Animorphs 2.0

A Different Reality

I opened my eyes and ruffled my feathers. Feathers? I twisted my head to look down at myself and began to panic. I was in bird morph! My red-tailed hawk. How long had I been this way? Had I fallen asleep like this? Could I still change back? With all of my willpower, I focused on my human body. Come on, come on! I thought. I sighed of relief as the feathers on my wings began melting together. As the change continued, my mind woke up and I remembered more of what had happened. The change stopped abruptly, my arms turning back into wings. I am a hawk, I realized. A nothlit. the truth hit me at once. The Ellimist had kept his word; I was now in a world where my father was dead.

I almost fell off the branch I was perched on when I realized this. My heart began to thud faster in my chest. No, this couldn't be real. My father was out there somewhere, waiting for me to come home. He'd smile when I came in through the door and... the image died in my mind, as reality sunk in. I was really all on my own here. My father was gone and so was who I used to be.

I thoroughly examined my body to acquaintance myself with my new form. I had to admit, the heightened senses were an advantage, as were the wings. I'd been a hawk before, I knew the feeling, however now that it was my permanent form, I felt more interested in how it worked.

Only the forefront of my mind was occupied with this. The thoughts at the back of my head were still trying to figure out how to live in a world without my father. I was trying to distract myself, scared that if I ever focused on it, I would not survive the pain.

One more chance, I thought, to see if he was still alive. I'd go check out my house, make sure he was there. I flapped my wings, lifting myself into the air. I recognized this meadow; it was very near Ax's Scoop in the forest. It didn't take me long to find my way to my neighborhood. Flying above the houses, it was harder than I'd thought to find mine from above. Swooping down, I caught sight of a familiar street and flew closer. The moment my house came into view, I froze in midair. I worked hard to keep my wings flapping. A man stood outside, picking up the paper who was definitely not my father. That's it, I thought. He's really gone. I turned as hard as I could and raced back to the meadow. Once there, I landed and began to change. I started running, my talons turning to toes as I did. Once fully human, I sprinted as fast as I could. It was like I was trying to outrun the pain, and I had no intention of stopping. There was nothing that could help me or calm me down. All I knew was I was stuck in this world and I would never see my father again. The thought made me run faster. I screamed into the open air as I raced around the area. The tears streamed down my face until I could no longer see. Yet even then, I did not stop. Finally, when I had no breath left in me, I slowed, coming to a stop and crumpling to my knees. My legs hit the soft dirt and I collapsed. I breathed the earth in through my nostrils, not caring at all. There was nothing to care about anymore. I was not only homeless, and trapped in a body not my own, I was an orphan. I had no one left.

I had no idea how long I lay there, I could've died for all I'd cared. Only when I heard a voice in my head did I stir.

<Tobias?> The calm voice asked. <Are you alright?>

With some effort, I looked up. Ax was standing there. My uncle Ax. I had never been so happy to see an Andalite in my life. If I'd had the strength, I would've jumped up to hug him. I had only enough willpower to stand slowly, yet even so, the shadow covering the sun moved slightly as I stood to address him. The tears on my face had soaked into the dirt as I'd been lying on the ground, my body was covered with earth as well.

"I'm fine, Ax." I said, my voice emotionless and flat.

<Are you sure?> He looked worried. <I thought I heard you scream.>