Chapter 13
We flew until we came close to the time limit. Despite the relative slowness of my morph, a bewildering array of different terrains flashed by below us. In the distance, I saw something that seemed similar to Andalite mountains and cliffs. We decided that we would make our way towards it after demorphing and resting for a while.
[The grass here tastes different,] Visser Three remarked.
I stuck a hoof into the grass. [Yes,] I said. [It does.] It suddenly struck me how bizarre our conversations were at times. Here we were, sworn enemies who had come to a temporary truce, and we were commenting on the palatability of grass.
[I believe this grass is not Andalite.]
I turned one stalk eye towards the ground and examined the blades carefully. [You're right. It isn't Andalite. I believe it may come from another part of Earth. Perhaps the part humans call the tropics.] I wasn't completely knowledgeable on Earth geography but I thought I knew enough to impress Visser Three. I then wondered why I wanted to impress Visser Three to begin with. Perhaps there was something to be said for going crazy when you had nobody but a rival about.
[That's interesting,] Visser Three said blandly.
I watched as he continued eating. It seemed that he enjoyed the grasses here. I didn't find them as palatable though.
It was almost an hour before we had both fed and watered ourselves enough to continue on our journey. I didn't watch as Visser Three morphed into his rather scary looking bird. I tried not to look down as I was morphing either. I always found the morphing process slightly strange looking. I didn't like looking at my arms and legs changing.
We both launched ourselves into the air once more and began to fly in the direction of the mountains.
-***-
Several hours later, we both stood in Andalite form at the base of one of the mountains. To both our eyes, it seemed to be made up of mostly Andalite vegetation with a few Earth and Yeerk plants scattered around. There was something like a small pathway that seemed to wind its way up the mountain.
[I suppose we should follow that,] I said, pointing.
Visser Three had an expression of distaste on his face. [Andalite bodies aren't made for climbing up mountains. I have much better morphs for this job.]
[We're both going up in Andalite bodies,] I said firmly. I held my breath. I wasn't sure if Visser Three was going to listen to me or not. [We are both more familiar with these bodies.]
Visser Three stared at me for a moment. [I suppose,] he said grudgingly. [I do prefer this Andalite tail.] He twitched his tail and began walking up the path.
After waiting for a few moments, I followed him. There was something distinctly uncomfortable about walking up a narrow mountainous path behind an Andalite. Visser Three's tail waved in front of me and I had the impression that all he had to do was move it slightly to slice off an important appendage of mine. Of course, I knew that he couldn't move his tail backwards, but it didn't stop my nervousness. I briefly considered asking Visser Three to walk behind me, but I decided that I wouldn't feel comfortable with that wither.
We walked in silence for almost an hour before Visser Three stopped abruptly.
[What's wrong?] I asked tensely. I had become increasingly nervous over the past few minutes as we passed into Andalite terrain. I felt as though Andalite-eating flowers could jump out of the bushes and trees at any point. I knew my fears were illogical because the range of the Neflit plant was not that large. Unless I stepped very close to it, I should be fine.
Visser Three turned around awkwardly. His nostrils were flared. [I can smell something.]
I sniffed the air. Visser Three was right. There was a distinct odour in the air. It took me a minute to get it as I was unfamiliar with the smell whilst in my Andalite bodies. We Andalites are herbivores, however, humans, on the other hand, tend to eat speared chunks of raw meat cooked over fire. The smell was that of rotting meat. It was disgusting. [This cannot be the Neflit plant.]
[No, most likely not,] Visser Three said. [You didn't mention anything about terrible smells.]
I glared at him. [It could be dangerous though,] I said. [We should have a look to determine whether it is or not.]
Visser Three nodded.
It was with trepidation that we both walked in the direction of the terrible rotting meat smell. After about twenty paces, we walked behind a tree to discover a rather bizarre sight. In front of us, was a flower that was bigger than both of us. It was almost twice the size of Alloran's body, including the stalk eyes. There was a white almost stalk-like centre to it that rose high up into the sky and large white and red petals that surrounded it. There was a green stem down the bottom but a shallow stem, unlike the long stems of most flowers.
[What is that?] Visser Three finally said.
[I have no idea,] I said. [I know nothing like that exists on the Andalite home world.]
Visser Three nodded. [Alloran agrees. And it is definitely not from the Yeerk home world.]
I stared at the flower and tried hard not to hold my nose at the smell. [I presume it must come from Earth then,] I ventured. The flower repulsed me. I didn't want to call it a flower, but there nothing else I could call it. It was distinctly flower-shaped despite being nothing like the sweet smelling flowers that Loren used to love.
[Earth has flowers like that?] Visser Three said, sounding incredulous. [These humans must have no sense of smell.]
[Their sense of smell is excellent,] I snapped. [These flowers must hide in remote parts of earth.]
[If you say so,] Visser Three said, sounding doubtful. [It is obvious that this is not what we are looking for. We must continue, if we are to find a Neflit plant, trap and contain it.]
I nodded and together we turned from rotting smell and walked away.