A World Beyond Our Own | TFP AU

43 || Invasion

Ratchet's den was empty and quiet, save for the yellow youngling curled up in the medic's nest. Bumblebee breathed in what little scent remained in the moss, desperate for comfort. He didn't want Ratchet's scent to fade away. It was the only thing he had left of him.

And Taylor... he couldn't pick up her scent anymore. It was too faint, the stronger scent of herbs overpowering it.

Sighing softly, Bee pushed his nose into the moss and closed his eyes. Wherever Ratchet and Taylor were, he hoped they were warm and safe... and that they would come home soon so Ratchet could teach him more about herbs and Taylor could play with him again.

"Bumblebee!"

Bee lifted his head and saw Smokescreen trotting into the den. He shook a few bits of moss from his snout.

"I've been looking all over for you!" Smokescreen exclaimed, plopping down before Bumblebee with a small huff. "You're laying in Ratchet's nest again? Why would you wanna lay on gross old moss?"

Bumblebee brushed his paw over the moss, which was beginning to dry out. "I don't want to change it out 'cause it still smells like Ratchet..." He murmured.

"Oh..." Smokescreen blinked and curled his tail around himself.

"The others should've found them by now..." Bee said with a frown. His expression soon fell and he looked up at Smokescreen with worried eyes. "Do you think they're... dead?"

"DEAD?!" Smokescreen recoiled as if he'd been struck. "No way, Bee! They can't be dead! Ratchet's one of the toughest dragons around! He didn't get old just by sitting on his butt and doing nothing! And Taylor's like... super smart! She knows how to fix any problem!"

"But... don't you think they would've come back by now?"

Smokescreen thought on that for a moment. "Maybe they're just lost! And trying to find their way home!" He chirped. Then, he leapt to his paws and wagged his tail. "Hey, why don't we go find them? We can help Optimus and the others!"

"We can't do that! It's too dangerous!" Bee exclaimed. "And if Magnus catches us, we'll be in huge trouble!"

"Relax! He won't catch us." Smokescreen said with a grin. "We'll sneak past him. He won't even know we're gone. C'mon!"

Bumblebee hesitated, watching Smokescreen bound away, before he quickly slunk after him.

Upon entering the clearing, Bee spotted Ultra Magnus lying beneath a tree near the center of camp. He appeared to be sleeping, but Bee knew better than to assume that. Magnus was more alert than he looked and usually always knew what was going on around him.

This is a bad idea... Bee thought as he crept into the bush Smokescreen was hiding in.

"Magnus is sleeping! How are we supposed to sneak past him?" He whispered with a frown.

"Easy! Just be quiet and don't step on anything that'll make noise." Smokescreen said. "He's near the entrance, but if we can sneak past him without waking him up, we should be home free!"

A knot of worry began forming in Bee's stomach. They shouldn't be sneaking out, especially during winter. It was dangerous. They could get lost. Or worse...

Then his mind drifted to Ratchet and Taylor. They were out there in the cold. If Optimus and the others still couldn't find them, they needed all the help they could get! He wanted to be a real scout and help bring Ratchet and Taylor home!

His expression grew serious. "Okay. I'll lead the way."

Bee crept out of the bush, Smokescreen following soon after. He stayed low to the ground, keeping his movements slow and careful just how Optimus had shown him. Magnus never left his sight, though he occasionally looked away to make sure he wouldn't step on anything.