Author's Notes: Thought-speech will be denoted by double-parentheses. (( ))

"This is ridiculous!" Marco declared, when he arrived in the barn and saw me sitting there. "I was having loads of fun beating Jake in that racing game, and now you want us to hang out with her?"

"Um, excuse me?" Jake said to him, "you were beating me?"

"Yeah. Oh, you think it was the other way around?"

"We're not doing anything with her, Cassie," Rachel said, arms folded.

"If it makes you feel better, I don't want to 'hang' with you guys either," I admitted. "I'm only here because Cassie asked me to be."

"And since when did you listen to her?"

"Since she became my friend."

The others silenced at that. I finally admitted it: Cassie was my friend.

"Cassie," Jake said, softly, "can I talk to you outside for a minute?"

"No," replied Cassie. The three of them looked at her strangely. I guess they weren't used to her saying no to Jake. "Whatever you have to say to me, you can say here in front of Sarah."

No one said a word. They just shifted uncomfortably. Finally, Rachel said, "Alright, I'll say it: remember the last time we trusted someone we only knew for a few days?"

"This is different!" Cassie assured. "Trust me!"

"We trust you," replied Marco. "We don't trust her."

"But I do!"

"Cassie, this is more serious than who trusts who," Jake pointed out. "A lot of things are going on."

"And we're fighting the same battle," I said, finally. They looked at me. I stood up and faced them. "We may not be fighting together, but we have the same enemy."

"You don't even know what you're talking about," said Marco.

"Excuse me?"

"We're fighting a war that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives."

"Are you counting only humans or everyone else in the galaxy the Yeerks have killed?" Marco, Rachel and Jake stared at me confusingly. "Because the death toll is much higher than that."

"Cassie told you about the Yeerks."

"I've known about them my whole life. I lived with them for eight years!"

"Oh, well, I wonder why we don't trust you then?!" Marco said, with more sarcasm than he's ever used with me. "Could that be the exact reason?"

"Shut up, Marco!" Cassie almost shouted. That shocked the group more than what I said. "I trust her. She's not evil!"

"She is to us," sneered Rachel.

"Why? Because she was a Yeerk for eight years? Have you ever thought to ask what happened after she was free?"

"No, and quite frankly, we don't care."

"I don't think our friend Elfangor would like us saying that," muttered Cassie. I felt a twang hit my face, but I subdued it.

"What does he have to do with her?"

Cassie looked at me. She wanted me to explain. I didn't like talking about him; it made me depressed. I said, softly, "He was my brother."

No one spoke for a split second. It seemed like a long split second. But then, all three of them laughed and laughed and laughed. "Oh, now I get it! This is a joke!" Marco said. "Nice one, Cassie! You had us going for a while."

"Let me guess," added Rachel, "that's Tobias. You two were in on this all along, right? I never thought Cassie would consent to one of us morphing a human."

I looked at Cassie. "Who's Tobias?"

"Um, actually, there were five of us who got our power from your brother. Tobias was the fifth, but he, uh, got stuck in morph due to complicated reason."

"A nothlit?"

"Yeah, but a while ago, the Ellimist gave him his morphing power back. He's still a bird, though."

"Whoa, Ellimist." I scoffed and shivered slightly. "I haven't heard about him since the last legend I was told."

"He usually appears to us at times we really don't want to see him."

"Um, excuse us, but we're just standing here," Marco interrupted.

Cassie sighed and faced the group again. "I don't care if you don't trust her, but I do. She's not Tobias, she's Sarah. And she's trying to avenge her brothers' deaths."

"And I can do it all without any of your help, either," I added. I wanted to leave. This was exasperating. I don't care about getting them to trust me. I don't need them to trust me.

I wouldn't leave without Cassie's say so, however. I was here out of respect for her. "Okay, now wait a second," Marco said. He was talking far too much, "if Elfangor was her brother, and he was killed by Visser Three, does that mean you're going to try to convince us that he was her Guardian?"

"No," I said, "I don't need to try to convince you of anything. Whether you believe it or not doesn't make it any less true."

They laughed again. I growled. This was getting far too annoying. I didn't want to stand here and be laughed at all day. I glared at Cassie. "I'm sorry," she said, "they don't normally act like morons. They're usually very smart."

Jake looked at her. "You're calling us morons?"

"Yes, I am. Because if you weren't, you would trust me!"

"We do trust you! We just don't trust her."

"But if you trust me, you would trust her. If she really was a Yeerk, don't you think she'd make an excuse to go to them by now? Come on, Jake, you know what that's like!"

He glared at her and almost sneered. Jake was a Yeerk? "That is none of her business, Cassie."

"Look, I'm through here," I said at last. "I don't want to wait around any longer. You guys don't trust me, and that's fine. I don't need your help to kill Visser Three. I can do that on my own."

"Sarah, wait! Please!" Cassie grabbed my arm in a reassuring way. It would have been so easy to break away, but I didn't. It was her eyes that stopped me, not her hand. "Give them some more time, please! Don't leave us yet!"

"Oh, no, by all means, go," said Marco.

"Even if I did," I muttered, "would you really let me live? I know all about you now. You don't trust me here. What makes me believe you'll just let me live if I walk out of this barn?"

My question was answered when Jake turned away from me. They were going to kill me if I left. They were going to kill me anyway. They had to: I knew all about them. And I'm sure they blamed Cassie for it, too.

"We'll have a vote," said Jake.

"It's an unfair vote," Rachel pointed out. "It's just the four of us."

Jake sighed. He hesitated before speaking, as if gathering his thoughts. "Fine. We'll post-pone the vote until all members are present."

"Great idea, Jake. Show her where everyone is."

He ignored her. "Let's go to the forest. We'll find Tobias' tree and make the vote there." He walked out of the barn first. Cassie still held onto my arm. Rachel and Marco didn't move. I assumed they were waiting for me to leave first. I glared at Cassie until she let my arm go, then I left the barn.

We headed towards the forest, taking the path Cassie and I did earlier. I asked her, "If you knew they were going to decide to kill me, why did you allow me to meet them?"

She whispered, "Because I seriously thought they would trust you, too."

"We may have at one point," admitted Jake, "but David ruined it."

"I see. I can understand you. I would probably do the same thing in your position." Jake said nothing in reply.

We walked further and further down the path, and eventually turned off it. Cassie was always by my side, Jake was in the lead and Marco and Rachel were behind us. "Just to let you know," I said, "I won't allow you to kill me. I have to avenge my brothers first. I don't care what happens to me after that."

"We won't kill you," Jake said. I scoffed.

"Yeah, right. What did you do to that David kid?"

"Something worse," Cassie muttered. I've always believed there were worse fates than death, so I didn't ask what.

We eventually reached a beautiful field with short grass, little trees and a small stream as well. Jake walked over to one tree and sort of looked in it. There was a squawk, a ruffle of feathers and Jake's head snapped back just in time to allow a red-tailed hawk to soar out. It flew around a bit, and then landed on a log near the tree it flew out of. It glared at me and stayed near Jake. I saw Jake's head nod ever so slightly. I assumed the nothlit, Tobias, was speaking to him.

"Um, Sarah, that's Tobias," Cassie introduced. Feeling slightly ridiculous, I nodded at the bird. It did not move nor reply. Cassie called to the bird, "Tobias, this is Sarah. She's my friend."

Again, nothing from the bird. It just perched on the log, glaring. Marco said, "Well, this is fun: we're talking to a bird. I always knew my life was crazy."

Cassie said, "We're having a vote as to what to do with Sarah."

"I vote to kill her," Rachel said instantly, sneering at me. "It's been coming for a long time."

"I always knew you were blood-thirsty," I said, sneering right back, "but I never knew you would be happy to actually take a life. That is, if you even can kill me."

"I could do it right here, right now."

"That's enough," Jake said, calmly. He might as well have shouted. He turned to me. "Tell Tobias about your family."

A cough. "Do you know how long it took me to tell Cassie?"

"About just your brothers, then. Why are you avenging them?"

I sighed. I was getting annoyed telling the same story over and over again. "My Guardian, Visser Three, murdered them, okay? Would it be alright if I don't explain this story again? You don't have anyone else for me to tell this story to, do you?"

"And your brothers' names?" Jake pressed on.

"Look, this is a tad ridiculous, okay? You trust me as much as I trust you. For all I know, this could be some kind of set up for me."

"Tell Tobias your brothers' names."

"Why should I?"

((Because I'd like to know,)) replied a voice in my head. I looked at Tobias. I guessed he was the one who spoke. I said nothing, but glared. He was a hawk, so his gaze was only slightly worse than mine. ((I don't trust you any more than they do. But I would like to know about this, if Jake feels it's so important that I know.))

I sighed. "My older brother's name was Elfangor. My little brother was Aximili."

The hawk didn't change his gaze, but he did look up at Jake, who nodded. When Tobias looked back at me, he asked, ((And Visser Three murdered both of them?))

"No, of course not," I replied sarcastically. "I didn't just say that a few seconds ago. How could I? I was talking to a tree."

((Did you watch him do it?))

"I watched him kill Elfangor. I saw the Dome ship burn in the atmosphere and crash somewhere. A ship of that size would have exploded on contact. They're both dead. Now, if it's alright, I would rather not discuss this further." I tried to stop the tears, but I failed. A few seeped out of my face before I knew it. Marco looked like he was going to say something snide, but reconsidered. Rachel didn't even look. Good. I don't need them commenting on my show of weakness.

((Would you guys excuse me for a minute?)) Tobias asked. Jake nodded and Tobias opened his wings and flapped into the sky. I watched him disappear into the woods.

"Where's he going?" I asked Cassie.

"Um, when we found your brother, he was affected most by his death," she explained. "I guess he just wants to be alone."

"He's not the only one," I muttered, glaring at the other three.

Rachel asked, "And why do you care so much about revenge anyway? Jake has a brother but he's no where near as protective as you are."

I looked at Jake and saw his lip twitch. I bet Jake cares about his brother very much. I replied, "My brothers saved my life. I owe them everything. Elfangor was my mentor and my father figure. Aximili was my best friend and confidant. I will not rest until I've avenged both of them."

I wiped away my tears and focused on my task at hand, which was revenge. I felt Cassie put her hand on my shoulder compassionately. I shook it off. I didn't need support. And how much longer will I stand in this forest, surrounded by people who hated me?

"If you're all going to attempt to kill me, you might as well do it now," I said.

"I told you, we won't kill you," Jake said.

"You're going to attempt to do to me what you did to David?"

"No. Just give us a minute, okay?"

"A minute to do what?"

"To wait for Tobias to get back," Marco replied, softly. Was he being nice for once?

"For your vote."

"Among other things," replied Rachel. I sighed. Fine. A few more minutes and then –

I heard crashing in the distance, coming closer. My head jerked to the direction. Tobias flew back into the field and perched on the log again. When he was settled, he said, ((Sorry for being late. It took a while to find him.))

The crashing got louder. "Find who? I'm not explaining that story again," I said.

"I don't think you'll need to," said Jake, smiling. What was going on?

The crashing finally stopped. Someone came into the clearing near Jake and Tobias. ((I came as fast as I could. Tobias said there was an emergency?))

He looked at me. I looked at him. Time seemed to stop. All sounds and movements were blocked from my mind. The only thing I focused on was the new comer. A wave of memory and emotion hit me all at once. I had to strongly focus on how to keep balance. I couldn't speak. My mouth was agape in disbelief.

My brother was alive!

He looked at me with more emotion than I did. He looked as if he would fall over. He focused all his eyes on me. He was the first to speak. ((Sarah?))

I managed to make my lips move. "Aximili?" I replied. "You're alive? But… But, you're supposed to be dead!"

((You are supposed to be dead as well.))

"How did you? How did…? You're so…! What's going on?" I had never felt so sad and happy at the same time. For the first time in a long time, I didn't know what to do. I just stood there, blubbering like and idiot. I vaguely saw Cassie tearing up, holding her hand to her mouth, but I didn't focus much on that.

((It is good to see you again.))

I cried. I stood there, crying. I knew there were people around me, but I didn't care. I also didn't bother to stop myself. I wouldn't have been able to even if I tried. I tried to speak; to say anything to my brother, but no words came out. My anguish came out like a waterfall. I hadn't seen my brother in months, and thought he was dead all this time. Now he was here, in front of me.

I felt him gather me into his arms and hold me to his chest. He had grown much since I last saw him. I was grateful he had that chance. I cried on his chest for a long time, only vaguely aware of the others. They didn't matter; it was only my brother and me now.

Hours, or perhaps days, later, I looked back up at him. "It is good to see you, too."

He looked back at me. ((Sarah, your smile always brightens your face. You're much prettier that way.))

So I smiled. My cheeks hurt when I did. I hadn't done it in so long. I smiled and then did something else I hadn't done in a long time: I laughed. I laughed and laughed until it hurt. I turned to the others, smiling and laughing, finally acknowledging their presence. I saw Cassie crying at this point, but they were tears of happiness.

Marco looked at me for a while and finally said, "Whoa, she's like a whole different person when she smiles, huh?"

"Doesn't look like Death anymore, you mean," Rachel added.

"Oh, no, she's still Death. Just a less evil Death."

"This is nothing. You should see me when I'm really into it," I said.

Marco leaned over to Cassie and whispered loudly and dramatically, "I'm afraid of her now."

I laughed again. It felt good to laugh. It felt like my whole world was brighter. I no longer cursed the sky or the sun, which shone brightly on my damp face. I looked over at Jake, who was smiling approvingly.

I stepped back from my brother a bit. "Aximili, you don't look well. Have you been eating right?"

((Earth vegetation is not like it is back home,)) he replied.

"Not to mention he stuffs his face with cinnamon buns," Marco added.

((How does one stuff their face? I thought humans did that to dead animals?))

"He means eats a lot of," I explained.

((Ah.))

"We're all going to the mall now," Jake said. "Do you two wanna join us?"

"What about our vote?" asked Rachel.

"Oh. Okay. All in favour of her joining us?" All of them said 'Aye'. It made me grin. "All opposed?" No one said a word. Marco coughed dramatically. "Alright then."

I chuckled. "I'll go to the mall with you guys." I turned to Aximili. "Do you have a human morph?"

((Yes.)) He proceeded to morph into a human. I could see that he was no better at morphing than he used to be. He still had no basic rhythm. For example, his legs were the first to go. He fell forward and Cassie and I had to hold him up.

"I see you still haven't improved," I mocked.

((I've never been a good morpher,)) he replied.

"Have you seen Cassie yet?" Rachel asked. "She's the best of us all."

"No I'm not," she replied, blushing.

After my brother's two remaining legs thickened, he was able to stand on his own. His arms also thickened, and some of his fingers disappeared. His stalk eyes disappeared into his head and his two front eyes rounded out. He developed a nose and a mouth as well. After he started growing hair, I noticed how drastically under-dressed he was.

"Have you, uh, got any better clothes than that?" I asked, smirking a bit.

"No," he replied. "I don't morph human often, so I have no need of better clothes. K-loh-oh-ssssss."

"Aximili, don't do that. Only human children do that."

"Do what? Whaaa -"

"That. Don't play with your words."

"Oh, don't bother," said Jake. "We've been trying to get him to stop for a long time to no success."

I laughed. "Is Tobias coming?" I asked. The hawk just shifted.

((No; I'll stay here. We don't need an army to go to the mall,)) he replied.

Marco whispered to me, "He doesn't like going human. He thinks we're blind and deaf."

((You are,)) Tobias replied. ((Plus you're too close to the ground. It's rather uncomfortable.))

"How did you cope before becoming a nothlit?"

((I don't know.))

"Well, let's go if we're going," Jake announced.

"Sure thing, oh fearless leader," mocked Marco, giving him a small salute. Jake rolled his eyes. "But I do have one question first." He turned to Aximili. "Why didn't you ever tell us you had a sister?"

"You didn't ask," my brother replied. "Besides, it would have been rather difficult to explain how I have a human sister."

"Touché."

"I still don't trust you," Rachel muttered to me, "and I'm still going to get back at you for beating me in gym class."

"I would love to see you try," I challenged. She smirked at me, accepting the challenge.

All in all, I was very happy. I had friends. That's what they were: friends. And my favourite little brother by my side, as well. My life was starting to look up for the first time in months…