(Touch the cube.) Aximilli told Astrana. Pressing her hand against the blue device, she felt a mild shock spread through her body. (Now you are infused with morphing technology.) he said.

Cassie handed her an owl. "This is a brown owl. She flew into some power lines a while ago. But she's all better now and we're releasing her tomorrow."

(Concentrate on the creature.) Aximilli said. (Focus your mind on it and its DNA should become part of you.)

Astrana closed her eyes, turning her mind to the bird in her arms, feeling it grow complacent. After a few moments, she stopped. "And now?"

(Now it is just a matter of collecting you some more morphs.)

"Where do we do that?" she asked as Cassie returned the owl to her cage.

"For that," Jake said, "we go to the Gardens."

"How will we get there?"

"That's what the owl is for." Jake said. "Think about it, think about becoming it."

Again, she closed her eyes; bring up the image in her mind. Slowly, her fur changed from orange to the owl's colors – gray and brown – twisting up to form feathers. Her tail shrunk back into her body and she began to shrink rapidly, her feet becoming talons as it happened.

When she looked around again, she was astounded to find that everything in the barn was thrown into sharp relief – the owl's night vision far outstripping her own. (Wow! It's like daylight in here!) Something in particular caught her eye. There was a mouse on the floor. She went to fly up and strike, to kill and feed when Cassie's words stopped her.

"Before you do anything, you have to know that the animal's instincts will be strong, and you have to stay in control."

(I hadn't even realized, the strength of the urge to hunt in this creature.) she admitted. (But I have control now.)

The other animorphs all assumed bird morphs, and they all headed out towards the Gardens. Because it was already closed for the night, it was safe to land inside the grounds and walk around without fear of being seen.

(Now, to go back to your own body,) Jake told her, (just do the same thing you did before but making a mental image of yourself instead of the owl.)

(Sounds simple enough.) Astrana said, bringing up a picture of herself inside her mind. The first thing that happened was that she stretched like she was made of putty. Then her legs changed, she scales melting to become fur, but still retaining the same colors. Her body resumed it's natural shape, and then last but not least, it seemed like a wave swept down her, changing her fur and eyes back to their original shades. She checked herself over to make sure the process was complete, then asked, "What now?"

"Well that depends on what kind of morphs you want." Cassie said. "You'll definitely need a battle morph. This is the big cat section, so just look around."

Astrana spotted something. "I recognize that!" It was a sign with lions on it. (A/N: With helpful facts on it and everything. Aren't zoos great?) "It was on one of the transmissions from your planet we intercepted on the way here. Those creatures are magnificent."

She moved over to the enclosure where a lioness was peacefully sleeping. Without waiting to be told what to do, she jumped noiselessly down and walked over to the dozing beast. Laying one hand on its flank, she concentrated.

Once the acquiring was over, she walked calmly away. A small sound made her look around. The male of the pride had woken up and was charging towards her. Before anyone even had time to call out a warning she had leapt straight up the wall – a good ten feet – and grabbed the rail. She pulled herself up casually as if she had been doing nothing more dangerous than going for a quiet walk in the park.

"Can someone tell me again why she needs a battle morph?" Marco said.

This report had a lot to go in it. And Aximilli wasn't helping progress by asking her a constant stream of questions. About to answer what was probably his hundredth query, she paused, feeling a familiar presence, although somehow, something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

"Astrana!" called a voice she knew shouldn't be there.

"Ferbale? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be on the other side of this continent."

He emerged from the trees slowly, emanating nonchalance. "I just came to see how you were doing." Then he saw Aximilli and was unable to control his instant reaction – a look of pure hatred. Instantly, they knew what he was.

(Grab him!) Aximilli yelled. Astrana sped towards him, tackling him at shoulder height, pinning him to the ground.

"What are you doing?" he cried in surprise.

"I know what you are." She hissed. "So you might as well get out of my friend. Death is better for him than enslavement."

The Yeerk cursed. It had been stupid to come alone. He had been overconfident in his assumption that he could handle her. He desperately searched Ferbale's memories looking for proof of her statement. Every single memory confirmed what she had said. Freedom in death was better than slavery in life was one of the major tenants in their beliefs.

Deciding to bail, he wormed his way out of Ferbale's ear canal, holding onto control until the last moment. But it did him no good. Astrana spotted him and pinned him down with one foot. But that wasn't enough. Whipping out one of her daggers, she made quick work of the little slug. Only then did she check on her friend. "You okay?"

"Fine." He said hesitantly, trying to get used to controlling his own body again. She helped him up and supported him until he got his balance back. He glanced at Aximilli fearfully.

"It's okay," she reassured him, "he's a friend. Aximilli, I want you to meet Ferbale."

(Hello.) Aximilli said.

"A pleasure I'm sure." Ferbale replied wryly.

"Wow, normal to sarcastic in only ten seconds, that's a new record." She said, chuckling. Then she got serious. "Ferbale, our people need to know about this. You have to go back and warn them."

"What about you?" he asked.

"I'm staying here. They need my help."

Ferbale sighed. "If that's your decision. Be careful." They briefly intertwined their tails, pressing their foreheads together.

"You too. Don't get caught again."

"Believe me, I have no intention of doing that." He shuddered. Turning to Aximilli he said, "Take car of her for me, okay."

Aximilli just nodded, having picked that gesture up from the humans. As Ferbale sped off through the trees towards his ship, Aximilli asked, (Who was he?)

"An old friend. We were both sent here to study humans. I guess that will have to wait. We have to save them first."

A/N: Hope you liked this. Please R & R!