Summary: The Animorphs are minus a teammate and alone in the wild. Then Rachel is rescued by a girl who could be the key to getting Ax back. WARNING: violence-gore, mild FF relationships
Standard Disclaimer: Animorphs belong to Applegate. I am merely borrowing them. I DO own a few fleas, though.
Violence Disclaimer: Umm... a lot more detailed than in the books, that's for sure... sooo... yea.
Language Disclaimer: A few here and there.
Sex Disclaimer: Nope.
Thanks to: Daisyz and Malenkaya. I'm SO SORRY about that!! I had no idea it was even on signed messages... gah!!!! I'm sorry! I apologize to everyone; it's fixed now. And, sorry for the late update. The next chapter will be out faster... 'cause I'm all ready writing it, lol. And believe me, this next chappie is gonna be a lot more interesting. ;)
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Chapter 3: Morning
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POV: Jake
Sunrise finally came, orange and red sunbeams sweeping across the landscape to bear a world covered in morning dew. I was dead tired, my eyes burning, my eyelids drooping. Perhaps I would just sleep....
"You really should get some sleep, Jake." I nearly jumped straight out of my feathers at the voice behind me. When I had resettled, I turned to glare with my raptor's eyes at Talya. "Go inside and sleep, Jake, I'll keep watch. Rachel's all ready up. We've been talking f-"
"Ask Rachel to come out here, please."
Talya suddenly looked taken aback. She started to say something, but then her features fell and she turned to comply. A moment later, Rachel came out of the hole alone.
"Talya said you wanted to see me?" There was a slight touch of worry -perhaps anger- brushed on her face, but I couldn't be sure.
"Uhh... yea. Could you take over... I need some sleep..." My eyes closed, but they pulled open long enough to see her nod. Thankful for the relief, I hopped down from my perch, changed, and went back into the burrow for a loooong nap.
POV: Talya
After sending Rachel to Jake, I could have just curled up on my bed and died. He still didn't trust me. Humans normally didn't trust right off, and these were the Animorphs -they had every right to distrust me. But it still hurt.
I sat on my mat of leaves that doubled as a bed and wrapped the pelt around my shoulders. Jake came in and collapsed in instant slumber without sparing me a glance. Rachel didn't come back, so I guessed she had taken watch.
The chill of the morning hung in the air still, but it was starting to warm slightly as the sun rose. Marco was starting to stir, and I realized they were going to need breakfast. I'm not sure what it is humans eat these days, but I'm pretty sure it's nothing like what I eat. Tobias, the hawk, wouldn't mind if I brought him something... but I don't think the others would take kindly to rabbit or squirrel.
No matter, Rachel probably wouldn't let me out of here alone anyways. It was worth a try, though...
I stood up, shrugging the fur off just as Marco woke up (and I think I gave him quite a start because his eyes went huge and then he starting choking). I believe it is because humans are so worried about being clothed. Why someone would even WANT to put on uncomfortable plant fiber and fake materials to cover what everyone else all ready knows is there is beyond me.
I tried to smile at him -I've only seen this done a few times, so I'm not very good at the imitation- as I passed, crawling up to were Rachel sat as a wolf.
She gave me a side-glance, wondering what I was doing.
"Good morning again, Rachel. Might it be possible for me to get breakfast?"
She looked me up and down and then nodded, turning her nose back to the woods. I'm giving you five minutes.
That didn't sound long enough... but I'd try.
I shifted into a harrier hawk and took to the air, my eyes instantly picking out various prey animals. After a moment, I just floated on a growing breeze and let the morning sun warm my body. But then a shrill warning went off in my mind that said the five minutes were almost up.
Looking down, I spotted a rather bulky rabbit; fat off feed. He was nibbling nonchalantly at dew-dusted bright green grass. I folded my wings in and aimed for him.
It was over in seconds. He started to bolt, but my talons raked forward, tore a chasm into his back, rolled him, and then I landed beside him gracefully. He was much larger than I, though I was lucky to have brought him down.
I tore into his furred side with my sharp beak, eating as much as quickly as I could.
My time was just about over.
Stepping back, I returned to normal, then slipped into a bald eagle's morph. I picked most of my forms at several zoos I've visited over the years. Creatures from around the world.
Grabbing the carcass in one strong talon, I flapped hard to make myself airborne, and then found my way home.
POV: Rachel
My wolf's eyes spotted the eagle coming in for a landing, and I moved to one side in an effort to not be hit with a powerful wing. When Talya had landed, she was almost instantly human, and took hold of the fat rabbit victoriously.
"Breakfast!" She beamed, forcing the smile that was more of a snarl.
I wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of eating a rabbit... especially uncooked. Thankfully, wolves couldn't cringe like a human, so I couldn't hurt her feelings with the shudder I was doing mentally.
In the time I had awoken this morning until the time I was called out to Jake, I had learned her feelings were easily hurt. She was a blunt, honest, straight-forward young woman with no sense of what clothing was. I think she actually preferred her skin to clothes.
Can we cook it?
She gave me a confused look, then shook her head. "This is for me, Rachel. I understand you humans don't eat this sort of thing; that is it 'gross' and 'disgusting.' So, I will eat this and find things you would find edible." I didn't much like the way she said 'humans' either. Like she was putting us down. What did she think she was? Just because she could morph didn't make her a non-human.
I was relieved, however, that I didn't have to eat the rabbit. Tobias was out hunting, having left a minute after Talya. He preferred to do it himself.
"Am I late, Rachel? I cannot keep accurate time for anything less than an hour."
This question (and statement) startled me. No, you were several seconds early. Thank you. She just needed encouragement. I trusted her... and, yet, didn't. I was pretty sure she meant us no harm, but I had to keep my guard up. On the other hand, I could see her clambering for acceptance among us.
"You are welcome." Then she sat cross-legged to the other side of the burrow from where I stood and started to eat the rabbit. I mean, you think seeing a wild animal tear open another animal with its teeth and claws is bad.... you've obviously never seen some wild-child bite into a whole rabbit and rip at it with their small blunt teeth. I looked away, and preferred to drown out the sounds of snapping bones and tearing flesh.
POV: Talya
I suppose I had made another mistake by human standards. I chewed and swallowed the huge mouthful of rabbit. Lowering the rabbit to the ground, I silently turned into a wolf, snatched it up in my jaws, and slunk away without her notice. Rachel might have good hearing, but I had the advantage of knowing this terrain and experience at sneaking around.
As soon as I was sure she wouldn't detect me as a threat, I poured on the speed and ran until I came to the edge of a lake, it's surface still and glittering under the sun.
Returning to my normal shape, I scrambled down a steep bank and dropped into the shallow water. Leaning down, I dropped the rabbit in the water beside me and cupped my free hands to get the cool water to my lips. The sun was resting on the horizon, but it was slowly climbing up in the azure sky.
I understand running like that had greatly reduced my chances of being trusted, but I needed an alone moment to collect my thoughts.
So, sitting waist-deep in the lake water, eating my rabbit contentedly, I went over everything.
POV: Rachel
Turning to check on Talya (because she'd suddenly gone very quiet), I was surprised to find her gone. I almost panicked. Almost. I looked around, pacing around the front entrance, trying to find her scent. My heart leapt in my chest when I found it. Cassie!!
"Mmmm?" She was looking out of the burrow, looking very tired and rubbing at one eye. "What's happening?"
Talya's gone. Cassie just looked at me, obviously not understanding why this matter.
"...And?"
Mind if you followed her? We don't know much about her... but if she's up to no good- I let that hang.
She nodded, and I waited while she took the same morph as mine. Wolves are great trackers, and have one of the best noses in the animal kingdom.
Thanks. I rested my haunches on the cool dirt and I watched her disappear into the brush.
POV: Talya
I moved into deeper water until the surface touched my chin. Then I went under, quickly rubbing the blood and rabbit remains off my mouth. Coming up, I sucked in the forest air and started scrubbing at the wound in my chest. The gash on my face was little more than a long, jagged scab.
After cleaning myself up, I made my way back to the bank and rolled over on my back. I was just settling myself for a brief after-breakfast nap when a twig snapped behind me. Bolting to my feet, I spun around to find myself facing a wolf.
Talya. The wolf's eyes looked away from me, and I relaxed. Just Cassie.
"Cassie." I eased back into the water, submerging myself to the shoulders. I understand I make her more uneasy than any of the others with my lack of attire. What I do not understand is why.
Why did you run? She sat on the bank where I had just been sitting, watching me with her huge yellow eyes.
Annoyance. Hurt feelings. Anger. Fear.
"Breakfast." Pointing at what was left of the rabbit, I continued. "I felt I was making Rachel sick. So I left." Cassie had the same look in her own eyes.
Silence settled between us. I wasn't in the mood for talking, and I could see the wheels turning in the wolf's head.
Finally, Why did you help us?
Standard Disclaimer: Animorphs belong to Applegate. I am merely borrowing them. I DO own a few fleas, though.
Violence Disclaimer: Umm... a lot more detailed than in the books, that's for sure... sooo... yea.
Language Disclaimer: A few here and there.
Sex Disclaimer: Nope.
Thanks to: Daisyz and Malenkaya. I'm SO SORRY about that!! I had no idea it was even on signed messages... gah!!!! I'm sorry! I apologize to everyone; it's fixed now. And, sorry for the late update. The next chapter will be out faster... 'cause I'm all ready writing it, lol. And believe me, this next chappie is gonna be a lot more interesting. ;)
------
Chapter 3: Morning
------
POV: Jake
Sunrise finally came, orange and red sunbeams sweeping across the landscape to bear a world covered in morning dew. I was dead tired, my eyes burning, my eyelids drooping. Perhaps I would just sleep....
"You really should get some sleep, Jake." I nearly jumped straight out of my feathers at the voice behind me. When I had resettled, I turned to glare with my raptor's eyes at Talya. "Go inside and sleep, Jake, I'll keep watch. Rachel's all ready up. We've been talking f-"
"Ask Rachel to come out here, please."
Talya suddenly looked taken aback. She started to say something, but then her features fell and she turned to comply. A moment later, Rachel came out of the hole alone.
"Talya said you wanted to see me?" There was a slight touch of worry -perhaps anger- brushed on her face, but I couldn't be sure.
"Uhh... yea. Could you take over... I need some sleep..." My eyes closed, but they pulled open long enough to see her nod. Thankful for the relief, I hopped down from my perch, changed, and went back into the burrow for a loooong nap.
POV: Talya
After sending Rachel to Jake, I could have just curled up on my bed and died. He still didn't trust me. Humans normally didn't trust right off, and these were the Animorphs -they had every right to distrust me. But it still hurt.
I sat on my mat of leaves that doubled as a bed and wrapped the pelt around my shoulders. Jake came in and collapsed in instant slumber without sparing me a glance. Rachel didn't come back, so I guessed she had taken watch.
The chill of the morning hung in the air still, but it was starting to warm slightly as the sun rose. Marco was starting to stir, and I realized they were going to need breakfast. I'm not sure what it is humans eat these days, but I'm pretty sure it's nothing like what I eat. Tobias, the hawk, wouldn't mind if I brought him something... but I don't think the others would take kindly to rabbit or squirrel.
No matter, Rachel probably wouldn't let me out of here alone anyways. It was worth a try, though...
I stood up, shrugging the fur off just as Marco woke up (and I think I gave him quite a start because his eyes went huge and then he starting choking). I believe it is because humans are so worried about being clothed. Why someone would even WANT to put on uncomfortable plant fiber and fake materials to cover what everyone else all ready knows is there is beyond me.
I tried to smile at him -I've only seen this done a few times, so I'm not very good at the imitation- as I passed, crawling up to were Rachel sat as a wolf.
She gave me a side-glance, wondering what I was doing.
"Good morning again, Rachel. Might it be possible for me to get breakfast?"
She looked me up and down and then nodded, turning her nose back to the woods. I'm giving you five minutes.
That didn't sound long enough... but I'd try.
I shifted into a harrier hawk and took to the air, my eyes instantly picking out various prey animals. After a moment, I just floated on a growing breeze and let the morning sun warm my body. But then a shrill warning went off in my mind that said the five minutes were almost up.
Looking down, I spotted a rather bulky rabbit; fat off feed. He was nibbling nonchalantly at dew-dusted bright green grass. I folded my wings in and aimed for him.
It was over in seconds. He started to bolt, but my talons raked forward, tore a chasm into his back, rolled him, and then I landed beside him gracefully. He was much larger than I, though I was lucky to have brought him down.
I tore into his furred side with my sharp beak, eating as much as quickly as I could.
My time was just about over.
Stepping back, I returned to normal, then slipped into a bald eagle's morph. I picked most of my forms at several zoos I've visited over the years. Creatures from around the world.
Grabbing the carcass in one strong talon, I flapped hard to make myself airborne, and then found my way home.
POV: Rachel
My wolf's eyes spotted the eagle coming in for a landing, and I moved to one side in an effort to not be hit with a powerful wing. When Talya had landed, she was almost instantly human, and took hold of the fat rabbit victoriously.
"Breakfast!" She beamed, forcing the smile that was more of a snarl.
I wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of eating a rabbit... especially uncooked. Thankfully, wolves couldn't cringe like a human, so I couldn't hurt her feelings with the shudder I was doing mentally.
In the time I had awoken this morning until the time I was called out to Jake, I had learned her feelings were easily hurt. She was a blunt, honest, straight-forward young woman with no sense of what clothing was. I think she actually preferred her skin to clothes.
Can we cook it?
She gave me a confused look, then shook her head. "This is for me, Rachel. I understand you humans don't eat this sort of thing; that is it 'gross' and 'disgusting.' So, I will eat this and find things you would find edible." I didn't much like the way she said 'humans' either. Like she was putting us down. What did she think she was? Just because she could morph didn't make her a non-human.
I was relieved, however, that I didn't have to eat the rabbit. Tobias was out hunting, having left a minute after Talya. He preferred to do it himself.
"Am I late, Rachel? I cannot keep accurate time for anything less than an hour."
This question (and statement) startled me. No, you were several seconds early. Thank you. She just needed encouragement. I trusted her... and, yet, didn't. I was pretty sure she meant us no harm, but I had to keep my guard up. On the other hand, I could see her clambering for acceptance among us.
"You are welcome." Then she sat cross-legged to the other side of the burrow from where I stood and started to eat the rabbit. I mean, you think seeing a wild animal tear open another animal with its teeth and claws is bad.... you've obviously never seen some wild-child bite into a whole rabbit and rip at it with their small blunt teeth. I looked away, and preferred to drown out the sounds of snapping bones and tearing flesh.
POV: Talya
I suppose I had made another mistake by human standards. I chewed and swallowed the huge mouthful of rabbit. Lowering the rabbit to the ground, I silently turned into a wolf, snatched it up in my jaws, and slunk away without her notice. Rachel might have good hearing, but I had the advantage of knowing this terrain and experience at sneaking around.
As soon as I was sure she wouldn't detect me as a threat, I poured on the speed and ran until I came to the edge of a lake, it's surface still and glittering under the sun.
Returning to my normal shape, I scrambled down a steep bank and dropped into the shallow water. Leaning down, I dropped the rabbit in the water beside me and cupped my free hands to get the cool water to my lips. The sun was resting on the horizon, but it was slowly climbing up in the azure sky.
I understand running like that had greatly reduced my chances of being trusted, but I needed an alone moment to collect my thoughts.
So, sitting waist-deep in the lake water, eating my rabbit contentedly, I went over everything.
POV: Rachel
Turning to check on Talya (because she'd suddenly gone very quiet), I was surprised to find her gone. I almost panicked. Almost. I looked around, pacing around the front entrance, trying to find her scent. My heart leapt in my chest when I found it. Cassie!!
"Mmmm?" She was looking out of the burrow, looking very tired and rubbing at one eye. "What's happening?"
Talya's gone. Cassie just looked at me, obviously not understanding why this matter.
"...And?"
Mind if you followed her? We don't know much about her... but if she's up to no good- I let that hang.
She nodded, and I waited while she took the same morph as mine. Wolves are great trackers, and have one of the best noses in the animal kingdom.
Thanks. I rested my haunches on the cool dirt and I watched her disappear into the brush.
POV: Talya
I moved into deeper water until the surface touched my chin. Then I went under, quickly rubbing the blood and rabbit remains off my mouth. Coming up, I sucked in the forest air and started scrubbing at the wound in my chest. The gash on my face was little more than a long, jagged scab.
After cleaning myself up, I made my way back to the bank and rolled over on my back. I was just settling myself for a brief after-breakfast nap when a twig snapped behind me. Bolting to my feet, I spun around to find myself facing a wolf.
Talya. The wolf's eyes looked away from me, and I relaxed. Just Cassie.
"Cassie." I eased back into the water, submerging myself to the shoulders. I understand I make her more uneasy than any of the others with my lack of attire. What I do not understand is why.
Why did you run? She sat on the bank where I had just been sitting, watching me with her huge yellow eyes.
Annoyance. Hurt feelings. Anger. Fear.
"Breakfast." Pointing at what was left of the rabbit, I continued. "I felt I was making Rachel sick. So I left." Cassie had the same look in her own eyes.
Silence settled between us. I wasn't in the mood for talking, and I could see the wheels turning in the wolf's head.
Finally, Why did you help us?