Bumblebee had planned for today’s lesson to be simple—tracking and navigation. The kids were paying attention, for the most part. Mo was eager to learn, Robby was at least pretending to listen, and Thrash… well, Thrash was being Thrash.

“Now, if you ever find yourself in unknown terrain, you don’t—”

“Hey, what’s that?” Thrash suddenly cut in, his optics locking onto the entrance of a dark cave nestled into the rocky hillside.

Bee’s optics widened as the Terran immediately bolted toward it. “Thrash—NO! Stop!”

But it was too late. Thrash disappeared into the shadows before Bumblebee could grab him.

“Slag,” Bee muttered under his breath, already sprinting after him, Mo and Robby right on his heels.

Inside the cave, the air grew colder, heavier. Thrash slowed down, excitement turning to hesitation as he took in the eerie silence. The deeper he went, the more he realized—this wasn’t just any cave. The walls had strange markings, faintly glowing with a dim, pulsing energy.

Then—a voice.

Low. Raspy. Ancient.

“Curious little one… you shouldn’t be here.”

Thrash froze, vents hitching as a shadow moved in the darkness. Whoever—whatever—was in here was big. And as its glowing optics flickered open, Thrash realized…

He may have just made the biggest mistake of his life.