The hut was very impressive with hides of past kills hanging on the walls and floors. Bones of large ocean dwellers position in areas that one cannot help but see them. Any other time and Prowl would be impressed; now however, he hated the mech sitting on a throne like seat with venom. The only other mech he hated just as much would be Megatron himself. He had once been told that his hatred was like an ice-cold fire. So, when it exploded it was the scariest thing mechs and femmes ever saw.

Prowl didn't know whether that had been an over exaggeration, but now he could see why. Most mechs would have already tried to fight their way free. Or would be spitting obscenities, but he was a patient mech. He would find the right time to strike or Meister would find a way to save him and Ricochet.

Speaking of the mech, Prowl had not seen him. Then again, he was one hundred percent sure that him being in the chieftain's hut was a stab at Meister. The fat mech, and that was the only way for Prowl to describe him, circled Prowl like a hunter and his prey. But the mech will learn the Prowl was anything but prey. Even bound as he was, he was not helpless.

"An interesting creature you are," the mech purred. Prowl snapped his doors back, the only thing not tied, striking the finger that tried to drag over the leading edge. "And untamed, Meister has done his line proud to find a mate such as you."

Prowl stayed silent, he would not speak to this coward of a mech.

"Why so quiet; you were quite chatty with the others," Prowl leans away when he tried to touch his face. The chieftain frowns, "Meister has always surrounded himself with stubborn bots."

Prowl scowls, one that had cowed that terror twins stopping them cold in their tracks. A sharp word rested on his glossia. The chieftain circles him, "It is a shame that a mech of your exoticness is wasted. Had you still been full of sparks then maybe you would still be with your mate. Or," he leers, "if you came untouched, I might have shown," he rakes his optics over Prowl's frame, "favor."

Prowl stops his engine from growling. As if he would sell himself to this pitiful creature. "And then your young sparklings, I can see that they are going to grow strong." He came to stand in front of Prowl. Before Prowl could react, his face was harshly grabbed, "If you speak now, I may show them and you mercy. I may even let Ricochet go unharmed. All you have to do is speak and open your frame to me."

The Chieftain leaps back snatching his hand away when Prowl tried to bite him. Growling at being denied he backhands Prowl hard enough to send the Praxian falling landing painfully on his door wing. He grabbed Prowl with enough force to dent by his chevron yanking him to his feet. Dragging the struggling mech the chief throws Prowl onto a pile of meshes straddling him. His arms strained from the angle they were tied in

"You could have made this easy on yourself," he started touching Prowls bumper and headlights. "If you had just submitted this wouldn't be painful for you and you would still live." He grabbed the red chevron again and brought Prowl's face up and smashed this lips together.

Prowl struggled to free himself, but his fighting seemed to make the mech pinning him more aroused. He snarls when one gray hand presses inbetween his legs. "Its not too late to submit, bear my sparklings and I'll let everyone live."

Prowl growls optics narrowing into slits, "you would never leave them alone. You are jealous of Meister." His soft hiss angered the mech on top of him more.

"Then I guess you made your choice…too bad. I would have loved to have a strong mate warming my bed."

Prowl's optics watch as a crude stone knife was brought out. It raised above his frame and he watched in horror as it slammed down into his shoulder. Prowl howled as he was repeatedly stabbed until the knife laid embedded in his right hip.

"I find that I prefer my toys to be docile." The chieftain smiles down at Prowl, "but don't worry soon you won't feel the pain."

Prowl tried to send repair nanites to the wounded areas. He shut off most of his sensors as the insane mech started his torture. Prowl forced himself to never show any emotion, to not make a sound as he was raped. The only thing he could do was triple lock his chest plates, even as his frame was violated his spark would not be.

He was still online when the first rays of the sun broke through slits in the hut. The chieftain had left sometime ago leaving Prowl alone. His frame ached and his lower half sore from the abuse. The only thing that gave Prowl any satisfaction was that his spark had not been taken. The chieftain had struck him repeatedly when his chest plates refused to open.

Despite the pain he was in Prowl forced himself to roll onto his side. He could endure this; this beast was not any near the monster that Megatron was. But Prowl also had a small stubborn sparkle of hope. Hope that Meister would rescue him and take them all away from this island of horrors. The sound of the hut flaps opening had Prowl brightening his optics his frame tense. He only relaxed when it was Bluefist who entered.

The light blue and gray mech gasp at seeing the state the mech was in. he rushes over hands hovering over the dented and bleeding Praxian. "Oh Prowl."

"This is not the worst that I have suffered," Prowl sighs as the other mech started tending to the painful dent on his back just below his doors.

Bluefist growls, "and this is not bad?"

"I am still conscious. My last tormenter would beat me until I was unconscious."

"That still doesn't make this bad Prowl; This-this shouldn't have happen." He cleaned the wounds on Prowls hips and thighs. He gave a quick look between th mechs legs and hissed, there was something torn and it was beyond his skills. "I'm going to go get a healer. You have been damaged pretty bad."

Prowl's tired optics blinked up at the mech, "how are Sideswipe and Sunstreaker?"

Bluefist turns back to the mech, "They have been staying away from everyone. I only caught a glimsp once before Stepper took them away." He sighs, "They looked good." He grew concern when Prowl's helm fell back.

"And what of Meister?"

Here Bluefist grimaced, "Snarling at anyone who comes near. If the chieftain's goal was to anger him. he succeeded. Right now, the tribe's top warriors are watching them. They know that Meister will strike out and should he hear about what the Chief has done there will be blood."

He quickly placed a hand over Prowls chest, "Hey your in no shape to move."

"I…he…he cannot…"

"Hey I know. Remember; I know Meister since we were little. My mate is already trying to keep him and Stepper calm. Which is why I'm here, but I am questioning if I should say anything."

"You should not."

"What?"

"Don't tell Meister what has transpired. He will not be able to stop himself; the Chief is waiting for him to do something. Tell him not to fall for his tricks," Prowl gave Bluefist a pleading look. "Please."

The mech swallows but nods. That seemed to appeased Prowl who laid back on the messy meshes. "Let's get ya on something else. The healer should be here soon."

Prowl huffed, "Don't bother. He will undo any healing I am given."

Bluefist smiles, "Not if you are taking out of his hut and placed in the healers hut."

Prowl blinks, "I did not think sacrifices would be allowed-

"Prowl, do you really believed that your mate and your friends will allow you to be sacrificed?"

"But…Ricochet."

Bluefist grins, "my brother has been keeping an optic on him. Don't worry about that part okay. Worry about you, you're in more danger." He tsk at one wrap the refused to stay put. "Many of us, didn't agree with this. My own family, we're banding together and taking our chances out at sea."

Prowl rolls on to his front and gives a relieved sigh once the pressure is off is doors. He mumbles something as Bluefist works the kinks out of the hinges and cables in his back. The healer arrived shortly thereafter, and she was more displeased by his state. She tsk and tutted before ordering him to be moved to her hut under her optics. When the Chieftain made to argue she barked something that Prowl did not understand. But the Chief shrank away sending the small group venomous glares. Prowl was a little disappointed in not seeing Meister out in the crowd. No one would look him in the optic as he was ushered across the large circle of huts and into the healer's hut.

The smell of herbs and dirt hit him first before the sight of bright colors. The healer had very little in the way of personal items, but her hut was the most brightly decorated then the Chieftains. Bright flowers, deep greens, sweet smelling berries, and shells of every shape and color were strung throughout the hut. The shells making light clunking noises by the breeze.

"Now you sit here and rest," the healer went over to a corner and brought back a mech size rust turtle shell. "I will make you something for the pain. You will sleep as I fix the damage."

He was too tired to argue or to feel uncomfortable about being unconscious while someone hovered over his frame. He watched, as the healer mixed dry roots and flowers in the shell until it was a thick paste. Then pour a small amount of energon and crushed crystals stirring until it turned a bright pink. She dipped a smaller turtle shell into the mix and passed it to him.

It had a sent he could not place; a sweet flavor the wasn't overpowering, and the effects nearly knocked him on his back. He hadn't expected it, so used to the slow acting formulas from Ratchet, Prowl swayed before placing his helm in his hands.

The healer tutted some more rubbing circles on his helm before laying him on the blankets. "to strong? Pah, we fix that soon. Strong mechs make strong mates."

Prowl wasn't sure if he wanted to fix anything. He was just unparpared is all. Already his processor was feeling foggy, his breathing even out. Whatever it was it worked fast. The healer was watching him with a knowing smile, she tucked balled up meshes under his doors and one between his legs. He was in recharge before she turned away.

Fogdance watched at the strange winged mech slept. Pleased that her potion worked. With quick steps she opened the back of her hut and allowed Meister in. The taller mech was instantly by his mate side one clawed hand tracing his face.

"He will be better. Strong mate he is. Strong in mind and in frame," she whispers.

Meister huffs a laugh, "I noticed."

"You must leave…before…Solaris meets her twin."

Meister grunts pushing himself up, "yeah. I know, hard to do when we're being watched by everyone."

Fogdance snorted, "not all optics watch, some will turn when asked the right way."

Meister sighs, "can I…just this once?"

Fogdance nodded, she turned away giving the couple a few minutes of privacy before she would have to send Meister away. It was cruel, making them wait making them think that they were abandoning each other. But Fogdance will trust her friend in this, just this once. For the next few orns Prowl will be safe in her hut.

Meister traced Prowls red chevron, he had never paid much attention to it. But now, he could see that it was two shades of red. It was a shade darker in the center before fading to a lighter shade going out. The bit of gold in the center shined like a pearl under the waves. The face under the chevron was a dark gray, Meister knew that optics could shift between a ocean green blue to a sky blue. The while of the armor was not bleach bone white anymore and it didn't shine. It hadn't made Prowl any less attractive Meister like the matte salt blasted off white color of his armor. Soon he hoped Prowl would take off some of the bulky armor and allow Meister to give him some more suited for life on the ocean.

There were so many things he wanted to still show Prowl. He wanted to teach Prowl how life on the ocean could be great. Wanted to make more sparklings and watch them grow. He wanted to help Prowl find his kinsmen, even if Prowl himself was not from this world he didn't want his mate to think he was the only one.

The other Jazz, the spirit he met, had made sure that he knew his mate. Though Meister in his opinion hadn't needed the specters help. Annoying little mech he would make sure his brother didn't turn into that. The bigger poly then turned to the healing damage; he hid the growl the rumbled in his chest. Before they left this island, he would toss the chief in the volcano himself.

"Kept his spark safe he did," the healer piped up. "Though that fool tried to tear into him. strong frame as I said. Your little one is safe."

Meister snorted, of course the chief would have a hard time getting Prowls armor open. It was tougher than anything he had come across. "Prowl knows how to keep himself alive." Though now that he was looking, he did see that Prowl and Ricochet were of the same height. "I wonder if Prowl will get taller?"

The healer snorts, and rolled her optics, "oblivious mechs," she mutters. Though mentally she cackles, the surprises look when they do find out was always fun to watch.

She lets Meister stay a little while longer before shooing him out. No sooner did he leave one of the Elders came in. She scowled at him when he stared at the sleeping mechs form longer than necessary. "If ye ain't injured or sick I suggest ya leave before I give ya a reason to stay."

The old mech drew himself up and flared his battle tested armor. Fogdance had know this mech since he was a little one. She knew his character all too well, one of the few fools that survived their first battle.

"The sacrifice will be ready the next morning, see that he is…painted and dressed appropriately." He turns, his teal seal cape whirling behind him as he leaves.

Fogdance snorts, that mech was always so dramatic. Before registering what, he had said, their time had just been cut to about a orn. She would have to get word to her friend and hope that they could act quickly.

The next orn Prowl sat as five femmes decorated his frame. Feathers and pearls were added to his doors and helm. Swirling paint on his arms and legs; a necklace made of sharp animal teeth and feathers; beaded lines dangled framing his face; and a bowl of red leaves was placed in front of him. He had been told that he would need to chew on the leaves before being escorted up to the volcano. He wasn't told why he had to, but he could guess that the leaves would make him more cooperative.

The last piece of his attire was a lone heavy cape made from soft seal skin. He shrugs it off once the femmes left the cape making his frame feel too hot. He pushes the bowl away from him and sat staring at the wall. He was calm when he knew he should be anything but, the night before a battle he was always tense. Yet here with the chances of him dying were high he was calm.

Outside the hut the village was quiet the silence only broken by the echo of the waves. Prowl wondered if many had left of all were hiding in the jungle. He hoped Meister was not brooding somewhere waiting to make an entrance. He hoped the Sideswipe and Sunstreaker and Jazz was not anywhere close to the island.

He wished that he was back on the ocean sea sickness be damn. If he had to be sick on the rolling waves, then he would sit on the damn boat and smile as his tank churned. Anywhere was preferable then waiting to be tossed into a fiery pit. Sitting and waiting was just giving his mind an excuse to pull up his regrets. He regretted not spending a lot of time with Bluestreak, Jazz, and everyone between battles. He regretted not taking the chance of learning how to dance the Vosian waltz. Or taking that trip to the Quartz River that flowed through Praxus ending at the Mithril Sea. So many others that Prowl had fooled himself into thinking that it hadn't mattered, that he'll have another chance, or he wouldn't be good at it.

On his back his wings trembled, his field was a mess of emotions, and as he sat there, helm cradle in his hands he began to doubt. That little voice that dwelled in the back of his processor's whispers every flaw and fear. Prowl felt like he was being swept out to sea until a familiar field crashed into his. Like rolling storm clouds it swept the vicious voices away.

By the time one of the elders came to collect him. Prowl was back to his calm stoic self, that he showed on the outside. Inside, he was still a mess just not an emotional mess he could have ended up as. He had hide some of the leaves to make the elders think he had consumed them. It almost worked until he was grabbed and two were pushed into his mouth.

They tasted peppery and very unpleasant. He tried to spit them out but one smart mech held his hand over Prowls mouth while another mouth his mouth to grind the leaves. Soon Prowl was feeling a numbing feeling, his frame felt heavy and his processor fuzzy. He couldn't focus on anything and when he tried his body listed and swayed. Sound, it sounded like his audial had been stuff even though that was an impossibility for his kind. He was able to make out a blurred shape in front of him and a even blurrier one behind him. Shadows danced out of his peripherals and he wished that everything would just hold still.

Then they moved and Prowl fell. Strong strange hands held him upright his field lashed out in panic. Shapes he didn't recognize reached for him. He fought or at least he hoped he was fighting instead of just weakly flailing. Hands grabbed for him again and Prowl snarled his engine as he was lifted and roughly dragged away. He slumps in their grip forcing them to carry his dead weight. The sedative effect of the leaves making it harder to move. He pushed his frame to burn the leaves effect needing a clearer mind once they reached their destination.

At one point during the long trek Prowl thought he heard thrusters. Or the shine of white plating and yellow horns and revving engines. The glint off a blaster and the sound of small pedes rustling in the underbrush.

Was that…was that Ironhide kissing Prime!

Prefect he was hallucinating. There was no way Elita and Chromia would allow that to happen…those femmes were too possessive of their mates. Speaking of mates, Prowls mind took over and began a very vivid imagenation of what could have been.

A sunny sandy beach, the twins and Jazz fully grown, more sparklings and younglings running around at his feet. Stepper and Ricochet arguing over something, Prowl watched it all and leaned into the warm frame and let arms wrapped around him. Sharp denta nibble on his neck and Prowl felt his frame heat up.

Blinking, Prowl looked around as his mind began to clear. There was no sandy beach nor the twins and Jazz around, no running sparklings, or arguing brothers, and no Meister. The heat he was feeling was from the boiling lava below his peds. His fans hit their maximum trying to battle the heat hitting his frame. He was sure that the bottom of his pedes was melting from the heat.

The Chief was next to him, dress with even more feathers and shells shouting something. Prowl didn't give him his full attention and continue to stare down at the heated rock and metal. He looked back up expecting to see Ricochet, but the red poly was no where to be seen. Doors perked up Prowl looked for Meister or Stepper only to see no one he knew. Only the Elders and warriors loyal to the Chief.

Where was everyone?

Then someone pushes him non to gently and he stumbles nearly going over the edge. He snaps one door and smacks the mech. He glares at the other trying to do the same on his other side. Finally having enough of Prowl fighting back it took five mechs to lift him up.

The chief came around at his helm, "This could have all been avoided if you had just submitted."

"You wouldn't have stopped at my submission," Prowl spat.

The Chief gave his helm a mockingly friendly pat before stepping back. Prowl was held up and over the other mechs helm. He wriggles and thrashes then he was air born. He for an instant saw blue sky then molten red and yellow.

It was coming closer and closer Prowl closed his optics and shut off every sensor in his frame. He knew it was feudal attempt, but it was something. "Whoa there Prowler," he was snagged out of the air and yanked back against heated rock. "Not a nice place to be swimming Love."

Prowl opened his optics with a snap and stared into Meister's beaming mischievous vizor. "Shall I sweep ya off your pedes and disappear into the sunset?"