Next chapter!

YEAH!

Hopefully I can finish this tonight! WHOOPEEEE!

GO MEEEE!

LittleMidgett; really? well thankya! I'm glad it did! And hopefully these other two fit in just as okay...

Gpshaw; well, it was only so I could try this SAWEET character pairing! Dontcha love it though? Huh? huh? huh:)

Oh, and I don't own the song 'Missing' by Evanescence, or 'Live Again' by Better Then Ezra, okay?

THATS THE DISCLAIMER!

Oh, and I don't own the animorphs either, just my own characters... heh...

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Why do the Yeerks always like to organise at night" Marco yawned as he plopped down on a pile of hay next to me. I shrugged.

"Who knows, maybe they just like playing with us"

Jade came in a minute or so later, yawning and stretching, then plopping mindlessly on Marco's lap, who let out a grunt of protest.

"What are you sittin on me for?"

"Cause you're nice and comfy"

I sighed, having a pang in my heart, then going and patting one of the horses, waiting as the rest of the Animorphs came in.

"Comfy?"

"Yeah, nice and warm"

"Jade-"

"Shh, I'm tryin to sleep on you"

"If I can't sleep, neither can you"

"Okay, we're here. We're not happy, but we're here" Jake came in with a grumpy looking Ax, and seconds later I heard the flutter of wings, knowing Tobias was here.

We hadn't spoken in almost two weeks. Not since... the field...

I went over to the circle as Ithiell and Rtaia stood in the middle.

"We're in trouble"

(Why?) Ax asked.

"Because we found evidence of possible water Miraai here, and I am almost certain that the Yeerks have a large part in this" Rtaia said, and Ax sounded like he gasped.

(Miraai? No... how!)

Ithiell looked over at Ax "I don't know, but I wan't tofindout"

"If the rumours are true, we must destroy them before the Yeerks have a chance to use them agaist us"

"Okay, backup, what's this gotto do with us?"Robert asked, and I saw he was fighting back his own yawn.

(The Miraai, both water and land, are destructive creatures. More so than any Taxxon or Hork-Bajir. Unlike them, these creatures relish in the kill, and have no remorse)

"Okay, I get the want to kill, but... just how powerful are they?" Cassie asked, going around and checking all the animals in the cages.

"Let me put it this way; three of these creatures could wipe every single one of us out in a heartbeat. Anymore is just... overkill"

I was stunned, to say the least. So was everyone else. We all just stood there, looking from one person to another.

(Let's do it) I heard, turning to look up at Tobias, who was, suprisingly, looking at me.

(Let's kick Yeerk butt)

"You got that one right" Jake growled.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

(You sure that's the place Ithiell?)

(One hundred percent Jake)

(All right, now what do we do?)

(We go in, duh)

(No, wait! That is not a safe op-)

(When is it ever safe Rtaia?) Robert asked as we circled around the massive dark lake, surrounded by minimal guards, but maximum firepower.

Electric fences, dracon cannons on each corner, dracon beams on each controllers hip, the works.

(Then, how do we get in?)

(We drop like bombs)

(Amanda?)

(We grow and fall as fast as we can into the water, then we kill the creatures and take off in the chaos)

(Pretty gutsy plan for someone like you Mandy) Jade pointed out.

(I know, but it's the only one we have right now)

Jake sighed (Sadly enough, she's right)

(This is insane!)

(SHUT UP MARCO!) We all yelled in unison.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

I was getting exhausted from the constant beating of my wings, but I knew it would all be worth it.

It was a crazy plan, but I knew, somehow, it would work.

It had to!

(I'm ready!)

(Okay, go! We need to drop in a sequence! That means not all at once!) Ithiell yelled.

(Okay, away I go!) I saw Robert, now about twenty feet above us, starting to grow.

The Animorphs however, had to get much higher. I could barely see their forms as they went above and beyond anything I didn't even knowany birds could go.

(Okay, I'm ready too!) Cassie called.

(Go for it!)

(My turn!)

(Drop away Ax!)

(I think this is as high as I'm gonna get!)

(Go for it Jake)

One by one, making sure we didn't flatten one another in the process, we dropped like large bombs.

All of us were going as whales.

Didn't matter what kind, just as long as it was big and and made a hell of a splash.

(Ithiell?)

(Do it Amanda) he said, and I started to shift, seeing Cassie almost down to the water, with Robert only a few feet in front of her, falling into a different area.

Seconds later, I heard a thunderous splash.

And then the chaos began.

SPLLOOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH!

Screams and cries, and alarms going off everywhere.

Rachel would have loved this.

SPLOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHHH!

SPLOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSHHH!

REEE! REEE! REEE! REEE!

(THIS IS INSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE!)

SSSSHHHHPLOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH!

ka-PLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHH!

(WHOOOOOHOOOO!) Jade screamed as she hit.

ka-PLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHHHH!

My turn!

I felt the impact all through my body, making me shudder slightly, and then-

(COMPANY!) Tobias yelled, and suddenly there was something coming at me out of the dark. I dove, barely in time, kicking my big tail and sending out echo-location clicks to see what it was.

It looked...

Well, it was the strangest thing I'd ever seen!

It looked like a shark, but it had... from what I could tell it looked like it had arms coming out of its mouth!

(Am I seeing things!) I cried.

(Well ifthats true then we're both hallucinating) Jade said from somewhere in the murk. She'd become a Sperm whale, along with Tobias and Ithiell.

I heard a few more impacts above me as I looked around for the creature I'd just seen, realising it had vanished.

(Okay, everyone in the water?) Jake called.

(I think so)

Robert laughed (My god the guards are going nuts out there! Aha! Score!)

(You're insane) Marco muttered.

(We all are! We fell into a big giant lake thing to fight some things we don't even know about!) Jade retorted.

(LOOKOUT!)

(AH!) I dove out of the way as some kind of tentacle thing shot out to get me.

(I've got it under control) Ithiell let out a blast of sonic clicks, and the tentacle thing fell away (Just keep an eye out for the Livians and the Hatross)

(The what and the what?) Tobias asked.

(THAT!) Ax yelled as something bright blue came racing at Tobias from behind.

(TOBIAS!) I screamed, kicking my tail and slamming straight into the creature. Immediately I got an electric shock, having to back up a little as the creature fell into the darkness. I shook it off, trying to get my barings again.

(On your guard everyone! As far as we know there's three of them!) Jake yelled.

(Yes, but our current bodies should keep us on a fairly level playing field with them) Rtaia said sternly, looking around. Her and Cassie had become the largest orcas we knew; humpback whales. The rest of us were killer whales.

(Unless there's more) Ax murmured.

(I am really hoping not) Jade growled.

(Probably not. As I said before, these things are vicious, and they probably wouldn't risk transporting too many without injuring their own forces) Ithiell said, sounding like he was playing it by ear.

Which just sent a shiver through me.

(Okay, lets get this done! We don't have all day to chat Ithiell!) Jake snapped, and I suddenly realised what he meant.

It was extremely active on the surface, and just sitting here, doing nothing, was going to get us killed.

(Lets do it!) Cassie, of all people, yelled, and we were all suddenly in motion, all of us clicking and trying to find the creatures.

I shot forward, looking for that eel-like creature I'd slammed into, wanting to bite it in two for shocking me like that.

(Tobias?) I called out, not knowing where he was. I clicked, seeing him, Ithiell and Jade going down deep, and some kind of tentacle creature reaching up to them.

(What?)

(I... I just want to tell you... if we don't make it through-)

(Amanda, this is not the time! I don't want to hear it!)

I felt like someone ripped my heart out then. I know he didn't mean it...did he?

(Mandy, we've got ourselves a nice competetor) Robert came up beside me as I saw the blue glowing eel thing coming back up at us. I looked down at it, realising it was almost as big and about twice as long as us.

But I was numb. I knew... it wasn't the time to be feeling like this...

(Come on, lets do this!) He sped down, and I slowly followed, a decision in my head becomming final.

Please, please forgive me,

But I won't be home again.

Maybe some day you'll look up,

and, barely concious, say to no-one

"Isn't something missing?"

(HEEYYAAAAA!) I screamed a battle cry, going at it with all I had, glad I couldn't cry.

But I could still feel. And the only emotion I knew I could use then was angry.

This was it. This was the way I was going to die.

Fighting.

I'd make sure of it.

I slammed into the creature, feeling like a thousand volts were going through my body, screaming and falling back, dazed.

(A little help!) Robert yelled, andI heard him and the creature going at it.

(Coming!) Cassie cried, but I didn't care.

He didn't care...

You won't cry for my absence, I know-

You forgot me long ago.

I let out a series of clicks, seeing my friends all fighting as I fell into the blackness.

Am I that unimportant...?

Am I that insignificant...?

I saw Marco racing after the shark creature, with Rtaia and Ax right beside him.

(Get him!)

(Watch it!)

(Robert stop trying to bite it!)

(AHH!)

(Ax, over to the left!)

(On it!)

(Ithieelll!)

(JADE YOU MORON!)

(Oy!)

(I've got it!)

(It's paralyzed!)

Isn't something missing?

Isn't someone missing me?

Then I saw it... or, more likely, felt it.

A tentacle, heading straight at Tobias.

(NO!) Instinct took over, and I kicked my tail, racing over and smashing my bulk into his.

(Amanda!) Tobias shrieked as he fell away, and I felt something wrap around me, squeezing tight.

I gasped, trying to kick, but found I couldn't move.

It squeezed tighter, and I knew... just a little more before I bled...

(Lookout! Sharkarms is coming!)

And then, I was being dragged down... and down... I saw a horrid mouth... the mouth of the creature that had me...

Even though I'm the sacrifice

You won't try for me, not now.

Though I'd die to know you love me,

I'm all alone.

I heard the others screaming, but I only guessed they hadn't noticed, or were fighting their own battles. I gave up trying to squirm, just letting myself be dragged down to be eaten.

It was worthless fighting.

Tobias... he would never know what I had to say...

Isn't someone missing me?

He wouldn't ever know how I'd felt...

Please, please forgive me

But I won't be home again

I know what you do to yourself

I breathe deep and cry out

Isn't somthing missing?

Isn't someone missing me?

I began to fade, hearing a scream of pain from somewhere. Too late... couldn't help whoever it was...

Didn't care anymore...

And if I bleed, I'll bleed,

Knowing you dont care

And if I sleep just dream of you

I'll wake without you there

Isn't something missing?

Isn't something...

I felt my bones crack, as I finally passed out a few feet from the creatures mouth.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

(Amanda! Come on, stay with me!)

(Jake! We found the dam!)

(All right, ram it!)

CRUNCH!

(As you see, we are already doing that)

(ONE MORE!) Robert yelled as I suddenly realised I was between two someones. We were still in the water.

(What...)

I'm numb

A shell of empty thoughts

But you glow

You stretch and pull me out

Does that trouble you?

Do I trouble you?

(It's okay Mandy) Jade said (We're gonna get you out of here)

(We killed the creatures) Tobias said from my other side.

(You more than killed it, you slaughtered it) Jade whispered from my other side as I heard a horrendous crunch, then...

(We did it! We're home free!)

(Good! Lets get out of here before the Yeerks decide to join the party!)

(Can you swim Amanda?) Tobias asked as he and Jade pulled only slightly away from me.

(Don't know... guess I'll have to) I kicked my tail, painfully following the others.

Love me

hate me

make me live again

I need you around

Heal me

hurt me

make me live again

Iwant you around

We moved towards the others, and suddenly... we were sucked forward.

(HANG ON! THIS IS GONNA GET BUMPY!)

(AAHHHH!) Marco screamed from somewhere as we were swept along with the current, and I saw a dolpin spinning around and around very fast.

(I'm getting diiiiiizzzzzyyyyy!) Cassie wailed.

(Amanda, you all right?) Tobias's concern was touching, and I wasn't sure how to react to it.

After pushing me away for so long...

So long

I never had experienced

this bliss

So how could I resist?

(Yeah) Was all I could say, even though I wanted to say more.

And I'm fine

A little light-headed

Does that worry you?

Didn't mean to worry you.

(Well... okay) he muttered as we swam along.

(I think we're clear of the Yeerks!)

(Whooohooo!) Robert cried in triumph.

(I think that means we're okay now) I whispered, not knowing if that was true or not, but just wanting to believe it for now.

Love me

hate me

make me live again

I need you around

Heal me

Hurt me

Make me live again

I want you around.

(WHOAAAAA!)

(WHOA! WHATS WHOA?) Jake yelled.

(ROCKS! AH!) Ithiell screamed, and seconds later we realised what he meant.

We all hit the rocks on the floor of this wild river. Each impact was like a thousand knives in my already torn body.

(Get to the sides!)

(Demorph!) Jake and Ithiells shouts got jumbled together, but we both understood what it meant.

Get out of there.

I kicked my tail, fighting the current which was now surprisingly strong, trying to get to the sides, without much luck.

(ITS A WATERFALL!) Ithiell suddenly screamed.

(ITHIELL! ARE YOU OKAY!)

Nothing.

(He will be all right. He can fly)

I passed by the others struggling to keep to the sides, giving up. I was too weak to fight the current.

(Amanda!)

(Only other way) I murmured, focusing my tired mind and beginning to shift.

Wings... I needed wings...

I think somewhere my mind got jumbled, because the next thing I knew I was falling... and I wasn't entirely bird either...

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Amanda! Wake up! Come on Amanda! Amanda!"

Someone was shaking me. I was wet, and I was cold. I felt a cold arm under my neck, and a warm body pressed against my left side.

I shivered, opening my eyes to see the most welcoming sight I'd seen in a long time.

Tobias. He was human.

"Why did you do that! You almost got yourself killed!"

"Only thing.. I could do..." I whispered, as I realised I had wings on my back. Guess that was the only reason I'd survived the fall.

He still looked at me, a look I'd never seen before on his face. At least... not a look he'd ever given me...

"Amanda" he whispered, moving damp hair off my forehead, and I shivered again, unable to take my eyes off him.

Give up, you're not going anywhere

Moonlight, illuminates your stare

And it's great, captivating you

Does that trouble you?

Do I trouble you?

"I thought I'd lost you"

"You can't loose me. You never had me... you never... wanted me..."

"Thats not true!" he held me tight against him, making me realise he was soaked to the bone as well.

"Amanda, I want to tell you something"

"You dont have to... if you dont want to" I coughed a little onto his soaked shirt, realising we were on some rocks, at the bottom of the waterfall.

He'd... did he come and save me?

Did he really risk his life

"I never thought I'd ever feel the way I do about you Amanda, but... somehow... you..."

I pulled away, looking up at him and keeping a tight hold of his shirt in case I fell backwards. He...

"Tobias"

He smiled a little, letting out a small sigh.

"Just... don't try and jump off any more waterfalls, okay?"

I just smiled, pulling him close and putting my hand on his neck with my other hand, guiding his lips to mine.

As our lips touched I felt all the cold melt away, a strange new warmth spreading all through my body as he put his arms around me, pulling me closer.

Everything else seemed to slip away, and it felt like it was only him and me in this little place of ours.

Love me

Hate me

Make me live again

I need you around

Heal me

Hurt me

Make me live again

I want you around

Someone clearing their throat tore us away from our momentary bliss, and we looked up to see Marco standing over us.

"Well, guess we found you two"

WHAM!

"Ow!"

"Marco!" Jade snapped, tossing the branch aside and sending him death stares.

I turned back to Tobias, who sighed and rested his forehead against mine.

"Let's go fly" I whispered to him. He smiled, getting up and pulling me up with him.

Not long after, we were both taking off into the night sky, leaving Marco screaming.

"JAKES GONNA KILL YOU FOR TAKING OFF LIKE THIIIIS!"

(Uh-)

(Don't worry, Jade will take care of it) I told him, hardly able to wait until I was in his arms again. Until he was holding me close.

Because... I loved Tobias.

And he loved me.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Sorry if this was kinda lame and slow... butI was more interested in getting to this little lovey dovey bit at the end here...

Hee... whatda think?

Like?

Hmm?

PLEASE TELL MEEEEE! OR ILL GO MORE CRAZY THAN I ALREADY AAAAM! AAH!

And thank LittleMidgett for helping me choose the songs! TAKE A BOOOOOW!