Ithiell

I was watching Jake as he moved in his sleep, talking that sort of babble that humans usually talk when they're having a dream. I heard him say 'Cassie' a few times, and then something about a cave, but the rest was incomprehensible.

It was boring work. Watching through the compound eyes of a fly. Unlike the humans, Chanaibens could go without a weeks sleep if it was absolutely necessary. And I was glad. Watching Jade come in and out again, and taking longer as she did so, I knew she probably wouldn't make it much longer. And I was right. Soon, Robert blew through the window, talking like he wasn't happy about whichever job he got.

(Where's Jade?) I'd asked, watching as Jake rolled over in his sleep, and the sheets began to slip to the floor beside him.

(Believe it or not, she's asleep in Marco's bed. Humph! I bet he'll have about a million lame jokes about that when this is over)

(What, you mean...)

(No, not like that you dimwit! Alone)

(Well... that's good. Even a little sleep will help her) I'd said, then gave him a progress report, and he left. He came back about five more times, but other than that, it was boring. Even the equations I'd begun to solve in my head were not keeping away the boredom. Neither was thinking about Amanda.

So when word came, I was hardly expecting it.

A great horned owl had fluttered through the window, and Marco's panicked voice filled my head seconds later.

(Jake! Man, wake up! We've got problems!)

Jake bolted up, then turned to look down at the bird.

"Whoa?" his voice was sleep clogged, and came out raspy.

(That jerk's gone after Cassie! And Ithiell, I'm sorry to say bud, but he's got your girl!)

(My... Amanda?!) I buzzed down off the ceiling, landing right in front of the owl, watching as Jake removed his outer clothing. I began my change almost immediately.

(You got it man. He's threatening to eat her if Cassie doesn't come outside right away. Robert said she's stalling them, but not for long. Jade's gone off to help, and Robert went to get Rachel and Rtaia. That's all I know for now)

"Go get Tobias. We need everyone" Jake said just before his mouth disappeared and became the beak of another horned owl, and I completed my own change to barn owl.

(But... where's he?)

(Jade's apartment. He's covering for her) I said as I headed to and out the window, not waiting for the other two. Jake, now fully morphed, and Marco followed just behind.

(On it big guy) Marco said, and was off. Jake caught up to me, and soon we were joined by two barn owls and another great horned owl.

(That... that...aaaarrrgghhh!) Rachel screamed when we were in thought speak range. I couldn't say I didn't felt the same way.

(I know how you feel Rachel, but we've got to stick to the plan. It might work, and we might... well, if it comes down to it, we might not have to become killers)

(I'll kill him if he hurts her) she growled, but seemed to be trying to control her emotions. I could tell it was hard for her.

(If it all comes down to it, you may have to in the end) Rtaia said quietly.

(We need Ax) Rachel said.

(You're right. Ithiell? Rtaia? Any takers?)

(I will go) Rtaia said, and headed off into a section of the woods, splitting off quickly from our loosely formed group. The rest of us kept going.

Very soon, we saw Cassie's house, and up ahead...

(Hey, it's them!) Rachel cried as we watched an owl and a golden eagle flying away from the house, with the eagle gaining with every stroke.

(Yeah, but who's the owl?) I asked, having a bad feeling about it. Where was Cassie? Better yet, where was Amanda?

Then, to my relief, I noticed two more owls emerge from a window of the house.

(That other owl's gotta be Jade. Oh crap!) Rachel cried.

(Yeah, but we've got to get there before...)

(We're too slow! Dammit!) Robert screamed, surprising me. He usually didn't care about things like this. But for once, I didn't think twice about it.

I watched as the owl dodged just before the eagle tried to strike it, barely missing. The two other owls weren't far behind, but they could do nothing.

(We're not gonna make it! This plan's already going wrong... why didn't I see the...)

(Jade will stall. I know she will)

(And how is she supposed to do that? She's supposed to be dead for heavens sake!) Rachel snapped, although she was less focused on wanting to kill David.

(Why did she go after Cassie? Why not me or Rachel? After all, we're the ones...)

(The heart. The centre) I suddenly said, feeling my wings weaken a little.

(What are you babbling on about?!) Robert snapped angrily.

(Look, where would you hit a wall or tree or something if you wanted to cause some real damage? Dead centre, am I right?)

(And Cassie's our... yeah, I think I get it now. Jake loves her... and cous, don't deny it... and I'm her best friend. Marco, Tobias and Ax...)

(You're right. They're connected to her too... somehow) Jake said as Marco and Tobias, a red-tailed hawk, joined our mottled band of birds.

(Jeez you guys, spread out! Anyone watching might get more than a little suspicious) Tobias said, sounding annoyed. But we separated anyway, just enough to mot look as suspicious, still keeping our eyes on the two birds up ahead. As soon as we reached Cassie's property we veered left, converging just behind what I hoped was Cassie and Amanda.

(You guys all right?) Jake asked when we were close enough.

(I think Amanda here is a little shaken up, but she's all right. Jade came just in time)

(Well that's our Jade. Always there to save the day) Robert said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

(I was nearly bird chow!) Amanda wailed in a message that was only heard by me.

(It's all right Amanda. We're here now) I said soothingly, wishing we were both human so I could hold her. To show her everything was all right...

(I know. But I nearly died as a roach. Guh-ross!)

(Hey, where'd they go?!) Rachel's voice brought us all back to the present. I looked ahead of us to see... nothing! They were gone!

(They're probably at the meadow, but... how's she gonna stall him? I mean, the plan was for all of us to be there. And... she's dead according to him!)

(She'll find a way) Amanda said softly.

(Almost there... hang on Jade!) Jake called out to her.

(It's all right guys. I'm ok. Well, for now) Was her reply as we finally reached the meadow, one at a time, to land silently on the trees. I was the last to land, almost missing the branch as I saw the scene unfolding in front of me.

Jake... or what looked like Jake... stood with his arms folded, his deep brown eyes narrowed and looking at a lion that was no more than ten or twelve metres from him.

(Come on Big Jake, morph into that big tiger and we'll try a round two. What do you say?) It was David, and he was mocking the boy standing in front of him.

(Oh man, is that... oh! Oh that is not something I even want to think about!) Marco cried as he sat on the branch below me.

(It's Jade. Jade has become a mirror image of Jake) I said, fascinated with the way she just stared at him, giving him nothing.

(Uh, yeah. It's me. Sorry Jake. I'll make it up to you somehow...) Jade said, trailing off. Her facial expression stayed the same.

(Not willing to fight me. Fine, I'll just have to kill you where you stand) In not even a second, the lion had covered the distance between them. Jade/Jake hardly flinched.

"I thought you didn't kill humans David" Jade/Jake said, not moving even when the lion stopped centimetres from her/him. David was silent.

(Oh man! She's playing your part! You're supposed to...)

(Yeah, but I think she's doing a pretty good job of it so far) Jake said, and I think he was fascinated as well.

(I just hope she never, ever becomes you again after this point. It's just too gross to see) Marco complained.

(I don't kill humans. At least not without a fair fight. And you... you're not making this very fair Jake)

"You killed my friend, and threatened to kill another. So don't lecture me about playing fair David" Jade/Jake snarled a little, and David faltered.

(I killed a bird. That's all. And I would've killed the roach too, if...)

"Yeah, I know what your excuse is. You wanted to get Cassie. You wanted to teach me and Rachel what it was like to loose someone we loved"

(You took them away from me!) He suddenly screamed (You took away everything from me, and then expected to be pushed around by... by Rachel, and... and let Marco control me and tell me when I was out of line? And you Jake... you just put the final nail in my coffin! I can't have anything normal at all... and then you trap me as a rat! A rat!!)

"It was either that or kill you. And unlike you, we don't kill people"

(Wow, she's good) Cassie said from somewhere else in the trees.

(Yeah, sounds almost like you Jake) Rachel agreed.

(Oh don't say that! I don't want to think of my girlfriend like that!) Marco wailed.

(Hey, that's the first time you called her your girlfriend) Cassie pointed out.

(It is? I thought...)

(Focus people. Please) Jake sounded annoyed. We tuned back into the conversation between David and Jade/Jake.

(I didn't kill anyone! I killed a bird! That's all!) David was screaming, snarling at Jade/Jake. He backed up a little, looking like he was about to pounce. Jade/Jake hardly blinked, her/his eyes focused on David the lion the entire time.

"David, I think it's time you met someone" Jade/Jake said, then whistled a little. Thankfully, she was already in place, and stepped out of the shadows to stand beside Jade/Jake.

(What.... who are...)

"David, this is Amanda. She's the roach you tried to kill"

(Hey, what is this?! Another Animorph? You...)

"Think hard David. Where do you think Jade got her powers from? Did you think she was alone?"

(Wait a... but I...) He stuttered. But I saw, it was finally starting to click for him. That was my queue. I fluttered silently down from the trees, already beginning my change.

(Marco, I really hate to say it, but she is good) Jake admitted as my arms and legs reformed, and I felt my glorious tail stretch out behind me.

The plan was to pick at David's brain. Defeat him by outthinking him and plucking at his morality. His ego could wait. His morals were the thing we could seriously use against him. And just by the fact that he didn't 'kill' humans, we knew he had some morals in there somewhere.

The first two times he'd attacked Jade, he wanted to force her to change so he could kill her in mid-change. After all that doesn't count as human, does it?

The first time hadn't worked, and the second time he'd gotten more than he'd bargained for. And now, he was about to get it again.

Jade/Jake whistled again, and I stepped out of the shadows to stand on the other side of her/him.

(What... what are you...?)

"My name is Ithiell. And I am a Chanaiben. A changeling... or, shape-shifter. Whichever you choose to call me" I said calmly, looking down at the lion, who had now backed up a few more steps.

"You killed my best friend" Amanda whispered from beside me.

(I didn't mean... I mean, it was just a bird! It wasn't a...)

"Shut up" Jade/Jake snapped, her eyes never leaving the growling lion.

(I will not... I...)

"Did you know Jade had a little sister? Two actually. And a brother? What do you think is gonna happen to them? Do you even care?" I asked.

"Jade did nothing to you. Nothing! And you kill her... you kill someone that didn't..." Amanda balled her hands into fists, glaring hard at David. I knew she was drawing on her real emotions then. Now, so was I.

(She... I didn't... she needed to be out of the way!) David cried desperately.

(It's working!) Rachel cried excitedly.

(It's not over yet. Things could still go wrong)

(It's all right. Me and Robert are ready) Cassie said.

(Good. Let's just hope we don't have to use you guys) Jake sighed.

But it was working. David was faltering, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before he slipped entirely. Then we'd have him... for good.

I know, i know! Not the best chappie, but i promise the next one will be better ( i hope!)

LittleMidget, i think you'll like the next chappie... it has an Ax/Rtaia moment... :P

Thankyou again and i'll try not to leave it too long!