CASSIE

We were gathered in my barn. Everyone was there and waiting to start the meeting except for Jake. He still hadn't shown up and the meeting started a little over a half-hour ago. It wasn't like him.

Not like him at all.

"Where is he? It's not like him to be late." I said as I paced the barn. Paranoid? Oh, yeah. I was worried. Jake was never late. Never. Even if his parents grounded him, he always found a way to be here. Marco was sitting on his favorite bale of hay. I'm not exactly sure that it's his favorite, but he always sat on it. He was trying to act calm, but inside I could see him screaming.

He was worried to.

Rachel, however, was just mad.

"Who cares? Let's spy on the Yeerks without him, and then smash this stupid thing!" She exclaimed. She had a fire in her eyes. She wanted this done, and she wanted it done now.

It scared me.

"We can't go without Jake." Marco said grumpily. "He's our comrade, our general, our Fearless Leader!"

Rachel put her hands on her hip and tapped her foot impatiently. "So?"

"We can't do this without him." Marco stated quietly. It looked like Rachel was ready to murder him. She probably would have if I hadn't stepped in.

"Guys, Rach, don't worry! He'll be here, it's just taking him a while." I tried to believe my own words, but my voice had been dripping with so much doubt, that I found it hard to do.

What if he's hurt? What if something happened to him? We have no choice but to wait for him. If he's hurt, then we have to help him. Tobias asked us from high in the rafters. You took the words right out of my mouth, Tobias. I thought silently.

"Fine. We'll give him a few more minutes, but if he doesn't show, I'm leaving!" Rachel said and turned so that her back was to us.

"He'll be here you guys. He will. You'll see." I cried desperately to no one. So we waited.

Minutes soon turned into half an hour. Rachel, who had sat down after fifteen of his minutes were up, jumped up from the hay that she was sitting on and threw her hands into the air.

"That's it! I have wasted enough of my time waiting for my stupid cousin to show up! I'm leaving! And when he finally does turn up, you can tell him that I quit!" She yelled as she stomped out the door. I ran after her.

"Rachel, wait!" I called. Tobias flew after her, catching up in minutes. Marco stood up next. He walked up to me as I turned around. He clasped my hand in his and told me quietly that he couldn't wait any longer before, he too, was gone.

I didn't even bother to stop him.

I turned and watched him leave. Ax and I were the only ones left in the barn. I knew that he would only follow Jake's orders, but if Jake didn't show up, I didn't know what Ax would do.

I heard Ax trot up behind me and put his tail to my cheek.

A sign of comfort.

Cassie, forgive me, but it is not like Prince Jake to be late. He said. I felt the tears form.

"I know, Ax. I know." I whispered. I turned to face him. His main eyes stared back at me, but his stalk eyes drooped down. I think it is the Andalite version of crying. Ax nodded his head sadly.

If he does return, please inform me immediately. He requested.

I looked up at him. "Of course Ax. I'll let you know as soon as he's been found." He smiled and thanked me. Then he galloped off in the direction of his scoop.

I gazed at the stars and let the tears spill onto my cheeks.

Jake, where are you?