Thanks to the gorgeous Birdie num num and metamorphstorm for the reviews already. Major hugs to you both! And yes, the first chapter was short, but it was meant to be more of a draw-you-in than scene setting chapter.

Chapter 2

Many years ago…

The summer seasons covered the Andalite home world with the sweet blossoms of the thick growing grasses, waving in the gentle breeze. As Jahar galloped wildly over the sea of pink, her hooves kicked up great clouds of blossom.

Slow down! Alloran cried as he raced after her. I've been on a ship the last three months! I can't run.

Push yourself, she called back. It's good for you. Otherwise you'll get fat!

Fat? He screamed. I'll show you fat! With an extra effort he closed the gap between them and leapt, bringing them both down in an undignified tangle of legs and tail. Jahar sneezed as blossoms filled her nose.

Get off me this instant! What would Arbat say? Alloran raised his upper torso, leaning on his elbows, but refused to move. He tipped his head and smiled mockingly.

Arbat? He'd probably splutter a lot and challenge me to a duel to the death. Jahar giggled at the thought of her fiancée puffing himself up self importantly and demanding that his brother atone for all his misdeeds. Besides, Alloran said lazily, I'll get up if you want me to. Jahar considered rising, but the ground was delightfully warm from the long hours of sunlight, and the grass cushioned her, so she stretched out her arms and lay back contentedly.

Perhaps I shall just ignore you and go to sleep.

Ignore me at your peril female! Alloran cried with mock wrath. Have you not heard that I have been made war prince? You can not treat a war prince so callously. She smiled and closed all four eyes.

Watch me, war prince.

Alloran always had very limited patience. He endured thirty Andalite heartbeats of her lying there as if napping in the sunlight, before giving her a light slap with his tail.

Wake up female! Now! Lazily she opened her left stalk eye and swivelled it to face him.

That wasn't very nice of you. He groaned and tapped her gently again.

You're ignoring me! You promised you'd take me to see your friend, Vitana, and instead you're sleeping.

You're on top of me, she pointed out. He sighed and rolled off her, standing up and shaking the flowers off his back.

Look, I'm up. Now can we go? She made a point of stretching luxuriantly and standing up as slowly as possible. Infuriating female, Alloran snarled, half annoyed. I don't even know why my brother's marrying you. She giggled at that, running her fingers through her short blue and tan fur to catch stray petals.

I'm nice to Arbat. I like him. He never snaps at me or tackles me to the ground. She turned towards Vitana's family land and picked up a gentle trot. Alloran loped beside her.

No, all Arbat does is waste his days in his labs, poring over formulae, he said.

He's a great scientist, she replied, annoyed. Alloran snorted.

Scientists? We always need a few, I'm sure, but why be one when you could serve your people in the front line?

We're not actually at war, you know, Jahar pointed out tetchily. Although if they're promoting trigger happy males like you as princes then we soon will be.

Oh, what would you know, female? Alloran snapped grumpily, and she was surprised how stung she was by his temper.

Vitana was waiting for them on the borders of her family land, and Jahar stole a glance at Alloran to see how he reacted to her beautiful friend. She knew the main reason he was here was his desire to find a mate (he never could bear to be left behind by his brother!), and Vitana was certainly a possibility.

Jahar! Her friend cried, cantering towards them.

Vitana! Jahar shouted back, admiring the grace in the other's movement. Vitana halted in front of them, and bowed low to Alloran.

Forgive me, warrior, but I do not know your name. Alloran looked pleased, and inclined his head back to her.

My name is war prince Alloran Simitur Corrass.

He's Arbat's brother, Jahar explained. Vitana shot her a slightly quizzical look as she stood up fully again. Alloran is home on leave, Jahar continued. And he is looking for a mate, she added in private thought speak. Vitana blushed slightly, the faintest hint of a darker blue spreading across her face.

And you brought him to my fields, she mocked playfully, still in private thought speak.

Stop being rude and talk to him, Jahar replied, slightly moodily. Vitana turned to the male, who stood there slightly awkwardly.

War prince Alloran, are you hungry? We have a field of Ordin grass which is very sweet at this time, or I could offer you some illsipar roots. Alloran's expression went from awkward to rabid in record time.

Real illsipar roots? He asked cautiously, practically trembling. Vitana nodded.

We can only have them rarely of course, but I believe that our current ones are ripe. If you would like to follow me. She turned and started trotting away, and Alloran followed, still in a slightly dream-like state.

She's got him, Jahar thought, with approval. Alloran was not a complicated creature – a brave warrior, a playful brother and easy to tempt when illsipar roots where on offer. The two of them made a good couple too, when observed in the brilliant sunlight. Vitana was small, even for a female, and delicate, with dainty hooves and slim fingers. Her tail blade was tiny, more a needle than a blade, her tail slim and elegantly carried, her features fine. Alloran was the perfect compliment: a slightly larger male than usual, with steel blue fur and taut muscles. His tail was carried higher, more proudly than Arbat's ever was, and he had more of a fighter's stance to him. He stood about a head higher than Vitana, so that he could probably rest his chin on her head should he so wish to, or she could lean in to rest on his chest. Side by side, they were very handsome.

Jahar followed the pair of them at a polite distance, although they didn't really seem to be talking unless they were using private speech. But then she and Arbat didn't speak so much… he always wanted to tell her about his latest experiment, and she had tried to show interest but her lack of it had grown too obvious, and he kept quiet now. Still, she was sure that once they were together she would enter more into his world of science and it would become as fascinating for her as it clearly was for him.

Still, it was easier to talk to Alloran, and she was going to miss him when he left on his new flight. But that was the problem with warriors: they always flew away and left their wives to wile away the long hours at home minding the children. No, she was much better off with Arbat, who would always be around, always ready to talk.

Sometimes Jahar really did wish he'd find something new to talk about.