CHAPTER 3: Hopeless Interaction
Aur 1-6-2

I woke up, stiff and feeling the pain of the fall.
I sat up, dirty, my leg broken, bloody, and tired. Then I remembered. The fall. The sliding.
The Andalite.
I looked down and saw I was still holding the blue, seven fingered hand with my own. I quickly drew it back.
I turned completely around to see him there, one of his stalk eyes swollen, his leg twisted, and looking as if he was in as much pain as I.
Both of us met each other's eyes, and scrambled backwards.
In a flash, my hand was on my Dracon Beam, and I pulled it out pointed toward him.
But he was definitely not stupid. In that same moment, his tail whipped up, not quite with as much speed as it would have been had it not been bruised and bloody, and was inches from my neck.
I stared at him with cold eyes, my arms forward, keeping my ground. We were both silent. But we understood each other perfectly.
We both knew out of hatred and anger we would kill each other once we had the chance. And we knew it would be pointless.
We needed to survive in this harsh, cruel alien land. With so many animals and complications, it would make things easier if it was just simpler.
But things weren't simple.
And so in order to survive, we had to put aside our past differences, accept the way we were, and try our best to trust each other.
It was going to be a long night.
Because I was never going to trust an Andalite.
So... I believe you have some explaining to do, the Andalite said.
"Ha!" I scoffed. "You also have some explaining."
What explaining? The meadow... his voice trailed off.
I grinned. "So, that is your home. How quaint," I smiled with triumph.
I will destroy you before you even begin to tell any of your Yeerk scum friends! the Andalite exploded. Kill you!
"What do you want from me, Andalite?" I sneered.
I have a name, Yeerk, he said with irrational, Andalite arrogance.
"As do I."
We both fell silent. I kept my Dracon Beam aimed at his head and slowly slipped back so that his tail wouldn't be able to strike me unless the Andalite moved up.
I took a look around at my surroundings. We were in deep. One side was completely vertical, and the other side, in which we had fallen, was slanted steep and smooth, except for the rocky bottom part that seemed to do the most damage to us. To our left was a wall, but to our right was pitch black. The gorge could go on for miles, or stop right there. I did not know, I could not see well enough.
I took in a deep breath and decided to take my chance. No matter what, I could not stay here with the Andalite.
I turned and stood up on my one good leg, but mistakenly I put down my other leg. I winced in pain, shot my leg up off the ground, and then toppled backwards.
In a flash the Andalite was there and caught me.
"Get your hands off me!" I yelled and I pushed him away.
Considering I just saved you from slamming your head on this adamantine ground, you should be grateful. the Andalite smiled with his eyes cockily.
"Thank you," I muttered ungratefully. Now I knew I couldn't stay there with... with him. I turned and tried climbing the rocks again.
What are you doing? he asked me.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" I growled. I stood up on one foot, and with the strong arms of the human girl, I pulled up.
Rock after rock, I climbed on, with one leg helping to support me and the other just hanging limply. I was only a little high, now. About what humans call one story high.
You are going to kill yourself, the Andalite said from below.
"Why would you care?" I asked.
I don't care about the Yeerk, the Andalite kept a low, dangerous voice. I do care about the human, though.
I laughed. "You Andalites never care about humans. You never care about anything except for your arrogant selves. The only reason you are here is just so you could kill us. Then, you will leave these humans, feeling proud of yourself that you didn't kill the Yeerks to save the human race, but because you killed us because you hate us. You do not even know us!"
I do not have to know them to know they are nothing but filth. the Andalite said. And besides, you are wrong. I do care about these humans.
"Lies. All lies," I muttered.
They are not lies. You're the one that doesn't know the Andalites.
I ignored him and continued climbing, but I was growing weaker, and tired. I made it to two stories when I reached up, grabbed a shaky rock, and lost my balance because it crumbled.
"Ahhhh!" I screamed. I fell. I felt something leaving my pocket, but paid no attention to it. I closed my eyes, waiting for my fate. Waiting for my body to crash down on the hard ground below.
But instead, I fell on living flesh. A sharp stab of pain went through my back. But I was alive. Breathing a sigh of relief, I opened my eyes.
Again the Andalite caught me, but this time not with his weak Andalite arms. He had morphed into Hork-Bajir; at least partly. And using their arms, had caught me.
This is beginning to be a habit, the Andalite said. I got off.
I glared at him. "Why did you save me?" I demanded.
The Andalite shrugged. Which was strange, since I'd seen humans do it and figured it was a human concept. Maybe this Andalite had been around some humans. I really do not know, he answered.
I looked down and saw what it was that left my pocket. It was my Dracon beam, and it had crashed to the ground and now was nothing but a piece of silver junk. I picked it up, looked at it skeptically, and threw it away. So much for my defense system.
I sat down, and saw the Andalite had demorphed, but was walking on three legs. He hadn't fully morphed; thus it did not heal.
"Your leg is broken," I pointed out.
I believe I am aware of that, the Andalite said.
"Why don't you just morph, then demorph. It shall fix it right up," I said.
Why do you think? the Andalite snapped.
I nodded. In between any morph, he would have to concentrate hard. It would leave him vulnerable. And he did not trust me. Which was perfectly understandable, because I had little trust in him. I turned away and began to walk out into the dark part. Whatever was there, it cannot be as horrible as being with him.
FWAP!
Completely unjust. Not only does he have that tail of his, but I was without a Dracon Beam as well as any normal defensive system. Idiotic of me, I should have had some sort of emergency system. But did I? No. It is not everyday that I meet up and become trapped with an Andalite.
"Look, Andalite, whoever you are. I'm tired of this. For one, I have got to get home. So why don't you just let me go so we can get ON with our lives?" I said to him angrily.
My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Alright, Aximili. Now will you let me go or not?"
I require your name, as well, Aximili said, leaving the point completely.
"Aurana," I said without thinking. Stupid of me! It was supposed to be a secret name. I began immediately to explain. "That's not right, it is just because my host and I-"
Do not play stupid with me. I know that Aurana is no true Yeerk name, Aximili cut in.
My face grew hot. "It is Aur 1-6-2 and that is how you will address me, understand?"
Alright, Aur 1-6-2. I will address you by that name for as long as you live. And you can do both of us a favor my leaving your host so I do not be obliged to kill her too.
"Leave my host? You must be the most half-witted asinine creature around. Leave myself open for you to just kill me? Forget it."
Then why should I not just kill you now and get it over with? he said casually, testing his tail in the air.
"See? Uncaring about the host. It just proves my point even further." I turned around to face him. "You were the one that got us both down here. You could have just left me to fall, then maybe I would have been able to live, and get out of this place, and get on with my life-"
And have you report me to Visser 3 so that you could get a promotion-
"Why would I do a stupid thing like that?"
I thought that is what you Yeerks do.
"Another thing I hate about you Andalites. You are so ready to judge us for what we are. Now if you had been paying attention instead of ready to cut me off I would have explained to you that I am part of the peace movement."
I had no idea, Aximili said after a moment's silence.
"Of course you had not! That is because you are so ignorant and crude and naive that you didn't take the time to think things through!"
Aximili looked regretful for a second. A second. Then his eyes narrowed and he pressed his tail even further so it was about a half inch away from my neck. Do not talk to me that way, Aur 1-6-2. As of now I do not care whether you are part of the peace movement or not, you are still a threat to my being. And considering your fate is held by me then suggest that you shut up.
"Do not tell me what to do-"
FWAP!
Aximili lowered his tail and struck at my arm. Soon I was cradling it as a thin but deep line of crimson red blood shed.
Now, I suggest you had better think of who you are talking to.
I looked up at him hatefully, then, in a sneer, "I cannot through to ignorants, so have it your way, Aximili. But I'm not going to take this from you or from anyone else much longer. Make your decision, alright? Either kill me or let me go. And considering I already know so much about you I already know what you decision is."
Leave your host and I will let you live.
"For a matter of three days," I growled. "I am not leaving my host."
I wonder how your host feels about that.
I turned away from him. He let me. I tried to block out what Ana was saying to me. Right then I hated the universe, as if everyone had something against me, so I had something against them.
Why can't you Yeerks and Andalites just get along? Ana asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
For the same reason human siblings can't get along, I muttered.
What are you going to do, then? Just let him kill you? He's not going to let you go, you know that, right? she said with a touch of anger in her voice.
No... I said slowly. But what can I do? You and I both know as soon as I leave you then he'll kill me.
Have you made your decision yet? Aximili asked me.
I turned to him glowering. "Don't be so pushy, Aximili. You can't force me to make a decision."
Then I will make it for you.
"Give me a chance to make up my mind."
I do not give Yeerks chances, he spat.
"Then give my host one."
That seemed to do it.
He fell silent, and I laid my head back. I was still very tired, and I needed my rest. Just when my eyes were beginning to droop, I heard the sound of scrapes against stone. At first I thought it was just a small earth animal, a squirrel or a badger or something. But then I heard sniffing, and then a sound that told me what the animal was. A deadly sound, for a deadly pack of animals.
Growls.
And not just any growls.
The growls of a pack of wolves.