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"Well, if you're happy with what you are now..." she paused, bowing her head for a moment with a huff of a laugh, "Wow. I don't mean happy with it, obviously... but... if it's what you can deal with, I hope you stay the way you are, then. Maybe I'm done, too?" She tossed her head almost idly, and the infant proto-spines that hung around her face flopped against her skin.

Emelyn held the bundle back up, cradling it against her chest like a precious treasure. "And for this? Thank you. Really, you have no idea. I've been wearing this same bikini top for...well... if it's May already- my god, it's May already... three months or so? And I've been out here for... four months. I can't believe it's been that long."

And she couldn't. A part of her froze in disbelief. Had so much of her life been consumed in this venture? Where had all the time gone? Burned away by the sunlight that seared her still so-blue eyes, or sunk into the depths of that swallowing sea? Had it been buried somewhere, tucked away like her own respite into the concave sigh of the mountain she now called home? How her life had winnowed away on this Hell Island. Emelyn had thought that the worst loss she had suffered were those drops of blood that had graced the jungle floor that day of Jamal's animalistic attack. But now, she saw that the true loss were those drops of time- those silky goodbyes of sand as they fell through the hourglass.

Emelyn didn't say what was on her mind- that she had no doubt that Cassidy would have had greater difficulties managing out in the wild... not for any sake of her abilities, but from the sheer nature of her changes. There may be no need to ignore the 'elephant in the room', but pointing out their differences to the point of ranking abilities- was further than even the honest Emelyn was willing to go.

"Thanks. I'm surprised it's been so long as well. I suppose most of the credit is due to the hedgehog. I've never been the outdoorsy sort. Well, when I could help it, anyway."

As for the grimace that lit across Cassidy's face- Emelyn pretended not to notice, and did not outwardly respond to it. In any case, there was too little about the alien expressions Cass portrayed that Emelyn could trust herself to have accurately deciphered. And, even if it had been a grimace- likely brought on by her own statement about hugs, Em didn't have anything to say that could make either Cassidy or herself feel better about the sake that they weren't built for that manner of affection any longer.

Animals, for the most part, are creatures of necessity. They are built to survive, to adapt to their surroundings and thrive within their niche. Nature hasn't equipped them for the superfluous feelings of affection- for the need to embrace one another, to kiss, to shelter the feelings and the love of another of their species. All those upon Moreau's shore had physically evolved... out of love.

Fending for 'itself'... the credit is due to 'the' hedgehog. Emelyn connected the two in a sudden realization.

"Is it everyone who refers to their animal as a separate entity? ...Or just us?"

The statement hadn't been spoken to her, so much as an audible aside, Emelyn realized. But she smiled and answered as if the words had been created for and delivered to her directly.

"If it helps, you should name it whatever you'd like. ...I didn't even realize I was calling the hedgehog... "the" hedgehog."

Emelyn cocked her eyebrow, swallowing a laugh as she did. "Asimov much?" Cassidy was an odd bird. Or, rather, snake-bird. In any case, her humor suited her, and it made Emelyn smile.

Em put the arm that wasn't devoted to hugging her bundle to her chest out in a 'look at me' gesture.

"Hey, no worries. I knew what you were talking about, after all. So if you're calling yourself a nerd, that doesn't bode well for me," she laughed. "And I know you're kidding... but really.... don't ever think you're weak for taking things from the staff. They owe us so much for what they've done- more than they can ever repay. If anything, you're a better person than I for letting them try to even try to make up for it, even try to edge away at that... bottomless debt," Emelyn said, searching for the words.

"Oh of course," Emelyn said, nodding profusely and understanding the implications of that quite clearly. Gone were the days of 'oh, my stomach aches a little because I've neglected eating for a while'. Instead, the animal took over when hunger became a factor- the nature of these amalgamated creatures of man and beast... was that they were, to an extent... slaves to their hunger.

"Well, thank you again for this. It will make my life so much easier out here, not walking around like a dirty skank running around the woods." Em laughed, and put a hand out to touch what was left of Cassidy's shoulder. "I'll see you later, okay? Take care of yourself."

New RP

Nita just above the tideline on her towel, watching the water slowly creep up the beach as the sun set over the horizon. She had slept in again, and her afternoon had been fairly mundane. More and more she felt the need to be outside, and at twilight she didn't need to slather her fair skin with sunblock.

Her toes dug themselves into the cooling sand, her chin rested on her knees. She was quiet, not even listening to music, only the call of birds over head and the far-off crashing of waves against the cliffs.