Music: Koven - From the Start
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A thick tail brushed over leaves and pine needles as the being padded along quietly. Raising a thick snout to test the air, he mulled over the variety of tangy, bitter, and sharp alien scents before jumping up the boulders. Gray stone paws clacked quietly against the slabs as the four-legged beast found a spot he liked on the craggy incline by the Ark.
If anyone had been lower on the slope and looked up, they would have thought a statue had been left on the mountainside. Somewhat feline in shape, the stone creature's body was a little stockier than one would expect and the tusks sticking out of his lower jaw as well as the over-sized curved claws were a little concerning. However, softly glowing blue lights in the hollows where the eyes should have been gave off a reassuring and peaceful radiance. Mostly gray in color, faint stripes and blotches of green in the rough hide lent it the appearance of a sculpture. The Guardian yawned, lizard-like tail swishing a little before he took stock of his surroundings.
From his perch, Hound could see a good distance. The land spread out to the East and South, open plains with small patches of tall and thin flora. He could see far that way, green and mauve fading to sandy brown in the distance as if someone had taken a paintbrush to the land and colored it in sweeping strokes. Farther to the East appeared some large hills or perhaps a small mountain. It was hard to tell from his perch. To the West lay a dense forest of the same plants, needle-like leaves sticking out in all directions to conceal everything in a mask of green. Behind the mech and off to the right, the rocks and boulders lifted higher, gently sloping up to the mountaintop.
It was pretty. Rumbling, the low sound to boulders scratching against each other in a deep cavernous place, the Autobot flexed his claws. He liked all the shades of green. It would be easy to blend in here, something Hound appreciated greatly.
Clouds drifted out of the way and sunlight swathed over him suddenly, covering the land in bright patterns. He purred louder, body shifting as granite skin flowed and molded itself into a vague bipedal shape, digit lengthening into fingers and tail disappearing. The gray darkened and smoothed out, taking the appearance of pitted green metal and armor plates. Raising his servos up to the sun, Hound smiled widely and let out a happy sound.
A mix between a quiet roar and a moaning howl, the cry echoed through the trees and down the slope.
Ground. Sky, ground, plants, creatures, planet. It was all good. Hound hated space, hated being in ships (sentient or not) and was so very thrilled with being planet-side again. There was so much to explore. Raising his face, he closed his optics and basked in the sun's warmth.
There was a quiet step behind him, just to let him know that another was approaching and to not startle. Karkadanns weren't heard unless they wanted to be. As it was a scent he recognized, the Guardian didn't react when a thin frame leaned against his back. A blue helm rested on his left shoulder pad as he lowered his arms.
"I see you are happier." Mirage murmured, taking in the view, "My, what a vibrant place. Do you think they have crystal flowers?" The mech loved crystal plants, regardless of where they came from.
Hound opened his optics a slit, still smiling, "I have no idea. And yeah, I'm really glad we're on solid ground. Just look at all this!"
Servos going out, he gestured at the textured land, the giant blue sky that surrounded them, tiny insects and pollen dancing in the sun's golden rays. Light created halos through the branches of the forest, deep dioptase greens and dark brown mixed with tawny patches. Twittering from strange creatures sang a tempting song to come explore the darkness under the boughs. Hound shifted, feeling the rough ground beneath his feet and flexed them again, resisting the urge to run. "Just think of all the new things to see!"
Mirage hid a smile by tucking his helm into the crook of the Guardian's neck, "It is exciting."
A long pause. "...yeah."
That quiet reply that was more a near silent sigh than an actual word had Mirage straightening and pulling away with a frown. "What is it?"
"I..." Pain and hesitance reflecting in his optics, the Guardian turned to look at Mirage for the first time, gazing at worried gold optics. "I miss home."
Cybertron had been dead when they left. And the chances of that changing while they were in stasis was very low. He missed the Manganese Mountains, the thick Obsidian forests and glittering cities. Hound knew Mirage missed it too. The blue and white mech came from the stepped plateaus and undoubtedly longed to climb them again. His sorrow showed when he ran. There were no other Karkadanns left and everyone knew they ran in herds. That was why Mirage always asked others if they would like to run with him, or drive if they had wheels. As long as he wasn't alone.
"As do I," Murmured the other bot, a tired smile showing. "And perhaps one day we will see it again. But for now, we are here."
They both turned to look at the sun, golden light bathing them in warmth and hope. Perhaps, one day the sun would shine on Cybertron too. Perhaps their crystals gardens would grow and glimmer, the spiraling silver towers rising to the sky as if daring to reach beyond, mountains and oceans and jungles sprawling out across the planet. Home. Perhaps...
"Run with me?"
A quiet plea, a half grin and crooked optic ridge as the spy looked at Hound. Smiling, the mech nodded. In a blur of twisting stone, the Guardian stretched out his legs and paws. Shaking himself, he looked to Mirage.
Metal shifted, interweaving around itself until the Karkadann landed on four hooves. A barrel shaped body and long neck were supported by thin legs that looked too spindly to hold anything up. His tail twitched, long and thin like a whip and Mirage shook his head, the curved knife shaped horn on his forehelm slicing the air. Armor the color of diamond glitter white and sky blue stood out from the muted mountainside like a gem in a bowl of shore pebbles. A whicker blew out, giving a glimpse of a double row of razor-sharp teeth. Kicking his legs in joy for finally being able to stretch properly, Mirage pranced in place giddily, now nearly two heads taller than the tracker.
"You haven't ran at all since we woke up, have you?" Chuckled Hound.
Merely flipping his tail in subtle insult, the Karkadann took a few jolting steps forward and turned to see Hound. "Well? The sun may go down if you wait forever."
"It's still morning!"
Laughing, Hound started to scramble down the slope on swift paws as Mirage took the lead, movements as easy and lilting as a dance. They quickly reached the flatter ground and raced through the scrubby grassland. Legs pumped as hooves and paws set a quick rhythm. Alien plants brushed against their sides while they whooped and raced. Heading for distant mountains, the pair chased the sun for as long as they could.
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Guardian: Often mistaken for statues, these beings regularly sit outside city gates or at crossroads for long periods of time but are also often found wandering the wilds of the planet. No particular area is their natural habitat. Guardians are made of a hard yet flexible granite like substance that is warm to the touch and not easily cracked or broken. These stone creatures are very territorial and will defend their territory and those in it to the death. Guardians are said to have been created by Primus to protect Cybertron, although not everyone believes this. However, they do live up to their name and reputation. Once they find something or someone to guard, they become very protective.
Karkadann: Unfortunately for the Karkadann, their name is not a pleasant one to other Cybertronians. Being able to survive only on energon first consumed by others due to their delicate consumption systems, they have a bad but not completely unfounded reputation of eating others. Stories of the carnivorous herds attacking lone wanderers on the Platinum Steppes and surrounding plains have existed as far back as anyone can remember. In modern times, Karkadanns usually get their energon from a medbay where it's been donated. Karkadanns are build for speed and have two main defenses besides their teeth. The bladed horn can cut through most metals and the tail can strip paint off armor if a hard enough slash is delivered. Most magics do not affect Karkadanns and they can negate minor curses they try.