Lone wasn't in any shape to go scouting again, and I didn't have the heart to press the issue. He was still absorbing just how much he lost. He knew enough to know he should know so much more, starting with his old name, which was still beyond his grasp. The sun was setting, and it was getting colder. I picked up Lone and looked for some kind of shelter.

The best we could find was a natural ditch, but it kept the wind off of us at least, so we settled down into it. For better or worse, Lone was very snuggly, and his furry body kept away much of the chill, so I found myself reciprocating, and we laid together in the growing darkness. Cindy broke the silence. "It'll be alright."

Lone sniffled softly. "Easy for you to say... You didn't give up everything."

Cindy smiled a little. "True, I was kind of born into this, but that doesn't change the facts. You have a good friend, right here."

Lone squeezed tighter. "But what about my family? I mean, besides the pegasi... I miss them too, but I mean... human family? I might have had one, and I don't even know if I should be sad for them or not. A wife? Parents? Friends? I could have a kid..."

I stroked over his back, rubbing between his wings. "Hey, this might sound odd, but you already sound... smarter."

"I don't feel smarter..." Lone shuffled upwards and rest his head on my shoulder. "I feel like an oversexed toy. My balls hurt, and I hate them for it. This... thing took everything from me."

Cindy took control of an arm, reaching to help Lone with his problem, but he reacted poorly to that, swatting the hand away. "Stop! I... I don't want to be..."

A new strange queasiness rumbled in my lower belly before pain and dampness exploded through my pants. I jumped against Lone and hissed against the agony as my insides shifted uncomfortably. I was changing again, but how?

Cindy tilted herself. "Oh dear. I thought this would be coming."

Lone looked concerned. "What? Are you alright?" He slid downwards and grabbed onto my zipper in his mouth, grabbing it in his teeth and tugging it down. I wasn't stunned enough to just let him fumble along, so I reached down, one hand softly petting him around the ears while the other worked off my suddenly wet pants.

I shoved them down around my ankles, boxers included. "What do you see?" Lone was in the way for my own investigation, and I still couldn't bring myself to push the guy.

Lone swallowed loud enough for me to hear. "Uh... you're..."

Cindy spoke up for it. "You are now a mare, but still a stallion."

I frowned. "What? Can you do that?"

"You just did it."

Lone leaned in and sniffed at me. "Oh god you smell good. Please?"

I went rigid. Lone wanted to service me, of course. "N-not right now, please?"

Lone nodded slowly. "Sorry... Sorry..." He curled up against me. "Sorry..."

I gently pet over his side, stroking from his head to his tail. "I'm not angry at you. This is freaky as hell for both of us, alright? We'll get through it."

He rolled over and pressed belly to belly, snuggling warmly. We eventually found sleep in one another's arms. Tomorrow would be another day.

We awoke to the sound of footsteps. I pulled up my clothes, damp as they still were, and peeked out of our trench. There were two men, unarmed, just walking along. They weren't wearing military clothes, just hiking clothes. Were they normal humans that had avoided infection? I chanced it and held onto Lone with one hand keeping him a bit low as I waved with the other. "Heya."

They looked up with surprise, then returned the gesture. They wandered closer but stopped when they likely saw my big pony ears, and, you know, second head. "The hell?"

The other nudged the first. "They must be filming something out here."

They really were ignorant of the situation? I thanked the fates. "Not exactly, but it's cool. I need a little help, but first I'm going to show you some odd things."

The first raised a brow. "You'll pardon us if we stay way over here. That, uh, other part is looking at us."

The second pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of Cindy and I. "Think they're the 'mutants' they were talking about on the radio?"

"I'd figure so. He's not acting dangerous at all though."

Huh, so they had heard of it. They were just kinda stupid. That works too. I stood up, which revealed my swaying tail, and soon Lone Wing's curious head sniffing the air at them. I could feel Lone's urge to rush them and spread the gift, and I kept a hand on him, softly petting and keeping him calm. "We're not dangerous. We are lost as hell though."

The second took another picture, that time of Lone Wing. "You owe me ten bucks, Jack."

Jack frowned. "Ah fuck. You were right, they are little ponies. Our tax dollars at work, telling us to run scared from tiny horses." Jack shrugged. "Whatever. Look at the heat he's packing."

The other one laughed loudly. "Are you staring at its big horse cock?"

Lone licked his lips. "I can show it to you up close if you want?"

They both recoiled at Lone speaking, caught by surprise. I swear one of them looked tempted by Lone's offer a moment, but they didn't approach closer. Jack rubbed behind his head. "Well, suppose we can be neighborly at least, assuming you aren't waiting for the chance to kick us or whatever ponies do."

The second chuckled a bit. "Ah ain't afraid of no ponies."

Truly did the heavens smile on me that day. "We're both hungry, and if you have a map of the area, that would be fantastic." I dug out my wallet. I thought the money within would be useless, but there we were. "I can pay."

Jack nudged his friend. "Go on Pete."

Pete frowned. "I'm not taking money from a guy lost in the middle of nowhere. You put that away. Come on, we'll fix you up. You're both house trained, I hope?"

I felt a flush of annoyance, but I was more not-human than human at that point, so I tried to let it go. "We won't go anywhere but outside or a toilet."

Lone ambled up to them suddenly, circling around and sniffing them. His dick was making quite a trail. It was obvious the presence of uninfected humans was working him up. I quickly caught up with him and grabbed him by the scruff before he ruined either of their lives, then we were on our way.

Author's Notes:

Lone struggles with his new place in life, seeking to know more of his past while his current tugs powerfully at his mind. Can he find a balance?

Not without typos along the way,