A.N: Woohoo, another chapter! Did anyone catch the Eragon reference in Price Isidar's name? It was from Isidar Mithrim, the Star Rose in Tronjheim. On to the story!

CHAPTER 10: This Makes No Sense!

Cassie's POV

I had just managed to fall asleep when, all of a sudden, I heard, "Hi!" I nearly had a heart attack. I almost immediately started morphing to wolf when I realized that there was no evil Controller waiting to drag me down to the Yeerk pool and destroy my life. Instead, it was Alice.

"Jeez, Alice! Don't do that!" I exclaimed, "You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry," apologized Alice, "but there's a problem that we need you and Ax for."

Alice told me the whole story and I was shocked. An Andalite falling out of the sky and landing right in the forest? Unfortunately, I was too tired at the time to argue. I began the morph to owl while Alice ran off to get Ax.

After about ten minutes, I had reached the area. It tuns out that Alice was right. There was a half-dead looking Andalite lying on the grass next to the wrecked piece of what I had assumed was his ship. I landed on the ground and demorphed.

‹You are one of these 'Animorphs' sent to help me, are you not?›

"I am," I said. I then realized that all of the Cullens were there as well. They were silent, their faces expressionless as they looked down at the dying Andalite.

"I will try and do what I can, but I will probably need Ax, or Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthil to heal you completely. I will do what I can."

I examined the Andalite's burns and tried to use some of the burn ointment that I had carried over in my talons. I applied the ointment but then I heard the Andalite cry out, ‹Ahhhhh!›

I saw that the burn started to bubble and expand. Alarmed, I ran and found some water. I poured the water on the burn to wash off the ointment and soothe the burn, but that only seemed to make things worse. The Andalite cried out again and the burn started to ooze blood. This wasn't making any sense at all! I tried to bandage the wound with a cloth that I had also brought but the blood seeped through and actually burned the cloth. To my horror, when I tried to remove it, the blood was boiling hot and burned my hand. I was so confused that it wasn't even funny.

All the while, the Andalite, whose name was Ondar-Aldenok-Morteth, writhed in pain and agony while I stood there hopeless. I really felt sorry for him. No one should have to die like this, with the healing just speeding up the pace.

"Alice, Ax, where are you?" I cried out aloud. The Andalite was just getting weaker and weaker. The writhing was getting slower and slower until he was barely moving anymore.

Finally, I heard the galloping of hooves and the whoosh of a running vampire.

"There you are!" I exclaimed, "What took so long?! He's almost dead! Everything I tried backfired. Ointment made the burns worse and water made them split open and bleed. When I bandaged the wound, the blood just burned right through it. This makes no sense!"

Everyone was silent for awhile until Ax looked at Ondar and asked, ‹Exactly what sort of cannon hit the MoonFire?›

‹Do I look like a scientist to you? I don't know, probably dual-pulse with pathogenic systems enabled. That's just a guess though.›

‹That explains your condition, TO Ondar,› said Ax, ‹you probably caught arswit from the pathogenic properties of the blast. Arswit is a disease that rejects all healing and instead makes the wound, or what ever else, worse. Ironically, it is spread through wounds. We learned about it and its uses in bio-warfare in the Academy.

‹If that's the case,› continued Ax, ‹then there may be no hope, for the only known cure lies within the most exotic regions of,› Ax paused dramatically, an annoying habit he had picked up as a result of watching too many soaps, ‹the Andalite homeworld. It is found within the roots of the Ixcretis herb which itself is very rare.›

Marco wasn't here so I guess it was my turn to be sarcastic, "Easy enough," I said, "all we have to do is go down to the Yeerk pool and hijack a Bug-Fighter. Piece of cake."

‹That may be our only option." Said Ax. I should have kept my mouth shut, ‹TO Ondar has informed me that there is also a very important piece of information hidden within the Andalite military that may be crucial to winning the war. However, we must first locate the Ixcretis and cure him, otherwise, he will die very shortly and we will not obtain the information. I recommend consulting Prince Jake.›

"Yeah," I agreed, "that's probably the best idea. We should get the other Animorphs here too."

I morphed owl and rounded up the others.

"Okay," said Marco, "let me get this straight: some random Andalite comes falling out of the sky and is infected with some bizarro alien disease, and now we have to steal a Bug-Fighter to fly to the Andalite homeworld in order to find some super-rare herb so we can cure him."

‹You are correct,›

Marco shot Ax an annoyed look. I noticed Edward looking intently at the Andalite like he was off in his own world. I figured he was reading TO Ondar's mind.

"It is worth trying," said Edward, "the information he has is very important, yet he thinks it best that you find out on your own without me telling you myself."

‹Yes,› he shook with pain, shockingly similar to Elfangor, ‹that would be best. There is a star chart in my quarters that would point out the fastest route to the homeworld. You must make haste if you are to make it in time. Go plan now, then strike at the Pool as soon as possible. Take the Bug-Fighter and shoot your way through the Yeerk Pool. I trust you know how to pilot the ship, Aximili.›

‹I do,› replied Ax.

‹Then leave! Every second counts. I will be fine on my own.›

"Are you sure?" I asked, "We could take you to the Chee. They would take care of you."

‹No, I will be fine. Go, and do not waste time!›

We, and the Cullens left for my barn to plan. We told them all the details of the Yeerk Pool, about how horrifying it is.

"You guys will be our key players in this," said Jake to the Cullens, "You look perfectly human and will not arouse suspicion. Look around for the Bug-Fighter. In the meantime, we will be in morph, distracting the Yeerks. When you find the ship, send someone to come inform us. Then we haul butt toward the Bug-Fighter. We'll have to Dracon blast anything that gets in our way."

"This sounds like fun!" commented Emmett,

"I was thinking the same thing," agreed Rachel,

"Shh, guys keep it down," I said, "my parents could hear you and come down to see the problem."

"Okay," said Jake, "I think we've got it. Let's just all go back home and sleep on it. Well the human and Andalite portions of us will, at least. Besides, Cassie's right, her parents could come in and find us."

With that, everyone went back home. I had a bad feeling about all of this.

A.N: Okay, I need suggestions badly: How are the Cullens going to get through the Gleet BioFilters? They're not human or Yeerk. Please leave ideas in your reviews.