Prime Beast Wars

Chapter 3 Gorilla Warfare

It's been a few days now since Raf awoke in this new world and he has steadily been getting accustomed to it. After his little breakdown in front of the Maximals he was fully welcomed into their group. Over the course of the few days he's been here Raf has gotten to know more about his new friends, past events, as well as current events. Apparently they've been marooned on this planet for a few months now after engaging the Predacons' ship in high orbit and subsequently crashing on this planet. Since then the two sides have been at war with one another, looking for any advantage to tip the scale in their favor. Besides that Raf was more interested in their original mission before they got tangled up in a war with the Predacons; deep space exploration and the studying of unknown worlds.

This leads to why Raf has asked to join Optimus and Dinobot in their scouting of the surrounding areas near their base. He wanted to go out and see this new world he's ended up in, as well as learn more about it. His reason earned him an approving smile from Optimus who gladly welcomed him along; Dinobot just growled something unintelligible.

So here he was over a dozen miles west of the base following Optimus and Dinobot. Raf was still not use to moving around in his beast mode and he was lagging behind the two as a result; he was use to moving on two legs not four! This lead to Dinobot pointing out how he was slowing them down but Optimus was patient enough to wait for him to catch up. 

Soon the trio arrived at a small peninsula jutting into a lake with a cliff face and two waterfalls on either side of it. Optimus got right to work in studying the local fauna while Dinobot patrols the area. Raf meanwhile walked over to the cliff face that's near one the waterfalls to see how far down it went. The sheer drop before him made Raf gulp as he quickly moves away from the edge; he did not want to accidentally fall to an early grave.

Meanwhile Optimus seems to have found an odd plant growing against a boulder and has peeked his interest. "Ah, here's a new specimen." Optimus said to himself as he kneels down to look at the plant more closely, must be a flower of some kind. "Dinobot, come on! You're supposed to be assisting!"

"Of course!" Dinobot sarcastically replies as he came around a rock formation. "Pardon my lack of enthusiasm for a bunch of worthless weeds." He was now next to Optimus and he couldn't help but 'criticize' the situation. "You realize that we are targets out here. TARGETS! And still, you stop to smell the roses. Or whatever."

The flower hissed at him, revealing that it had a mouth with sharp teeth.

Optimus just sighs in exasperation. "Dinobot, I signed on for this mission as an explorer. Just because we bumped into Predacons is no reason to stop learning new things."

"Well, if we encounter any of Megatron's forces, you may learn it is unwise to dally with plants. We should be devising battle strategies."

"Knowledge of the territory can be an advantage in battle, Dinobot." Optimus wisely states. "You're a soldier, you should know that!"

"I somehow doubt this plant will be a turning point. But very well. If have it you must, stand aside! I'll blast it out! Dinobot, Maxi-" Before Dinobot could finish the command phrase his mouth was covered by Optimus's hand.

"Hold on! Hold on." Optimus ordered. He then begins to look around the bolder as if he were looking for something of note. Quickly he found what he was looking for; a small rock that kept the bolder propped up and in place. Grasping the bolder with both hands he reached for the small rock underneath with his Gorilla feet and grabbing it. Using the bolder as leverage he tugged at the rock a few times and after his third tug he managed to yank the rock out, sending the bolder rolling away.

With the bolder gone the flower was no longer obscured from their view. Optimus kneeled back down and lightly rubbed it. "You see? It is possible to look for non-violent solutions first."