Caitlin

I climbed out of bed and walked to the door, rubbing my eyes as I walked. My hand touched the door just as it burst open. "AAH" I jumped back and landed on my ass. I looked up and saw Lauren standing there, looking excited. "Sure, come in you're not imposing at all." I mumbled as I struggled to get up.

Lauren quickly shut the door behind her an started pacing back and forth. "I did it!" She said excitedly.

"Did what?" I yawned as I sat on my desk chair and started brushing the knots out of my hair.

"I morphed! I was petting my dog and he got really quiet, then before I knew it I was becoming him!!!"

"What the hell are you talking about Lauren." I yawned and looked in the mirror where I saw a small scrape under my eye and a bruise on my neck. I didn't remember having them last night when I was walking home form the....

`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

The Hork-Bajir chased us down the path, me, Alberto, and Joey. These guys might be big but they were fast and seemed like they were gaining on us. Alberto turned down the path to the left, with one Hork-Bajir still on his tail and the other two after Joey and me.

Joey made a left into some building but I kept running straight ahead. I could almost see the street lights through the bushes and trees. Andalite Scum... the voice echoed through my mind as I jumped out into the lighted sidewalk where the aliens hopefully wouldn't follow me.

I landed face first on the sidewalk. My cheek stung and my neck hurt, I could already feel the cuts and bruises forming but I had to keep going, what if they were still following me?

I got up as fast as I could and climbed the nearest fence, I saw and took the back way home.

`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

"No..." I looked at Lauren scornfully, as if I was blaming her for this. "That didn't happen last night."

"But it did and we all have to deal." Lauren said, her face darkening with the thought. "But I got show you my morph!" She added happily

Lauren

I was ecstatic. Everything that Elfangor said was true! I now could turn into my Border collie, Jackie. Caitlin was looking at me like she wished she could be anywhere but in her room with me.

"No seriously Caitlin, I really can do it. What had happened was this: After my mom yelled at me, and then went off to smoke something, and Jackie, my dog, came over for reassurance. So I was petting her and thought, 'Why the hell shouldn't I try?' So I just kinda focused my eyes and she got all quiet and calm and then was happy again. And then I just focused on being her...and morphed. And it was so awesome!"

"Look Lauren, I'm glad that you're happy and stuff, but..how do I know that you're not playing me?" I looked at her hard. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?" She kinda looked at the floor. I didn't need to hear anymore. "Well then I'll just prove it to you," and started focusing on Jackie's morph. "Lauren...." she started and then stared.

I looked down. My legs and arms were sprouting white fur, and my hair was changing from brownish to black. My face bulged out as my nose became a snout. My bones started to shift and shrink. My backbone lengthened as I grew a tail, and my knees and arms changed direction.

I fell to the ground, still morphing. My nails and fingers shrank as my hands became paws. My ears became triangular and larger and traveled up my head. My vision changed. I no longer could see as clearly. And all the while I was sprouting black and white fur all over. And the smells!!! I could smell everything. I knew that Caitlin hadn't showered when she got home. I could smell that her mom had made waffles. It was incredible.

I looked back up at her, and could tell that the morph was complete. I was now Jackie, an 8 year old, spastic, insecure, loving Border collie.

NOW do you believe me?

Caitlin just looked in awe. "You mean...I could...we could all do that??!! AMAZING!"

I expected her to freak out, but instead of that she started to get excited. she was practically glowing with enthusiasm.

"We've gotta meet with the others," she said.

Yeah, good idea. Call Joey. Tell him to round the others, and fast! I replied.

Joey

I rubbed my eyes, it was 9 AM.

But Lauren and Caitlin didn't look tired in the slightest.

Alberto started the conversation. 'So, could you please remind me WHY we're here?'

'Here' was an abandoned shack out in the woods, Alberto, and James used to hang out there. They'd decided it was a good place to meet up. Caitlin smiled, she's kinda cute when she does that. 'Remember last night. When...'

'Britney slapped Letterman on live TV?' Alberto interrupted. We all laughed, but then we got down to business again.

'Actually, when the Andalite gave us all the morphing power?'

Dumb question, how could anyone forget?

'Well, it's true. All of it.'

It all sank in. It was true, the planet was being invaded, and we were the only ones that could stop it.

'Lauren came and saw me this morning, I didn't want to believe it, but then...well, show them.'

Lauren closed her eyes, as if she were focusing, concentrating on something. Then she began to change.

It wasn't pretty. Going from human girl to golden Labrador. Her skin started to change colour, and her legs...well, they just shrunk. She toppled backwards, Caitlin caught her. A chill ran up my spine, it was really creepy. Her fingers melded together to become paws, her body had completely changed, but...her head was still totally human.

'Oh, god!' James yelled, 'That is weird!'

A quick look at Alberto told me he thought the same thing. When I looked back, Lauren was fully morphed. A Golden Labrador, to be precise. Then came the next surprise.

Can you guys hear this?

It was a shock, then again, it wasn't exactly the first shock we'd had. I was still getting over the fact that she'd morphed!

'Yeah, we can hear you.' James replied.

This is so cool, I mean, the morphing part is gross, but, when you're the animal, it's just so great!

Caitlin continued, 'We worked out that the animal instincts are in with the morph, you have to control them before you can really use the morph properly.'

I nodded, not really listening, I was just thinking, I'd acquired the Hork-Bajir's DNA earlier, so...

'Um, guys? Do you mind if I try?'

They all turned to stare at me.

'Well, last night, I, er, managed to acquire a Hork-Bajir, I was thinking, maybe I could try it out, now.'

'Sure, I don't see the problem.' Said James, 'Go ahead.'

'OK,' I said, 'Here goes...'

I focused on the Hork-Bajir, I focused on it's shape, the blades, the head, everything.

Then the changes began.

Everyone stared, eyes wide. I suddenly felt something...

SCHLOOP! My tail! A tail just exploded out of my body, I started to grow taller, and then...

Stop!

Lauren. I looked at her, maybe with Hork-Bajir eyes, I don't know.

Well, Caitlin and I discovered that, well...when we morph back, you kinda...don't have clothes anymore. If you're wearing something really tight, then you morph straight into it, but if you grow anymore, you'll shred your clothes, and...It could be a little embarrassing.

I suppose I was still mostly human, so I could still speak.

'So how do I change back?'

Just focus on your own human body. You'll be done in no time.

I focused on myself, and sure enough, I felt the changes, My tail started to snake back into my body, I stated to shrink down again, and within 30 seconds, I was myself again.

"Well, that was cool, but I think we need a few more animals for this."

Alberto nodded, "The Gardens?"

I winked at him, "Yep, the gardens"'