Dampened handkerchiefs with flowers embroidered into them were pressed to my hands and feet that instantly stained them.
Men offered theirs; more plain and simple in style than the women's more elaborate ones.
I grimaced as the beautiful patterns were slowly ruined. Sitting up on a seat inside the carriage, my torn skin was more easily accessable to be cleaned.
The woman in the checkered dress took it apon herself to be the one to help me. Her dress puffed around her as she sat on the floor to reach the limbs I held out for her.
She didn't need to help me so much. I didn't even know her name, and here she was, dirtying her clothing and destroying her own belongings for me.
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Sage was being doted on by the others too. Sitting in the seat across the aisle, she happily accepted scratches behind her long ears and compliments on how beautiful she was.
She ate sandwiches and soft biscuits offered to her that sat in their tiers decorating the middle of each table.
The women and men loved her. They were a little more wary of me since I was much larger and didn't share the same childish enthusiasm she did.
"You poor thing" the woman wiped my hands over again as they bled "look at you."
Peering up at me, I noticed her eyes lingering on my face that I quickly turned away.
It was just like the way Missy used to look at me; kindly and pitiful. I didn't want this stranger to be pushing me away too when she figured out the truth.
There was nowhere to hide in this train. I'd have to see where it stopped and take it from there.
Still, at least Sage was taking in the change of scenery. It seemed to energise her.
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The plains and distant mountains rolled by as I took to staring at them instead. Massive blocks of concrete that served at makeshift stations also swept past, old metal signs flapping in the breeze.
There were bending trees shedding their purple flowers, and wetlands being combed by white herons picking through the reeds.
Sage gasped out on the other side, excitedly turning to me when one out her window snapped up a whole fish that slapped against the firm beak.
I smiled at her face returning to press to the glass excitedly. Slipping my eyes down, the woman was also sharing the happiness in the moment, before tending back to my feet.
"I think you'll need bandages" she noted as she finished wiping, looking up to one of the other women hovering nearby "what do you think?"
The other leant down, her almost identical brown, curled hair falling over her shoulders like a curtain. She planted her hands on the front of her pastel green dress and frowned as she studied, humming.
"She's not going anywhere on feet like those."
Her hand reached over to scruff the top of my head as I blankly stared back at the mistake.
Looking down, I grimaced at the mess that met me. I could still feel it pulsing through me, as if the rocks were continuing to prick my soft heels and palms forever.
The woman shared a sympathetic smile to me. Getting up, she went to wash out the stained handkerchiefs; giving me a moment of peace.
Sage watched her leave and turned to me once her view was unobscured. Frowning at my wet hands and feet, she also lingered.
"Are you going to be ok?"
I forced a smile, straightening.
"Of course. Some rocks aren't going to stop me."
But they could. The journey could be over before it really even began.
Her family was counting on me to help their daughter see what she thought she wanted. I wasn't going to let them down only hours after setting off.
We still had to find somewhere to sleep tonight. The afternoon sun brightly basking the changing landscape was already worrying me.
We had to be away from those blue lights. As much as Sage was familiar with her 'Uncle' and 'Aunty', following them was a whole other world of uncertainty and danger.
No. I'd keep her safe from the smiling spirits.
We would have to stay somewhere close to whatever station we eventually stopped at. As much as I hated to admit it, the woman in the blue dress was right. I wasn't getting anywhere on these feet.
Perhaps we could stay in the train itself? It looked cozy enough.
Sage probably wouldn't enjoy it, but she did want to see what this life was like. Sometimes we had to do things we didn't want to.
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The woman returned, promptly blocking my thoughts and view to Sage briefly.
"Patrice" the other woman called to her friend as she sat in the seat beside us, cradling a cup of tea "what will you do with them?"
She smiled down at me, checking me over gently.
"I was thinking I'd bring them home with me."
Sage's ears shot up. I felt my gut clench when I glanced over at her before dropping my shocked gaze to the woman.
"Why?" the other gave a little chuckle "they aren't exactly strays. Let Henry look after them."
Exactly. Why care for creatures like us? We could be dangerous and she didn't mind. She just dismissed her friends concerns so easily.
And who was Henry? The local vet? The conductor? Her husband, perhaps?
There were too many questions. I didn't like being so unsure.
"Are we going with her?" Sage whispered over to me, glancing at the woman who turned.
"No" I replied "no, you stay with me. We don't go with people we don't know."
Sage nodded, pulling her hand away when Patrice reached for it.
It was all ironic. I once chased someone I didn't know because they showed me kindness before. Now that I was met with the same feeling, I was afraid of it.
Sage felt so far away over there. It was rattling my nerves being surrounded by so many others wanting to give us the same things Missy once did.
When was this train going to stop?
"I doubt Fig will enjoy sharing his window sill" the friend joked, making both women chuckle.
A pet. By the mention, I was guessing Fig was a cat, or a basking bird.
A cat could be bad. They were such spiteful creatures. I remember being scratched by a stray when I still lived my human life, after generously giving it the last of my sandwich I used the remainder of my money for.
Perhaps it just didn't like bread? That would explain the reaction.
Sighing, I grimaced at the thought of sharing room with a irritated creature armed by claws so sharp and willing to sink into skin.
Couldn't it be a slobbery puppy? The bird would be better, even.
Trust my luck it would be a cat.
"She doesn't like the idea" Patrice giggled to her friend, tilting her head to me "look."
I didn't hide the disgruntlement. Turning it to the woman, she burst into laughter, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth to hide the outburst that shook through her shoulders instead.
Patrice shared the laughter. Rising to her feet, she decided to come and perch on the seat.
Shuffling over, I was blocked in by the window. The flowing dress puffed outwards when she sat, billowing even when she pressed it down and reached over for the biscuits.
Her friend decided to switch chairs so she could shuffle inwards to the seat opposite me. She struggled with her layered dress, causing both friends to laugh at the encounter.
With a waving hand, Sage was summoned over. Obediently dropping down, she carefully picked her way across the aisle and up into the seat opposite Patrice.
She was wary. Good. She was learning.
Her friend reached over to run a hand over Sage's head now. Her ears lowered as they were pushed down, making her forget about everything else.
"They aren't too scary" Sage commented as she was stroked "someone who smells like flowers and biscuits can't be a bad person."
"People are deceiving" I reminded her, narrowing my eyes at the hand still running a path over Sage's head repeatedly "you can't always trust your senses."
"Well..." she looked up at the woman who smiled warmly back, scratching under her chin she lifted gladly "....I sense she's a nice lady."
Grumbling at her attitude and smug smile, Sage accepted a biscuit from the woman to munch on it while grinning at me.
She certainly was her mother's daughter.
"Just.... be careful."
"Of how much she's going to feed me?" Sage muffled through another jammy biscuit she crunched on "iglltgry."
Little bits flew as she spoke. Wrinkling my nose at the dirty table, Sage grinned widely through her teeth packed with lumpy biscuit and red jam.
Charming.
Patrice found this quite so. She laughed with her friend at Sage who proudly showed off her gross antics, being rewarded with more food she gladly took.
They loved her. They didn't care about trying to correct her behaviour. She was just an amusing wild animal.
I refused the food offered to me. Turning my head up, I grumbled as it was pressed against my lip to try and get me to change my mind.
Sage snapped it up when it was thrown to her instead, loudly chewing with her mouth open to disgruntle me even more and entertain our company.
She really was going to be a handful.
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It was a good few minutes of force-fed affection and food before the train finally announced it's arrival to its destination.
A white tiled station was decorated with blue ones speckled within the waved pattern on the ground. Standing tall, a weathered light blue building was perched behind it that had a clear sight to the town through the other side.
Curved wooden seats were lining the sides of the makeshift aisle. More vintage dresses and overalls perched on the seats, spilling out to the station walkway when the train finally huffed to a stop.
Colour was everywhere. It flapped in the breeze through the white and blue fish banners hung in a line off the side of the station, and bobbed through the light pink flower lanterns swaying from the roof.
The women and men started to excitedly file outwards. As they passed us, more hands ran across Sage, who practically purred from the attention.
"We had better get off" I snapped her from her glee of an enthusiastic rub under the chin once more "unless you want to go back the way we came?"
"I like it here" she beamed "we can explore everything."
So excited about the unknown. I smiled at her enthusiasm and willingness to get lost already.
"Only for a little bit. There's more to learn than how much you can charm someone into liking you."
"Well, that's not hard" she grinned as more hands ran over her.
Shaking my head at her, I smiled.
"Come on then."
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Patrice slipped out to help her friend into the aisle. With encouragement and laughter from others, they waited for Sage to leap down and join them.
I dragged myself over, not sure about such an ambitious drop. Hanging over the edge of the seat, I got myself to slide down so precariously and carefully that I didn't further damage myself.
As soon as my hands and feet touched the soft floor, I felt them sear back. With Patrice in front of me, I limped along with my own curious entourage keeping watch.
Every step jolted up to my hips and shoulders. I could feel my skin scraping the floor with each careful movement. It burned and throbbed all at once.
Still, everyone was patient. They didn't get angry I was slowing them down. Patrice and her gathered crowd waited when I gingerly stepped over the gap between the train and the cold tiles of the station itself. Nobody tried to rush me when I hobbled to the cool shade of one of the seats pressed to the outer wall of the station and slumped beneath it.
Sage followed to sit herself on the seat above. Her tail dangled down beside her as she watched the curious strangers over at the train.
The tiles were speckled red from my path. Obscured, they looked like fallen petals on the white and blue.
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Our appearance had gathered quite an interest. Patrice excitedly told the others about our adventure and the adventurous way we had come aboard their tour. With comments and interested looks, the others listened so intently.
She presented the parasol she sacrificed to the group. They gathered, some stretching out dainty arms to touch the thing held out for them. When it was opened, there was a collection of gasps at how shredded it had become.
"It's ok" Patrice smiled through it to them, closing it once more "I'll just patch it up. It'll be nice to put some new colours in it anyway."
She was taking it so well. I thought she'd be just a little more upset her belongings were so ruined.
"It was for something good" she turned her head to us "so, that makes it alright."
I felt myself blush at the mention. Her kindness was making me uneasy once again. I checked on Sage sharing the grin back at the woman.
"I'll look after them" she decided "until they can be on their way again."
There were nods and agreement. This generosity must have been a well-known trait of Patrice's. Nobody seemed fussed she would take in such odd creatures.
"You always were good with animals" a man with bright orange hair commented fondly "you've got little Fig, and now these two. You'll take home anything that even looks at you!"
More nods and chuckles. They knew her antics and her pet well. The man looked to be a friend of Patrice's. She exchanged a look with him, before reaching out to cheekily tug on his brown suspenders and snap them, making him yelp.
So, she was like Maisie. She had a spark for anything new and a big heart for all sorts of wildlife.
Was she also a vet?
"Although, they aren't like any animal I've ever seen" another man added, peering to Patrice nervously.
There was agreement to this too. Patrice glanced back to us, as if to question what she had gotten herself into.
"It can't be that hard, right?" she chuckled "they've got four legs and long tails, so they cant be too far from cats. They can share Fig's food."
Sage grimaced and leant over to show me her unease.
"I'm not eating dog food" she shuddered and gagged.
"Well, you are in luck, because it's most likely cat food" I teased back, but shared her disgust when I checked on the cheerful woman "I really hope not."
Going from home cooked meals to this. Even scrounging for food in the wild ways better than the dried brown pebbles dumped so carelessly into a bowl.
I had never dropped so low to eat pet food. Even as an animal myself, I still had dignity and standards.
"Henry can look them over and tell me where to go from there. Will you be happy to do that?" Patrice asked the orange-haired man.
He blinked back, a little flustered about being put on the spot in front of everyone.
"Uh, yeah" he agreed, swallowing "yeah. I can do that. My car is parked over there" he jerked a thumb behind him now "we can do that."
"But, I'm not taking you away from anything else?" Patrice worried.
Henry snorted and waved a hand. Dressed up and slicked down, he certainly had other plans before being dragged into this.
"No" he brushed it off and acted ignorant, to the smirks of others "I just came down to check things out for myself. I've got nothing happening."
He was being so modest. By the way Patrice flustered him so easily, he obviously liked her.
Foolish.
"You are the best!" she grabbed his hands to hold them "thank you!"
"It's all good" he grinned and started to burn "I was heading that way anyway. Go and put your things in my car. I'll take you home."
She beamed and rushed off excitedly through the station. Henry turned quickly, raising his voice after her.
"It's next to the stairs! The red one!" he called, growing embarrassed once more at his realization and dropping his voice to a bashful mutter "of course you know which one it is. The red one; silly."
There was laughter and smirks. Someone clapped Henry on the shoulders sympathetically at his mistake.
"It'll be fine" he told the crowd starting to move from him to the train pulling up from the opposite direction "they're just like cats."
More laughter arose. He looked to the others for any sort of assistance.
"Pretty large cats" the other man from before leant over to him while smirking at us "good luck!"
With his brown hair slicked back in the same fashion as Henry, and a smart white polo striped orange on the sides, he wasn't about to give up his experience for his friend.
He had kept his white pants clean from dirt too. They still had the pleat down the middle that ended neatly over two brown leather shoes.
"Bastian!" Henry moaned "help me out, please!"
He turned around, shrugging dramatically.
"I've got so much to do" he sighed back "tea to drink, ladies to talk to, sights to see. I'm all booked out!"
"Bas!" Henry groaned pitifully.
"Sorry, bud!" he grinned as he joined the line to board the train "I'll try and save you some cake!"
Henry glanced back to us, his brow creasing in worry at the realization he was way in over his head.
"Bas!" he whined.
His friend just boarded the train without another word. Watching him file through the aisle, he found a place out on the back platform to hang over the rail and wave.
The train whistled and the conductor called for any last stragglers. Jumping aboard himself, the train started to peel along the rail leading around the other one.
Patrice rushed back into view, waving wildly to Bastian who grinned back.
"Good luck with your cats!" he called with a laugh on his voice before he was blocked from view, reappearing soon after "don't forget the kitty litter!"
Henry scowled after him. Patrice giggled at his antics. Bastian still waved until he was called inside by some enthusiastic women offering drinks.
Henry only lightened up when he turned his attention to Patrice. Holding out a hand toward her, he sighed as he looked down at us.
"You make me wonder sometimes."
She smiled, trying not to laugh back.
"How hard could it be?"
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