Distant Dreams 8 By: Olivia Narrator: Aximili Nuttypeanutbuddy@aol.com < No, not her. > Ruiroep pointed at me, my eyes wide in fear. < Him. > Visser's eyestalks swerved to me and he smiled, his cold eyes sparkling with joy in the sound of killing someone. < Ah, yes, dear Aximili. His head will go rolling across this floor quickly. > He slowly crept over to me, his hooves tapping on the hard linoleum floor. I tried to back away, but my rump quickly met the wall. I closed my main eyes, my stalk eyes still glaring at him, my tail poised over my shoulder. I heard him curse as he tripped, having to grip onto the metal table in the middle of the room. I heard Zizih gasp. < Aximili! His hooves are under cared for! They are too long! Take him somewhere with rocks! > I searched my mind for a place with rocks. I looked for Tobias. < Tobias! Lead me to the construction site! > The ruffle of feathers was heard as the large bird flew in the air of the cramped room. < Yeah! Follow the birdie! > I was confused at this request, but I quickly followed the bird's shadow in the sky. < Where are you going? My blade begs to be in your neck! > I saw the tall metal skeleton of the building, hills of dirt and rocks everywhere. I swerved my eyestalks back and saw the worry on Visser's face, which was replaced with contempt when his eyes met mine. I ran up a tall hill of dirt and smiled as Visser stood at the foot of the hill, glaring up at me. < Are you afraid, Visser? > I saw Visser glace over my shoulder and smile. My eyestalks turned to look back as an Andalite blade sliced through my stalks. I cried out, my vision quickly cut in half. My tail tugged away from my shoulder and swung freely behind me, trying to cut the Andalite behind me. Visser smiled as his main eyes watched my eye stalks as they rolled down the hill to his hooves. < So, what does it feel like to be blinded, Aximili? You shall feel the wrath of my blade along with your fear. > Ruiroep's blade carefully ran up and down my neck, cutting my neck hair in half as he stepped in front of me. His red eyes glared, a evil smile on his face. < What does it feel like to be a small toy, your pitiful life in my hands, probably begging not to be killed by your own half son in your mind. Maybe if you beg enough, I will spare you the pain and kill you quickly. > I glared back at him, not answering his questions. He laughed as his blade dug deeply into my skin, a stream of black-blue blood dripping down my neck to my chest as I softly grunted. Visser slowly made his way up the hill, taking care not to trip, laughing and congratulating Ruiroep. < Yes, you will be a wonderful host. Now, for his execution. > I scowled, feeling my temper boil over. I let my tail hang over my shoulder and Ruiroep's tail dug deeper, the stream now a small river. The ruffle of feathers I heard made me feel better. < Aximili? Are you okay? It is Zizih! > I answered. < Yes, just hurry. They will not hold back their excitement to kill me long. > I had to keep them from noticing my family and friends behind the brick wall just behind the pair of traitors. I glared, my tail pulling forward, Ruiroep's tail digging deeper. I grabbed his tail and tried to tug it from my throat. " RRROOOAAARRR! " Prince Jake's tiger made Visser's stalk eyes turn, Ruiroep's also, my main eyes smiling as a tiger, a gorilla, a bear, a wolf, a red tailed hawk, an Andalite, and a female lion flew out from the safety of the wall. The lioness swiftly raced to me, ignoring Visser who was telling her to stay away. Visser's tail danced over his shoulder as the loin got closer. Zizih stopped, her legs ready to run to my rescue. The gorilla, Marco, gripped Ruiroep's tail tightly. Ruiroep cried out in pain, screaming as he tried to pull his tail from Marco's strong grip. The wolf, tiger, lion, and bear stood in front of Visser, Visser complete attention on the animals in front of him. The hawk flew over our heads, watching for Bug fighters in the atmosphere. Marco cried out, his hand sliced off by Ruiroep's tail. Ruiroep pushed Marco away from him and glared at me, his gaze like a killing dagger. < You are dead, Aximili! DEAD! > He charged after me, his red eyes engulfed in hatred and his tail balanced over his shoulder. His blade blasted forward, aiming for my neck. Fwap- Shing! I blocked his blow with my tail and aimed myself. He was not ready for me, his eyes glaring, expecting only a small blow because I was his half father, but I did not hold back my anger as my tail hit soft meat and sliced his head clear off his shoulders. I heard Zizih let out a bloodcurdling scream and started to bawl, her lion ears pulled flat on her head as she watched her son's head roll to her paws, backing away from the black blue blood circling the decapitated head. Ruiroep's body fell over, landing in the dirt, blood squirting from the remains of his neck. I stepped away from his body, stepping beside Zizih. < NO! Get away from me! Monster! You...you Yeerk! How dare you?! YEERK! > She cursed and spat at me many times. The others were silent, a deadly silence. Visser even stared, amazed that I would kill another Andalite. Visser was the first to speak. < My Andalite host is feeling pity for you. > I was taken aback. I straightened up and started to morph northern harrier. Once home, I flicked on the T.V and forced myself to watch a cartoon of a cat and mouse. I waited for Zizih and Estril to come home. The T.V showed nothing but weather and These Messages, telling of a large storm miles away from here. I hope my family quickly gets home safely… or what is left of it, I thought as the weatherman confirmed that the storm would hit our small town. Maybe I should go find them, I told myself as I started towards the door. I heard weeping and human footsteps, myself quickly backing into the scoop into a dark corner. " Aximili! Aximili! " Zizih! I stepped to face the T.V as she stepped into the scoop, her face red from crying, human tears still streaming from her eyes. She ran to me, and I looked away from her, not wanting to hear her complain and curse. She wrapped her arms around me, her face buried in my upper waist, her human form too short to lay her head on my chest. I felt her warm tears tickle my waist, making guilt and pity chew at my hearts. I let my hand pat her back. " Hold me, Aximili. Please, please. " I gave in to my guilt and wrapped my arms around her, embracing her in a small, but emotional hug. She bawled even louder, her face dug deeply into my waist, making my innards vibrate as she wailed and my fur wet with tears. Estril walked in as a human and joined in the embrace, an absurd hug of two humans and an Andalite. Estril also cried, her arms wrapped around her mother and I. One arm around each female, my stalk eyes still focused on the T.V. Then I noticed the dirt on both of them, in their hair and on their clothes. I placed my hand on Zizih's shoulder and lightly pushed her back, glancing over her dress. Yes, dirt was smeared over her white dress, the same with Estril's light green shirt and jeans. < Why is there dirt on you? > Her words made Zizih bawl louder while Estril hung her head low, tears falling from her face into the grass. " We borrowed Cassie's digging tool and what Cassie called ' buried ' Ruiroep. " Zizih choked back a sob and started to demorph, Estril doing also. The rain thundered down on the small scoop, lighting flashing in the sky. Zizih slept, her head on my chest and arms lightly wrapped on my upper waist. Estril stared at the T.V, a blank look on her face. I wanted to sleep, but the thunder kept me awake, my main eyes staring outside and my stalk eyes on the T.V. Tobias sat on Estril's shoulder, the scoop his shelter for the rain. Tobias preened his feathers. < So, where is Ruiroep buried? Just asking, so if you can’t answer, you don't have to. > Estril's features softened, turning sad. < He is beside the barn, in the meadow. > I looked away from them, all my eyes focused on the falling rain. I laid my head on Zizih's, being careful not to bruise her eyestalks, her fur reassuring me, making me feel safe as I watched the rain. I felt Tobias hard icy bird stare turn on me. < Hey, Ax-man? Why did he want you dead? It's as if he hated your guts. > I raised my head and looked him straight in the eyes, my stalk eyes still focused on the rain. < I do not know. He liked to rule his own life, and I guess he looked at me like the leader of our small family. I do not see how I could have been the leader. Prince Jake is the leader of the others, why did he not kill him? > Tobias shifted his weight, uncomfortable with what I had said. I looked away from him and started to pet Zizih on the head, her face peaceful with sleep. < I-I am sorry, my shorm. I did not mean any discomfort. > Tobias carefully nodded his head. < Just stick beside Zizih, she needs the most help Ax-man. I mean, if I lost something I gave to the earth, I’d be ready to kill myself. > I choked back a sob and gently pressed Zizih’s head to my chest. I did not know why I cared about her, but she needed reassurance. Going through losing a child is very hard for any mother of any species, and I was glad that she was getting close to me for comfort. The rain turned to a small drizzle as a sickening thought came to mind. I felt my body shiver. What if Zizih wanted another child... from me? < Aximili, what is the matter? > I jumped, my tail twitching. I gazed down into Zizih's open eyes. Her features were concerned, her arms tightened around my waist. I smiled, a weak shaky smile. < What? Nothing, um, nothing at all. > She giggled and ran her hand down over where my hearts were in my upper chest. < No, something is wrong. Your hearts are racing, so something is on your mind that is scaring you. What? > Her face put me in some trance, refusing me to answer, just mumble out some kind of jumbled sentence. She chuckled and closed her main eyes, her stalk eyes gazing up in my face, waiting for an answer. I smiled and placed my hand on her exposed cheek in an Andalite kiss. < Um, just a thought. Just go back to sleep, and I will be calmer when you wake up, I promise. > Her main eyes shot open, surprised at what I had said. She raised her head from my chest and stared me straight in the eyes. < What thought? Are you keeping secrets from me? > I shook my head and she laughed, laying her head on my chest and going straight to sleep. I petted the back of her head, listening to her breathe. My mind went back to the thought, my body shuddering again. Estril stared at me, Tobias still focused on the T.V. < You are thinking about something, are you not? I can tell because your shaking, and that your eyes are focused on outside, not on anyone. > I glanced at her, then focused back on the drizzle of rain and the dark clouds. < Yes, but nothing of your concern. You will not care if I tell you. > Tobias sighed and started to preen his brown feathers. < Well, to me, sounds like you got a secret, and you won't tell us. > I glared at him, and he started to laugh. < I knew it! We all knew it, Ax-man, that one day, for one shining moment, that you would get to be alone with Zizih. Ohhhh, just wait, and Zizih- > I stopped him. < Be quiet, shorm, just be quiet, and that decision will be up to Zizih. > I looked down with my main eyes to look at Zizih, my stalk eyes focused on Tobias. Tobias stared hard into my stalk eyes, probably thinking what a fool I was to be thinking of such a task to do. < Ax, she won't care. She lost Ruiroep, so she'll probably be totally emotionless about having another kid. She won't care. > I hugged her head to my chest, but not tight enough to smother her. Her eyes slowly opened, and she wrapped her arms around my waist and snuggled her head deeper into my blue fur. Estril told me she would be out to feed. I nodded and asked Tobias to follow her. After Tobias flew out, Zizih sobbed as I wrapped her closer, my arms now around her chest. She backed away from me and looked me over, smiling. I let my arms fall to my sides; both of us smiling enough to fill thousands earth suns. I walked towards her and grabbed her hands in mine. She choked back a sob, taking her hands out of mine and placing my right palm on my face. I stopped myself from asking her as she hugged me, smiling and choking back sobs. < I did not even have feelings for him, Ruiroep I mean. > I laughed, a good hearty laugh and wrapped my arms around her. Her eye stalks looked up at me in confusion. < Why are you laughing? > I told her that I did not feel anything for him. She softly giggled, her main eyes staring out the door, her stalk eyes focused on my main eyes. Then she laid her head on my chest with a soft sigh, her body giving a shudder. I shifted my weight uncomfortably, thinking again about asking her. She noticed my movement and raised her head from my chest, a worried look on her face. < What is on your mind? I can tell your nervous about something, Aximili, so tell me. > I gave up, feeling boxed in. < Yes, something is on my mind, and I need to ask you if - > The ruffle of feathers made Zizih jump, her tail ready to strike. < Hey, lovebirds! Jake called a meeting, so get your hides out here! > I glared at the sky as I stepped outside, Zizih at my side with an arm around my waist. I was mad at Tobias for disturbing us, just as I was about to ask Zizih. I noticed her stalk eyes staring at me. < Why are you glaring at the sky? > I quickly turned my attention to the ground and mumbled. < Nothing, Zizih. Just a thought. > She found my answer suspicious, for she cuddled closer and asked me again what my thought was. I laughed nervously as the red barn came into sight on the horizon, framed in a pink and red sunset. I ran a hand up and down her back, smiling at her as she stared at me for an answer. < I will ask you later. > I opened the door for her and led her inside. The others sat on three hay bales, Estril standing in front of the animals in cages fooling with a small mammal. Prince Jake and Cassie sat on a bale alone in the middle of the room, Cassie holding Prince Jake's hand with a worried look on her face. They were married two week earlier and were expecting a child in a few months. Marco sat alone, a stone cold look on his face, probably still thinking about Ruiroep, his best companion. Rachel had Tobias on her shoulder, staring at the ground. Zizih's curious mood seemed to dampen, worry crossing her face. < What is wrong? > Prince Jake glanced up, deep worry wrinkles making him look over fifty years of age when he was only twenty two years of age, all of them were except my family, myself twenty five, Zizih barely twenty, and Estril thirteen. " Visser's at it again with over a hundred Hork-Bajir and Taxxon Controllers ready to hit a strip mall, but the question is which one. " Rachel looked surprised. " But one of them are all bars with beer and cigars. We can't send anyone in there, and we probably don't want to. " Prince Jake looked everyone over. " Rachel, how many strip malls are there and what are the theme of each." Rachel stood up and paced. " Well, there's three in a row that I'm sure the Yeerks will hit because they're busy twenty four seven. The theme of the first is food, second is clothes, and the third one is bars. " Prince Jake drummed his fingers on his leg. " Okay, so that means three malls and eight people... and aliens. So Cassie, Marco, and I will go clothes, Rachel, Estril, and Tobias will go food, and - " Rachel stopped and stepped up to Prince Jake, a disgusted look on her face. " Are you gonna let Ax and Zizih alone with beer and gangsters? Bad idea, bad idea! I say don't do it. You know how they are around food! Who knows? It could be free hamburger with beer night, or free drink through a tube night! " Prince Jake looked at me, then Zizih, then Estril. " Estril's streetwise. She can go on Zizih as a flea and report anything to us. Now, Estril...Estril? " Estril fooled with the mammal, her eyes wide with excitement as the mammal cleaned itself in her hands. She looked up slowly, letting the mammal crawl into it's cage. < What did I do? > Prince Jake chuckled and motioned for her to come in the weird circle. " Estril, Visser is probably going to be at a bad place. Rachel said there was three malls, a food one, a clothes one, and something called a bar. The bar is very bad, and you need to go there with your mom and dad as a flea on your mom. You can't let them eat anything, drink anything, just listen and watch out for Controllers and info on the invasion. " Estril nodded. Prince Jake smiled. " Now, right now. " We all flew, the night’s darkness making the malls very noticeable. We landed behind the cloth mall in the middle of the malls, the food mall to the left and the bar mall on the right. We stood, nervous, waiting for Prince Jake to send us off and for Estril to morph flea. Prince Jake watched Estril as he talked. " Okay, Rachel's got clothes for Ax and Zizih. You guys go on. Ax, Zizih, Rachel, stay here. " He waited for them to leave before he spoke to us. " You guys will not eat, drink, or say anything. Just sit in a booth and listen to conversations. Rachel has clothes that you'll wear and fit in." Rachel grabbed a plastic back and dug through it, throwing black clothing at us while we struggled to pull them on right. At the end, we were walking space, black clothes covering our bodies. Zizih had a tight black suit, the chest very low and no sleeves or leggings covering her long limbs. Her blonde hair tied up in a black piece of cord behind her head tightly. I straightened my black jacket made of what Prince Jake called leather and the tight black pants with lots of chains hanging off. Prince Jake stepped back and looked me over, Rachel doing the same with Zizih. Prince Jake nodded and smiled. " Scary and telling me to stay away. Good work, Rachel. " Rachel nodded as she prodded at Zizih's blonde hair, pulling the black cord tighter in the pony tail. “ I gave Ax the guy from the movie Grease look, and Zizih a biker babe. “ Zizih cried out and started to pull away from Rachel, Rachel pulling at her hair. Prince Jake patted Rachel on her back and smiled " I think she's okay, Rachel, just put some make up on her and we'll be on our way." Minutes later, Rachel stepped back and let us look Zizih over. Prince Jake's eyes widened. " Ax, she is my girlfriend now. Go away. " I was confused at this whim, but I could not take my eyes of her as my mouth gaped open. Her cheeks were lightly dusted in a white powder even though her skin was pale enough, her blue eyes shining under small hairs covered in black make up, her eyelids coated in light black. Zizih smiled nervously. " Let us go now." I let her slide her arm around my waist as we walked in the small doors, the smell of sweat and alcohol strong in the air as we quickly tried to sit at a table. The humans there had muscles larger than a Taxxon body, all colored in different shapes of females and skulls. Heavy- Metal music played over the speakers, making it almost impossible to hear anything except musical instruments and breaking glass. Zizih cuddled close to me, afraid, her body shaking. I wrapped an arm around her as we sat at a small booth of leather and wood. The polished wooden table was dirty, covered in small bits of human food. I sat down and sighed, Zizih instantly sat down beside me, gripping my arm nervously. She laid her head on my shoulder, her mouth close to my ear. " This place is disturbing, Aximili, I do not like it at all. " I nodded and let her cuddle closer to me, an arm draped around her waist. The night drug on, many humans walking in and out, Zizih still holding on to me. I closed my eyes and gripped her closer, both of my arms around my waist. Her arms wrapped around herself, trembling and telling me to hold her. I felt the booth shake, then a creak of wood across from us. My eyes flew open and looked across the table. A short, fat male sat across from me, his eyes smiling at Zizh. " Aw, poor lady. One bottle of Moonshine, Jerry! " The man behind the bar smiled and threw a black glass bottle over to our both. The short bald man caught it and twisted the top off, letting the cap fall to the floor. He smiled and let it fall in front of Zizih with a hard thunk. " Drink, pretty lady. Moonshine makes ya feel better. You don't look so good either, man. Take a long drink. " Zizih shook harder and dunked her head into my leather coat, sobbing softly with her head on my chest. The man glared, his gray eyes slightly fogged over. " All right, your boyfriend goes first. " He pushed it to me. I shook my head and fooled with Zizih's hair, running my hand through her long blonde hair. The man glared, reaching down under the table and pulling something out of his pocket. He smiled as he put a small gun to my head, the same thing I have seen on television. " Drink, or your dead. " I shakily grabbed the bottle, licked my lips, and tipped it to my mouth. I gagged, the salty taste too strong for me. I put it back down as I gulped down the small taste hastily, not wanting it to keep it in my mouth. The man laughed at my foolish face as he trained the gun on Zizih's head that was still tucked under my coat. " You too, lady. Drink. It will make you forget everything that made ya sad, angry... maybe even happy. " She raised her head, her make-up smeared, her chin quivering as she picked the bottle up. I grabbed her wrist and shook my head. She looked up to me, her mouth whispering four simple words. “ But I miss Ruiroep. “ She pulled from my grip and took a quaff of Moonshine. She set it down a surprised look on her face, licking her lips thoughtfully. The man laughed as she took another drink. " Like it, huh? Takes the pain away. Hey, hey don’t drink too much. Police will get ya before you could burp. " I was surprised myself as she took another long swig out of the bottle. The male looked a little worried now as Zizih’s face became pale, a hue of green trimming her cheeks as her blue eyes swerved madly. “ So, you like it? “ She sighed and smiled, a foolish, stupid smile that made me shudder. " Yessss!” She hiccupped and moaned, and hiccupped again. To Be Continued...