Transformers The Hatchling

The escape

Stormchaser POV

It had taken a full week for my injuries to heal enough for me to move. The physical wounds were mostly gone, but the pain was still there. I refused to let Ratchet anywhere near me, even though I could feel the hum of his medical equipment just beyond the walls. Whenever anyone tried to approach, I snarled, hissing, and recoiling. They'd turned on me, and I couldn't trust them anymore. I sealed myself away in the deepest corner of the base, surrounded by walls of metal and stone. The betrayal had carved a wound too deep to heal.

Fifteen Earth years, spent growing up with them, sharing everything. I had given them kindness, loyalty, and a bond that should have meant something. But they had abandoned me. The anger burned hotter each day, festering, and the more I dwelled on it, the more I felt like I was being consumed by it.

They saw me as a monster now. A threat. It became unbearable to stay in the nest, constantly surrounded by them, feeling the mistrust in every glance, every whispered word. The place that once felt like home had turned into a prison. I was no longer safe, not here.

Two weeks passed, and then Wheeljack left the base. His departure caused enough of a distraction for me to slip away unnoticed. It was the perfect opportunity, and I made my decision. Tonight, I would leave. The humans, I'd miss them. They had brought a new kind of joy, like younger clutch mates that I could help guide and protect.

The night was still as I opened the entrance to my nest, listening carefully. The silence of the base felt heavy, oppressive, but it also meant freedom. No guard was posted by the door. I moved swiftly, my claws scraping softly on the floor as I crept forward, staying low and quiet. Ratchet, a light sleeper, could be anywhere.The elevator would be a squeeze for someone of my size. No alarms, no cameras, just a small keypad. One wrong code, and the base would go into lockdown. I stood before it, claws trembling with anxiety, but I forced myself to focus.

**2730163947.**

I entered the code, the tips of my claws moving carefully over the keys. My breath was shallow, and I held it as the door slid open with a soft groan. I stepped backward into the elevator, making sure not to trigger any sensors. The last thing I needed was to raise an alarm. With a couple attempt I got in with enough space to press the ascend button. The elevator creaked, the cables straining under my weight. The door opened with another groan, and the cold night air hit me, sharp and fresh against my exposed neck. I breathed deeply, the scent of the open sky filling my lungs like a long-awaited balm.

The force of stepping out nearly made me stumble. My wings, stiff from lack of use, felt heavy and sluggish as I tested them. I stretched them slowly, cautiously. When I flapped experimentally, a gust of wind kicked up dust and sand around me, and I lifted an inch off the ground. It was a small victory, but it was enough to ignite my hope.

There was no turning back now. The elevator doors closed behind me, returning to its place in the control room. I was on my own. I moved toward the edge of the cliff, my tail flicking nervously. The drop below was dizzying, the ground far away. A wave of doubt crept over me, my body aching in places I hadn't felt in years. Could I even fly after being cooped up for so long? Would my wings still work?

I tested them again, stretching them fully. My body trembled with the effort, the wires and muscles complaining as I flapped again, harder this time. A sharp gust of wind lifted me an inch, then two. I felt my heart race as the air around me seemed to catch, pulling me upward. I could do this. I had to.

A faint sound from behind me made my heart skip a beat. The elevator doors opening, there wasn't much time. "Stormchaser, what are you doing?" Ratchet's voice broke through the night, filled with disbelief and urgency. I didn't hesitate. My instincts kicked in, and I surged forward, pushing off the ground with all my strength. My wings snapped open, and I leapt into the air. The world rushed beneath me as I fell for a heartbeat, gravity pulling me down. Then my wings caught the air, and I flapped with everything I had, lifting myself higher into the night sky.

I twisted my neck back, stealing one final glance. Ratchet and Optimus, standing at the edge of the cliff, their eyes wide in shock as they watched me disappear into the darkness. Their figures slowly shrank into the distance, and a deep ache settled in my chest. Above me, the night sky stretched endlessly, and a strange, exhilarating sense of freedom washed over me. The ground was far below, and for the first time, I felt truly free. My wings stretched out fully as I glided, conserving my energy, scanning the horizon for a new place, a fresh start. I needed to find somewhere to call my own.