[center][h2][u][color=4acdff]Asher Shaw[/color][/u][/h2][/center]Asher spent the eerie silence in thought. After he pressed each button on the small device to no avail, he carefully stuffed it into his pant’s pocket, and leaned up against the same moss covered tree that left them without a portal home. Only being able to see Vorvomon cautiously pace around the perimeter of the forest, due to the glowing plants that reminded Asher of the foreign world he was now stranded in. Yet with an exchanged glance between the pair, it was apparent which of them was on edge.

[color=a13535]“Well?!”[/color] Vulcan half-shouted, with his wing pointing at who he was describing. [color=a13535]“You’re the one that comes up with the strategies, and I’m the dragon that does them!”[/color]

[color=4acdff]“Okay, I’ll get us out of here. Just try to chill a little.”[/color] Asher reassured. Walking toward what appeared to be the best lit path and rubbing the back of his hoodie. As Vorvomon glared in his direction and proceeded to follow behind him, as his body began to glow red with a noticeable heat. [color=4acdff]“Maybe the portal moved somewhere else nearby.”[/color] He uttered with scant confidence in his theory, while wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead. [color=4acdff][i]“At least I hope so...”[/i][/color]

[color=a13535]“Do you even have a clue where you’re going?”[/color] Vulcan muttered, shifting his gaze to the surrounding dark on either side. As it didn’t take long for Asher to realize that the plants were decreasing in frequency the further he went, and so was the light necessary to see anything. But then ⁠— Asher was interrupted by a mighty stomp that rattled the ground beneath his feet. Getting him to turn and witness Vulcan's expanded wings, and his open maw abruptly unleashing a flame that Asher felt blasting past him. Though it merely dissipated into the darkness, as Asher swiftly raised his hands in a stopping motion. 

Though before Asher could speak, Vulcan’s wings folded as he looked up at him. [color=a13535]“You didn’t notice it moving through the shadows?”[/color] He asked crossly, squinting his eyes at Asher’s lack of reaction. Continuing with his literal heated words faster than Asher could fully process what had happened. [color=a13535]“You should pay more attention to your surroundings!”[/color] Vulcan scolded with puffs of smoke coming out of his maw, before pointing at him again. [color=a13535]“Because what am I supposed to do if my ally gets hurt?”[/color]

[color=4acdff]“Alright, Alright,”[/color] Asher interjected in a placid tone. [color=4acdff]“We’ll head back and stay in the light.”[/color] He proposed, noticing that Vorvomon’s body was cooling off, as the two soon returned to where they started. Asher pulled out the device and pondered their options. [color=4acdff][i]“If there’s a threat out there ⁠— wandering aimlessly is the last thing I should be doing.”[/i][/color] He concluded, looking at Vulcan, who let out a brief growl and stomped up to the mossy tree.

[color=a13535]“[b]Why. won’t. you. open[/b]?”[/color] Vulcan said, releasing his pent-up frustration by clawing at the tree.

[color=4acdff][i]“I’ll let him cool off his own way.”[/i][/color] Asher dismissed, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Inexplicably picturing a vision of his own backyard, as the device’s screen then lit up in a bright white light that caught Vulcan’s attention. [color=4acdff][i]“There must be a reason the portal closed. And this device has to do something…why else would it suddenly appear in my pocket once I arrived here?”[/i][/color] 

[color=a13535]“Asher! That light is like the portal!”[/color] Vulcan exclaimed, seeming to calm down in an instant. Causing Asher to open his eyes and see the gleaming device, as everything in his mind had suddenly clicked. 

[color=4acdff]“I get it now.”[/color] Asher replied, as he extended his arm and held out the device in his hand. Obtaining knowledge of the device’s purpose that seemed to come from nowhere, not too dissimilar to the device itself. Both watching the device's light beam out and create a portal on the surface of the tree. [color=4acdff]“Let’s go home, Vulcan.”[/color] As Vorvomon smiled. [color=a13535]“Gladly.”[/color]

Then without hesitation, they both rushed into the light.
[hr]
[center][h2][u][color=f26522]Kate Beckham[/color][/u][/h2][/center]The bedroom door remained wide open, as Dracomon boredly laid on the floor and muttered to himself. [color=2fff81]“I know I don’t belong here...but I thought we could be friends.”[/color] But he was soon interrupted by the sight of Roxanne approaching with a colorful knotted rope clamped in her maw. Dropping the toy down in front of him, as he swiftly sat upright and blinked at the dog. [color=2fff81]“What’s this?”[/color] He questioned, reaching out to inquisitively pick it up with his claws. Realizing its true purpose, once the dog hopped forward to grab the other end to tug it away from his grip. [color=2fff81]“Oh, I see. A friendly challenge of strength.”[/color] Ouro said with a grin, quite easily holding the toy against the German Shepherd’s efforts to repeatedly scoot backward with a low growl and wagging tail. As Ouro stood up and started stepping backward toward her bedroom dresser. [color=2fff81]“I admire your bravery against a far stronger opponent.”[/color] Ouro snarked with his tail swaying about, playfully dragging her along as Roxanne persisted. However, their tug of war would be disrupted by a loud bark coming from the doorway.

Meanwhile downstairs…

[color=f26522][i]“I can’t just ignore him...”[/i][/color] Kate thought, making the mistake of opening their door. As Troy presented Kate with a confident smile, along with a dozen violets, and a heart-shaped box of dark chocolates with its price tag half torn off. 

[color=aeb4ff]“I noticed your parents weren’t home.”[/color] He stated with a brief chuckle, trying to eliminate the last excuse for why he couldn’t come inside.

[color=f26522]“This is [b]really[/b] not a good time-”[/color] Kate stressed with a clenched hand gripping the doorknob, unable to stop the boyfriend from walking through the door.

[color=aeb4ff]“Do you need help with something?”[/color] Troy asked, noticing as she looked away from his gaze. [color=aeb4ff]“Are you...still angry with me?”[/color] He added in a guilty tone.

[color=f26522]“No I’m not, but I have-”[/color] Kate paused, as they both overheard the loud crashing sound coming from upstairs. [color=f26522][i]“Really? What are you doing, Ouro?”[/i][/color] Kate internally questioned in exasperation, before being hit with a sudden revelation. As she facepalmed and let out a believable groan. [color=f26522]“Well, I guess you can hear it.”[/color]

[color=aeb4ff]“Sounds like your dogs are roughhousing.”[/color] Troy replied casually, also listening to Roger’s barking, as he set the gifts on the nearest table. 

[color=f26522]“I’m watching the Perkinson’s Cat. [b]The Hellspawn.[/b]”[/color] She revealed with a sigh, observing Troy’s apparent discomfort. [color=f26522][i]“That’s right. You’re not only allergic. It’s the one that chased you out of their yard, when you delivered their newspaper.”[/i][/color]

[color=aeb4ff]“Oh. Doesn’t she hate your dogs though?”[/color] He uttered, as she shrugged her shoulders in false irritation.

[color=f26522]“It wasn’t my idea for a punishment for not cleaning my room within the five minutes I was told to.”[/color] She said indignantly. [color=f26522]“So now I have a little demon barricaded in my room, and wrecking it even further because they keep barking at her.”[/color] 

He sighed in defeat, reluctantly walking out to her porch. [color=aeb4ff]“I’ll let you break it up then.”[/color]

[color=f26522]“Thanks for the flowers and chocolate. I’ll call you when you can come over tomorrow.”[/color] She hinted with a polite smile. Causing him to smile and give her a departing wave, as he walked off toward his car, which was parked by the next door neighbor’s mailbox. Allowing Kate to promptly shut and lock her door. [color=f26522]“[b]Thank god.”[/b][/color] She emphasized. Rushing upstairs to her bedroom where Ouro stood alone beside her upright dresser with a nervous look. Along with many piles of clean clothes that covered her floor, and the knotted rope toy by Dracomon's feet.

[color=2fff81]“U-um. It was an accident.”[/color] Ouro stammered.

Kate rubbed her forehead and sighed. [color=f26522]“Look, I’m sorry that I snapped at you earlier, Ouro.[/color] She apologized, while receiving Ouro’s slightly agape maw in response. As she approached him to start picking up the clothes and stuffing them back into the drawers with disregard. [color=f26522]“And I’ll still feed you after I put everything away.”[/color] She remarked with a smirk.

Ouro released a hot sigh of relief and held his stomach. [color=2fff81]“Thank you. I’m starving.”[/color]
[hr]
[center][h2][u][color=Gold]Izabel Ivanowski[/color][/u][/h2][/center]Izabel rocked back and forth with the laptop on her folded legs. Simultaneously responding to the guildmates’ text messages through her laptop’s phone service, and watching Sunny glow from the opposite end of her bed. Evolving into a Muchomon the second after finishing his half of the tuna sandwich. As he took a moment to briefly admire the exquisiteness of his regrown wings, and then patted his plump belly with a gleeful smile. [color=f49400]“I love the way you dance Izzy.”[/color] He commented softly, breaking the quiet atmosphere of her typing away.

[color=Gold]“I’m not dancing. It’s how I stay focused.”[/color] She explained in a calculated manner, promptly setting the laptop aside and standing up from her bed. 

[color=f49400]“Oh.”[/color] Sunny uttered shyly, as he spun around to follow her advancing toward the door. [color=f49400]“Um, where are you going Izzy?[/color]

As Izabel opened the door and peeked her head out. Seeing that the coast was clear, as she soon shut it again and turned to approach the anxious bird. [color=Gold]“Since you don't remember where you landed. We’re going to go look outside for the portal that ApolloKnight was talking about.”[/color] She replied, while putting on her goggles.

[color=f49400]“Can I come too?”[/color] He asked with a twinkle in his eyes. 

[color=Gold]“Yes bird-brain, that is what ‘we’re’ means.”[/color] She lightly chided, as he blushed and twittered from beneath his wing.

[color=f49400]“I’m truly humbled by your praise-”[/color] He added, clearly tickled by her words.

[color=Gold]“But you need to sit there until I make sure that mom won’t notice you.”[/color] Izabel clarified. [color=Gold]“Can you do this time?”[/color]

Muchomon nodded happily. [color=f49400]“I understand perfectly.”[/color]

[color=Gold]“So what will you here do when I leave?”[/color] Izabel questioned skeptically, as Sunny wiggled his feet with readiness to prove himself.

[color=f49400]“Sit and wait for Izzy to return.”[/color] He chirped.

[color=Gold]“Good.”[/color] She said with a firm nod, before walking out of her bedroom and closing the door. Heading downstairs to check in the living room where the television was still on, reporting on last night’s meteor shower denting someone’s mailbox, and then into the kitchen to turn off the dripping sink faucet, and even peeking inside her parent’s bedroom to find nobody there. [color=Gold]“Mom?”[/color] She called out from the first floor hallway. [color=Gold][i]“Where else would she be?[/i][/color]
[center]* * *[/center]
[color=f49400][i]“Sit and wait for Izzy to return.”[/i][/color] Sunny repeated like a melody in his head, as he sat in the same spot and preened his feathers as the minutes passed by. Looking up with a smile when he heard the doorknob turning. As Izabel stepped into her room with a sigh.

[color=Gold]“Alright, my mom’s busy. So we can go now. Just follow me closely, okay?”[/color] She stated, looking at Muchomon.

[color=f49400]“Really? I can come too?”[/color] He asked, as his face lit up with excitement. Receiving a blank stare from Izabel, as then she approached and picked him up. Causing him to blush as she proceeded to hold him in her folded arms. [color=f49400]“O-oh my.”[/color] He muttered sheepishly, glancing up in surprise to see the slightest smile on her face.

[color=Gold]“Let’s go find our partner device, Sunny.”[/color] Izabel said, as Muchomon relaxed in her hold.

[color=f49400]“I-I’ll do my best.”[/color] He responded. As she carried him all the way downstairs and into the garage, before he mustered the courage to speak up again. [color=f49400]“Um...could you remind me what that is again?”[/color]