((Author's Note: Sorry it's taken so long to update... I've been rather busy with school and stuff. However, I'm on Winter Break until January 8th, so I'll have lots of time to continue this story. I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoyed writing it.
Anyway, I hope this chapter isn't too sappy. It's wintertime, it's cold, and right now the weather is miserable around where I live, so a little splash of joy felt like the right thing to write. Hope you enjoy it! And the continued foreshadowing of what will happen between two people I won't name *cough*M/A*cough*. Anyway, the next chapter unfolds...))

Chapter 5: Aximili

My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. And I am highly confused. This seems to be an annoyingly common event while I live among these Humans of Earth. Their ways are just...so alien. Sometimes that is bewildering and frustrating, trying to understand and interact with people that are so alien and yet...like a second family to me.

Sometimes, however, the different ways and strange thoughts of my friends—my adopted people—are wonderful and enlightening. Their determination, adaptability, and diversity are astounding. As the Ellimist said, the first time we met him, "In all the universe, no greater beauty. In a thousand, thousand worlds, no greater art than this." The Humans may not be as technologically advanced as Andalites, and we may not agree on a lot of things at times, but their people and their world are among the most amazing in the entire galaxy.

I remember something Tobias once said to me, when I finally opened up to my human friends. For the first time, I saw a whole new way of thinking about other races, especially these humans. We Andalites are taught, from a young age, that we cannot trust outsiders. Few races we have encountered are more powerful than we are, but many of them we meet with fear. Consider the Ellimist...whatever he may be. Those that are below us technologically are given assistance, but no relationship, like the human phrase "turning a cold shoulder." We don't mix, don't share. It's rare to see many aliens on the Andalite homeworld, other than the diplomats. We keep to ourselves, they keep to themselves, and that's just the way it is.

It doesn't have to be that way; the humans can show us a new path. Although many Andalites believe that differences divide us, I have learned from these humans that differences can unite us on an even stronger level. Those who are all the same only have the same strengths, and fall before the same weaknesses. But those who are different... Differences are what make us unique. The strength of one race can help make up for the weakness of another. I think that, one day, these humans may lead the Andalites and other major races into a new era. But that will only happen if they do not fall pray to their own weaknesses.

That didn't prevent my confusion, though. The reason that I was confused today is that I saw my friends enter Cassie's barn without informing me of a meeting. Tobias stayed with me, saying that they were probably just studying or talking about something else. I raised my stalk eyes to look into my shorm's fierce face, not entirely believing what he'd said.

I said, unable to prevent a skeptical tone in my thought-speak.

He sounded flippant.

Things had been unusual in the past week. I believe it was a Saturday, by the Gregorian calendar used in the United States. The others had just recently finished their school term and were starting the extended break period known as "summer." I'd also noticed that Zeke and Cassie had both asked me some slightly unusual questions a short time ago, such as how old I was and what my interests were. Normally it wouldn't have been a problem, except...hmm. Perhaps I am learning more about human speech patterns, because it seemed that they were asking for reasons that they weren't telling me.

Of course, I answered the questions honestly. I am grateful beyond words for the hospitality and kindness that they have shown me. They are my comrades, my fellow warriors, and the closest thing I have to family apart from my parents. There is no honorable thing that I would not do for them if it were in my power.

The second question—what I was interested in—came easily enough. Even though I have read several human books, which were all fascinating and enlightening, none of them were books that a typical human would read for enjoyment. (Marco assures me that while he may tease Zeke about reading the dictionary, most humans do not participate in such an activity.) They were all facts. Because I wish to know about the culture of the people of Earth, I told them that I would like to read some human stories. I believe they are called "novels."

The first question was unexpected. They know that I am, roughly speaking, in an age group similar to theirs. On Earth, the term is 'adolescent.' Unfortunately, because the orbit of the Andalite homeworld is different from that of Earth, it was difficult for me to accurately convey my exact age. I remember explaining the Andalite calendar to a fascinated Zeke.

djrala,> I said. I related the different Andalite equivalents of months and days and how they fit into the grand scheme. The Andalite calendar can be a little complicated because it was once based on the cycles of our four moons.

"So, if I'm not mistaken," Zeke said, frowning with concentration, "that means that an Andalite year—a djrala—is a little more than one and a half Earth years?"

"So that would make you...almost fifteen. In Earth years I mean. About the same as the other Animorphs, basically."

Of course, I had more or less forgotten about that discussion until recently. Zeke is always curious about Andalite customs, beliefs, and culture, just as I am curious about humans. It is nice, sometimes, to exchange information about our two races, even if the exchange is a little one-sided. However, the question about my age had perturbed me more than any of the previous questions. I had already told them that I was more or less the same as they are, so I could not understand why my exact age—in Andalite years or Human years—could be important.

Finally, I reached the barn. I could not shake a feeling that something odd was going on, especially since the barn was eerily quiet. It is almost always filled with the sounds of recovering Earth animals that Cassie and her father have nursed back to health. Today, however, there were fewer occupied cages. Also, I could not see anyone else inside, with my main eyes or my stalk eyes, and so the animals were all fairly quiet as they inspected me, an unknown and strange creature in their midst.

Suddenly, from several directions at once, voices shouted "Surprise!" My human friends popped out from behind various hiding places, each holding a package wrapped in brightly colored paper. Tobias had morphed into his human shape so that he could also hold a vividly red box, whose bow was yellow with small, somewhat cone-shaped symbols on it. The other packages were similar in design, though their size varied.

I said, slightly annoyed and confused.

"Oh, c'mon Ax, live a little," Marco said, smiling. "Surprise parties are all about not knowing what's happening."

Cassie exhaled and showed a slightly lop-sided grin. "Well, it's not like we were really discreet about it..."

I said, still rather confused.

"Don't tell me that Andalites don't celebrate birthdays, Ax!" Rachel said, raising an eyebrow incredulously.

"Well Ax, here on good old Earth," said Prince Jake, holding a green package, "we celebrate birthdays a little more. We give presents to the person and usually we eat some kind of cake."

I asked, so pleased that I nearly forgot the mention of a new food. But only nearly.

"Cake, my friend," said Marco, "is one of the most wonderful substances known to mankind. It can be made with chocolate, or vanilla, or strawberry, or any of a dozen different flavors. And it is extremely yummy."

"We've got the cake inside," added Cassie with a gentle smile. "I figured it was a little too dirty out here to give out pieces of cake."

Zeke said, "I think it's probably a good idea if Ax opens his presents first and then goes inside. We wouldn't want to waste his two hours in human morph."

Though I desired very strongly to encounter this new food called 'cake,' and to discover what the meaning of the word "yummy" was, I had to agree with Zeke. There would always be time to morph to human in a little while, but I could not always be in the barn as an Andalite.

The gift from Zeke was not totally unexpected—an assortment of "science fiction" and fantasy novels and stories that he had recommended to me. Cassie gave me a heater for nights when it would get cold, and Rachel gave me some new human clothes to wear when not on a mission. Prince Jake gave me a book of logic puzzles. Tobias gave me a Rubix Cube, which he had scrambled for me. Finally, I came to Marco's package, which was one of the smallest of the group.

"What did you get, Marco?" Rachel asked, intrigued by the small rectangular gift he held. "That's not a very big box."

"Hey, Xena, big things can come in small packages you know. Here, Ax, I thought you'd like these." He held out the present, and its blue wrapping glinting slightly under the bare lights of the barn.

I opened the small package and, amid the tissue and packing material, I found two small plastic cards. One had the word "Cinnabon" written on it in a stylized fashion and the number 100 in one corner. The other had a few words I didn't recognize, though I knew what the word "Library" meant. Briefly, I wondered what a human library would look like.

Zeke's eyes widened. "No, Marco...you didn't. You didn't get Ax, of all people, a one hundred dollar gift card to Cinnabon."

Prince Jake's mouth dropped open. I believe there is a human phrase about "one's jaw hitting the floor" that fairly accurately described what was going on. "Marco, are you sure you're feeling well?"

Rolling his eyes, Marco said, "Yes, Jake, I know what I'm doing. I'll keep the card with me. Whenever Ax wants to go to a Cinnabon, all he has to do is ask me. And, if he doesn't blow it all on one sitting, this could last him a while."

I held up the other card, that had a name followed by "County Library" on it.

"Okay, Marco, that makes up for the Cinnabon thing," said Zeke, as he began to smile again. "Ax will love the main library building downtown. Maybe you guys should go down there soon."

Marco smiled again. This time, it was somewhat lop-sided, large on one side and only a little curve on the other. I had seen this smile on other people before, and I believe it is called "smug." He was proud of himself, proud that he had made me happy...

I then noticed that everyone was looking at me because my main eyes were staring generally in Marco's direction. Rachel waved her hand a few feet in front of my face and said, "Hey, Ax. Ax! Earth to Ax, come in please. I know you're excited but you're starting to scare me."

Marco looked at Rachel, feigning offense. "Hey, I thought you said I was the only one allowed to make stupid jokes around here."

"Yes, but you see, my jokes aren't stupid, Marco." Rachel flashed a smile back at Marco.

His face was serious but he sounded amused when he replied, "Touché."

After we had finished disposing of the torn wrapping paper, I morphed to human and dressed in my new clothes. I particularly enjoyed the soft feel of the pants against my human legs—while clothing may not be a necessary thing for Andalites, I have discovered that it can be another pleasant aspect of being in human form. Cassie complimented Rachel on how well she'd guessed my sizes, and Prince Jake agreed. As we entered the house, I thanked everyone again for their thoughtfulness.

* . * . *

One and a half Earth hours later, I was sprawled out on a soft chair in Cassie's living room. My stomach felt very large and I didn't feel like moving very much. The others were seated nearby, in various places around the room. Zeke had turned on the TV and was searching for something interesting to watch, while Marco provided his input.

"I told you not to eat that seventh piece," Prince Jake said, smiling slightly.

Marco added, "Ax, I have to say, you've amazed me. I don't know how you managed to eat all that cake without puking it back up again."

I grunted in response, unable to mount much in the way of defense. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. Ime. Mmm. I think I will try to eat less from now on."

Cassie patted my shoulder as she passed me on her way to the kitchen. "That sounds like a good choice, Ax. At least you don't have to worry about gaining any weight from it, though."

Somehow, I didn't find that very consoling.

"My time limit is coming," I said, turning my head to look at the others. "I have approximately fifteen Earth minutes left."

Rachel nodded. "I'll fold up your clothes and put them in a bag when you're ready to go."

"Thank you, Rachel. And...thank you, everybody. I thought I was going to spend my birthday alone..."

Everyone looked at me, some with a touch of sadness, some with knowing smiles, all with the care that comes with deep friendship. I thought about all the battles we'd fought in, all the times we barely escaped death together. The laughter and the tears.

"But instead...I spent it with family."

As I left the room, I heard six voices speak as one. "Happy birthday, Ax."