The Rise

by Gumbo

The war is over, and now human's and animals must fight back.

The Rise.
Tobias.
I focused my hawk eyes on the ground below. For so long I had not
eaten
a decent mouse. Not since the yeerks won. How long ago was it? To
long
for my hawk brain to remember. Once they one the cut down all the
trees,
kiled nearly all the animals, and made controlers of almost
everyone. A
few managed to excape to a cave in the rocky mountains. Racel and
Jake
were controlers. Marco lived in the caves in hdeing with the other
lucky
people who excaped. What happened to Cassie no one knew. Ax died in
the
final war. I spooted the rotting body of some poor person, as
horrable
as it was a landed beside it and ate my fill. The I flew back to
caves.

Marco.
I sat on the rocky floor of the cave. I was so tired, I was tired
all
the time lately. Tobias landed next to me, "find anything to eat?"
I
asked him (yeah a bit,) he replied. I didnt qustion it, I knew
Tobias
would eat what was avalable, and whats avalable isnt always nice.
Not
for the first time I thought about Jake, I wondered what he was
thinking
right now, what he was doing. "Hey guy's," said Carly another
residant
at the caves walking in, "Wheeler's come back with some food," she
told
us. I walked out with Tobias on my shoulder, each day one of us
pretend
to be a controler and goes to the yeerk camp for rations. I sat
next to
James, a friend of mine. "Have some mush," he said handing me a
bowel
filled with some goo the yeerks were trying to pass off as food.
But
hey, thats my life now.

Cassie.
I'm lucky. While all my friend are battling in that liveing hell I
once
called hell, I'm liveing in a little piece of heaven. Hidden away
were
the yeerks will never find it is a vally. The hork-bjir vally. I
live
with the hork-bjir and a lost tribe. They lost tribe is a group of
tribes people, we also managed to save some animals. Two cheetahs,
a
tiger, several birds, heaps of mice and things, four wolfs and a
gorrila. There ranks fall and rise. "Cassie, Casie!" I turned
Nakiomi a
girl in the tribe was running towars me, "One of the cheetahs is
giveing
birth!" I followed her to the cheetah, I helped it to give birth.
As I
watched the cheetah lick her new daughter I wondered if the humans
would
ever rise up and win.

Jake.
"Help some one help!" I screamed, my voice was horse, "Please!" I
screamed. I knew it was hopeless. Soon I would be reinfested. I
sunk
down to the bottem of the cage and sobbed. A young women with long
blonde hair was thrown in next to me. I thought nothing of it. Then
she
stood up, "you wont win you stupid yeerks!" She screamed, "I'll
kill you
all I will! Mark my words, you hear me.?" I hadnt heard that voice
for
so long, to long. "Rachel?" I gasped, "Jake?" she fell into my arms
sobbing. "What happened to the others?" I asked, as I had been
taken
before her. She looked down, "Ax died, Tobias and Marco got away, I
dont
know if there still alive though. I dont know what happened to
Cassie,
she just dissapeared one day." I held my cousan close. "Good to
see you
cous," I whispered, "Yeah it is."

Rachel
Jake held me, then all to soon a hork-bjir roughly grabbed him by
the
collor and dragged him away. Before he left my sight I heard him
yell
"Be stronge Rach, be strong." "Jake!" I screamed, but he was gone.
It was
no use morphing, the yeerks expected that, before I'd even got
halfway
they'd stun me with there dracons. A hork-bjir grabbed me, "let me
go
you yeerk freak!" I screamed, but of course the yeerk ignored me.
He
took me to the reinfestion pier, he jammd my head into the yeerk
filth,
and I felt the pain as the yeerk rentered my head. IM BACK.

Tobias
While the others ate I went for a fly, the ground below me was
baren. A
lone starving wolf hunted for food that wasnt there. I was overcome
with
anger, I flew and flew. I didnt know were I was going I just flew.
I came to rest on a leafless tree, I looked around, the
surroundings
where familier, then it hit me. I was at my old tree, in my old
territory. I couldnt stand looking at how lifless it had become so
I
flew off. I flew deep in thought for a while, not sure of were I
was
going, when I looked down I saw a lush green vally, I thought I was
imaganing it but then I saw to tall green razore like creatures. I
had
found the hork-bjir vally.

Marco
"Were's Tobias?" Asked Carly, I shrugged. "He's been gone awhile
hasnt
he?" She wondered, "all day," I told her. I tried not to look as
worried
as I felt. Tobias was my only true friend if he died, even worse if
he
was a controler, our group would no longer be safe. "Im sure he is
fine," said carly as if reading my thoughts. I nodded, but as night
fell
and Tobias wasnt back I started to get really worried. I hoped that
he
was ok. I lookedup at the starless sky, were are you Tobias? I
asked
myself.

Cassie
I watched the young cheetah cub play, it had no idea of the horror
surrounding the vally. I sat back and daydreamed. (Cassie? Cassie
is
that really you?) I jumped up startled, I scanned sky, a bird was
circeling over head. (Cassie!) "Oh my gosh," my knees buckled,
"Tobias!"
The bird landed next to me and demorphed. Or morphed in Tobias'
case.
"Oh my gosh," I said again. Tobias grinned his crocked grin, "good
to
see you to," he said I didnt know what to say then a horrable idea
dawned on me, "Your not a controller are you?" Even as I said it I
felt
stupid, I mean even if he was a contoller it wasnt like he was
going to
admit it or anything. Tobias half grinned, "nah I'm not," his half
grin
dissapered, "but Rachel is, and Jake." I knew he was telling the
truth.
"What about, Ax and, Marco?" I asked him almost not wanting to hear
the
answer. "Ax, he died, Marco lives with me and a few others up in
some
caves." Tobias held my hand, and we talked all day long.

Jake
The yeerk rentered my head, how I hated him. WELL WELL WELL HUMAN,
I SEE
YOU HAVE SEEN YOUR COUSAN. I ignored the stupid yeerk. Sometimes I
wonder if I'll ever be free again, OF COURSE YOU WONT. Dumb yeerk.
I
know the chances are pretty small but hey, I once heard someone say
'though hope is frail, its hard to kill.' HA HA HA HOPE WILL DO YOU
NO
GOOD JAKE. The hate I feel for the yeerk scares me. Even when we
battled
Visser 3 I didnt feel hate so strong. MY MY HUMAN, GETTING
THOUGHTFULL
TODAY EH? Oneday, I told myself, oneday I'll be free.

Rachel
You will die one day yeer! You will! I screamed silently in my own
head.
FUNNY, YOU TELL ME THAT EVERY DAY AND YET, IT NEVER HAPPENS. It
will.
When the time is right it will. HA HA HA. The forced me outside,
YOUR
HUNGRY HUMAN, I'D BETTER GET SOME FOOD. Why? Wouldnt you rather see
me
starve yeerk? HA STARVE SUCH AN AMUSING HOST? I THINK NOT. I looked
around, I was at the food line, ifront of me was a red headed male.
He
was jumpy like he didnt belong there or something. HE IS SUSPICIOUS
ISNT
HE? No, not at all. DONT LIE HUMAN. The man got some food then
headed
off, to my horror the yeerk followed him. The man headed up the
mountain, the yeerk followed him. The path got stepper and more
dangerous, the yeerk lost its footing and feel to the gloom below.

Tobias
I talked with Cassie then I hunted and caught the first mouse I'd
had in
over a year, when it started to get dark I realized I should get
back. I
landed next to Cassie, (I have to go before Marco goes into parinoa
mode.) "Hey wait," she said laughing "I'll come with you." (Ok.)
She
morphed ospry and we took off. (I'll kill them, I really will,)
said
Cassie when she saw what the yeerks had done to the land. (It gets
worse
I told her.) I lead her to the caves, I could see Marco, he was
scanning
the sky, looking for me probably. (Yo! Marco.) I called Cassie and
I
landed next to him. "You'd better have he good reason for being
late."
He growled. (You sound like Jake did,) said Cassie. Marco's mouth
dropped open, "Cassie?" He gasped. (Yeah.) He looked like he was
going
to say more but Wheeler cut him off. "Tobias, Marco," We've got an
ingery. Cassie demorphed and followed us to wheeler. "Who?" Asked
Marco,
"no one we know." said Wheeler. "I controller followed me from the
food
camp, comeing back she slipped, I heard her and brought her here."
I
flew over to the young woman. As I looked at her I saw the face I
never
expected to see again.

Marco
Tobias fluttered over to see who it was. He looked down at the body
and
froze. "Tobias you ok?" I called to him. He didnt answer, it was
like he
was in shock. "Earth to Tobias," I sang. (It's Rachel.) He sounded
like
he was in a daze. Isnt it funny how someone can give a whole speach
and
make you feel nothing, yet two words used used the right way can
make
you feel like you'v swallowed barbed wire? "What?" gasped Cassie.
(Its
Rachel, right here.) "You know this person?" Asked Wheeler, "yeah,"
said
Cassie, "she's a good friend." "Well you had better tie her up
before
she awakens," said Wheeler, "I'll go get some rope." He jogged off.
I
shook my head, "Ok this was the last person I expected to see." I
said.
Rachels eyes fluttered open, when she saw us a look that was pure
Rachel
not yeerk crossed her face. Fear, surprize, hope, and joy all in
one.

Cassie
It was all I could do not to jump for joy, Rachel here! It was
turning
out to be one heck of a day. Rachel woke up, she looked surprized
to see
us, but the yeerk took back control. The yeerk sneared scornfully,
"my
oh my," she said. "I seem to have found the remaning animorphs. Why
I
shall be promated!" She stood up and go ready to leave, but Marco
was
quik, he grabbed her and pinned her down. Wheeler came back with
the
rope then and tied her up. (You didnt think you could get away that
easy, did you yeerk?) Asked Tobias. Rachel scoweled, but said
nothing.
We all left her then, exept Tobias.

Jake
It was time for the yeerk to get some more Kandrona, I think
knowing
that for a small time every three days I'll be free is the only
thing
that keeps me going. SHUT UP HUMAN. No you shut up. The yeerk was
shoked
I never talk back to him. I AM NOT SHOKED. Yes you are. SHUT UP
HUMAN. I
dont think I will. SHUT UP! Heh heh touchy. I CONTROL YOU HUMAN
DONT
MESS WITH ME!! Yeah what ever. Like they say, being a contoler does
have
some good aspects.

Rachel
Cassie and Marco left, but Tobias stayed by my side. It wouldnt be
long
now and I would be free. DONT COUNT ON IT. Didnt I always say you
would
die one day?? Didn't I yeerk? SHUT UP. I'M NOT GOING TO DIE. But your
already
weak for kandrona. IM NOT. Oh but you are yeerk. (It wont be long
now
Rachel.) I heard Tobias' comforting voice in my head. Oh how I
missed
Tobias, but I would be seeing him again soon. NO YOU WONT BE. Yes I
will
yeerk, after all you are due for a Kandrona refill, and I dont see
no
Kandrona near by. OH, OH SHUT UP. The yeerk was silent, then the
fugue
began.

Tobias
I stayed with Rachel, comforting her, te yeerk didnt say anything,
then
the fugue began. It wasnt pretty, her arms and legs shook, she
cried out
in pain. I morphed human to comfort her. Part of me wanted to
leave, but
the other part was afraid that if I turned for a second she would
dissapear. "Its ok Rach," I told her. Half an hour later she opened
her
eyes, I dont know how but I knew she opened them, not the yeerk.
Five
minutes later I saw a grey slug leave her head, "its over," I
whispered
holding her close, "Its gone."

Marco
Cassie and I sat and talked, she told me off the hork-bjir I told
her of
the caves. Then I heard a voice, "hey guys," Rachel! Tobias was
next to
her in human morph. Rachel hugged Cassie, Tobias sat down next to
me.
We all talked for ages, Tobias demorphed then remorphed, and we
talked
some more. It was like old times, almost. "What should we do?"
Asked
Tobias, "go down to the yeerk pool and attack!" Rachel of course.
"Hey
normally I'm all for a suicide mission," I said "but there arnt
enough of
us." "He's right," said Tobias. "Wait!" Gasped Cassie, "back at the
valley, the tribe, they'd help and all the animals are trained for
was!"
"So we do this then?" Asked Tobias, "Oh yeah," said Rachel.

Cassie
It was great to see the others again. I hadn't realized how much I
missed them. We morphed birds and flew to the vally, when we
arrived
they demorphed, (exept Tobias,) and I called the tribe over. When I
explained the situation, they quikly agreed to help us. We rounded
up
most of the trained animals, we were all set. We decided to hike to
the
main yeerk pool, after all Rachel knew the way off by heart. As if
by
some dumb luck no one saw our monsterious group heading for the
pool, by
the time we got there it was dark. We all sat behind a large
builhing.
"Ok, heres what we do," said Marco. "Morph battle morphs go in
there and
let rip, and do as much damage as poosable. Ok?" We all nodded,
then we
went in.

Jake
The yeerk stood on the look out watching for trouble. I looked to,
desperate for trouble. WHY HUMAN? IF THERE IS TROUBLE YOU WILL DIE
WITH
ME. So? I'd rather be dead than be a controler. STUPID HUMAN.
Stupid
yeerk. The yeerk went back to watching. Nothing happened for a
while. It
was boring really. When suddenly I heard a loud rouar from the main
yeerk pool. Like a loin, or a tiger. Wait mabye the others had
arrived!!
IF THEY HAVE THEY WONT LIVE FOR LONG. The yeerk raced to the room
grabing a dracon on the way. He stormed into the room. Infront of
me a
wondeful sight emerged. A gorrila, a elephant, a wolf, a red tail
hawk,
millions of other animals and a large group of indian people were
engaged in a battle. The animals were winning. Yes! I cheered to my
self
the andalited has come back! SHUT UP YOU STUPID HUMAN. The yeerk
stepped
on to a platform, "Silence!" he screamed. Everything around me
stopped.

Rachel
"Silence!" A familier voice screamed. I stopped and spun around.
There
standing on a platform was Jake. The yeerk was still in his head, I
wanted nothing more than to reach into his brain and rip it out.
Jake
laughed cruely. "My host is haveing a fit in here." He said to us
tapping his head. He turned to the hork-bjir. "Take care of these
fools." I lunged, Jake had no time to react, i slammed into him, he
uttered a surpzised gasp then crumpled. He didnt rise.

Tobias
We watched as Jake crumpled. (Jake!) Cried Cassie, she started to
run to
hm but a hork-bjir blocked her. We faught and faught, it seemed no
matter how hard we tried more enamies just kept comeing. But then
as if
by miricle the yeerks made a beline for there space ships and took
off.
We thought we had won. But how wrong we were.

Marco
We half carried half dragged Jake kicking and screaming to the
hork-bjir
vally. The others that couldnt come were there waitng. I also saw
the
others from the caves were there. I scanned the group or Carly.
Good she
was there safe. Ok I admit it, I like her. I'd never tell her
though. I
demorphed, and Carly ran over. "Your ok!" "Yeah," I said. I saw
Tobias
give Rachel a look he must have morphed human. I ignored it, then
turned
and began tying up a screaming Jake.

Cassie
Marco lent over and tied up Jake. A girl stood behind him. I walked
over
to Tobias and Rachel. "Who's that," I asked Tobias pointing at the
girl.
Tobias grinned and shook his head. "That," he said clearly amused,
"is
Carly." He shook his head again, "Carly likes Marco, and Marco
likes
Carly, they just dont know that the other likes them." I laughed
softly.
"You wont get away with this they'll be back!" The yeerk in Jakes
head
screamed. Tobias looked the yeerk in the eye. "And when they do
we'll
have Jake to help us fight." The yeerk shut up after that.

Rachel
We sat around a camp fire. Tobias was perched on my shoulder. Jake
or
the yeerk I should say had taken a short break from screaming. Some
of
the people from the tribe performed a dance. I felt great being
there
with Tobias. "Let. Me. Go!" Screeched the Jake/yeerk remembering to
scream. I sighed, "geez Tobias I didnt sceam that much did I?"
Tobias
laughed, (nah if you did I would have hit you on the head with a
mallet.) I playfully shoved him. He laughed and flew off then
landed
back on my shoulder.

Jake
The yeerk was not letting up. He screamed to his, I mean my
throught was
horse. Dont you know how to shut up? I asked him. As if in rely he
screamed louder. I saw Rachel roll her eyes and say something to
Tobias.
He replied pivetly she laughed and shoved him. I felt jelous but
hey
soon I'd have Cassie back. NO YOU WONT HUMAN. Oh yeah? I think I
will.
"Untie me!" The yeerk screeched. I saw Cassie get up and come over.
She
looked at me. "Look yeerk," she said snappishly, "we aint gonna
untie
you so why dont you just shut up?" The yerk ignored her. For once
it
wasnt me doing the ignoring.

Tobias
Rachel and I talked forever. We could almost drown out Jakes
screams.
"That get you for this!" He screamed "They'll kill you all slo-" He
stopped in midsentance. Cassie rushed over. (Its started,) I
whispered
to Rachel, she nodded. We watched as Cassie soothed Jake, then we
saw a
grey slug leave his ear. I turned away, It was all I needed to see.

Marco
We had a dinner of wild fruits and fish. It was the best food I'd
had in
a long time. Carly agreed exept she didnt eat the fish because
she's a
vegitareian. I tease her about that as often as possable. Like now,
"mmmmmm" I said "this fish is just so nice." "That fish," said
Carly,
"was once a liveing breathing animal." "So was that berry," I
joked.
Carly looked at it, "It was?" She sounded fretful it was hard to
tell if
she was jokeing or not. I burst out laughing, Carly joined me. I
saw
Cassie talking to Jake, and Rachel fooling with Tobias. Mabye, just
mabye it was over.

Cassie
Jake was getting used to being free again, he had been a controler
for
over a year now. He was wierded out but thats to be expected. He
shook
his head, "I cant believe I'm acually free," he exclaimed. I
laughed. I
saw a familier face in the croud. "Look!" I called, "theres Eric."
Eric
the chee walked over to us." The others saw him and came over to.
"You
have done great damge to the yeerk," he said not bothering to greet
us.
"But you have not defeated them, they will be back." He sighed,
"They
are angry now it will be dangous for you to fight them." I looked
around
me, Tobias was on Rachels shoulder, Carly was leaning on Marco, and
I
had Jake. It didnt matter how hard the fight got, we'd always be
together.