Cassie's POV

I smiled at Ronnie.

"No I have to go." I told him. "I said, it's confidential." I smiled at him, knowing it sounded silly. "Animorph business."

"But..." He started to protest.

"No buts, I have to go."

"Alright." He said resignedly.

"You go find those poachers. If they think it's sport to kill Hork-Bajir, they should be punished." I frowned. We had found a Hork-Bajir skinned and bladeless. It was sick. Poachers were killing Hork-Bajir. I was mad when they were killing Rhinos! These were sentient beings. What kind of person would do that?

"I will." He promised.

"Good, Toby will have all the Hork-Bajir in one place if she can. Keep an eye on them, okay?"

"I said I would." He said.

I went to Erek's apartment.

"Yes." He answered the door. "Oh, you." He winced. Or at least his hologram winced. I knew he was trying to give me a hint; Go away.

"Erek? I know we used your programming against you, but please understand, more people would have been killed or enslaved if we hadn't. You must understand. We were..."

"Come in Cassie." He said.

"Thank you Erek." I said. "Erek. Please understand that..."

"I understand. I feel betrayed. You used my programming against me. I... I know it was for the best but... I still feel betrayed."

"Erek. I'm so sorry but..." I stopped. "Erek?"

"Yes Cassie?"

"Are you even listening? Look Erek. Would you rather have..."

"Look Cassie. You manipulated my programming."

"I know..." I said.

"Cassie, I know you don't want to talk about this. What did you come over for?" He asked.

"No Erek. Not until we straighten this out. Erek?"

"What do you want Cassie? What do you want from me?" He asked.

"I want forgiveness, Erek. I want forgiveness."

"I... I don't know Cassie. I just don't know. How can I? I..."

"Erek. I want you to really forgive us. You've said you forgiven us. But you haven't. You've never really forgiven us. I... I need your forgiveness Erek. I need it."

"I... What did you come over for?" He asked, changing the subject.

"I don't think so Erek. Give me an answer. Yes or no." I needed an answer. I hadn't come for this, but...

"No Cassie. I cannot forgive the Animorphs." He said.

I ran from his dorm crying. Ronnie came up beside me. He gave me a hug.

"It's okay Cassie. It's okay." I don't know why he followed me but I didn't care. I cried on his shoulder.

"It's not okay, Ronnie. It's not okay." I cried even harder. I looked up for just a second and saw Erek looking out the window. He was crying. He was letting his hologram cry.

I wondered what he really felt. I went back to Yellowstone. I slept there.

"You Cassie. You killed all those innocent people Cassie. You. You killed them..." I woke to find my pillow wet. Ronnie was standing over me.

"Cassie? Are you okay? A bad dream?" He asked, knowing the answer. "It's okay. It's okay." He hugged me. Ronnie was more like a protective big brother than a boy friend. We had never even kissed. Not that I could think of. He always comforted me. I was glad to have Ronnie as a friend. I don't know what I would have done without him.

"It's okay." He said in a quite voice. I cried and cried and cried. Then I went to sleep.

In the morning I was woken up by Toby.

"Cassie. Cassie, wake up." I rolled over in my 'bed'. "Cassie, we caught the poachers." I bolted out of bed fast than if it was on fire. They caught the poachers!

"Cassie, Erek King caught them." I was amazed.

"Erek?" I asked.

"Yes," I heard a voice behind me say. "I found them sleeping while I was coming over to tell you that... That I forgive you." He said.

I was ecstatic. "Thank you Erek. Thank you very much. Oh, thank you! Thank you Erek! Thank you!" I was so happy. He had forgiven me. I was so glad.

"No Cassie, thank you."

Short chapter, I know. Sorry. Next chapter will be better. Maybe.