Through Ash and Dust (ROTB)

Chapter 49

Saphira's heart was beating extremely quickly as she carefully made her way down the stairs. While she had been careful about climbing down before, she was now moving down on her stomach, because she was too terrified to trust her own balance, and it has made it a bit easier in getting down. She still did not understand why the temple had to be deep under the ground, and she hoped that it would not be too deep. But she remained focused on carefully moving herself down. She kept her bag on her back, and kept it steady so it would not slip and cause a shift of gravity rather suddenly, and potentially cause a fall.

Saphira did at least understand why the key would be buried underground. She didn't know if the the depth of the temple would prevent the signal from being detected, even though she knew that the autobots, terrorcons and maximals would be the only ones to see and sense the key, and not humans. She did wonder what other maximals had come to Earth with Airazor, as she has implied that there were others that came with her. But Saphira didn't really ask the maximal any of those questions.

Saphira did look down to see how far she had to go, but it was hard to see the bottom, so she kept moving. She continued to move herself down before she almost lost her footing, making her yelp as she slips backwards suddenly, but she managed to catch herself. She took deep breaths as she felt like she almost saw her life flashing before her eyes. She took a moment before she continued to move down again, because she did not want to be wasting a heap of time.

"Are you okay, Saphira?" Saphira jumped when she heard Mirage's concerned voice through the communication device. "Don't tell me you are being chased by the terrorcons, because I will be right there if they are."

"No, no terrorcons," Saphira responded in a shaky voice. She swallowed nervously as she continued to climb down. "Uh, I am just...climbing down into the temple..." She took a deep breath as she continued to try and calm down a bit. "And I almost lost my footing. These stairs on the way down are not safe, but I am...slowly getting there. I just can't see the bottom yet...I am scared, but I am getting there."

"Are you going to need assistance?" Optimus asked in concern. He could hear Saphira's fear and loud breathing, and he didn't want her to lose her life for them. "I do not want you to die from this, Saphira. I will be there if you need me to."

"You aren't going to fit, Optimus...sorry. This hole is not wide enough." Saphira glanced down and she thought she could just see the bottom right now, but it was hard to tell. "I'm going to keep going down." She shivered as she continued to move down the stairs cautiously, not wanting to lose her footing at all. "I just hope there is another way out at the bottom, because there is no way I would be able to get back up without help."

"Would I be able to fit?" Arcee asked curiously.

"Yes, you can. But I don't need your help right now." Saphira whimpered a little upon feeling her foot slipping slightly, but she continued moving down. "I think I am almost there. I think I can see the bottom. I hope I can find the key quickly though, since I don't know how big this place is." Saphira did worry that she would get lost, though she knew with the ring on her finger, and the device Mirage had given her, the autobots would be able to find her. "Just let me concentrate. Distracting me might make me fall, and I don't want to happen."

"Alright, but if you do need help, Saphira, we will not hesitate. I do not want you to be killed or seriously injured from trying to help us. Your life is more important than the key." Saphira smiled when Optimus told her that her life was more important than the Transwarp Key. That was incredibly sweet of him. "If you have managed to climb down quite far already, you have already done a good job, Saphira. And I know you will keep doing a good job. Let us know when you reach the bottom."

"Don't worry, I will." Saphira definitely would not want Optimus to be left in the dark.

She continued to move down carefully. She was certain that she was not far from the bottom, and she was going to ensure that she reached it safely. She has already almost fallen a few times, and she hoped that she would not slip again. She swallowed nervously as she continued on her way down, ignoring the sweat on her forehead for the time being. She was just glad that none of the stairs have given way under her weight. She knew that this place would be well built, but it was also old. Which did not give a lot of comfort.