Chapter 7

Cassie

When Jake tapped on my window I thought I was dreaming. But he kept tapping so I let him in. I was pretty surprised to see all of them. A few days ago when Jake said he was leaving and probably forever I thought I would never see him again. Now there he was with Marco, Tobias, and Ax. Suddenly I realized I was the only girl on the team.

As I sat down to listen to them describe what happened I was amazed. If I hadn't been through weirder things I would have thought they were crazy. According to them, they were gone for six months and to me it was less than a week. When Jake got to the part about the Ellimist saying he would save all of the Animorphs, my heart jumped.

"Does that mean.?" I couldn't ask the question. It was too good to be true. But here was Ax. He was alive. Jake didn't say anything but Tobias nodded.

"Where is she?"

Jake nodded at Tobias who must have called her. I went up to open the window again and then sat down. I knew I might need too. A bald eagle landed on the windowsill and hopped through the window because its wings were too wide to fit through flying. Slowly Rachel demorphed. As she did, I held my breath. I could not believe it. When she was done I just stood, walked over to her, and starting hugging her and crying at the same time. She was back.

Chapter 8

Rachel

Since I appeared back on Earth I had been completely confused. One minute the Ellimist was telling me I was dead, the next Marco, Jake, and Tobias were all hugging me. I could not believe I was alive. To see Tobias again was a dream come true. When we went to Cassie's I could not wait to see her. Finally Tobias called me to tell me to come in.

Coming. I answered.

I had to land on the windowsill and hop down because of my six-foot wing span. As I was hugging Cassie after I demorphed I was still in shock. So much had happened when I was.gone. I was so glad we won and Visser One was captured, Alloran was free. I could not wait to see Mom and Jordan and Sara again. Finally Cassie and me stopped hugging.

"Okay, now that that tearful reunion is over what do we do next, O Fearless Leader?" asked Marco.

"Shut up, Marco, just because no one missed you, you don't have to ruin it for other people." I told him.

"And once again the mighty Xena begins her goal of tormenting me for all her days."

And even though that was not at all funny all of us started laughing. Finally it felt like we were back in Cassie's barn laughing at something stupid Marco said. I could only think how glad I was to have another chance.

Cassie told me I could sleep in her apartment even though it was dawn. Everyone else went to his or her own house and Ax went to Tobias's territory in the woods. After they all left I plopped down on Cassie's sofa and fell asleep, barely managing to say good night (or good morning).

Chapter 9

Tobias

Ax and I flew back to my meadow. Ax looked around for a comfortable spot and settle in. Meanwhile I was thinking about what had happened to day. It felt like Rachel was never gone. I was never this happy my whole entire life. I was even happier then the time we found Loren. Right then it felt like the war was not over. I was coming back from a mission to my old meadow just thankful everyone was alive.

Tobias?

Yeah, Ax? You're still awake?

Yes I am still awake. Tobias, what are we going to do now? Everyone one in your world thinks Rachel is dead. What would happen if she comes back from the dead?

I'm not sure. I suppose we'll just have to see. Jake probably knows what to do.

You are right, Tobias. Prince Jake will know what to do. Good night.

Good night.

Chapter 10

Marco

After that meeting we had, I flew back to my house. As I flew into my room one of the maids was in there, but she barely looked at me as I demorphed. A few years ago she would have either fainted or screamed or both. If she was a Controller, she would have tried killed me. After she left I crawled into my bed, exhausted. I could not believe Rachel was back. Her mom will be so happy.

I wondered how we are going to tell everybody what happened. I felt a new idea for a book coming on, "A Half A Year With A Bird, Andalite, And Three Humans In A Confined Space". The next number one best seller. I smiled to myself, thinking this was one mission we definitely won. Then I remembered the other three people who were on that ship. My smile disappeared. I knew no matter what they were going to die, but still. I probably would not have made that decision. With that grim thought on my mind, I fell asleep.

"Marco, wake up." What the.? Who is that?

"Here's a glass of water. Watch out, everybody."

"Wait! I'm up!" I yelled. Jake, Cassie, Tobias, Rachel, and Ax were standing around my bed. "Why is everyone here? It's." I checked my clock. ".7:30 in the morning. I'm usually up at 10:00 at the earliest!"

"Quit complaining, Marco. Most people are up an hour earlier," Rachel said. "We need to decide what to tell everyone about me. I'm supposed to be dead."

"How did you get in here?"

"We flew in through your window," Jake told me. "But right now we do need to decide what to say and not say."

"Say she came back from the dead and now she is alive, end of story. Good bye everyone. I'm going back to sleep now."

"Wait Marco. You know people are not going to buy that. We have to decide soon. Rachel wants to go see her mom and sisters," said Cassie.

"Fine, let's talk."

"Okay, you guys. First of all, we definitely tell Rachel's mom the truth. We can also tell our families that. I'm not saying we should lie to the public, but let's just make it a shorter version. Main thing is we leave out Santorelli and Jeanne as much as possible. How does that sound?" Jake asked.

Everyone agreed and we spent the rest of the morning planning what everyone should say. Since I was, in a way, the unofficial spokesperson for the Animorphs, I would say the most. Then Jake would talk then Cassie, Rachel, and finally Tobias. Ax didn't really want to be a part of this. I couldn't really blame him, the way the press would be on us. Finally we all morphed and headed out to Rachel's.