Author's note. This story is inspired by 'The Feline Line' by Kurieo Parnok. I've always wanted to see a story with Ravage having kittens so I decided to write my own.

It will be a few chapters until we actually get to the kittens, but I hope you all like it in the meantime. I've added a sneaky bit of geology, well I have to use the knowledge I got from the Earth and Landscape Module for something.

This isn't a Skyfire/Starscream fic, I just don't think Skyfire could've started being hostile overnight to his former partner.

Enjoy and please review.

"So what's the name of the Planet we're going to?" the young human boy asked eagerly over his shoulder as he peered through a window to the glittering stars of Space. His much larger companions chuckled at his enthusiasm, they knew how much he loved being included in their missions.

"It is called Predaca" answered a very tall blue and red Mech known as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. "It is a highly unusual Planet, whereas Earth is organic and Cybetron is metal, Predaca is a mixture of both."

"Indeed" piped up Perceptor who already had a data pad out. "A most curious Planet with utterly fascinating creatures known as Predacons, Transformers that are also organic" he added fro Spike's benefit.

"Wow" was all Spike could say as he continued to peer through the view screen of Omega Supreme. Skyfire, the large rocket's escort, had started his descent towards the atmosphere of a shimmering Planet down below. Like Earth, Predaca shone with blue, green and brown colours with two white capped poles. However, Predaca's oceans did not seem nearly as vast as Spike's home Planet and there were also many streaks of silver among the organic colours.

Spike gazed in wonder at what he saw, Predaca was certainly different from both Earth and Cybertron. He noticed there seemed to be many points of orange/red on the surface and turning to face his companions, asked what it was.

"Predaca has high volcanic activity" answered Perceptor. "That is why it is so rich in metal ore and energy compounds."

"And at this time of year" interjected Jazz. "There's a particularly high amount of volcanoes erupting, leaving loads of materials and fuel we can use."

"And that's why we're here" said Bumblebee, who was standing right behind his friend Spike, enthusiastically. "To stop Megatron and his goons from plundering this planet of its resources."

"Ahh, plunder might be too strong a word" said Jazz as Optimus placed a hand on Bumblebee's shoulder.

"For once that is correct" Optimus grimly. "Megatron does not want a war with the Predacons who will not be happy if we mess up their environment. Both the Autobots and Decpeticons will harvest certain materials and then we will leave Predaca in peace."

"More or less" muttered Ironhide.

At Jazz's grin and Prowl's raised brow, he waved a hand and said.

"Alright, alright, it won't be that bad. See Spike, at worst we'll git into a few little scraps with the Cons but like Prime said, none of us wants any trouble."

Ironhide rubbed his hands together in unrestrained glee.

"Ah'm looking forward ta knocking a few Cons heads, heh, be like a holiday."

"A holiday?" Ratchet, the white Medic said with a raised optic. "Is that why you brought Chromia?"

The blue Femme was on leave from Cyertron which was why she was accompanying them to Predaca. However, she had only just arrived before they had set off, so she was resting in another part of Omega Supreme.

"Well, it's perfect" Ironhide said defensively. "Me and ma girl can spend some time together on a beautiful Planet while still doing our duty."

"Well I'm happy for you, old friend" said Optimus, his optics twinkling. "You both need it and the situation couldn't be better."

"And the situation will get a lot better" Blaster said with a wink towards his leader. "When a certain Femme Commander manages to make it to Earth."

"Blaster" Prowl abolished sternly as Jazz laughed.

"Approach to atmosphere: imminent" came the deep reverberating voice of Omega Supreme. "Advisability of strapping in: high."

As they all obeyed, Spike asked, as Bumblebee held him securely.

"So you don't think we'll have too much trouble from the Decepticons?"

"We shouldn't but I must insist you stay very close to us, Spike" Optimus said firmly. "The Planet is not called Predaca for nothing."

Predaca Rainforest: South Hemisphere.

The hunter slowly slunk through the dense undergrowth as it stalked its prey. Its tread was soft and silent as it carefully kept a low profile. It was a wonder such silence was needed for the forest fairly rang with the sounds of life. Flyers squawked and chirped as they soared or perched on long delicate twigs. There was a choir of numerous different insects buzzing, humming, cricking and clicking. Small vertebrates were squeaking, squirreling, yelping and rustling their way through the undergrowth and trees. Needless to say, there was a lot of noise.

However, the stalkers prey had excellent senses and if the hunter wasn't anything less than silent, the prey would be alerted to its presence. The prey was large but swift footed four legged creatures that grazed at the edge of the trees. Their stalker hunted all kinds of prey, flyers, swimmers, ground dwellers (above and below), but today they were the prey. From a distance they resembled large Elk but up close there were differences, the biggest being their long scimitar like horns were made of metal. The same went for other parts of their body like the hooves which gleamed like the horns when clean. The prey's short hair pelt ranged from light to dark brown though its young were speckled white.

The hunter had much more metal about him. He was a feline, bigger than the largest Siberian Tiger. He had large ears with black fur tips and a long whip like tail. Most of his body was sleek black and silver metal except for a sand coloured pelt with black spot along his back. His teeth and sheathed claws were the size of daggers and he could use them. He had almost optic like eyes except there was a black pupil in a centre of yellow.

He was one of the intelligent creatures on this wild Planet, yes, he was aware that this was a Planet, among many others but it did not concern him. He had a territory, a good one full of prey, some females and some not quite grown adult offspring. He was in his prime and had plenty of orbital rotations left. Life was hard but good.

He was close now, very close. His prey was little more than a few metres away, right at the edge of the forest. The grazers were eating fresh delicate leaves from the young trees at the forest edge. If they were startled, they would bound away into the long grass and he'd never be able to catch them. This prey had to be stalked and then pounced on from a very short distance. He was fast but not fast enough to catch them unless they were old and lame.

He stopped and lowered himself to the ground. His presence had gone undetected, the wind was blowing towards him. All he needed to do now was choose his prey and.....pounce.

There, perfect, a young fat buck right in front of him. And even better it was facing him meaning less time for it to run away. He tensed his muscles, ready to spring, just another moment, just....

Wait, what was that?

A sudden rumbling was heard overhead and it wasn't thunder. The prey, his prey bolted as something large in the sky soared above. Sabre mentally snarled, damn them, they had ruined his hunt. His keen eyes could see what it was, a vessel from another world. This happened every so often and he didn't care as long as they didn't mess everything up.

He'd better not come across any of these invaders, he was hungry and had been stalking for hours. He would make any who tried to cross him this day pay.

But wait a moment. The vessel was sweeping in a semi circle around the grassland and did his ears deceive him, the previously disappearing sound of hoof beats was suddenly coming closer.

Now he smiled, the vessel had drove the prey away only to frighten them into coming right back and straight at towards him. He lowered himself into a crouch again and tensed his muscles, waiting for the moment they would appear.

He was going to feed well tonight.

Inside Astrotrain.

"Hey," came Astrotrain's voice and the Decetpcions gathered in his interior looked up.

"My scanners have picked up the signals of two Autobot vessels."

"Do you have a fix on them?" demanded his leader.

"Yeah, they're headed for the other side of this damn forest," came Astrotrian. "Looks like, yeah, it's Omega Supreme and that wimp Skyfire."

At the mention of the latter's name, the large grey Mech known as Megatron turned to sneer at a red and white Seeker sitting beside him.

"So," Megatron sneered. "It seems your about to be reunited with your dear old friend, Starscream."

His Second in Command scowled. 'Skyfire' was a sore point with the Seeker and Megatron knew it. What's more he never missed an opportunity to rub it in.

"Slag off, Megatron" Starscream snarled before his leader could say anything else. This only caused Megatron and a few others to smirk.

Inwardly Starscream cursed. Yes, he had been friends with the large shuttle but that had been a long time ago, when he was a different Mech in a different time. And yes, he had been willing to renew their friendship when Skyfire was discovered and revived from the ice. But then Skyfire had betrayed him and the Decepticons and joined those accursed Autobots. And that was that, they weren't friends. That was it, Starscream had changed.

Unfortunately, Skyfire hadn't. What's more despite becoming an Autobot, Skyfire refused to be Starscream's enemy. If he just acted like a normal Autobot who shot at Starscream on sight, everything would be much simpler. But no, Skyfire had to be his usual pathetic, soppy, sentimental, in short nice self. He rarely fought, he seemed content with helping the Autobots and acting as a ferry. Bah.

And if he did fight, it was more defensive than anything else, he spent most battles he fought in protecting his comrades. And he refused point-blank to fight or even fire at Starscream. Instead, he would smile and greet Starscream if he saw him. This of course made the Seeker angry, he hated Skyfire for refusing to let go of the past. And so he had tried to make Skyfire fight, had tried to force him to change, become a proper Autobot. So far all this had done was spectacularly backfire on him.

The first time he had followed Skyfire throughout the battle, screaming insults and accusations. And Skyfire had placidly ignored them, instead choosing to talk pleasantly about Earth's weather. This had utterly enraged the Seeker, so much so that he had lost focus and was shot down.

And to his utter humiliation, Skyfre had swooped after him and caught him before he could be injured further. It was impossible to hurt Skyfire with words because you didn't spend months travelling in deep space with a single companion without learning how to get on with them. And learn to ignore them when necessary.

The next time was almost as bad, he had chased after the Shuttle who had simply left the battle and flew until Starscream was exhausted. And while he had sat panting on the ground, trying to regain his energy with an emergency cube of Energon, Skyfire had landed close by and started chatting. What was worse about this incident, was that the Autobot didn't mind what Skyfire was doing as it meant they to deal with an incomplete Trine.

The last time was the worst. When they had been partners, Starscream had been the one with the weapons, ready to defend if things got hot. Skyfire had helped him practice, meaning the Shuttle became very good at dodging. Starscream tired to shoot him down, but Skyfire just ducked and dodged. This continued until Starscream spotted Optimus Prime's amused and Megatron pissed-off look and it was then he realised the trap. He had fallen into their old routine where he wasn't even trying to kill Skyfire or even hurt him.

And that was why he now sat, silently fuming. It didn't help that this was Planet they had explored together. But what did it matter, Skyfire would eventually see the way things worked and change in order to act accordingly. The Seeker tried to focus on this thought rather than the warm glow in his Spark about the fact Skyfire still wanted to be his friend.

While the red and white Seeker had sat thinking, he hadn't realised that he was being watched. Ravage was curled up on her master's lap, but between her paws she was taking in everything. Normally, she would be in Soundwave's chest with her fellow Cassettes but she had got the urge to be out. Since she rarely insisted on this, Soundwave had indulged her. Not that Soundwave kept her cooped up all the time, she was too wild for that. But when travelling, he did usually insist that she and her fellow creature formers travel in his chest. But as she said, this time she just needed out.

Maybe it was the Planet they were going to, a wild Planet of metal and organic. Suffice to say she couldn't wait till they arrived and she could run and hunt and feel the song of the wild. They were here to mine but only Rumble and Frenzy would be doing that, she, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ratbat were going to be enjoying themselves.

Being in animal form had its advantages and disadvantages. She didn't have opposable thumbs like Rumble and Frenzy so couldn't do many of the things that they could. But there were abilities she possessed that they did not. She could tell, for example, that Starscream was brooding over his old friend, and she could tell he was also confused about this Skyfire. She wondered how that would play out.

But enough of this, Astrotrain was landing. Soundwave held her steady as the triple changer touched down with a slight jolt. Everyone got to their feet with groans as they stretched out stiff joints. There was no room for walking about in the triple changer so everyone was glad to have arrived. If Blitzwing had accompanied them, there would have been more room but he had been damaged and had to remain behind. They could have waited till he was fixed but Megatron didn't want the Autobots to arrive and get first pick on materials. Blitzwing would join them in a few cycles time to help bring the mined ore and Energon back to Cybertron. But back to the here and now.

As soon as there was room, Ravage leapt off of Soundwave's lap and charged out into the wonderful open air. She threw back her head and took in all the intoxicating scents of the clearing they were in. She paid no attention to the triple changer transforming or even her master releasing his Cassettes. Ignoring their chatter, she let her senses take over, so that she could hear the scuttle of a small creature in the long grass and smell a distant kill.

It excited her and she promised herself she would hunt tonight even as Megatron ordered a march to their camp. The Decepticon leader wanted to be based close to where they would be mining, to have the edge over the Autobots. As they set off, Ravage purred in anticipation, she was going to enjoy herself.

Author's note. Next chapter, Sabre investigates the new arrivals and the Autobots and Decepticons meet with surprising consequences. Till next time.