Walking at the back of the line following Bolyr through the jungle, Jake looked beside him. Tergin had come with the blue armed Kobold this time, only asking a few general questions. Then when they were about to leave, he had signaled Jake to fall back with him.

"What's wrong?" Jake asked softly.

Tergin looked around, before keeping his eyes fixed on Bolyrs back.

"Have you decided what to do yet?"

Jake nodded. "It doesn't look like I have a lot of options. Unless what Bolyr said, about the possibility of me dying during the transition is a lie?"

Tergin shook his head firmly. "It is the truth. And you are right. You have no other choice. But you need to know something. Bolyr's daughter, his only remaining family, is in the group of women, as is the youngest sister of a village elder. Although they won't say anything if you decide to breed with them, you will get into trouble later."

Jake cursed softly.

"How do I recognize them?"

"I am going to stay with you and point them out."

Feeling relieved, Jake nodded gratefully. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me yet. If there are no other women, who come forward other than those two, you will have to pick one of them. The worst would be if they both come and no one else…"

"What do I do if that happens?" Jake asked, getting nervous.

Tergin did not reply immediately, keeping his steady pace while gazing at the hard black sand that let them deeper into the island.

"I would pick only one and make sure it is the one I liked. Because if the one you choose ends up fancying you, you will have a hard time leaving them afterward without a fight." Scraping his throat, Tergin glanced at Jake again.

"One more thing. We aren't sure, but something weird is going on besides the festivities. All of the elders have disappeared, leaving only one here, and we cant find him. It is probably nothing..."

Jake blinked and looked at the smaller Kobold, but the other was staring straight ahead, seeming lost in thought.

Silently the two kept walking forward as Jake mulled over what he had just heard. A soft noise from up ahead made him look forward, but he saw nothing. The further they went, the louder the sound got until it became clear that a party was going on in front of them.

The dense jungle ahead thinned, stumps of trees showing that it had been manually cleared. Through the trees, the party could see many torches lighting up the surroundings. Moving through the last of the trees, Jake and the others got a clear view of their goal. Houses on poles and interconnected by bridges and beams wound around an enormous stone tower. The tower was only half-finished, perhaps five meters high, with wooden ramparts around the top showing it was still under active construction. Some buildings were built into the tower, giving the whole place a cozy feel.

A well lit wooden plateau stood on one of the lower levels, filled with tables and chairs. Around a hundred kobolds sat at the tables, eating and chatting. In the middle of the plateau was a dais on which two kobolds were acting out something. It was a cross between dance, fight, and mating ritual, and sometimes it looked like they were about to kill each other. The other kobolds were watching and shouting something or cheering.

"It has just started, you have not missed anything yet," Bolyr said, surprising them all with a slight smile.

"Come!" Turning around, the Kobold ran towards the nearest ramp leading up to the plateau. The other Kobolds, including Tergin, followed close behind.

The earthlings stared after the kobolds, and then at each other.

"Let's just see what happens…" Mason said with a shrug, before walking forward, a grin spreading across his face.

Taking a deep breath, Jake took Emma's hand and pulled her along. "Let's see what they have to eat, ok?"

Emma looked up at him, uncertain, but she nodded, gripping his hand tight as she looked at the mass of people and lights.

Walking up the steep wooden ramp, Jake had to use his claws to keep from slipping. This way up was truly not made for humans, he thought. Behind him, the others followed, whispering to each other. Stepping on the plateau, Jake realized it was bigger up close, and he felt a bit overwhelmed by the many faces that turned toward him. Wondering where to go, he looked for Mason.

"Over here, Jake!"

Looking to where Mason's voice came from, Jake saw him close to the dais with the performers. He was sitting at a table with Tergin, Bolyr, and an elderly looking Kobold. Startled, Jake realized that it was the oldest Kobold he had seen so far. Many of his scales were turning dull, and the skin around his neck and arms was sagging. Looking at him, Jake sensed a strong, don't mess with me, vibe.

Looking over his shoulder for Sandra and the others, Jake found them right behind him. Sandra nodded, a humorous twinkling in her eyes. Groaning inwardly, Jake headed to the table were Mason was already tasting different things.

"Jake! Sit, eat, and be happy. For at least tonight, life is good again." Bolyr said, raising a metal mug.

Noticing that the Kobold seemed more carefree and happy than he had ever seen him, Jake took a seat next to Tergin. Emma sat down in the chair next to him, hugging his arm as she inspected the others at the table. A short shuffling later, Sandra and the soldiers sat down at the opposite side of the table, in front of him. Sandra had the spot next to Bolyr, and the indigenous Kobold seemed happy with the arrangement. He quickly grabbed another mug and handed it to her.

"Try this. I am sure you will enjoy it," Bolyr said, the corners of his mouth curving up.

Sandra stared at the mug for a moment before taking a quick look around the table. Everyone was staring at her in expectation. Without any indication of what she felt, she took a sip from the mug. Almost immediately, her eyes widened, and she gulped down the entire contents. Mason, curious as ever, rose and grabbed another mug, smelling it before taking a small sip. A broad grin surfaced on his face, and he looked at Jake.

"It tastes like honey, mixed with vodka and melon juice."

Getting the feeling his friend was making fun of him, because that just sounded disgusting, Jake took a mug from the table and tasted it. A sweet, thin liquid with a powerful bite filled his mouth. Feeling how it warmed its way down his throat before almost burning a hole in his stomach, Jake noticed how tension left him. His muscles relaxed, and he leaned back in his chair.

The noise of the party became less intrusive, and Jake closed his eyes a silly smile plastered on his face. A small voice from the side stopped him from drifting away. Although the question didn't seem terribly important, the fact that he couldn't wake up to answer it was. As if by instinct, he contracted his new muscle. A wave of energy rippled through his body, and the sounds around him became clear again. He heard the same question from his left.

"Jake, you have to wake up!"

Jake's eyes flew open, and he blinked a few times before looking at Emma sitting next to him. The little girl was looking at him with wide-open eyes, and a quick look around the table showed him that she was the only one still fully awake. Examing the others, he saw Mason had his eyes closed and his hands clasped around the edge of the table. A frown kept creeping on his friend's face, but his eyes stayed closed. Next to Mason, the two remaining soldiers had fallen asleep with their heads on the table, and Sandra was gone. Worried, Jake stood up, looking for her.

He found her standing two meters from the table. She was blinking with bleary eyes, trying to stay on her feet as she swayed dangerously. Around her, the party was still going on, but not everyone was participating. Some Kobolds were standing close to Sandra, looking at her with hungry eyes.

Knowing something terrible was going on, Jake looked at Bolyr. To his shock, the native Kobold was in a similar position, barely able to keep his eyes open as he glared at the old Kobold sitting next to him.

The old Kobold, however, was ignoring him and only had eyes for Sandra. Something in his eyes gave Jake a horrible feeling. Looking around for anyone else to help him, he found Tergin sleeping next to him, some drool running down his chin. Shaking the Kobold did nothing, and Jake gave up. Getting up, he rushed around the table and grabbed Mason, shaking him.

"Wake up, Mason! Try and resist it! We are in deep shit!"

Besides a slight frown, Mason's eyes stayed closed, and he didn't respond. Growling, Jake worriedly looked around, his eyes falling on Bolyr next to Mason. Reaching out his arm, he slapped the Kobold across the face. As soon as he did, Bolyr's eyes snapped open, and he stood up. His head snapped back, exposing his throat, and he furiously roared into the night sky. The entire party froze, and all of the Kobolds looked at him in shock and dismay. Next to Bolyr, Mason's eyes snapped open, and he blinked in confusion.

"What the hell is going on!" Sandra's voice sounded ragged as she quickly rushed back to the table, leaving behind a few Kobolds staring at her.

Tergin, the soldiers, and one other Kobold were still asleep, draped across the table. Jake cursed, Bolyr's roar had not awoken them, and they needed all the help they could get. All around, soft murmuring came from the Kobolds who were looking at them, finally realizing something was going on.

Bolyr stepped away from the table and looked at the old Kobold, who was still quietly sitting, ignoring the commotion.

"Vestr! How dare you poison me! The elders won't stand for this!" Bolyr's face contracted as rage seemed to overcome him.

A few of the Kobolds standing around rushed forward to take a position next to Vestr, flanking the old Kobold like bodyguards. They cast warning glances at Bolyr, but the bulky yellow Kobold ignored them.

Raising his one blue arm, he pointed it at them.

"Answer me, or today, I will end your old, miserable life!"