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A smile can tell a lot about how a person is feeling inside, whether it's a wide-open crescent moon of white that speaks to pure joy... or the half-hearted, sad tug at the corners of Em's mouth that explained how little faith she really had in anything turning out right.

"Expect the unexpected here." She said softly.

Em nodded, and darted for her lean-to. She didn't know if Avery was following her, or if he'd return back to the one he'd been sharing with... one of the cavalcade of people he seemed to have already met.

The night brings little relief to the islanders huddled in their lean-to's. While the storm's anger seems to have quelled somewhat - the crashing thunder and lightning abating late into the night, the torrential rains have not yet given up.

The small shelters stand bravely against the storm - rivulets of water finding each and every space in the lean-to's to pelt the occupants - but it's still drier than being outside.

At least, small favors, the rains seem to be the clash of front, and the temperature is on the rise, although the night is still not what the reptiles could call "warm."

However.... the night brings other horrors than the rain.

Amaya - The chill over your body and the seeping cold that has been building since the starts of the rains began to lessen as you huddled against another for warmpth.
However, as the night stretches, you are surprised to find warmpth returning, and then, as if some twisted dream, you feel warmer and warmer, until a savage, feverish, flushing heat seems to be consuming you - the body heat next to you uncomfortable. Your first thought is likely that you did indeed make yourself sick from being out in the cold - and it certainly feels like it - feeling warm despite all atmospheric conditions that should be speaking contrary.... but it's then that the itching... and the cramping begins, and an altogether familiar tightening of muscles and quickened heartrate that is the physical feeling of impending change.

The scale-rash begins to spread over your skin, and before your eyes, every single reamining patch of human skin itches, and begins to shread away from forming green scales beneath the surface.

Your already embarrasingly large hands and feet ache, and stretch even longer (particularly your feet). Your short tail aches, presing longer, and longer. The short 'spines' down your back grow longer, and growing nubs continue up the back of your neck, even growing in your hairline.

These spreading scales, this time, however, do not bequeath your face and head with only minor touches. The maddening itch this time spreads completely over your face... over your head. And as the skin on your scalp begins to flake... clumps of your raven hair loosen... and fall, until the only hair on your body is the last strands clung in your immense hands.






Colche - THe feeling that, until now, only happened when Aubrey was there to be beside you - the scary, hurting feeling that is one of the only phsical pains that strike you here on this safe Island - lurks on the horizon of your nerves.

Your feet hurt, and your skin itches, and the tawny fur that grows all down your back begins to spread, washing over your shoulders, growing down your legs, and then engulfing your face in its itchy newness. Your feet stretch even more, ensuring that you will not be able to walk flat-footed again, but your legs, surging with lean muscle, promise that your new digitigrade stance will carry you swiftly, freely. Despite their ache and pain with the growth, you almost want to dash out of the warm, dry(ish) tent, and run through the jungles and down the beaches. That is, however, until the worst of the pain begins - in the front and in the back - as your stubby tail begins to elongate, the balancing extention of your spine pressing longer.. and your nose and mouth push out into a short cat muzzle, your nose prickling - the pores moistening, widening, and bringing a new boquet of aroma to you

Avery did not wake immediately. In fact, he tried to stay asleep as long as possible, dreaming of being at home, in his warm and dry bed. But the constant shifting and twitching from Colche didn't let him stay asleep for long; he woke slowly, yawing. At Colche's first cry, his eyes flew open and he jerked his body away from her in surprise, staring at her in shock.

"What the--" the words died on his lips when he saw what was happening to the girl. Avery watched, horrified, as her body began changing. What the ******** is going on!? What the hell is happening to her!? Avery was too shocked and afraid to help her, and he stayed as far away as he could get from her inside the lean-to. He knew he should try and do something to help, but he just couldn't make his body move.

Oh God, oh my God - she's changing, this is what they go through when they transform - how could someone do something so horrible to these people!? Thoughts raced through Avery's head as he sat, frozen in place from fear. He watched the woman crying in front of him, fur growing over more of her body, tail growing longer and even her claws appeared sharper, more threatening - at least to him. He could only just see her face through her long hair, the muzzle growing and nose changing.

What should I do!? Avery thought, panicked. Who can help her? Could anyone help her? When Colche's transformation appeared to slow down, Avery slowly moved a little closer to the girl, reaching out a trembling hand and placing it on her furry shoulder. "Are you--" Avery's sentence broke off, and he swallowed thickly, trying to speak, his voice shaky. "Are you alright..?" he whispered, realizing what a stupid question that was only after he asked it. Of course she isn't alright...

"Wha--" Avery was surprised when Colche collapsed into his lap, and at first he had no idea what to do. He reached down, very gently rubbing her back, not wanting to hurt the girl. "I... I have no idea who Aubrey is," he said, trying to stay calm. "But - it'll be okay, right? I mean - it looks like you've gone through this before... and you turned out alright, so..." he trailed off, and used his other hand to slide his fingers through her hair so it wasn't in her face and spread out all over the place. "Hey... it'll - it'll be okay," Avery told her, not sure if he really believed what he was saying. "It's all over now, right? It's okay..."

Avery carefully moved out from under her, stretching his legs out to lay down beside her instead. He pulled the cheetah-girl into his arms, holding her close to his body and rubbing her furry back, trying to calm her down. "It's okay now," he murmured again.

Avery couldn't help but smile - she was so cute, despite the sharp teeth and claws. "You're welcome," he said, softly. "I think you're very nice, too." The way she spoke sounded very child like, yet she didn't look at all like a child. He wondered why she spoke that way; maybe she just never learned until she arrived on this island? It seemed to him that she didn't really understand him most of the time, or maybe she just wasn't listening when he spoke. He wanted to ask her why, but he thought asking 'why do you talk weird' would be rude - especially right now, after what she just had to go though. Avery continued rubbing her back gently, fingers sliding through her fur, trying to keep her calm. "So, who is Aubrey..?"