Changes for Better or Worse
"How do you know about Primus?" Was the first thing any of them managed to say. The silver wolf in front of them gave them a wolves grin and laughed a laugh that rivaled the clearest of night skies.
"All beings of power know each other. I am the moon and I'm not just the spirit of this moon but every moon that has children who call out too it." Optic's of varying shades of blue shuttered. None of them were quite sure what to make of the situation that they now found themselves in.
"Why are you here?" Optimus asked his voice as steady as a leaders should be. The silver wolf regarded them with kind eyes.
"I am here because one of my children prayed to me with such a desperate plea that I heard it above all others. He asked for protection for those he loved without the thought of protection for himself."
"It was Sam wasn't it?" Bumblebee asked.
"Yes and I have decided to answer his prayer by sending him you."The Autobots were confused. She talked about Primus like she knew him and yet she expected them to break their vow. Did she not understand that their word was their bond and despite how some of them acted some of the time none of them would go back on their word.
"We can't it's against our vow to never harm another sentient being." The lady gave them an amused look.
"You cannot go against your vows as you are now. But if your willing then I can give you the ability to help them."
"How?" Ironhide asked as the black mech shifted his footing and flexed his fingers. The Lady merely laughed and shook her head.
"That is something you'll find out if you agree. For this is something that will never go away if you choose to accept. You are each free to make your own decision of course." The Autobots turned and looked at each other. Each one of them had to decide for themselves. But was there really any question on whither or not they'd do it. None of them really had a choice if they wanted to help Sam, Miles, and Lennox. Then again the wolf in front of them was watching them with silver eyes waiting for them to answer her question. If she thought that they could help then surely it would do some good.
As moments passed and the silence grew deepened The Lady stood and trotted towards the edge of the forest where the tree's started getting thick. The silver light that seemed to radiate from her body moved with her illuminating the tree's with its silver light. After standing before the tree's for a few moments she moved again her ears perked straight up as if she was listening for something. A moment later her body tensed and she turned back to the still silent Autobots.
"Your time is up choose now or miss your chance. For if you miss it now it will not come again." her voice was panicked and as her sentence finished she vanished taking away the silver light and leaving them in the storm that had calmed while she had been in their presence. The Autobots didn't even have time to blink as a bright blue energy that they felt more than saw tore through the forest.
Ooo
He was outmatched and outnumbered and things weren't looking good for him. It seemed like no matter what he did it didn't make a difference. As soon as he'd manage to throw one wolf off another would be one him and he wasn't sure he could keep it up for much longer. Sam panted as he stood facing half a dozen wolves that all seemed to want him dead. Well not all of them.
Mikaela had started acting strange after he'd refused to kill her and he didn't know if Kale had ordered her to stand down or if for some reason or another because it was either that or his orders were beginning to fail. He knew that Kale wouldn't like that. Then again Kale was winning so it was completely possible that Kale didn't give a damn about that fact that Mikaela had done nothing more than snap halfheartedly at him since he had spared her life.
Thunder rumbled overhead and for a second Sam had to wonder how long the storm was going to last. The rain had eased up for the moment but he was fairly certain that it would start again soon and it'd probably be worse than it had been before. The clean scent of that the storm was giving everything was a small comfort considering that other than that clean scent the only thing he could smell was blood. The clean scent gave him something to focus on and help him keep his mind of the pain that was radiating off of his body in waves.
He'd heard howls before but he wasn't sure what kind of howls they were or who they had come from. He hoped that they were victory howls from Miles or Will and that the two of them would be along to help him soon because he wasn't sure how much more he could take. Fighting back was getting harder with every passing moment and he wasn't sure if he'd have the strength to do it much longer. He wasn't really all that worries about dieing.
No that wasn't what worried him. The idea that he'd die before he found out if Miles and Will were okay was what he was most worried about. He had no problem with dieing so long as they lived. But if he died then it was far more than likely that they'd die too. He knew that Kale wouldn't spare their lives even if they gave in after he was gone.
It wasn't in Kale's nature to show mercy to those that had fought against him. So dieing wasn't really an option for him if he wanted Miles and Will to live. Not that he was planning on rolling over and letting them kill him. He'd fight as long as he was able. It just wasn't very likely that he'd be able to fight for much longer. He was already struggling to stay conscious and his movements were becoming lethargic. Sam's body shuttered as he forced himself to stand. Blood was running down his muzzle from a long line of gashes that had been left by another wolves fangs.
His vision had long since gone fuzzy and the cold November rain from earlier had caused some of his older wounds to go numb. Sam was on the point of no return and still he was going to fight for those he loved. He wasn't going to stop no matter what. Perhaps it was because of the storm or perhaps it was the pitiful shape that he was in that stopped him from noticing the pale blue markings that began to glow all over his body.
He never noticed the increased scent of ozone that filled the air or that the wolves that hung back just out of his vision had started to back off. In fact the only one that didn't seem amazed by the sudden change was Kale. The black wolf was more that certain that this was just some trick to scare them and he had no intention of letting it work. Besides Sam was in such terrible shape that Kale'd be able to take him down with the utmost of ease. Kale's laughter echoed in Sam's head as his cousin took a few steps closer to him.
"I think that I'll have the honor of killing you Sam. I was actually going to have Mikaela so it but the opportunity is just too good to pass up."
Sam's eyes widened as he looked at Kale. It wasn't the fact that Kale wanted to kill him himself (no he'd known that Kale wanted to do it himself from the beginning) but the fact that Kale had been going to force Mikaela to do it that shook him to the core. If Kale had ordered it she would have no choice to do it but Sam was happy that he'd changed his mind because he was sure that even though she might not like him anymore killing him would hurt her.
It wasn't as easy to take a life as most people thought it was and more often than not it affected the killer badly. And Mikaela was one of those people that he was sure it would devastate. So yes, he'd more than welcome a death at Kale's fangs than one by Mikaela's.
"By all means Kale if it means that it'll be a fair fight I'm all for it." Sam offered Kale a small grin. "This is probably the only time in your life that you'll be even the littlest bit fair."
Kale turned his head slightly and sneered.
"Then by all means Sam if you think you can beat me in the pitiful state that your in then bring it on." Kale surged forward and rammed into Sam forcing him backwards but not off of his feet like he'd been hoping. Kale's failure gave Sam a split second opening which he used to the fullest of his ability. Sam twisted around and just managed to dig his fans into the area just between his shoulder and neck. Kale let out a pained scream and tried his best to dig his own fangs into Sam's neck. Only he couldn't quite reach.
Apparently Sam being smaller than most of them had an advantage. As Kale moved trying to force Sam to let go Kale managed to move them close enough to one of his wolves that it was able to snap at one of Sam's back legs. It was with a sharp yelp that Sam let go and pulled away. Kale stood still for a moment just looking at his cousin.
He didn't know what the hell the blue marking his cousin was covered with were but the longer Sam fought the darker the markings became and while he didn't know if they'd do anything he wasn't going to wait to find out. If he wanted to end this fight he was going to have to act fast. His next attack had to be one that Sam wouldn't be able to dodge.
While he needed to act fast he also had to wait for the right moment to move. Which meant that he had to be patient. He hated being patient when he was so close to getting what he wanted. Sam swayed on his feet. The few moments of clarity that had come with his attack on Kale were gone and he felt all the worse for having had them in the first place. He felt worse now than he did before and he hadn't though that possible. He didn't have long until his body gave out on him completely. That meant that he didn't have time to waist in waiting for an opening especially if he wanted to end this before Kale killed him.
That meant that he didn't have time to think about what he was about to do or to think about how completely and utterly stupid he was about to be. This was his last chance and he was going to have to take it no matter what the outcome was. By the time the next flash of lightning lit up the sky Sam had moved from where he was trying to regain his feet to running as fast as his beaten and battered body would allow him too.
It took less time than he though for him to reach his cousin and with a determination he hadn't had since he'd pushed the Allspark into Megatron's chest Sam lunged at Kale's throat. He realized just a moment too late that he'd rushed in too soon. For just as Sam had lunged at Kale, Kale had shifted just enough so that he was able to burry his own fangs in Sam's throat. It seemed for a few moments as if time itself had slowed down.
As Kale slammed Sam down on the ground and pain ripped through his own body Sam was aware of only two things. The chorus of voice's that called his name, one of which was Mikaela, and the energy that he felt rush out of him and through the forest.
Ooo
"Sweet child fleet of foot and brave of heart. You love your brother dearly don't you and wish to protect him always. I know how much it hurts to watch one you love suffer and be able to do nothing about it. That however was then and this is now. Go forth young one and help protect all that you love. May your feet always be swift."
Bumblebee ran his feet hitting the ground far faster than he could ever remember them doing before. Then again he'd never had four of them before either. He had seen himself briefly just after he thought yes to The Lady's question. He seen himself as a wolf like Sam. Only he'd been bigger. His fur had been light grey except for the mask around his eyes, a good portion of all his legs and underbelly, and the stripe that ran down his back.
They had all been the same golden yellow as his armor and he'd even had a black stripe running down the yellow on his back. The things that stood out however were his bright blue eyes and the pale blue Autobot symbol on his left foreleg. It was odd thinking about himself as something other than a machine but at the moment he was a far from robotic as he could be. He was of flesh now as vulnerable as Sam though he had a feeling that it was only his skin that was vulnerable.
He still felt just as strong as he had before he'd been changed. That was good it meant that he'd be able to help Sam and not feel guilty about it. The Autobot code didn't count if you weren't technically an Autobot. That was something he was sure that even Optimus would agree with.
Ooo
"Old warrior. You care so deeply for those that you watch over. I have seen many stop caring about others after fighting for so long but your loved ones truly are your strength. I know it pains you to watch the innocent suffer so and not be able to fix it. Go now and right the wrong that had befallen your friends. I pray that you keep your strength to the end of this fight and all other you partake in."
He hadn't felt this strong in ages. It was almost as if time itself had been turned backwards and he was young again. None of the injuries he had acquired over the millennia were bothering him anymore and he felt as if he could run forever without his legs giving out from under him. He didn't care how the silver wolf had changed them or what the consequences might be. He could join the fight now and that was all that mattered to him.
Not fighting to right a wrong just felt wrong to him. He'd spent almost all of his life protecting those weaker than him and it was something he was sure to be doing till his dieing day. The change that had come over him simply meant that he'd be able to break the Autobot code and hurt something on this planet for once. He had no intention of killing no matter how much he wanted too. No he had too keep reminding himself that the enemy he was fighting now was young and stupid and just needed a good beating to put them in their place. He was more than happy to oblige.
A large black wolf ran through the tree's his paws hitting the ground at a rapid pace and each time they hit thunder might have rolled across the sky. Dark blue eyes turned to the sky as a flash of lightning raced across the clouds. The lightning highlighted the pale blue Autobot insignia on his right foreleg.
Ooo
"You adapt well to your surroundings like a chameleon hiding amongst the tree's. Things speak to you and you hear them. Never loose that love of learning about the things that inhabit this and many other worlds. I can't help but wonder what you'll learn from this. Surely more than many of my children before you. I look forward to hearing about what you learn. Never loose that drive."
He could hear everything. And considering that he could hear a lot as a mech that was saying something. This hearing however was different. Jazz swore that he could hear the world beneath him breathing as he ran. When he had joined the Autobot army many had noticed that his ability to observe and learn from what he saw was great. Due to that ability he moved through the ranks quickly. The humans had been something completely new for him. He loved listening to their voices because while no two transformers had the exact same voice they didn't have the variety that human being possessed.
He loved listening to Mikaela talk and it was something he could do for hours on end without getting tired of it. He learned more about her that way than he did from watching her. It hadn't taken very long at all for him to realize that the young human girl was practically a little sister to him. The panic he'd felt when she had vanished had overwhelmed his very being and she had been the only thing he could process until Sam had told them about what had happened and then all he'd felt was rage. Rage and a deep desire to rescue her from Kale and that creepy dude Eddie. Now he'd be able too.
The sounds of the forest came alive as a silver wolf ran. His icy blue eye's seemed to glow as much as the symbol on his right foreleg.
Ooo
"Silent and deadly as well as a strong mind. You have much in your favor runner of shadows. Very few would see past your charges fun loving nature to the being that lies within. He balances you quite well and you both need each other. The shadows work well for you but without a light to cast them there is nothing for you to hide in and the dark Is often terrifying. Stay strong and find that light. May the shadows work for you on moonless nights."
He was black mostly. The mask around his eyes, his legs about halfway up, and his underbelly however were all a dark gold. His eyes and the insignia just below his right ear however were a pale blue.
Prowl was so close to having a major glitch moment he was half surprised that he didn't drop to the ground and start twitching. Then again glitch moments were something that happened to normal beings from Cybertron. He wasn't sure he counted anymore and he was beginning to wonder if he shouldn't have said yes to The Lady. Primus just seeing her should have sent him on a fritz fit but it hadn't. Maybe he was starting to get over that little problem.
Watching over Miles was apparently starting to fix a glitch he'd had for a long time. It was amazing what watching over the hyperactive young man was doing for him and Ratchet appreciated it too. He wasn't quite sure if what he felt for Miles was love. At most he felt that it was a deep affection and probably a need. Then again he often saw a side of Miles that very few saw. While Miles was hyper and goofy and at times annoying the young man had a very acute sense when it came to people. Miles could point out tic's and nervous habits and half a dozen other things that other people didn't often notice. Miles had helped him a great deal with that skill.
It also helped one to know their own flaws and Miles was more than happy to tell him about what he saw when Prowl asked him. Prowl stopped for a moment and shook his head before he began running again. He needed to find Miles and make sure that he was okay and then he'd be able to ask if the feeling that lived in his spark was love or not.
Ooo
"To devote your life to healing is bot a blessing and a curse. There have been those before you that have taken the vow to save lives and I have given them my blessing. I give it to you know. To care for other is a risk. You loose just as many as you save and over time the heart grows weary. Many give up after loosing so many but you haven't. You care for each of you patients with skill and a temper that there for a good reason. May you continue to heal wither they be your kind or my children's"
Ratchet wanted nothing more than to figure out how he'd been changed the way he had. He was quite certain that it was fascinating and had happened in a way that he would have never processed. There were so many questions that needed to be answered but it wasn't the time to ask them at least not yet. He had a fight to help with now and chances were he'd be busy after the fight as well. He wasn't sure how far the healing ability that Sam and the others had went but he was quite sure that he'd still be needed even if it did heal all their wounds perfectly.
Even that he doubted. While gashes and cuts were one thing a broken bone wasn't. He doubted that even the body of a shape shifting werewolf could reset a broken bone. It was one of those things he'd have to ask about later. Right now he had a fight to get to so that he could stop them from killing each other.
The gray wolf ran his feet sinking into the slightly damp earth as he went. Streaks of red and yellow ran through his fur and his blue eyes seemed to glow in the pale night light.
Ooo
"Kind and gentle. Just and true. These along with half a dozen other things make a leader worthy of their role. You have all of those necessary and more. So many try to lead as you do and fail because they give in to soon. They go against their very natures as they try. You do not. Everything you project you are but you also hide much."
"Being a leader is not easy and is more often than not an unforgiving role to play. Lives' lost are lost at your hand and failure can mean the deaths of many. Having the ability to move past them and keep going is often a leaders greatest skill. You are a strong and just leader Optimus Prime never doubt that. And remember that no matter how dark the night love shines just a brightly as a full moon."
He felt as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. It seemed as if while running through the tree's and towards those he sought to help had freed him from something. Maybe it was because he didn't have to be doing this that had done it. For eon's he'd had to be leader in the war against the Decepticons. That meant that he'd had no choice but to fight but now.
Now it was his choice. He was doing this because he wanted to help Sam, Miles, and Will not because he had too. It was freeing in a way to be going into a fight that he wanted to be in and knew he could win. He could feel something forming in his mind. It was like steel cables connecting him to five other beings. But even though he knew they were there nothing came down the links to him. They were still new and closed. Then there was the tugging that was pulling him towards what he was sure was one of the human turned wolf.
He wasn't sure which one and he didn't care. The Autobots code stirred in his thoughts for a moment before it settled and more important things took it's place. For the moment the code didn't matter. Primus would surly understand why he was doing what he was doing and that was all that counted. While he was in this form and fighting beings of similar strength the code didn't matter. He could harm and force back but he wouldn't kill. No not killing was his choice. And Optimus realized a moment later that he hadn't lost something he'd gained it. He gained the free will to do what he wanted for once.
Fur of red and blue seemed to glow in the moonlight as Optimus ran. Tipping his head back he let loose a loud howl that was echoed by five others. In the great wolf's mind the links formed with the rest of his mechs opened and they became a pack.
Ooo
Lennox growled as he rammed into one of the wolves he was fighting. He wasn't doing that bad but he wasn't doing very good either. His fight with Eddie had been going well and then reinforcements had arrived and he'd started struggling to win. What little practice he'd managed to get with Sam and Miles had paid off of that he was sure for without it he wouldn't have lasted this long. He was worried though. He'd felt the link between him and Sam fade earlier and for the briefest of moments he'd though Sam had died but now he wasn't sure.
The link between them had closed seconds after he'd called the teens name. For now all he could do was hope that Sam was okay. Besides he had other things to worry about and they were baring their fangs and growling at him at the moment. The sound of a howl tore through the air just as he was about to lunge at one of Eddie's backup wolves. Needless to say the sound stopped him dead in his tracks and caused his fur to stand on end.
But for a moment he dared to hope that it was Sam or Miles coming to help him. The idea was shot down however when it was answered with four other howls. So it wasn't Sam or Miles that much was for sure and it was coming from the wrong direction to be either of them anyways. He prayed that they weren't more wolves on Kale's side because they were outnumbered enough as it was. Will shook and refocused himself on the task at hand.
He had three pains in the ass to take care of before he could go and help the others and he needed to be as focused as he could be. Will shifted his wait and lunged at a pale blonde wolf just managing to sink his teeth into the smaller creatures back. The wolf whined and started thrashing. It was only a few seconds before Eddie and the other wolf (a ginger) were on him trying to pry him off of their comrade. Fangs dug into the skin on the back of his neck and one of his hind legs. It hurt bad and he knew that he'd have to let go in order to get away from them but he was stuck between them. He was trapped. The pain built as claws tore into him next and in desperation he let go of the wolf he'd been hanging onto. If didn't help.
If anything it seemed as if that move had made him even more vulnerable because the ginger wolf took to it's new freedom with one thought in mind. Will watched as it lunged towards him and for a split second he was sure that he was about to be killed. Closing his eyes Will prepared himself. He was waiting for his life to pass before his eyes and all the while hoping that Sarah and Annabelle would forgive him for getting himself killed and not coming back to them.
Only the pain never came and for half a moment he thought that maybe the end had already come and it had been mercifully painless. Only that was what had happened in fact the loud thud and loud yelp he heard just a few seconds later told him otherwise. Grey eyes snapped open at the sound and he wasn't quite sure if he believed what he saw.
The black wolf that had pinned down the ginger was at lest three feet bigger than him and he was at least eight feet. What surprised him the most though was the fact that wolf before him felt oddly familiar. And it wasn't until the best turned towards him that he realized that he did in fact know him.
"Ironhide?" Will questioned as the black wolf rammed into Eddie and sent him flying just as another wolf pulled the light blond from him.
"Ratchet?" Will blinked as he looked at the two wolves that were on either side of him now.
"Will."
"Lennox." the pair greeted him. Though at that moment Will could only think of one thing to say.
"How the Hell?"
Ooo
Miles didn't worry or at lest he didn't worry much. It just wasn't really in his nature. His mom had once told him that he had a very relaxed personality most of the time and that he got that personality from his uncle. He was quite sure that it was because of that little personality quirk that he wasn't really all that worried about Sam. Sure the moment that the bond had opened and Sam's link had started to fade had worried him greatly but the fact that it had closed again had to mean that something good had happened.
Besides he'd know if Sam had died. Being Sam's beta he'd have felt the shift in power as he gained the alpha role. So ya he wasn't worried. In fact he was very far from worried. He had a feeling that something good was going to happen and while he wasn't quite sure what it was that was going to happen he wasn't worried. His fight was going well. Ronnie had worked himself into a nice rage and kept getting in the way of the two wolves that were there to help him fight. While he wasn't screwing with the newcomers minds like he was with Ronnie that was fine because Ronnie had been enough to through off their balance.
If fact Ronnie was still so pissed at him that the reddish brown wolf hadn't said a thing to him in quite a few minutes. So Miles simply spent his time dodging what attacks he could and retaliating when the opportunity presented itself. It was when Ronnie stopped trying to attack him at all that he became confused.
"You weren't lying to me were you?" Ronnie asked as he looked Miles straight in the eyes.
"No, I wasn't lying. I have no reason too." Ronnie nodded his head in jerky movements. He was terribly confused and he wasn't really sure if he wanted to fight anymore. Everything Miles had said to him made a grim sort of sense. Ronnie huffed.
"I don't know if I want to fight anymore or not." The two wolves that flanked Ronnie on either side started growling at him.
"Shut up!" Ronnie's voice boomed in their head and none of them could help but flinch back slightly at the sound of his voice.
"Ronnie, we can stop this at any time. We don't have to fight like this." Miles said as he took at tense step closer to the other wolf. The tow others began growling again almost immediately.
"I don't see the point really. Help us stop this so that we can all go home." Ronnie seemed to think about it for a second before he nodded and took a step forward. He wasn't going to leave Kale's pack like Hector had but he was tired of all the fighting. Truthfully, he wasn't even sure why they were fighting in the first place.
It seemed like he'd been doing a whole hell of a lot of blind following over the past few years and he was determined to try and put a stop to whatever was going on. While it wasn't lily it'd work he could still try. Unfortunately for him the two wolves that had come to help him fight seemed to having no desire to stop fighting.
In fact they seemed to want to fight very much. Miles tensed as the pair lunged at him. He was ready for anything they threw at him and that was even without Ronnie's help. Sadly enough for the wolves they never made it to their intended target. Miles wasn't sure how he hadn't sensed the two wolves that had suddenly appeared and pined down the other but he wasn't complaining and he wasn't worried. In fact it only took him a few seconds to figure out who the wolves in front of him were.
The colors and the insignia's kind of gave it away anyways. So while Ronnie was backing away Miles was moving forward because really Prowl and Jazz weren't that much bigger than him. Jazz was just a few inches and Prowl was two feet at the most.
"Hey guys!" Miles called. "How the hell did this happen?"
Both Jazz and Prowl turned their head to look at him. Jazz offered him a wolfish grin and Prowl merely nodded.
"What's up Miles?"Jazz's voice echoed in his head just as smoothly as if he had spoken aloud. Prowl's reply was more to the topic of his question.
"Your Lady showed herself to us and apparently she though that we'd be able to help like this." Miles raised an eyebrow at that. The idea that The Lady had taken a personal interest in their little spat amazed him. Then again Sam had told him that he'd preyed to her and wolves that were true decedents of the first of their kind were said to hold a special place in her heart. Not that she didn't love them all it was just different with the heirs of the first.
"And you aren't fritzing how?" he asked. Prowl shrugged.
"I'm not quite sure."
"I think it's pretty cool if you ask me." Jazz said as he looked at the two before tilting his head towards Ronnie.
"So is that guy over there any trouble or not. Cause I wanna know if we're gonna need to take him down or not."
Miles took a moment to glance at Ronnie who was doggedly holding his ground and not running.
"Na, he good. He don't want to fight anymore. He just wants answers."
Ooo
He couldn't get up. Kale had tore into him and now he didn't have the strength left to get up. He'd tried and failed and he hated that he was so weak now. He wasn't sure why he was so weak. Sure Kale had tore into his throat but he hadn't been there long enough to cause major damage but still he was bleeding and he couldn't get up. Sam wondered for half a second about what was going on with Miles and Will but the thought didn't stay with him long.
He had other things to focus on. Like how he was going to fight against Kale and those of his pack that were willing when he couldn't get himself to move. Mikaela stood as far away as Kale would let her go. She wasn't fighting and she hadn't said anything since her outburst earlier but Sam had a feeling that there was some sort of inner conflict going on in her mind.
He wondered for just a moment about her imprint with Eddie and if it was starting to loose it's power. He didn't have time to wonder about it for long though because it looked like Kale was ready to go again. Whatever it was that had made him let go was gone now.
"Tell me Sam. What's it like knowing that you're about to die and that when you die as may of you loved ones as we can get to we're going to kill?" Kale's voice was a twisted mix of joy and pleasure. It made Sam shudder. He didn't know how far off his rocker Kale had to be in order to fall so far that he'd enjoy killing someone but he was sure that he didn't want to find out.
"Don't know Kale. What's it like to have fallen so far into madness that your willing to kill family and innocents to get what you want?" Sam reply came out sounding a lot weaker than he intended it to. The weakness in his voice only helped to drive home the fact that he was indeed dieing. It was funny in a way. Some part of him had always thought that he'd meet his end at Megatron's claws. It didn't matter that the mech was gone now he'd still always thought it.
"There's no need to be a smart ass cousin. Come now and tell the truth." Kale snarled. Surly if Sam had enough strength for smart ass remarks that meant he had the strength to fight back. Besides he wanted to hear Sam say he was scared. He wanted the satisfaction of putting that fear into him and he wanted to hear Sam say the words himself.
"I'm not scared of you Kale. I've faced death and it's big, silver, and has claws and red eyes that could put the devil to shame." And it was the truth. It wasn't what Kale wanted to hear. Kale snarled saliva dripping from his fangs.
"Even if you don't fear death you will fear me by the time your life ends." Kale thrust himself forward with all the strength he could manage. He was going to end the fight and kill Sam. Then he was going to kill as many people as he could find just to spite his cousin's memory.
Sam watched as Kale moved towards him for the second time with the intent to kill him. He tried to push himself up so that he could fight back but he still couldn't force his legs to work. It was almost as if he'd walked a thousand miles and his legs simply refused to move anymore. He was sure at that moment that he was going to die.
As he lay there his mind flashbacked to Mission City and Megatron knocking him off the corner of that office building and how sure he had been that he was going to die there only he hadn't. And apparently fate had a thing for him because moments before Kale made it to him he felt a rush of wind rush by his body as something a whole lot bigger slammed into Kale and knocked him back before taking a position in front of him as if to keep him safe.
Sam blinked as he looked at the wolf in front of him. He had to be fourteen to fifteen feet tall and he was the oddest mix of colors that Sam had ever seen in another wolf. Red and Blue fur that almost seemed to glow in the dark. The wolf in front of him seemed oddly familiar. In fact the entire scene seemed kind of familiar. It took Sam a moment to realize that he'd lived this whole scene out before.
Kinda. There had been a whole lot of differences but there was one thing that was the same.
"Optimus?" Sam asked even though he was almost completely certain that the wolf in front of him was in fact Optimus. He just wasn't a giant robot anymore. Sam wondered how it had happened. How had he changed like that? Then of course common sense kicked in and told him that all his questions could wait until they got out of this fight alive. And he was quite sure that they would make it out alive.
Optimus never replied to his inquiry but he did at least nod his head in greeting. Sam panted as he made another attempt to rise to his feet. He managed a few inches but didn't make it before falling again. It was a good sign however. He was getting his strength back slowly but surly and hopefully before too long he'd be able to stand on his own four paws without falling back down into the mud.
"Who is this Sam? Have you been holding out on me cousin?" Kale's voice had a nasty tone to it as he questioned Optimus' presence. Sam snorted.
"He's a friend and no I wasn't holding out on you. He isn't from my pack." Optimus tilted his head a bit to the side upon hearing that and took a moment to look back at Sam as if asking that it was true. Sam blinked and reached out with his consciousness to the other wolf. He was stopped almost immediately.
Optimus still had his mind closed off but that was okay because that's how alpha's minds worked. He couldn't get into Optimus' mind but he could still be heard.
"You're an alpha Optimus. You and the others aren't technically part of my pack."
"I see. I suppose that it makes sense in a way." Optimus replied and the sound of his voice actually made Sam shiver. It was like listening to him speak only his voice held a lot more power than it had before.
"It shouldn't be possible," Kale snarled. "Two packs can not exist within the same territory."
Sam snorted.
"It is so possible. Think about how many packs live in your home town. Hell there life fifteen small packs there if not more. Besides I highly doubt that we're going to end up in a property dispute."
"I agree with you on that Sam." Optimus said as he turned his attention back to Kale and the rest of his pack. His eyes fell upon a tan colored wolf that was hanged towards the back of the group and realization dawned quickly.
It was Mikaela and she didn't look like she wanted to be fighting at all. He hear soft steps from behind him and knew without even looking that it was Bumblebee. Sam startled yelp a few moments later told him that Sam knew he was there too. Another pair of paw steps joined Bumblebee's. It appeared that Sam had finally managed to get back on his feet again.
The pair walked side by side with each other until both were standing besides Optimus. Sam was still wobbly on his feet but he was standing at least.
"Sam." Miles voice broke into Sam's mind with his usual and often annoying cheerfulness.
"Yes, Miles."
"We're on our way and guess what we have a new ally."
"I know Miles. Optimus and Bee are here with me."
"Really?" Miles asked. "Well that's great but that wasn't what I was talking about. Ronnie has seen the light or enough of it that he knows what he's doing is wrong."
Sam blinked in mild surprise. Of all the people he had expected to see the light Ronnie hadn't actually been very high on his list. Then again Miles could have a way with words when he really wanted to. And apparently he'd been using his way with words against Ronnie. Well he supposed that if for some reason or another Ronnie ended up faking his change of heart then they weren't really in anymore trouble than they had been.
"How far away are you Miles?" Sam asked as he shifted his feet. He wasn't sure if Kale silence was because of the sudden new arrival or because he was talking to one of his pack and he wasn't really going to question it.
"Close enough. Eddie and a few of Kale's lackeys will arrive before us. We're probably about a thousand feet behind them." Sam shifted his gaze towards Optimus and it was apparent by the look that he was giving that he knew what was going on as well. "
So what's the plan Optimus? You have more experience in this than I do."
Optimus huffed and Sam got the feeling that something about what he had just said amused the wolf turned Autobot.
"I'm not quite sure yet. If it comes down to a fight I'm certain that we could win but I'm hoping to avoid that if we're able." Sam merely shrugged.
"It seemed more likely that they'll want to fight Optimus."
Both Sam and Optimus turned to look at Bumblebee. What he'd said was more than likely true of course.
"I know Bee but who knows maybe Kale'll know when he outmatched and outnumbered and just give up."
"It doesn't seem likely." Optimus said as he flicked his head towards Kale.
As if to prove that he in fact wasn't going to give up without a fight Kale let loose a loud bark and then a short snarl. Noise from the forest behind them warned the entire group that something was coming their way and all of them knew both who and what it was. Eddie and five four other wolves burst out of the tree's like Jack out of his box and ran to rejoin Kale. Kale's pack was mostly whole now with the exception of Ronnie. Miles, Will, Ronnie, and the rest of the Autobots joined them not two minute later.
"Hey guys glad you could join us." Sam greeted the others as they took their positions. Will and Miles with him and the rest of the over large wolves with Optimus. Ronnie stood between the packs. Not quite with Sam and Optimus but not too far on Kale's side either.
"Hey." Miles chirped.
"Glad to see your in one piece. You had me worried." Will said.
"Will you betray me like hector did Ronnie?" Kale's voice was a low enraged hiss. They way he looked at Ronnie was enough to send chills down most spines. The fact that all of them had heard his hissed question was merely a sign of how mad Ronnie halfway betrayal had pissed him off. Ronnie shook his head in denial.
"I'm not switching sides but I don't want to fight anymore Kale. I don't see the point."
"Don't see the point. DON"T SEE THE POINT. GETTING RID OF COWERING MUTTS LIKE MY COUSIN IS THE POINT! ONLY THE STRONG DISERVE TO LIVE! YOU USED TO UNDERSTAND THAT!" Kale's voice boomed through their minds his rage seeping into his words so strongly that they were like poison.
Ronnie flinched and for a second it seemed as if he would back down. He didn't.
"No I don't see the point. Sam's pack isn't weak its just small and why do you care when we don't even live here. This isn't our territory Kale. I'm tired of following you blindly and of you playing favorites in order to get us to do what you want us to do. I'm not leaving the pack I'm just through."
Kale snorted and shot Sam a look from across the field.
"Since when have I played favorites Ronnie. You're my second in command. The only one who has a higher position than you is Ashley and she only has that because she's my mate."
Kale's voice had calmed and instead of the blind rage of before there was almost a sweetness to it now. Ashley gave Kale a flat look about his comment about her rank in the pack.
"Not playing favorites huh? Then why did you turn Mikaela and order her to imprint with Eddie? I know it wasn't for him it was just to get at Sam."
Eddie snarled and started to move forward but stopped and turned to look pack at the rest of his pack. It took everyone present a moment to realize that he was looking for Mikaela. He found her too huddling as far away from Kale and the others as she could get without breaking an order. He whole body was shaking like she was cold.
Eddie turned and started moving towards his mate with slow steady steps. It was almost like he was afraid he'd startle her if he moved to quickly. When he got to her he put his face up close to hers only to have her pull away and whine. This process was repeated several times before Eddie turned cold blue eyes to Kale.
"What's wrong with her." It wasn't a really a question but an order. Kale merely shook his head.
"No idea Eddie she's been acting like that for awhile now and no matter what I tell her to do she just stays there and whimpers and whines."
Eddie snarled.
"She won't answer me Kale it's like she not there at all. It feels almost like our imprint is fading."
"What?" Kale turned as if he was going to walk over to Eddie but apparently he though against it because he turned back towards Sam and the rest.
"What did you do cousin?" Sam tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"I didn't do anything Kale."
"Yes you did. She started acting this way after she screamed your name. When she thought I was going to kill you." Sam was silent for a moment his brain turning back to when Kale had had him by the throat. Sudden realization hit him and he couldn't help but be amused.
"You forced someone to imprint who had feeling for another. Her imprint with Eddie was never real and when she thought I was going to die whatever affection she had for me started to come back despite your orders. She's the one who's breaking their imprint. It's not anything of my doing."
Kale stood still as if he was trying to figure out if he should be mad or not. The only thing he really accomplished was looking stupid.
"So I play favorite's and I can't keep one simple bitch under an imprint is that right? Well I guess you all have me figured out don't you?" Kale tone was sarcastic and mean and it looked like he was getting ready to run at one of the other wolves and tear their throat out.
The rest of his pack actually started backing away with their tails tucked at the tone. Ronnie moved so that he stood beside Miles. Even Ashley had her tail tucked between her legs though she stayed closer to Kale then the others.
"Kale?" Ashley's voice shook as she spoke to her mate,
"Maybe they're right. You've been acting strange and I can't deny it anymore. You're starting to scare me." Kale's head whipped around in order to look at Ashley.
"What are you going to leave me too? " Ashley shook her head and backed away a few steps.
"Kale." Sam stepped forward a few feet. "There's something wrong with you Kale and even the rest of your pack can see it. Lets stop this before someone gets hurt or worse. I don't want any of our packs to be harmed."
Kale snorted. So even Sam thought he was nuts. Well they were all blind fools. They didn't understand that if weaklings like his cousin were left to live then the whole of the species would suffer. He'd seen actual werewolves and they were nothing to sniff at. They'd wipe out the entire pack but if he was able to weed out the strong from the weak then they'd have a better chance of winning the fight he was sure would come.
"So you think it'd be best for all of us if we just quite and went home?" Sam nodded and took another step forward.
"Careful Sam." Optimus' voice warned. Sam only nodded. He was half surprised that none of the others had followed him but upon a glance backwards he saw that they were all ready to jump forward if he needed them. He was more thankful for that than they'd ever know. About halfway across the field Sam stopped and stood.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you Sam but I don't think that that'd be the best thing for us to do." Kale shook his head as he said this as if he though Sam was amusing. For all Sam Knew he did.
"Lets just fight and get it over with. I've been hoping to put some of these younglings in the place." Ironhide's voice rumbled. The black wolf got several different replies for that none of which he wanted to hear.
"You know Sam I think he's right it's time to end this." Kale turned and looked at his pack before looking at Sam and the others. "It's time to end this. Finish them."
The order seemed to hang in the air for years before it took hold and forced Kale's pack to move. For no matter how much many of them no longer wished to fight an alpha's order had to be obeyed. Wolves of every size and color lunged at each other. Most fighting to kill while the rest fought to protect. It was a fight that could rage four centuries just as the Autobot and Decepticon war had raged for eon's. It just might have to if it hadn't been for the powerful voice that rang through the forest mere minutes after the fight had started.
The voice said one thing: "That's enough."
Ooooooooooooo
Excuse me while I go and jump for joy. This is the longest chapter I've ever written and I'm damn happy to be done with it. Sorry about the severe lack of fight scenes but I'm not very good with those. I though about watching actual wolves fighting and then trying to describe what I saw but I don't think I have enough wolf on wolf material to do that. I have a Wolf's Rain DVD and New Moon and that's it. So ya but you still have 9,000 words. So ya I'll see you guys again next week with the last chapter hopefully. I should be able to then my mom's real good about taking me to the library so I can use the internet there. Okay so that's it for this chapter. Drop me a review and let me know what you think. Remember reviews make me happy.
Oh, and I thank those of you who humored my whining and let a review. I kinda felt stupid for complaining but whatever I'm over it now. Pity reviews work fine for me. They still make me happy.