6. Storm

The winds in the mountains were vicious things, especially compared to the sedate, wet-season storms down on the plains. They twisted and howled their way around the rough, desolate peaks; fierce, treacherous things that could smash a flier to pieces on the unforgiving ground or drive her hundreds of kliks off course.

Not for the first time Airazor cursed the bad timing of Optimus' call for back up. It had come when she was almost out of range of the base's com system and on her way to find Tigatron. But then the Predacons likely knew that; she had suspected that Terrorsaur had been trailing her yesterday, spying out her movements. And Megatron had seized on the opportunity to attack the Maximals. After all, he had all his forces with him on the Darksyde giving him a two-fighter advantage.

Thunder rumbled and the black, ominous clouds flickered and flashed with lightening. The sensible thing to do, of course, would be to land and find cover or try to fly around the bad weather, but she didn't have that luxury. The storm's path lay directly between her and the Axalon and she wasn't going to let a little wind stop her – not when her friends' lives were in danger.

The wind twisted under her wings like a living creature, trying to dash her from the sky. She could sense by the changes in the air that the rain was coming soon, although at this altitude it was more likely to be cold sleet. It doesn't matter she told herself, I can live with that just so long as the lightening doesn't-

Her thoughts were interrupted by a brilliant flash and an explosive *boom* as a bolt of lightening struck one of the mountain peaks, sending an avalanche of rock down its side, followed by a rumbling roar of thunder that seemed to shake the very air.

Airazor was shaken despite herself, Tigatron warned me, she thought numbly, he told me to wait out the storm when I reached him on the com, but I didn't listen…

But she knew that Tigatron tended to take a different view of fighting than the other Maximals did. He had tried to discourage her from attacking the Predacons before, although never while the lives of the Axalon's crew were in danger. She shook off that uncomfortable train of thought; Tigatron would never deliberately allow harm to come to any of the Maximals, she knew that.

Another harsh gust of wind tried to buffet the falcon around, bringing with it a spray of ice-cold rain. Airazor wanted to transform badly, but baring metal in a lightening storm was never a good idea. I can't let this beat me, she told herself, feeling determination swell in her chest, I won't! And I won't allow any harm to come to Optimus or Cheetor or any of the others because I wasn't there!

The wind howled with renewed fury like it had sensed her determination and wanted to thwart her. Thunder roared and rain and sleet came down in torrents, but Airazor didn't waver from her course, and the falcon shrieked her defiance into the storm.