Animorphs: The Start

Chapter 3

Nathan

Jeff, Brian, and I were able to get home within 1 hour. But it was really late when we I got home so I was grounded for about 2 weeks, so that means no TV, no videogames, no friends (like I had any until tonight). When I woke up the next morning my mom and step dad were at work, (what else is new) and my 10 year old brother was outside playing with his friends, and my 7 year old sister was in her room playing with her Bratz, or Barbie, or whatever they're called, and of course my 17 year old stepsister was out with her idiot boyfriend. So it was pretty much an average Saturday in my house. As for me, I sat down on the couch and watched TV.

"God I hope what happened yesterday wasn't a dream." I said to myself

And that's what I really thought since my life is pretty boring. My only excitement was watching the news.

"And in other news," The anchorwoman said "A king Cobra has escaped from the zoo and is somewhere in the #&$ area."

Sorry, but I can't even let you know what state I live in.

"This Cobra has a very unique appearance, instead of being green or yellow on top, its black and there is a white birthmark on the top of its head shaped like a skull."

Hmm, I guess if The Punisher had a pet this snake would be perfect.

"Citizen's are cautioned to stay indoors or out of grassy areas, this snake is highly venomous. If you find call 911 immediately."

Other than that Cobra thing nothing good happened on the news. So I decided to go next door to see what Jeff was doing. I knocked on the door but instead of Jeff answering it I got Jasmine.

"Hi Jasmine uhh…am I at the wrong house cause I thought Jeff lived here."

"He does, I'm his sister. Didn't he tell you?"

"No, where is he?" I asked

"You know that morphing thing?" she asked

"Yeah"

She pointed up at the sky. There was a huge bird hover over the house.

"That's Jeff?" I asked

"Yep"

"He's a…a…"

(A golden eagle) Jeff said

He landed on a car parked in his driveway (most likely his parent's car)

"Whoa, where did you touch a golden eagle?"

(Tanya's uncle owns this Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic. We were all there a few hours ago. You wouldn't believe how many wild animals were there. They had lions, tigers, bears, even…)

"What's wrong?" I asked

He didn't answer he just glared at me with those piercing eyes he looked like he was going to claw my eyes out.

(Nathan, stand very still.) He said

Jasmine had this horrified look on her face.

"What's wrong?" I asked again

(There is a black cobra right behind you.)

I turned my head slowly around and I saw a big black 4 foot long cobra with…a skull shaped birthmark on its head.

"Oh crap." I said "Jasmine go call 911."

She slowly pulled her cell phone out of her pocket.

"Jeff do you have any morphs that can fight a snake?"

(I could swoop down and get it but he's to close to you. It'll bite you before I talons make contact with it.)

This snake looked really hungry. I doubt I'd still be alive by the time the cops get here I had no other choice but to…

"Jasmine, don't call the cops just yet."

"Why?" she asked

"When I first morphed I had to touch a rat at first it was squirming around in my hands but then when after about 2 seconds it went into some type of trance until I let go of it."

"What does that have to do with…Oh no!"

(You can't be serious!)

"I am, it's either that or I let it eat me."

Okay, but Jasmine keep your cell phone out incase this gets ugly.

"Okay 1…2…3!!!"

I quickly turned around and lunged at the snake. I was able to grab its neck but it wasn't calming down it just kept struggling and trying to spit venom at me. Jasmine screamed, Jeff was making this squawking sound that birds of prey usually make, and the cobra was making violent hissing noises. Finally after about 20 seconds I realized I had to concentrate in order to acquire its DNA and calm it down. I started to concentrate on the snake's DNA and it started to calm down. Great all I needed to do was keep holding it until the cops came.

(Jasmine, go get Fluffy's cage)

Jasmine ran inside the house and came back a few minutes later with a small cage.

"Who's Fluffy" I asked

(Our German Sheppard, Don't ask about the name, this is his cage from when he was a puppy.)

I quickly put the snake in the cage and Jasmine called 911. The police came about 10 minutes later and were amazed that we caught it we're going to be on the news tonight. I spent the rest of my day testing out my new morph.

AUTHOR'S NOTE/SPOILER WARNING: Don't keep reading if you don't wanna know.

Nathan will spend more than two hours in the cobra morph but that's not coming until chapter 6.