CHAPTER 7: Flying Free
(MIKE'S POV)
"So which one are you going to morph?" Cassie asked Tobias.
Tobias was gazing at two injured birds of prey. An Osprey with a broken beak, and a Red-tailed hawk with a broken wing.
"I think I'll choose…The Red-tail!" Tobias decided.
It was starting to get kind of freaky, knowing everything that was about to happen. It was cool, yes, but really weird at the same time.
Tobias walked up to the hawk's cage, stuck his hand inside, and stroked the injured bird's healthy wing. The hawk glared at him furiously (although it was kind of hard to tell with raptors) and started to flare up, but it suddenly became passive as Tobias started to acquire its DNA.
"The same thing happened with Dude," Tobias said once he had finished acquiring the hawk's DNA. Dude is Tobias' cat. "I think that all animals are put into some kind of trance while they're being acquired."
I nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah I guess that would make sense," I said. "I mean, how else would these Andalites be able to morph really dangerous animals like…" I stopped in mid-sentence. I'd been about to say 'like that beast Visser Three morphed last night' but it really hurt to mention what had happened.
Cassie broke the awkward silence.
"So…are you morphing or what?" she asked Tobias. Tobias nodded, and began to morph.
I always used to think that the Animorphs were exaggerating when they said that they would never in a million years get used to the morphing process. This was only the second time I had actually seen someone morphing, so you wouldn't think that I'd have had time to form an opinion on that particular topic. But as I watched Tobias' body begin to melt and reform, I made up my mind. I would never, ever get used to watching something like that; trust me on this one.
"Aren't you morphing too Mike?" Cassie stared at me curiously, as if I were a puzzle she was trying to figure out.
I didn't want to increase her suspicions, so I started to morph back to Harris hawk. Although the way Cassie had looked at me reminded me of the fact that I was going to have to tell the other Animorphs my little secret eventually.
Eventually yes, I told myself as I finished the morph. But not today. I stretched out my raptor's wings, flapping them hard until I found a small updraft, and then floated off towards the afternoon sun with my brand new Red-tailed friend by my side.
(TOBIAS' POV)
--YEEEEEHAAAA!!-- I yelled out loud at the exhilaration and joy of flying. It was wonderful. We had been flying over the city for over half an hour, searching for the Yeerk Pool the Andalite had told me about, but I was still ecstatic! It all felt so open, peaceful, and free. It was almost as if I had spent twenty years in prison and then been released into the world. Freedom. Absolute, total freedom! If there was one moment of my life I would never forget, it would be the first time I morphed a bird, flying free through the blue afternoon sky.
--WAAAHOOO!!-- My new friend Mike went shooting past less than five metres to my right. He seemed to be enjoying it almost as much as I was. But then again; how could you not enjoy flying?
--This is incredible Mike,-- I told him. --The eyes, the ears, the wings…Everything!--
--I know! It's so amazing!-- Mike replied. --We are nearly half a kilometre up, but I can still see all the people down there so clearly it's like we're right next to them. I can even hear the cars!--
--It's like a dream come true,-- I said. There was silence for a while before Mike started talking again.
--By the way Tobias, what made you choose the Red-tail instead of the Osprey?--
It was a perfectly reasonable question, but it took me by surprise.
--I don't know really,-- I admitted. --The Red-tail looked cooler I guess.-- It was only then that I realised something that should have been quite obvious. --Where did you get your Harris hawk from Mike?-- I asked casually.
--Oh, err…I found it in the woods!-- Mike replied.
--How did you get near it?-- I was slightly suspicious now. I'm no animal expert like Cassie, but I do know that you can't get anywhere near most forest dwelling animals, particularly birds.
--I found it on the ground when I was walking through the woods, maybe it was injured or something.-- Mike said.
--Injured? Shouldn't you have taken it to Cassie's barn?-- Mike didn't seem like the kind of guy who would leave a hurt animal lying helpless on the ground.
--Well…It didn't seem too serious, and it flew off afterwards so it must have been okay.--
I thought of questioning him further; Mike's explanation sounded strange and unlikely.
Reality check Tobias, if you think that was strange compared to what happened last night then there must be something seriously wrong with you. I told myself.
I shrugged it off and stared down at the patchwork quilt of suburban buildings below and spotted one I recognised. We had finally arrived at Jake's house. However, as Mike and I began to descend to land next to Jake's window, I heard a bunch of loud noises coming from inside. It sounded like somebody having a fight. What was going on? Fortunately my incredible hawk ears could hear what was being said now that we were close enough, even with the window closed.
"Jake, quit acting like a stupid jerk!"
"Take that back!"
"Not likely, you think it's just a coincidence he's suddenly all interested in what happened at the construction site?"
--What the hell is going on in there?-- I asked Mike.
--Not a clue,-- Mike replied. --I can't see into the room very well from this angle.--
--Me neither,-- I said. --But from what I can hear it sounds like Jake and Marco are having an argument.--
--Yeah and I don't think it's about pizza toppings.-- Mike agreed.
--Think we should go check it out? We should probably tell Jake about everything Elfangor told us last night.--
--Definitely. Red-tails first.-- Mike said with a laugh.
--With pleasure, let me show you how it's done.-- I called back before heading right into a dive towards Jake's bedroom window. I folded back my wings in the bird of prey equivalent of a free fall and let gravity bring me in for a landing. I opened my wings wide again as I got close to slow my descent, then started flapping against the window with my left wing to try and get their attention. Mike appeared next to and did the same.
--Let us in, alright? We can't hover here forever!-- I insisted.
--Yeah what do you think we are, Geese?-- Mike added.
Thankfully Jake walked over to the window and opened it up as wide as it would go to let us in. I landed on Jake's dresser and Mike fluttered over to the bed.
--What on Earth are you two fighting about?-- I demanded. --Oh, and what do you think of my new Red-tailed hawk morph?--