He just showed up one day. Like he rolled right off of a pickup truck as it zoomed through space...and landed here.

Hans. All sickeningly-sweet grins and balanced whiskers and...and...and...brown fur. Orange fur. Orange-brown, brown-orange.

Definitely doesn't remind me of Anna's fur. That would just be silly...and dumb. Dumbsilly. Because she's the absolute best and he…

"Good afternoon, Elsa. Nice, um...barn. You know if there's any improvements you'd like to see made around here, just come to me about it, right?"

I don't trust him.

"And...you know I've got another rally tomorrow night, right? Now, I know that groundhogs and crickets and frogs all hopping and shouting and getting...rowdy...isn't really your scene."

I heard about what he did at his home-farm, the one right down the road.

"But as one farm-cat to another, I hope I can count on your support for next week's election. Together, we can get this dust-bowl in order and make sure that what happened...down the road...never happens again."

That fire was his fault! I saw it! But it's just my word against his...and he already has so many fans here. Somehow…

"And if you ever want to move out. Move...up. I mean, I guess it comes in handy to have your little go-fer puffball around to run errands."

DON'T YOU DARE ROPE ANNA INTO ONE OF YOUR SCHEMES!

"But if you ever want to see what living in style is like...vote for this cat, 'cause I'll go to the mat...for you!"

Elsa swallowed thickly, mustered the friendliest smile she could, and waved from her second-floor barn window perch. She waved until Hans left for the carrot patch, flanked by a pair of raccoons and a one-eyed crow.

He just wants the power. He just wants...to use others. And if nobody else steps up to run against him in the election next week…

Grumbling hotly, Elsa nestled her chin against her paws, and blanched upon realizing she had shredded her favorite JoeBob fake-mouse to bits during the one-sided conversation.

If I didn't completely just freeze up in front of any more than five others, I would...I could…

Each swat of Elsa's tail left and right and back kicked up a little dust poof. She blew out a tired breath, before her bitty kitty heart swelled at the sight of Anna, below...waddling out of the chicken coop.

Arms loaded with a mound of corn kernels, Anna spilled a few this way and that...and cooed encouragements as a small train of baby chicks tottered out after her.

"Miley. Riley. Smiley. Quiley. Niley. Triley. Jiley. Your mama said you can have the rest of your snack out here, but you have to promise to cheer on the bunny weeding team as they zoom by. Okay?"

The chorus of pleased chirps that followed brought an affectionate sigh from Elsa, but her thoughts drifted back to her worries the moment Anna disappeared below.

How can I keep everyone here safe if I...can't...run for mayor?

How can I keep Anna...safe?

Think...think! Just keep thinking and I'll think of something! Think think think think!

"Aw, Elsa. Your l'il floofer's up."

Blushing brightly, Elsa looked up from her absolutely shredded JoeBob, and all her stresses fell away with Anna right in front of her. "Oh...Anna. That doesn't really happen to me...does it?"

Once again dirty from head to little paw-claws, Anna patted the tuft of fur between her ears in demonstration. "Sure does, and this time it's super wild. It's like your floofer gets scared when you think about big stuff, and it tries to fly away. Something big got you thinkin'?"

Momentarily disappointed in herself for ruining one of the fake-mice Anna had made her, Elsa nudged the bits underneath her and wiggled her nose. "Sure is. Something big like...what's my favorite hammy hiding behind her back?"

Wriggling with glee, Anna performed a dramatic bow, only wobbled a little bit, and held out a fat corn kernel. "Your trophy for being A plus today, a corn!"

Elsa draped a paw against her forehead and chuckled weakly. "I saw you working hard out there, Anna. That's your corn and you earned it."

And if Hans had his way, you wouldn't get any corn! Hamsters deserve equal food! I have to do something! Something something something…

Anna giggled softly, set the kernel aside, and waddled up next to Elsa. "I know what's got you big thinkin'." She nodded deeply at her own words and did the scritchy-scratch underneath Elsa's collar. "Elsa's big sweet brain's doin' the big sweet think today...about this votey-thingey."

At that, Elsa's ears curled down a bit, even as she hunkered down against the scritchy-scratch. She mumbled softly. "It's not...I'm not…" Out of anxious habit, she began to clean the top of Anna's head.

Anna sighed, flopped back against her dear friend's chest-floof, and immediately yawned. "If that new Handsy fella does the votey-thingey all alone, it's not...not gonna feel special...when...when he wins."

Elsa bit back a frustrated whine and rested her chin atop Anna's head. "You don't have to big think today, Anna. Hammy worked hard...earned her naperoo."

Anna let out a sleepy gurgle, rolled onto her right side, and mashed her face against Elsa's fur...but words kept coming. At a slow, sleepy rate. "I...can do it. Votey...thingey...me. Big talkey...back...forth. He...win...feel special." Another yawn, and Anna wrapped her little arms around a patch of pale fur.

Elsa swallowed thickly, one limb curling around Anna's snoozing form.

If you want to run, I'll do everything I can to help.

"L'il...peanut. Big...talk."

Just don't want you to be hurt.

"Hammy...got a planny…" At last, Anna dropped off to sleep with a heavy snore.

Elsa didn't bother to fix her head-floof, and ended up falling asleep halfway through cleaning her favorite hammy...just as raindrops began to pitty-pat on the barn roof.