Another War

Chapter 2

Cassie- Worries

Disclaimer- Even though I have the same initials as K. A. Applegate I do not own animorphs. If I did own Animorphs I would actually have the time to write on this without being naughty and doing when I am supposed to be doing my homework, comprende?

I took my time working my way up the trail. It really even wasn't a trail, more of a rabbit run. But it made the going a little bit easier. I heard a shout from behind me and paused, waiting for Ronnie to catch up and trying not to laugh at the sight of him attempting to untangle himself from a wild rose bush. WE were scouting again. The Hork-Bajir were flourishing in their home in Yellowstone, and Toby had hinted that they might soon need some more room.

We continued on together with me occasionally laughing at something that Ronnie said or did. He liked doing that, liked making me laugh. I think that he liked me too, liked me period. But I just couldn't bring myself go out on date with him like he wanted. I think that he thought it was because of the relationship that I used to have with Jake, but I really hadn't seen Jake since they tried Visser One, and we really hadn't parted on the best of terms. Not enemies... but not like we had been either.

I still sort of keep up with Marco. He sends me a birthday card every year. I send him one back. Hit him up every time that I need a grant or something, a sponsor or a donation of sorts. He grumbles a bit, but I know that he really doesn't mind that much. He has the money to spare, and anyway, it looks good on the tax forms.

I heard that Ax is doing all right, and I just sort of hope for his sake that he is. He is out of Elfangors shadow without totally eclipsing his brother, which I think would have bothered him a lot too. He adored his brother, and really just wanted to live up to the standard that his brother had set, not bury it.

The run ran out, but did so right next to a dry rain gully. We hopped down the bank and slid our way down into the valley. I stepped back and looked around at the overall picture. Sure, the side of the valley were wooded pretty well, but it was mostly scrub pine and spruce, not the large hardwoods preferred by the Hork-Bajir. The open meadow that made up the floor of the valley kind of subtracted from its usability as well. The Hork-Bajir like some open space, but they really don't need anything this size. This was deer habitat, not Hork-Bajir habitat.

Ronnie came up behind me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. He looked down at the valley and then at my face. "Not going to work, is it?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Looks like we went through long walk for nothing."

He released me long enough to pull a map from his bag and shake it out. "Not necessarily. We had another valley marked out to look over. Probably another hours walk, if you wan to do that today."

I glanced up at the sun overhead. It was still pretty early in the day to be heading in, especially on a beautiful fall day like this. Ronnie read my answer when I set out across the meadow in the direction that he had indicated. He folded the map quickly, shoving it awkwardly back in his bag before hurrying after me. I didn't look back until he called my name.

"Hey Cass, look at this poor thing."

When I turned he was standing over something lying in the tall grass. I couldn't see it, so I made my way over to where he was. It was a red-tailed hawk, battered, bruised, and bloody. Something had hit I tin the air and torn one of its wings and part of its back open. It was thin and old, the feathers starting to fade. I don't know why, but it made me think of Tobias, and without realizing I knelt down and brushed a finger over one of the wingtips.

Unhhh...

My hand jerked back. "Tobias?"

The injured bird stirred again, but that was enough for me. I looked around wildly before my eyes settled on Ronnie. "Give me your jacket."

He was startled, but did as I demanded, handing over the light windbreaker and watching me in a slight shock as I gathered up the battered hawk body and wrapped it lightly, cradling to my chest gently. I didn't even bother with his unspoken questions, moving as smoothly as I could in the direction that would lead my back to the jeep that had carried us up here.

I left my backpack and everything else lying on the ground. Ronnie would get them or not, at the moment I didn't really care. And if he wasn't back to the jeep by the time that got there then he could start walking until I could send someone back to get him. He'd live.

I didn't think that Tobias was going to.

Chapter 3 is up. Hope everyone likes it. Flames and positive reinforcement are welcome. I'm trying to keep pretty much everyone in character for the most part, but I'm not promising perfection or anything, Forgive me for artistic license, okay? I already explained that I don't own it.