Swiftshadow stepped out of the ground bridge. She dug her talons into the soft dirt and took a deep breath. Fresh forest air filled her lungs. The light of the setting sun cast everything in a deep golden glow. Birdsong echoed into her ears. Oh, how she missed this.
Sky padded next to her. Optimus Prime, WheelJack, and Ratchet emerged from the vortex shortly after. The bridge then winked into nothingness.
Swiftshadow looked around to get her bearings. She could still see the scorch marks and pot holes from the previous battle. The scent of ash lingered in the air.
"Alright, say goodbye to your wolf friend," Said WheelJack.
Swiftshadow glared at the Wrecker. Though step one went without a hitch, step two was a bit trickier. Ditch the tag alongs.
"But I want to make sure she makes it back to the pack safely, first," Said Swiftshadow.
"Very well," Said Optimus, "But be back in an hour,"
"Don't worry I promise I'll be back by then," Swiftshadow said as she secretly crossed the tips of her wings.
She and Sky trotted to the edge of the meadow. The sudden thunderous sound of massive wings roared over head. A wall of flame burst into existence between her and the Autobots. She could feel its searing heat from twenty feet away.
A massive figure impacted the ground, shaking the earth. Predaking.
"Run little one!" He commanded.
"I think we should do as he says," Swiftshadow said. Both She and Sky bolted into the underbrush.
Predaking had spotted the light of the ground bridge from a distance. He veered over to investigate. The cool evening wind carried him swiftly. He arrived within a few wing beats.
He saw the little one. She was alive! His speak leaped in joy. He could return to the nemesis victorious after all.
Then he saw the Autobots. Rage and hatred filled his chest and spread to rest of his being. And to see one of the two personally responsible for his kind destruction. It sent into a fervour of fury. Fire boiled in his throat and spilled out, creating a barrier between the little one and the one.
He transformed as he landed. He ordered the little one to run. She bolted into the wood much to his pleasure. He turned his attention to the Autobots.
Vengeance would be his.
He charged at the prime guns blazing. The Prime in turn made his own list of commands and returned fire. Predaking swung at the Prime. Optimus dodged and connected his fist to Predaking's Jaw. The predacon staggered back. Another force sent him flying. Ultra Magnus managed to land a hit with his good hand. The hits did little other than stoke the flames of his wrath.
Changing form, Predaking spat fire at the enemy. The flames missed their targets and sent several trees up in flames. He didn't care. If he had to set the world on fire to crush his foes, then so be it.
He had a battle to win.
Swiftshadow and Sky dashed through the underbrush. They darted around trees and leapt over logs and rocks. Bushes were easily dodged as were branches and twigs. Nothing would stop them from returning to the den.
The echoes of battle rang behind them. They didn't look back.
They burst into the den site panting. Several wolves stared flabbergasted at the duo.
"Sky!" A dark grey wolf bounded up, "Your alive!"
"Cliff!" Sky shouted as she joined her brother, "By The Wolf Spirit, I missed you,"
The two danced around each other and sang a chorus of thrilled yips. It wasn't long before the rest of the pack joined in the celebration. A deep rough Howl silenced the crowd. Strong-paw stood on his boulder. His harsh glare landed on Swiftshadow.
"You are no longer welcome here," He growled.
"What? Why?," said Swiftshadow, "What did I do?"
"You abandoned the pack," Strong-paw accused.
"I didn't leave, I was abducted," Defended Swiftshadow. It felt like the world was crumbling around her.
"It's true," Said Sky, "We were taken by these giant beings,"
"You really think I'm going to believe that," He snorted, "Now you need to get out of here, Swiftshadow,"
Sky growled and raised her head and tail, "I as the the pack healer say we should give Swiftshadow a second chance,"
"Not until tonights ceremony, your not,"
CRACK.
A deer burst through the thicket. In a panicked frenzy it bolted across the den site. It didn't seem to acknowledge the pack of wolves as it thundered past.
"FIRE!" Someone shrieked from the crowd.
Swiftshadow looked up. An ominous glow filtered through the trees and shrubbery. The forest was on fire and the flames were spreading fast.
The battle was fierce. Predaking fought hard. Fuelled by flame and fury, he lashed out at his enemies with reckless abandon. His impervious armour shielded him from any blow.
WheelJack was thwacked away with his tail. The Prime tasted his fire. The predacon dug his talons into Wheeljacks armour and took off. A sufficient fall should take care of him. He only got a couple wing beats in before he was tackled out of the sky. He and the Prime crashed into the earth. WheelJack flew out of his grip. Trees snapped and shattered into splintered pieces.
Predaking shook off the twigs and branches. He spotted the Prime. He spat fire at him. Optimus
narrowly avoided the blast. The Prime shifted his arm into a cannon and started firing at the beast. Predaking ignored the blasts and charged the Prime.
Smoke of the burning forest filled his intakes. It didn't bother him. Cybertronians didn't need to breath. The only thing that mattered to him was vengeance.
A movement caught his eye. Through the smoke and haze he saw her. The little one.
"Everyone calm down," commanded Strong-paw. His voice Echoed through out the clearing. The smoke was thickening. Soon the flames would be upon them.
"Where are we going to go?" A panicked wolf shouted. Swiftshadow's mind raced. Where can they go? She couldn't think of anywhere the pack would be safe from both the battle and the fire.
"Swiftshadow," called Sky, breaking the dragon from her thoughts, "Your mark,"
Swiftshadow gazed upon her shoulder. The wolf mark was glowing a soft silvery light. Before she could even question it, an image flashed in her brain. She suddenly knew where the pack could find safety.
"Strong-paw!" Shouted Swiftshadow, "The spirit pool!"
"What about it?" Growled the battle scarred wolf.
"The pack will be safe there,"
"what makes you so sure?" He demanded.
BANG! CRASH!
Before she could answer, Optimus and Predaking crashed almost on top of the den site. Predaking blasted fire sending a nearby clump of trees up in flames.
"Just trust me!" Swiftshadow pleaded.
Strong-paw picked up his jaw, "Everyone, move out!"
The pack followed their leader out of the den. A pair of wolves and Sky picked up one of the cubs moved with the pack. Cliff and Swiftshadow brought up the rear urging along the stranglers.
Swiftshadow looked back. Her eyes connected with Predaking's. A horrid realization swept over her. Both Predaking and the Autobots had come here looking for her. They would've never of come here if she hadn't attacked those hunters. Their battle had put the pack directly in the line of fire. Strong-paw was right. She had brought danger to the pack.
Determination flowed through her veins. All the more reason to protect it.
The Predacon made a lunge at her. He was stopped by the clang of WheelJacks fist. She bolted after the pack.
Fire was all around them. Trees were now blazing pillars. Animals ran trying to escape their fiery doom. The smoke and searing heat was suffocating. Swiftshadow could barely hear the din of battle over the blazes roar. It was almost impossible to navigate. The flames had transformed the forest into a hellish twisted version of itself. Yet Swiftshadow could feel the spirit ponds presence. An oasis inside the inferno.
CRACK!
A large flaming tree fell across the path ahead. Swiftshadow bolted the front. She used her wings to shield the wolves from burning embers. Hot cinders covered her wings and back. Heat pressed on her but didn't burn. Were her scales fire proof?
"You ok there?" Asked Strong-paw.
The pack was trapped as the fire raged all around.
"yeah, I'm fine," Swiftshadow said as she shook off the embers. She examined the log that now burned in their way. They were so close. She could feel the oasis just a little farther ahead.
She saw the trapped packs weary and exhausted expressions. Their desperation seared into Swiftshadow's soul. She would not fail them. With a burst of determination she rammed the fallen tree.
It did not move.
She rammed it again.
It did not move.
Ramming was not the answer Swiftshadow realized. the tree was too big. There had to be another way. An idea struck her. Her scales! She draped a wing over the log. The blistering heat pressed at it but it did not burn. It created a gap in the flames.
"Everyone, over me!" Ordered Swiftshadow.
The pack glanced at each other uncertainly.
"You heard her," Barked Strong-paw, "Up and over,"
The first wolf, Cliff, cautiously jumped on her back then over the log. A howl of assurance urged the others to follow suit. One by one they pack made it over. Swiftshadow remained steady taking the weight of each wolfs bounds. Sky made it over with cub in tow. Soon it was just her and Strong-paw.
"your turn," She said.
He gave a short respective nod before making the leap himself. Swiftshadow withdrew her wing. She gave herself a running start and leapt through the flames. She landed effortlessly on the other side. The pack stood waiting. Through the fire and the flames they carried on.
It wasn't long before they were all suddenly breathing fresh air.
Ratchet ran through the burning woods. He searched through the blaze. Where was that girl? He thought worryingly. When Predaking showed up Optimus had ordered him to go fetch Swiftshadow so that they could bridge out. Simple in theory, but difficult in execution. The mission got harder when the whole slagging forest caught fire.
Though he only knew Swiftshadow for only a short time, he hated to see anything bad happen to her.
Something among the flames caught His attention. A strange shimmering light that was not fire. It emanated from somewhere beyond the trees. He darted for it.
What he saw shocked him to his core.
Swiftshadow panted. Her aching lungs sucked in cool fresh air. Her scales felt hot and gritty. Exhaustion seeped into her bones. But she was alive. The pack was alive.
A shining translucent dome surrounded seemingly delicate barrier shielded them the blaze. The towering flames licked and beat on its surface. They however did not penetrate the barrier.
Swiftshadow gazed upon the spirit pond. The pond shimmered with bright silver light. The Wolf Spirit sat elegantly on its surface. The spirits gentle eyes laid on the pack. Her warmth filled the gully.
"You…" Was the only word that escaped the dragons mouth. Swiftshadow remembered this being from her near death experience. The same gentle power and energy radiated off the spirit. She couldn't help but be awestruck.
Ratchet burst out of the flames and skidded to a halt. His face wore a shocked Expression. He seemed to not believe what his eyes were telling him. Swiftshadow couldn't blame him. She had a hard time believing her eyes too.
Predaking and the the other Autobots halted at the edge of the dome. Their eyes lay gobsmacked on The wolf Spirit. The all stood absolutely still. It was if the The Wolf Spirit's presence alone quenched their desire for battle.
Sky strode to the edge of the pond and laid down. The Wolf Spirit briefly nuzzled Sky's head.
"Come every one!" Called the she-wolf, "She wants us on the water,"
After a few uneasy glances, the pack waded in the pond. Swiftshadow remained on solid ground. The Autobots on one side. The pack on the other. With a heavy heart she knew what she had to do.
"Hey, Sky," Said Swiftshadow, "I'm going to miss you,"
"I'm going miss you too," Smiled Sky, "But something tells me that we'll meet again some day,"
"Yeah, till we meet again," Swiftshadow said. She then turned to the alpha, "Strong-paw,You were right. I did invite danger to the pack. If I wasn't here none of this would've happened,"
"Hmmm…" The alpha pondered, "I suppose I was, but then so was Moon,"
"What?"
"You saved us, this day," He said, "We would not of made it out of the fire without you. I think that is now your curse,"
"curse?" Questioned Swiftshadow.
Strong-paw chuckled, "Though danger may linger close by, you will always be the one the save everyone from it,"
Before Swiftshadow had a chance to ponder his words the pond was enveloped by a bright light. It almost seared through her eyelids. A familiar presence wove through mind. It whispered as it entangled through her being.
Be careful young one. For your journey has only just begun.
When she opened her eyes the pack was gone, and so was the pond. All that was left was an empty basin. She noticed that the towering flames had been extinguished. She knew that they would soon return.
A shrieking roar broke the silence. Predaking swung his head blindly. His eyes shuttered and blinked furiously. Optimus the first to act. A ground bridge appeared and the Autobots ran into it. Swiftshadow stopped on its threshold. She and Predaking locked eyes. She took a deep breath before continuing through.
Predaking Furiously blinked the darkness and stars from his eyes. His vision cleared in time to see the little one enter the Autobots ground bridge. She gave him a long forlorn look before going through.
Defeat and humiliation settled into his frame. Confusion tore into his processor. Why did she follow those murders into the portal? Had she been deceived? Brainwashed? And what was up with that ghostly wolf?
An agonized roar rang through the heavens. Defeated, He spread out his wings and headed back to The Nemesis.
Swiftshadow tossed in her cot. the others had gone to retire for the night or as WheelJack so eloquently put it, go stare at a brick wall and rethink everything. Her muscles and chest ached. June had looked her over and determined she was fine.
Swiftshadow looked over to Sky's bed. Empty, never to be filled again. Sorrow made her heart ache. Sighing, she got up up left her room. To her surprise it was not Ratchet the console. Optimus was there instead. She felt his strange warmth. She normally would've shoved it away. This time, however, she let the presence comfort her.
"you should be resting," He said.
"Couldn't sleep," She muttered. Shifting form, she leapt onto the catwalk.
"Is something troubling you?"
"I guess I don't want to alone right now," She admitted.
He offered an open palm. She nimbly hopped on and climbed up to his broad shoulder. carefully, as to not scratch his paint.
"Swiftshadow," Began Optimus, "May I inquire of the nature of the entity that we witnessed tonight?"
"you mean The Wolf Spirit?" answered Swiftshadow, "Cant say that I know that much about her, to be honest. I know that she is both ancient and powerful… She saved me."
"Saved you?"
"After I escaped shockwaves lab, I was dying…I don't know why… or how… but she saved me,"
"I see,"
"She also has a warmth similar to yours,"
"Mine?" He questioned.
"I don't know why, but both you and her have sort of this strange presence. while they are similar the both kind of have different flavours. Like one is a tangy sweet and the other is a sugary sweet. If that makes sense,"
Optimus pondered her words. After a long minute of silence, he pulled something out. It was large flat device. It was a silvery grey with light blue accents. It resembled an oddly cut card or key. She could sense a fragment of warmth in it. Dim but still there.
"What is it?" Asked the dragon, "Its got a bit of that warmth,"
"This is the Key to Vector Sigma. A very important ancient relic. It was once used to contain the contents of the Matrix of Leadership,"
"Matrix of Leadership?"
"A powerful relic that contains the ancient wisdom of the primes. It can only be wielded by someone who earns the title of prime,"
"You weren't always Optimus Prime?"
"Indeed. I was once a simple data clerk named Orian pax. When the core of our world was poisoned by Megatron's warmongering I travelled down to the core to hopefully repair it. I was confronted by Primus himself,"
"Who's Primus?"
"He is the god and creator of all cybertronian life,"
"I see," Said Swiftshadow, "When you met Primus, he gave you the Matrix of Leadership, which made you a Prime?"
"Correct,"
"So both the Matrix and the Key are both connected to Primus. That means they both must be loaded with spiritual energy, And I'm somehow picking up on that energy,"
"It would seem so,"
"Huh…" Swiftshadow let the silence settle in, "You didn't save your world, did you?"
"No, I didn't," He said with note of sadness.
"I'm sorry," Swiftshadow said as she settled down on his shoulder. She let the Primes warmth envelop her.