Did you miss me? Of course not! I haven't been gone all that long. Since I had nothing to do I figured I'd write the next chapie.

Irish Rage And Love: Thanks. I have a plan for Asculin's fathers' death, but, and don't think I'm stupid here, what do you mean when you say '…will have something to do with his strictly martial attitude." I'm not really always that in tune with the character, even if I am writing him. It'd be a great help if you explained this idea further to me.

I was going for the velocirapter edge when I wrote the fight between Hath and Lor; you kinda inspired me to do so, thanks!

I'm glad you liked the explanation of Lord Hath-Galard's race; it took me a long time to work it out, funnily enough. Thanks for the long insightful review, it's always great to find someone who reads as 'deep' as you. THANKS.

The REAL Cheese Monkey : 'Bows' I was wandering what everyone would think bout the father's death. I don't think it was as 'real' as it could have been, you know? I don't think I put enough emotion into it.

Yes, Terrans. It's good to know someone got the inside joke. I'm wandering whether to pursue that idea a bit more or not, please review and tell me what you think.

Birdie num num: Boo-hooo…My Ascy-poo! There might be more twists and turns as the story continues, so keep reading!

Kharina: I know, sad huh? But like I said to REAL Cheese Monkey, not as sad as I thought it could be.

Don't worry about being odd, I'm known as fing weird in my school. I've had my hair cut way short, I mean way short. And of course the in-think is long straight hair, not to mention I live in Liverpool, Kirkby to be exact, so you can guess the reactions I got. LOL!
In response to chapter length, I actually find long chapter boring and I get about half-way done and then move on, maybe that's just me though. Keep reading and reviewing!

Elwing: Thanks for the review, as always. In response to your question, you'll just have to read on to find out...
Happy Ani-Anniversary to you, happy Ani-Anniversary to you…la le-la la le-la la la, le la la la laaaaaa!
To give credit where credits due, I came up with the name Veloce and Velocia-Rex but the actual name Velocians came from REAL Cheese Monkey. I also find making up names hard too, so you're not the only one.

Please enjoy…

Chapter Seven

Time to Heal

Soola's Disease.

Genetically programmed, it strikes an Andalite in the prime of his life and is always fatal. It causes pain in the joints and the muscles, extreme in the end, and can also cause blindness.

How could my father have died in such way? It was unfair. He would never see me promoted to Warrior; never see me married…never see his grandchildren…

I stood looking out the clear bulkhead. Seerow stood nearby, not saying anything and yet saying everything. The others were feeding in the main communal area. Seerow stayed with me like a true shorm would. But even he couldn't understand. Gone. My father was gone.

I didn't even have a chance to say goodbye…never even had a chance to say goodbye…

No. I shouldn't be like this. My father would not be proud of me acting this way. I should be strong…should be, but I'm not. It hurt, so much.

Seerow seemed to sense my pain; he lifted his tail blade to touch mine. (Don't worry, I'm sure that….)

He stopped and merely shook his stalks.

(Come with me,) I said. (Come with me back to the Homeworld.)

(I will,) Seerow said. He was a good friend, my shorm Seerow.

Two days later the ship StarFlyer docked with us. She was much smaller than the Nexus and not nearly as beautiful. Still I was glad to see her, she would take me home. Back to my family, but not really my family any more.

Captain Ellamar gave permission for Seerow to accompany me back to the Homeworld. I was pleased; at least I would not be alone.

I was just stepping aboard the ship when I heard a voice calling me. I turned to see Lor come wandering up, moving in his gracefully-jaunty way. "Aristh Asculan. I am sorry about the death of your father. You must be very distressed. My brother Lord Hath sends his sympathy as well. However you should have past the stage of grieving now."

(What? He's dead, but you say I shouldn't be upset?) I didn't care that Lor was bigger and most likely stronger than me.

He raised his antenna in an expression of amusement it seemed. "No, I said you must have been upset, but that should have been over by now. I should be happy now; at least he isn't suffering anymore. Besides, when you die you'll see him soon enough."

I felt ready to strike him at that moment, and then I felt a tail blade against mine. (Remember,) Seerow said privately. (They would see death differently to us. Do not make him angry. You know their emotions change much more rapidly than ours. He might not understand that ours last longer than their quick bursts. Leave this and come.)

I nodded my head and turned to Lor. (Thank you for your – advice. It has been an – an honour – meeting you and your people.)

"Be happy and always free," Lor said to me.

(Fair well,) the others called.

Thankfully Z-space had re-shifted since our arrival at Velocia-Rex, instead of taking months to get home; it took us merely a week. One long, sad and miserable week. Seerow wouldn't try to talk about it, that much I was thankful for. He would simply stand or walk with me. He would wait until I felt I could say something.

At last we arrived back to the blue and purple grass of home. We descended down to one of the three spaceports, they were the closest to cities we had.

My mother was waiting for me when I disembarked, she looked cheerless. Seeing her just made my hearts even more painful than they had been, my father should be there.

And yet she wasn't standing alone.

(Asculan. We meet again,) Aylary said. She stood in-between my mother and Prince Eoptis. Beside her father it was easy to see how closely related they must be, her fur shone the same deep blue as his. She had the same electric-green eyes.

(Aylary!) I said. (Prince Eoptis, I did not expect to see you here.)

(Aristh Asculan, Seerow,) the prince bowed his stalks. (I thought I would come to greet you. Aylary thought she'd 'tag-along'.)

At last I turned to my mother. (Mother,) I said softly.

(Asculan,) she replied. (Let us make our way to the scoop. Seerow, your parents have given permission for you to stay with us.)

(Thank you, Asculan's Mother,) he said.

(Prince Eoptis, you and Aylary are welcome to stay this night to,) my mother said. (Tomorrow we shall hold the ritual.)

Aylary? Stay in my scoop? With me? I must have turned a lighter shade of blue.

We ran home, all five of us. Aylary hung back, I followed suit with Seerow encouragement. You see, now that my father was dead, our lands became mine, my responsibility. I didn't want to leave Mother alone or some other male might try to court her as she was still not old and had she not been my mother, quite beautiful.

I needed someone to take care of her. I needed someone to look after my lands when I was away. In short I needed a mate.

(Aylary,) I said as she caught up to me. (How – how are your studies doing?)

She looked at me through one of her stalks (Very well. Soon I will become a qualified biologist, why?)

(Um – ah, I was wondering,) I said. (You are very beautiful.)

(I know,) she said. (Perhaps when you are older.)

She sped up and ran to meet her father. How did she do that? How did she just slip away from me every time I spoke to her? Surely this was not the way it was done, surely not.

I had seen Alloran court Jahar, a female he was interested in. She had certainly been more interested than Aylary was. Of course I knew we couldn't be 'coupled' until I was older. But I could still claim Aylary so as no other male would be able to take her. What was wrong with her?

What was wrong with me?

That night I slept very little. I dreamt about my father, about what he would teach me, about how he had taught me to fight, I would miss him.

(Through the fog of pain I see, visions of the things that are, the pains that will be withheld for me, I realise that I can see…,)

I raised my stalks towards the sky.

(…that to remember those we've lost is painless. My honour depends on thus. I must remember that which I have lost. I must try to find a way to make all my pains move on. Without that ever-present hate, but now I know I must move on.)

I looked at the rising moons.

(The game of life was hard to play; our ancestors lost anyway. The losing price he did give. So this is all I have to say…)

My mother and the others all bowed their stalks.

(The only way to live to is to be remembered. To remember his story, for that is the only painless feat.)

I heard the wind blow softly through the Elupera.

(The blade of time will pierce our minds; it doesn't hurt when it begins. It works its way in the pain grows stronger…but…)

I raised my blade up high.

(To remember those we've lost is painless. My honour depends on this. I must remember that which I have lost.)

I lowered my head.

(Goodbye father,) I whispered.

There you go. The last part might be a bit confusing, it's meant to be my version of the Andalite ritual of Passing On. I do hoped you like, please REVIEW.