Upon reaching the village, the villagers were extremely excited to see Saywa as they were quick to welcome the woman into the village and speak to her. Saywa spoke back to them, and Saphira felt awkward for not knowing the language, but she was glad that Saywa was able to talk with them. Saywa did glance at Saphira when she noticed Saphira was not talking and realized that she didn't understand the language, which was fine. Saphira patiently waited until they were led into a hut and Saywa was given a very comfortable place to sit on, and Saphira sat opposite her as they both got to relax.
"Ooh...that feels so much better..." Saywa rubbed her stomach as she enjoyed the comfort of the chair. "This second pregnancy feels a bit more intense than the first one. But I tell myself that it is probably because that it has been so long since my first pregnancy. And the sparklings don't grow as fast as our babies do."
Saphira chuckled a little as she listened to the woman. "How old is Salvador anyway? He's our size now."
"Um...this might shock you, but he is only like a hundred and twenty years old..." Saphira widened her eyes in shock as she was not expecting that. Saywa smiled at her and nodded. "Yeah...I remember the first year of Salvador's life, I realized he wasn't growing very big quickly. When he was a new born, he was..." Saywa extended her arm and ran her right finger from her left fingertips to just below her shoulder. "He was about that size..."
"At birth?" Saphira asked in shock and Saywa nodded. She grimaced at the very thought. "Ouch...no wonder the spark bonding is needed. Now you got me all nervous about the idea of pushing something that big out of my body."
"Believe me, I think both Primal and I were scared when we both realized his size near the birth. Thankfully, it was actually a smooth birth. But...he took a long time to grow. I liked it though." Saywa looked at the door was a woman walked in with a pot of herbal tea and poured it into cups for the two of them. Saywa thanked the woman and said something else to her, and the woman nodded before leaving. "It meant I could spend a lot of time with Salvador before he got too heavy for me to carry around. Though he still tries to get me to pick him up."
"That I can understand." Saphira realized that Saywa must have breastfed Salvador for a long time too. "I guess you must have waited a long time to think about trying for another sparkling."
Saywa picked up one of the cups with a shrug. "Um...it took a long time for me to even get pregnant by Primal. I am not sure why, but it did. We actually had accepted we weren't going to have sparklings, until I started having morning sickness...which..." Saywa chuckled for a moment. "The first time I got sick, I was laying on Primal's chest, and it just happened so fast, and the both of us needed a bath..."
Saphira giggled as she could imagine how shocked they both were. "Ew...but I guess you didn't know until it was confirmed."
"Correct." Saywa looked at the door of the hut with a smile. "This tribe has been very good. The physician at the time was able to tell me I was pregnant with Salvador. And my second. But we have a few more months before my child makes its appearance into the world." Saphira wondered how long the pregnancy lasts with a sparkling, as she didn't know how long autobots and maximals carry their sparklings for. "Just be aware that my experience might be different to yours, Saphira. Autobots and maximals might be similar, but I imagine they would be quite different in many ways."
"I do understand." Saphira sipped some of the tea and she loved the flavors that tingled on her tongue. "I guess it is intriguing to me to meet someone who is in a similar situation as me. I mean, I was shocked when you told me about your tribe and that the British tried to kidnap you."
Saywa nodded. "Yeah...and it was all because they all thought I was a literal, walking, gold nugget. But I don't understand it. I am still a person." Saphira nodded in agreement. "Probably the first and only time Primal actually killed a whole ship of humans, but...it was deserved."
That surprised Saphira, as that never crossed her mind. But she certainly could understand why he would do that. "Unlike Prime who didn't even trust me from the start. I am pretty sure he was prepared to kill me, since it was Mirage who brought me into the mess anyway."
The woman chuckled. "Really? Is that how you met the autobots?" Saphira nodded. "Hmm...well, I met the maximals by accident. I was about eighteen...or nineteen..." Saphira raised an eyebrow curiously. "I don't remember how old I was, but I was not twenty. Anyway, my father, who was chief, was preparing to sell me off to any tribe who was willing to pay the highest amount. I had managed to get out of the village and wander the forest for a while, until I found a hill and fell down it, right onto Primal's back." That sounded hilarious, and Saphira kept herself from giggling as she listened. "And I think we both scared each other, because Primal pretty much bucked me off and I scared a jaguar that was nearby by screaming so loud...until Primal told me to calm down and all..."
Saphira giggled as she listened to him. "Primal said it was an accident that you met...I guess he wasn't wrong."
"No, he is not. Um...it was silly, but I never met something so big and strong before. And honestly, those yellow optics of his burned in my mind immediately, because they were so gentle and...well..." Saywa blushed as she thought about him. "I was kind of...shocked that I actually blushed when we met the first time...but I still ran from him. And I didn't see him again until a few days later, and it was another accident...but...I was bathing in a lake, and Primal happened to be resting by the bank with Rhinox and Cheetor..."
"Oh...do I want to hear the rest of that?" Saphira asked as she giggled while listening to Saywa.
"Uh, yeah, well I didn't know they were there until an anaconda tried to get me. And Primal rushed out to save me...and yeah...I was naked..." The two of them laugh as Saphira couldn't imagine how embarrassing that was. "But at that point, as I had seen him twice, I actually got more curious and I would sneak away from the village more to find and speak with him. But...my sneaking out of the village was seen as suspicious, and my father forced me to stay until Primal found me in a hut outside the village tied by hands to a bed."
Saphira widened her eyes in shock. "Were you...uh..." Saphira didn't want to imagine what happened to her. "Um...assaulted?"
Saywa shook her head. "No. But I would have been if my suitor had arrived before Primal showed up. He took me away from the village, and I never saw my family again." Saphira felt bad for Saywa, as that sounded horrible. "I never missed my family. I was treated differently from my siblings, so it was a blessing."
"I can imagine. I wish Optimus did the same for me...but I had to flee on my own..." Saywa had a curious expression and Saphira looked at the door was more of the tribal women walked it, and they had brought in a tray with grilled fish and fruits. Saywa thanked the women and she quite began to dig into the food and Saphira continued. "Um...when I was little, my parents must have made a deal with someone. They were not good people and dealt in a lot of illegal activity, but I do not know all of it. But my parents had set me up to be sold." Saywa did not react as she listened while eating. "I knew this early on because I would eavesdrop sometimes. I always wondered why I wasn't treated well like my siblings."
"And when did you get the courage to flee?" Saywa asked curiously before taking a bite of the piece of fish has had.
Saphira shrugged. "I am not sure...I was sixteen when I ran...I managed to get my important information somehow and...one day, my parents and siblings were not in the house. And they must have forgotten to keep me in the basement...because they would chain me down there a lot...and..." Saphira shuddered as she thought of it. "I wasn't raped, but...my father never let me forget to remind me how to please my soon to be spouse. Anyway, when I realized I was alone...I ran...I snatched the money I knew my parents had in their secret stash and left...I ran to a police station to tell them to not worry about me being a runaway before I moved to New York. I don't know why I chose that city...but it is so big, that it would be difficult for anyone to find me."
"I suspect you chose New York because of that reason. Even if it seemed foolish." Saphira nodded as Saywa's assessment and she smiled at her. "You're a lot braver than me. I didn't even run from my home until I was eighteen or nineteen..." Saphira doubted that was true, as she could see that they both were brave in their own way. "When did you meet the autobots?"
"About...six months ago now..." Saphira had not realized it had been that long as it didn't feel very long to her at all. "Geez...I haven't thought of it that much...time flew by so quickly...but I am glad that Mirage brought me to the autobots. It might have been an accident...but...I had learned something horrible, and I was beaten because of a jealous work colleague and the person I thought was my boyfriend. Mirage found me unconscious in an alley."
"You must have run from them after meeting them." Saphira nodded affirmatively, and Saywa smiled at her. "Well...it sounds like we both have found something really good to be in our lives. I met the maximals, you met the autobots. Even if it was by accident, I believe it is more fate that brought us to them. You and I are clearly different from the rest of the world." Saphira felt the same way and picked up one of the apples to begin eating. "And I don't just mean because of how we are treated. I mean, I am not sure if anyone has really said this aside from Optimus, but I think you're gorgeous."
Saphira paused biting into the apple as soon as Saywa said that. She was surprised and lowered her hand. "Me? You think I'm that pretty?" The woman nodded and Saphira rolled her eyes. "Please, if anyone is gorgeous here, it is you. It is unfortunate people didn't treat you like a goddess instead of something to be owned."
The woman chuckled softly. "Let me guess, you look in the mirror and wonder why anyone would think you are beautiful?" Saphira was surprised and nodded, and the woman chuckled again. "Saphira, I feel the same. Having golden skin and golden eyes makes no difference to me. Primal was the first one to even tell me that I am beautiful. And that caught me off guard, because I did not believe that. Even though it made sense when the British saw me...that was when Primal was here helping this tribe..."
"Ah, so Primal was assisting this tribe when the British showed up and tried to kidnap you?" Saywa nodded affirmatively. "Oh...how did he know you needed rescue?"
Saywa moved her hand to her chest and shifted a necklace pendent from the dress. Saphira had seen the silver chain before, but didn't know what the pendent was. When she saw the pendent, it was a dark, grey, gorilla shaped pendent. "Primal gave me this. He said it would allow him to know where I am. He doesn't really need it anymore with the spark bond, but I love it."
Saphira stared at the pendent in surprise. "Wow, it's pretty. Funny..." Saphira lifts her hand to show her ring. "This ring here was meant for the same thing, but I can also communicate with the autobots. They gave me the ring after I was kidnapped by Transit."
"Transit?" Saywa was surprised by the name and she was immediately curious. "Was Transit an autobot?"
Saphira shook her head. "No. He was a decepticon." That confused Saywa even further and Saphira took a deep breath. "I don't know the full story, but there has been a war on Cybertron that has gone on for centuries. The autobots and decepticons are of the same race, but I think they both took different names. Anyway, because of that, Optimus and the few autobots at the time escaped here to Earth, but they had no way to get home. Until they discovered the Transwarp Key."
"Oh, I see...and the key is now destroyed..." Saywa's expression turned to sympathy as she thought on it and she looked at Saphira. "I imagine, as much as you love Optimus, that must hurt knowing he cannot go back."
She nodded. "Yeah...it does. I actually was feeling selfish about the whole thing, if I am honest. I didn't want any of them to leave. The autobots have become my world, and I cannot see myself living a normal life anymore. And my love for Optimus is strong...no other human could compare him." Saphira glanced towards the window and smiled when she spotted Optimus and Primal standing on hill quite a distance from the village and she could see they were talking. "And no other human would compare to Primal."
"No, they don't." Saywa leaned a little as she noticed Saphira's expression when she had looked out the window, and she smiled. "It is nice to see they both get along." The two stare out the window for a moment and Saywa glanced at Saphira with a teasing expression. "But I must admit, I know I only just met Optimus Prime, but I couldn't help but feel a little smitten." Saphira looked at her in surprise and chuckled softly. "And the depth of his voice sent shivers, so much like Primal's voice does."
Saphira chuckled some more as she could not blame Saywa. "I don't blame you. I hope Primal doesn't notice and get jealous." They both chuckle softly and Saphira glanced out the window again. "I must admit, I kind of thought the same about Primal. His voice is...similar to Prime's. His voice sent shivers through me as well, and his gentleness was a surprise." Saywa ate more of the fish as she listened to Saphira unsurprised by that fact. "And I can see that Primal's quite the romance teacher. He gave me and Optimus a few pointers, especially when the villagers put on a ceremony last night."
Saywa rolled her eyes and shook her head in amusement. "Of course, he did. That sounds just like Primal. He's the king of romance. And..." She paused and gestured to her stomach. "Well, I am pregnant, so of course he is." They both laugh again and Saphira realized this was the first time she has laughed so much. "And I bet it was the firefly ceremony last night. I remember mine. I have asked them to put another one on, and they've said no, since I don't need it in their eyes."
"Yeah...I think it has been quite generous of Primal to even help. Optimus and I really only started to be serious not long ago...so...I don't know how romantic Optimus can be. Not yet anyway." Saphira was blushing a deep red as she thought of the many things he could do to romance her. "But I will say that firefly ceremony last night was just...I don't know how they did it, but I am glad. It was the most magical experience I have gone through."
"I don't know either. I know their language well, and I've witnessed a few other firefly, courtship ceremonies and I try to listen in and figure out how they manage to lure the insects from the forest. Clearly, it is a secret, so..." Saywa grimaced suddenly as she tensed for a moment, and Saphira was worried for a moment. "Ugh...sorry...that was just a kick. This sparkling isn't much of a kicker like Salvador was, but...it feels heavier."
"Ah, as long as it didn't get your bladder, stomach or ribs..."
"Nah. The legs are here..." Saywa pointed to the left of her stomach. "I know this because it literally feels like the sparkling is laying sideways and the knees sometimes rest against there...and I wish I could tell her to turn up, but I can't exactly reach in and do that." Saphira didn't know the feeling of that yet, but she sympathized with her anyway. Saywa sighed deeply and grabbed her cup to sip some more tea. "So I guess you will be heading back to North America?" Saphira nodded. "Well, I hope you visit regularly. I feel like that you and I are almost two sides of the same coin."
"You think we are? I mean, we are similar..."
"I definitely do. I was raised to believe things like this is no coincidence. And I still believe that." Saphira could understand that, but she wasn't sure if she would believe that as well. Saywa looked towards the window for a moment and looked back. "Let's be honest, if you were born in South America and met Primal, you'd be his sparkmate. Would I be correct?" Saphira smiled with a blush, nodding as she agreed. "And if I were born in North America, and I had met Prime, he and I would be sparkmates. Let's make no mistake on that. No human could ever compare to them."
"Well...when you put it that way...you are right." Saphira giggled softly as she was still blushing, and she saw Saywa was also blushing. "But I hope you decide to visit too." Saywa's smile faded as she was unsure if that would be possible. "I know it might be hard, given the maximals don't have a vehicle form, but when we get back, I intend to find a large property." Saywa sipped more of her tea as she listened. "And, with the help of the autobots, plant a bunch of trees around to block the view, so it would be possible for them to walk around without needing to disguise themselves."
"Ah, I see." Saywa seemed to think more on that and smiled. "But...would it be enough to keep a big, toddler from running off?"
"Ooh..." Saphira had not really thought of that, and she realized that was true. "I see...you would likely have to leave Salvador here...but your new born could come with you. But..." Saphira knew that meant Primal wouldn't be able to visit if that was the case. "Ugh...hopefully Salvador outgrows his rambunctious stage quickly."
Saywa nodded in agreement. "Yeah...but...Cheetor and Rhinox told me it might not happen for a long time. Apparently, Primal was very, very rambunctious all the way through his young years...which is their term for teenager..." Saphira could not help but shake her head in amusement, knowing exactly what that meant. "So...I might be in for a long haul with Salvador...but he does listen to Primal, so that is a good thing."
"Does he not listen to you?"
"Yeah, he does...but..." Saywa chuckled softly. "He knows he's stronger than me. Salvador likes to push the limits. But when it comes to food, it is pretty easy to get him to do what he should do. He hates food being withheld from him. But I still love him." Saywa glanced out the window as she spotted Cheetor running around with Salvador on his back and she chuckled. "He even stills his bottles of milk."
"Milk?" Saphira raised an eyebrow as she was surprised by that. "I assume you give him formula or something."
Saywa shook her head. "I don't even know what that is." Saphira was surprised for a moment, before remembering Saywa was living a different life to what she was used to. "I am actually friends with another tribe that have a lot of goats and a couple cows. And because they produce so much milk, I have no problem getting enough for Salvador."
"Ah, that makes sense. At least that fills a need there. He's still a baby, despite how old he is now." Saywa nodded affirmatively, and Saphira looked out the window, looking towards Optimus with a smile. "At least I know that once I am spark bonded, we could have so many years alone before we have a sparkling."
"Yeah. That is definitely a good thing. Especially the time between the sparklings too. I do wish I wasn't pregnant at this time, due to Salvador's energy, but there is absolutely no going back."
Saphira said nothing for a moment before looking back at Saywa. "By the way, I noticed you referred to your unborn sparkling as a girl. Do you think you are having a femme or is that what you are hoping for?"
"Um, I have a feeling this one is a femme. When I was pregnant with Salvador, I had the sense that he was a mech. And I was right." Saywa caressed her stomach as she looked down with a loving expression. "And right now, I feel like we have a femme. I have already told Primal this. He believes that my maternal sense is stronger due to the spark bond. If that is true, being right doesn't matter. As long as we both are healthy."
Saphira nodded in agreement. "That is how I would think as well. But...I am not pregnant yet so I can't really say too..." She paused as the physician walked into the room and began to speak. She was gesturing for Saphira to go with her and Saphira sighed deeply. "I wish I knew what she was saying."
"I can teach you the language," Saywa offered as Saphira stood up from the chair. Saphira would definitely be glad if she did. "By the way, the woman just wants you to have a bath." Saphira raised an eyebrow. "It will have some herbs, salt and other medicinal stuff that will help the scratches in your back."
"Oooh..." Saphira definitely did not know that would be the case, she thought the woman would make her rest some more. "That sounds interesting...but I guess I'd better do it, or she will get a bit upset at me."
Saywa nodded and spoke to the woman. Saphira watched while trying to understand the conversation, even if it felt very awkward to just stand there without no knowledge of what was being said. The woman smiled at Saywa with a bow of the head before she turned to Saphira to gesture to follow again. Saphira did not know what was said as she looked at Saywa. "Don't be too concerned, Saphira. I just asked her for something for my own discomfort. My back is killing me, and this tribe seems to have the better medicines of all the tribes we have met."
"I see." Saphira chuckled as she understood and walked over to the woman. "And you get to eat the rest of the food and relax on that nice seat."
"Yeah...I'll likely be given a chance to have a bath too though, so that will be good. But that will probably be after you have finished with your bath. They only have two tubs here." Saphira was surprised by that, but she was certain it was for a good reason. "The chief and his family use one, while the other tub is restricted. I am not sure how often the villagers bathe, but that is okay. They see us like queens, so they will ensure we bathe first anyway."
"I have already noticed that. It has been something I am not really used to." Saphira took a deep breath as she moved out of the hut and looked back at Saywa. "I'll be sure to be back. There's a lot more questions I want to ask."
Saywa chuckled. "Me too. I kind of want to know what it is like to live in North America compared to here."
"That is definitely a long conversation about that."
Saphira walked away from the hut feeling very happy. Spending time with Saywa has been very fulfilling as she has never spent time with a person who she has clicked with before. She might have a good relationship with Bumblebee and Mirage, but this felt a lot more natural. It was like Saphira and Saywa had known each other for years, and they were able to talk and joke without getting upset with each other. It was strange, but in a good way.
And Saywa's comment about them potentially being both sides of the same coin was interesting. Saphira did not think that was possible, but it could be. After all, their stories were similar. Their stories were not exactly the same, but it certainly was similar. And it was true if Saphira had met Primal before Optimus, and he had no sparkmate, Saphira could have been Primal's sparkmate as she could definitely see that happening. And same with Saywa and Optimus.
It was actually pretty good the two of them admitted that to each other. It was funny to think about. It honestly felt like she had a sister. And Saphira has never had a sister connection with her own biological sisters. So to actually get one through someone else is very new to her, but exciting at the same time. And Saphira was glad that she could spend some time with her, and when Saywa is not pregnant and has time to herself, she definitely would like just some girl time. She might invite Arcee along, since she was the only femme, but that would remain to be seen.
When she was led back into the physician's hut, Saphira saw the tub was ready for her. She did not question the woman at all as she undressed and stepped into the tub, lowering herself into the water. She tensed briefly as the wounds stung slightly from the herbs, salt and other medicinal stuff that was mixed in the water. There was a nice scent from the water, so Saphira at least knew she wouldn't be bothered by the smell. She just made sure to keep her hair out of the water, as it wasn't necessary to soak it.
With that, the physician was happy and left Saphira alone. She was fine with that, as she took a deep breath to think about the future. Now that she has met Saywa, and Primal was finally telling Optimus about the way he spark bonded with Saywa, she was excited to spend the rest of her life with Optimus. She did not know what dangers that could arrive in the future, and if Unicron would return, but she knew they would be able to face them together. And they both can say they don't regret anything.