It was a dark and stormy night, intermittent flashes of lightning and rumbling booms of thunder lighting up the sky and shaking the ground in a never ending cycle of light and sound.

Will Lennox hiked steadily up a long, winding trail, barely noticing the harsh weather as his booted feet dug into the mud with every fluid stride he took. He didn't slip, nor did he falter, unerringly making his way to the top of the hill he was climbing before he halted and took a moment to breathe, studying a truly stunning panorama of rain and lightning as the storm raged on around him.

I haven't seen a storm like this in a long time, he thought, his sharp hazel eyes studying the sky before his gaze dropped to the small valley he stood over, and he eagerly searched for something. He continued looking every time the lightning struck, but he just couldn't find what he was looking for. His heart sank in his chest, and he turned to go back the way he came.

She promised… Will thought with a tinge of anger, but more sadness than anything, then he froze when a single, piercing howl floated through the air, even above the sound of the wind and the thunder. Slowly he turned, a massive smile crossing his face when his eyes fell on her.

She was still as big as he remembered, still as powerful and graceful. Her bronze armor gleamed brightly with every bolt of lightning that struck as she climbed the hill to meet him. Her cobalt blue optics were still bright, filled with wisdom and kindness as she lowered her massive head to gently press the tip of her nose to his chest.

Instantly he hugged her muzzle, pressing his cheek against her warm armor as she spoke softly, her voice rumbling through his entire body.

"I did not think you were going to come with this inclement weather, Will." Warrior Star said, watching him with gentle optics as he pulled back and met her gaze.

"We both promised, didn't we? I never break a promise, Warrior Star." He said, then she nudged him slightly until he was sitting on her nose before turning and heading back in the direction she had come from.

"Indeed, Will, neither do I." She said, still speaking softly as she made her way down the hill before entering a big cave, her optics glowing in the darkness as she made her way through a maze of twists and turns with the human sitting on her nose.

Eventually she emerged into a big cavern with a massive fire pit in the middle, lowering her head to let Will down before shaking herself vigorously and laying down close enough to the fire for Will to dry off and be warm without getting overly warm herself.

Her three brothers emerged from a few caverns off of the main one, wagging their tails politely at Will and nodding at their sister before making their way outside.

"Decepticon in the area. They're going hunting." She said at Will's curious glance before the human walked over to her and settled against her side. She lowered her head, placing it on the ground next to him as she studied him from the corner of one keen optic until he spoke.

"Been awhile, hasn't it Warrior Star?" Will said thoughtfully, keeping his gaze on the fire as the Cybertronian wolf watched him calmly.

"It has, Will. Far too long." She replied before she looked at the fire as well. They sat in comfortable silence before he spoke again, his voice wistful and affectionate with memories.

"It was a dark and stormy night, just like this when you disappeared…"

A/N: I've been ITCHING to rewrite this every since I started on The Wanderer...I've always loved Will Lennox as a character, and there are not NEARLY enough good Lennox fics running around. That and this little challenge fic has been sitting dormant for a year and a half. Bad me! Bad bad me!

ANYWAY, I'll probably be running this fic more or less on the side as I work on The Wanderer. I'm thinking there will be five, maybe six chapters total in this one...it will be Warrior Star/Will centric. Hopefully I'll be able to finish both of them in the next few months.

As always, love if you will, hate if you must. I will take anything that you care to dispense.

Until we meet again...

Kani