Chapter Text
The team was cut half by an accident mere minutes ago, as if the situation wasn't bad enough. Chase shot up a considering look at the still raging blizard, "Heatwave I believe it would be best if we seeked shelter," he now lowered his sight to face the other bot. "while we are built to withstand extreme weather for an extended period of time, I do not think piled under snow would be the most efficiant way of spenidng it."
"You are right" grutted the firetruck. "Can you see any cave or anything that could work?"
"Unfortunately, no. The Lad Pioneers Handbook book doesn't mention exact travel locations and i'm afraid the woods are too dense for me to spot one in this snow."
"Would be nice to have boulders maps." sighed Heatwave.
"But we don't, so heads up, let's start walking by the cliff, maybe we stumble into one," entered the the conversation Chiefe too, now that he was done with checking over his youngest sitting next to him in Chase' cabin for any injuries.
The small group started to make their way by the rocks when Kody gasped. "Wait!" he screeched excitedly. "Chase, turn right by about uhh— 50 degrees. Can you guys see that patch of purplish barked pine trees? they are special for a specific valley on the islan," he rushed. "We hiked there with the scouts some time ago. I know exactly where we are, and I know a place where we can hide from the storm!" exclaimed the boy with a cheery enthisuasm that never failed to lift the group moral.
The youngest Burns succesfully lead the group to shelter. When all safely entered the cave, the Chiefe earnestly ruffeld the blond boys hair, "good catch, thank you son." "Good catch indeed Kody, you provided vital information" chimed in the police car. "Yes, thanks boy" entered Heatwave too, making sure not to fall short when credit is due.
"And now we wait" grunted the red autobot.
"Yes, unfortunately this might take a while," hummed Charlie.
"Speaking of which, do we have any food or water with us?" wondered the older man.
"Lucky you, Kade would never leave without copious amounts of food, meaning he has secret stashes under my scattered around my cabin" said heatwave, trying to make up for the anger he couldn't really find in himself. "He still lives in the delusion that he can manage to hide food from me in me for some reason" he continued flatly. He saw it in one of Blades' stupid shows; it's easyer to be apart from somebody you love tolerate like, if you are angry at them. Well it really wasn't doing anything for him, or well, it was making his spark sting in a brand new way but thats not—that wasn't... It didn't do anything.
The bots sat around a nice rock formation, waiting for the blizard to pass, but it only kept coming, rambling and crashing, making the forest howl and the stones shiver. "Do you think they are ok up there?" asked Kody after some time.
"I'm sure they are doing fine, both Kade Boulder Blades and Dani are well equipped to handle situations like this, even with Graham— I'm sure they are all ok " answered Heatwave, and if he lied a little to comfort himself the kid...
Chief grunted in agreement, Chase stayied pointedly silent.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Kade didn't have to think before acting in these situations. Not in case of any persone and especially not in he case of his own lil brother. Running into burning buildings was what he did best, jumping in front of crashing helicopters, while admittedly not the same, didn't prove to be much different.
He heard his little sister scream when Blades lost controll over his rotors. If that unlucky bot didn't like blizards before now...
It all happened too fast, from the point where he was jumping to protect Graham, who was at that pont, sitting by a rock, barely responsive, too unstable to be moved before getting checked up by EMT without risking further injury.
He saw flashes of bright Orange crashing by him right into Boulder, dashes of blue and red barely dodging said crash, heard Kody yell after his partner, metal slamming into rock and then—it all fell silent.
The image of his firetruck, bashed and broken flashed in front of his eyes and he was running to the edge of the road, screaming the name of his partner, barely stopping himself falling down in anticipation. Why he didn't scream after his dad or brother or the other bot, was a thought for another day.
"Dad, Kody, Chase, Heatwave" he tried his comm, "can you read me" but to no succes. "God fucking damn it" he swore under his breath.
He closed his eyes, unclenched his teeth regulated his air intake and stood up, turning back around he rushed towards Blades. He didn't look good either.
"Blades, Dani, are you all right?" And for a terrifying moment it was all still.
But to both his and Boulders reliefe Blades caughed once or twice before opening his cockpit to reveale a bruised but at least still alive Dani.
"Thank goodness you are alright" smiled Kade as he helped his sister to lower herself from the copter. "Uhh, i mean you have looked better sis." he teased, trying to get a smile out of her.
"Yeah sureee" chuckled Dani as she bumped his brother, although weaker than Kade would've liked.
"Blades, how are you feeling" she turned towards her partner when she realised he didn't comment on— on anything.
"Been better not gonna lie. When I said i missed the ground I didn't mean it like this," he whined finally, not like it wasn't forgivable in this given situation.
"Poor boy," said Dani as she layed her hands on her partner "where does it hurt?"
Before answering the question, he transformed back from vehicle mode with a painful screech. "I think I broke a servo, and my rotors are *deffinitely* crooked, " then he shot a worried look towards Dani. "I—I don't think I can fly Graham back to town like this."
"We will find another solution Blades," chimed in Kade "but first, Dani you have to check him out or else he will freez before reaching the hospital." She nodded and with a few whinces run towards Graham.
Soon she gave the all clear and helped Kade lift Graham up into Boulders cabin. As they were working on putting their brother to safety, Kade noticed an ache in his side building up, but decided against acknowledging it.
When they were all done Dani looked around furrowing her eyebrows. "Kade—where are the other" she now looked at his brother.
"They—" Kade looked down at his shoes, scraching the back of his neck "they fell down when you crashed." He couldn't find it in himself to face her distrought face just yet.
"What?!" she yeped. "We have to get down there and start looking for them!"
"Yes, you are right" he finally lifted his eyes and layed a firm hand on his shoulder. Just like his dad would if the tables were turned. "But neither you nor Blades, and especially not Graham is in any condition to do that," stated Kade. "We are getting you all down to safety and then I'm going out with Boulder."
"But Kade—"she fought. "No buts. I'm the oldest, you are injured, I call the shots. Understood?" asked the eldest sibling, not meeting any arguement. "Understood." confirmed Dani after a frustrated sigh.
"Ok, now we just have to get down from here somehow," muttereed the redhead, inspecting the furious storm clouds piling above them.
The good thing about teamwork was that you didn't have to work through these situations alone. Even if the bot who blew you out of your mindset wasn't the usual. "Kade I think I have an idea" said Boulder walking up to him.
And it turned out to be a good idea indeed. Soon the group started moving slowly but steadily downwards. Boulder in his buldoser form, breaking up the freshly forming snow, carrying Graham and Kade; and Blades walking after them with Dani. This way ensuring that the helicopter wouldn't slip and Graham would stay safe.