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At 1000 hours

Thursday 13th May

MARCO

I flapped my wings and soared higher, drifting on the thermals that rose up from the ground. From what we had gathered so far, we were based on a hill and the sun seemed to blaze brighter than before

I wondered where the hell we actually were

But who were we, you ask, well we were a group of birds. There was Jake as the peregrine falcon. His son, Sam, was a prairie falcon, there were two red-tailed hawks, actually Tobias and Adam, Rachel was the majestic bald eagle and me, the osprey

Soaring high on the thermals is just a wonderful feeling. I can't describe it. It's like leaving yourself behind, while your soul if free. You have absolutely total freedom

But we had a job to do and that was to find the enemy base. We came to the spot where Tobias and Tori were attacked and flew on

(Whoa, a drop-off here) announced Jake

We dived over the edge and stayed level with each other. I saw something large in the distance and strained my laser-like eyes

(Do you see that?) I asked

(See what?) said Rachel

(A huge structure rising up)

(That would be the fortress) said Jake (Let's motor over)

(And ask for cookies and tea) I said

(And get a fight instead) laughed Rachel

We rode a thermal up high and I changed my altitude into distance, aiming for the fortress. I folded my wings in and dived

(Yeehah!)

A grey blur blew past me. Jake as the peregrine falcon, the fastest bird in the world

I was still shooting towards the fortress like a rocket, when I noticed something golden diving towards Jake. I flared my wings and killed the speed. Tobias and Rachel hovered near me

(What is that?) I asked

(It's a golden eagle) answered Tobias

(But how is that so?) asked Rachel (how the hell did a golden eagle get here?)

(He's going for Jake) said Adam (Someone stop him, he'll get hit)

(Dad, stop now, you're gonna get hit by a golden eagle)

(By what?)

(A golden-)

The eagle struck Jake and sent him flying towards the ground, blood and feathers flying everywhere

(DAD!)

(We get close to the fortress and a stupid golden eagle attacks) muttered Rachel

(Quick, let's get him) I said

Tobias, Rachel and I folded our wings and dived towards Jake, who was now crumpled on the ground

(Jake, demorph, do it now) I said as I hurtled towards him

He made no movement. And as we landed to demorph around him, I heard thought speak in my head

(Well, well, well, the Animorphs have arrived)

I knew that voice. It was nagging at the back of my mind, trying to tell me who

(Who are you?) asked Rachel

(What, you've forgotten me always?)

The eagle swooped overhead as we resumed human form. I looked down at Jake. He had started to demorph

"Come on, Jake, you can do it"

I looked up at the eagle, which was lazily hovering overhead

(You don't remember me, Marco? No, how about you, Rachel, the tough, brave, psychopath who threatened my parents?)

It was then I realized who it was. The one person who we took in to protect him from the Yeerks. The one person we gave the morphing power to. The person who turned against us and nearly killed us all in one hit

The one we trapped forever in the body of a white rat

The one I never thought I'd see again

"David," hissed Rachel

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