Deep in The Darkest Night

A Possible Chance at a Dream Come True

Late the next afternoon Lightningray was gathering a list of herbs she needed to get for Ratchet, one of the local medics in the village. Ever since the night of the tragedy that took her fellow gypsies, and her carrier, Light was the only one that managed to survive the carnage. Though she had seen all of the destruction that befell her family she had no recollection of it because of how frightening it was to her. Thankfully she was taken in by Ratchet when he found her and raised her as a granddaughter of sorts since he didn't see himself as a sire figure. But, as she grew up, it was clearly evident that she had inherited her mother's gypsy beauty and it caused her to be shunned by almost everyone around her because of what happened. Thankfully Ratchet never saw it that way and thought that she was more than what the other villagers saw her as. Over time their little family grew to include a small band of village guard dropouts that were ordered to be the village service bots that did all the repair work in the village. It wasn't easy for them to adjust to this sort of thing, but she helped them out every way she could and in time they became like her brothers that stood by her whenever she was being criticized for her lost heritage.

As she finished making her list Ratchet came into the room with her shawl, giving her a warm smile. "I hope we're not running too low on a lot of things."

Looking at him with a warm smile of her own Light shook her head. "No, we're not thankfully. Just a few of the routine herbs that we use for minor scratches, scrapes, and the occasional major scrapes and cuts that need a lot to treat it."

"Good. At least we have the supplies to treat the severely wounded bots that need it," Ratchet replied with a nod. "Now, are you sure that you want to go get this for me? I'm sure that either Prowl or Bumblebee will be able to find them with no problem."

"I'll be fine, Ratchet," Light eased as she took her shawl from him. "I know that mostly everybot in the village really doesn't like me for my gypsy heritage but I need to start standing up for myself. I can't let the others fight my battles for me and defend me from everybot's dislike of me." Setting her things down she gave him a comforting hug. "I know you mean well Ratchet and I thank you every day for what you've done for me. But I think it's time that I start showing that what happened is not going to happen ever again just because of who I am."

Returning the hug Ratchet nodded in understanding and pulled away and gave her a proud look. "You're right. I guess that it is time that you show the others that you're more than capable of handling yourself and proving that all of their fear of what happened is simply blown out of proportion." Then glancing down at the shawl, he pointed them out to her. "So... does this mean that you won't be needing this when you go out through the village square?"

Looking down at it with an unsure look Light picked up the scarf and started to feel a bit unsure about not having them with her and shook her helm. "No....no, I think I still need it just in case. You know what Ultra Magnus said. He feels that it's better for me to hide my faceplate so it doesn't make anybot mad and attack me out of retaliation."

Remembering that well Ratchet nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're right. After all, he is the head of the village and he wants to make sure that the peace that we have now stays unbroken for as long as it can."

"True. Very true." Picking up her shawl Light wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled the top edge up to rest on the top of her helm. Once she felt ready she picked up her list and her basket, giving Ratchet a hug goodbye and telling him that she would be home before the sun had set.

Heading out she quickly made her way to the village square before making the detour into the part of the woods where she needed her herbs. Though she could hear the whispers that were being said around her she kept her helm held high and didn't give them a single moment's attention. As she reached the square and passed by the ornate fountain she noticed the reflection of her eyes in the pool below. Staring at it for a few moments she had lost for her focus on h r surroundings and accidentally ran into a mech that was standing in her path. Backing away a bit as she tried to get over the shock of happened she looked up and quickly got nervous at seeing who she had run into once they turned around and saw her.