#I might use the van idea for my Animorphs OCs

[sarifel-corrisafid-ilxhel]

A tree house would be amazing!

I once considered a secondary base being a large, broken down van or RV out in the middle of the woods, surrounded on all sides by new growth trees that make you wonder how the van got there. Something off the beaten path on some old forgotten dirt road - possibly also on Cassie's farm, actually, or maybe out in the national forest Tobias and Ax live in. Something sturdy enough to keep out the wind and rain, something that could be filled with sleeping bags or quilts and lit with glowsticks.

This wasn't for any tactical reason - the treehouse is way better for that - but I love the idea of a small group of teens having an abandoned van they've fixed up into a little clubhouse. I like picturing Marco sitting in the driver's seat, pretending to drive, while a couple other members of the team are in the back reading books or doing homework. Jake brings PBnJs along. Pre-nothlit Tobias would love it, but post-nothlit Tobias would hate it because it's a confined space, and Ax would hate it for similar reasons.

My initial thought was an old 1950s delivery van, but the more I think about it, the more an abandoned RV that still has a bed in the back would also work. Especially for David or Marco or whoever else might have the Yeerks looking for them at one point or another.

Here's an interesting AU idea: What if the Animorphs DID have a tree house base?

I feel like it'd have to be Cassie's backyard still. Jake's is too close to Tom, Rachel's would necessitate keeping her little sisters out, Marco doesn't have a backyard, and Tobias and Ax kind of already live in tree houses.

What would be awesome is if it's waaaaay off the ground, like not feasible for most humans to access. These are kids who can't be hurt or killed by a fall unless they insta-die, and who can easily go bird or chimp to get up there fast. And that way there'd be massive advance warning if someone (e.g. the controller cop, Cassie's dad, Estrid) did try to drop in on them.

Also, tree houses have the advantage of easy hork-bajir access but difficult human access and near-impossible taxxon or andalite access. That means Ax has to go to meetings in morph more, which we know he hates, but it'd let people they do want (Toby, Jara, Erek) in while keeping out those they don't (Gonrod, random controllers, civilians).

This requires somewhat more negligent Aniparents to pull off (there's a difference between "my son's at a friend's house" and "my son's off somewhere") but it'd be awesome if it's hidden in the woods and no one but them knows about it. Not sure how these kids in particular would do at making something structurally sound — Ax's idea of construction is to prop up a piece of plywood with wires he stole from utility poles, Cassie's is to dig a hole under a fridge, and none of the others shows a shred of building ability. But assuming they did get it up and working, it'd be a great safe haven.

Speaking of havens, is it better or worse if they stash David there? He'd still have Ax and Tobias babysitting him, and he's not much better off than in the barn, but maybe they could frame it as a cool adventure for him. And if given enough time, I bet Ax could get him a space heater and a wifi hookup there.

Other thoughts?