The odds are never in our favor

[badluckbabe]

Who: Jinx and Hollyleaf
What: Sidelined from the battle, these two are going back to Tokyo
Where: On the road back from Millenniummon's Castle
When: Before the final battle, after Hollyleaf caused a dark evolution.

Luck was a fickle mistress.

Jinx had lived all of her life with that cloud of uncertinty hanging over her head. What did it matter if you planned every detail of something down to the letter when it could all be undone by a stroke of bad luck?

Was anyone really in charge of their own destiny when the unpredictable forces of luck could so easily upset the laws of probability? Already such odds were thrown upon their head given the situation they were in. Two girls from two different worlds, brought suddenly and inexplicably to a third world where they were expected to save it despite one of them losing a unique talent she had come to rely on...and the other being forcibly transformed into a human when she had previously not been.

The numbers were too staggering for even a genius level intellect. And while Jinx was no dummy, she was not smart enough to work out the exact odds of that happening to someone.

Her power over luck had more often then not in the past few years been beneficial to her. Only by force of will had she convinced herself to keep her other skills sharp on the off chance her powers failed her. And only because of those skills was she still alive. Lucky? Or just Being well prepared?

These were the sorts of thoughts that ran through Jinx's head as she kept pace with Holly leaf trudging through the woods back towards the closest station where they could pick up a Trailmon back to town. A large egg was resting against her middle held in place by a sling that went up over her shoulder like a messenger bag.

Sometimes all it took was a little bad luck to completely ruin someone's day. Noir had been on that end of the spectrum while luck had favored Jinx enough to keep her alive and have Black Wargreymon save them from Hollyleaf's rampaging partner.

More and more Jinx was starting to worry that fate may not have her best intentions in mind.

More and more she was hoping to get her powers back before she'd have to find out.

Comments

[notmyprophecy]

Unlike Jinx, as they trek through a forested section of the desert, one of the last ones before they reach the Armadillomon village, Hollyleaf thinks of what the stars have foretold.

It's a fight to keep them out of her mind, the simple facts and truths from back home. She once thought she was part of a prophecy to protect her Clan, and the other three Clans as well, but in the end she just left them in shambles. Now, she's chosen to save this world, and so many others, but all she's done is hurt the small creature in her arms. Like home, here reflects what she's meant to be...and she starting to wonder if she can change any of that, or if she'd even be happy doing it.

Her right ear is now torn. Kyubimon's claws, which raked her face, have left four scratch marks running from above her right eye to her cheek, inevitably leaving scars. They're still red and scabbed, but she's had injuries just as bad, just not ones that have left this kind of mark on her body.

It's like something's trying to tell her something. If Hollyleaf hadn't known that StarClan couldn't be watching her, she'd be sure this was a sign from them. A fox was what her partner turned into, and now she's a tiny kit. When Hollyleaf was just two moons old, she'd almost gotten killed by a fox kit. Before arriving here, she'd tried befriending one, almost succeeding...and then chased up a tree for her troubles. Now, Kyubimon almost killed her.

But she didn't. Because she accepted what she did was wrong, and she finally, truly, wanted to repent. She wants to repent. To atone.

There are things Hollyleaf must do. A new destiny for her, that she can't fight...if she could just figure what it is.

Her fingers run over Nyaromon's ears, Nyaromon who sleeps. She wets her lips with her not-rough tongue.

"We've been walking for such a long time."

With just the two of them and an unconscious kit, it makes Hollyleaf realize just how alone they are.

[badluckbabe]

"Sure feels that way." Jinx remarked in automatic response. She blinked to clear her mind of the philosophical fog that had settled there.

"I don't think we're traveling any slower then we did when the whole group came through here the first time. But if we go too fast we're likely to draw attention which in our current situation...not a good idea." If any Digimon thought to come after them the best they could do is run and hope it loses interest in them.

[notmyprophecy]

The idea had occurred to Hollyleaf as well. "So...do we set down for a little? Rest? Would that be a good idea?"

[badluckbabe]

Jinx shrugged her narrow shoulders, "Who knows. This isn't exactly familiar territory for me either. But my feet are aching so we might as well give it a shot. How about over under that tree?"

It was a taller tree with wide boughs full of dried leaves that were parched with thirst in the summer sun.

[notmyprophecy]

Wordlessly, Hollyleaf complies, trudging over to the tree and settling down in a nook, not sitting like a human would but curling up, though she can feel her less flexible back strain just a little; she'll get it better, eventually.

Nyaromon's set on the large root next to her. The tiny Digimon continues to sleep, even now.

[badluckbabe]

Jinx followed taking her seat in a cross legged stance and checking on her egg, sparring Holly an amused smirk.

"You're gonna have to adapt sooner or later kitten."

[notmyprophecy]

Her nose wrinkles. "I'm not a kit."

Hollyleaf's tail twitches as well, and if she could, she'd growl.

"And no, I don't. I may be stuck like this, but that doesn't mean I have to lose everything that makes me a cat."

[badluckbabe]

"I didn't say everything." Jinx argued closing her eyes and rubbing the egg gently feeling it's smooth surface.

"But in that body you're going to have some problems if you keep trying to do things the way you used to. You're simply not built for it anymore."

[notmyprophecy]

"Then I'll train for it. This body may be awkward, gangling, and too large, but I'm not giving up on my roots."

Her ears have slowly drooped as she speaks. Giving up her roots, huh?

[badluckbabe]

Jinx's eyes opened in time to catch the expression and as she tucked the egg back into her bag she looked thoughtful.

"So tell me about your roots. Then I won't forget them either and you won't be so utterly, crushingly, undeniably alone."

Said with affection.

[notmyprophecy]

A soft cooing from Nyaromon, in mid-rest, really is all that breaks the silence as Hollyleaf focuses on a dried up leaf that had fallen from the tree above them, probably long ago.

"I'd rather not."

Said blankly.

[badluckbabe]

Unfortunately for Hollyleaf, Jinx has never been the kind of girl to give up lightly.

"Not a happy subject huh? What happened? Dead parents?"

[notmyprophecy]

Hollyleaf's tail twitches and the fur bristles. "No. Look, I really don't want to talk about that. I appreciate what you did, and how nice you've been to me, but I'm not comfortable with talking about this to you."

[badluckbabe]

Jinx's lips pulled into a frown and she sighed, "Fine. I see how it is. It's fine it's not like I've put myself out there. Tried to be nice, And thanks to you I am kind helpless now. What with how my partner was ya know...brutally murdered by your partner."

She slid a hand into her bag producing her canteen and unscrewing the cap. "It wouldn't kill you to open up a little, even if you avoid the "Deeply personal" stuff that obviously screwed you up."

She sipped the drink casually before finishing. "I thought maybe you'd realize after causing your partner to freak out that maybe you need to deal with whatever issues have been weighing on you but no no, it's cool. Keep all that darkness bottled up and just wait for the next time they dark evolve and murder people."

Maybe she was laying it on a little thick, but Jinx had made an effort and gone out of her way to help this person...twice! And so far all she'd gotten out of it was some bruises, singed eyebrows and an egg.

[notmyprophecy]

As Jinx speaks, Hollyleaf's visible fur puffs up, more and more. Each word's like someone's taking a rock beneath her claws-- er, nail. Screw up, screw up, you messed up the number one rules of the code, you messed up making friends with Fallen Leaves, with that fox, with this person now too, you did it again--

There's nothing she can do but listen and miss her brothers. No one would understand, not in the Clans, but maybe they would. They would still love her. Someone out here might understand, if she didn't keep screwing up, once again--

A small mumble escapes Nyaromon. Hollyleaf immediately looks to her slumbering partner-- well, formerly slumbering. Her eyes blink sleepily, she gazes with half-open lids. "You're bleeding again."

Hollyleaf blinks. The more her ears had gone back, the more she'd tensed...looks like her scabs have reopened. She reaches up and touches the blood running down her cheek, and once it's on her fingertips she stares at it. "...Fitting..." She murmurs and sighs. She hadn't even felt it.

"I'm sorry." Now addressing Jinx. "This world...maybe it didn't make a mistake, but maybe I'm just not very good at adapting. You don't have to keep looking after me once we return. I understand."

[badluckbabe]

"Uh huh, keep dreaming furball."

Jinx sighed and stretched her arms up over her head before relaxing and laying back in the grass.

"I'm going to tell you a secret now and if you tell anyone I'll shave your tail got it?" She didn't wait for Hollyleaf to respond.

"Back home I was a bad girl. I broke the rules, hurt people, stole things. None of that is the secret by the way I'm just catching you up. Anyway I did all these things because it makes me feel good. I get to prove I'm faster, smarter, and just plain better then everyone else. And afterwards I get nice shiny things to look at later and remind myself how special I am."

Tucking her hands behind her head and lacing one leg over the other she continued focusing her eyes on the leaves of the tree.

"No family to speak of. All my friends left because unlike them I actually wanted to be something great. Because crime isn't easy you know. It takes alot of dedication to be the best. And they just didn't want to do the work. Now here comes the secret."

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She hadn't actually said these words out loud and it was a little nerve racking. But Jinx knew a safe risk vs. a stupid one. And what was the worse that could come from this?

"I was thinking of giving it all up. Because as good as I was there was always someone better. And a woman I looked up to almost all my life turned out to be...well everything I imagined and worse. So I got emotional, got angry, did some things I can't take back and left my home and everything I knew behind to try and find myself. And I wind up here which put a major cramp in that plan."

"Now I've got this digidork following me around, and it seems every week or so a new person shows up that needs help or is expecting something from me. But I don't help them all. I only offer it to people I'm interested in." She smirked and cast a sideways glance at Hollyleaf.

"And I don't give up easily."

[notmyprophecy]

It all sinks in. Hollyleaf digests it, listening as tiny bits of blood ooze from her scar, as Nyaromon sleepily inches forward to try and wipe the blood off, quite futilely.

Jinx's talk of her pats habits, it makes Hollyleaf tense up more and more. She can feel her muscles contracting, but... But then...

StarClan, is this your wish? Or...no... Is this what any of the ancestors, any ancestors-- is this what destiny wants for her? Is this what she's meant to do? There's a girl here who's trying to find herself a different path. A different way. And there's Hollyleaf here, who's in no way the right cat to teach...but maybe to watch. To try and keep her from breaking the rules and ruining this new life.

"...Your persistence reminds me of one of my brothers. You're stubborn. And insistent...but then again, so are some of the best cats...

"If you'll take this frustratingly slow learner, I'd be honored to have you...as a friend."

[badluckbabe]

That drew a smirk out of Jinx.

"Sounds like a nice start. I'm sure we could learn alot from one another." She pointed a finger to her. "But only if you open up a little more. I'm not looking for everything at once, but I'll trust you if you trust me."

[notmyprophecy]

If she only her claws were still there, Hollyleaf would be kneading at the ground. Though Jinx does have a point. Even she'd wanted to know about Fallen Leaves, despite her slow friendship with him.

"...Back home, there are groups called Clans, four of them. ShadowClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ThunderClan -- my Clan. And we all strive to live in balance with each other. To do that, we abide by what's called the warrior code."

If there's one thing Hollyleaf knows how to talk about, it's the code.

[badluckbabe]

"Now we're talking." Jinx purred leaning forward and fixing her catlike eyes on Hollyleaf's eyes.

"I knew it had to be something strict like that. You've got a discipline about you." She added only bending the truth some. In reality she wouldn't have guessed warrior so much as stubborn. But it didn't hurt to butter her up right?

[notmyprophecy]

"It's not...entirely strict, it's practical." Her tail curls around her, but not self-consciously; it's relaxed. As she speaks, Nyaromon's heavy eyes focus on her as well, and Hollyleaf feels as if she's telling stories to kits. "For example, elders, kits, and queens must be fed before warriors and apprentices can take prey from the freshkill pile. If everyone just took the food they hunted, leaving none for the rest of the Clan, those who can't hunt would go hungry, and the Clan would suffer."

She takes a nearby leaf absentmindedly, pressing it to her scars to stop the bleeding. Not as good as cobwebs, but at least she can hold it there easily.

"So you see, the warrior code helps the Clan live a full life."

[badluckbabe]

That seemed to catch Jinx's attention and she nodded listening to Holly's explanation. During a break in the conversation she pointed to the wound. "Mind if I help with that?"

Her other hand slipped into her bag and produced a small solid box with a red cross on the front.

"So it sounds like you guys are big into honor and taking care of one another. The strong watch over the weak and so on."

[notmyprophecy]

The sight of the small bottle... Medicine works differently with humans, so she's heard, as frustrating as that is. Slowly, she takes the leaf from her face and eyes the bottle.

"Of course," she continues after a moment's hesitation. "Warriors are duty-bound to help each other out, and even the kits of other Clans. No matter what birth, a warrior doesn't hurt or turn a blind eye to a defenseless kit."

[badluckbabe]

Jinx held up a bottle and gave it a gentle shake, pausing in her explanation to do some explaining of her own.

"This is called disinfectant. It cleans your wound but it stings a little. I don't need to use it but it might protect your wound from getting sick. Do you want to try it?"

[notmyprophecy]

Her ear -- the torn one -- flicks.

"Is it made of herbs?"