Stuff that's underlined is in sign language.

Okay, last one in the It's Fun to Stay at the Y series. I regret to announce that this will most likely be the last story I ever post in the Animorphs fandom. I recently have gotten into the Star Wars section, so, if you're interested, I'll be hanging there. I personally think that my Star Wars stuff is better than this regardless.

Disclaimer: I owneth not Animorphs. Or anything, really.

Chapter One

Stephanie

>Oh, beautiful. Just great,> Nikkei muttered. >When were you going to tell us your dad lived out here?>

"I didn't know," I whispered so Nikkei could hear me but my father couldn't. "Must have moved away after we went into hiding."

>Go figure. You want backup?>

"Yeah."

>I'll go morph. You too, Al, Tobias.>

"Stephanie?" My brother Bobby asked in sign language.

I nodded. "Dad, why are you here?"

He sighed. "Your mother and I divorced, Steph. I moved out here with Bobby, and your mother stayed with Jeanine and Lucas. She blamed me for your disappearance."

"Ah."

A rustle in the bushes. A bobcat?

No, Nikkei, Al, and Tobias.

"Hey, Steph, why'd you leave the camp—" a pause "—site. Oh. Hello." Nikkei, the almighty BS artist. I could hug her.

"Nikkei, Al, Tobias, this is my father and brother Bobby," I introduced.

"Friends of yours?" Dad asked, looking at their attire and my own; my unitard shredded on the shoulders.

"Yes. We were doing some camping, as Nikkei might have suggested. Oh, and Nikkei, I thought I heard voices, so I ran off."

"Um, sir?" Tobias asked. "My dad," He gestured to Al, "wants us to go pack up, so could we borrow Stephanie for a few minutes?"

"You guys go ahead, I think my dad has some questions that require answers."

>Don't tell him,> Tobias snapped.

I shook my head slightly. The three headed out.

"I'm guessing you want to know why I left."

"The thought passed my mind, yes," He said coldly.

"I'm sure it has. I've been caught up in something so huge, much bigger than myself, that it became required for me to let it consume all my time, and to keep it secret from you, to protect you, mom, Bobby, Jeanine, and Lucas. As of about two weeks ago, I was still attending school until it was necessary for me to esca— I mean, leave. I'm not doing drugs, I'm not doing any dirty deeds, and I am not alone. I have friends who are helping me through this; they are in the same boat I am. Does that answer your question?"

"Vaguely."

"I'm sorry I cannot go more in-depth. But it is my duty to my friends, and to you, to keep it a secret and protect your life."

He sighed. I know my mom would have pushed harder, but what happened next surprised me.

"So. You're one of the Animorphs? And the one you call Al is the great prince Elfangor…"

"Will someone please tell me what is going on!" Bobby signed.

Review responces

Janika: I'm glad you liked it. To the whole yeerk-thing: Cheese. Guess what? I GOT A BETA! I feel special. (tears up.)

Traycon3: NEW REVIEWER! (does new reviewer dance) Ahem. How I got Al back is in chapter 13 of It's Fun to Stay at the Y. Actually, no, I haven't been to New Ulm or Mankato. But my fifth and sixth grade teacher's parents live in New Ulm. That stinks that you are stuck at a college the whole summer.