Author's Note: The following chapters will be shorter. This story is rated T for mild swearing. Thank you for reading! Thanks to Misgel my Beta.

CHAPTER 3

Fireclaw flexed sharp talons, arching his body in a stretch. He'd just awoken from recharge and his Sire was absent from their lair. He decided to explore his newfound home. The cave itself was fairly massive, at least to the little predling. It extended a quarter of a mile within the mountain. As he began to explore, a large rat caught his optical sensors and the little one crouched down as though ready to pounce. He let loose a soft growl and felt his leg cables tightening, ready to spring into action.

With a small snarl, Fireclaw leaped with claws extended ready to make the kill. The rat was faster than he'd anticipated and easily escaped his outstretched talons. Fireclaw whined in distress as his prey escaped him. He was supposed to be a mighty hunter like his Sire! Not a whimpering failure…

His audials perked up when he detected his Sire's return at last. He slunk stealthily towards the cave entrance, carefully planning his next attack. The larger Predacon was scenting the air with his snout, no doubt ensuring himself that Fireclaw was still present. Turning his massive body around, the larger beast settled down to rest.

Now was his chance!

Without making a sound, Fireclaw stalked steadily closer to his prey. Fighting back the triumphant growl in his throat, he pounced with tiny claws poised to strike. He released a mewling roar, already lost in the throes of victory, but just as his momentum brought him within an inch of Predaking's thick hide, the beastformer transformed back into bipedal mode, catching the tiny predacon in outstretched servos.

"Well done, Fireclaw! You almost had me …" the king chuckled as he scratched the underside of the predling's jaw. Rather than being angry, the little one purred at the pleasing sensation and basked in his Sire's praise.

"Soon, I will teach you the ways of flight…"

It was then that Predaking noticed something very unusual about his nestling. The little one seemed bigger than he had the previous week, like he was growing unnaturally fast. He made an educated guess that Shockwave was behind Fireclaw's accelerated growth. He had to bite back a growl. How dare they experiment on his son?! Predaking planned to confront the Decepticon scientist at some point in the near future and demand he undo what damage had been done. His little one needed centuries to grow, not weeks! Already, Fireclaw was quickly developing a tougher hide, a growth milestone that took decades rather than mere days.

That wasn't the only problem. During his patrols to ensure the safety of their lair, he encountered Decepticon movement in the region. Twice now, Decepticon seekers came within a mile of their abode. Their flight patterns suggested that they were looking for something, or someone.

The Decepticons were searching for them. Which meant it was time to move on…

-Dream-

"Only united will we survive!"

"We will never betray Onyx Prime!"

"You are the traitors, not us!"

"Following Unicron ensures our survival! The survival of our entire race!"

"If this is the path you've chosen, then you choose your own destruction!"

"Never will we betray our Creator, Primus!"

"Then you will all die…"

Small finials laid flat against a tiny helm as clan leaders argued in raised voices. The escalating argument continued for at least another breem. Fireclaw was curious and wanted to see what was going on. His mother warned him to stay put with a stern warning. She was to be obeyed. His mother taught him that her lineage was directly descended from the great Onyx Prime himself, a Predacon Prime that few had ever seen. The young predling loved to hear his mother's stories about him.

Only recently had their rivals united together against his mother's clan. From what he picked up from the adults' conversations, his clan was one of the remaining few that was loyal to both Onyx Prime and Primus. One of the elders foretold a prophecy, one handed down through the generations. A doomsday prophecy. One that most ignored, except for his clanmates. It involved a mass rebellion that would incite the wrath of Primus himself and lead to the destruction of their entire race.

He overheard his mother and father conversing between themselves when they thought he was out of audial range. They spoke in hushed whispers, saying that the prophecy was coming true. That the rebellion against Primus had already begun, starting with the rival clans and that the doomsday prophecy was nearly upon them.

Now the clan leaders were all assembled outside his dwelling place. The Rebels believed that if they united with Unicron, they would be given extraordinary power as never seen before. It was a union that was strictly taboo. The Dark One had enticed and seduced many with false promises and false hopes. That was what his parents said.

Finally the arguing outside simmered down and the young predacon strained his audials, trying to determine the outcome.

"What is your final decision?"

"Ember and Phoenix Clans stand united with Clan Onyx."

"A foolish decision…you can die with them, then."

His optical sensors widened in alarm at what he heard next.

"ATTACK! LEAVE NONE ALIVE!"

The furious roars and shouts of enemy hunters echoed through the still air of the night. Predacons clashed furiously against one another. He felt his body shift down into his Predacon form and let loose a roar of his own. He was no coward! He was going to help his clan–Clan Onyx–fight against the insurgents! Just as he was about to leap into action, his mother ran through the door, her expression filled with alarm on her facial features.

"Quickly, Fireclaw! Go to the Sea of Rust. You'll be safe there, I promise." His mother ushered him out. The young predling snarled, stopping in his tracks, plating puffing out in indignation.

"I can help! I can fight!"

"No, my sweetling…you need to hide. Keep out of sight until either your father or I come to get you!"

"But–"

"NOW, FIRECLAW!"

The predling recoiled at his mother's furious shout. She never yelled at him like that… With tail tucked between his legs, the young Predacon fled out the back door and into the dark night. Fires were blazing all around him as mighty hunters clashed ferociously in battle. Twice, he was nearly stepped on during his panicked flight to get as far away as possible.

He wasn't sure he could remember the path his mother had taught him to get to the Sea of Rust. It was supposed to be a haven. A place of refuge for any in need. He hoped he wasn't followed…

With a strong flap of his small wings, the young hunter took to the skies…

–END DREAM–

Fireclaw awoke with a startled yowl. What in the world was that?! The dream was so real…it was like it really happened. Like it was memory. Yet the predling couldn't remember a life apart from the short one he already knew. His Sire, Predaking, approached him moments later in bipedal form.

"Come, Fireclaw. We must depart immediately."

He wanted to question why they were leaving, but still had not yet learned the ways of speech. A small growl escaped his throat instead, head canted, and claws extending and retracting, as though in silent question. His Sire read his body language easily enough and explained.

"The Decepticons are closing in on our position. We must move. Shockwave and Megatron are searching for you."

Fireclaw was already moving after his liege began the explanation, but paused at the mention of Megatron's name. The small Predacon was assaulted with a flashback.

–Flashback–

"You will obey me and ONLY me, your one, true master! Do you understand?"

The Predling's legs trembled as his new Master awaited a response. He couldn't stop the rebellious curling of his lip components in a savage snarl. He immediately regretted it. Razor sharp talons raked cruelly against his weak hide, creating sparks and a horrendous metal on metal screeching sound.

He screeched in pain, struggling to escape his punishment, but a firm servo held him in place. He hissed, baring his fangs, plating bristling like an offended kitten. He was rewarded with a swift blow to his head.

"OBEY ME!" Megatron angrily shouted, going so far as to unsheath his arm-blade.

Fireclaw's inner-fire quickly quelled at the sight of the enormous weapon. It was twice the size of his small predling body!

Submitting, he lowered himself down on all fours, a hiss escaping his small maw at the two-walker's silent threat to mortally wound him. Finally, the predling understood that to obey was to survive. He begrudgingly rolled onto his back, exposing his belly submissively, claws retracting. It was humiliating! He felt somewhere within his young spark that to be submissive to a two-walker was WRONG somehow… it was a feeling he couldn't explain.

Fireclaw had to bite back a defiant snarl when Megatron grinned at him.

"Obey and you will be rewarded. Fail me…and you will wish that you perished along with your ilk." The sterling demon warned, baring fangs at the little beast. To bare fangs was to challenge. Fireclaw felt his lip curling angrily but a raised servo from Megatron in silent warning, quickly forced his jaws to snap shut. He scrambled to his paws and kept his head bowed, sitting on his haunches in clear defeat.

"There now. That wasn't so hard, was it?" the titan purred as he ran a comforting hand down the little one's dorsal plating, calming, rewarding.

Fireclaw couldn't stop the purr from escaping his throat nor the shame that bled from his spark…

–END FLASHBACK–

Fireclaw suddenly felt afraid. What would the Master do if he caught him? He'd probably hurt him or worse…

He scrambled after Predaking and was not happy when the larger Predacon stopped at a cliff edge. Oh, no…

"The time has come for you to learn the ways of flight! I will teach you. Watch."

Predaking transformed into beast mode and crouched down on all fours. With a mighty leap into the sky and the great flap of his massive wings, the Predacon quickly became airborne.

Hmm…that didn't look so hard!

Once the little Predacon found himself at the tip of the cliff edge, he immediately looked down. That was a mistake. A 3,000 foot drop awaited him should he fall. He screeched and scrambled back away from the edge, digging his claws into the rocky earth. NO! He wasn't ready! He wasn't going and Predaking couldn't make him, Sire or not!

Predaking circled above him and then landed just behind him, transforming back into bipedal mode. He shook his head with a disapproving frown.

"You must fly, Fireclaw."

The hatchling snarled and hissed, tucking wings tightly against his body. He shook his serpentine head in the negative and remained glued to his spot. Predaking's stern demeanor softened as he approached with slow, purposeful strides.

"I am not asking you, Fireclaw. I'm giving you an order. It's paramount to your survival," the great king growled softly with a sharp look in his optics. "Now, FLY!"

Again the smaller predacon shook his head, burying his claws deeper into the rocky soil beneath him.

"If you do not fly when I count to three…I'm going to throw you over," Predaking warned his offspring seriously.

Fireclaw mewled and whimpered, finials laying flat against his sleek head in a show of submission, hoping to appeal to Predaking's better nature. His sire merely pointed a clawed finger towards the cliff edge in a silent command.

"One…"

The hatchling's optics widened in disbelief, maw dropping open in shock.

"Two…"

His plating bristled and he couldn't stop a defiant snarl, baring fangs in silent challenge towards his Sire.

"Three…"

Predaking walked forward with outstretched servos as though to grab him. Fireclaw hissed and made a run back to the cliff edge and this time, he did not look down. Spreading his small wings wide, the predling noticed how the sun made his orange mesh glimmer like starlight.

"Fireclaw…" The Predacon knelt down beside the small one with love shining in his reptilian optics. "...I understand your fear, but I promise you will not fall. I will be right beside you, little one," he softly encouraged, giving the predling a gentle nudge with a servo.

The little Predacon chirruped at his Sire before leaping up into the air, flapping wings pathetically. For a moment, he hovered. Then he landed on all fours with a discouraged whine. How did his Sire make it look so easy?!

"Try again."

His second attempt was memorable. He leaped into the air and with a great thrusting flap, rose another foot off the ground. He did it! He was… he was… FALLING! Gone was the cliff face beneath him. He shrieked and yowled as he lost focus, fear and panic setting in. He plummeted towards the earth, his spark thrumming madly from fear.

Suddenly he heard a deep, serene voice speaking to him, encouraging him. At first, he thought it was his Sire.

Open your wings, boy! Allow the air current to catch you!

He spread his wings wide and with a great flap, he caught an air current and soared above the treetops, no longer in freefall.

Thank you! I couldn't have done it without you. Umm… hello? Fireclaw mentally whispered.

The young Predacon was baffled. He thought the voice was his Sire, but upon further reflection, he realized it wasn't. The other voice sounded ancient and wise. Stern, but kind. Deep, yet regal.

Predaking kept his promise and flew beside his young charge. They circled the mountain before heading due west towards the setting sun, leaving their former home behind forever.

"The little beast escaped! But not before Shockwave managed to microchip his pet…"

"I want the hatchling, not your whimpering excuses!"

"My liege, they were spotted heading west. I've sent my seeker armada to follow them and–"

"Starscream…" The voice was a deadly purr, a tone that Starscream knew all too well. "Do not return empty-handed."

"Uh,uh, yes, Lord Megatron." The second-in-command stuttered before sprinting away as fast as his legs would carry him. He would not fail his liege. Yet how to capture the hatchling when it was being safeguarded by Predaking? Starscream needed a plan. A good one. It didn't take long for the scheming mech to think of something brilliant.

-Autobot Base: Hanger E-

"It's a familiar frequency! With an embedded message…" Ratchet exclaimed from his computer console.

"Again?" Bulkhead questioned rather annoyed.

"Meet me at these coordinates. Come alone. Bring a medical kit," Ratchet read slowly as the other 'Bots gathered around him to listen.

"It could be a Decepticon trap!" Arcee exclaimed with hands on her hip.

"Or Starscream has valuable information to trade…"

"Everyone is present and accounted for. What could he possibly know that could help us?!" Bulkhead argued.

"We do not know Starscream's true motives. Bulkhead and Bumblebee… accompany Ratchet to the rendezvous point. Report in, once he's delivered his message," Optimus rumbled in his serene baritone.

The three 'Bots shared a look with each other before shrugging. The doctor grabbed his medical kit on the way towards the open groundbridge portal. The 'Bots stepped through and exited the vortex. They found themselves in the middle of a forest clearing, Starscream leaning smugly against a tree nearby, his arms crossed. He wore a devilish smirk on his faceplates.

"Thank you for coming. Though, I'm not in need of medical attention."

"So this IS a trap!" Bulkhead snarled as both he and Bumblebee aimed their primary weapons at the Decepticon seeker.

"On the contrary, I do have valuable information to trade. I know where Predaking is."

"Pfft, you seriously called us out here for this? We're wasting our time…" Ratchet huffed as he turned around to enter back through the groundbridge.

"-AND where the Predacon hatchling is…" The lithe seeker all but purred to the Autobots' turned backsides.

Ratchet paused mid-step and turned around with an alarmed look.

"Did you say, Predacon hatchling?"

Starscream grinned…

To Be Continued!

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