A wooden door appeared above the roof of the Cheesetown Post Office. It opened. A little girl dressed in black jeans, a blue shirt and a hooded cape came stumbling out. A book was pressed against the pink heart on her shirt. Her other arm clutched a stuffed lion. The door slammed shut and vanished. She turned around and yelled, "Outcast! I'll get you for this!" She huffed over to the edge of the roof, looking around.
Below she saw an empty field of grass and some buildings. A strong wind blew through her long brown hair, the sunlight glinting off the diamonds on the ends of her sleeves. A beetle crawled up her pant leg, its feelers skitting up the decorative flowers running along its sides. With a disgusted shout, she kicked it off.
Chimes from a bell clock began ringing in the distance. She turned around and stared at the trees, trying to figure out where it was coming from.
She heard scuffing sounds. She looked down and saw an alligator and a rabbit kicking around a soccer ball, laughing and talking about something. They went away.
The girl put the stuffed lion down. It transformed into a furry life
size lion, with blonde fur, and a white mane. It was dressed in a
pair of red pants and a red vest. It turned and talked to her.
"Ahhhh, Savren. You need to let me out more." He stretched and
looked around. "Come on Wild," Savren said. "Let's look around this new world."
She hopped onto the shoulders of the lion.
The lion climbed down the side of the post office. The wind calmed
down, becoming lighter.
Savern looked around. "Hmm, let's try in there, Wild." She opened the door to the post office and stepped in. Her mouth dropped open.
A winged cherub was flying through the room. A female stork in a postal uniform was chasing after it with a broom. The cherub giggled with glee, flitting away. It took an arrow out of a quiver on its back, nocking it in a smal bow. The arrow had a heart shaped tip. The creature aimed and fired at the stork.
"Stop that!" she screamed, beating the cherub with the broom. "Stop that, you little creep!"
The cherub laughed and shot her again.
The stork chased it around the room, smacking it repeatedly. She bumped into the lion and fell backwards onto the floor. She stared up into the lion's eyes. Her mouth fell open. "Oh!" She brushed herself standing up. She looked at the lion and blushed. "Oh my, aren't you handsome?" She glanced at her rumpled uniform. "Oh and aren't I a mess?" She straightened her clothes, then gazed in the lion's eyes, turning a deep red. She offered a hand. "H-hi. My, my name is Wanda. W-what's your name?"
The cherub laughed gleefully, opened the door, and flew out.
"The name is Wild," said the lion. "Strange little thing that was." He let Sarven down.
"Can you tell me were we are?" Savren asked.
The stork ignored her, staring at the lion with an amorous gaze. "Wild," she breathed. "Yes, you certainly are. Tell me, what is a handsome thing like you doing in this little podunk town?" Before the lion could reply, she said, "No matter. What say you and me go down the road a ways and get a little something to eat?"
Savren gawed at the stork with her eyes blank white, her mouth drooped.
Wild gave her an angry look. "Why are you so shocked? I do get asked out sometimes, you know!" He put on a happier face, turning back to the stork, "Sure. That sounds nice."
"It does?" She turned red. "Yes, of course it does! Very nice!" She fanned herself. "Hold on, Wanda," she muttered to herself. "Your heart is about to beat out of your chest!" She brushed her feathers, composing herself. "Well! Shall we go, then?"
The lion shrugged.
The stork grabbed his paw, leading him to the door. "Just let me take care of something." She grabbed a wooden sign and led Wild outside.
Savern looked even more shocked as the lion and the stork walked off. She got a hold of herself. "Great. Now what will I do?"
The wind had calmed down. The passage between the post office and the bank was quiet and deserted. The two creatures stepped out on the grass.
"The wonderful thing about little towns like this," she said as she hung the sign on the door. "Is that you never need to lock anything up."
The sky suddenly got dark and cloudy. There was a flash, then dark lightning bolts shot through the sky.
"Oh great," Wanda muttered. "Just my luck. Meet the animal of my dreams and it has to rain."
More lightning bolts cracked through the air. Wanda went back in the post office, coming out with an umbrella. There was a brilliant flash, then the clouds vanished.
"Well isn't that wonderful! I wonder what that was."
Wild shrugged.
Wanda took the lion's paw again. "We can't let a little rain and thunder ruin things, can we?"
Wild shook his head. They strolled down the grassy path leading away from the building, passing a nest the size of a house.
Wild sniffed. "Do you smell something?"
Wanda looked horrified. "Oh sugar. I just bathed last night." She looked to the left and saw a skunk in a karate gi doing kneel walks. "Oh it's that dirty Sensei Smelly. I don't much care for him."
Mr. Smell kneel walked closer.
"Moving on." They hurried on from there. Swatting away a cloud of gnats, they passed a basketball court and a house. In the distance, a ramshackle old mansion could be seen. A dragonfly flitted past them. They walked onward, past a little wooden chapel. A bolt of black lightning shot through the sky, hitting the mansion. The two stared at it, then went on, coming to a parking lot.
The lot was filled with vehicles. A classic Lincoln motorcycle, a new Chevy station wagon, a green Crown Chiktoria, a 1950's Mercedes Coupe, an old Lexus pickup, and ten other vehicles. Wanda took out her keys, walking to the side of the Crown Chick. She opened the door and got in, letting Wild in the passenger side.
The lion looked in. The seats were large, with fake gray leather apholstery. The gray plastic dashboard had fake wooden accents. He seated himself, careful not to slam his tail in the door when he closed it.
Wanda started up the engine and heavy metal music began playing. "Oops! How'd it get on that station?" She pushed a button.
"Welcome to the Indian hour," said a voice on the radio. "Thank you for tuning in. This is Maheesh Abinajab, and you're listening to community radio 580."
Indian music began playing.
Wanda looked into the lion's eyes. "So, sweetie. Where do you want to eat at? Linguini's? Lenny's? Rancho Habanero? Luba's? "V"? La Chong?" She paused. "I guess we could also go to Knuckles. There's also some fast food places...Weird Wings, Funkdoodles...but let's not go there. Nanoburger would be pretty bad, too." With a shrug, she added, "Unless you have your heart set on it."
A blue wolf with bright blue eyes approached Wanda's window, waving. Wanda paid no attention. Wild stared at him. "Who's that?"
"Who's who?"
"There's someone waving at us."
"Just ignore it. Did you decide where you want to eat yet?"
The lion glanced at the blue wolf, then looked away. Hmmm. Best for him not to see me. He smiled at Wanda, "Whatever you like, my dear."
Wanda shook her head. "Men." She shrugged. "Let's go to Knuckles Drive-In." She grabbed the handlebar by the steering wheel, shifting into reverse. "On second thought..." She shifted into drive. "Let's go to V. I haven't been in there for awhile."
The car pulled out of the parking lot, entering an intersection with a small park on the left side. On the right was a field containing a giant device with a satellite dish attachment. The street sign read Coriander. They went straight between the park and the dish, coming to a street lined with houses. Past this was a two lane thoroughfare.
Straight across this busy street was a building with a giant castle sign reading `Nanoburger.' Next to it was a red glass and steel building with a giant red flag out front. A sign above it read "V." Wanda turned right, then cut across the oncoming lane, pulling into the V parking lot. She parked and they got out.
Wild stared at the building. The windows were tinted, and the walls were a bright crimson. It seemed like a scary place to get meals. Wanda grabbed the lion's paw, leading him to the door. They went inside.
The interior of the building was trimmed in black and red. The tables, booths and chairs were gray. A pair of red flags hung from walls at either end of the room. On the flags were three interlocking circles arranged in a V formation, looking a bit like Mickey Mouse.
The dining room was deserted. A group of rodents in red suits and sunglasses stood like statues behind the front counter. Above their heads was a menu with only one item on it. A "Number One."
Wanda led the lion up to the counter.
"We come in peace for all mankind," said a short mouse.
A fat mouse elbowed him.
"Oh. Right. Welcome to V, home of the Number One. What would you like today?"
The other mice burst out laughing.
"Umm...I'll have a Number One," said Wanda.
The mouse looked at Wild. "And you, sir? What would you like?"
Snorts of laughter.
"I'll take the Number One, please."
"Excellent choice!" the mouse giggled. "Take a seat. We'll bring the food out."
Wanda nodded. She looked at Wild and shrugged. "You know, I thought there was more of a select-"
"Sit down!" the mouse barked.
"That was rude," said Wanda.
"Now!" said another mouse.
"I have to use the little stork's room," said Wanda.
"You will use the restroom when we say you can use it!"
"You will sit down and wait for your meal!"
"And you will enjoy it!"
Wanda glared at the mice. "Your service stinks. And so does your selection."
"You will not insult our establishment!"
"Take your seat!" the other mice chimed in.
Wanda rolled her eyes, going to a booth.
"Not that one! The one by the window!"
"The window!" the other mice cried in chorus.
The stork frowned, seating herself by the window. Wild sat down across from her.
"I'm sorry, Wild child," said Wanda. "I had forgotten why I never eat here."
The mice brought out a tray with hamburgers on them. "Here is your food," said one of them. "You will enjoy it."
"Enjoy it!" the others shouted. "Now!"
Wanda and Wild unwrapped their food. The sandwiches were plain meat patties with cheese on a bun. No mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, mustard or ketchup.
Wild growled. Savren is going to hate me for this, but oh well! He put his paws together, mumbling a spell. In a flash, he transformed into a gigantic lion with horns and a flaming mane that left scorch marks on the ceiling. He put his face down the head alien. "Tell me, who is going to eat who now?" He gave a loud rour for effect.
The alien creatures cowered in fear, trembling as they looked up at the beast. They dropped their weapons and backed away.
"Let's go," said Wanda. "And let's never eat here again."
The two went to the door. Wanda went out, but Wild was too big to fit in the door. He went to the plate glass window, smashing through it. He followed the stork to the Crown Chick, magically adjusting his size so he could fit in the seat.
Whirr. Click.
Wanda unlocked the car.
Click. Whirr. Grind.
She got in the driver's seat, unlocking the passenger side.
Click. Bang.
Wild turned and saw a group of shiny silver legs extending from the sides of a green dumpster. The dumpster raised a foot in the air, its legs becoming longer and longer until it stood taller than the restaurant, towering over Wild and the car. The bottom of the dumpster dropped out and a pair of threatening metal tubes popped out of its base, pointing at them. It made a loud groaning sound like a prehistoric monster, or a barge.
A fireball shot out of one of the tubes.
Part of the pavement exploded, leaving behind a giant pothole.
The dumpster robot stomped closer to the car. "Halt, creatures!" It aimed its laser beams at the lion. "Remain stationary for cataloging and assignment."
If you want to add to the story, or start your own, Please e-mail the Game Master at akktri@iname.com with your questions.
If you want to add to the story, or start your own, Please e-mail the Game Master at akktri@iname.com with your questions.
