It sucked being rejected by humans. Lee didn't understand this new practice his species had adopted—those who questioned the New Order were to be exiled, sent on a train to nowhere. Well, judging by the scenery passing by outside the windows, "nowhere" looked pretty darn good, which was another reason not to question it—his mother had taught him to never question a good thing. He hoped that this would be a good thing. Perhaps he would get to meet some of the other humans that had been sent on this very train, with this exact same cat questioning them about their destination. When the cat showed him a map, he lied and pointed to it. In reality, he had no idea where on Earth he was going, but it didn't matter. The outcome would be the same—a new life alone. He imagined his new life and used it to plan his next move. First, I'll scope out the area. See if I can find food. If not, I may have to kill an animal. He licked his lips. He hadn't eaten all day. He missed his old home's stuffed burgers. They were the stuff of legend. Perhaps I can find a wild cow. . .if such a thing exists. He barely heard the announcer speaking. He had arrived. The cat that had sat across from him and kept him company (curious company, but company nonetheless) wished him the best of luck. Lee sighed and held his head high in determination. He swore to himself that he wouldn't need it. Wherever nowhere was, it was his home now.
Isabelle rushed to the station as soon as she got the call. "H-he's here already?!" She had been given five minutes' warning to get the villagers together. I'm not superman, you know! . . .mostly because I'm not a man. She shook her head, the bell in her hair jingling cheerily. This was no time to be thinking up stupid jokes. This was a time to be working. Whoever this new mayor was, she had to make a good first impression. She felt as if it were practically programmed into her to respect and adore authority. She hoped that this new one would make it easier to do both. Someone respected, someone who knew exactly what they were doing. It doesn't matter. Her little, chubby feet carried her to the gate to welcome her new boss. Whoever they are, I'll make this work. I'll be the best darn secretary they've ever had!
If someone would have told Lee what awaited on the other side of that gate, he would have sworn they were smoking crack. Well, more crack than usual. A small crowd of animals had shouted a welcome at him, which was the last thing that had expected. Perhaps someone with a different train of thought would've questioned why someone had never mentioned that some animals could talk and walk on two legs, but the first thing he noticed was the cow in the crowd. And it was wearing a flame shirt, no less.
"Mayor! We're so happy you're finally here!"
"Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. I'm not your mayor!"
He swore the dog before him was about to have a heart attack.
"D-don't pretend you don't know! D-din't you hear the conductor announcing our town name?"
In fact, he hadn't. He had been too busy imagining a giant plate of burgers. . .which felt kind of awkward now that the flame-shirt guy was smiling welcomingly at him.
"I'm dead serious! There must be some mistake!"
The dog laughed nervously.
"Good one, mayor! You can't fool me. T-there's no mistake. All is as you said it would be. You said you'd be on this exact train on this exact time."
The only other person that had been on that train with him (minus the driver) was the cat that had questioned him. Huh. He'd make a good mayor. With those piercing red eyes, an obedience propaganda poster would be no trouble. "Rover is watching you" it would say. He smirked. No wonder she's nervous. He supposed he would stop protesting. He wasn't sure if such a thing would really happen (the cat had seemed nice enough), but being the mayor was more than he could have ever hoped for. The dog looked relieved that he had stopped trying to correct her. What now? She must've read his expression, for she reached into her pocket and gave him a map, instructing him to head to town hall with her. He obliged.
"You are much younger than I though you'd be. Our old mayor was very set in his ways. A young face might be just what this town needs!" The dog chattered on and on, eventually telling him that he needed to be a resident and to make his way to Nook's Homes, whatever that was. Heck, what do I have to lose? With this thought, he headed out of town hall, leaving his new secretary alone with her thoughts and his paperwork.
Who is he? She wondered as she filled out several papers. She had known from his first denial that he wasn't the mayor that was scheduled to arrive. She hadn't had any contact with said mayor, either. There was just something about the poor fellow. Something that almost pleaded with her to give him a chance. He was young and more than likely inexperienced. Plus, he was another one of those strange creatures that she saw speeding past in the trains now and again. She herself had never met one, nor seen one up close, save for the occasional TV program she had once managed to schedule into her busy day. There was one thing she knew—they never visited this town. She had heard stories about them from Shrunk, who tried to keep his distance due to his allergies. They lived by very different rules. Perhaps he broke them. This couldn't be a good thing. A rule-breaker as mayor? Surely not! And yet, as she had watched him shift his weight nervously at her proclamations of his mayor-hood, it was as if there was a quiet voice whispering to her. Give him a chance. She had never been one to ignore this voice, and she wasn't about to start now.