(I'm back with another chapter, everyone. Also, I saw review form the artist, antubis0, stating that Ironhide's mother had red eyes. I swear, I had no idea about that, and I thank antubis0 for letting me know, because I will add that in the later chapters to come. On the other hand, I have finished up this little chapter, but it isn't at all "Little".)
The final months of Summer came to the forests, bringing with it the last warm days that were accompanied by green grass, sprinkling waters, soothing winds, and nights that had skies that were full of millions of stars, depicting many scenes and pictures that told legends in the eyes of those who beheld them. The Deer and Boar were in season, the birds had finished their tasks of teaching their chicks how to fly and catch insects, and many of the predators were in great spirits. The prey of their choices where abounded in all places, and on certain occasions would be in one place that seemed unlikely inhabited by predators, but would then find themselves being taken by surprise by a hidden hunter.
This certain occasion had just happened to Megatron and his pack; a fat Buck had wandered into the badlands, and the pack had taken it down, killed it, and carried it all the way back to the den to feast. It was a great for them indeed, for a meal like this was incredibly hard to come by, no matter what season it was.
Barricade was in the middle of his nap, dreaming about him as an adult Dire Wolf hunting down a gigantic Boar, when his black nose twitched and sniffed the air. He woke up at that moment and got up, yawned, and sniffed again. He was uncertain if this scent he was smelling was a part of a living dream or if it was real, so he walked out of the den and came upon the scene of where the pack had brought the corpse of the Buck. Nope, he wasn't dreaming. Barricade's mouth almost dropped to the ground and his tongue lolled out with saliva slowly dripping from the tip.
"All right," he slurped as he ran over to the pack, but was suddenly blocked by Starscream.
"And what are you doing?" he snarled.
"I'm hungry, and I want to eat. Let me pass," Barricade retorted, but Starscream snorted at him and turned his back to the pup.
"This meal is for members of the pack who know how to hunt," he began as he tore a piece of meat from the corpse and started to chew it with his mouth open as he continued. "-and you are not a hunter, so wait your turn. You should know your place, little piece of shit."
"How about you know your place, Star-Flea?" Barricade growled as he bit at the light brown Dire Wolf's leg; the latter yelped in slight agony before he gave the puppy a hard kick with his back leg, sending Barricade rolling away from the center. Barricade tried to steady his stance after the rolling around, and saw that any attempt to break in and eat would not accomplish anything. "Forget it, I'm not hungry!" he huffed as he turned away and left.
"Now, what was that for Starscream?" Blackout turned over to Starscream after he witnessed what had happened. He cared about Barricade and didn't want him to get hurt. "He may be a puppy, but he should eat and not go hungry."
"No whiney brat is going to be eating next to me," Starscream responded after he swallowed what he had left in his mouth.
"Blackout, that child of yours does have to know that those of lower rank should wait for their time to eat," Megatron then spoke as he held a thick chunk of muscle in his mouth, blood staining his cheeks and muzzle. "If he doesn't learn that, or learn how to hunt for himself and the pack, then he must wait for his food." As much as he despised Barricade, Megatron knew that it wouldn't be wise to say it aloud after the discussion he had with Soundwave, and decided to respond to his cohort's conversation with the obvious reason of Barricade's ban from eating along with the rest.
"Perhaps we can let him watch us hunt?" Bonecrusher suggested. "If he could just sit and watch, maybe he will understand-"
"No, not now," Megatron said with a look that could only be perceived by the others as a silent signal that meant only one word: Silence. "Unless I see him fit and ready I will think about letting him watch our next hunt."
"Why can't I eat with the others? Am I too little? Or am I not worthy?" Barricade mumbled his questions to himself as he paced backward and forward, making a line of paw prints that overlapped one another. His ears were furrowed low and his teeth bared in a growl, he hated it when things like this would happen. Him, not being able to do anything unless he either grew bigger, it was so unfair.
He then sat himself down and sneezed after lifting his upper lip irritated his nose. "Ugh, I wonder if Bumblebee has these problems?" he said to himself. But, he then sighed and shocked his head, knowing that Bumblebee would hardly have any problem joining in the pack's meals since he didn't cause problems, unlike himself. "Maybe I am a bother to the others, and maybe I shouldn't be with them. Starscream keeps saying that I am worthless, and so does Megatron."
Just before he could continue degrading himself, Barricade suddenly heard the sound of a scuffle, and then heard the sound of two voices bickering over something. Curious, he followed the noise until he spotted who and what it was. He saw that it was two ferrets that belonged to Soundwave, Rumble and Frenzy. Now, while most animals in the woods had no ability to communicate to Dire Wolves, there are those who could; it was believed that Primus would give a small blessing to some animals by giving them either red or blue eyes, and they in return would speak with Dire Wolves as well as their own species. These animals in return wouldn't be hunted, but accepted into a pack as a source of help or sentry. Rumble and Frenzy were one of those animals that were given this blessing, and have been under the protection of Soundwave.
"I get the head!" Rumble chittered as he was keeping his paws on the head of a rather large Grouse while his brother was pulling on the tail feathers.
"No way, I'm the one who saw it, so I get the head!"
"But, I'm the one who bit it's neck!" Rumble growled.
Barricade watched the two argue only for a few seconds before he decided that he would somehow take away their Grouse and have it all to himself. He was hungry, and the opportunity to steal it from some pesky rodents was almost too good to pass up. With a loud bark, he charged over to the ferrets, spooking them as he placed a paw on their catch. "None of you will get the head, because it's mine."
"Yours?" questioned Frenzy as he rattled his teeth in a threatening manner. "Did you catch it or did we?"
"Yeah, we caught it, and it's ours. So, beat it, Pipsqueak!" Rumble added as he tried to bite at Barricade, but the pup maneuvered himself around to avoid the attack.
"I am tired of being told what to do around here!" he snarled as he dropped the Grouse and lowered his ears to his head, and his mouth revealed his teeth. Clearly, he was at the breaking point. "It's always the same thing: Wait until you're bigger, wait your turn, stay where you are at, and everything else! I am a Dire Wolf, and I am at the top of the food chain, while you two are scrap eaters!"
"Scrap Eaters, huh?" Frenzy bared his teeth as well. "If you're at the top of the food chain, prove it!"
Just before anything else could be said, the ferrets leapt onto Barricade and began biting and scratching him all over. Barricade was taken by surprise, but he was not going to be put in his place by Frenzy or Rumble. He spun around, tried to nip and bite at the ferrets, rolled all around, jumped and jerked about to get the ferrets off of him. His efforts managed to get Rumble off go him and Barricade to the chance to chomp down on the ferrets tail and spun him all around.
"Yeeeeeooooooow! Let me go!" Rumble wailed as his vision became very dizzy. Barricade snorted and refused and spun him around some before before he finally let go. Rumble was sent flying a few feet before landing on the ground and hitting his head against a rock. With Rumble taken out, Barricade now had to focus of Frenzy, but the feisty ferret was a little bit trickier to get and even harder to force off.
All of the scuffle and ruckus caused quite a racket, and Megatron and the rest of the pack heard it loud and clear. Abandoning the carcass, they all went over to the place where the loud scuffle was coming from, and they were surprised to find Barricade and Frenzy in a fight. Barricade had Frenzy by the tail and was now spinning him all around above his head before he then tossed him into a dry bush, the little ferret uttered a yowl of pain as his body hit the branches.
Barricade then laughed as he puffed up his chest in pride. "Ha, I told you I was at the top of the food chain,." the little pup then turned around and tossed his tail and rear up at the ferrets as he went to claim his prize.
Soundwave was incredibly angry at what Barricade had done to his ferrets and was about to scold the child when Megatron halted him. "Wait a moment, Soundwave."
The grey and black Dire Wolf then approached the feasting Barricade and cleared his throat. Barricade looked up and immediately thought that he was in trouble once again. But, what he had done next would surprise even Megatron himself; he lowered himself down, lowered his ears and hid his tail underneath. "I'm sorry, Megatron. I'm sorry, I was hungry and Frenzy and Rumble wouldn't share,"
Megatron lifted a brow slightly; this was a reaction he was prepared to see from the one member he had viewed as a pest and a feisty trouble maker. He then raised a paw and spoke. "Enough, Barricade. What I was about to say was not of your punishment, but of praise." Barricade then lifted up his head and cocked it; this was the very first time he had ever heard Megatron say such a thing. What did he do that was deserving of praise.
"Uh, you aren't mad at me, sir?" he said with a hint of confusion.
"Oh, no, not at all. You see life itself is a struggle, and we all must find a way to survive," Megatron answered as he moved around Barricade, keeping his eyes set on the pup. "Even the top predator of the forest has to find a way to survive, for the forest is not a kind person. All of us know that the forest has a way of speaking to the sky and water, and it can order them to stall the cool wind or drench the scores of rivers dry of water. Even more so, the forest can tell the leaves and grass to turn to red, orange and yellow, and have them taste foul and old."
"What do you mean?" Barricade asked. He was incredibly confused at what his leader was trying to say.
"What I mean is that seasons are nothing but agents of the forest, and their goal is to test all the creature's will to survive. Life itself is cruel and is not willing to even let the weak live on. Your battle with Frenzy and Rumble is a glorification of such will; you took what the week had and have taken what was yours. In order for the strongest to live, a sacrifice is needed to ensure the continuation of the latter. The Fallen used this method to try and increase the territory of our kind, and by doing that many Grey Wolves and other weak creatures had to be killed in the process." He then stopped and growled, but not at Barricade, but to himself. "And if it hadn't been for the Dire Wolves who had disagreed with the Fallen's actions, the Fallen would have succeeded, but he was killed by the ones who believed that the strong and the weak should live in harmony. Those who had called his actions blasphemy believed that the Fallen's actions were not approving of their laws and saw it as an act of betrayal,"
"Betrayal? Why would they think that?" Barricade asked.
"The rest of the story, I am afraid, is a rather long, tedious one and you might become bored. And besides, the overall fact remains is that you have shown something useful in yourself. You took the opportunity and have achieved it." Megatron finished and Barricade finally understood. He had taken away Frenzy and Rumble's kill because he was stronger instead of weak, and that Megatron was speaking kindly to him was even more rewarding. "So, for showing you are capable of being useful, I have decided that you can observe our hunt five days."
Barricade's ears perked up and he leapt up to his paws, his tail wagging furiously with excitement. His sense of questionable confusion was now enveloped with a sense of cheer and happiness. "No way! I can? You're joking, right?"
"No, I am not deceiving you," Megatron shook his head, but before he could speak Barricade began spinning around and barking and howling with glee. The res of the pack was stunned to see how much Megatron's demeanor had changed dramatically; one moment he was hating the little one, but now he was showing patience and acceptance. This greatly concerned Soundwave and Blackout, for they knew how much Megatron really felt for Barricade.
"I get to watch the hunt! I get to watch! Yeah!" Barricade continued to cheer with mirth before Megaron admonished him.
'Easy, you can continue your joyful exaltation after you finish your feast. Take your kill and bring back to the den." Megatron ordered and the little black puppy grabbed his prize by the neck and went along with Bonecrusher. Blackout, seeing that his pup was now out of sight, turned to his leader and questioned him.
"Megatron, what is this? You have never shown Barricade such attention."
"I agree," Soundwave joined in. "Why this sudden change of heart?"
"I believe that the runt has finally shown some use," Megatron answered as he scratched the back of his head with a back leg. "If he can change into something worthy of a member, then he is worthy of my praise. However, if he doesn't live up to my expectations, then my real feelings toward him will persist. Consider this a slight break of my feelings for him." Megatron then turned his head to Starscream, who was nipping at his tail to take care of a slight itching sensation there. "Starscream, you shall watch Barricade from now on, and report to me if his usefulness is true or not."
Starscream spat out some fur he had caught in his mouth and sneered. "What? I am to watch that pathetic brat?"
"Yes, and no exception. Refuse, and you will starve to death." Megatron went on to warn Starscream of even worse punishments if he didn't follow his directions, and Starscream was forced to accept it out of sheer cowardice. As the three members left, Starscream snarled with annoyance; he hated being put on watch duty, and being the constant eye on Barricade was even worse than anything else he had to watch, which were normally for any intruders or any signs of prey.
"That Megatron, how dare he make me a babysitter? It's not fair! I have better things to do than watching over that whiney runt." Starscream continued to mumble to himself before he was interrupted by Frenzy.
"Like what? Being a scaredy cat?"
"You shut up, you rat!" Starscream cursed at the ferret, but Frenzy and Rumble continued.
"It is true, Starscream, you said that you could be a better leader than Megatron, and yet your time to take over has never happen," Rumble pointed out.
"Yes, and you always end up as being the chew toy of the alpha." Frenzy added and the two ferrets laughed.
"Why you little beasts! Just shut up and leave me alone!" Starscream turned his back to them and sat down, growling under his breathe of how much he wanted to skin the little pests.
Just then, he heard the two ferrets complaining to themselves about how hungry they were now that their kill was taken from them, and that if it weren't for Barricade their stomachs would have been satisfied. Starscream began to think about this with deep thought. Frenzy and Rumble have lost their meal to Barricade, and he was forced to watch Barricade for no reason. Perhaps he could find a way to get back at the runt, and maybe he wouldn't be the only one who would be satisfied with revenge.
A sly, wicked smile spread across Starscream's muzzle and he turned around to the little ferrets. "Now, you rats, I have discovered something that I think you might be interested in."
"What do you think that could be?" they asked him, and Starscream chuckled with villainous delight.
"What I have discovered is that we have been wronged by Barricade, the black and white pup who had stolen your rightful meal, and I have to watch him now for no reason."
"Yeah, you do have a point. But why should we care about what you are to do with him?" Rumble asked.
"Oh, I am to watch him and report to Megatron if anything happened: I could report that maybe Barricade is a coward to small birds, or maybe has an allergy to Wisent...something to show how useless he really is." Starscream finished, but then he lowered his head to whisper to the ferrets. He couldn't be too careful if he should be spied upon by either Soundwave, Blackout, Bonecrusher or whoever. "What I want is revenge, and I know that you two want it as well. I want to you two to watch him for me, and if you report to me what you have I will tell Metron this, and I am almost certain that we will be rewarded."
"We? Megatron would reward you," Frenzy interrupted.
"I will reward you with half of what it is I am to be given as a reward. Do this, and I know we will be enjoying our revenge."
The two ferrets then turned toward each other to think it over to themselves, and after a few whispers they turned back to Starscream and they smiled and nodded. "Deal." they said.
Starscream chuckled quietly and nodded his head to them and turned to return to the den. "Now, let us see how much Barricade is truly worthy of our pack." he said to himself, his devilish, sly smile still present on his face.
Three days had passed since the pack had had their feast and Barricade was still very excited about the hunt that was to occur in two days. Oh, how he longed to have the hunt arrive early, but alas he was forced to wait for the time to arrive. Yet, even in this excitement, he had also remembered that he had another outing with Bumblebee. He remembered that Bumblebee wanted to show him something in two days, something that only Bumblebee got the chance to watch. Whatever it was it must have been pretty interesting and special.
How he managed to remember was long before the praise he received from Megatron, about a week before that, to be precise. He had remembered it, but he also remembered that his hunting observation was also on that day. However, Bumblebee said he wanted to show his find with Barricade very early in the morning; when the sky was still dark but almost light enough to see all around him. Barricade then decided that in order to participate in both his outing and then hunt, he would go see Bumblebee first, then would leave to return to the pack for the hunt after a few hours. What the pup hadn't count on was the two spies of Starscream, Rumble and Frenzy.
The day had come, but it began at the time when the dark hours of night were still holding onto the sky while the black shades turned to a soft blue. Barricade woke himself up with some difficulty because he was still tired. Yet, he managed to wake up without waking the pack, who were still asleep, or so it seemed. As Barricade left the den he shared with Bonecrusher and Blackout, he poked his head out to see if no one was about; seeing it was clear he ran quietly out of the den and began his journey into the territory belonging to Bumblebee's pack, unaware that Rumble and frenzy had woken up much earlier than him and were now trailing behind.
"What is he doing?" Rumble whispered.
"That's why we are following: To find out why. Now, keep quiet," Frenzy shushed his brother as their long bodies extended and pulled in as they ran, running like sentient slinky toys.
For a while the ferrets tried their best to keep up, but they had great difficulty in doing so. Barricade had to go over and under certain obstacles, and some of them were a great challenge, especially for Frenzy and Rumble since they were so small. They had to climb over branches and logs with tedious difficulty, they had to squeeze themselves under logs and torn bushes, and they had to find obscene ways to cross over muddy paths because ether hated getting muddy coats.
Their trials and tribulations had taken them almost over half an hour to complete, that as soon as they came to a clearing they had lost sight of Barricade. "Aw, great. He is gone." Rumble whined as he hissed with defeat.
"Well, we could have kept up if you hadn't kept getting stuck once or twice!" Frenzy scolded. "You are too fat!"
"Well, who's idea was to leap over a huge mud pit because he didn't want to get dirty?" Rumble argued.
The two were about to get into a fight to see who was fault it was, when they suddenly heard a small howl coming from the north. They followed the howl and then hid themselves in a small bush, peeking their heads out from the leaves. What they witnessed was about as taboo as a deer turning into a predator or a bear kissing a clutch of flowers. There, down a hill looking over a small cliff was a small yellow Dire Wolf puppy and a black and white Dire Wolf puppy, greeting each other by rubbing the sides of their heads.
"Is that Barricade?" Rumble questioned but received no reply. Frenzy was as dumbstruck as Rumble. They were watching Barricade greeting another pup. This one they had remembered hearing about after Soundwave had returned to the den. They remembered their master talking about a blue-eyed Dire Wolf child that was yellow with black-brown markings that his leader had taken prisoner to be used against their enemy. Was this the same one? and if so, why would Barricade be acting to friendly to it?
"I am so glad you came, Barricade" Bumblebee beamed as he licked Barricade's cheek. "I really want to show you this,"
"I had to force myself to wake up," Barricade yawned, his tongue lolling out and his jaws opening wide as he breathed in the fresh night air before exhaling it out. "-but, it was worth it. What is this thing you want to show me?"
Bumblebee grinned and sat himself down and beaconed Barricade to do the same. "I do this sometimes whenever I can. If I wake up at the right time and come here I get to watch the sun come up." Bumblebee explained further that this was all because of him awaking very early than his pack a few months ago, and whenever he didn't sleep too late or come late he would get to witness the night sky change colors as the sun would rise. Barricade listened and nodded in understanding. He then admitted that he never got the chance to see a sunset because he was a heavy sleeper, and the place he lived didn't exactly have the best view of a sunrise or sunset.
"At least now I can see what a sunrise looks like," Barricade concluded, but then saw Bumblebee was beginning to wag his tail and his focus was over to the horizon. "What is it?" Barricade asked.
"Look, straight ahead. It's coming."
Barricade's eyes looked toward the direction Bumblebee had pointed out with a paw and he saw that over the far landscape a small light could be seen peaking from the edge. The light was faint and low, but a small hint of light purple and light blue glowed over the light from afar. Then, light a flower sprouting from the ground after months of fertilization and germination, the small light began to slowly ascend, the sky now fade into a bright orange and red. The colors seemed to fade and reemerge in a new hue each time the light continued it's ascent; the purples and blues morphing into orange and red. After a few minutes, the two puppies watched in awe as the light took the familiar image of a bright yellow sphere: the sun. And as the sun had claimed it's ownership of the sky, all of the darkness slunk away back in the opposite direction, giving way to the bright, colorful orange, red, and yellows, and finally the bright, glorious light blue of morning.
Barricade and Bumblebee were hypnotized with such marvel and beauty, neither one speaking or moving as their eyes grew large with wonder. What a beautiful sight for such a young soul.
The silence was soon broken as Barricade sighed and spoke with ecstasy. "Wow, it's so amazing! I never saw anything so beautiful!"
"I'm glad you like it, Barricade," Bumblebee answered as he stood up and stretched himself. "I admit that it is great to see something wonderful by yourself, but it's even more wonderful to share it, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess." Barricade sat up as well and stretched himself, hearing a pop in his back and then saw that the suns rays were then stretching up to their direction. Bumblebee then grew very excited and was in a play-bow stance as he giggled.
"Let's chase the sun and try and beat it! Come on," Bumblebee didn't wait for an answer as he sprinted after the growing sunlight, and Barricade laughed and joined in the chase.
"I'm going to beat it before you!" he playfully taunted as he ran ahead of Bumblebee. Rumble and Frenzy then sprinted after them, keeping themselves hidden and out of sight form the two racing buddies. They also had about as much difficulty catching up with them as much s they did in trying to keep up with Barricade making his way to the location or where he met Bumblebee. The Dire Wolf pups were just too quick and the ferrets were just to small.
Just then, Bumblebee leapt over a fallen red branch and landed on top of Barricade by accident; the two then began rolling down a hill and their laughter could be heard as clear as day before they landed in a heap of dead leaves and grass, cushioning their fall. They were all covered from nose to paw in crinkly, dry leaves and they all shook themselves clean, but ended up making their fur poof up and they all laughed at how silly they look. From up of the hill, Frenzy and Rumble watched as they gasped for air. They could still hear what was going on, and see what was going on as well, so there was no need for them to risk themselves being spotted if they should try and move in closer to Bumblebee and Barricade.
Bumblebee then laid down on his back and squirmed over the leaves, feeling the leaves crumble underneath him. Barricade then laid himself down, but he laid both his front paws and legs over Bumblebee's chest as they looked at each other. The two Dire Wolf puppies were extremely happy to be with each others company, and felt that nothing could destroy their bond. Bumblebee then reached over and licked Barricade's nose.
"You are my very best friend, Barricade," he cooed.
"And you are also my best friend, Bumblebee." Barricade smiled as he pulled on Bumblebee's ears gently in mirth.
"We will always be friends, no matter what," Bumblebee then added and then sat up and embraced Barricade out of sheer love and joy. Barricade was caught by surprise and was unsure of how to react. But, in the end, he saw that the situation was something that he needn't worry about and he embraced Bumblebee back.
"No matter what," he whispered.
"Perfect! This is it! Let's go, Rumble!" Frenzy clapped his paws and he and his brother than left the scene and begun their journey back to the badlands to tell Starscream about their find.
Meanwhile, back below the hill, Bumblebee broke up and then pointed up ahead. "Look, Barricade,".
They looked and saw a very familiar sight: A clear meadow and a small, flowing riverbank teaming with small fish. Barricade and Bumblebee ran on over to further inspect it. "On, no," Barricade frowned.
"What's wrong?" Bumblebee asked, seeing a change in Barricade's demeanor.
"This is where you were captured and where our packs confronted one another, and I was held captive." Barricade fell flat on his stomach and sighed. "I can still hear myself crying to be released, and I can remember hearing Megatron saying that he didn't care about me."
"What do you mean?" Bumblebee questioned again as he laid next to his friend.
"You didn't hear him? You were right underneath him and..."
"I was scared and covering my face," Bumblebee interrupted. "I must have been so scared that my only focus was to get away, and maybe I didn't pay attention."
Barricade then looked away and a whimper could be heard from him. "I was thinking the same thing. I really hate admitting to anyone, but while I was held captive I was afraid that I was going to be killed by your leader, even though I hid it on the outside."
Bumblebee scoffed. "Optimus would never hurt you, you are a puppy like me. I'm, sure he was just lying," He waited fro a response from Barricade but saw that it wasn't going to happen. What else could he do to help cheer Barricade up? Then he smiled as an idea came to his mind and he leapt into the water, causing some of the water to splash onto Barricade.
"Hey!" Barricade jumped n fright and shook himself dry. He looked to see Bumblebee swimming in the riverbank, and Bumblebee continued to splash at him.
"Forget about the abduction, Barricade," he cajoled happily. "That's in the past, we are living in the present, and that's what really matters."
Barricade then thought about it, but was interrupted by Bumblebee's splashing, until at last he couldn't help but smile and without a moment to spare he jumped in, feeling the cool water envelop his furry body. "Whoo, that is cold! I'm gonna get you for that, Bee!' Barricade laughed as he splashed back at Bumblebee, and the two friends soon forgot about everything that had happened; the abduction, the packs, everything.
Just then, a small fish popped out right in front of Bumblebee and the little yellow pup giggled. "Hey, maybe we can try hunting for fish while we are at it."
Barricade was just about to say something of agreement when he stopped paddling and his body suddenly felt a shock shivering up his spine. Hunt? He had forgotten not only about the abduction form so long ago, but he had also forgotten about something very important that was to happen on this very day. "Hunting?" he clenched his teeth and then cried out with despair. "Oh, no! My pack is going to hunt today, and I am supposed to be watching it, but I am not there! Oh, no, Megatron is going to kill me! No! He is going to skin me alive and tear my tail off, and THEN he will kill me!"
Bumblebee watched as Barricade swam his way back to dry land and shook himself clean, and he tried to follow after him. "Already? But, we were having fun," he whined as he dried himself off as well.
"I'm sorry, Bumblebee, but I can't stick around. I have to go right now," Barricade apologized and was about to leave when Bumblebee cried out to him as he left.
"When should we meet again?"
"I don't know, maybe tomorrow or something!" Barricade shouted back as he ran as fast as his little legs could run, desperate to return back to the badlands. Little had the little red-eyed Dire Wolf pup know was that he was treading in much deeper and colder water than the water in the riverbank.
*Authors Note*
(My goodness, that was certainly not a "Little" chapter. Probably the longest one I typed. But, it was wort it. Oh dear, Rumble and Frenzy have discovered Bumblebee and Barricade's secret friendship and are reporting back to review their discovery. Will Barricade make it back before they do? And what about Bumblebee? Will he see his best friend again? We will find that out in the next chapter, and I have a feeling that this next one is going to be pretty tense. Sparkling Lover out.)