We also have an interesting technology that allows us to morph into other animals. First we have to absorb the animal's DNA, which we call acquiring. Then you can morph that animal for the rest of your life. But with this gift comes a terrible curse. If you stay in a morph longer then two Earth hours, then you shall be trapped in that morph forever. People who become trapped in a morph are called nothlits.

We use this terrific technology to spy on our enemies. For we Andalites fight a great enemy, the Yeerks. We fight the Yeerks because we released them into the Universe. A kind Andalite named Seerow gave the Yeerks access to technology that would allow them to travel in space.

The Yeerks are not what they seem. They are in fact a parasitic slug species that controls the hosts body by going inside of their brains. First they took over the Hork-Bajir, even though we tried to save them. They also made an alliance with the evil Taxxons, who agreed to be made into Controllers. Now they are trying to take over a lovely, beautiful, planet called Earth.

Now, you might be asking yourself, what would an alien be doing trying to save a simple planet like Earth. The truth is that I am connected to this planet in so many ways that it seems like home.

Right now I am hovering in orbit around Earth. I am alone in this shuttle, because I came alone. Earth has lots of water, more water then I have ever seen on a planet in my life. I was getting ready to land, but I knew already what I was going to find.

There it would be. Elfangor's final stand, the place where he fell. His son will also be there. Elfangor's son doesn't know that his father is in fact an alien.

That is one reason why I am here, but another is that I want to say goodbye to Elfangor. He was killed by Visser Three. Elfangor's younger brother will be there also. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. I've never really known him that well, but he should be a lot like his brother. Who I happen to know very well.

I am now ready to tell the whole truth about as to why I am on this planet. This is my hirac delest-- my final statement.

When I was young, I was skinny and usually covered in some type of mud or water. My fur was a shade of blueish-purple, and I was what humans call a tomboy. Most females do not have very fast or strong tails, but I was not like most females.

I went right over to him and said, < Hello. My name is Shéron, and I just moved here. >

He said, < Hi. My name is Elfangor, and when I get older I want to become a Prince. >

I said that I want to join the Andalite military too. He just stared at me and laughed and laughed. My blood was boiling. I was so mad at him I slashed my tail through the air in a blink of an eye straight to his throat. I just asked him what was so funny.

Elfangor and I grew to be good friends. We would spend our childhood together, practicing and training our tails. I was born with speed, but I had to build up strength and muscle in my tail. As I got older, I grew muscles up and down my body. My fur became a most shocking purple, which no amount of mud in the Universe could hide. I was told that I became one of the most beautiful Andalites in the Universe. I have a very superior strong tail, but most males did not seem to notice that until it was too late.

When we were both the right age to join the military, I went with Elfangor to the draft board. I just walked through the door, overly prepared to beat some young Andalites. I knew they weren't going to just let me in. At first they thought it was a joke, but Elfangor convinced them to let me at least try.

We spent a couple years learning all about ships and the occasional tail training. The only way to pass would be to win in a tail fighting contest. Elfangor was first and he won. Then I had to go up against him. Elfangor was already in, but I had to beat him to get in. He was easy, but then I had to go against a Warrior. I defeated him barely, and now I had to beat a Prince. It was close, but I parried when I should have thrust, and I lost. But I was
in, since I had beaten Elfangor.

The TailFighter was ordered to handle the solar system that has nine planets orbiting its one sun.

I was new, but because I defeated the Warrior I was given a chance to go down on a planet. We landed our shuttle just outside a primitive city. Unfortunately, we were spotted by a bunch of humans. I thought that just before we erase their memories I might as well get a new morph. I created a joint morph out of about seven different people. Then we erased their memories, got some more fuel, and left.

After two months, I was promoted to Warrior and was assigned to the StarSword. There I met up with Elfangor; apparently he was also recently promoted to Warrior, but he didn't want to describe why. We worked together very closely on strategic battle plans, but there was one time when he did something very personal. He asked me to become his shorm, his best friend. I was honored and agreed.

Later that month, we ran into Visser Three and we decided to try something risky. We were going to fly right at the ship, get inside their shields, shoot, and pull up just in the nick of time... we hoped.

I saw the signal from Elfangor and I powered my engines.

I was a much better shot then Elfangor, so I aimed for the more important systems on the ship. We were about five hundred thousand miles away from the ship (a very small difference, at these speeds), and closing fast, when we started firing.

Then I heard the Evil Visser's thought-speech. I turned my stalk eyes to Elfangor's fighter, and I noticed that he wasn't turning.

< Elfangor, Elfangor! Get over it, or you'll be dead! Get OUT OF THERE! > Luckily, his fighter began to turn away, and barely missed the Blade ship.

We had done it, and we were still alive.

We both headed back to the Dome ship for repairs, while the rest of the Warriors took care of the Yeerks.

We headed up to the Dome part of the ship to feed and drink. When we got up there, we were both informed that we were promoted to Prince. I looked at Elfangor and saw the excitement in his eyes, and we touched tails. Touching tails is a sign of excitement, like slapping hands, but it also can be a sign of affection, like a kiss. I realized what I was doing, so I pulled my tail back very quickly and made it look like I was interested in
something on the ground.

I looked up at Elfangor, and I saw his fur begin to run together to form skin. I let out a little cry of surprise before I realized he was morphing human.

Morphing is looked upon as bad practice unless it's completely necessary. I just sat there stunned, but something inside of me told me to morph, and I did. I felt my tail go limp and dead. Then my stalk eyes went dark. My front legs shriveled up and I could feel myself falling backward. Elfangor caught me before I hit the ground.

I was done and I turned to face him. He had dark hair, and crystal clear blue eyes. The most curious thing about him (and all humans) was his mouth.

I couldn't believe I was doing this. If anyone came in they would find two creatures trying to keep their balance on two legs. Elfangor began to walk to me like he had been walking on two legs his whole life.

Then he took my face in his hands, and pushed his lips against mine. It was the most exciting thing I have ever felt.

I sat there, lost in the moment, for who-knows-how-long.

I suddenly became overly paranoid about our surroundings. I turned to the dropshaft and began to run to it. I tripped and fell, and when Elfangor came over to help me I began to morph my old body. I got up and ran as fast as I could to the dropshaft, and then straight to my now-larger quarters.

The next day we were ordered to the bridge for our presentation of Princehood. I had to come from farther away on the ship, so Elfangor beat me to the bridge.

The bridge is circular in shape and has control panels linked to the ship on all but one side. On the middle wall is the viewscreen, which was currently positioned at deep space. The captain stood in his usual spot in the middle of the bridge and Elfangor stood to his left. He signaled for me to go stand by Elfangor, and I did. There were lots of Warriors standing around.

< Out of this terrible battle rose two great Warriors. They ran a suicide mission, but survived, and now it is my pleasure to present to you Prince Elfangor and Prince Shéron. >

I stood there while our title of Warrior was switched to Prince in the computer. We left the bridge after the presentation, and went to the Dome for our morning ritual. I stood in the up shaft waiting for Elfangor to say something, but he stayed silent until we were alone on the Dome.

< Congratulations, > he said. I could tell that he was testing me to see exactly how mad I was.

All I said was, < Thanks, forget about it. > I glanced over at Elfangor, and saw fear in his eyes. < Don't worry Elfangor, I am not mad, but we need to talk. > I led him over to an empty, quiet, dark area of the Dome.

< All right, what do you want to talk about? >

< Why? WHY!? >

< The truth is that I've never had the same feelings for another Andalite as I do for you. >

< Oh, yeah right! I remember you during training; you went out with just about every girl you could! >

< Yeah, but very recently I've... grown up. >

< What are you talking about? >

< I have something I need to tell you, about that time when I disappeared. >

Elfangor told me a tale about time travel, hate, Visser Three, Earth, and Loren.

< I also have a son. >

< Do you know what he looks like? >

< No, the Ellimist pulled me away before Loren could even tell me I had a son. >

< You've had this bottled up inside ever since..... I am so sorry. >

I had a sudden urge to comfort Elfangor, but before I could even grab his hand, Warrior Heron put his arms around both Elfangor and my shoulders.

< So, what are you two new Princes talking about? > Heron is like a big thorn in my side, and he never leaves me alone. He just likes being annoying and getting in my way. One time he charged at me and I 'slipped' and gave him a scar across his shoulder.

< Oh, nothing, just about friendship. Oh, wait, you don't know anything about that, now do you. >

< How do you dodge her thought-speech missiles anyway, Elfangor? >

< She likes me, Heron. >

Heron turned to leave, but before he did he reached for my hand. Instead of grabbing my hand he almost ended up with a bloody stump for an arm. My tail was quicker then lightning, but cutting up Andalite arms wasn't exactly looked upon as good nature.

< Sometimes I'd just like to teach him a lesson in manners, the hard way. >

After I was done feeding, I had to report to the cargo bay. The Shredders on a bunch of fighters were completely burned out and needed to be replaced.

The Shredders are the heaviest piece of equipment on the fighters, and aren't exactly fun to haul around, but someone has to do it. As it turns out, the new Prince Elfangor was ordered to the bridge, probably to just stand there and bask in the glow of the captain. I was in charge of the operation, but when one of the workers broke his leg, I had to take over for his work.

< You wouldn't believe what I've been doing! On the bridge the captain asked me for some advice! It was amazing! >

< Uh-huh. >

< I am not exactly sensing too much excitement coming from you. >

< It's just that I am really sore and tired. Listen, I think I'll just go to my quarters and sleep. >

I turned to go, when I noticed Heron galloping toward me. I was way too tired to even talk to him, let alone challenge him. I looked at Elfangor with my main eyes and asked him, < Would you like to accompany me? > The whole time I pointed my stalk eyes at the oncoming Heron.

We wandered over to the dropshaft, and flew to the seventh deck.

< Listen, I don't exactly know where your quarters are, so you'd better lead me. >

We came to my door and I quickly swept the hallway searching for Heron. When I didn't see him, I walked into my room and said goodbye to Elfangor. That wasn't the end of my adventures for the day, though.

I slipped into a deep sleep, but I still left my stalk eyes open. I was breathing heavily when my stalk eyes sensed light.

Someone had just entered my room! I was wide awake now. I picked up my tail and walked slowly into the middle of my room. I called out, < Who's there? >

< Shéron, it's me, Elfangor. >

I reached over and turned on the light. < What are you doing here? >

< I just wanted to see how you were doing, since you looked really tired before. Are you sick or something? >

Then it hit me. This wasn't Elfangor, since the real Elfangor would already know why I was so tired.

I slashed my tail straight to the Elfangor-impostor's throat and told him to demorph. He knew he was beaten, so I watched as Heron emerged from Elfangor.

Security came and got Heron. They took him to Medical, where they were going to take the morph of Elfangor away from him. They would induce an artificial hereth illint, but with Elfangor touching Heron at the time so that the ejected DNA would be reabsorbed into Elfangor instead of creating a second creature based on Elfangor's
DNA. Heron will very likely be discharged from the military.

Both Elfangor and I will have to report to the homeworld to act as witnesses to what happened. It is a capital punishment to morph another Andalite unless it's absolutely necessary. This was the last thing that anyone wanted, but it had to be done, so Elfangor and I borrowed a shuttle - the Jerwan - to fly us to the homeworld.

< So I guess we're going home, huh. You probably can't wait to see your parents and your little brother
Aximili. >

< I'd rather stay here and fight some Yeerks, but I volunteered to give a statement too. >

< Oh yeah, you think I am real excited about going home and having to confront my father? >

< He should be excited about the fact that you are the first female to ever pass the tests and get into the
military. >

< You'd think that, wouldn't you. > I sighed. < We're ready to go, engines engaged? >

< Check. >

< Then let's get our tails home. > The shuttle shot out of the ship and I engaged the thrusters. After we were a ways away from the ship, Elfangor said,

< I think that's far enough, let's get into Z-space. >

I told the computer to send the Jerwan into Z-space, and then I turned my main eyes away from the computer. I was tired, I hadn't really gotten one wink of sleep last night. There were so many questions about what happened.

< I think I am going to go to the back and get some sleep, before my eyes bug out of my head. >

Elfangor's answer was a grunt and a little nod of the head. He was busy sending our coordinates, and the reason we're going home.

I turned to go, but I never made it out of the control room. The floor suddenly turned right on me, my knees buckled, and I hit the floor. I pushed myself up and hollered

< What did you do!? >

< Nothing! The starboard engines just cut out on us! >

I got up, ran over to the control panel, and said, < That isn't possible, these engines are only about three months old! >

< Well, they died. Have you shut down the rest of the engines? >

< Not yet, just give me a minute. >

The world stopped spinning and the shuttlecraft came to a dead halt. We stopped about ten thousand miles up from a planet's atmosphere.

< Whew, that was a close one. >

< Taken a little bit longer and we would have been space dust. Are you all right? >

< Yeah, I'll live. It's not like I haven't fallen before. >

I wandered down to the engines, opened up the bulkhead, and found a bunch of cut wires. < Elfangor, someone has sabotaged our engines. > I had a funny feeling that I knew who the culprit was.

< Heron, but how could he have done it? >

< I don't know, but I have this feeling that it was him, that's all. >

< Those wires were cut pretty neat, and in just the right spot. You know Heron's a computer whiz. All he had to do was find the control junction from the starboard engines to the fuel and sever them. >

< Yeah, but how did we get out of the ship without spinning? > Elfangor asked.

< We still have our thrusters. >

< Yeah, but how did we get the engines going? They should have just keeled over. I think the saboteur is on board. >

< Listen, I... >

I quickly stopped speaking when I heard a thud coming from up above. I raised my stalk eyes up and watched the bulkhead tremble a little bit. Elfangor was staring at the bulkhead, but at the same time giving me an 'I told you so' look.

That certain panel was not automated, so we were going to have to slash it out.

< One... two... three! > We each cut out a section of the panel with our tails. The panel fell to the floor with a deafening clang, but the saboteur didn't. We sat silent for a few minutes, but we didn't hear any more trembling.

The first problem that we were going to have to worry about would be the engines. I grabbed some magnification equipment along with the repair kit, and headed off take care of the damaged wires.

I zoomed in to see the code-numbers on the wires to replace them, but I found something more interesting.
< Elfangor, come down here and take a look at this. >

< All right. Now, what am I looking for? >

< Take a close look at those wires. >

I reached over and zoomed the lens in by another one, at medium magnification.

< Can't you see how jagged the ends are here? >

< Yeah, so what? >

< That means that they were chewed off instead of being cut off. See, when anything is cut it stays smooth until you get to high magnification. We're only at medium mag, so they were chewed off. >

He put the eyepiece down, turned to me, and said, < By a very sharp-toothed animal. >

< I don't understand, how did any animal get on board this ship? It should have been sizzled to a crisp. >

< I know why. Shéron, why don't you run some DNA tests on the wires to see what kind of animal is on board? >

< Aye-aye, Captain! >

< Elf, the creature on board is a type of rodent. It has two long sharp front teeth which it uses for chewing. It's about eleven centimeters long and orange-reddish in color. >

< That's enough, Shéron, and please don't call me Elf. >

< So, how are we going to catch this Andalite? >

< I am going to block off the control room and set the shuttle to create a force field around anyone who
morphs. >

< I'll get the needed wires to fix the engines, and be in the control room in a jiffy. >

< No! I want you to greet our little stowaway. >

< All right, > I said with as little excitement as possible.

I replaced the wires and waited for the clock to wind down to two hours. If the saboteur didn't morph after two hours, he would be stuck as a rodent. Suddenly, I saw the alarm light up.

He was demorphing. I reached over to a control panel and found out the force field was going down in the back near the fuel lines. I ran back there as quickly as I could. I leaped over anything in my way and got to the door. I picked my tail up, ready for action and I walked through the door.

I let out a little gasp as the captain of the StarSword demorphed from a little rodent.

< Very good, you two discovered our little ploy in record time. You work very well together. >

< Elfangor, ELFANGOR! Get down here now. Listen, that is very nice of you to say that. >

Right then Elfangor came galloping through the door with a Shredder in his hand.

< Elfangor, I'd like for you to meet our saboteur. >

He got a confused look in his face, and he kept glancing from me to the captain with his main eyes, while his stalk eyes kept close tabs on the captain's tail.

< Listen, Elfangor, I am telling you that it was all set up, the busted engines, the rodent, Heron, everything. >

< Oh, just shut up, > Elfangor whispered, mostly because we were on the bridge and I felt like bugging him. After the captain was completely done morphing, Elfangor had to contact the ship three times to confirm the captain's story.

< I would like for you all to turn your eyes to the screen, if it's at all possible. > The captain was giving me a sort of humorous look, and Elfangor looked like he was going to be sick. I turned my attention to the viewscreen and I saw a beautiful array of blue and green mixed together. There was a nebula right in front of our ship.

< It is called the Valocina nebula. We have been ordered to chart it as a possible hiding place from the Yeerks during a battle. Princes Elfangor and Shéron, I want for you two to take the Jerwan into the nebula and chart all of the uninhabited planets. There is only one that is completely safe to land on. It is the fourth planet from the edge of the nebula. >

< All right, see you later, Captain. >

< Let's get going, Shéron, before the captain throws you out the airlock. > Elfangor whispered so no one else would hear.

I guess he said it a little loud because the captain said, < Oh now, I don't think I would throw her out of the airlock, mostly because her father would come after me. >

Elfangor snuck away quickly, and I followed, leaving the captain going through a laughing fit.

As we walked down the corridors I snuck a quick look at Elfangor, and he was extremely angry at me.

< I was only kidding around. >

< You really should act more serious around Andalites who outrank you. >

< I am sorry. > He just kept walking, I don't think he even heard me.

We got to the shuttle bay where the Jerwan was being held. The shuttle bay was enormous in height. It would have to be, to hold the extremely large Jerwan. The Jerwan was like a bubble with two long engines, one at each side. There was an engineering crew scurrying about, fixing this and that.

< It's all ready to go. You can take her out now, > said one of the engineers.

A door right on the front of the ship popped open and we entered. I walked over to the helm and checked to see if everything was ready.

< Green lights across the board, Elfangor. We're ready to go. >

< Power up the engines and open the hatch, > Elfangor ordered.

I moved my hand and the Jerwan's engines began to glow blue. The hatch opened and we left the StarSword.

< Should I set our coordinates to the fourth planet from the sun? > I questioned, not sure if Elfangor wanted to survey the planet or map the nebula first.

< No, let's map the nebula first. >

< Then it's straight to the middle of the nebula, right? > I asked, trying to get back on Elfangor's good side.

< Right. >

I keyed in the coordinates, and wandered to the back to get something to eat.

< Shéron, I am sorry I snapped at you before, It's just that I have a lot on my mind, that's all. >

I turned around, which is not an easy thing for a quadruped in a shuttlecraft to do. Elfangor was standing there, staring at me with his sharp green eyes. All four of them.

< No, you were right. I should be more serious. After all, I am a Prince. >

Suddenly Elfangor began to laugh. His silent laugh filled my head, and I began to laugh too.

< What's so funny, Elfangor? >

He never got to answer my question. The shuttle began to glow, and then it started to spin. Elfangor slipped and plowed right into me. There we were, two Andalites continually spinning in a shuttle. Legs were flying everywhere.

I had to end some of the madness, so I grabbed a Shredder, aimed carefully, and blew up the artificial-gravity generator. Instantly Elfangor and I were released from the floor and found ourselves floating.

I wasn't sure which way was up, and the shuttle kept spinning madly around us. I pushed off of a wall, and got up to the control room.

< Something shot at our engines, and there's nothing that I can do. >

< Shéron, are we anywhere near that planet? >

< Yes. I think I can bring us in for a crash landing. You'd better brace for impact. >

The Jerwan began to turn toward the planet, but the hard thing was going to be getting us to go forward. Luckily the port thrusters still worked, so I got all energy I could from weapons, backup life support, everything, and threw it all into one big jolt. The shuttle rocketed forward.

< Arrrgghhh! >

We were both thrown into the back of the ship. I could feel the heat as the ship began to enter the planet's atmosphere. I looked out the front of the viewscreen, and watched as the ground rushed up at us.

That's when I discovered that I was bleeding from a large cut in my forehead. I knew we were on the planet, but the shuttlecraft kept spinning.

< Hey, hey... be careful, you took a mighty bad fall, and cut yourself up real bad. >

Elfangor ran over to me, carrying a medical kit. He closed the wound on my head, while I asked, < How long have I been out? >

< Oh, only about five minutes longer than I was, but I don't know how long I was down. >

< How's the ship? >

Elfangor put down the equipment he was holding. His face had a stern, scared, look. He then asked, < The truth? >

< Yes, the truth. >

< I don't think you could even salvage her for parts, let alone get us home. >

I let out a thought-speech sigh. I leaned back against the floor, and looked at the inside of the Jerwan.

Computer panels had been torn off of the walls, things were scattered all around the room, sparks were flying everywhere.

< If only I wouldn't have given us such a big jolt, this probably wouldn't have happened. >

I pushed myself up, picked up a case of food rations, and said, < Oh well, at least no one died. Come on, we'll set up a homing signal, and then create a little camp site for us. Is there any grass out there, Elfangor? >

< I don't know, I haven't really left the ship yet. >

< Well, let's go find out. >

The door was jammed, so I told Elfangor to stand back, picked up a Shredder, aimed, and fired. The door was no longer in the way.

We stepped out into a barren wasteland. There was no grass to be seen. The planet was covered with sand, rocks, and dirt. Its sky was a dingy, dark, brownish-yellow.

It was also extremely hot. I could feel myself dehydrating right there. I turned to look at the Jerwan, and it looked even worse on the outside than it did on the inside.

One of it's engines had been torn off completely, and the other one had been cut in half. There were rips and dents all around the hull. Elfangor wasn't kidding when he said the Jerwan wasn't salvageable.

We began to walk away from the ship. After we walked about fifty yards, I found a perfect spot. There were lots of rocks hiding away a little area.

< No wonder it's uninhabited, there's nothing out there to eat. It's a good thing we brought lots of supplies. >

Elfangor turned to me, set his food rations on the ground, and said, < Yeah, but how long can we live on dehydrated grass? >

< I am not sure, but I do know that I am hungry right now. >

I leaned down, opened up a packet, and set it on the ground.

I placed my hoof over it and began to eat. I would have had liked having an open field to graze on instead of this package, but oh well.

< Come on, let's set up some tents or something. >

I turned to pick up a piece of material to serve as a tent, when I remembered about the homing signal.

< Oh geez, I left the homing device on the ship, now I'll have to go back and get it. >

I turned to run to the Jerwan, when I became a little dizzy.

< You are in no condition to go for a run; I shall go back and get the device. >

I caught myself on a rock before I tipped over, and said, < Fine. >

< Um... Shéron, the device is in the back near the engines, right? > I gave a little nod. < That means that it's probably fused into the engines. I'll just cut them free with a Shredder. >

< Are you crazy, that is a sensitive piece of equipment! I don't care what you say, I am coming with you. >

I got up and followed Elfangor. When we were about halfway to the ship, I paused for a minute, because I thought I heard a sound.

I never really saw it, but I sure did feel it. What I had heard was a sort of dart being shot at me. It hit me right in the shoulder.

< Arrrgghhh! >

Elfangor stopped, and turned around, < What is it? What's wrong with... > He froze for about two seconds.

< Would you mind pulling it out? >

< Sorry. > He reached over and grabbed the dart, and pulled with all his might. The pain was excruciating.

< Arrrgghhh! Is it out yet? >

< Yeah it's out. Come on, let's get to the Jerwan and... > Suddenly the Jerwan burst into flames! < Duck! > I grabbed his shoulders and hauled him out of the way of a falling piece of debris.

< Thanks. Whew. I think that would've hurt a little bit. >

< Elfangor, this is... was... the homing device. >

< Shéron, what is going on here? >

< I don't think we're alone on this planet. >

Elfangor and I headed back to our camp site. The Jerwan was blown to pieces, and the homing device was charbroiled.

< Oh, there's nothing that I can do. We're as good as dead. > I threw the tools I was using as hard as I could.

< Now come on, it can't be all that bad. Here, let me try. >

Elfangor reached over across the rock where I had set the homing device. He grabbed a tool and began to fiddle with it.

< Man, it sure is hot out here, > I said.

< Oh, I don't know, I think it's kind of nice. > Suddenly, a huge spark shot out of the homing device. < Whoa, that was a big spark. >

Elfangor gave up after he was nearly electrocuted, and then he came over and stood by me.

< I am sure they will find us. After all, we are Princes. >

I kept gazing out at the planet. I had a funny feeling that I was going to spend the rest of my life here. < I wish I could believe you, but I just have this terrible feeling. > Elfangor gazed at me with his stalk eyes, and then he got a very worried look.

< What? >

< Shéron, are you all right? >

< Yeah, just a little hot. Why? >

< Because you're sweating. >

< WHAT!? > Andalites do not sweat, not unless if we are either very sick or very very hot.

The world became dizzy right then. I started to fall, and I had no hope of catching myself.

Luckily, Elfangor had kept his eyes on me the whole time, and at least slowed down my decent.

< Elf... that dart, it must have been poisoned. >

< Shéron, can you morph? >

< I... I am not sure, let me try. >

My fur began to run together. I was morphing, but I had to keep my concentration, or else I might pass out. Elfangor kept cheering me on until I was completely human. I was tired after that, so I looked up at Elfangor, said good night, and fell asleep right on the dirt.

< Shéron, come on, don't do this, you have to morph now! >

"Huh.... what...." I slowly opened up my two eyes. Two eyes? Where are my stalk eyes!? Oh, yes, that's right. I am in a morph. I had forgotten.

< Morph now, you've been out for nearly two hours! >

I began to morph quickly. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Elfangor perked up his ears. "Why..."

< Shhhh... > Lucky for him I couldn't talk, because at that precise moment I lost my human mouth. Then I heard a noise too. It sounded like some rocks falling.

< Elfangor, over there. >

I was completely Andalite, and I pointed my tail toward the south end of our camp. He was up and over there in a flash. Elfangor picked up my Shredder on the way over there.

He pointed it into the dark shadows where the intruder was hiding, and said, < If you don't come out of there I'll shoot. >

I watched as slowly a small alien creature scurried out from behind the rocks. It sort of looked like a Hork-Bajir. It had rough, brown, scaly, skin, and it walked on two legs. Only it had a long tail in the back. It was a very short creature, only came up to about my waist, but he had these long, tough, muscular, arms that he used to steady himself. His feet didn't look all that large, and other then his eyes, he only had a small slit for a mouth or nose. His eyes were small, and they were sunk into his head. He was obviously from this hot and dusty planet.

I was going to go over and stand by Elfangor, but I was scared that I might fall, and the creature might get away, so I stayed put.

< What do you want!? > hissed the creature. Apparently that little slit on his head was not for a mouth, since he had thought-speech.

< What are you doing here? > asked Elfangor.

< What are you talking about, it's my planet! > demanded the creature.

< Yes, we know that. We didn't mean to land here, but our... Ahhhhh... > Elfangor began to rush over to help me. < No, I am all right. Our ship was shot at, so we had to land here in order to survive. >

< Then you're not here to colonize our planet. >

Elfangor gave me a sympathetic look, as I pulled myself back to my feet and said, < No! >

< Then I feel very sorry for you. >

< All we want to do is go home, > I pleaded.

< I think we can arrange that, but... but the purple one won't be able to go home. >

Oh no. I knew exactly what he was talking about, but Elfangor became aggravated and demanded, < Why
not!? >

< The poison inside of her has no antidote, and she will die in two days. >

I felt like I was floating, like the announcement of the end of my life had been nothing more then a dream.

< No, there has to be some kind of antidote. I mean, what if one of your people gets hit? > questioned Elfangor.

< Then they die. I am sorry I can't help you, but I will take you to our council. They can give you a ship. > Everything was getting fainter and fainter, until all of a sudden I blacked out.

The road became long and bumpy. After I had passed out, Elfangor made a stretcher to carry me on. He took down one of our tents and attached it to two poles. Then he loaded me onto it; the whole time, I was unconscious.

< Oh man, it feels like someone jumped on my head. >

< Shéron, don't get up, you have to stay down. If you do, the poison should slow down. >

Elfangor gave me a look which said exactly what he was feeling. He was scared, more then just scared, he was terrified that I was going to leave him. I laid back down and became comfortable, but I wasn't going to go back to sleep. I wanted to hear what was going to happen to me.

< What happens after she becomes dizzy? >

< She will then become tired, then the poison will get into her mind and she will begin to see things, finally the poison will kill her brain, and she will die. >

< Not if I can help it. > Elfangor muttered it under his breath, but I could still hear him, and from the way the creature jerked, I think he did too.

< How far away are we from your council? > I asked.

The creature turned to me with a surprised look, like I shouldn't even be able to talk, and said, < It's not too far. We should be there before nightfall. >

The minute those words left his mouth I felt a rumbling beneath me. < Hey you guys, I think that something large is coming this way very fast. >

< Oh no, it's the Crelantch! >

< The who? > questioned Elfangor.

< The Crelantch are a race of very large, very stupid beings, who eat us to survive. They may be dumb, but they sure are fast. We have to get out of here now! >

I glanced around until I noticed a cave. < Hey, Elfangor, what about in there? > I pointed toward the cave, and I was quickly dragged over there by my hero.

It was dark and damp in the cave, and the rumbling became worse until stalactites began to fall on us.

< Arrrgghhh! > screamed all three of us. Then the outside of the cave became black as the creature passed us. His foot was huge; it had to be at least four meters in diameter.

We stayed in the cave for a while longer, until the rumbling was so distant I could barely even feel it. The alien creature had to leave us to eat, so now it was just Elfangor and I.

< Elfangor, I am sorry. >

< For what? >

< For calling you Elf before. >

< Shéron, I had completely forgotten. I guess that I am just really worried about you. >

I leaned forward off of my stretcher and stared at all of Elfangor's eyes. < I am not going to die. You know that I will fight this poison with all that I have. >

Elfangor got up and backed away from me, stepped over to a rock, and then looked up at me.

He was now starting to scare me. I think he had given up all hope of me making it home, like he was deciding if he should leave me here or not. It must have been that creature who had told him to leave me here.

< Elfangor, I don't think that you should trust that alien. >

< His name's Suran. >

< Whatever, I don't think Suran can be trusted. >

< Why do you think that? >

< I don't know, I just have this feeling. >

After I said that, Suran came from around the corner and sat down. Elfangor walked over to him and began to talk. I wasn't sure what he was saying, because they were talking to quietly.

I was bored so I began to search through Suran's things. There really wasn't anything all that interesting... until I found a Dracon beam!

Dracon beams are the kind of handheld weapons that only Yeerks use. I froze. That means that we were going to trust a Yeerk with our lives.

Elfangor had noticed me and questioned, < What's the matter with you? >

I wish I could have told Elfangor, but with the Yeerk standing right next to him, that would have been total idiocy. Even though I could speak to him privately, his reaction might give us away.

< Nothing, I am fine. >
 

 To Part Two