A.N.: Thanks for all the awesome reviews, everyone! I've got alot in mind for this one......


One moment, they were creeping through the vegetation, the next; the forest around them was alight with cannon blasts, rocked by the all too familiar sounds of explosions.

Ironhide immediately went with the subtle option, and blasted back as fast as he could manage; streaking the burst the bursts of light, energy, and heat right back, just as fast as he could manage. Though he knew the likelihood of hitting an enemy and doing any actual damage from this range was minimal, Prowl sent off a few wayward cyan bursts of his own, just to keep with the theme and keep Ironhide off of his back about it, for now.

Judging by the angles from whence the blasts came, Prowl could see there was a definite change in elevation from their standpoint, to their enemies, which unfortunately gave them the advantage right off the bat. Plan already forming, Prowl pulled up an internal com link, sending a burst of crackling energy as he went.

:: I'm going to strafe around the side. I'm aiming to outflank those over-complicated glitches. If I ca- ::

Unsurprisingly, Prowl didn't even get any further than that. A blast hit just a little too close to the duo's feet, sending Prowl sprawling, coating him in mud head to toe. Ironhide somehow manage to stay upright, and continued shooting.

:: Cut to the chase, Prowl. I don't have time to sit here and discuss every fraggin' step. ::

:: This would actually be a great time for you to aim to make more noise, and keep shifting around. It'll help hide my steps, and keep 'em, distracted. ::

:: Understood. ::

With a quick nod barely seen in between the fighting, Prowl moved quickly, weaving through the trees as he timed each footstep of his with either a blast or a step of Ironhide's. Needless to say, he was almost constantly in motion. True to his earlier assessment, the ground did indeed slop upwards, and with the mud, it wasn't too fun to be slogging through. But he got closer and closer, until he could feel the firing of the offending cannons deep in his spark plates, letting him know just how close to the enemy he was…..Except he didn't see them.

The hum of an unfamiliar energon signal was there, and it was strong….But Prowl saw nothing, optics barely peeking around the tree he was using to shield himself for the moment. Just more trees, mud, grit, assorted undergrowth, and ……Oh.

:: Ironhide, they're actually using the organic materials to hide themselves. I'm going to take this front one, which should cause a distraction, but I'd really, really appreciate it if you didn't shoot in my direction while I was up here….. ::

:: Fine. I'm coming up there instead…..Don't trust you alone. You seem to earn aft-kickings when you're alone. ::

:: Very funny, oh master of wit. Now if you excuse me, I have a Decepticon to shoot. ::

:: Remember to shoot either the head or the spa- ::

For once, it was Prowl that cut off Ironhide's jibe.

:: I know where to shoot. ::

With that, Prowl merely shut down the com link, and moved, processors speeding up for the heat of battle. There was an irregular pattern in the forest floor, which he seriously suspected was the hiding 'Con. Cannon whirling in anticipation, Prowl moved fast, knowing that surprise was going to be what decided this battle.

Red optics, cleverly muted in the forest, swirled around to only be met with those soft blue one of the Autobot, which quickly turned cold as a whirling cannon was brought to play. The Decepticon didn't even have time to bring his own cannon around to bear on Prowl when the Tactician had the muzzle snugged up against its chest, and let loose a blast muted by the forest around them.

The lifeless frame slid to the ground, energon streaming around the fatal wound, sparks dancing here and there, as a few wayward bursts from the remaining enemies slid past overhead. Prowl was sure to note every one of their trajectories and their relativity to their firers, and he and Ironhide's position.

Moments after offlining that single 'Con, Ironhide was by his side again.

:: Good job. You actually offlined one. ::

Prowl let this comment slide, as he was already in motion, grabbing the other mech by a collar plate, and sharply jerking down. Ironhide upper torso buckled, dropping a few feet as the other mech pulled, and a crackling blast went over their heads.

:: WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT TOUCHING ME? ::

:: Would you have rather that blast connected with your head? ::

Prowl was only responded to with another light (depending on your point of view) whap to the head.

:: Let's go. I don't have time for this slag…. ::

Indeed, the firing above them had increased, enough to cause worry. Reinforcements must've come… This again put the enemy at the advantage.

:: Think you handle not getting your head blown off if we split up? A multipronged attack would work best here. ::

:: The question isn't about me, it's about you. I can handle myself. I have for how long? You on the other hand….::

::Will be just fine. Good. I'll go right. Loop around and hit them at a right angle from the side. ::

With a plan in agreement between the two, Prowl was in movement already, strafing to the side and using trees as he moved, each one another shield, another safe haven before there was the next dash to the tree. Figuring he'd use the same plan of attack, Prowl got close enough to feel the shooting of the next Decepticon, which was still primarily focused on their previous location. Perfect. The bugger hadn't even noticed the Tactician's movements….Which meant that Ironhide was probably in the clear as well.

Except the Decepticon had.

Prowl lunged like before, bringing the cannon to bear on the Decepticon, but before he could even get his own blast off, that fiery orange muzzle was pointed at him, and it was discharging. He saw all of this, running trajectories, probabilities, everything as time seemed to slow for his heightened speed of mind, allowing him a play-by-play view of what happened next.

Prowl did his best to twist in the air and avoid the blast, which was only partly successful. The shot connected with his knee joint, sending little bits and gears flying, and Prowl braced himself for the flash of pain that came, shoving it to his back burners as soon as it came. Pain was not important in a fight.

Action.

Reaction.

Attack.

Counter-attack.

That's what he had to focus on.

So that's what he focused on.

With an Ironhide worthy growl, Prowl continued in his haphazard lunge, still of course, but enough to get the cannon close enough as he moved, lining it up for that precious few second window he had, as the Decepticon's red optics were met with the sight of a whirring cannon. Prowl promptly let the energy build-up loose, and watched with satisfaction as it connected, sending molten bits flying, sparks dancing across everything, and a lovely splatter of energon into the trees behind them.

He landed with the accompanying thud and crunching noise, his knee unsurprisingly giving out as he half knelt on the ground. Prowl wasn't going to sit there like that for long. He had to get moving. Always stay in motion. Always.

:: Ironhide, I'm hit. Nothing serious, but it's going to affect mobility. I'm getting out of the fray long enough to do some minor repairs. I've got hydraulics out, and energon line ruptured, and pretty sure most of the other lines in my knee are damaged. ::

:: Understood. I'll slag these heaps, and be right over. ::

Prowl set to work immediately. He did his best reassemble the pieces that were left in his leg into a working joint, but from there, it got more complicated. It hurt, and it would've been less painful that it was already in a more controlled environment, but Prowl didn't have those luxuries right now. Several adjustments in the order of his plating had to be made, and he got most of the lines patched up with rudimentary battle repairs, but just as he was about to get to work further, he heard something that made his processor drop.

He hadn't noticed the hum earlier…It certainly wasn't Ironhide's, and it was coming in fast. Prowl swore, and got up, keeping a hand cupped over the knee joint as he hobbled along back into the forest, away from the sounds that dictated where Ironhide was blasting the crap out of something. He kept going, until he came face to face with an opening, which, according to his luck so far, had to be backed with an outcropping of rock. One which he couldn't get over with his knee in this condition.

:: Oh frag. Ironhide - ::

Prowl started to turn to face the tree line again, keeping his digits pressed tightly against the still severed lines. Electric blue energon continued running down in rivulets around the plated joint, sprouting sporadically as he kept himself as far away from the trees and the approaching Decepticon as was possible. Optics widening, the outer iris whirling madly as scans began.

The urgency in his own voice as he spoke through the com like with Ironhide scared Prowl, and for a moment, he wondered why he was suddenly so eager for the other mech to come. And then it hit him as the scans and calculations bubbled up coldly through his consciousness.

Energon signal detected. Designation unknown en route.

Prowl felt cold all over.

He was here.

Alone.

Crippled.

No place to go.

With a Decepticon coming.

He began backpedaling frantically, scooting back against the boulders and the rest of the outcropping. Prowl's leg just barely had brushed itself against a rock, when a glinting form through itself through the trees.

::There's anoth- ::

Whirring cannons discharged, stones flew, the ground rocked, and Prowl suddenly found himself with a lovely view of the ground as optics flickered, then -