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Hidden in curling mists and a protected by a nagging feeling that all who wandered near should change their course, there is an island. A very long way in the past, people still knew this island was here, but as with all things that are a little more and less supernatural than not, how present they are depends on the strength of belief. At least sometimes, but, in this particular case, the island fading from human memory and perception was a boon from his father, Poseidon.
The warm light and bright colours of dawn stretched in a dizzying blur across the horizon as Polyphemus rolled aside the stone that made his home's door, and stepped into the early morning. The pleasantly cool breeze brushed over his skin, and he took in a great lungful of air just to enjoy the feeling. With a great stretch, and a sharp whistle, his flock came scampering out of the cave, silently guided by a few herding dogs, and happily beginning the trek to their pasture for the morning.
With a sigh, Polyphemus began to follow them at a sedate and careful pace. At least today, his eye was not causing him pain, though his sight was as blurry as ever since that little wretch of a King had skewered it with Polyphemus' own staff. This was the main reason he'd traded with one of his neighbours for one older pup half trained, and more from another littler that were just weaned.
It was harder to mind his herd with damaged sight.
There was little to do but heal and move on with life after. Still, some days Polyphemus wished that he could crush the mortal's skull beneath his heel, but the man was long to dust by now and his rage had mostly burned away. Nobody indeed. Though that unflattering rumour of a myth the bastard had spread after was completely unnecessary.
Grumbling at his suddenly darker thoughts, Polyphemus bent down and picked up two of the smaller sheep who had been lagging behind. A young ewe that had adopted a new lamb – a runt – abandoned by some other mother in the brush. The little one could not quite keep up yet, and the adoptive mother refused to leave it behind. Polyphemus did not mind, and the sheep settled happily in his careful hold as they continued the walk.
Polyphemus had seen the "hero" and his ship in the dark as they approached his home. Watched them enter the cave without care, and covet his stores of food and livestock without respect for the owner. To his credit, Odysseus had stopping his men from robbing the giant's home, and so they settled to wait. Polyphemus hadn't kept them waiting long, not eager to test their patience, and curious to see who exactly had invaded his home without invitation.
At the time it hadn't occurred to him that closing his door to keep out the chill of night would be interpreted as trapping them there. But he also hadn't expected to speak with the group and offer them food, yet see over the tops of their heads that already – despite their leader's words – pieces of his cheese and hunks of his bread had been taken. Then he woke in the morning to the smell of blood in the air and two of his sheep missing.
Hospitality offered was a given, but to act entitled without offer was rude.
And they killed his sheep.
That was something Polyphemus would not let stand. It was just unfortunate it cost him his vision.
Cresting the hill to his morning pasture Polyphemus stopped short. Nothing on this island had changed in many centuries. That was certainly something new though. There, in the centre of his little pasture was a large crater.
How didn't he hear that?!
It must have made an awful noise when the impact happened, though from the still air it must have happened in the night. Perhaps that was why, regardless, Polyphemus shook his head and put down his passengers, letting them trot off to join the rest of the herd. Then he left the dogs to their minding and went to investigate the crater.
Curiouser and curiouser, though his sight was limited, this close it looked something like those human vehicles they used to traverse the skies? Strange though, human machines were as much dead metal as any other tool, this one didn't feel like a simple machine, but it didn't feel like a god or monster either. This one had energy and an aura that really was something entirely new.
Reaching over his shoulder, Polyphemus grasped the crook that rested there and drew it out. Gingerly swinging it around, he tapped at the thing to see if there was a response. From passengers or anything else. If it was humans, he'd have to call Hermes to get them relocated…
Tap
Tap-tap
Tap tap t-tap
Ta–
Tsch-tche che-tche
Oh. Well.
Hephaestus would be so jealous of that craftsmanship.
Soundwave felt like his processor was about to explode. Also a little dizzy.
Ugh. Trust the Autobot's to turn a standard maintenance run into an unplanned dogfight that had him… crash landing, apparently.
Lazerbeak pinged him with concern from where she was trapped behind the plating of his altmode. Trying his best to get himself back up to full function – or as close as he could manage given the circumstances – Soundwave realized there was something… hitting him.
Repeatedly.
With a grumble that never actually made it past his vocalizer, Soundwave did a sensor sweep. He only registered a single overly large organic humanoid, and a plethora of. Sheep. Apparently. And some dogs.
Deciding the threat was minimal, Soundwave transformed and stood up, squaring himself to the unknown individual. …Soundwave ran another processor scan to check functionality.
…Well. He was functional. He guessed.
This man had only one eye which, as far as Soundwave knew, was Not Typical. He was also not much shorter than Knockout, which was Definitely Not Typical. Really, he should just hail the Nemesis and–
[RECIPIENT OUT OF RANGE]
Okay. Then he'd just fly to a familiar location with better means to strengthen his signal–
[ERROR: GPS LOCATION UNAVAILABLE]
Ah. Well. Soundwave looked over the other individual and tilted his helm. The silence was starting to get awkward.
"Are you well, friend? I am Polyphemus, and you have ended up in my pastures." said Polyphemus.
"I am Soundwave. Do you know, current, coordinates." he replied, taking a moment to glance around the area.
"Ah, then you are lost. If you are capable of leaving on your own power, then the mainland is that way," the giant gestured, and shrugged a shoulder, "There are… protections, on this island that make it hard to enter, as well as hard to leave. So a warning, you will need to ignore any insistent feelings to change course and possibly ignore some navigational instruments. Simply follow the path I give straight and true, and you will fare well."
This was all rather absurd, but the giant Polyphemus was being very helpful. With a nod, Soundwave turned to leave, and spare them both any more interaction. Except, there was a small white something catching his attention. There, by the giant's feet, was a sheep and it's spawn. Both were happily trotting up to the man and calling to him. The giant looked down at them fondly and.
Soundwave was overcome by the sudden, desperate urge to pet.
Moving closer and crouching down, Soundwave summarily ignored Polyphemus' bristling at the sudden movement. Crouched down, he couldn't help but display a little heart on his visor. Sheep were sheep, but this particular one, and it's very small but determined young were very endearing for some reason.
Slowly, Polyphemus relaxed and put down the staff he'd raised, "I see you are charmed by the little ones as well?"
Wordlessly, Soundwave allowed Lazerbeak to undock and say hello herself. She very enthusiastically greeted giant and sheep alike.
"I see, you also have a little one to care for." That seemed to reassure the giant, as he nodded, then sat, one large finger coming to pet the mother sheep's back gently.
Soundwave was content to watch.
He really should get back to the Nemesis before Starscream and Megatron started to get antsy and cause trouble but. Surely, a few minutes enjoying the quiet, mild weather and these cute little sheep wouldn't hurt.