The sun had set over the forest of Hivena. The combined armies of
King Themis and the Dragon King settled down for the night.
Lecrian relaxed, looking forward to a good night's sleep. The
visions went away when the battle ended, so he hoped that it meant
that no more dreams would come. He was wrong.
~~~
Cassie sat on the stone floor of a book-filled room,.a heavy book
held open in her lap and candles lighting its pages. The book
glowed a warm pink, so Lecrian knew that Father had cast a spell
on it, making it possible for Cassie to read. It was a book of
legends, opened to a page with a dusty, cream colored unicorn with
way too many curls, which stood on its hind legs on a glassy lake.
The text read:
"One of the more persistent legends, the unicorn is said to still
exist. Many take the unicorn's restoring power to mean that it could
defy death itself. Unfortunately, no one has seen a unicorn in over
five hundred years, it is highly unlikely that this is true, if the
unicorn has ever existed at all."
The scene suddenly swirled away in a wind of darkness. There was
no more light, and no sound.
With the same suddenness of the library's disappearance, several
other beings appeared.
Zilos and two creatures stood in empty space. There was no light,
no sky, no ground, but the three stood as if on a solid surface, and
were perfectly visible. One of the creatures looked eerily like
Aximili, but larger, older, and with a decisively evil spirit. The
other creature was ... interesting. It looked like a demonic version
of Tobias in the blue-green realm, with rodent features instead of
bird. Instead of Tobias's and a bird's spirit superimposed over the
physical, half animal, half human body, it was the boy, David, and
a ... what did Rachel call it? A rat? Overlooking the three of them
as they conversed with each other, loomed the half metal, half flesh
giant with a large eye in place of a head.
As Lecrian silently watched, the rat-boy grinned a horrifying grin,
and his human spirit faded away. Behind him, a faint image of a
man and a woman appeared, then faded away with the same
finality. The older ... Andalite? Was that the name? ... scowled, but
nodded his head in reluctant agreement. Instantly, a metallic, boxy
device appeared at Zilos' feet, which he greedily snatched up. Then
the Andalite disappeared, going back to wherever he came from.
David moved over to Zilos, and the two of them vanished. Lecrian
had the impression that they appeared at that moment at Zilos'
castle.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND, TOBIAS? A massive voice boomed.
The darkness and the giant seemed to blow away, replaced by a
blue-green light which enveloped all of the empty space.
"Er, no," came the reply. It sounded as if it was coming from
behind Lecrian. He spun around, and saw two bird-like creatures
hovering. One was Tobias, with the hawk and the boy spirits co-
occupying the same space as a solid half bird, half human creation.
Beside him was a beautiful bird-man, but with a dusty, rainbow
colored tail instead of rusty red. "What does this have to do with
Eran shooting me, Ellimist?"
The other bird-man, Ellimist, smiled. And when he spoke, his
voice no longer boomed. "Each one of them gave up something so
they could get what they wanted. David has his morphing power
back, but he lost his humanity. He lost his family so he could have
the opportunity to destroy you and your friends."
"And Visser 3 gave up a bomb, yeah," Tobias interrupted,
sounding slightly annoyed. "But I thought that neither you or
Crayak could interfere with anything. What happened?"
The smile vanished. "You forget. The two of us make the rules to
our games. Both of us agreed to play the fate of Hivena's world in
this way. And the fate of all of the Animorphs, past and present."
Tobias nodded, understanding, but with a touch of self-berating, as
if he had made a potentially serious mistake. "Sorry."
The smile came back. "You humans never cease to amaze me.
Now, may I finish telling you what you have witnessed?" He
waited a moment, then continued. "Zilos received the bomb, but
also immense power and the valuable gift of the unicorn. He has
not paid for his power yet, but he will when Crayak requires it of
him."
"Now, to Visser 3 ... and you." He turned, facing Tobias directly.
"The enemy of your world has given up more than a simple bomb.
He gave up his hold over a few crucial human hosts, and he lost a
whole world. Maybe even two others, as a result. All of these are
major losses to the Yeerks. Do you know why he would do that,
Turning Point?"
Tobias stared at him, apprehension in his blue-gold eyes. He had an
idea of why Visser 3 would give up so much.
"He did it to get rid of you and your friends: the Andalite Bandits.
Forever. Your friends are not trapped in a Sario Rip, which could
be mended by one of you dying or by an energy blast. You are
stuck on this world, a world that Crayak has already moved to
destroy. A world so primitive that it will take eons for anything to
have the power to send you home. With the Animorphs out of the
way, nothing can stop Visser 3 from taking over your world, and
from there, overwhelm the Andalites, and from there you get the
picture."
"Why are you telling me this?" Tobias questioned, anger in his
voice. "Why are you going out of your way to tell me that there is
no hope?"
Ellimist didn't answer. Tobias' eyes grew wide in sudden
understanding. "You haven't asked anyone to give up anything," he
realized.
Ellimist nodded, satisfaction in his eyes. "You can save your
friends, Tobias. You can save this world and give yours a chance
again. You can give your friends a chance against David and Zilos,
and a guarantee that the Animorphs will return to your earth. I just
want you to do one thing, Tobias, son of Elfangor and Loren."
The same voice that had cried earlier that day started weeping
again, almost inaudible. The blue- green realm with its two
occupants faded away, dissolving into a scene that Lecrian knew
all too well. It was of Tobias laying alone on the floor, surrounded
by a pool of his own blood. His eyes fluttered, an arm strained to
move. He looked at the ceiling for a long moment, then sank back
into painless unconsciousness again, losing his chance to demorph.
"You must give up everything."
~~~
So, then I told him...
Nuh, uh, Marco, Rachel cut him off. Bad joke. Already heard it
before.
Not this version, he would've grinned if he was in human form.
I told him --Duh, buh Dah! -- "Rachel is madly in love with me!"
Hah!
Okay, that's it. She glared balefully at the cocky acting osprey
hiding behind its mild-mannered "twin." Out of the way, Cas.
I would, but I don't think it'd do any good, Cassie answered
quickly. He'd just get behind me again.
That's right, Marco put in, keeping Cassie strategically between
him and the much larger bald eagle. I can always depend on you,
Cassie.
I don't think I will get involved in this, Ax commented, shying
away from the other three.
Jake had to smile inwardly. Marco was trying very hard to distract
his friends from remembering what they talked about just an hour
earlier, especially Rachel.
The sunset to their right was beautiful. Overhead, the sky was an
absolutely stunning myriad of colors ranging from pink-orange
against silvery white to deep, dark purple with grey clouds. The sea
of trees underneath them was teaming with life, from werewolves
to golden stags to firebugs. Somewhere ahead of the group, still too
far away for even their eyes, was the castle of Hivena, where their
injured teammate, Tobias, was being taken care of.
I hope he's just injured, Jake thought silently. He thought about
the news Marco brought him. It was in the middle of the day, soon
after they left the battlefield. Marco, Cassie and Ax told him and
Rachel everything that happened, from Ax's talk with Zilos to the
destruction of the castle.
I'm telling you, Marco had said to the group a few hours earlier.
Crayak is in this up to his mechanical armpits.
And how did you come to that conclusion, hm? Rachel
challenged, a little bit too anxiously.
He helped Zilos somehow, didn't he? No way how Zilos could
have conjured up all those monsters up all by himself.
And then there is the explosive device, Ax put in helpfully.
Yeerk made.
And David! Marco said with finality. How can you possibly
argue with David?
I saw Drode, Jake put in calmly. He was at the battle.
Rachel had shifted her gaze directly to him, watching him closely.
He stared back.
Drode?!? Marco exploded. What was he doing there?
I don't know, Marco, Jake answered I didn't have a chance to
talk to him.
But this just doesn't make sense, Cassie argued. It just seems
so out-of-character for Crayak to be doing so much openly. And
where is the Ellimist?
Rachel remained strangely quiet throughout the whole ordeal.
Cassie had noticed, but Rachel wouldn't say a word except that
they had all better get over to Hivena asap.
Bringing his mind back from the past, Jake focused on his friends
again. Rachel was trying to get around Cassie to get to Marco,
though it was obvious she wouldn't really hurt him (he hoped). But
the simple fact that she was responding to his teasing so ...
physically was unusual, even for her.
I sincerely hope you know what you're doing, Rachel, Jake said
silently, watching her as she threatened to hurt Marco if he said
another word. What did Drode say to you?
Shifting his gaze away from the rather juvenile fight, Jake looked
straight ahead. Soon, a single spire rose on the horizon. Hivena was
close.
We're almost there, Jake reported openly.
Oh, good, Cassie exclaimed with obvious relief. She was getting
tired of being a shield.
Finally! Rachel exasperated, forgetting Marco in a second.
Marco, for his part, didn't tease her anymore (for now), and looked
at the nearly invisible spire.
Prince Jake, we have ten of your minutes left, Ax reported.
"*Our* minutes"?!? Marco stammered in indignation. Jake,
you really have to talk to him about this "my minutes, your
minutes" business.
I don't use my minutes, Ax replied. I only
Time to land, people, Jake interrupted Marco and Ax, already in
a slow dive.
They landed among the thick forest. Once beneath the treetops,
however, the fading light was so dark...
CRASH!!! Jake hit the ground, luckily avoiding the trees. The
others landed behind him.
Uh, I say we go owl, Marco suggested as Jake picked himself
up. You know, so we don't crash into a brick wall when we try to
enter a window or whatever.
Great idea, Jake replied flatly. He began to demorph.
I'm not, Rachel stated as she demorphed. I'm going dragon.
They see in the dark, too, and are a lot faster.
But, Rachel, you're the only one with a dragon morph, Cassie
gently pointed out.
So I'll just carry you guys. The dragon army carried Themis' army,
didn't they?
Ax? Jake, a falcon with an unusually long spine and with the
knees bent backwards, asked.
Ax, a green-eyed harrier with grey-white feathers melting into a
sticky mess on its way to becoming blue and tan fur, looked around
the forest. It is possible for her to carry us all, especially if we
morph something small, but ... he hesitated, trying to figure
things out with his limited night vision. Morphing into something
so large would not be wise at this time.
Why not? Rachel, a hunched over humanoid bird with bald
wings, asked before she lost her thought-speech.
The trees are too packed, Ax answered calmly as a pair of
hoofed feet sprung from his chest as and his back legs grew.
Morphing into something with such a large mass as a dragon, you
would be crushed by the trees before you are halfway done. His
friends were all standing up in the small clearing, becoming more
and more human by the second.
"How about a baalrog?" Marco asked, a human with bird eyes and
feet. "They're from Hell, after all."
"Hades," Cassie corrected him. "Devils are from Hell. Demons,
like your baalrog, come from Hades."
"Whatever." Marco rolled his eyes. In the darkness, nobody could
see him do it, but had a fairly good guess from the tone of his
voice. "I guess it really shouldn't surprise me that you read up on
every animal and bug on this world, too."
"I haven't read up on *everything.*" She smiled in the darkness. "I
still haven't covered the extinct animals yet."
A creature as large as your baalrog would not fit either, Ax told
Marco.
"How about something that just made our owls fly faster?" Jake
asked meaningfully. Marco raised his eyebrows.
"Ax morph air elemental?" he inquired. Jake nodded. "While the
rest of us go owl? Sounds good to me."
Rachel bit her lip as an idea came to her head. She was terribly
anxious about Tobias, and all of the needless debate was making
her impatient.
"How about if Cassie morphs into her lightning person and check
up on Tobias?" she suggested, unease lacing her ever word. "Her
star-child, I mean."
Jake looked closely at Rachel. "It could work. You want to do it,
Cassie?" he asked her, deliberately looking away from his cousin.
"It wouldn't be a problem," Cassie answered. "And I could help
Marah if she needs it." Cassie moved closer to Rachel and said,
"Don't worry, Rachel. He'll be fine."
"Yeah," Rachel replied, forcing herself to sound convinced. Inside,
though, a terrible dread was growing.
"OK; so me, Marco, and Rachel go owl, Ax go elemental, and
Cassie go star-child," Jake summed up. The others nodded. "Let's
go."
Soon, a flash of light that was Cassie flew out of the forest and
headed towards Hivena castle, which was now invisible in the
darkness. The sun now only touched a half of the sky with its light,
leaving the land in shadow.
Cassie sailed through the night sky, leaving her friends behind in a
flash. The glow from her form lighting the way, she easily found
the window and flew in. Once inside, she froze and stared.
Where before there were several candlees throughout the room,
only one was now lit. Two huge, black-furred monsters she
recognized as spydrs laid dead, on chopped in half on the bed, and
the other smashed on the floor. A rusty sword was imbedded in a
mess of thick webs. Tobias laid peacefully on his bed, undisturbed.
Marah leaned back on the edge if the bed, strands of webbing
framing her pale, worn face. Marah winced as Cassie's bright light
entered the room, be was too weak to shield her eyes. One of her
shoulders was caked in dried blood.
My word, Cassie exclaimed, immediately toning her brilliance
down. What happened? Are you alright? Marah didn't answer,
but she relaxed a little, seeing that it was Cassie and not another
monster.
As soon as her feet touched the floor, Cassie started to demorph,
her glow the first thing to go. As she knelt by the queen, she
glanced at Tobias, but he appeared alright. She would have to ask
Marah what had happened, but Marah needed to be taken care of at
the moment.
"Marah?" she asked tenderly, placing her hand on the queen's
shoulder. She started to examine the wounded shoulder, but she
felt herself weaken just a bit.
"Sorry," Marah whispered hoarsely. She lifted her head, strength
flowing into her, and looked at Cassie as she finished her morph. "I
am glad to see that you are alright."
Cassie smiled, no longer weakening. "Me too." Still keeping a
small smile, her face saddened in sympathy. "But it looks like you
have a nasty bite there."
"It is nothing. I will be alright now." She looked at her bitten
shoulder. "Thank you for coming back so soon," Marah
commented. "The poison will be gone in a moment or two. The
spydr's bite is usually not so potent."
Cassie started to pull away the torn cloth from the bite for a closer
look, but the fabric stuck to the blood. Leaving the cloth where it
is, she leaned even closer at the bite. There were many punctures,
each one about a half-inch deep. Due to the particular poison used,
the bleeding had stopped only minutes after it had begun, but the
area around each bite was red.
"It looks like you have an infection," Cassie told her. "Wish I had
something to help you with that." She looked around and her eyes
landed on the drawers. "Is there something in the drawers top
bandage you up with?"
"Cassie," Marah began, ignoring the question. "Please, listen to
me," she begged.
Cassie looked back at Marah eyes, and was suddenly hit by the
pain in them. Silently, she sat next to the queen.
After a few seconds, Marah spoke. "David came back," she said.
"He was after Tobias." Cassie bit her lip, letting Marah go on
without interruption. But Marah didn't say anything more.
"What happened?" Cassie asked, a silent dread wheling up inside
her.
"There were some other spydrs in the castle, and they sealed me
and Tobias in alone. David bit me after I killed his friends," Marah
continued, saying every word carefully, as if she had something
hard to say. "He attacked this morning. I supported Tobias the best
I could, for as long as I could, but ..."
Cassie nearly pulled away in disbelief. Was Marah saying what she
thought she was saying?
"Tobias is dead, Cassie," Marah finished, her voice stricken. "He
died not two hours ago."
Cassie just sat there, stunned.
"No way," she whispered. "He was doing so well ..." Desperate,
she looked at Marah with a question in her eyes, somehow hoping
that Marah was kidding.
Marah didn't say a word. Then Cassie knew that Tobias didn't
make it.
She cried. She had hoped ... she thought he was safe here ...
A tear running down her cheeck, Marah tenderly reached an arm
around Cassie's small shoulders and hugged her close. Cassie
accepted the gesture and leaned on Marah, tears flowing freely
onto her shoulder.
"I know it's hard," Marah said in a soft voice, trying to comfort the
gentle warrior. "But he's probably happier now. No more sorrow."
Cassie continued to cry.
Tobias was dead. She was so sure that he would be fine ... and he
wasn't.
And she was too late. He would have been alright, if she and her
friends were only a little bit faster ...
She kept crying, not listening to Marah as the woman kept trying to
comfort her.
"What am I going to tell them?" she choked. Suddenly, a thought
hit her, and her head snapped up. "Oh, no. Rachel."
Cassie moaned. "What will happen to Rachel when she finds out?
And Jake?"
"I don't know," Marah answered as she pulled the blanket over
Tobias' face. "It's never an easy thing."
Tears still clouding her vision, Cassie looked at the dead spydrs.
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, then bent down and
lifted the broken spydr on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Marah asked, confused. Cassie's grip
slipped a little, but she didn't drop it.
"They don't need to see this," Cassie explained in a shaky voice as
she staggered over to the window. "Maybe it would make it a little
bit easier for them."
Marah nodded in understanding, then grabbed both halves of the
spydr on the bed. She watched Cassie as the girl heaved the spydr
out the window, then walked up and threw her own.
Marah looked down out the window and watched the spydrs
disappear in the water-filled moat. This reminded her of
something...
"I wonder about David," she mused.
"What?"
Marah thought for a second, then shook her head. "Nothing
important at the moment."
For a second, neither one of them spoke in the uncomfortable
silence.
"I guess I'd better go," Cassie said sadly. "It'll tear them apart, but I
need to tell them."
Marah nodded, then wearily looked at the webs and spilt blood,
both her own and the spydrs'. "I will finish cleaning." Cassie closed
her eyes, then began to morph.
Just then, A clear voice rang in their heads. {We have almost
reached the door, Mother!} Ariana cried joyfully. {You will be free
in less than an hour.}
That's close? Cassie asked skeptically.
"They have been working on destroying the webs since this
morning. They have made quite a bit of progress since then."
I ... see.
Marah turned her attention to her daughter. {Good job, Ariana.
How much of the castle is free?}
{Most of the entrances, a few windows, the library, the kitchen, the
servants' quarters, ...}
As Ariana listed all of the areas freed, Cassie paused. A vague
memory played in her mind, trying to surface. A memory of
pictures...
Cassie sucked in her breath. Of course! She quickly finished
morphing.
Marah, she started, all tears in her voice gone, replaced by
desperate hope. I'm going to the library. Later!
Before the bewildered queen could grasp what the small heroine
was saying, Cassie disappeared in a flash of light.
* * * *
Three worried great-horned owls flew towards the now visible,
pushed to their maximum speed with the help of an air elemental.
The darkness was nearly complete, broken by the unfamiliar stars
and a moon with a stranger's face shining overhead. No sounds was
heard, and no one broke the silence. Even Marco gave up making
conversation a long time ago.
Cassie had left them over half an hour ago to check on Tobias. She
was supposed to have come back immediately, but she had not.
Rachel? Jake asked her privately. What did Drode say to you?
I wouldn't pry, but you've been acting weird since.
I don't want to talk about it, she answered irritably.
Fine, Jake replied, a touch of anger in his voice.' But I know
Drode said something to you, and judging from the way you've
been acting, it's about Tobias. And if it's about him, one of us, we
have a right to know. He's not just important to you.
And what is he to you? Just another ... she stopped herself
before saying "tool."
Another what?
Never mind, she finished, cutting off the conversation. And Jake
didn't press the matter.
Relieved that Jake let off, Rachel paid attention to her other
friends. Below her, Marco flew in silence, and she could feel Ax
supporting them all, hurrying them with perfect air currents. Both
of them worried.
Jake's right,' she thought. They deserved to know about Drode's
threat, but if they did ... they would know that there was more to it.
Marco would probably realize it first (exactly how, she didn't
know: he just always did), and Ax would come to the tactical
conclusion that Drode wouldn't have threatened without using that
knowledge, and Jake would know just because he knew her. And
she'd rather not tell Jake that Drode wanted he to kill him, or how
close she came to giving in.
Below them, the castle grew larger. They were almost there.
We're this close to the castle already, she told Jake finally.
We'll check up on Tobias, and then maybe I'll tell the others.
Jake didn't answer, but she could almost feel the lingering tendrils
of scrutiny lift. He wasn't happy, but he wasn't going to pry
anymore.
Grateful, she turned towards the ever growing square of light she
knew was the room where Tobias was taken care of.
* * * * *
Marah sat on a chair, dressed in an whole, clean dress. She was
tired again, and so didn't even look up as Rachel, Jake, Marco, and
Ax slid soundlessly into the room. Her torn and blood-caked dress
was shoved into a drawer, carefully out of sight. The stubborn
webbing was cleaned off of the floor and sword, and the ancient
weapon was leaned against the wall near her. The spydr blood was
mopped up, and only a thin film was left on the bed cover. But the
forever burning candles were not as cheerful as they used to be,
and the door was still stuck, though her daughter was much closer
than she had been, and the bloodstained bed cover was still drawn
up over Tobias' face.
No, Rachel moaned disbelieving in open thought-speech as she
started to demorph, not caring who heard her. No!
Oh, man, Marco murmured, shrinking eyes focused on the
blanket pulled over his friend's face. No way...
Jake stood in silence, refusing to morph. This just couldn't be ...
I don't understand, Ax broke in, a blue cloud materializing and
condensing near the bed. What does... he stopped himself as he
remembered something he saw on a human TV show. Several
shows, actually. Something about a human custom of treating their
dead.
He understood then. He wish he didn't.
Her legs still changing, Rachel tottered over to Tobias' bed in
silence. Disbelieving, she tore the sheets off with her still changing
hands, and forced herself to look down at one of the few people she
cared for more than herself. He laid in peace, his sorrow torn face
eased from all of the pain he had ever felt. The one she cared for
more than anyone ...
Rachel cried. Her now human eyes closed tightly in pain, her fists
clenched tightly in bloodless balls, oblivious to everything except
the image of Tobias lying still in the bed, Rachel cried.
Ax, nearly fully Andalite again, looked down sadly at the body of
his best friend, keeping one eye on Rachel. He just stared, his
warrior spirit crying out. He thought Tobias was safe. He should
have been safe.
Marco stood back with the unmorphed Jake, tears brimming in his
dark eyes. He couldn't say anything. Nothing at all...
Jake stood next to his best friend, deliberately staying as an owl.
He knew he wouldn't be able to take it if he changed back.
And Rachel continued to cry, her hurtful anger growing to protect
her from collapsing. Slowly, her sobs ceased, but she continued to
shake in grief and anger.
"He was supposed to be safe," she whispered through clenched
teeth. Her hate-filled eyes turned to Marah, tears still streaming out
of them. "He was supposed to be safe!" she screamed, reaching
down and throwing the bed covers back over Tobias' face. Not
taking her eyes off of the weak queen, Rachel screamed at her
"You hear me? He wasn't supposed to die! Not with *you*
watching."
Marco's eyes widened as he watched Rachel's outburst. Rachel
had a temper, but she doesn't blow up. Not like this when they
weren't fighting. Gingerly, he placed himself between the bigger
girl and Marah, somehow hoping that he could slow her down a
bit.
"Rachel "
"Out of my way, Marco," Rachel snapped at him as she strode
towards the queen. Without waiting for a reply, she shoved him
roughly to the side. Tiny Marco fell on his behind. Hurriedly, he
scooted back.
Rachel! Jake called out, quickly demorphing in hopes that, if he
were human, he would get to her before she hurt anyone.
She ignored him.
"Well?" Rachel continued, her eyes blazing. "Why? Tell me!" She
was right above the queen, her hands still clenched in fists, so tight
that her knuckles were white.
Marah didn't answer. She was too tired to answer.
Suddenly, Ax was there. A blue-furred, tightly muscled limb tipped
with the characteristic blade swung in front of Rachel, wrapped
itself around her torso, and lifted her up off her feet.
"I'd make a joke," Marco muttered, "but I want to live after he lets
her down."
Rachel squirmed violently for a second. "Let me go, Ax!" she
yelled. Ax just held on tighter. After a moment, she finally stopped
struggling, but her wet eyes were still burning with anger.
"Rachel, calm down," Jake evenly said to her, now more human
and bird.
Slowly, Marco pushed himself up and looked at Tobias' bed again.
Tears welled up in his eyes again, but he refused to let them fall.
After a couple more moments, Rachel slumped her head. "You can
let me go, now," she said. Reluctantly, but with his characteristic
care, Ax set her down and unwrapped his tail.
Slowly, she raised her grief-torn face and looked directly at Marah,
who had not moved from her spot. "What happened? Who did
this?" she asked bluntly, her voice cracking a bit. Her friends
nodded wanting to know the same.
Finally, Marah raised her head and looked at the young saviors.
Her face was tired once more, the little bit of energy she had
received from Cassie used up.
"The castle was attacked," she started softly. "Spydr's took
everyone by surprise." She paused a moment, catching her breath
and not wanting to continue. "Tobias and I were isolated. And once
we were alone, David attacked."
"No way!" Marco exclaimed.
Marah heard Jake's sudden intake of air. The others' eyes widened
tremendously in shock. All four of Ax's eyes stared at her.
Rachel's bottom lip quivered, and she bit it to no one could see.
"Tobias was not hurt, but David poisoned me. I kept Tobias
breathing as long as I could, but without someone else there to help
me, ..."
Rachel turned away. "I could not support him. He died before the
sun was gone."
"Tobias?" Rachel whispered, a tear falling down her face. "I'm
sorry."
Behind her, Ax bowed his head. He didn't hear her whisper, too
deep into his own sorrow. He would avenge his best friend, but
now was the time for grief. Not later, when he would hunt that
traitor down himself.
Ax wished he could cry in his Andalite body. But only humans
have that release.
Beside the queen, Marco and Jake cried, too. But neither of them
missed Rachel's whisper, and exchanged questioning glances.
"I'm so sorry," Rachel whispered again.
{Mother,} Ariana broke in, unnoticed. {Almost done. Just a little
bit more ...}
"I should have ..." Suddenly, the door flew open. Rachel stopped,
and she and her friends looked up at the person who had just burst
through the newly opened door.
Cassie stood there, mouth hanging open as she stared at her
friends. Cradled in her right arm was a heavy looking book.
"Cassie!" Rachel shouted, suddenly standing up. "Where have you
been?"
Cassie winced, then looked at her friends sympathetically. She
wasn't fast enough in the library when she went book hunting.
"Um ... hi," she started lamely. Her face brightened, though, as she
went on with, "I've been in the library."
Rachel stared at her friend for a moment. "In the library?!?" Rachel
nearly shrieked. She couldn't believe this. Tobias died, and her
best friend went to the library?
Nodding, Cassie walked over to the desk next to Tobias' bed and
put the heavy book down. Quickly, she opened the covers and
started turning pages, hope written all over her face. "There was
something I thought I read, just before I got ready for the dance last
night. It took me forever to find just now, but if what I read is true,
we can still save Tobias!"
Silence.
"Is your head OK, Cassie?" Marco asked. "Your head wasn't
bumped when the castle fell on you or anything like that?"
"Shut up, Marco," Rachel snapped at him before turning back to
Cassie. "What did you find?" she asked, unsure if she should feel
hopeful, anxious, or concerned.
Cassie smiled warmly at her friend, then turned back to the book
and found the page she wanted. There was an off-white unicorn
colored on it, rearing up on its hind legs as it stood on a glassy
lake.
"According to legend," Cassie went on, "Unicorns are very rare,
maybe even extinct. They are magical creatures, but they do more
than heal." she looked up at her friends. "They may be able to even
banish death. Maybe even raise the dead."
Rachel sucked in her breath sharply, understanding where Cassie
was going with this. All four of Ax's eyes landed on Cassie and
stayed there. Jake smiled as he looked at Cassie, encouraging her in
his own silent way. Marah, Ariana, and the others in the hall were
silent, some shaking their heads in disbelief and pity.
Marco shook his head skeptically. "Way too many maybes' there,
Cassie," he pointed out. "When even a legend isn't sure ..."
"What are you trying to say, Marco," Rachel snapped, cutting him
off as she turned on him. "That she shouldn't try at all?"
Marco backed up from her angry eyes and raised his hands in front
of him. "No, just that we shouldn't get our hopes too far up," he
answered evenly.
"We'll need to find a unicorn first, though," Jake put in, caught up
in Cassie's excitement. "Then we'll know for sure if it could bring
back Tobias."
There is no need, Ax put in unexpectedly. Cassie has already
acquired one.
Jake and Rachel stared at Ax. Marco looked stunned, then a
satisfied smirk spread across his face. Cassie smiled softly,
nodding her head.
She acquired the unicorn soon after I was rescued, Ax
explained. He paused. Long story.
Marco stared at Ax in amazement. "You actually didn't go into the
technical details? Wow!"
Smiling at the banter, Cassie turned to Rachel. Feeling her eyes on
her, Rachel looked at her friend.
"Do it, Cas," Rachel urged her. Rachel reached down and pulled
the covers off Tobias, then stepped back, inviting Cassie to start
morphing.
Cassie nodded, then bowed her head and closed her eyes. Everyone
became silent.
The morph began with Cassie turning a silvery white. The brilliant,
shimmering fur flowed from the crown of her head to the tips of
her toes. Her eyes moved to the sides of her head, and her face
extended forward. Her ears crawled up the sides of her head, and
her curly hair straightened out, grew long and silky, and moved to
the infamous mohawk position before growing out into the flowing
mane. Her limbs lengthened and thickened, ending in delicate goat
hooves. She fell down on all fours, and as she fell, a white lion's
tail extended from the base of her spine. Lastly, a single spiraling
horn of purest ivory grew from her forehead. It shone, and the
candle-lit room seemed to be much brighter.
A peace and tranquility unsurpassed by any prayer or song entered
the room, banishing bitterness, fear, and anger.
"Cas?" Rachel began, then stopped, not really wanting to say
anything. The anger and fear was gone, true, but the sadness
hanging thick in the air was not.
Without a word, Cassie waited for the unicorn instincts to hit. She
didn't have to wait long.
First came a wave of agitation. There were humans all around her,
none of them pure in heart. She was trapped! She had to get away.
Before her terror took over, it was overwhelmed by another
emotion, sadness. Deep, painful sorrow all around her except in
one place. There was an empty area in the room, right in front of
her where a human lay empty. Compassion filled the unicorn's
heart, replacing the anxiety, and she wanted to refill that emptiness.
Soon, Cassie was back in control, and she and the unicorn knew
what to do.
Lowering her head, Cassie gently touched her horn to Tobias'
chest. Darkness gathered, and soon she could see nothing.
***
{Tobias,} she heard herself call out. No answer.
All around her, Cassie searched the darkness, wondering where
Tobias would be. She looked down at herself, and was slightly
surprised to find that she was no longer in the unicorn's body. The
unicorn itself stood beside her, impatiently stamping a hoof in the
black emptiness. Then Cassie realized that she shouldn't have been
surprised at all. She and the unicorn were not one and the same.
As the unicorn stamped, the darkness drew back from the her,
leaving a small lake of grey surrounding her and the pure-hearted
human next to her. The unicorn looked meaningfully at Cassie, and
Cassie somehow understood what it wanted her to do.
{Tobias,} she called out again, louder than before. This time, she
had an answer.
{Cassie?} a voice coming from all around her questioned. {Is it
you, Cas? What are you doing here?}
{Yes, it's me, Tobias,} Cassie answered. {I'm here to take you
back.}
For a while, there was no answer. Then there was a flash of light so
bright that if it wasn't for the fact that she was no longer using her
physical eyes, Cassie would have been blinded. And stepping out
of the light was a full grown man. His hair was a dirty blond, and
his eyes a sad blue, and he looked very, very familiar. The sea of
grey flowed through him, as if he was not really there.
{Tobias?} Cassie asked in shock. {Is that you?}
The man before her nodded, and smiled his sad, familiar smile.
{But how?} Cassie asked, thoroughly confused.
{It's a complex system,} the ma , no, Tobias said. {How the
afterlife is set up makes sense, in a way, but I made a promise to
not tell anyone about it.} His smile widened a little, for whatever
reason, Cassie couldn't even imagine. {But how did you come to
being here, Cas?} Tobias continued. {You're not dead.}
{I know,} she answered. {How can you tell? I was in unicorn
morph when I came to get you.}
Tobias shrugged. {Just look at yourself.}
Cassie hesitated for a moment, wondering what Tobias was getting
at, but still looked down, checking every leg, hand, arm, finger, and
all of the rest of her body parts. She couldn't see what was wrong,
though, because nothing was different.
She looked back up at him, a question in her eyes.
{You're still a kid,} Tobias explained, {and the mist is not going
through you. You're still alive.}
Cassie checked herself again. The grey mist curled around her as it
grazed her arms, as if she was solid. And she really hadn't changed.
Not like Tobias had. Then she understood.
{I'm sorry,} she apologized sadly.
{What for?} he asked nonchalantly. {Besides, you still haven't told
me what you mean by bringing me back.}
Cassie paused for a moment. Behind her, the unicorn stamped its
hoof impatiently.
{Everyone wants you back, Tobias, especially Rachel,} she started,
{I found and acquired a unicorn, so I can bring you back from this
place.} Then her eyes lit up in excitement. {You can be alive
again, Tobias!} She started to smile, but slowly her smile fell as
she watched Tobias.
Tobias didn't smile as she told him the news. He didn't take a
single step towards her. His sad eyes didn't brighten. Instead, the
corners of his mouth turned down from their slight smile, his eyes
darkened a little, he hung his head, and he slowly turned to walk
away in the mist.
{No!} Cassie cried, her eyes widening as she realized what Tobias
was going to do. Shocked at her friend's reaction, she reached for
him, but as she grabbed for his arm her hand passed through him.
{What did I say?} she pleaded desperately.
Tobias stopped as he felt her dismay. He sighed in exasperation,
then turned back to her. {I can't go back,} he told her sadly.
Cassie was shocked, and her face showed it. {Why not?}
Tobias paused a moment, his head bent down as he thought of how
to best say what he meant to say. {I, well ... I made a deal with
someone,} he started out hesitantly. {I had to,} he continued
hastily, almost defensively, {or you guys would've never gotten
home.}
{What are you talking about, Tobias?} she asked, confusion laced
in her "voice." {We're not home.}
Tobias stared at her. {What? What do you mean?}
{No,} Cassie answered sadly. {If we were, I wouldn't have been
able to reach you, since I wouldn't have been able to turn unicorn.}
Tobias stared at Cassie some more. She squirmed uncomfortably
under his stare. Even as a human, his gaze was penetrating.
{Tobias, what is it?}
Suddenly, Tobias was mad. His hands clentched, his eyes
furrowed, and Cassie could feel his anger. If he was still alive, his
face would have been red.
{He betrayed me!} Tobias yelled. {He didn't hold up his end of the
bargain.}
{Who?} Cassie asked desperately, frightened at Tobias' outburst.
For a while, Tobias didn't say anything. His ghostly fists clentched
tightly, his eyebrows furrowed and his jaw set, Tobias just stood
there, waiting for his anger to go down. Slowly, his rage dissipated,
and he relaxed a bit.
{You're bringing me back?} he finally asked, though it was more
like a statement than a question. Cassie nodded. {Then I'm
coming.}
He held his arm out to one side, and Cassie heard a screech. There
was a flash of light, and as it faded away Cassie saw a familiar
red-tailed hawk resting on Tobias' outstreached arm.
{I'm ready,} Tobias finally said to Cassie, who stood there
dumb-founded. The Hawk Tobias cried in agreement.
The unicorn neighed, then turned and walked away, and as she
walked a white path formed beneath her feet. The path cut through
the sea of grey and the blackness beyond, and it flowed into the
distance. Suddenly, a light at the end of the path shone, and as
Cassie watched, the light grew.
The unicorn paused on the white path she had created and looked
meaningfully back on the adult Tobias and the hawk perched on his
arm. Understanding, the Turning Point stepped onto the path and
followed. As soon as Tobias reached her, the unicorn continued
following her path, Tobias following.
Cassie watched in silence, glad and troubled at the same time. A
half smile tried to creep across her face, and after a seemingly long
time, it succeeded.
Tobias is back,' Cassie thought happily, forgetting about what
Tobias had told her. That is all that matters now.'
And, her smile becoming brighter, she faded away. And just as the
darkness closed in around her, a warm, yellow-red light grew.
***
All was silent in the room where Tobias had laid for a full day. The
candle light wavered, casting eery shadows that somehow didn't
seem to belong in the tense stillness. The unicorn horn touching
Tobias' chest had glowed for a long time...
The horn stopped glowing, and Cassie pulled away. And faintly,
nearly imperceptibly, Tobias sighed.
***
Outside and below the window, where the moat met the steep
banks, a shadow within the shadows crawled out of the water. A
miserable shadow with eight legs and sinister fangs.
The creature collapsed on the shore in exhaustion. The moon
overhead shone brightly, and its light reflected brokenly off if the
spydr's wet body. It stayed there for a long time, concentrating on
breathing and trying not to pass out.
How? the spydr asked itself. How can I still be alive? It had
been unconscious in the water for a long, long time ...
No ... the spydr whispered. No!
The spydr forced itself to its feet, its utter fatigue forgotten. It
concentrated with all of its might on the image of a young boy ...
no, on a small rat.
Nothing happened.
Panic rising, it tried again. Still nothing.
No, it can't be happening. Not again, it cried in desperation as it
tried with all of its might to change back. Its head hurt from the
strain, and it couldn't breathe.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
David screamed. He screamed as loud as he could in agonizing
wails, but the window was too far up, and nobody heard.
***
Later ...
The moon was setting, the unfamiliar stars were bright, the air was
cool and moist, and clouds reflected grey and white in the solitary
starlight. Rachel sat on Tobias' bed, silently watching her friend.
He had not looked so healthy, so ... alive, for what seemed like
such a long time, and Rachel marveled at the color in his cheeks,
and how steady and strong his breathing was.
She smiled. She didn't have to ... obey Crayak to save him. Jake
was alive and well, and she had not lost any of her friends in the
fight against Zilos' army. And Tobias is back, back as his true self.
He would no longer live in danger, in uncertainty. Yes, he may
miss his powers, but since she and her friends were never going to
be able to return to Earth anyway, there was no need for morphing.
The door behind her opened and someone with hooves walked
daintily in, interrupting her thoughts. That irritated her.
"Hi, Ax," she said without looking back.
Ax paused for a second, then he continued walking in. I did not
mean to disturb you, Rachel, he said to her. But you must sleep.
You tend to become rather irritable when you haven't had your
rest, I have noticed.
"I'm fine," she told him, still not taking her eyes off of Tobias'
face. "And I'm not
leaving him."
Ax paused again, trying to think of a way to get the stressed Rachel
to relax without causing her to become angry. An angry Rachel is
not someone he would wish to face at any time of the day.
Gently, he placed a hand on Rachel's shoulder. He will be
alright, he started hesitantly. I will watch him as closely as you
are. He is just as precious or almost as much so to me as he is
to you. And you are tired, Rachel. You need rest.
"I told you, I'm fine," Rachel argued, but there was less resistence
in her tone, and she turned her head halfway towards him.
"Besides, don't you need sleep, too?"
Ax smiled with his eyes. I had already slept. Not enough for me
to be completely happy, but more than you have had, or will have
the rest of the night. But what will happen if you fall asleep as you
watch him?
"I am *not* going to nod off on Tobias," Rachel insisted, but a
yawn betrayed her and escaped her mouth, and suddenly she really
did feel very, very tired.
"Alright, alright," she admitted, standing up and walking past the
Andalite, her irritation gone. "But if I find you asleep in here in the
morning, you're dead."
I understand, Rachel, Ax replied, straining to hide his feelings of
triumph. I won't.
Rachel left, leaving Ax alone with his best friend. Ax looked down
at Tobias' human face, and saw that Tobias' face was not peaceful.
It seemed strained, somehow.
Are you having a nightmare? Ax asked Tobias, though not loud
enough to wake him.
He thought about how Tobias may feel in the morning, and knew
that Tobias may feel trapped, again. ...Like you had on your first
mission. Or like the traitor, David.
Thoughts of that villain made Ax's blood boil. Wherever David
was, Ax was going to make him ... and Zilos pay. But he had no
idea where either of them was.
Ax stayed awake the rest of the night, faithfully keeping his vigil
over the companion he thought he had lost to his captors.
***
Zilos woke up with a start. The air around him was frigid, and the
harsh wind bit into his exposed flesh. The hard ground was bare,
dead, and unforgiving as it sucked the heat right out of him. The
sky was grey with pre-dawn light, though everything below the
horizon was still black with night.
Weakly, still clutching the unicorn horn in one hand, he pushed
himself up to a sitting position. "Gargoyle!" he called out. "Come
to me." There was no answer.
"Gargoyle, I am your master. Answer me now!" But there wasn't
any. There wasn't even resistence.
"That little traitor," young, handsome Zilos scowled. "He will be
well ~rewarded for abandoning me here."
Slowly, the sun crept skyward. Just as slowly, the grey light in the
sky filled the earth, too. And Zilos saw his hand.
It was still black from the fire elemental attack. Black and skeletal,
with only a bare amount of flesh still clinging to the nearly visible
bones.
"No," he whispered in shock and disbelief. The disbelief melted
away, replaced by terror. "Nooo!!!"
His eyes traveled up his arm. Nothing changed. The thin,
blackened flesh clinging to barely covered bones rode up his arm,
unbroken by any signs of health.
Zilos' gaze traveled across his chest. No change. Down his other
arm and to his hand, where the blackened unicorn horn was still
being clutched tightly. A jagged crack ran from it's now dulled tip
to its rough base.
His whole body was like this, he realized, though the grey light still
hadn't reach the ground. And if the body was still burnt to a crisp,
than what about his ...
"Noooo!!!" Zilos wailed in despair. Desperately, he touched his
face with his free hand, but the sensitive nerves were dead, and he
couldn't feel the bones underneath the burn scars. Frantically, he
tried to pry his fingers off of the flawed unicorn horn, but he
couldn't. Grasping for straws, he tried once more to summon the
gargoyle, but he felt no power behind his call, and there was no
answer.
As the sun finally touched the horizon, he screamed and wept,
unable to even feel the tears.
***
Outside the castle, the spydr crawled away, recovered from his
shock. Hate and vengeance consumed his thoughts, disintegrating
any other emotion, despair included. Oh, yes, he may be trapped
again, but he'll be back. He will destroy the Animorphs, and the
Queen. He just needed to prepare ...
Before he reached the tree line, a dark aura gathered around him.
Without a sound, David vanished, leaving no trace.
***
The sun had established herself well in the day when Rachel finally
made her way down the long stone hall. She wore a fashionable
purple dress over her black leotard, and her surprisingly
comfortable shoes matched perfectly. Her hair was combed, and
her eyes were bright, despite her fatigue. Right beside her and in a
simpler blue dress was Cassie, looking as if she's had more rest
and is not quite as enthusiastic as her friend. She looked decidedly
uncomfortable, for some reason.
"Don't you think we're a bit, well, overly-formal for a brunch?"
Cassie asked in a hushed tone, trying to not attract any servant's
attention.
"Heck, no," Rachel replied, her bold voice carrying over to the
nearby people. "We're going to celebrate, along with everyone
else. Look," she said, gesturing around. Sure enough, even the
servants were dressed in more spiffy clothing than normal, and a
few waved at Rachel and Cassie as they walked by. One page, who
accidently almost dumped into Cassie as he hurried out of a door,
was dressed in a soft blue doublet, tunic, hose, and soft leather
boots. He quickly apologized, bowed, then hurried on his way.
"See?" Rachel continued triumphantly, gesturing towards the
retreating page's back. "The air is alive with celebration."
"Perhaps," Cassie admitted, making a face. "But I still think going
to a brunch in a gown is a bit much."
***
"Warg, rug, it's all the same up against my demon,"Marco
challenged Jake.
"Yeah, right. No Baalrog could survive what a werewolf can take,"
Jake answered in a very un-Jake like tone.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Boys will be boys, I guess." Cassie tried
unsuccessfully to hide a sly smile.
Ax, in human morph, looked up from his plate with inquiring eyes.
The entire lower half of his face was smeared with various
foodstuff. "Prince Jake, are you full?"
"Of course he is," Marco started. "In fact, you can "
"No!" The leader of the Animorphs promptly placed one arm
between Ax and his own precious plate of food.
Tobias, his face as expressionless as ever, hadn't even touched his
food. He just watched the others, with no hint about his thoughts
registering on his face.
The royal family, too, was seated around the table, while a nearby
servant girl took care of the diners.
"Calm down, children" Lecrian advised the Animorphs, a sly smile
on his face.
"I agree," Herlim put in cheerfully. "It would not be good if Rachel
turned into a dragon to prove that she has the most powerful form.
"Rachel?!?" Marco questioned in mock-disbelief.
"Yes, our darling Rachel," Herlim repeated. "She would loose all
ability to nicely fit into this small space."
Rachel looked at Herlim sweetly. "Is that meant to be an insult?"
"Insult? You?" the prince laughed nervously as he broke out into a
sweat. "Never you. Anyone but you."
"Yeah, he'd loose his head if he did something as stupid as that,"
Marco added cheerfully.
Rachel turned her false sweet smile on Marco. He coughed
uneasily, instantly quiet. She nodded her head in smug satisfaction.
The servant girl smiled mysteriously, refilling Cassie's glass of
grape juice. Cassie thanked the girl, prudently not getting involved
with the banter, which continued after a few moments, despite
Rachel's victory. For whatever reason, the diners just had to talk. It
was almost a need. For a while, Cassie even forgot about what
Tobias told her the night before, and most of the other Animorphs
forgot the many dangers of the world in which there were
permanently stuck.
The serving girl continued smiling, seeing to enjoy the constant
chatter.
Somehow, the conversation moved from this fantasy world to the
technologically advanced world that the children called home.
"... and then I personally came to every weak-stomached victim in
eye-sight's rescue by removing you from the mall, Ax," Marco
finished with a laugh, his eyes glittering. "The women were truly
impressed."
"I bet they were," Rachel said, a bit of a smug insult in her voice.
"Impressed with how someone as scrawny as you could possibly
move him."
Jake sighed as he remembered something. His eyes were suddenly
sad and wistful. "I remember how Tom was like. You know, before
everything happened."
Marco nodded, a bit more serious. "I know what you mean," he
said. Somehow, it just seemed appropriate to take this serious turn.
"Remember how Tom used to play b-ball out on the court?" Jake
asked, a bit nostalgic.
"And how he creamed you every time?"
"Did not."
"Did to."
Tobias's face lowered he listened to them.
"Hey, Rachel, remember the time when you lost your control over
your morphing power?" Cassie asked her friend, letting Jake and
Marco argue and what was and what wasn't before they ever met
Elfangor. For some reason, talking about the good times after
meeting that great Andalite seemed appropriate, too. "You got to
stay in a hotel..."
"With adequate room service," Rachel interjected with a smile.
"With adequate' room service?" Cassie repeated with a knowing
smile.
Rachel shrugged.
Tobias, his face nearly unreadable except for a bit of furrowing of
his eyebrows, kept listening silently.
Ax, however, remembered something else entirely. "I look forward
to showing my Andalite friends the wonders of you human's
cinnamon bun," he added unexpectntly before stuffing another
spoonful of food into his mouth.
Tobias had it.
"None of you should be here!" he burst out angrily. In the same
moment, he suddenly stood up, anger apparent in his normally
expressionless eyes. All conversation ceased. "All of your should
be home, fighting Visser 3 and the Yeerks so that things can get
back to normal. None of you should be here!"
"Whoa, hold on, Tobias," Marco ventured as delicately as he could.
He had his hands held out as if to calm the enraged boy down.
"What are you talking about?"
"None of you should be here!" he burst out angrily, coming to his
feet. His typically emotionless face was flush with anger, and his
blue eyes flashed. The royal family froze. The new, unfamiliar
servant girl, who stood behind the king on the other side of the
table, just looked at the young angry boy. The Animorphs were
stunned and completely confused.
"Tobias," Jake asked, "what are you talking about?"
For a while Tobias didn't answer. Slowly cooling down, he opened
his mouth to say something, then shut it again and sat, his eyes
firmly directed to his untouched
breakfast.
"Just that," he replied, his voice still holding an edge of anger. "All
of you Marco, Cassie, Jake, Ax, Rachel all of you should've
gone home." He paused, and his voice grew softer. "The Ellimist
should've taken you home."
Cassie gasped, her eyed widening in shock and understanding.
Rachel stiffened, but didn't say anything. Ax stopped eating
altogether and looked at Tobias, worried and perplexed at once.
The servant girl looked at Tobias in a peculiar way. For some
reason, Tobias looked up at her.
"I knew it, Iiii knew it," Marco remarked, feeling a bit put out. "If
Crayak is involved, of course the Ellimist is, too."
"Tobias," Jake asked cautiously. "When should he have taken us
home?"
Tobias hesitated, and his eyes tore away from the servant girl. He
opened his mouth to reply, but he closed it again, and he looked
down back on his plate.
"When he died," Cassie answered for him, breaking the silence
with her soft voice. Tobias lifted his eyes and met her gaze. "Am I
right?" He nodded.
Jake and Rachel had a pained look in their eyes. "Tobias?" Rachel
started to say. "Why didn't you ..."
Suddenly, without a flash of light, without warning, without a
trace, the Animorphs disappeared.
For a moment, nobody moved. Then it hit them of what just
happened.
Prince Lecrian blinked in surprise. "What?"
Prince Herlim started to his feet, his mouth gaping open. "What
happened to them?" he cried, staring at the spot where beautiful
Rachel was just a moment before.
Prince Kortimer sat quietly, his eyes wide with fright but focused
as he stared at the spot where Tobias last sat. Princess Ariana, and
Queen Marah, looked around, bewildered and frightened. Sir Eran
jumped to his feet and looked around, wishing he had his sword.
King Themis gave a start, and instantly took control. "Sir Eran," he
barked to Ariana's fiance, "Get the guards and search the castle.
Hurry!" The knight immediately ran towards the door, and soon
disappeared down the hall.
"What could have happened to them?" Herlim asked again
frantically, hurrying over to the Animorphs seats and looking in
them and under the table. "I can't find anything."
"I can't hear them, Mother," Ariana quietly said to Marah beside
her. "I can't find their thoughts anywhere."
Kortimer, still sitting strangely calmly in his seat, slowly shifted
his eyes over to the new servant girl.
The girl was smiling.
Before the youngest prince could give draw attention to her, she
disappeared, as well.
King Themis and the Dragon King settled down for the night.
Lecrian relaxed, looking forward to a good night's sleep. The
visions went away when the battle ended, so he hoped that it meant
that no more dreams would come. He was wrong.
~~~
Cassie sat on the stone floor of a book-filled room,.a heavy book
held open in her lap and candles lighting its pages. The book
glowed a warm pink, so Lecrian knew that Father had cast a spell
on it, making it possible for Cassie to read. It was a book of
legends, opened to a page with a dusty, cream colored unicorn with
way too many curls, which stood on its hind legs on a glassy lake.
The text read:
"One of the more persistent legends, the unicorn is said to still
exist. Many take the unicorn's restoring power to mean that it could
defy death itself. Unfortunately, no one has seen a unicorn in over
five hundred years, it is highly unlikely that this is true, if the
unicorn has ever existed at all."
The scene suddenly swirled away in a wind of darkness. There was
no more light, and no sound.
With the same suddenness of the library's disappearance, several
other beings appeared.
Zilos and two creatures stood in empty space. There was no light,
no sky, no ground, but the three stood as if on a solid surface, and
were perfectly visible. One of the creatures looked eerily like
Aximili, but larger, older, and with a decisively evil spirit. The
other creature was ... interesting. It looked like a demonic version
of Tobias in the blue-green realm, with rodent features instead of
bird. Instead of Tobias's and a bird's spirit superimposed over the
physical, half animal, half human body, it was the boy, David, and
a ... what did Rachel call it? A rat? Overlooking the three of them
as they conversed with each other, loomed the half metal, half flesh
giant with a large eye in place of a head.
As Lecrian silently watched, the rat-boy grinned a horrifying grin,
and his human spirit faded away. Behind him, a faint image of a
man and a woman appeared, then faded away with the same
finality. The older ... Andalite? Was that the name? ... scowled, but
nodded his head in reluctant agreement. Instantly, a metallic, boxy
device appeared at Zilos' feet, which he greedily snatched up. Then
the Andalite disappeared, going back to wherever he came from.
David moved over to Zilos, and the two of them vanished. Lecrian
had the impression that they appeared at that moment at Zilos'
castle.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND, TOBIAS? A massive voice boomed.
The darkness and the giant seemed to blow away, replaced by a
blue-green light which enveloped all of the empty space.
"Er, no," came the reply. It sounded as if it was coming from
behind Lecrian. He spun around, and saw two bird-like creatures
hovering. One was Tobias, with the hawk and the boy spirits co-
occupying the same space as a solid half bird, half human creation.
Beside him was a beautiful bird-man, but with a dusty, rainbow
colored tail instead of rusty red. "What does this have to do with
Eran shooting me, Ellimist?"
The other bird-man, Ellimist, smiled. And when he spoke, his
voice no longer boomed. "Each one of them gave up something so
they could get what they wanted. David has his morphing power
back, but he lost his humanity. He lost his family so he could have
the opportunity to destroy you and your friends."
"And Visser 3 gave up a bomb, yeah," Tobias interrupted,
sounding slightly annoyed. "But I thought that neither you or
Crayak could interfere with anything. What happened?"
The smile vanished. "You forget. The two of us make the rules to
our games. Both of us agreed to play the fate of Hivena's world in
this way. And the fate of all of the Animorphs, past and present."
Tobias nodded, understanding, but with a touch of self-berating, as
if he had made a potentially serious mistake. "Sorry."
The smile came back. "You humans never cease to amaze me.
Now, may I finish telling you what you have witnessed?" He
waited a moment, then continued. "Zilos received the bomb, but
also immense power and the valuable gift of the unicorn. He has
not paid for his power yet, but he will when Crayak requires it of
him."
"Now, to Visser 3 ... and you." He turned, facing Tobias directly.
"The enemy of your world has given up more than a simple bomb.
He gave up his hold over a few crucial human hosts, and he lost a
whole world. Maybe even two others, as a result. All of these are
major losses to the Yeerks. Do you know why he would do that,
Turning Point?"
Tobias stared at him, apprehension in his blue-gold eyes. He had an
idea of why Visser 3 would give up so much.
"He did it to get rid of you and your friends: the Andalite Bandits.
Forever. Your friends are not trapped in a Sario Rip, which could
be mended by one of you dying or by an energy blast. You are
stuck on this world, a world that Crayak has already moved to
destroy. A world so primitive that it will take eons for anything to
have the power to send you home. With the Animorphs out of the
way, nothing can stop Visser 3 from taking over your world, and
from there, overwhelm the Andalites, and from there you get the
picture."
"Why are you telling me this?" Tobias questioned, anger in his
voice. "Why are you going out of your way to tell me that there is
no hope?"
Ellimist didn't answer. Tobias' eyes grew wide in sudden
understanding. "You haven't asked anyone to give up anything," he
realized.
Ellimist nodded, satisfaction in his eyes. "You can save your
friends, Tobias. You can save this world and give yours a chance
again. You can give your friends a chance against David and Zilos,
and a guarantee that the Animorphs will return to your earth. I just
want you to do one thing, Tobias, son of Elfangor and Loren."
The same voice that had cried earlier that day started weeping
again, almost inaudible. The blue- green realm with its two
occupants faded away, dissolving into a scene that Lecrian knew
all too well. It was of Tobias laying alone on the floor, surrounded
by a pool of his own blood. His eyes fluttered, an arm strained to
move. He looked at the ceiling for a long moment, then sank back
into painless unconsciousness again, losing his chance to demorph.
"You must give up everything."
~~~
So, then I told him...
Nuh, uh, Marco, Rachel cut him off. Bad joke. Already heard it
before.
Not this version, he would've grinned if he was in human form.
I told him --Duh, buh Dah! -- "Rachel is madly in love with me!"
Hah!
Okay, that's it. She glared balefully at the cocky acting osprey
hiding behind its mild-mannered "twin." Out of the way, Cas.
I would, but I don't think it'd do any good, Cassie answered
quickly. He'd just get behind me again.
That's right, Marco put in, keeping Cassie strategically between
him and the much larger bald eagle. I can always depend on you,
Cassie.
I don't think I will get involved in this, Ax commented, shying
away from the other three.
Jake had to smile inwardly. Marco was trying very hard to distract
his friends from remembering what they talked about just an hour
earlier, especially Rachel.
The sunset to their right was beautiful. Overhead, the sky was an
absolutely stunning myriad of colors ranging from pink-orange
against silvery white to deep, dark purple with grey clouds. The sea
of trees underneath them was teaming with life, from werewolves
to golden stags to firebugs. Somewhere ahead of the group, still too
far away for even their eyes, was the castle of Hivena, where their
injured teammate, Tobias, was being taken care of.
I hope he's just injured, Jake thought silently. He thought about
the news Marco brought him. It was in the middle of the day, soon
after they left the battlefield. Marco, Cassie and Ax told him and
Rachel everything that happened, from Ax's talk with Zilos to the
destruction of the castle.
I'm telling you, Marco had said to the group a few hours earlier.
Crayak is in this up to his mechanical armpits.
And how did you come to that conclusion, hm? Rachel
challenged, a little bit too anxiously.
He helped Zilos somehow, didn't he? No way how Zilos could
have conjured up all those monsters up all by himself.
And then there is the explosive device, Ax put in helpfully.
Yeerk made.
And David! Marco said with finality. How can you possibly
argue with David?
I saw Drode, Jake put in calmly. He was at the battle.
Rachel had shifted her gaze directly to him, watching him closely.
He stared back.
Drode?!? Marco exploded. What was he doing there?
I don't know, Marco, Jake answered I didn't have a chance to
talk to him.
But this just doesn't make sense, Cassie argued. It just seems
so out-of-character for Crayak to be doing so much openly. And
where is the Ellimist?
Rachel remained strangely quiet throughout the whole ordeal.
Cassie had noticed, but Rachel wouldn't say a word except that
they had all better get over to Hivena asap.
Bringing his mind back from the past, Jake focused on his friends
again. Rachel was trying to get around Cassie to get to Marco,
though it was obvious she wouldn't really hurt him (he hoped). But
the simple fact that she was responding to his teasing so ...
physically was unusual, even for her.
I sincerely hope you know what you're doing, Rachel, Jake said
silently, watching her as she threatened to hurt Marco if he said
another word. What did Drode say to you?
Shifting his gaze away from the rather juvenile fight, Jake looked
straight ahead. Soon, a single spire rose on the horizon. Hivena was
close.
We're almost there, Jake reported openly.
Oh, good, Cassie exclaimed with obvious relief. She was getting
tired of being a shield.
Finally! Rachel exasperated, forgetting Marco in a second.
Marco, for his part, didn't tease her anymore (for now), and looked
at the nearly invisible spire.
Prince Jake, we have ten of your minutes left, Ax reported.
"*Our* minutes"?!? Marco stammered in indignation. Jake,
you really have to talk to him about this "my minutes, your
minutes" business.
I don't use my minutes, Ax replied. I only
Time to land, people, Jake interrupted Marco and Ax, already in
a slow dive.
They landed among the thick forest. Once beneath the treetops,
however, the fading light was so dark...
CRASH!!! Jake hit the ground, luckily avoiding the trees. The
others landed behind him.
Uh, I say we go owl, Marco suggested as Jake picked himself
up. You know, so we don't crash into a brick wall when we try to
enter a window or whatever.
Great idea, Jake replied flatly. He began to demorph.
I'm not, Rachel stated as she demorphed. I'm going dragon.
They see in the dark, too, and are a lot faster.
But, Rachel, you're the only one with a dragon morph, Cassie
gently pointed out.
So I'll just carry you guys. The dragon army carried Themis' army,
didn't they?
Ax? Jake, a falcon with an unusually long spine and with the
knees bent backwards, asked.
Ax, a green-eyed harrier with grey-white feathers melting into a
sticky mess on its way to becoming blue and tan fur, looked around
the forest. It is possible for her to carry us all, especially if we
morph something small, but ... he hesitated, trying to figure
things out with his limited night vision. Morphing into something
so large would not be wise at this time.
Why not? Rachel, a hunched over humanoid bird with bald
wings, asked before she lost her thought-speech.
The trees are too packed, Ax answered calmly as a pair of
hoofed feet sprung from his chest as and his back legs grew.
Morphing into something with such a large mass as a dragon, you
would be crushed by the trees before you are halfway done. His
friends were all standing up in the small clearing, becoming more
and more human by the second.
"How about a baalrog?" Marco asked, a human with bird eyes and
feet. "They're from Hell, after all."
"Hades," Cassie corrected him. "Devils are from Hell. Demons,
like your baalrog, come from Hades."
"Whatever." Marco rolled his eyes. In the darkness, nobody could
see him do it, but had a fairly good guess from the tone of his
voice. "I guess it really shouldn't surprise me that you read up on
every animal and bug on this world, too."
"I haven't read up on *everything.*" She smiled in the darkness. "I
still haven't covered the extinct animals yet."
A creature as large as your baalrog would not fit either, Ax told
Marco.
"How about something that just made our owls fly faster?" Jake
asked meaningfully. Marco raised his eyebrows.
"Ax morph air elemental?" he inquired. Jake nodded. "While the
rest of us go owl? Sounds good to me."
Rachel bit her lip as an idea came to her head. She was terribly
anxious about Tobias, and all of the needless debate was making
her impatient.
"How about if Cassie morphs into her lightning person and check
up on Tobias?" she suggested, unease lacing her ever word. "Her
star-child, I mean."
Jake looked closely at Rachel. "It could work. You want to do it,
Cassie?" he asked her, deliberately looking away from his cousin.
"It wouldn't be a problem," Cassie answered. "And I could help
Marah if she needs it." Cassie moved closer to Rachel and said,
"Don't worry, Rachel. He'll be fine."
"Yeah," Rachel replied, forcing herself to sound convinced. Inside,
though, a terrible dread was growing.
"OK; so me, Marco, and Rachel go owl, Ax go elemental, and
Cassie go star-child," Jake summed up. The others nodded. "Let's
go."
Soon, a flash of light that was Cassie flew out of the forest and
headed towards Hivena castle, which was now invisible in the
darkness. The sun now only touched a half of the sky with its light,
leaving the land in shadow.
Cassie sailed through the night sky, leaving her friends behind in a
flash. The glow from her form lighting the way, she easily found
the window and flew in. Once inside, she froze and stared.
Where before there were several candlees throughout the room,
only one was now lit. Two huge, black-furred monsters she
recognized as spydrs laid dead, on chopped in half on the bed, and
the other smashed on the floor. A rusty sword was imbedded in a
mess of thick webs. Tobias laid peacefully on his bed, undisturbed.
Marah leaned back on the edge if the bed, strands of webbing
framing her pale, worn face. Marah winced as Cassie's bright light
entered the room, be was too weak to shield her eyes. One of her
shoulders was caked in dried blood.
My word, Cassie exclaimed, immediately toning her brilliance
down. What happened? Are you alright? Marah didn't answer,
but she relaxed a little, seeing that it was Cassie and not another
monster.
As soon as her feet touched the floor, Cassie started to demorph,
her glow the first thing to go. As she knelt by the queen, she
glanced at Tobias, but he appeared alright. She would have to ask
Marah what had happened, but Marah needed to be taken care of at
the moment.
"Marah?" she asked tenderly, placing her hand on the queen's
shoulder. She started to examine the wounded shoulder, but she
felt herself weaken just a bit.
"Sorry," Marah whispered hoarsely. She lifted her head, strength
flowing into her, and looked at Cassie as she finished her morph. "I
am glad to see that you are alright."
Cassie smiled, no longer weakening. "Me too." Still keeping a
small smile, her face saddened in sympathy. "But it looks like you
have a nasty bite there."
"It is nothing. I will be alright now." She looked at her bitten
shoulder. "Thank you for coming back so soon," Marah
commented. "The poison will be gone in a moment or two. The
spydr's bite is usually not so potent."
Cassie started to pull away the torn cloth from the bite for a closer
look, but the fabric stuck to the blood. Leaving the cloth where it
is, she leaned even closer at the bite. There were many punctures,
each one about a half-inch deep. Due to the particular poison used,
the bleeding had stopped only minutes after it had begun, but the
area around each bite was red.
"It looks like you have an infection," Cassie told her. "Wish I had
something to help you with that." She looked around and her eyes
landed on the drawers. "Is there something in the drawers top
bandage you up with?"
"Cassie," Marah began, ignoring the question. "Please, listen to
me," she begged.
Cassie looked back at Marah eyes, and was suddenly hit by the
pain in them. Silently, she sat next to the queen.
After a few seconds, Marah spoke. "David came back," she said.
"He was after Tobias." Cassie bit her lip, letting Marah go on
without interruption. But Marah didn't say anything more.
"What happened?" Cassie asked, a silent dread wheling up inside
her.
"There were some other spydrs in the castle, and they sealed me
and Tobias in alone. David bit me after I killed his friends," Marah
continued, saying every word carefully, as if she had something
hard to say. "He attacked this morning. I supported Tobias the best
I could, for as long as I could, but ..."
Cassie nearly pulled away in disbelief. Was Marah saying what she
thought she was saying?
"Tobias is dead, Cassie," Marah finished, her voice stricken. "He
died not two hours ago."
Cassie just sat there, stunned.
"No way," she whispered. "He was doing so well ..." Desperate,
she looked at Marah with a question in her eyes, somehow hoping
that Marah was kidding.
Marah didn't say a word. Then Cassie knew that Tobias didn't
make it.
She cried. She had hoped ... she thought he was safe here ...
A tear running down her cheeck, Marah tenderly reached an arm
around Cassie's small shoulders and hugged her close. Cassie
accepted the gesture and leaned on Marah, tears flowing freely
onto her shoulder.
"I know it's hard," Marah said in a soft voice, trying to comfort the
gentle warrior. "But he's probably happier now. No more sorrow."
Cassie continued to cry.
Tobias was dead. She was so sure that he would be fine ... and he
wasn't.
And she was too late. He would have been alright, if she and her
friends were only a little bit faster ...
She kept crying, not listening to Marah as the woman kept trying to
comfort her.
"What am I going to tell them?" she choked. Suddenly, a thought
hit her, and her head snapped up. "Oh, no. Rachel."
Cassie moaned. "What will happen to Rachel when she finds out?
And Jake?"
"I don't know," Marah answered as she pulled the blanket over
Tobias' face. "It's never an easy thing."
Tears still clouding her vision, Cassie looked at the dead spydrs.
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, then bent down and
lifted the broken spydr on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Marah asked, confused. Cassie's grip
slipped a little, but she didn't drop it.
"They don't need to see this," Cassie explained in a shaky voice as
she staggered over to the window. "Maybe it would make it a little
bit easier for them."
Marah nodded in understanding, then grabbed both halves of the
spydr on the bed. She watched Cassie as the girl heaved the spydr
out the window, then walked up and threw her own.
Marah looked down out the window and watched the spydrs
disappear in the water-filled moat. This reminded her of
something...
"I wonder about David," she mused.
"What?"
Marah thought for a second, then shook her head. "Nothing
important at the moment."
For a second, neither one of them spoke in the uncomfortable
silence.
"I guess I'd better go," Cassie said sadly. "It'll tear them apart, but I
need to tell them."
Marah nodded, then wearily looked at the webs and spilt blood,
both her own and the spydrs'. "I will finish cleaning." Cassie closed
her eyes, then began to morph.
Just then, A clear voice rang in their heads. {We have almost
reached the door, Mother!} Ariana cried joyfully. {You will be free
in less than an hour.}
That's close? Cassie asked skeptically.
"They have been working on destroying the webs since this
morning. They have made quite a bit of progress since then."
I ... see.
Marah turned her attention to her daughter. {Good job, Ariana.
How much of the castle is free?}
{Most of the entrances, a few windows, the library, the kitchen, the
servants' quarters, ...}
As Ariana listed all of the areas freed, Cassie paused. A vague
memory played in her mind, trying to surface. A memory of
pictures...
Cassie sucked in her breath. Of course! She quickly finished
morphing.
Marah, she started, all tears in her voice gone, replaced by
desperate hope. I'm going to the library. Later!
Before the bewildered queen could grasp what the small heroine
was saying, Cassie disappeared in a flash of light.
* * * *
Three worried great-horned owls flew towards the now visible,
pushed to their maximum speed with the help of an air elemental.
The darkness was nearly complete, broken by the unfamiliar stars
and a moon with a stranger's face shining overhead. No sounds was
heard, and no one broke the silence. Even Marco gave up making
conversation a long time ago.
Cassie had left them over half an hour ago to check on Tobias. She
was supposed to have come back immediately, but she had not.
Rachel? Jake asked her privately. What did Drode say to you?
I wouldn't pry, but you've been acting weird since.
I don't want to talk about it, she answered irritably.
Fine, Jake replied, a touch of anger in his voice.' But I know
Drode said something to you, and judging from the way you've
been acting, it's about Tobias. And if it's about him, one of us, we
have a right to know. He's not just important to you.
And what is he to you? Just another ... she stopped herself
before saying "tool."
Another what?
Never mind, she finished, cutting off the conversation. And Jake
didn't press the matter.
Relieved that Jake let off, Rachel paid attention to her other
friends. Below her, Marco flew in silence, and she could feel Ax
supporting them all, hurrying them with perfect air currents. Both
of them worried.
Jake's right,' she thought. They deserved to know about Drode's
threat, but if they did ... they would know that there was more to it.
Marco would probably realize it first (exactly how, she didn't
know: he just always did), and Ax would come to the tactical
conclusion that Drode wouldn't have threatened without using that
knowledge, and Jake would know just because he knew her. And
she'd rather not tell Jake that Drode wanted he to kill him, or how
close she came to giving in.
Below them, the castle grew larger. They were almost there.
We're this close to the castle already, she told Jake finally.
We'll check up on Tobias, and then maybe I'll tell the others.
Jake didn't answer, but she could almost feel the lingering tendrils
of scrutiny lift. He wasn't happy, but he wasn't going to pry
anymore.
Grateful, she turned towards the ever growing square of light she
knew was the room where Tobias was taken care of.
* * * * *
Marah sat on a chair, dressed in an whole, clean dress. She was
tired again, and so didn't even look up as Rachel, Jake, Marco, and
Ax slid soundlessly into the room. Her torn and blood-caked dress
was shoved into a drawer, carefully out of sight. The stubborn
webbing was cleaned off of the floor and sword, and the ancient
weapon was leaned against the wall near her. The spydr blood was
mopped up, and only a thin film was left on the bed cover. But the
forever burning candles were not as cheerful as they used to be,
and the door was still stuck, though her daughter was much closer
than she had been, and the bloodstained bed cover was still drawn
up over Tobias' face.
No, Rachel moaned disbelieving in open thought-speech as she
started to demorph, not caring who heard her. No!
Oh, man, Marco murmured, shrinking eyes focused on the
blanket pulled over his friend's face. No way...
Jake stood in silence, refusing to morph. This just couldn't be ...
I don't understand, Ax broke in, a blue cloud materializing and
condensing near the bed. What does... he stopped himself as he
remembered something he saw on a human TV show. Several
shows, actually. Something about a human custom of treating their
dead.
He understood then. He wish he didn't.
Her legs still changing, Rachel tottered over to Tobias' bed in
silence. Disbelieving, she tore the sheets off with her still changing
hands, and forced herself to look down at one of the few people she
cared for more than herself. He laid in peace, his sorrow torn face
eased from all of the pain he had ever felt. The one she cared for
more than anyone ...
Rachel cried. Her now human eyes closed tightly in pain, her fists
clenched tightly in bloodless balls, oblivious to everything except
the image of Tobias lying still in the bed, Rachel cried.
Ax, nearly fully Andalite again, looked down sadly at the body of
his best friend, keeping one eye on Rachel. He just stared, his
warrior spirit crying out. He thought Tobias was safe. He should
have been safe.
Marco stood back with the unmorphed Jake, tears brimming in his
dark eyes. He couldn't say anything. Nothing at all...
Jake stood next to his best friend, deliberately staying as an owl.
He knew he wouldn't be able to take it if he changed back.
And Rachel continued to cry, her hurtful anger growing to protect
her from collapsing. Slowly, her sobs ceased, but she continued to
shake in grief and anger.
"He was supposed to be safe," she whispered through clenched
teeth. Her hate-filled eyes turned to Marah, tears still streaming out
of them. "He was supposed to be safe!" she screamed, reaching
down and throwing the bed covers back over Tobias' face. Not
taking her eyes off of the weak queen, Rachel screamed at her
"You hear me? He wasn't supposed to die! Not with *you*
watching."
Marco's eyes widened as he watched Rachel's outburst. Rachel
had a temper, but she doesn't blow up. Not like this when they
weren't fighting. Gingerly, he placed himself between the bigger
girl and Marah, somehow hoping that he could slow her down a
bit.
"Rachel "
"Out of my way, Marco," Rachel snapped at him as she strode
towards the queen. Without waiting for a reply, she shoved him
roughly to the side. Tiny Marco fell on his behind. Hurriedly, he
scooted back.
Rachel! Jake called out, quickly demorphing in hopes that, if he
were human, he would get to her before she hurt anyone.
She ignored him.
"Well?" Rachel continued, her eyes blazing. "Why? Tell me!" She
was right above the queen, her hands still clenched in fists, so tight
that her knuckles were white.
Marah didn't answer. She was too tired to answer.
Suddenly, Ax was there. A blue-furred, tightly muscled limb tipped
with the characteristic blade swung in front of Rachel, wrapped
itself around her torso, and lifted her up off her feet.
"I'd make a joke," Marco muttered, "but I want to live after he lets
her down."
Rachel squirmed violently for a second. "Let me go, Ax!" she
yelled. Ax just held on tighter. After a moment, she finally stopped
struggling, but her wet eyes were still burning with anger.
"Rachel, calm down," Jake evenly said to her, now more human
and bird.
Slowly, Marco pushed himself up and looked at Tobias' bed again.
Tears welled up in his eyes again, but he refused to let them fall.
After a couple more moments, Rachel slumped her head. "You can
let me go, now," she said. Reluctantly, but with his characteristic
care, Ax set her down and unwrapped his tail.
Slowly, she raised her grief-torn face and looked directly at Marah,
who had not moved from her spot. "What happened? Who did
this?" she asked bluntly, her voice cracking a bit. Her friends
nodded wanting to know the same.
Finally, Marah raised her head and looked at the young saviors.
Her face was tired once more, the little bit of energy she had
received from Cassie used up.
"The castle was attacked," she started softly. "Spydr's took
everyone by surprise." She paused a moment, catching her breath
and not wanting to continue. "Tobias and I were isolated. And once
we were alone, David attacked."
"No way!" Marco exclaimed.
Marah heard Jake's sudden intake of air. The others' eyes widened
tremendously in shock. All four of Ax's eyes stared at her.
Rachel's bottom lip quivered, and she bit it to no one could see.
"Tobias was not hurt, but David poisoned me. I kept Tobias
breathing as long as I could, but without someone else there to help
me, ..."
Rachel turned away. "I could not support him. He died before the
sun was gone."
"Tobias?" Rachel whispered, a tear falling down her face. "I'm
sorry."
Behind her, Ax bowed his head. He didn't hear her whisper, too
deep into his own sorrow. He would avenge his best friend, but
now was the time for grief. Not later, when he would hunt that
traitor down himself.
Ax wished he could cry in his Andalite body. But only humans
have that release.
Beside the queen, Marco and Jake cried, too. But neither of them
missed Rachel's whisper, and exchanged questioning glances.
"I'm so sorry," Rachel whispered again.
{Mother,} Ariana broke in, unnoticed. {Almost done. Just a little
bit more ...}
"I should have ..." Suddenly, the door flew open. Rachel stopped,
and she and her friends looked up at the person who had just burst
through the newly opened door.
Cassie stood there, mouth hanging open as she stared at her
friends. Cradled in her right arm was a heavy looking book.
"Cassie!" Rachel shouted, suddenly standing up. "Where have you
been?"
Cassie winced, then looked at her friends sympathetically. She
wasn't fast enough in the library when she went book hunting.
"Um ... hi," she started lamely. Her face brightened, though, as she
went on with, "I've been in the library."
Rachel stared at her friend for a moment. "In the library?!?" Rachel
nearly shrieked. She couldn't believe this. Tobias died, and her
best friend went to the library?
Nodding, Cassie walked over to the desk next to Tobias' bed and
put the heavy book down. Quickly, she opened the covers and
started turning pages, hope written all over her face. "There was
something I thought I read, just before I got ready for the dance last
night. It took me forever to find just now, but if what I read is true,
we can still save Tobias!"
Silence.
"Is your head OK, Cassie?" Marco asked. "Your head wasn't
bumped when the castle fell on you or anything like that?"
"Shut up, Marco," Rachel snapped at him before turning back to
Cassie. "What did you find?" she asked, unsure if she should feel
hopeful, anxious, or concerned.
Cassie smiled warmly at her friend, then turned back to the book
and found the page she wanted. There was an off-white unicorn
colored on it, rearing up on its hind legs as it stood on a glassy
lake.
"According to legend," Cassie went on, "Unicorns are very rare,
maybe even extinct. They are magical creatures, but they do more
than heal." she looked up at her friends. "They may be able to even
banish death. Maybe even raise the dead."
Rachel sucked in her breath sharply, understanding where Cassie
was going with this. All four of Ax's eyes landed on Cassie and
stayed there. Jake smiled as he looked at Cassie, encouraging her in
his own silent way. Marah, Ariana, and the others in the hall were
silent, some shaking their heads in disbelief and pity.
Marco shook his head skeptically. "Way too many maybes' there,
Cassie," he pointed out. "When even a legend isn't sure ..."
"What are you trying to say, Marco," Rachel snapped, cutting him
off as she turned on him. "That she shouldn't try at all?"
Marco backed up from her angry eyes and raised his hands in front
of him. "No, just that we shouldn't get our hopes too far up," he
answered evenly.
"We'll need to find a unicorn first, though," Jake put in, caught up
in Cassie's excitement. "Then we'll know for sure if it could bring
back Tobias."
There is no need, Ax put in unexpectedly. Cassie has already
acquired one.
Jake and Rachel stared at Ax. Marco looked stunned, then a
satisfied smirk spread across his face. Cassie smiled softly,
nodding her head.
She acquired the unicorn soon after I was rescued, Ax
explained. He paused. Long story.
Marco stared at Ax in amazement. "You actually didn't go into the
technical details? Wow!"
Smiling at the banter, Cassie turned to Rachel. Feeling her eyes on
her, Rachel looked at her friend.
"Do it, Cas," Rachel urged her. Rachel reached down and pulled
the covers off Tobias, then stepped back, inviting Cassie to start
morphing.
Cassie nodded, then bowed her head and closed her eyes. Everyone
became silent.
The morph began with Cassie turning a silvery white. The brilliant,
shimmering fur flowed from the crown of her head to the tips of
her toes. Her eyes moved to the sides of her head, and her face
extended forward. Her ears crawled up the sides of her head, and
her curly hair straightened out, grew long and silky, and moved to
the infamous mohawk position before growing out into the flowing
mane. Her limbs lengthened and thickened, ending in delicate goat
hooves. She fell down on all fours, and as she fell, a white lion's
tail extended from the base of her spine. Lastly, a single spiraling
horn of purest ivory grew from her forehead. It shone, and the
candle-lit room seemed to be much brighter.
A peace and tranquility unsurpassed by any prayer or song entered
the room, banishing bitterness, fear, and anger.
"Cas?" Rachel began, then stopped, not really wanting to say
anything. The anger and fear was gone, true, but the sadness
hanging thick in the air was not.
Without a word, Cassie waited for the unicorn instincts to hit. She
didn't have to wait long.
First came a wave of agitation. There were humans all around her,
none of them pure in heart. She was trapped! She had to get away.
Before her terror took over, it was overwhelmed by another
emotion, sadness. Deep, painful sorrow all around her except in
one place. There was an empty area in the room, right in front of
her where a human lay empty. Compassion filled the unicorn's
heart, replacing the anxiety, and she wanted to refill that emptiness.
Soon, Cassie was back in control, and she and the unicorn knew
what to do.
Lowering her head, Cassie gently touched her horn to Tobias'
chest. Darkness gathered, and soon she could see nothing.
***
{Tobias,} she heard herself call out. No answer.
All around her, Cassie searched the darkness, wondering where
Tobias would be. She looked down at herself, and was slightly
surprised to find that she was no longer in the unicorn's body. The
unicorn itself stood beside her, impatiently stamping a hoof in the
black emptiness. Then Cassie realized that she shouldn't have been
surprised at all. She and the unicorn were not one and the same.
As the unicorn stamped, the darkness drew back from the her,
leaving a small lake of grey surrounding her and the pure-hearted
human next to her. The unicorn looked meaningfully at Cassie, and
Cassie somehow understood what it wanted her to do.
{Tobias,} she called out again, louder than before. This time, she
had an answer.
{Cassie?} a voice coming from all around her questioned. {Is it
you, Cas? What are you doing here?}
{Yes, it's me, Tobias,} Cassie answered. {I'm here to take you
back.}
For a while, there was no answer. Then there was a flash of light so
bright that if it wasn't for the fact that she was no longer using her
physical eyes, Cassie would have been blinded. And stepping out
of the light was a full grown man. His hair was a dirty blond, and
his eyes a sad blue, and he looked very, very familiar. The sea of
grey flowed through him, as if he was not really there.
{Tobias?} Cassie asked in shock. {Is that you?}
The man before her nodded, and smiled his sad, familiar smile.
{But how?} Cassie asked, thoroughly confused.
{It's a complex system,} the ma , no, Tobias said. {How the
afterlife is set up makes sense, in a way, but I made a promise to
not tell anyone about it.} His smile widened a little, for whatever
reason, Cassie couldn't even imagine. {But how did you come to
being here, Cas?} Tobias continued. {You're not dead.}
{I know,} she answered. {How can you tell? I was in unicorn
morph when I came to get you.}
Tobias shrugged. {Just look at yourself.}
Cassie hesitated for a moment, wondering what Tobias was getting
at, but still looked down, checking every leg, hand, arm, finger, and
all of the rest of her body parts. She couldn't see what was wrong,
though, because nothing was different.
She looked back up at him, a question in her eyes.
{You're still a kid,} Tobias explained, {and the mist is not going
through you. You're still alive.}
Cassie checked herself again. The grey mist curled around her as it
grazed her arms, as if she was solid. And she really hadn't changed.
Not like Tobias had. Then she understood.
{I'm sorry,} she apologized sadly.
{What for?} he asked nonchalantly. {Besides, you still haven't told
me what you mean by bringing me back.}
Cassie paused for a moment. Behind her, the unicorn stamped its
hoof impatiently.
{Everyone wants you back, Tobias, especially Rachel,} she started,
{I found and acquired a unicorn, so I can bring you back from this
place.} Then her eyes lit up in excitement. {You can be alive
again, Tobias!} She started to smile, but slowly her smile fell as
she watched Tobias.
Tobias didn't smile as she told him the news. He didn't take a
single step towards her. His sad eyes didn't brighten. Instead, the
corners of his mouth turned down from their slight smile, his eyes
darkened a little, he hung his head, and he slowly turned to walk
away in the mist.
{No!} Cassie cried, her eyes widening as she realized what Tobias
was going to do. Shocked at her friend's reaction, she reached for
him, but as she grabbed for his arm her hand passed through him.
{What did I say?} she pleaded desperately.
Tobias stopped as he felt her dismay. He sighed in exasperation,
then turned back to her. {I can't go back,} he told her sadly.
Cassie was shocked, and her face showed it. {Why not?}
Tobias paused a moment, his head bent down as he thought of how
to best say what he meant to say. {I, well ... I made a deal with
someone,} he started out hesitantly. {I had to,} he continued
hastily, almost defensively, {or you guys would've never gotten
home.}
{What are you talking about, Tobias?} she asked, confusion laced
in her "voice." {We're not home.}
Tobias stared at her. {What? What do you mean?}
{No,} Cassie answered sadly. {If we were, I wouldn't have been
able to reach you, since I wouldn't have been able to turn unicorn.}
Tobias stared at Cassie some more. She squirmed uncomfortably
under his stare. Even as a human, his gaze was penetrating.
{Tobias, what is it?}
Suddenly, Tobias was mad. His hands clentched, his eyes
furrowed, and Cassie could feel his anger. If he was still alive, his
face would have been red.
{He betrayed me!} Tobias yelled. {He didn't hold up his end of the
bargain.}
{Who?} Cassie asked desperately, frightened at Tobias' outburst.
For a while, Tobias didn't say anything. His ghostly fists clentched
tightly, his eyebrows furrowed and his jaw set, Tobias just stood
there, waiting for his anger to go down. Slowly, his rage dissipated,
and he relaxed a bit.
{You're bringing me back?} he finally asked, though it was more
like a statement than a question. Cassie nodded. {Then I'm
coming.}
He held his arm out to one side, and Cassie heard a screech. There
was a flash of light, and as it faded away Cassie saw a familiar
red-tailed hawk resting on Tobias' outstreached arm.
{I'm ready,} Tobias finally said to Cassie, who stood there
dumb-founded. The Hawk Tobias cried in agreement.
The unicorn neighed, then turned and walked away, and as she
walked a white path formed beneath her feet. The path cut through
the sea of grey and the blackness beyond, and it flowed into the
distance. Suddenly, a light at the end of the path shone, and as
Cassie watched, the light grew.
The unicorn paused on the white path she had created and looked
meaningfully back on the adult Tobias and the hawk perched on his
arm. Understanding, the Turning Point stepped onto the path and
followed. As soon as Tobias reached her, the unicorn continued
following her path, Tobias following.
Cassie watched in silence, glad and troubled at the same time. A
half smile tried to creep across her face, and after a seemingly long
time, it succeeded.
Tobias is back,' Cassie thought happily, forgetting about what
Tobias had told her. That is all that matters now.'
And, her smile becoming brighter, she faded away. And just as the
darkness closed in around her, a warm, yellow-red light grew.
***
All was silent in the room where Tobias had laid for a full day. The
candle light wavered, casting eery shadows that somehow didn't
seem to belong in the tense stillness. The unicorn horn touching
Tobias' chest had glowed for a long time...
The horn stopped glowing, and Cassie pulled away. And faintly,
nearly imperceptibly, Tobias sighed.
***
Outside and below the window, where the moat met the steep
banks, a shadow within the shadows crawled out of the water. A
miserable shadow with eight legs and sinister fangs.
The creature collapsed on the shore in exhaustion. The moon
overhead shone brightly, and its light reflected brokenly off if the
spydr's wet body. It stayed there for a long time, concentrating on
breathing and trying not to pass out.
How? the spydr asked itself. How can I still be alive? It had
been unconscious in the water for a long, long time ...
No ... the spydr whispered. No!
The spydr forced itself to its feet, its utter fatigue forgotten. It
concentrated with all of its might on the image of a young boy ...
no, on a small rat.
Nothing happened.
Panic rising, it tried again. Still nothing.
No, it can't be happening. Not again, it cried in desperation as it
tried with all of its might to change back. Its head hurt from the
strain, and it couldn't breathe.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
David screamed. He screamed as loud as he could in agonizing
wails, but the window was too far up, and nobody heard.
***
Later ...
The moon was setting, the unfamiliar stars were bright, the air was
cool and moist, and clouds reflected grey and white in the solitary
starlight. Rachel sat on Tobias' bed, silently watching her friend.
He had not looked so healthy, so ... alive, for what seemed like
such a long time, and Rachel marveled at the color in his cheeks,
and how steady and strong his breathing was.
She smiled. She didn't have to ... obey Crayak to save him. Jake
was alive and well, and she had not lost any of her friends in the
fight against Zilos' army. And Tobias is back, back as his true self.
He would no longer live in danger, in uncertainty. Yes, he may
miss his powers, but since she and her friends were never going to
be able to return to Earth anyway, there was no need for morphing.
The door behind her opened and someone with hooves walked
daintily in, interrupting her thoughts. That irritated her.
"Hi, Ax," she said without looking back.
Ax paused for a second, then he continued walking in. I did not
mean to disturb you, Rachel, he said to her. But you must sleep.
You tend to become rather irritable when you haven't had your
rest, I have noticed.
"I'm fine," she told him, still not taking her eyes off of Tobias'
face. "And I'm not
leaving him."
Ax paused again, trying to think of a way to get the stressed Rachel
to relax without causing her to become angry. An angry Rachel is
not someone he would wish to face at any time of the day.
Gently, he placed a hand on Rachel's shoulder. He will be
alright, he started hesitantly. I will watch him as closely as you
are. He is just as precious or almost as much so to me as he is
to you. And you are tired, Rachel. You need rest.
"I told you, I'm fine," Rachel argued, but there was less resistence
in her tone, and she turned her head halfway towards him.
"Besides, don't you need sleep, too?"
Ax smiled with his eyes. I had already slept. Not enough for me
to be completely happy, but more than you have had, or will have
the rest of the night. But what will happen if you fall asleep as you
watch him?
"I am *not* going to nod off on Tobias," Rachel insisted, but a
yawn betrayed her and escaped her mouth, and suddenly she really
did feel very, very tired.
"Alright, alright," she admitted, standing up and walking past the
Andalite, her irritation gone. "But if I find you asleep in here in the
morning, you're dead."
I understand, Rachel, Ax replied, straining to hide his feelings of
triumph. I won't.
Rachel left, leaving Ax alone with his best friend. Ax looked down
at Tobias' human face, and saw that Tobias' face was not peaceful.
It seemed strained, somehow.
Are you having a nightmare? Ax asked Tobias, though not loud
enough to wake him.
He thought about how Tobias may feel in the morning, and knew
that Tobias may feel trapped, again. ...Like you had on your first
mission. Or like the traitor, David.
Thoughts of that villain made Ax's blood boil. Wherever David
was, Ax was going to make him ... and Zilos pay. But he had no
idea where either of them was.
Ax stayed awake the rest of the night, faithfully keeping his vigil
over the companion he thought he had lost to his captors.
***
Zilos woke up with a start. The air around him was frigid, and the
harsh wind bit into his exposed flesh. The hard ground was bare,
dead, and unforgiving as it sucked the heat right out of him. The
sky was grey with pre-dawn light, though everything below the
horizon was still black with night.
Weakly, still clutching the unicorn horn in one hand, he pushed
himself up to a sitting position. "Gargoyle!" he called out. "Come
to me." There was no answer.
"Gargoyle, I am your master. Answer me now!" But there wasn't
any. There wasn't even resistence.
"That little traitor," young, handsome Zilos scowled. "He will be
well ~rewarded for abandoning me here."
Slowly, the sun crept skyward. Just as slowly, the grey light in the
sky filled the earth, too. And Zilos saw his hand.
It was still black from the fire elemental attack. Black and skeletal,
with only a bare amount of flesh still clinging to the nearly visible
bones.
"No," he whispered in shock and disbelief. The disbelief melted
away, replaced by terror. "Nooo!!!"
His eyes traveled up his arm. Nothing changed. The thin,
blackened flesh clinging to barely covered bones rode up his arm,
unbroken by any signs of health.
Zilos' gaze traveled across his chest. No change. Down his other
arm and to his hand, where the blackened unicorn horn was still
being clutched tightly. A jagged crack ran from it's now dulled tip
to its rough base.
His whole body was like this, he realized, though the grey light still
hadn't reach the ground. And if the body was still burnt to a crisp,
than what about his ...
"Noooo!!!" Zilos wailed in despair. Desperately, he touched his
face with his free hand, but the sensitive nerves were dead, and he
couldn't feel the bones underneath the burn scars. Frantically, he
tried to pry his fingers off of the flawed unicorn horn, but he
couldn't. Grasping for straws, he tried once more to summon the
gargoyle, but he felt no power behind his call, and there was no
answer.
As the sun finally touched the horizon, he screamed and wept,
unable to even feel the tears.
***
Outside the castle, the spydr crawled away, recovered from his
shock. Hate and vengeance consumed his thoughts, disintegrating
any other emotion, despair included. Oh, yes, he may be trapped
again, but he'll be back. He will destroy the Animorphs, and the
Queen. He just needed to prepare ...
Before he reached the tree line, a dark aura gathered around him.
Without a sound, David vanished, leaving no trace.
***
The sun had established herself well in the day when Rachel finally
made her way down the long stone hall. She wore a fashionable
purple dress over her black leotard, and her surprisingly
comfortable shoes matched perfectly. Her hair was combed, and
her eyes were bright, despite her fatigue. Right beside her and in a
simpler blue dress was Cassie, looking as if she's had more rest
and is not quite as enthusiastic as her friend. She looked decidedly
uncomfortable, for some reason.
"Don't you think we're a bit, well, overly-formal for a brunch?"
Cassie asked in a hushed tone, trying to not attract any servant's
attention.
"Heck, no," Rachel replied, her bold voice carrying over to the
nearby people. "We're going to celebrate, along with everyone
else. Look," she said, gesturing around. Sure enough, even the
servants were dressed in more spiffy clothing than normal, and a
few waved at Rachel and Cassie as they walked by. One page, who
accidently almost dumped into Cassie as he hurried out of a door,
was dressed in a soft blue doublet, tunic, hose, and soft leather
boots. He quickly apologized, bowed, then hurried on his way.
"See?" Rachel continued triumphantly, gesturing towards the
retreating page's back. "The air is alive with celebration."
"Perhaps," Cassie admitted, making a face. "But I still think going
to a brunch in a gown is a bit much."
***
"Warg, rug, it's all the same up against my demon,"Marco
challenged Jake.
"Yeah, right. No Baalrog could survive what a werewolf can take,"
Jake answered in a very un-Jake like tone.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Boys will be boys, I guess." Cassie tried
unsuccessfully to hide a sly smile.
Ax, in human morph, looked up from his plate with inquiring eyes.
The entire lower half of his face was smeared with various
foodstuff. "Prince Jake, are you full?"
"Of course he is," Marco started. "In fact, you can "
"No!" The leader of the Animorphs promptly placed one arm
between Ax and his own precious plate of food.
Tobias, his face as expressionless as ever, hadn't even touched his
food. He just watched the others, with no hint about his thoughts
registering on his face.
The royal family, too, was seated around the table, while a nearby
servant girl took care of the diners.
"Calm down, children" Lecrian advised the Animorphs, a sly smile
on his face.
"I agree," Herlim put in cheerfully. "It would not be good if Rachel
turned into a dragon to prove that she has the most powerful form.
"Rachel?!?" Marco questioned in mock-disbelief.
"Yes, our darling Rachel," Herlim repeated. "She would loose all
ability to nicely fit into this small space."
Rachel looked at Herlim sweetly. "Is that meant to be an insult?"
"Insult? You?" the prince laughed nervously as he broke out into a
sweat. "Never you. Anyone but you."
"Yeah, he'd loose his head if he did something as stupid as that,"
Marco added cheerfully.
Rachel turned her false sweet smile on Marco. He coughed
uneasily, instantly quiet. She nodded her head in smug satisfaction.
The servant girl smiled mysteriously, refilling Cassie's glass of
grape juice. Cassie thanked the girl, prudently not getting involved
with the banter, which continued after a few moments, despite
Rachel's victory. For whatever reason, the diners just had to talk. It
was almost a need. For a while, Cassie even forgot about what
Tobias told her the night before, and most of the other Animorphs
forgot the many dangers of the world in which there were
permanently stuck.
The serving girl continued smiling, seeing to enjoy the constant
chatter.
Somehow, the conversation moved from this fantasy world to the
technologically advanced world that the children called home.
"... and then I personally came to every weak-stomached victim in
eye-sight's rescue by removing you from the mall, Ax," Marco
finished with a laugh, his eyes glittering. "The women were truly
impressed."
"I bet they were," Rachel said, a bit of a smug insult in her voice.
"Impressed with how someone as scrawny as you could possibly
move him."
Jake sighed as he remembered something. His eyes were suddenly
sad and wistful. "I remember how Tom was like. You know, before
everything happened."
Marco nodded, a bit more serious. "I know what you mean," he
said. Somehow, it just seemed appropriate to take this serious turn.
"Remember how Tom used to play b-ball out on the court?" Jake
asked, a bit nostalgic.
"And how he creamed you every time?"
"Did not."
"Did to."
Tobias's face lowered he listened to them.
"Hey, Rachel, remember the time when you lost your control over
your morphing power?" Cassie asked her friend, letting Jake and
Marco argue and what was and what wasn't before they ever met
Elfangor. For some reason, talking about the good times after
meeting that great Andalite seemed appropriate, too. "You got to
stay in a hotel..."
"With adequate room service," Rachel interjected with a smile.
"With adequate' room service?" Cassie repeated with a knowing
smile.
Rachel shrugged.
Tobias, his face nearly unreadable except for a bit of furrowing of
his eyebrows, kept listening silently.
Ax, however, remembered something else entirely. "I look forward
to showing my Andalite friends the wonders of you human's
cinnamon bun," he added unexpectntly before stuffing another
spoonful of food into his mouth.
Tobias had it.
"None of you should be here!" he burst out angrily. In the same
moment, he suddenly stood up, anger apparent in his normally
expressionless eyes. All conversation ceased. "All of your should
be home, fighting Visser 3 and the Yeerks so that things can get
back to normal. None of you should be here!"
"Whoa, hold on, Tobias," Marco ventured as delicately as he could.
He had his hands held out as if to calm the enraged boy down.
"What are you talking about?"
"None of you should be here!" he burst out angrily, coming to his
feet. His typically emotionless face was flush with anger, and his
blue eyes flashed. The royal family froze. The new, unfamiliar
servant girl, who stood behind the king on the other side of the
table, just looked at the young angry boy. The Animorphs were
stunned and completely confused.
"Tobias," Jake asked, "what are you talking about?"
For a while Tobias didn't answer. Slowly cooling down, he opened
his mouth to say something, then shut it again and sat, his eyes
firmly directed to his untouched
breakfast.
"Just that," he replied, his voice still holding an edge of anger. "All
of you Marco, Cassie, Jake, Ax, Rachel all of you should've
gone home." He paused, and his voice grew softer. "The Ellimist
should've taken you home."
Cassie gasped, her eyed widening in shock and understanding.
Rachel stiffened, but didn't say anything. Ax stopped eating
altogether and looked at Tobias, worried and perplexed at once.
The servant girl looked at Tobias in a peculiar way. For some
reason, Tobias looked up at her.
"I knew it, Iiii knew it," Marco remarked, feeling a bit put out. "If
Crayak is involved, of course the Ellimist is, too."
"Tobias," Jake asked cautiously. "When should he have taken us
home?"
Tobias hesitated, and his eyes tore away from the servant girl. He
opened his mouth to reply, but he closed it again, and he looked
down back on his plate.
"When he died," Cassie answered for him, breaking the silence
with her soft voice. Tobias lifted his eyes and met her gaze. "Am I
right?" He nodded.
Jake and Rachel had a pained look in their eyes. "Tobias?" Rachel
started to say. "Why didn't you ..."
Suddenly, without a flash of light, without warning, without a
trace, the Animorphs disappeared.
For a moment, nobody moved. Then it hit them of what just
happened.
Prince Lecrian blinked in surprise. "What?"
Prince Herlim started to his feet, his mouth gaping open. "What
happened to them?" he cried, staring at the spot where beautiful
Rachel was just a moment before.
Prince Kortimer sat quietly, his eyes wide with fright but focused
as he stared at the spot where Tobias last sat. Princess Ariana, and
Queen Marah, looked around, bewildered and frightened. Sir Eran
jumped to his feet and looked around, wishing he had his sword.
King Themis gave a start, and instantly took control. "Sir Eran," he
barked to Ariana's fiance, "Get the guards and search the castle.
Hurry!" The knight immediately ran towards the door, and soon
disappeared down the hall.
"What could have happened to them?" Herlim asked again
frantically, hurrying over to the Animorphs seats and looking in
them and under the table. "I can't find anything."
"I can't hear them, Mother," Ariana quietly said to Marah beside
her. "I can't find their thoughts anywhere."
Kortimer, still sitting strangely calmly in his seat, slowly shifted
his eyes over to the new servant girl.
The girl was smiling.
Before the youngest prince could give draw attention to her, she
disappeared, as well.
