Low snarling from shrubs made a blue-gray apprentice spin around. A older white tom tasted the air beside her.

"Fox... " He growled. "Stay behind me... "

The tom gently waved the young cat behind himself as the fur on his neck began to rise.

"But, Fallup – "

"Do what I say, Skyblazer... " Fallup chided.

"Okay... " The blue she-cat sighed then perked up her ears as she heard a twig snap under paw, but it wasn't her who stepped on the tiny branch, nor her father. Skyblazer slowly looked up and saw a huge, starving fox. It's teeth were bore, glinting white and slobber dripped off of it's muzzle. It's fur was tangled in knots and it's breath smelled hot of rotten crow-food.

"Run!"

Fallup pressed her backward and broke out in a run, the young apprentice quickly following. The fox let out a ear splitting yowl and gave chase, hunger burning in its eyes. Primus, please don't let us die! Skyblazer prayed silently as she dodged through thickets and trees and bushes. This isn't the walk she wanted to have with her father!

"We need to keep it away from camp!" Fallup hissed breathlessly in her ear.

The blue apprentice nodded and sped up, heading for the Withered Tree, hopping to lead it onto Decepticon territory. Skyblazer's started lungs ached as the Withered Tree was in her range of sight. Though the tree was healthy it has never bloomed nor bared leaves, perhaps it's because of the horrid stench of the Thunderpath that makes it that way.

"Keep going!" Fallup yowled.

The she-cat nodded then screwed up her nose as she smelt Monsters running along the black turf. Skyblazer nearly collapsed when she made it to her destination. Her muscles roared with pain as she slowly climbed up the soft bark.

"Stay up there... " Fallup said sternly to her.

"But, Fallup – "

"Do as I say, Skyblazer... "

"Ok- "

The blue apprentice's response was drowned out by a vicious snarl as a few bushes rustled and a red and white head poked out, shortly followed by the rest of the body.

"I won't let you touch my daughter... " Fallup growled and circled around the creature.

The fox bared it's teeth and snapped at the white warrior. Fallup jumped back and the jaws bit air, the tom swiped at his muzzle and made blood spring from his nose. The fox howled in pain and turned back to the warrior, anger blazing in his eyes. The red animal quickly raked the warrior's side, as the tom staggered from the blow, the fox took advantage of the stumbling cat and grabbed his neck, throwing Fallup to the side until he hit a wide pine stump.

"Father!" Skyblazer screeched, making the fox peer up into the tree.

Its eyes were engulfed with hunger and it drooled at the thought of two prey to eat.

Skyblazer jumped down with a howl and landed on the foxes back, clawing his spine and biting his neck. The creature lashed out at the pain and turned it's head to snap at the blue apprentice. The she-cat jumped off and clamped her teeth down on it's tail. The fox shrieked and Skyblazer let go as the animal ran across the border, howling with pain.

The she-cat spit with hate at the fox then looked over to her father.

"F-Fallup.. ?" She asked as she slowly neared him.

Blood was welling from his side and neck, turning his fur crimson and it was torn; patches of fur missing from his cotton pelt.

"F-Fallup?!"

Skyblazer pressed her muzzle onto his cheek.

"Come on, get up! T-The fox is gone... "

The she-cat's legs trembled when she felt no warmth in his body.

"N-No... Stop playing around... Get up!" She shook him with a paw and let out a wail of grief. "P-Please don't go!" Skyblazer pressed against him, not minding the blood that soaked into her blue fur. "Please... Get up... " She looked up at him and saw his eyes were glazed, staring at nothing.

"NO!" She pressed her muzzle deeper into his fur and closed her eyes. "I'm so sorry... " She cried. "I've let you down... I-I should have helped you... "

"What do we have here... " A raspy voice growled. Skyblazer slowly looked up, her vision blurred with tears.

"Go away... " The she-cat croaked halfheartedly then pressed back into her father's white fluffy fur.

"She's Autobot... " One whispered.

"What do you want?" Skyblazer murmured and pressed her muzzle deeper into Fallup's pelt, wanting to be engulfed by his warm comforting sent.

"You... " A gray tom grabbed her scruff and pushed her away from Fallup's body.

"No!" Skyblazer cried as they pushed her further and further away, toward Decepticon territory!

"Fallup!"