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Time unknown
Wednesday 19th May
CASSIE
"I know," said David
"What?" asked Marco
"I'll morph to Howler and use a Dracon beam to destroy it"
"But wouldn't you die?" asked Tori
David looked down. He didn't want to answer. But I knew
"David, you don't have to do such a thing"
"I must. It's the only way"
"How can it be the only way?" asked Tobias, "we can find a better way"
"Don't you understand guys," said David, "I tried to kill you all, when all you were doing was trying to save the world. I was young and selfish at the time"
"You can't do this," I said, trying to coax him out of it
"Guys, please don't try and stop me. It's the only way I can think of repaying you and saving Earth from destruction"
I saw tears in his eyes when he said this. Why did he have to do this? Was he being selfish again?
"Besides, it's better than being a rat," said David
"Don't be stupid," said Jake, "we can think of a better way"
"Jake, don't you be stupid. Can't you see, I can't go back to my life as a rat, lost on that island, tortured within my own mind," he continued, "this way is better. It's all I can do. Don't hate me for it. Praise me for it"
He started to morph into a Howler. He still had the weapons on him, so they adjusted easily to his growing body
(Don't try and stop me)
He turned to the Ellimist
(Can you take me there?)
The Ellimist nodded. I think he understood what was about to happen
(Ellimist, when this is over, return my body to human) begged David
"Of course"
Both he and David disappeared. I looked at the hologram. David appeared in space, using his wings to stay in one spot and drew a Dracon beam, as the comet hurdled closer
"Don't do it, please don't," I pleaded, knowing he wouldn't hear me
I couldn't watch, I just couldn't and yet, I couldn't take my eyes away
We had to watch him die!
As the comet got closer, David pulled the trigger and concentrated the beam. The comet started to turn red from the beam
BANG!
The comet exploded into hundreds of pieces. David lowered the Dracon beam
I felt happy that the comet was destroyed. Maybe David wouldn't have to die
I watched as a piece of comet struck David in the chest, knocking the wind out of him
I watched as they both hurtled towards Earth
I knew that the speed at which they were flying would be hot, so hot that the piece of rock and ice would melt…and so would David
I couldn't watch anymore. I turned away and felt the tears well up
Jake came over and put an arm around me and rubbed my arm, comforting me
"He did it for a good cause"
I turned and wrapped my arms around him, crying against his chest. He rested his chin on my head, rubbing my back and soothing me
Then, all of a sudden, we were back at Rachel's place, back before it had all started
I looked around. The food was gone and in their place, laid David's human body
Slowly, I walked over and touched his face. His eyes were closed and there was not a single burn mark on his body
"I'm so sorry," I whispered
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At 0900
Friday 21st May
Everyone there was in black. It was only the thirteen of us, not including Kevin and Damien, but it was enough. I had tears in my eyes, watching as Jake, Tobias, Marco, Adam, Sam and John acted as pallbearers, picking up David's coffin and taking it out to the grave. Rachel and I had chosen the perfect spot where we could lay him to rest
The coffin was lowered into the grave, as Adam picked up a shovel and started to fill it in. Sam decided to help him
"Although he seemed like a coward and he had turned against us,"read Jake, "we know that he died for a good cause. We know that he died to save Earth, to protect it. David died as a fighter, a casualty of war and no matter what he did, we shall remember him and we shall miss him"
I couldn't take it anymore. The tears ran down my face. I wiped them away and saw that Rachel's eyes were also red. Jake came over and comforted me, as Rachel was comforted by Tobias
As we walked away, I looked back over my shoulder and I read the headstone
In memory of David
A fellow Animorph who gave his life
So that others may live
We shall remember him
And we shall miss him
From Jake, Cassie, Tobias, Rachel, Marco and Aximili
From Adam, Samuel, Leah, Tori and Jonathan
From Melissa, Kevin and Ashley
"He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten"
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