TF Dires

By

Dragon with a Shotgun

Chapter Twenty-Six

Her heart felt like it had stopped cold. Life had frozen, nothing moved, nothing stirred or showed any signs of life. Her body stiffened within each step until she came to a staggering halt. Her tail tucked between her hind legs, her ears flattened, and her chest felt like it was being ripped open, like a brown bear had torn its claws into her body and ripped it apart, rendering her helpless and shocked, dead inside. She didn't believe her eyes, her didn't want to. She couldn't…

When she had run into the woods during the fire, she had gotten lost herself. She had wandered North, but had become bewildered by all of the smoke and ash blinding her. She became lost in the woods, but she had met up with Optimus, Riverrun, and Barricade on their way back down the mountain. She was overjoyed to see her sister, and even see Barricade alive as well. But when she had gotten back and heard about Bumblebee being in the fire, she had howled out to help him find his way back. But he hadn't howled back, which made her worry all the more. She had had hope that he'd come back. Her heart ached to see him again, to feel his warmth and to hear his voice. But now she was devastated. This wasn't the way she had hoped that they'd meet again. It wasn't the way she wanted to go. Everything was wrong… Everything was gone, everything that she had planned to tell him… Now she couldn't tell him, not she wouldn't be able to. All of her hope shattered like glass, and he body was just stiff as she stood there.

"Bumblebee!" Ironhide ran past her, running toward the limp body on the bank of the river. The large male skidded to a sliding halt when he came a few feet from the smaller wolf, his eyes filled with relief, but then sheer terror and sadness. He knelt down beside the body.

Optimus was at Stream's side, and he gazed at the scene before him as the rest of the pack, including Megatron's, crowded behind him, peeking around to see what was going on, but still wary of what had happened. The rest of the Mountain Pack stared in sympathy for the pup, but then they gasped when they saw something farther down the bank.

"Megatron!" Barricade suddenly shouted, running ahead of the others. All off them rushed off, and surrounded the grey body that as lying, not much farther than Bumblebee was. Optimus felt his chest tighten. His brother…? Primus… no… He felt his heart shatter at the thought of Bumblebee being… and Megatron… But all of this was so confusing… How could all of this happen so fast. He lowered his head in sorrow, not letting tears show, but feeling a sob trying to erupt from his throat.

Suddenly the Prime heard something that he thought that he would never hear out of the older and very strict male. A shrill whine, one that would be made from a pup. It was filled with sorrow, misery, and it was clear that his heart had been broken. He continued to whine like this as he stared at the pup in despair.

"B-Bumblebee…" Stream felt her legs try to give out, but a nose touched her side. She didn't look up at her older sibling as she tried to comfort her.

"Stream…"Riverrun rested her head on the back of Stream's neck.

She sobbed. "He can't be…" She looked up to see Ironhide with his head on Bumblebee's shoulder, his paws under his neck to support his head almost as if he was hugging him. He held the younger wolf tightly to him, scared to let go as if he'd lose him forever.

Ironhide buried his face into Bumblebee's neck fur, nuzzling his ear and mumbling things that weren't able to be heard by the others into his son's ear. He had his eyes sealed shut, not daring to open them to let the tears slip away. His… his Bumblebee was gone… Why… Why did he have to go into that fire? Why did he have to run off and get himself killed… That stupid pup! How could he do this?! What was the point in keeping him all these months and having to take care of him and grow attached, if he was going to get himself killed anyway? What was the point in… loving him… If he wasn't going to be able to love him forever…?

He sniffled, pushing his muzzle into his fur, breathing in his sweet, innocent scent. It was mixed with ash and water from the river and the soil from the bank. His fur was still warm… so warm and comforting… but he hated himself for not being able to feel the young one nuzzle back. The young wolf lay limp, his eyes closed and his jaw hung slightly open. The scents of nature, smoke, and his own scent mixed with Bumblebee's… He didn't know what to think. He was too mournful to think. By this time, he was willing to kill himself to join his young friend.

Riverrun watched the scene. She felt bad for this pack, badly since Stream had spoken so well of this young male. How she wished she could have met him personally, when he was alive… But at that moment, he heart told her to go see Megatron.

"I will be back, Stream…" she said softly, but she knew that Stream couldn't hear her, not in the condition she was in.

So she walked off. She had to see if Megatron was alive or dead. As she walked, she felt the soft but rough sand under her paws. Her eyes locked onto the group of wolves, their tails tucked and their heads lowered. With each step, her heart ached as the sadness that pierced her heart as she saw no movement from the wolf on the ground. She was pleading, to God, to Primus, to whoever would listen to her in the heavens. She wasn't sure what to think anymore. But before she got there, their tails started to wag, and they began making yips and barks of joy as their leader shifted his paws, stretching and trying to sit up. She felt her heart flutter with pure hope, but she stopped where she was, afraid to go any farther. Would he still think of her the same? Would he not love her anymore?

"Megatron?" Barricade whimpered, trying to urge him to get up. "Are you okay?"

Megatron still laid his head against the sand, his body objecting to any movement he wanted to make. "I… am fine… kid…" Barricade smiled at the alpha, happy to see that he was alive.

The alpha lifted his head, and then growled as he tried to stagger to his feet, but ending up lying back down again. Optimus had walked past Riverrun, and he was at his side. The red-eyed alpha looked up at the Prime, softer now than any look he had ever given his brother before. There was a short silence between the two, and Optimus smiled warmly down at him.

"Brother…" he wasn't even sure of what to say himself.

"Optimus…" Megatron looked behind Optimus, and saw Ironhide with Bumblebee. His eyes suddenly filled with grief, and he lowered his head. "He saved my life… I can't believe he went through all of that… for me…"

Optimus turned his eyes to look at the scene, but quickly he looked away. "He… didn't make it…" His voice was deep, blank, and hollow.

Megatron then took in a deep breath, and held back a snarl of pain as he tried to push himself to his paws. Optimus pressed his shoulder against his sibling's, supporting him with his own body as Megatron was finally able to stand on his own. When he was able to, he suddenly caught sight of the female that stood, alone, watching them with glistening eyes. He stared back for a moment, and tried to take a step, but ended up almost falling over again. His limbs were stiff almost as if he was dead. He had been lying in that spot for what seemed like a whole day, and it might have been that long. But it had been a few hours in human terms, and his body refused to move.

"Megatron…" Riverrun trotted up to him, lowering her head and pressing under his chin, nuzzling her muzzle into his neck. Surprised, he was still for a moment, but gladly returned the embrace and pressed his head into her fur, his ears flattening and his strength returning ever so slowly.

"I thought I lost you…" he whispered, not sure if it was even right to say it. But it came out, and he was glad to have said it, once in his life.

She looked up at him. "Me too…" she whispered, looking over at Ironhide as she said it.

Stream was creeping closer, the rest of the River Pack not daring to approach with Ironhide in the mood he was. They were all in sorrow, all heartbroken by the loss of the youngest member in their pack. But the young female walked toward the grieving male and the limp yellow body. Her eyes were filled with sadness. Ironhide was sobbing into his fur, but he looked up at the sound of her paw steps. His eyes were almost red from crying, and his muzzle curled into a grimace as tears slipped down his face.

Stream swallowed. "Ironhide… I… He…" she trailed off, not able to form a sentence as she stood there, not sure of what to do or think.

He clenched his eyes shut for a moment, but then looked at her with soft eyes, so soft that he didn't even look like his normal self. "He… was my son… my young one… Stream… I don't know what to do…"

Stream bit back a sob. She stepped closer to his side, and lowered his muzzle so that it touched his ear in a comforting gesture. She listened to his breathing, his sobs and he hugged Bumblebee closer to him. She looked down at the yellow wolf, daring to let her eyes make sure that he was truly dead. She studied his cute features. Even though he was lifeless, his face still held that beautiful glow that he had always had. She pressed her nose against his cheek, feeling a tear slip down her muzzle.

Primus… please… not now… not while he was so full of life…

She assumed the whimper she heard was from Ironhide. She sighed shakily, and lifted her head to turn away. But she stopped herself, when she noticed that Ironhide had actually stopped sobbing, and was looking down at the pup's face with wide eyes. His ears were perked, as if he had heard the second whine as well.

"Ironhide?" she whispered, looking down at Bumblebee. His face remained still, but her heart jumped when she saw his eyelids twitch slightly, as if he was asleep and he was dreaming. She blinked her wide eyes at him, and stared in shock as he shifted his head slightly, pointing his muzzle upward.

"Ugh… lemme sleep for just a little longer, 'Hide…" a raspy voice mumbled, making them both lean back and wonder if they had actually heard right. The young wolf yawned, and shifted so that his paws covered his muzzle like he used to do as a puppy.

Ironhide was overcome by happiness, and he suddenly brought the now waking yellow wolf closer to him, and as he did, Bumblebee's eyes widened and he coughed hard, making a gak sound and struggling within the dark grey wolf's grasp. But the older male wouldn't let go.

"Bee! Oh, thank Primus! Thank Primus you are alright!"

"I won't be if you keep choking me!" Bumblebee said in a strangled voice as he came to his senses and was blinking hard, desperately trying to get out of Ironhide's grasp.

Suddenly the rest of the pack was surrounding them, everybody was tearful with happiness and joy. The energy of everybody wound through one another, creating an excitement amongst them. Nobody had ever felt such a feeling. Their tails waved in the air, blurred from all of them wagging at the same time. All the while, Bumblebee was trying to escape his loving hug of death and was trying to breath. But after a while, he gave up and went limp in Ironhide's paws, letting the male lick his forehead and ears, everybody else showering him with love and affection.

Stream laughed, but she had backed away from all of the others. She looked back to Optimus, who was standing with Megatron and Riverrun. The Prime smiled widely at her, and he approached her and stood by her side until everybody had settled down, even though Ironhide had not let go yet.

"Ironhide!" he pleaded, suddenly wrenching his head from his guardian's grasp and shaking his head, gasping when his sore body stung and he limped on his front paw.

Optimus chuckled and walked over to him. "Young one, you never cease to amaze me." He licked the young wolf's muzzle.

Bumblebee closed his eye as the alpha licked his head, and then smiled in return. "You guys actually think that I'd go that easily?" While he said it, he grinned an amused grin as Ironhide leaned his shoulder against him.

"Bumblebee, don't you ever scare me like that!"

The young yellow wolf laughed at his guardian, licking him on the muzzle in return. But then he looked over at the young female standing near Optimus, who in which was smiling at him. He laughed and hurriedly walked to her and rubbed his chin against the top of her head, her nuzzling him back in return. An electric shock shot through both of them. Bumblebee sighed in relief, finally happy to be with his lover again. He had longed to see her again, and now he was here, feeling her near him and both overjoyed to see each other. His heart raced as he licked her ears and she licked his muzzle. She was just as excited to see him as he was to see her. She took in his scent, savoring it and thanking Primus that he wasn't actually dead. She hoped that this wasn't a dream that she would wake up from any moment. She hoped that this was rea, and that it wouldn't disappear into a fading darkness, as he was hoping the same. He didn't want this to end, nor did they both. Neither wanted this moment to disappear. They were too happy.

"Optimus!"

The Prime turned his head, and then smiled when he saw Elita walking down the riverbank, with a very young pup beside her. When Streak observed the scene before him, he grinned from ear to ear. Never had he seen such joy in a little pup.

"Sissy!" he cried out in sheer joy in a high-pitched voice, springing forward and racing toward the older wolves. His eyes were wide, like he was about to cry.

Stream gasped and laughed in joy and ran to her brother. "Streak! Oh Streak!" She hit the sand and he dived into her paws, licking at her face and wagging his little tail furiously. He couldn't contain his happiness, and planned to show every ounce of his love to her, nuzzling into her neck and rolling over in her paws.

"Sissy, I thought that I'd never see you again!" he said in a small voice, cuddling into his sister's chest, never wanting to leave.

"Aw, Streak… I love you too!" Stream hugged him closer with her paws, and they sat like that for a while before Riverrun walked over, smiling widely herself and laughed when both of the younger siblings rubbed against her and they all touched noses and wagged their tails.

Megatron, now able to walk on his own and had his strength back, strolled over to the young yellow wolf. When Bumblebee looked up at his face, he saw a sincere smile and his eyes were a bright red, much kinder than they ever had been and his tail up, not in dominance, but in pride.

"Young one," he said with a soft voice. "I don't know how to thank you for what you have done. All of this… what has happened… It has changed me. I think… that I may have been rash with my past decisions. I want to make it up to you and your pack, Bumblebee."

Bumblebee could hear the generosity in his voice, and could see the gladness in his features. The young wolf smiled at him, and nodded. "I understand, Megatron. We… all make mistakes."

"I wish that I was like you when I was younger. But in my world… it was different." Megatron sighed, lifting his gaze to look at Shockwave, who was walking away on his own. The older mal seemed tense, and Laserbeak still perched on his back like an accessory. "I don't think he'll ever change…"

Bumblebee looked in the same direction. "But you can. You proved it when we were in that fire."

"Tell me, pup," the red-eyed wolf said, "What happened to you? Where is that small little runt that was frightened by everything?"

The young male smiled and shook his head. "He hasn't left. He has grown." He looked at Stream, Streak, and Riverrun, all talking and loving on each other as they caught up on family times. He looked at all of them. They all looked the same, but Riverrun had grey fur with blue markings, and Streak had lighter grey with blue markings, and Stream was white with blue markings. He could see the family resemblance.

Megatron sighed. "Thank you, Bumblebee."

Bumblebee nodded in return. "Where will you go?" he suddenly blurted, looking at the male.

"I don't know." The older wolf replied gruffly, looking at the now smoking forest on the other side of the river. The fire had died down, and now the forest was blackened from soot and burnt vegetation. He thought for a long while, and then smiled. "If my brother allows it, I will consider staying in your territory until my home is restored to its true ways."

"Of course I would let you, brother." Optimus said as he stepped up to his side, smiling at his now proud brother. Megatron didn't flinch at it this time, and he nodded.

"Thank you." He exchanged a smile with Optimus, before feeling something nudge his side. He looked at the young black male standing next to him. Barricade smiled at Megatron, and the alpha smiled back softly. But then Barricade turned his attention to Bumblebee, who flattened his ears slightly, as did Barricade. They stared at each other for a moment, and then Barricade sighed.

"Well... I guess I owe you an apology."

"Yeah," Bumblebee huffed, but not in an attitude way. "You do."

"Heh… well… we've been through a lot… so…" Barricade rolled his eyes and then continued in a flat tone. "I'm sorry about what happened. I wish… we could've met a different way. Things would be different."

"I understand." Bumblebee smiled, and then licked Stream's head when she pressed it against his cheek.

She sighed and smiled at Barricade softly. "I know you are… interested… but… I can't…"

"I know. You love him." Barricade said, smiling slightly crooked-like before nodding in respect. Bumblebee could see the sadness in his eyes, and he felt sympathy for him. Whatever happened between him and Stream when she had been held hostage must have made him like her, and he actually didn't feel jealous or anything. He knew that Stream loved him.

"Bumblebee!" Three voices shouted in union, and three other young wolves surrounded him, licking his face and wagging their tails in excitement. Argi, Vitu, and Efa all had happy faces and were more than glad to see their friend safe and alive. Hava was with Ironhide, talking with him and both smiling at them.

"Guys!" Bumblebee greeted by wagging his tail, and rearing up on is hind legs when the boys tried to lean on his sides. Optimus smiled at the youngsters laughing and chattering as the twins joined them and they all began to tussle like puppies learning to play, all the while feeling Elita rub her head against his shoulder. He looked at her with a small smile as she looked up at him.

"You were very brave to do that, Optimus. You could've gotten yourself killed." she said as she watched the younger wolves play.

"I had to do what was right, Elita."

"I know," she replied with a happy tone. "And I bet Primus thanks you for it."

He was proud of what he had done, but he was even more proud of what was happening at that moment. His pack, their pack, his and Megatron's, all together, playing, laughing, talking to each other as if they were one large family. All these years, him and Megatron had been fighting. They had never seen eye to eye, never spoken to each other in a decent way since that day Sentinel was killed. Now, nobody held a grudge. Nobody hated each other.

Now, they were a family again. He and his brother, Stream with her other two siblings, the packs united for even a temporary time, it all made him proud to think that he could call this his family, his friends. Sometimes he wondered why he had even deserved such a life of love and joy. But now it was full of even more happiness and even more love than before.

It's not over yet! :3