The Remorpimals

That Sunday was a family reunion at my Grandma Lucy's. As soon as I got there I headed to the attic, the only place without people talking about the most recently buried relative. I can take one person at a time, but more than that means whispers and lies. I cannot stand lies. Call me anti-social if you want, everyone else does.

Since my cousins were on the computer, for something to do, I was exploring the attic. There wasn't much, just some old clothes and ruined memorabilia. I pulled a box out of a corner and sneezed from the dust it stirred up. Opening it up, I found some old clothes. A black leotard, a girl's green stretch pants and purple body suit, 2 pairs of bike shorts, one blue, one deep purple, a white muscle tee, and a really tight looking boy's black tee shirt. All in all, they looked pretty scruffy.

Under the clothes, someone had seen it fit to keep a rusty red feather and a dog-eared book called an Almanac from the year 1997. Over one hundred years ago! Setting these aside, I pulled out a pad of paper, "Marco," it said, "#5." Whatever that meant. As I opened it up, one of the old 2 dimensional photos and a scrap of paper fell out. I picked up the photo. It was a picture of five kids about my age, and a blue thing you couldn't quite make out. I retrieved the piece of paper and unfolded it.

"Call me silly," I read, "but I've been secretive so long, using only Marco, I feel like I need to tell who we are to hold on to reality." Marco, I think that was my great-grandfather. Following were names and addresses: Marco, Jake, Rachel, Tobias… His said 'second large maple on the right in a meadow behind Cassie's barn,' I laughed, then stopped. Cassie, wasn't that the person with the Animal Clinic that had been shut down or something? I had read a long sob story about it somewhere. I read the next address labeled 'Cassie'. It sounded familiar. Hmmm…

* * * * *

Ten minutes later I was on the doorstep of a well kept, old farmhouse. I knocked, and an old, dark skinned lady opened the door. She looked at the box I held and said:

"I'm sorry, The Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic has been shut down."

"Oh, no. I'm not here about that. I found this old stuff in my Grandma Lucy's attic. I found this address with it and thought I'd come ask about it," this woman looked old enough to be Cassie, but I wasn't going to offend her if she wasn't.

Her eyes widened, "Marco is you great grandfather?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Well come on in, my grandchildren are here, hold on a minute," she hobbled over to the stairs. "Andy, Sara," she called, "I have someone here I'd like you to meet."

A boy and a girl about my age came down the stairs. The boy was strikingly handsome. With a buzz cut (I think it was a blond color), and steely gray eyes. Cassie had said these were her grandchildren, but this boy was more of a tan color than Cassie's rich mahogany. The girl there was no question of her lineage. She looked exactly like Cassie except for her long curly hair and shocking green eyes that looked like they were thinking of something else.

"Andy, Sara, I'd like you to meet Catlin."

"Hi," I said

"Hey," replied Andy grinning and showing a mouthful of shiny, white teeth.

"Hello," Sara said quietly, smiling a shy smile.

"So," Cassie turned to me, "what did you find at Marco's you thought had a story behind it?"

Chapter 2 – Sara

"Oh, just some old clothes and stories," said the girl with the long black hair and brown, almond-shaped eyes.

Grandma took the box like she was afraid it might break and carried it over to the kitchen table. I looked over to my twin brother, Andy. He shrugged, he didn't know what was going on either.

The three of us followed Grandma and sat down around the table. It was almost as if we were drawn there by some unseen force. But maybe I'm just being silly. Grandma started pulling clothes out of the box with care. Running her frail hands over the fraying cloth. They didn't look like much, but the way she held them you'd think they were precious gems. Then she pulled out a russet tail feather and ran it across her palm. I looked up and noticed there were tears streaming down her face.

"Grandma are you okay?" I blurted, and could have kicked myself. Duh! Of course she wasn't.

"Okay?" she seemed to ask the air, "I don't think any of us were 'O.K.' after what happened..." She seemed to be looking at something else, something we couldn't see. I don't think any of us dared to breathe lest we break the spell. Well, that's how I felt. "These 'stories' as you called them are our life," she whispered lifting out of the box pad after pad of wire-bound notebooks. "We wrote it all down so we wouldn't forget, but I don’t know who could. Lord knows I tried," she gave a little laugh and then seemed to remember we were there. "I guess you three are wondering what I'm talking about aren't you? Well, I guess it's alright now. The Yeerks are gone. I have nothing to hide from anymore, except old memories..."

Chapter 3 – Andy

Grandma C. started telling us a story about construction sites, aliens, animals, and Animorphs. I started to wonder if she'd finally flipped. I mean the woman IS over one hundred years old.

I looked over at Sara to she what she thought about all this. She was hanging on to Grandma C's every word. I wasn't surprised, Sara will believe anything. We might be twins, but we are almost total opposites.

I turned my attention to the Catlin girl. Dressed all in black, skin ghost white, she was sitting on her hands, leaning forward in her chair. She had this skeptical look on her face like she was about to ask a question.

Grandma C was still prattling on. She had taken most of the paper out of the box and I could see something a metallic blue color inside. Suddenly, she stopped talking like she had heard something.

"What is it Grandma?" Sara asked.

"Oh... nothing... I just have to... I'll be right back," she acted embarrassed or something.

"What was that all about?" Catlin asked.

I shrugged, "Who knows? But I think she's finally cracked."

Sara looked sadly at me and I instantly felt bad. See, you have to understand something about us. I stand up for her when the other kids make fun of her, and then later she comes up to me and says something like 'You shouldn't have said that to such-and-such' or 'You really hurt what's his face's feelings when you said that'. It's really weird, because I don’t know how she finds out I say this stuff, and the fact that she seems to care so much about other people's feelings and not what they think about her. So when she looks at me like that, it's like, I realize what I did and feel guilty about it. But that doesn’t stop me from defending my actions.

"Well, you have to admit, that story WAS a little unbelievable."

"Where did she go?" Catlin mused.

"Probably gets radio signals through her fillings," I tried again.

Sara just gave me her look again.

Chapter 4 – Madison

I was walking through the woods with Jason. Our families are friends so we get together and do stuff you know? Well, our family had come over to go on a wildflower walk Jason's mom was giving. We had left them behind a long time ago. I have to MOVE when I'm in the woods, I can't just plod along stopping to look at something every half step. So I made Jason come with me. He's one of those people who are totally for Animal Rights. He's even a vegetarian!

"Ick! Ick! Ick!" Oh, yeah. How could I forget? He has the CUTEST little monkey, a white throated Capuchin, that won't let anyone I know touch it, except Jason of course.

At first it shocked me that Jason just let Meoshew, the monkey, go where it pleased, and it didn't run away. Then I read this book on primates and decided it was because of troop behavior. Meoshew needed a troop to feel at ease, Jason provides this.

Any ways, Jason was leading us somewhere, I couldn't remember and didn't really care. At the moment he was walking along, pointing out plants and identifying animal tracks.

Then these two, things, jumped right across our path.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" I screamed. Not surprisingly, that got their attention.

They turned to face us.

I turned to run.

<<>Please do not be frightened humans> Words! Words in my head!

I tripped and fell. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" I was still screaming, I don't think I had ever stopped.

Jason grabbed my arm. I was still trying to get away.

"Shhh!" He hissed, "I don't know about you, but I don't want to make them mad.

Somehow that got to my still running brain. It made since. I shut up.

I climbed to my feet and turned back to the things. I wondered if Jason noticed how my legs felt like they were going to shake right off.

I realized it was the creatures that were making the thoughts form in my head. They were blue! They had a deer's body, a person's chest and arms with too many fingers, no mouth, and four eyes! The second two were on the end of stalks on the top of their heads, they where swiveling around. It was uncanny. Then I saw the tail and I thought I might collapse. They were like scorpion tails with a blade on the end over a foot long!

<<>We are Andalites,> one of them said, <<>We are sorry we disturbed you, but I'm afraid you'll have to come with us now.>

The monkey screeched, the littler thing twitched it's tail.

And that's when everything went black.

Chapter 5 – Jason

I caught Madison as she fell.

"She fainted!" Strangely, this shocked me more than the aliens, for that's my guess as to what they were. I mean, everyone hopes to meet an alien, well, maybe Madison hadn't, but I'd never thought I'd have to catch a person collapsing from sheer panic. I'd never seen anyone just black out like that.

I looked over to the Andalites. The bigger, older looking one seemed concerned. The smaller, seemingly younger one looked amused.

<<>Do...> he hesitated, well, I think it was male, <<>Do humans do that often now?>

Now? Why 'now'?

"I've never seen anyone just pass out like that," I answered truthfully. I was a little scared to say what I needed to next, "But, I think she needs some help. I..." the way the smaller one looked at me made me falter, "I have a friend near here. She's old, but she used to work with animals and might be able to help."

<<>Cassie?>

Both I and the younger Andalite were startled. Don't ask me how I could tell it was startled, it sorta jumped and did something with it's eyes.

"Yeah, how do you know her?"

He didn't answer. Instead he responded with another question: <<>Will you be able to carry the girl?>

"I think so." This was getting really weird, really fast (well, wierder than it already was). My head was starting to spin.

Meoshew returned to my shoulder from where ever he had been. I picked up Madison baby style. Her short dirty, blonde hair fell across her face. For someone so skinny, she sure was heavy.

The two aliens turned and headed it the direction of Cassie's farm.

Chapter 6 - Alfingora-Tobilene-Isthil

I couldn't believe my father just told that young male he knew Cassie! You NEVER trust other species, everyone knows the law of Seerow's Kindness!

<<>Father,> I asked him, <<>Why did you just tell him you knew Cassie?> My family has visited Earth before, I think this is why my mother didn't come. But it has been too long since then for me to recall what happened.

Father didn’t look right at me, he just said: <<>You will learn much from these humans I think.>

This perplexed me. He had been equivocating like that the whole trip. Like I was going to learn all that much in 7 revolutions of this planet anyway...

<<>Father,> I prodded, <<>You didn’t answer my question.>

He looked at me then with one of those expressions I'd never seen another andalite use. Mother said it was from staying on earth so long.

<<>We were taking them there anyway> He was irritated with me. The feeling was mutual. It wasn't like he was anything special. He wasn't even a warrior! He had left them along time ago. They say he was dishonored. Broke some law or something. We couldn't even use an Andalite space craft! We had had to trade for one! I had to ride all the way here in a smelly, cramped, Muedshlued craft! It was a disgrace!

<<>Oh,> It was all I could say, we had just come across a field, father had just continued across. I hesitated, scanning the surrounding area for any more of these two-legged Earthers. The young male came up behind me. He laid the girl down and sat down with a loud exhale.

"So," the male said, "My name is Jason." He held his arm straight out, his palm turned to the side. I watched, ready for any sudden movement, father could trust this wobbly race, but I sure didn't. "Oookay," he spoke withdrawing his hand.

<<>Tegren,> this is the nickname my father gave me, every time he hears my real name he becomes depressed, I think it's because he wanted a son instead, <<>bring the humans and come along already.>

I hurried off, watching the human behind me lift the unconscious one up and start following us. They really were funny looking things.

Chapter 7 – Jason

I could see Cassie's house now, and her worn out barn. When I was younger, there used to be all sorts of native animals there, but not any more. I tried to catch up with the Andalites by jogging a little, but Madison started bouncing around so bad it scared me and I stopped. We came to a halt outside Cassie's backdoor.

<<>Cassie, it's me, Aximili. Could you come outside?> Aximili? Was that his name?

The door opened and out rushed Cassie. "Ax!" she exclaimed, and then, to my shock, threw her arms around the alien in a hug.

My jaw must have dropped a foot.

"It's so good to see you again! It's been quite a while," she said, releasing him.

I almost dropped Madison.

Cassie turned and noticed me, "Jason!" she gasped, "Who this and what happened?" I was stumped. She was asking what was going on and there were two aliens right in front of her. She had just given an alien a hug and Was now asking what was wrong. She was upset Madison and I were there and THERE WERE TWO ALIENS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER!!

I was becoming distraught.

<<>We ran into these humans on the way here. The girl seems to be unconscious,> 'Ax' explained when it became obvious I wasn't going to respond.

"OH! Well come inside. Here let me take her," Cassie with strength that probably came from working on a farm all her life, lifted Madison and carried her into the house. But not without glancing around in a paranoid way I somehow noticed.

I had no choice, I closed my mouth, followed her inside, and began to question my mental stability.

Chapter 8 – Andy

Grandma C. came back in with a girl cradled in her arms. She walked over and laid the girl on the couch. She had short, dirty blond hair and a nice figure, I had never seen her around here before. She looked like she was asleep, but I couldn't see how or why she would be. Then I noticed a tall, skinny boy with blonde hair that was in one of those mushroom cuts that seemed had followed Cassie in. He looked familiar. He had stopped in the doorway and was looking over his shoulder. I tried to look past him, but couldn't really see anything.

"Jason," Cassie called over her shoulder while doing something at the sink, "I think you know Sara and Andy, and this is Catlin. And this is Madison," she said indicating the girl on the couch.

"Hi," he said, finally facing us. He seemed distracted.

"Did you bring Meoshew, Jason?" Sara asked. Now I knew who this who he was. He used to come and help Cassie with the Clinic before it closed. He had a little monkey.

"Uh, yeah..." he kept looking down the hall, "Hey! Where did he go?"

Suddenly, a little black monkey with a white ruff around it's face appeared on Sara's shoulder. She didn't look at all surprised, nor did the monkey, he was squeaking and hugging her like an old friend. I certainly was though! I turned to Catlin to find she wasn't there. She had gone over to the girl, Madison, and was currently peering over Grandma C's shoulder.

I decided to go over there too. I mean, this Jason guy looked extremely paranoid, and Sara, well, Sara was talking to a monkey!

Chapter 9 – Catlin

Andy came over and stood next to me. Cassie was laying a wet cloth over Madison's forehead.

"Everyone's gone insane," Andy grumbled.

I didn't bother to answer, even though it DID seem strange no one else was worried about the girl, Madison.

She groaned, her eyes started to flutter open.

"Oh, I feel like I was dragged through a thorn bush," she groaned, rubbing her head. Then, I guess she opened her eyes all the way or her vision cleared or something because the next thing she said was, "NOW where am I?" In a very exasperated voice.

Jason and Sara had come over by then.

"You fainted from the heat, I managed to get you to Cassie's" Jason said in guarded tones. It was obvious he was giving her an alibi, something else had happened.

"Are you alright?" Sara asked.

Again her naiveness shocked me, it would be irritating, but it wasn't because she was just nice that way, I don't know how to explain it.

"Yeah, I think so..." replied Madison trying to sit up, "Oh, I feel woozy."

"Of course," I snapped, I hate being lied to, "Now why don't you tell us what really happened?"

Sara and Andy looked shocked. Madison looked frightened. Jason glanced over his shoulder towards a hallway.

"What's back there Jason?" this was REALLY making me mad.

"What's back there?" he echoed like I was nuts. Why do people always do that to me? Like I don't know what I'm talking about?

"Yeah," I called, "back here," I was already walking down the little corridor. I don't remember moving, but I had because I was there. I stormed down the hall, not really thinking I would find anything, just to get way from them and think. Then, I stopped. Right there in front of me were two hoofs attached to think blue legs. I paned slowly upward, like they do in movies before they show a monster. Which is exactly how I felt.

"Oh my God."

Chapter 10 – Sara

Andy scrambled after Catlin. Jason and Madison were frozen like stone. In fact the whole room felt like a spell had been cast over it. Then Grandma spoke, breaking it. Well, that's what I thought.

"You needn't be afraid," she said, "The andalites won't hurt them."

I wasn't scared, I wasn't shocked, but I didn't doubt it one second. I just felt like my entire world had been flipped upside down.

"You mean they're here!?" I cried once I could get my bearings.

"Of course," someone said.

I felt like I'd lost my grip on reality.

I was woozy. I had to grab the couch for support. It was a giddy rush. My mind was doing about a million revolutions a second. It was like I had been dreaming my entire life and suddenly woke up.

Then the andalites walked into the room.

I would have believed anything at that moment.

Chapter 11 - Tegren (Alfingora-Tobilene-Isthil)

"Look out! Sara looks like she's gonna faint!" yelled the male named Jason.

I looked to the fifth young human in the room. The one with the longest hair of the Earthers I had seen. I presumed it was female. Her skin was almost opaque and her eyes were blank. Quite unattractive. And her breathing sounded strange. I didn't see any resemblance to the previous human that had lapsed into unconsciousness.

The larger male had gone quickly to her side when he had returned to the room with us. He was now guiding her into a chair to sit.

"Sara, Sara," repeated the male Earther, shaking the girl slightly.

"I'm alright" Sara said, brushing her helper aside. Very rude. She was now staring at us and smiling like an idiot. Her gaze was almost hungry. I shifted uncomfortably. I much preferred a blank stare. Slowly, her face turned a brown color and her breathing returned to normal. This greatly improved her appearance.

<<>Cassie,> my father thought, breaking my contemplation, <<>I need to speak with you.>

They headed towards a door, I started to follow.

<<>Alone,> my father warned.

I stopped, not because he said to, but in shock. What game was he playing?!? Giving half answers to simple questions. Leaving me alone in a room full of strangely colored beings. Making me carry this satchel filled with things I couldn't possibly find use for in the short time I was staying here.

And then suddenly I knew. I sagged at the thought. Father meant to go home to the war, and leave me here...

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