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Joshua felt like it was getting harder and harder for him to stay inside. Everything was too small, not quite big enough for him to be comfortable. Beds and chairs were awkward and he still wasn't quite steady with his new height yet. He was, at least, managing not to bump his head anymore - too much.

He had realized, for all his time spent here, he had yet to visit the beach. No trees and wide open space, it sounded like a good spot to relax for a while and perhaps read a book. He grabbed a towel and a book on giraffes (he had returned the ones he had already read to the island's "library"), and made his way down to the beach.

Yes, it was much nicer here - and far less cramped. He set down the towel on the sand and sat down (slowly, as it seemed it was much harder to sit down the taller you were). It was quiet and peaceful here too, so he stretched his legs out in front of him before opening his book, ready to lose himself in knowledge to forget everything else.

He looked up when he heard someone approaching, and smiled at the familiar face. "Ah, hello Miss Nita... it's good to see you again," he said, as if everything was perfectly normal and that he barely had to move his head to look at her face.

Joshua closed his book, making room for her on the towel in case she wanted to sit down as well. "How have you been?" he asked, noticing that she was... much more furry than the last time he had seen her.

Joshua cringed at the thought - so the doctors were still bringing more people to the island? He supposed there were plenty of different species to go around, at any rate. He wondered what the purpose of all of this was - what were they trying to prove, or was this just some sick joke?

"I'm sorry to hear that... it makes me curious to find out just how many people are on this island. I haven't run into too many other people myself, I've been feeling rather... anti-social," he murmured. "I see that you've changed since I last saw you, though," he said, looking down at her with sympathy. "Do you know how many times the changes are supposed to happen?"

"Mm, yes. A giraffe... a Dr. Lockheart informed me of what I was becoming before my first change." He looked down at his long arms and legs, sighing. "Even now, I still can't imagine it. She said they also made a special arrangement to allow me to keep my hands since, apparently, other people turning into hooved animals aren't so lucky."

"I guess they they are doing me a favor in that sense." Joshua flexed his fingers, wondering if he should clip the thick nails or if they would just grow right back the next time he changed. "I suppose that means you have just two more to go then, hm? What do you think will happen after it's finished?"

Joshua couldn't help noticing the difference in length of their arms, and even though he knew everyone else here were turning into animals as well, it still embarrassed him. "Yes, I hope it works too, I like writing... but it sounded to me like this isn't something they have tried before. I can't help but wonder what kind of "special arrangements" they did, exactly."

That, and he hoped they knew what they were doing - he wouldn't want to be even more horribly disfigured.

"That would be nice, but... I don't know about peace. They are still controlling everything here, and we'll still be animals..."

"I guess you're right. I suppose I will get used to being so tall eventually... I will just have to hope I don't grow anymore, else I really won't be able to fit in the buildings... it's already hard enough." Normally he wasn't the kind of person to complain about things, but in this case, he felt it was just. He wished he could have chosen the animal he'd have to turn into, if he had to become one.

Odd as it was, he couldn't help feeling a little jealous of people who weren't turning into quite so strange animals.

He chuckled at the joke, grinning at her. "That's a good point. I think I saw some bigger duplexes around, but they didn't seem to be occupied. There were some that were partially in the water, too - maybe the people changing into aquatic animals will be moved there?" he guessed. "Perhaps I'll ask to be moved when I get back to my duplex. It would be nice to get a bed I could actually fit in."

"Besides," he added, "I think my current upstairs neighbor is turning into an unfortunate animal as well... whatever it is, I heard very, very strange noises coming from the duplex above me one night. I might go as far as to say they were a little creepy, I was still getting used to this whole 'changing into an animal' idea."

"Mmm. Yes, probably too heavy to fly... and even if they could, I doubt that would go over well. If they could fly, then they might be able to get off the island to get help... I'm sure the doctors here wouldn't allow that." Although he couldn't help but wonder if that could be true. Perhaps it could be kept secret from the doctors, and they could escape back to the mainland for help.

"Ahh, I believe her name is Kaveri... she was the first person I met here when I arrived, after Dr. Duvert dropped me off." Joshua wouldn't mind being moved away from her, considering what happened on that day. The thought of eating rotten, raw dead animals disturbed him, to say the least.