A/N: This is the story of one of the minor characters from The Traitor one of my other works. Don't worry if you haven't read The Traitor, you don't need to. Although I would encourage you to! This will be a longer piece. I have about six chapters written and am planning for around fifteen total.

If this first chapter strikes you as a little dry, don't be alarmed. It's mostly setting the scene for the rest of the story (which is also why it is a bit shorter). Please R/R - criticism is appreciated, flames are not.

Parenthesis ( ) are used to indicate thought-speech.

I do not own KA or any of her characters. Happy reading,

-T.

Chapter One

It was quite a lovely day for dreaming, and I had made my way to the perfect spot for such an activity. I doubted that anyone would find me here, in this small meadow tightly surrounded by trees. The layout of the land was such that one could feel as if they were outdoors and, simultaneously, enclosed in a room of leaf and bark. The result was that most Andalites avoided this place in favor of the more open pastures beyond. So I was, effectively, left alone to ponder.

My particular point of bemusement for the day was one which I had considered before and would do so many, many times again. The issue at hand was my name.

It is rare for an Andalite female to be named for her father. I was only just becoming aware of just what an oddity it was. I was quite young still, and had just begun schooling. Everyone at the Academy had very gender specific names like Serifilan, Merterum and Geranil if they happened to be male, or the softer Erana, Loneara, and Jinorea for the females. My name fell somewhere in the middle. An altered version of my fathers, it was too soft to be male, and yet too harsh to be female.

I hadn't truly noticed the difference until it was pointed out to me, by a less than tactful peer of mine with a gorgeous name to make up for it: Estrelena. She mocked me, asking why my tail blade was so small for a boy and whether or not I would be filing a complaint with the Electorate. It was then that I realized I was different.

My mother had often told me to be proud of my name. I knew that in reality they had been under the assumption that they were to have a son, and when I popped out instead they had to think fast. Even with our advanced technology, mistakes do happen. My elder sister, who had been a girl as predicted, got to have a name that was entirely her own. Still, my mother liked to pretend that what I was called was accompanied by some sort of purpose or duty.

You will be like your father. She would say, It is your duty to be honorable, for his sake.

As I said, I was young, and those words made little sense to me. I assumed that my parents hoped I would become a great warrior, like my father. But that couldn't be it, because I was female, and these were the days before our gender was widely accepted in the military. My father himself was stringently against it.

That particular day, early in my academic career, was when I first realized just how heavy a weight would be placed upon my shoulders, for such a small thing as a name. Sighing, I dipped my hoof into a nearby stream and allowed the cool refreshment to slide up my leg, remembering the events after school that day.

I had known something was wrong the moment I arrived at our scoop. Both mother and Foresha, my sister, were there, looking sullen and speaking to one another privately. When I walked up, they shot a knowing glance at one another and Foresha left, giving me a fleeting smile as she went.

(What is it?) I asked, looking at my mother in confusion. She pawed a nervous hoof and beckoned me closer. Feeling a flicker of wariness, I obeyed.

(I received news earlier today from your father.) She began. I felt my hearts lift with excitement. My father had been in space for many months now, trying to defeat the Yeerk scourge. We had not heard from him in weeks.

(What news?) I asked, keeping my voice calm and respectful, as I had been taught.

(Now, dear, you understand that this is confidential.) My mother said, looking me over as if to see whether or not I was worthy of this information, (Don't go chatting to your friends about this.)

(Of course not mother.) I said, deciding that I would rather not mention the lack of friends I had to give any information, confidential or not.

(Well, it appears that…well, the battle for the Hork-Bajir planet. It was lost. All forces there have been forced to retreat. ) Mother said, one hand placed comfortingly on the area of my back that met my lower body.

(Is…is father okay?) I asked, trying to conceal my fear. My family was not one to be emotional, and I knew that if he were present, my father would scold me for showing too much. Inside, though, I felt lightheaded. If anything had happened to my father...

(He is alive.) My mother said shortly, (and uninjured. He will be returning to the homeworld shortly.)

(Then…this is good news?) I asked, unsure. If father was coming home, why did mother seem so upset?

(No, it is not good news.) My mother answered stonily. (An entire species has been lost to the Yeerks. What's more, your father is on trial. The entire force which was present on the Hork-Bajir world is on trial.)

(Trial? But…) I hesitated. What in the world could my father be on trial for? My father, who fought to protect us every day – how could he possibly have done something wrong? (Mother, what happened?)

(I do not know.) She said, and I could hear the lie in her thought-speak. (But listen to me, dear. I need you to listen carefully. Can you do that?)

I nodded mutely, wondering what was going on. I could feel my entire world shifting beneath me as my mother spoke. (It is our duty to be there for your father as he goes through this difficult time. We need to ease his pain. You and I know that no matter what happened on that planet, your father did it in our best interest. You understand that, correct?)

(Yes, mother.) I responded quickly, eager to get away and be alone with my racing thoughts, (May I please be excused?)

My mother nodded her ascent. (Yes, Allora. Go.)

And so here I was, among the whispering trees in a shady meadow, pondering this new world. I couldn't imagine my father – my strict, but loving father – doing anything horrible enough to warrant an Electorate trial. If it was my mother and sister's duty to protect father, it was twice mine. After all, I bore his name. Everywhere I went, people would be reminded of one of the greatest warriors of the modern age: War-Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corass.