bw2v, Near the Riverbank Cut, Truths Revealed and Homecoming

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Mikaela: *pauses in softening the tanned hide to sneeze and then wipe her nose, eyes watering at the ticklish feeling*

Denver: *looks up from skinning a rabbit* Y'u 'kay?

Mikaela: Yes, it's just leather dust. *wipes nose on arm again, and then resumes dragging the deerskin back and forth over the pointed stump, her muscles corded beneath the smooth sunbrown of her skin*

Denver: *small nod, returns her attention to the rabbit. Once it's skinned, she's carefully cutting the meat from the bones, and adding it to the stewpot. She found some roots that tasted strongly of onions earlier...*

Raoul: *soft grumble from his cocoon in the sun as Rockdove sticks her muzzle in his face*

Tracks: *coming back with more firewood, pauses to gently check on Raoul*

Raoul: *grouch* Make her stop. I was sleepin'.

Rockdove: *it's day. Why you sleep?*

Tracks: *soft chuckle. Is glad Raoul's feeling well enough to complain. Will gently click to Rockdove and try to get her to move away from Raoul*

Rockdove: *ignorrrrrre you! Why you sleep, Raoul?*

Denver: *startled cuss, just nicked herself with her stone blade... Again* *grumps and puts pressure on the cut*

Mikaela: Tracks, we need a hot finger.

Tracks: *soft sigh, wonders to himself how Denver keeps nicking herself with her blade. Will come over and tend to Denver's injury, and be glad it's not on her leg this time*

Trapjaw: *brings over that Auroch hoof he loves so much and offers it to Tracks to cheer him up*

Tracks: *slight pause as he remembers the day that the Auroch got killed, feels a bit ill* *remembers how Trapjaw had the Auroch cornered up against the wall, and how Mikaela and Denver were trying to make quick work of killing the animal... and how he ended up having to pick it up and twist its neck after Denver asked for help*

Mikaela: *glances over* Trapjaw, Tracks doesn't want your bone. Go lay down, okay?

Trapjaw: *slight whine of protest*

Denver: *reaches to give Trapjaw's ear a bit of scritching*

Tracks: *soft sigh, turns his attention to checking on Denver's hand. Satisfied that the bleeding's stopped, he'll move to check some of the other snare traps as he gathers more firewood*

Mikaela: *watches him go, and then looks at Denver before shaking the sweat off her forehead and resuming the work on the hide* With the rains and all this sun there'll be a lot of seeds this year.

Denver: Th'ts good... *back to work skinning rabbits, is trying not to think about how her brother must be doing without her. Since it's around the time of year he was born, she's been thinking of him more and more*

Mikaela: Something's bothering you. *softens that skin with a vengeance!*

Denver: *quietly* Jes' been th'nk'n 'bout mah youngah brothah...

Mikaela: *lifts brows without stopping the steady motion of her work* What about him?

Denver: *as she works* Whether 'e's doin' okay wit'out me 'round... 'E's onleh 'bout eight summers old now...

Mikaela: But he's a boy. Won't that mean he's safe in your tribe?

Denver: 'E mahght be... But 'f 'e got th' stuff Ah got.... *worried frown*

Mikaela: *stops working and goes pale under her dark tan* Ohhhhhh.

Denver: *quieter* Ah 'ope 'e don' got 't....

Mikaela: *frowns and starts to work again as she tries to figure out a way to know* Was anyone else in your family gifted?

Denver: *quietly* Mah Gran'ma....

Mikaela: *slight nod* He could have it, then. *rubs hide harder as she frowns and thinks*

Raoul: *kerchoo* Ow...

Mikaela: *glances over there*

Denver: *also glances over, will get up and check on Raoul*

Raoul: *another sneeze. Has the sun in his face*

Denver: *will try and carefully move him so he's in the shade*

female voice: *heavily accented version of Raoul and Mikaela's speech* Greetings.

Denver: *looks up, startled*

tall, dark-skinned woman: *wearing a leather halter and loincloth, with bracers, shin guards, and perforated boots without heels or toes* *quietly* We mean you no harm. We only wish to pass through your lands.

Denver: Er.... *looks to Mikaela*

Mikaela: *staring with surprise* ...This isn't our land. We're all outcast right now.

woman: *brows lift*

Denver: *small nod, going to fuss over Raoul a bit and watch the woman warily*

woman: My name is An, chief of the Fire People. We're going to the lands of the underground dwellers.

Denver: *puzzled expression, and a bit of apprehension in her face* Th' undahground dwellahs?

woman: Yes. *lips thin* A story reached my people that told of them burning their children and harming their women. We want to see if it's true.

Denver: ... *hesitantly* Wh're'bouts 're th' undahground dwellahs?

An: All we know is that they are to the North-West of here.

Denver: *just went a bit pale. An is talking about her old tribe*

An: *sharp look* You know something.

Denver: *small nod* *quietly* Th' undahground dwellahs.... 'Re th' trahb Ah used't b'long t'....

An: *steps toward her, expression changing from sharp to earnest* Are the stories true?

Denver: Ah w's kicked out f'r deckin' th' gah who trahd t' claim me 's 'is....

An: *nostrils flare* Kicked out? Claim?

Denver: *small nod* Ah'm 'f marry'n age.... 'N ain't cut mah 'ahr...

An: *slow shake of her head, her proud face showing anger* People have a right to their own beliefs, but no person has a right to treat any of God's creation like that.

Mikaela: *perks, these people know God?*

Denver: *slight look of surprise*

An: *turns to look over her shoulder. Calls* Optimus, the stories are true.

male voice: *grimly* I heard.

Denver: *wariness back on her face*

An: *turns back and sees this* He won't harm you.

Denver: *protective of Raoul, slight frown as she looks towards the male voice*

Mikaela: Why's he hiding?

An: *quietly* Because his appearance can be frightening, and he doesn't like scaring people.

Denver: *more frown, attention going to the direction Tracks went as something rustles in the bushes*

Optimus: *from where he's hiding just out of phase he scans in the direction of the rustles, after noting that the dog isn't responding to it*

Tracks: *in alt-mode, sooo not amused as he emerges from the woods. Has the remains of a poorly-made snare around one leg, and a sheepish-looking blond boy following at a slight distance*

Optimus: *suddenly appears, a big silverback gorilla with metal bands in his fur* Tracks??

Tracks: *startled* Optimus Primal?!

Denver: *surprised, is on her feet and hurrying over to the blond boy* Beau! *going to fuss over the boy, and talk to him in their tribe's language*

Beau: *excited now, will hug Denver and get fussed over*

Optimus: *stern gorilla is stern as he stands and crosses his arms over his chest* Alright, I'm waiting to hear the story behind this. Do you know how much stress you've put your crew through?

Mikaela: *looks at that frown, and goes and nabs Raoul and drags him off to hide*

Denver: *will go with Mikaela and Raoul, only with Beau riding on her back*

Tracks: *waits till the humans are safely away* *quietly, after returning to root mode* I broke the rule about no contact with humans.... Raoul thought I was simply a horse... and I startled him on accident... He's hurt because of that.... *still feels horrible about that*

Optimus: *stares up at the blue and white robot* What did you think Optimus would do to you?

Tracks: *quietly, not meeting Optimus' eyes* I don't know.... But that rule was there for a reason...

Optimus: *quietly* Yes, to keep history from being changed. But we already knew that there were different legends of 'mighty beings from the sky' who helped humans.

Tracks: *blink blink, looks up*

Optimus: *grimly* Though I guess you guys might not have known about those. The only reason I even know your crew is on this planet is because I ran into one in the Nexus. *shakes head* An's my wife.

Tracks: *quietly* I didn't know.... *pauses at the unfamiliar term* Wife?

Optimus: I heard your friend just use the word. *looks the way that the women went with Raoul and Beau*

Tracks: *attention going towards where Denver and Mikaela went, worry clear on his face*

Denver: *quietly conversing with Beau, sounds a bit upset*

Optimus: She's my mate.

Tracks: *understands now, small nod. Doesn't like hearing the upset tone in Denver's voice, but since he doesn't understand her native tongue, he has no idea what's wrong*

Optimus: Tracks, you have to let your people know where you are. But don't tell them that we know they're here.

Tracks: *small nod* *quietly* What will happen to Denver, Beau, Raoul, and Mikaela?

Optimus: They're your family, aren't they?

Tracks: *slight pause as he thinks about this, before he's nodding*

Optimus: Will it upset you if we go and deal with the underground people?

Tracks: *quietly* I only know what I've heard from Denver.... She and Beau are the only ones that I know....

Optimus: *terse nod* An'll talk to her. In the meantime... do you know you're not out of phase?

Tracks: .... *sigh* That certainly explains a lot... Though I'm still wondering how Raoul was able to see me when we first met....

Optimus: *frown* What do you mean?

Tracks: I was out of phase when I was gathering willow branches, yet Raoul still saw me....

Optimus: ...You know he's X-positive, right?

Tracks: ... *blink blink* X-positive? *not quite sure what that means...*

Optimus: ...Right. You're from my past. *explains how the humans of his time all have special abilities, caused by that particular gene* It's just starting to show up here in this time.

Tracks: ... *raised brow ridge* *quick glance towards Denver's voice*

Optimus: *nods* All the Fire People have gifts, and use them regularly.

Tracks: *very quietly* In Denver's old tribe... Gifted people are killed... Denver hid her ability...

Optimus: *scowl* So it is true.

Tracks: *quietly* She has no reason to lie to fellow Exiles, Optimus....

Optimus: I meant the stories we'd heard in our own territory. *rubs forehead and excuses himself to talk to his crew via comlink*

Tracks: *will send a carefully coded comm ping to Jazz, and hope it goes through*


Meanwhile, over where the women are


An: *bored, and now suddenly on fire*

Beau: *startled yelp, hides behind his sister*

Denver: *raised brow*

An: *quick glance at the little boy, then shuts her flames off*

Mikaela: You're Gifted!

An: ...All the people of my tribe can do things like that.

Denver: *gentle reassurances for Beau, a small quirk of a grin on her face*

Beau: *peeks from behind Denver, a bit of wariness mixed with curiosity*

An: I'm the best hunter and fighter, and one of the best thinkers, so I became chief. *watching the little boy with a kindly expression*

Denver: *translating*

Beau: *so surprised by this*

Mikaela: *blushing slightly. Not ABOUT to mention her little Gift*

Denver: *reassuring Beau that Gifts aren't a bad thing, and that anyone who tries to hurt someone with a Gift is not someone to be friends with* *to An* Jes' wh't sort'a Gifts c'n y'ur trahb do?

An: I control fire. Optimus' and my daughter can control and ride on the wind. We have a woman who can call rain clouds, and a man who argues with plants. But there are nearly as many abilities as there are people. *grin*

Denver: *slightly hopeful glimmer in her eyes. She's been doing so good at not sticking her hands in the fire for a bit of giddy feeling....* Aneh 'f 'em able t' walk through fahr?

An: I can.

Denver: *small nod, will tell Beau to sit next to Raoul for now* *moves to get up, intending to show An what she herself is Gifted with*

Beau: *worried expression, scoots closer to Mikaela*

An: *watches Beau, and then looks at Denver*

Denver: *calmly going to get a branch from the fire, will bring it over near where the group is sitting, feeling glad that she's only clad in her chest bindings and trousers today, a bit of an amused expression on her face as the flames begin to climb up her arm*

Beau: 0_0

An: *lifts brows, dark eyes twinkling. Then reaches over and offer Denver a handful of flame*

Denver: *slightly giddy grin as she holds out her free hand*

Beau: *boggling muchly now*

An: *clasps hands with the other woman*

Denver: *slight shiver at the difference between the fire from the cooking area and An's fire. An's fire is stronger and more intense-feeling, which has Denver feeling pleasantly dizzy*

An: *takes her hand back, her expression showing her curiosity* It's like you're getting drunk.

Denver: *giddy grin as she shows that the fire didn't so much as singe a single hair* 'T tingles.....

Beau: *just a bit spooked now*

An: *lifts a brow* Yes. You're drunk. *looks down at Beau where he's sitting beside Raoul and Mikaela*

Mikaela: *fussing over Raoul to hide her amusement at An's diagnoses*

Beau: *wibbles as what he's been taught clashes with what Denver just told him, and what he's just seen*

Denver: *gonna sit down now... and play with the fire from the branch a bit more before it goes out*

An: *over to the little boy and hunkers in front of him* What's wrong, little hunter?

Beau: *so confused, doesn't understand what the lady is saying* {I don't... She.... She didn't get burned....}

An: *takes something from the sheath on her belt and presses some buttons, then holds it to Beau's mouth*

Beau: *a bit more spooked* {What is that?}

An: *takes it back and looks at the screen, then presses several buttons as her frown deepens. Finally sighs and looks at Denver* We can't understand one another, and the little hunter's language is too different from the ones I know for this thing to learn it.

Denver: *still slightly giddy* 'E's mah brothah.... 'E don' git wah Ah di'n't git burnt....

An: Have you explained to him that it's how God has made us?

Denver: Ah tol' 'im th't Gifts ain't a bad th'n'.... 'N th't aneh'un who trahs t' 'urt a person wit' a Gift ain't s'me'un t' be spendin' tahm 'round.... Ah guess 'e di'n't realahze th't Ah gotta Gift too.... *says something to the spooked child that sounds gentle, despite the harsh, guttural qualities of their tribe's language*

Beau: *bites his lower lip a bit before he responds with something that sounds almost like an affirmation*

Mikaela: *quietly and embarrassed* Tell him I have a Gift too.

Denver: *explains that to Beau too*

Beau: *surprised look for Mikaela*

Mikaela: *blushes under her tan* It's not anything interesting though. It's just a little thing.

An: *curious* What can you do?

Mikaela: *blushing too hard to talk now*

Denver: *scoots closer and gives Mikaela a gentle nudge* Ain't nuth'n t' be 'shamed'a, Mikky... *yup. She's still drunk*

Mikaela: *quietly* But it's such a silly little thing.

Denver: Ain't so bad, realleh... 'T least Ah c'n tell wh'n y'u're c'm'n int' th' cave 't nahght....

An: What does she do, Denver? If it's not something bad why is she embarrassed?

Denver: She glows. *nod*

An: Why are you embarrassed about that? *grins at Mikaela*

Mikaela: Because I can't control it. I glow all the time. And it's really faint.

An: That's nothing to be embarrassed about.

Mikaela: But... I can't use it for anything, really...

Raoul: *sleepily* Night light.

Mikaela: *swat!*

Denver: *sagely* 'T's kept ya fr'm gitt'n walloped 't nahght... Y'u've seen 'ow jumpeh Ah c'n git, Mikky....

Mikaela: *looks up from apologizing to the groaning Raoul* Yes... I guess. But compared to what An can do, and even your fire thing...

Raoul: Ack! *staring at seeming nothing*

Mikaela: o.O?

Denver: *puzzled expression*

Tracks: *walking up behind Optimus. Slight raised brow ridge as he sees how out of sorts Denver looks... Knows Optimus is in front of him, if only because Raoul is staring at the mech*

Beau: *wide-eyed, will try and hide behind Mikaela now*

Optimus: *to Tracks* //Well, that answers that question. He can see things even when they're out of phase.//

Tracks: *small nod, just a bit surprised. Will check on Denver, since she's never been so out of sorts that he could remember...*

Optimus: *appears, invoking another startled cry from Mikaela and a growl from Trapjaw* Denver, can you answer some questions for me?

Denver: Hmm... D'pends 'n th' questions....

Beau: *hiding hiding hiding*

Optimus: Do the people of your tribe burn their children?

Denver: *sitting up a bit straighter, eyes hardening just slightly* D'pends 'n 'f th'y show Gifts 't a young age 'r not.... 'N 't ain't always burn'n... S'metahms, 't's toss'n 'm 'n th' wahtah, 'r sett'n 'm loose 'n th' woods, 'n lett'n th' 'untahs deal wit' 'em.

An: *eyes flash as though with flame*

Optimus: *scowls* Would you be upset if we interfered with the tribe?

Denver: Th'y threw me out. Ah ain't got no moah tahs t' 'em since Beau's 'eah wit' me.

Mikaela: *quietly* What happened to your grandma?

Denver: *quietly* She got sick 'n nevah got bettah....

Mikaela: *wince* I'm sorry to hear that. *hand on her friend's arm*

Tracks: *soft throat clearing sound* *quietly* We're moving....

Mikaela: *attention snaps upward* What are we moving?

Tracks: *quietly* All of us...

Raoul: *turns his head and looks toward the blue and white being* ...Where?

Tracks: The Autobot base...

Mikaela: *glances at Denver, her brows quirking together with confusion*

Denver: *confused*

Tracks: *gently, knowing that he may very well get a fight for this* We're going to my people. *just a bit uncertain about what will happen*

Denver: *so confused*

Beau: *peeks around Mikaela at the blue and white being* {What's going on?}

Mikaela: *quietly, her words slow and accented* {Tracks wants to bring us back to his tribe. I guess he's not outcast anymore.}

Raoul: *frowning deeply, his eyes on Denver*

Beau: *surprised expression is a go*

Denver: *blink blink* *quietly, showing just how drunk she is* Ah ain't gonna be nobodeh's properteh...

Tracks: *quietly, before he's aware of the words* Will you pull beside me?

Denver: *blink blink blink*

Mikaela: Um... what?

Raoul: *expression says 'what she said'*

Denver: *quiet as she thinks of her Aunt-Mother and how close she and her birth mother had been as they worked together to pull a heavy animal home after her father went on the hunt, and how they shared in struggles, pain, strength, and pride... Then her lips are thinning at the thought of Tracks being that to her. Men aren't supposed to have that sort of bond with their women.... and she's not sure she wants that for herself...*

Tracks: *stunned optic blinking as he realizes what he's said, and then he's silent, motionless, watching her with a quiet question on his face*

An: *distracted by Optimus transforming. Wide grin and goes to lean against him*

Optimus: *ducks his head in what's clearly a blush, and then shakes it at her as his optics twinkle*

An: :p XD

Denver: .... *gets up and tells Beau to stay put. Then she's walking off. She needs time to process this absurd situation*

Beau: *so confused*

Mikaela: *moves to scoop the little boy into her arms and cuddle him*

Optimus: *looks up at Tracks* We'd better be going.

Tracks: *quietly* Safe travels....

Optimus: *nods* The same to you. And try not to worry so much, alright?

Tracks: I'll do my best....

Optimus: *smiles, and then turns and walks away, An striding tall at his side*

Raoul: ...Nice legs.

Mikaela: *SMACK!*

Beau: *blink blink*

Tracks: *wondering what he said that offended Denver... or if he did offend her...*

Raoul: *quiet laughter and a rude sound to Mikaela*

Mikaela: *smacks him again! Knows just where to hit where it won't hurt him*

Raoul: *curls up slightly in his blankets, now shaking silently with his laughter*

Beau: *hesitantly* Wh't?

Mikaela: *looks down* {Raoul is being silly.} *and she smacks said silly yet again!*

Beau: *bites his lip to keep from snickering* *is reminded of Grandmother interacting with Father*

Raoul: *pops head out of blanket* Thrrrpt!

Mikaela: *finger flip on nose!* *wide grin*

Raoul: *yelps and laughs some more, but then groans softly and goes limp as he realizes he just used up all his energy and he's aching*

Beau: *small frown* Raoul.... 'urt? *is trying to use the words he's been hearing...*

Tracks: *attention going from where Denver left to the rest of the group, worriedly scans Raoul*

Raoul: *exhausted and tense from pain, his eyes closed as he leans his forehead on the inside of his blanket. Even after all this time the boy isn't regaining his strength*

Mikaela: *softly* {Yeah, Raoul got hurt.} *hand is gentle now as she lays it on Raoul's blanket covered shoulder*

Beau: *moves to lay down next to Raoul and hug the older boy*

Mikaela: *quiet* Awwwww...

sky: *rumbles, muttering about rain*

Raoul: *suddenly STIFF with fright*

Tracks: *soothing clicks as he moves to carefully lift Raoul and Beau* Let's get back to the cave...

Mikaela: *also frightened as she whistles for dog and horse and grabs up the newly softened hide and the pot of soup. Glances up to make sure Tracks has everyone, and then heads for the wash with the speed and grace, and a few bounds that nearly resemble those of a deer*

Tracks: *moving carefully so as not to jostle Raoul, is soon ducking to get into the cave* *worried as he realizes Denver isn't here*

Mikaela: *is getting the fire started so that she can heat the soup for Raoul as well as heat the sandy floor*

Trapjaw: *has dove, is sitting and waiting till Mikky wants it*

Tracks: *once the floor's warmed up, he's gently setting the two boys on the floor and going to get the rabbits Denver was skinning*


Meanwhile


Denver: *out in the open, sitting on a rock and thinking about what Tracks said.... and about how oddly An and her husband were acting. Their behavior confuses her in ways that Mikaela and Raoul could never do... and Tracks isn't helping in easing her confusion. Men aren't supposed to offer the same type of bond that women do....*

thunder: *rumbles, muttering about rain*

Denver: *looks up at the sky, worried*

thunder: *growls threateningly, and then a spark lights up the sky just over that way*

Denver: *low cuss, will get off the rock and run for the wash*

sky: *cuts loose!*

empty riverbed: *not empty right now!*

Denver: *would normally try and find a different route, but she's already soaking wet. Will try and get across to where the cave is as quickly as possible* *yelps as a tree branch catches her and knocks her off her feet... and under the water for a few moments*

large hands: *close around her and lift her free of the turbulent element, then turn her over and gently press on her back*

Denver: *coughs up water and gasps*

voice: *a deep, gentle rumble that she can feel more than hear over the bellowing of the storm* Easy. You're going to be alright. *repeats in a couple other languages*

Denver: *very soft sound as she tries to focus on the source of the voice. The rain and her subsequent dunk in the river have made her feel very weak and sick*

hands: *bring her close to a deeper rumble, and then she's been tucked inside a small space which is warm and which seems to throb with what could either be the beat of a massive heart, or some sort of wordless song* You're going to be alright. You're safe.

Denver: *very quietly, as she begins to fall asleep* Gotta... fahnd Tracks...

Optimus: *hand still on his chest, he raises his head to give Bluestreak a startled look where the little femme was standing beside him* This is one of Tracks' fellow exiles.

Bluestreak: *worried* I don't think Tracks knows she's out here, or if he's looking for her, but we should try and find him and make sure he's alright and that the rest of the exiles are alright too, since the river's really strong and I don't know if they're up on high ground or not....

Optimus: *nods and scans the flashflood in the river bed, then wades in, trying to ping Tracks' com as he does so* *holds a hand back for Bluestreak to take should she need help against the current, which swirls strongly around his legs and shoves things against them*

Bluestreak: *grabs Optimus' hand, not trusting the water*

Tracks: *pauses as he just catches that ping. Is almost back to the cave, as he also went to see if he could find Denver, knowing her dislike of rain. Will send an answering ping*

Optimus: *as he gently tows Bluestreak across the river* //The coordinates that you sent me led to no dwelling place, Tracks.//

Tracks: //...The entrance should be near the riverbed....//

Optimus: //I'm currently standing in the middle of the riverbed... ack! Bluestreak!// *reels the little femme in and tucks her under one arm like a sack of sand as the river neatly trips her with a broken piece of tree*

Tracks: *worried, will hurry over to the riverbank and try to see if he can spot Optimus and Bluestreak* //I'll be there soon...//

Bluestreak: *wibbling and trying not to spazz*

Optimus: *grimly pulling his feet out of quicksand and keeping his grip steady on Bluestreak as he scans the opposite bank* *mutter* This rain is so confoundedly thick...

Tracks: *scanning and searching near the cave entrance, as well as several yards up and down the riverbank in either direction* *pauses as he spots Optimus a few yards downstream, hurries over, shouting* Optimus! Bluestreak!

Optimus: *struggling with the quicksand again, lifts Bluestreak with both hands over his head and heaves her toward the far bank*

Bluestreak: *startled squeak as Tracks catches her and helps her get steady on solid ground*

Tracks: *going to try and help Optimus now*

Optimus: *opens his chest panel and uses both hands to gently toss the frail contents of his storage hold toward the blue and white mech*

Tracks: *startled blurt* Denver! *catches the unconscious woman and hurries to transfer her to Bluestreak*

Bluestreak: *more surprise, but will carefully cradle the human and fuss over her*

Tracks: *going to try again to help Optimus out of the river*

Optimus: *waves him back* Stay away! There's quicksand in the bed!

Tracks: But, Optimus... *worried and looking for a branch now*

Optimus: Stay back! And get out of the way!

thunder: *roars loudly enough to rattle plating*

lightening: *STROBE in perfect time with the thunder*

Tracks: *startled, skitters back a few steps*

Optimus: *ducks, remembering the lightening strike he's already partaken of, but then transforms to his alt mode and pushes off strongly with the beast's rear legs. Finding himself nearly to the bank, he leaps again, and then stands blowing river and rainwater out of his intakes before transforming back to root*

Tracks: *will move to lead Optimus and Bluestreak to the cave entrance, worriedly noting how high the water's getting*

Optimus: *looks back over his own shoulder, then nods to Tracks* Get her out of the storm. Blue, go on inside.

Bluestreak: *small nod, will carefully duck into the entrance in the bank and make a surprised sound when she realizes the first room off the cut's got other humans in it*

Beau: *eyes wide, scoots closer to Raoul when he sees the big grey and red creature*

Mikaela: *rises to her feet, her spear thrower suddenly lifted as Trapjaw growls* Who are you?

Bluestreak: *eeks slightly* My name's Bluestreak and I'm not here to hurt anyone, Tracks showed Optimus and me where we could get out of the rain and I think we might need to get to higher ground soon because the river's really high and really, really fast and if the rain doesn't stop soon, it's gonna get worse....

Tracks: *gently, from behind the femme* Bluestreak's a friend, Mikaela.

Mikaela: *pauses as she realizes what the grey and red woman is holding. Drops her spear thrower to put her hands to her mouth with dismay* Denver?

Denver: *pale and unresponsive, though she is breathing*

Bluestreak: *quietly* Optimus pulled her out of the river.... *not sure what else to say as she crouches so Mikaela can get to Denver easily*

Mikaela: Water's not good for her. Here, put her here. *pulling Denver's bed roll away from the wall and opening it out*

Bluestreak: *worried, will gently set the woman on the bed roll and click softly*

Beau: *hiding against Raoul now, is scared that Denver is dying*

Tracks: *worrying and praying silently*

Mikaela: *takes two stones from the fire ring and wraps them in rabbit skin, then puts one by Denver's feet and the other on her chest over her heart. This done, she wraps the unconscious woman carefully and goes to the fire to heat some beer*

Bluestreak: *moving carefully to see if she can help in any way*

Mikaela: Eeep. Please don't drip on the fire.

Bluestreak: *meeps and scoots back*

Tracks: *scanning Denver and worrying silently. Is also blaming himself for spooking her so badly that she didn't stay close enough to get out of the rain quickly* *absently, to Bluestreak* There's room to sit over by Rockdove, Bluestreak...

Mikaela: *has beer at the right temperature, scoops out a cupful and licks the extra off, then puts a hand behind Denver's head and carefully sets the cup to her lips*

Denver: *eyelids barely flicker as she registers the heat of the beer*

Mikaela: *soft tongue clicks* Come on, Denver. It's your favorite drink.

Denver: *struggling to wake up, manages to get her mouth open as the scent of the beer registers in her mind*

Mikaela: *softly* That's it. *carefully and slowly feeds her the warm and fiery beverage. Then startles, but manages not to spill any as the thunder roars loudly enough to be heard clearly in the cave* Tracks, it sounded like someone shouted when the lightening struck! *looks up, frowning*

Tracks: *moving for the cave's entrance, worry making his optics shine nearly white*

Optimus: *down on his knees where he'd been huddled by the entrance to the cut, his optics dark and smoke rising from his feet*

Tracks: *startled* Optimus! *moves to check the larger mech over for injury*

Optimus: *transmits a shock as he's touched, and then topples forward onto his face*

Tracks: *surprised yelp at the shock*

Optimus: *moving now, trying to crawl closer to the bank so that the lightening won't hit him again. Nearly faceplants as light and sound shake the world around them*

Tracks: *trying to ignore the slightly overcharged feeling he's got now, will move to assist Optimus*

Optimus: *closes a shaky hand over his wrist, optics flickering dizzily* //Won't... *static* ...Fit in the cut... *crack*// *flinches at another roar*

Tracks: *soothingly, though his words have a slight slur to them* Everything will be alright, Optimus... We'll wait for the storm to pass and go home...

Optimus: *nearly jumps out of his plating at the next flash and roar*

Tracks: *soothing clicks, notes that the flash and roar aren't occurring at the same time any more* *will sit next to Optimus and wait for the storm to subside*

Optimus: *droops wearily against him and sinks into recharge despite his discomfort and the water trickling through ticklish parts of his anatomy*


Later, after the storm has well and truly moved on....


Mikaela: *offering Beau a cup of soup*

Beau: *puzzled expression is a go, and boy, doesn't his puzzled expression look just like Denver's?* Wh't's th's? *has been trying out the language that Mikaela and the one called Bluestreak were using*

Mikaela: *remembers Denver's first reaction to broth and soup* {Drink.} *smiles at him, and then looks over at Denver with a slight frown*

Denver: *sleeping hard. Isn't as deathly pale as she was earlier, at least*

Beau: *cautious sip of the cup's contents* *blink blink*

Mikaela: *slips Denver's hand out of the bed roll and sticks it in the fire*

Trapjaw: *protests!*

Beau: *wants to protest, is also trying to work out what this drink is*

Denver: *very soft sound and a slight movement*

Mikaela: *wrestling with a very large dog intent on rescue* Trapjaw! Stop it and lay... oof! Down!

Rockdove: *snorts at the commotion*

Denver: *turns her head slightly so it's facing the fire* *bleary and barely awake... wants to lay IN the fire*

Beau: *moves to nudge Mikaela* Denver's 'wake.... *sips at the soup a bit more*

Mikaela: Tracks! I need help! *still wrestling with Trapjaw*

Tracks: *takes a few moments, but is eventually entering the cut and then ducking into the room*

Bluestreak: *fussing royally, isn't sure what to do to help*

Tracks: *pauses for only a moment before he's gently grabbing Trapjaw* Now that's enough.... There are people trying to sleep and heal...

Mikaela: Thanks, Tracks. *up on her knees and gently pulling Denver's other hand out of the bedroll*

Denver: *trying to help with that, doesn't have the energy to get her body to cooperate beyond some useless twitching and slight head movements*

Beau: *sets the cup of soup where it won't get knocked over, moves to help Mikaela, though he's not sure whether he should be pushing or pulling*

Mikaela: *gets Denver's other hand into the fire, and then moves so that she can push her older friend closer to it* I think this will make her feel better. It looks like she wants it...

Beau: *small nod, is trying to help get his sister closer to the fire without getting burned himself*

Bluestreak: *fusses and frets in the background*

Tracks: *gently explaining about Denver's gift, and then about what Primal told him*

Denver: *will fall back to sleep once she's in the fire, a peaceful expression on her face*

Mikaela: *looks at her expression* You know, if she wouldn't lose her clothes I'd just make the fire bigger and let her lay in it.

Beau: *small nod, will go and get his cup of soup and sip at it as he watches Bluestreak wibble*

Mikaela: *brightens* She shouldn't miss the chest wrap! *pulls down Denver's bed roll and then heaves her upper body into the fire*

Beau: *sputters and coughs, then turns so his back's to Mikaela and his sister, ears red* *just now realizing that Mikaela's a GIRL*

Mikaela: *concerned glance for the little boy* Beau? Did you choke on your soup?

Beau: *blushing, ears very red* N-no....

Mikaela: *frowns, but then looks quickly down at Denver as she recalls the woman's first reaction to her summer outfit* Oh, c'mon. They're just bumps. It's not like they're going to pop like giant pimples and let out monsters or something.

Denver: *deep, healing sleep, doesn't seem the least bit bothered by cinders*

Beau: *cautious peek over his shoulder*

Mikaela: They're just jars for baby food. They're not scary. *shakes her head at him, the firelight glinting off the crown of her long braid*

Beau: *working this over in his head, is having another moment of culture clash*

Tracks: *blink blink. Just learned something new about humans* Do all humans have jars like that?

Raoul: *quiet snort*

Mikaela: No. *looks up* Only women. Guys got the shoulders to carry the babies with instead.

Tracks: Oh... *filing this information away in his processor then*

Mikaela: *looks back down at Denver, checking to see how her friend is doing*

Denver: *breathing steady and even as she sleeps. Already, most of the paleness has gone away, replaced with the woman's normal coloration*

Mikaela: *happy grin* Wow, Grandpa was right. You can drink yourself out of being sick.

Raoul: *snerk!*

Tracks: *puzzled expression is a go* What do you mean, Mikaela?

Beau: *going to scoot over and check on Denver as well, now*

Mikaela: Denver gets drunk from touching fire. *grin*

Tracks: ... That certainly explains a lot....

Bluestreak: ... *so confused*

Mikaela: *then looks up as something clanks outside* What's that?

Tracks: I'll find out... *moves to check*

Optimus: *slowly trying to push himself up as he groans softly. Looks like he feels pretty awful*

Tracks: *sympathetic, will move to help Optimus after setting Trapjaw down*

Trapjaw: *growls at him and makes like pawing dirt, then tries to go back inside*

Optimus: *uncertain static*

Tracks: *uses his foot to try and block Trapjaw, clicking to Optimus in the meantime*

Optimus: Hurk!

Trapjaw: Yerp! *very surprised and worried dog!*

Tracks: *worried, but notices that Optimus didn't have anything come up*

Optimus: *groans, one hand moving to Tracks' arm* What... Where?

Tracks: *quietly, as he recognizes a hangover from watching Denver a few times after she drank beer* This is the area I've been staying in, sir...

Optimus: *lifts his head and tries to focus* ...Tracks?

Tracks: *will move to gently help Optimus sit upright* Yes... You and Bluestreak came here in the middle of a storm...

Optimus: *hand up to rub his head* You... you were missing...

Tracks: *quietly* I thought I was in trouble after an accident...

Optimus: *starts shaking, and then makes another quiet hurk sound*

Trapjaw: *whines, his ears back with worry*

Tracks: *will gently rub Optimus' back and click worriedly*

Optimus: *voice shaky as well* Think... I need... to lay down. *goes limp*

Tracks: *worry, worry, fret, will gently lay Optimus down and call Bluestreak over comms*

Bluestreak: *meeps and skitters outside to check on Optimus*

Optimus: *still very overcharged* *also making small zzzting sounds somewhere inside*

Bluestreak: *fuss, calls Ratchet*

Ratchet: //Ratchet here. No, no, Wheeljack, don't eat that! Especially when Eclipse is watching.//

Bluestreak: //Ratchet, something's wrong with Optimus and I think it's because he got hit by lightening during the storm earlier and I don't know what's wrong, but it sounds pretty bad and what's Wheeljack trying to eat?//

Ratchet: //Direct hit, or glancing? What was he standing on? And he's trying to eat the wire that I just carefully cut out of that copper we found.//

Bluestreak: //Um... I don't know if it was a direct hit or glancing and we're on sandstone and soil near the cave that Tracks and the humans he's been protecting were living in near the riverbed and--// *switches to Wheeljack's comm frequency* //Don't eat anything you wouldn't feed to Eclipse!// *panicky*

Ratchet: //Well what are his symptoms?//

Wheeljack: //Heya, Babe! What, haven't you ever had copper?//

Bluestreak: *back to Ratchet* *lists off the symptoms she can see, and the ones Tracks tells her* *to Wheeljack* //...Er.... Not in a really, really long time and I don't think it was as rough as the stuff here, so please be careful, 'cause I don't know what else could be in the copper here...//

Wheeljack: //We smelted it, Babe! You wouldn't believe how good this tastes!//

Ratchet: //That sounds like a direct hit, and one strong enough that he took damage from it.//

Bluestreak: *frets and fusses over comms*

Ratchet: *patient* //Blue, you're streaking. Intake deeply and count to a hundred.//

Bluestreak: *cycling air and counting to 100*

Tracks: *pings Ratchet* //Optimus isn't the only one who is injured... Two of the humans I've been protecting are in need of assistance...//

Ratchet: //Can you get them back to base?//

Tracks: //I believe so...// *will gently reassure Bluestreak that everyone will be alright*

Ratchet: //Good, because I can't leave this mad house right now. Wheeljack, so help me...//

Tracks: *very quiet sigh, a slight grin tugging at his face* //I'll see how soon we can get everyone ready to go...//

Ratchet: //Alright, buddy. What...? Prowl?? I don't want to know.// *click*

Tracks: *will gently nudge Bluestreak and ask her to help get everyone ready to go back to the Autobot base*

Bluestreak: *small nod, scoots back into the cut*

Mikaela: *looks up, her brows drawing together as she turns a willow switch threaded with strips of rabbit meat over the fire* But Denver and Raoul aren't strong enough to travel yet.

Bluestreak: *just remembered her PINpoint* We've got a way to travel that'll get us there quickly and then we can get Denver and Raoul to Ratchet so he can help them feel better and Optimus can get repaired so he's not hurt anymore....

Beau: *trying to make sense of what the grey and red woman's saying, but she talks too fast*

Mikaela: *slowly* Flying? Raoul says that Tracks can fly...?

Bluestreak: *small headshake and a slight smile coming to her face* It's even quicker than that... *glances down at the fire as she sees Denver trying to reach for the meat* Oh! She's awake!

Denver: *determined expression on her face as she concentrates on getting her arm high enough to nab the meat*

Mikaela: *startles and looks down, then hastily lowers the food into her friend's grasp* Easy. Do you want some broth or beer instead?

Denver: *quietly* 'M good... *going to work on eating the strips of meat, her hand shaking slightly as she holds the kindling stick*

Mikaela: *softly* Tracks wants to go now.

Denver: *slight frown, will try to sit up, though she's soon laying back down without even making it halfway*

Bluestreak: *gentle fussing, will help Denver sit up, and give the woman something to lean against*

Denver: *puzzlement clear on her face as she studies Bluestreak*

Beau: *averts his gaze, blushing slightly*

Mikaela: Two of Tracks' people came during the storm. This is Bluestreak. *looks toward the door* I better go ask Tracks something. *rises gracefully to her feet and walks out of the room*

Tracks: *trying to make Optimus comfortable, is worried about his CO*

Mikaela: Tracks?

Tracks: *looks up from his fussing*

Mikaela: Bluestreak says we're leaving now.

Tracks: *quietly* As soon as possible... Optimus is hurt, and Ratchet will be able to help Raoul and Denver...

Mikaela: But Raoul and Denver aren't really strong enough to travel. And we only have one horse.

Tracks: I can carry someone, as can Bluestreak, if she's not busy panicking....

Mikaela: *hadn't thought of that. But now she's looking doubtfully at the sleeping Optimus* But who'll carry him?

Tracks: *hesitates. Hadn't really thought through the little details yet* ... I'm sure we'll think of something....

Mikaela: Bluestreak said she has a way to travel that doesn't take very long. *quizzical look*

Tracks: *blink blink, this is news to him* Oh?

Mikaela: *nods and relates the metal woman's exact words on the matter*

Tracks: *perplexed by this* *will discuss the matter over comms with the gunner*

Mikaela: *touches the red and blue roan being, only to gasp and pull her hand back as a tiny bolt of lightening leaps from his metal skin to hers*

Tracks: *startled, will fuss over Mikaela now*

Mikaela: He has lightening in him! *frightened by this*

Tracks: We have to get him to Ratchet... *worried, will hurry into the cut*

Raoul: *looking around when Tracks comes in, dark brows raise in question when he sees the bot*

Bluestreak: *looks up from gently wrapping Denver in her bed roll* Tracks?

Tracks: *realizes Bluestreak's got a good idea, will move to gently do likewise for Raoul* *quietly* We have to get Optimus back to base as soon as possible....

Raoul: *squirms a bit, had pushed his blanket back because he'd felt too warm* Hey...

Tracks: *soothingly* We're going to be traveling, Raoul... I don't want you to get sick...

Beau: *wonders whether he should be doing something to help, will go get Mikaela*

Mikaela: *cutting a couple straight young trees for carrier poles and stripping off the bark. Frowns as she throws it aside*

Beau: *hurries back into the cut*

Bluestreak: *clicking softly, is gently fussing over Denver and Raoul now*

Mikaela: *brings the poles in and goes to tie them on Rockdove, then quickly laces a hide between them and starts bundling possessions onto it*

Beau: *will help with that by bundling up things that aren't already bundled*

Tracks: *gently cradling Raoul and Denver close to his chest* *soft clicks*

Raoul: *little bit embarrassed, but covers it by looking toward Denver and checking on her*

Mikaela: *looks around, her expression a little sad as she lifts the last thing to go, which is her cooking pot* I'm going to miss this place, even if it was a strange place to live.

Beau: *puzzled look around. The cave looks pretty nice to him....*

Denver: *slight frown as she wonders to herself whether Bluestreak ever stops to breathe*

Bluestreak: *gently fussing and trying to help with what she can... even as Tracks reminds her to cycle air and count to one hundred*

Mikaela: *settles the half full pot of broth on top of the load, then ties a cured and hairless rabbit skin over it before tying it down* *this done, she scoops up her quiver and spear thrower, and kicks sand over the fire* I'm ready.

Tracks: *will carefully bring Raoul and Denver out of the cut and over to Optimus*

Beau: *moves to follow, though he pauses when he sees the big roan and blue being*

Mikaela: *gives Bluestreak a push on the leg, and then goes out after Beau, shadowed by horse and dog*

Bluestreak: *follows* Alright, everyone needs to be touching somehow... *will help get everyone situated* It's a bit of a weird sensation so brace yourselves...

Mikaela: *frowns, but puts Beau up on Rockdove's back before putting an arm around the little mare's neck and then grabbing the hoof-carrying Trapjaw by the ear* Like this?

Beau: *blinking at the novelty of being on a horse's back for the first time*

Bluestreak: *nods and moves to touch Mikaela with a finger while touching Optimus with her foot*

Tracks: *touching Optimus with his foot as well*

Mikaela: *curious expression*

Bluestreak: Ready? One, two, three... *will PINpoint everyone back to the Autobot base, leaving silence to fall over the riverbank*

((Co-written with random_xtras))