All Bite No Bark ↚ WOLFFORMERS

Chapter 1; Stranger

The skies were a beautiful cornflower blue and fluffy white clouds dotted the skies overhead. Within the Autobot pack territory, in the Autobot camp, most members of the pack were basking in the warm rays of sunlight. Passing winds danced in each of the colorful coats as they all relaxed or messed around with each other. The second youngest members of the pack bit and scratched at each other as they playfully fought with each other. The eldest of that group sat out and peacefully drowned in a comfortable nap while her brothers fought with another female wolf.

The older members were away from them, relaxing in the calm atmosphere. No signs of any attacks from any opposing pack were shown.

“Optimus!” a shout from the youngest member of the pack echoed as he ran towards the pack leader, with another wolf behind him.

“What happened, Bumblebee?” Optimus asked, slightly amused as the yellow wolf rubbed against him with a very exciting atmosphere. Ace sat a bit away, though he wasn’t as excited as Bumblebee was.

“Prime, sir. You’ll never guess who we met in the forest!” Bumblebee said feverishly.

“Who did you meet?” Optimus chuckled.

“Hello Optimus,” a new voice spoke up. Everyone looked to where the voice came from―seeing another direwolf, one with red and grey fur. He no doubt was much older and looked to be malnourished, he also knew Optimus. Bumblebee and Ace’s tails wagged as everyone else was either confused or shocked, seeing this newcomer. Optimus had a look of shock and disbelief on his face and just stared at the red wolf. The Prime slowly stood up and made his way toward the newcomer, but not before Ratchet called out his name in warning.

“Sentinel… is it really you?” Optimus questioned, seeming to be grief-stricken and happy.

“Do you not trust your own nose?” the stranger asked. Ratchet and Ironhide were standing up and just as shocked as Optimus was. Both of them kept thinking back to when they were back in the old territories.

“How is this possible?” Ironhide questioned.

“I―no… I swear, when we left the old territory, he was dead. I had made a mistake. It’s never happened to me before,” Ratchet said. The group of younglings had stopped playing around and stared at this stranger with curiosity and confusion. What had made the others so shocked about this wolf? Sunstreaker and Sideswipe seemed to be a bit snarky and just kept thinking how stupid of an idea it was for them to just let in some stranger.

“Who is that?” Sunstreaker questioned.

“Yeah, who is that?” Sideswipe agreed. Bumblebee had overheard their agreement and was astounded. Had they never heard of this legend? Bumblebee bombarded Sideswipe in seconds with a loud gasp. Sideswipe had lurched backward into Sunstreaker, which had caused him to knock into their sleeping sister, Sunset. She woke up with a grunt and heaved Sunstreaker off her back and noticed an unfamiliar wolf in the camp.

“How can you not know who that is?! It’s the same, great, legendary Sentinel Prime!” Bumblebee exclaimed. Sideswipe remained calm for a few seconds before he was bubbling with laughter.

“Now now, ‘Bee. It seems to me, as a pup, someone listened to too many stories before bedtime,” he laughed, creating a bemused Bumblebee. “The Sentinel, who defeated the Fallen?” another one of their pack members joined into the conversation―Jazz, “Are you sure it’s him?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Bumblebee said. “It’s so exciting, he’s a hero!” Jazz said, wagging his silver tail around.

“Sentinel was the leader of the pack before I and Ace became part of the pack. He’s like Optimus’ father!” Savvy said with a grin.

“Stop it!” Sunstreaker barked, “It’s just some old story. You get excited over just about everything!” Sunset sat up and shook her head, giving a glare to her brother. Sunstreaker sat back down with an annoyed look, as Sideswipe nudged him with a concerned look.

“What’s wrong, brother?” Sideswipe asked.

“Nothing,” Sunstreaker muttered.

“Yet we can see something’s bothering you,” Sunset said. Sunstreaker turned his head to look at Sunset with a bit of a scowl.

“It’s idiotic as he jumps at the sound of his name. Like a stupid pup!” Sunstreaker growled.

“Why do you care? You know you two are my heroes,” Sideswipe said, pressing against his brother.

“Don’t you remember? We liked to hear stories about him. He was our legend. You admired him,” he added.

“Yes, but when this ‘legend’ was still dead. Do you not think someone who for years, was thought dead, suddenly shows up as nothing happened?” Sunstreaker said.

“I admit it is strange,” Sunset said.

“Look. Even they were tricked,” Sunstreaker said, looking to where the older pack members and the stranger were greeting each other.

“They were old friends. How else would they react to the sight of him?” Sideswipe said, “They’ve known each other before our mother gave birth to us.

“Something about this stinks to me, brother, sister. I am going to find out what it is,” Sunstreaker said.

“Well, I don’t know…” Sideswipe mumbled, “I think you're overreacting, Sunny. You should get to know him.”

“Do not worry, brother. I don’t trust him either..” Sunset said. Sunstreaker’s grouchy look, however, remained as he watched Sentinel from across the camp.

“Sentinel, you can stay in my den, until we dig a new one for you,” Optimus said. “Thank you, Optimus,” Sentinel said. Ratchet examined the older wolf, taking in his bony frame.

“You’re terribly thin. Is this a problem I should know about?” Ratchet questioned, sniffing at the red and grey fur.

“Do not worry, Ratchet. I’m probably healthy. My current appearance is due to humans,” Sentinel said.

“Humans?” Optimus gasped.

“Damn them!” Ironhide snapped in anger and hatred.

“I do not wish to talk about it right now. Optimus, can we speak privately?” Sentinel asked.

“Of course! Let’s go up to the hill,” the Prime said. The two left the camp as Ironhide and Ratchet went on with their own conversation. It ended as Ironhide trotted off, following after the stranger and their leader. Sunset eyes the black wolf as hurried after them. She did as her instincts told her and followed after him. Sunset found him lying behind a bush near the base of the hill where the ones he followed were talking. Ironhide noticed her silver fur quickly as she approached them.

“What are you doing here?” he questioned quietly.

“I followed you, you leaving in a hurry can get the others suspicious, you know?” Sunset replied, “You?”

“I’m here to make sure everything runs smoothly,” Ironhide replied.

“I’ll stay with you, some of us aren’t feeling too great about him. Sentinel” Sunset said.

“Sentinel is a good wolf, Sunset. You’ll just have to get to know him better, he led us before Optimus did in the old territory,” Ironhide said.

“So I’ve heard,” Sunset said.