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When Lily began to wake from her extremely uneasy sleep, a slight dizzy feeling caught hold of her. Her eyes were out of focus when they opened and the dizziness seemed to increase when she sat up. She looked blearily down to her clothes, which was what she'd been wearing yesterday, lab coat and all.

'Must have fallen asleep in my clothes,' she thought, putting one hand to her head and stretched the other only to draw it back in.

"Odd," She murmured at the pain that had gone through her arm. Then she got a good look around her.

The walls were different.. the dresser wasn't supposed to be there.. the bed..

"What?!" Lily started, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and standing up. She put a hand to the wall and looked around the room- which was most certainly not the staff dorm room she'd gone to sleep in. She inhaled sharply and, still leaning on the wall, looked around the room.

Her bags were here. The room was bigger, and quite a bit nicer than her old one, which was suspicious enough. Shifting her weight on the hand against the wall reminded her of the funny pain in her arm, which pushed her to the obvious conclusion.

Not in her own room with a sore arm, on an Island that they're changing people into animals, that she agreed not to leave until the project as complete (though she still couldn't remember if it said anything about being fired.) He wouldn't do that! She put her weight back on her feet and goes over to the window to try to dispel her theory.

"Oh, damn it!" Lily exclaimed, staring out the window at parts of the Island she'd never had a good look at before.

Lily quickly returned to her duplex, where she knew she could be alone again. The trip to find food went well, since she had managed to find the cafeteria. On the other hand, all she'd taken was a roll and she may have offended someone. With a sigh she went over to the bed and sat down, tearing off a piece of the roll and eating it plain. She pushed herself back some to lean back against the wall, crossing her legs and eyeing her roll.

"Okay," she murmured aloud, "How bad could this be?"

Stupid question.

"It could be interesting," she decided. From a scientific point of view, the concept of turning people into bipedal animals was amazing. Of course, Lily had always counted on being fully human for her entire life, as well as finishing this job and returning home. She'd been having her doubts about when going home would be, especially over the holidays, but it'd always been there.

Lily gave a sarcastic laugh at the thought now. Yes, the experiment was interesting- especially considering it was actually working. But it was clear to her few would really have volunteered for this. Oh, what you don't pay attention to when you're being paid well to help.

If all the subjects were there willingly, wouldn't Chana have mentioned something about it? If she was a volunteer, she should have seemed more interested in a new subject- she'd seemed concerned when she asked how many people Lily'd met so far.

Resting her head against the wall, Lily sighed, "I guess I need to figure out my story." It'd been hard enough trying not to mention anything that might hint at the experimenting around Chana, though that had been more because she didn't know what she could say if it did come up. Now was the time to figure that out, and she wasn't about to let herself walk out before thinking of something- anything.

"Volunteer," she murmured. That would be an interesting story to tell, she'd signed up to be turned into an animal.

"No," she decided. She didn't really want to turn into an animal, and if she used that then she'd have to pretend she did want to for a long time. She searched her mind for other possibilities.

Kidnapped? No, she'd been too calm around Chana for something that dramatic.

Vacation? Well, she could probably act as though she was just taking a break from her job for a while. Truth being that she gets a permanent 'vacation,' it wouldn't be hard to pretend she thought she would be going back to work. The only problem this left her was that she doubted her acting skills. Maybe not so much for taking a trip, but acting surprised when someone tells her she's not going to leave..

She slid down from a seated position to a laying one, and stared up at the ceiling for a moment.

"Alright," she sighed and sat back up, "You can't sleep in your clothes again tonight." She discarded the roll on the nightstand and went over to her bag and started looking for her pyjamas. She'd looked through her bag already when she'd decided she shouldn't leave her lab coat lying around, and everything was still there, but she hadn't bothered to unpack yet. When she found her pyjamas, she changed quickly went back to the bed.

'A vacation,' she thought, sitting against the wall and partially under the covers, 'Not fired.'

..

Was any of the stuff she'd brought with her something she'd have taken on a vacation?

That night, at 3am on the dot, there is a LOUD sound of an explosion, originating from the sky above the Island. Looking out, or anyoune outside would look up to see a brief fireball in the sky. Following that, any power that is on begins to flicker, going through a few brownouts before finally shutting down altogether. If you happen to be awake at that point - you would notice all the lights around you, any electronic equipment that wasn't battery operated flicker and die. However, within a few seconds of the final powersurge and failure, you find yourself being pulled into a forced unconsciousness.

When you wake up, it is midafternoon the following day, though it would vary within a few hours depending on the individual. You are NOT in your duplex. You wake up to find yourself laying on top one of the duplex buildings. Way up top, near an edge.

All of the buildings on the island are in 'shutdown' mode. This means that everything is locked tight. If you attempt to force your way into any of the buildings, your own duplex and the Town Hall included, then you will find that from the outside at the very least, they are impenetrable. If any window was broken - it is now fixed. All of the lights are off - in every building. Even the electric fence surrounding the main laboratory is turned off - though still closed. Attempts to break into the main complex will be met with equal lack of luck as breaking into a duplex or the town hall.

The only items you have on you are the items that you would have been wearing when you were asleep/fell unconscious: including clothing and perhaps a few battery-powered electronics IF You would have been wearing them. That's it. Everything else is where you left it - if it was in your duplex, it still is and you can't get to it.

There is no sign of what happened to the staff. The labs are quiet from the outside.

Welcome to the Wild.

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Colche had woken because of the sun. The first morning rays always braught the kitty girl to life. Her long, jet black hair trailed accorss her body, hidign most of her slender naked from in black swathes. Slowly her huge, deep blue eyes opened and she looked at the world she had become used to living in. The jungle had been home for a little while to the confused femme and returning to it, though involuntarily, was no big deal to her. Yawning a rather toothy yawn she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her stomach gave a resounding rumble. She couldn't quite remember when lst she had eaten but she knew she was hungry. She pouted, she hadn't seen anyone for a while now, where was everyone? Lifting her nose to the air she sniffled, the scent of smoke filled the air but she wasn't sure if it was from the wrkage some way awway, of the big black bird or the scent of fires. She had glimpsed fires but hadn't yet found anyone by them any time she went to see them. She sighed, she needed to find somone today, ehr bellyw as empty and leaves just didn't look at all attractive.

"Ow.. ow.. ow," Lily murmurs to herself as she walks slowly through the jungle. She'd avoided going back to the beach for awhile, and it hadn't taken her long before she decided to leave the safety of the little village to go look through the jungle. Partially curious, and partially hungry, she'd left early in the morning- wearing her pyjamas and bare feet, just as she had for the last couple days.

"Well," she sighs to herself, "Now I'm not sure where I am."

She comes through some of the trees, looking down at her feet as she does. When she next looks up to see where she's going she's startled to see a cheetah-girl before her- and she freezes.

Colche's small, round, fluffy ears perked, or at least made soem sort of twitchy motion as lily came stumbling through the trees. Her huge dark blue eyes watched the woman for a moment, assessing her perhaps. Was she a threat? No, she didn'ty look like one any way. She bit her tongue, her usual reaction when she went in to a deep think. Her tongus slipped back between her furre lined lips though and she gave a purr "Halo" she whispers, her voice almost halting as she said it.

Her tiny stump of a tail twitched as she got to her feet then, standing on her tip toes, she never walked like a human any more, she walked always on those forming pads on the bottoms of her feet. A long moment was spent dusting herself off, cleaning out the greens and browns and sveral other colours of debree from ehr body and hair before she looked at lily again waiting for ehr to approach, those huge, deep blue, innocent eyes looking curiously to this new arrival.

Lily remains silent for several seconds, watching Colche with a similar caluculating stare. A little bell goes off in her brain- she's seen this .. person before. When, though? Despite how obvious it is that Colche is naked, Lily doesn't seem to pay any attention to it.

"Hello," she finally speaks up after being greeted. She smiles apologetically and stays where she is when Colche gets up and starts brushing herself off.

Feline; leopard, maybe? she guesses in the back of her mind..

"I'm sorry to bother you," she apologizes, "I didn't think I'd run into anyone."

Colche looked at the other female with a smile. Most of that little speach went over her head. There were so many words, phrases, humanistic things she just didn't understand. Licking her lips she twitches her tail once again and speaks "I, Colche" she stated this ratehr knwoingly, the fact that she had finally started to put an extra word before her phrases was a triumph for her. The 'am' bit would eventually come but for now her shortened off cut sentences surficed. Her tummy gave another resounding grumble and she frowned, her brow creasing she gave a shiver, when had she last eaten? She wasn't exactly sure but her stomach was empty and she felt rather sick. In her old life, she had gone hungry for long periods of time, she forgot about hunger. But her life was so much differnt now, food was a necessity to the speedy cheetah to keep being speedy. "Hungry" she whispered with a pout and a sad look in those big deep blue eyes.

Lily keeps smiling, biting her lip when Colche introduces herself. Without any concern, she wonders if maybe this woman's first language isn't english.

"My name is Lily," she says carefully, "It's nice to meet you, Colche."

She glances to Colche's tummy at the faint sound that comes from it, recognizing it and feeling hungrier now that it's been pointed out. She looks up to Colche's eyes, and then nods reassuringly.

"I'm hungry too," she tells her, "We could look for food together?"

She speaks carefully and as naturally as possible, in hopes Colche would understand better.

Colche smiles lightly. She got some of the otehr girls words though otehrs were quite plainly lost onher. The word hungry and food though made her nod and she padded towards the other femme upon silent half formed paws "Cafeteria?" she asked with a tilt of her head, ehr big blue eyes sad but hopeful, she hadn't been back to the villiage for a little while maybe things had opened now?

As colche got closer to Lily the scars on ehr body were plainly visable, though some what disguised by the strange mottled spots which covered her skin, white lines, old scars punctuated them, breaking them up here and there. All of the scars were well healed but they were still there. Her tail twitched again as she waited hopefully to be told she could go back to the cafeteria, she had a longing for some chocolate cake.

Lily does her best to keep smiling, even as she watches the words just float right over Colche's head. Forgetting the situation for a moment, she nods at Colche's question.

"Yes, food is in the cafeteria," she smiles, but then frowns- the buildings were all still locked. Not to mention cafeteria is an interesting word to know, if she hadn't been taught proper grammar when introducing herself in english. She shakes her head gently, both to Colche and remind herself that you didn't need good grammar to have a good vocabulary.

"The cafeteria is still locked," she says with a sigh, "That's why I came out here."

She watches Colche approach her, the cheetah markings being clearer she glances with interest. But then her eyes widen slightly- they weren't just animal markings, there are scars there as well. Healed, but still scars.

What happened to Colche?

Colche looked happy for a moment, the phrase, though she didn't get it all, meant the cafeteria had food again. For a moment she was a happy little ball of fluff until she realised that it was locked. She pouted again her ears flattening, twitching in to a sort of 'V' shaped possition. Licking her lips she sighs softly and looks away in to the jungle "Hungry not good" Her brow furrowed again, her tiny stub of a tail giving a twitch before she managed another reply "Find Aubrey, good food" She smiled a little the sentence made perfect sence to her. Aubrey had provided her with her first real meal so maybe if they found her now, she would make the cafeteria open and she could have cake. It was good reasoning to colche. Far from being stupid, she simply kept to the easiest ideas.

After a short pause she frowned again "Aubrey gone" she puts a hand to her forehead, in a rather, exaggerated dramatic fasion. She nibbled her bottom lip, who else provided food? Ambrose? Yes, Ambroise had made food once "Find Ambrose, Lauren, Pyroth, find food" She nods an affirmative looking overly serious which was obviously hard for the sweet natured femme, she was always in a smiley mood. A small giggle and a puurr broke ehr silence once again as she awaited a reply, her puurr always seemed to be on when she was happy, and even with her stomach rumbling up a storm finding a new person, a new friend, a new family member she was happy.

Lily frowns when Colche looks unhappy once again, though she knows there's nothing she can do about the cafeteria- not that she knows of. She crosses her arms thoughtfully, her mind going from the scars to the food situation.

"No, being hungry isn't good," She agrees, but then looks puzzled when Colche mentions Aubrey. Aubrey has good food? Who is Aubrey? Shes stares at the fur on Colche's shoulders distractedly.

So far along in the transformation.. her stomach twists and she glances to the arm she thinks she'd gotten the injection in. If it really works.. she shivers, and then looks to Colche's eyes again.

She misses Colche telling her that Aubrey is gone, and focusses on the list provided. She'd heard the name Ambrose before- Joliette had mentioned him, hadn't she? The other two..

"Well," she falters, "Everyone is scattered around outside, I don't know if we'd find anyone." Her voice is more naural now, not really thinking about speaking slowly.

"We can find food in here, Colche," she tries to explain, looking at the trees around them, "From the trees. It'd be easier."

Colche looks confused for a moment. She didn't like eating leaves, and thats all trees had right? "no like leaves" she stated, with a pout "not eeyore" She pouted some crossing her arms, feintly remembering that eeyore ate thistles "or rabbit" she nodded an affirmative, she wondered what huney was like, but she couldn't see any bees, so the idea of being a pooh bear quickly left her mind "Like chocolate cake" she smiled broadly dobting the trees would provide her a nice chunk of chocolate cake from their branches.

Her gaze still feld up though and cmae to rest upon a bird, she supposed they might be edible,. The cheetah inside her made her tail flick, food, real food, not leaves or chocolate cake, meat, raw meat. Her blue eyes focuused on nothing but the bird for a long, silent moment but her gaze slowly fell back upon her new friend"eat birdie?" she tilted ehr head softly, she wasn't sure exactly what her animalistic side was telling her to do, but the sight of the fat parrot made her stomach give anotehr resounding grumble.

"Trees have fruit, too," Lily explains, "It's how you get more tre-" she cuts herself off when Colche tells her she isn't like Eeyore, or Rabbit and that she likes chocolate cake.

Strongly reminded of a child, she glances over Colche to remind herself that she isn't a child. No, they wouldn't be able to get any cake.

Her eyes follow Colche's when she spots her looking up in the trees, stopping on the bird. She's startled by the question about eating the bird that she saw there and looks back to Colche.

"Wh-" she stops and looks back to the bird, "Well, you could eat a bird-" she glances to the fur and markings covering the girl, most felines like birds- "if you could catch it."

"Fruit." Colche knew what fruit as she had eaten apples and oranges and pears and mangos and things int he cafeteira. they were mostly good, though they didn't top chocolate cake "Fruit good" she states though her gaze drifts up to the bird once again "Catch?" her brow furrowed, she wasn't sure she could junp that high and climbing, well she didn't fancy that either.

Her gaze once again fell upon lily and she smiled "fruit good, biry high" she smiles softly though something inside her was rebelling for her to go after the bird. meat, fresh meat with blood and fathetrs or fur, meatmeat. She mostly ignored it though did take afinal glance at the bird, it was far too high to catch.

"Yes, fruit is good," Lily says with a nod, looking back up to the bird as well. She doesn't want to think about a semi-feline woman trying to catch a bird to eat, but she smiles at Colche, "Catch it, like if you were hunting. But you're right- fruit is good, and lower than that bird."

She looks at the trees around them and finds that none of those closest to them bear fruit. She doesn't notice Colche continue to eye the bird, though she was relieved that she didn't want to follow whatever instincts she could be assumed to have and chase after the bird.

"I didn't notice any fruit on the path I took," Lily says, glancing at her feet, "Why don't we go look for some this way?" She gestures in a direction away from where she'd come, then smiles at Colche.

After one final glance at the bird she finally nodded and turned down one of the many raggedy paths through the jungle "Beach this way" she pointed out, her tail giving one of those swift twitches as the bird above their heads alighted. Her pupils narrowed in a cat like manner but they didn't stay that way for very long before they became those dark innocen blue pools again "Fruit, fruit" she mumbled her eyes shifting all around ehr as she walked along stepping silently, she didn't even disturb the undergrowth she sort of prowled along on her tip toes. After a short walk and a lack of any fruit, at least that she could see she stopped anf looked at lily once again "No fruit" she pouted. The thought of fruit had gotten her hopes up some what but the lack of it, had dropped her back in to manic hunger again. Could she go back and catch that bird?

Her ears perked as she heard a rustling near by and her feline mannerisms made her head twitch around in a very attentive manner. She was silent for a moment before she suddenly zipped towards the sound pouncing before she could even think humanly. The sounds of a tustle and a squeal surrounded the area, followed by a very deathly silence. Colche didn't reappear from the undergrowth but silent sobs sounded from the green deapths.

Lily pauses after Colche informs her which direction the beach is in, and then she follows her down the path. Her steps are becoming less careful as she gets used to stepping on the variety of things on the jungle floor.

She stays close enough with Colche to notice an odd change in her eyes, that quickly went away. She does her best not to get distracted by wondering about what that meant, and continues looking for fruit.

"No, no fruit," Lily agrees with a sigh, after they walk only a short distace, "But we haven't go-" She cuts herself off when Colche's ears perk and she tense attentively. She gasps and steps back when Colche suddenly pounces off the path and after the rustle, her hazel eyes widening at the terrible sounds that come from the direction Colche had bolted- and her eyes don't relax at the silence.

"What the- ?!" She takes a hesitant step towards the silence, until she hears the sobbing. Looking worried, she no longer hesitated and went right to where Colche had pounced.

Colche's head lifted slowly as Lily came through the trees, her ears flattened and for a moment, she expected to be punished for what she had done. by her side lay the rather prone form of a baby wild boar. She stared at lily a frightened look in ehr big blue eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks following those long brown black lines which informed the world of what she was becoming"piglett" she squeeked her voice strangled as she averted her eyes unable to look at the little piglet she had killed or to Lily.

Her shoulders shuddered as she sat there, frightened and waiting to be punished for doing something so wrong. She had never hurt anything intentionally, she didn't really understand death either but the lifeless form which lay not a meter away, it's blood spilt by her, and it's scent filling her nostrils, made her afraid. She didn't even remember doing it, it was like, something took over the cheetah wanted it and she just went with the flow, she was so hungry. Her brow creased as she continued to sob bg damp tears falling on her fingers "Colche bad, nasty bad!" she snifflesher slender frame rattling with her choked words.

"Colche?" She calls gently when she sees her sitting there crying, "What happe-" her eyes finally notice the little boar at her side, and they widen.

"Oh my god," she murmurs, looking back up to Colche and frowning when she squeaks. She'd hunted- and by the looks of it, she hadn't meant to. She looks back and fourth from the pig to Colche, looking shaken. With the mentioning of Eeyore, Rabbit and Piglett she finally figures out where she'd seen Colche before- from the roof. She'd told her to climb like Pooh.

"Colche," she says as she kneels down infront of Colche, shaking slightly but doing her best to ignore that Colche had killed a boar without meaning to, "It's alright.."

She bites her lip when Colche calls herself bad, and shakes her head, "No, Colche not bad. You just followed your instincts-" she chokes through this explanation, assuming the serum is, logically, to blame- "It's not your fault." She hesistates before reaching out and putting a hand gently on Colche's shoulder.

Focus, she tells herself, focus on the person..

Her huge blue eyes looked to lilly, a frightened look in her big blue eyes, she looked like she was about to bolt. Huge wet tears still rolled down ehr cheeks and she looked more like a child than ever, bedraggled, tired and frightened out of ehr wits for what she had done. She listened, though her ears stayed flattened in to that V shape against her head, her tongue licked out, lapping at ehr lips and for a breif moment she gave an exhausted pant "In..stinks?" she questiones through her still muffled chocking sobs.

As Lily touches her shoulder she jolts a little, pulling away for a second, she was expecting a punishment, but no hand came to deliver a blow, there were no chains, no men, only Lily. She caled a tad, looking for a moment longer at Lily's hand before she crawled in to the otehr womans lap burying ehr face in to her cloathing. "Want Aubrey" she sniffles shivering, at a time like this, she could use her mother figure to see her through this. Even Lauren or Amaya would have made a bit of a difference. Lily was nice, but Amaya and Lauren were like her sisters,s eh needed somone she knew to tell ehr it was okay though the comfort of another was at least something to calm ehr now dithering nerves.

"Instincts," Lily repeats and then makes an attempt at explaining it simply, "It means that you're hungry, so your mind told you what to do to get food.."

She lifts her hand from Colche's shoulder when she starts, but replaces it when she relaxed and then crawled into her lap. She pulls Colche into a hug, and sits herself down on the ground, "It's alright."

Aubrey, again. Would they find Aubrey if they went looking for her? She'd never know, and she can't promise her anything like that. What could she say to her now?

"It's ok, Colche," she repeats, calming down, "Colche is good, not bad. I don't know if we could find Aubrey, though. You have to tell me where she is." Hopefully Colche could tell her where they might find Aubrey, then maybe she'd know where they should go.

Colche looked up at the woman with a pout and a frown "dunno" she whispers ehr voice a choked whimper "Aubrey gone" her brow further creases, Aubrey had said she wouldn't be back for a little while, it wasn't like she was going to school just for one day, she was going away for a while. She rubbed one eye with the back of her hand looking like a child lost in her own little world for a moment "Find Ambrose n Amaya" Ambrose and Amaya were the next best thing to Aubrey Ambrose being like a big brotehr and Amaya her doting sister.

A shiver ran down her spine as she caught a glimpse of the little dead body not too far away she couldn't get the idea out of her mind that she had killed piglett! But Lily said she wasn't bad, she was hungry thats what hungry made her do. But she killed piglet! She made a quiet unhappy noice then lifting her hands to her ears and scrunching her eyes tightly shut she tried to make the image go away. Why did things keep dying? She didn't understand, she was so confused"scared" she squeeks holding tightly to lily as she tried still to block out the image of hunting, of killing, of the thrill then the realisation of what she had done. yes, she was hungry but she had never hunted before, what if it happened again?

Aubrey is gone? That's great- but it must eliminate her being a subject, they weren't allowed to leave.. then that made her.. one of the lab techs. That was the Aubrey Colche was looking for? Well, that was something.

She shakes her head, and watches Colche quietly for a moment, her arms still holding onto her like a child. She frowns at the pitiful look Colche has, feeling bad that she had to go through this.

"Where are Ambrose and Amaya?" She asks, her voice gentler than before- she hopes that these people wouldn't be 'gone' either. Even knowing they would try to find them might help Colche.


"Oh," Lily glances from Colche to the pig when the cheetah girl shudders, and then she scoots back and around some so that the dead pig wouldn't be so easy for Colche to see.

"Don't be scared," Lily tries to assure her, "You didn't do anything wrong, you couldn't help it.."

This is what she had been helping to do to people? She could almost feel her conscience and guilt clawing at the back of her head..


Colche Automatically hissed as the boar came storming from the jungle. Her tail lashed against her butt as she glared at it. Her pupils once again narrowed to slits as she watched the beast. For a moment, colche was MIA the boar was something to kill and eat and the cheetah was hungry. The cheetah however abandoned it's post when it realised that the boar wasn't running away. The cheetah is a fragile animal if it breaks a bone is likely to die. Though colche's eyes were still in their cat like manner her gaze fell upon Lily and she bit her bottom lip "run" she meeps, her eyes still on the boar, if it charged she knew she would be hurt, if it charged and she wasn't able to kill it she would be hurt baddly. Her ears flattened, all thoughts of finding others was dashed from her head this was a creature she could kill, with her claws, with her teeth. She just had to stay out of the way of it's tusks. She guessed that would be harder than it looked but the cheetah, quietly pushed, it was food, she should hunt it. A soft growl echoed down in her chest as she watched the creature wondering if it would turn tail or come charging. It should run away from her! She was a hunter! Something told her the boar didn't know that and they were in deep trouble, and the little girl inside her told ehr to run away, this was no piglet!

All guilty thoughts flee Lily's mind when there's a rustling of leaves and an angry snorting sound. Her hazel eyes leave Colche and she looks to the furious sow speechlessly.

"Oh god," she gasps, "I forgot-" She mentally curses herself for not realizing that a mother would be around, but is quickly startled from her thoughts by Colche's hissing and instructing her to run. Realizing there's no time to argue or really think about this, she doesn't start running. Instead she inches backward a little, keeping a hold on Colche- though not any tighter.

"I can't just leave," she murmurs in a hurried response to Colche, unsure she'd stand a chance by running. The only thing reminding her of the hunting instinct in the girl is her actions and the almost conflicted look in her eyes.

Feeling she's already wasted too much time, she pushes herself to her feet with one arm while the other pulls Colche up with her..

Colche looked to lily, what was she supposed to do? The sow didn't look like she was about to stop. Something inside ehr rebelled against the fact that the pig was approaching instead of running though she felt frightened and wanted to run in the opposite direction. She licks ehr lips her tail flickering unhappily "huumm" she whispers, still preying the sow would turn tail and go in the opposite direction. Her brow creases then and she takes a nervopus step forwards "Go way" she states hissing again, her ears flattening against her head as she stepped forwards on those slender long legs. The pig should be running away not towards her, she was a cheetah, she was a hunter, it should run away. The conflict refused to eb in the young dark haired girls eyes. She was so frightened, frightened enough to bolt through the trees and not stop til she hit the sea, or the villiage, or more people, yet, yet that little spark of the wild animal she was bonded to now made her want to stalk forwards and chase the pig, run after it til she had her fangs fastened around it's flabby throat and the taste of blood rolled accross her tongue.

Glancing back one more time at lily she fixed her huge blue eyes gaze on the sow and started to creep forwards, as a cheetah would, taking one tentative step at a time. The cheetah had won this round but if the sow didn't bolt at the sight of a predator, she was in deep trouble.

With Colche now out of her grasp, Lily can only give a terrified stare at the advancing sow. Running would be a good idea, but would she get very far?

No, her mind crosses that thought out instantly- she can't go faster than a furious mother. It might even provoke the boar. Her thoughts all stop when Colche starts advancing on the sow, hissing at it to go away.

"Colche," her voice wavers, "That's not-" she strangles her last words and ends up taking a couple steps backward, the only thing stopping her from attempting to flee or climb a tree is that she can't leave Colche.

"Don't," she says quickly after the strangled sentence, her voice a low request, not an order.


Colche pauses at the sound of lily's voice her ears flatten tightly against her head as she watcheds the sow a shiver running down ehr spine, what can she do?



Lily's eyes go from the hesitating Colche to the charging sow, and then widen. They'd waited too long, and Colche had provoked it.

"Colche, look out!"

She calls out without thinking to prevent any hesitation that may come up, stumbling backward as she almost steps back and away but stops herself.

Colche starts, though is'nt quick enough by far to miss a graze of the sows tusks to her upper calf. She frowns watching the pig in ot's charge only for a second before she grabs lily's hand andstarts to run off in to the jungle "runrun" she mumbles, tears once again rolling down her cheeks hoping the sow wouldn't turn and follow them, how far would it go to avenge the piggletts she had killed? She sniffled, half blinded by ehr tears she stumbled over a tree root managing to release Lily's hand before she went falling tail over head. "ouch" she stated, her voice a quiet squeek of unhappiness but she didn't allow herself to moap for long. She wanted to get away from the sow and from the scene she had created. "ow" she whispers stumbling to her feet and hobbling a little now, the graze on ehr leg had started to hurt and worse to bleed. It wasn't a bad cut but it was bleeding and probably brused. The stumble over the tree roots hadn't helped. She turned once again, hoping the sow wasn't following them she took hold of Lily's hand once again and started to half run half hobble through the trees once again, she did not want to face that again. Why didn't someone come to help them? Where was Aubrey? She sniffled as she ran, she was more frightened now than she had been in a long time and very confused to top it all off.

Lily gapes as the Colche barely manages to dodge the sow, flinching as she watches, from an angle, the tusks scrape through the flesh on Colche's leg- she isn't given much time to star before Colche grabs her hand, and she gasps as they bolt.

She doesn't think about how fast they're going, or the pain in her feet as she steps on several rather uncomfortably pointy things. Adrenaline and Colche's grip on her keep her going- they need to get away.

When Colche suddenly releases her hand and goes tumbling, Lily stumbles as she attempts to come to a stop. Her knees shake as she stumbles back a couple steps to Colche.

"Colche," she gasps, "We should keep going.." She barely had this out of her mouth before Colche was leading them farther through the trees once again, though at a less steady pace.

The sow has indeed followd after them, and the sound of rustling behind them is what tips them off. The farther they go, the quieter the rustling becomes..

Colche pants softly, her paw like feet still beating the traill, she wasn't about to stop though her mucles in ehr legs ached now. Like evry cheetah, after a swift run she was becoming rather lethargic and the fact that she didn't have food to fuel her continued movements was making her become excrutiatingly tired. She licks her lips and gasps, the rustling of the bushes behind them still made ehr want to continue but every mucle in ehr body screamed at her to relax in the shade and pant for a while. Glancing back at lily, her eyes still misty with unshed tears she managed a breathless gasp of a question "Gone?" she frowned, panting once again as she kept going, forcing her legs forwards, if they got to the beach, if they got to the beach maybe it wouldn't follow them there, maybe, if they just got to the white sands she could lay down and sleep, or just rest, or clean her wound. The wound on ehr leg was leaving a nioce patch of reddened fur and skin where the pig had caught her leg and no matter how fast she wanetd to go, her mucles and the slowly tightening mucle around ther wound wouldn't let her run any faster.

Lily can feel the tensing in Colche in the pace and hobble in their running, and she slows them both down. If it was still following them now, their best bet might be a tree instead of forcing Colche to keep running.

"Hold on," she murmurs gently, keeping a hold of Colche's hand should she need support. She pants rather loudly, but can no longer hear any sounds from the way they came.

"I don't know, if it's there it's not going fast now," she says indecisively, deep breaths punctuating her sentences, "Let's get to the beach, but slower.."

She glances at the red on Colche's leg and frowns.

Colche nods softly biting her bottom lip nervously she glances back "sorry" she squeeks looking very ashamed of herself tears once again rolling down ehr cheeks as she continues to hobble her tail still and her ears flattened. She looked exceedingly dejected her whole slender frame almost looking as if it would collapse in on itself should anything remotely heavy touch her. The beach she knew, wasn't too far away now and she could hear no sounds from behind them either, though she was more destracted by the pain in her leg joint.

Licking her dry lips she sniffles, she hadn't been hurt since she came to the island, Aubrey promised she wouldn't be hurt. She wanetd desperately to return to her duplex and hide in ehr tent but she knew they were still locked, Lily had said so "Number seventeen" she mumbles in a child like manner wiping her eyes with the back of her wrist as the first scent of the sea hit her sensitive nose and she turned her head straight towards the quiet not too distant sound of the waves "beach" just the one word was sufice, perhaps once they hit the beach she could rest and check her wound, but what would she do about it? her wounds in the past had allbeen left as they were, would it be the same now?

Lily starts up a walking pace, much slower than before and still holding onto Colche's hand. She moves closer to Colche after she mumbles an apology and cries, "No, don't be sorry. Thank you, Colche- you got us away from it." She smiles slightly.

Her breath calming as they walk, Lily bites her lip, her mind slowing down some. Her feet hurt, but that doesn't seem very important. They'd escaped a boar thanks to Colche. She'd only been looking for food.

"Seventeen?" she asks suddenly, hearing in the midst of her thoughts the number. She looks to Colche and then in the direction she did- they're almost to the beach.

"Yes, the beach," she says with a relieved sigh, "We'll look at your leg when we get there."

Continues at the Beach.

Lily lays curled up in the sand after falling asleep not long after Colche did, and her mind didn't stop going as she slept. Her dreams replayed what had happened during the day, only she was alone and had to turn into an animal to escape. When she starts into consciousness her hazel eyes find her on the beach beaneath a palm tree, exactly where she'd been when she'd fallen asleep, with some coconuts and a rock around her.

"I must have gone to sleep," she murmurs to herself as she stares at the sand, her hands closed tightly as she calms down from a disturbing dream. She doesn't stay on her side long before she turns herself around and sits up to stretch.

It was only a dream, most people have them everynight- no reason to be worked up, She tells herself calmly, remembering what Colche said to her before she went to sleep with a smile. She may not accept the fact she's going to turn into an animal yet, but now she's not as afraid of it.

"Oh," she says quietly and, reminded of the cheetah girl, turns to see if Colche had gotten up yet.

One of colches deep blue eyes opened slowly, she smiled and uncurled herself from the tight little ball she had been sleeping with. Stretching her limbs while still laying in a cat / dog lieke manner her toes stretching as far as they could go and even that stub of a tail straightening out behind her.

After ehr extra long stretch was over she slowly sat and looked at Lily a little dazedly. the taste of coconuts lingered in her mouth, her tongue stretched to lick away the taste but there was nothing there to taste. After a moment of doing this her tongus stuck out all the way and she glared, as best she could, at her tongue "yuk" she mutteres her tongue slipping back between her lips as she made a rather disgusted look form on her pretty features.

"bad" her first word after her waking not particularily a good one and certainly not directed at Lily, though her gaze soon fell upon the short woman "Lily" she smiles her big kitty smile, Lily had stayed withher. A little unusual people usually left while she was sleeping. It was nice to have somone there when she woke though.

Lily stretches out a bit more, having turned around to find an occupied cheetah girl, watching without any idea what Colche is doing as she tries to make the aftertaste of coconut go away. Her smile brightens when Colche greets her, but because she's not really aware that people often leave while she's asleep she doesn't think much of the fact she'd stayed.

"Good morning," she says, then, recalling that Colche had a cut on her leg, she looks down to the wound, "How's your leg doing?" It doesn't look that bad to Lily..

Colche looked down at her leg, she tilted her head curiously and smiles "sokies" she replies smiling at lily once again. She was still quite surprised the woman was there. It was unusual for anyone to stay with her over night. Still, she was glad of the company even though her mouth tasted awful. Her belly gave a resounding rumbling sound and she frowned at it "bad" she mumbles looking up at lily and back to the coconuuts. She had definately decided she didn't want any more of those "Chocolate cake" she said simply looking at lily in a slightly begging manner. If coconuts grew on trees who was to say chocolate cake didn't?

"That's good," Lily says with a smile, relieved there wasn't any evident signs of an infection and that it didn't seem to be hurting Colche now.

She watches Colche scold her stomach, having a similar hungry feeling herself. She smiles meekly at Colche, glancing to the coconuts as well. At least it's food..

"Cake?" she repeats after Colche, looking over at her, "We can't get any Chocolate cake, Colche-" she sighs. If the cafeteria had unlocked then they could, but she doubts it- why would it suddenly unlock?

"If you're hungry, coconuts will have to do for now," she says gently, looking back at the nuts. They can go look for more food, but it'd be easier if they aren't hungry.

Colche frowned, she really didn't want coconuts "no coconuts, chocolate cake" she pouts a bit getting to her feet, she always walked on ehr toes now which had made her a little taller though she was still quite a short person. Her tail flickered a little and she looked down the beach "find family" she stated looking at Lily with a smile.whens he said family, she of course meant ambrose and amaya and Lauren, they were her family on this island and she wanted to find them. They would have chocolate cake, maybe well they would at least have something. If nothing else she would be happy to be around them again. Lily was nice but she missed her 'big brother' Ambrose he always knew what to do. She would even have welcomed Chubbs or Greer maybe, she wanted to know they were still on the island, maybe they had left with Aubrey. The thought of Aubrey made ehr pout a little, she wanted aubrey to make it better again. Aubrey had made everything better for Colche she wanted that back.

"All right, no coconuts," she agrees quietly, "But I can't promise any cake." She gets to her feet and brushes the sand off of her pyjamas, pausing briefly to think about how nice it would be to be able to change out of these clothes. She brushes off her top and fluffs her hair in an attempt to get any sand out of it.

"Family?" she looks back to Colche, "What family?"

No sooner does she ask thans he remembers that Colche had wanted to find people before, maybe she thought of them as family. It would certainly make being stuck here nicer, even if you're happy it's good not to be lonely. Lily smiles and stretches her arms and back, then folds her arms in front of her.

"You want to find the people you wanted yesterday, right?" she asks, trying to remember their names, "Aubr- no, she's gone-" Lily frowns, pausing again to think, "Ambrose?"

It's a name she's heard more than once, Joliette mentioned him and Colche mentioned him a couple times as well..

Colche nods "Ambrose, Amaya, Lauren, Greer, family" she smiles broadly her stub of a tail wriggling happily. She wasn't exactly sure where she would find these people but they had to be here some where right? They wouldn't just leave her here. Aubrey had promised to come back after all. But she had come to tell ehr at least. She takes a teep breath and biting her tongue, she turns herself in a random direction "Colche find!" a determined look washes over her face as she starts to walk back in tot he jungle. She wasn't sure why that way, but the jungle was the most likely place she thought.

Ambrose, Amaya, Lauren, Greer, Lily repeats after Colche in her mind, taking a moment to wonder what these people are turning into and how they feel about it. She starts when Colche suddenly turns toward the jungle and announces that she's going to find them, "In the jungle?"

She mentally groans, feeling she's had enough time in the jungle to last her quite awhile. Instead of following directly after Colche, she glances down the beach as if hoping someone would just happen to be walking their way.

"Maybe we could go to the houses to see if anyone is around there," she suggests hopefully, finally jogging a bit to catch up with Colche. Maybe people would be checking for unlocked doors? Maybe that wasn't a bad idea itself..

Colche looks thougthful "okay" she states simply "Village" she smiles looking at Lily. Colche general;ly really liked the jungle, it was her home away from home, but she thought she had better check on ehr rabbit too. She hadn't been back to her plext for a few days and thats where he usually ended up. People would probably be there too she guessed. It was a good place to start loking "Lily, smarts" she stated with a little giggle starting to hop skip a bit,s he was in a good mood despite ehr hunger and ehr longing for a chunk of chocolate cake!

Lily sighs, relieved that they don't have to go into the jungle again. After the adventure the day before, it's not hard to believe that she isn't a huge fan of it right now. She has no reason like Colche to check on her duplex beyond wanting to know if she can get in it yet, but she does want to help Colche find her family.

"All right," she says brightly, turning in the direction the village would be from the beach, encouraged by Colche's compliment and good attitude. It's proving hard to be in bad spirits with her around.

Colche giggles, biting her tongus she looks thoughtful for a long moment looking for the word "Race!" with that said she races off doen the beach before pinging away towards the village. That cheetah DNA had certainly done it's thing she was like greesed lightning and barely even looked back to check that Lily was following. She smiled to herself. She had never thought of racing before but it was obviously something she was going to be very good at even if it made ehr even more hungry and exceedingly tired, running was quickly becoming her favourite past time. She even pondered if anyone else would race with her. For now though, her mind was on this race, the race to the villiage!

Lily just walks, not noticing Colche's contemplative look, and all at once Colche announces they will be racing and bolts off. Surprised, she doesn't start to run at once, giving the better runner a huge head start. Then, not wanting to be left behind, she starts after the cheetah girl- slow starting and not picking up much speed, Lily is not much of a runner and beind on the beach in barefeet doesn't help.

It doesn't even cross her mind that she doesn't know very well where the village is if Colche leaves sight, but she does know she doesn't want to lose her.

The viilliage really wasn't that far from the beach and Colche dashed easily in to the sandy floored clearing where the buildings were. She skidded to a stop, JUST managing to keep herself upright. She didn't quite have the grace of the cheetah yet, the cheetah being able to stop dead and turn without stumbling. She turned around to look for lily, breathing heavily. She panted a bit, moving in to the shade of the cafeteria , glad of the cool shade after her rather speedy run. Licking her lips she waits quietly leaning against the cafeteria door. Maybe subconciously she thought it would swing open and chocolate cake and steak and apples would once again be readily available. It didn't of course but she didn't show any worry about it she just smiled and waited for Lily. Racing was officially fun.

Lily, not able to go nearly as quickly as Colche can, manages to find the village minutes after Colche- though the race was no where near close. She'd managed to keep an eye on which way the cheetah-girl went, likely because of how close the village is to where they were, but her running had slowed to a jog.

Once she reaches the village area she stops her jogging and walks, panting to catch her breath. She has to stop to look around for Colche, but spots her by the cafeteria fairly quickly. Smiling meekly, she walks over to where Colche stands by the door.

"Well, that was fun," she pants, her tone not neither sincere nor upset, almost neutral. Holding onto her side, she looks past Colche curiously, "Does the door open?"

Colche shakes her head softly "No chocolate cake" she states though she doesn't look to dissapointed. She breaks in to a grin infact and giggles softly "I win!" she bounces for a moment, her energy obviously hadn't completely ebbed with the run from the bach. She was infact still hyper. Her bouncing stopped though as she stopped and looked shocked "Bunny!" she dashed away again, zooming off around the cafeteria and off towards the duplexses.

"Ok," she says, still panting, "That's too bad." She turns and leans against the wlal of the cafeteria in hopes of resting and fully catching her breath. She smiles when Colche bounces, announcing her own victory, "Congratulations, Colche." At least Colche is still happy! She doesn't need to point out a part cheetah person is, in all likelihood, always going to beat a chubby non-animal person.

Her breathing becomes quieter though still deep when Colche suddenly stops.

"Bunny?" she questions quietly, not asking Colche directly for she's already darted off towards the duplexes. With a sigh, Lily pushes herself from the wall of the cafeteria and follows Colche- this time staying at a walking pace.

By the time Lily got to the duplexses though Colche was already sitting upon her porch with a ball of fluffy somethign in her lap. She was puurring happily "Bunny" she stated again looking up at Lily with a pleased smile on ehr pretty features. The rabbit had some sort of homing beacon. It always seemed to end up back at her duplex. She smiles happily, standing and peering in through ehr window. she wanted to crawl in to her tent but she could hardly even see it in there. Giving the door a quick push she opouted. She missed ehr duplex and her tent. She missed everyone else too. Looking to lily she frowned and pouted "in" she said simply, looking overly upset that she couldn't get in to her home, the home Aubrey had given her.

When Lily arrives and Colche shows her the bunny rabbit, she does what almost every girl would do.

"Aww," she coos, "Is he your pet, Colche?"

It was a silly question, but people often like talking about their pets, and of course the bunny had been left outside..

"It's lucky he wasn't in the duplex," she comments, unsure if a rabbit would have been moved out when all the other inhabitants were. She steps over to the duplex window with Colche, then watches as Colche tries to open the door.

"I'm sorry, Colche," she frowns, "We can't get in. We're stuck outside." She sighs and takes a seat on Colche's porch, disappointed. They still can't get in, and it doesn't look like anyone is here.

Colche sighs and sits snuggling ehr bunny still "bunny okay" the simple sentence at least seemed to lighten her mood a bit. The bunny was indeed her pet, o course trying to tell people how she caught the little fluff ball was quite another thing entirely.

She was quiet for a long moment before she decided it was time to look around. She wondered if anyone was indeed about, maybe they were hiding. She looked at Lily and tilted ehr head biting her tongue thoughtfully. "where" okay,. not exactly a sentence but hopfully Lily would know what shemeant.

"I don't know," Lily responded to Colche's question without really thinking about what she asks. She quickly realizes this, and looks over to Colche and the bunny, trying to guess what she could mean.

"Er," she hesitates, "Where what, Colche?"

She glances around the village area they're in, hoping to see someone or see something that would tell her where they could go looking for people. She'd only really been to the beach, village and jungle before- no one seemed to be on the part of the beach they were on, no one seems to be around here, that leaves scattered through the jungle..?

Colche gave a slight humph and snuggled her bunny "No family" she stated. She had been half convinced they would be here, after all, this was where they lived too. Still finding her rabbit was still alive and kicking was a blessing in itself.

Looking up to Lily she smiles and twitches her stumpy tail "River Lily" she meant try the river, maybe they would be there. A natural instinct told ehr taht was where she would get fresh water so wouldn't everyone else think that too?

"Oh!" Lily exclaims when Colche explains, understanding at once. She tries to smile encouragingly, looking from Colche to the rabbit, but quickly back to Colche again, "We'll just have to keep looking."

She pauses at Colche's idea, then nods, "The river is a good idea-" she has to assume that's what Colche meant- "But you'll have to lead the way." She gets to her feet, suddenly liking the idea of heading for fresh water.

A little happy puurr escapes the cheetah girls lips as she gets to her feet still holding tightly to herr rabbit. She had the horrible feeling the poor bunny wouldn't be too safe on his own, but without her duplex to keep him in, where would he be safe? The question was dashed from her mind though then Lily said to lead the way.

She knew full well where the river was and part of her wanted to make a race of it. The girl though, thought better of it and nodded "Followin' the leader" she giggles and stands in front of Lily "de dum de de de diddily dum de day" she sings with a giggle turning towards the jungle and in the direction of the river "we muh..arch along an..uhm.." she bit her tongue, looking thoughtful for a momwent before she obviously got a flash of inspiration and rememberd the words "these..is the words..we say..de dum, dede, the words is easy to say, oh..uhm..a diddly dum de day!" she giggles again reciting the lines from the peter pan following along song, while she lead the shorter former lab tech off on a little adventure to the pretty water.

Lily watches Colche quietly while she thinks about what's best for her dear pet rabbit, it's a rather sweet sight. Then she smiles when Colche steps in front of her and starts to sing.

"Yes, follow the leader," she murmurs, not realizing what song she's singing right away. But once she does she laughs aloud, remembering the scene from the Peter Pan movie where they march along. She follows Colche, but not with the same enthusiasm as the leader. With a low giggle she hopes they don't get captured like the Lost Boys did on their own little march.

She takes a good look at the landmarks they go by- she may need to find the river again, and she fully trusts that Colche will be able to get her there right now.

Note: Technically incomplete. But judging by what Colche's posted, they lose each other around the time they arrive at the River, either before or after. -_-

Lily is walking through the jungle with her arms crossed, holding onto a mango. After she'd met Awen and been given directions to Ambrose's camp, she'd started off in that direction. She's made sure she's always near the river in case she does get lost, but hasn't made much progress. The jungle is a confusing place, and she's had to backtrack once but thinks she's on the right path now.

Thunder rumbles in the distance, and while she hasn't seen any lightning she's pretty sure there has been some. The jungle had gotten darker since she'd left Awen, and the approaching storm is quite evident now. She picks up the pace, hoping to find something before it starts to rain and doing her best to ignore any of the pain in her feet from stepping on pointed rocks or twigs.

She murmurs the directions Awen had given under her breath, going over the list to make sure she is going the right way.

'Hopefully,' she thinks, sighing.

After Amaya had seen the menacing clouds looming over the ocean, she had literally dropped what she was doing and booked it back towards the camp... Unfortunatly, she was halfway down the island and the camp was pretty much on the end of it.

She had gotten farther then she thought she would before the heavy rain that had been pelting her through the trees started to get her. Gradually she got slower and slower, the still human skin turning a cold shade of purple and covered in goosebumps.

It was too cold... her mind was already muddled and tired. Slowly she had pulled herself from the river she had crossed and found a slightly sheltered spot under a tree. The rain continued to pelt her, the poor girl unable to get herself moving again.

Do lizards die if they get too cold...? Amaya thought as she lay huddled on the ground with her face turned towards the tree she lay under. Am I going to die from a storm...? Eyelids half-closed and her mind went blank, too tired to think or panic.

When the rain finally starts, Lily gasps and gets beside the nearest tree as if it were an umbrella, dropping her mango. It takes only a second to realize that this doesn't work very well and then she pushes herself back from the tree, grabs the mango and tries to remember which way she's supposed to be going. Soon she's heading in what she believe is the right direction, trying to stay close to trees to avoid getting too wet too quickly.

She shivers, wishing she had a jacket and shoes as she jogs her way over the softening ground. Lily lifts a hand to brush her bangs out of her eyes and just as she starts lowering her arm her foot hits the root of a tree and she falls forward.

"Ouch!" she yelps, dropping the mango and putting out her hands to break her fall. The wet ground hadn't helped her not fall, and it certainly didn't make her feel any better about having fallen. Just about ready to give up and try to find shelter instead, she looks up and spots something huddled by a nearby tree.

"What?" she wonders, forgetting for a moment that she's on her knees in mud and that it's raining. It looks like a person, a very cold or panicked person. She gets to her feet and walks over to the tree, but not right up to the person.

"Hello?" she says loudly, speaking over the rain. Her arms are crossed again to try to keep warm, making her arms and shirt dirtier.

What was that? Slowly Amaya turned her head, her body covered in the mud she was laying in and her hair wet and matted. She probably looked absolutly pathetic... not that it was on her mind to make her apperance any better.

Her face was purple from the cold around her scales, tail laying motionless behind her and legs tucked to her chest. Her large hands were wrapped around her arms to try and help keep her warm, but it obviously wasn't doing any good.

"Hnnn...?" Was all she could manage to say. The water dripping from her black hair was getting into her tired and fatigued eyes, making her vision blurry. The voice wasn't familiar and the face was too fuzzy to make out.

Through the mud and her concern, Lily hadn't noticed Amaya's transformation right away. Her hazel eyes widen due to a whole variety of things- the reptilian qualities to this person is one, the pathetic seeming state of her another. What's wrong with her?!

Lily steps closer and kneels down, frowning, "Are you alright?"

Her voice is still loud enough to be heard over the rain but a peal of thunder breaks up her question. She jumps and glances upward, startled by the thunder. When she looks back down it hits her- scales meant some kind of reptile. Reptiles are cold blooded. That has to be what's wrong.

"Oh god," she bites her lip and reaches out to Amaya with a chilled hand.

Oh thank god, it was a person... someone she didn't know, but a person. Even though she hated relying so much on others... she didn't have much of a choice right now.

Amaya blinked slowly, barely phased by the loud strike of lightning. Though once the ringing stopped in her ears she managed to speak as loud as she could even though it was still rather quiet and labored. "I'm... really c-cold..."

It didn't matter if she was startled by her transformation or not. Right now her mind could only focus on one thing, and that was getting help before she... died or froze to death or... whatever happened the reptiles.

Lily leans in to try to hear what Amaya says, only catching the word 'cold,' which is enough for her to understand what she said. But what is she supposed to do? The poor lizard girl was obviously freezing, and wouldn't be going anywhere- how cold could it get on this Island?

Lily puts a hand on Amaya's shoulder and inches herself toward her, the best she can think of right now is that she herself has some warmth in her. Despite knowing it won't do very much good, she puts an arm around Amaya and pulls herself closer to her, willing to share whatever warmth she has until she figures out what the heck to do.

Amaya didn't resist, simply letting her head fall back down tiredly. "Thank you..." She said as loud as she could, her eyes drooping closed. Personally she didn't know if body heat would work with reptiles... but what else was she supposed to ask of the woman she didn't even know?

Lily, despite being right beside Amaya, still barely hears her over the thumping of the rain. What she guesses she said is about right, and doesn't really require a reply. She shivers, "What am I supposed to do?"

She looks around them, hoping someone with all the answers would come by.

A more sheltered area would even be better, but Lily doesn't know her way around very well and isn't sure she could even get this person to move. She sighs.

The lizard-girl looked around, her head barely moving. She had no idea who this woman was, but already liked her. She had stopped just for her and sat in the rain.

Amaya frowned, suddenly feeling very guilty. "I'm sorry..."

That time, Lily caught what Amaya said just before there was another loud clap of thunder. Caught someone between smiling and frowning, she shakes her heard.

"Don't be."

She wouldn't just leave someone out in the jungle in this unless they told her to, and, of course, seeing the disadvantages of the changes she'd helped to cause make her feel somewhat guilty herself.

Amaya just gave a tiny sigh and snuggled a little more into Lily. She couldn't even shiver anymore, her body directly influanced by the tempature and freezing rain coming down from above.

She looked down at her legs, covered in scales... though the skin inbetween them was a light purple. Guessing her body was the same hue, she closed her eyes and did something she haden't done in months.

She prayed.

Not only for the water to stop, but for her to live through this since she had no idea what would happen if she didn't get warm. The iguana-girl prayed for Lily too, for her to come out of this unscathed. For everyone on the island to be alright... anything her tired mind could think of.

Chubbs finally woke to a shower, a damn freezing one. His sleepy eyelids opened and blinked as the water fell in. A crack of lightning snapped him awake and he coughed at the taste in his mouth. It was no wonder, the remainder of a eaten snake rested beside him, the thought that he ate it raw almost made him vomit. It didn't sit easy in his stomach but he was feeling better than he had been in days. There about half the snake left, he was amazed he'd eaten that much.

With a shiver he got to his feet. least he'd have a shower and smell better. With a wince Chubbs looked at his shoulder, there was the row of teeth marks from the snakes bite, but it had bruised up pretty good. He was glad the thing was a constricter. He picked up the remains, hoping it could be some food for later and slung it over his shoulder. Looking around and blowing water from his lips, he noticed the surroundings had gotten a lot less familiar.

Chubbs was lost, he knew that. He couldn't see his footprints anywhere on the ground. He needed to find somewhere to hide from the rain, he'd be sick soon. Chubbs began walking, in a direction he thought might have been back to the river.

Madison saw a figure out of the corner of her eye. He was a rather robust individual and had a snake over his shoulder.

It was so cold out here and she wished that she could be in her bungalow..but it was locked. All people had to be outside and that sucked a lot.

Chubbs had been wondering for a while, and the darkness didn't help much. The snake bite twinged a little, he rubbed it, hoping the damn thing wouldn't get infected. Nearlly walking right past, he blinked when he saw a dripping red headed figure nearby. It hadn't been anyone he'd seen before, and she did look like she was part of the island. He hesitated a moment and finally made his way towards her. He kind of wished she hadn't, she was pretty cute, and he loved red hair, he thought about Joliette and wished he was back with her. This one looked all wet and hot and damn it what was with him. Chubbs figured now he had been fed, the animals had other things in mind.

" G'day there, ya lost too?"

Madison could feel the man's gaze go over her soaked body. The icy rain probably wasn't helping to leave much to the imagination.

"Hello! I'm glad to see someone as I been out here a long time with no one around," she said and started to walk closer to him.

Chubbs took the snake off his shoulder, it probably didn't do any benifits to a first greeting. She really wasn't anyone he'd seen, he hoped she was nice. even through the cold weather and rain he blushed a bit.

" I er.. I got a bit lost, I'd wish ya somewhere safe miss, but I do appreciate the company right now"

Madison suddenly got all these animal instincts when she saw the snake draped over Chubs. She could sense he was hurt.

"Hey ..do you need help?"

She needs to do something. Nothing is going to happen just sitting here, so she looks around again- still hoping for some epiphany, for some idea to spring into her head. Nothing comes to Lily just looking at the trees through the rain, but through the dreary weather she hears something.

"What?" she asks in a hushed, inaudible voice. She hears it again, this time hearing it as more than just noise. Not sure if she can actually hear voices or that's just what she hopes, she takes her chances.

"Hello?!" she yells out, then quieter to the person huddled beside her, "I'll be back.." She removes her arm and falls back, ending up seated on the ground. Not concerned about mud anymore, she gets to her feet and listens to the rain. Nothing, this time.

"Hello?!" she tries again.

"Hn...?" Amaya mumbled as Lily got up. Who was she calling for? Was someone out there? She turned her head to watch the woman, though remained silent as the rain continued to fall.

Chubbs looked over at his shoulder and rolled it a bit, it hurt just a bit, but nothing that would hinder him much. He looked back at the red head and wiped some of the rain from his face.

" I recon I'll be alright .. um.. don't think these things are poisonous"

He smiled and motioned towards the rest of the snake and suddenly his ears perked. He swear he heard a voice, and there it was again. Turning his head, he spide a figure drawing near and waved his arm. Another red head, he wondered if he was wearing some weird aftershave that was reeling them in. If Joliette had walked around a tree right then and there, he'd probably collapse.

" Oi!, over here!"

Madison felt better that there was more people around now. They were dressed in skimpy clothing too and she wondered why.

It was a relief that this guy wasn't hurt because he seemed really nice. Shivering in the rain, she held her fuzzy body with her pawed hands.

"Hello! My name is Madison. I'm glad to see you all. smile " she said with a warm smile.

Lily does her best to follow the voices, but she just happens to see them while looking around rather than finding them directly. They are not, in fact, very far away from where she'd found Amaya. For a moment she stands still, looking at the wet fur covering both of these strangers.

"Um- Hello!" she says, going closer, "My name is Lily.." she trails off, before deciding to see if they can help..

"There's someone over here- by the tree-" she's not sure how easy she is to hear, but she gestures there as well. But then she pauses, what is she supposed to say?

"Sh- she's cold," she finishes lamely.

Wait... that voice had sounded familiar. She turned her head farther and watched Lily head off in another direction. Had someone come across them? Oh good...

... Then again, what were they going to do about her situtation and their own? She frowned, feeling utterly helpless and slowly her head lay back down in the mud.

Her body quivered as she desperatly tried to haul herself up. Gradually she managed to get onto one of her elbows. There she stopped, trying to gather more energy. She had to try...

Chubbs couldn't agree more on the situation, even with the fur he was freezing. He wasn't sure who the new person was, but even more company was good. He walked over to Madison, and put his arm around her, she looked like she was as bad off as he was. Given the situation, he figured he gave off the most heat anyway.

" Can you ah.. take us there... i'll umm see what I can do?"

Chubbs went towards Lily, trying to think of what anyone could do to stay warm in this situation.

A warm sensation went through Madison's body. She felt very comfortable with this Chubbs fellow.. maybe too comfortable. The other girls were so nice and she felt so happy all a sudden.

"We better follow Lily so we can find out where Amaya is. I can't wait to get there," her voice boomed over the clash of thunder.

The storm was getting worse so they best get on their way.

Lily looks relieved when Chubbs says he'll see what he can do, though she doesn't turn around right away- still somewhat caught on what Chubbs and Madison look like. In one motion when startled by the thunder she turns around and takes the few steps to where Amaya is on the ground by the tree.

She glances back to the two people (hopefully) following her, gesturing to Amaya..

Amaya's head lazily turned to look up at Lily, her eyes moving more then her head. She wanted to ask who was there, but instead found the strenght used to keep her shoulder propped up was slipping away.

Stay up... don't go back down... don't... go back down...

Though despite her efforts her front slowly dropped again into the mud beneath her.

Chubbs looked at the figure that Lily motioned to, and saw Amaya fall to the ground. Oh my god Amaya! He let go of Madison and gave her a look to say that he was needed elsewhere and ran over to the poor girl. Chubbs realised how she could be cold, he remembered how he leant her his jumper once. Bending down he dropped his snake snack and grunted as he picked her up. The fact she was hardly dressed didn't help the matters, but he tried to wrap himself around her. ******** Moreau, what the heck had he done? Chubbs looked around, rubbing Amaya's arms as best he could to keep her warm.

" If I knew the way to the beach, I could get us shelter"

Madison ran over to Amaya, who looked hurt. It was beyond freezing outside with icy rain. She looked up at Chubbs.

"I don't know the way to the beach either..if only I had a compass."

Lily leans against the tree, watching Chubbs pick up Amaya and then they started to talk about the beach. She looks around them, thinking she should know this- the beach was one place she'd been more than once. The she remembers it's an island, go in any direction they could probably find a beach or a familiar path that leads that way.

"The beach?" she murmurs, then speaks up, "Couldn't we just walk? This is an island. We could follow the river or something."

Amaya blinked, cold as ice and limp in Chubbs' arms. Green eyes looked up at him, noticing who it was. She smiled a little, though remained silent as her body snuggled up into him. He was cold and wet and practically naked too... but he was warmer then she was.

Though what was all this talk about the beach? Wouldn't they be better off at Ambrose's camp? She opened her mouth, voice barely a whisper. "Ambrose'sss... camp is that... way..." A long, clawed finger pointed North. She knew exactly where it was, but was unable to drag herself to it.

Chubbs looked worried at the part lizard girl in his arms, the rain my make him sick but this could down right kill her. He thought if he could get to the beach he could follow it to the hut in the golf course. He built it, he knew it could withstand this kind of weather.

When Amaya spoke, he leaned down to listen to her with his big ears. A camp? he wondered how sheltered it was, but if Amaya wanted to go there, it had to have shelter. Chubbs secured Amaya in his arms and tried to keep her close to him.

" Alright girls, Amaya recons there's a camp that way, I say that's our best bet. Let's get outa the rain"

With that he began heading in the direction Amaya pointed to, and hoped he wouldn't pass it.

Nodding at Amaya, Madison had an idea light up in her head.

"North? Well, some stars are out and the brightest is the North star. If we can locate it, then we we will know the way to Ambrose's camp," Madison called out as she looked up at the sky.

This lizard girl was going to die if they didn't get her to heat fast. Madison shivered as she remembered an iguana that her little brother had. The heat lamp burnt out overnight so the iguana was stiff as a board in the morning. She didn't want the same to happen to Amaya.

Lily doesn't say anything and just agrees to follow along, though she doesn't know if she should be surprised that this frozen lizard girl wants to go to Ambrose's camp. It would seem everyone knows and likes this person. She stays quiet until Madison gives her idea. It takes some effort not to slip on the wet ground as she walks.

"I know the way to Ambrose's camp," she tells them, hoping she can make it easier for them, "Awen gave me directions."

At least, she hopes she remembers the directions. If this is the right direction, she should atleast be able to find something that Awen had mentioned in her directions.

Amaya huddled close to Chubbs' body, closing her eyes as they started to walk. She wanted to just go to sleep so bad... but knew if she did, she might never wake up again. She even wished she could still shiver or maybe had more clothes on or... something. Anything. She felt like her life was being sucked away from her.

The girl was muddy, sick, cold, wet, hungry, thirsty... just everything seemed to be wrong. Right now she didn't even care if they got back into the duplexes. All she wanted was to survive this.

Chubbs looked at the pair walking with him, one knew north, one knew the way. He stopped to let them go ahead of him.

" Okay umm you two lead on, I'll follow, I have no clue here"

Chubbs looked down at Amaya with a pained look, it was because he couldn't do anything. He decided to at least keep her awake.

" Hey hun, you just couldn't wait for me to see you half naked could ya?"

He tried to smile, to get her to smile, maybe if he got her laughing, it'd help some or keep her awake.

" I mean, I know I'm hot and you want to get in my pants and all, but ya know Lauren? well she got in them first"

He smiled a bit, while following the group.

" So she'd taken off with them and now I'm wandering around in my undies, and everywhere I go I seem to bump into three girls. Think god's trying to say something?"

HE chuckled a little and winked, hugging her tight.

" Okay, sorry if this seems creepy, but it might help"

As he followed, he leant his head down and breathed his hot breath on her arm and shoulder.

Madison gasped at what Chubbs was saying but then realized he was just joking. She then started to look at his soaken boxers and bit her lip...but stopped. Now wasn't the time to think about things like that.. the most important thing was to get to Ambrose's camp!

"So you remember the way, Lily? Let's all follow her ok?!"

Lily nods slowly, glancing at Amaya she knows they have to hurry- which means she'll have to trust that she does remember what Awen said.

"Yes, I do," she nods to Chubbs and Madison, then leads the way- going in the direction Amaya had pointed, and soon finding some landmark Awen had mentioned. She had been going the right direction when she found Amaya, but after going to get the other two she knows it's lucky that Amaya could tell her the right direction.

Amaya couldn't help but laugh a little at her friend's jest, though as soon as the small, strangled laugh escaped her throat it turned into a hoarse cough. Her body scrunched together with each heave, finally resting once she was finished.

She sniffed, her nose running from the rain and the cold. Ugh, she felt so bad...

Chubbs petted Amaya and tried not to slip or get stuck in the mud that was building up. He continued to keep her warm, and happened to notice Madison's glance. Even in the rain and cold he managed to blush and make his fur turn red.

"OMG.. it's landmark or something. We are on the right track" Madison exclaimed.

She just hoped that Amaya would hang on and think warm thoughts until they could get to the camp. Chubbs was now blushing red under his fur..it was very noticeable. Maybe he was embarassed about his lack of clothing. Everyone was barely wearing anything and Madison knew that clothes no longer had a purpose. Animal skins and fur grew over existing human skin and animals do not wear clothes.

Still, Amaya's condition was only going to get worse if they didn't get to the camp soon. The rain seemed to lessen and Madison shook some of the water from her soaken body.

Lily keeps moving, slipping once or twice but not falling over. The softened and muddy ground is easier on her bare feet but is more slippery. She focuses on the way to the camp, coming to a stop once to think and recount where they'd been.

"Ok," she pauses, then continues on in the decided direction. It isn't long before they reach a part of the river, which relieves Lily. They'd gone in the right direction, unless this was some other part of the river or another river.

"It's this way," she points.

Amaya didn't really notice much anymore, her mind and thoughts getting muddled together. Eyelids started to droop as the urge for sleep rose every minute.

Chubbs soldiered on, following the two in front when he thought he saw what looked like kind of teepee's. He pointed out to Madison and Lily.

" Is that it there?"

It had to be it, Amaya was nodding off anf and he needed to get her safe soon. He poked at her stomach with a claw in order to keep her up.

" Hey sleeping beauty, no passing out on me just yet, how am I suppose to brag about how I save you if you leave me huh?"

He smiled at her, but the rain hid the fact he was crying.

Madison sighed in relief. They finally reached camp at last!

Amaya was put put into a bed. She glanced at Chubbs and he looked so sad.

"So...this is the camp. I'm tired myself and wonder where another place to sleep is.."

"It must be," Lily replies to Chubbs when he points out the camp. She looks relieved when they reach the camp, glancing around to see if there are any people, but then following Madison and Chubbs, wherever he decides to take Amaya. She looks at Amaya and frowns.

"Is she still awake?" she asks, looking from Amaya to Chubbs, who seemed to be in control of the situation.

The poke in the stomach had little reaction. Her eyes were closed and her body was huddled against Chubbs. She seemed to still be breathing, but by the colour of her skin you could tell she was getting closer to her limit unless she was warmed up soon. Whether it be body heat, shelter in one of the lean-tos, anything... she needed it.

Madison was still worried about Amaya but her tired body needed rest.

"I think I'm going to sleep. I hope Amaya will be ok..just keep her warm," she said sleepily.

Then Madison curled up inside an unoccupied teepee and fell asleep.

Chubbs motioned to Lily and carried Amaya into the log like tent thing after Madison.

" I know this will like be a little... well... awkward but we don't have any blankets, and ah... it'll have to do for warmth."

Chubbs took a deep breath and sighed, he laid down on the ground, tryiand placed Amaya on top of him. Grabbing the sleeping Madison, he hugged her up in one arm and cuddled her to Amaya. Finally he looked up at Lily.

" I know this isn't the best way to meet someone.. but umm.. figured ya could do with the warmth"

Chubbs offered his other arm for Lily to hug into, he was embaressed as heck by the situation, but embaressment be damned to help someone. He blew onto Amaya's face to try to wake her up some.

" Come on sweety, just stay up till ya warmer"

Lily follows Chubbs to the shelter, and it's not until she's in that she really realizes how cold she feels. She watches Chubbs lay down and put Amaya on top of him, nodding.

"Body heat is the best we can do right now," she agrees. Then she's surprised when an arm is offered to her, though not much more comfortable than Chubbs, she accepts the offer gratefully.

"Thank you," she murmurs, then she turns her attention to Amaya- hoping she responds.

Amaya's face twitched as Chubbs blew into it, her body laying exactly where he had set it. The fact they were so crowded didn't phase her at all, since her mind was more focused on surviving then anything else. Her eyes squinted and opened halfway, the girl taking in a huge breath like she had been holding it. Did she just conk out for a minute there? She couldn't remember...

Though she didn't notice that rain was no longer pelting her. Green eyes scanned the tight surroundings, then lay back down on Chubbs' chest. Slowly she tucked her legs and feet close to herself and managed to mumble. "Dun lemme sleep..." The lizard-girl might've been half out-of-it, but she knew better then to sleep when you were at the risk of freezing to death.

Chubbs pulled Lily in to him and Amaya and cuddled all three women. He almost had to chuckle, never in his life would he think anything like this would happen. He wished he had Joli to cuddle too, he was getting worried, she wasn't as far along as Amaya but she had to be cold. Wait, she did say she was coming to this place, she had to be in another tent thing.

Hearing Amaya mumble he knew he couldn't let her sleep, even though she probably felt comfortable. Chubbs decided to talk to her.

" Ya know back in Australia, I had this really great blanket, wish I had it with me. It was really fluffy and warm, ya know so warm I slept out in the bush, under the stars, in the coldest time of the year and felt warm as toast. It was black and had this giant tiger on it. Wish I had of brought it hey hun"

Chubbs smiled at Amaya and smirked

" Amaya, I know you want to keep your hands warm, but did you have to stick them in there you littl minx? "

He grinned all joking like, showing Lily the humerous look also. He actually blushed a little and whispered to Lily.

" I'm kidding really, just the only way I know to keep her awake"

Lily, already starting for feel warmer, settles in comfortably. Watching Amaya, she bites her lip. At a loss of what to say or do, she is spared when Chubbs starts talking about the blanket. While he explains the wonderful sounding blanket, she tries to get a look at him and over him at Madison. Though there's little light, at this short distance she can tell they both have fur. The little curiousity about the people she's with sated, she looks back to Amaya.

At Chubbs' last comment she starts, turning her head to Chubbs to be greeted with the humorous look and a whispered explanation. Though faintly blushing, she giggles a bit.

"Amaya!" she decides to try to play along, only knowing the girls name because the others had mentioned it.

Amaya smiled slightly, a hoarse little laugh coming from her throat. "Sorry... can't help myself." Was her tiny reply as she played along. Her mind needed to be focused on the conversation instead of sleep, though it nagged at her constantly to fall into the welcome embrace of unconsciousness. It was warm there...