A/N- Well, I've been gone for a while, sorry to all my readers who must've given up on me by now. A sever case of writers-block ascended on me, but I'm gong to attempt to write the next chapter, not sure where it'll go.
Morph- I don't know if this kind of thing happened in the books or not, but thanks.
Korean Pearl- Zantar isn't quite sure where his home is right now. He would fit in on the Andalite home-world, at least, and its where his parents came from, so he kind of thinks of it as home.
DH- It was mostly only Tremain who didn't trust Bri. Alanthi and Mendanosh are actually okay with Bri, for now, but Tremain is kind of prejudice. Mark is the kind of guy who puts up a tough front to conceal what he's really feeling- he's relieved that Zantar is back but he doesn't want to show everyone. And like I said to KP- the Andalite world is where his parents came from and where there are others like him. Like you said, the ship isn't coming to earth very often, so if he chooses to stay on earth he might never see other Andalites again.
Birdie num num- Thanks!
Sugaricing- Zak can't morph because he never touched a morphing cube- his parents didn't have one on their ship. And I'm glad you think Zak is cute!
Kitten- You're right, someone pointed this out to me as soon as I posted that chapter. But I liked the way I had written it, so I left it that way. Sorry if you were confused.
Panthergirl- Okay, I'm updating!
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After a very long and awkward silence, everyone came to the conclusion that we had better sleep on whatever decision was to be made, and talk again tomorrow. Sam and Bri got into the car, and Bri whispered sleepily to me, "See ya tomorrow." The Andalites faded off into the woods, and mom hugged me again. Dad yawned, patted me on the back, and said he was going to bed. Mom yawned too, but I could tell she didn't want to leave me. It was as if she thought I would disappear or something.
Mom, get some sleep. I'll be fine, I promise.
She must've been really tired; at any other time it would have taken more coaxing to get her to bed. But now she just yawned again, looked as if she was going to protest, and then walked off to bed without another word. I shook my head and grinned.
Outside, the world had lit up with the moon, and everything was bathed in light. It all seemed so…peaceful. But on the inside, I wasn't peaceful at all. So I was supposed to choose between my family and my people? How wrong was that? Your family should be your people- that was the way it was supposed to be. But I had to admit, I hadn't ever known my real family. Humans were my family, and that's the way it was. So what was I supposed to do?
Before I could come to any major decisions, Alanthi slipped into my clearing. I was shocked- why was she coming back? And it was another kind of shock as well, she was bathed in moonlight that spilled over her like a waterfall. Beautiful- that's the only way I could think of to describe her. Beautiful.
I shook my head to get rid of the feelings that were rising up inside me- this wasn't the time, or the place. And I barely even knew her, anyway. Instead I just stood there like an idiot, feeling stupid, and not knowing what to say.
She spoke first. Um, hi.
Hi? My thought-speak voice came out as a high-pitched whine. I groaned inwardly.
Listen, I wanted to apologize to you. You know, for locking you up and stuff. And not treating you like a person.
Uh, that's okay. You just did what you had to do.
Yeah…well, I still felt bad. She paused. I'm sorry about your parents too. It must be hard.
Sometimes it is. But I've got Bri, and Sam, and my parents.
You mean your adopted parents.
Yeah, but they're more like parents to me than my birth parents were. It's no one's fault, that's just the way it turned out.
But don't you ever get lonely? You know, isolated in the woods, and everything?
Yeah, sometimes. Most of the time. I scuffed a hoof along the ground. But I get by. Sometimes…sometimes I wish I was born human. I paused, maybe I shouldn't have told Alanthi that. Before I had only told Bri.
Alanthi seemed to be thinking. Then she said, Wait right here. She ran off into the woods again.
I waited a long time before turning to go into my 'scoop'; maybe she had forgotten. Then Alanthi came running back, with a blue cube in her hands.
This…well, here. Alanthi awkwardly handed the box to me. I turned it over and over in my hands, confused.
What is it?
It's a morphing cube. You can use it to absorb the DNA of an animal, and then become that animal. What I mean is, the box gives you that ability. Take it- for tonight. And don't tell anyone about this, okay?
I was still confused. A morphing cube? I could be like Sam, becoming other creatures? And why was Alanthi doing this?
Are you allowed to do this?
Well, uh, we're only supposed to give it to Andalites. And you're an Andalite, so…
I decided not to press it further. Thanks.
You should know that you can't stay in morph for more than two hours, or you'll stay that animal or alien forever. And you can't go from one morph to another- you have to pass through your natural body first.
Uh, thanks. Thanks again.
You're welcome. With an awkward backward glance with her eye-stalks, Alanthi faded into the woods once more.