Chapter Two; Spiral into madness

It took me longer to get to the woods than I thought it would. For one thing, I had to act like a normal teen, or like a normal pedestrian, out for a stroll. I had to follow all the road rules and try not to look like I needed to be somewhere fast. Thankfully, it just looked like I was a little edgy about being mugged or something. Secondly, I had a couple of followers behind me for a bit, but I lost them.

The moment I was past the treeline and far enough into the woods so I couldn't see the roads or anything, I shifted to barn owl. Not even a minute later, I was in the air. But the moment I was in the air…

(Dammit! Which way was it?) I cried, searching for Ax's 'scoop'. His home. I suddenly realised I never asked anyone where he lived. So… I had to play it by ear. I had to search myself… unless…

I passed by Tobias's meadow, searching for him. He wasn't there. Great. Now I really was all alone in this. So, the next half an hour I searched for both of them. I couldn't see any evidence of where they were, or where they had been. I kind of drifted for a bit, not sure what to do next. I went in a straight line, and just basically searched here and there, not really looking anymore. I was freaked. If I couldn't find them, how could I help them??

A little while later I was about to give up, feeling deflated. But then something moving in a clearing caught my eye, and the familiar form of a bird in the air…

(Uh-oh) I watched as Tobias dove towards whatever was moving on the ground. I couldn't see it because I was still too far away. Dammit!

I heard his scream, then what sounded like an Andalite tail whipping through the air, then…

"TOBIAS!!"

I recognised that voice. It was Marco's.

I flapped harder, straining every muscle in my wings, knowing something was seriously wrong. Had the Visser… had he found them? Was it already too late?

(Oh no, no… nonononononononooo….) I moaned inside my own head, praying I'd get there to help, maybe…

And then I saw it. I saw it all. An Andalite, not the Visser, was standing just feet away from Ax. And this guy… he was HUGE!! The biggest Andalite I'd ever seen! He made Ax look like a stack of toothpicks. Marco was a few yards away from him, and Tobias…

He was on the ground, a crumpled mess of a bird. I knew… this gigantic beast… he was the one that had done this to Tobias! And… I saw Marco's face… he was terrified. I could see he wanted to go and get Tobias, to save him from being crushed…

(No! Hang on guys!) In seconds I was on a collision course with the beast, an owl dart. I'd flare my wings inches from his head, rake my talons forward and show him what…

THHWAAPP!!

Seconds later I was tumbling through the air, then I hit the ground and rolled a bit more. The pain in my head was intense. I could see flashes going off behind my eyelids. I heard something happening, but I couldn't… I couldn't see, couldn't focus…

(Visser Three) came the voice that nearly split my head open (At last we meet. I was unaware of the fact that you were such a puny, worthless adversary. It is no wonder you send your minions to do the work of a warrior!)

(I am not Visser Three) I heard Ax counter as something lifted me up and held me. Everything was spinning… what was going on?

I must've passed out, because the next thing I heard was someone say (I wish you luck on your mission Aximili. You and your comrades. Even though it is hopeless)

Then, whatever had me put me on the ground. My head was beginning to clear, and I thought I heard someone clopping off, then something else coming towards me.

(I'm going after him. Don't worry, I won't loose sight of him) Tobias… or what I thought was Tobias… said.

"All right. Go. We'll catch up" Another voice said. A human voice. I looked up, finally being able to see, and seeing Marco looking worriedly down at me.

(Are you all right?) Ax asked.

(Uhh… yeah. Head hurts but… what happened?)

"No time to explain. Can you go wolf now?"

(Uh, yeah)

"Good, Ax?"

I noticed then that Ax was morphing, and Marco stepped back and started morphing as well. I focused my confused brain on the image of the wolf. Waited for the others.

(He's moving fast guys. I can't get up too high or I'll loose him. Tree cover is too thick. And I'm having trouble manoeuvring in this low light)

I saw Ax take off, a northern harrier, and Marco, a wolf now too, sped off in a certain direction. I had no choice but to follow.

(What the hell happened??) I demanded as we ran.

(Well, we have a new Andalite on earth. And… he's not exactly the friendly type) Marco said, then explained what happened while I'd passed out, then about before.

(Why were you here Jade?) Tobias asked from above. I told them.

(Ah. So, you saw the video too?) Ax said.

(How often do you watch that show, anyway?) Marco asked as he led the way. I followed.

(Ever heard of channel surfing? And ever heard of little brother? Especially mine, called Ryan?)

(I…) He was about to protest, but then he must've caught scent of something, and his already fast pace quickened. Then, Tobias said he lost the guy. We all gathered at the tree Tobias had stopped at.

(As much as I do not want to mention the possibility, perhaps there is an entrance to the Yeerk pool complex, hidden somewhere near. Perhaps Gafinilan passed through…)

(Wait!) Marco cried excitedly. I padded further into the deeper wood where Tobias had lost him (He went this way. It's faint but… look!)

I went in after him, and Tobias and Ax followed. We saw something that looked like a cave. It was something you wouldn't see unless you were looking for it.

(Ten to one that's where our little Andalite friend disappeared to) Marco said (Looks like you were right, Ax-man)

(Little? LITTLE?! Marco, were your eyes shut or something?! That guy makes Arnold Schwarz-whoever look skinny!!) Okay, so maybe I was more than a little peeved off about how this night was going. Then… someone came out of the cave. A man. He looked normal, and we let him leave. Maybe Ax was right. After a few minutes of waiting, Marco managed to slip quietly into the cave and check it out. When he came out, he didn't sound happy.

(Nothing. No entrance. No nothing) Then when we all finished mentally slapping our heads for such a dumb mistake, we went after the man. When Marco and I reached the edge of the woods, we both went owl and took to the sky. We followed the man, that was actually the heavily muscled Andalite Ax had called Gafinilan to an average neighbourhood and then to an average looking house.

(Well, are we all finished following this guy?) I asked as calmly as I could.

(We've got to call a meeting, for the morning)

(Fine, because I was nearly killedtonight for this?! For this?! Stupid damn ladder nearly cut me in half because I was worried about you Ax! And now… this?! Arrrrgggghh!!!)

Okay, I was mad. I was very mad. And I knew, it was only going to get worse. And what put the knife in my chest was that I had to fight the Yeerks alone this time. Amanda and the others weren't with me, only…

(Oooookaaayy. I won't ask)

(Good)

(You were… concerned for my safety?) Ax sounded surprised as we all peeled off, with Tobias making sure we could find the place again.

(Yeah, happy? Now goodnight. I'm going back home, and back to bed) I left the two to try and figure me out, as I knew they were still trying to, and headed to the place that I called home.

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As it turned out, there was a teachers conference that morning, so we all met in Cassie's barn. This time, I was alone with the six Animorphs. But… well… I felt calmer. Being near death twice in one night was not fun.

I kind of sat high in the loft and looked down as they all discussed the situation. It was clear that I wasn't part of this team. For one thing, they mentioned a time when more Andalites came to earth, to assassinate the Visser. I could tell that plan made a bellyflop. They brought up the fact that the Andalite had seen Marco demorph, and how he never asked any questions about it, or about some other stuff they mentioned. Then how Cassie and Rachel would go and watch this guy… something about this guys passed that Ax mentioned… about him being a warrior and stuff.

I kind of zoned out for a bit, laying back and just letting my feet dangle off the edge. I didn't know what else to do. I wasn't part of the team, I wasn't an Animorph. It wasn't that they weren't friendly and all, it's just…I felt like a seventh wheel or something.

Not to mention the Marco thing. We'd had like, one date, and that was all there was. Nothing else. Nothing to even suggest he wanted to date again. Must've been too much for him. Or not what he wanted. Then again… I was thinking to simple. Amanda and Ithiell… they had it easy. They'd fallen in love, and were tight. Me…I had a crush. That's all it was. Just a stupid crush…

(Sure, Jake. Meet you in the air, ladies) Tobias said, jolting me out of my daze. He flew off, and I heard the others walking away too. I considered getting up and leaving too, when…

"What am I supposed to do in the meantime?" Marco said "Until I Ax and I pay a visit to Batman and Robin?"

For a second I thought he was talking to me, but then I heard Jake's voice.

"Uh, Marco, I think you've done enough already. You know, the three of you running off to find this Andalite without telling the rest of us. How about taking it easy for a few hours? Maybe say a prayer, or two? We're gonna need it"

Prayers. Great. I heard them say something else, before they left, and the barn door shut. Seconds later I heard someone take to the wooden ladder, and bolted up to look down at the person. It was Jake.

"Oh uh… sorry" I said as I made room for him to sit down when he joined me "I didn't mean to… uh… eavesdrop or…"

"Hey, you didn't. And you're part of the team now, right?"

"I don't know. Am I?"

"Well, yeah. I guess… if you want to be" He sat down next to me, on the other side of the ladder, and we just kind of dangled our feet over the edge, looking down.

"I didn't know. I'm not a morpher…"

"But you're our friend, and you and the others helped saved our butts enough"

"Yeah. Sure. So… what do you want me to do, oh fearless leader?"

To my surprise, he laughed at me.

"When that comes from you, it sounds weird. But… anyway, I think you and I should just head to school and when we've figured this guy out, you come with us to meet this Gafinilan guy, all right?"

"Uh… yeah. Sure. But… do you really think… I mean…"

"I don't know Jade. But until then, you're an Animorph… whether you can morph or not… and…" He trailed off, and I looked up at him and smiled.

"Thanks. That means a lot to me. I'll do my best to live up to your image, ok?"

"My what?"

"I'll do whatever I can to help you" Then I laughed a little "Well, hey, it's either this or babysitting. Hmm, baby-sit the little monsters at home, or save the world and get rid of some big ugly monsters? Hmm, tough choice"

He laughed again, and after a little while we both climbed down and headed to the bus stop. Just another day in the life of a freak such as me.