"Where am I,what happened to the forest?",the little girl asked herself as she walked through the snow covered fields and looked around with a confused expression on her face.How could she had just left sunny florida just by walking off the forest path.As she turned to re enter the woods,she saw that they were gone without a trace."No way...",she whispered to herself as she looked around for the woods,and still could not find them."Helloooo,is anyone out here!!!",Kate called out as she looked around the area for any sign of people,but could barely see anything through the constant snow fall.She then began to cover her body up with her arms in hopes to stay warm,as she treked through the area in search of shelter.

When it seems as if an hour had passed with no sucess,the small child dropped to the ground.She was tried,cold,and lost."Maybe..I'll take a nap,then I'll get back up and keep searching...",she said as she closed her eyes and went into a deep sleep that could possibly be her last..

A set of large feet crunched through the snowy wastes of the glacial plains, going on about their usual business. The owner of the feet sang absentmindedly, its voice muffled by the frigid air and the snow.

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way!"
Soft whistling ensued, and then the voice broke into song again.
"Oh what fun it is to ride in a-" the figure continued. Then, his small dark eyes spotted something small huddled in the snow.

"Uh oh," said the voice, coming to a halt. "Looks like someone is in trouble," he said to himself. He bounded forward, his body easily trudging through the deep snow.

"Hey!" he called, getting closer to the figure that was Kate. "Yoo-hoo! Are you okay?"

The digimon, a Yukidarumon, came to a stop and stood over the small human female. It blinked its black eyes, its large, snowman-like form bending down to its knees as it took a closer look.

Kate did not respond as she continued to lay there in the snow unconious.Her lips were completely blue and her face was slowly turning pale.Though she was unconious,her body continued to shiver from the cold as she remained on the ground.If she was not taken to someplace warm soon,she would surely freeze to death.

"Uh-oh," said Yukidarumon, his black eyes showing concern at he looked down at the small human girl. "She's been out in the cold much too long," he said to himself, reaching down and gently scooping up the unconscious girl. Although the thought crossed his mind that his snowy form would be no comfort to the human, Yukidarumon knew he had to get her to his cave, and soon.

Cradling Kate in his arms and attempting to shield her from the wind, the ice digimon made his way quickly through the ice plains as the wind intensified and the snow blew with renewed fury. "A blizzard must be coming in," said Yukidarumon, making an effort to hurry his pace.


-------


Yukidarumon breathed deeply as he entered into the cave in which he made his home. The entrance tunnel followed an S-curve, serving to block the wind and snow of the blizzard howling beyond the mouth of the cave.

The cave was small if cozy, the walls composed of smoothed, curving rock, naturally formed. It was plenty tall enough for Yukidarumon to stand up right, roughly the size of a large room.

There was a large pot-bellied stove made of iron in one corner, a fire already roaring inside. Spread across the floor was a large green and gold colored shag rug, with an odd assortment of chairs scattered around the room. Several incandescent lamps were mounted to the walls of the cave, throwing soft yellow light into the room, giving it a warm, inviting feeling.

Yukidarumon lay Kate on the rug before the stove, and busied himself by adding several new logs from a nearby pile to the flames. He hoped the flames would warm the girl up while he routed through his odds and ends at the rear of the cave, looking for a blanket.

"Why do I keep all this stuff anyways?" he wondered to himself, pushing aside a cuckoo clock and pitching a Jason Voochres bobblehead over his shoulder. "I'm made of snow and ice, what use have I for blankets?" He shrugged, it was fortunate for this small human girl, whomever she was, that Yukidarumon was a packrat. He kept all sorts of random stuff he had no need for, 'just in case'.

"There we go," he said, moving a chessboard to the side. He pulled out a large, fluffy flannel blanket from the bottom of his pile of flotstam. He drapped it over Kate's small form, and set about warming up some water for her to drink when she awoke.

It took sometime,but soon the girl began to regain color to her face as she laid near the fire with the blanket over her.Soon her eyes began to flicker slight as she slowly rose up into a sitting position and looked around with a blank expression on her face as she looked around,as if lost.

"Huh,how did I get here?",Kate asked herself as she continued to keep herself wrapped within the blanket as she saw the cup of hot water.She drank it quickly,even though it had burned her tongue,she wanted some kind of warmth inside of her body.After gently placing the cup back on the floor she slowly did her best to rise to her feet to get a better view,but she then fell back to the rug,her legs were still weak from the cold..

"Ah," the Yukidarumon said softly, seeing Kate awaken. He arose from his seat in a large recliner across the room, discarding a magazine he'd been reading.

"I see you're awake," he said cheerfuly, taking several steps toward the fire. At this point, he saw Kate attempt to rise, but then fall back down. "Take it easy," he said gently "I found you passed out in the snow, and brought you here to my home." he explained, deciding to heat some more water for the girl to drink. This time he hoped it would merely be warm, and not scalding.

Kate saw the huge talking snowman and backed away slowly in shock.But then she realized that he wasn't gonna to hurt her,she calm down and remained seated on the rug.""Who are you,and where am I?",she asked with a confused expression as she looked around the cave once more.

Yukidarumon gave a small, friendly smile and sat down on a large poufy chair near the fire. "I'm Yukidarumon. And this," he said, waving his arm around to indicate to the cave. "Cave is where I make my home. It's in the middle of the Glacial Plains, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Might I ask, what's your name? And how did you come to be out here?"

Yukidarumon stared at Kate for a moment, pondering to himself. He had never met a human personally, but he had heard that every human was a tamer who traveled with their digimon companion. And yet he was sure this girl had been alone when he found her. But he decided against asking the girl any questions about that yet, and awaited her reply.

Kate looked at the snowman and smiled as she stated her name."Im Kate,its nice to meet you Yukidarumon..",she said as she continued to look at him as she began to think of how to answer his other question.

"I don't really know how I got here,I was walking through the forest near my house,and then I began to follow this bright light..then I was here,but when I turned to go back into the woods,they were gone..."

Yukidarumon listened to Kate's words as he stood again and refilled the empty cup of water Kate had drank from earlier. He placed it back on the floor next to the small human, in case she was still thirsty or cold. He added another log to the wood-burning stove while he was at it, and the fire continued to burn strongly, spreading its warm radiance into the surrounding air.

"Hm," he said, after Kate finished recounting the tail of her arrival. He sat back down in his armchair. "Sounds like you must have stumbled onto a digiport. Then I guess it's my job to give you a-" he paused, thinking that 'warm' wasn't quite the right word for the situation at hand "-welcome to the Digital World." He smiled.

"Digital world?",she restated the snowman's words with a tone of confusion as she lifted up the cup of warm water and drank it alot slower this time."What do you mean by digital world and whats a Digi-port?",Kate asked as she looked at the creature and then waited for him to respond to her questions..

The large snowman digimon blinked twice as he listened to Kate. "Hm," he said after a moment. He hadn't expected her to know essentially nothing about the digital world.

"The Digital World," he began, thinking about his explanation as he went along "Is kind of like another version of Earth. Like earth it has all kinds of different places; a city, grasslands, forests, mountains, and so forth. It's inhabited mostly by creatures called Digimon, though there have been increasing numbers of humans like yourself these days."

Yukidarumon breathed for a moment, then continued. "I myself am a digimon. Digimon come in all different shapes and sizes, some are nice, some aren't. Some are smart as people, others are more like animals." He hoped he had explained it well enough for the young human before him to understand.

"As for Digi-Ports," he said, moving onto Kate's second question and leaning back in his chair "They are doorways between Earth and the Digital World. Step into one, and off you go to the other side."

"Ok,I understand..so..do you know where I can find another digi-port,I really should be getting home,wait...do you know if a boy came through here anytime in the past year?",the girl asked as she looked at the digimon with a calm expression.

Maybe Aj was here too,in this world,if so..then she had finally found out where her big brother was.

Yukidarumon sighed, realizing that there was no easy way to say what he had to tell Kate. "I'm really not an expert on these things. The digi-ports seem to shift around a lot, and although there seem to be plenty leading in to the digital world, I've not heard of any leading out."

His black eyes stared wistfully into the flames. "As for the boy you ask of..." He paused, plumbing the depths of his memories. "The Glacial Plains is a rather remote section of the Digital World, the rail lines didn't even reach this far until recently. I haven't seen this boy you speak of."

He turned his head and looked straight at Kate. "But, if you're looking for a human, I'd reccomend traveling to Digital City. That's where humans tend to congregate."

Kate nodded as she looked at him."Ok,I guess I better go there first..I really want to find Aj,so we can finally go home together..",she said with a smile of hope as she rose up once again to stand,but she was unable to ,her legs gave way and she fell on her face."Ow...",she moaned as she rubbed her fore head and frowned."I still can't stand,what wrong with me?",she asked herself as she laid there for a moment and then a small voice came into her ears.

"Kate...help me...",it stated softly as it then faded away.Kate looked around with a confused expression on her face as she pushed herself back into a sitting position and thought about where that voice came from as she rubbed her head..

"You might want to rest for awhile," Yukidarumon said softly, concerned for the weakened condition Kate seemed to be in. "And regain your strength. AJ, you say? You're close to him I take it?"

The snowy digimon winced as he saw the girl collapse, but she seemed to sit up well enough. "The blizzard is still going strong out there, but the sun will rise before long and I imagine the storm will disapate not too long after that. But once the weather clears up I'd be happy to take you to the trailmon platform. From there, you can ride the train to the city."

It was then that Yukidarumon saw Kate look around, as though confused again. But, he was oblivious to the voice that spoke to the girl. "Something the matter?" he asked.

"You didn't hear that?",she asked as she looked at the snow digimon as she continued to look around the cave for the being that called to her."I heard a voice..it was calling for help...",she said with concerned expression on her face as she looked at the digimon and then looked down at her legs and frowned.At this rate she would continue to be a burden on the kind digimon.

"Im sorry,for having to put you through so much trouble,I promise I'll be well by the morning..",she said with a calm tone of voice as she looked up at the large snowman.

The snowman digimon blinked several times, straining his ears. The howling wind, the crackling fire, but no voices calling for help. He shook his head slightly side to side. "I don't hear anything." he admitted.

"Im sorry,for having to put you through so much trouble,I promise I'll be well by the morning." the girl said.

Yukidarumon gave a friendly shrug and a matching smile. "I enjoy the company, I don't get many visitors out here. In the mean time," he said "You should probably get some sleep. I'm sure you'll feel better afterwards."

"Ok..good night Mr.Yukidarumon,and thank you..",she said with a smile on her face as she laid down on the rug and slowly drifted back to sleep.She did not know where that voice had come from,but she hoped that the person was alright..

"I'll find you..I promise..",she said to herself as she closed her eyes..

The remaining hours of the night passed, and as Yukidarumon had expected, the blizzard had moved off by dawn. Now, dawn had faded and the sun was shining brightly from high above. The resulting sight was really quite spectacular with the rising sun shining down on the vast expanses of freshly fallen snow.

The result was a shimmering blanket of pure white, undisturbed snow stretching in all directions. The large ice digimon breathed deeply as he stood outside the mouth of his cave, enjoying the feeling. The wind had died down as well, if he was going to travel with Kate, now was the time.

"Time to wake her, I suppose," said Yukidarumon, stepping back inside the cave. He'd slept for a few hours himself, and had also made sure to keep the fire going. "Kate," he said, reaching down and nudging the girl's shoulder. "It's morning, the weather has cleared."

Kate's eyes opened slowly as she looked up at the pure white digimon and nodded slowly."Really,ok..I'll get up..",she said as she rose into a sitting position and looked at the digimon and then slow attempted to stand,and this time..she was able too."Hey,Im able to stand on my own again..",she said with a smiled as she looked at the digimon as she began to fold up the blanket she had slept with..

"Do you know how are the train station is from here?",she asked as he looked at the snowman with a calm expression on her face.

Yukidarumon was relieved that Kate was able to stand, and then thought about her question. "Hmmm," he said "The trailmon platform... should get able to get there inside of about fifteen minutes. It's not that long of a journey, fortunately. We can go when you're ready."

Kate nodded as she finished folding the blanket and put it on the chair that the snow digimon had been sitting in."Im ready,but..I feel bad that I can't give you anything in return,you saved my life..and all I've done is just make you do even more for me...",she said with a sad tone of voice as she looked at the digimon.

Yukidarumon shrugged. "I'm sure there will come a point in the future when you'll have a chance to return the act of kindness. It might not be to me, but that doesn't matter."

He turned to the cave entrance and proceded outside, basking in the warm glow of the sun. Being the glacial plains, it was still rather cold, but far better than it had been when Kate had arrived during the night. "It's not often the weather is this nice," he said "Luck must be on our side."

He glanced around, getting his bearings. "The trailmon platform is... due north of here. So, if we head that way," he pointed straight ahead from the entrance of his home "It shouldn't be too long."

Although the platform was not visible at this distance in the icy expanse, Yukidarumon seemed to know the way.

Kate nodded as she stayed close to the large digimon as he pointed towards something in the distance."Ok,then we better get goin....",she then stopped in mid sentence as she heard something again,this time it was louder than before.

"Kate...Kate...help me!!",the voice shouted in her ear as she stood there in confusion as she looked around."There it is,that vocie again,can't you hear it!?",she asked as she looked at the snow digimon with a calm expression on her face.

Yukidarumon looked down at Kate, closing its eyes as it listened carefuly. "I don't hear anything." He wondered what was going on. He wasn't quite familiar enough with humans to know whether hearing voices no one else could was normal. "Do you have any idea where the voice is coming from?"

"Its really loud..but I think it was coming from over there..by those smaller caves..",Kate said as she pointed towards the west of the plains and looked back at the digimon with a concerned expression."Whoever it is sounds like their in trouble..",she said with a sad tone of voice as she looked at the snow.

Yukidarumon looked across the snowy landscape, seeing the caves to which Kate had indicated. Somehow, he trusted the small human. Even if he didn't hear anything, she clearly did, and he believed her. "Let's go take a look, then," he said, trudging through the snow towards the western caves, but slowing his pace enough so that Kate could keep up.

Kate nodded as she quickly followed behind the digimon as they walked towards the cave.As they continued to head towards the caves,Kate began to ask the digimon something."Do you know what it could be be thats calling me?",she asked as she looked at the snow digimon with a concerned expression on her face.

Yukidarumon contemplated Kate's question, continuing towards the caves. At first, the answer elluded him. But, the human's question sparked a connection to one of the large snowman's earlier thoughts. This girl didn't have her Digimon partner. A voice was calling out for help, but only she could hear it. Could it be her partner-to-be that she was hearing?

"I believe we're about to meet someone who may become a very good friend of yours," Yukidarumon said, his statement rather cryptic. Then, as they approached the cave, he elaborated "Every human in the Digital World is accompanied by a Digimon partner. Their partner is their protector, their friend, and more. I believe the voice calling out to you is your partner Digimon."

He reached the mouth of the cave and called out "Hello! Is anyone in there?"

Kate heard what the digimon said and blinked as she thought about it."A digimon as a partner,I wonder if it will be as large as Yurkidarumon..?",she thought to herself as they finally arrived to the entrance of the cave.As the snow digimon called out to see if anyone was there Kate walked slowly inside of the cave and did the same."Hello,I heard you calling for help,are you here somewhere?!",she shouted as she continued to look around the dark cave.

As she searched,she tripped on something that looked like a red and blue tail.She slowly got up and saw a digimon laying there with a shocked expression as he looked at her."Who are you?",the digimon asked as he looked at Kate with a serious expression on his face.

Yukidarumon spotted the digimon over which Kate had tripped. Based on its appearance, it appeared to be an Elecmon.

"Who are you" the new digimon demanded of Kate, watching the girl carefully.

Yukidarumon squinted down at the other digimon, but didn't see it as a threat. He cast his eyes up and around the cave, then back outside on the snowy plains. Although morning was an ideal time to travel, it was also a peak hunting time for some of the more wild digimon residing in the glacial plains. It couldn't hurt to keep an eye out as Kate interacted with the other digimon.

"Im..Kate..I came here to help you...",the girl said with a nervous tone of voice as she looked at the Elecmon as she kneeled down beside it with a calm expression on her face.

The digimon looked at her with a frown as he turned his head,"Im waiting for someone,someone who can hear my voice...I know their out there somewhere,so you can not help me..",the Elecmon said as he looked back at her and then laid his head back on the ground.It appeared that his leg was stuck between a rock,so he could not move.Kate then nodded as she walked over behind the digimon and did her best to try to remove the rock from his foot.The digimon saw this and blinked,"What are you doing?"

"Im helping you by getting this rock off your foot,then your'll be able to find who your looking for,but I don't think you'll have too far to look..",she said as she continued to push it with all her strength."You see,I came here..because ever since...yesterday,someone has been calling out for help in my head...."

The Elecmon listened to her and held a shocked expression as he looked at her."Is it possible,could she really be the one I have been looking for?",he asked himself as he watched her struggle to remove the boulder from his foot.But then,with one last burst of strength,the small girl was able to push the rock enough for the digimon to get his foot free.

"There you go,you feel better now?",Kate asked as she grinned at the digimon.The Elecmon did not know what the say as he stared at her."I...I..."

Yukidarumon watched silently as Kate exchanged words with the Elecmon, deciding that the digimon was no danger. Then, to his suprise, Kate was able to muster the strength to move the boulder on her own. He'd been about to help, but the young human had managed it on her own.

Meanwhile, the coast seemed to be clear for the moment. The three were the only ones in sight.

Kate looked at the Yurkidarimon and smiled as she looked back at Elecmon,who was now at her side."You heard me..so it was you,your the one I have been searching for..and I didn't even see it.",the Elecmon said as he looked at her and smiled."Can you forgive me Kate?",he asked as he looked at her.

The small girl smiled as she hugged him,"Of course I can Chance,is it ok if I call you that,since Im giving you another chance?",she asked as she looked at the digimon with a grin.The Elecmon had been totally surprised by this,but he nodded,"very well,if you wish Kate..anyway..we better get out of here before something else happens.."

Kate smiled as she walked over to the snow digimon and smiled,"don't worry Chance,my friend Yurkidarimon was taking me to the train station..also..thanks for taking me here to find him,you really are a good friend..",she said with a smile as she hugged the large snowman.

Yukidarumon gave a broad grin of greeting to Chance, and gently returned Kate's hug. "You're welcome," he said.

"Well then," the large snowman Digimon said. "Ready? Let's head to the trailmon platform." He headed out of the cave, finding the glacial plains the same as before. Bright and sunny, glistening snow, and fortunately, no wild digimon wandering about."

Heading for the trailmon platform, Yukidarumon pushed through the snow. They would be at the platform inside of a few minutes.

Kate and Chance quickly followed after the digimon as they continued their journey towards the Trailmon Platform,even though the snow was bitter cold,Chance made sure that Kate remained ok,by allowing the small child cover by standing in front of her.

They continued on intill even now,Kate could see the station coming closer and close by the minute.

Yukidarumon breathed as they arrived at last at the Trailmon platform. Sure enough, a trailmon was already approaching the platform, ready to pick up Kate and her new partner Chance.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you," said Yukidarumon, smiling at Kate. "If I ever meet this AJ, I'll be sure to let him know you're looking for him."
He then looked at Chance "Take good care of her," he winked.
"Farewell," he said, stepping back as the trailmon arrived and waited for the human and her partner to board.

Kate looked at the Trailmon as she hugged the snow digimon and smiled as she looked up at him."I promise to come back and visit every once and awhile..thank you...for everything..",she as she slowly released the digimon and looked at Chance,who winked back at the digimon,stated that he would as they both walked onto the Trailmon and took their seats.

Kate looked out the window and waved at the Yurkidarimon as she smiled at him as the Trailmon left the station and headed towards the Digital city.