(And now we come to the very serious part of the story, and it is not going to be pretty. No, no one is going to die, but all the same it isn't going to be pretty. Now, the part that is Italic is the dream part, and I urge those who are very sensitive to disturbing and horrific images to skip this part, because I don't want anyone to have nightmares.)

"WHAT?! You found Barricade hanging around with that runt from Prime's pack?" Starscream stared at the two ferrets in disbelief, and his mouth nearly dropped to the ground.

Frenzy continued as he shook himself from the debris he and his brother had accidentally picked up. "Yes, it's true, we saw it! Barricade was playing with the yellow one and they were cuddling, it was disgusting!"

"Yeah, it was horrible," Rumble added. "Hey, now that we have done our job, will you give us our reward?"

Starscream growled at them. "Do I look like I got a reward for you?" He then scratched at his side of his neck before he added, "You rats need to wait until I tell Megatron about this find of yours, and then I will split my reward."

Just as this was said, Starscream turned and returned to the den, waiting for the rest of the pack to awaken. He had a plan and needed to wait for the right opportunity to perfect it, and hopefully see to it he got his reward for being watchful of Barricade - even though he hadn't watched him at all on this day.

Just then, he saw Megatron's head slowly come into view from the hole his den was located and Starscream began to quietly gasp rapidly, until he managed to perfect a breathing that was labored and worn out. As he got this right, he ran in a fashion of a tuckered out Dire Wolf and called out to Megatron, gasping as he did. "M..M...Megatron! Something..is wrong!"

Megatron groaned and yawned as he stretched his body. "What do you want, Starscream?"

"Megatron..it's..Ba..Barricade...He...he has.." Starscream gasped as the rest of the pack came out of their holes after they heard the sly one's call. "...I followed...followed him...and...and he was..."

Megatron, not being one to wait for a certain usurper to to finish a conversation, barked at Starscream and made the latter fall onto his rear. "For pit's sake, SPIT IT OUT, YOU IDIOT!"

Starscream immediately began to explain everything. He told his leader about how he had followed Barricade out of the territory, and upon the horrifying discovery of the black pup's meeting with the puppy from Optimus's pack. In all factuality, Starscream had never went out to follow Barricade, but had instead hired Frenzy and Rumble to do the work, but made sure to not include the ferret's participation.

Blackout and Bonecrusher reeled back with shock and gasped; their little one was sneaking out to associate with a member of their enemy's pack, and never told them. Soundwave had a much calmer reaction, but uttered a small gasp of air as he watched his leader's face undergo a dramatic transformation. Magetron's demeanor had altered at that instant. His face was still, his ear perked up, and his tail stopped wagging. His attempt to see if Barricade's usefulness was truly within the little one was shattered.

"It is terrible, Megatron. I can hardly believe it as you. That little traitor has gone soft and hasn't even bothered telling you about his meetings with that runt. Who knows how long he has done this." Starscream continued on, unbeknownst that Megatron shifted his eyes to him. The next thing he knew, Starscream was now on his back with a furious Megatron towering over him.

"YOU SAW HIM, AND YET YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TAKING HIM WITH YOU OR EVEN KILLING OFF THE OTHER PUP? YOU IDIOTIC SNAKE! YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE LITTLE BRAT WITH YOU AS PROOF, THEN MAYBE I WOULD BELIEVE YOU!" The grey and black Dire Wolf's voice was abrasive, horrifyingly outraged and ferocious, and Starscream, out of sheer terror, wet himself.

Soundwave then turned his head when he heard the voices of his ferrets calling out to him. They were scampering over to him and the pack, and said with gasping voices.

"He speaks the truth, Megatron!" Frenzy shrilly announced as he laid on Soundawaves paw, and his master licked his forehead. "Barricade is an ally to the pup from Prime's pack! We were with Starscream,"

"Yeah," interrupted Rumble. "We saw them, and as of now, we saw the pup entering the territory of ours. He is coming back with a look of worry and panic," He would have continued even further when Megatron suddenly bounded away with the rest of the pack, including Starscream, in the direction Frenzy and Rumble had pointed out with their small paws. The ferrets followed suit, their little feet pitter-pattering all the way.

Barricade was out of breathe when he came to the clearing of the badlands, and his eyes darted each direction to see if his pack was about, but so far, there was no sign. He then stopped to sit himself down and pant; his tongue lolling out with strands of saliva dripping off the tip. He was worn out and out of energy from his speedy departure from his brief playdate with Bumblebee, but at last, he was back home, safe and sound.

Just then, a powerful force swatted at him from the right side, and Barricade yelped as he was flung to the ground on his side, and he looked up to see who it was. He gasped with horror at the sight of a snarling, outraged Megatron; his leader's face contorted into a menacing, evil snarl, and his eyes were like two blazing fire balls.

Barricade tried to stand up and sprint away, but was held down by Blackout, and he watched with morbid helplessness as the rest of the pack arrived, and neither one of them appeared to be pleased at the sight of him. At first he would have assumed that they were mad for him not being present at the hunt, but his worst fears were realized by the look of their faces; faces that looked ferocious and feral, definitely not a look that was suitable for missing out on the hunt. He knew what it was, but was too scared to admit it in his head. His body became as cold as ice when the voice of Megatron snarled, "I have given you the opportunity to show you were useful...I thought you were a true member of my pack...and now I have come to terms that I have been mislead."

"I...I don't know what you're talking about," Barricade whimpered in fear as the black and grey Dire Wolf towered over him like a dark shadow of a mountain peak.

"Is that so?" Megatron spoke as he lowered his head, baring his sharp fangs at the terrified pup. "If what you say is true, then why is it that Starscream told me just now, that you have been keeping a secret from us: from me."

"We cannot believe you would do this to us, Barricade," Blackout growled as he released Barricade and scowled at his surrogate son. "Do you have any idea of how much trouble you are in?

"I...I'm sorry," Barricade tried to apologize; his voice cracked with fear and guilt. Megatron, however, was not moved, nor showed empathy.

"You have refused to tell us that you had rendezvous with a member of Optimus Prime's pack, and you expect to be forgiven?" Megatron spatted as he slapped the pup in the face with harsh force.

Bonecrusher then interrupted, asking Barricade what he has been doing with Bumblebee, what secrets about the pack had he told, where did Bumblebee lick him, and other stuff like that. He was also just about as angry as Megatron and Blackout were, and Barricade couldn't help but lay down and curl his tail underneath him.

"I..I..." Poor Barricade was scared out of his wits, and was having great difficulty trying to say the correct words without having to stutter and hiccup in the process. Soundwave saw this and briefly stepped in.

"Calm yourself, Bonecrusher," he admonished the latter as he in turn looked at Barricade and asked, "Now, just how have you managed to become associated to this cub?" he asked in a calm voice, even though he was disappointed at what Barricade had done.

"I...I was hiding in a small cave during a storm many months ago; I had no idea he had entered the cave and thought he was just a red-eyed one like myself. He even said that he wouldn't harm me and that he was stranded like me. By morning when we went out, I saw who he really was and ran off." He then proceeded to how he would encounter Bumblebee the second time and how they slowly began to become friends and how they would leave on occasions to play. Megatrons face was boiling with anger as his eyes stared at the pup, not blinking once.

"And, I don't think he is even that bad at all," Barricade finished, but was suddenly turned forcefully around and Megatron once again growled at him, the clawed toes of his paw clenching the scruff on the little puppy's neck.

"You seriously believe that the little runt is your friend? You have no idea just how wrong you are about him, and his pack." he hissed with a leering stare in his gaze.

"But, what has Bumblebee and his pack ever done to you?" Barricade questioned angrily. "He is too innocent and young to be an enemy."

"That alone isn't why you should never be associated with Bumblebee, 'Cade," Blackout spoke. "It is his pack that is the true reason. They were not led by the Fallen, nor have they accepted the Fallen's views of life."

Barricade had never been told of the story of how the Great War began, so Megatron interrupted and then proceeded to tell Barricade everything: Why the Fallen was despised by the other Primes, and why blue-eyed Dire Wolves were the enemy.

"Before you were born, there were thirteen Primes, one of them being the Fallen. It was he who had thought of the idea of expanding the packs territory in the forest; he envisioned the pack gaining more land by joining other clans of Dire Wolves and no other animal. Through this union, the pack would become a force of power over all who would appose them." Megatron halted to scratch at his sides before he continued. "However, the other Primes were his brothers, and they felt that the Fallen's idea was ludicrous. The idea of joining others was not of their liking, and saw their brother's plan as an attack upon their beliefs and laws. They saw that numerous alphas in all of the clans would be too much, rather than having only one leader to govern them."

"And that's why the fight began?" Barricade asked, but was slapped by Megatron.

"No, you rat! The Primes had managed to make a small truce with the Fallen, but one was not in following of the truce." Megatron snarled to himself, the fir on his back bristling with hatred. "Sentinel Prime. He was a mere pup at the time, and already felt a grudge against the Fallen, and those who followed in his paw prints."

"But, what has Sentinel Prime to do with this?" Barricade asked.

"If you be quiet and listen, you will understand," Blackout hushed the little one, letting his leader continue.

"During this truce, tension was growing between the Primes, and Sentinel used this tension to his advantage in his plan. You see, that fool didn't like the Fallen, but he didn't like the belief that only a Prime would be the alpha of a pack. Back then, only those who were born one of the thirteen Primes would be the one to take that Primes place as leader. In time, Sentinel would grow and find others who also believed that the traditions of the Primes and the ideas of the Fallen were wrong. In time, the mongrel would attack and kill many of the Fallen's followers, as well as the Fallen himself. He then made himself the new Prime after all of the Prime's were executed by the Fallen and his followers, and he then proclaimed that all red-eyed Dire Wolves and those who disagreed with him, to be exiled to the farthest outskirts of the forest."

Megatron then lowered his ears in tension. "But, that old fool soon found out that even he could not live forever, Shockwave also knew of it."

"What are you talking about? Who is this Shockwave?" Barricade cocked his head.

Megatron went on to explain that Shockwave was a follower of the Fallen and had battled alongside his leader in the great war, and had ended up losing sight in one eye after receiving a painful, serious scratch to the side of his face. "Shockwave also had a deep hatred for Sentinel Prime, for it was he who killed his master, and Shockwave would do anything to smite the old mongrel's life, even if it meant committing murder," Megatron further went on explaining of Shockwave's pack attacking Sentinel's territory and killing of the Prime's mate, leaving the latter without a chance to achieve immortality with the birth of his offspring. "However, Shockwave had no mate, nor had he any females in his pack, so the only resort left for Shockwave to find a suitable heir: Me."

"You?"

"Yes, it was Megatron," Bonecrusher said. "He was found abandoned in the woods alone, and was taken in by Shockwave and was taught very well."

Megatron then gazed at Barricade and went on. "He was the one who told me the real ways of the world were done; how this world is not so kind to weaklings and how the world only favored the strong. He also told me that in order for the strong to live, the strong would have to sacrifice many pathetic opponents and competition that would threaten their sanctuary. However, the weak also had a way of slipping through with lies and forgery. That is how Sentinel Prime managed to slip through Shockwaves grasp, and how he saw that only the weak blue-eyed Dire Wolves were to be the ones to live on and have those like ourselves die off. He was the one who spread the lies of a possible truce and living in peace, but was using this as a disguise to drive out others of our kind; the ones with red eyes." Megatron then snarled with anger and lowered his head, hiding a small tear that had slipped through his eye. "It is because of his lies that I have lost my home, my family...and...a brother..."

Barricade wasn't to sure if he wanted to believe what Megatron had reviewed, for he had also heard of the tales of Sentinel Prime as told by Bumblebee, that he was a hero who wanted to stop the Fallen from murdering everything that stood in the way of destruction and death. If he only had the intelligence to keep quiet, then the pain would never befallen him the next moments to come. "But, Bumblebee never said Sentinel was a liar. He said he was a hero, and that all life is connected."

Megatron lifted his head and turned his anger upon the little cub. "HE WAS LYING TO YOU! THEY ALL LIE! HE LIED TO MAKE YOU FEEL SORRY, WHEN IN REALITY HE WAS PLANNING ON HAVING YOU BEING TAKEN OUT BY HIS LEADER!"

A wise Dire Wolf would have remained silent; but Barricade was not willing to accept the fact his best friend was a liar. "Oh yeah? How do you now? Why would his leader want to kill me? Bumblebee told me that his leader was kind, compassionate and brave, unlike you,"

"Barricade!" shouted Blackout, but was stopped by Megatron.

"Enough, it is time that the runt should know the real reason why he should have a reason to hate and fear his enemy." He then smiled in a wicked, disturbing way that caught the other members off guard. They have seen Megatron smile, but never in a manner such as that. "Optimus Prime has also followed what Sentinel Prime has taught him; one of them being that baby Dire Wolves of red eyes are to never grow up."

"What do you mean?" Barricade asked as his eyes focused on Megatron.

"Sentinel had always had a fondness of seeing the helpless pups of red-eyed packs being snuffed out of their flame of life. He had told Optimus how wonderful it was to feel a squealing baby writhing underneath the weight of his paws, how satisfying the warm taste of their blood was when the skin was torn, and how his heart pumped furiously with ecstasy when his jaws and fangs would clamp down upon their necks..." Megatron then hovered a paw over a small twig before he finished. "...hearing their brittle, weak necks crack." As he said this, his black paw slammed down upon the twig, the sound distinct and almost close to resemblance to real bones breaking.

Barricade gasped in fear and gulped in horror; He never heard Bumblebee mention anything of this sort. Could everything that Megatron was revealing to him be true? What Bumblebee destined to be a liar and a murderer?

Soundwave, Blackout and Bonecrusher grew incredibly concerned about the subject Megatron had just told the puppy, and briefly looked at each other, wondering just what Megatron was doing. How would Barricade grow up to be a strong warrior if he were traumatized by claims of Sentinel Prime and Optimus Prime relishing in killing of pups?

"You might as well accept what is true, Barricade. Your friend will lead you to your fate, and it will be your fault." Megatron finished, seeing the little black and white pup whimpering in horror.

Just then, before anyone could react, Barricade shot up and charged at Megatron, his ears burried deep to the sides of his head and his small fangs exposed. The child was filled with rage, but not for Bumblebee. "You're wrong, Megatron! Bumblebee is never going to be a killer, nor will he do anything to harm me! And I don't care about what you claim him and his pack to be, because I am never going to let you do anything to them. I will never let you harm Bumblebee!"

Bonecrusher and Blackout would have intervened if they could, but were taken back by the pups sudden outburst and sudden moment of courage to confront Megatron. Confrontation against the alpha was against the rules, that much they knew.

The black and grey Dire Wolf stared down at Barricade and growled wight he voice of a demon. He had just about had enough with the little runt. He did everything to make Barricade turn away from Optimus' views, and now saw that the pup was useless to break in the mind. He then bared his teeth and advanced on the cub. "If you refuse what a wise one has told you, then you have no place win my pack! GET OUT!" He then used his face and muzzle to hit the little one to the ground, forcing him to leave.

"No, Megatron! Leave him be!" Blackout suddenly ran between his pup and Megatron, lowering his head and raising his bobbed tail up, the hair on his back bristled in a defensive stance. In this position, Blackout almost looked like a Dire Wolf-sized Bear, and was often mistaken for looking like one at times. Yet, he was often regarded by those closest to him that he might even had the strength of a Bear.

"Get out of the way, Blackout!" Megatorn barked, but the large grey male was not going to move without a fight.

"I don't care if what you say is true, but I will not let you drive Barricade out! I love him, as does Bonecrusher; he is a son to us, and we will protect him, even from you!" Blackout hissed as Megatron stood his ground, also displaying his aggression.

"I AM THE ALPHA!" Megatron shouted, but was out-shouted by Blackout.

"AND I AM OLDER THAN YOU! You may be the alpha, but I have lived longer than you. I will not let you exile my cub as punishment." Blackout firmly stated as his eyes stared straight into his leaders eyes, his body almost ready to spring upon Megatron if he was to fight.

For a while, silence had befallen the two Dire Wolves; neither one moving or saying a word. The rest of the members, except for Starscream, wanted to intervene and offer another solution, but kept quiet and watched. Megaton was deep in thought in his head, but his face remain the same evil and vicious mask he wore countless times in battle.

Then, the face of the tyrant softened to a smirk and chuckle as Megatron then looked back at Blackout. "Well, you are correct upon your age. You are older than I, and by definition you might as well be wiser than me." He then chuckled again as he smiled the same wicked grin from before. "Tell me, wise Blackout, what sort of punishment would you serve out to Barricade? He has allied himself to a child of Optimus's pack and has never told you. So, you tell me what punishment you have in mind."

Blackout remained in his defensive posture as he answered. "I would have him confined to the den for two weeks."

Megatron continued to grin as his head then turned to Bonecrusher and asked him the same question. "And you? Since you care for Barricade as your own, what punishment do you have in mind?"

Bonecrusher was nervous to answer, but saw that it was futile to resist. "I...well...I would have him confined to the den for one month," he stuttered, but kept his head low in respect.

That was all Megatron wanted to hear; even though the two were willing to keep the runt safe, they still viewed him as a newborn, and would have the punishment of confinement to be the main resort to teach Barricade a lesson in disobeying them. He then slowly turned his head to Blackout once more, but his grin had disappeared. Instead, it was replaced by a neutral slit and his eyes held a refined appearance. "So, that is your punishment for Barricade? Confinement?"

"Yes," Blackout could slowly feel his behavior change to an apprehensive state.

Megatron was quiet for another moment as his eyes scanned the rest of the pack, but kept a clear concentration on Barricade from time to time. It wasn't long before his voice sounded.

"Starscream, Soundwave, hold the two fathers!" he demanded the two other members.

"Yes, sir," sound wave replied and grabbed hold of Bonecrusher, just above the neck were a little skin was around the nape of the neck.

"With pleasure," Starscream beamed as he tackled Blackout and held him tot he ground with all the strength he had. He had a feeling that something was about to happen, and was anticipating the outcome. He knew that this was going to revolve on Barricade, and he wanted to see what the pup was to endure.

"Ack! Let me go!" Bonecusher tried to struggle and squirm, but was firmly held in place.

"Get off!" Blackout grunted as he tried using his bulk to free himself.

Barricade watched as his caregivers were held captive, but then two heavy paws slam down upon his rear and upper back, pinning him to the ground. He tried to move but couldn't. Blackout and Bonecrusher tried to get to him but were held down by force, helplessly watching as Megatron held the pup down.

"You are too afraid to administer harsher sentences, you two fools," Megatron said, but his eyes were focused upon the little one underneath him. "If he is to be a rebel and a scoundrel, then he shall wear the mark of one."

Blackout and Bonecrusher watched with terror as Megatron bared his teeth once again and slowly lower his gaping jaws around a small area of Barricade's back, and the jaws slowly came together as they grasped some fur.

With a jerk of his head, Megatron pulled a chunk of fur of Barricade, a sharp pain stinging the area where the fur was violently ripped, and Barricade screamed with agony. But the worse was still to come; that was only one chunk of fur. Megatron repeated the process and continued pulling off more and more and more fur from Barricade's back, and Barricade screamed and cried in pain. Small streaks of blood could be felt trickling down the back in small tear-like streams, and no matter how much Blackout and Bonecrusher protested, Megatron continued the horrifying torture. Starscream was the only one that was relishing the moment, like the sadistic, twisted cur he was.

Finally, what seemed to be an eternity for Barricade, the torture had ceased and no more fur was torn from his sensitive flesh. All that was left was a decent sized bald spot on his back, with small traces of blood left to decorate the surface. Megatron spat out the remaining fur in his mouth and announced, "This is the mark of an omega, a member of the pack that shall be looked upon as a pathetic, useless mutt. He shall never be given the flesh of the kills we bring back, nor shall he be given any attention."

Blackout then saw Megatron look at him and his leader snarled again. "If you wish to keep his fur intact, you will do as I say and bring back a large boulder. Barricade shall be confined to the den for not a week, nor shall it be a month. He will be imprisoned in his den...for a year."

Blackout wanted to go forward and attack Megatron in anger at what happened, but he didn't want Barricade to suffer any more, and was forced to obey. He still kept an eye on his leader as he turned and left, his eyes were filled with rage. As the old one left to find a large boulder as demanded, Megatron carried off Barricade by holding him in his mouth by the tail; being held by the tail was extremely painful, especially for the pup.

They then came to the small den Barricade occupied. Megatron then threw Barricade inside, hearing the little one grunt in pain as he landed with a harsh thud. It wouldn't be long for Blackout to return, pushing a huge boulder with all his strength. "Bring it over here, now!" Megatron bellowed, and Blackout heaved and pushed with his might, pushing the large rock to the very entrance of the den. The boulder had been placed precisely in front of the entrance, leaving only a small slit at the top. Barricade was to be held inside, but had to have a source of air to breathe.

Megatron then commanded the rest of the pack to prepare for the hunt, and the others reluctantly obeyed, mostly Bonecrusher and Blackout. However, only Soundewave remained where he was, and Megatron was not pleased.

"Did you not hear what I have told you?"

"Yes, I have. Do you know what you have done?" Soundwave growled.

"What else do expect me to do? I have done everything to see if that runt was fit, and now I see that he is not fit for anything. I will not have him hunt, guard, or fight, and no one is going to make me reconsider, otherwise." Megaton snarled, but Soundwave bared his teeth and barked at him.

"If that is so, then maybe I shall tell the others that you are not the leader Shockwave thought you would be."

Megatron paused and was quiet. Soundwave never lost his gaze at the grey and black Dire Wolf's eyes. Soundwave did have a valid point; Megatron had never seen his previous mentor giving out any sentence such as what he had administered, and never had he been the subject of having his fur torn off by Shockwave.

Megatron grumbled before he snorted. "I'll take heed of your words," he began and proceeded to leave with the rest of the pack with Soudnwave following suit. "-and I might reconsider the punishment tomorrow. But, that doesn't mean that Barricade has reconciled his betrayal to us. Betraying a pack is a greater offense than anything else."

"Let me out! Please! Let me out!" Barricade cried and howled as he desperately clawed and pushed at the boulder that was blocking his way out. His eyes were full of pained tears as he did all he could to break free. He tried to find a small crack along the boulder and the ground but couldn't find one; he tried to dig his way out but the ground was hard.

With little else to do and seeing he was trapped forever, Barricade collapsed to the ground and sobbed in the dark, crying harshly and loudly. He had broken his chances of being worthy for Megatron, and worst all...he was never going to see Bumblebee ever again. The little puppy cried and cried, feeling the hot tears staining his muzzle, as he sobs slowly lulled him into a miserable, woeful slumber.

"Barricade...Barricade..."

Barricade woke up from his nap, and perked his head up as he heard a voice calling out to him. But at the moment his eyes opened from his endless sobbing. Yet, when he did he was surprised and dumbfounded to find that he was no longer in the den. For a moment he felt as if he was unsure if the area he was in was either in the realm of reality or of arcane origin. His eyes, ears and nose scanned, smelled, and heard everything around him: the soft green hue of every blade of grass, the sound of birds chirping to their kind, and the smell of the fresh summer leaves rustling above the treetops.

Truly, this had to be a dream, but it all looked too real.

Barricade's pondering was put to rest when he heard the same voice calling out to him, and he turned his head to where it resonated from. Up on top of a small hill leading to the woods was a familiar sight: Bumblebee. Barricade couldn't be more happier to see his best friend. "Bumblebee," he called out as he leapt to his paws and went up to join him.

But then, Bumblebee turned around, with a look of mischievous intent in his eyes, and ran. Barricade had never seen Bumblebee turn and run, but then brushed it off, believing that the yellow and brown pup was playing a game of chase, and he was it. "I'm gonna get you, Bee!" Barricade chortled as he ran after him, his little body leaping through bushes and tall grass.

The chase had lead the pair deeper and deeper into the woods, so far that Barricade was unaware that the surrounding fauna became unfamiliar. His eyes were mostly focused on Bumblebee; the thought of looking at the fauna was silly to him.

However, as the chase went on and on and on, Barricade suddenly felt his breathe grow shorter, and had to slow down and pace himself. As he did this, he caught a glimpse of Bumblebee turning to look at him with a very strange smile that made Barricade uncomfortable. Bumblebee seemed to be wanting Barricade to follow, and the outcome might not be so fun if were to continue.

"Hey, come back!" Barricade ran on after Bumblebee, aware of his friends intention, but was curious.

He then watched as Bumblebee leapt into a row of bushes, and as Barricade came to a stop his ears heard it, or rather, not heard it. Everything was quiet. No rustling of the leaves above the trees, no sounds of the many animals, nor the sound of the grass and branches breaking underneath his paws; everything was silent, deathly silent.

Now Barricade felt very scared at the sudden silence of the forest, and was even more afraid because he could not hear Bumblebee calling to him or even his own heartbeat.

"What happened? What's going on?" Barricade questioned himself.

A sudden loud rustle form the row of bushes finally broke the silence, making Barricade yelp in surprise. "Bumblebee? Is that you, Bee?" Barricade inched himself slowly to the bushes, his head and ears low as he tried to peer inside.

A loud roar and a blur of red and blue suddenly charged out of the bushes, slamming straight at Barricade's head and sending the pup to the ground. Barricade screamed as he then looked up to see...not Bumblebee...but Optimus Prime. Only this Optimus Prime looked like a ravenous monster of a Dire Wolf; his mouth had elongated and was full of sharp teeth, his body was twice as large, and his claws had grown thick and hard, and his tail was long and whip-like. The monster Prime was snarling and growling at Barricade, and the blue eyes shown almost as bright as a white light.

Barricade was overcome with fear that he turned and ran away, and the chase had begun. The little one kept looking back to see the monster Prime catching up to him each step he took, and Barricade was trying so hard to outrun the thing. It was then that Barricade looked at the woods around him: All of the color that had once blanketed the landscape was covered in scarlet red and dark black, a land of horror and chaos as rivers became molten fire and the sky engulfed in black smoke and dust.

But the most horrific sight of all was when Barricade saw that the ground was littered with the decaying corpses of other Dire Wolves, all of them his age, and with their necks broken. "Get me out of here! Help! Somebody, help!" Barricade cried, but it was hopeless. No one was seen ahead or around him, and he was all alone with the evil creature behind him.

Or was he?

He then looked up and saw a bare land that was not touched by the red and black colors, and sitting in the center was Bumblebee, waiting for Barricade. Barricade was sure that now he was safe, and that Bumblebee would save him, and he ran straight towards him. "Bee, my friend. I'm glad to see you.." he gasped as he smiled and tears fell from his eyes.

But, what came straight from Bumblebee's mouth was not the cheerful, innocent voice of the friend he knew. A voice of hatred and devilish incantation was all that was heard escaping from the pup's throat. "Friend? Why would I be friends with you? I am a blue-eyed Dire Wolf, and you are not like me. We are enemies, and that it all we shall be."

"What? No! No, Bumblebee," Barricade watched with shock as the one that had once been Bumblebee slowly fade into a dense smoke and blow away with the wind.

Barricade tried to reach out to his friend, but a great, powerful force slammed down upon his back, and Barricade saw that the monster Prime was now right above him, his gaping maw opened and dripping with blood-soaked drool.

Barricade shook uncontrollably as he tried in vain to break free, but he was trapped.

Just then, he saw a shadow appear just inches away from his eyes and he looked to see that it was his pack, standing in a row and staring at him. Barricade screamed and whimpered for their assistance, but they stood still. Then, to his horror, they all turned and slowly left him, all except for one: Megatron. He gaze made Barricade feel an icy chill run up and down his back and neck; Megatron was smiling with a malicious and evil hint in his eyes and was now laughing at him, a laugh that seemed to be mixed with hints of evil and maniacal insanity.

Barricade then heard a loud snarl and turned his head upwards. A face of death had overtaken the face of the monster Prime, and all Barricade could do was lay where he was, feeling the sharp fangs penetrate his throat.

"NO! NO!" Barricade screamed as he bolted his head up and hyperventilated. For a moment he sat there gasping for air, until reality set in. He saw he was now back in the den, and after feeling his neck and finding no wound, he realized that it was all a nightmare. Barricade could feel himself shaking out of the total realness and terror of the dream as he laid back down onto his stomach, and for the longest time he was trying to remember what he had seen. He had remembered seeing Bumblebee, and remembered seeing the monster Prime nearly killing him. But, what did it all mean? Was Megatron telling the truth? Was Optimus Prime a bloodthirsty murderous psychopath? And what was even more chilling to reconsider was the fact that Bumblebee might have been playing him for a fool all this time. There was no way, Bumblebee would never do something like that...would he?

*Authors Note*
(Wow. Now that was intense and frightening. So, will Barricade find out whether or not if Bumblebee is a friend or foe? And what about Bumblebee? Will he find a way to help Barricade escape from the madness of Megatron? I will do my bed tot answer the questions as I work on the next chapter. Sparkling Lover out.)