Author's Note: I'm going to put a fun fact at the beginning of every chapter from now on! Also, don't forget to review!

Fun Fact: Tally's name was initially Leah, then briefly Cardinal, then I switched it to Colbie before finally settling on Tally.

Chapter One-Tally Marks

Knock knock knock.

Vesta groaned from her bedroom, not bothering to look at the clock. It didn't matter what time it was because she knew it was too early to get up anyways. Who would be knocking on her door just as the sun was rising?

"Hold a moment!" she called out, getting out of bed. She quickly ran a brush through her fluffy fur and pulled her orange and brown striped scarf around around her neck before rushing out into the front room of her house to answer the door. "Hello?" she asked, pulling it open, somewhat shocked to find Eloise, an elephant who lived across town from Vesta, standing there. It wasn't that Vesta and Eloise were enemies, exactly. They just didn't really talk that much, nor did they share many interests.

"Vesta, you will not believe what just happened," Eloise said, inviting herself in and taking a look around the room. "I love what you've done with the place, by the way."

With a sigh, Vesta closed the door behind Eloise. There was clearly no polite way to ask Eloise to leave, and she was slightly interested in the news the elephant had to share anyway.

"Do you want any breakfast or coffee or anything?" Vesta asked, gesturing to her fridge .

Eloise shook her head. "I already had my coffee and bagel for the morning, thanks," she replied.

The sheep shook her head. Eloise was one of the most put together people she had ever met. She didn't know if anyone else could manage to be dressed, fed, and have the latest gossip already at this early in the morning. "So what were you going to tell me?" she inquired, sitting down on one of her chairs at her watermelon table.

Eloise took the chair opposite of her, leaning in close. "A new person moved in."

Vesta was stared at her for a moment. Why was this a big deal? Sure, their small town of Pluto wasn't very big and it was always a cause of small excitement when there was a new villager, but surely Eloise wouldn't have come from all the way across town just to tell her this, would she?

"So?" Vesta asked, getting up to pour herself a cup of orange juice.

"So she's a human."

Vesta nearly dropped the carton she cradled in her arms. This was a big deal after all.

Most animals in other towns wouldn't think it so unusual-most places had a wide variety of animals, humans included. But the only human that had ever lived in Pluto prior to that day was Daniel Chive. And Daniel Chive was persuasive, rich and cunning. And most importantly, Daniel Chive hated other humans.

But to further the complications of this, Danny was away on a two and a half month business trip and wouldn't return until mid-January. So someone would either have to tell him, which would most likely lead to his very early return and a demand for this girl to move out, or they could keep him in the dark and let him return home in January, practically shaking with fury as he found out the news that no one had bothered to tell him.

"Oh gosh," Vesta said with a sigh.

"I know. So here's what I know about her-she moved from Karnaville. You've been there, right?"

Vesta nodded. Karnaville was a large city a few hours south from Pluto. She had gone there one week last summer, and it was truly a breathtaking place, much larger than the city that was only a few minutes away by bus, Lyric. Filled with classy restaurants, weird little craft shops, and endless amounts of vintage fashion stores, it had been a fun week at Karnaville, even though it had been almost unbearably hot and crowded.

Eloise nodded. "It's so pretty, isn't it? I wonder why she wanted to move up here to boring old Pluto...anyways, she's definitely got the 'big city' look about her, like all those Lyric animals. She has green hair, and it's pulled into a super trendy bun, not like anything Harriet could do." She clasped her hands over her mouth, looking shocked at what she just said. "I so did not mean it like that! Oops. So yeah..she's also wearing a total Gracie design, that zebra print shirt that was there a few months ago. She has fake red rose pin in her hair and-"

"Eloise?" said Vesta, quietly interrupting her. "If you don't mind, I'd like to hear things about her that don't have to do with her appearance or fashion sense."

The elephant shook her head, making her brown hair fall into her face a little bit. "Oh Vesta, for someone who loves to sew as much as you do, you really ought to care more about fashion, hon," she said while brushing her hair aside. "But I suppose I'll move on. I know she has that house down by the beach where Friga and Mint used to live."

Vesta nodded, knowing the place. Friga was a penguin who was somewhat similar to Eloise in personality, but had more of a work ethic, a drive that Eloise seemed to lack. She had shared a house with Mint, who, at the time they had moved in together, had been her best friend. But they had gotten on each other nerves within about six months of living together. So as soon as she had gotten enough money, Friga moved out, buying her own house in the northern part of town. Mint couldn't keep up with the rent, and she moved out to a less expensive town. The house had been deserted for around ten weeks, but it looked like Nook had finally sold it.

"Also, her name is Tally. Unusual, isn't it?" Eloise sighed, out of gossip, then glanced at the clock that hung on Vesta's wall. "So sorry, but I have to go. Freya must be up by now and would hate to be the last to know about this. Bye!"

She slid out of Vesta's door, leaving behind a heavy scent of strawberry and retreated into her bathroom, the overpowering smell sickening her slightly, and began to fill her tub with hot water, contemplating what to do. She was in Danny's close circle of friends-not that he didn't try to be friendly with everybody. He did, he made that effort. But he was close with some of the villagers in town, and Vesta was included in that. So she figured she ought to write him, to tell him there was a human in town that wasn't him.

But maybe Tally was nice. Maybe Tally was genuinely a good being. Vesta had never understood why Danny hated humans so much because she had never met one that wasn't him. So maybe now was her chance to get to meet her before Danny came home-whether too early because someone told him of the presence of the girl, or in a few months.

Once the tub was full water and the bathroom was sufficiently steamy, Vesta lowered herself into the tub, letting herself relax. Her shift at the museum wasn't to start until early that evening, so she had all day to enjoy herself.

Except for the question that plagued her mind. Should she tell Danny about Tally, or should she keep it to herself?

"Even if I don't tell, there's the very likely possibility that someone else will write him about it," Vesta reminded herself aloud. "It's not like I'm his closest friend-it doesn't have to my responsibility."

And with that weight lifted slightly above her shoulders, she leaned her head back on the edge of the tub, grateful for the peace and quiet of her own house.