Prowl woke to being pleasantly sore and to the sound of rolling waves. Meister was between his doors, systems humming in recharge. Looking up he judged that is was mid-day, they were alone many of the other boats had sailed out, and he was hungry. Problem was that Meister had tangled himself around Prowl and he could not untangle himself without waking the mech.
The looking around he tried to see if anything was within arm's reach. He wasn't too concern about the twins and Jazz. He was sure that they were being looked after by Ricochet and Stepper. Meister mumbled something before pulling Prowl closer and tighten his grip.
"Guess I'll have to wait to get something later," Prowl huffs.
A laugh has him looking up, "yeah he's always been clingy in the mornings." Stepper looks down at him with a grin.
"You don't say," Prowl wiggles his trapped door free. "Can you un-cling him please."
The green poly snickers, he hops down and slowly untangles Meister's long arms and legs. Prowl manages to free himself the rest of the way. "Thank you," he says.
"No problem, hungry?" he holds up a small crustacean. "It's already been boiled and seasoned."
"Sure," Prowl holds out his hand. He took out the small knife that Meister had shown him how to make. It was a crude rough jagged stone blade that didn't look like a blade at all. But it did a good job of popping the top shell off. Prowl was beginning to enjoy solid fuel again having been on liquid rations for so long.
Stepper smirks at the moan and happy buzz of the other mech. He catches himself though when he found his hand hovering. Coughing he turns his attention to the crates full of the orns catch. He had left Ricochet to watch the younglings until noon. Leaving Prowl and Meister to get themselves together, and he needed to tell them about the upcoming tribe gathering.
But first…he was going to take his time admiring his brothers' mate. Stepper blinks, "that didn't sound like I wanted it to."
"What didn't sound like you wanted it to?" Prowl asks tossing the shell into another crate to be used later.
Stepper blushed, "nothing just thinking on something." Prowl shrugs and goes digging back in the crate for more food. "Good see that you have an appetite."
Prowl finds a small bite of dried fish. While it was tougher than he normally liked, he found that he liked chewing on it. "I don't have good fuel habits when I get stressed. Meister though has been making sure that I fuel."
Stepper hums, he has known a few mechs who had different fueling habits. He'll have a talk with his brother about keeping Prowl stress levels down before he backslides. "I can show ya a secluded little cove to wash yourself. I understand if you want to wait for Meister to wake."
Prowl wiggles a little and scowls at the tacky dried feeling. Stepper was not staring at the movement and darts his optics somewhere else. "I wouldn't mind getting clean," he looks down at his mate. "I don't know if I should wait. Meister was still teaching me how to swim."
"He was teaching ya how to swim?" Stepper smiled thinking of his own lessons. "what about the bitlits?"
"He said they needed to be older before he. However, I think that they want to learn now. I noticed that Sideswipe has been inching his way down to the water when he thinks I am not looking. And Jazz has been encouraging him." Prowl sighs, "Sunstreaker however, still fears the water. When I take him to bath, he clings tightly to my armor and shakes." He gives Stepper a troubled look, "I do not know what to do for him."
"Yeah, Meister did say the little one had a bad intro to the ocean." Stepper leans back on his hands; he didn't know what to say. Polys are born loving the water they never had someone fearing it. "If ya want, I can have Rico bring the littles and we can see if Sunny will feel better with more optics on him."
Prowl's wings did a little bounce, "that might work. But let me get more…presentable."
Stepper snickers, "Sure don't want any unneeded questions." He stands and holds out his hand, "Come on. I'll show you the cove then come back to see if Meisters awake. If he is I'll send him your way before going to save Ricochet from clever bitties." Prowl smirks and let Stepper lead him away.
What they didn't see was the Meister's vizor was on and watching them. He only sits up when Stepper and Prowl had turned the corner towards the cove.
"Yer taken this awfully well."
Meister snorts, "I have to be blind not to noticed that ma brothers have been admiring my mate." He shrugs, "it would have happened sooner or later."
"Mostly after the main mate is decease. Not many would let their younger siblings go as far as you have." Ether swims out from around the boat and hops up, "what if he gets sparked up by your brothers?"
Meister shrugs, "don't know. But I'm not worried."
"Have you talked to Prowl about this?"
Meister turns to the elder poly with a frown. "You're asking a lot of questions. What happen?"
Ether takes out her pipe, puffing a few before blowing a circle of smoke. "That brat is making waves. Don't be surprise if he brings up your mate. I would suggest either take over; ruling this tribe or leave. We both know what will happen if you don't move your skid plate."
Meister blinks and scoffs, "If I tried to take over it would turn into a blood bath. If I leave, I would be a traitor. Not many would like it if I leave and they couldn't."
"Bah, it's their fault for not leaving. Don't put so much on your shoulders and young mech," she blends over to whisper in his audio. "Take the self-important you think you have with this tribe and shove it."
Meister gaps before breaking down into snorting laughter. "Alright alright, I get it," he says sobering. "But his allies outnumber everyone else. He has friends in other tribes' ones that are friends with the tribe that attacked us."
"And yet his so called friends encourage that attack."
"It is the raiding season," Meister argued.
"And," Ether prodded. The old femme knew something, and she was waiting for the younger poly to figure it out."
Meister frowns, his horns flick as he thought over what Ether hadn't said, "…and they'll be too busy to come after us. And if it was known that a tribe had members jumping ship. It'll make 'em look weak."
The femme hums and nods, "he would be a fool to act openly. So, he'll go unseen." She sighs smoke, "take this old femme's advice, get your family and go."
"What?"
"This island is dying, you've seen it. The mountain is showing signs of waking. It has escaped your noticed that the lava beds had grown lately."
"And the side of the mountain had a buldge that wasn't there before I left." Meister looks at the hazy mountain. "Have you told anyone else?"
Ether nods, "Not many listen though. Some, those who did, will be leaving in small groups." She looks up at the taller mech. "I'll be the last. Along with the other elders."
Meister jerks, "But by then it would be too late."
"Youngling, half of us won't survive a journey out at sea. These old struts know their limits." Ether drags on her pipe, "besides someone needs to stay behind to give comfort."
"Then why don't ya just get on another boat." He didn't get this, "even if its just a ways out. you can still return to-what; why are you shaking your head."
"I don't think there will be a island to return to."
"But-
"I've made my mind up youngling. all of us has, those leaving have their own families to look after. You need tdo focus on how to keep your small family safe."
"I-I disagree with this."
"noted, now," she grins. "Go tend to your mate before his attention is taken by those little brats of yours."
He watches her amble away. Looking up again at the mountain Meister snarls. He was angry that his decision was taken from him. Prowl was happy regardless of the cloud over his helm. He was angry that he would lose the only home he had known, a place that held memories of his parents. He dives into the ocean planning on cooling off before swimming towards the cove.
He surfaces just outside the cove and smirks. Stepper decided to take a little bit longer in getting Ricochet and the younglings. The dark blue poly treads water over to the side of climbs on a rock to watch. He was sure that it started out as a swimming lesson that quickly went downhill. Prowl was half out of the water his wings splayed out showing off his back. Meister watches as his mate arches making little waves as Stepper thrusted up.
He watched until he knew Stepper saw him before swimming over and sandwiching Prowl between him and Stepper. Prowl jumps at the sudden contact but relaxes when Meister turns his head. For the next hour the two polys played Prowl like a fiddle. They had dragged him underwater before he overloaded, their kisses his only source of air.
When they surfaced, it was to the splashing of Sideswipe and Jazz and a unimpressed Ricochet. Prowl lazily rolled his head and blinked. Stepper and Meister just smirked up at their younger brother. Sunstreaker stood far back from the shoreline as he could get.
The two older polys floated Prowl towards the shore. Meister lays him down by the yellow sparkling before heading back towards the water. Ricochet huffs when his brother passes him, "really?"
"Don't worry little brother, I'll let ya have a turn." Meister wades into the water scooping up Sideswipe as he doggy paddles by.
The red poly snorts, casting one more look at Prowl he goes to find a high place to keep watch. He did this due to the small rumblings heard earlier. He wasn't sure if those recharging on the water felt them but did and it worried him. He had never felt the ground move like that before and he never seen the elders so worried.
He had thought to tell his brothers but now, seeing them having fun. He didn't want to ruin it by being overly paranoid. For he knew he could have imagen the rumbling and shaking ground. He was able to relax a bit watching the others play. Until…
Ricochet jumped when Prowl shot to his peds with his wings fanned out. His optics were bright, his sudden movement caught Meister and Steppers attention. Something was making the winged mech edgy and it was catching. Ricochet fingered his knives scanning the rocks and trees. His brothers had Jazz and Sideswipe between them with Stepper watching the water and Meister watching the sky.
The red poly sent a questioningly look towards Prowl. But the Praxian wasn't looking at the trees, water or sky. With a sinking feeling Ricochet looked up at the mountain just as ground beneath him rolled. A deafening roar as the ground shook violently. He saw Prowl curl around Sunstreaker as he fell, he heard the cries of Jazz and Sideswipe, the churning of the water and cursing of his brothers. He spider crawled over to Prowl's curled up form and covering him. Giving him extra protection as small rocks fell from the sky.
As soon as it had begun, it stops. Ricochet didn't move from his spot until a few minutes had passed. He only moved when one of his brothers touched the back of his shoulder. Slowly moving, in case the ground shook again, Ricochet rolled off Prowl. The winged mech uncurled and Sunstreaker little whimpers turned into full blown cries. Sideswipe was quiet but his optics were wet as he reached for Prowl. Jazz was shivering clinging to Meister as the blue poly cautiously walked.
Stepper was still watching the ocean; Ricochet knew what he was looking for. He had heard stories about the ground shaking then the ocean swallowing islands whole. "You'll be okay. Someone needs to watch the ocean."
Meister nods and Ricochet darts off. Prowl watches him go for only a minute before his attention was taken over by the twins. They were scared and nothing Prowl did was calming them down. Uncharacteristically, it was Sunstreaker being the most vocal while Sideswipe was eerily quiet. Prowl looked up when Meister took his shoulder and started pulling him towards the village. They heard the village before entering it. What huts survived the attacked were now wrecked, luckily however, no one was killed. Some had small scratches and dents and were a little shaken up. Meister lead Prowl over to Bluefish and his family before joining the other warriors.
"What was that," Prowl asks over Sunstreakers crying.
"A quake, it happens sometimes," Bluefish was trembling still. "But this was different, more violent. I heard someone say they saw fire at the top of the mountain." He was cradling his own scared sparkling.
Prowl nods, he sits down to let the three younglings climb into his lap. When he was on Earth, he never experiences an earthquake. He had heard about them from the humans and the Autobots who have experience them. Hearing about it and going through it was very different.
"What will happen now?"
Still rocking his own sparkling Bluefish looks over to the gathered mechs and femmes. "Some might decide to leave the island for a bit. Others will move to another part of the island. But it ultimately comes down to what the Chieftain and the Elders say."
Suddenly, the sounds of the group went quiet. Curious Prowl stood to see what the cause could be, he quickly sat back down. The reason for the sudden silence and tension became apparent when the Chief's loud barking echoed in the small village.
"The mountain beast is awakening. The spell that the great fire goddess Solaris use to banish the monster Brimstone is weakening!"
Worried and frighten mummers and whispers rose. Prowl, having only heard of the two names in passing through a confused glance at Bluefish. But the mech was too busy to notice. Prowl looked for Stepper or Meister but only found Ether who was scowling at the Chieftain.
"And what proof do ye have of this?" she demands.
The Chief threw his hands up at the mountain with great flourish. Prowl was starting to think he was being overly dramatic. "You all felt the ground shake from under your feet. You heard the roar of an angry beast. You've seen the signs of our home wasting away." He moved so that his pelt coat swished behind him.
Prowl changed his mind about him being overly dramatic, the mech was a doom speaker. He was up to something by instilling fear into the populace. Prowl watched as families pulled close, the sparklings tucked in behind the adults. He sees how the warriors act around each other, eyeing each other as though they present a threat. But the most telling was how some of these mechs and femmes were eyeing him and the twins. He pulled Jazz closer to him and kept the twins in his lap. Some unease must of drifted over the bond because soon Meister was growling at those looking too closely. Stepper broke away from the group and came to stand by Prowl.
Ether was the only one to go against what the Chief was saying, "That mountain has been rumbling longer then you been alive." She frowns at the surrounding mechs, "Solaris magic is long and strong. Those shakes and sounds are just Brimstones movements."
"And yet, our home dies. My clansmen, what this old femme won't say is that a goddess magic isn't as strong as a true Gods. The only way to fix the spell so our home won't be ravaged by the anger of Brimstone is to sacrifice a young mech or femme." He held up his hands at the uproar. Some against some in favor. "Now; now my clansmen. Not just any can be used. The offering must be a young and strong one of sparkling baring age. They must be proven to be of warrior stock but able to care for the sparklings. And," he stops the raise of voices, "they must have just had their sparklings."
Prowl felt a chill run down his back as the Chief's cold optics landed on him. He didn't need a TacNet to know what was going to happen. Seeing how Meister was reacting, his mate knew it too.
"Now I know that young Sprite has just had her sparkling. But rest easy that she does not meet the requirements." A collective sigh was felt before the Chief turn towards Prowl. "Warrior Meister's mate, however, is the perfect choice."
Prowl's shock induced state was only broken by the roar of Meister coming to stand protectively in front of him. and his was not the only one to voice in protest. Stepper's lower growl join in alongside Bluefish hissing and Ethers angry snarl. Several carriers also voiced their opinion only to be silence by their mates. The Chief didn't react like Prowl thought he should and that sent another cold chill through his frame.
"The choice has been made," the mech nods to some of the bigger warriors. Prowl quickly stood with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe in his arms and Jazz clinging to his leg.
"Where is Ricochet," he asks suddenly realizing that the young mech hadn't join them.
Stepper growls, "He should have been back by now."
Meister looks over to the smug Chieftain, "What have you done with our brother?"
The mech shrugs, "I didn't say that the mountain would be satisfied with only one mech…did I?" he laughs at the angry sounds the small family makes.
"Bluefish you must leave us," Prowl says to his only friend. "If you get caught up in this…"
The mech gave him a torn look but didn't argue as he slowly inched his way over to his mate. Who had been doing the same but he was only thinking of protecting his mate. The mech gave a grateful nod towards Prowl before whisking his mate away to safety.
"I would like to know where you got this idea of sacrificing people; we are not a clan who does this!" Ether yells. She sends a disappointed look to the other Elders watching from the sidelines.
"There has been only one sacrifice in our long line of clansmen," the chief raised his hands. "and that was Solaris herself!" The village echoed with the tribe's outcry. "It is true, our goddess was only half mortal. A being loved by the wind and sea and sky was given to seal the dreaded Brimstone. Our ancestors who found the young femme used her divine power. It is said that she had wings such as Meister mate. So, like our past clan members let us use him to protect our home."
"That is not true!" Ether shouted, "stop your twisting of words!"
Prowl hissed at the closest mech who made a grab for his wing. Jazz whimpered hiding behind Prowls legs. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were clinging to the older youngling. Stepper swiped the few mechs that tried to charge the small family. Meister stood in front of Prowl debating on staying and protecting his mate or attacking the mech smirking in front of him. His mate was in danger, Ricochet was in danger, his family was in danger and he was close to tittering off the edge.
He whirls around when the twins and Jazz scream. Prowl was being dragged by his wings into the crowd, Jazz and still clinging to his leg. The twins were trying to follow but an older mech roughly shoved them away.
Prowl was trying to free himself without harming Jazz. Meister yells for Stepper who scoops up the wailing twins. Meister first grab Jazz and sent him running towards Stepper who then drags him and runs towards the ocean. With the younglings out of immediate danger Meister attacks the mechs holding Prowl. The warriors hesitate for a second and it was all Prowl needed. As they focus on Meister Prowl swung around twisting his upper body and slashing the mech holding onto his wing.
Seeing this Meister changes course wrapping his arms under Prowls and drags him back towards the ocean. He only went so far before his path was blocked by more tribes' men. The dark blue poly snarls, he sees that those that were trying to come to his aid was dealing with their own problems.
"Come now Meister," the Chief came to stand in front of the mates. "You always rant about protecting our home; our tribe; why are you cowering?" he holds out his hand, "Hand over that mech, you can still keep the sparklings. You still have two brothers. You can tell your descendants that they gave their lives to protect their home."
Meister felt Prowl stiffen and growled, "Protecting our home. Our home is not the land we walk on or the sea that we play in. It is the people who make it up. We could be on a colony out at sea and it would be our home. If I let you sacrifice members of our home that I am not protecting it like the warrior I am. I would do this even if the one yer targeting wasn't part of my family."
His words had some effect one the agitated warriors. Some were giving cautious looks over their shoulders. Other were muttering whispering to each other. Meister stood tall, "I heard the story of Solaris, I heard it from Chief Starwind, Solaris was betrayed by our clansmen. She became our goddess after a jealous mech tossed her in the fire of the mountain. It was Brimstone who became a monster soon after. It was her forgiveness to our tribe who betray her that Brimstone, once a mech now a monster, was sealed away." Meister glared at each mech and femme, "you go through with this, you could be undoing the seal and releasing Brimstone."
"Then what would you have us do then?" one warrior asks.
Meister didn't know what to say really. He was taking his family out to sea, maybe back to Windseers island or chance looking for his carrier's tribe. " I-
"We leave," Ether steps forward. "Let our island heal. It will not support us once that mountain blows."
"Where will we go?"
"Each of you have family in other tribes. There are islands that will welcome us." She turns to Meister, "this is a chance to explore like our ancestors before us. You can follow Polaris's path from the North to the South. The opportunities are endless."
Some of the younger un-bonded mechs and femmes started whispering. No doubt some were thinking of those opportunities. Meister would have taken up some wondering before he found Prowl. Stepper and Ricochet had done some before deciding to stay with him and help take care of Jazz.
The Chief sneered, "you would have us abandon our island? make us weak in front of our enemies!"
"Would ya rather half of us be dead from choking on ash. Leave our young ones starving as our fuel burns or leaves?" Ether shouts. "All our enemies would have to do is offer some food and we would surrender."
"YOU!"
"I am the oldest femme in this tribe. I made mechs from flyers to the warrior clans of the West fear the sea dwellers." She stood ped to ped with the disgraceful chief. "I can lay ya flat on your scrawny aft, rank be damn."
The village goes silent in shock at the Ethers statement. The quiet only broken by the snickering of the other femme elders. The mech elders just give them looks of resigned acceptance. They remembered the femme being one to break tradition and encourage more femmes to take up a warrior's status. Time may have ages her, but they could still see that edge in her.
One elder quickly placed a hand over the Chiefs shoulder to keep him quiet. "Let us then take a vote. Who is for the act of sacrifice?" arms slowly hesitantly went up. "And for leaving the island?"
Prowl watched in dismay as few hands went up. Meister gripped on his waist tighten. The Elder gives him a sad look, "The tribe has spoken. I am sorry Meister; I give you until night fall to say your goodbyes. Do not think of running. Your boats will be beached with hole in them. You and Stepper may see Ricochet before tomorrow."
The gathered crowed whispered mutters rose before they disperse. Meister snarling engine was enough to shake Prowl out of his dismay. The blue poly still held the winged mech by the waist, it was a bit difficult to twist around.
"It will be alright," Prowl mummers into the mechs audio.
The snarling quieted down, but the feel of rage still rolled off the mech. "How can you say that!"
"I have faith, which is strange. I am not one to put faith in much of anything." Prowl turned his head, "But I am learning that I…I am putting all of my faith into you and the others."
Meister buried his face in Prowls neck, "I won't let em sacrifice ya."
"I do not wish to be sacrificed, but if you don't let them-
Meister spun Prowl around and gripped him by his shoulders, "I won't!" he hugs Prowl tightly, "After finding ya. After ya survived so much are you just going to let them take ya away. Away form your bitlits, from Jazz," the from me echoed in the question.
"We have no way off the island."
"We can carry ya as we swim."
"that is unrealistic, and you know it. They would catch up to us," Prowl argued. He shakes his head, "You don't even know where they are keeping Ricochet."
A low whine bubbles up from Meisters throat. Prowl leans in fighting to keep the fear he was feeling loose in his field. They stayed like that until Ether comes up to them a determine look in her optics. But she doesn't interrupt them and silently passes them. Meister slowly leads Prowl back to where Stepper was, down by the beach.
The green and white mech was hissing and spitting at those wrecking his and Ricochet's boat. The twins and Jazz were out of sight but judging how Stepper wasn't charging the warriors, Prowl assumed that the younglings were hiding behind the enraged mech.
"Do you see this!" he yells once spotting Meister and Prowl.
"Yeah, but its worst then ya when ya hear the reason behind it," Meister growls at the big warrior who watched them. He could see that they were making the mechs nervous. Well good in his opinion.
Steppers optics behind his orange vizor bleached white and it took both Prowl and Meister to keep him from attacking those dismantling his boat. "Don't," Prowl whispers.
"Already tried that bro," Meister pushes Stepper in the opposite direction. "Prowl grab the bitties. We're going somewhere else. Wouldn't want mechs getting the wrong idea," he shouts the last part toward the staring group.
Prowl holds on to the twins and gently nudges Jazz to follow him. Meister and Stepper followed behind them glaring at those who watched them. Prowl felt the need for seclusion and to be anywhere but his current path. So he changes course towards the high jungle of trees that he had swung through during the attack. Meister seeing their direction scoops up Jazz and walks shoulder to shoulder with Prowl. Stepper hangs back letting the mates have some privacy.
Once they were in the trees, Stepper stepped forward arms open for one of the twins. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker clung tightly refusing to let go. Careful of fragile claws and needle-sharp talons, Prowl un-clings the twins and hands Sideswipe over to Stepper. Then the adults were climbing the trees and instead of swinging they walk on the thickest branches.
"I saw a clearing last time, let us rest there," Prowl says. Meister nods already guess where the clearing was.
Once there, they put the twins and Jazz down. The younglings instantly try to get back in their arms. Prowl sat down and let the twins climb into his lap. Jazz tried to follow but there was very little room for him. Stepper sits down next to Prowl and takes Jazz. Meister sits on the other side of his mate glaring at the ground. Prowl activates his feeding pouches; it wouldn't be too long before the twins were whined.
The thought of his sparklings ages caused Prowl to freeze. A wisp of escapes into his field before he could stop it. Meister snaps out of his anger and focuses on his mate.
"I won't let this happen," he says.
"Meister-
"No! this-this isn't right. Our tribe doesn't do this."
Prowl looks at him sadly, "what can you do; how do you plan to fight this?" He looks down at the twins, "Would you leave behind Ricochet in order to save me?"
The brothers freeze at the mention of their missing brother. Stepper wouldn't look at Meister or Prowl. Meister looked away growling, Prowl hesitates before placing a hand on the older mechs neck.
"I don't want to die, not after everything I survived. Not when there are things to see." He stares Meister in the optics once the mech looks at him. "But I don't want this happening to anyone else. We know he is using this to strike out at you." Prowl looks up at the mountain, "I will go with them, but I doubt that they will sacrifice me so soon. You still have time to do something."
Meister doesn't respond. They stayed there until the sun started going down before heading back. They take their time crossing the trees taking the long way through jungles and rivers. Before they got close to the village, Prowl holds each twin tightly nuzzling their helms and giving them one final kiss on the helm. Jazz he also hugged and kissed before nudging him back towards Stepper. Meister didn't wait for Prowl to come to him. He swings Prowl around being careful of the door wings and gives him a deep and lingering kiss.
Someone clearing their intake is what cause them to stop. Standing there watching them was one of the Elders and a collection of warriors. Prowl squeezes Meisters arms before letting go and slowly walks towards the group. Meister takes a step forward to stop him but stops halfway and clinches his fist. He glares as the warriors block his view of his mate as they walked away. The Elder staying only for a second before following.
They stayed there for a few before Stepper leads them away. They set up a temporary camp site on the very edges of the jungle where no one would find them. No one was hungry and the younglings still upset just sat huddled together before exhaustion pulled them into recharge. Stepper and Meister stared into the fire.
"What are you going to do?" Stepper suddenly asks.
Meister scowls, "isn't obvious, I'm going to get my mate and our brother back."
"Good! I was hoping ya still had some fight in ya."
The brothers jump to their feet weapons out searching the darkness for the voice's owner. Ether walks out of the darkness. "And I have a way to help ya."