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At 1200 hours
Friday 14th May
RACHEL
It was time for war
I knew the morph I was using: the all-powerful grizzly bear. Sheer power and size. Claws like pickaxes. A sensitive nose. Something to be reckoned with
We flew out in bird morphs, before landing at a distance from David's fortress, demorphing and remorphing
Before I started remorphing, I looked over at my children, one at a time. First I looked at Adam, the leader-like person who is a strong fighter. Then I looked at Leah, tall, blond, reckless and brave, kinda like me. Finally, I looked over at Tori, my youngest child. She had no fear in her eyes. She was already like me, reckless and strong
I cleared my mind of them and focused on the grizzly DNA. Coarse, brown hair covered my body. I grew to a height of eight feet tall. My pathetic fingernails formed into deadly, black claws. My organs moved around, my bones shifted and changed and soon, I was the mighty grizzly
Around me, two tigers, a wolf, a jackal, a panther, two cheetahs, a gorilla and a hawk formed. Ax was just himself, the Andalite
Tobias flew up and dived, shooting towards the fortress. A Dracon beam missed him and he flew back
(David's coming out, with about twenty Chatrès) he reported
(Good, let them come) I said
I thought about Cassie and my conversation earlier. She was worried about her sons and I told her not to. I was also worried about my children, but Adam and Leah were adults now, so I couldn't. The only one I could worry about was Tori and even now I couldn't think, simply because war was about to happen
"Well, well, the Animorphs want to fight," said David
Tobias was right, about twenty Chatrès had lined up behind David, but without Dracon beams
(Ax, what are a Chatrè's natural weapons?) I asked privately
(Their claws and spiked tails. Sometimes they will use their mandibles)
(Right, got it)
David was already morphing into a male lion. Nearly as big as a tiger and just as fast and powerful, the lion had a mane to protect its neck. Jake and Adam had nothing
(Which one is big Jake?) asked David once he was done
Jake stepped forward and snarled
(Alright, I know which one you are. So, Jake, ready for a second round?)
(Unlike last time, there's no glass) said Jake
(So the score is lion: 1 and tiger: 0) laughed David
Jake roared, a huge roar that would make an armed man wet himself with fear
(Everyone, let's go) he ordered
He ran forward and clashed with David, snarling and slashing. The rest of us slammed against the Chatrès
One came at me, while another was coming from the side and a third from behind
(Met your new nightmare) I said
I swung my paw, sending the first Chatrè flying through the air. I felt pain in two places and faced the attackers. I could barely see them, but I could smell them. They were coming in again. I roared in fury and swung both paws
I felt claw sink into flesh. Blood flew everywhere when I lifted one Chatrè into the air and used him to knock the other one aside
I saw see a blur diving out of the skies and striking eyes with his talons. A tan and orange blur blew past me, before they collided and slashed at each other
Ax was barely raising a sweat, his tail flying at impossible speed. Leah and Tori had converged on a Chatrè, before lunging and taking him down
I saw Marco baring his teeth and pounding a Chatrè to dust, as Adam, Sam and John ripped into the last few Chatrès
(I can't believe it) said Cassie (We won so easily)
David broke away from Jake, blood running down his face and flank. Jake was covered in bite and claw marks
(Give up now, David) he said (You're outnumbered)
(You think you can win with your numbers? Behold!)
I looked up and saw several black and red blurs landed in front of us. Howlers!
(They can't howl) I said privately to everyone (David is around and they can't howl, otherwise, they would injure or kill him)
A Howler came at me. I reared up onto my hind legs and roared. He spread his wings and started to fly up, but I tackled him to the ground and started laying into him, slashing him in the neck, the armpits, the groin and the eyes, all painful points…
The Howler didn't move, as I backed away and charged blindly at another Howler…
Incredible pain! It felt as if my right flank was on fire
I stopped my charge and turned around, growling deeply
The Howler drew a Dracon beam. I charged again
TSEEEW!
I ignored the searing pain and collided with him, bowling him over, the Dracon beam flying away from his hand
He was getting up and pulling out another weapon, when I ran into him again. And just as I did, I felt pain in my front left leg
As the Howler went flying, I checked my leg. There was a round red hole and small, metal knives were sticking out. I had been hit by a flechette gun!
I was furious. This fool had attacked me!
I roared, filling it with anger, hoping to scare the Howler. He flinched slightly, but it was only so slightly
I took the chance to charge again, but my leg faltered, blood pouring down. I fell onto my side, as the Howler advanced on me, drawing out a knife
I lashed out at him with my lame paw. My claws just nicked him, as he jumped again
Just as he swung again, I continued with my other paw, connecting with his head
The Howler landed, as I jumped on him. Eight hundred pounds of bear landed on the Howler's back, as I tore into him again and again
I got up from the body and looked around. The bear was weakening from the injuries. Jake was still locked in combat with David. Their fur was matted with blood
Adam, Leah and Tori were fighting against one Howler, Sam and John against another, while Cassie and Marco were working together against another Howler. Ax was fighting like the warrior he is, his tail snapping at such high speed, it was hard to see it
(Break away) ordered Jake (Time to use the weapons)
I felt angry that we were running away, but it was part of the plan. Like when we planned Tobias to be captured and he ended up getting tortured. I blinked to rid myself of the memory and followed after the others. Jake was lagging due to his injuries
(Ha, look at them run) crowed David (After them)
We reached the cliff, but the only way over it was to fly
David and the Howlers came close to us, but the Howlers still couldn't use their ultimate weapon due to David being around them
(Any minute now, Ashley or Melissa) I said to myself
The Howlers drew their Dracon beams and aimed at us
(Shoot them) ordered David
BOOM!
Three Howlers went flying; a cloud of dust spread everywhere, so I closed my eyes
BOOM!
More Howlers were blown apart. David had a look of horror in his eyes and backed away. I looked up, as another green ball fell from the sky and collided with the ground
BOOM!
(Retreat, retreat now!) yelled David
He took off, followed by the two remaining Howlers. I laughed after him and demorphed. Everyone else, except for Ax, demorphed, before we remorphed to birds and returned to the fortress
I remembered about Jake telling Melissa and Ashley the co-ordinates to attack. I remembered how Ax said he'll contact them with private thought-speak to tell them when to fire. And it worked
It was a good plan
But right now, I was exhausted from the fighting, so I collapsed on the bed. Tobias came in not long after and laid next to me, before wrapping his arms around me
"How are you?" he asked
I smiled and started stroking his hair
"Good. How about you? What did you do?"
He laughed and kissed me
"I blinded the opposition"
"Your best job"
He laughed again and kissed me. It was a while before he pulled back
"Get some rest, okay love," he said, getting up, "We may need you soon"
I smiled and curled up, as he started to close the door
"Love you, Tobias"
"I love you too, Rachel. Now get some rest"
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