Jade
Well, I had survived my ordeal with David and the powerlines. Barely.
I almost didn't make it to 'liquid' form. But something pushed me on. Just as I was about to pass out in my battered bird body, I felt a surge of strength, and something with a voice like Crayaks said to me, He is not playing by the rules. Don't let him beat you. I made it, and I realised that being a liquid was a lot like being a tree; you only had one sense working, and that was the sense of touch.
And when I came out of it, I felt so exhausted I was sick. I couldn't move, and my head was swimming. I think I might have conked out for a bit, before Amanda, Marco and I took to the air as birds and met up with the others.
I stayed as an eagle, and told them the whole story, all the while pretending I was a natural golden eagle. After all, I hadn't 'faked' my own death for nothing. I also told them of my plan, and how now I was out of the way, David would probably go after them next. It was a risky move, but I knew I had to take it. I had to outthink David, and I had to know when to pop his little ego bubble.
My first plan was just a wild, crazy one that most certainly wouldn't have worked. It was to force David into a one-on-one showdown. But that wouldn't have worked, and it would've just ended me back up at square one.
The second one, Jake was a little sceptical of. I knew he was probably a bit angry with me, and I accepted that. But there was nothing else I could do. I'd keep them safe, all of them, before I had a chance to pull of the rest of my plan. A plan that might work out worse that I'd hoped.
You want to know how it feels to be zapped by a power line? Well, get someone to rub their feet on the carpet and zap you. Then magnify that by about a million. And still, I don't think you could even come close.
I told the rest of the plan to the others, and I knew they didn't like it. But Jake agreed, and so did Ithiell. Both leaders... and both still only kids. I had to smile at that... and respect it.
I followed the Animorphs back to the barn, where they pulled off an impressive show for anyone who might be watching. I think you know what I mean. They were all really convincing, even Marco, and I was quite impressed at how well they all acted.
As I watched and listened, tasting the air with my tongue, I thought I saw a small rat scurrying around one of the stalls. Staying far away from me, and far out of sight with the others. But I saw him, and I knew... this was it.
I did the natural snake thing, scaring the willies out of him and making him leave in a definite hurry after I knew he'd seen enough. But the Animorphs still acted. Split up and still went on like it was one of the most horrible things ever. Which was exactly what they were supposed to do.
I became a fly after that, buzzing away out of range of the barn and hitched a ride on Ax's head, between his stalk eyes.
(Is that you?)
(Yeah, it's me, nothing to worry about) I assured him as we went back to the fighter and Anny's ship. The others had taken the last few hours to go back home and tell their parents they were going on a camping trip with some friends. Well, Amanda did, I knew that. She would've had to take Rtaia in with her in human form, just to reassure her dad she'd be ok. Robert? Well, knowing him, he'd have probably just told his parents he was going 'out' and left them to wonder.
When Tobias finally gave the all clear, I met up with them and assigned them to different Animorph houses. Amanda would watch over Cassie, Ithiell... believe it or not he actually took orders from me... would take care of Jake, Rtaia would hang around Rachel, and probably annoy the heck out of her with all that calmness. And Robert... well, I took Robert aside and practically begged him to be nice and watch over Marco.
To my surprise, he laughed. Not a cruel laugh, either.
"If that's what it takes to fix this guy for good, then I'm in" he smiled at me, different, and for a second I thought it was David in Robert morph. But then the mask came back down, and he was the arrogant guy I'd known for the last five years. No one could carry the cold swagger like her could. Not even David could pull that off successfully, I knew that.
Me? I would be the scout. I'd fly from one house to the next, and get hourly reports from each of them. And if anyone saw anything... or if there was trouble, I'd be the one to get backup.
Ax would stay with Anny, and keep the ships cloaked and guarded as well. As for Tobias...well, I had a different mission for him. And to him, I think it might have been worse than death. I took him aside, letting him sit gingerly on my shoulder and walking into the fighter for a bit of privacy.
"I need you to become me for the night" I told him. He hopped onto the floor and just stared up at me.
(You've got to be kidding?)
I shook my head.
(What for?)
"I need you to spend the night at my apartment with my family. If they think I'm gone... they'll worry"
(Can't you just tell them... that you're going camping with some new friends?)
"No. They'd never let me out of the house if that was the case. Maybe in a few months..."
(But... what do I do? How do I act? I'm not exactly an expert on dealing with families you know)
"I know, and I'm sorry, but..."
(Why don't I act as the scout?)
"Hawks aren't very good at night. And if there is trouble, I want to be there. After all, it's kind of my fault I got us into this"
He fell silent for a minute, hawk-walking back and forth, looking a little like he was pacing. I waited patiently for an answer.
(Ok, I'll do it) He finally said (But you'll have to brief me on a few things first)
"Done" I said, bending down so he could hop up on my arm, and I felt a little out of it before he let go fluttered to the ground, morphing me as he went. I taught him everything I thought he would need, and answered all of his questions. Then I let him take the clothes I'd worn out of the house that day, since they completely covered his morphing outfit, and he left as I changed from the swimsuit into some of the clothes Amanda had brought with her. Some, amazingly enough, were some of my old clothes that I'd left there by accident. Daggy jeans and a black Jurassic park top. Not the best, but better than the swimsuit.
With that, I became a barn owl, flapping silently out into the cold night.
So, this is it...
-------------------------------break---------------------------------------------------------------
I passed over Rachel's house again, landing on the branch of a tree just outside her window. It was open, and inside I saw Rachel's sleeping form. She was probably so tired she fell asleep. I felt a little jealous of her. I mean, I was one exhausted little owl.
(How's it going?) I asked Rtaia, who was somewhere in the room. Probably in bug form. I nearly had a birdie heart attack when something started crawling out the window to greet me. It was a spider. Huntsman, I think.
(Everything is fine. There has been no activity in the hour since you have been gone)
(I think you should get out of sight, or I'm gonna have to eat you) I said, pretending to take a peck at her, and she disappeared back into the window.
(Please do not eat me) she said, and I couldn't help but laugh. I was only worried that someone else might see me talking to a spider and get... suspicious.
(Well, next time don't come out the window, ok?)
(I understand) she said, and I wondered what Rachel thought of her 'calm' personality. Probably drove her up the wall. As far as I knew, Rachel was a person who took action right then and there, and Rtaia... well, she'd form a neat little plan in her head before she even moved a finger.
I should have done that I thought, but mentally shook it off, taking off into the night and towards Cassie's house. I'd gone to each and every house about five or six times already. Sometimes I stayed for only a few seconds... sometimes a bit longer to catch my breath. It was easy to get from Jake to Rachel to Marco's houses. But Cassie... it took longer, and it worried me each time I took the trip there. Three targets for David... and my friends could possibly get killed.
I flew over the barn, and then swooped down to just outside her window.
(Amanda? Anything?)
(Nope, not a thing)
(How's Cassie?)
(She had a couple of nightmares, but I think she's cool now)
(Where are you? And what are you?)
(On the wall, and roach. And let me tell ya, it's deeeeeeescusting!) I could almost see her as a human, making a face and sticking her tongue out, and I laughed.
(Well keep up the good work) I said as I spread my wings and flew back to the house I always started at; Jakes. I was worried that his brother would see me, and get suspicious, but Jake assured me it was fine. He was going on a 'camping trip' and he'd be out till all hours of the morning.
I flew through the open window again, hoping David wasn't here and that he hadn't seen me. Jake, as usual, was still awake. Although I could see he was fighting sleep.
(A little advice?) I said as I hopped onto the bed next to him.
"And that would be..." he cocked an eyebrow, looking down at me.
(Get some sleep. You look awful, and I think you of all people need as much as you can get)
He laughed then, and it surprised me. But it was soft laughter, just in case his parents heard.
"Well, it's kind of hard to sleep with a bird popping in and out of my window every half hour" he said to me, smiling wryly.
(Oh, sorry. Well, I'll just let you get some sleep then)
"All right" he said not very convincingly.
(Jake, please. I need you at your best, and exhausted is not your best)
"I could say the same about you" he muttered, probably thinking I couldn't hear him, but lay back down, pulling the sheets up to his chin as I hopped off.
(Ithiell?)
(Yep, still here. Nothing, and no one, besides you has come in. And by the way, don't even bother looking for me. I'm a fly on the ceiling, and right now I can see about a thousand images of you) I looked up as he said this.
(Funny, cause I can only see one of you) There was a short silence, then...
(You're bluffing. You can't see me)
(Try being an owl sometime buddy. I can see a lot more than you in the darkness) I said, and flew off, out into the cold night to the final house; Marco's house.
For some reason it felt funny going to his house and into his bedroom like that. For one thing, he kept making jokes about us being almost 'alone' and smirking when he got a reaction from Robert. But Robert had kept his word, and had watched over Marco without much incident.
When I got there, I found Marco was sleeping, and I glided in and landed on the floor next to his bed, almost tumbling over his books as I did.
(Robert?)
(He's out like a light. Must be tired of making such lame jokes) he said crawling over the mess on his floor. He was a tarantula, and I was surprised he'd actually resisted the urge to go crawling over Marco's face and scare him to death.
And that seriously impressed me.
(Ha ha. See anything suspicious?)
(No) he sighed exasperatedly (Nothing for about the zillionth time)
(Sixth time. Not zillionth)
(How you going?) he asked, surprising me.
(Me? I'm cool. Just... try not to get squashed under all this junk) I said as I thought I heard Marco stir. But he was just moving in his sleep. I heard him mutter something, but I couldn't make sense of it.
(I won't. Trust me. Just take it easy, all right? I mean, you were nearly fried back there)
(Well thanks for reminding me!) I snapped suddenly, and I knew he'd back off. We were silent for a moment before I took off back out the window, heading for the one place I hadn't gone to all night.
I bonked on the window to get his attention, and for a moment there was nothing. Then the blind was pulled up, and narrowed eyes looked out at me. He looked doubtful.
(It's ok, it's just me) I assured him, and he opened the window to let me in.
"I wondered when you'd come here" Tobias whispered in my voice as I looked over at Phoebe's crib. She was sound asleep.
(How'd it go?) I asked as I hopped on the bed. He sat next to me, smiling.
"They bought it, but barely. I just keep forgetting how to do facial expressions, and your sister thought I was giving her the evil eye. I nearly got you grounded. Sorry"
(It's all right. Tina tries to get me grounded each chance she gets) I said as I became myself, walking over when I had legs to stroke Phoebe's hair. She was out like a light, and her face was full of such innocence.
"What about...?"
"Well..." he came over, scratching the back of his head "She got a bit restless before, but I held her... and it seemed to help a bit. You're, uh, instincts... helped"
"Feels funny to you, doesn't it?"
"Yeah"
"Well, don't worry, she'll be asleep for the rest of the night" I said as I walked back to the centre of the room, going back to owl. Tobias took that time to demorph and remorph, and he smiled at me when he was done.
(I'm sorry if this...)
"It's ok. It's been a good experience for me. Made me think what I might do when the war's over"
(Well, whatever you decide, I hope it ends with you being with Rachel)
"You can bet on it" he said smiling again, suddenly bending down and picking me up, then taking me over to the window.
"Just take it easy, I'll keep watching over her for tonight" he promised, putting me on the window sill gently. I spread my wings and tipped myself forward, flying back into the night.
(Thankyou Tobias. I'll come get you if there's any trouble) I promised him as I flapped up and out of the alleyway, and when I looked I saw him waving back at me.
Little did I know it wouldn't take long for our rat to take the bait.