Crossing Lines

Author's Notes: Sometimes I wonder what exactly is going on in my head when I get ideas like this one. I try not to think about it too much, though. I will note that this was not supposed to be this long, and I think it may have suffered more than it benefited for the detail.

2: Horror Comes Home

Nearly a week passed since the much-talked-about incident, and it was forgotten by most. Even Bill had come to realize (after Hopper pointed it out to him) that Maler was no undead drinker of blood - he came out in the daylight, after all, and seemed to enjoy garlic well enough.

But trespasses are hard forgiven, and never forgotten, and Goldie still bore a grudge against the human for hurting her feelings so deeply. As time went by, she tried to rally her neighbors to her cause.

"Look at him," she told Tank. "Shaking those empty trees all day. What kind of weirdo does that?"

"Everyone does that!" Tank retorted. "Once, (oh man, it was cool!) I shook a tree, and an entire chest of drawers fell out! I worked my muscles so hard getting that home!"

Goldie shook her head, walking off. And so it went: she went all 'round the town, pointing out all of Maler's eccentricities and being rewarded only with blank stares and shrugged shoulders. Didn't anybody understand how mean Maler was, and how much he should have to pay for that?

Of course, it wasn't long before the other animals started becoming put off by Maler. Ever since he brought that strange package home, he seemed to have less and less time to devote to his friends. And on the rare occasions someone managed to catch up with him, all he would take about were his great days "back home," and how life was so different, and in some ways better, where he came from.

More often than not, though, he stayed cooped up in his two-story house all day, only coming out to do business with Nook and to take out his trash - which seemed to double in quantity since his trip to the city.

Without Maler to keep things flowing, the town began tearing apart at the seams. Animals began developing backlogs of borrowed items, never knowing when to return them, or even to whom! Furniture collected dust in corners of unvisited houses, and fruit began to spoil on the trees. It was chaos, and someone needed to answer for it!

Another week passed, and Goldie called an emergency town meeting at The Roost to discuss what was to be done to prevent Hirocco's spiraling into madness. Progress was slow, and everyone agreed that the real talk shouldn't begin until everyone had at least a round of coffee. Brewster was quick to oblige, seeing bells practically flowing out of their pockets.

"I want to thank you all for coming," Goldie said for the second time, and the chatter settled down. "You all know why we're here: our neighbor, Maler the human, has been acting really weird lately."

"Really weird!" Cheri chimed in. The small crowd rumbled in agreement.

"Ever since he left for the city, he's been all weird," Goldie went on, and heads nodded all about the room. "Always shut away in his house, carrying on about who-knows-what, talking about how he misses his precious human neighbors and human customs and human food!" She stood up shouted at the top of her voice. "Well, we're just as good as any humans! We made this town the way it is - we planted the trees and the flowers, and we pick the weeds! We deserve respect!"

Her ranting was met with the applause of all, save one. Hopper spoke, "Actually, Maler does all of those things," he pointed out. The room fell silent. "Except for Gwen, I've never seen a one of you plant anything in all the years I've lived here." Everyone was stunned, and Goldie took the comments like a physical blow.

"Yeah," Tank started, "But we're the ones who taught him how to do those things!"

"That's right!" Goldie exclaimed. "Where would Maler be without us? What would he eat? What would he wear? We are the pillars of this community, and it's high time he recognizes that!"

The others all cheered her on, save again for one moody penguin. "And what, exactly, do you want to do about it?"

"Make him apologize?" Gwen offered.

"Be really mean to him, and see how he likes it," Tank said, crossing his arms confidently.

"Run him out of town!" Goldie shouted.

"Hit him with a rock!" Once more, the room fell silent. All eyes were on the source of the voice: Bill. "Um… I mean… Make him apologize!" Cheers rang out again, and another round of coffee was ordered - there were plans to be made this night.

The meeting went on well into the night, and didn't end until midnight - well after respectable animals should be in bed. But Goldie knew it was now or never. If she gave her neighbors time to sleep on their decision, the mob frenzy might wear off, and she'd never get her reparations.

So they marched, side-by-side, their path lit by the torch Tank carried. "Wh-Where did you get that?" Bill asked nervously.

"Oh, I keep it around," Tank replied nonchalantly. "For occasions like this."

"O-oh. Well." Bill slowly allowed himself to file to the back of the line, though not in fear of Tank's fire; he began to reconsider the possibility that Maler really was a nocturnal beastie of some kind, and thought it best that he not be in easy biting range when they arrived at his house.

And on Maler's doorstep Goldie again stood - waiting impatiently for her sadly out-of-shape mob to catch up. I really wish Copper would start giving fitness lessons again. These guys need it. She shook her head. No time to worry about that now, she reminded herself, and banged a paw on the front door. "Open up, Maler! We want answers!" The human didn't reply, and Goldie became furious. "Open this door right now! I'll force it open if I have to!"

Still no response, and she motioned for Tank to step forward. He handed off his torch to Hopper and slammed his weight against the door. It gave easily, every animal gasped in unison at the sight that stood before their eyes.

"Oh my gosh!" Someone shouted. "She's naked!"

"Why is she on all fours like that?"

"I… I knew humans had… but…"

"What is she doing with her tongue?"

Maler, in shock, moved to obstruct their view, but it was too late - they could see everything. Before them all stood Sara, his pet Labrador, lapping water happily from a silver dish on the floor.

He knew they'd react this way, but the young human also knew he had a lot of explaining to do.