1 Disclaimers: You KNOW where to go, by now.

2

3 Ariadne POV

Stupid Rachel. How dare she act as if my sister and I were some sort of criminals. I walked past them all, ignoring their stares and their thoughts. Yes, I had thought about knowing Cassie's thought before and had experimented. I knew for example, that Alyachies liked Jake. Not a deep kind of crush, like Rachel and Tobias's or Jake and Cassie's but more like a cute guy crush. But she liked him either way.

I knew also about Tobias's thoughts about Rachel. Rachel was getting to him. He liked her, a lot. Maybe even loved her. I didn't know what he saw in her. But it was his choice, not mine.

So I felt their souls as well. They each had a different tune too. Rachel's at the moment was a high, angry tune. In her mind she was repeating was repeating several curses she wanted to say to me.

Jake's was a sort of deep rumble. I knew was kind of an annoyed tune. I didn't know how I knew. I guess it's just one of those things you sort of know. He was repeating a phrase. I can't quite remember now.

Cassie's was a sad sort of slow sound. In her thoughts she was thinking how we were supposed to survive this mission with so much mistrust. I knew she was probably right. I had known there was many things that could go wrong before our fight but now there was so many more.

Tobias was a confused mixed up sort of music. It went one way first, then changed. He was wondering whom to follow, his long lost sisters or the girl he loved. I hoped he would decide soon.

And lastly came Ax. His was a steady beat mixed in with drops of anger like Rachel's and also bits of confusion like Tobias's but mostly a slow, steady beat. I could get through to his thoughts. I guess you can't read an alien's mind.

I had to tell Tobias about us being what our parents would be if they were one person. I had also by now found out how to get a person's attention. I turned back suddenly and looked at Tobias straight in the eyes. I felt the white light (it was invisible but I was sure Tobias would feel it) travel from my eyes to his and I felt some of my thoughts being sent to his head. Not specific thoughts. It was mostly the way I could read thoughts. I couldn't peep into every little thought that has ever been thought by the person. Only what they were thinking of at that moment. Since I concentrated on everything Dr Gee had told us. After a while I saw Tobias's eyes widen. I smiled and turned back around, heading back to the Yeerk Pool entrance.

Tobias POV

She smiled. Oh god, how could she just smile? It wasn't funny. She wasn't natural. Well, I wasn't very natural either. I mean, my father was an alien. But she was barely her own person. There was, still, no one like her at all. She was incredibly stubborn and as cool as anything. She was smooth and cold and so good as being mean, as mean as fire. I was scared of her. I mean, I wasn't really scared of snakes or anything like that, but I was afraid of my OWN sister?

And it was true. I was afraid of her. I know she could be absolutely ruthless. I was afraid of that ruthlessness. And teamed up with Alyachies, cleverness, anyone could fall.

Yes, Alyachies didn't let it be known but she was clever. She saw connections no one saw, even Marco. She would have been good with Marco but I knew she wasn't interested with him. When Ariande had sent me her thoughts she had also sent me random things that she obviously didn't mean to. Like these strange tunes. And bits and phrases of things she never would say. Also I found out about Alyachies's feelings for Jake. And she didn't agree with my feelings about Rachel either.

I was also afraid for both of them. They didn't know what they were up against. Or maybe they did. They DID live with our enemies for most of their lives.

But I felt sort of responsibly for them too. I felt like a protector even though they were older than me. I wanted them to be safe. If anything happened to them I would feel the blame. I sighed and walked after my two sisters.

Jake POV

As I watched Tobias walk after Ariadne and Alyachies, I wondered what Ariadne and Tobias had shared when she had turned around. She had stared at him for a moment and I felt a sort of heat, like laser beam passing right by me. But the beam was invisible. Them she turned back around and walked off. After a while Tobias followed them both.

I felt then that I had to follow them. Tobias was one of us and I had a duty to protect my soldiers, no matter what. I closed my eyes, thinking. Ariadne's recklessness was going to get us all killed. Maybe Alyachies would get her senses back and convince Ariadne. But that didn't seem possible. Ariadne was cold and willing to do almost anything. I opened my eyes again and stare at the others. Rachel, her arms crossed and really pissed. Cassie, her eyes wide and calm. Marco, his gaze dejected. Ax, looking around everywhere and unable to keep still. I sighed.

"Guys. You know we have to follow them."

"I wouldn't if Tobias hadn't followed them." Rachel said, voicing the opinion of most of the others. Except for one person.

Cassie shook her head. "You mean you would just let them go in there, no morphing power? No nothing?"

"Well, they think they are above us. So since they are so above, why shouldn't they go without help?" Rachel said.

Cassie frowned. "Rachel, you can't mean that. You wouldn't just let her die because she got into ONE fight with you-"

"This has nothing to do-"

"If I may intrude." Ax interrupted "Wouldn't it be wise to follow them? There will be much guilt if they are killed."

We all silently agreed. But we were afraid, or maybe more like terrified, that today would be the day we would die. I hoped to live a little bit longer.

Rachel POV

She partly started the fight, anyway. Why did everyone act like it was my fault? She was just trying to gain control of us. And she was succeeding so far. We were playing right into her hands.

And I could do nothing to stop it.

Oh, my Tobias was following them. He was ready to sacrifice himself for his practically unknown sisters. It was sweet but I didn't pay too much attention to that part. He was ready to DIE to protect them. I knew, because he had told me.

~~Flashback~~

I sat in my room, reading a novel. I hadn't had time with all the Animorph business to read anymore. I treasured moments like that. At times I miss those moments but they were usually swept away at the remembrance of battle. Suddenly I heard a flap of wings.

I walked over to the window and opened it. I was in a long, extra large shirt my dad had gotten me after a baseball game. I never was really interested in the sport itself, but to have time with my dad was what counted. Besides that I was wearing a pair of shorts.

Tobias flew to my bookcase and perched on the top of it. I sat back down on my bed. "So, anything new, Tobias?"

I heard him sigh in thoughtspeak, because, of coarse, hawks don't sigh. "Well, I just have to say something to someone."

"Something you can't tell Ax?"

"I guess I COULD tell Ax but-"

"But you'd rather tell me?" I asked, trying hard to control my happiness that Tobias chose me from anyone else to tell a secret, or something.

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Well, tell me your problems." I answered, laying down on my bed and hugging my pillow.

"Not really a problem. A feeling. About Ariadne and Alyachies. Even though I really just met them, well, I feel-I don't know."

I looked up at him and brought my eyes to his fierce brown eyes and said, "Tell m, Tobias." I didn't say forcefully, or so I hoped.

He relaxed a bit so I guessed I didn't say it forcefully. He sighed again. "They seem my responsibility, almost. If anything were to happen to them I would feel responsible for not protecting them. For not saving them."

"But they're older than you and they're not people who exactly need much help, Tobias."

"I know. That 's why this feeling's so strange. But I love them I guess, even though I hardly know them. They just seem to get in there without us being very close first."

"It was kind of like that with us, the Animorphs."

"But it was after we saved each other's lives. They haven't done anything like that."

"Tobias, d-morph into human. I-I just feel it's easier to talk about this when you're a human." It was partly the truth. But the real reason was that I missed his human form. He going into that form less and less and I wanted to see the human Tobias one more time.

He was obviously reluctant to morph into human. He thought we were clumsy and blind and strange. As soon as he was human a patted the bed next to him for him to sit next to me.

He sat down and looked down at his feet. We sat in silence for a moment or two. I could hear the music from Jordan's room. She was listening to BSB or Nysnc or something like that. I wasn't really interested. Finally he spoke.

"So, what do you think?"

I hesitated for about a second. "I don't trust them completely yet." I stopped and awaited his response.

"They won't hurt us. I-I know. Don't hate them, Rachel. If you do, it'll be like you're hating me, too."

"I will never hate you, Tobias. Never. Actually the opposite." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. This was more sentimental than I usually am.

Tobias looked up and smiled a shadow of a smile. "Thanks, Rachel."

Then there was knock on my door. "Raaaaaachel! Ashley wants to know if she can borrow your Third Eye Blind CD!"

"Coming!" Then I turned to Tobias. "Hurry." I whispered. Then Jordan began to open the door.

I pushed it back. "Hey!" Jordan shouted as she got pushed backwards. "What's your problem."

"Oops. I tripped."

"And you're the gymnast. We're all doomed." She pushed open the door and this time I let her. I walked over to my CDs and I began, "What was that-"

Jordan walked over, a smirk on her face. "Rachel's got a boyfriend. Did he climb through the window or not? Isn't it romantic? Who's the unlucky guy?"

Without turning to look at her, I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "It was warm in here and I opened the window, what's so bad about that?"

"Uh, as if you haven't noticed, it's freezing in here. You were always a bad liar, Rachel. Now, who's the guy? Tell me or I'll tell everyone you like Peter Harkens." Peter Harkens was the biggest geek in my grade and Jordan wasn't lying. She WOULD tell everyone. The problem with her plan was that I could've care less. But I had a part to play. And that part was of the popular big sister.

"Fine, fine. Don't. I'll tell you." I never considered Tobias a boyfriend but I guess he was. We had never gone out and probably never would. But I DID love him and he loved me too. I smiled. "His name's Tobias."

"Tobias. Not a bad name. What does he look like?" She leaned closer, glad to be sharing a secret with her older sister.

I described him vaguely. Some details were off. I didn't want her going and telling her friends that I her sister was going out with a missing guy. Who knows? Maybe some of her friends are Controllers.

Either way, thinking of him brought a smile to my face. I guess he really was the love of my life.

~~Flashback ended~~

I came back to the present and saw the others just beginning to follow Tobias, Ariadne and Alyachies. I sighed deeply and went to catch up with them.

A/N: This is probably my mushiest chapter so far. I hope you don't give up on this story. It WILL go on.