Charlie continues evaluating bears, periodically asking what they want, and trying to get away.
Sugar Bear sticks with him, then walks away when the second one - or is that a fourth? - comes back.
His passenger sits Charlie down. And looks uncomfortable.
By late afternoon, Charlie's curled up in a ball, making pained noises.
And by the time the sun goes down, an unhappy-looking slug-shape slides out of his ear.
He reaches forward and spears it with a claw, just to make sure.
"Now what?" he mumbles.
"No, really - girls - what? Bella, you're sitting on an Andalite bear, you were a pigeon, what's going on."
"We're not any of us Andalites," says Andi. "We're Animorphs. Are you okay, Daddy?"
"We were thinking we'd fake your death, unless you have a better idea," Bella says. "An Andalite gave us morph tech, but then he died."
"A few weeks ago," elaborates Andi. "And then we found out what the Sharing is and knew you had to have one of those things so we saved you."
"Do we need to fake your death or do you or your ex-Yeerk have some kind of extremely convenient circumstance?"