*bows head* It has been days, but it feels like years. I have come to the place my source calls "The South". The south of what? That I may never know. But I do know that outside the Forest, another world is awaiting.

My travels have been nothing like the first. I came to a lake today. A very large lake, much larger than the Pond. The first thing I noticed? The smell of rotting fish. I looked around to see a very large fish half eaten on the shore. Before I saw a few buzzards fly away from the same area before I approached. The smell was unbearable, but I managed to sink the fish so that the smell wouldn't be as strong.

There I examined what this world was like. The water was murky, but otherwise glossy. Dozens of dragonflies and damselflies flitted about. I looked out from shore into the shallows to find little fish skimming the red bottom. I looked to where I had sunk the dead fish and saw a tree with a few scraggly flowers clinging to the branches. There I saw two butterflies, one yellow, one black, and both very big. I kept my eyes on them, as they fluttered about the tree. The yellow one looked much like a monarch, but without that much black. The black one had faint red tips on its wings. I had never seen such butterflies.

It was peaceful here. It made me forget about my homesickness, if only for a few minutes. I watched as the water lapped. Vessel stood from afar, gazing at the water, thinking as usual. And Fulu sat down to lean against a tree, and watched the herons and geese fly. I just kept watching the butterflies. It seems that even in unknown lands, we can't help but keep up our habits.

This place is so strange, though. I have seen trees and bushes that I never knew existed. One intrigued me the most, my source called it "Pompous Grass". It was very strange, I wonder if I could bring a bit of the plants back to the Forest. Maybe if I did, we could receive those strange things. She told me one thing to definately not bring back. I think she called it... "Kudzu"? She told me that it takes over the trees, and slowly sucks the life from them. Or something like that. It doesn't sound very lovely for the Forest.

Ahh, friends, how I miss you so. Though the unknown beauties of the South takes my breath away, it isn't enough to forget about you. Fulu has been sulking these days. I wonder if she's getting any better. Vessel tells me the time off should be good for her, and the others she's been involved with. Maybe he's right. Am I true? I would love to know what has been happening...

Well, I should stop rambling. I must go back to my sister and friend. I bid you farewell, and I promise to keep telling you of my adventures should I run into anymore.

***

heh, yeah. we had some fun today. most of what Skokey said about the lake is true (except... the herons and umm... oh, i didnt sink the dead fish, my brother and dad did)

anyway, yeah, we went to the lake, found a HUGE carp. it was pretty much picked clean already, but it smelled just terrible. so we managed to sink it to the bottom. and all the guys went water skiing. i didnt really feel like it, so i just hung out in the water. i havent gone swimming in forever XD

so, ill keep in touch. every few days i might right some more of these *shrug* see ya!