Shadowfang was puzzled, and he was uneasy. He and his brothers had erupted from the trees, expecting to see their massive, powerful sister standing over the offline frame of whatever mech had come crashing to Earth this time, but to his surprise, she was simply staring off into the trees. Keystone had immediately plunged into the opposing tree line as Swiftpaw went down into the crater where the mech had come to a halt, leaving Shadowfang with Warrior Star. He stared at her, flame red optics glittering as he tried to piece together what had happened in his processor, but it just didn't make sense.

All three of the brothers had felt it when Warrior Star had attacked the mech through the pack bond. They had felt her cold determination, a flicker of burning rage, and then a sense of loss and confusion that was so sharp that they had increased their speed out of fear for her safety. The fact that she had suffered no damage was a relief to Shadowfang, but why she had let the mech go…that was what was bothering him the most.

"Warrior Star, what transpired here? Why did you let the intruder go?" The steel gray mech finally asked, his optics narrowed as he stared at his sister. The massive bronze femme stood motionless, her cobalt blue optics still trained on the trees where Keystone had vanished, then finally she turned to face him. A combination of confusion and wonder crossed her faceplates, then she spoke.

"He didn't fight. Claimed that he was a neutral seeking asylum. Said he was looking for peace. Just because I haven't found my peace doesn't give me the right to deprive another of his chance. I let him go for that reason alone." Warrior Star's voice, which had been so cold and emotionless of late, rang out like a resonant brass bell, deep and calm and wise. Shadowfang was so startled by the change that he took a step back, staring at her in astonishment.

She hasn't spoken like that since she lost War Beast! She sounds…like herself again. Lost in his thoughts, Shadowfang didn't react when Keystone appeared from the trees before trotting to where Warrior Star stood, still staring at her steel gray brother as the black mech halted at her side.

"That mech is long gone. But he is damaged…I could smell energon, faintly, and his stride was arrested, like he was running with a limp. Did you wound him, sister?" Keystone asked, his golden optics gleaming as Warrior Star turned to meet his gaze.

"No. He had a limp when I found him. I have to assume it was from the landing, either that or he was damaged before, wherever it is he came from. I did not damage him." Shadowfang saw that Keystone heard the difference in her voice as well, though his reaction was not as strong as Shadowfang's had been. But the feeling of wonder that flowed through the bond between them was unmistakable.

You hear it too, brother? She sounds like her old self again. Shadowfang whispered to Keystone, and he sensed the affirmation from the black mech before he replied just as softly.

Yes, I hear it. Something about this mech is different. She's offlined a dozen neutrals before now…why let this one go? She has never cared before… Keystone's musing ended there, for Swiftpaw had returned from his inspection of the mech's landing site.

"This one had a rough landing. Went through a few trees and bounced off some big rocks before he came to a halt. I smelled energon near the landing pod. He's wounded…I could run him down before the sun rises if I left now." Swiftpaw said, flexing a sleek foreleg in preparation to run when Warrior Star's fierce optics flashed and she twisted to snarl at the smallest mech.

"No! Leave him be. Breaksteel is no threat, to us or the Autobots or the humans. He deserves a chance at life." Swiftpaw looked startled by her sharp order, but before he could question it, Moonflight dropped from the sky like a stone, landing almost silently at Warrior Star's side and folding his massive wings before he looked at the bronze femme.

"Warrior Star, I just got a message from the Autobots. William Lennox has been gravely injured, and they are requesting that you come immediately. They don't think he's going to survive." Shadowfang recoiled sharply at the Predacon's words, feeling his spark twist in his chest. Then he felt the shock, anger, and agony from Warrior Star, and he nearly caved on the spot.

She has always been close to that human…Primus, we all have. He was with us through one of the most trying times the pack has known. Shadowfang thought, staring at Warrior Star as she turned to stare at him and their optics met. He knew, without a doubt, what words were going to spill from his sister's jaws.

"We shall leave at once. Moonflight, let them know that we're coming immediately." The Predacon nodded, shooting into the sky a second later, then Warrior Star leaped forward, plunging into the trees with all three of her brothers right on her tail.

Shadowfang watched Warrior Star weave through the trees, missing them by inches as her massive paws sent dirt, leaves, and brush flying into the air. The night had already been long but it was not any closer to ending than it had been earlier, he couldn't help but remind himself. The journey to the Autobot base would be a long one, but Shadowfang paid that fact no heed. Will Lennox was injured. The pack had no other choice but to go.

Onward they raced, none of them aware of the fact that they were being trailed by a big storm gray mech with a limp in his stride, and pale yellow optics that glowed with curiosity, for the bronze femme fascinated him, and he was determined to figure out why.

A/N: Well. Writer's block is a bitch. That and I've been quite busy...what time I have had to myself has disappeared so quickly that I can't seem to figure out where the hours have gone. I just know that they aren't there anymore.

Anyway! Long time no update, and for that, I do apologize. Hopefully I've defeated the particular block that stopped my story writing for the moment. But I do suppose that we'll see.

To my dear reviewers, readers, favoriters, and followers, thank you so much for your dedication to the story!

As always, love if you will, hate if you must. I will take anything that you care to dispense.

Until we meet again...

Kani