Generational Steppe {Asira}

[FERGHUS]

Rare was a visit to the northern parts of the Digital World. Yet, it was a vacation the old lion had deserved for a long time. A few days in the cool woods, just wilderness, no work at all! Heck, living in the oil rig allowed Ferghus to have space to put excess belongings, such as the camping materials he purchased with the last couple of paychecks. Most of his camping budget went into this damn tent, and while it conveniently had the ability to be zipped up to prevent annoying vermin, that sporting goods store was out of tents made for a single individual of his stature. Really, he didn't need a tent with the ability to hold three Leomon of his size!

His lighter flicked to life as he lit a cigarette, properly inhaling and then blowing off smoke to the half chilling winds. More or less every digimon here left him alone. Good, he confirmed as the silence around the campsite eased his mind. A stream was nearby, Ferghus making a mental note to sit down and do some slow, traditional fishing. Fresh packs of cigarettes, a pole, a bucket, and bait. Impatience would not be an issue this weekend. Another breath of smoke escaped his jaws, eye gazing towards the sky above the trees.

But what else could he do? Woods for miles around, the wilderness his own domain. Sleeping and relaxing for leisure wasn't second nature to the old mercenary. Speaking of, he removed the cigarette from his mouth, letting out a wide, leonine yawn, "Shhhoooot. This here trip better not bore me ter hell and back. Fuck, now Ah'm talkin' ter mahself. Ain't nobody around though so it don't matter none." Ferghus returned the slowly burning cigarette into his mouth, wandering over towards one of the taller trees.

The Leomon bent low, and with a grunt lept up, catching a hefty branch. Good thing these trees were quite sturdy! He pulled himself up, resting his back against the tree itself, one leg resting over the branch, and the other dangling off the edge. His eye gazed towards the distance, nothing mountains and signs of colder temperatures. Yet, he enjoyed the sight. Not something he saw everyday with little amount of distractions. Why didn't he do this more often?

Asira

[Asira]

Beauty is everywhere... From a flower, to your appearance... To your very blood that pumps from your heart... Aasira Aasira started to walk through the forest as she looked around. The area was semi-cold, yet it was welcoming. Was it because she was close to animals for some reason? She felt weirdly connected to digimon animals within the wilds. She would walk through the small amounts of snow and slowly felt the trees. The coldness was rather moistened, the air was rather filled with dew like the droplets upon every leaf. She wore a hoodie, sunglasses and baggy camo pants. As she was going on her beautiful walk, she heard someone speaking. Her body stopped as she then slowly walked towards a tree to hide behind, looking forward to see who it was. 'A leomon?' she questioned in her thoughts. She would slowly go up to him, trying to sneak closer, but then she stepped on a stick that made a snap. 'Crap...' she thought and then side stepped behind a tree. Her stomach growled as she thought of the Leomon fishing. She felt hungry for some reason for something such as fish. Why was this? She wasn't so sure, but she would then just slightly peak...watching.

[FERGHUS]

Smoke waved into the air, the cold breeze grabbing up the tobacco induced gas and carrying it off to unknown areas of the world. Or perhaps the smoke would simply be pushed into the mountains, the journey coming to an abrupt end. But the old man knew his wasn't over yet. The world was big, vast, filled with experiences even his years failed to conceive. Isolation did wonders for getting thoughts straight! Ferghus allowed his thoughts to keep poking into his conscious being, the feeling that someone, or something, else was out that he needed to find. Fulfillment of meeting, or perhaps reuniting, with a stranger.

Leyton had been mostly a stranger, but even after that boy's death a hole had been filled within the digital feline's heart. Just one of many that needed to be made whole. That initial shock was over, Ferghus discovering he retained the calm demeanor he put himself in despite the thoughts of losing somebody. Acceptance? Yes, that final stage of grief pertaining to that one event. Death happened, no turning back. More smoke filled the air. People come, and people go, but they won't go forever. The Leomon found his isolation allowed him to always keep that boy in mind, and in some fashion he would always be there.

Until Ferghus snapped out of his current trance. A branch snapped, and looking about knew it wasn't the branch he rest upon. But his good eye made use of its lone self. Nothing of actual, specific detail, though the culprit was found in some regard. Retreating shadows in the corner tended to be more noticeable than those who succeeded in getting the jump on the old mercenary. Ferghus turned his head, releasing some of the remaining smoke he would get from his cigarette, "Now yew best know that Ah'm aware yer 'round here. Ain't in the mood fer a fight, but it's in yer best interest ter show yerself."

He sighed, reaching into his one of his belt pockets for his portable ash tray. The cigarette tapped along the inner region of the tray, before being placed into the lion's maw, "Look, if'n yer worried, yew know Ah'm all the way up here. As long as yew ain't gonna start trouble, Ah ain't gonna yell at yew none. In that regard, just warnin' yew now there ain't no way Ah'm gonna bum yew a smoke if'n it turns out that's what yew want."

Asira

[Asira]

Beauty is everywhere... From a flower, to your appearance... To your very blood that pumps from your heart... Aasira As she knew, the Leomon heard her thanks to the stupid stick. Sighing softly she would press her sunglasses up a little to organize it in comfortable position. She was still wearing her hoodie and her face was most likely covered by the shadows. Aasira would look up a little as the Leomon was talking about not sharing cigarettes. She tilted her head a little and the stood straight, looking up at him. She cleared her throat as she would then speak calmly and serious. ''Why would I want to smoke one of those lung killing sticks that taste like shit?'' she spoke bluntly. It was true though, they were disgusting and they were terrible for ones soul. She would walk out though from hiding, look up at him still and took another deep breather. Why did his voice sound familiar though? It felt odd to her for that fact with no logical reasoning behind thinking it did. ''I'm just here to explore and enjoy the nature.'' she would then say calmly, looking at the Leomon himself. ''Or do you fear my company being around here?'' she questioned seriously, wondering. Honestly, camping sounded nice and it'd be even better with company.

[FERGHUS]

His brow raised at the apparent young woman's comment, head shifting to get a better look at the sneaky little bugger. The cigarette moved from one side of his jaws to the other, as though in thought. A sarcastic chuckle escaped the man's throat, "Got a damn mouth on yew, but seems ya got yer head fit right on yer shoulders there to some degree at least. Smokin' ain't gonna do shit ter me, so don't waste yer breath tryin' ter lecture mah bad habits. 'Sides, Ah actually enjoy these paycheck drainin' thangs." Wow, even without alcohol in his system, Ferghus sure had a smart mouth today! Of course, he was in a half-cranky and half-chill mood at the moment.

A small suspicion about her raised a curiosity in the lion. However, that suspicion was so puny he barely gave it the time of day. Never had Ferghus seen this girl, or even heard her voice before. Explore and enjoy nature? As much as he wanted to say something in retaliation, he recalled that today... he was doing the same thing. In no right was he able to talk back about the day's activities. "Fear yer company 'round here? Pfeh! Darlin', Ah've seen and experienced shit that yer nothin' Ah gotta worry 'bout as far as Ah know. Just another one of them humans to me. Enough popped out in recent times that it's a normal thang 'round these parts and the rest of the world," he noted.

Removing the small bit of cigarette from his mouth, he took out his portable ash tray again. Conveniently, it acted as a temporary disposal for his cigarettes as well until he found a proper trash bin. He found himself satisfied after placing the now closed tray into his pocket again, not bothering to light another cigarette. Ferghus knew this girl was a guest, and shifted his body so both legs hung over the branch. One hand rested its palm on his thigh, and the other arm's forearm rested itself in a similar position. The old lion crouched over, as though to get a better look at the stranger below,

"Ya know, if'n this were indoors, Ah'd be givin' yew a harder time 'bout those shades and havin' yer hood up and all that. Regardless, yew don't mind removin' the hood and glasses so Ah can see yew better? But that ain't all. Don't suppose yew got a name, Darlin'?"

Asira

[Asira]

Beauty is everywhere... From a flower, to your appearance... To your very blood that pumps from your heart... Aasira The leomon spoke once more, saying how she had a mouth on her. She would look at him, listening to his words as if she cared. She chuckled lightly and swayed her right hand. ''Don't worry, your life is no concern of mine. I won't judge for whatever you do. For my mouth? I was told I got it from my father.'' she chuckled once more and then started to walk a little more towards his camp in which he approved of. He seemed to not even fear her, due to her being some sort of human. She nodded, but then stopped when he added about her wearing a hoodie and sunglasses. In all honesty though, it did seem suspicious and weird. Slowly she would bright her right hand to her hoodie, pulling it down to reveal her brown-red hair in a darkened shade as her milkyway colored orbs would look at him after taking off her sunglasses. She would look and stare at him and then towards the middle of the campfire. ''Well, since you don't 'fear' my company. I'll start a fire.'' she spoke calmly and walked to the pit, grabbed her hiking bag and brought out a lighter and some fluid. She could never come too prepared when she goes out to explore the wilderness. Quickly she would then start a fire, lighting up her eyes, her pupils forming into a feline-shape. Aasira never really paid much attention as she would then crouch down and look up at him. ''Are you joining? Or are you going to stay up there like a typical panther, waiting for the perfect time to jump their prey?'' she would tease and question as he was clearly a lion, but calling him another type of feline, was simple humor to her.

[FERGHUS]

"Guess yer father is like me and just don't give a damn enough ter censor himself around yew young fokes," the Leomon retorted, observing the young woman's actions further. She didn't seem to be against revealing her true face either. As her features were revealed, she was just that: a young, human woman. What else did Ferghus expect? Shrugging, the lion pondered, Well, she's more than complaint. Girl might be safer than.. wait a fuckin' minute! She went and invited herself into his camp! Of all the no good invasive things to do, she didn't even ask if it was okay to remain here!

Growling, his closed jaw moved to the side in contemplation before his eye gazed out towards the horizon again. Seems he did jump his mental gun, noticing the sun was just about to finish setting, placing everything in a perpetual darkness. Of course, sans the fire the girl started up. Being prepared seemed to be another thing about her, which eased Ferghus's hostilities. Although his any hostile thoughts or actions were merely banter more than anything serious. No overflow, no inferno of death bent on destroying them and the forest around them. Just a proper campfire. Exactly the sort of thing he wanted to see.

What he wanted to hear definitely wasn't happening anytime soon. But Ferghus would manage, not taking offense to being called a panther. Hell, some of his jobs required the lion to become a different cat through required instincts! Another sarcastic chuckle resounded from the old man, "Darlin' if'n Ah was bein' a panther, yew would already be dead or knocked out only ter wake up in prison. Lucky fer yew, Ah don't take jobs requirin' me ter hurt or kill young fokes like yerself. Ain't got in in me, and hell anyone wastin' their time doin' so is a fuckin' coward."

No hesitation showed when the Leomon slid right off the branch, falling to the ground with a mighty THUD. Like the cat he was, he landed perfectly on all fours. Not a surprise he could fall from a tree as he did considering he was a digital monster. His body was more than tough enough. Ferghus wandered over to the campfire, going around the pit and stopping in front of the huge stump he cut down before. Took a while to do, but he had cut it in half to have the nice, smooth seat he did now. The rest of the log from that tree should be someone, and the girl should at least have her own place to sit.

Ferghus's eye raised as he noticed his wooden resource, wandering away and taking out his sword. Some minutes went by, though the lion came back with a flat seated tree stump, sized right enough for the young woman with him. He placed it down on her end of the campfire, "There's a seat fer ya. Sittin' in the dirt it a pain in the ass unless yew ain't got a choice. Damn tent was too big even folded up fer me ter bring actual chairs." With that, Ferghus went over to his carved seating stump, sighing as he sat down.

"Anyways, yew still ain't givin' me a name. Unless yew enjoy me callin' yew Darlin' all the time."

Asira

[Asira]

Beauty is everywhere... From a flower, to your appearance... To your very blood that pumps from your heart... Aasira She listened to him say how her father was just like him, not giving a damn. That was true, or at least that's what her so called 'mother' told her. She sighed as she thought about how the woman did what she did. She just listened to the Leomon saying on how if he was some kind of panther, she'd be dead or something. She'd chuckle at that as oddly...she was able to get out of fights easily. The animalistic digimon would either leave her be or start something that would later turn out to her just petting them. Randomly she heard a snap and then a loud thud. She turned a little and made a small chuckle at him going on his fours like a typical feline. She couldn't judge as she was oddly like that, being human and all. She could hear him moving from behind her which then he sat down on a tree stump. She slowly stood up, dusting off her pants and walked towards the empty stump, not yet looking up at him. Her eyes would look at the blazing fire and then listened to him ask about her name. ''Aasira...no last name. Yours?'' she'd ask as her head would slowly tilt up to look at him, her eyes glowing and shining like a cats does within the night, but soon would go back to all human-like. She wouldn't be able to notice as she was use to this. Her eyes then looked left and then right, back up at him as she would look at him in a calming manner. ''So...what do you do when camping with someone? Stories?'' she questioned. ''Ask questions?'' she questioned once more calmly and then looks back at the blazing fires.

[FERGHUS]

She took to the 'mon made stump well. At least the girl wasn't entirely picky as to her seating arrangements in the wilderness. Even Ferghus admitted the stumps he chopped up were better than laying down in the dirty most of the time, regardless of whether or not a shower was available nearby. If need be he'd just bath in the nearby stream later: after this human chick headed out into the night or fell asleep, of course. Maybe the old bastard was just used to these kids. He hadn't felt the need to shoo them off after a disciplined lecture, nor did the lion even feel the need to give a lecture in the first place!

Didn't take long to get a name either. Aasira. Not what Ferghus would name one of his kids, but that wasn't his choice at this point. Nodding, his throat allowed a low growl to escape, but the tone of his growl did not become hostile, more akin to being in thought. "Thought yew humans all had last names or somethin'. Ah know Ah'm one of many 'mon who don't got a last name, though Ah'll admit it annoys the piss outta me hearin' someone add mah species name after mah real name. Speakin' of, name's Ferghus. Don't need no proper title or nothin'. One thang though, don't call me 'Mr. Leomon'. Ain't like Ah go by the species' usual shtick of being a proper and noble bastard," the man ranted.

His brow raised at that moment, noticing an unusual adjustment in Aasira's eyes. Was the fire playing tricks? The old lion's vision couldn't be -that- bad! Looked as though a cat suddenly switched eyes with a human girl. Ferghus couldn't decide on whether he should mention this little fact or not at risk of sounding insane. He snapped out of his thoughts when she spoke up as to what people do on a camping trip. The man's jaw shifted to the side to ponder this question. What did people do together at camp? He never had the chance to go camping with his own family after all.

Questions. Maybe he should be asking a few questions, constructed so carefully maybe he could deduce the strange, shifting eyes of this girl. Grunting, the Leomon rested his forearms on his thighs, crouched over to get closer to Aasira's face. This was an actual conversation he needed to focus on, "Eeer, talk Ah guess? Quite frankly Ah planned on an isolated trip. Didn't think Ah'd be gettin' a visitor or somethin'. That aside, let me ask yew somethin'. Got a digimon partner of yer own 'round here? Or are yew one a' them fokes who morph into a digimon fer some goddamn reason? Ain't right fer a normal human ter wander alone in this here world."

Asira

[Asira]

Aasira looked at the leomon and wondered on what he would ask or say. She didn't really talk to many digimon such as himself. He seemed rather 'rough' talking and some accent that she would hear from those country humans. It made her curious on where he was from, but wouldn't really question it unless he just wanted up and just say it himself. She then listened to him say on how he didn't really expect a visitor. After he said that he then asked if she had some digimon partner or one of those people who transform (morph) into one. He seemed to never seen a human be alone within this digimon world. She arched her eyebrow as she looked at the fire still. She remembered that she was like this since she could remember, as her so called mother. She knew it was weird for a human like her to be taken care of from some digimon, so what was she then?

She felt clueless to this illogical thing that could most likely be explained, but how? Her red-brown hair would sway a little with the small winds that were howling throughout the night. Her eyes lit up with the fire as she then took a deep breather that was rather quiet. ''I was raised by a digimon or...that's at least what I lastly remember.'' she would speak calmly, small cold puffs of air escaping her breath. She wasn't so sure on what more to say to that besides one other thing. ''But I don't have a digimon nor can I 'morph' into one.'' she lastly says with a somewhat grim expression.

[FERGHUS]

"Raised by a... wut the hell," he grunted, organizing this discovery in his mind. She seemed a little too quick to make mention of that. A digimon raising a human kid from the ground up was more than unheard of! Hell, some may even consider the girl a bastard child trying to be something she wasn't. But Ferghus wasn't that sort of person to judge. Really, if he had the capability and opportunity to take in a human child who can't go back to the human world, the lion probably would have raised that kid as his own. His head lowered, pinching the bridge of his nose in contemplation.

That also ruined his idea of subtlety. Making a direct approach concerning what the old man saw was a better option at this point. Not every digimon had one of those holosuits, and he had to continue going off the idea she was a regular human regardless of who took care of the girl. Sighing, Ferghus looked back up, "Might just be mah eye, but do yer eyes normally change ter somethin' feline like every so often? Or have yew witnessed that yerself yet?" And the question would begin his journey of looking insane for asking about that subject.

But, he had to continue, "But even with me bein' concerned about that, it ain't wise ter wander this world alone if'n yer a normal human without some form of defense."

Asira

[Asira]

Aasira would poke at the flames with a simple stick as her eyes would stare into the fire that matched her hidden passion. She would sigh softly and breath more cold air that was sunken within the invisible moisture around them. He seemed to question the fact that she was raised by a digimon, but it was true. What was there to gain in lying? She would hear him sigh and then asked if she would normally change into something...feline? Her eyebrow would arch a little in question as if that was silly. ''Urm...no.'' she'd then turn around to get into her hiking bag and grabbed some marshmallows, gramcrackers and chocolate. Slowly she would put on two marshmallows on a stick and over a fire. Gripping the bag of marshmallows, she would then lift them up to Ferghus. ''Want some, Ferghus? Pretty sweet.'' she offer and if he rejected, she would just put them back down and watched her marshmallows burn. Her eyes would light up a little cat-like as she would have a calming facial expression. ''You know though...My foster digimon mother did tell me a funny story though that kind of made me leave her place.'' she'd say finally a little calm, but kinda as if she really did find it funny.

FERGHUS

[FERGHUS]

No? Considering the evidence at hand that answer was only natural. If she only knew herself as a human, no way would this girl think it regular for her to have feline eyes at certain moments. The subject was dropped, Ferghus sighing as he left the matter alone. He would have to pry into Aasira's business some other way. Of course the old man was trying to be nosy! After recent events, he really couldn't just leave some kid alone! Well, on that note, he didn't exactly leave kids alone without a lecture to being with. Just the musings and ramblings of an old fool, as was his life.

Of course this camping trip wouldn't be excessively typical without someone busting out smore related food items. This wasn't the grown man's camp the Leomon was hoping for in the slightest. Yet it was too late. He did allow this girl to stay here, and who the hell was he to consider booting her from the area? "Ain't the kind of thang Ah'd eat, sorry," his hand raised, keeping his cool as he rejected the offer. If anything the digimon who raised Aasira instilled at least some form of manners. Watching this apparent human, the old man continued to feel like she belonged here wit him.

Was he just going insane with the stupid shit these kids got themselves involved with in recent events?

Aasira's next mention concerned Ferghus, his eye narrowing in a near glare, "Made yew leave her place? Wut the sam hell did she tell yew that wud make ya do that? Gets me right thinkin' that there mother of yers ain't in the right ter raise yew at all! Aaargh... but enough of that. Go on and tell me darlin'." The lion was curious, though curiosity did the kill the cat. Didn't stop him from resting an elbow on his knee, fingers wrapped around his chin to focus his attention and thoughts on the words he would be told.

Asira

[Asira]

She would look at him as he declined, putting the bag down on the ground. After her food was done, she grabbed her chocolate and gram-crackers and stacked them. She would nom them, tasting the wonderful melted chocolate, the already perfect hot marshmallows and the gram crackers that made it all just perfect. Her hair would flow a little to the left as it somewhat shined an auburn color with the flames. Her eyes would stare into the fire as she thought of the story. She was then being asked different questions; what made her leave the place, what did she say to make her do such a thing and then just said to go on and tell the story. Her head tilted up to look at Ferghus and then at the sky as she felt like it was just yesterday.

''A long time ago, her and some people that were known by the main prey of theirs, went to the persons house after stalking him back to where he lived. He was with his wife, child and an egg, that was embraced close. They were waiting for the perfect time and day, being night. As the time was exact, they would knock on the door, kick it open and kill the mother, the child and lastly...just because the people didn't like how the guy just swept them off...They left him to die, bleeding to death. The woman on the other hand saw an egg, as the other people were about to kill it, she stopped them. She wanted it for herself to keep, her own daughter now to claim and then raised it as so.'' Aasira spoke calmly and then poked the fire wood again as some of the ashes kind of flew off slowly up into the crisp air.

''After she told me that, I asked her more questions..and more...and more...'' she started to then speak with hatred. ''She told me that I was the one she stole away, my family that was killed as if she didn't really give a shit.'' she spoke with anger. ''But...'' she started to say coldly. ''I'll repay her back someday...when I gain the power in need to destroy her.'' she spoke lastly as she would then lower her darkened gaze upon the flames that was blazing her hate and despair.

[FERGHUS]

Already underestimating this girl, the old man couldn't help but underestimate what her reasons were for leaving her supposed mother. Perhaps there was a simple argument and Aasira merely ran away. Kids do that all the time. Hell, Ferghus had to track down a runaway for a minor job a few times himself. Gave them a lecture afterwards, even towards that kid with the excessively rich parents! Thankfully the Leomon was on good terms with those folks seeing how everyone figured what was in that brat's best interest. He refocused his thoughts, remembering there was this little idea called listening. That usually helped when determining the severity of a job, after all.

This story wasn't just a runaway story. No, it felt close to home. So close it began to hurt inside. Ferghus breathed in, slowly letting out his breath. He couldn't let her see the weight mentioning a story like this truly meant to the old lion. But that vision range through, caring not as to the pain coursing through such a hulking Champion. Oh, he saw it all again. His Youkomon wife, Jane, his dear love of his life, shot and pummeled to death. His Gaomon son, Reginald, merely shot right through the head.

Finally that egg. Earlier that same day, Ferghus had taken the time to lie down with the digitama. He had the little in his hands, remembering words he spoke to his unborn child,

"When yew come outta there, first thang yer Pa's gonna do is show yew this here world's a great thang ter be in. Ah'll show yew it takes a lot of pullin' through, but it ain't a horrible place. Just gotta find that one thang yew care about the most, and yew'll see, yeah? Promise?"

Then he leaned forward, kissing the digitama as though he could find the little thing's forehead, as he would to any children he had. But that was the last moment he spent with that child on a personal level. Ferghus wanted to go back. Back before all of this had transpired. Move further away, rejoin his entire family. Maybe then everything would have been better, safer. Less unbearable. His receipts wouldn't be filled with booze and cigarette purchases. So many 'what ifs', so many he couldn't even think of before now, when it was too late. Far too late. Sighing, Ferghus tightened his lips, attempting to force back an outburst.

Now wasn't the time for an outburst. Not so soon after his previous bawling at the memorial.

And Aasira finished her story. The fire crackled in the darkness, showing his single eye to appear almost glossed over. Vengeance for what that woman did, stealing this child away from her family? If only the girl knew... if only she knew how much the lion shared that same vengeance. But that was foolish. Ferghus had no idea who this woman was, or even if the story was his moment of what transpired that night. Yet, he was curious still. Reaching his his pocket, he pulled out his little holosuit device, "Yew ah... know what this this? And do ya got one with ya? If so and it's on, turn it off. Ah gotta know somethin'."

The man breathed in harsh again, forcing his words to release, "Just gotta know somethin'. That there story she told yew, it hit closer ter home than yew think. Don't know if it's... the same, but... Ah'm curious. Fuckin' stupid ter mahself, but regardless..."

Asira