Chapter 15

A/N: don't have much time to spend on the com, my parents are getting UNHAPPY. Here's the next chp.

Disclaimer: I do not own the animorphs.

Claimer: I own everything else! Just joking. Characters not from the original story are mine.

The feeling of being the predator is much better than the feeling of being the prey. Back in earth, I, as a red-tailed hawk was a predator.

Here, I was the prey.

The crazy kelbrids swooping down at us were the predators.

"Duck!" Jake shouted

We ducked, but unfortunately, ducking wasn't going to protect us from half mad kelbrids determined to kill us.

Marco soon got up and tried to escape, with Jeanne following close behind. I scrambled up and ran after them, Jake just in front.

Unfortunately, we did not get very far.

The other kelbrids who had only been watching by the sides quickly moved to block the exits. It seemed they were greatly encouraged by the insane kelbrids who were trying to kill us. Other kelbrids formed a circle around us, and the crazy kelbrids flew down for the kill.

The circle became tighter and tighter, and I thought of morphing something huge, but it was too late.

(If we survive this, I promise I will treat you better,) Istram told me grimly.

(You think there is no hope? That we will surely die?) I asked.

(Yes.)

(Then let us face death with open eyes,) I said bravely.

Istram gave a metal snort.

We waited for the attack, but it never came. Up above the din, we heard an enraged screech. Looking up, we saw Calee flying between the insane kelbrids, and us protecting us from the murderers, risking her own life for ours.

"Cheeran! Bassku, bassku!" Calee shouted. Then, in a calmer voice, "Lital."

(Is-) I started.

(She's telling them to stop and go back, and she's also calling for the guards to help her,) Istram informed me.

Calee waved her hands in front of the leader of the crazy kelbrids. The other kelbrids behind him soon trailed off to their alcoves, but their leader remained. Calee frowned at him.

"Magnir," he hissed, almost too softly to pick up, before reluctantly going back to his alcove.

Istram was taken aback. Curious, I asked him why.

Magnir is a term for all creatures not kelbrid; the closest meaning in your language is 'creature'. It is very rude to call a kelbrid that, especially since Calee is a high ranking one.

Calee glanced sharply at their leader, before turning to the guards who had just arrived. Baine also joined them, and together, they manage to get all the kelbrids back to their alcoves.

Meanwhile, Trale was doing nothing to help. He remained on the platform with a smug look on his face.

I had a nagging suspicion that Trale had something to do with those crazy kelbrids who wanted to kill us.

"I will not tolerate this kind of response. They are willing to help us and should be received with open wings, not hostile talons. Do not act so rashly again. "Calee addressed the assembled kelbrids.

A slight grumble of disappointment could be heard clearly, but Calee had decided to ignore it.

"We shall meet again tomorrow to discuss our plans of war with the yeerks. This is going to be the final battle, and we will triumph over the yeerks and save our fellow kelbrids with a full scale attack."

A half hearted cheer rose, before dying away quickly. I saw Trale looking irritated that Calee had somehow salvaged the situation. Given the chance, I was sure he would try to create more trouble for Calee.

Baine placed a feathered wing tip on Calee's shoulder and gave her a slight kelbrid smile. Calee nodded, and Baine dismissed all the kelbrids. "You are free to go now, but come back tomorrow."

Saying so, Baine walked over to Trale, gave him a hard and meaningful stare, before flying off, with the other kelbrids.

Trale grumbled something incomprehensible, glared at Calee and we animorphs then followed the crowd out. It was clear he wanted to stay and hear what Calee was going to tell us, but then decided against it.

When the last kelbrid had, left, Calee instructed us to follow her. She brought us to the same room as before, the place where Santorelli had spent his last free moments before being accused as a traitor and taken away.

"Sit," Calee commanded.

We sat.

"Please forgive the behaviour of those kelbrids. I promised yesterday to answer your questions, and I will not go back on my word. Ask what you will, but hurry, for Baine is waiting for me."

Marco spoke up first. "How do you know Santorelli is a traitor? Sure, he isn't as good looking as me, but he wasn't such a bad guy."

I sighed mentally. (Marco's back to his usual joking self,) I told Istram dryly.

(Hush, I want to hear what Calee is saying,) Istram replied.

"It was Jake who first found out that Santorelli was a traitor. He informed me on that. Maybe he would care to enlighten us?" Calee asked.

"As you wish, Calee. I first became suspicious when my yeerk, Erib, told me that only Santorelli did not have a yeerk in the Peace Movement. Since Erib was close with Santorelli's yeerk he decided to offer him a place in it, but was declined"

"So Santorelli's yeerk knows Erib is part of the Peace Movement?" I asked.

"I'm afraid so. He also suspects that all our yeerks are also in it. Fortunately, I do not think he has told of his suspicions to anyone," Jake said.

"Wait. It's Santorelli's yeerk not be himself who is the traitor, right?" Jeanne asked, concerned.

"That I have no idea. I can only hope he is still loyal to us, which is quite likely and surprisingly, his yeerk is called Esplin-"

"What! Visser One?" Marco yelped.

"Let me finish!" Jake looked irritated. "This one is two generations younger than the real Visser One. Besides, this is Esplin 6466. Their numbers are different."

"Still, when Santorelli kept meeting up with The One, I decided he was not going to help us. I manage to broadcast to a kelbrid communicator, and so happen it was Calee who answered. I told her of my suspicions and informed her we would be attacking the next day.

"She believed me, and the next day when The One called Santorelli to his own ship, most of my suspicions were confirmed.

"The battle took place only yesterday. Little time had passed when we got knocked out by the wrappers."

(Who would think it all happened like that?) I asked Istram.

(Shut up!) he snapped.

(Istram, what's wrong!) I began to worry.

(I'm hungry! I cannot believe you don't feel it. If what Jake just said is true, then today is the third day since I last fed.)

A/N: there. So the chp's done. What's going to happen in the next chp? Stay tune to find out!