying." Theos looked to Malcolm and the tv screen he held. "Had Joe thought to actually check our video feeds, this could have been an avoided trip." He stated, Joe whispered and apology in the background. "Wh-what are you going to do?" Dan asked he immediately regretted not saying anything. Butch bit his lip in suspense. "We will let you keep your private mining area, but because you lied for so long we're going to work you much much harder today. I already examined the work you did and you still have about one hundred ore left in that tunnel. You're going to mine every single one of them. Without a break." Malcolm exclaimed. "You can't be serious! We will die!" Butch said pumping his fist.  Theos looked at the other two.....It was his fault. He was captain after all."Well then, I guess you had better use that water bottle wisely. It's the only one you're getting!" Malcolm yelled. "Tell you what, if you can bring fifty ore back before break is called, Joe here will give you more water. Fail by even one and you're out of luck." Dan had teared up and Butch cussed under his breath. "I believe in you three, I think you'll do it." Ara said, "I'm sure we will meet again real soon." Ara said making Theos look at her questioningly. "Your time started five minutes ago, what are you still doing up here! Get to work!!" Malcolm yelled. "As for you Joe...." His voice trailed off as the boys headed towards the freight elevator.



"I can't believe this is happening." Theos wasn't as angry as Butch. Instead he was more worried... felt bad. It was a different feeling being caught a liar than actually lying without no ones knowledge. The guilt was a big difference. "I knew we should have told them...." Dan said. "Well what's done is done, we can't dwell on that now. This is our last day, we just have to do this one more time then we're free." Butch reminded, Dan perked up again, "Yea you're right....you holding up okay Captain?" 

"I'm alright," Theos said with a small smile. He still felt guilty but Butch was right. "Let's work extra hard and make them remember us." Theos said perking up a bit. He sat on the elevator his tail twitching nervously.

50 before break that had to be their goal. Not 100 but 50. They could walk home if they went over the time on the second section. It was the first that was killer though. The idea of no water for several more hours would be their downfall if they didn't. They had to work hard for their sake.

Theos stepped out of the elevator as it stopped and made his way head high to their spot. He looked up at the camera and showed his defiance to them by raising his head and glaring before entering. They could do this. 

Butch and Dan followed Theos into the work station and looked around, they had gotten pretty deep inside this tunnel from the first time they discovered it. They could see the remaining ore followed by a deep black tunnel, they had ignored it because they couldn't see the glimmer of ore so they had assumed it was a waste of time to explore it. "So we need fifty, we have to work together to get them all!" Dan said, "No." Butch replied, Dan looked and glared at Butch, "No? We've always done this together! That's how we've been so successful! How could you say no Butch!?" Dan angrily shouted. Butch turned an looked at Dan, "We've only ever been able to gather twenty any given day working together! The walls were to thick to do alone, but now we've been tasked with gathering fifty! We will never get that much doing one at a time! I know it will be much harder to do it alone but if we give it our all and work through the pain, I'm sure we can gather enough if we pick three at a time!" Butch argued. "Stupid! You just said that the walls are to hard to work alone! We won't be able to get fifty that way! We should just work together and do what we've been doing!!" Dan yelled back. "These walls are smooth! That means their not as hard as the stone we were working all month! I know what a good wall looks like and these are them! I'm saying we don't need to work together this one time! We divide and conquer!" Butch and Dan were arguing very loudly. "Together!" Dan would say, "Alone!" Butch would reply. "Gah, we're wasting time! Captain! You pick, what should we do? Working alone is the best way to ensure we gain much more then working together. If we just work a little harder it's possible!" Dan shook his head, "No, we should stick to what we've been doing and work together! Right Captain?" Dan said. They both looked passionately to their captain. "Theos!" They exclaimed.

Theos looked between them as they argued. The stress was getting to them. His ears went back as he listened and looked to the walls in thought.

"Together...." Theos said softly. "We've always worked together even when we worked apart in the beginning. We are even going to work together in the future. Something as small as this can not break us apart. If we learn the wall is soft enough we can work apart."

"If we don't make the fifty but are close. You two go up and get the water during the break. I'll finish mining whatever is left. It is my duty as your captain to make sure you both are alright no matter what. I'll make sure we make the quota. I'll do most of the work if I have to. I've done well in these conditions so working harder should be no problem for me....Now let's not waste time arguing," Theos said breaking off any arguments about what he said. This would be his first time putting his hoof down. But he was ready to do so.

Dan smiled from ear to ear, Butch pouted and crossed his arms. "This is a mistake." Butch expressed before taking out his sword and approaching the wall. Dan walked up to Butch and placed his claw on the hilt of his sword, "Don't worry, we will get it done, okay?" Dan said trying to cheer him up. Butch half smiled, "I hope for our sake, we're right." Butch would wait for Theos to approach and add his power to the pair. Butch lifted his sword and struck down with the might of his friends behind him. The blade cut through the wall rather easily, knocking an ore loose. "See? Now it's my turn." Dan digged and out popped the ore. "We won't even need Theos to use his jaws to yank it out." Dan added. "Yea...I suppose." Butch lifted his sword and tried to cut the wall himself and it cut better then in previous days, but not better than their combined strength. "Hmm..." Butch thought removing his blade from the wall. "Okay let's go again. One down, forty nine to go." Dan exclaimed, Butch smiled and looked at Dan, "You sure you can count down from that high?" He said jokingly. "Hush you." Dan said puffing out his cheeks. Of course, the wall did not cooperate so well. Eventually, the three were struggling to get even one out of the wall. Time went by and they had amassed 25 in four hours. " That makes....twenty five...." Dan would say after Theos yanked out the latest ore. Dan was tired and Butch was exhausted his arms felt like noodles.

Dan's claws were blistered and bleeding. The heat had intensified and their water supply was low. "At this rate, we aren't going to make it..." Butch said laying on his back. "I don't know if my arms can swing anymore..." he added. "We have to....we don't have a choice." Dan said. "I know....we only have enough water for one more person." Butch said looking at their bottle. "That's all?" Dan said disappointed, "Here Theos, you are our captain...you should drink it yourself...or give the last of it to who you think needs it the most." Butch handed Theos the bottle. "I-I don't need it...I'll be fine." Dan exclaimed. "No...you should have it Dan. You're smaller and younger, you'll dehydrate." Butch said. Dan looked at Butch, "You're doing most of the work...if anyone should have it, you should." Both looked at Theos. Neither wanted to admit it, but both wanted the water. They tried not to look at Theos as to not sway his decision, however, they occasionally looked at him.

Butch stood up stretching his arms. "If we get close, I'll try and get more water by begging so just give it to Dan so we can get back to it." Dan shook his head and stood up as well, cringing from the pain on his claws. "No, if you pass out from dehydration, we can't use your sword. You should drink it." Dan said. Theos can tell from their faces they were both in need of a refresher.

"This is a mistake." He could file his complaints later. Right now they needed to work. Theos joined in with his hoof on his sword, "Don't worry, we will get it done, okay?" Dan said trying to cheer him up. Butch half smiled, "I hope for our sake, we're right." If they just kept knocking them loose they could gather them in no time. "See? Now it's my turn." Dan digged and out popped the ore. "We won't even need Theos to use his jaws to yank it out." Dan added. "Yea...I suppose." It would take a lot more energy if they did it separately It seemed Butch was recognizing that. "Hmm..." Butch thought removing his blade from the wall. "Okay let's go again. One down, forty nine to go." Dan exclaimed, Butch smiled and looked at Dan, "You sure you can count down from that high?" He said jokingly. "Hush you." Theos had to smile at his teasing. " That makes....twenty five...."

"At this rate, we aren't going to make it..." Butch said laying on his back. "I don't know if my arms can swing anymore..." he added. "We have to....we don't have a choice." Dan said. "I know....we only have enough water for one more person." Theos looked at the bottle as well. He had drank as little from it as possible. "That's all?" Dan said disappointed, "Here Theos, you are our captain...you should drink it yourself...or give the last of it to who you think needs it the most." Butch handed Theos the bottle. "I-I don't need it...I'll be fine." Dan exclaimed. "No...you should have it Dan. You're smaller and younger, you'll dehydrate." Theos looked between the two. It was sweet they were trying to take care of one another, "You're doing most of the work...if anyone should have it, you should." Theos saw it in their faces that both needed to rest. As well as something to drink.

"If we get close, I'll try and get more water by begging so just give it to Dan so we can get back to it." Begging? No doubt a favor from the foreman was what he was thinking. Something told him that would be a bad thing. "No, if you pass out from dehydration, we can't use your sword. You should drink it." Dan had a point. Without the sword they couldn't cut through the wall. Theos looked at the wall.....they weren't going to get that fifty. Not in time that is.  They would be lucky to reach 75 by the end of the day.

If only he was strong enough to dig them all out himself. Still better not to dwell on what he can't do than what he can. They were given the task of mining 100 ores....from this room.

He looked down that tunnel they had ignored for so long. Were the walls softer? And it would be away  from the magma. Maybe they could find ores down it. If not at least it would be cooler than here.

"Here Butch," Theos said tossing the bottle. "Dan is right without your sword we can't take on such tough walls. Dan you should rest for a bit til the bleeding stops. It does no good if you get light headed. Butch, You and I will be seeing if we can find softer walls with ore down there," he said pointing to their unexplored tunnel. Some gems were hidden right? Despite it looking like a normal tunnel it was here when they got here so either something else dug it....or it was naturally formed by lava or water.

"He said 100 from our private room. So long as the camera's don't catch us leaving it if we can still get 100 he can't complain," Theos said. If nothing else maybe they could find mineral water or something.....though his worst fear was nothing and that they wasted time.

Butch grabbed the bottle and looked at Theos, "Th-thank you....captain." He took off the cap and drank the last of the water. Dan eyed him and was very disappointed, he knew that Butch was a smart decision but he still felt betrayed. It seemed when it really mattered, he was always second. Dan tried to shake these feelings of his, he was tired and dehydrated. He definitely was not in the state of mind he needed to be in, he loved Theos and Butch, he wanted to remember that. Butch placed the bottle down and looked at Theos; feeling refreshed. "Alright Captain, whether we continue working here or not. We are much to short so I'll go with you." Butch looked at Dan who had laid down on his belly at this point and looked at them. Butch frowned and looked back at Theos. "Lead the way, Captain." Butch and Theos disappeared into the dark tunnel. Unfortunately, the two soon realized that the tunnel hadn't a sliver of light inside outside from the entryway's glow from the lava lake. It would be impossible to tell where they were going. They'd need to turn back almost as quickly as they went in, they didn't have the supplies to continue. When they turned around to return, they could hear echos from deep in the tunnel. It sounded very strange, like a conglomerate of movement. Dan was licking his claws and wincing as he did, he noticed his friends returning rather quickly and looked confused, "What happened?" He asked. "The tunnel is way to dark, there is no chance we can see let alone find ores in there without a light of some sort." Butch answered. Dan smiled and rose painfully to his feet, "Well, my species burrows. Darkness like that is nothing, I can easily see in there. I'll go in the tunnel and look for ore and come back with what I find." Dan said. "I don't think that is a good idea Dan, we won't be of any help inside that tunnel. It's to dangerous and your claws are in rough shape." Butch said. "I'll be fine. I can handle it, we need to find more ore don't we?" Dan said flinching slightly as he walked. He was leaving faded, bloody foot prints behind as he did so. His blisters had burst it seemed.

Butch was uncomfortable, he thought about carrying Dan on his back but he'd be to heavy for either of them to carry for long. "Captain....I can do this. Please, let me go look for the ore." Dan asked his eyes softening as he looked to Theos. Butch looked at Theos and shook his head no. He remained inaudible as to not upset Dan but Butch felt it would be really bad if something were to happen. What would Theos choose? Should he protect Dan and keep him close and risk not finishing in time by mining this room? Or send him into the dark tunnel with an unknown outcome? Either way, he would need to choose.

Theos eyes grew so large in the shadows. He could make out faint shapes but it was still much too dark for comfort. Before long Butch couldn't see at all and he was at the end of it. They turned back and suddenly heard the sounds of movement. With it behind them they both moved quickly the way they had come. It was not a pleasant feeling to be prey.

They reentered the cavern with a sigh and a questioning look from Dan. He begged to be useful...and Theos couldn't deny him. If they stayed here like this they would surely die. He didn't expect mercy either not with Malcolm giving the shots.

"We'll all go," Theos said. He bent down and motioned Dan to get on his partially melted back. Hopefully he'd solidify a bit once away from the magma. And provide a bit of a cast for Dan's paws. "At this rate we won't survive to 100 anyway."

"Since it's decided to go together, Dan you'll have to walk us through it since we won't be able to see." Butch said, Dan shook his head when Theos motioned for him to climb on. He'd be much to heavy for Theos to carry, they were to close in size and Dan weighed the most of all of them. It would do Theos more harm then Dan good and he didn't want that. "Thanks Captain, but I'll walk." Dan said. "Your feet are in rough shape." Butch said Dan smiled, "I'll be fine. I want to be useful. I won't let these wounds slow me down." Dan tried to walk forward but was a bit wobbly. Butch pressed up against him on one side, "At least lean into us, and use us as a crutch. We will walk together in unison." Butch said. If Theos did the same, Dan would close his eyes and rub his head against their furs. "The feel of fur....your furs....is unlike anything. It's my favorite in the whole world." Dan said. "Butch's soft fluffy fur and Theos' smooth silk like fur." Butch returned the compliment with a smile, they would begin their trek into the tunnel. It would be twenty minutes in of silence, except for the occasional direction change from Dan. "It's gotten much cooler since we've gotten away from the lava." Butch said breaking the silence. Dan nodded, "It makes moving easier." Butch looked at him, "Do you want to try walking on your own?" Butch asked. Dan shook his head, "I like being this close to the two of you. I can hear your heartbeats. It's comforting." Dan replied, "You say the strangest things sometimes Dan." Butch said. Dan giggled at this, "Hey, remember last night? When I asked you guys who you liked?" Butch looked down at him, "I was thinking this whole time. My special someone. I want it to be you two. There is no one else in the universe that could make me any happier." Dan said. Butch wasn't sure Dan understood what a special someone meant. "What are you saying? Just focus okay?" Butch replied. "Heh heh, sorry...just being in between you two like this. It is very uplifting and I don't get that feeling from my brothers. They're hardly ever home after all. I just thought I'd tell you in case..." Dan was interrupted by Butch, "Shut up. Don't finish that sentence. I won't let anything happen to either of you. I was weak when I was captain, when I was in charge of my friends....I made bad choices which resulted in their deaths....I was trying to survive...but...I was trying to survive alone. I didn't realize that until it was to late. I made decisions based on instinct and it led to terrible things happening." Butch said.

"So, I closed off my heart and became cold. It didn't help, I still couldn't be a good leader. I got more of my friends killed because of it. People started to fear me, and they kept saying I butchered my friends all so I could live. It wore me down but then I embraced it. I changed my name to Butch....because I wanted people to fear me. I worked the mines alone for a long time, then two bouncing happy faces came along....and it reminded me of a happier time. I wanted to warn these happy faces and show them the reality of life. The reality of the mines, instead, they destroyed my walls one after the other until I trusted them with everything that I was. I made a vow to run away with them, to a happier place so we can do good together. So I can run away from Butch the killer." Butch said. "I won't let anything stand in the way of that." Butch said. "What is it?" Dan asked, "Hm?" Butch replied. "Your real name....what is it?" Butch smiled, "My real name is Kemba. In my village, it means, noble soul." He answered. "Kemba...." Dan thought on it, "It's a very pretty name." Dan said. "I don't think pretty is the right word for it...." Kemba said, he'd be quite flush but the darkness covered it very well. "Should we call you Kemba then?" Dan asked, "Whatever suits you..." he replied. Suddenly, the three of them were blinded by a sudden burst of light around the corner. "Wha--?" Dan said, when they recovered they would find themselves in an open room with several small tunnels from the bottom to the ceiling. "Where are we...?" Dan asked. Suddenly, they could see in front of them a whole mess of ore that was laying in an abandoned cart. "It's a cart of ore!!" Dan said finding the strength to run to it. Theos and Kemba would finally notice that Dan's feet were bleeding profusely. He had not said anything during their entire walk, but he was leaving full prints in blood. "D-Dan...your feet!" Kemba said and Dan turned around, "Y-Yea....the wound opened up a while ago...." He said. "Why didn't you say anything!?" Kemba yelled. "I didn't want to burden you...we had come so far....the pain isn't so bad..." Dan said drooping down. "We need to get you help!" Kemba exclaimed. "But the ores...." Dan said, "To hell with the ores! You're more important to us!" Kemba yelled.

Just then, a loud sound of chattering could be heard it was the same sound as before, only it was terribly loud and it was closing in fast. "Wh-What is that?" Dan asked, "Nothing good....." Kemba said. Glowing beady eyes could be seen all around them and soon out of the holes came the predatory spiders, Kodokugumon. They were very small but were swarming in by the hundreds. "Kodokugumon! These are the spiders that hunt the miners when they get to close to the nest! They must have been using the ores here as bait for us." Kemba stated while drawing his sword. He ran over to Dan and stood in front of him while eyeing the room. The spiders were preparing to attack. "This is seriously bad...." Dan said. "Don't worry, they're very weak. We will cut through them and get out of here. Right Captain?" Kemba asked smiling at him. Fight? or Run? Could Theos and Kemba protect Dan and escape or could they escape with Dan being carried out? It was up to Theos to decide.

"At least lean into us, and use us as a crutch. We will walk together in unison." Theos nodded in agreement taking the other side. "The feel of fur....your furs....is unlike anything. It's my favorite in the whole world." Dan said. "Butch's soft fluffy fur and Theos' smooth silk like fur." Theos chuckled at his comments and started walking beside them. "It's gotten much cooler since we've gotten away from the lava." Butch said breaking the silence. Dan nodded, "It makes moving easier." Butch looked at him, "Do you want to try walking on your own?" Butch asked. Dan shook his head, "I like being this close to the two of you. I can hear your heartbeats. It's comforting." Dan replied, "You say the strangest things sometimes Dan." The constant thumping of anothers heart. It was comforting wasn't it. Especially when one couldn't see very far if at all. It gave a sense of time and let you know you're alive even though it felt like nothing was there beyond that noise, "Hey, remember last night? When I asked you guys who you liked?" Butch looked down at him, "I was thinking this whole time. My special someone. I want it to be you two. There is no one else in the universe that could make me any happier." Dan said. Butch wasn't sure Dan understood what a special someone meant. "What are you saying? Just focus okay?" Butch replied. "Heh heh, sorry...just being in between you two like this. It is very uplifting and I don't get that feeling from my brothers. They're hardly ever home after all. I just thought I'd tell you in case..." just in case....Theos hated the thought. He smelled the blood and knew too much and it would be over for Dan. They should find a way to bandage him. Even if it was temporary, "Shut up. Don't finish that sentence. I won't let anything happen to either of you. I was weak when I was captain, when I was in charge of my friends....I made bad choices which resulted in their deaths....I was trying to survive...but...I was trying to survive alone. I didn't realize that until it was to late. I made decisions based on instinct and it led to terrible things happening." Butch said.
Was this his long awaited story? He mentioned being a captain before.

Theos listened in silence. Butch had done a lot of growing in these mines. He couldn't afford to make mistakes. They cost lives down here and he was so young to have such a responsibility. In truth Theos was young....and his mistake...it just might cost them theirs. "Your real name....what is it?" Butch smiled, "My real name is Kemba. In my village, it means, noble soul." He answered. "Kemba...." Noble soul was very fitting, "It's a very pretty name." Dan said. "I don't think pretty is the right word for it...." Kemba said, he'd be quite flush but the darkness covered it very well. "Should we call you Kemba then?" Dan asked, "Whatever suits you..." Kemba it was then. That light though. Theos blinked several times his eyes trying to adjust. "Wha--?" Dan said, when they recovered they would find themselves in an open room with several small tunnels from the bottom to the ceiling. "Where are we...?" Dan asked. Suddenly, they could see in front of them a whole mess of ore that was laying in an abandoned cart. "It's a cart of ore!!" Why was the cart there? It made no sense to leave a full cart out like this, "D-Dan...your feet!" Theos looked to hat Kemba had pointed out. That was really bad. How much blood had he lost, "Y-Yea....the wound opened up a while ago...." He said. "Why didn't you say anything!?" Kemba yelled. "I didn't want to burden you...we had come so far....the pain isn't so bad..." Dan said drooping down. "We need to get you help!" Kemba exclaimed. "But the ores...." Dan said, "To hell with the ores! You're more important to us!" Theos shook his head in agreement.



That noise again. Theos looked towards the tunnel it was coming from. His head and ears forward and alert. "Wh-What is that?" Dan asked, "Nothing good....." Kemba said. Glowing beady eyes could be seen all around them and soon out of the holes came the predatory spiders, Kodokugumon. They were very small but were swarming in by the hundreds. "Kodokugumon! These are the spiders that hunt the miners when they get to close to the nest! They must have been using the ores here as bait for us." That was the reason for the ore. He found it odd....if they were near a nest they had to get away from it and fast. "This is seriously bad...." Dan said. "Don't worry, they're very weak. We will cut through them and get out of here. Right Captain?"

"Hit and run tactics. We have to retreat if we are near a nest," Theos said taking up position beside Butch. "Back up towards one of the tunnels they didn't come from," Theos said. He then ran forward biting into one of the nearest spiders before fleeing back with a hop. Taking up a position in front of Dan again. Slowly he backed up encouraging Dan to do the same. This would continue with him and Kemba taking turns to go out and attack then retreat back to back up with Dan.

Kemba worked alongside Theos, slashing through the spiders one after another. They were dissipating into data as they were killed, "It's working Captain!" Kemba exclaimed, Dan tried to fight as well biting into any spider that got close. He looked up at one of the tunnels and saw something glimmering. His superior vision was able to perceive a gold ore, and he remembered exactly what Kemba had told them. That gold ore was so rare, that it would surely count for a hundred pieces! "W-Wait! I see something!" Dan began to run towards the ore, "Dan!" Kemba exclaimed, "Stay with us!" He said. "It's okay! It's gold ore! I see gold ore!" He said heading in front of them. Suddenly, the entire swarm of spiders changed direction towards Dan. It then hit them, the spiders could smell the blood. Dan was the only one in danger. "They're after him...not us!" Kemba ran towards Dan. "Dan! They're after you! Dan!" Kemba yelled. Dan made it to the ore and began to dig, ignoring his injury. He worked through the pain but thankfully, it was not hard stone that housed it. He jarred it free as Kemba and Theos fought to protect him, "I got the ore....huh?" a hot pocket of steam shot out of the hole now and with it, a drastic rise in temperature. "Oh no..." Kemba ran, grabbing Dan by the tail and pulling him. "Theos! It's a lava vein! We gotta run for it!" Kemba yelled. Dan tried to run as best he could, Kemba kept Dan close to himself as Dan held the gold ore. He would bat away spider after spider, just as Theos no doubt was doing. Suddenly, the hole that they departed from burst with a strong flow of lava, collapsing the entire wall and a flood of lava came pouring in. It erased the cart of ores and killed countless spiders. It was gushing fast. The spiders began to flee for their lives, escaping into the holes.

The boys reached a ramp and began to run up a cliff side, the lava quickly following behind. They made it about half way up with the structural integrity began to fail. The stone broke away, falling into the lava. Just as they were running, the path in front of them crumbled as well. "Jump!" Kemba said leaping to the cliff and making it, he dropped down and held out his paw to help Theos if he needed it, then he'd wait for Dan who couldn't make the jump. "Take the ore!" Dan said. "No! Drop it and let's go!" Kemba yelled. "With this, you can go join W.A.D.A., I've been nothing but a burden to you both....please take the ore and grab the future we talked about!" Dan pleaded. "Dan! I can't do that without you......we can't do that without you! You're our..............our special someone to! Dan, we need you!" Kemba looked at Theos, "Captain, bite my tail and keep me from falling, I'm gonna lean over and give him a better reach." Once Theos would do so, Kemba would cringe at the pain and lean over, "Dan.........please!" Kemba reached his paw out. Dan looked at the ore and then at his friends, making a decision. He dropped the ore and leaped just as the ground beneath him crumbled into the new lava lake. Kemba would grab him by both of Dan's arms. "Captain, pull us up!" Kemba cried out. They had escaped the danger, for now. They were laying down to catch their breath when Dan looked at Theos and Kemba, "Thanks......." He said with a smile. "Yea....just.....don't do that EVER again...." Kemba replied. There was still the matter of Dan's wounds. "Gosh Dan.....you call me stupid but you're not very bright." Kemba said. Dan gave a half smile as Kemba looked over his wound. "There is so much blood, I can't tell how severe it is." He said. "Why don't you lick them clean then?" Dan teased. Kemba became surprised and bonked him on the head, "What are you saying dummy! Don't say such stupid things!" Dan closed an eye and stuck out his tongue with a smile. "What about you captain?" Dan said teasing Theos as well. "Your hopeless, lucky for you, I thought quickly when we ran past those spiders. I grabbed some of their web while we were fighting. It's strong and will stop the bleeding. It should make a fine temporary bandage for the time being." Kemba treated Dan's wounds as best he could.

Dan stood up and looked around, "There is only one way to go." Dan said looking forward, "Yea, we somehow made it back to our side of the mines." Kemba said pointing to the cave, "This tunnel will take us directly to the elevator." Kemba said. "Well that won't do us no good would it?" A voice called out from the dark above. "Whose there!?" Kemba yelled, Dan looked up at the voice. Suddenly, a much bigger spider came down from it's web and landed blocking off the entryway. "I can't have our lunch escaping." It was still a Kodokugumon but this one was the size of Dan. "You have some serious luck finding a lava vein like that, oh well, more for me. I'm a growing boy after all. heh heh heh." The spider said. Kemba pulled out his sword and held it up. Dan glared at the bug. "Oh you'll find me much more of a challenge then my cousins. Don't think you can beat me so easily. Not after I'm so close to a three course meal...." It began to hiss as it moved closer. "Captain, we have no choice but to fight!" Kemba said. "I'll help!" Dan exclaimed, "Don't over exert yourself." Kemba replied. Their enemy would excrete a web directly at them to pin them quickly, Dan would leap out of the way and so would Kemba.

BATTLE START!!

Super KoDokugumon Level 15

vs.

Theos Level 7

Kemba Level 12

Dan Level 1

Theos watched in horror as Dan ran off on his own. No matter what they had to stick together. Luckily he didn't go far and though he could make out what they were saying his focus was elsewhere mainly the hoard of spiders. He bucked kicking one while biting upon another hopping out of the way as one retaliated. Suddenly Kemba called out and a fierce hiss sounded in the tunnel the humidity rising sharply. He saw the white fur rush by with their golden friend. 

He bolted forward hopping on one of thems head as he followed. He raced ahead quickly unencumbered by toting Dan. He chanced a glance back as the tunnel lit up with a reddish hue. The sounds of sizzling spiders hitting his ears. With the rest scattering. His gaze went forward again the ground beneath him shaking with each step. The ground broke up steam hissing at them and it slowly fell apart. Was it odd that it was all happening in slow motion. His hooves beat all the harder as he leaped with his strong legs to safety. Kemba not but a step behind him.

"Take the ore!" Dan said. "No! Drop it and let's go!" Theos shook his head no. "With this, you can go join W.A.D.A., I've been nothing but a burden to you both....please take the ore and grab the future we talked about!" Dan pleaded. "Dan! I can't do that without you......we can't do that without you! You're our..............our special someone to! Dan, we need you!" Kemba looked at Theos, "Captain, bite my tail and keep me from falling, I'm gonna lean over and give him a better reach." Theos didn't waste any time and taking his lithe tail into his mouth. His hooves digging into the ground to prevent them from falling in, "Dan.........please!" Kemba reached his paw out. Dan looked at the ore and then at his friends, making a decision. He dropped the ore and leaped just as the ground beneath him crumbled into the new lava lake. Kemba would grab him by both of Dan's arms. "Captain, pull us up!" Theos pulled back with all his might. His one hoof catching a rock for a foot hold, "Thanks......." He said with a smile. "Yea....just.....don't do that EVER again...." Kemba replied. There was still the matter of Dan's wounds. "Gosh Dan.....you call me stupid but you're not very bright." Relief flooded in and Theos laughed.

"What about you captain?" Dan said teasing Theos as well. "Your hopeless, lucky for you, I thought quickly when we ran past those spiders. I grabbed some of their web while we were fighting. It's strong and will stop the bleeding. It should make a fine temporary bandage for the time being." Theos smiled. He would have licked them but it seemed Kemba had them covered. He was always reliable.



"There is only one way to go." Dan said looking forward, "Yea, we somehow made it back to our side of the mines." Kemba said pointing to the cave, "This tunnel will take us directly to the elevator." Theos was about to comment on how going back up was just as much trouble. "Well that won't do us no good would it?" A voice called out from the dark above. "Whose there!?" Theos looked up at the ceiling watching the spider come down to block the way. "I can't have our lunch escaping." It was still a Kodokugumon but this one was the size of Dan. "You have some serious luck finding a lava vein like that, oh well, more for me. I'm a growing boy after all. heh heh heh." Theos snarled his fangs coming into view. Though he could imagine they were not that terrifying as chipped as they were from the mines. "Oh you'll find me much more of a challenge then my cousins. Don't think you can beat me so easily. Not after I'm so close to a three course meal...." It began to hiss as it moved closer. "Captain, we have no choice but to fight!" Kemba said. "I'll help!" Dan exclaimed, "Don't over exert yourself."

Instead of leaping away Theos leaped forwards. Over the webbing and for the spiders head. If he landed on it he would stomp his hooves down. If not he would prance away hoping to herd it towards Kemba. He just had to distract it for him to get a hit in. It may be stronger but they had numbers. It couldn't dodge them all if they kept attacking right after one another and from different directions.

The Dokugumon leaped with surprising speed to dodge Theos simple attack, it hissed and shot a string of web from it's butt towards Theos, in an attempt to snag him when he landed. "Captain!" Kemba called out running towards the spider his sword drawn. He jumped into the air and threw the sword at the web, cutting it before it could make contact. He jumped onto the spider's side tackling him away, the spider flew but caught himself on the wall. Dan looked above at him and rolled into a ball, "Rolling Stone!" Dan rolled towards the spider but, he was inexperience and was caught in the spider's jaws. He threw him at Kemba who took the attack instead of dodging as to not let harm come to Dan, they both went sliding to a stop. "Dan, are you okay?" Kemba stood up holding onto Dan. "I'm fine...he's much stronger then me..." Dan said drooping down. "Just support us from behind." Kemba ran towards his sword picking it up. "I wonder......who should I kill first?" It said crawling into the darkness above. "I-I can't see it...." Kemba said looking around frantically. Dan was glaring hard into the dark and so a glimmer of it's teeth, "Captain! It's directly above you!" Dan yelled out, the spider came dropping down fast; it's jaws wide open. "You'll do fine!!" It went to bite into Theos, if he missed, he would leap in the same direction Theos would and attempt to head butt him into the ground.

Theos growled as he watched Kemba knock it away. The spider was a lot more agile than he would have thought. Theos watched Dan get tumbling back at Kemba. He ran forward as a follow up ready to kick it. "I wonder......who should I kill first?" It crawled up out of reach and out of sight. His eyes scanned the ceiling looking for a hint of movement. "I-I can't see it...." He could hear the panic, "Captain! It's directly above you!" Theos looked up and rolled over. "You'll do fine!!" He kicked up with his hoof at the spiders head. Letting its momentum and his strength deal the damage if it hit at all. He then rolled onto his side and put some distance between them before baring his fangs again. He approached slowly ears down. Ready to dodge to either side but at the same time to launch forward to bite it. His eyes going to it's many legs. Should it attack him outright he hop away. However should it wait on him he'd nip at it's legs and then flee. Hoping it's full attention would be on him so one of the others could attack. He had no trouble playing the bait.