AN: Just taking some time to say thanks for the reviews. I really do appreciate them. Oh, and I'll say sorry that it took so long to come back. again. i gotta fix that. review more, it guilt trips me into writing again lol.
Chapter 8: Rachel
My name is Rachel
It had taken everything we had to get away from the deranged, egocentric lunatics that can be summed up with the word centaur and by the time we did, it wasn't pretty. In fact, I was extremely tempted to turn around, morph elephant and crush them all into the ground. I had so many painful arrows imbedded into my limbs and back that I looked like a freaking, oversized porcupine! And of course, thanks to them, I just lost another set of my clothes. Do have any idea how long it will take me to track down another one of those jackets? Stores tend to sell out of them within a day!
Ax hadn't looked much better, though the arrows had only every seemed to target his butt. The rest of him had swelling skin here and there. Of course, morphing had already dealt with that.
It had been sheer dumb luck that had saved us. The first group of centaurs had been fairly wounded and had stumbled into the runways of the new arrivals, resulting in a rather hilarious pileup and giving us the time we needed to get some distance between us and them before slipping into a crevice neither of us had seen. It hurt like hell and had me screaming into Ax' head as arrows were pushed deeper into my shoulder, but I managed to keep my mouth shut. After that we just hugged the dirt walls and blended into the darkness as the annoying, yabbering horsey people galloped overhead and out of the grizzly's hearing range before deciding to be done with it and morph birds.
So there we were, a northern harrier and a bald eagle carrying a blue box, flying over a dark and perfectly dangerous forest on the wrong continent towards was looked to us to be a dilapidated mess of a giant building.
/Rachel, how big is the largest spider?/ Ax asked as we flew past a particularly high tree.
/About the size of my hand I think. Why?/ Why would he ask that of all things at this point in time?
/Because there appears to be a man approximately sixteen feet tall squashing spiders the size of a small car with what appears to be a tree./ He responded calmly. /Though, with the insufficient nature of these eyes at night, I may be mistaken./
/WHAT?/ I cried, almost dropping right out of the air. Was he for real? There was no way he could...
The thought stopped abruptly there, for a loud, echoing cheer bombarded my ears at that moment, drawing my attention to a small clearing not far from us and sure enough, there they were. Thunder rang through my head as I watched a giant crush a spider bigger than me into the ground, laughing merrily as he did. More and more of the spiders charged at him from all directions, but that only seemed to make him happier as he ploughed away at them, squashing, batting and all round killing them.
I was suddenly very grateful that it was dark and my eyes were lousy. I'd seen spiders large and up close before and it was one disgusting sight I fully intended to avoid whenever I could. But at the same time, I had to admit that I was a little excited. If I could acquire either one of them, the giant or the overgrown spiders, well imagine the damage I could bring to the Yeerks? To have the raw power of the giant or the sure to be amazing combination of manoeuvrability, power and poison of the spider would make me one seriously dangerous opponent.
/Well, what do you know, I guess that really was an army of giant spiders we smelt before. Interested in making a quick pit stop?/ I asked as casually as I could.
/Going after any of those creatures at the present time will only end with our destruction./ He stated calmly, keeping his head pointed straight at the ruins. /It is best that we avoid that area for now. I am certain that you will get to satisfy your desire for overly malicious morphs later./
Did he really have to put it that way? I mean yeah, I have a love for powerful morphs and causing a lot of damage, but I'm not malicious. And I do have other interests.
But as the sound of crashing thunder of the tree hitting the ground rocked the trees again, I had to concede to his point. If we were going to go after magical morphs without wizards to help, we probably should start with something a little less threatening. Sighing, I gave up on that dream for now and followed Ax.
That is, until I saw a creature that I could get close to. We were close to the boundary of the forest and already dropping to the ground in search of the others when I saw them. Four winged beasts were lying in a small opening in the trees. They had black skin that blended perfectly into the darkness. It was only because the moonlight was shining directly down on them that I saw them at all.
/They all look asleep. Perfect./ I would have grinned if I had lips as I landed on the ground, dropping the cube down gently first, beginning to demorph before Ax could argue. The Andalite in question said nothing as he followed my lead. I guess he just decided that there was no point trying to stop me. He wouldn't have gotten anywhere anyway, I was too excited about the possibilities magical creatures presented.
Moving slowly as I finished my morph, I sucked in a soft breath as I realised that these things were actually winged horses. Though they looked nothing like what they average person would describe. Their wings were as black as their skin and looked like those of a bat, not a bird. Plus, there was little to no meat on them. They were practically skin and bone. They were bigger than your average horse, probably bigger than the average war horse, but what really surprised me as I approached was the fact that it had carnivorous teeth in its reptilian head and pure white eyes.
/They are aware of your presence./ Ax noted cautiously, his statement only being emphasised as the one nearest to me raised its head. /Perhaps a retreat would be the best option at this time. They appear to be more than capable of eating you./
"No, that's why I want it." I responded softly, taking a careful step toward the horse. However, that didn't mean that I wasn't as nervous as hell. For all my bravado, inside I was terrified that the entire group would jump up and tear me to shreds. But as I slowly grew closer to them, with one small step after another, that fear faded. Though they were clearly curious about me, it was also obvious that they didn't see me as a threat or a meal. In fact, they were looking at me like the gentle ponies I used to ride at fairs or the horses in Cassie's barn do. Like they were curious of me and nothing more.
"You really are amazing creatures." The words left my mouth before I even realised my lips had moved, but I wasn't going to complain, it had an interesting effect. The winged horse nearest to me actually seemed to look pleased with me and tilted its head me way. A smile growing on my face, I took the hint and kneeled down beside it, placing my hand on its neck and rubbing it.
The horse let out a noise kind of similar to the pleases sounds Cassie's horses generally gave when she groomed them, causing me to giggle a little. Despite how creepy and dangerous their appearance was, they were actually pretty sweet. Like the Hork-Bajir.
I just sat there petting it for a good few minutes before I finally focus on acquiring it. I couldn't help it, something about these horses drew me in. But I was here on a mission and our team was separated in a dangerous forest, I couldn't sit there all night. Holding my hand still, I closed my eyes and concentrated, feeling the horse's head grow heavy as its DNA joined my own.
"Thank you." I said softly, grinning as I gently lowered its head to the ground before standing up.
"Magnificent beasts them Thestrals, aren' they?" Crap! Someone had caught me. how hadn't Ax noticed them. Sparing him a look as I turned towards the voice, I was even more amazed to see the shock on his hidden face too before almost shaking as my eyes found those of the speaker...about twice as far up from the ground as my own.
The man had to be eleven or twelve feet tall with the muscles of an Olympic bodybuilder, though they seemed to fit his form, messy black hair and a beared to match. He was easily the most imposing and dangerous person I'd ever come across or was likely to ever cross paths with again. or he would be if it wasn't for the obvious, joyful, gentle nature that poured out of his eyes as he looked at me and the jolly smile almost hidden by the beard as he waited for my response.
"Y-yes, they are. I've never seen anything like them." I said, trying to calm my nervousness with a smile.
"I'll bet. They're definitely a much more unique breed ah flyin horse. Very loyal. Very smart to, always know where ta go. And...wait a moment, what's a student like you doing out ere?" He asked with a frown, growing far more serious. "An at NIGHT? Ya don' think it's dangerous enough in da castle, you feel da need to come out ere without so much as shoes or ya wand?"
"Oh, um..." OK, so this guy worked for the school. Just how big were wizards? This was bad, this was...hang on, he thought I was a student. I could get him to lead me right to the school. This could work. "I got lost and my shoes got shredded when I was running from some centaurs on a power trip. Dropped my wand too." I added, trying as hard as I could to appear like a terrified little girl, keeping my voice shaky and meek. "Could you help me get back to the castle?"
"O' course I can little lady." The man responded, his serious expression turned soft and comforting as he gently place a giant arm on my back. "I wouldn' be a very good magical creatures Professor or grounds keeper if I didn't know the terrain around ere. But we best hurry, don' wanna get caught by those centipede things hangin around. Those vicious bottomless stomachs somehow managed to break outta their cage. Think them lousy Death Eaters helped em out." He added, growling at the last sentence.
"Yeah, we better move fast." I agreed nervously, putting on a big display of biting my lip as I thought over all that. Taxxons were in the area. That was bad. Where there are Taxxons, Hork-Bajir are never far behind and we had enough troubles already. But this guy had managed to capture some, even if they did get busted out. Sparing him another glance, I couldn't help but wonder if he did it with his magic or his muscles.
/I will follow in the air./ Ax called as we walked away, leaving the Thestrals to their rest. I practically had to run to keep up with the giant of a man, not a fun thing when you're in a rock and root filled area with no shoes. Ax had better morph fast, otherwise he would probably lose us in the dark.
"Sorry, but I don' recognise ya. How old are ya if ya don' mind me askin?" The man asked, staring down with a raised eyebrow. At that moment, I didn't have to act anymore. I'd just grown really nervous.
"I'm fourteen. My name's Rachel." I answered, hoping that I didn't just do something horribly wrong by answering honestly.
"A fourth year ay? Well then, you mustn' av taken Care of Magical Creatures. All well, don' know wha you're missin." He shrugged, trying to appear unconcerned. I say trying because he actually did look a little disappointed.
The trek continued like that for the most part, with him walking casually and asking questions and me practically running after him and lying through my teeth about how my charms could use some work. Although, considering that I'd fail spectacularly if I tried to cast one, maybe that's not a lie.
"Well, ere we are." Walking out from behind him, I looked up expecting to see ruins, but what I saw took my breath away. Up ahead, past fields of grass, greenhouses, what looked like some kind of sports arena and the lake was the most amazing and beautiful castle I'd ever seen. What looked like candle light shined through almost every window, giving the place a yellowish glow that revealed the perfect condition of the stone walls. It looked absolutely perfect, like it came right out of a fairytale.
However, it felt completely different. I couldn't explain it, but while my eyes told me this place was the embodiment of warmth, comfort and happiness, the air to the place was foreboding, creepy. Like something was just not right.
"Don' feel like it used ta, does it?" The man asked sadly, noticing the troubled look on my face. "I really miss tha' feeling of home an safety it used ta provide. I can' wait for the day we can kick those bloody dark wizards out and toss em into the dirty cells where they belong."
"Yeah. I couldn't agree more." I muttered, trying to fight back my urge to track down these dark wizards and introduce them to a charging elephant. I hadn't ever seen this place before in my life, but even I couldn't stand them defiling such a place. Just looking at it, you could tell that it was supposed to be a place of safety, warmth, harmony and all things good. I don't know what they'd done to the place, besides the obvious touch of what looked like rotting people in ragged, ugly robes flying through the sky, but I could still tell that it was the most despicable act they could have done.
"Well, not use thinkin abou' that now." He shrugged after a moment of staring, though he couldn't shake his sadness or his obvious rage. "Let's get ya inside. I'll take ya in so them bloody Carrows don' punish ya, but ya better make sure tha you're not out after dark again Rachel. We both know how they enjoy harming the defiant. Even if the defiant is as little as a sneeze at the wrong time."
"Yeah, I don't want to run into them." I nodded, making myself look as small and nervous as I could, a difficult feat considering I actually want to show these Carrows my tusks or claws. Maybe I'd get my chance later. All the same, I followed as he walked ahead, staying as close as I could.
/Rachel? What are you doing with a behemoth?/ I almost jerked right into the guy's hand as Tobias' voice hit my head. Looking up, I scanned the skies in search of him, pretending to be staring at the robed nightmares. I found him not too far ahead.
"Did you have company in the forest? Other students?" The man asked with, slowing down as the front door of the castle came into clear sight.
/She was caught acquiring an unusual animal called Thestral./ Ax answered Tobias for me. /The overly large man believes that she'd a student at the school./
"No, why do you ask?" I shook my head, hoping that I only sounded confused.
"Because two people just slipped into the castle. Probably Longbottom." He said with a sigh. "Tha boy and his allies are gonna get themselves killed if they keep fightin the Death Eaters. Snape and the Carrows will only let them live after so much. Incredibly brave and noble they are, but it would be better to save it for the real fight."
"True, but I guess they just can't stay out of it. Some people just can't stop fighting when people are hurting." I responded, as if I knew who he was talking about. It didn't matter though. It was the way almost every Animorph felt from the beginning. It made me think.
This Lonbottom and his friends might just be the right people to make contact with. It sounded like they were already doing what we do against these dark wizards and two of them were right in front of me. If I moved fast enough, I could follow them, maybe learn more about them.
And most of all, find out if any of them were already infested.
"Yeah, plenty of noble Gryffindors in tha' lot. They're rubbin off on da rest." The giant nodded with a shrug. He slowed his pace a little at that, probably to buy the kids more time to get in. That would normally strike me a little strange, considering he was a teacher who just caught students out after hours, but I guess he knew nothing he said would stop them from doing it again and didn't want them punished. It was best for all involved that he could pretend that he knew nothing.
/Rachel, those boys that just entered the ruins were attacked by a Taxxon./ Tobias stated, causing me to frown confusedly. Ruins? Couldn't he see the castle yet? I could. /Cassie saved them and they definitely don't strike us as Controllers, but they were coming out of a Taxxon built hole in the ground. If you're stuck going into the castle then I'll need you to help me watch them while Cassie and Ax wait for the others./
I couldn't respond verbally for obvious reasons, so I let myself fall a little behind the large man and nodded my head as wildly as I could as he opened the overly large door.
"Ah good. they're not ere." He muttered, scanning the hallway for a good minute before moving aside for me. "You head on up to ya dorm quick Rachel. Curfew was over an hour ago."
"No problem. Thanks again for the help." I nodded, smiling gratefully at the giant of a man before running down the hall.
"You're welcome. Just don't go out there again." He called happily, almost making me flinch. I liked the guy and it was god advice, but that was a really stupid thing to do considering we're trying to avoid evil hall monitors.
/The boys are splitting up./ Tobias called as I ran down the hall. /I'm watching them from the windows. Head up the first staircase and take the third right. I need you to follow a blonde boy who's currently putting on a blue eagle crest and a blue and bronze tie. I'll follow the other guy./
I couldn't answer so I followed his orders, running upstairs as fast as I could. However, all the while, another problem had crossed my mind. Just because the big guy didn't question whether I belonged here didn't mean no one else would, especially if they noticed that I was stalking them. I needed a morph that could blend in wherever blondie was going to go. But what? Owl? There were plenty of them outside.
I scrapped that idea by the time I made it halfway down the next hallway. I hadn't seen a single feather inside so it was safe to say that owls stayed outside. So what was left.
"Reeeooww!"
/Rachel watch it! You're too close to your guy. And mine./ Tobias cried, not that I was paying too much attention to him. I was looking at the indignant, hideous tabby cat hissing at me like I'd just won the lottery. Cats. Of course. Looks like the black cat following the witch cliché had some merit. And cats were the perfect choice for stalking people. They could go just about anywhere, had great senses of all kinds and were fast and flexible.
The best part? Even though little Miss Hiss was already running off, I already had a cat morph. Fluffer Mckitty.
My ears quickly slid up my head while whiskers sprouted from my nose. My whole body grew itchy as fur sprouted from my skin.
I was long used to the falling sensation of shrinking by that point, so it didn' bother me in the slightest. I can't say the same for the squelching of my organs as they melted and twisted, or the odd sensation of my knees pulling a one-eighty. Those were things I will never get used too. My tail sprouted when I was about halfway through shrinking, coming out bare, but growing fur from the tip inward as it was done sprouting. My fingers and toes fused together a moment later, turning into padded paws before growing sharp, retractable claws at the same time my teeth sharpened. The end result of all that was a cat with a small, furry version of my head with cat ears, leaving me very happy that Marco wasn't around to joke at my expense, before my nose flattened and my vision blurred only to be replaced with the cat's superior version.
Having dealt with the morph before, the instincts were nothing I couldn't handle and were easily suppressed as I dashed after my assigned wizard. He wasn't hard to find, my ears could hear both boys as they walked hastily away and my form was perfect for catching up. It only took one corner to spot him and from then on, my silent steps and low form in the dull light made following him a breeze, though it caused a bit of confusion in the back of my mind. From the outside it looked pretty well lit.
Up staircases, across hallways, past...snoring portraits?...it seemed like we were going to the furthest part of the castle, not that I was worried. This guy was so keen to get there that I wouldn't even need to worry about my time limit. Though I have to admit that I was getting a little annoyed when he led me up yet ANOTHER spiralling staircase.
Then just as I was getting irritated and thinking that the walk would never end, he made a left and came face to face with a door...that had no doorknob? Or a keyhole. All it had was a knocker in the shape of an eagle. How the heck were you supposed to open...oh yeah, magic. That seemed really lazy to me. I mean, really, they couldn't even be bothered to open a door, but they could run around a castle? These guys are weird.
I watched curiously, expecting him to pull out a wand and start rhyming or something, but instead he grabbed the knocker and gave it a good bang.
"The more there is, the less you see. Squint all you want when surrounded by me." I didn't quite manage to stop the hiss from escaping my mouth at that. The freaking knocker just talked! How crazy was that? Egotistical centaurs, bat winged horses, grunting portraits, riddle spewing doorknobs, what was next, a zombie?
"Darkness." The boy answered with forced calmness. And apparently what was next was the door unlocking and swinging open at the correct answer. The boy didn't even wait for it to open completely before running right in, forcing me to do the same. Not exactly something I was comfortable with I promise you. What if there were no places to demorph inside? Or if I needed to answer a riddle to get out? I suck at those things! I wasn't even going to get a peek at where we were going until I was pasted the door.
But if I didn't go in with him, the door would most likely lock me out and I have to demorph and solve a riddle jus to get in. Who knew how much important information I might miss if I did that or how many people would notice a girl where she didn't belong IF I ever actually got the door to open? So I did the only thing I could. My signature move: jump in head first and worry about the consequences later.
I just hoped that I wasn't making a huge mistake. I wasn't just dealing with Yeerks this time after all. I was dealing with magic in a place I had no guarantee of escaping and on my own. Even I knew that wasn't the best scenario that could have popped up out of my desire for a new morph.