Efaen falls into step next to Claxter, taking note of Corliss and Illim. As she watches, Salem seems to turn and begin walking away.
<The Yeerks wish to return to their base soon,> Efaen says to Claxter. <It may come about that I am unable to speak with Ossanlin properly before leaving this planetoid. That is...undesirable. I wish to operate within his jurisdiction, rather than create friction between myself and my Prince.> She twitches her tail fretfully.
Terenia has been alone for some time now, and her panic has subsided, allowing her to dwell on the events of the past few hours. So much has happened. Her host nearly died, she was forced to leave the Andalite for probably forever. Corliss had said that word to her. She had taken Mike as a host, not once, but twice, and Efaen had likely blown up her ship. So much had happened, and all she wanted now was...what? To regain a human body that wasn't truly her own?
And what was she going to tell Corliss? In the drama of switching from body to body and the shouts of accusations she had almost forgotten that he claimed to love her. She mentally shudders at the thought of it; it was absurd. Yet she had seen Mike's mind, and she could not deny that he had his own strong feelings for her.
This is impossible, she tells herself firmly. You know better than this, Terenia. Whether he cares for you or not, it will not last. Don't forget what happened to Tamora. People you care about do not last long.
Her emotions torn in a thousand different ways, she continues to swim in irritated squid-like circles, the lack of her usual senses giving her mind far too much time to think.