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For days, she'd deprived herself of water. The thing was a part of the ocean, which meant that Alcine could not be. No matter how much the fins itched and ached, she denied herself the sight of the sea, resorting to rainfall as her only source of water. You should not abuse yourself so: water your fins, Breena would tell her, her tone becoming more threatening each day. And each day, Alcine would give the strange voice the same reply:

They're not my fins.

However, it was only so long before irritation gave way to pain, and by the time the skin began to crack and wither, her throat dry and her body feeble, she knew she wasn't going to win her battle. Alcine stumbled on her way out to the beach, her brow fuddled and her mind confused. The beauty of the Lagoon was lost on her as she pressed forward, shivers running up from her feet as the fins touched the water.

Your fins, Breena corrected. Alcine shivered, then shook her head, a frown on her face. It didn't take long for voices to get annoying. Her arms out to keep her balance in check, as she was indeed walking without aid of a stick of some kind, she waddled in to about her waist, gasping at the overwhelming feeling of moistness again. It was a beautiful day, and as her energy returned to her, Alcine thought that perhaps she should go for a swim--

Promptly, she began to trudge out of the water, creating splashes as she sloshed back to shore. By the time the water reached her knees, she lost balance and fell, but it didn't slow her any, and she crawled until she was good and clear of the water, curling up with her hands hugging her knees, hiding her head in her lap.

No matter what she did, she was still losing control. How long would it take until the process was permanent?

Alcine shook her head, blocking out Breena's voice. You were so close, go back to the water. It is safer there. It is only there that you can reach your full potential, like the others. We belong in the sea. A whimper escaped her mouth, and she curled up tighter, closing her eyes in the hopes that it would all go away; the godforsaken island, the scales, the voices--

"Alshine?"

More out of confusion than curiosity, Alcine lifted her head with a puzzled expression, expecting an introduction to a second, masculine voice. However, the sound had been a sound, not in her mind, and it had a direction: from the ocean. Her eyes wandered forward, and widened when they locked on the grey-green snake thing peeking out to the waves.

Her eyes suddenly narrowed, and a low hiss emanated from her lips. It was the rival, and now, he was more prepared than she, better equipped for the waves, and likely with stronger defenses to match. She still had the upper hand, though: it would only take one bite, if she could reach his neck before he touched her...

"Wessssssssley?" Her eyes retained the same dumbfounded look from before, and shyly she put her hand over her mouth. It was the only explanation for her reaction, but...how was that Wesley? Did the changes get worse?! Alcine paled, and with her stalk-like legs scooted away, her expression going from confused to frightened.

"Isssssssssssss that yuu?"

Alcine stared at the creature for a moment with wide eyes and an open mouth, positively dumbfounded. It was really Wesley? For a moment, she'd thought that perhaps there had been some mix-up, that it was just a random sea monster. No, this was a sea monster she knew.

And if he was any indication, then it was only a matter of time until she was one, too.

"Ah'd sssssssssay it'sssssss uh chaynge! Lukkit yuu!" She would have added 'Listen to yourself' onto it, but she wasn't the person to be talking in that regards. Shyly, she scooted over to the waters edge, taking in all of his new features. From within, the rivalry bubbled over, and she hissed as she looked down at his tail, fluid and complete. Why had she not finished her transformation, to be a worthy rival?

Her expression went back to it's frightened state, and she looked up at Wesley's face as she shied away. "Ah--Ah'm lussszing cuntroll," she whimpered, shaking her head. "Ah can't hellp it, Wessssssssslee, Ah can't!" Alcine forced herself to look away, her face hidden by her hair as her shoulders began to quiver, a hissing sob escaping her mouth. "At leessssssssst yuur adjussssssting tu it," she whispered with a morbid laugh, shaking her head. "Ah dun't no wut tu do innymore."

With a look both curious and despairing, Alcine listened to the eel, taking in his words with a slightly unbelieving ear. Granted, she didn't really have ears, but was he saying what she thought he was saying? Was he actually advocating their loss of humanity? She looked at him again with a questioning stare; then again, maybe things got better once the changes rounded out, and they became...whatever they were supposed to be.

Listen to him, young one. He has experience. He is wise.

"...Did theengs git bettur fir yuu?" Alcine hesitantly asked, slowly moving down to the waters edge. "Wut abowt thuh...thuh voyssssssessss?"

"Makessssssssss ssssenssssssssse..."

Tentatively, she dipped her flipper feet back into the water, looking up to the eel man for approval. Maybe, just maybe, if she did this right, then things would get better, both for her and the others. Ian and Aiden deserved for things to get better.

"Hao lawng...beefur it happunssssssssss?" The question came out as a bit of a frightened whisper, and looking at her lengthened legs, it was clear she was only thinking of one thing. "Ah'fe been lyke thisssssss sssssssinssssssse...well...yuu wurr thayr." Looking at him now, she pondered the conditions: he had been like her the last time they'd spoken. Had it really been so long?