Author's Note: Due to great reviews, I've decided to drop all my college classes and make writing this fic a full-time job (j/k…I think.) But seriously, it's amazing how motivated I am to put out quality chapters quickly with great readers like you guys. I take every compliment, critique, and suggestion to heart. By the way, if you've got something you'd really like to see and have an idea how to do it, send it to my e-mail at . That way, if I can find a way to get it in there, it'll be a surprise to everybody. Again, a heartfelt thank you for all the reviews. Keep 'em coming and I'll keep the chapters coming! Enjoy! Peace. Out.

Chapter 4

Tobias

I perched on the second highest branch on the artificial tree and let my thoughts and feelings flow. By living in solitude for so long, I'd learned it was a good form of entertainment. If you just allow your thoughts to take their course and stand back and watch them, it's almost as good as reading a book. Plus, you can learn a lot about yourself.

There were two feelings that were stronger than the others, and I focused on them. Annoyance was a big one for several reasons. The most tangible of the reasons was Marco, who managed to aggravate me even in his sleep. I listened to him snore and cursed the Ellimist for putting him in the same room as me. I also wondered if it had a purpose – if I could stay sane while listening to Marco wheeze and snore, it would be a miracle. Maybe that was the point. Getting comfortable or complacent while on my way to a dangerous and possibly hostile planet was a good way to invite disaster.

Also, there was the matter of me still being a hawk. I mean, come on. If the Ellimist can make a spaceship, he can put me back in my human body. I was absolutely used to being a hawk, accepted and even enjoyed it most of the time, but now there was a new variable in the equation – Rachel. I shook my head. Now was not the time to think about that. She'd just come back from being dead for over three years. I didn't think I'd be the foremost thing on her mind.

The other thing that irked me about being a hawk was that everything, save my tree, was apparently made for creatures with hands. The small computer set beside the closed door was obviously meant to be used by hands, human or otherwise. As I reminded myself there's always more than one solution to a problem, it came to me and I mentally smiled. How did Ax mostly communicate with advanced computers? (Open door,) I said in thought-speak to the computer, and the door promptly opened.

I wasn't tired and was getting very close to giving Marco a rude wake up, so I dropped from my perch to the floor. I almost slipped on the steel flooring and cursed the universe in general. I started my morph to human, because there really wasn't enough room to fly and I didn't feel like hopping around like an overgrown chicken. My experience at this particular morph served me well and I finished quickly. I pressed my human hand to the panel at the end of the corridor, since I didn't have though-speak anymore, and hesitated before I entered, irrationally feeling immediately uncomfortable.

Jake and Ax conversated quietly in the center of the bridge. Cassie said something quietly to Rachel, and Rachel snickered. Seeing Rachel there, a little older than I remembered but still definitely her – it was all I could do to stop myself from closing the door. Being a hawk may have hardened me up a little, but only from fear and worry. As a hawk, I would either eat or I wouldn't. Being scared or worried about it had no place in the life of a Red-tailed hawk. Discomfort, however, was something I still had no emotional shielding against. I forced a brave smile on my face as Rachel turned her head and saw me, and I was relieved when it was met with a heart-breaking smile of her own.

I didn't know what to do, but Rachel did. She got up with a liquid grace that I'd almost forgotten she possessed and hugged me tightly. I returned the hug, tentatively at first, then relaxed into it as I remembered all the little things I'd missed about her. I started to say something, but Rachel's hug tightened and I got the message – Not now. Just hold me. That I did, for a long time. Holding Rachel, something I never thought I'd do again, threatened to bring tears to my eyes, but I managed to hold them at bay. I'd like to say that I was strong and that's why the tears never came, but I knew in my heart of hearts that the true reason lay in the fact that I'd been a hawk for a very long time, and hawks don't cry. I didn't let go until I felt Rachel's grip loosen. I held her at arm's length for a moment, smiling at her, then looked to Ax.

Aximili, my shorm, nodded at me. I nodded back. I waited to see if he would speak first, which he did. (Prince Jake tells me that you came looking for me after Menderash's report,) he said neutrally in thought-speak.

"Of course I did. Keeping you out of trouble had always been my full-time job – I didn't see why that should change after you got made a Prince," I told him.

Ax seemed a little taken aback, and I'd guessed that he hadn't seen much joking around aboard the Andalite cruiser Intrepid. (Ha! Well, let's see if you can keep that trend on this mission,) he said, his tone light. (Even though I'm the captain of this ship, I'm also the pilot. I need a co-pilot. Are you game?) he challenged.

I grinned. "Of course. I'm sure you'll understand that there are some things I want to take care of first, though," I said, looking pointedly at Rachel, who actually blushed. I immediately felt the cold rush of fear in my stomach, and I fervently hoped that she hadn't taken the comment the wrong way. I just as quickly forced the feeling away. 'Who cares? I love Rachel, and I'm going to make damn sure she knows it,' I told myself furiously. I decided just to change the subject for now.

"Anyway, how'd you end up commanding this bucket?" I asked. "I thought Jake was in charge."

Jake answered that question before Ax could. "Obviously, Ax knows more about commanding and flying spacecraft. I'd be an idiot not to make use of that," he said with a small smirk. I realized that Rachel coming back and all of us together again had added a dimension to Jake I thought he'd lost back when we all thought he'd lost Rachel. Jake continued. "Ax has agreed to let me take charge on the ground, though he's going to help me out a lot with the diplomatic stuff."

Rachel spoke up. "I guess we've got a lot to catch up on, Tobias." She took my arm and gently but forcefully led me from the bridge toward the quarters her and Cassie shared. She closed the door behind us and my mind exploded as, in the dark, I felt her lips meet mine. Everything was good and right and beautiful at that moment. For the first time, I knew bliss.

Sure, I'd been happy before, but this was ridiculous. I felt like I was being electrified. I took Rachel into my arms and moved my lips from hers to her throat. She let out a low, heavy breath and sat on the bed, pulling me with her. I took a moment to smile and say, "Hey, Rachel."

"Shut up," she whispered harshly, her lips pressing against mine. I complied and let the feeling of passion overtake me. Everything was perfect. Perfect, just like Rachel. Perfect…