Zoe's POV

Chapter Eleven – The Battle: Part Two

The night was cold. So cold that Zoe's breath was coming out in ragged gasps and shivers shook her. Samantha had stolen the duvet and the way she had rolled around it made it impossible for Zoe to have so much as a corner. Lying still, Zoe could hear the wind howling mournfully outside and the green/grey tent covering her from the slow drizzle that had been expelled from the storm clouds was shaking, threatening to collapse at any moment. It was also dark, very dark. Zoe could barely see a hand in front of her face. Why was she awake anyway? She had fallen asleep a while ago despite the hard ground and Samantha's murmuring. Glancing over, Zoe smiled when she saw only a little tuft of hair poking out of the wrapped up teen. Stretching over to the small plastic table to her left, Zoe grabbed the lantern and staggered to her feet. Slightly disoriented, Zoe fumbled with the tents zipped up door and clambered outside awkwardly, shivering when the icy wind blew across her slim frame. Pulling up her pyjama sleeve, Zoe grimaced when she read the little green numbers on her watch; 4.38am.

No matter how hard she tried, Zoe knew she would not be able to fall back to sleep if she tried and that irritated her. Looking up, the teen smiled when she saw a small gap in the clouds that revealed a few bright glittering stars on a dark velvet sky, staring at them until the wind blew the clouds back into place. Yawning quietly, Zoe clicked on the lantern and walked over to the still glowing fire Michael and Tony had managed to make with broken branches and pine cones. Sitting on one of the upturned logs, Zoe fumbled around on the ground, still quite blind even with the small light in her hand, until she found a few twigs and threw them onto the embers. After a few seconds they caught alight and burned brightly. Shadows danced around the fire, making Zoe feel afraid of the darkness outside her tiny circle of yellow light and what could be in it. Swallowing, Zoe grasped a larger still dry log and chucked it onto the fire and waited until it caught, when it did, she felt as though she had been sunk into a warm bath – feeling returning to her finger and toes as the heat settled onto her now very damp skin.

She didn't if it was the sharp slap of metal on metal or the loud thud that shook the ground that made her turn around but she didn't care. The sounds were almost simultaneous, as if something massive had been knocked to the ground. Gulping, Zoe rose and lifting the lantern so she could see more of the treacherous ground, she made her way into the direction of the sounds.

She knew, she knew, she shouldn't go and investigate. And absolutely she shouldn't look around on her own. But something pushed those feelings away, replacing them with burning curiosity and excitement. She hugged her lantern free arm around herself and ignored the large cloud of steam that billowed out of her mouth whenever she drew a chilling breath and let it out shakily.

Stepping over two intertwined roots, Zoe made her way cautiously to the sounds, her teeth chattering not matter how hard she clenched her mouth shut. A cruel water droplet dropped from the tree above her and slithered down her spine making her gasp and shiver violently.

"Bugger! Dam that was cold!" She moaned, rubbing her hand up her back, growling when it met cold water. "Time to retreat back to my warm tent, me thinks!"

But she had travelled further then she had thought...

Yawning, Zoe turned around, already thinking happily about her sleeping bag, and screamed. Barely thirty centimetres from her face was an exceptionally large red glowing light framed with shifting metal – an eye! Shining directly under it was the largest set of fangs she had ever seen, each about the size of the carving knives in the kitchen draw at home. Dripping thick blue fluid spurted from the jaws, spraying the ground around them both and one of its powerful looking hind legs was pumping out the lava like liquid as well. A thick dent occupied one side of its muzzle, giving it a 'scrap metal' look but the petrifying mechanical snarl that was being emitted from its throat told her it could kill her with one swing of its razor sharp claws.

"Oh..."

Suddenly the darkness came alive with the sound of rapid fire. A bright white light echoed through the forest and Zoe saw missiles the size of basketballs slam through the trees as if they weren't there, each shot either hitting the creature in front of her or the ground metres from her feet. Eyes wide, Zoe did the first thing that came to mind; turned on her heel and dashed away, the lantern still gripped in a white knuckle hold in her grasp. She heard the ground behind her erupt in bullets coming up short, throwing soil and dirt onto the backs of her legs that were still desperately trying to get her away.

Then she heard it, the low cry that had echoed quietly throughout her campsite only a seemingly few minutes before. Darting behind a particularly thick pine, Zoe managed to compose herself (somewhat) before peeking out cautiously. The sight that met her eyes made her gasp loudly.

"Oh shit..."

There was a massive metal giant thing standing in front of her hiding place. It was huge! With two trashcan sized cannons sprouting from each forearm glowing brightly, their target the prowling mechanical panther on the other side of the newly made clearing. Although it too dark to tell for sure, Zoe guessed it was either black or dark blue, its intimidating bulk scaring her speechless. It spat the same blue goo and when it hit the nearby tree burned a huge chunk out of it in a matter of moments.

Suddenly, the more humanoid shaped monster turned what she guessed was its head and fixed its sapphire eyes (?) onto her own. Relief flickered in each one, confusing the terrified teen. Eyes wide and full of fear, Zoe tilted her head a little but bit her lip, scared but still curious. The eyes grew gentle and reassuring, making Zoe feel a tiny bit safer; promising it would not harm her. Despite the warmth of the gaze, her gaze flickered to its cannons and gave a small whimper, shifting so she was pressed against the tree. She didn't notice the hurt in its expression at her utter fear of it.

"It would appear Ironhide has grown a weakness."

The soft voice snapped both human and Cybertronian out of their silent gaze and back onto the beast circling them both. Somehow it had managed to slink closer and was much closer to Zoe who gave a surprised yelp when she realized this. Wait, Zoe thought, Ironhide?

Her eyes fixed onto the metal giant – Ironhide? - once more but its own were locked onto the panther thing. Zoe squeaked in alarm when she felt a firm but exceedingly gentle force grip her around her middle and lift her a few feet off the ground, dropping the lantern to the ground, plunging her world into complete darkness. The feeling was strange though not unpleasant however she was glad when it deposited her behind one of its own intricate feet, unsure if she enjoyed being picked up. Pressing her back against the left leg, Zoe checked herself for injuries. Her own legs from the knees down were caked in mud but despite that she was alive and fine. Zoe felt shaken and cold but so much safer with this thing then behind the tree.

Taking a deep breath, Zoe shifted so that she could keep an eye on the metal panther – God she wished she knew their names – as well. Risking a glance she felt her chest constrict when she saw that its bloodthirsty gaze was locked onto hers. Drawing a now shaky breath, she felt tears flow unbidden down her cheeks and another shiver rack her body, making her feel weak and exhausted. The metal she was touching suddenly warmed considerably and she placed a her face to it, embracing it thankfully as feeling returned once more to parts she didn't even know were frozen.

"It is amusing how you Autobots feel for things that can be torn from you easily. Especially weak... defenceless... humans." Zoe heard the venom and loathing practically drip from its words.

Autobots? Zoe forced her brain to at least try and escape from the reptilian 'fight or flight' mode it was currently in and tried to think. Autobot, this thing protecting her was an Autobot... that meant there were more of them! How many? If this was an Autobot what did that make the cat thing over there? Why were razor teeth calling it Ironhide? Or was a conscience? Zoe remembered what her brother Toby had once said to her; "There is no consciences Zoe, everything always happens for a reason!" And deciding to refer to it as Ironhide since she at least could wrap her mind around the fact it was a name, she suppressed another sob at the sudden memory of her brother and buried her face into the metal once more, too scared to even look at the thing that wanted to kill her.

"You all talk Decepticon? Just like that pathetic master of yours?" The rough low voice made Zoe look up again and stare up at Ironhide. It sounded male.

He didn't look down at her in return but Zoe heard its cannons whirl threateningly. The panther thing growled angrily and, with speed that had she blinked Zoe would have lost track of it, attacked; aiming for his left leg. Ironhide's foot shoved back gently as soon as the mechanical cat thing leapt towards them, pushing Zoe backwards onto the wet ground, who barely avoided the extended claws that had managed to get passed Ironhide's attempt to protect her.

"Run Zoe! Don't look back!"

Stumbling to her feet, Zoe started running as fast as she could, deaf to everything except the terrible clash of metal on metal behind her. She screamed when she felt bullets whizz past her ears and waist and willed her legs to run faster.

She had gotten about twenty metres before her vision suddenly blurred and stomach lurched as she felt herself being lifted once more and tucked against what felt like a warm metal wall. Struggling desperately, Zoe felt the grip around her body tighten firmly. Despite knowing it was pointless, Zoe continued to kick out and thrash, terrified it was another 'Decepticon'.

"Calm yourself, you are safe little one." The voice above her was deeper than Ironhide's voice but soothing and commanding and although mechanised it was oddly familiar. She continued to struggle for a few seconds more but stopped, whimpering softly, when she realized it could crush her with a twitch of its fingers.

As if sensing her fear, Zoe felt the hand (she assumed) warm slowly and a low rumbling sound started to vibrate gently in her mind and body. Her breathing started to come more easily and she felt muscles relax.

Danger! Run! Kick! Bite! Get away!

Ignoring her mind's harsh commands, Zoe closed her eyes and curled in on herself, "Wake up Zoe, wake up." She whispered desperately, begging this to be a dream.

A stupid mad dream.

Or nightmare, she wasn't feeling fussy.

The rumbling slowed and got lower, enticing her to fall asleep. As she shook her head stubbornly and opened her eyes, she heard what she could only describe as a chuckle and smiled without thinking.

"I don't want to sleep," She murmured shyly, "I want to wake up." Zoe felt the grip around her loosen and a large force – a finger? – started to rub against her back delicately, comforting the teen.

"Not even for your protector? One who sacrificed himself so he could keep you safe?" The voice was questioning and Zoe felt as though she was being told off.

Sniffing, Zoe gave in and nodded, knowing it would probably force her to sleep if she didn't willingly. Although every other fibre of her being was yelling at her to fight and scream for help, she closed her eyes slowly and sighed world wearily.

Before she allowed sleep to claim her Zoe whispered, "Will he be ok?"

She was almost under when she heard three hushed words etched with uncertainty...

"I don't know."