Chapter One
Dawn Nixon P.O.V
10 years. That's how long its been on my own. Not that I have a problem with that, its easier this way. Plus I got Sage with me, my German Shepherd-Siberian Husky mix. So I'm not really alone either. Which also isn't a problem since I'm not really a people person.My family had friends, lots. But my family also had enemies, people who they didn't like or people who didn't like them.
I'm so used to being free, a wanderer who's not lost, just simply wandering. I mean, no I don't always walk everywhere. I sometimes can hitchhike, which isn't as weird as people make it out to be in some of the movies I've watched in my life-time. I've hidden on boats and buses, and sometimes i might even make a friend or two who wanna help out.
I can't say that everything I've seen has been all rainbows and unicorns, it hasn't been like the fairy tales either. I have met people who are bad, maybe even psycho. They were lost, I tried to help them but not all could be saved.
Right now I'm on the train. In some circumstances I would be very happy with that statement but now isn't one of those times. Its raining outside in the nasty weather of Canada, I don't know why I came here in the first place! It's February now and the ground is slush and mush, not really pretty. The wooden box cart I hopped into was red and the paint was faded and chipped, 'When nothing goes right... go left.' in a beautiful spray paint art work on the door. The inside wasn't any better, it was empty, apart from my 2 bags and Sage curled up in the corner... she likes walking better, but she'll follow me anywhere. The rain was leaking through the roof and on the left side, the door was wide open and broken, letting all the rain and wind whip around with the speed of the train racing through the tracks. The outside looked dark, guessing it was around 12 AM.
I went into the corner Sage was huddled and grabbed my blanket from my bag. With my bags as my pillows and Sage now cuddled on my chest, I pulled the blanket over the both of us and blocked out the rest of the world, and falling to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~
It was the end of our ride, which Sage is overly joyed to finally get off the broken box on wheels. The sunrise was peaking through the trees, it was probably 5 AM. Perfect timing. The train was moving at a steady paste so I whistled, signaling Sage to jump, before I threw my bags out the door, then finally taking my turn jumping through the broken doors of the box cart.
The damp grass stained my skirt, but I just ignore it and collected my bags, throwing them over my shoulders. I stopped and just closed my eyes. The breeze became light, with the train now gone and everything was still and silent.
Birds singing, the sun soaking into my skin, it was peaceful... something I hadn't experienced in a while. I looked around at the tall forest trees, still leafless but big enough to make the inside a dark labyrinth. A smile crept onto my face and I looked at Sage, only to find her looking at me with puppy dog eyes and waging her tail.
"Let's go Sage, somewhere new is begging to be explored." I smiled at my best friend, starting the long walk through the forest.
There was still a little snow on the ground, albeit the air was starting to get a little warmer too. Woof! Sage barked from my left, I started towareds her but stopped suddenly when she crouched down ready to attack. I knew it meant something or someone was behind me.
I turned around sharply, bags forgotten on the ground and my fists infront of my face. My jaw must have dropped because the little girl standing across from me giggled. I shook my head and chuckled.
"What's your name?" I asked. To me she looked about 10, maybe 11 years old.
"my name is Tasha, what are you doing out here?" She tilted her head to the side, she had blue eyes and short caramel coloured hair.
"Wandering." My answer was short, but it was the only one I had, "My name is Dawn." I smiled.
"Wandering where?" Tasha asked, Sage slowly approached her and sniffed her right pocket. Tasha stuck her hand into her pocket and pulled out a muffin wrapped in plastic.
"Everywhere, anywhere..." I replied softly as I watched Sage take a bite of the muffin Tasha was offering, "What are you doing out in the woods?"
"I live here."
