Where is Everybody? thirty five.

I woke up feeling very well rested the following morning. Early enough to see the break of dawn. I cannot recall the last time I watched the sunrise, though I had to be more careful now, since my eyes are more sensitive than they've ever been. Seeing that sun rise above the illustration like mountains with identical patterns, yet rich texture was like something from a dream. Or a painting.

I gave a stretch and woke Vinnie, who was pleased to see me first thing in the morning. One thing was missing, though: Val De Lump. There was no beetle horse in the backseat, nor any indication of where he went. I presumed he hadn't gone far, as this was a different world, something I often thought about going to, but never actively desired to do. He turned up before the sun actually rose, though, and he told me the house seems uninhabited from what he can see, but someone must live there, as there appear to be faucets in the place. He didn't go in, though, so somebody may be in there.

When I opened the door and stepped outside, the grass beneath my hooves felt different than they ever did. The soil where there were bare patches felt more rich in nutrients than ever before. The ground had more minerals than I could identify, not that I was trying to. Something about this soil seemed more fertile than the soil at home.

If anyone's here, maybe they can give us answers. I hope so.

He led us to the trees where the thickest apples I'd ever seen were hanging. He leapt upwards, swiped at the lowest one, and handed it to me. "Here, a gift for you". A stolen gift. This property belongs to somebody; it's too well kept. I took a bite anyway, and got lost in rapture. I never tasted apples this juicy, sweet and delicious. What do they do to their trees here, I wonder?

Vinnie tried one too, and immediately rolled her eyes and gave a nearly orgasmic hum. This is like nothing we've ever had on earth.

"Will, you may have well led us to heaven, my man." I did not disagree.

At that very moment, the sound of some hoofbeats thudded on the ground behind us. It was coming from the house. When I looked around, a beautiful young woman with flaming red hair, no older than Anthony if I'm getting my ages right (I still can't tell yet), trotted towards the apple orchard eyes half shut, barely observing her surroundings, clearly at home. I guessed this was her place.

Val told me she was very tired and exhausted, leftover from last night likely. She probably did loads of hard work yesterday, and is now just getting up. I took me all of five minutes or something to realise what should have been apparent all along: Unlike Sweet Stuff back at home, she had no dress on. No suit like me. No cloak. She was walking around au naturale. Only her coat about her.

I had to look away for a minute. Then I heard a gasp, and a high pitched voice shouted in a foreign tongue I never heard before, followed by rapid footfalls. I turned around to see this older teenager turn tail and run full speed ahead right to the house and slam the door shut tight. Val sounded astonished when he informed me she had high levels of excitement, fear, and surprise all in one. Vinnie suggested we try to find someone who speaks our language. When I asked what happens if none of them do, she said we find our own way. We'd be blind fish swimming in pitch darkness. A lonesome cave.

We eventually came to the house and knocked after having a few more apples. The girl answered immediately and invited us in, waving at the interior. As she turned her back, her hips were in full view, revealing a strange marking on her skin and coat about the hip region: What looked like a shield, an interstate highway sign was branded on her right hip, only it wasn't a burn mark or anything. It was either a tattoo or a birthmark. I wanted to ask, as did Vinnie, but she could not speak English.

She seemed ever more excitable to see me, but somewhat uneasy round Vinnie, and very nervous around Val. But she swallowed it and offered us something to eat. Those worthless sacks of straw got pulled out, and she tried to stuff it down our throats. We declined, and she looked deflated for it. Disappointed, and Val could feel this too. She apparently really wanted us to stay. When she gave us a tour of the house, no one else was to be seen. Either she lives here alone, or the others are out on some sort of business.

We came back to the kitchen, which had a wood stove, and she had started it while we were admiring the view upstairs. The apple orchard is more expansive than we thought. As far as the eye can see apparently. My friends both had their lips in an O at this view. I'd imagined flies flying into them. The alien, which we technically are in this case, stoked the flames, and fried some eggs. Apparently, they have foul of some kind here. And she offered Vinnie some nuts. Both the metal kind, and acorns. That bag of hay had to be some kind of sick joke.

We all ate up, and the bucket of rusted nails, needles, and bolts were offered to Vinnie, who took the tin bucket and placed it by the door. She took us to the barn where several mattresses lay on the floor. She gestured to lay on them, which we did. After helping her gather apples and fill the barrels, then get them into the cart, she likely came to view us as good friends. Or as helping hands, useful commodities.

Tomorrow, I will leave this place, and get someone older to help us out if I can.

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Nothing interesting has happened aside from Monica getting bent on finding his car, and dealing with arousal. He can't hide it from me. He and Sherman both have been very aroused lately. They've been spending as much alone time as they possibly can. Will's lucky he can handle it his own way without trouble.

Anthony doesn't seem to get it, nor do the girls. Val likely doesn't need arousal since he eat our feelings for sustenance.

Sweet Stuff has been watering Will's plants, and they've grown considerably. I never knew they grew that big.

Those three have flown the coop, but we have managed this way. I have gotten used to removing and wearing my bracelet without trouble. Monica still needs help to handle it. Flipping switches and pushing buttons is one thing. Fine motor skills is quite another.

Joanna, Anthony, Angela, Samantha and Pickering have been very busy doing jigsaw puzzles lately to pass the time.

We have taken Will's cans and used them to burn our own kindling. He had the right idea. I wonder where he is right now, and how he's doing. I hope they are alright.