A/N: So, I decided to write a fanfic. This is my first fanfiction, actually, so any reviews, comments, critiques would be welcome. It starts out rather quite slow, but no worries, there will be Tobias in it.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Animorphs series. Only thing I own here is my made up characters (Aaron, Hannah, etc)...
Chapter One
I looked down at the blank canvas.
This is it.
This is going to be my last work, my last painting that I'm ever going to create. I sighed and picked up the brush, and gently dabbed the tip into the mix of acrylic paint that I squeezed out of the half- used tubes earlier in the afternoon.
I closed my eyes and with a swift motion, moved my brush in a horizontal firm stroke across the white surface.
*****
"Aaron…"
I looked up to my sister, who was sitting lazily on the couch as I walked in from a day at school. The lamp next to her was on, shining across her silky black hair and illuminating her grinning face. We have lived in an apartment for quite a while now, ever since Junior High.
"Aaron, aren't you glad that I have a job and that I can support both of us?" She paused. "And of course, since today's you're birthday, I got you something…"
I broke into a smile, "Well, I was starting to think you forgot, considering the usual burnt eggs you made this morning!"
She stuck out her tongue childishly and laughed, "You know, I made 'em extra crispy and black, just for you!" She paused and got up, heading towards the hallway closet near our room's exit. "But then I decided that that wasn't really a great present, especially when compared to that Self-painted wall scroll you made for me for my birthday…" Opening the closet, she rummaged around, "So then, I've always remembered when Mom and Dad would talk about how you were gifted with artistic skills… and how you loved painting…"
I raised my eyebrows and glanced at her, "You still remember Mom and Dad talking about me from that long ago? How old was I at the time?"
She shook her head as she bent down to pick up a wrapped package. It was rectangular box, wrapped plainly in a solid green. She knows my favorite color.
"Paint something for me with it, would you?" She chuckled, "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks… It's a new set of acrylic paints, right? I've always mentioned that I needed new paints… most likely I'll just paint something and give it to you for your birthday." I quickly tore apart the wrappings and sure enough, a new set of paints, wrapped nicely in a plastic covering and a colorful box. These were the good ones too, not the cheap brand paints which clumps easily when not in use. "Damn, these must've been quite pricey…"
"Eh, it's a special occasion. Besides, I have a decent job. You just go ahead and worry about graduating High School."
I nodded and stared at her sincerely. "One day, Hanah, one day… I'll get famous with my art and we'll be rich. You can bet on me."
She giggled, "And I'll be able to quit my job and rely on your income, huh?"
"You mocking me?"
"No, no… well, good luck with your dream, eh? I know college doesn't interest you," she shrugged, "I'm not like our parents, ya' know, I believe that you should do whatever you feel best."
"Hanah… what do you think our parents would say… you know… I mean, it's been years. I'm a sophomore in high school now… you… you're actually really successful supporting both of us…"
"Mmm... don't know, Aaron… don't know. Seems just like yesterday when you were still in elementary and I was a freshie in college." My sister laid down on the couch, feet up on the armrest. "Whatever. It's all in the past now. Can't wallow in the past, right?"
I looked down at my new gift. Another year has gone by since the fire. "Yeah…" I said softly. I turned my back to the common room and walked into my room. It's been hard on you, sis. Starting straight out of college in a crisis… you've done well. I closed my door and gently placed the paints on top of my drawer. Sighing, I sat down in front of my computer. The soft glow of the monitor illuminated my room. "I promise I'll make it up to you Hanah."
*****
It was done. The canvas was no longer white, but filled with numerous nuances of colors and blends. A painting of a shattered globe. My world. Dammit. It's so emo. I hated emos. Am I emo? I wouldn't forgive myself if I became one…
However, even if my painting really was damn emo, I've poured my emotions into it, and had used up a lot of my acrylic paints while at it. I'm basically out. Ironically, my last painting was my only painting of anguish.
I threw the painting onto the top of my bed, not waiting for it to dry. Hell, it'll take probably a whole day to dry considering the numerous layers I've used. I bent down to clean up the floor around me, picking up used and rolled up tubes. These paints lasted me a year…
One whole year of despair.
The war was over, humanity has prevailed. The yeerks have lost, all thanks to the "Animorphs." Jake, Rachel, Tobias, Cassie, Marco, and Ax. Their names have been all over the television and other media ever since the invasion of earth has officially been declared a "loss." Hell, numerous fan sites were made for them as people worldwide learned of their secret war and deeds.
The war was over. Why am I still so depressed?
Oh, Right. The apartment. My sister. My life. That's why I've decided to leave it all behind. I no longer had my sister there to support me, or to even pay for the rent of this apartment anyways. I have no relatives that I know of, and my parents… well, they've been gone for a good long time. I've got nothing to lose anymore.
Isn't it funny? Only one whole year and you can lose everything that you had. There was always the term "shit happens," but surely, I really doubt this much shit can happen in such a short amount of time. I glanced at the clock. It was eight forty, nighttime. This is it. I'm going to ditch everything. I wonder how the world would react to my disappearance.
Nothing would happen, I bet. Probably my apartment manager would be pissed off for just disappearing and not paying the rent and not cleaning up my place before I left. After the death of my sister, I've let the place go down the drain. She wasn't there to force me to clean anymore. I shook my head. There wasn't a point in cleaning now anyways. The whole world's too busy celebrating with their victory. Of course, I'm quite happy for our species for defeating another which had a huge upper hand, but in these days, I just don't quite care anymore. I walked swiftly out of my complex into the night time air. I looked up at the skies. Funny. It was a full moon. Quite fitting for what I'm about to do.
I took a deep breath, and concentrated on what I've done multiple times before. However, this time with my own will. I focused on the only morph that I had. I morphed into a gray wolf.
