[The picture's upside-down at first, and in extreme closeup, showing just one eye. Then it rights itself and pulls back, to reveal a very small Andalite
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[His stalk eyes twist downward when he admits this, but the human's behavior is so odd that Ax can't be sad for long, and he is reassured by what he says.]
< Everyone has a father! Even if they do not know them.
Mine is... > [He ducks his head, and looks down with his stalk eyes, thinking of how his father calls him Aximili-kala, which Ax usually pretends to object to, but right now would very much like to hear again.]
< He is kind, and he expects a great deal of me. >
[He smiles with his eyes at Merlin's admission, glad of the distraction from his homesickness.]
< Two is not a sensible number of legs! You cannot help it. I have four, as you see, and I. I still fall over sometimes. >
[Ax laughs again. It is a funny idea, to think of humans trying to walk on their arms and legs.]
< I can stand up like this! >
[He rears up on his back legs, but he can only do it for a second, and lands precariously back on all fours, trying to keep his arms from flailing too much as he regains his balance.]
< Maybe your father is doing something top secret. >
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[Ax has only met one before, that he remembers.]
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[It doesn't seem likely that Ax's fur will un-fluff any time soon.]
< But I am not an adult yet, no. >
[He has hardly been away from his scoop, in fact, though he has been curious about what lies beyond it.]
< What's it like where you live? >
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Do you have a mum? And I'm from the country. Do you know what that is?
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[And he is trying to ignore a desire to run to her and hide behind her.]
< My people live in the country. We had cities once, but they were too dirty and yucky.
How do you see behind yourself with those weird eyes? >
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Do you miss her?
[He frowns a bit.]
Don't worry, you'll see her again.
[The question catches him a little off-guard though. Merlin blinks before turning his head to look back over his shoulder.]
Like that?
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[His stalk eyes twist downward when he admits this, but the human's behavior is so odd that Ax can't be sad for long, and he is reassured by what he says.]
< That is so complicated! I do it like this! >
[He turns his stalk eyes to see behind him.]
< How are you not falling over all the time? >
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[Well, most of his kind do too. But not Merlin.]
What's he like?
[Merlin blinks, looking impressed at the little eye demonstration. There's a sheepish giggle at the question though.]
Actually, I do fall over. Quite a bit.
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Mine is... > [He ducks his head, and looks down with his stalk eyes, thinking of how his father calls him Aximili-kala, which Ax usually pretends to object to, but right now would very much like to hear again.]
< He is kind, and he expects a great deal of me. >
[He smiles with his eyes at Merlin's admission, glad of the distraction from his homesickness.]
< Two is not a sensible number of legs! You cannot help it. I have four, as you see, and I. I still fall over sometimes. >
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[A grin returns to his lips.]
I fear if I had four legs, I'd just fall down twice as much!
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[This is the only reason Ax can think of for a father not being with his son.
He feels sad for him, but has to give a silent laugh at the human's last comment.]
< You would get used to it! I am not sure I would ever get used to just two. >
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Have you ever tried? Maybe you could! And then I could crawl around on all fours!
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< I can stand up like this! >
[He rears up on his back legs, but he can only do it for a second, and lands precariously back on all fours, trying to keep his arms from flailing too much as he regains his balance.]
< Maybe your father is doing something top secret. >
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