Back in the barn at last, Cassie and Slade both demorphed from their bird morphs. The other Animorphs had long since split up to go to their various homes. They were both grateful to be back, though Cassie was a bit more so than Slade, who really would have preferred to go after Visser Three.

"Good night, Slade," Cassie said, once her mouth had finished forming.

"'Night, Cassie," Slade said with a yawn.

As he climbed back into the hayloft, Slade turned to watch Cassie walk out. Once she was gone, he climbed the ladder the rest of the way up.

When Cassie woke up the next morning, she almost couldn't believe that what had happened to her and the others last night was real. It was all just too strange, even compared to all the things that the Animorphs had ever seen and done. Shaking her head, Cassie caught sight of the morning's paper.

Seeing it reminded her of how the whole adventure with Slade had started, and Cassie chuckled in nostalgic good humor. It was strange, the way that things had changed so drastically over the last few days. Not even a week had passed, since they had found Slade on Tuesday.

Looking down at the paper, Cassie saw Torrelli's picture. Wondering what that was about, she picked up the paper and started to read. It was a story about what had happened at The Gardens last night. They hadn't gotten any of the details right, of course, and it was funny to see the explanation Torrelli had thought up.

He was at first quoted as saying that the whole thing was a hoax, a prank pulled off by a bunch of middle-school kids in Halloween costumes. But, when he had named who he thought were the instigators of the prank were: "Fox Mulder"; who Cassie knew was Marco, "Dana Scully"; Rachel, "Vincent Valentine"; Cassie still didn't know why Slade hadn't just used his own name, and "Cindy Crawford"; Cassie had a feeling that Marco wasn't going to let her live that one down anytime soon, the press had decided that he had probably been drunk.

Then, when one of the reporters had asked him what he – an Air Force Captain – was doing at a company outing for Gondor Industries, Torrelli declined to comment. Then he vehemently denied the previous accusations he had made, and then he turned and left. It was kind of funny, reading about how the Captain had managed to make a fool of himself in front of so many people.

Cassie giggled a little, before turning to the more serious business of making breakfast for herself. For some reason she was in the mood for oatmeal this morning, so Cassie pulled out some packets of the instant oatmeal that her mom always made sure they had an ample supply of. Her mom was the one that like oatmeal the most, Cassie and her dad just tolerated it since Aisha was so fond of the stuff.

Putting on some water to boil, Cassie made sure she would have enough for herself even if her mom decided that she wanted some, too. Opening the oatmeal packets, Cassie poured them into the water that was now beginning to bubble. Picking out one of the long wooden mixing spoons from the drawer beside the stove, Cassie twirled it idly between her fingers.

Shaking her head at her sudden bout of inattentiveness, Cassie turned back to the pan of oatmeal on the stove and started stirring it. As she watched the thin, watery mixture slowly start to thicken as she stirred, Cassie again wondered how something so lumpy and unappetizing-looking could end up tasting so good.

I guess it's kind of like scrambled eggs that way, Cassie thought. They don't really look all that appetizing when you look at them, but when someone makes them right they are pretty good. Looking up at the doorway, thinking that she had heard footsteps, Cassie saw that there was no one there. Must've been my imagination.

Looking back into the pot, Cassie saw one of the little chunks of dried apple disappear underneath the churning surface of the oatmeal. Apple-cinnamon oatmeal was one of Cassie's favorite kinds, and it was a plus that her mother also liked this kind of oatmeal. Stirring some more, and trying to keep herself from drifting off into a daydream, Cassie listened for her parents' footfalls.

Stirring was boring work, and so Cassie was glad to finally hear the footsteps of at least one of her parents. It turned out to be her father, blinking and seeming to be instinctively heading for the coffee machine. Cassie suppressed a giggle; it was always fun to watch her dad make a bee-line for that particular appliance as soon as he came in.

No matter how tired he looked, her dad could always be counted on to find the coffee pot. It was one of the constants in Cassie's life. Coming in almost on her dad's heels was Cassie's mom. Smiling at the antics of her husband, Aisha walked over to Cassie.

"Well, good morning, Cassie. What are you cooking there?"

"Just some oatmeal. Good morning, mom," Cassie said, as she gave her mother a quick peck on the cheek.

"Oh, oatmeal, great," Aisha kissed Cassie on the top of her head. "You know that's my favorite food."

"Yeah mom. Mine too," Cassie smiled. Sniffing the air, Cassie's smile widened into a grin. "I think it's finally ready. You want me to serve you some, mom?"

Aisha smiled. "Actually, since you were nice enough to make it for us, why don't I serve some for you?"

"Thanks mom," Cassie smiled. "That would be great."

While her mom went to get some bowls and spoons, Cassie went over to get some napkins and a glass of milk for herself, and then sat down at the table. Walter, now holding a second cup of fresh coffee, sat down at the table with Cassie, just as Aisha came over with the bowls of oatmeal. There were spoons stuck into the bowls, and Cassie smiled at how funny they looked.

At least the oatmeal's nice and thick, Cassie thought happily. It would have to be, to make the spoons stick up like that. As Cassie started to eat her breakfast, she thought about what she would give Slade for his. Probably some of the oatmeal, if she and her mom didn't end up eating it all, anyway.

One less day of school to attend, Cassie thought happily as she climbed out of her dad's car. Cassie also looked forward to the meeting with the other Animorphs that Jake had planned. Even if it was meant to discuss the happenings at The Gardens, that would probably be done with that part of the meeting before any of them got bored with the subject. Humming a quiet tune to herself, Cassie went into the house to make herself a snack, and to get some lunch for Slade.

Cassie sat in the kitchen, eating the small meal that she had made for herself. Slade already had his food, and so now all Cassie had to do was wait for the other Animorphs to arrive.

(Cassie, you know I don't like to interrupt you like this, but there are five birds that just flew in. I think the others are here now, at least I'm pretty sure.)

Cassie nodded. If she had been capable of it, Cassie would have thanked Slade right from where she was at the moment. But, lacking his telepathic powers, her gratitude would have to wait until she was in the barn to be expressed. Cassie got up, heading for the door.