It's a bird thing

The sky was a vibrant blue and clouds were almost nonexistent as he lazily flapped his wings, catching the thermals. Tobias smiled inwardly to himself. It was a beautiful day and he was on his way to meet Rachel for the afternoon. He landed on a low branch of the tree they had designated as their meeting spot months ago. He didn't have to wait long because the blond walked up about a minute after he landed. Rachel set her backpack down and giving him a smile she morphed into a hawk.

Hi, she greeted, ruffling her feathers.

Hey Rachel, he responded, letting out a loud squawk.

You had me worried the other day. You just took off, she told him. He laughed.

Sorry about that. I just had a weird feeling that's all, he apologized. The pair sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the other's company. Tobias finally broke the silence as he spotted a mouse scurrying through the brush below them.

You hungry? Tobias inquired, cocking his head to the side. Rachel looked down, spotting the mouse.

Uh…sure, she answered after a long pause. Tobias launched himself off the branch and scooped up the mouse with expert precision.

It's still moving, she gasped as she watched the creature wriggle in his talons. With one motion he snapped its neck.

Oh, gross, she exclaimed, inching away a few paces.

Sorry. It won't move now, Tobias tried to assure her, holding it out.

Here goes nothing, she gasped and opened her beak, taking a bite. She swallowed it.

Ugh, how do you stand that? she questioned.

You just get used to it I guess, he answered, shrugging as much as bird could.

The Yeerks haven't done much of anything in the last few days. I'm worried, she sighed as she watched Tobias consume the dead mouse.

They'll surface sooner or later. They've got to feed off the Kandrona every three days, Tobias responded. Suddenly, Tobias scooted closer to Rachel and rested his head on her wing.

Whoah, what are you doing? Rachel asked, very shocked.

Not again. I'm really sorry. I don't know what's going on. It's like I can't control my emotions, he apologized.

Do birds even have emotions? Rachel giggled.

Not funny, Rach. It's been happening lately. It's like…never mind, he mumbled, taking off. He had to keep away from her. He didn't know what was happening but he figured it couldn't be good. Maybe it was a delayed effect of being stuck in morph for so long. Maybe he was losing his mind. Rachel watched him fly away and descended to the ground, morphing back into herself.

"Tobias, wait!" she called out, leaving her back pack and running off in the direction he'd gone. She picked up the pace as she thought she spotted him. He landed on a high branch of a tree at the edge of a clearing. Rachel came to stand beneath it.

"Please come down," she begged.

I can't. I don't know what I'll do, Tobias answered, sounding really freaked out.

"You can't hurt me. I promise. We can get through this together," she called up to him. Tobias let out another squawk but came down, morphing into his human self. As soon as his feet hit the ground he started to back away from her.

"What's the matter?" Rachel asked, trying to close the gap.

"Maybe morphing wasn't the best idea," he rasped, finally running into a tree trunk.

"Just stay…right there," Tobias begged. Rachel looked at him strangely but stopped moving.

"Will you please tell me what's wrong?" she asked, arms crossed over her chest.

"I….I don't know. I just…I told you it's like I can't control my emotions," he told her, starting to get sweaty. Before Tobias had time to stop her, Rachel had closed the gap. She started to reach out a hand when he caught them both in his.

"Please don't. I really don't know what I'll do," he protested.

"I'm not afraid," she reassured him. He couldn't believe that she wasn't afraid. He felt like he was going crazy. Without warning he pulled her to him and kissed her. He tried to deepen the gesture but Rachel pulled away.

"What was that?' she asked, trying to catch her breath.

"I told you, I can't control it. I think I'm going insane," Tobias groaned, trying to walk away from her again.

"Tobias…I don't think you're going crazy," Rachel called.

"No? Then why can't I focus on anything?" he shot back at her.

"Just listen to me, please. I think I know what's going on," Rachel insisted. He turned giving her a look that said 'I'm listening'.

"You've been a hawk for a while now and I think you're really in tune with the bird instincts. It's spring right now…Tobias…it's mating season," Rachel tried to explain without laughing hysterically.

"What? No….no way. I can't….that's just…" he babbled in shock.

"Looking to find a lady hawk to lay some eggs?" Rachel teased.

"That is so not funny," Tobias shot, still trying to keep his distance. He wasn't sure now whether kissing Rachel had been the bird instincts or his own human ones. Rachel just rolled her eyes and once more closed the gap. It was like he couldn't control his own limbs. He pulled her to him again, trailing kisses along her neck. Rachel opened her mouth to protest but found the only thing that came out was a soft moan. He let his hands glide down her back, resting on her waist as his lips made their up towards her ear.

"You're beautiful," he breathed.

"Tobias…" she tried to speak. His lips traveled from her ear to her own lips.

"Don't fight it," he breathed as he kissed her again. Rachel finally managed to pull away.

"We can't do this," she said as firmly as she could.

"I know…I'm sorry…I just…can't stop myself," he tried to apologize once more. He knew it wasn't much of an apology. All he could think about now was Rachel and how beautiful she was. Before Rachel could say anything, they both heard Ax in their heads.

Tobias, Rachel. We need you at the barn immediately, Ax relayed to them.

"Try to control it?" Rachel asked. He nodded as they both morphed into hawks and took off, stopping to grab Rachel's bag on the way. They reached the barn to find everyone else there. Rachel demorphed and looked at Jake.

"What is it?" she asked. She had a feeling the Yeerks were up to their old tricks again. She'd been enjoying her last few Yeerk free days.

"We think the Yeerks have a new Kandrona built under the school. We need to go check it out," Jake answered. Rachel caught Tobias eying her from the corner of her eye.

"Can you keep watch, Tobias?" Jake addressed the hawk.

What? Tobias asked, completely distracted from the conversation.

"Tonight. We need you to keep watch while we try and find the new Kandrona," Jake repeated.

Uh…yeah, the bird replied. He didn't sound too confident. Suddenly, as if not of his own will, Tobias morphed into his human form. Every stared at him in shock as he walked right up to Rachel and wrapped one arm around her waist, the other hand lifting her chin as he kissed her.