Jade moves through a maze of sewer passages at break-neck speed, dragging you along with her in the coils of her tail. Even if you weren't being twisted in her tail with each slithering motion you would have been hopelessly lost. Jade moves silently, not that it would have made much difference. You can't speak. The tight coils make it difficult to catch your breath much less yell for help.
Jade finally stops at a small alcove. An old wooden table is sitting on the brick-lined recess. A bowl and some strange bottles are sitting on it.
"We aren't quite home yet, but this should be safe enough. At least for what needs to be done. The others should be joining us here soon," says Jade.
Jade relaxes her tail, releasing you from her grip. You gag a little, trying to catch your breath as she slithers over to the table and begins to get to work mixing something. You can't see exactly what she is doing - her back is facing you.
You can't help but stare at the intricate black diamond pattern that trails up her back and over her hood to her smooth scalp. Her tail is very long, twisting and turning before lumping in a loose pile beneath her. It reminds you of a large snake, like a boa or something. But her narrow waist and wide hips definitely appear human, despite the fact that they are covered in the same dazzling scales. Her head is completely smooth, devoid of any hair or ears. Her nimble hands work diligently, her thin scaly fingers mixing the vials carefully into the bowl.
The action is almost mesmerizing and you stare at Jade as she works. You weren't kidding when you spoke to Imani and the wolf - you do like reptiles. And the pattern of Jade's scales is beautiful. But it also reminds you of the pattern you once saw on a deadly poisonous snake.
"What... what were you doing?" you ask.
"The same thing as the others, silly - recruiting. I must say I am glad to find you - most people choose to side with the mammals. They think reptiles are gross or creepy. So a person who can appreciate our true beauty is a rare find," says Jade, tickling you with the tip of her tail.
You slap it away, but not too hard. You don't want to anger her. She giggles a little, apparently not offended.
"Oh, I understand. No time for games.... at least not yet. You need to complete your initiation first. So I better get to work," says Jade as she retracts her tail.
Suddenly a large beast breaks the surface of the murky water of the sewer canal with a loud splash, sending ripples of water over the side of the brick platform. A large anthropomorphic gator crawls up out of the muck and stands next to you. Or rather over you. The thing is huge, standing over 7 feet tall. It stares down at you, examining you skeptically.
"So this is the new recruit, huh? Doesn't look like much - pretty scrawny," says the gator.
Its voice is gruff, but the feminine undertones are unmistakable. As the water drips off its body you can see that although its body appears big and tough with quite a bit of muscle, it also has some impressive curves. You can see two small bulges on its chest that must be some kind of scale-covered breasts.
"Now, Gina, don't be rude to our guest. He hasn't even been initiated yet. Regardless, he did stand up to two mammals on his own - Imani and her wolf friend if you can believe it. I think that alone makes him worthy. Besides, I think he is pretty cute already, " says Jade.
"I didn't say he wasn't cute. He looks fine," says Gina the gator, blushing a little. "Just a little small, that's all. "
"Oh, is this the new one?" says a voice above you.
You look up and see the wall .... move. At least you think it is the wall. As the shape moves closer you realize it is actually a camouflaged lizard crawling along the wall. Its color brightens from the musky black-grey of the sewer bricks to its natural green. The chameleon hops off the wall and lands next to Gina. It is much smaller, almost half the size of the gator.
"I agree, Gina. He IS cute," says the chameleon.
"I didn't say that!" says Gina, blushing an even deeper shade of red. "I just said he was fine."
"Yes, he is fine. Want to have some fun?" asks the chameleon, sidling up next to you. Her skin is surprisingly warm and soft.
"Easy, Cammy. He hasn't been initiated yet," says Jade, still working at her bench. "Where are the others?"
"They're coming, " says another voice. "Well, what little are left. I wouldn't wait too long."
You turn and see an anthropomorphic turtle. Your jaw drops as you stare at it. It stands like a human, with long arms and legs ending in three thick digits. Its body is surprisingly slim and trim, giving it an athletic physique. A hard shell covers its back. It looks exactly like one of the characters from that cartoon show.......
"Don't even say it. I have already heard all the jokes. I am not a teenager, nor a mutant and I don't know karate, " warns the turtle. "And my name isn't Venus. It's April."
Gina and Cammy giggle a little, but April shoots them an angry glance.
"Just because I am not a ninja doesn't mean I still can't hurt you," threatens April.
"Okay, girls. Enough fun. Time to begin the initiation, " says Jade. She holds out a small wooden bowl to you. "Just drink it. It only hurts a little, then it will all be over."
"Whoa, wait a minute! What is this stuff?" you say, gently pushing the bowl away.
"It's just part of the ceremony to initiate you into our clan. It's perfectly safe to drink. See?" says Jade, taking a sip of the mixture.
You watch her skeptically.
"So, let me get this straight- if I drink this, I will become like you?" you ask.
"Well, a girl can only hope. It is different for every recruit and almost impossible to predict. But you will change into some kind of reptile, just like us, " says Jade.
She holds the bowl out to you again. You gently push it away again.
"I just don't know, " you say. "I am not sure if I want that."
"What's the matter? Are you too good for us? Think we are ugly freaks or something?" asks Gina.
"I'm not ugly! I'm pretty! Aren't I?" asks Cammy.
"Of course you are, " says April, gently patting her hand and giving you a dirty look.
"I think you are very pretty, Cammy," you say honestly. She brightens and smiles at your compliment. Even April relaxes her guard a bit. "I have always loved reptiles, everything about them since I was a boy. Their smooth scaly skin, the long tongues and even longer tails, the horns and spines, even the cute little claws. But this is all so crazy. Just a little while ago I didn't even know you existed. Now you are asking me to change my life, literally change my very body in an unpredictable way, and join you in some kind of ancient battle against your mammal enemies.....it's a lot to take in all at once. I need to think about this."
"What's to think about? Jade said you liked reptiles. We are reptiles. We are offering you a chance to be a reptile. I don't get it. What's the problem?" says Gina.
"Yeah, don't you like us?" asks Cammy.
"Easy, girls. This is a big decision for him. None of you probably remember your initiation. How frightening and disturbing it can be to alter your whole life, " says Jade as she puts the bowl down on the table. She slithers up to you, placing her hands on both sides of your face, gently caressing your cheeks. "Listen, I know this is scary. Giving up your life can be hard. But honestly, what kind of life are you giving up? You were selected for recruitment for a reason. You have no friends, no family, no one who really cares about you. Your job is meaningless and your home - if you can call it that - is just a lonely dirty hovel where you store what few worthless possessions you have. Join us and we can give you everything you ever wanted - a home, a family..... a purpose."
Jade drops her hands away from your cheeks and slithers back over to the table. She lifts up the bowl and offers it to you again. The other girls stand behind her, a mixture of hope and desperation in their eyes.
"Will you join us?"