Snippet #2436476

I awake with a start. The sun is just rising, it is time for me to get up. The Jenetzu are meeting soon. If I'm late I will be punished. I stretch out and stand up. I feel hot and dusty, I'll swim to the meeting. I quickly put on a white tank-top made of peacock feathers (ridiculously expensive) and cotton pants that are easy to move in. The white shirt looks good with my complexion and bronze-colored scales. I'm ready to go. I hop into the water and swim to our usual meeting place which was once a herring shrine before the Jenetzu under command of the LEADER took it from them. I climb out of the water and get to the shrine just as the meeting starts. Janala smiles and nods at me. I nod back and head over to her. Janala is my best friend. She and I are as close as crocodiles get. We've known each other for years. I see a few more late-comers come in just before the meeting starts. I sigh in relief. Technically, none of us are late. Marqun, the gang's leader stands up. "You may be wondering why I have called you here today" he says in a commanding voice. The great thing about Marqun is he always sounds confident. With him around it's hard to question anything. "The truth is that we are being watched by the Herrings and Peacocks. The Beetlestealer has been seen in Pronghorn territory. For those of you who have slaves keep them close and keep them safe. Moving on. The LEADER has seen fit to have all the leaders of the gangs and a few of their most trusted warriors to meet together to devise a strategy to catch spies and thieves." He spoke the word LEADER with a slight sneer. I personally don't see the point of the LEADER. We hardly pay attention to him. My drifting mind goes back to Marqun. "I will tell you my officers at HIGH NOON tomorrow." he says. Instantly we begin murmuring. Crocodiles aren't spiritual, but the closest things to religious times are DAWN, HIGH NOON, and TWIGHLIGHT. Marqun dismisses us and Janala and I leave. I already hear some of the other gators wondering who he'll choose, and some of the girls are giggling and pushing each other around. I am confused by this behavior. What could cause them to act in such a silly way? It does not take long for me to find out. Janala and I are passing the group when they catch our arms and pull us in. I immediately feel awkward because I do not generally associate with these girls. However, I am not rude and I stay. The girls are talking about who is going to be picked like everyone else, but they are also looking for signs in who he picks. For some odd reason they are talking about lhovios, or boyfriends. One of them, Malana says "Whoever he picks will not only be a trusted officer, but may reveal who he likes!!!" I suppress a groan. Not this talk again! Sure Marqun is good looking with longish-dark hair, coal-black eyes, and a muscular body, but why did so many girls sigh over him? It just didn't make sense. Janala and I look at each other and slip away. We dive into the water, and swim home, laughing our heads of the whole way.