Welcome to Gaia! ::

Katherine plopped down onto the sand with a sigh. It had only been a week since she'd arrived on the island, and already, her entire world had essentially turned into something out of a science-fiction book. Sure, she'd been expected a life-changing experience when she signed up for Moreau's "treatment facility", but...this definitely was not in the web site description.

Ah well. At least the place was pretty. And turning into an animal....well, actually, she wasn't sure what to think of that. But she didn't really like the prospect of never seeing her family again.

Apparently you really don't know what you've got until you can't ever get it back.

Katherine was drawn from her thoughts by the sound of someone else sighing. With a bit of relief, she noted that it wasn't some half-transformed islander. While she didn't dislike any of the islanders yet, she was still a little bit nervous around half-animal people.

The other girl sat down a little bit aways from her. Normally, Katherine wouldn't care in the least about this, and would instead keep to herself, but here, things were different. She had a lot on her mind, and felt like talking to another human would help to straighten her thoughts out.

"Um...hey," she said quietly, nodding at the other girl.

Katherine gave a small smile. This girl seemed to be about as shy as she normally was. Oh well. Someone had to take the initiative if they were going to talk, and for once, Katherine actually wanted to have a conversation.

"I'm Katherine," she said, turning to the redhead as the girl sat down. "I just got here a week ago. You look like you're pretty new, too." She shook her head. "This place is psychotic. How did they get you to come?"

Uh-oh. It seemed like she had just arrived. Meaning she didn't know about the animal-people thing. Crap. Katherine had only been there a few days, and already she had to tell someone new about the truth of the island. This would be interesting.

Katherine bit her lip and thought for a moment. "Linany...that's a unique name. I like it." She smiled, not entirely sure how to start. "Okay, well...y'see, this is going to sound crazy, and, well, to be perfectly honest, I kind of feel crazy for saying it, but...this island...isn't just a free resort, or whatever they told you. I guess you haven't met any of the islanders yet, but...weird things are going on here. The place is run by this scientific corporation, and they're doing....weird stuff to people..." She paused to let that much sink in.

Katherine sighed heavily. This was not going to be pretty.

"You see...I was also told that this place was a sort of experimental facility. I mean, my story was probably different that yours, but...the point is, yeah, they lied. The labs...Feral Labs is the company, I think...they're turning people into animals," Katherine said. It sounded stupid when she said it. Then again, she wasn't half-animal yet.

"I've met some of the islanders...they're people, like us, but over time, the scientists inject them with something, and they start to turn into animals," Katherine continued with a shudder. "But the worst part is...you don't get to see or talk to your family again." Katherine looked down, not wanting to see her own horror reflected in Linany's eyes. The other girl seemed much more prone to emotion than she was, and even Kat had been considerably upset by this information. After all, who wouldn't be?

Katherine had never felt more guilty in her life. Well, except for maybe the time she got her oldest cousin in trouble for the antique lamp she broke when she was 13, but anyways...This girl looked to still be a teenager. True, Katherine was only a couple years older than that, but she had already given up on life. Linany seemed like someone that had a lot going for her.

"Yeah...I'm really sorry, I wish I was joking...I didn't believe it either, at first. But...the first person I met had already started changing...and it's pretty freaking scary," she admitted, remembering her disbelief at the tail growing out of a person. "And no, you don't get to pick the animal...at least, no one has yet. That vaccine they gave you? I was told that it was the first injection, to prepare your body for the transformations. So...I guess that means they already have something in mind for you."

She frowned. There really were very few bright aspects of this situation, if you were any remotely normal person. Kat knew she was lucky...she had long since decided not to put much effort into life, and while being transformed into an animal wasn't really something she had ever wanted to do, at least she hadn't had any other goals.

"Oh, and the type of animal? Um...let me think...well, I've heard that some people are 'lucky' and get canines and felines, and other mammals, but I've also heard of an octopus guy and a guy turning into a snail." She shuddered at the thought.

Katherine stiffened a bit at the tears, but remembered how she had cried a bit as well and patted Linany on the back in an attempt to be supportive.

"Yeah, it definitely sucks to have your life taken away from you," she nodded, sympathizing. "But I haven't heard anyone turning into a bug yet....so maybe you're safe from that. And hey, I've heard of a lot of couples on the island...so maybe you could go on with life...sort of..." she trailed off. That probably wasn't the best direction to go in. Never mind.

Instead, she focused on Linany's last question. "What do I want to become?" she thought for a moment. "I think anything furry. I really don't like birds, and I don't know....scales are just kind of...not appealing." She shrugged. "I think as long as I keep my arms and legs...and don't grow like four more, like that octopus guy...it'll be...well, as okay as it could be." She smiled sadly at Linany. "I think once you meet some of the islanders, it'll be easier to accept. I mean, not easier, but...well, you know." Katherine never was the most articulate person ever.

[switched yo my mule account]

"Yeah, I think losing or growing any appendages would be the most inconvenient of any changes," Katherine agreed. She leaned back on her arms, looking out at the ocean. She was glad she had found someone to discuss this with. While she liked the islanders she had met, it just was impolite to discuss your pending doom with people who were already experiencing it.

"So, where are you from? What was life like for you?" she asked, curious. Only after she said it did she realize that this may not be the best set of questions to ask...but ah well. Hopefully, Linany wouldn't mind.