Chapter 30

Ax

The night was chilly. I began to see, as the days were going further into the month, it got colder. I decided I might need to find a way to keep myself warmer in the days that followed; though how I would was a mystery. On the Andalite home world, it didn't get much colder than a cold summer night on Earth.

I moved through the forest unconsciously; I knew it well enough that I barely had to think about dodging fallen trees and the like, so that I needed only think 'I'll go see Tobias' or 'I'll get a drink from the stream' and I was on my way there. A warrior Andalite adapts quickly enough. I suppose in cases that we are stranded somewhere, we need to.

At that moment, I was going to see Tobias. I was wondering if he had any news, or if he merely wanted to watch television. I was getting a bit lonely from him not coming around with me as much during these last few days, and I was hoping to spend some 'quality time' with my nephew, my shorm.

I came to the meadow and tree where Tobias spent most of his time but to my disappointment he wasn't there. Sighing, I walked the way back to my scoop. There went my hopes for going to the mall to get a cinnamon bun.

Chapter 31

Jake

My head was in a whirl. I kept thinking of yesterday.

It was just a dream, I thought. But then I saw her, the wolf-creature running through the woods, leading me to the deer and that doe going down, acting as though it had been shot. The wolf thing might have been ugly, but it was powerful and moved with a sort of grace that a wolf possesses.

But I didn't want to believe. It couldn't be true, it couldn't it couldn't! My head screamed. I had seen Yeerks, I had seen strange things, aliens and mutants and horrible things that no teenager should ever have to see, but this was the worst. I felt torn- half of me wanted to forget the war, to take the beast's offer, but the other half was firmly against it, straining to pull me out of the hole I had fallen into. But I couldn't resist the feeling that had come…

If it were true, I wouldn't be able to withhold tonight. Not for two more days…

But oh, I was tired of blood. I was tired of Yeerks, of fighting the Andalites' war, of fighting the human race's war. I needed to be…whole again. Instead of never knowing if one of my friends were going to die, if I was going to die or if the fear would take over. If I let the fear start, it would never end. I would be trapped…

But this, said the other half of me, was an escape. I could get away from the war, I could leave the Animorphs. I would be without Cassie… But I would be free. No more Yeerks, no more aliens, no more Animorphs. I would miss morphing- the feeling of flying, the tiger's senses, but I would be alive. I wouldn't be worrying night and day that Tom was going to figure it out- he was going to burst into my room when I was morphing, or…or… The voice said.

But the part of me fought- I had duty, I had to save Earth, to hold off the Yeerks until the Andalites came, I had to-to…

"JAKE!"

I woke up from my thoughts, and shook my head. "Wha?" I called.
"Jake, it's the phone. Rachel wants to talk."

"Rachel?"

"Yes. Now hurry! She hasn't got all day."

I stood up, walking slowly, staring at familiar objects but not really focusing or grasping what they were. I met my mom in the kitchen, holding the phone and looking like I had done something wrong by not coming sooner.

I took the phone from her hand, and she walked off, probably to vacuum some old, unused part of the house. I took the phone.

"Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to know when we were going to get together again to study," She asked. It wasn't really like a question; it was more like a statement.

"I don't know. Tonight? Let's say…2'o clock?"

"Fine. At Cassie's?"

"Of course. See ya, cuz." I told her with fake enthusiasm.

"See ya," She replied.

I hung up.

It was going to be a long day-and night.

Chapter 32

Cassie

It was two. We were at my barn. Talking about when was the best time to attack the next arcade.

"I'd say tonight," Rachel stated. "We hit them tonight, and they aren't going to be prepared as well. Any later, it'll be way too hard. It will already be a problem to get in the mall."

Marco grinned grimly. "I know how to get in. We go just as their getting ready to close- then head to the bathroom. Then, we morph something small. Climb up onto the ceiling. No one will ever notice. We demorph every two hours 'til Ax tells us its dark outside. Then, we demorph, and remorph something that can see but is small- like a fly. Then, we find the arcade. That arcade is bigger- and there are only one or two cameras. We bust them, then find the entrance."

"Easier said then done," Jake pointed out. "But we can do it. I think we should check the place out, just to know what we're doing."

"Won't that seem suspicious?" I asked. "I mean, they probably remember us from the last arcade- someone might, anyway. And then we could get arrested for being the last people there before we destroyed the entrance."

"Good point. Maybe only two of us should go?"

"Or we should morph someone."

I stared at Marco.

"What? It was only a suggestion. We are trying to save the world after all, Cassie. It's wrong, but I'd rather do that than doom mankind."

"Wha-" I began, but Jake cut me off.

"We'll only do that if we have too. Cassie- you know I don't want to do that, but we might have too. It IS wrong, but if the Yeerks take over, it will be even worse." Jake looked at me, his eyes dark and his face shut. I couldn't read it, but I could hear…something in his voice. But what?

I sighed. They were right. "I hope it doesn't come down to that."

"Me too. But if it comes between having mankind as slaves or morphing other humans, I'd choose the latter any day."

"I guess so." I answered. "I hope you know what you're doing, Jake."

"So do I, Cassie. So do I."

Chapter 33

Rachel

We left the barn after that, deciding to walk/ride to the mall later so we didn't look weird.

The mall closed around 5, so I decided I would take a cab to the mall around 4. That would give me time to meet the others at the food court, where we usually met at the mall. Tobias, Ax, and Marco would be coming together, and Jake and Cassie would be together as well. I would be alone.

How ironic…Or at least, with some situations. I didn't feel like getting into another debate with myself. It wasn't the time.

Yawning, I walked home. Maybe I would catch some sleep at home. I was kind of tired after yesterday. I had come home, around ten, sneaking into my bedroom upstairs. Cassie had been with me, because my house is closer, though harder to get into without being caught. But by now, we knew how to without making a sound. Trust me.

If I had gone to bed straightaway at ten, like Cassie, I wouldn't be tired at all. In fact, I would've been well rested. But I had stayed up reading until one or maybe two. My clock is broken.

On the way home I passed a house that seemed to be having a party. It seemed to be early for something for Halloween, so I paused, wondering about it. Then, shrugging, I moved on. If they wanted to celebrate early let them.

I reached my house, and walked in. It was quiet; I figured that mom must've taken Jordan and Sara out somewhere. Maybe to eat.

I went up to my room, and fell onto the bed, exhausted. I would need rest for tonight.

I looked at the clock, and then went back downstairs, and memorized the time, waiting until it changed to 3:13 before racing upstairs, grabbing the clock, and fixing it. I moved it a minute ahead, just to make sure. Then, I set the alarm for 4:00 PM. I was going to sleep, but I didn't want to be late. That done, I fell onto the bed, asleep before I even met the covers.

Chapter 34

Marco

I was walking home when I saw her. Kari.

She was just as beautiful as ever, and she looked thrilled to see me.

"Marco!" She exclaimed. "I've been looking for you everywhere! We need to talk!"

Surprised, I let her drag me off to a grove of trees far from the city. I couldn't believe how far she had taken me; it must've been miles.

A panic siren went off in my head. I was far from probably anyone. I was alone with, I admitted, a complete stranger. Anything could happen…

Kari's green-gray eyes stared into mine, showing some unknown emotion to me.

"Marco," She said her voice wavery. "I have to tell you something." She sounded unsure of her words, as if she were reciting them from the past, only remembering them vaguely.

"What? There's someone else?" I said, staring into her eyes. She was a little taller than me- not much, but a little. Her eyes looked at the top of my head when looking straight at me.

She smiled, and laughed. "No, Marco. It's not that…Although I almost wish it were…" Her voice trailed off.

"I don't understand."

She took a deep breath. "Marco." Her voice was gaining confidence with each word. "I need to show you something."

"Show me what? This isn't going to be like-" I began.

Kari looked surprised; then, she realized what I was saying. She laughed again. "Of course not. No, Marco."

"OK. That's eliminating two thoughts that were in my mind,"

"It's…Something…That." Her voice stopped, and she sat on the grass, leaning against a tree.

"I don't know, Marco. I've never told anyone…Normal…"

"You're in a gang? A communist group?"

She chuckled again. "It's almost worse, Marco. I'm not in any…gang…"

"Well then what is it?"

Her eyes dulled, and lowered to the ground, the green seeming to fade away in a gray mist in her eyes. "Meet me here at this spot tonight. Before the moon has risen, but after the sun sets."

I was surprised by her request, then shrugged. "OK. Don't wait up if I'm late."

"I will, Marco. See you tonight."

She got up, and walked away, but then turned. "And Marco-" She called.
"Yeah?"

"It would be to your advantage if you weren't late."

And with that, she turned around, and moved away. Until all I could see was the brown of the trees and the grass that was almost dead.

Chapter 34

Tobias

It was almost time. I was with Ax, waiting for Marco. We were at the edge of the forest. Finally, Ax spotted him.

Look, friend Tobias. There he is, to your left.

Thanks, Ax-Man. Hey, Marco! I called to him. He looked up, and waved. He looked like his mind was on something else.

"Hey guys. Ready to go?"

We'll have to morph later on; otherwise it will be too long for us. I told him.

"Alright."

He moved on, Ax had morphed seagull so no one would think he was weird- a centaur looking alien with no mouth, a weird nose, bluish-tan fur, a scorpion tail.

Marco led the way, looking thoughtfully at the sky and around him every once in awhile. Hawk eyes don't miss anything.

We're close to the mall, I said in Marco's head, questioning him.

He gave a slight nod.

Ax. Look for a place to morph.

Okay.

I myself began to look.

There! The park. Those trees are perfect. I wheeled towards the trees, Ax following. We landed, and Ax began to demorph, then quickly morph human so no one would see. I then did the same.

Marco met us outside the trees, and we walked towards the mall, feeling slightly self-conscious that we weren't properly dressed. At least, I did. I don't know about Ax. He's just clueless when it comes to clothes.

We walked into the mall, Marco still silent. He led us to the food court, while I looked about the mall. It had been forever since I had actually been there, like, BEEN there. Shopping. You don't go buying clothes when you're a bird.

We saw Cassie and Rachel there, Cassie looked worried.

"Where's Jake," Marco demanded.

"He…couldn't make it," Cassie said. "He told me his mom wouldn't let him out because it was a family time. She wanted him home because he's gone so much. That's what he told me when I called him to get ready."

Rachel's face was glaring daggers.

"Well, that cancels the mission then," Marco said, looking happy.

"I guess so." Cassie said, biting her lip. "I'm worried about him. He's being so odd lately."

"Yeah."

"So…"

Ax looked at me hopefully. "Can we have some burritos. Toes. Bur. Eat. Os. And cinna buns? Buhns. Huns."

Marco looked at us all. "I'm leaving now if we don't have to do it! I'm leaving before Rachel decides to barge in there herself."

Cassie sighed, and I just kind of looked around.

Rachel turned to me. "Well, since you're hear, want to look around?"

"What about Ax?"

"Cassie can take him home. Right Cassie?"

"Sure. Have a good time,"

As they left, I waved, and Rachel dragged me off to some store I had never heard of to look for some sweater.

Chapter 35

Marco

I moved quickly from the mall, and then headed towards the tree grove. It would be quicker to morph, but I wanted to look normal.

Some part warned me not to go, but I ignored it. I was going to see what Kari had to say. If it got weird, I would leave. And I could morph if it got too bad. It would mean that Kari wouldn't be able to live, but I could…

In a half-hour our so of walking and searching, I found the place she had taken me to. The sun was setting, and I emerged into the middle of the trees, trying to find exactly where she and I had been.

"Marco, you're here," Said Kari's voice.

"Kari!" I called, surprised. I turned around, and there she was- the green of her eyes showing up and smothering the gray. They seemed to glow with a life of their own.

"Marco, you're here." She repeated. "I didn't think…that you'd come."

"Well yeah uh."

"Don't scream," She pleaded, her eyes leading me to a spot where we could see the sun going down.

"Scream?" I said puzzled. "Don't worry, I'm hard to scare."

Kari grimaced. "Just wait…"

She stared up at the sky, waiting for something. I looked in the same direction, but didn't see anything. "It's just the moon rising," I told her.
She laughed. "Just the moon. You won't be saying that later. But Marco, promise me you won't run. No matter what. Promise me. Promise, Marco."

She was still looking at the sky so I couldn't see her expression.

"Fine." I answered finally. "I do. I promise."

We stood in silence for a half hour at least, and I began to grow uncomfortable. "Kari, there's nothing here. Let's go-"

"It's almost here, Marco. Just another minute," She pleaded.

"Fine." I sighed. I began to count the seconds off in my head. 1, 2, 3…

Finally, the moon was up enough that you could see the whole thing. Kari gave a small shudder, then-

Something happened. Dirty, gnarled fur covered her body as a tail shot out, and her ears moved up the side of her head and became wolf ears.

Is she morphing? I wondered. Her face became a muzzle. Her clothes ripped. Her feet and hands became wolf paws, but somehow they seemed human.

Finally, she turned, on all fours. She was like a wolf, but still human. She stared at me, her eyes still green-gray. The thing gave a howl. I backed away.

You see, Marco? I told you. This is my secret…I'm a beast of the night, I heard her voice in my head. I ran into a tree, and tried to press myself into it. Her eyes looked sad.

The wolf gave a moan. I knew this would happen. I'll leave, Marco.

"No! Wait," I croaked. "How…how did you do that?"

The wolf laughed, an evil sounding thing, though I knew that that wasn't it's intentions. Marco, don't you understand? I am a werewolf. A night-creature. A beast.

"You mean," I said. "You can't…can't morph?"

Morph?

And looking into those eyes, I saw puzzlement. She wasn't a Yeerk then.

"You know- morph. Become any animal by acquiring it's DNA. It's not like…like you, but it's like it. I can become a wolf."

Kari looked at me sideways. As if I were the crazy one.

I began to morph, turning into a wolf.

See? I asked her. I can become any animal I touch. I have some friends who can do it too. Ax, Rachel, Tobias, Cassie, Jake-

Jake!? She demanded sharply. She gave a rough description of him.

How did you know? I asked.

Because, She admitted. I bit him. He is a werewolf now too. That is- unless he doesn't kill within the first three full moons. And one is already done.

No wonder he has been weird.

I'm sorry. I didn't know he was your friend…

I stared into her eyes, and demorphed. Kari stared at me.

You probably hate me for being what I am. For what I did. I would understand. I will go if that is your wish.

"No." I said. Somehow… I felt… Attached to Kari. Like Jake to Cassie. Rachel to Tobias.

"Kari. Stay."

She moved over to me, and though she was bigger than a pony, she laid down by me and put her head on my lap.

It was like a Great Dane, but with a need to take a bath or shower. And she needed a haircut. I couldn't believe it was Kari. Kari was different from this huge beast. But…it was. It was Kari.

"Is there a way to save Jake," I asked.

Keep him from killing and eating meat during the nights of the full moon. She answered simply. Or cut off a limb if he does.

I shuddered. Even though we can heal ourselves by morphing, I figured it wouldn't be smart.

"Will you help me? Help us- the Animorphs save Jake?"

Certainly.

"Kari, let me tell you a story. Once, there were 5 kids…"