[Journal]~Awen Zyn~Special Aquatic Duplex #1~

[Awen Zyn]

Three months!?

Rachel found herself jogging outside of the village a couple days after her first encounter with some of the island's other residents. She had holed up in her room for a little while after that, trying to get her bearings after being told her true fate and recovering from her fainting episode. Only coming out for two tiny meals, Rachel started to get cooped up and her obsessed mind continued to poke at her, reminding her that she hadn't exercized since she'd been here.

She had intended on resting a day longer, but couldn't take it anymore, and Rachel now came upon the edge of a decent sized lake. Already having jogged for quite a while, exploring the island, she decided to take a break, sitting down on one of the larger rocks at the water's edge.

The girl wasn't the only one near the lake, though the other presence was of a mind to go swimming.

Shenzi had her mismatched swimsuit on again, with a pair of white, green, and blue plaid booty shorts on top, multiple necklaces of varying colors of mardi gra beads around her neck. She was floating on the surface, moving her hands in slow angel motions to keep herself floating, the drawstrings from her shirts bobbing on the surface even as her necklaces sunk or floated, held on by her neck. Her blue hair wasn't as vivid in the crystal blue of the lake water, but the blueberry didn't notice.

Awen sighed as she traced back to the lake. It had been a long day so far and she still hadn't got reaquainted with everything. Her flippers hurt some and her legs seemed a bit wobbley, she was definately not in shape as she used to be. Though she was relatively certain she'd lost some weight.

The question of how long it had been since she'd passed out in the lake still nagged her. She scoffed and shook her head grumbling about it. "It's like Moreau doesn't believe in calenders or something."

She brow knit as she approched the woman sitting on the rock from behind. Glancing over to the lake when she saw movement Awen also noticed another in the water. She half smirked when she saw the blue hair but then noted both islanders were unchanged. Awen only hoped that she wouldn't be the first changed one they would have seen.

"Good afternoon." She said trying to sound cheery.

At first, Rachel had thought herself to be alone, and just took in the scenery. In it's own way, the thick foliage surrounding the lake reminded her of the forests around Prince Rupert, where she had spent most her life before the island. Her brow creased slightly as she thought of home, starting to feel a wave of sadness approaching as she thought of home.

She was distracted from her thoughts, however, when she heard a small splash come from the lake. Turning her gaze towards the direction of the sound, Rachel noticed another person floating on the water. They didn't seem to look unusual, aside from the fact that her hair appeared blue. Was she a new person like herself?

Rachel barely had time to think about it before a voice came from behind her, startling her slightly. She turned to look at the person who had spoken and her eyes opened a little bit wider as she took in the sight of Awen. It was going to be a while before she got used to the people here not looking well...normal. Clearing her throat slightly before speaking, Rachel offered a small smile to the woman.

"Hi..." she said quietly from where she sat. "I'm Rachel."

Shenzi looked up towards the overhang as she heard voices, two women apparently. She could see black hair bobbing with movement, and a long braid, before her low angle cut off anything else.

Flipping onto her back, she started paddling towards the shore, and her waiting towel. Wrapping it around her shoulders, her shorts damp and dripping, bits of purple from her bikini bottom showing through, she slid on her flip flops before walking up towards the other two. Shenzi stopped halfway up though when she got a good look at the two.

One was human enough, brown skin, black hair, but she had a gaunt looking face, and looked older then Shenzi. The other woman... Blue hair. That was the first thing she noticed. Then her eyes went to the rest of her, taking in the animalistic appearance. Frowning to herself, she steeled herself, continuing her forward pace and letting a friendly smile show on her face, just as something Newt had mentioned before clicked in, about blue hair. "Are you Awen?"

An apologetic look came to the manta's face seeing the reaction. "Didn't mean to startle you. I'm-" She was cut off by the other blue haired woman approching.

The question caught her offgaurd and she shifted on her feet. A brow rose quizzically as she spoke tentatively. "Um... yes I am." Awen wondered who had told the other girl about her. Who would care enough to talk about her... aside from the gossip of a few certain islanders.

She left a smile ease to her face as Awen realised it could have just been someone saying there is another one with blue hair on the island. Or so she would assume and hope for now. "Awen Zyn, pleased to meet you both."

Rachel turned her head as the Awen look up, and saw the woman who had been swimming approaching. Well it turned out she was right about the blue hair. Odd that she should meet two people with hair that color, but she had certainly seen more unusual things than that in the past few days. The skinny girl nodded her head in recognition as Awen introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you as well," she commented, before turning to the other woman, with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"And you are?"

Shenzi grinned, dipping down in a mock-courtly bow, one foot poised on the toe. "I'm Kamila Thomson, though I prefer Shenzi. Newt mentioned you briefly." She said, having noticed the quick expression of confusion. "That you were another blue hair. Which already gives you points in my book." Shenzi laughed softly; her accent bled through lightly, not immediatly noticeable.

Sitting down on a rock, she started towelling her hair vigorously, while looking up at the two with wet straggles of it falling in her eyes. Her shorts were already starting to dry from the tropical humidity. "So how long have you two been here?" She asked, even as she thought about the fact that she asked the same of everyone.

A broad grin stole onto Awens lips as she confirmed that the mention of her wasn't a bad thing at all. Last she saw Newt she was teaching him how to swim. Awen wondered if she managed any better these days. He said he would practice more.

"I've been here...." Awen paused at the question and frowned. "Last I checked it was close to a year.... but that was in August..." Biting her lip Awen wondered again how long she'd been in the labs. She's known islanders to go in for a few hours, a few days or even months. "But I'm...er not really sure at the moment." She tried to brush it off with a chuckle.

Rachel shifted uneasily. Already the conversation had turned to the nature of the island, although she knew she should have expected that. She had been trying not to think about it too much the past couple of days, having succeeded in other people after that early morning encounter, until now.

She blinked in surprise when Awen told them that she'd been there around a year. Rachel knew that she would be here at least that long as well, but at the moment, being stuck here that length of time seemed unfathomable. She winced inwardly, thinking about Emelyn, knowing the woman must have been here at least that long.

"I've only been here a couple of days," Rachel responded, as she looked at Shenzi. "You can't have been here very long either by the look of you," she continued.

Shenzi thought of Chana, who had said she'd been here at least that long. "Do you know Chana, then?" She asked, rubbing the towel up and down her arms before putting it back around her shoulders.

"Mm, a little over three weeks, I think..." Shenzi said, adding the dates up in her head. "Yeah, three weeks, give or take." She shoved away the thought that it wouldn't be long now, before her first change. Richard was fine, and he had already changed once. Hell, Awen was fine, and she'd been here longer then anyone she'd met, besides Chana.

Awen was fine indeed, after spending a few months in the labs for observation and recovery. From what she didn't know and unlike she'd hoped neither woman said what day it was now. She had hoped they'd clear it up but appearently not.

She nodded slow hearing both of their responses. "Well, it's good to see you both adjusting well enough." She nodded and smiled. "I thought I was halusinating for awhile, other people get angry and start yelling.... heh Avery almost had a mental breakdown about it. My only advice is try to enjoy yourselves." She gave an encouraging look to Rachel mostly. "Honestly, the changes aren't all that bad. A lot of people end up gaining useful skills and abilities. I tell you... there is nothing in the world like gliding through these rivers and lakes, faster than I'd ever thought possible." She started to smile in a dreamy sort of way just thinking about it. Awen bobbed her head a bit and snapped back to reality. "It's not all bad, honest."

"Oh, and yeah I know Chana. Haven't seen her in ages.... not since...." Awen squinted trying to recall when it was. Chairs outside the duplex, and someone else...who had just changed. Avery maybe? It had been awhile ago but.... "Ah, not since just after my last change. When I had the IV?" The last part was added mostly to try to confirm the memory to herself and then she nodded. "Yeah, awhile ago anyway."

Rachel flushed slightly and looked down at the ground as Awen described her first reaction to finding out the truth about the island. "At least you didn't faint..." she said very quietly, and mostly to herself.

As Awen continued speaking, she wondered what kinds of abilities she would gain, if what the woman said was true. Maybe she could do a different kind of gymnastics. The water sounded like a wonderful environment for that, but Rachel didn't even know what she was turning into yet. She hadn't gotten the guts to call the labs. She tried to smile a little, hoping that there would be at least a few nice things devloping from this twist of fate.

"So neither of you were at the halloween dance, then." She stated; it was half question, half plain fact. "Generally, you're gonna adjust once you see a frog man, a beaver woman, and get knocked half off your feet by a tantacle." The teenager said, with a sarcastic raise to her eyebrow and a small, crooked grin.

"Dunno who Avery is. I've only met a small handfull of people here." Shenzi said with a small shrug of her shoulders.

"Halloween dance?" Awen said her expression saddened. She had been looking forward to the labs hosting another party like last year. And she missed it? But, halloween was her favourite time of year. Her brow furrowed as she mumbled "At least a month..." to herself.

She sighed a bit and scratched the back of her neck. "Ah..." She chuckled a bit despite her growing urge not to. "So you've met Billy?" She hoped the man wasn't as erratic as the last time Awen had seen him. If she recalled correctly he tried to kill her then.

She smiled over to Rachel. "If I hadn't been laughing at myself for being dellusional I may have done just that."

She waved her hand to clear the air. "But enough of this depressing talk, ya? It's a beautiful day, the air is clean just relax and enjoy the paradise. and if either of you like video games I've got myself a Play Station 2, a Game Cube and an Xbox 360 in my duplex. There's plenty of books to read, movies to watch and even an arcade. Just.... think of it as a vacation."

Rachel brightened a bit at the change of topic. She didn't have much experience with video games, never really having time for them, but any subject was better than the one they had just been discussing. Awen had also mentioned books. Rachel wondered if there were any on folklore. She loved reading about things like that.

"A vacation? Hmmm....I suppose I could try to do that. I just wish I had somewhere to practice my gymnastics. I know I won't be able to go back to my team, but it's just something I love to do."

"Not quite a month. I got here a few days before halloween, and it's been maybe two and a half weeks since the dance." Shenzi supplied helpfully, though she grew a look of puzzlement at the name mentioned. "Who's Billy? I havn't met a Billy. The tentacle guy's name is Richard." She frowned uncertainly as she said this.

"Well, they might have a gym or something..." Shenzi said uncertainly, looking to Awen. She'd seen the arcade and cafeteria, as well as the duplexes, but not much else of the village.

"But a game sounds fun. Which ones do you have?" Though she wasn't a hardcore gamer, Ed and Banzai sometimes played the xbox when they spent the night at each other's houses, so she knew some of what it was and how to play.

Awens eyes widened a bit. It's halfway through November! She'd been out since.... lets see midway August, September, October, November. Three months? She shook her head slowly. Must have been something really wrong. Especially since she had momentarily forgotten that September came after August and not October. She'd always gotten her months mixed up though anyway.

"Richard? So there's another octopus on the island? I hope he's a nice guy at least. And uh, I think theres a gym." She half grinned and looked at Rachel. "But it's more like a workout room I think.... I never really go because...well... swimming is best for me." She nodded a bit and turnedher attentio back to Shenzi. "Lots, too many to name at the moment" Her grin grew some more.

"Hmm....I'll have to look for it, thought I doubt it'll have the type of space or equipment I need." Not to mention I doubt they'd let me do my gynmastics, she added to herself. She knew better than to assume that simply because her reasons for coming here were false, that the medical staff here wouldn't be keeping an eye on her. Rachel had experienced high levels of monitoring the last time she had been treated, and she didn't expect anything different from these people, even if their methods were different. That included the way they viewed her health, even though Rachel persisted in beliving that she was just fine.

The other girls continued to talk, as Rachel thought. She didn't know any of the people they were talking about, and didn't have a great deal of interest in the video games, but she tried to keep a polite level of attention to the conversation.

"Erm, well, I don't know if he's an octopus or not... The tentacles made me think squid, but he had these two things coming from his sides at the halloween party, I'm not sure what they were." She explained, nodding at her statement about the gym. "Wish I knew what I'll be, but at the same time I don't..." Shenzi said, laughing nervously.

"Would make sense for them to have a balance bar, at least. I mean, they're turning us into animals, the least they can do is provide equipment, right?"

Awen shurgged her shoulders. "Not sure." She said simply before glancing at the lake. It had been three months since she'd been able to jet through the waters... the manta thought that was much too long, and Awen couldn't agree more.

"But if you ladies will excuse me. I'm going to go for a swim." She smiled and waved. "I'll see you around okay? Come see me anytime in duplex twen... er.... oh right. I just recently changed duplexes so I don't remember the number.... but it's one of the ones that connects with the waters." She smiled and waved before making her way to the waters edge.

As the cool water slowly envelopped her body her heart jumped. It had been much too long.

"I suppose..." Rachel said uncertainly, in response to Shenzi's comment about Moreau and company providing equipment. She hadn't spoken to any of the doctors since she arrived and didn't feel comfortable enough with her surroundings to approach them with anything. There was also the fact that Rachel feared what their answers would be.

The dark-haired girl gave Awen a small wave as she headed towards the water. It did look a bit inviting. Rachel couldn't remember the last time she had been swimming, partly because she didn't like having that much skin exposed in front of other people. Maybe she would come back later, when no one else was around.

Shenzi nodded to both of them, giving Awen a quick wave before the woman dove into the water, quickly disappearing under the surface. Letting off a sigh, she slid down the incline, back to the water's edge. Dropping her towel on the sand, she made a running dive into the water. She needed to keep up her excercises, be it a tropical island or not. No one wanted to see a fat, a**-shaking singer on stage in the usual stuff Shenzi wore.  

[Awen Zyn]

Misplacer Beast

There were few things that depressed Richard more than thanksgiving. Usually he did everything possible to be out of the US on the holiday if at all possible. Because it was thanksgiving that he felt the most alone. After Erica's death he had managed to burn all his bridges with her family, while his own simply died out. He had been an only child and after his folks passed away he had no one.

Back home he would just make sure he was working on reporting something but here there was no avoiding it. He might have just stayed in his duplex today if it hadn't been for the food. Grumbling, He had grabbed a tray, piled it high and sulked out to the fishing spot. Normally he would chuckle at the lab's little "joke." But it meant there was no meat available which although he really hadn't cared for turkey he found himself disapointed.

So Richard found himself sitting on a rock by the river, shoveling food into his mouth without really tasting it. He was lost in memories of his wife and the holiday's they had spent together. He looked old and sad. His mood that even spread to his normally independent tentacles which lay on the ground behind him, flexing in a lethargic fashion.

Awen, unaware of the depressed fisherman just down way, came paddling slowly on her back ontop of the water. Normally she'd be flying through the waterways so quickly she'd probably be a blur to the grey haired man, but now she'd decided to slow down, and just take in the pleasure of drifting down the stream on her back, as she had when she was a little girl at her parent's cottage.

Slowly an eye turned from the sky to lazily search along the bank. It was so beautiful here Awen could hardly believe it at times. She knew the pain and suffering of the islanders, it was clear on Amaya's face earlier, but the manta herself actually enjoyed it. For reasons she could not fathom, should it be her getting over her phobia or perhaps it was her infatuation with a certain french lab tech, but Awen actually enjoyed her time on the island. She just wanted others to as well.

Her gaze then fell upon the man sitting on the river's edge, plate of food with him and everything seeming dreary. It took a few moments to notice the tentacles laying at his side. Oh, so this was the other islander with tentacles Shenzi had said she had seen? Awen smiled slightly and waved a webbed hand at the one on the bank while staying on her back.

"Hello over there." She called.

Richard started at the voice. His tentacles pulled themselves into striking postion with a volient motion. Sighing Richard looked up from his food, fork posed over the cranberry sauce.

Another aquatic islander? His secluded fishing spot was apparently on a major through way for them. At least she wasn't Billy. He gave a half hearted smile and returned the wave. "Hello." He called back.

Normally he'd just at the oppertunity to meet a friendly face. Today was different. He stabbed at his plate.

Awen shifted from her back to wade in the water before the aged islander. She frowned seeing the not so sincere smile and tilted her head. He must not be taking things very well... he must be relatively new, with so many human features left, he probably didn't take kindly to the lab's joke.

She tried to chuckled a little and gave him a curious glance. "Not very fond of cranberries, eh?" She noted when he stabbed the fork onto the plate. Obviously the man was upset, but Awen would try to make things at least a little better.

The manta girl just hoped he wasn't the 'grumpy old man' type...

"What? Oh." Richard stared at his plate with a blank expression. "I suppose..." Cranberries... His mind spiralled down to the depths of his mind. He remembered those, Erica had hated them but her mother always insisted that it wasn't thanksgiving without them. Her mother, Dorothy had always gotten her way in that aspect, and had always been the better cook, no matter how hard Erica had tried she could never out do her mother's cooking. They would compete, sometimes bitterly over who would host thanksgiving each year. Declaring who would cook what. Then when it was over they would glare at the guests and make them judge each entry, while the guests attempted to weasel out of declaring a side.

It had been an uncomfortable tradition of the Harrison household but now that it was just memory it brought a mournful smile to Richard's face. His wet eyes glazed, looking through Arwin, seeing only memories.


Awen swam a little coser until her feet touch the bottom ofthe river. She leaned over until only her shoulders and head porturded from the water, her body resting on her knees and elbows under the water. She watched the man for a sort while as he stared off into space and the manta sighed.

Everyone on the island thought of home around the holidays, Awen herself had been guilty of secluding herself last Christmas because she missed her friends so much. It had to be a lot worse for the old man infront of her, seeing as he was an old man and old men miss a lot of things, even if they weren't trapped on an island away from civilization.

"Well, my name's Awen. Sorry for disturbing your meal." She pushed back away from the bank once more into the depths of the river, but still just treading water.

Any thought of Erica eventually spiral down to one event and Richard visibly shuddered as the faint sound of funeral music began to drift through his mind. Arwin's voice eventually wound it's way through his clouded mind and he grasped at it like a life line.

He dropped his fork and put his hands to his face, wiping his eyes with the palms of his hand. "Sorry." he said exhaling.

When he moved his hands away his eyes were much more clear. They saw Arwin for the first time now. He smiled again, this time it actually reaching into his eyes a little, lips parting a crack. "I guess I'm being a bit rude. I'm Richard." He slid the tray away from him a bit. He had been eating out of more habit than hunger.


Awen shook her head. "Not at all!" She gave him a genuine smile. "I should have known better to intrude. Most islanders, when they're out in the rivers or in the jungle, are out there to be alone. I kind of forget sometimes... because I'm usually in the rivers and out here, I don't mind seeing people- it's not where I go to get away." She laughed brightly. "I mean, most islanders can't go into the small cracks and caves near the bottom of the lake when they want to be alone."

Now stirred from his mental funk seemed far more open to a conversation that he had been a minute ago. He gave a weak chuckle. "I'm beginning to think that my secluded fishing spot is more like a busy freeway. Seems like every time I come out here I run into somebody. Course, William stole my fish before saying hi." Richard shook his head at the absent octopuss man. "Sorry you have to share the lake with that one."

Richard looked very interested in Awen's mention of caves and crannies on the bottom of the lake.


"William?" Awen couldn't help but ask outloud as her brow crunched together. Now that was a name she hadn't heard before. Another probably well progressed islander that plays in the river named William? Wracking her brain for a few minutes she couldn't match the name to a face.

"Ah, well, I don't find it all that busy. Not with islanders anyway, lots of fish and things though. ... Sometimes the things can get quite danergous, but I can outswim them anyway." Shrugging her shoulders and paddled around in a small circle. "But I guess you'll soon know what I mean huh?" She motioned to the man's tentacles.

Tentacles? "Oh! And you meant Billy, right? He is quite an a** actually....tried to kill me once..." She grumbled. "Though I think it was because he was going through some kind of withdrawl....

Richard's gaze shifted to the tentacles hovering over his shoulders. "Hmpf." It was quite oblivious that Richard had a less than favorable opinion of his squishy appendages. "I have no idea actually." He turned back to Awen, "I'm apparently one of Sabin's 'special' projects. Mythological he says. I've read every book on the subject in our little library and haven't found anything about a four armed monster with two tentacles." There was bitterness mixed with annoyance. He spread his arm to show Awen his two smaller arms.

"He did? Doesn't surprise me. he didn't seem like the most stable of people. Be careful though, he's living on a rock at the mouth of this here river."

Awen nodded. "Oh thaks for the warning." She hadn't been by this way all that much really. She hadn't seen Billy in the longest time. Which suited her just fine.

The manta's eyes lit up at the mention of Richard being one of Sabin's special projects. The man himself may not have been fond of his change, but Awen always found them interesting, especially if the word mythological came into play. She'd always wanted to be a gryphon or a dragon or a phoenix or something of the sort when she was little.

"Four armed monster with two tenticals?" Awen mulled the changes over for a moment before something came to her. "Technically it's probably more like six armed monster, or six footed monster. Unless... um. You haven't lost any mobility in your legs have you? They haven't changed at all?"

Ever since she'd met the guy who'd been given a bird in the cage as a clue to his serum Awen kind of fancied playing 'guess the animal' with the islanders. "From what I hear people that loose their legs start to notice a chane earlier on....or at least Thom and the other snake lady did... from what I remember..." And indeed her memory was fuzzy.

"I would say you might just be something like a giant squid, but that's not very elegant and I doubt Sabin would be that dull. Because really if it was a giant squid you'd just need a squid serum... and... that's not very mythical..."

If Richard had been standing he would have taken a step back but being seated prevented that. He settled for leaning back while knitting his brow. She seemed to be quite fond of Sabin's work. No superior attitude like that of Ginvera or Zach but instead mirroring Sabin's own... enthuisism. Was there a connection between them?

Still if this led to figuring out his serum, Richard was willing to play along. Besides he was curious to see where the girl excited babbling would lead. Richard started nodding as Awen spoke, he gradually replacing his wary expression with that kindly grandfather demenor.

"I can say with certianity that I'm not a plain giant squid." He grabbed one of his tentacles from where it was hovering. He ran a finger along the top of the club then showed it to Awen. It was dry, there was no slime. "They have a skeleton of sorts too. Besides these and my little arms, I just lost a little weight." He smiled a bit, showing Awen he had forgotten about his pointed canines.

Awen studied the tentacle moving slightly closer. Not that studying it closely would do her much good. In general she knew some mythology and from what Sabin had told her her knowledge had grown slightly, but as far as the fine details went Awen was at a loss. Still she'd try....

She bit her lip and focused on the question. She hadn't even noticed the weird look the man had given her, she only looked up to him when he spoke again and had that friendly grandfather type expression. Awen instantly liked this man, she'd always been a sucker for those kinds of expressions and characters in movies. Not knowing her grandparents Awen loved to pretend those looks she sw in movies were given specifically for her. But that was when she was young, she hadn't done that in years. She still took a liking to those expressions though...

"You have fangs too! But only a few teeth... not like a shark or any sea creature I know of... More like a dog or a ....." She paused and realisation slowly came her her. "..cat!"

She giggled as she figured it out. Could Sabin really be doing what she thinks he was? Taking his cute kitten she's heard so much about and made it into an islander?

"Oh I think I know! You're probably a misplacer beast!" She nodded. "Would account for all the extra limbs, the teeth and the tentacles. Not to mention why Sabin would think you're a special project..."

Richard blinked. "A misplacer beast? What on earth is that?" Richard's mind race trying to dredge the name up from the all the research he had done the last two weeks and came up with nothing. "Its a cat?" Richard wrinkled his nose at the idea. He really didn't care for cats.

"Well... kind of. I can't remember all the details, but I'm pretty sure it's a six legged cat with tentacles growing from it's back. Awhile ago Sabin had a little stint where he was combining animals together to create these mythical creatures. From what I hear Moreau got angry and scrapped the whole project. Only, appearently, one of the islander's pets was spared plus Sabin's pet, which he made to look like a misplacer beast."

She nodded slowly and cirlced in the water trying to remember everything correctly, it was a big hazey. "So I think that's probably it..."

Richard wasn't sure if to feel relieved or horrified. Awen could probably see the elder gentleman's brain churning. On the bright side he'd stay a mammal. On the other hand this thing sound like no natural creature. He would be as Moreau said... A monster. What about that last part. They couldn't do that? Could he? Richard's arms crossed his chest, hands grasping at lumps on his chest. Richard gave a shudder.

He licked his lips. "How did he come up with that? Richard looked at the ground.

Awen froze as she looked back up to the man. In her excitment for figuring out the riddle she'd forgotten there is a very real and potentially scared islander sitting on a rock infront of her. She winced as she lowered her eyes to the water. Suddenly all the excitement faded from her features and she just seemed sorry.

"Um... it's an old mythological creature. Probably means it's been in some video games or tabletop stuff too..." She frowned and looked back up to the grey haired man. "I'm sorry Richard..."

"Its okay... I'll be fine. Thankgiving is always a rotten day for me anyway." Richard's face was a neutral mask. Would Sabin keep him as a pet too? A thought occured to him... Was he intended to be this... thing's mate? Because Moreau doesn't want to make 'waste' serums on animals?

Richard stood, not able to look at Awen for the moment. "Umm... Thank you? Sabin wouldn't tell me earlier. It had been on my mind." He nodded and pick up his tray.

Awen nodded slowly and tried to smile. "Well, um, you're welcome. Maybe since we've kind of figured it out if you ask Sabin directly he will confirm." She shrugged her shoulders slightly. "But hey, don't worry about it too much anyway. Worrying makes life a whole lot worse, don't really know what's coming, can't tell how it will turn out, so why bother with the pre-worry of it all? Try to enjoy yourself for the time being, right? At least it's a nice day and not storming. Tropical island, secluded fishing spot... relax for awhile... like you're on vacation."

She sighed slightly and nodded brightly to the man. "Have a nice day Richard. It was great meeting you!" With a smile and a wave the manta ray dove back underwater and took off down the river.