-1Ok, the last chapter was weird because I was introducing someone new, and important, that's all I will say. It will all be cleared up in this on so I hope this helps. Enjoy. Also for some reason when I submit my chapter the little " " things for thought-speak aren't showing up so now it's in italics too. And this Chapter is for compulsivereader because you talk to me. (And Star, because you let me gallop around.)
Jake
"Nice to see you could join us buddy." Marco had just rolled out of bed. We were all gathered around our fire against the cool morning but I was tense. That something was going on with the Ellimist and Crayak was becoming more and more evident. First that incident at Chapman's house and now another andalite shows up.
I studied her, unlike Elfangor and Ax her fur was a soft magenta. She moved with far more grace then young Estrid had even to me seemed more beautiful. I would have almost dismissed her as benign except for the strange expression of disbelief on Eva's face.
Jake, Asa would lie to know if she may go graze, and I need a word with her and would like to go as well. My eyes snapped up to Elfangor, I had been so lost in thought I hadn't noticed his approach. I nodded in consent.
Thank You. I watched as they galloped away. Finally I thought, an Andalite that let me do my job.
"Tobias, demorph and keep and eye on them. But stay close."
As everyone took their seats and Tobias demorphed I couldn't help but wonder if he realized how lucky he was. His parents… Mine were gone, victim of my brother who I could have saved, could have killed many times. I didn't. Taking a deep breath I stood.
"Ax, who is she? What has Elfangor told you?" Ax looked shocked at the anger in my voice. He didn't have his parents either, but he did have his brother…
Prince Jake, she is the wife of my brother. Her name is Allatron-Semitur-Ashtoff. They were married along time ago, it was arranged. She is my family, that's all I know. Elfangor has told me nothing since his arrival, but he's always thinking. The way he said that made me think about a story Cassie had told me one time about a Shetland pony they had on their farm, 'That bugger was tiny, but he was always thinking, always one step ahead of you. We usually ended up chasing that one around the barn.'
"Does anyone know ANYTHING?"
"Look weak to your enemy when you are the strongest. The Art of War. We know the Ellimist would not have told her to come here if she was just a housewife, but maybe Crayak doesn't see her a as a threat yet." Marco and Cassie exchanged a look, they were onto something.
"Jake." It was Eva. "She is most definitely a threat. Even Edriss gave her the grudging respect of a worthy adversary. She is referred to even by the Andalites as 'War-Prince' even though she is only technically a diplomat. I have fought against her in battles, she is cold. She is a killer and she wins. She is also Alloran's daughter. She has nothing to lose, turn hr loose on a room full of yeerks and they'll be the ones running in terror. Let me put it to you this way, The former Visser One captured her and instead of killing her commended her on giving Visser Three hell and let her go."
"So is this a good thing or a bad thing Mom?" Eva shrugged but said no more.
Marco
"So now we can all see what Rachel will be like in twenty years." No one laughed but a small rock hit me in the side.
I looked at Jake, his face growing more and more thoughtful. Tobias's eyes were looking off into the distance.
"The Ellimist also wouldn't have sent them unless there was a damn good reason, something's coming. Visser One is looking for us now more then ever, especially because even though he might have arranged their deaths he will go to the Council of Thirteen and put the blame on us. An excuse to open war." I paused, a strange look caught out of the corner of my eye on Loren's face, a piece of the puzzle.
"Marco Visser One wasn't behind those killings, it wouldn't serve his purpose to eliminate one of his key officers right before he go for open war. It puts too many weakness in his command." Sometimes I love Cassie, she was saying what I could not. "My feeling is that it was an Andalite. Elfangor, but he was with Loren that night. So I am thinking Asa, how else could he have known she was here? And think about Elfangor's human morph would never have gotten that close with out being noticed."
"A female, small and petite, maybe at the wrong address wouldn't be. An understatement like that would be dangerous, just like when Marco treats me like another dumb blond." Rachel's sarcasm, meant to be funny was truthful. To most people a teenage gymnast doesn't pose much of a threat.
What if he did do it? I looked up into the tree where Tobias sat. Then Asa would be the perfect cover. The only people who know who did it are Loren, Elfangor and the dead.
Jake had caught on and was looking at Loren, she was looking at the ground as if trying to avoid the obvious question. "Something's wrong with him. He went out and came back covered in blood, that's all I know.'
Last night he told me he did it. Why I don't know, but from all the things Ax has told us and the fact the Ellimist "isn't" interfering as much as he is should tell us that Crayak probably is too.
"Jake that was murder." Cassie's voice was fierce
My brother is no murderer, this is war Cassie! It's no different then you… I had never heard Ax's voice so cold, it seemed for second that Cassie was going to cry. \
I don't think Elfangor is a cold blooded killer either. Last night when we went to find Asa, we ran into my uncle. Elfangor didn't like him anyways and almost beat the shit out of him, actually he did get in a few good punches.
"Okay I like him again, " Big surprise, that was Rachel. "It's about time someone gave him what he deserved for how he treated you."
Never mind that, He flew down and landed on a branch beside Rachel. Asa and I know this isn't the time or place, but Elfangor isn't listening. She walks up to him and sacra's him by the hair of the head and was like 'Let's go', it was almost disturbing, But the look on his face, it was like he had just woke up and didn't remember what he was doing.
"Cassie what do you think?"
"Something happened to him as an after affect of being brought back maybe. Maybe Crayak isn't happy because he killed Elfangor once, anyway the Ellimist can't fix it and we can control him. So he suggests to someone that they should come to earth and control him."
I believe Cassie may be correct, Asa has been his friend for many years. She has a way of being blunt with him that many people can't get away with. I had a feeling Ax had just made the understatement of the century.
Jake, I think we need to get to the other end of the valley before they kill each other. I strained my eyes towards the other side of the valley where Tobias was facing.
"Yeah I think Tobias is right." We were all morphing.
Elfangor
I was tired, cranky and with every stride growing more angry. Asa has no business being here. Grabbing her arm I stopped almost making both of us fall.
What in the dark after life of Yeshthro are you doing here? I was ready to kill her, but she stood there as confidently s ever with this cocky little smirk in her eyes.
I am here saving your tail like always. Don't you get it, the Crayak has changed you, whatever that is? The Ellimist said you needed my help so I'm here.
Give me one good reason why he would send you? So you can get in the way trying to save your father, or worse trying to save me? You'll get yourself killed, why don't you go back to the home world where you belong.
I'm here because I am the only one that can put up with you, the real you. Not the you that likes to pretend he's human. I'm here to protect you from yourself.
We stood face to face like we had done a thousand times for a thousand different reasons. Her amber eyes burning into mine and her words cutting deeper then a Hork-Bajir blade. She brought out the worst in me, or was it that she knew me too well?
Why should you even care, I told you I was going to earth you told me to go. Go and die, never come back, why do you even bother.
I said that because your little obsession with earth cost the lives of our children, and you know it. You told me that you were going because you had obligations of honor. You had obligations to your family!
What could I say to that? She had me and she knew it. She turned and walked away from me,. Her hooves silent in the damp earth around the creek. My daughters deaths hadn't actually been my fault, but I was easy enough to blame. I wanted to push her words out of my mind, but they would stay I knew and haunt me.
What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Her voice was barely a whisper in my head. Broken and defeated, as if her own words had taken out all that was left of her. You're dead, you have no right to be here and yet you are. Elfangor, opportunity like this comes once. We have nothing to lose here, it's time to take back what's ours.
We need to help the humans Asa, and then we will have our revenge. I walked over to where she stood and placed my hang on he shoulder, it was a desperate card to play but I needed her to help me. We were like the balance of light and darkness that made the perfect day, who was who, I no longer knew. She whirled and faced me once again tail arched over her shoulder, blade to my throat.
Give me one good reason to help the humans, you want her. And when it's all said and done you'll have her and I will have nothing.
Because you love me. I whispered.
AND YOU DON'T LOVE ME! Pain in my head as her words exploded in my mind. Her tail cut the air as it swung towards my head, years of training saved my life. I blocked and swung back trying to knock her off balance, but my size was becoming a hindrance. Never underestimate someone with a low center of gravity. It was becoming an all out fight, I felt as if I was in a school yard fight.
I was sweating and slipping in the mud of the creek banks, we were both filthy but neither of us were giving up and no one had come to look for us yet. One blow finally struck the side of my head knocking me down into the mud. Standing triumphantly over me, I realized I had but one maneuver left.
The mud mad a most satisfying smacking sound as it hit her face. She froze. I burst out laughing. I climbed up while she wiped it off and stood ready for her-.
Your humans have arrived. The smile was gone from my face.
The Animorphs, as they call themselves stood openly staring at us. I felt extremely childish, I looked at Asa. Even in her amber eyes behind the serious expression I could see a hidden smile. Fifteen minutes ago I felt as if I had slept with her and then told her I wanted to date her sister, now I felt like I should be getting reprimanded by the academy's head master.
Ax
You've grown Kala. You were a boy the last time I saw you, now you're a man. You look so much like your brother, but it's good you are not.
It had been a long time since I had seen her. She showed me how much I had changed, before she had always seemed so much older and far away from me. Now I saw how small she was and how strong.
It was late after the second meeting of the day and I was finally getting the chance to speak with her.
Tobias, I called into the night. A few minutes later the flapping of wings and rustling wings and he appeared.
What up Ax-man, Allatron?
Please call me Asa. I has always loved her voice, it was low and comforting. It made me homesick.
Sure Asa then. What did you want Ax?
Asa, tell me about home and my parents? Her face softened for a second as she looked at me.
Your parents miss you, I told them I was leaving to search for you since the Andalite fleet has been…delayed. They send their love, and they are proud of you. Both of you. Elfangor's Hirac Delest has reached the homeworld, the people know the truth. And now they are forced to act upon it. The fleet was on it's way to the Anati system, when the people heard the demanded the Electorate and War-Council be convened. The fleet was turned around and is now on it's way to earth.
Things are changing Aximili, there will even be a place for you Tobias. We are your people. Your father's people, and you people are proud. Noorlin and Forlay, they are awaiting your return, both of your returns. They do not know that Elfangor lives.
So your people know about me? Tobias's voice seemed shaky.
Yes, but they want you to know that you will have a place with them.
I had never been more proud of my parents. But Asa's words carried a far greater meaning. Things were changing on my home world, many things. The people had watched generations of men die and no longer waited passively as the war council bungled the war.
What do the people say of Elfangor?
They say he is a hero…
I would have loved to of known her thoughts just then, but I has a feeling it was a good thing I didn't. I watched as she delicately rose from the ground and silently moved through the forest till Tobias and I could no longer see her in the night.
We sat in a clearing away from the others by where I had moved my scoop. For a time Tobias and I sat in silence until he flew away to find Rachel leaving me to my thoughts.
I had never thought of the consequences of what would happen if the people knew what my brother had done. Now what would happen? I wanted to run, I wanted to talk with my brother.
I walked into the clearing and saw him kneeling as he stared into the fire.