The Letters

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Couple things. For all the people who wanted me to bring Kate back to life, I decided to go halfway. When I started thinking about it, I realized that I didn't want her totally gone either, so this is what I came up with. (And yes, I know Ruby did it, but I asked her if I could, and she said she didn't have a problem with it.)

The lyrics in Tobias's letter are from "Time In a Bottle" by Jim Crochey. (I think.), and, of course, the great Kermit the Frog.

Thanks again, Kat, for helping me out. And thanks, Ali, for reading the first few chapters and assuring me that it wasn't completely stupid. And thanks to everyone who reads this, for being patient with me getting it up, and . . . happy reading. ^i^ (That's an angel in case it isn't real clear in your font.)

Chapter One - Ax

Her name was Katherine.

She was a human.

And I loved her.

I whispered that as I stood alone by her casket. "I love you," I repeated. "I did not believe it was possible for me to love a human - or an Andalite - the way I loved you." I looked at her. She was so beautiful, it was difficult, almost impossible, for me to believe she was dead. But when I gently touched her hand it was stiff and lifeless and cold. Katherine had been none of those things.

"Why did you leave me?" I finally said, my voice choked. "How could you? How could you leave me alone?" I was not being logical, and I knew it. It was not her fault, it was not anyone's fault, but it was easier to be angry than face the bitter sadness I was feeling. "There wasn't even an opportunity to say good-bye." The two people who had mattered most to me in my life - my brother and my . . . Katherine - were both dead and I had not had the chance to say good-bye to either of them.

I knew I had to leave. I was the only person left and my morph time was low, but I could not bear to leave her side. It was the last time I would see her face. I would never kiss her again, never touch her or speak to her. Tears were trickling down my already damp face.

It was not fair that she was dead. It was not fair that I had known her love only to have it ripped from me. It was not fair that we would never again be together. "It is not fair," I said aloud, as I watched a tear drop from my face and land on the white artificial skin she wore.

"Ax," I heard Tobias say urgently from the back of the building. We had only five minutes left in our morphs. And I didn't care. I would gladly have trapped myself as a human to bring her back. I would have done anything to bring her back.

"Ax, we have to find a place to . . ." Tobias did not finish his sentence.

"I don't want to," I replied. Why? Elfangor was gone and I would never avenge his death, I saw that now. Katherine was gone . . . what else was there for me?

"Ax-man, don't do this. Not now. I know you're in pain, probably more than I can imagine, and I know you're not thinking straight, but if you trap yourself as a human, when you wake up tomorrow, Kate'll still be gone. It won't bring her back. And we need you to fight with us."

I said nothing, but even in my broken state I could not find it in me to let my friends down. And in my hearts I knew Tobias was correct. So I nodded and whispered, "I love you," for the last time.

Chapter Two - Kate

Sleep. That's all I remember.

I was so tired. Tired from fighting and worrying. And I could finally sleep without nightmares. Instead, I had wonderful dreams about flying. I was in my falcon morph, and it was as vivid as if it were actually happening.

I could see Tobias on the ground below, smiling up at me. He waved once, and then disappeared into a building. And the dream faded.

I slept for what seemed like a long time. But suddenly, I wasn't asleep anymore. I was awake and in a realm of white emptiness. There was nothing, absolutely nothing.

Except a man.

He was about thirty, with dark hair and laughing eyes. He looked a little like Marco might look when he grows up.

"Hello, Katherine," he said kindly.

"Hi. Um, two question. First of all - am I . . . still dead?"

"Yes."

"And second - who are you?"

"A friend. A friend of you and the Powers That Be," he said with a smile, pointing upward.

"Oh. And you are here because . . ."

"I'm here to give you a choice. On Earth, it is three days after your death. Your funeral was yesterday. Now, so far you have not been to Heaven. Souls are generally awarded a resting period while we figure out what's going on."

"And that's what's been going on? I've been resting?"

"Yes. But now you have a choice. Continue to Heaven or return to Earth as a spirit."

"Forever?"

"No, just until you decide it is time for you to leave. But once you go to Heaven you cannot return to Earth except in someone's dreams."

I opened my mouth to speak, but he held his hand up. "Before you decide, I must tell you that not everyone is given this opportunity. Most souls, after the usual resting period, are sent straight to Heaven."

"So why do I have a choice?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just the messenger. But it is usually because you have some unfinished business or something you must do."

"Unfinished business?"

He shrugged. "Again, I don't know. Think about it. I will return shortly." He disappeared.

I thought about it. It would be nice to see Aximili again and make sure he was handling everything okay. And my parents . . . I wanted to be sure they would be fine, too.

So I waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Finally, he reappeared.

"I thought you said you'd be back shortly," I said impatiently.

"Ahh, you're still on Earth time." He shook his head. "That's what I hated most when I was alive. It's an absolute rat race down there. Rushing here, rushing there. No time to stop and enjoy anything. Heaven was such a relief."

"Well, rat race or no rat race, I've decided to go back to Earth."

"I thought as much. There are a few rules, though."

"Such as?"

"You are invisible - to most people anyway. You may walk through walls and move faster than humans can, but you also cannot pick an object up and someone you touch will feel you only as a chill. Unless they are a true believer."

Well, that shot that. Aximili didn't believe in anything that couldn't be scientifically proven and my parents . . . well, who knew with them? But it was better than nothing.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Well, it's not as if I have to pack."

He smiled. And I was suddenly surrounded by trees.

Chapter Three - Tobias

"Ax, listen to me," I said, firmly planting myself in front of him. "You can't do this."

He glared at me with all four of his eyes.

"Ax," Cassie said desperately, grabbing his arm. "You haven't eaten in three days. You won't talk to anyone. You have to snap out of this!"

He didn't answer.

I sighed and gave up for the moment, walking away to stare up into the sky and listen to Cassie keep after him.

"Ax," she said, trying to get him to look at her. "You can't just curl up and die. That's the last thing Kate would have wanted."

He didn't answer. Finally he managed, ^I know. However, I cannot . . . It is so difficult . . .^

"I know," Cassie said, gently stroking the back of his neck. "I know. But you have to eat.." He nodded but didn't move. She sighed and came over next to me.

"And he's been like this the whole time?" she whispered.

"Three days," I replied. "He hasn't eaten anything. I've been dragging him out to the stream every once in awhile so he won't get dehydrated, but I can't force him to run and eat."

"Is he sleeping?"

I shrugged. "Not last night. Maybe a little the night before."

"Oh, man. He's going to make himself sick. What are we going to do?"

"I don't know."

"Well," she said checking her watch. "I'll be back out later. I have to go do some stuff at the Center."

"Okay. 'Bye." She took off and I sighed and flicked on the television.

Chapter Four - Kate

I watched Tobias literally shove Aximili out of the scoop and down the hill to the stream. He grabbed his leg and put it in the water. Aximili continued to be just as spaced out and uncommunicative as before. I sat on a rock by the stream and watched him.

He looked so different. Thinner, for one thing, because he hadn't been eating, but also something else. I guess . . . melancholy would be the best word. Like his spirit had been crushed. This is going to sound corny as anything, but the light in his eyes had gone out. And that's what got me the most. His light was gone.

I waited until it was dusk and Tobias had left to hunt. Cassie had come back like she said, and left again. I sat on the floor of Aximili's scoop and watched him stare at the ground.

"Aximili, don't do this to yourself," I said. Of course, I got no response whatsoever, but I kept trying anyway. "Please." I reached out and touched his hand. He shivered.

I spent the night in his scoop, watching him slip in and out of sleep. I remembered the man saying something about me being able to enter his dreams . . . or I thought I did . . . but I wasn't sure. So I sat in a corner with my knees pulled up to my chest and watched him.

The next day I visited Cassie in the barn. I perched on one of the high overhead beams where Tobias usually sat and swung my legs back and forth. "Hi, Cassie," I said. She was raking some dirty hay, silently. But there was something different about her, too. She was working more slowly, and her mouth looked like it was turned down at the corners a little in an unhappy distortion of her face. Finally, she dropped the rake and sank to the ground, putting her face in her hands.

"Kate," she said. I dropped to the ground from about fifteen feet up. It should have killed my knees, but I didn't even feel it. I sat next to her. "I wish you were here. Ax's heart is completely broken, and I don't know if he'll ever be able to get past this . . . and I miss you. We all do." She shook her head. "I almost feel like you're here."

"I am," I said. "I am." But she couldn't hear me. I flung myself face down in the hay in frustration.

Maybe I shouldn't have come back, I thought. What good am I doing anyone? None. I'm doing nothing. I can't do anything. I watched Cassie work for a few more minutes, giving a raccoon its medication and checking a wolf's bandages.

Suddenly, she and I were both startled by a knock at the barn door. And I nearly shot through the ceiling when I saw who it was.

My mother.

I hadn't been to see my parents yet, probably because I was a coward. I mean, I hadn't expected Aximili to be taking it so bad, and Cassie seemed pretty upset, too. And if they were like that - well, I really didn't want to find out what my parents were like. So I hadn't gone, even though I should have.

But now, here my mom was.

She, too, looked thin, and she had dark circles under her eyes, which were rimmed with red. She was wearing her oldest jeans and a pink sweatshirt I'd given her when I was about four-years-old and my dad and I had gone Mother's Day shopping together. She hated the color pink, and I'd seen her wear it about twice - once to paint the house and once to clean out the gutters. So I was surprised to see it now.

"Cassie, right?" my mom asked, her voice husky.

"Yes," Cassie answered. "Hi, Mrs. ________."

"Hi, Cassie. Um, I came by for a couple reasons. The first thing is . . . I wanted to thank you for giving Katy so much support while she was sick. It meant a lot to her."

"Well, she meant a lot to us. We did everything we could."

"Thank you. Her other friends from the city were not as understanding." Cassie nodded. "Um, the second reason I came is that I found some things while I was going through Katy's things from the hospital." My eyes widened as I saw my mother hold out my six letters to my friends and the wooden Rosary. "There's one to each of your little group. And this," she added, handing Cassie the Rosary, "is supposed to go to Philip."

"Philip?" Cassie repeated quizzically. Then, "Oh, yes. I'll make sure he gets it."

"Thank you."

"How - how are you doing?" Cassie asked hesitantly.

"As well as can be expected I suppose. My mother has been staying with us, and my husband's sister, so they've been helping us just get through, little by little."

"That's good," Cassie said.

"Yes, we're lucky. And another thing that has just been a Godsend is the Sharing." My head snapped up from staring at the floor.

Cassie looked startled, but recovered quickly and said, "The Sharing?"

"Oh, yes. They've been wonderful. For some reason, Katy never enjoyed it, but they've been so supportive of us."

Cassie nodded. "That's great."

"Well," my mom said. "I have to go."

"Oh, thank you. And if you need anything, just ask."

"Thanks." Mom left.

I paced. The Sharing was a Yeerk front organization. My parents were vulnerable right now . . . if they became Controllers . . . I wondered how much damage an angry spirit could do to Visser Three, the leader of the Yeerk invasion.

Cassie, meanwhile, was looking at the envelopes and the Rosary she held in her hand. "Kate," she said. "I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can - I promise you that we'll do everything we can to keep them from your parents. Everything."

Chapter Five - Ax

I was standing in my scoop, my mind half-shrouded in sleep, when Tobias landed in a branch on a nearby tree.

^Hey, Ax. Sorry to wake you, but Cassie called a meeting,^ he said, noisily arranging his feathers.

^I was not sleeping. And I do not wish to attend the meeting,^ I replied shortly.

^Ax-man, you have to leave sometime. You can't wallow like this forever.^

^Are you under the impression that this is something I chose?^ I responded. ^I did not. And I cannot, as you said, "snap out of it." I am not attending the meeting.^

^Yes, you are,^ he answered firmly.

^No.^

^Yes. You're going if I have to drag you there bodily.^

^I would enjoy watching you attempt to physically force me,^ I answered, knowing he was not strong enough to lift me.

^Really.^

Several minutes later, I was being carried by a large gorilla.

^Marco, I am very angry at you,^ I said tersely, trying to twitch my tail free of his vise-like grip. However, gorillas have very strong arms, far stronger than an Andalite's, and he held my tail in a position from which it could not be freed.

^Yeah, Ax, well, it's about time someone hauled your butt out of that scoop. Tobias, am I clear?^ Marco paused at the edge of the forest.

^Yeah, you're clear. Cassie just opened the back door of the barn.^ Marco continued until we were safely in the barn. He then allowed me to fall to floor in an ungracious heap.

I stood up quickly, my pride slightly injured.

"Well, well, well," Rachel said, crossing her arms. "He's back among the living."

^Shut up, Rachel,^ I replied.

"Enough," Jake said. "Both of you." Rachel fell silent. He sighed. "Hi, Ax. How are you doing?"

^I am fine, Prince Jake,^ I lied stiffly.

"Sure you're fine," Marco said, now fully demorphed. "Which is why I had to carry you here."

"Come on, leave Ax alone," Cassie said, coming to stand next to me. "You guys could be a little more sympathetic."

Everyone was silent. Finally Marco said, "Cassie's right. We're really sorry, Ax."

"Yeah, I didn't mean it," Rachel said, truly looking regretful. Her icy blue eyes softened slightly.

^I understand,^ I said, but I positioned myself as far from Rachel and Marco as possible.

"Okay. Cassie. You called the meeting. What's up?"

"Kate's mom dropped by today."

Once more, there was silence.

"What'd she say?" Rachel asked.

"Well, first of all she wanted to thank us for being so nice to Kate and everything. But she also had something to give us." Cassie retrieved something from on top of one of the bales of hay. "She said she'd found these letters to us in Kate's stuff from the hospital. And she asked me to give this to Ax." She let the wooden Rosary dangle from her fingers.

I stared at it, images of Katherine flashing through my mind. ^I don't want it.^

"What do you mean?" Cassie asked, shocked.

^It was a symbol to Katherine, a sign of something she had faith in. But it is meaningless.^

"But she left it to you," Rachel said.

^I do not care. It means nothing!^ I took the Rosary from Cassie and dashed it to the ground. I closed my eyes and waited for the sound of the wooden beads scattering across the floor, but there was none. I looked down to see it lying unharmed.

Cassie and the others stared at me. ^I am leaving,^ I said, starting toward the door.

"Wait, Ax!" she said. "There's more. She said that the Sharing had been giving them a lot of help."

I turned back. ^Oh, man,^ Tobias said. ^This just the type of thing they prey on, too.^

"Yeah," Rachel agreed, becoming angry. "I can't believe it! Their daughter just died and the Yeerks are probably planning to make them Controllers within the next week!"

^They are the Yeerks,^ I told her harshly. ^They have no pity.^

"I think we should talk to Erek," Marco said. "He could probably tell us if they're planning to infest them."

^I have no doubt that they are,^ I said darkly.

"Still, I don't want to make a trip to the Yeerk pool if it isn't absolutely necessary," Prince Jake replied. "Marco, call Erek tonight."

"Yes, sir!" Marco answered, mocking Prince Jake.

Prince Jake shook his head with a smile. "Okay, tomorrow afternoon we meet back here to find out what Erek has to say."

^Very well, Prince Jake.^ I left quickly, ignoring Cassie as she called, "Wait, Ax, your letter!"

I did not want my letter from Katherine. I did not want the Rosary she left me. I only wanted her.

Chapter Six - Kate

I watched Aximili leave, and vacillated as whether or not to follow him. But I saw Tobias quickly swoop out of the barn after him, and knew that he was taken care of. Anyhow, as I had discovered yesterday, I could do nothing for him. All that would result from my efforts to comfort him would be frustration.

So I stayed with the others in the barn. Marco and Jake both picked up their letters and left. I stood in the doorway to the barn and listened to them.

"Remember to call Erek tonight," Jake reminded Marco as he picked his bike up from where it was lying on the ground.

"As if I could forget. Look, I'll probably call him about eight. I'll give you a ring afterwards and let you know what's going on."

"Great. I'll talk to you then." Jake rode off. Marco, who had not ridden his bike to the barn, morphed an osprey and took the high road home.

I went back inside and flopped on a hay pile by the door. "You want to stay for dinner?" Cassie asked Rachel.

"Sure."

Cassie stopped. There were four letters left, lying on the bale of hay. "Tobias left his."

"I know. He'll get it later. He's got his hands - or, talons, I guess - full right now." Rachel leaned over and picked up my Rosary. "I can't believe Ax didn't want this."

Cassie shrugged. "He isn't interested in much of anything right now."

"But it was Kate's!"

She shrugged again. "I think he'll want it eventually. Until then, I'll keep it safe." She took it from Rachel and slipped it in the pocket of her overalls.

"Eventually. If he doesn't starve himself to death first."

"Well, how would you feel if Tobias died? And added to that, how would you feel if you were the only human on Earth? I mean, Ax was lonely for a long time. And I actually think he'd gotten used to it. But then Kate came along and he wasn't so lonely anymore. Then she died. And now he's back to square one, only it's harder. And he has to deal with the pain of losing someone he loved."

Rachel shook her head. "I know. I know why he's hurting so badly. But it's still so weird seeing him like that. I mean, he's always in control. Always. No emotion."

"Well, he's not a machine. It had to show up sometime." Cassie finished giving a raccoon its water and stripped off her work gloves. "I'm done. Let's go."

I followed them up to Cassie's house and into her room. Cassie was carrying the four letters and she put them carefully on the nightstand with the Rosary. Rachel sat in the desk chair and Cassie lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I sat cross-legged on top of the computer and watched from above.

"Do you want to read yours?" Cassie asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Do you?" Rachel replied.

"I think so . . ."

"Me too." Rachel got up and retrieved the letters from the nightstand and handed Cassie's to her. They looked at each other and simultaneously tore open the envelopes.

Chapter Seven - Cassie

The first thing I noticed was the stationary. It was so pretty, light blue with pictures of angels and rainbows. Almost too appropriate.

I stared at the page and realized I had never seen Kate's handwriting before. It was easy to read, and the pen she used must have had a special nib that made is look like swirly, loopy calligraphy. I looked up to take a deep breath before reading. Rachel was looking at me.

"The stationary," she said, simply and sadly. I nodded.

Dear Cassie,

If you're reading this, I'm no longer with you. But that's okay. I know I'm going to be taken care of, one way or the other, so I'm not afraid.

First of all, thank you for being such a great friend. Thanks for being there and listening to me babble the night Aximili and I kissed for the first time. Thank you for coming to visit as much as I let you. It meant so much to me, because I know how uncomfortable it must have been at times.

Secondly, take care of Jake. I know what it's like to grow up fast, and he's had to do that in a major way. He needs you - but why am I telling you this? It's not anything you don't already know. In any case, he needs you, as much as you need him.

Third, you and the others have an incredibly important and difficult job to do. (But, again, why am I telling you this? You know it better than anybody.) I wanted to tell you that I wish I could have been a part of it, but I suppose it was not meant to be. I know from talking to you that you often have trouble with doing certain things to hurt the Yeerks. That's good, Cassie. That's who you are. As long as you can't kill without mourning the killed, or morph a sentient creature without feeling a pang of guilt, you'll still be you. It may make fighting more difficult, but when the war is over, and the Yeerks are gone - and I have faith that that will happen someday - you'll be able to live with the decisions you made and the person you have become.

Well, I don't know if you'll ever read this letter. Truthfully, I hope not. I hope to recover and get out of the hospital, and fight with you guys for a long time - or a short time, however long it takes to kick Yeerk butt. But, if you read this letter, remember that I'm always watching over you guys.

Love, Kate

I reread the letter, trying to keep my tears from blotching the ink. But one hit the page and I watched the purple bleed through the paper.

Chapter Eight - Rachel

I sat holding my letter for a moment. Kate and I had talked several times over the phone while she was in isolation, and I knew Cassie had as well. I'd gotten to know her pretty well, but I hadn't expected this. Finally, after watching Cassie read hers for about a minute, I forced myself to look down at the paper I held in my hand.

Dear Rachel,

Well, hello. I've begun the rest of my letters with "If you're reading this, I'm probably no longer with you," but I'm tired of that. It's like always starting a story with "My name is . . ."

Anyhow, I have some stuff I want to say, just in case. I hope you'll never read this, but if you do, here it is.

Rachel, you are one of the most interesting people I've ever met. My dad used to say that my calling was psychology - I automatically start analyzing people the second I meet them. And while I never got to actually fight with you, from what I've gathered from my conversations with you and the others, especially Marco, you are a natural warrior. You love the excitement of a battle. But I don't think that deep down you love the killing. And you need to make sure that in the course of this war, you don't lose sight of yourself or what you believe. Cassie worries about you, about what you'll become when this war is over. I think you will be fine so long as you don't completely lose sight of Rachel, the old Rachel from before. Because when this war is over, you'll probably have to find something else. And don't let the war make you hard. You're not hard, Rachel, not really. My uncle fought in Vietnam and he let war make him hard. My dad said he used to be funny and kind, and he was never the same again. Don't let that happen to you, Rachel.

Okay, enough of that. Next up: Tobias. You two will probably be the most changed by the war and you'll need each other no matter what happens. So I'm telling you what I told Cassie and Jake - take care of each other. Love isn't easy anyway, and you have the responsibility of the entire world on your shoulders, which makes everything tougher. Just . . . don't ever give up.

I reread this letter and just realized something. I didn't know most of this about you until I wrote it. I don't know where this is coming from, but anyhow, take care . . . Xena.

Love, Kate

I lowered the letter and looked at Cassie. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," she answered, her voice wobbling. "Did you see the date?"

I hadn't noticed the date in the upper right-hand corner of the page. April 19th. Below it was written the time: 3:26 AM.

"That was three days before she died. The night - or morning, I guess - before she got sick."

I stared at her. "She knew," I whispered.

Cassie nodded. "She kept saying how it was just in case. I think she was trying to convince herself that everything would be okay, but she knew something was wrong."

The paper in my hand was shaking. "Oh, my God. Can you imagine knowing?"

Cassie shook her head sadly.

"I feel like she's here," I said quietly. And for awhile, there were three people in Cassie's room.

Chapter Nine - Kate

I left Cassie's soon after. They were eating dinner with her family - and I was starting to wonder why I'd been given the opportunity to come back. I mean, they seemed to have felt me when we were Cassie's room, but that probably had more to do with the letters than me actually being there.

I checked the clock in the kitchen as I left. I wanted to be at Marco's tonight when he called Erek.

I wandered down the road a little and stopped in front of my house. The driveway was empty and I knew the garage was still filled to the ceiling with packing boxes from the move. When I was in the hospital, Mom had mentioned it was driving her crazy not being able to put the car in the garage, but there was no time to clean it up.

But then again, this was Mom. In times of stress, she goes on cleaning and cooking binges. After my grandfather died, we had five gallons of frozen homemade vegetable soup in our freezer and the house was spotless. It was quite possible it was spic-n-span in there.

But I couldn't get in to see if anyone was home.

Or could I?

That guy had said I could walk through walls. I looked at the garage door. The thought gave me the creeps, but I wanted to try it out.

I walked forward and hesitantly placed my hand against the wood. I thought about pushing my hand through the door instead of stopping at the surface . . . and suddenly, with a suction feeling and a puff of air, my hand was through.

I stared at it and swallowed. Oh, that had to have been the single weirdest moment of my life. Or, my existence, rather. Even weirder than the first time I saw Jake turning into a dog at the Sharing meeting.

The Sharing.

That reminded me about why I wanted to be at Marco's at eight o'clock. And why I wanted to get inside the house.

But my hand wasn't doing much by itself so I slowly stepped through the door.

And I changed my mind. Putting your hand through a door is nothing. Putting your entire body, solid or not, through a door is much, much, much weirder.

I felt like my face was being sucked by a vacuum cleaner and I could hear wind rushing past my ears - which was really strange, considering I was inside a door at the time. Anyhow, I pushed myself through and found myself on my butt on the garage floor. I fell back. You wouldn't think spirits would get tired (I hadn't been, despite not sleeping all night), but that tired me out.

While I rested I looked around. Piled to almost to the ceiling were the packing boxes. On a hunch, I dragged myself to my feet and opened up the freezer door. (For some reason we have a fridge inside the house and in the garage, even though the one in the garage is really crappy).

Sure enough. Nine gallon-sized Tupperware containers marked Veggie Soup had been placed on the top shelf. Mom and Dad were going to be eating soup for months.

But no one was home and that was what I'd wanted to find out.

I turned back to the garage door. I really didn't want to have to pass through the door again, but it didn't look like I had any other options. I sighed and decided that if I did it more slowly this time, maybe it wouldn't wear me out as much.

Unfortunately, it had other plans.

I stepped through and it spit me out on the other end, leaving me sprawled on the driveway.

Five minutes later, I was recovered enough to head to Marco's house. It was about seven-thirty by that time, but lucky for me I could move faster than a human and it only took me about three minutes to get there. But that sapped my energy, too, and of course I had to go through the door to get inside, so I lay on their couch with my eyes closed listening to Marco and his dad talk while they ate dinner.

"How was school?" Marco's dad asked.

"Fine," Marco replied.

"Is your homework done?"

"Yep."

"Jeez, what great conversationalists," I remarked sarcastically.

"How are you doing? I mean, with your friend Kate and everything."

"Fine."

"If there's anything you want to talk about, you know you can always talk to me."

"Sure," Marco replied in a voice that was meant to humor his father.

They ate for awhile, not really talking. "Typical males," I muttered to myself.

Finally, Marco excused himself. "Dad? I have to make a phone call. I'll do the dishes afterwards."

"'Kay. I have some work to do." Marco's dad cleared his plate and disappeared into a room just off the living room. Probably his study. I followed Marco upstairs.

I lay on my side on the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest, and watched Marco reach for the phone. I saw my letter lying unopened on his desk. He hesitated and finally put the phone back and picked up the letter. He stared at his name on the front and got up to come sit on the bed. I didn't move in time and he ended up sitting through me. He and I simultaneously shuddered, him from feeling me pass through him, and me from the utter creepiness of it.

Anyhow, I sat next to him and peeked over his shoulder at the letter. He tore it open and began reading.

Chapter Ten - Marco

I was surprised when Kate left me a letter. I mean, we'd known each other, but not that well. I'm not that close to Ax or Cassie, and they'd been her best friends in the group. Anyway, I unfolded the letter and started reading, some part of my brain wishing that my mom had been able to leave me something like this. But when you're Visser One, you don't exactly have time to write home.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and began reading.

Dear Marco,

We regret to inform you that your phone bill is overdue and we will soon be disconnecting your service. We hope that this does not inconvenience you, and when you are once more in a position to select a phone company, please remember to chose AT&T.

Sorry, just a joke back from our first little group phone call. Remember? You called and, "Hello, this is AT&T . . ."

Okay, that was stupid. But it's 4 AM and I'm feeling a little goofy. I've been too serious for too long.

Anyhow, hello from a big poofy cloud somewhere!

Just kidding. Well, not totally. If you're reading this, I don't know where I am, but I'm sure I'm happy. So don't worry about me.

Now, I'm sitting here and thinking, "What shall I say to Marco?" You would know exactly what to say, but I'm not as gifted in that department, so I'm sort of at a loss for words.

Ah. I have it. Always keep your sense of humor, Marco. Always. It won't always be easy, but you have the invaluable ability to lighten a situation and find humor where others can't. That has the unfortunate side-effect of throwing some people off, but with the lives you and the others lead, it will be very important. I know it. Don't ask me how, I just do.

And trust your gut. You have good instincts. Go with them. (Although you were wrong about me.) If you think something is wrong, you're probably thinking it for a reason.

And that is the advice that this ancient and wise sage has for you.

Live long and prosper.

May the Force be with you.

So long, my friend.

Love, Kate

I folded the letter back up slowly and spoke. "You're wrong about one thing, Kate - I wasn't wrong about you. I liked you right from the start . . . but I had to be suspicious, 'cause of what happened before. But you . . . you would have been a great Animorph." I sat there for about five minutes, not doing anything, just sitting.

Finally, I got up and called Erek. "Hey, Erek. What's up?"

"Hello, Marco," the Chee said. Erek is part of a race called the Chee, androids created by the Pemalites. They have been programmed to be total pacifists, but they are excellent at espionage and bring us information from time to time.

"So anything new?" I picked up the portable phone and crept down the stairs. I peeked in my father's study. He was hard at work on his computer, typing furiously. The phone lay untouched on the desk. Still, I sat on the stairs where I could see him, but he wouldn't be able to hear me. My dad is already half-deaf.

"New?"

"With the Sharing."

"Well, we are expecting to have a few new full time members soon."

"Oh, cool." Cool my . . . butt.

"Yes, at Friday's meeting."

"Hm. Anything else going on?"

"Well, tonight we had a barbecue at one of the other members' house. Your friend Kate's parents were there."

"They were?"

"Yes, with two other people who appeared to be with them."

"Are they becoming new members soon?"

"Yes, on Friday. Due to their loss, we are allowing them to become full members much sooner than usual - you know, as a way to help them out."

"Ah. That's nice." Yeah, right. "We might have to stop by. You know how much we love the Sharing's induction ceremonies."

Erek let out a short laugh. "Yes, I know."

"How are they doing?" I asked seriously. "Kate's parents, I mean."

"They looked okay tonight, better than they did at the funeral."

"You were at the funeral? We didn't see you."

"Well, you looked rather distracted."

"Yeah."

"Um . . . Philip is pretty broken up, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he and Kate had a . . . thing," I answered.

"They did?" he said, sounding surprised for about the second time since I'd known him.

"Yeah."

"Oh. Give him my condolences."

"I will. Thanks."

"So I will see you at the induction ceremony?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe."

"Okay. It's at your school's gym. 8 o'clock."

"Thanks."

"No problem. 'Bye."

"'Bye." I hung up and crept upstairs to call Jake, shivering slightly. I need to turn the heat on., I thought.

Chapter Eleven - Kate

I was furious. "You're going to stop them, right?" I said, my face about two inches from Marco's. No response. I tried to grab his shoulders, but he only shivered and kept walking. "Oh, come on!" I shouted, throwing my arms out and looking upward. "Give me a break! Please!"

I followed Marco up the stairs and into his room. I sat on his desk. "You guys can't let them get my parents," I said. I waved my hand in front of his face. "Hello!" He didn't even blink. Damn! I thought.

"Hi, is Jake there?" . . . "Thanks, Tom" . . . "Hey, Jake. So are we still on for Friday night? You know, the induction ceremony" . . . "We are? Great. We should get there about 7:30 if we want good seats" . . . "Okay, 'bye." He hung up.

I paced. Okay, the important thing is not to panic, I told myself.

Right.

I sighed. If I could get to Jake's house I could . . .

Nothing. I could do nothing. But Marco was heading downstairs to do the dishes and there was nothing more I could do here either. Maybe Jake hadn't opened his letter yet and I'd been with everyone else when they opened theirs so far. So I went through Marco's door, which was getting less exhausting, and toward Jake and Rachel's neighborhood.

When I reached his street I slowed down. I knew he lived here, but I wasn't sure where. I finally spotted him through an upstairs window, sitting at his desk. I slipped through the front door and went upstairs.

"Hey, Jake," I said cheerfully. There was no answer, of course. He was holding my letter, unopened in his hands.

"Hi, Kate," he said suddenly and I almost jumped through the roof. "I don't know if you can hear me or not , but . . ." Darn. I thought for a second he could see me or hear me or something. He sighed and slowly opened my letter.

Chapter Twelve - Jake

Dear Jake,

Hello, Prince Jake, Big Jake, O Fearless Leader.

Well, I have a couple things to say to you, so here they are. (Sorry for the uncreative beginning, Jake, but I've written four of these things and it's getting harder. Plus, it's really late - or early, depending on how you look at it.)

First of all, here's my advice to you as a leader. Don't be so busy taking care of everyone else that you forget to take care of you. Leadership is a great skill, one that will serve you well your whole life, but you still have to remember that you're part of the team, too. And you're no good to anyone if you allow yourself to become so run down you can't function. And don't forget how to have fun. The first time I saw you I saw a kind of an aura of heavy responsibility about you. You're still a kid - a kid who has to act like a general and make impossible decisions sometimes, but still a kid.

And by the way. You have a great girl, one of the nicest people I ever met. Don't let her go. You hurt her, I will find a way to kick your butt. (Just kidding. But really, take care of each other. Everyone needs someone to turn to, even Fearless Leaders.)

And those are my words of advice. That's everything I've learned in my fourteen years on this planet. I'm sad I didn't have time to learn more, and that I wasn't able to fight with you. I would have liked to - not in the way Rachel likes to, but I still would have liked to help save the world.

Take care, my friend.

Love, Kate

I refolded the letter. Kate and I hadn't been real close - not as close as Cassie and she, and definitely not as close as she and Ax. She was someone I would have enjoyed getting to know better, though, if we'd had the time. As I sat there, thinking about everything, I suddenly realized that that made me sort of depressed. I mean, Kate was gone and that was sad, but I was suddenly sad for me, too. I think she was probably a great person, and I would never have the chance to really know her. And that was my loss.

Ax was lucky. He probably didn't realize it now, but he was incredibly lucky to have gotten the chance to know and love Kate, even though it was causing him pain.

But right now we had a problem. Kate's parents were being made full members of the Sharing on Friday, meaning they'd become Controllers. We had to stop that from happening without letting them know why we targeted that particular meeting.

I sighed. "Kate, we'll do everything we can to help your parents," I said out loud, not really sure why I was talking to her. "But we can't blow our cover. We can't let them know who we are."

Chapter Thirteen - Kate

"NO!" I shouted. "You guys can't let them get my parents! C'mon, please!" But Jake didn't answer and I suddenly realized something: they wouldn't be able to do anything. They couldn't break up the Sharing meeting without blowing their cover, and even if they could, it would only be temporary. As long as my parents wanted to become members, it would eventually happen.

But what if they didn't want it any more?

What if they decided not to become members? What if they were told not to become members?

It was like one of those cartoons where Bugs or Sylvester suddenly gets an idea and ping! The little light goes on over their head. I stood in the middle of Jake's room, watching him reluctantly pull his math book out of his backpack and . . . ping!

I knew exactly what had to be done.

I practically flew down the stairs, through the front door and out into the night air, which probably would have been chilly had I been able to feel it. I moved as fast as I could to my parents' house and slipped in through the door. By now, it didn't even faze me except for a vague wave of creepiness.

I went into the living room. Empty, but I could hear voices in the dining room. I checked the clock as I walked through the front hallway. Ten o'clock almost.

I surveyed the dining room. My grandmother and aunt were there with my parents, having coffee and playing Scrabble, probably trying to pretend things were normal, like I was simply at a sleep-over or something. My usual seat was empty, so I sat in it and leaned over to peer at the little wooden pieces in front of my father.

A. C. H. T. B. He studied them.

"Tab. Hat. Cab. Cat," I said. He finally settled on "hat."

And so, for the next hour, I played Scrabble with my parents and my grandmother and my aunt. They couldn't see me or hear me, but I sat next to them and tried to pick out words and just generally feel like a normal kid and not a spirit in charge of saving her parents' freedom.

My mother won.

She always won.

Some things never change.

At 11 o'clock everyone started getting ready for bed. My aunt was sleeping on the hide-a-bed in the living room and she flopped into bed and flicked on the TV. "Oh, Friends!" I said, settling down next to her. It was one of the ones with Janice, Chandler's unbelievably annoying girlfriend, and for the next half hour I laughed until I thought I'd cry. Normal. Nice. Even when I was alive, I hadn't had normal in awhile.

At 11:30 I said good-bye to my aunt. "Love you," I said, a little sadly, knowing it was probably the last time I would see her. I went upstairs and peaked into the guest room. My grandmother was reading, propped up in bed. I sat on the edge and looked at her.

"Grandma," I whispered, starting to choke up. "I'm gonna miss you. I love you." I reached over and gave her a hug. She shivered and pulled the blankets tighter around her.

That's what I was now. A chill in the air.

I left her and went into my parents' room. My dad was in the bathroom and my mom was in bed. I sat next to her. She had my baby photo album on the bed and was paging through it, not crying but with a definite sadness to her face and the way she turned the pages.

Suddenly she stopped and started laughing. "What?" I asked indignantly. "I wasn't that ugly!" I looked at the page she was on and saw why she was laughing.

Me, at my grandparents' house, after having finger-painted the bathroom with purple shampoo. I was about two, and I'd sneaked off, causing everyone, especially my mother, to panic. They finally found me, sitting in the bathtub, happy as a clam, but in the picture I look sorta worried. A worried two year-old is very cute.

I laughed with her. The next page were all hideously embarrassing naked pictures, which I tried to encourage her to skip over, but you know mothers. Everything is cute. (And she couldn't hear me anyway.)

So I sat next to her until my father came in and lay down. It was midnight by this time, so they turned off the light and I watched my mother sort of cuddle up next to him. Funny, when I was alive, anytime I saw my parents kiss in front of me, I automatically said, "Ewww." But now, I somehow knew that this was the last time we'd be together as a family for a long time. And it didn't seem gross at all.

I waited until they'd both fallen asleep. I wasn't quite sure how to go about this, but I had an idea of what was involved. I went over and gently lay one of my hands on both their foreheads and concentrated, picturing the three of us together.

And suddenly I wasn't in the dark bedroom watching them sleep. I was in the same white, empty place I'd been in when I first "woke up" after I died - or at least a very similar place.

And my parents weren't asleep, they were facing me.

"Katy?" my mom whispered.

"It's me," I said, giving her a hug.

"What's going on?" my dad asked, pulling me close and ruffling my hair.

"Going on?" I replied. "Can't a friendly spirit enter her parents' dreams just to chat?" They looked at me. "Okay, here's the thing. I have to warn you about something."

"Warn us? What is this, Ghost?" my dad asked, smiling.

"Pretty close," I muttered, not returning the smile.

"Why?" my mom asked.

I looked at them seriously. "Do not become full members of the Sharing."

My dad looked confused. "Why not? They've been wonderful to us."

I shook my head. "I can't tell you. It'd be dangerous for you to know. But you need to get away from it, far away."

"Why?" my mother asked again.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you, but I can't. Someday you'll know why. Promise me you'll call Mr. Chapman tomorrow and tell him you've changed your minds."

"Yes," my mother finally promised, sounding bewildered.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. "Someday you'll understand."

We stood there, just looking at each other for a minute. Then my mom finally asked the question I knew she was going to ask: "Katy . . . are you happy?"

"Yes," I answered with a smile. "Yes. I'm happy."

My parents smiled. They'd be able to heal now, knowing I was safe and happy.

"I'm going to let you guys go," I said. "I don't know how much of this you will remember, but please do as I've asked. It is very important."

"We will," my dad said.

I hugged each of them. "Good-bye," I whispered. "I'll be watching over you."

"Love you," my mom murmured in my ear.

"I love you, too," I said. "And I love you, too, Daddy." I hadn't called him "Daddy" in years. I hugged him.

"I love you," he answered, his voice rough.

I stepped back and broke the spell, bringing us back to my parents' bedroom, with me standing over them. They both woke up and looked at each other. "I'll call Chapman in the morning," he said. She nodded, leaned back, and closed her eyes, a slight smile on her face.

"My work here is done," I said, laughing a little through the tears that were leaking from my eyes. "Good-bye, you two." I left, pausing at the doorway for one last look at them. They would be fine. My job now was to deal with the last person who wasn't fine: Aximili.

Chapter Fourteen -- Kate

I spent the night in Aximili's scoop again, watching him sleep. Or, actually, watching him doze and Tobias sleep. I wanted to repeat the dream thing with him, but I found that after going through so many walls and causing my parents' dream, I was exhausted. Apparently, that took energy, so I was going to have to wait until tomorrow night.

The next day, Jake called a meeting at Aximili's scoop instead of the barn. Probably because that would mean Aximili would be forced to attend without them having to risk Marco morphing gorilla in broad daylight again. Whatever the reason, when they gathered at his scoop, I saw that Cassie was carrying my Rosary and the two remaining letters.

^So what's going on?^ Tobias asked.

"Well, it looks as if the problem of Kate's parents joining the Sharing has been solved for us. The induction ceremony was called off."

"Why?" Cassie asked. "I mean, that's great, but why?"

Jake shrugged. "Ask Marco. He talked to Erek. I found out from Tom, because I happened to be in the room when he took the call from Chapman, but Marco probably got more details."

"Yeah, Erek said that they'd just decided not to become full members. And they're thinking about moving."

"Moving?" I said, relieved. That would get them away from the Yeerks. Yes, move, move! I thought happily.

"Oh," Cassie said. She looked at Marco. "Did he say why they'd decided not to become full members?"

"Nope."

She looked thoughtful. "This is going to sound silly, but do you think . . .do you think Kate had something to do with it?"

No one laughed.

Rachel said, "Do you think it's possible?"

^No,^ Aximili replied shortly.

^Yes,^ Tobias said. ^Anything is possible.^

They were silent for awhile. Finally Cassie cleared her throat and said, "Um, Ax, Tobias, I have your letters. And the Rosary."

^As I have already stated, I do not wish to possess that necklace,^ Aximili insisted.

"Well, Kate did wish for you to possess it, so I'm leaving it here." She laid it carefully next to his TV..

The others left soon after and it was just Tobias, Aximili, and me. Tobias morphed to human and picked up his letter. "I'll be back in a little while, 'kay, Ax-man?"

^Yes, Tobias,^ he said tiredly.

I followed Tobias as he took his letter over to his meadow and sat on a flat rock in the sun.

Chapter Fifteen - Tobias

Before I opened my letter, I looked up into the sky. It was completely blue, no clouds, and I wondered if I would see a falcon soaring overhead. But to my disappointment, there wasn't one. I sighed and tore open the envelope.

Dear Tobias,

Well, if you're reading this, I'm . . . somewhere other than on Earth. And I'll miss you guys, but that's really okay. I'm not scared anymore. But I have a couple things to say to each of you, so I'm putting them in these letters. Because "There never seems to be enough time to do things you wanna do . . ." and the same is true with stuff you want to say, so here it is. Everything I want to say to you, but probably won't get the chance to.

First of all, hang on to Rachel. She'll drive you crazy at times, but you two need each other. And when this war is over, you'll need each other even more because you two will be the most changed by it. Just hang in there.

Second thing: Look to tomorrow when it comes time for you to make your big decision. Think, "Am I going to be happy tomorrow if I make this choice? Or am I going to regret it when I wake up in the morning?" Hindsight is always 20/20, but you rarely have the opportunity to take advantage of it. Don't make a rash decision.

And don't second-guess the decisions you've made already. Rachel probably wants you to become a human and stay one. But you can't, and you know why you can't. So don't. As I said, if you did, the next morning when you woke up, you'd regret it. And you'd resent Rachel for it. At least, that's my prediction. You don't get the thrill rush that Rachel does from fighting, but you fight for other reasons, and you can't abandon those.

My last point is a request. Please take care of Aximili for me. I know you would anyway, but he's really going to need someone to help him out after I'm gone. Don't let him give up.

And that's it. It's pretty late (or early), but I had to write these. I don't know why. I hope you never read this.

But, just in case, here's something to leave you with.

"Someday we'll find it, The Rainbow Connection, The lovers, the dreamers, And me."

Always dream.

Love, Kate

I put the letter down and blinked away the tears. Oh, Kate I wish you were here, I thought, thinking about Ax back at his scoop, still mourning her. I looked up again, and this time, I saw a falcon glide high overhead. "Tseeeeeer!" it cried. I smiled. Falcons are usually a pain in the tail feathers, but on that day, the sight of that falcon made me happier than I'd been in months.

Everything's going to be okay, I thought, suddenly certain of it..

Chapter Sixteen - Ax

I spent the rest of the day as I had all the days since Katherine died: doing nothing. The thought of eating made me feel ill, and I could not sleep, because she filled all of my dreams. "You can't just curl up and die," Cassie had admonished me. Why not? I had wondered.

Tobias returned from reading his letter and prodded me out of my scoop and down to the stream. "You really have to stop this, Ax," he said wearily.

^Why are you under the impression that this is something I control? I do not. And I cannot "stop this."^

"Ax . . . Look, morph to human. We'll go to the mall, I'll buy you a Cinnabon."

I shook my head. ^I'm sorry, Tobias.^

He sighed. "Ax, c'mon, you can't just give up like this."

I pulled my hoof out of the stream where I had been drinking and shook my head again.

"Okay," he gave in reluctantly.

That night I settled myself in my scoop. I expected another night of restless sleep, but I suppose that after five nights of very little rest, exhaustion simply overwhelmed me and I fell asleep almost immediately.

Once more, I dreamt of her. But this time, it was different. Very different. The dreams weren't memories as the others had been. She and I were in an empty space, just us. She was dressed in the same artificial skin she had been wearing in the casket at the funeral, and though much artificial skin looks ridiculous on humans, she looked very beautiful.

"Hi, Aximili," she said.

^Katherine,^ I managed.

"Surprise!" she said with a smile.

^Is this real?^ I asked.

"Yes. Very, very real. You see, I've spent the last couple days with you guys. A little time with Jake, some with Cassie and Rachel, etc, etc. And I've been with you."

^How?^

"I don't know. You couldn't see me, but I was there. And I'm here now. And I have something to tell you."

^What?^

"I'm fine. I'm no longer alive, but I still exist, my soul exists. And you have to stop trying to kill yourself."

^I am not - ^ I began, but she held her hand up and crossed to me, taking my hand in hers.

"I love you, Aximili. I love you and I want you to be happy and well. But if you continue the way you are, you won't be."

^How can I be happy without you?^ I asked bitterly. ^How? I am alone now. How can I be happy?^

"You're not alone. You have five wonderful friends who would be more than willing to help you get through this, help you heal, if you'd only let them. Tobias has been bending over backward to help you. Cassie, too. But you won't let them."

^I'm still in love with you. I cannot let you go.^

"But you have to, Aximili. I'm not alive anymore. And I don't want you to forget me, but you have to let me go . . . for your sake and mine."

I was silent. Finally I said, ^I will always love you.^

"And I will always love you. But we both have to move on, you with your life and me to another place."

^May I kiss you . . . one last time?"

"Yes, I would like that a lot."

I morphed to human and studied her face, her hair, and felt the way her hand gripped mine. I wanted to remember everything, because I knew it was last time I would see her in this way. "I will never see you again," I said, finally voicing my greatest fear.

"That's not true," she replied. "You will. I'm allowed to visit you in your dreams. And we will be together again. But hopefully it will be years from now." I nodded.

I stared at her beautiful, brown eyes and slowly moved my mouth closer to hers. Our lips touched and electricity flowed through me.

Our first kiss lasted only an instant. Our last seemed to stretch for an eternity, during which time stopped. When we finally parted, we held each other for a long while. At last, she let go and stepped away. "I'm going to have to leave you soon."

"No, no!" I whispered desperately. I didn't ever want to leave her. I could have stayed there in that white space forever and been happy.

"Yes. It's time for both of us to let go." I managed to nod.

"Good-bye, Aximili."

"Good-bye, Katherine," I choked.

She stepped away, squeezing my hand until she could not reach it any longer.

"I'll see you in your dreams."

Chapter Seventeen - Ax

I awoke in my scoop. Outside, I could see that dawn had already broken.

^Did you sleep well?^ Tobias asked, sounding surprised.

^Yes, I did.^ The dream of Katherine was very vivid and alive in my mind.

^Maybe now that you aren't so tired you'll start feeling better.^

^Perhaps.^ I spied her letter and the Rosary lying on the floor of my scoop. ^Tobias . . . would you mind if I read Katherine's letter in private?^

^Of course not,^ he replied. ^See you later, Ax.^ He flew off.

I looked at the envelope. On the front, it was marked Philip, the human name I often use when I am with my friends. I opened the letter and removed the paper enclosed in the envelope.

Dear Aximili,

How can I say good-bye to you? The other letters came so easily, but what do I say to you, the person who has come to mean as much to me as my family?

I guess, most importantly, I love you. You are the first and only guy I have ever loved. You are wonderful. Not many guys would have done what you did while I was sick. Someday, you will make some lucky girl, whether human or Andalite, very happy. And I wish you luck in every way.

Secondly, I have it on good faith that wherever I am, I am happy. So I want you to be happy, too. I know you'll be sad for awhile, and I'm not going to tell you not to be. I'm sad, too. Sad that I never got to do the things I wanted to do, and sad that we didn't have enough time together. But, c'est la vie. Some things we can't control.

Next, something I want you to know that you probably do not. From my conversations with you and the others, I've managed to glean some information about your brother. I know he was a hero, and you looked up to him, thought he was great, and don't think you will ever live up to his legacy. Aximili, you are a hero as well. You may never be acknowledged for it, but you are as great as your brother was. And don't ever doubt that. Ever.

And finally, thank you. Thank you for not being afraid of me, for not running away even when things got tough, for making me feel like I was special, and loved, and accepted. For being there and never leaving me alone. For being you.

Someday we will be together again. I know it, and though you might not think it's true (I'll readily admit that it can't be scientifically proven), it will happen. So, until then . . . I'll continue loving you from someplace else, and watching over all of you.

Love, always and forever, Katherine

I lowered the letter and looked around my scoop in the early morning light. I picked the Rosary up and held it, running my fingers over the smooth wood. I turned my stalk eyes to face the outside, and spied a flurry of feathers. I turned my main eyes as well, assuming it was Tobias.

But it was not.

It was a peregrine falcon, such as the morph Prince Jake has.

And the one Katherine had.

As I watched, it flew away from where it must have been perched somewhere near my scoop. Strange that I hadn't heard it landing, or that Tobias had not noticed it.

I watched it climb higher and higher, until it was only a dot in the sky.

I smiled in the only way Andalites can, using our eyes. ^I'll see you in my dreams,^ I whispered.