It was odd, Tommy reflected, having to climb up a trail that grew steadily steeper in human form, escorting a pair of Hork-Bajir of all things. Still, with Ax in front of their group, and Tobias in the air, they were at least protected from the Yeerks hunting them, if not outright safe. Still, when Tobias warned them of the approaching helicopters, calling for all of them to leave the trail and morph, Tommy quickly leaped into the scrubby bushes on the left side of the trail, going into his lion morph as quickly as he could.
As his senses became sharper, Tommy found that he could hear the sound of the approaching helicopters, as well as smelling what seemed to be smoke.
(I think the Yeerks are trying to start a forest fire!) Cassie exclaimed, her long wolf muzzle in the air, sniffing as hard as she could.
The leading edges of the Yeerk forces started showing up then, moving to trap them with the fire to their backs. Tommy leaped at the first form to show up in front of them: one more Hork-Bajir Controller in a long line of them. The two behind them didn't waste a moment, piling in on the group of Hork-Bajir Controllers moving in to attack them.
(Everyone, keep your heads down,) Tobias called down to them. (Don't try to fly or anything. The Yeerks are shooting anything that rises above the trees.)
(They won't stop until Jara and Ket are dead,) Jake said grimly, once all of the Animorphs had gathered together again. (The Yeerks are not going to give up; they're flat-out never going to allow two Hork-Bajir to escape.)
(It'd probably set a bad example,) Marco said, sounding just as grim as Jake did. (If two manage to escape, who knows? Maybe others will try. The Yeerks can't have that; they need the Hork-Bajir to be entirely without hope.)
(Marco's right,) Cassie said, ears still tracking the sounds of fire and Controllers closing in all around them. (Look at the risks the Yeerks are taking: they started a fire, they have Taxxons and Hork-Bajir out in the open. They've gone nuts!)
