My name is Jake. And I was about to pass out. But I couldn't, I had to make sure everything went as planned.

"Jake...you need to-" Cassie started, but I held up a hand as I stood up.

"No, I can do it." I said.

"I mean it." She stood up. "You need rest."

"Not until I know everyone's safe." I said firmly, she looked at me, cocern etched on her face. She nodded reluctantly, I kissed her on the cheek. She looked up at me, surprised. I smiled and we walked to the edge of the forest.

"Oh my word." Cassie said, I squeezed her hand. The valley was completely insenerated, barren and black. Cassie put her hand over her mouth in shock, Rachel's head was laying on Tobias's shoulder, he had his arm around her, Ax's tail was lowered in respect, Marco looked like he was trying to hold back his emotions, and Carman was still unconcious.

(I didn't know it would do this) Ax said quietly. (If I had-)

"It's not your fault, Ax." Rachel said, raising her head. "Don't blame yourself."

"Is it safe to go out there?" I asked.

(Yes, by now it should be)

"Come on, let's go check on the Hork-Bajir." I said.

"What about Carman?" Marco asked. "We can't just leave her there."

"Someone's got to carry her." Tobias agreed, Marco began to morph gorilla. We all just watched him. When he was done, he went over to Carman and picked her up gently. We walked out of the forest, the only noises I heard were our footsteps and Cassie's breathing. I held her hand, and she was walked very close to me. We approached the cabins, they were mostly intact. A few were burned a bit, which caused parts of them to collapse.

(Toby got everyone else to safety.) Ax assured us, Rachel nodded dully. We walked up the hill toward the caves, they came into view. A few Hork-Bajir and humans were standing in front of them, looking around.

"Rachel!" My aunt ran down the hill, Rachel stepped forward, hugging her mother. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, mom, I'm all right." She said, her mother pulled back, then looked at me. She'd been acting like my mother while we lived at the camp, I was grateful for it, but right now, I just wanted to lie down.

"The rest of you?" She asked.

(If we tell her about Carman-) Ax started.

(No, Ax.) Marco said. (We should tell her, if the Andilites want to diagnose her with that virus or whatever it is, we'll need all the resistance we can get)

"I agree with Marco." Cassie said, looking up at me.

"We're fine." Rachel sighed. "But Carman is still unconcious." Naomi looked a little confused, but Marco held Carman out a bit, then pulled her back up against himself.

"That experiment the Andilites are looking for? That's her." Cassie said.

"But we're not letting her go back." Tobias said firmly. "She told us what they were going to do to her. She said it was normally fine with her, but this time is different."

"They want to give her a virus to see if she's indestructible, like she should be. A deadly virus at that." Rachel said, you could tell she was angry. "I helped her escape, there is no way I'm letting her go back."

"The Andilites said you had agressive tendencies." Naomi said softly. "I wondered what you had done."

"Well that's what I did." Rachel said. "Estrid and I saved Carman, and they locked her up for it. They would have done the same to me, but I'm not in their government, so they can't do a thing to me."

"Marco, could you carry her up to the caves? I have a spot where the Andilites won't find her." Naomi said, Rachel grinned.

(I can do it, but I'm going to pass out when I'm done demorphing) He said. (Too much strain..)

"Let's go then." I said. We walked up the hill, Naomi led us to the mouth of a cave. "Marco, you'll have to demorph." I said. "Tobias, help me take her from Marco."

"Okay." Tobias said. We went over to Marco, Tobias locked his arms through hers, I grabbed her feet, we lifted. Marco demorphed while Naomi led Tobias and I into the cave. She pointed to a blanket on the ground, we sat her gently on the blanket. Tobias and I walked back out, Toby was standing with the others.

"I agree, we should not let them take her if they are going to harm her." Toby said.

"I'm guessing you guys told her about Carman." I said, Toby nodded. "Ax, where are the Andilites?"

(I don't know) Ax said. (But they are probably in their ship)

"It's late, I'm thinking they'll come back tomorrow." Cassie said.

"Good. In the meantime, we need rest." I said, then laughed. "That's an order."

"Yes sir." Marco said fakely. We walked up the hill. I stopped, taking Cassie's arm. She stopped too, the rest went on.

"What is it?" She asked, looking up at me. I kissed her gently.

"Unless you have anything to add, that's it." I smiled, she laughed and kissed me, then she walked off. "Well fine." I teased, she looked back at me with a smile.

"I can be that way if I want." She said.

"Okay, but it's my turn next time." I grinned.

"Well fine."