Title: The Animorphs : Final Thoughts

Summary: Short pieces on the final thoughts of each of the Animorphs. Aftermath. ~ r/r Disclaimer: I don't own the Animorphs, K A Applegate does.

Spoilers: Spoilers to The Ellimist Chronicles and Book #54.

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My name is Rachel.

And I watch as I die. I watch, motionless, the final moments of my life. I watch Jake. And Marco. And Tobias…

I can only hope he will understand. That he will realize this situation, with the mind of a predator – the hawk – and not the heart of him, the human part of him – Tobias, the boy. The bird in him will understand. Sometimes sacrifices must be made to right a wrong. And war, war is never right.

The human in him cries, I see the tears fall, and each burns like acid on my skin. Tobias ries because he cares. Because he loves…

Me.

Why is the Ellimist letting me see this? And yet, if he didn't, if he left me ignorant of everything around me, everything that happened at the moments of my death, I would've asked why too.

Jake, he had made so many decisions, so many choices. I didn't blame him. I didn't blame anyone. I made the choice this time. I chose. And I know I chose right. If there was anyone to blame, it should be Crayak. The Yeerks. The enemy.

The Ellimist tells me his story. And as he does, I listen to his life. I laugh at his joy. I cry like his pain is my own. I hope. I hope.

I hope.

Because, he, like us, was only a part of something bigger than himself, something he could not imagine. He too, like us was facing something he did not understand. Something beyond his deepest knowledge. Something outside of his control. Like piece, like player. Like prey, like predator. Like victim, like killer. He had to adapt. He had to change. Adapt, or die. Change, or fall. Survival. Of the fittest.

He understands. He knows what it is like, to lose everyone and everything you hold close. Family. Friends. Loved ones…

And, he understands more than that. He understand what is war. That in war, there is no mercy, no forgiveness. Because every life that is lost is something special. Family. Friends. Loved ones… 

He understands that in war… there is no strength. Only weakness. There is no pain. Only hurt. And there are no victims. Only sacrifices.

I understand that now. I can only hope Tobias can understand that too.

He has to. 

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Next chapter: Ax