I felt inspired to write this story after seeing this artwork on DA: https://www.deviantart.com/restrain.....olor-159579935
EDIT: Replaced source file to fix some problems.

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Renamon awoke with a start, vision blurred. Panting, she carefully took in her environment as her eyes focused. Trees, shadows, cold wind. Where was she? She couldn’t remember anything. The digimon instinctively tried to rub her eyes, only to hear a metallic clink and feel a sharp tug on her wrists. Looking down, then over her shoulder, she saw numerous chains wrapped around her arms and legs, restraining them behind her and forcing her to kneel with her back to a young but sturdy oak.

Renamon huffed angrily at her predicament. She had no idea who’d done this to her, but she was going to find out. Right after she got free.

Several ominous howls suddenly pierced the night air, and she snapped to attention once more, craning her neck around. It was hard to tell, but she swore she glimpsed a few pairs of red eyes glinting in the dark, between the trees. No doubt whoever had put her here intended for these creatures to finish her off. But they had underestimated her.

Thinking fast, Renamon closed her eyes and tuned out the world around her, steadying her breathing. Her heart pounded as adrenaline coursed through her veins, but she kept calm and controlled. Once she’d found her center, her eyes snapped open and she began to pull.

She started slow. Her legs were strong, but the awkward angle made it difficult to leverage them. Instead, she pulled with her arms. If she could get those free, the remaining chains would be much easier to remove.

Keeping her breaths full and measured, she gradually increased her strength. Fists clenched and muscles flexed beneath golden fur as she strained hard, causing the metal links to squeal as they ground against each other and dug painfully into her skin. She grunted, arms trembling from the exertion. She could feel sweat beading on her forehead, but still she pushed herself. The chains gave a loud creak. Almost there. Another howl. Come on…

PT-CHINK! Renamon’s wrists flew apart as their bonds gave way. Yes! Without missing a beat, she quickly wriggled her arms free, feeling the loose loop slide down the trunk behind her. Her legs were next as she grabbed the chain that bound them and lifted it up and over her head, letting it fall behind her as well. She was free, she-!

As Renamon stood to run, a sharp jerk at her ankles caused her to fall forward. Deftly catching herself, she looked behind her with dread. The way she’d been sitting had caused her feet to go numb, and she hadn’t felt the chains around her ankles until now.

Scrambling back to her kneeling position, she tried to work her claws under them, but they were wound so tightly around the trunk and her ankles that she couldn’t get a grip. There was no chance of shaking them off either. She’d have to break these too.

Another bloodcurdling bay came from the trees. Those eyes were definitely closer now, and there were more of them. Making a noise halfway between frustration and fear, Renamon calmed herself again. ‘Just focus, you can do this, you have plenty of time,’ she thought to herself.

Facing forward again, the fox crawled with her hands, stretching out her body until her belly was on the ground. Then, extending her arms out in front of her, she grabbed onto the rocky earth in front of her and dug into it with her sharp claws. Fortunately it hadn’t rained, and the soil was dry and solid, providing excellent traction.

Time was running out. Renamon took one last deep breath, summoned every ounce of strength she had, bowed her head, and pulled.

Every muscle in her body strained, from her tired arms, to her stomach, to her powerful legs. Her claws left short furrows in the dirt as they dug deeper, scratching the rocks. She bared her teeth and panted hard between them, growling with determination.

The chains creaked. Renamon screwed her eyes shut against the pain, heart thundering. Her frame trembled. Muscles ached. Sweat built up under her fur. She could hear rustling in the foliage around her. So close. She was so close.

The chains groaned louder, links bending apart, rubbing against the tree bark. Footsteps surrounded her. Renamon heaved one final time, lifting her head in a defiant roar.

CRACK! The fox sailed forward as the chains snapped, releasing the tension all at once. Wood splintered as metal slid violently against it. Renamon rolled onto her back, riding her adrenaline high as she prepared to fight.

…But the only things she saw were paw prints in the dirt. The only things she heard were high-pitched yowls retreating into the brush.

Her cry had scared them off.

Renamon stared in disbelief for a few seconds, before she began to laugh.

And then everything she’d just done came crashing down on her at once. The world spun, and she collapsed onto her back, utterly exhausted.

As she lay there wheezing, the last thing she saw before closing her eyes to rest was the starry sky lightening, and the sun peeking over the horizon.