As a fan community we’ve assumed Noorlin is the Dad and Forlay is the Mom. But it never actually says that in canon. What if we’ve had it backwards this whole time? Also, apparently Estrid is a real name in Sweden. Andalites are probably Swedish.
My brain: Hey. Elfangor lived on Earth for a couple years, right?
Me: Yeah?
My brain: And to the Andalites, he was missing during that time. Do you ever think about his parents? They thought that their only son was dead for YEARS. There's a fair chance that they had Ax while still believing that his older brother was gone, that he would never know Elfangor except though whatever stories they told him.
Me: ...
My brain: And then? Elfangor disappears AGAIN, along with Ax. They get word that contact with their Dome ship has been lost, and weeks or MONTHS go by without any word. And then Ax calls and confirms that yeah, the son that they already lost ONCE is gone FOREVER now, while HE'S stranded on Earth in the middle of a Yeerk invasion.
My brain: And they don't even KNOW that they have a grandson who's a suicidally depressed bird.
<In this arm of the galaxy, we have a minor Yeerk target, Sector 17, YD-22318-3. It features a vast variety of species, but only one dominant sentient species, called Human. They are social and live in artificial constructs similar to the Anati.>
Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill was not actually paying attention. He was surreptitiously noticing the small blade of another classmate. She caught him looking, glared, and curled her outer fingers at him. He flustered and looked away.
The small-bladed classmate that had made the rude gesture had been looking forward with all four eyes. The instructor finally noticed her. <Yes, -Corill-Darrath?>
<As such bumbling, primitive creatures, what could the Yeerks possibly want with them?>
<Bodies?> someone else suggested with amusement.
<Obviously, there is an element of familiarity, given the similarity to their first hosts,> the instructor answered condescendingly.<There is also the ease of acquisition as we are not, at this point, protecting that sector.>
<Similarity?> the classmate argued. <Obviously? Because they are lumpy, somewhat upright bipeds? And I suppose that a flaar is similar to a-->
<That is enough -Corill-Darrath. Remember who is the student here. You have no expertise from which to spe-->
That was when another adult ran up to gathered class. He was not recognized. <I'm here to retrieve Esgarrouth,> he said sharply.
Aximili pulled his feet under him, preparing to stand. <I am -Esgarrouth-Isthill,> he said.
<Come. You will be a witness in the courts.>
Aximili immediately stood and began to go to the adult. <Court? Why would I be needed in court?>
<You are not needed. It is your right to bear witness as a relative,> he said, leading Aximili away from the class gathered out on the grass.
<A relative?> the little boy repeated, alarmed. <Have my parents done something to displease--?>
<Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul has returned.>
There was a time when the Andalite courts were held in the open air in a large grassy bowl shaped by their soil architects for the most convenient arrangement of participants and witnesses. Times had changed though, and the bowl was sealed within a transparent dome. There were massive Shredder cannons dotting the perimeter outside. The entrance tunnel was equipped with radiation and biological scrubbers, should they be needed, as well as Shredders. There were interior tunnels that led to Dracon shelters. If, somehow, the Yeerks had broken in through the Andalite fleet and attacked the homeworld several minor temporal units earlier, then he and his classmates would have run to one such shelter.
There he stood, in the center, before the other adults. Officials. Aximili thought he recognized a war prince from the informative broadcasts. Elfangor himself was much older than the most recent images of the missing aristh. He looked quite a bit like their father. He wasn't particularly strong or impressive-looking. Perhaps he had spent his time among rogue vessels instead of abandoned on the Taxxon homeworld, as was thought. In the old images, Aximili had thought that his unknown brother carried himself like their mother, but, in that court, the young man stood with crossed arms and tilted hips and carefully blank features.
It was entirely un-Andalite.
Aximili's mother called him over to her and his father in private thoughtspeak. The boy went, but he kept eyes on Elfangor and the court all the while.
<Please repeat,> said an administrator. <You were where?>
Elfangor moved his shoulders up and down. A completely alien gesture. <Earth,> he repeated.
<That is not a recognized location in our database,> said a different administrator. <Please, refer to the planet by its desig-->
<I did not know of it, last I was with the... with us. Therefore, I have no Andalite designation code for it. I can tell you only that the Humans call it 'Earth.'>
His wording made Aximili nervous, and their father tensed next to Aximili. His words sounded like... Aximili did not know what they sounded like. They did not sound like a good warrior.
<Humans?> the administrator repeated, surprised. And the officials looked at each other.
Elfangor narrowed his eyes. <Yes?>
<Earth is the name of a Human-habited location?>
<It is the name of their homeworld.>
<Were you aware of the Yeerk presence on the Human homeworld while you were there?>
Finally, an Andalite expression on his face. Something that finally assured his family and the court that he was still really himself.
Pure horror.
It disappeared quickly. He moved his head side to side like he was trying to wipe the thought off. <No. No, I had no idea.> He moved his hands to his sides. <I will give you any and all information you need in order to move against their Earth presence.>
The administration scoffed at the idea. <We are not interested in Earth.>
Elfangor was floored, perhaps even saddened. <What?>
<Sector 17 is not a priority at this time.>
<You don't under--!>
<We will direct this briefing -Sirinial-Shamtul, and you will give us any and all information you have no matter what our plans.>
The expression drained from Elfangor's face. His arms crossed in front of him once more. But the blade of his tail stroked up along the length of his back. <Yes, of course, sir.>
Aximili glanced up at his parents and said privately, <If he was on that planet, then it is a good thing that he finally got away.>
<Yes,> his father agreed. <Let us hope that it is a truly good thing.>
His mother flustered nervously. <To have left while the time was good… What would have become of him if he had stayed?>
