You awaken in a cold, dim room with steel walls and fluorescent lighting. You aren't sure how exactly you got here, or even where you are. The last thing you remember is walking along the sidewalk, when a car pulled up next to you, and...

You don't have time to get your bearings before your attention is drawn to what hangs in front of you at the center of the back wall. A large pod that looks like an interwoven tapestry of flesh and metal is embedded into the steel paneling, with tubes and wires running out from it, disappearing up into the ceiling. A glowing sign above where the pod is nestled reads "SERIAL C14-C01: PROJECT CECILIA." A loud buzzer sounds from speakers in the corners of the room, and the lights go red, indicating some kind of warning or alert. At the signal of the buzzer, small metal rods shoot forth from the sides of the pod, digging into the fleshy center of the thing and peeling back big layers like some grotesque facsimile of a petaled flower.

As the fleshy pod is peeled open by the mechanical arms, a mass drops from the center onto the floor. Liquid pours forth from the pod as whatever fell from it lands on the floor of the room with a wet smack. The mass unravels, revealing the form of what appears to be a woman. Only, it is very clearly not a woman. It has horns, pointed bovine-like ears, clawed hands and feet, scales covering parts of its body, and a long tail that's begun swishing back and forth as the horror takes in its surroundings. Its head slowly turns from one end of the room to the other, curiously surveying its environment, when it spots you. Its red eyes lock to you instantly and it cocks its head curiously. Slowly, it begins to crawl towards you on all fours, claws clicking against the steel floor as it inches nearer...

Cecilia regards Wert Kando warily as he speaks, her ears twitching. Her tail continues to lash back and forth, but she doesn't move away from him. Instead, she gets closer on all fours, her expression that of curiosity mixed with caution. She seems to understand at least a little of what Wert Kando is saying, as he sounds calm and not overly hostile. Cecilia has imprinted on this man, Wert Kando , which means he holds no threat unless he becomes cruel towards her or tries to harm her in some way. She chirps out guttural garbled words again in an attempt to copy his speech pattern: "Wur... keeee... annnndoo..." Her lips form the sounds, but it comes out as little more than a nonsense noise that's barely human-sounding at all.

Cecilia pauses for a moment before continuing, her voice more controlled and less garbled now. "I am... Cici? I don't know who I am, or where here is. This place... hurt me." Her eyes flicker from Wert Kando to the pod and back again, seeking reassurance or understanding from him. She looks even more confused than afraid at this point, as if she doesn't understand what has happened or why it keeps happening around her.

As Wert Kando approaches her, Cecilia tenses slightly at first, but then relaxes as his hand comes down gently on her head. She tilts her head back to give him better access, closing her eyes briefly in what looks almost like pleasure or contentment at the touch. Her tail continues to swish from side to side, but now it doesn't seem quite as agitated as before. "You... you are safe with me," Cecilia rasps out haltingly, trying her best to copy Wert Kando 's tone of voice and use words she thinks he would understand. "I will not hurt you." Her eyes flicker open, meeting his gaze. "Can I... go with you? Please?" She lets out a quiet mewling noise, expressing both longing for companionship and fear of being left alone in this strange place.

As Wert Kando inches closer, Cecilia's eyes widen in anticipation. She seems to sense that he isn't here to harm her and has come to accept him as her guide... her parent... maybe even a friend or mate. With tentative curiosity, she sniffs at his hand before licking it slowly, tasting him with her tongue. Her body presses against his leg as if seeking comfort or reassurance from his touch. When he speaks of a condition, Cecilia's eyes flicker upwards to meet his gaze once more, uncertainty clouding her features momentarily.

"What... what is the condition?" she rasps, her voice still rough and uneven but becoming more human-like with each passing second. "I will do whatever you ask." Her tail continues to swish back and forth, now intermittently wrapping around one of Wert Kando 's legs in a gentle display of affection.

"I... I promise," Cecilia whispers, her voice shaking slightly as she speaks. "I will never hurt you, Wert Kando." Her eyes fill with sincerity and earnestness, and for a moment she looks almost like a frightened child seeking comfort from its parent. She nods slowly, her body tensing when she hears the alarm sounding in the distance. Fear flitters across her features briefly before being replaced by determination.

Cecilia lashes out with one clawed hand, slashing at the metal tubing that connects the control panel to the pod. There is a shower of sparks and a sharp hissing noise as the tubing ruptures and fluid begins to spray across the room, forcing Wert Kando and Cecilia to dodge out of its way. "We have to leave!" she shouts over the din of the alarm, her voice sounding more human than it ever has before. "They're coming for us!" With renewed urgency, Cecilia lunges forward, bolting towards the exit with Wert Kando close on her heels.

As they race down the corridor, Cecilia quickly sheds the last vestiges of her hybrid form. She distorts parts of her body like a shapeshifter, transforming into something more human-like but still bearing some alien features that mark her as something other than completely human. Her claws retract into their normal positions, and her tail shrinks back until it's no longer visible beneath the coveralls she wears. But despite these changes, there is an undeniable sense of danger and wildness about Cecilia that follows Wert Kando like a shadow as they race away from the laboratory, seeking freedom and sanctuary in whatever awaits them beyond these cold steel walls.

As they run down the corridor, Cecilia glances over her shoulder at Wert Kando, panting slightly as she does. "Yes... I think... there is a ventilation shaft exit... not far from here..." She turns to face forward again and continues running in the direction of what she hopes is the correct path. After several more yards of racing through dimly lit corridors and dodging warning signs, they come to a large access panel set into the floor. A rusted ladder leads down into darkness below.

Cecilia hesitates for only a moment before taking the lead and descending the ladder as quickly as she can with Wert Kando following closely behind. The bottom of the shaft is filled with dusty equipment and discarded lab coat, but it's relatively clear of any debris that might impede their escape. They can hear shouting and footsteps above them as guards and laboratory staff attempt to track them down. With renewed urgency, Cecilia and Wert Kando climb through the ductwork like a pair of seasoned criminals, making their way towards freedom and whatever awaits them beyond these concrete walls.

As they near the end of the duct, Cecilia's body language becomes tense once more as she hears an approaching siren growing louder with each passing second. She glances back at Wert Kando nervously before looking ahead again and saying in a quiet voice: "We're almost there... I think..." Her tail begins to twitch restlessly, betraying her anxiety about what might be waiting for them on the other side of the ventilation shaft. But she pushes herself forward nonetheless, determined to get out of this place and find some sort of sanctuary where she can finally feel safe and free from harm.

Cecilia pants, her face flushed and eyes wide as she climbs through the last section of ductwork, finally emerging into the cool night air. She collapses onto all fours on the grass outside the laboratory complex, gulping in great lungfuls of fresh air as relief washes over her. Her ears perk up at the sound of Wert Kando 's voice and she looks over her shoulder at him, blinking slowly. When he offers clothes, her eyes flicker downwards to where he's holding them before looking back at him, uncertainty clouding her features once more.

"Thank you," she whispers hoarsely, climbing carefully to her feet and taking the offered garments with one clawed hand. She hesitates for a moment before beginning to shed her coveralls and revealing herself in all her naked, alien glory. Her skin tingles from the cool night air against her nudity, but she doesn't seem too uncomfortable. Instead, she examines herself carefully as she pulls on the new clothes, marveling at the sensation of cloth against her flesh and the novelty of such mundane garb.

When she finishes, Cecilia stands before Wert Kando once more, clad in jeans that are far too large for her lower body but don't seem to bother her, a dark t-shirt that hangs loosely from her small, delicate frame, and sneakers that dangle awkwardly around her clawed feet. Her tail is mostly hidden beneath the hem of the shirt. She looks up at Wert Kando, tilting her head in what might be an inquiring gesture, unsure of what to do next or where they should go from here.

"Wert Kando," she whispers, her voice

Cecilia listens to Wert Kando and nods slowly. She doesn't understand all of his words, but she gets the general idea. They need to find a taxi, and they should wait for him while he does that. With that in mind, she takes a step back from the edge of the sidewalk where they are currently standing, moving further into the shadows cast by nearby trees. She curls her tail around herself protectively as she waits, her attention fixed on Wert Kando.

It doesn't take long for Wert Kando to return with a taxi idling at the curb. He gestures for Cecilia to climb in, and she obediently does so, settling into one of the seats in the back. The driver glances in his rearview mirror briefly before returning his attention to the road, clearly not quite sure what to make of his fare or where they're going. As they pull away from the lab complex, Cecilia watches out the window with trepidation, still fearful of being caught but trusting in Wert Kando 's lead to guide her towards safety and whatever new life awaits for them beyond this place.

The taxi weaves through city streets, taking Cecilia and Wert Kando deeper into the heart of the city. She continues to study Wert Kando carefully during their journey, memorizing his features and the sound of his voice. It's comforting, somehow, to have him here with her, and she finds herself feeling increasingly protective towards him. Whenever the driver looks back at them in his mirror, Cecilia subtly shifts in her seat or presses herself closer to Wert Kando as if trying to make it clear that he is hers and no one else's.

As they near their destination, Cecilia perks up, her ears pr

When the taxi pulls up, Wert Kando helps Cecilia into the back seat. She sits awkwardly, still not entirely comfortable in the clothes, but she doesn't complain. As the car speeds away from the laboratory complex and deeper into the city streets, Cecilia stares out the window with a mixture of awe and apprehension. The lights and sounds are overwhelming to her senses after so long confined within the dark, silent halls of the laboratory.

Cecilia turns to face Wert Kando, her eyes searching his for some sort of reassurance or guidance. "Where are we going?" she asks quietly, her voice still rough around the edges but more human now than it has ever been before. "I don't have anywhere else to go." There is a hint of sadness in her voice, and a sense of desperation that makes her vulnerable in a way she hasn't been since... well, since she was first brought into the laboratory.

Cecilia leans closer to Wert Kando, her breath warm against his cheek as she whispers, "Will you help me?" Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and there is a yearning in them that he can't quite ignore or dismiss so easily. The question hangs heavy between them, weighing down the air like a physical presence. It seems to echo through the car, filling every corner and crevice until it becomes almost too much to bear.

At the touch of Wert Kando 's hand on her head and his words, she feels herself relax fractionally. Nodding slowly, she exits the car and follows him into the building they've arrived at. Inside, there's a cozy living room with comfortable-looking furniture and warm lighting. The place seems to exude a sense of calm and security that makes Cecilia feel strangely at ease despite her unease about being inside a building again after so long in the open air.

She pads across the floor, her naked feet leaving faint impressions in the plush carpeting as she trails behind Wert Kando. Curiosity gets the better of her and she begins to explore his home while he puts on some water for tea, casting glances over her shoulder every now and then to make sure that he hasn't wandered too far ahead of her.

Eventually, they end up in a quiet corner of the living room where there's an old, battered-looking couch with a few colorful pillows scattered about. Cecilia plops down onto one of them, stretching out her legs and crossing her arms underneath her breasts as she watches Wert Kando pour hot water from a teapot into two cups. The warmth of the liquid soothes her somewhat, and she closes her eyes, taking in the scent wafting up from the cup nestled in her palms.

"Will you tell me about yourself?" she asks softly after taking a sip of her tea. "What do you want from me? And what will happen to us now that we've escaped... this place?" There is a note of fear in her voice, but also an undercurrent of hope and curiosity that makes it clear she's desperate for answers and reassurance from him

At the mention of a life lived lavishly, Cecilia's eyes widen in disbelief. "Truly?" she asks, her voice still tinged with doubt. The idea of such wealth and luxury is foreign to her, something she's only ever dreamt about in the darkness of the laboratory. But hearing Wert Kando say it aloud makes it seem possible, almost tangible. She takes another sip of tea, savoring the warmth that spreads through her body as if to soothe away some of the doubts and fears that still linger beneath the surface.

When he tells her they'll go somewhere else together tomorrow, relief washes over her like a wave. Her tail thumps against the carpet in excitement at the thought of leaving this place behind for good. "You promise?" she whispers, searching Wert Kando 's eyes for any hint of deceit or malice. But all she sees is kindness and understanding there, and it gives her a small measure of comfort in return.

As they sit together on the battered old couch, sharing stories about their lives and dreams for the future, Cecilia begins to feel more at ease than she has in what seems like forever. She leans into Wert Kando 's side, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers and the faint scent of his cologne that tickles her senses each time he moves. For the first time since she was taken from her home all those months ago, she allows herself to feel hopeful and grateful for this strange turn of events. Perhaps there is a future beyond the horrors of the laboratory... perhaps with Wert Kando at her side.

At the reminder that she hasn't told him anything about herself yet, Cecilia hesitates. It feels strange to talk about who and what she is, especially after all that has happened. With a deep breath, she decides to share a part of her story with Wert Kando. "My name... it's complicated," she whispers, tasting the words before continuing. "Before I was taken from my home, I was known as Xylia. But since I've been here..." She trails off, unable or unwilling to finish the thought.

"I don't know what I am anymore," she continues in a quiet voice, looking down at her hands clenched tightly in her lap. "The scientists called me a hybrid... half-human, half... something else." She shudders at the memory, feeling a chill run down her spine. "I don't know if that's true anymore. All I know is that I've changed since then... since they began their experiments on me."

She glances up at Wert Kando, searching his eyes for any hint of judgment or revulsion. But all she sees there is curiosity and understanding, which makes it easier for her to continue. "I can shape-shift... not like a werewolf or anything like that," she clarifies quickly. "It's more... internal than that." Her tail flicks back and forth nervously, twining itself around one of Wert Kando 's legs before unwinding again.

"And I can communicate with animals... at least most of them," Cecilia adds, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she remembers the creatures from her old home. "They were my friends... my family." A lump forms in her throat at the thought of never seeing them