Scythe decided to stick around while Echo and Alfa got used to their new accommodations and teammates. Since Echo was an Autobot, there were times when arguments came up, but Alfa seemed to be very used to defusing them when he wasn't involved. When he was, it fell to Scythe to end things, which usually meant all parties involved ended up on the floor. Bots tended to stop arguing when their peds were yanked out from under them.

And since she was still in the area, Scythe decided to check out how the local fleshlings prepared for the cold season. She found that they were in the middle of migrating when she almost physically ran into them just a few klicks from the base.

"Whoa!" she exclaimed, dancing around to avoid their slow-motion moving forms.

One of the older looking hunters who Scythe assumed was the leader appeared to be in an argument with one of the younger hunters. The rest of the fleshlings were gathered together for warmth.

"An argument?" groaned Leech. "We get enough of those at home."

"The fact that you consider that as home is cute, Leech," Scythe quipped.

"Oh, shut it. You know what I meant."

"Sure. Let's find out what they are talking about."

There was a nearby rock formation that afforded her a hiding place but was close enough for her to listen.

"...cannot go that way," the leader was saying. "It is forbidden."

"I know the stories. But they are even older than you. No one has seen the Great Monster for many cold seasons. It could have died by now. I say we try the old route."

"You young ones are always foolish. I was foolish when I was your age too, but I always listened to my elders when they said not to go through this place."

Scythe was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn't notice Echo appearing behind her. The fleshlings didn't notice him either until he spoke.

"There you are, Scythe. I've been looking for you."

Scythe wasn't sure what startled her more, Echo or the fleshlings' screams. Echo was startled as well by the amount of noise the fleshlings made.

"It's the Great Monster!"

"It's here to kill us!"

"Run away!" many cried as they fled.

"Are those the fleshling natives you mentioned?" Echo hissed, adjusting his audials. "How can they be so small, yet so loud?"

The young hunter decided to be a brave soul and hurled his spear at Echo. The mech batted it away easily enough. Then he snarled and stomped closer to the fleshling. The young hunter shrieked and stumbled as he turned. He scrambled to keep his feet and fled after his tribe.

"That was impeccable timing, Echo," Scythe said. "They were just discussing which way they should go."

"You could understand all that jibber-jabber?"

"Yes. I scanned one of their neural nets to learn it. And that's how I found out I was a pretender. Unfortunately though, their organic processor is extremely fragile and the scanning process will kill the host."

"That is unfortunate…" He paused. "Do you think, maybe, you could share that language file with me?"

"You're interested?"

"A little."

She laughed. "Sure thing, Echo."

"By the way, Echo, when you were with the Autobots, were you just a soldier," Scythe asked as she and Echo entered the base, "or did you do something else?"

"I was, uh…" Echo started, shifting uncomfortably.

Alfa happened to overhear and finished for him. "He was Spec Ops."

"...Communications, specifically," Echo added quickly as if wanting to clarify.

"I'm sorry…" Delta said as he came around the corner. "What?!"

"And you just up and left the Autobots for a Con?" asked Leech.

"Actually, we were bonded before the war started," Alfa explained. "We got separated after everything went to scrap. By the time we found each other again, we were on opposite sides."

"I offered to leave the Autobots, but Alfa said I shouldn't," Echo said.

Alfa came over and put his arm around Echo. "Knowing Echo's personality and how other former Autobots were treated, I didn't want him to get hurt."

"So how did you end up almost joining the AllSpark?" Delta asked, pointing at Alfa.

"Some other Decepticons found out about our relationship and-" Alfa started.

"Say no more," Scythe interrupted. "It's pretty obvious what comes next."

"Scythe, we honestly can't thank you enough for what you did," Echo said.

"I know, but if you keep saying it, I'm gonna get annoyed and somebody's gonna lose a servo. Probably Delta."

"What?!" Delta gaped, offended. "Why me?"

Scythe looked up at him. "Cause you just give off that annoying vibe. So does Fritz, but he's a medic so I can't cut off his servo."

Delta suddenly turned and yelled. "Fritz! Teach me how to be a medic!"

"Uh, sure," Fritz said, appearing from around another corner, wiping his servos on a cloth. He draped the cloth over his shoulder. "But why?"

"Cause Scythe is threatening to cut off my servos next time she gets annoyed," Delta explained with a bit of a whine, "and she won't cut off yours cause you're the medic so, if I become a medic too…"

"Actually, Delta," Scythe spoke up, "that's not a bad idea. If you learn medicine, you can be Fritz's backup. But I think we all should stay up-to-date on our basic first aid. Just in case."

"No offense, Scythe, but with your size…" Fritz said.

"Little servos are good for getting into little places," Scythe replied. "Not to mention, I am good at cauterizing wounds."

"Can't argue with that one," muttered Fritz.

"Even if I can't do it myself," Scythe added, "having the knowledge won't hurt, right?"

"Hhhh." Fritz dragged his servo over his faceplates. "Fine. I'll teach Delta. And make sure everyone is up-to-date on their first aid protocols."

"YES!" Delta exclaimed, pumping his fist. "Servos saved! AH-!" He crashed to the floor as his peds were yanked out from under him.

Scythe appeared on his chestplates and gloated down at him. "Doesn't mean I'll stop dropping you on your aft though."

Delta groaned. "Thanks for the reminder."

"Anytime," Scythe said, hopping off him so he could get up.

Scythe was still hanging around at the base when the solar cycles got so cold that the usual rain turned to crystalline flakes.

"What is this?" she asked, trying to catch the flakes in her servo but they were melting when they touched her plating.

"Oh, this pretty much happens every time the orbital cycles turn cold," Char said, watching Scythe. "It is different from frozen rain. Those are little ice balls. But I have seen them get as big as your servo, Scythe."

"Chunks of ice that size, falling from the sky?" grumbled Fritz. He stood behind Char, under the shelter of the cave as the ground outside was slowly turning white. "Not to mention all the moisture in the air at any given time. What is this world? A death trap?"

"Oh, good," said Leech. "Someone else who shares my concerns."

Scythe was still trying to catch some flakes. "It's so pretty."

"It's wet!" Leech griped, shaking out their tails.

"You know, if you stay outside long enough," Char informed them, "your plating will cool off and the flakes will collect on you."

"Really?" Scythe asked, not hiding her excitement.

Leech groaned, tails drooping and optic stems flopping back.

"Yes," Char continued, clearly amused at the opposite reactions of the two beings that shared the same body. "But be careful. In some places, this stuff gets so deep, it would be over the top of your helm."

Leech's optic stems jerked up and they stared at Char, inner works of their optics shifting wide with horror at the idea of getting buried under that much of the frozen precipitation.

Scythe, for her part, just hummed. "I'll keep that in mind."

Char chuckled to herself but replied in a serious tone. "Please do."