Snippet #2756590

The train ride to Abernathy took three hours in total, and by and large it was an uneventful ride. The new Pack had a chance to chat among themselves, getting to know one another a little better and exchange pleasantries. But beyond that not much of note transpired, and it was with some relief that the train finally came to a stop at their scheduled destination.

As they all stepped out onto the train platform, a modest train station was what greeted them. The place was somewhat bustling, as people milled about, either just getting off the train or waiting for theirs to arrive. Considering that Abernathy was a main stopping line on the train from New Life, it wasn't all that surprising that the station itself was busy. Plenty of people had business going to and from the capital of the Faith: travelling missionaries, territorial officials, people visiting family. New Life itself was also a somewhat popular tourist destination among the Faithful. Many Faithful, those with the monetary means at least, made a yearly pilgrimage to New Life, visiting the Holy Sanctum of the Faithful (the official name of the first church built in New Life, more commonly called the Holy Sanctum), the Palace of the Prophets, and other locales of religious significance.

So it wasn't that much of a surprise when someone bumped into Anna, as she walked off the train. The person, a man of nondescript physical appearance and of an older age if his balding head was any indication, gave a quick murmur of apology to her, before boarding the train itself. Before the incident could cement any further in her mind though, their group was soon approached by an older woman with a sheriff's badge pinned to her shirt.

She was closer to Sonia's age, maybe ten or fifteen years older than her if the heavier wrinkles and clearer presence of grey and white hair was any indication. Still, the pistol at her side disarmed any notions that the woman was harmless. She radiated a sort of confidence that Anna often saw in older Dogs, and there was little doubt that if the older sheriff had to defend herself, she'd likely do a good job of it.

"Afternoon." the Sheriff tipped her hat to the group, eyes glancing over all of them. She hesitated a little, perhaps not quite knowing who the leader was, and who to address her question to in particular. "Ya'll are the Dogs from New Life, right? I was told you'd be coming in pretty soon. I'm Sheriff Jane Mills of Abernathy. This is about those Dogs that came here last week, right? I heard they've gone missin'."