As the group precariously trudged through the dimly lit brush and forest, the nursery's cave entrance becoming a solitary speck before being obscured by the branches and inefficient overhead illumination.

When the common inkling to wonder where exactly they were began to bubble up inside the group, a loud series of crashes began to sound off from around them. The trees surrounding them rippled in the shock wave, putting every member on edge, even before a tree near them began to bow and crack before snapping and crashing to the floor.

As the turbid clouds overhead began to shift the sick hues over the sky, a pallid orange-green haze washed over the group and the newest entrant. Illuminated by the scattered diffuse light of the collected scales and the sky's own sickly contribution, the creature before them seemed even more immense than it's 8-foot-odd frame actually accounted for. Two slitted, dense eyes stared out from behind an iron mask as it's massive fists steadied the rest of it's body. Although no known muscle system could be said to course through the all-rock body, as the light passed over the monster its stone spikes seemed to visibly tense up in the presence of the humans and their partners.

Rearing its head up, a low voice that seemed to have been carved out of the first clay itself emanated forth alongside an outpouring of ash. "Sulphure Plume."

After dispelling the volcanic debris into the air, the slitted eyes once again focused on the group, as the rest of the body lumbered forward, malice evident in its momentum.

(OOC: First battle - Group of Rookies v. Low Champion. Like the show, this Golemon is a construct, so feel free to chip away at its body without messy moral complications. Unfortunately, its not really equipped with much in the way of upper-echelon thinking facilities, so illusory/mental tricks won't be too effective.)

As one of the ones who had kept to the front, Rosetta was one of the closest to the digimon that just emerged. No amount of goggles or shiny digimon scales could prepare her for its appearance. Up until now the only ones she had encountered looked pretty tame; some . None among them were even as large as herself. Only Solmon was actually bigger than any of the humans, and she seemed to be one of the least threatening.

But this - this was something that made her realize that they could look dangerous after all. No! It was dangerous, if that show of power was any indication.

A body that seemed to be made entirely of stone, it had expelled molten rock from its body as easily as she breathed. Even with its face hidden behind a mask, what it intended to do with them was clear. Like Frankenstein's monster, it lumbered towards them, though its arms freely swung at its side rather than held out in front of him.

Those limbs, boulders in their own right, would surely crush her, break her, and grind her into dust.

She could have run. If this was as fast as it could go then surely she could escape it with ease. Yet, like the stupid villagers in the movie, her body was too stupid to do even that - something that Jeremy seemed to do without a second or first thought.

Finally, a voice called her back to reality. Or at least, digital reality.

"Rosetta! Snap out of it."

And she blinked. Only once.

That was all she needed, before she realized what she was supposed to do.

"Sorry, Lunamon," she said, smiling at her partner. "But now I'm ready. Let's fight!"

Lunamon sweatdropped. "Actually, I was hoping we could run away."

"Too bad!"

---

Lunamon looked at her partner. Then at the still approaching Golemon. Finally, she looked at the rest of the group, a weak smile on her face.

"Isn't there any chance that we could talk it out?"

Things like that, though, simply didn't happen in the Digimon World. In the end, it was a futile question asked only to herself.

She was panicking, just like Rosetta had. Still, while her mind was in confusion, her body acted on its own. Instinctually, it prepared itself for an attack. Then, when it was within reach, she attacked.

"Luna Claw!"

The power of darkness welled up within her. Focusing in her claws, her body leaped forward at Golemon. Her target was its mask - something told her that its weak point would be found there. Yet, she never got a chance to find out.

---

"Rock Punch!"

That fist which Rosetta had so dreaded earlier connected cleanly with Lunamon. Even in the darkness, she could see clearly her partner fly backwards. Just in time, she ran forward to catch Lunamon.

It was only then, back when her Lunamon was safely back in her arms, that she felt, not heard, the roar. Rancid breath, swept over her, blasting the goggles off her head - carrying with it the precious light that Solmon had given her.

Nonetheless, even without that she looked up and saw clearly, perhaps more than anything else she had seen in her life, the face of death. Or at least implied off screen injury.

By the time the Golemon showed up, Jeremy was already gone....

"Wait! Your friends are in trouble! You can't be running away!" Chisokumon asked, running alongside him.

"You'd be suprised what I can be doing. Besides what could I do? I'm a runner, not a fighter!" Jeremy explained.

"But when I digivolved, I got stronger! Maybe I could fight him..."

"Violence solves nothing. And while using a monster to beat up on a monster is logical (i.e. prevents me from harm), from what I know of cockfighting, it's morally reprehensible. And illegal."

"But there are alot of us in our team. Maybe we could all team up and take it out, even if our digivolution alone wasn't enough to make us strong enough to fight off."

"Digivolution. Explanation, please. You get extra points for promptness."

"That thing I did. Where I got bigger!"

"So its some sort of magical form of bullimia?"

"Um...I dunno..."

"Alright, so maybe you can digivolve again, or you can't, but you want to risk your life to beat the crap out of a random antagonistic golem thing."

"I guess so...when you put it that way."

"Alrighty then. Let's (and by lets, I mean you) go kick that monster's stony ass! Also, might be a good time for us to stop before we fall down that steep hill up a-" Jeremy commanded with gusto before falling down a rocky slope.

Chisokumon with his claws for traction, came to a perfect stop at it's edge, and watched his master bounce painfully.

"Oh no! Are you okay?"

"Perfect! Fine! As long as I'm far from the battle, I'm fine! Go for it! If you need me, I'll be tending to my coccyx!" Jeremy said with his gusto intact, though his face told a different story.

Chisokumon nodded and ran back to the others, zipping along the digital world.

<Huh...I wonder if his butt hurt so bad because he doesn't have a tail...>

Chisokumon wondered to himself, before curling up into a ball and zipping forward like a loose buzzsaw, straight for Golemon's's backside.

Stealthmon took a brief look at the situation.
He was no use against an enemy of such anatomy and toughness.

As the giant was coming closer Charles started to think on a new level: "It's slow, but took no notice of any attempt to hurt him with electricity. I played video games and RP's for hundreds of hours. The closest thing I ever seen was a 'stone golem', maybe He'll die the same way. He might break after a hit, or maybe we can make it erode?" He thought.

"Stealthmon?" He asked his partner. "What should we do?"
"Run away?"
"And leave the fun to others. No way!" He replied, but inside he felt ruing away is a better choice.
"I can try to distract it if You want..." Stealthmon whispered with resignation.
"Just keep away from his mouth."
Stealthmon ran towards the stone digimon with speed beyond anything anyone could expect from anything moving on ground.

"Garrotte Seeker!" A small dagger launched from a device attached to his forearm as he dashed near the giant.
It almost reached it's eye, but the giant bounced it of with his head armor.
Stealthmon however achieved his goal to catch the big guy's attention for a short while. He started to run and jump around the enemy keeping in a distance that provided a lot of reaction time, and kept shooting and retracting his daggers every time the giant was incapable of reaching and pulling them.

[OOC: Why haven't Solmon replied to Stealthmon?]

Jun, while at the back of the group, didn't need to be near the front to see the giant rock monster. Her eyes widened as it came into full view and some of the others tried to fight it. "Houndmon! What the hell is that thing?"

"I don't know, but it certainly isn't friendly. I'm going to go help the others Jun." Jun looked at her new little partner. They had just met but she already had grown fond of him. While the others were quick to send their Digimon into battle with the rock thing, Jun didn't want to see Houndmon get hurt. But, Solmon had said there would be dangers, and that they would have to overcome them. "Ok, but be careful."

Houndmon nodded and bounded forward towards the Golemon. "Dark Beam!" A green laser like beam shot out of the eye holes of the skull on his head and his the Golemon square in the chest. It barely even made a scratch other than a burn mark in his rocky armor. Houdmon jumped back as a large rocky fist came down where he used to be. "We need more firepower!"

Dorumon watched as his friend Lunamon got hit like a homerun. Tragyk watched as the others led their digimon with bravery. They both knew that it was their right... no, their responsibility... to protect the others. These were their new friends, or old friends for Dorumon and the others.

Tragyk grabbed his chance, "See that Dorumon, guess we can't charge straight in now can we?"

"Nope," responded his new partner "We're going to need to take a more indirect approach."

"Ah, and he's two big for his own good, now isn't he?"

"Are we thinking the same thing?" responded Dorumon eagerly.

"I sure hope so. Try that Oak over there, the big one! And you can't forget to distract him as much as possible, got it? On three."
Dorumon's fur stands on end.
"One,"
He strike's a runner's stance.
"Two,"
His claws extend.
"Three!"

Dorumon rushes at full speed for an Oak behind the golem. Using the others firepower as a distraction, Dorumon actually runs under the beast, running his claws across his legs, not for damage, but to piss it off. Thanks to the others, the golem was to distracted and his swing missed. Dorumon climbes up the tree at blinding speed thanks two his two-inch claws, and stops near the top.

"Hey ugly, ever climb before? Metal Cannon!"

Aiming for the golems mask, Dorumon begins to shoot large metal spheres from his mouth. Hopefully they'll be a bit more effective considering it is metal on stone. But most of all, they hope it will draw his attention.

Everything was going well for the little makeshift group until from out of now where came some kind of rock monster thing. “You know what Commandramon, it seems to me that whenever things start to get good that is the most likely moment for things like this to happen. So should we run, while the others sacrifice themselves.”

“No that wouldn’t be right, we got to fight.” Commandramon then pointed his M16 at the Large rocky hunk of rock.

“Hey wait up, what’s a gun going to do against something that is made out of freaking rock. Tell me because I think the answer nothing. Oh you might chip some pebbles off, but look it at this way a bullet won’t have much of an effect on rocks. “

“Well what else can I do, look the others are fighting and I want to help also.”

“Fine Commandramon you can go and fight but instead of using the gun, you said that you could throw bombs right, use those bombs.”

Cael and Commandramon ran toward where the big rock monster and the others were fighting. “Sorry were a little late. We had to figure out how to take down this monstrosity, and yes we didn’t figure out a thing. All we got is to keep attacking until we die or that thing breaks apart.”

Commandramon kept going after Cael stopped in the area the others were.

“DCD Bomb”

Commandramon took a bomb from his backpack and threw it at the Large Rock thing. It blew up when it hit the enemy’s left hand, making a hole where it blew up.

“All right Commandramon, you blasted away some of his arm. Though a small part, but still its progress.”
While Cael was speaking to Commandramon, the Golemon took a swipe at Commandramon and since Commandramon was distracted hit him right on. This sent him flying into a nearby tree, nearly breaking the tree in half due to the force.

Cael looked very worried as he left the group and ran toward where Commandramon landed. But as he neared the spot Commandramon was standing up looking very beaten up, but still up for a fight.

“You know what you Digimon are very tough creatures.”

Cael grinned a little as he walked with Commandramon back to the fight. He knew that though this fight would be difficult, it was doable with the combined power of all of their partners.

“Ok Commandramon get back into the fight”

With that Commandramon rushed back into the fight shooting at the Large Rock Man.

As Chisokumon slammed into the Golemon's back, the appropriateness of the phrase "like hitting a brick wall" became very clear. Like most of the other attacks, the solitary contact point did little to noticeably disrupt the construct's rampage. So far, the disunified barrage had served merely to spread some dust and keep their enemy unfocused; If the group hoped to really damage the creature, a concentrated offense was required.

It turned out that Rosetta was really good at running when she needed to. She had to be. Golemon wasn't the only threat after all; the rest of the digimon that had decided to charge at it together.

She didn't want to be in the way of either side's attacks.

Still, it hurt. Knowing that she was running away was a horrible feeling, but it was nothing compared to the unbearable pain of seeing Lunamon simply crumple like that.

"Lunamon. Lunamon, are you okay? Answer me!"

For a long moment there was no answer. Then, Lunamon finally stirred, her eyes fighting their way open.

"Ro...Rosetta?"

The girl released a breath she hadn't known she had held, and hugged her partner all the more tightly.

"You're okay! You're really okay!"

"Rosetta, you're crushing me!"

---

It was painful. Being hugged so tightly, right after taking such a hit, her whole body felt like it was breaking. Yet, soon enough Rosetta released her grip, and suddenly Lunamon wished it hadn't been over quite so soon.

Nonetheless, it didn't change the fact that they needed to do something.

"Do we run?" Lunamon asked, a little fear in her voice.

"No," Rosetta said, shaking her head. "We can't risk anyone else getting her by that thing."

"But we already tried attacking it!"

Rosetta frowned. Lunamon was right, and arguing the results would be stupid. However, there had to be a way.

She thought back to her games. At this time, when an opponent was simply too strong to damage directly, she would use strategy to get past its defense. Normally, this would involve a special attack or spell, or even a weapon - none of which they seemed to have.

In that case...

"Everybody!" Rosetta yelled. "Follow my lead!"

"Did you get an idea?" Lunamon asked.

"Not an idea! A gut instinct!"

"And is that supposed to be any better?"

"Maybe!"

---

Lunamon could hear it - the sound of Rosetta's heart beating faster and faster. Whatever she had in mind, it was probably going to be risky, something that even she didn't think would work. Yet, she calmed herself in an instant, before dashing at Golemon.

What was she doing, that crazy girl? She wasn't even a digimon - what hope could she do?

Yell at it? Get its attention? That's all Rosetta seemed to do, as if she wanted to be the first one smashed to pieces. Though Lunamon begged her to stop, Rosetta insisted on her crazy charge.

Then, as they were just about to get within Golemon's reach, Rosetta stopped, and threw Lunamon.

Flying high over Golemon, she was safe from its attacks. However...

"Rosetta!"

Her friend had to be in danger, so close to

"Ignore me! Just do that thing you did earlier!"

It was too late to object; Rosetta had made sure to give her no more time to do so. Instead, she had to trust what Rosetta had in mind.

Facing forward, she faced her target. Once more the power of darkness gathered in her claws. This time, though, rather than the attacks name she shouted something different.

"Timber!"

With two slashes, the giant tree was split in two. Its massive trunk fell towards Golemon. Whether the digimon noticed the sudden shadow over it, Rosetta herself scrambled away, not wanting to get caught underneath it herself.

Still on the sidelines observing the battle, Lee and Buffalomon watched as each digimon attacked in turn, only to do barely any harm to their foe.

"So.. we gona help 'em out or what?", asked Buffalomon calmly.

"I'm sure they can handle it", Lee replied just as stoic.

Just after he said this, Commandramon was sent hurtling past at high speed and slammed into a tree. Lee gave a slight sigh at the impeccable timing of this event. "Alright fine, I guess they do need help!"

"Want me to charge him?!" Buffalomon hunched down in preparation for the command to charge, but Lee quickly put a damper on the idea; "Don't be stupid! You be crushed!"

But just at this point a voice called out "Timber!", a nearby tree began to fall and Lee saw an opputunity.

"Shockwave, now!" he barked at Buffalomon and without further hesitation the digimon rushed forwards a few paces, reared up and unleashed his concussive blast. Lee only hoped that it was enough to throw Golemon off balance enough so that the tree might floor the oversized chunk of rock and leave him buried and vulnerable.