Author's Note: I'm trying something new with this chapter…Saving it as html format instead of doc. So, hopefully, this one will look better than the others have. This one's a little short…I meant for it to go on longer, but being Ax is hard….Hope I got him okay. Oh, DH, I'm not really sure how Sam recognizes Rachel….Never thought about that before. Yeah, I don't picture the charas like the ones on the books, either, so…I dunno. Maybe a combination of the TV show, the covers, and descriptions? I'll have to think about that. Thanks for such a detailed review! Those are my favorite kind. ^_^

Disclaimer: Animorphs = Not Mine.

Chapter Six – Ax

Aka Ahhhh! It's A Killer Wolf!!! Or…Not….

Tobias and I flew over the tops of the human houses, most of which were dark. It was nighttime and I was in my owl morph, so I could see perfectly fine. Tobias, however, was having difficulty. He was also very moody right now because he had crashed into a tree branch and nearly hit three more. After that he fell behind me a bit, letting me lead the way.

We were going to the location where the human Samantha lived, the one that had Rachel and Cassie so worried. I do not understand human behavior, so I didn't really see what the problem was. However, I remembered another time Cassie and Rachel were worried when I doubted them, so I went along with what Prince Jake said. He and the others had to attend school in the morning, so Tobias and I would be watching her house tonight. The four of them would monitor her during the school hours.

Wait, is that it? Tobias asked. Can you see the address from up here?

I couldn't, so I swooped down a little lower to check. Yes. I replied. That is the number Prince Jake told us.

Okay. So, we hang out in one of the trees, right? I figure we should go for that big pine one in the backyard.

Compared to the other houses near this one, it had a rather large space of land in the back of it. There where many trees there, but I spotted the one he was talking about and turned towards it. It was the biggest in the yard, and the one we would be able to see most clearly from. I landed on a branch with the silent grace the owl possesses. I could hear Tobias landing a few branches away from me, slightly louder.

What the…Is she doing laps? At this time of year? What is she, insane? Tobias commented.

I swiveled my head towards the soft sound of splashing. The yard had an oval shaped body of water that many human houses had behind them. Swimming in the pool was a young human girl, about the others' age. She had dark hair tied behind her head and was wearing less artificial skin than is usual; only two bands of cloth that showed more real skin than it revealed, rendering it useless for much of anything. This is not usual? I asked.

Not really. Most people tend to swim in the summer. It's a way of cooling down. We're getting close to winter, so it should be way too cold. Especially in a bikini. Maybe she's one of those freaky people who pretend they're training for the Olympics or something. Or maybe her pool's heated. Tobias answered.

What is a bikini? I didn't understand much of the rest of his answer, either, but bikini seemed the easiest to ask.

Well, it's our name for what she's wearing. People wear it to swim in. Tobias explained.

Ahh. I said, understanding now. The bikini must be a uniform the humans wore at these Olympics, which was probably a battle or event involving swimming. I continued watching the girl. It was quite boring, seeing as she really did nothing but move through the water from one side of the pool to the other. I had stopped counting how many times she did this when she paused at the end of the pool, placed her arms on the edge, and hoisted herself out. She picked up a long, rectangular piece of cloth and wrapped it around herself.

She was in the direct path of an overhead light now, so Tobias could see her just as well as I could. She just stood there, wrapped in the cloth and trembling slightly.

Is she frightened of something? I asked. I had seen that particular reaction of human-Controllers or the humans in their cages at the Yeerk pool.

Hmm? I heard Tobias shift on his branch. Oh. Naw, she's probably just cold. I wonder why.

That last statement was sarcasm, I believe, although I wasn't sure so I didn't say anything. We watched her for a bit more, silent, but all she did was stand there. Movement caught my owl eye and I shifted my gaze in its direction. A black canine form was half hidden in the shadows, making its way towards the girl. I thought at first that the canine was a dog, like the ones many humans keep as pets, but as it drew closer I could better distinguish its features and saw that it was built more like a wolf. As I understood it, wolves were more dangerous than dogs.

Tobias. Something is coming towards the girl. I believe it is a wolf. I informed him.

Where? He asked.

About twenty feet to the left of her. I replied.

There was a moment of silence, then he replied, I can't see it. Oh, wait, there it is. It moved into the light.

It had, and the light must have made it noticeable to the girl as well. She turned towards it and I watched to see what she would do. Nothing happened. The wolf and the girl simply stood, looking at each other.

Should we do something? Tobias wondered.

What would we do? I asked.

Hmm. Yeah, you're right, let's see what happens. If it attacks her, though, we should try something.

I didn't answer, because at that moment the girl started laughing. She was no more than five feet away from the wolf now and she simply started laughing. I did not believe that was a normal reaction, and I said so.

No, Ax, most humans tend not to crack up hysterically when face to face with a creature who could rip their throats out. Tobias replied.

The girl walked the rest of the way over to the wolf and laid one of her hands on its head, her other hand still clutching the cloth to her body. She tousled its ears the way I have seen other humans pet their dogs, then leaned over to kiss its nose. The wolf shook its head and she laughed again, then turned around and walked into the house through a back door. The wolf followed her inside. A few moments later, a light in one of the upper windows came on. It remained on for about eight minutes, then was turned off again.

Tobias and I waited for a bit, then I said, I may be mistaken, but I had assumed humans and wolves do not often interact.

You're right, they don't. Especially not like that. I think you have to get a special permit to have a wolf, and even then there are zoning laws or something. I don't think it's legal to keep a wolf in a house like that.

Then, there is something odd about this girl? I questioned.

Yeah, Ax-man, there is definitely something up with this chick.