The next few days past uneventfully. Often, Katie still had an uneasy feeling of being watched, but I would check repeatedly to assure her there was no one in sight. I even allowed her enough control to look around on her own several times. It was like trying to assure a small Yeerk that there were no Andalites near the pool. For the most part, though, I tried to ignore Katie's qualms.

I did not tell her this, but at times, I had the same uneasy feeling. Frequently, I looked around not merely to calm Katie's fears, but my own as well.

After three days, I of course had to feed again. I walked Katie to the Yeerk pool after school. Normally she had soccer practice, but Sharing members received exemptions from any number of things in order to allow their Yeerks to feed.

As we were walking home from the Yeerk pool, that now-familiar uneasiness came over us both very strongly.

Katie said, Can you please look around again?

I did, but of course saw no one. Just a few birds and a squirrel. I started walking a little faster. I knew that those animals could be Andalites. Why they would target *me* I didn't know.

What is it? Katie demanded.

Nothing, I tried to assure her, but my thoughts were tense and nervous, and Katie saw through my lie.

Illarim. What. Is. It?

It's nothing, I said again, a little calmer and more convincingly. It's just that your parents will become concerned if you are not home soon. It's getting dark.

She did not believe me. I had made it obvious, however, that I wasn't going to tell her any more, so she let me alone.