Part 2 - Chapter 9: First hunt

Lockdown surveyed the park from a ledge. "What curious creatures. All scurrying around like so many nanobots" He didn't notice Revan coming up to him. "Wonderful, isn't it?" "I have to admit it's quite different from Cybertron" "What is Cybertron?" "Well, imagine a human junkyard, then make a whole lot bigger and set it on fire, and you get our home planet" Revan was a bit uneasy at imagining it. "But, what was it like before?" Lockdown projected an image of a pre-war Cybertron, showing a golden, shining sphere "Before then it was a lot different. It was a sun among stars" "Fascinating"

Shadow and Husky paced up to the pair. "I was wondering where you were, Revan" Shadow said "I don't much like the idea of being a bodyguard to your son all the time" Husky looked annoyed "Hey, I can take care of myself" "I believe that, but if that's so why couldn't you get a decent meal today?" Husky sighed "He's got me there" "Let's go, son" As they walked off Shadow barely heard Revan "I've been told that the rat population may be on the rise again. They're small but dangerous, so keep your guard up" Shadow felt an idea creep into his head and a smile onto his face. "Lockdown, I think I know what to do with my 'students'"

The next day Shadow had lined up the others. "If you don't know yet the rat population is on the rise. And I think it might be an opportunity to test your raw skills" "Finally, some proper hunting" thought Pace. Shadow then picked up some blindfolds "But, this time, you must act on instinct. These will help you" He wrapped them around their eyes. "How are these supposed to help us?" Serena asked "We can't catch our prey if we can't see it" "We humans have a saying; 'never put all your eggs in one basket'. It means that you should never rely on one solution for everything. You've got noses, haven't you, and natural instincts?" As Shadow put the last blindfold on Windfire he noticed Husky trying to take his off. "Don't try to take them off. Only I know how to, and I will when you're ready"

"Okay, now, try to get a sense of the environment you're in. Feel the earth. Smell the air. Listen carefully" Windfire took heed, and closed her eyes fully. She could hear all the sounds of the woods, feel the rough, coarse dirt beneath her paws, smell the fresh air and… rat scent?

Jolt trudged carefully over. "Found 'em. They won't know what hit them" Shadow nodded and walked behind them. He had attached strings to the blindfolds. "Alright, are you fully prepared now? I want a proper body count, not that I'm playing favourites, understood?" The foxes nodded.

"Hunters, ready…"

Rusty pawed at the ground.

"Set…"

Serena gave a low growl.

"GO!"

Shadow yanked the blindfolds off and watched the foxes speed off to track the rats…

After waiting for 10 minutes they arrived back with their body counts. Serena was downtrodden as she hadn't managed to get more than three. Husky noticed and gave up one of his rats to her. "You don't have to, Husky" "I have my share, Serena. You need yours" Serena smiled "Thanks" "Well; we wouldn't have been able to get them if it weren't for Shadow" Shadow and Jolt observed "You've all done well. Yes, even you, Serena. Now, enjoy your meals. You earned it."

Later that night

Windfire was on her night patrol with Shadow, of all people. They had just experienced a late shower and the area was entirely drenched. "Let's give it a rest here" Shadow offered. "By the way, you did very well with your hunting today" "I thought you weren't playing favourites" "I wasn't. I was just complimenting you. Is that so hard to comprehend?" "No, it's just…" Windfire stopped mid-sentence. "If there's something you want to discuss, there's no time like the present" Windfire summoned all her courage "Shadow, do you know much about love?"

"Love?" Shadow asked. In all his years he hadn't seen much in the way of love, just pain, misery, hunger and despair. Until all this of course. "What would you say if someone were to say 'I love you'?" "Um… Well, of course, it depends entirely on who said it and who they were saying it to" Shadow tried to explain and hide his uncertainty. "Let's say that person was you. If you said it to the horse, I'd presume you were sick. If you said it to Lockdown or Jolt, I'd presume you were blind. And, if you said it to me…" "Yes?" "We, I'd just assume you were having an odd joke at my expense"

"Don't be silly. If I wanted to make fun of you I'd try to prove that that I'm younger and better than you in many ways" "Oh please. If you're talking about a race, there's hardly time to indulge in such things when your life's on the line"

Windfire lowered her head and sounded sad. "You're probably right, Shadow. How silly of me to think you could beat me in a race" Shadow stopped "I didn't say I couldn't!" Windfire sniffed "I guess even the greatest teachers must become old and stiff" "I'm nowhere near old!" "No, no, please. You must accept the truth. At least what I think it is" She said stroking his paws. "Your legs have gotten weak and flabby. You have the timing of a limp cat" Shadow was really ticked off at this point.

"I remember the fight you were in. You moved with such grace and style" "I still could if I had to" Windfire's plan was working "I hardly think so. You're washed up" "Washed up?" "You'll never be the best again" Shadow stomped down "Don't you bet on it!" He said and ran "Catch me if you can!" Windfire chased after him. Shadow stopped long enough for her to catch up. "Caught you" Windfire gloated. Shadow scooped up some mud and threw it at her face. "You caught that too" Windfire shook it off, mostly and tackled Shadow down.

After a struggle in the wet earth Shadow overcame Windfire and pinned her to the ground. Both were splattered with mud. "How's that for washed up, Windfire?" "Quite literal, I think" Both chuckled then, suddenly, slowed their breathing. Windfire wiped the mud from Shadow's lips, never taking her eyes off Shadow's own piercing yet gentle red eyes. Shadow felt drawn to Windfire, who pulled him closer.

They closed their eyes slowly…

Felt their breath on each other's lips, closer, closer…

Quicksilver tumbled through the bushes. Shadow and Windfire turned and slipped in the mud. Quicksilver, of course, was blissfully unaware of what was going on. "Don't worry, Windfire. He used to try and kill me too" "Let me guess, we're late?" "Yep, Lockdown was wondering where you were, Shadow" "Thanks. I just need to clean up a bit" Shadow shook himself to get a bit of mud off. "Good night, Quicksilver. Good night, Windfire" "Good night, Shadow" Windfire said, gazing at him. "Yes" Shadow raced off towards the lake all the while thinking "Oh god, what just happened? I am actually…?"

Author's notes

Just for a bit of clarification, both Shadow and Windfire are supposed to be sixteen.