This is going to be my first murder mystery and I'm super excited!
Please stay tuned for more chapters ahead!

~Ebonyfire

Prologue

The day was warm but not harsh, the sunlight gently pouring through the train cab's windows. The sky outside of the glass was a pastel azure, and gently, white cotton clouds drifted aloft in the air, scattered among the ocean of blue. Below, a cliff ended to show a view of a valley resting in the crook of the mountains, a clear river, like a flowing ribbon, stretched across the forests and open meadows Small clusters of houses, barely seen from the high above, passing slowly as the train sped by.

The train hummed and vibrated rhythmically as in raced down the cliff tracks, the slight movement just managing to shake a folded piece of paper right off a wooden table sitting between two bench-like seats. Just as it drifted to the floor, a paw, or perhaps paw-hand, swooped down, catching it midair. Sitting on the red plush seat, a young lady with long, platinum hair, loosely drawn back into a low hanging ponytail, looked away from the window to witness the paper catching savior.

"Howdy," chuckled a blue-grey and white tom, his crimson eyes glinting with amusement and curiosity, "Almost lost this."

"Oh," she said absentmindedly, before realization snapped back, "Oh yes, um, thank you!"

He smiled at her charmingly before sliding it over to her, watching her pick it up with her slender fingers before slipping into a folder.

"May I have a seat?" the tom gestured at the opposite bench in the booth after a short hesitation, to which the girl nodded after realizing what he had said.

The cat politely dipped his head before taking a seat, looking down at the many papers strewn across the table.

"So, if you don't mind my asking, where 're you heading on such a fine day?" The white haired girl smiled and slipped out the previously fallen piece of paper from the folder, unfolding it to reveal a map with a red circle over a seaside town.

"I'm heading here," she pointed, "To a small town called MiaouRonronner, or as I heard the locals call it, Miaou," her stormy grey eyes glimmered with anticipation and she pushed a pair of thick framed glasses back up the ridge of her nose, "It has a great location; cliffside town with paths down to a sandy beach and beautiful forests; it isn't even a tourist town! The housing prices are a little over budget, but waaay low for a place this beautiful. Or at least it looks beautiful from the photos I've seen."

The tomcat smiled at her enthusiasm and stared down at the tiny town, depicted as wedged between two jagged cliffsides on a lower plateau. Now that he thought about it, it did sound pretty nice.

"Moving huh?" he began as she folded the paper back up and put it away, "You look so young to be living out in the world alone."

She swept a lock of ivory hair from her face and smiled bashfully, "Well, I am 18, but I've already finished a couple years of college, being a few grades ahead. I couldn't wait to find a place where I could live and maybe start a business," she bit her lip, "but I am a bit nervous."

"Well," he chortled, "quite the story on you, huh?"

"Oh! Sorry, I don't mean to babble," she gave a weary laugh, "I haven't really spoken anyone for the past few hours."

"No no! No trouble at all! I love stories!" the tom looked at her with amusement before straitening his plaid vest, the crimson of it matching his eyes, "I'm Rover, by the way."

"Gigi."

"A lovely name," he said thoughtfully, as though trying to recall a memory, "Have you already found a house there?"

"No," Gigi shook her head, her large, black glasses sliding down her nose once again, "I know of a branch of a house building service is located on Main Street, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem getting a house. Not to mention that at the museum they've converted the upper floor showcase rooms into one room apartments, so it isn't like I'll sleep in a tent before the house is finished."

"Kind of risky, isn't it?" Rover's eyes wandered to the window and passing scenery, "But I guess that's the fun of the journey, huh? The risks."

Gigi took out the map once more before looking out the window herself. With a sudden lurch, the train began to slow down considerably before coming to a halt.

"Welp, this is my spot," he sat up, sliding out of the booth before grabbing his luggage from a shelf over the opposite windows.

"Where 're you heading?" Gigi asked politely as he picked up some of his things from the booth he originally was sitting at.

"Nowhere in particular," Rover replied, "I decided that I wanted to travel again recently, so I point to a place on a map and go there," he grunted as he heaved all his suitcases into his arms, "Now that I think of it, I haven't done any travel since around 2002..."

The train let out a deafening whistle before a voice echoed from the intercom.

"Last leaving to Townsville! Last leaving to Townsville!" a male voice repeated.

"That's my cue," the blue-grey tom chuckled, hobbling towards the door.

"Goodbye Rover, safe travels!"

"See ya," he replied with a smile, "I'll come visit this 'MiaouRonronner' some time, okay?"

He gave a laugh, and before the young lady could reply, disappeared out the door.