Finding Home

Even though to an outsider, the forest may seem like a maze of trees and roots, to Kester, every root, bush, and marking was a sign of where he was. His body moved on its own as his mind thought of what the Leomon had told him. It wouldn't take him long before he would realize he had found his way back home.

Lifting his head from his paws, the Salamons heterochromic eyes widened. His walking slowed as he took in the destruction of his small village, watching as data from dead Digimon floated into the air to be recollected into something new. The shocked look on his face soon turned to anger. His upper lip rose in a low snarl and his eyes narrowed at the destruction. The bugs dared to attack his home!

"Those dirty little fu-" The words were cut off as the familiar sound of paws and voices came to his ears. He looked towards them but not in time before he was toppled over by the multitude of siblings he had. "H-Hey! Guys, come on, get off!" His paws pressed against the multiple bodies, attempting to give himself some space.

He quickly stopped trying to shove them off when he noticed something was off. There weren't as many bodies as there should be... and his answer quickly came as his siblings started to sniffle and whine. Moving to stand once they gave him enough space, Kester stood to his full height (which was enough to see over his smaller siblings) and looked around.

"Damn it Darrek... always trying to help people... he should have stayed hiding!" He growled before looking to the group of rookies. He placed a paw on the youngest head, looking up to the sky for any sign of their parents. "Don't worry guys. Hell will freeze over if those bugs think they can get away with this...."

The pups gave Kester room and whimpered. They had no idea what to do. Their parents were not far off and moving fast Their gazes towards where the trees had thinned unnaturally. They landed with an oof and walked through the debris their hooves crunching against what was left of their home. The Unimons ears perked at the sounds of whimpering. 

"Children," he neighed out. His wife coming up beside him her green scales shimmering against the sunlight that came through.

The children heard their fathers voice and went running over one another to meet them. The Tylinmon greeted them by lowering her head and nuzzling them. Relief showing on her face even as she noticed one was not there.

"It is dangerous out in the open," their father said shaking his head and motioning for them to all get inside out of the open. They walked away from the town to one of the Hollow trees. They stepped into it the blank white space lined with data almost blinding. "These bugs are getting out of hand. Destroying our home and taking one of our children. We are joining the rest of the beasts gathering together."

"It is going to be a full out war in the forest. We should just take the children and leave with the other group. It is too dangerous for them to remain here," their mother replied.

Kester gave a small sigh as he was released from his siblings, shaking out his fur once they gave him room. He looked to his younger siblings whimpering by his side before his gaze moved onward to the sky. An ear twitched, raising ever so slightly at the telltale sign is wings. It wouldn't be long before Kester would notice his parents in the sky, long before they came in for a landing. "There they are..." The words were soft and he couldn't stop the smile that came to his maw at seeing his mother.

While his multitude of siblings raced for their father, paws and bodies tumbling over each other to get to him, Kester quickly made his way to his mother's side, pressing his head against hers as she lowered it to greet them. While she moved to nuzzle the rest, Kester jumped onto his mother's head, settling there as they moved inside their home.

Her listened to his parents talk about the forests situation. It appears his parents had gone to that meeting that the Leomon was at. As soon as his mother suggested leaving the forest, Kester jumped up to his feet, a growl escaping his throat. "NO! We can't leave, Mom! We can't just let them drive us out of our home! We have to stand up and fight those stupid bugs!" His fur was bristled, a low growl coming from his maw.

His siblings huddled together at his out burst. Their eyes wide wondering what their parents would do. They were scared and they didn't want to leave their home. They also didn't want to die either though.

"Darling take one good look at you and your siblings. This is going to be a bloody war. Do you think you can take down a horde of bugs by yourself? Do you think they could survive an attack by a horde," his mother said softly but her tone held a certain hardness to it.

"As a mother my first thoughts are about my children. First and foremost I want to keep you all safe. Secondly I never said we weren't fighting for our home. Once all of you are settled somewhere I'll return here with your father and kick some buggy butt. Like any parent who is loosing their home to this," she gave a soft smile her nose coming down to nuzzle Kester.

"I for one will join the advance forces now... at the very least we'll be able to clear a path for those leaving the forest. Then we can focus on tha main horde," Kesters father said remaining firm on staying and earning a sigh from his wife.

"Stubborn oaf," she replied.

"Stubborn oaf you married," he responded giving a laughing snort that earned a smile.

Kester's gaze went from his mother to his siblings as she firmly denied his words of wanting to stay, although her voice was as soft as the moss on the rocks. It was always how she was. So kind and gentle but fierce underneath. He lowered his head as he pictured his siblings in the middle of a war, running and hiding for their lives.

She was right... They wouldn't be able to survive if another hoard came to attack. Kester closed his eyes as she nuzzled him, pressing his head against her nose. A sigh escaped him at his parents small banter before, once again, he spoke up.

"What about me though? I don't want to run away! I want to stay and fight. You can bring the others to safety but I'm staying!" He slammed a front paw down, obviously rather stubborn in his decision, even as his mother already denied it. "I have Digimon my age that could be in danger!" He was careful not to use the word friend. Kester wasnt one to have friends, with how he flaunted around his abrasive attitude. He needed to keep how reputation up after all.

A digimon his age? Slowly his mother smiled. "You made a friend didn't you. How cute. My little Kester finally making friends," his mother chirped. His father shook his head at her.

"You are worried about your friend. I can understand that....but I would be so worried about you. You don't want to worry your mother do you," she said pouting just a bit. His father stuck his tongue out behind her. What a manipulative move on her part. Her fiendishness is what he had fallen in love with. That and she had a way in love making...

"He could always accompany me. Then when we escort those leaving he could leave with you. Who knows maybe his little friend may be leaving the forest with that group as well.

If it wasnt for Kester's white fur, a deep blush would appear in his cheeks at his mothers mention of him 'having a friend'. "Theyre not friends..." The words were mumbled, nearky inaudible if it werent for his parents keen hearing. It didnt help when she continued to call them his friends and then even tried to guilt trip him into staying with her.

Kester was about to give up in his stubborness. It was obvious his mother didnt want him to go and whatever she said, usually everyone followed behind. Especially Kester. But when his father stepped in, Kester's eyes lit up and his small tail started to wag behind him. "Yea! Please mom! Let me go with dad! We'll make sure to teach those stupid bugs a lesson!" A small, excited growl escaped his maw as he jumped up to his feet. He was much to excited to fight against this threat.

His mom glared at his dad but finally sighed. "Alright but you must be very careful and listen to your elders. I don't want to hear about you getting killed or seriously hurt or I'll revive you and kill you myself okay," she said wagging her hoof at him but smiling at the end. How she loved her children.

"We should head out now before it gets dark. They may come back looking for secret trees like this," His dad said taking knee in front of Kester so he could hop on. His mother did the same for his sibling.

After they were all settled they trotted out of the tree and took to the air. Heading for the rendezvous point. Unknowning of the blue circular bug that followed them silently below. Its sole goal to be spy and lookout.