I'm very sorry for taking so long to update. I had a lot of school work to do. But now I finally manged to write again. I hope you like enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Animorphs.

Tiny quarters and huge parks

(And these are our private quarters) Elfangor explained.

Almost immediately after we had reached the dome ship, he and Arbron had been informed that their superiors didn't have time for them right away. Since I was watching them – I was still trying to forget about Chapman who stood beside me – I had notice the look Elfangor and Arbron had shared with each other. This look clearly told me they had no clue what to do now and so I suggested that they could show us around the dome ship. After a little discussion, they agreed.

Right now Elfangor had opened the doors to two tiny rooms that were side by side to each other.

Inside there was barely enough space for one Andalite to stand and in both rooms were holograms of Andalites.

Even through I didn't know much about Andalites – or aliens in general – I thought they looked older than Elfangor and Arbron and so I guessed that these were their parents.

In one of the rooms also was some kind of flower.

Even trough I didn't want to be rude, I just couldn't stop myself: "What kind of flower is this?" I asked. I had always liked the nature, I loved learning more about it and this was after all a once in a lifetime possibility.

Elfangor answered with a smile in his eyes and voice: (It is a wish flower, a symbol for the little brother I'll be getting.)

Now I smiled as well. A flower representing that a new life is on the way! I really admired this idea.

But there was still one thing that bothered me about the rooms: "Why are your quarters so tiny? I mean you don't even have enough room to turn around in there..."

(It's because we're only Ariths) Arbron explained. (Of course the warriors,princes, war-princes and the captain have larger quarters.)

This statement confused me a bit. "What are Ariths or war-princes?" I asked.

(These are ranks in our military) Elfangor answered at once. (We are Ariths – cadets – which is the lowest rank. The next one is the rank of a warrior, followed by prince and war-prince. The captain has the highest rank on a ship.)

Well, that explained a lot, not only the small quarters, but also why the two "Ariths" seemed to be so young. I honestly didn't think that they were much older than me. And it explained why their superiors let them wait for so long. I nodded.

(Um … would you like to see the dome now?) Arbron suggested.

The dome! The huge transparent top of the ship. I had already been wondering what exactly it was used for.

"Of course", I agreed. "What is up there anyway?

(You'll see) Elfangor told me with a huge smile in his eyes. (I'm sure you'll like it.)

"Like it?" Chapman harsh voice came from behind me.

Most of the time he hadn't said a thing, probably being insulted because I hadn't backed him up in the fighter. This way I had almost been able to forget that he was even there. Almost.

"You really think we like it to be taken prisoners by aliens? You might act more friendly than the others, but I bet you don't even -"

"Shut up!", I interrupted him. "Why can't you just stop insulting everyone? What's wrong with you? Is it just that you can't deal with friendly persons? And by the way: I do like it here. I think it's interesting."

I turned to the Andalites. "Sorry I didn't mean to lose my temper like this. Do you still want to show us the dome? I'm really curious by now."

(Of course) Arbron answered. (Come on, it's this way.)

He began to lead us down the left hallway and through the ship until we reached a spot where the floor disappeared. It fell straight down. And the most surprising fact was that the Andalites didn't seem to mind at all: When I looked down I saw some Andalites walking on the "wall" where grass and trees grew.

Elfangor stepped forward. (OK, this part is a little tricky.) he explained. (You just walk naturally along the curving floor. I know it looks like you're walking off the edge of a cliff, but the artificial gravity will move with you.)

To be honest: I was scared. Just walking off the cliff? What if I did something wrong? If the gravity didn't change for me?

I tried to calm down. I'd wanted to see the dome, right?

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and started walking. I got a strange feeling – like missing a step while walking down stairs – and suddenly the ground felt softer.

I opened my eyes again and cried out: "It's huge! It's like a whole park in here! Trees. Grass. Flowers. Wow."

Just as I said before: I love nature. And this was like being on a completely different planet. The nature was unusual, for example it showed strange colors, but still beautiful. And there were streams and lakes. When I looked up, I could see directly into space. I was such a great view: stars shining brightly and planets hanging around.

(You have these kinds of things on your planet?) Elfangor asked curiously. I hadn't even noticed them coming up behind me.

"Well, similar. Our trees are almost always green. And the grass is all green, too. More green than this, I mean, not so much blue. And no red." I described as an answer.

And then Elfangor startled me again. (If you are hungry, please feel free to eat as much as you like) he told me.

"Eat what?" Chapman cut in.

Well, one thing I had to admit about him: Sometimes, but only sometimes, he asked the same question than I had in mind.

Elfangor waved his arm, pointing out the whole park.(We have seventeen species of grass in thirty different flavors) he explained.

"Grass? You eat grass?" I asked, surprised,

Somehow I hadn't thought about an Andalite's diet before, or even about how they ate – seeing that they didn't have mouths. Still, this probably was a rude question, so I wouldn't ask it. Chapman however …

He nodded thoughtfully and started in his "science project" tone again: "That's why you have the dome, isn't it? You graze. Like horses or cows. Only you don't have mouths. So how do you eat?"

This statement confused Arbron. (Wait a minute, you eat with your mouths?) he suddenly cut in.

The thought was undoubtedly as strange to him as thought of eating without a mouth was to humans.

Chapman ignored this and just kept asking: "How else are you going to eat?"

(With your hooves like any sensible creature) Arbron answered at once. Then he started laughing. (Do you mean that on earth humans walk round pressing their mouths to the ground to eat?)

I couldn't help it: Even through I knew that this definitely wasn't the case, I imagined this picture and started to laugh as well.

(OK, even you have to admit that would be funny to see.)

For a moment I was under the impression that Arbron was addressing me, but no – he was looking at Elfangor.

Chapman then took over. He started explaining how humans really ate, but I didn't really listen. After all I already knew how to eat a steak.

Instead I paid attention surroundings. The trees, the flowers, the stream, I even felt a breeze in my face. But mostly I watched the Andalites.

They were running around, some alone, but the majority in groups or pairs. It looked fun.

Without a second thought I interrupted Chapman's descriptions: "Do you mind if I take my shoes off? We've been cooped up in that Skritchy Nose flying saucer. I'd be nice to walk on the grass."

Elfangor seemed to be happy about my question. (Of course I don't mind) he told me smiling.

I sat down and started untying my shoes until -

(What are you doing?) Elfangor screamed suddenly. (Stop that! Stop! Why are you hurting yourself?)

I was totally confused and shocked.

"What? What are you yelling about?" I asked him. Hadn't he just told me he wouldn't mind if I took my shoes off? And – hurting myself? What had I done? I was certain I hadn't …

(You're going to hurt yourself, and I don't think our doctors know how to help humans.)

I couldn't do anything but stare at him. What was he talking about? And then it occurred to me. I burst out laughing. He actually thought my shoes were hooves! He believed I was tried to tear my own body apart!

I was still laughing when I explained the situation to him: "These aren't hooves, Elfangor. They're shoes. See?"

I took the first shoe off without hesitation.

(Noooo!)

(Ahhhh!)

Obviously my explanation hadn't been very good. The Andalites were still under the impression that I was hurting myself.

I removed my sock as well and tried again. "See? This is my foot. We don't have hooves. And we wear shoes over our feet. See? They keep the rocks or whatever from hurting our feet."

Finally the Andalites seemed to get it.

While they were still thinking about my words, I quickly took off the second shoe, stood up and started running.

It felt good. The grass was soft and I was finally able to move my legs again – in the Skrit Na ship hadn't been enough room and I hadn't dared running around the dome ship, afraid to lose the others.

After a while I looked over my shoulder back to them. "Come on!" I called.

After a short break Elfangor started running as well. He caught up with me without any problems – after all he had four legs – and them stayed beside me.

"Feels … good … to stretch … my muscles." I told him. Then I stopped a twirled around.

I was so happy to be here. "I was sure I was going to die on that flying saucer. But here I am.! Amazing."

(I suppose this all seems very strange.) Elfangor stated calmly.

"Oh, yeah. Strange isn't half of it. This is a pink tree. Pink leaves. Incredible."

I kept noticing new things everywhere. Stuff I couldn't even have imagined. But still it was so beautiful and amazing. I couldn't stop looking around.

And of course Elfangor explained everything to me – even through I wasn't able to understand him. (It's called a therant tree. It's in its creast phase. Do you see how the grasses become more gelasic and less escalic as they grow near? That is because -"

He stopped there because I had decided to pull myself up the tree, just like I had done a thousand times in the forest at home.

While Elfangor was staring at me Arbron and Chapman came running – Arbron in front, of course. And Arbron started staring as soon as he arrived. I laughed at their reaction.

(Very strong arms!) Arbron commented the scene. (Can you imagine lifting you whole body up with your arms?)

Elfangor however was confused by something totally different: (That skin is very strange. It's almost as if it's not attached.)

I let myself drop back onto the grass when Chapman started explaining: "It's not skin. It's called clothing. Like the artificial hooves? This is artificial skin. It keeps us warm."

(You're cold?)

"No. But that's why we have clothing. To keep us warm in clod places."

(Why would you be in cold places?) Elfangor asked. Obviously humans were as interesting to him as Andalites were to me. But I still decided to let Chapman explain.

"Parts of earth are very cold. Parts of it are so cold you'd die without many layers of clothing."

(But why do you live in those places?) Elfangor wanted to know.

Chapman started smiling. "We're not going to be kept out of a place just because the weather's bad. We adapt. We grab whatever's available and make the best of it. At least that's my motto: grab what you can."

Well, that was a stupid motto. Whoever taught this to Chapman was an idiot. I was about to point this out when -

(Arith Arbron, report for debriefing! Artith Elfangor, take the aliens to the holding room!)

So what are you thinking? Was the chapter worth the waiting? Tell me in a review!