LittleMidgett; DUH! Torture is FUUUUUUUN!

karone-sakura; your welcome! Thanks for your dedication too!

Now, who should I dedicate this to? K.A?

Nope!

I dedimicate this to BOTH LittleMidgett, and karone-sakura for being such great buddies 'o mine! HEHEHEHE!

FREE EVERYTHING FOR YOU!

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Rtaia

I slowly dug my feet into the soft bark, and when I was sure I was secure, I moved my arms, digging my front claws into it. I should have become another creature… this climb was beginning to wear on even my body…

Above and below me, my friends, the Animorphs and Animal Eyes, were all Hork-Bajir. The Animorphs were having the time of their lives. For Jade, Amanda and Robert, however, it was a slightly different story.

(THIS IS SOOO HORRIBLE!) Amanda shrieked, slowly climbing up, looking down and shaking.

(Don't look down! Just keep climbing and eventually we'll get to the top) Robert said, and I could see him climbing a little faster than the other two.

(Hurry up slowpokes!) Rachel laughed giddily, as she jumped and swung from tree to branch to another tree and then back again. As I mentioned before, she and the other Animorphs were quite enjoying this wild climb on the Hork-Bajir world.

Yes. We had… returned to check on their progress since the last time the Animorphs were here. And now we were climbing the largest tree to survey the area, and hopefully stay away from the Yeerks and their ships.

I managed to pull my up, darting a few more metres up the tree, before continuing my slow ascent. This was quite a hard climb… and I know Amanda was only afraid of it because she did not seem to enjoy hanging off trees at these heights.

"YEEEEHAAA!" I heard from above, and I looked up to see Ithiell leaping from tree to tree, spreading his wings and gliding every now and then.

Of course, this was like a paradise for him. His natural instincts could really be lived out to the fullest here.

I continued up in my own body, before finally giving up and shifting to a more able-bodied form of a Hork-Bajir. Now, I was able to go faster.

(Amanda! Jade! Robert! You must give yourself to your form. Do not fear it… just climb, you will be all right)

(Yeah, right) Jade grunted, and I saw one of my friends dart up the tree, then stop and look at me.

(Okay, not too bad) It was Robert who had just moved like that.

(Don't worry. I know how you feel. Well… sort of) Tobias flew by us, a red and tan blur.

(Sure! Get down here and I'll show you how to feel!) Amanda snapped angrily.

(Rtaia, are you… all right?) I heard Aximilli ask. I was quite fond of him…

(I am fine Aximilli. I was partly born to live in the trees)

Higher up, I could still see and hear Ithiell yelling out happily, leaping and gliding and darting up the tree almost faster than the Hork-Bajir. I couldn't help but laugh at him.

(Although, it seems my kindred is enjoying it immensely)

Aximilli laughed as well (Yes. He and Marco are competing I believe)

(I can see) I pushed myself further and faster up the tree, quickly getting a hang of this larger body.

(LOOKOUT!) Tobias's warning came, just before a blast hit where I had been just seconds before.

(SHIEST!) Robert yelped, and I heard Amanda wailing in horror.

(Yeerks! GUYS! GOTTA MOVE!)

(No shit Sherlock!) Jade growled at Jake, and I saw her and Amanda start to move faster up the tree.

(Nothing like a few enemies shooting at us to make the day perfect) Robert snapped, as they caught up to me, and we all shot up the tree together, quickly catching up to the Animorphs and Ithiell.

"Are you all okay!" Ithiell yelled down.

(FINE! JUST MOVE!) I yelled, shooting up the tree. Soon we were all moving up as fast as we could, with Ithiell leading the way somehow.

Another shot fired! And another!

(AX! WATCH IT!)

TSSSSEEEWW!

(AAAHHHHHH!)

I saw a beam hit Ax squarely in the shoulder, then he started to fall…

I shot my hand out, grabbing him by the tail, stopping them from falling, also almost making myself fall. I dug deep into the bark with my knee and other elbow blade.

(Aximilli! Are you all right!)

(I'll live. Let me grab hold of the tree… I can still climb!)

I managed to pull Ax towards the tree, and let go when I was sure he'd grabbed on. I could see the hole in his shoulder still smoking… and the blood…

(Are you sure you will be okay?)

(I have to be) he said forcefully, pulling himself up without the use of one of his limbs. I continued to climb as well, but staying beside him.

Tseeeeewww……

Tseewwwww……

Suddenly, things began passing just behind us, only this time going downwards. I managed to look up and see that there were Hork-Bajir at the very top of the tree (making me realise we were closer than we thought) who were throwing down fiery spears at our enemies.

The free Hork-Bajir!

I heard cries from below as they continued to send flaming arrows behind us. A few more shots were fired, and a few more of my friends screamed, but soon there were no more shots fired. Hopefully, they had given up on us.

We finally reached the top, and I helped Ax over the edge, then pulled myself up with the aid of another free Hork-Bajir. I saw Ithiell smacking his tail on the ground, the tip of it a black stump.

I shifted back, going and grabbing his tail. He yelped, then realised it was me.

"What? Its just a burn"

"One moment. Robert?" I turned to see him get up, dusting his jeans off.

"What?"

"May I borrow your jacket?"

"For… sure" he took it off, then went to go help Cassie, who was demorphing more slowly than the others. She had a serious injury. Her leg, and half of her lower body was almost completely gone.

I got to fixing Ithiell up, then went over to her.

"Cassie, remember your true form. Let go of the pain, and keep your focus entirely on becoming that"

She sped up, and soon Jake was hugging her. I saw Rachel smirking.

"Marco!"

"Jade!"

The two were hugging each other tightly, making me smile.

Then I remembered Aximilli.

I turned, searching for him, finding him looking down below. I moved to stand beside him, joining him.

"Aximilli?"

(I don't think they have given up so easily)

"I do not think so either. But… I am glad you are all right"

He looked at me with his main eyes (As am I)

I smiled "For now, we are safe"

(Yes… for now…) he touched my cheek lightly, then pulled it away, looking flustered. I simply smiled, placing my arm around his waist, looking around at the scenery, seeing beauty and destruction all at once.

"They will win it back. Eventually…" I whispered.

(Yes. Now, let us see what Prince Jake and Ithiell want to do about finding the elder of this tribe)

"One moment" I made sure our friends were not watching, placing my own hand over Axmilli's cheek. He melted into my touch, placing his own against my cheek.

We may have been from different worlds, but there are some things that do not change. Such as my feelings towards this boy, and… what I hoped… was his to me.

When we both managed to pull away, we were both smiling.

"Are you two lovebirds finished?" I saw Robert roll his eyes.

"Oh leave them alone!" Rachel snapped, slapping the back of his head. He opened his mouth to yell at her, but Ithiell and Jake were soon there between them, stopping either from fighting any more.

"Speaking of birds… Tobias?" Amanda looked around.

(Right here) he suddenly landed on her shoulder, making her cry out.

"Humans are very unpredictable" I muttered, shaking my head.

(Yes, very) I turned to see Aximilli smiling, and I smiled back, taking his hand and leading him over to our human friends.

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I hope this made the Ax fans happy!

I'm outta here!