Cora's Camp 2

"I am not," Theos responded. He knew the question wasn't for him but he answered anyway. "Your father is on the verge of losing Kaa. He nearly lost Ban and now you wish to risk yourself. How much more do you think his heart can handle," Theos asked. "If he Kaa does pass you become heir. Goodness knows Ban couldn't do it. He would break under the pressure."

Don glared at Theos as he spoke of his family.

"Ike you are his best friend surely you agree," Theos said looking to him.

"It is his life. I only wish for him to take a medic with him," Ike responded.

Don was appreciative of Ike's support as always.

"You may not be swayed by emotions like the rest of your family. However even you know that you can't go like this. That dinohumon was dangerous and even champions couldn't defeat him and that was before he even used that orb. Who knows how many more there are like that. You stand no chance," Theos said looking to Don his eyes slowly softening almost pleading. "You are probably exhausted as well from watching over your brother. Striking while the iron is hot may be logical but consider the circumstances."

Don clenched his fist, "You hypocrite!" Don yelled. "Consider the circumstances!? Why don't you practice what you preach! You insert yourself into our family and become our loved one then you throw yourself into perilous situations and expect us to be okay with it! My siblings fawn over you, my father loves you and your dad! You come in here and lead me to tell you all of my personal feelings! Why don't YOU ever consider the circumstances of your actions!?"

Kemba glared at Don, "You have no idea how destructive your death would be to the people around you! You say you do but that isn't true is it! You are always putting yourself in harms way in the name of protecting us! How many times have we heard Kemba plead for you to stay safe and you ignore him? My brothers? My Father? We're fighting this war because of our love for you! As soon as someone steps outside what you expect us to be, we become as if we're yours to chain!"

Don began to walk past Theos, "You do not tell me what I should be doing, how I should be thinking. You certainly don't have the right to tell me about my family and what would happen should I die. Not after everything you've done. You may be the hero in Kaa and Ban's story, but you're not the hero in mine. This is my story and I will write it how I need. I will do what I need to and defend this camp, my nation...the people I love. If you do not step aside Theos...I will move you myself."

"Don you self-righteous....we're only trying to keep you safe! Don't you dare talk to Theos like that!" Kemba grabbed Don's arm and clenched it tight.

Don looked at his paw and then to Kemba, "Remove your paw...now. Unless you wish me to do something you and I will both regret. I am still your prince." Kemba's eyes widened and he removed his paw.

Don looked at Kemba a moment then to Ike, his expression frowning. A sadness behind his eyes. He turned his head once more back to Theos then attempted to leave the tent.

"You hypocrite!" Don yelled. "Consider the circumstances!? Why don't you practice what you preach! You insert yourself into our family and become our loved one then you throw yourself into perilous situations and expect us to be okay with it! My siblings fawn over you, my father loves you and your dad! You come in here and lead me to tell you all of my personal feelings! Why don't YOU ever consider the circumstances of your actions!?" Throws himself into perilous situations? He never asked for all of this. He didn't throw himself out into battle. He only went on the suicide mission to protect Ban. All he's ever done since meeting them was thinking about their welfare.

Kemba glared at Don, "You have no idea how destructive your death would be to the people around you! You say you do but that isn't true is it! You are always putting yourself in harms way in the name of protecting us! How many times have we heard Kemba plead for you to stay safe and you ignore him? My brothers? My Father? We're fighting this war because of our love for you! As soon as someone steps outside what you expect us to be, we become as if we're yours to chain!" 

Don began to walk past Theos, "You do not tell me what I should be doing, how I should be thinking. You certainly don't have the right to tell me about my family and what would happen should I die. Not after everything you've done. You may be the hero in Kaa and Ban's story, but you're not the hero in mine. This is my story and I will write it how I need. I will do what I need to and defend this camp, my nation...the people I love. If you do not step aside Theos...I will move you myself." Theos heart clinched in his chest.

"Don you self-righteous....we're only trying to keep you safe! Don't you dare talk to Theos like that!" Kemba grabbed Don's arm and clenched it tight.

Don looked at his paw and then to Kemba, "Remove your paw...now. Unless you wish me to do something you and I will both regret. I am still your prince."

"You know Don. You are right I have gone against Kemba's wishes. I have made my share of mistakes. However it was all in the same name as why you are doing this. Love for family or friends; I never asked for you all to take me in. Rather I showed up to find my father and the kindness I was shown never ended and it grew into love. All of you bound yourself to me just as much as I am bounded to you. You claim that my death would break your heart and the opposite is also true," Theos responded sadly. His ears flush against his head.

Ike watched waiting to see if Don would still leave before following.

"You know Don. You are right I have gone against Kemba's wishes. I have made my share of mistakes. However it was all in the same name as why you are doing this. Love for family or friends; I never asked for you all to take me in. Rather I showed up to find my father and the kindness I was shown never ended and it grew into love. All of you bound yourself to me just as much as I am bounded to you. You claim that my death would break your heart and the opposite is also true,"

Don stopped a moment his claw partially opening the flap, he turned his head to the side to look at Theos. He glanced to the ground then turned back to his front.

"Make sure...you're aware of your surroundings tonight." Don stepped out, the flap falling behind him.

Kemba shook his head and walked over to Theos, running his arm around his mate's neck and pulling him into his body in a half hug.

"Don didn't mean those things I'm sure...you do your best. We all know that...I know that and honestly, I'm the only one who should care that you give your best. Still...I can't read that digimon. If anyone has changed the most...it's Don. What kind of weight is he even carrying?" Kemba sighed.

"Make sure...you're aware of your surroundings tonight." Theos definitely would be. He wouldn't be able to sleep til Don returned. Because he knew Cora would not only be wounded but probably blame them for not stopping him even if it meant hurting him.

Ike followed Don out with a brief nod to the pair. They would probably need time to calm down. He walked behind him patiently knowing Don would probably turn to talk to him again eventually. 

"Don didn't mean those things I'm sure...you do your best. We all know that...I know that and honestly, I'm the only one who should care that you give your best. Still...I can't read that digimon. If anyone has changed the most...it's Don. What kind of weight is he even carrying?" 

"He thinks he has to make all the hard decisions and be the villain. To do what no one else is willing to do," Theos sighed leaning into Kemba's embrace. "He meant it deep down. I am sure he has had those thoughts for awhile. Even I know it was rather sudden to gain me as a sibling. I was so happy to be with them and to finally have a family I didn't care though. I do wonder if he hates me sometimes."

"He thinks he has to make all the hard decisions and be the villain. To do what no one else is willing to do," Theos sighed leaning into Kemba's embrace. "He meant it deep down. I am sure he has had those thoughts for awhile. Even I know it was rather sudden to gain me as a sibling. I was so happy to be with them and to finally have a family I didn't care though. I do wonder if he hates me sometimes."

Kemba stroked Theos's neck to console him, "Don doesn't hate you! No one hates you in this family. He's just very independent of everyone much like yourself. You both have the same personalities and they're clashing. Though the only way you'll know for sure is if you ask him directly and quell all thoughts of doubt."

Don knew Ike was following him and stopped quite a ways from Kaa's tent. He turned to face him. "I'm...sorry." Don said. "You're always seeing me like this...arguing or yelling...fighting with people I'm supposed to love. This isn't how I wanted you to know me." Don began.

He turned away from him, "This is something I need to do...I have already thought of it. Stall won't beat me. Could you apologize to Theos and Kemba for me?" Don asked.

Ike would notice that where Don was walking, was away from the tents that had his units. It seemed Don wasn't entirely forthcoming with Theos about bringing his men.

"Don doesn't hate you! No one hates you in this family. He's just very independent of everyone much like yourself. You both have the same personalities and they're clashing. Though the only way you'll know for sure is if you ask him directly and quell all thoughts of doubt." Not the best thing to say after a fight. He was comparable to Don? The very digimon who buried his emotions so deep he came off as nothing but cold.

"So I am compared to a smart but cold and calculated digimon. One who would rather fight his family just to get his way," Theos said frowning. He pulled away from Kemba and started walking out the tent

"I'm...sorry." Don said. "You're always seeing me like this...arguing or yelling...fighting with people I'm supposed to love. This isn't how I wanted you to know me." Ike knew a lot better than the others though. He saw this side of him after every fight.

"This is something I need to do...I have already thought of it. Stall won't beat me. Could you apologize to Theos and Kemba for me?"

"No," Ike said pausing a moment afterwards. "It means nothing coming from my mouth. You want me by your side don't you. The one person you can lean on no matter what. Am I your friend?"

"So I am compared to a smart but cold and calculated digimon. One who would rather fight his family just to get his way,"

Kemba reached for him as he went to leave the tent, "Hey hey hey!" He said quickly reaching for Theos backside and holding him, moving around to his front side. "You know I didn't mean it that way. I was saying that both of you love everyone so much that you both do what you think is right. That is why you are clashing. No one would rather fight with there family." Kemba said holding tightly to Theos face.

"You love me don't you Theos? With everything you are? You argue with me to keep me safe and I you...but we always resolve it in the end and come back stronger. This is no different. You have to believe that." Kemba touched his nose to Theos if he would let him.

"Just...rely on me when things seem hard with everyone else. You will only find warmth and love here."

_

"No," Ike said pausing a moment afterwards. "It means nothing coming from my mouth. You want me by your side don't you. The one person you can lean on no matter what. Am I your friend?

Don turned and looked and was surprised by Ike's passion and the wording of it. Don felt his chest flutter a bit at the words.

"Yes Ike...in this hellish world. You are sometimes my only friend. What are you trying to say to me? That I should go back and listen to Theos? Sit on my tail and claws and look the other way?"

"Hey hey hey!" Theos glared faintly as he was stopped. "You know I didn't mean it that way. I was saying that both of you love everyone so much that you both do what you think is right. That is why you are clashing. No one would rather fight with their family." Maybe not but Don was being a complete ass about it. Even earlier he tossed Theos words aside about compromise. Don was simply too stubborn and one day it could end up getting him killed.

"You love me don't you Theos? With everything you are? You argue with me to keep me safe and I you...but we always resolve it in the end and come back stronger. This is no different. You have to believe that." Theos closed his eyes grudgingly accepting his nose touch.

"Just...rely on me when things seem hard with everyone else. You will only find warmth and love here."

"I will. Doesn't mean that Don's stubbornness doesn't bug me though. He is convinced there is only one path to everything and it all ends with him a villain," Theos said sighing.

_

"Yes Ike...in this hellish world. You are sometimes my only friend. What are you trying to say to me? That I should go back and listen to Theos? Sit on my tail and claws and look the other way?"

"No, but as your friend I will not leave you alone. I come with you wherever you go. You can not command me otherwise because I am your friend and not your servant. This is my life after all," Ike responded. He was not going to go alone. Even if Ike had to trail him and drag him away kicking and screaming when things got too dangerous.

"I will. Doesn't mean that Don's stubbornness doesn't bug me though. He is convinced there is only one path to everything and it all ends with him a villain,"

Kemba pulled away and frowned, "He needs to walk his own path...it is just the kind of digimon he is. I am worried to but we need to trust he is smart enough to get out of this. In your current state, there isn't anything you can do and worrying is going to make you sick and stress you out. Let me ease it. What can I do Theos?" Kemba said placing his paw on his head and stroking it.

-

"No, but as your friend I will not leave you alone. I come with you wherever you go. You can not command me otherwise because I am your friend and not your servant. This is my life after all,"

Don narrowed his gaze at him, "I am worried you'll be used against me. Please stay here where I know you're going to be safe. It isn't like I want you to stay. I just...didn't calculate for you to come. I don't know if I'll be able to protect you. It sounds to me like you know what I'm up to. Don't put yourself in harms way for my behalf."

"He needs to walk his own path...it is just the kind of digimon he is. I am worried to but we need to trust he is smart enough to get out of this. In your current state, there isn't anything you can do and worrying is going to make you sick and stress you out. Let me ease it. What can I do Theos?" There was nothing he could do. Unless he could stop Don and they both knew that was going to happen.

"Let's just get to work on the defense. Their is little either one of us can do short of knocking Don out and dragging him back here," Theos said frowning.

-

"And yet you put yourself in harms way for others. It is only fair someone do the same for you. If you do not want me to go then you'll have to stay," Ike said not budging.

"Let's just get to work on the defense. Their is little either one of us can do short of knocking Don out and dragging him back here,"

Kemba sighed and stepped off to the side and nodded, "Where do we even begin without a tactician? I don't know anything about war and strategy..." He really wished he could do something for Theos. Perhaps he'd have a chance soon but he needed to be by his side at the very least.

"Do you have some sort of plan?"

-

"And yet you put yourself in harms way for others. It is only fair someone do the same for you. If you do not want me to go then you'll have to stay," Don looked at Ike firmly in his eyes. He would go no matter what, though he already knew of several ways to get Ike to stay, none of those favored their friendship though. He couldn't find a path that kept Ike here and preserved the way they were now.

Don turned back towards the path he was taking, "Then...come with me Ike. Let us be reckless together. I doubt I'll be very popular with Cole though. Not that I expected any other result. I can't deny I'm a little relieved to have you here." Don smiled and would wait for Ike, to walk side by side with him.

"Where do we even begin without a tactician? I don't know anything about war and strategy..." Admittedly neither did Theos. He could only guess from where they may strike.

"Do you have some sort of plan?"

"We put guards around Cora and Kaa for starters. Then around the vital points of the camp. Meaning the supplies and the medical tents. In the center should be the main force. They can rest but be ready at a moments notice and have one side nothing but empty tents with a few guards patrolling. Let them think they can burn down those tents full of sleeping soldiers," It was as good a plan as any. They would focus the forces rather than scatter them.

-

"Then...come with me Ike. Let us be reckless together. I doubt I'll be very popular with Cole though. Not that I expected any other result. I can't deny I'm a little relieved to have you here." Ike stared at him a bit suspiciously. He had been too quick to yield when he hadn't yielded to Theos at all.

"Someone will have to treat your wounds and drag you back. I think I'll remain behind you in the shadows. That way they do not see me until I have to rescue you," Ike said not moving up beside him but rather motioning him forward. 

"We put guards around Cora and Kaa for starters. Then around the vital points of the camp. Meaning the supplies and the medical tents. In the center should be the main force. They can rest but be ready at a moments notice and have one side nothing but empty tents with a few guards patrolling. Let them think they can burn down those tents full of sleeping soldiers,"

Kemba nodded it sounded like as good a plan as any, "Hmm...it would be the wisest choice of action. I'll be up patrolling the campgrounds as Spaliomon. Now that you've given me the plan, I'll execute it. Alright Theos, off to bed with you." Kemba said standing in front of him once more.

If Theos attempted to speak, Kemba would hold up his paw to stop him. "If the next words out of your mouth aren't, walk me to my bed Kemba so I can sleep, make them. I do not care what your argument will be or what you think you have to do because of Cora. You have got to get some sleep and relax. Do not make me evolve to take you back to your tent. Now...what are you going to say?" Kemba said with a firm look but warm smile.

-
"Someone will have to treat your wounds and drag you back. I think I'll remain behind you in the shadows. That way they do not see me until I have to rescue you,"

Don chuckled a bit and reached for his heart, "I'm hurt you think I'll need rescuing." Don relaxed and shook his head.

"It's probably inevitable...but I don't want to walk without you next to me. We're not going to reach the enemy anytime soon. Won't you be by my side until we get there?"