He was sure that he was going to die. Throughout his long life he had thought that same thing more so during the war. This time though Prowl had not seen a way he would survive once he was heading helm first into molten lava. But like the other times fate love to mess with his calculations. Prowl gapped at the smirking mech his mouth open and close but no words came out. Meister snickers and gives a little helm nuzzle.

"Just hang on love. About to do some fancy foot work," Prowls view suddenly flipped leaving him with a nice view of Meisters aft. "Try not to wiggle too much." It was all the warning Prowl got before Meister jumps.

Prowl lets out a yelp as his tank rose to his throat. He felt the heat of the lava, but Meister did not linger. From what Prowl could see once he dares to look up was the poly jumping on the burning stones not consumed by the lava. He twisted his neck looking up seeing the lip of the volcano vent. All the tribes mech that came with him lined the edge of the vent. Throwing spears lifted, others with arrows and rope all aiming to take them down or tripped them up.

"Glad that this isn't the main tube. Or we be too deep to get out," he heard Meister say. He hops again dodging a spear and a arrow. "At least the lava hasn't risien too high or our escape route would be block."

"What?"

Meister snickers, "Hoe ya don't mind small spaces."

Prowl unable to use his hands grip what he could with his legs as Meister suddenly darted left and it went dark. Prowl smells acid burnt smoldering ash, and the tube was hot. Fear shot through him as all he could think about was hot lava racing after them and melting them. Or this route ending up as a dead-end or a sudden drop into the magma chamber.

"Don't worry Prowl, I know what am doing," Meister gives Prowls aft a fond pat.

The Praxian huffs, "I do trust you." They ran with Meister carrying Prowl over his shoulder. "What are the chances that we will meet more resistance?"

"Maybe, most of the tribe who are friends left already. All that is left are the Chief and those loyal to him. Stepper has the bitlits snug tight on our new boat and Ricochet should be swimming his way out to meet us." He chuckles, "When I say hold, I mean get ready to hold your breath."

"Why do I need to hold my breath?" the sound of thunder had Prowl freezing, "is it erupting!"

Meister laughs, "nah, that's the sound of waves hitting the cliffs."

"Waves? we're underwater!"

"Not yet we aren't."

"Meister!"

"Hold!"

Prowl instinctively drew in air and closed all his vents as the shock of cold water hits him. He panics for a few beats seeing only darkness before realizing his had shut off his optics. Powering them on his world was still dim but brighter and louder than the vent. The water felt nice on his overheated plating and he got to watch as Meister's legs transformed into a long flat serpentine tail.

The speed at which Meister swam was faster than Prowl expected. He could only compare it to riding the Cybertronian surfboard on a giant wave and being dragged by Sea Spray. Somewhere between the two was how fast Meister was currently moving. He got disorientated when Meister finally stopped and slid his off his shoulder. They were not deep he could still see the bottom which was a coral reef. Meister used his long claws to cut the ropes binding him.

They floated there until Prowl needed to release the building pressure in his frame. Meister helped him go up, so he did not get turned around. When they broke the surface, Prowl gulped down air like a starving mech. He swallowed some water when he got hit by a wave. Meister laughs as he coughs and sputters.

"Not…cough…funny," Prowl growls.

"I thought it was cute," Meister smiles. He guides Prowl further out away from the coral reef and its safety to deeper waters. Prowl stuck close as big shapes swam underneath them, some were curious but a quick poke from Meister had them swimming away. Prowl kept his optics on the shapes under them, so he saw as sand and coral gave way to a deep bottomless darkness. He grips Meisters waist harder and buried his face in the mechs back cables.

He could stand to be in a coral reef, shallow waters, coves, and anywhere he knew there was a bottom. But seeing something that dark like a giant maw waiting for him to sink into its gaping hole. A shrill whistle answered by Meisters own and Prowl relaxed his grip. Looking up he saw Stepper and Ricochet waving at them from the boat. He could see the twins and Jazz waving excitedly between the two mechs legs. Prowl let go of Meister for a second raising his wings and propelling himself towards the boat. He splashed Meister in the face with the backsplash from his wings.

They raced to the boat and for a second Prowl was not thinking about all the things that had happen; that could happen. And that was his mistake. One second, he was smiling happy to be safe swimming to his sparklings. The next, he's underwater something tight wrapped around his leg. He lashes out his unsheathe blade slicing the thing dragging him down. Energon floods the water disorienting him; but he could hear. Loud clicks and whistles surround him making it harder to tell what was up and what was down. More energon floods the water, Prowl keeps his blade out as he pushes himself to what he hopes was upwards.

What he finds when he breaks the surface was Meister and the boat under attack by several Polyhexians. Some he recognized from the tribe; others taller bulkier he knew were part of the tribe that had attack earlier. He was further from the boat and struggled to swim to it, he could not see his sparklings and prayed that they were somewhere hiding and safe. Stepper and Ricochet were doing well at keeping the attackers from capsizing the boat. Meister was alone in fighting those in the water and at one-point Prowl lost sight of him.

But he powered through and was almost to the boat when his spark stopped. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe and Jazz were discovered. One of the large polys had used his larger size and beached himself on the boat and snagged one of the twins. Sideswipe dangle in the air before the mech tossed him barking as the red sparkling flew. The only good thing was that he flew in Prowls direction. The Praxian swam like he had never before racing the other polys that were gathering to catch the sparkling. Sideswipe cried as he sailed through the air and Prowl launched himself out of the water catching the red sparkling and crashing down the on the gather swarm before.

The water was boiling with tails and bubbles and sound. Prowl tucked Sideswipe under his bumper trying to get out of the frenzy. Prowl lashed out when something grabs him around the waist. He only stopped when Meister caught his arm and propelled them out of the water. Someone yanked the back of his neck jerking him out of the Meisters arms and in the air. Prowl thinking that it was another attacker thrashed and clawed.

"My my little crystal singer, you can't seem to stay out of trouble." Prowl froze looking over his shoulder. Wings smiling face stared back, "So glad we meet again."

Prowl gap like a fish, "How?"

Wing frowns, "Another time. Lets get you and your sparkling back to safety."

Prowl nods he was expecting Wing to place him back on the boat with Jazz and his other sparkling. However, the flyer took him over the boat that was getting covered in fish mechs and handed him off to another mech. Prowl tried to get back to the polys boat, Sunstreaker and Jazz were still over there.

"Calm down mech, don't make me hit you," a voice behind him growls.

"Ratchet?"

"Who else," the medic grins, "Drifts getting your other bitlits. Once they are on board your mate and his brothers can fight better. We'll drift further away from the feeding frenzy."

"But-

"You know as well I as do that warriors fight better if they are not worrying about those they care for," the medic explains taking Prowl to an depression in the large flat raft. It had pontoons on the sides, a large sail in the center and stretched out were tan color meshes. The back was curved and hallowed out packed full of waterproof bundles.

"I didn't know you knew how to sail."

Ratchet snorted, "not me. Surprising Drift knew some and Wing knew parts. Together they were able to keep us from sinking." He chuckles, "getting fuel now, that was something. I'll never look at Laridae's again."

Prowl smirk knowing how the medic felt, "how did you find us?"

Ratchet look at him curiously, "you don't know; didn't you send that young mech to us?"

Prowl frowns, "what mech. Ratchet I didn't know were you ended up."

Now it was Ratchets turn to frown, "then who was that gray and red mechling that knew you and said you needed help?"

They stared at each other before Drift pulled himself up with Sunstreaker clinging on his back. Jazz chirped from the water zipping around the raft. Prowl leans over and holds his arm out, the youngling chirps again staring at the limb. Prowl huffs shaking his arm, Jazz bumps into his arm not caring that a few feet away a battle raged.

"Do not make me send someone after you," he warns. He was not surprise when Jazz tested him. His older counterpart was much the same except he willingly went into trouble.

Luckily, this time the mechling came topside without much fuss. He places the mechling next to the twins who were wrapped in a fluffy blanket. He was snagged by Ratchet who sat him down and began going over him. A splash had him jerking, Drift had jump back into the water and was in the process or rejoining the fight.

As he watched the battle, Prowl itched to call out tactical advice. But he also knows that he would not be much help. Unlike Meister and his brothers and Wing with Drift; Prowl was unsuited for fighting on the water and air. The sparklings were already in recharge and it was just him and Ratchet.

"What happen back at the outpost?" he asks hoping for some distraction.

Ratchet shrugs, "Not much, we had some injuries and casualties. Lots of damage to the buildings but nothing that cannot be fixed. I got kidnapped by Drift which got Wheeljack to chase after us across the desert. Surprisingly, he and Ultra Magnus finally bonded," the medic chuckles. "No one got taken by the seekers. But some seekers got taken by the guards, Starscream included." He gave Prowl a look, "slagger couldn't fly away when his tribe retreated."

Prowl snorts, he did not care about the flying rat. "I trust that he got a deserved treatment."

Ratchet gave a savage grin, "I heard that he was outcasted by his tribe. Him and his trine mates were wing stripped and dumped in a giant sand dune."

"I see." He flicked his wings when Ratchet scanned them. "I have had been educated on things that I hadn't known before. I have seen the inside of a volcano getting very personal with the lava. I know what it feels like to have your lines burning. I wouldn't recommend it." He shows the small scar lift by the lava lizard.

Ratchet turned his wrist examining the scar. "I trust that this is the least of wounds on you."

Prowl shrugs, "just some heat burns from being close to lava."

Ratchet waves off the concern, "nothing a bit of ointment can't cure."

He digs through his medical bag and passes a small closed scallop shape shell. Prowl turns it over before popping it open inside was the clear burn ointment. He only tapped it a little went a long way and applied it to his face, hands, and the tips of his peds. Though only his face and hands needed more than his peds none of the thinner mobile plating was warped. At the end of the orn the slight burns would be gone.

Leaving Ratchet to watch the sparklings Prowl drew his swords and watched the water. He was not naive to believe that the attackers would stay over where Meister was. All the chaos reminded Prowl of a feeding frenzy. He worried about Meister in the water alone when he saw Ricochet and Stepper leap into the water. Drift and Wing stay above protecting the large boat. Thinking about shoks and how the polys reminded Prowl of them. His processor locked on movement heading towards them. Unlike the giant fish the polys did not have the pointed dorsal fin, instead sporting either rows of small triangle shape fins down their spines. Or like Meister two dorsal fins at the shoulders and one in the small of his back. How the swim also alerted Prowl that they were being circled by polys and not fish.

Without the battle computer he could not track the eight hundred moving objects like before. But that did not mean he could not track anything less then that. Ten mechs moving underwater was child's play to what he was used to. So, he was ready when the first two mechs leaped out of the water. What he was not expecting was Ratchet taking a swing to one of the fish mechs. He gave Prowl a grin twirling his wrench.

"You learn a few tricks when living this long." He chuckles, "and living with Wheeljack has its perks."

Prowl nods slicing another mech who tried beaching on the raft. He quickly realized that the polys could easily capsize the raft with their heavy frames. And they quickly realize that they could get their prey easily by ganging up on one side. Prowl attack any that surfaced as Ratchet tried to counterweight the raft. It did not work and as their little raft tilted Prowl braced himself to keep the sparklings out of the water. Ratchet cursed as bundles and things fell first into the water as he held on the mast.

Bang

Prowl tensed, their attackers snarled and fell back into the water. The raft shot backwards when it was freed of the extra weight soaking all its passengers. Prowl fanned out his doors searching for the source of the bang. He stomped down the hope that there was another ally with a rifle. But he could only see the poly brothers and Wing and Drift. Their battle was still ongoing though it sounded near finished.

Flip

Something zinged passed his audio causing the mech trying to climb onto the raft yelp. Prowl twisted searching the darkness for the sniper. But he could not detect anyone.

"Stay low," he whispers to Ratchet and the now awake sparklings.

Each time he heard the rifle go off it was to take out a Polyhexian that popped their head out of the water. Prowl could feel them bumping the raft and he question to why they have not tried to overturn them from underneath. Then as fast as it had started, it was over. The water stopped boiling with fins and claws and the sense of someone watching him stopped. But Prowl did not relax when there was an unknown sniper that he couldn't sense lurking.

He looked up as Meister pulled himself out of the water alone with Stepper and Ricochet. All the sporting cuts, slashes and in Meister case a wound the size of Prowls fist. Drift had his own wounds but to a lesser extent then the brothers. Wing had a arrow lodged in his wing but laughed it off; he also had gashes running down his leg and one arrow shaft sticking out of his ankle.

Ratchet was quick to start patching up Drift and Wing. He passes a med kit over to Prowl as Ricochet tied to two boats together. Stepper was putting pressure on the fist size hole in Meister side. He quietly orders Jazz and the twins to stay where they are while he hopped over to the larger boat. He had Stepper go tend to Ricochet while he patched the hole. Seeing it closer, it was not as bad as he first thought. It was messy with a lot of shredded plating and sparking wires. But it was not very deep which was a huge relief. The med kit only had so much in the way of supplies, and they had could only take care of smaller wounds and stings.

"Is not bad," Meister said when Prowl soldered wires. He scowled at the uncomfortable heat. "It'll heal over in a few weeks."

Prowl scowled as he put the solder away and placed a temp patch over the hole. "And this will let it heal quicker without debris getting in the wound." He made sure that the temp plate fit perfectly before placing smaller flexi patches on the smaller cuts and gashes. Those will fall off on their own, he was grateful that he had not needed to whole block of putty. He was not sure if Ratchet would have been able to do surgery on a moving boat.

"S'alright ya know; we're still alive," Meister rumble his engine. Prowl leaned in placing his helm in Meisters neck.

"I was worried. I couldn't help you; I could only stand here watching," he mutters into the plating.

"But ya did help. You protected Jazz and the twins, ya kept the raft afloat." The large poly says he lets Prowl clutch his shoulders. "I saw you fly to catch Sides. Willing to fall into a poly frenzy, you were brave, and I have never been prouder of my mate."

"I still didn't feel like I did much. If it were not for the sniper then the raft would have capsized," Prowl sighs.

"Sniper?"

"I didn't hear anything besides all the splashing hissing and such," Ratchet says.

Prowl jerked, "But…I heard and saw the bullets. One mech was hit." Prowl knew he heard at least one bullet wiz by his audio. "I never did find the mech responsible, but I know what I heard and saw."

"shu shu Prowler," Meister tried to placate his mate, "I believe ya."

Prowl slumps Meister may believe him, but the others did not. "I'm not hallucinating."

"We're not saying ya are love. I know you witness something. Maybe it was one of yer lost clanmates returning to help ya," Meister was careful not to mention how that had happen already.

"Either way, do you have a destination in mind. Sailing on open waters is one thing when your prepared but," Ratchet waves to their circumstance. "Sadly, we are not."

Meister sighs taking both his mate and the sparklings to his boat. Stepper hums before slapping Ricochet across the back. The younger brother hisses at the treatment. "We know of a place to rest. But its going to be a stretch either way in getting supplies. We will still need fresh water and rations. Its hard to find fuel in deep water with no birds around."

"We can stock up at the little atoll but finding fresh water will be a challenge."

"Adults can go longer without it but the sparklings can't. they will at least need water once a day," the medic added.

"I can try moisture framing in the clouds," Wing adds, "but if there are no clouds-

"then this is no moisture, or at least easy assessable moisture," Prowl finished. "We have very few options."

The three brothers looked at each other, "You have an idea?" Prowl asks.

"Well, there is one thing we can try but," Ricochet said.

"we don't know how it would turn out. Our carrier only told us about once. We never saw her do it though," Stepper explained further.

"And what is that?" Wing asks while watching amused as Drift fussed over the medic.

Instead of answering Meister pulled an old battered shell the size of the flyers head. He put it to his lip and blew. Prowl jumps as the noise the came out was not what he thought it should sound like. Judging from the way Meister scowl and Ricochet snicker, they also did not like the sound.

Stepper shook his helm ignoring his brothers. "According to our carrier, played right the sound would carry all the way to her home clan. That they would be able to hear and come for any missing members lost." He shrugs, "She never showed how to play if there is a method. She never played for us so we don't know how its suppose to sound truly."

Prowl huffs, its takes a few more noise making before Meister was able to belt out a long solid note. He would be very surprise if a note on the low side would travel as far as they claim. But as they sailed towards the little atoll Meister kept blowing the shell horn. When he could not Stepper took over with Ricochet adding a higher whistle on a smaller shell. Throughout the trip they took turns but there was no other mech or femme on the horizon.

The trip to the atoll was uneventful thank Primus. Prowl kept a close optic on the twins who became interested in the water again when Jazz started hopping off the boat at odd times swimming. Meister was not worried stating that this was normal, and they would go after him should he get too far out. The little ring of islands did not offer much in the way of shelter. Most were tiny, nothing more then sand with some green. One had only one little crystal tree on it. The biggest one the only one that was big enough to allow them a safe docking had a small forest of crystal and organic trees. If there is any fresh water, they would have to dig for it.

And judging how small some of those crystal trees, Prowl could tell those roots were deep and hard to get too. He would spend more energy digging then what he would get back. Prowl hoped that Meister and the others would have better luck fishing. Stepper expertly move that boat in-between the reefs shoals before anchoring between a sandbar and the shore. They would be able to cross at low tide on foot with the water being only knee high. At high tide they would have to swim and use the small boards to ferry the twins.

Jazz was currently enjoying swimming between the boat and the shore going back and forth between the two. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were unsure and did not want to be far from Prowl. Ratchets small raft was light and could be beached. He was muttering under his breath as Drift and Wing pulled the raft on shore with him still sitting on the raft.

Prowl watched Meister like a hawk as the poly gently and slowly waded to shore. He was still favoring still wounded side. Prowl made him rest while he helped Ricochet and Stepper unload supplies and the twins. He had Sideswipe and Sunstreaker stay close to Meister, Jazz however, would rather be swimming and Prowl let him. The youngling would tire himself out swimming back and forth, eventually.

Ratchet fussed over the wounded Poly and Drift. He gave Prowl a cursory scan before looking over Sideswipe. Since the sparkling had been flung through the air before being caught by Prowl. The red sparkling would not sit still, they were on solid ground and in a new place. The twins wanted to explore their new home. So long as they stayed in sight Prowl let them wander, he on the other hand sat next to Meister and leaned on him.

"What are the chances that they will follow us?"

Meister shrugs, "he's a spiteful fragger. But he is also a coward, if he doesn't have the support he won't risk coming after us." He sighs leaning into Prowls space placing more weight on the Praxian, "I don't think he'll be coming. As for those Northern Tribesmen, I don't know."

"There is nothing for them to gain," Prowl said.

Meister nods, "True. But you did show how strong of mech you are. One them could have wanted ya."

"Or one of them could want revenge for injuries rendered," Prowl added.

"True."

Prowl was silent for a minute, "we wouldn't stand a chance if they came after us; would we?"

Meister's did not answer and that was enough for Prowl. Shifting he lets Meister lay on his uninjured side and the mech sighs in relief. It is not long before he falls into a deep recharge his frame demanding he rest so his self-repair can work. Prowl would only wake him when it was time to fuel. Looking around it was clear that Meister wasn't the only one napping. Drift was fighting recharge, his back to Ratchet who was letting the younger mech lean against him. Stepper was in the water going further out, most likely he was going hunting. Ricochet was sleeping with Jazz curled up on his chest. The twins were stalking after Wing the older mech giving Prowl a wink. He knew the twins were right behind him and was letting them stalk him.

The winged mech was the only one still standing and seemed to have taken up the first watch. Prowl decided to take the second watch when Wing needed to rest. Relying on the winged mech to watch after the twins Prowl closed his optics intending only to take a light rest. He was woken with a jolt some time later. Meister was still in his lap with the twins curled under his bumper. Prowl realized that he recharged longer then he intended it was close to evening.

"Why didn't you wake me earlier?" he asks Wing.

The flyer shurgs, "You needed the rest." He turns back towards the water, "Stepper has returned and went to collect fresh water from some spring on another island."

"You two will wear yourselves out."

Wing smiles, "it isn't something new. I will rest later."

Prowl nods, "very well. I will take the next watch then."

"Drift can take the one after that then Ricochet," Meister suddenly adds. "I will take a watch as well."

Prowl frowns, "You need to rest. Your self-repair will be demanding everything from you."

Meister snorts, "My frame can repair itself just as well when I'm sitting."

The wings on Prowls back slowly begin to rise, "you may be sitting but for how long; it will not hurt for you to recharge to whole night," he argues.

Meister engine gives a low growl, "and I'm telling ya this isn't the worst wound I've taken, and I did fine. I never needed the rest and I still healed fine."

"I highly doubt that you stayed fine afterwards," Prowl was losing his patience. "I am a hundred percent sure you were unconscious orns after."

"oh?" Meister growls.

By now their growing argument had caught everyone's attention. Drift was pushing Ratchet behind him. Ricochet was sitting up with Jazz in his lap. The twins were woken by Meister growling engine. They chirped in confusion at the older mech. Prowl trills back but does not make a move to remove them.

"You think I'm some weak citymech?" Meister accused.

Prowl blinked, "why would you think that?" he asks confused, he had no idea where that accusation came from.

Meister snorts and gets up careful of the twins rolling away from him. He shrugs off Prowls attempts to help him. "I ain't weak," he snarls. Prowl yanks his hand back like it had been bit. "I don't need some outsider telling me what I can and cannot handle."

Prowl scowls, normal mechs might have back off from the accusation. Prowl however, "I never said any of that. I do know that your frame will demand much from you. I rather you be aware later then unconscious from lack of rest."

Meister stalks up to Prowl getting right in his face, "what would you know about it? You hardly have any scars on ya to say."

Prowl growls back, "I barely have scars because I know my limits." He hisses, "but if you want to continue playing dumb brute then go ahead. When you collapse, I will say I told you so."

Wing seeing where this was going quickly steps in between the mechs. "Now now let's not say anything we'll regret later." He nods to the whimpering sparkling crawling near Prowl, "there are sparklings present."

That snap Prowl back, "right of course, thank you Wing." He looks back at Meister a frown on his face, "we will pick this up later."

Meister snarls something and roughly grabs Prowls arm when the mech turns away from him. "We ain't done."

Everyone tensed, Ricochet was trying to get Stepper back by sending out a shrill whistle. Drift was completely in front of Ratchet hand on his dagger. The twins were hiding behind Prowls legs looking at Meister with fear.

"Unhand me," Prowl quietly order. His claws were unsheathed, and he readied to unleash his swords.

"Don't turn your back on me," Meister growls.

"Bro what is wrong with you; this isn't like you!" Stepper storms out of the ocean.

"Nothing is wrong. Just my so-called mate doubting me. Maybe I shouldn't have bother taking ya if you were going to be so much trouble."

"Trouble?" Prowl fanned out his wings and hissed. "Yet you are the one who seems to have trouble protecting others." He slashed out with his free hand. Meister jumps back hissing.

Prowl revs his engine before ushering his sparklings away. It was Wings warning that gave Prowl enough time to brace himself before something crashed into his back. He uses the momentum to drive them up and over the crouching twins before rolling in the sand and into the surf. He manages to dislodge Meister kicking the mech in the stomach.

"Bro!"

"Meister!"

Rico and Stepper shouted one grabbing hold of the older poly while the other stood in protectively in front of Prowl. Meister roared his rage coming out of nowhere. He broke free of his brothers hold and threw him into the ocean. He snarled his vizor flashing as he charged Prowl and Stepper. Stepper tried to stop him but was also tossed aside. Prowl had no idea where this extra strength came from, but he could not focus on that. Meister was slashing at him with his claws and that also confused Prowl. While Polyhexians can and would use their claws, Meister favored his long dagger or harpoons. He also saw that the mechs movements were jerky not the graceful moves he knew the mech used.

Something was wrong with Meister.

"We need to pin him down!" he shouted.

"no kidding!"

"No, I mean something is wrong. Ratchet needs to scan him."

"Easier said then done!"

Meister roars again charging Prowl tackling him to the ground. Prowl does what he can to keep the mechs long claws from stabbing and disemboweling him. something creaks metal groans, Meister was overpowering him. Then, he was gone. Prowl was yanked up as well and dragged away from the tussling brothers and Wing.

Drift stayed close as Ratchet checked Prowl over and sealed the new wounds and warped metal. Sunstreaker was growling with Sideswipe behind him. Jazz was whimpering behind Prowl curled into a little ball. Soon Meister was pinned by the three mechs hissing and spitting. Ratchet rushed over and hit him with several sedatives. It took more then one before Meister went unconscious.

The brothers, Wing, Ratchet, Drift, and Prowl surrounded the unconscious mech. "Do you know what is wrong; Ratchet?"

The medic was busy scanning and checking the poly to answer. When he stood up scowling, he turned to Prowl, "Has his wounds been kept clean?"

Prowl blinks, "As much as he would let me. But I made sure to look when he was recharging none shown signs of infection."

Ratchet nods, "then it must be something else. A wound we missed; he's showing all the signs of an infection."

"I see no rust," Ricochet says.

The medic snorts, "not all infections have to do with rust, and it doesn't cause these reactions." He checks Meister's frame. When he got to his peds he cursed. "Found it, he has burns on his feet. They never got treated and got infected."

Prowl jerks, "the lava. I thought he wore some type of protection." He slumps, "I hadn't noticed."

Ricochet and Stepper immediately were by his side cooing. "It's not your fault."

"yeah we all missed it."

Wing comes up behind them, "we were all too focus on getting away. I'm sure that he hadn't realized he had been more damage."

"It would also explain his hostile behavior," Ratchet sighs. He looks to Drift listing the things he needed and where they were, "It'll be tough, but we caught the infection early enough." He turns to Prowl, "but it might be best of you and the younglings stay away. I fear that his mental state will not stabilize, and he may attack you again."

It hurt to think that Meister would attack him again, but he understood what Ratchet was saying. It was for his and the youngling's safety. "Very well," he says.

"We'll help ya Prowl. You won't be alone," Stepper says.

Ricochet nods, "yeah one of us will stay with you and the bitties."

"I wouldn't mine helping as well," Wing added.

"Preferably before Meister wakes. I only have so many sedatives," Ratchet says. "So, I suggest pack what you need and get going."

Prowl nods, he gives Meister one last look before turning away. Jazz and the twins have clustered together far from the adults. Prowl frowns sadly, they already been through so much and to see Meister act like that. He hoped that this incident did not make them fear the older mech. While Drift and Wing stayed with Ratchet. Stepper and Rico went with Prowl and the sparklings to find a haven. It was near evening before they found a hollow out tree just big enough for the younglings and Prowl to fit inside.

Prowl created a little nest inside made from meshes, moss, and sweet-smelling grass. There was a tiny stream near by that Jazz had found with little tasty critters in it. Ricochet stayed with them that night while Stepper returned to guard over Meister. Prowl saw Wing fly over head once before the skies darken. With the twins and Jazz recharging Prowl sat by the fireside with Ricochet's back to him. it had been hot during the day but now Prowl felt a chill. The fight with Meister had rattle him he had never felt so rattled in such a long time.

For once he let his frame move without thought and cuddle up to Ricochet. The younger brother let him lean into his space. Whatever let from this Prowl wanted it, he wanted the touch and feeling of being loved. As the stars came out they were the only witnesses to Prowl letting go.