The Beginning of an End: Part 2
By: Scratch
I sat there, awake in my tree. My name is Tobias. I am a red-
tailed hawk nothlit. What does that mean, you ask? Well, basically it means
that I am a human... stuck in a hawk's body for the rest of my life. Not that
I really mind. I was lucky. I got stuck in a body with wings.
My keen eyes searched the meadow for a human figure. I was
waiting there for her. My sister, Scratch. The newest Animorph.
At last I saw her. Quickly, silently running to the base of the
tree that I was on. Or, at least I saw her dark cloak zipping my way.
At last she reached the tree. She put down the hood of her cloak
and said, "Tobias?"
I fluttered down onto the tall grass, and quickly morphed to
human. Since Scratch didn't have anywhere to go, she often came here in the
meadow to be with me. We both liked it here.
"Hey there, Scratch," I greeted her.
"Hey, Tobias. How are you doing?" she replied.
"I'm okay," I said. "How are you?"
"Fine, same... what else do I say?" Scratch said.
"I know how you feel. So what's been going on?" I asked.
"Nothing, as usual. That's why I came here. ...Tobias? Do you
ever... ever feel like running away? Just leaving it all... the fighting, our
friends, this habitat? Ever?" Scratch asked suddenly.
"Well, Scratch... of course I do. I do probably more than anyone
else. Because, in a way, I already have run away," I said.
She looked at me. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... well, look at me. I'm truly a hawk. I'm not this human
boy. I guess you could say I became a hawk to run away, to escape."
"But it wasn't your fault you became a hawk. You were in a tight
spot," Scratch pointed out.
"Yes, that's true. But... I think sub-conciously... maybe I
trapped myself on purpose. Like inside I really wanted to. I wanted to just
run away, and I thought I could do that by becoming a hawk. Perhaps it's what
I truly wished," I said.
"Hmmm... I guess so... maybe. I think it would be... kind of
neat... to run away, to live life by yourself, as an animal," said Scratch.
I chuckled. "What animal would you be?"
"I would be... a cougar. A beautiful, independent, wild spirit
taking the form of a powerful wildcat. Definitely. That's what I'd be,"
Scratch said wistfully.
We sat there for a while, looking at the sky. I was a bit put off
by Scratch's seriousness. But she definitely wasn't playing around. I said
this to break the silence.
"Hey, you know, you could at least morph a cougar. Be one for two
hours at a time."
Scratch's face lit up. "That would be... wonderful. But where
could we find a cougar? The zoo doesn't have any."
"Well, I'm sure this forest does. We could fly as birds of prey
to look for a cougar, and when we find one, you could morph back to human,
and if you were brave enough... you could aquire it," I said.
"I'm brave enough. I'd do anything to be a cougar, even for a
short time," Scratch said excitedly.
"Well, then let's do it tomorrow," I said, knowing it would make
her happy.
"Yes! I can't wait! But now, if we're going to do it, we should
get some sleep. Goodnight, Tobias. Thank you for the wonderful plan," Scratch
said, and lay down in the tall, soft grass to sleep, a contented smile on her
normally-hidden face.
"Goodnight, Scratch," I said to her, even though she was already
drifting off. Even if it was going to be hard to find a cougar, it was worth
it to see Scratch so happy. Perhaps it was something she needed. And with
that thought, I morphed to red-tail and went to sleep.
* * * * * *
"C'mon Tobias, let's go!" Scratch said impatiently the next
morning.
"Alright, alright, we're going. Start your morph," I said.
I watched Scratch's odd face and scraggly hair begin to melt
into the feathers of a bird of prey. A golden eagle, to be exact. I morphed
to red-tail. In a few minutes, we were two birds standing in the grass. It
felt strange, my red-tail body was very nervous. After all, I was standing
next to an enemy and predator of mine: the golden eagle. But I knew Scratch
could control her morph and wouldn't let anything happen.
I'm going, Tobias! she yelled, and took off flying. I
boosted myself into the air and followed quickly.
Let's split up to look for the cougar. But not too far, so
we're in range for thought-speak, I said.
Roger that! Scratch said happily.
I sighed inwardly. She flew away from me and we began our
search for the cat.
About twenty minutes later, I could hear her scream in
thought-speak.
I see one! I've spotted it! A large, healthy, mature female
to the north! Meet me in the air before you land, Scratch said.
I flew until I saw Scratch in the air, circling.
Do you see her? she said.
Oh yeah. Taking a snooze, hmm? I said.
A perfect oppurtunity for us! I'm landing! she said, and
circled swiftly down to the cougar. I followed.
Finally we landed near her. We were very quiet, so she wasn't
aware of us.
Okay. I'll morph, you stay in this tree so she won't get you
if she wakes up. I'll aquire her as quickly as possible! said Scratch.
Be careful, Scratch. Don't do anything dangerous, I warned.
I laugh in the face of danger! she cried. I groaned.
She morphed to human, and swiftly crept to the cat. She came
very close, face-to-face with the sleeping animal. Suddenly, the cougar's
eyes flashed open, revealing sparkling green. As swift as the cougar
Scratch's hand flew to the animal's chest, and she began to aquire her. The
green glitter of the cougar's eyes disappeared when her eyes fluttered shut.
She was in a trance as her DNA entered Scratch's mind and body. And then, it
was over. Scratch sped quietly over the grass, away from the puzzeled cat,
and morphed as quickly as she could back to golden eagle. I saw her, and we
both flew away back to my meadow.
* * * * * *
"That was wonderful! You did great!" I said later after we had
arrived at the meadow and morphed. "Are you going to try out the morph?"
Scratch's face changed. "Oh... yeah, but I'll do it later. Right
now I have to go." Her face turned into a grin. "I'll see you later,
though. Thanks so much for helping me and all, Tobias," she said and ran off.
What was with her? I wondered. Well, it was probably nothing to worry about.
Scratch has always been unpredictable.
* * * * * *
Tobias, have you seen Scratch around? Cassie has informed me
that she would like to have a meeting. Even though we are not fighting this
week, she wants to plan another trip to the Yeerk pool, Ax said to me the
next day. The Animorphs had decided to take a break from fighting this week,
but there was a reason. We were saving our energy for a wonderful trip to the
Yeerk pool. Wonderful my ass. Or, I mean, wonderful my tail feathers. Yeah,
right.
"No, I haven't seen her, which is strange, because she usually
hangs with me." I hadn't told the other Animorphs about her aquiring the
cougar yet.
If you see her please tell her that Cassie would like to hold a
meeting in her barn tomorrow, Ax said and galloped off. It was strange. I
hadn't seen her since aquiring the cougar, which was a few days ago. I flew
into the sky to look for her.
I had flown around all day through the woods, with no sign of my
sister. Where could she be?
I then saw a cougar, sitting on a high hill, in front of the
sunset on the horizon.
Scratch? Is that you? I asked in thought-speak. The cougar
looked around. Her gaze fell on me, in the sky.
Tobias. Yes, it's me. Come over here. I have something to talk
to you about, she said.
I landed next to her, and morphed to human. "What's up?" I said.
The cougar seemed to sigh. Tobias... I... I have a confession to
make.
"Scratch, what?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. She sounded
serious, even in thought-speak. "You can tell me."
Well... I... this is... I can't change back to my human body,
she said quickly.
"Of course you can. Why not?" I said. Then the truth dawned on
me. "Scratch... you... you're a... YOU TRAPPED YOURSELF!?"
I... Tobias...
"Scratch, why did you do such a thing? Scratch!!!" I yelled in
frustration. She threw away her life. It was a mistake. It was over for her
now. "You've made a terrible mistake!"
Tobias! Tobias... please. Let me explain, said Scratch.
"Okay. Go ahead."
Tobias... I needed to do this. It was not a mistake. I tried
this morph. I became the animal of evolved beauty and precise function. I
became the wild independent spirit I have always admired. And then I
realized... I wanted to stay this way. Forever. I wanted to live out my life
as this beautiful animal.
Her green eyes blinked.
Please don't be angry with me. I know it was a selfish thing to
do... but I belong in the wild. I think I belong out here, as a cougar. I am
this animal. I want to hunt, to eat, to sleep in the way she does. This is
how I want to live my life. As a cougar.
I was at a loss for words. She just poured out her heart and soul
to me. I should have been mad... but I wasn't.
"Scratch... I'm not angry at you, because... I understand. I'm
trapped, too. But I'm shocked. I didn't want to be trapped as a red-tail. I
wish I were human to this day," I said.
Tobias... what you don't understand is... I'm not trapped. I am
a cougar. I want to be a cougar. I feel it's what I've always been meant to
be, Scratch said.
"I understand. I'm not mad. But... if you are going to live as an
animal... does this mean you aren't going to fight anymore? Will I ever see
you again?" I asked.
Scratch choked up. I'm... so sorry... Tobias... she said, and I
could tell she was crying in her mind. We'll... we'll see eachother
sometimes. Of course, we'll run into eachother in the woods and... I'll visit
you sometimes. About fighting? Tobias, I've given up my human life. I can't
fight with you... or see you... but... there will be times when... I will
help you. When you desperatly need it. But I will... live my life as this
cat. I can't take part with anything anymore. I'm so sorry, Scratch said,
crying hard in her mind. You could almost see her shed tears from her cougar
eyes.
Tobias... please... tell the others. The other Animorphs. They
won't understand... but tell them anyway. I have to leave now... to begin my
new life. Goodbye, brother... Tobias.
* * * * * *
Today was the day. The day after I talked to Scratch. This was
the day I had to tell the other Animorphs about her. It would be extremely
hard, because I knew they wouldn't feel the same way I did. I was deeply
saddened by what she had done, especially if she felt she absoulutely HAD to
do it. I was even angry, a little. But I could forgive her. I had been in her
place once. But I knew the others would be furious.
Ready to go, Tobias? Ax said.
Yes. I have something to tell everyone about at the meeting, I
said.
Does it have anything to do with Scratch not coming? asked Ax.
You might say that, I said, and cringed inwardly. We headed to
Cassie's barn.
* * * * * *
"You had something you wanted to talk to us about, Tobias?"
Cassie said when Ax and I arrived.
"Uh... yes. It's about my sister, Scratch. She did something the
other day," I said cautiously.
"Well, what is it, Bird-boy? Spill the beans," Marco said.
"Well... er, uh... Scratch sort of... trapped herself," I spit
out.
"WHAT?!" everyone yelled.
"Why?"
"What did she trap herself as?"
"How did it happen?"
"Did you see it?"
All the other Animorphs barraged me with questions.
"Stop! Stop! I'll tell you," I said.
Everyone was silent. "I saw her one day, yesterday in fact, as a
cougar. I stopped to talk to her when she told me. She said she felt she had
to do it. It was her calling. Like she felt being a cougar was the way she
was meant to be. She felt trapped and had to get free. This was her way of
freedom."
"Well, is she still going to fight with us?" Rachel asked.
"Um... no. She wants to live her life as an actual cougar. Live
as an animal. She admires them," I told the others.
"How could she? She betrayed us!" Marco hissed.
"Please. Don't be too angry, Marco. She just felt like she had to
run away. I know how she feels. I'm sure we all do," I said
"But that doesn't mean we go and do it," said Rachel angrily.
"You guys, we all feel we have to run away sometimes. Scratch has
had a tough life. She may have felt stronger than the rest of us. Maybe she
was right. Maybe she was meant to be a cougar. If that is what her instinct
told her to do, then she was right. We can get along without her," said
Cassie.
"Thanks for understanding, Cassie," I said. I then said to the
others, "Please don't be angry at Scratch. Forgive her. We all have to do our
own thing. Scratch had to be a cougar to find herself. She just had to find her
own way."
By: Scratch
I sat there, awake in my tree. My name is Tobias. I am a red-
tailed hawk nothlit. What does that mean, you ask? Well, basically it means
that I am a human... stuck in a hawk's body for the rest of my life. Not that
I really mind. I was lucky. I got stuck in a body with wings.
My keen eyes searched the meadow for a human figure. I was
waiting there for her. My sister, Scratch. The newest Animorph.
At last I saw her. Quickly, silently running to the base of the
tree that I was on. Or, at least I saw her dark cloak zipping my way.
At last she reached the tree. She put down the hood of her cloak
and said, "Tobias?"
I fluttered down onto the tall grass, and quickly morphed to
human. Since Scratch didn't have anywhere to go, she often came here in the
meadow to be with me. We both liked it here.
"Hey there, Scratch," I greeted her.
"Hey, Tobias. How are you doing?" she replied.
"I'm okay," I said. "How are you?"
"Fine, same... what else do I say?" Scratch said.
"I know how you feel. So what's been going on?" I asked.
"Nothing, as usual. That's why I came here. ...Tobias? Do you
ever... ever feel like running away? Just leaving it all... the fighting, our
friends, this habitat? Ever?" Scratch asked suddenly.
"Well, Scratch... of course I do. I do probably more than anyone
else. Because, in a way, I already have run away," I said.
She looked at me. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... well, look at me. I'm truly a hawk. I'm not this human
boy. I guess you could say I became a hawk to run away, to escape."
"But it wasn't your fault you became a hawk. You were in a tight
spot," Scratch pointed out.
"Yes, that's true. But... I think sub-conciously... maybe I
trapped myself on purpose. Like inside I really wanted to. I wanted to just
run away, and I thought I could do that by becoming a hawk. Perhaps it's what
I truly wished," I said.
"Hmmm... I guess so... maybe. I think it would be... kind of
neat... to run away, to live life by yourself, as an animal," said Scratch.
I chuckled. "What animal would you be?"
"I would be... a cougar. A beautiful, independent, wild spirit
taking the form of a powerful wildcat. Definitely. That's what I'd be,"
Scratch said wistfully.
We sat there for a while, looking at the sky. I was a bit put off
by Scratch's seriousness. But she definitely wasn't playing around. I said
this to break the silence.
"Hey, you know, you could at least morph a cougar. Be one for two
hours at a time."
Scratch's face lit up. "That would be... wonderful. But where
could we find a cougar? The zoo doesn't have any."
"Well, I'm sure this forest does. We could fly as birds of prey
to look for a cougar, and when we find one, you could morph back to human,
and if you were brave enough... you could aquire it," I said.
"I'm brave enough. I'd do anything to be a cougar, even for a
short time," Scratch said excitedly.
"Well, then let's do it tomorrow," I said, knowing it would make
her happy.
"Yes! I can't wait! But now, if we're going to do it, we should
get some sleep. Goodnight, Tobias. Thank you for the wonderful plan," Scratch
said, and lay down in the tall, soft grass to sleep, a contented smile on her
normally-hidden face.
"Goodnight, Scratch," I said to her, even though she was already
drifting off. Even if it was going to be hard to find a cougar, it was worth
it to see Scratch so happy. Perhaps it was something she needed. And with
that thought, I morphed to red-tail and went to sleep.
* * * * * *
"C'mon Tobias, let's go!" Scratch said impatiently the next
morning.
"Alright, alright, we're going. Start your morph," I said.
I watched Scratch's odd face and scraggly hair begin to melt
into the feathers of a bird of prey. A golden eagle, to be exact. I morphed
to red-tail. In a few minutes, we were two birds standing in the grass. It
felt strange, my red-tail body was very nervous. After all, I was standing
next to an enemy and predator of mine: the golden eagle. But I knew Scratch
could control her morph and wouldn't let anything happen.
I'm going, Tobias! she yelled, and took off flying. I
boosted myself into the air and followed quickly.
Let's split up to look for the cougar. But not too far, so
we're in range for thought-speak, I said.
Roger that! Scratch said happily.
I sighed inwardly. She flew away from me and we began our
search for the cat.
About twenty minutes later, I could hear her scream in
thought-speak.
I see one! I've spotted it! A large, healthy, mature female
to the north! Meet me in the air before you land, Scratch said.
I flew until I saw Scratch in the air, circling.
Do you see her? she said.
Oh yeah. Taking a snooze, hmm? I said.
A perfect oppurtunity for us! I'm landing! she said, and
circled swiftly down to the cougar. I followed.
Finally we landed near her. We were very quiet, so she wasn't
aware of us.
Okay. I'll morph, you stay in this tree so she won't get you
if she wakes up. I'll aquire her as quickly as possible! said Scratch.
Be careful, Scratch. Don't do anything dangerous, I warned.
I laugh in the face of danger! she cried. I groaned.
She morphed to human, and swiftly crept to the cat. She came
very close, face-to-face with the sleeping animal. Suddenly, the cougar's
eyes flashed open, revealing sparkling green. As swift as the cougar
Scratch's hand flew to the animal's chest, and she began to aquire her. The
green glitter of the cougar's eyes disappeared when her eyes fluttered shut.
She was in a trance as her DNA entered Scratch's mind and body. And then, it
was over. Scratch sped quietly over the grass, away from the puzzeled cat,
and morphed as quickly as she could back to golden eagle. I saw her, and we
both flew away back to my meadow.
* * * * * *
"That was wonderful! You did great!" I said later after we had
arrived at the meadow and morphed. "Are you going to try out the morph?"
Scratch's face changed. "Oh... yeah, but I'll do it later. Right
now I have to go." Her face turned into a grin. "I'll see you later,
though. Thanks so much for helping me and all, Tobias," she said and ran off.
What was with her? I wondered. Well, it was probably nothing to worry about.
Scratch has always been unpredictable.
* * * * * *
Tobias, have you seen Scratch around? Cassie has informed me
that she would like to have a meeting. Even though we are not fighting this
week, she wants to plan another trip to the Yeerk pool, Ax said to me the
next day. The Animorphs had decided to take a break from fighting this week,
but there was a reason. We were saving our energy for a wonderful trip to the
Yeerk pool. Wonderful my ass. Or, I mean, wonderful my tail feathers. Yeah,
right.
"No, I haven't seen her, which is strange, because she usually
hangs with me." I hadn't told the other Animorphs about her aquiring the
cougar yet.
If you see her please tell her that Cassie would like to hold a
meeting in her barn tomorrow, Ax said and galloped off. It was strange. I
hadn't seen her since aquiring the cougar, which was a few days ago. I flew
into the sky to look for her.
I had flown around all day through the woods, with no sign of my
sister. Where could she be?
I then saw a cougar, sitting on a high hill, in front of the
sunset on the horizon.
Scratch? Is that you? I asked in thought-speak. The cougar
looked around. Her gaze fell on me, in the sky.
Tobias. Yes, it's me. Come over here. I have something to talk
to you about, she said.
I landed next to her, and morphed to human. "What's up?" I said.
The cougar seemed to sigh. Tobias... I... I have a confession to
make.
"Scratch, what?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. She sounded
serious, even in thought-speak. "You can tell me."
Well... I... this is... I can't change back to my human body,
she said quickly.
"Of course you can. Why not?" I said. Then the truth dawned on
me. "Scratch... you... you're a... YOU TRAPPED YOURSELF!?"
I... Tobias...
"Scratch, why did you do such a thing? Scratch!!!" I yelled in
frustration. She threw away her life. It was a mistake. It was over for her
now. "You've made a terrible mistake!"
Tobias! Tobias... please. Let me explain, said Scratch.
"Okay. Go ahead."
Tobias... I needed to do this. It was not a mistake. I tried
this morph. I became the animal of evolved beauty and precise function. I
became the wild independent spirit I have always admired. And then I
realized... I wanted to stay this way. Forever. I wanted to live out my life
as this beautiful animal.
Her green eyes blinked.
Please don't be angry with me. I know it was a selfish thing to
do... but I belong in the wild. I think I belong out here, as a cougar. I am
this animal. I want to hunt, to eat, to sleep in the way she does. This is
how I want to live my life. As a cougar.
I was at a loss for words. She just poured out her heart and soul
to me. I should have been mad... but I wasn't.
"Scratch... I'm not angry at you, because... I understand. I'm
trapped, too. But I'm shocked. I didn't want to be trapped as a red-tail. I
wish I were human to this day," I said.
Tobias... what you don't understand is... I'm not trapped. I am
a cougar. I want to be a cougar. I feel it's what I've always been meant to
be, Scratch said.
"I understand. I'm not mad. But... if you are going to live as an
animal... does this mean you aren't going to fight anymore? Will I ever see
you again?" I asked.
Scratch choked up. I'm... so sorry... Tobias... she said, and I
could tell she was crying in her mind. We'll... we'll see eachother
sometimes. Of course, we'll run into eachother in the woods and... I'll visit
you sometimes. About fighting? Tobias, I've given up my human life. I can't
fight with you... or see you... but... there will be times when... I will
help you. When you desperatly need it. But I will... live my life as this
cat. I can't take part with anything anymore. I'm so sorry, Scratch said,
crying hard in her mind. You could almost see her shed tears from her cougar
eyes.
Tobias... please... tell the others. The other Animorphs. They
won't understand... but tell them anyway. I have to leave now... to begin my
new life. Goodbye, brother... Tobias.
* * * * * *
Today was the day. The day after I talked to Scratch. This was
the day I had to tell the other Animorphs about her. It would be extremely
hard, because I knew they wouldn't feel the same way I did. I was deeply
saddened by what she had done, especially if she felt she absoulutely HAD to
do it. I was even angry, a little. But I could forgive her. I had been in her
place once. But I knew the others would be furious.
Ready to go, Tobias? Ax said.
Yes. I have something to tell everyone about at the meeting, I
said.
Does it have anything to do with Scratch not coming? asked Ax.
You might say that, I said, and cringed inwardly. We headed to
Cassie's barn.
* * * * * *
"You had something you wanted to talk to us about, Tobias?"
Cassie said when Ax and I arrived.
"Uh... yes. It's about my sister, Scratch. She did something the
other day," I said cautiously.
"Well, what is it, Bird-boy? Spill the beans," Marco said.
"Well... er, uh... Scratch sort of... trapped herself," I spit
out.
"WHAT?!" everyone yelled.
"Why?"
"What did she trap herself as?"
"How did it happen?"
"Did you see it?"
All the other Animorphs barraged me with questions.
"Stop! Stop! I'll tell you," I said.
Everyone was silent. "I saw her one day, yesterday in fact, as a
cougar. I stopped to talk to her when she told me. She said she felt she had
to do it. It was her calling. Like she felt being a cougar was the way she
was meant to be. She felt trapped and had to get free. This was her way of
freedom."
"Well, is she still going to fight with us?" Rachel asked.
"Um... no. She wants to live her life as an actual cougar. Live
as an animal. She admires them," I told the others.
"How could she? She betrayed us!" Marco hissed.
"Please. Don't be too angry, Marco. She just felt like she had to
run away. I know how she feels. I'm sure we all do," I said
"But that doesn't mean we go and do it," said Rachel angrily.
"You guys, we all feel we have to run away sometimes. Scratch has
had a tough life. She may have felt stronger than the rest of us. Maybe she
was right. Maybe she was meant to be a cougar. If that is what her instinct
told her to do, then she was right. We can get along without her," said
Cassie.
"Thanks for understanding, Cassie," I said. I then said to the
others, "Please don't be angry at Scratch. Forgive her. We all have to do our
own thing. Scratch had to be a cougar to find herself. She just had to find her
own way."