Chapter 11

I had no trouble traveling the two-plus miles to Tobias' ambush site in the bobcat morph. The bobcat was deceptive in almost every way imaginable…no way it was ever going to outdistance a wolf, but it still had energy for days. Quiet, too – did I mention that? I don't believe nature could have designed a better ambush predator, and that's exactly what it was – the bobcat was constantly looking for signs of prey animals, like a stray hoofprint or fresh droppings. In addition, it was constantly analyzing the terrain – elevation was a big deal to this cat. She wanted to be above everything, potential prey, other predators, didn't matter. This cat understood that elevation equaled an advantage, and staying on flat ground went against her nature.

As we approached the choke point Tobias spoke of, my morph was in heaven. Boulders formed a natural funnel, he was right about that – anything looking to make its way into the clearing ahead would have to pass through a passage that was hardly six feet wide. The bobcat wanted to climb the rock wall and lay in wait to drop on any unsuspecting animal that wanted to get to the clearing to feed on the lush grasses and sweet water hole there. The natural hallway formed by the rock was also perfect for the sort of ambush Jake had in mind, too.

(Okay, guys,) Jake said. (Place your charges where you think we'll catch the most of them at one time – if you can collapse some of this rock onto them, all to the good.) The Andalites had a quick discussion, and carefully hid three explosives at key points in the rocks. Ax studied them like he was going to be quizzed on it later. Everyone moved into the clearing and started hiding out to lay in wait.

(I'll stay behind,) Ax said confidently. (Just enough so that the Yeerks can catch a glimpse of me when they get into range. Then I'll run through the funnel into the clearing. The Yeerks will be focused on not losing me, and they should charge straight into the trap.)

Tomera looked impressed. (A sound strategy, Aximili,) he said, and I could tell Ax was pretty pleased with the praise. (Brave, as well. Keep this up, and I'll be forced to promote you myself before long.)

Jake sounded less excited about Ax being so eager to put himself in harm's way. (Okay, Ax…but don't push the timing. As soon as they see you, full speed into the clearing. Right?)

(Yes, Prince Jake,) Ax said. Tomera and Coloton did not comment on Ax's easy use of the Andalite rank applied to a human.

Coloton and Tomera each found some cover, from which they could see the ambush point but were more or less hidden from view. Belatedly, I asked them, (Do either of you have any battle morphs?)

Coloton looked a little jealous of us as he replied, (We each have acquired a Kafit bird morph. Warriors must pass a morphing proficiency test, but only spies distract themselves with finding other forms to morph. We are the most dangerous life form on our planet – therefore, a warrior has no need of acquiring anything else.)

(Well, this planet has lots of dangerous life forms,) Rachel said, and she actually sounded like she was bragging. (We'll get you guys set up with some battle morphs soon enough.)

(For this, however, we need our fingers in order to trigger the charges and operate our shredders,) Tomera said a little defensively. (We will explore your planet's biology at a later time.)

Tobias was wheeling overhead, high enough that I had to strain to hear him. (You guys should either smell or hear them, soon,) he warned. (They're getting close, coming together with the terrain. They're setting themselves up beautifully for the trap.) I lay still for a moment, and sure enough, my upturned ears began to pick up the swishing noises of large animals moving through heavy brush. My rear end twitched in anticipation – the bobcat wasn't sure if it was a fight or a meal that was coming, but she was ready for either.

We all stayed still and quiet, waiting for Ax's signal that they were onto him. Everybody had their various animal senses turned up to full alert. I actually heard the Hork-bajir's bellow before Ax had a chance to say, (Get ready, they saw me!) He came charging through the passageway into the clearing as the Hork-bajir continued to shout, "Hruthin! Andalite ahead!"

Tobias said a word I won't repeat. (Jake, the Hork-bajir are falling for it, but the Taxxons are hanging back. They're going to let the Hork-bajir do their thing now that they've seen Ax! We shouldn't have let them see him!)

(Doesn't matter,) Jake said tensely. (Just tell us when the Hork-bajir are in the blast range – we'll take care of the Taxxons in a minute.) Tomera fingered a small device eagerly – it looked like the keyless entry button to my mom's minivan.

They were getting close – I could smell their alien scent now as well as hear them. (Now!) Tobias yelled, and Tomera didn't waste any time. He pressed his button, and after a half-second delay, a shock wave nearly lifted me off of the ground. The roar of the explosives made my head fuzzy, but I still heard Tobias. (Yeeee-HAW! You got at least ten of them with that one shot! Now the Taxxons are frozen – they don't know which way to go. Jake, hit the Hork-bajir still standing now, before they can get it together!)

I ran flat-out toward the trap site, which was less of a hallway now, and more of a pile of smoking rock. Rachel and I pulled ahead – we were much faster than a tiger or a wolf, faster even than a full-grown Andalite. I barely had to slow down as I reached the jagged pile of rocks that used to be a passageway – the bobcat instinctively knew where to place its feet to stay moving at top speed. I spotted a Hork-bajir sitting on the ground, holding his head in obvious pain. I squashed the sympathy I wanted to feel for the creature, and hit him at nearly forty miles per hour. The bobcat deftly dodged the blades and wrapped around his midsection, and the force of the hit set the alien tumbling. I went in for the kill, a death-bite to his exposed, snake-like neck. Two violent shakes of my head later, it was all over.

I saw that Rachel had just as handily dispatched the other Hork-bajir, and my friends flew past us, on toward the Taxxons. (Just hit them once and keep moving!) Jake was yelling. (The other Taxxons will finish the job!) I raced to catch up, and got to the site of the second fight just as Jake flayed open the lead Taxxon with a brutal claw swipe.

"SHREEEE!" the Taxxon screamed, and his brothers closest to him were no longer indecisive as to their next move – they fell on him with violent delight. Jake climbed the back of another one, leaving gashes in its sausage-casing skin, and suddenly it was no longer a fight – it was a feeding frenzy.

Tobias called down directions from the air. (Rachel, twenty yards left, uninjured Taxxon!) I saw Rachel change direction at full speed, kicking up dust as she hit the target Tobias had pointed out. The enraged and ravenous cries of the Taxxons were fading. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tomera and Coloton pointing their shredders, but they couldn't find an uninjured Taxxon to shoot at. The speed and ferocity of our attack had demolished their ranks in mere seconds.

(That's the last of them!) Tobias called down to us. (The Yeerks sent a second wave, but they're just starting out. When they see this, they're going to think twice about how bad they actually want to find us.)

(I know you're tired, guys – one more morph. This time, get some feathers. We are outta here,) Jake said. I saw the two Andalite warriors touch their tail blades together, probably their version of a high-five. They immediately ran to Ax to include him in the brief celebration before they began morphing.

There weren't many straight-up fights between us and the Yeerks that we could call a total, one-sided win. This one had to qualify in that category. I was a little disturbed at the violent scene we were leaving behind, but sadly, it was something I was beginning to see as a necessary evil. I was still sad for the loss of life, but as Marco had once said, we never asked for them to come here and start this fight. We never asked for it. But we were going to deal with it.