Chapter one
Old propaganda posters hung on the dust plastered walls. Dim lights that shone above it were about to blink out. The car gently swayed from side to side as the train clicked down the track. Outside the car, the sun was just about to set, conveniently between two mountains, covered in a lush forest. Below was a crystalline lake, suspiciously clear, but beautiful none the less. The receding sunlight glimmered off the top off the lake and shimmered in the mist above. A small breeze blew through the open door of the car; it was warm, but cool at the same time. The sky was painted with brilliant purple near the top, and slowly turning from red to yellow.
Few birds flew across the sky, dancing in the golden sunlight, through the mist. They chirped in delight as the fresh mist washed up on their feathers as they landed on the surface of the lake. But other than that, everything but the train chugging along the tracks was quiet. It was a breathtaking sight, to be honest.
Someone shifted near the back of the cargo car. A few boxes moved, a slight groan, and soft snoring was heard. Savine glanced slightly towards the source of the sound, stared for a moment, and jumped off the box on which she perched upon. She stood motionless for a few moments, noticed a masked figure sitting cross legged on the ground, playing with a white kitten. The figure's gloved hand tickled the kitten's tummy as it let out some squeals of delight followed by a purr. Savine turned towards the back of the car as the kitten rubbed its head on the masked man's chest. Once she neared the back of the car, she noticed that the light outside was getting dimmer. The sky was now a deep indigo color, with few lights shining on the other side of the lake. She stopped for another second, just to take a peek outside the door, and continued to her destination.
Behind some wooden boxes was a slim, young, man, he had a nicely shaved beard and was wearing a red snowboarder's toque. A brown jacket and a red undershirt were clearly visible. He seemed to be tinkering with a magazine, playing around with different caliber bullets. It took him a while to notice savine standing infront of him. He looked up, blinked as if he was trying to remember where he was, and smiled just a little.
" Hello," he said with a little wave. Savine just smiled back.
"Not the talkative type I presume?"
Savine just plopped down beside him and stared at him. She wanted to speak, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was usually shy, but at least she responded most of the time.
He flinched a bit, and then smiled warmly again. He reached over to his right side and grabbed a can of soda.
" Care for a BONK?" He gestured for her to take it, waving it gently in front of her.
"Thanks… That would be nice…" Savine genuinely plucked the soda can out of his hand and popped it open. She took a small sip of the soda and grimaced.
" Is it too sour? Ah Im sorry, want some water? It'll make the lime flavouring less intense, eh."
"Oh its ok, thank you," Savine answered softly, in a voice comparable to the texture of silk.
The two awkwardly sat in the back of the train, silent. Out side, the train was starting to enter the coniferous forest, but still staying on the track closest to the lake. It was almost pitch dark outside, except for the little bit of light coming from the lamps hanging of the side of the train car. The scene was more beautiful as the train climbed up the mountain. Streaks of blue green, and aquamarine danced across the sky. Tangoing across from each other and weaving back in.
"Beautiful aint it?" The young man asked.
"Breath taking…" she breathed back, "I've never seen the northern lights before."
"Welcome to Canada, eh?" The man joked in his best stereotypical Canadian accent.
Savine giggled. She extended her hand, now no longer shy, and asked," What's your name?"
He smiled back and nodded, "well, what's yours?"
"You first," She poked him on the arm.
" Alright… I'm Eric, Im from Canada, actually, from Alberta. Professional hunter and trapper. Im here for the same reason you are," he paused," lookin' for a job."
He shook her hand and nodded. "Now your turn."
"Savine." She answered in a short, but sweet voice.
"That's it? C'mon there's gotta be something interesting about you," Eric tried to pull some more information from her with a few more questions, but the only thing Savine answered with was a smile. After a while, Eric just gave up.
"What did you sign up for?" Eric asked again, hoping to get a legitimate answer this time.
"I don't know, what did you sign up for?" She asked, playfully.
He pointed to the crosshairs on the side of his jacket, stared up at her and arched his eyebrows, as if queuing her to tell.
She copied him and pointed to the emblem on her right arm, a flame with a circle around it.
"Ah, I see-" Eric was cut off by an uncontrollable yawn. Savine tried not to let that affect her, but three seconds later she yawned as well.
"Sorry, I'm really tired."
"Same. Imma get some shuteye now…seeya in the morning?"
"Sure," She answered as she slumped against the wall and placed her head onto her curled up knees. The sway of the car was mesmerizing, and slowly lolled her to sleep. Her eyes slowly got heavier as she stared at the old (not to mention outdated) propaganda posters hanging on the wall. There was a man with a helmet that covered up most of his face. He was holding a rocket launcher and saluting towards the American flag, eagle perched on top of his shoulder. So very patriot like. She lazily glanced over to the masked man and the kitten, which were now in a deep sleep. The cat had curled up on top of the man's head, whowas sleeping against the wall. How adorable, she thought. And she drifted off to a deep, tranquil, slumber.
Outside, the train clacked down the track, across a bridge beside a magnificent waterfall. Below was another part of the lake where water lilies were being pushed around by the momentum of the falling water. A deer drank from the river bank and dashed off as the train rounded the corner. Huge towering trees covered in moss and variety of lichens loomed overhead. Some lay sideways, forming natural bridges across small brooks deeper in the coniferous forest. Above the scenery, high above the tree canopies, among the stars, a single comet flew by. Trailing a silver-ish light behind as it whooshed across the brilliant night sky.
PS: Hi this is my first actual fanfic, so I hope you enjoy, I don't have too much time on my hands so chapters won't be mega long and expect updates to not be on a regular basis. Hope you understand. Constructive criticism is welcome. Hope you understand, Thanks