Once Cliffjumper was well enough to move, the unlikely trio began following the stranger's scent into the thicket. It twisted through hollows and slipped under fallen trees large enough to fatally crush a dragon. Ratchet had some difficulty maneuvering through the tighter spots due to his injury, but managed to get through after making a few adjustments.

Finally, the stranger's scent began to pool in the hollow they had just entered. To Ratchet's right, there was a hole in the ground where something had dug out a den under the root system of an oak tree. He assumed that was the female's den and kept moving in search of the one she'd spoken of earlier. It didn't take him long to find it, as it was rather obviously marked by a corbeled arch of stones that lined the entrance.

"This is the place, huh?" Cliffjumper thought aloud as he took a look around. A good night's rest had replenished his energy levels, but he'd need more than that to start the healing process. "Kinda reminds me of home."

"Don't get too comfortable. You're only staying here until the two of you are fit enough to survive the forest." The female dragon suddenly spoke, making them both jump as they turned around to face her. She had the remains of a deer carcass laying at her paws.

Ratchet scowled at the sight of the meager meal, but tried not to let his displeasure seep into his tone. "Yes, we are... well aware of that." He mumbled, ignoring the look Taylor gave him once she'd gotten off his back. "I need to search for herbs as soon as possible in order to treat our wounds."

"You won't have to go far." The female said, nudging the carcass towards them with her paw. "There's an abandoned human-place a mile or so east from here. Trying poking around there, you're bound to find something useful."

"I think I've had my fill of human-places, thank you." Ratchet retorted with a huff. He refused to go to a place where humans had once lived, especially after the ordeal they had just been through. He may be desperate, but not desperate enough to put Taylor and Cliffjumper in danger yet again.

Taylor could almost sense the conflict in him. She knew how badly he wanted to help, but his fear of nearly everything human inhibited his ability to do so. Understanding the fear was one thing, tackling it head on was another.

"Ratchet, can I talk to you?" She asked gently, her expression taut with concern as she gazed up at him.

The medic in question turned his head to meet her gaze and noted the worry her eyes held. He sighed softly, then shuffled a few paces away so their conversation would be more private.

Meanwhile, Cliffjumper hungrily tore at the whatever meat was left on the bones of the carcass.

"Listen. I know what you're thinking, but it's too dangerous. I can't leave you two alone with a rogue. She can't be trusted." Ratchet murmured, his gaze serious yet soft as it studied her small frame. He lowered his head so that he was more on her level. "I'm your guardian, Taylor, and Cliffjumper's medic. I need to do what's best for both of you."

"How can you do that if you don't consider every option?" Taylor questioned softly. "Sure, she's a rogue, but maybe she's right. She knows the land better than we do. We might have better luck taking her advice instead of searching the entire forest. Tough times often mean tough decisions. You taught me that, remember?"

Ratchet sighed again, though it was more out of exhaustion than anything. The past few days had been rough. It was just one thing after another, and now he faced yet another decision that could mean life or death. How did Optimus make such a daunting task seem so effortless? While the Prime had taught him many things despite being younger, making hard decisions was something he needed to learn through trial and error, and he'd already experienced his fair share of errors that had cost him dearly.

"Yes, I remember." Ratchet's voice came no higher than a murmur as he closed his eyes and lowered his head further. He could feel the weight on his shoulders as if it were actually there.

Taylor pursed her lip as she felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She reached out with her hand and pressed her palm against his snout. His scales were cold to the touch. She rubbed her thumb across them, trying to provide reassurance.

"I know you're afraid that something bad will happen. I don't blame you." She said. "But I also know you're one of the bravest, strongest dragons out there. You always go beyond what's expected of you to meet everyone's needs, and that's what you're doing now. You won't be alone, either. You've got me. We'll find food and herbs in the human-place. You just have to believe that we will. Can you do that?"

Ratchet lingered for a moment to enjoy her sweet gesture before he released a soft puff of air through his nostrils and pulled away from her. His blue eyes fluttered open, appearing weary but bright.

"I believe so." He answered with renewed confidence, a slight smile tugging on the corner of his mouth. "Someone's been practicing the flowery language of a certain Prime." He lightly teased her as he lifted his head.

Taylor felt a hot wave of embarrassment wash over her as she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. "I'm still learning, but he always sounds so elegant when he speaks." She said, smiling at him.

"He didn't always sound like that." Ratchet gave a soft chuckle before he returned his attention to the two dragons who'd been patiently waiting for them to finish. Cliffjumper still gnawed away at a bone, while the female curiously eyed the medic. "Taylor and I have decided that we will travel to the abandoned human-place to search for herbs."

"At least someone has a grain of common sense." The female muttered under her breath. "What about your friend here?" She gestured to Cliffjumper with her head.

Ratchet's expression hardened. "He will stay here and rest until we return." He replied, although he didn't sound so sure of his decision.

"So you're gonna put your trust in me and hope things don't go awry?"

"I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No, you don't." She said, laughing a little. "Name's Huntress, by the way. Have fun."

Ratchet watched her with a slight scowl, then glanced at Cliffjumper. "We won't take long. If she tries anything, please let me know immediately." He urged, brushing his tail across his back in a reassuring manner.

"Don't worry, doc. I'll be fine." Cliffjumper replied as he stretched his front legs and yawned.

Ratchet returned his attention to Huntress, narrowing his eyes at her. "If you so much as lay a claw on him—"

"Relax. I won't hurt your friend." Huntress said nonchalantly, meeting Ratchet's gaze with the same intensity. "He's safe with me."

Ratchet's jaw clenched as his worry continued to grow, though he forced it down. This was a risk they had to take. If she hadn't killed them by now, she probably wouldn't kill them later. At least, that's what he hoped.

With a soft huff, he turned and gestured for Taylor to follow him as he began heading east towards the abandoned human-place.

*
*
*

The silhouettes of two dragons stood in the entrance of Megatron's den, one large and one small. They wouldn't enter without being given permission, as doing so would likely result in an outburst.

"Knockout, report." The gravelly voice of the warlord spoke from the darkness of the den.

Knockout swallowed thickly as he took a hesitant step forwards. "Breakdown and I have found something that could be of interest to you, my liege." He said, flicking Breakdown with his tail so he would step up beside him.

Dangling from Breakdown's jaws was an article of clothing; a sweatshirt or a jacket of some sort. The bruiser lowered his head to the ground and laid it in the dirt, keeping an anxious eye on the darkness in case Megatron decided to lunge at him for some reason.

A few moments passed before Megatron's immense form emerged to investigate. The warlord bent his head to sniff at the jacket. His eyes blazed with renewed intensity as he recognized the scent all too well and his lips curled back into a silent snarl.

"We discovered the Autobot medic's scent nearby as well. They were together." Knockout explained, appearing a bit unsettled by Megatron's obvious interest in the clothing. Personally, he despised humans and found them disgusting.

Megatron lifted his head to address the two once he'd filled his nostrils with Taylor's scent. "It appears our dear friend Taylor has lost something of hers. I think it would be best if we returned it to her, don't you?" He asked with a sinister smirk.

Breakdown grinned, his yellow eyes glinting with eagerness. "Can I squish her?"

"I want her alive." Megatron snapped his jaws mere inches from Breakdown's snout with a growl, though he regained his composure rather quickly, folding his wings against his back. "Track them down and bring her to me. Do what you want with Prime's lap dog." 

"With pleasure, my liege." Knockout replied with a smile. It had been a while since he last faced the Autobot medic and he was itching for a rematch. This time, however, the odds would be in his favor.

***

Ooh, things are heating up! Ratchet and Taylor better be careful hehe

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!