Back Where It Began (Dak)

[Aaron Chapman]

Aaron sat on the beach as a light breeze blew through his hair. His legs were pulled up against his chest with his arms wrapped around them. His eyes stared out into the water, scanning as if he were trying to find some sign of the exact spot. It was here his life had changed. It was here, just beyond the treeline, that he'd gotten the power to morph.

He laughed a little to himself. He hadn't known at the time he'd been first morphing that sparrow that now he'd find himself where he was. He had no home and no family, the yeerks had taken both from him. Yes, he was safe living with Rachel, Tobias, and their kids, but it wasn't his home and they weren't his mom and grandfather.

Why was it that it had taken losing all of that to make him realize it was all that he'd ever needed? Forget excitement. He'd take a normal day over this any time.

As far as Aaron knew he was alone on this beach. That wasn't true though. The other individual just hadn't revealed himself yet.

[crimea]

Dak sighed softly through his nostrils, as he stared out at the surf. He wished that he could play in it, but it would give him no pleasure when the children (if there were any) would flee in sight of him. At the present time, though, he noticed only one person lying in front of the sea, staring out at the waves. A boy, and he looked rather pre-occupied, which may have been why he didn't yet see Dak. At least he wasn't running in fear of the Hork-Bajir.

Dak now moved over to where he was. "Hello," he said, in a gravelly voice, tilting his head in curiosity. He hoped the human wouldn't run away from him. His huge Hork-Bajir feet left imprints upon the sand...

[Aaron Chapman]

Aaron turned to glance when the voice spoke. He'd seen hork-bajir before, though never this close before. Then again, he'd figured it was only a matter of time with his living with the Fangor's and helping the Animorphs. Chances were one of them would have taken him to the hork-bajir valley at some point.

"Hi," he said. "I'm Aaron." Most people would not have been so nonchalant about this, but after how his life had changed Aaron wasn't much for running in fear of a hork-bajir. The enemy was much worse and it wore the faces of his family and who knows how many others.