My name is Jake. I'm going home, no not really, my home is on the other side of the state. I'm going back to the place where I grew up. When I was still an Animorph.

When we beat the Yeerks (With out help from the Andalites) We kind of.... I don't know... Drifted apart. Anyway I still can't tell you my last name or where I live because I got evidence of what I have always feared. The Yeerks are back.

Chapter 2 - CASSIE

My name is Cassie; I was trying to give an opossum it's meds when a car came up the driveway. " Who could that be?" I wondered. The door slowly opened and out stepped Jake. He looked around and when he spotted me he yelled. " Cassie!"

I couldn't help my self. I ran to him and gave him a hug. " You've grown up!" I said once we parted.

His face got serious. " Cass, their back."

It felt like a cold wind was blowing even though it was 75 degrees out. " The Yeerks?" I asked wishing for him to say no. Then I saw the look in his eyes, it is the Yeerks. " How do you know?" I asked shakily

He told me and I couldn't help but shutter. " Were all going to have to fight again."

He nodded slowly. " Do you know where the others are?"

" Umm." I said trying to get my mind to work again. " Rachel lives in New York, Marco lives in Florida, Tobias... well his hawk body isn't as young as it used to be. He still lives in that old elm tree, And I haven't seen Ax in years."

" Could you call Rachel and Marco? I'll morph and get Tobias."

" Sure... And Jake... I'm glad your back."

Jake just smiled a sad smile as feather patterns began to appear on his skin.

Chapter 3 - JAKE

I did something that I hadn't done in a long, long time. I flew. After a while you forget how it is you know? Well, I guess you don't so I'll explain. You forget the free feeling that you don't have when you’re stuck on the roads in a car. And you forget the power of hovering above the world and everything on it.

If I remembered right, Tobias's tree was still a little ways off. The flying and the total silence gave me time to think and remember about the old times, like meeting Elfangor, fighting the Yeerks and after what seemed to be forever.... Winning, slowly drifting apart from the rest of the group, and more recently picking up the phone and listening to my best friend talking to his sub Visser about infesting me.

My train of thought was broken when I saw Tobias. He was old. His talons were gnarled, and his feathers had an unhealthy appearance. < Tobias? >

< Whoa! Jake is that you? > He said looking up.

I landed right next to him on the tree. < Yeah, it's me all right. >

< How long has it been? >

< Way too long. Look Tobias, I hate to just spring this on you but the Yeerks are back. >

He was silent for a long time. I didn't blame him. < Where are the others? >

< Cassie is calling Rachel and Marco; we still don't know where Ax is. I got to find him and tell him that were all meeting at Cassie's place. >

< I know where he is. > And he just flew off.

Chapter 4

RACHEL

" They want these ad's redone!" I said and slammed a folder down angrily.

" Redone? We worked so hard on them!" Shelly, the intern fumed.

I was a lot angrier then I had been in a long time, in fact the last time I was so angry was when the Yeerks... I quickly shoved the thought away. " The company doesn't like it, they say that it doesn't appeal to today's generation."

Shelly groaned. " Guess that means that I have to redo it."

A small smile appeared on my face. " You are the youngest" She groaned again. " And there could be a pay raise if you do this right."

" I might as well run the company!" She declared before stomping off.

Just at that moment Bob, the secretary came in. " Rachel, there is a call on line two for you. Says it's important."

I rolled my eyes. " Probably a salesman, but I'll take it any way." I walked into my office and picked up the phone. " Hello?"

" Rachel, is that you?"

I felt like my heart had stopped. I knew that voice. " Just a second Cassie." I walked to the door and shut it. " What's up?" I said trying to keep my tone light.

" Do you remember those acquaintances that moved out a while ago?"

This was bad. Cassie didn't trust the phone lines any more. " Of course."

" Well, there back." She said grimly.

" No," I whispered. " We beat- I mean they moved out for good!"

" I know, Jake is here and I was wondering if you could come too."

I looked out the office window. Bob had his ear to the phone. " Yeah, OK I will be there." I hung up and stormed out of the office feeling that once familiar surge of adrenaline. " Shelly!"

" What?" The intern looked at me.

" You’re in charge." I said.

" I didn't mean that-"

" I know you can do it." I said in no mood to argue. And with that I left to catch a plane.

Chapter 5 - MARCO

I AM 6'2, 150 LBS, LOTS OF MUSCLES. I wrote hoping for a reply. I pressed SEND. The reply came back kind of fast. GET A LIFE LOSER!

I sighed " Oh well she was probably ugly." At that moment the phone on the other line rang. I pressed the speaker button. " Talk to me. "

" Marco is that you?" Said a feminine voice.

I smiled. " Last time I checked. And who might you be honey?"

This time the person on the other line laughed and said. " I might be Cassie."

My smile went away. " The Cassie that... I mean..."

" Yes, it's that Cassie" She paused. " Do you remember our acquaintances?"

I was still hung up on the Cassie part. " Huh? You mean Jake and the others?"

" No " She said firmly. " The OTHER ones."

The Yeerks? This can't be happening! I told myself. " Yes I remember."

" Well, Jake says there back."

Now I was getting a little mad. The Yeerks were not a part of my life that I wanted to relive.

" So what do you want me to do about it?" I snapped.

" Were all getting together at the barn."

" Oh great!" I didn't want to hear this, I had to fight the urge to hang up.

" So can you come?"

I wanted to say no but... " You guys are all insane. I will come, but only to talk some sense into you."

" OK, see you there!" And she hung up. I rubbed my face and called my boss. I was going to be home sick for awhile.

Chapter 6

TOBIAS

I flew using the thermals when ever possible. My mind felt like it was trying to explode. The Yeerks were back, I might see Rachel again and the more pressing problem at the moment. What was I going to do? This hawks body isn't as strong or fit as it used to be. In fact I would bet that I was the oldest Hawk in the whole state!

I had only survived because a few times I had bummed some dead mice off of Cassie. I could feel that I didn't have much time left. My left eye was going blind and soon I won’t be able to hunt. I was coming closer to deciding. Be human or die. But I had to be focused.

I was coming up to the valley of the Hork-Bajir. I knew that Ax had moved here a few years ago. I flew through the ridge and started looking for a particular Hork-Bajir. Finally after an hour or so I came across a whole bunch on Hork-Bajir kids. They were gathered around an adult and it kind of looked like a classroom.

< Is Toby around here? > I asked as I swooped down. The adult looked up and grinned a scary toothy grin.

" Tobias! Your back."

< Yep. > I came do rest on a near by log. I felt more tired then I wanted to admit.

" Children, this is Tobias." Toby said to the Hork-Bajir.

Now, if you have never met a Hork-Bajir you could still tell right off that Toby was different. She is called a seer that’s A Hork- Bajir that is smarter then the others.

< How are you?> I asked Toby.

< Fine, our population is now up to 346.> She said happily.

< Wow! That's great, do you know where Ax is? >

She shrugged. " He often goes off by him self for days. It will do him some good to see you. Last time I saw him moving northwest."

I thanked her and flew off.

Chapter 7

AX

I walked along what humans call a deer trail. Overhead birds zipped by and sang. It was lovely and sad at the same time. I hadn't thought of my home scoop for a long time. I missed the cries of the Kafit bird and eating my own blue grass. It was awhile before I came across some water. I was drinking my fill when I heard a very familiar thought speak voice in my head.

< Hey Ax!> I searched with all my eyes until I saw a red tail hawk.

< Tobias! I'm glad to see you!>

< You won’t be very soon.> He said solemnly.

I was confused. < What do you mean?>

< Ax... There back, the Yeerks are back.>

Anger flooded through my body, I arched my tail. < But we defeated them!> I yelled not wanting to believe him.

< I know Ax-man> Tobias said using my Old Nick name. < But Jake said so himself and he wouldn't lie.>

I could barely hear the words. You’re a fool Aximilli. You’re a great fool to believe that it was all over. I berated myself.

< Are you listening?> Tobias demanded.

< Umm... No, could you repeat what was said?>

< We are all gathering at Cassie's barn to, you know decide what to do. Will you come?>

< Of course!> As if I wouldn't! So I morphed into my harrier morph, said good bye to Toby and the other Hork-Bajir and headed for Cassie's barn.

Chapter 8 - MARCO

I yawned as I drove my little rent-a-car. That had to be the most boring plane ride I had ever taken. Flying with your own wings was much better. " Don't start thinking like that." I said to my self.

After what seemed to be forever I drove into Cassie' driveway. I got out and looked around for the others. < Nice to see you again Marco, were all in the house. > I must have jumped three feet in the air. I hadn't heard thought speak in so long. I turned toward the house and I saw a hawk fly in.

When I walked in the door I found everyone sitting around and talking. They all stopped when I came in. Then, you know how it is when old friends see you again? There was a lot of hugging and laughing and comments on your hair or how much you have changed.

Finally Jake acted like the leader he was and got everyone to settle down again. " Now that everyone is here I think I should tell you how I found out about the Yeerks."

Everyone nodded.

" OK, well I noticed that a lot of our cites funding was going to strange projects centered around this city. I checked them out and all the companies are under fake names."

" That doesn't mean anything." Rachel said.

" But this will, one day when my best friend was over he asked to use the phone. He went into the other room to make the call and I accidentally"

Jake stressed the word accidentally. " dropped a book on the phone in my room. The speaker came on and I heard the entire conversation." He paused. " They were talking about the new Yeerk pool. And infesting me."

We were all silent for a long time. I guess everyone didn't want to believe the news. At least I didn't. Finally Rachel said " We have to fight."

< We don't have a choice.> Tobias agreed.

" We don't have to do this!" I yelled. " We could just go to the news papers and explain what's going on!"

< They would not believe us.> Ax said. < When we freed the human controllers they went to the newspapers and the police, but they were not believed. Even if we morphed in front of them they would think it was a trick.>

" But what about our jobs? This isn't like school." I asked.

" I could move the company down here. Most of the companies I work for are based here any ways. I could hire Shelly full time." Rachel said.

" I'm coming up for re-election. I could always just not run there and try to run here." Jake said.

" And I work here." Cassie pointed down toward the barn. " So I'm covered."

I could easily move to this town and work at home, but I wasn't going to say that.

" You people just have it all planed don't you." I said snidely.

" Let's put it to a vote." Rachel prompted.

" I'm in." Jake said.

< I vote yes.> Ax said.

< I may not be that young but I can still fight.> Tobias said eagerly.

" Yes." Cassie said.

" Let's do it!" Rachel said grinning at me.

It was my turn. I looked around at the people who I had once trusted with my life. " OK" I said.

To be continued?