Blind & Broken

Chapter Eight

"Here's your ticket, Sweetie." Jeremy's mom says kindly, and a tiny, ton slip of paper is placed in my palm. I feel the car roll to a stop and Jeremy leads me out of the car.

"Thanks," I tell him.

"Now," the woman continues, "remember the bag is packed with food, water, and extra clothes, that way you shouldn't need to buy anything on the trip. But just in case, there's some cash in the second pocket." I nod, taking it all in as I tighten the straps to the backpack she'd given me this morning.

She's been nicer to me than I thought any person was capable of, and all of it for no apparent reason. Part of me wonders if it's out of sympathy, but if I think like that, I'll feel sorry for myself and doubt if I can make it out East. I just hope I'll find a pack I'll fit into better. That's the only thing keeping me from staying with these people. That and distance. I need to be as far from Colton as I can. I shiver involuntary and block his name from my mind.

"Please be careful, Dear." The woman says, leading me across the platform after I say my goodbyes and thank you's to her husband and son. "It a long train ride, and I just want you to be safe." I open my mouth to ask her why she cares so much, but I think better of it and just nod, trying not to shed tears of gratitude. I just can't believe she's done all of this for me; a stranger from the woods!

"West Virginia, right?" I ask instead.

"Yep! That's far enough East for you?"

I nod with a smile. "It's plenty, thank you so much!"

She squeezes my hand, "I'm just glad to help you. They're boarding now, so you better get on." She lets go and I start moving closer to the train on my own. I can sense I'm almost to the door, based on the air flow change and the noise, but I hesitate. Praying she hasn't moved, I spin around and run back, crushing her in a hug.

"Oh!" She exclaims before wrapping her arms around me. We don't speak, just hug for several moments. Finally, I peel myself away and rush onto the train without turning back. Dragging my hand on the wall, I navigate to the car door and slowly make my way along the aisle.

I stop at each row, asking if I can sit there. After several confused "sorry, this seat is full"s and a few rude "can't you see I'm sitting here"s, a high, delicate voice answers, "of course!" With a sigh of relief, I plop down onto the plush bench and lean against the back, placing my bag at my feet. I think back to the kind woman — suddenly regretting not learning her name — and hope this girl is just as nice.

I take a deep breath, only to immediately stiffen and sit straight up in my seat. This girl was a werewolf! After another subtle inhale, I realize she isn't from any pack I recognize. But then again, my pack is so small and remote, hardly any others come and visit.

The girl must've realized my stiffness, because she chuckles lightly before offering her name. "Hi, my name's Brynlee." I turn my head to her, and I know she must think I'm odd, staring but not seeming to see her. After I don't answer, she tries again.

"And you are. . ." Her voice drops to a hushed whisper, "I know you're a wolf under all those human things. The scent is buried, but it's still there."

I blink and slouch against the seat again. "I'm Indigo," I reply in a small voice.

"Indigo? Huh, that's pretty cool! Is there some sort of cool story to go with that?" Her voice sounded relaxed.

I shrug, "not that I know of. I think my mother just liked purple, and wanted 'twin sounding' names."

"You're a twin?" I could guess her eyes got wide. "That's so cool! I'm one too!"

My eyes widened as well. "Really?"

She must have nodded because I don't hear a response for a second. Finally, she asks, "fraternal or identical?"

"Identical." I reply hesitantly, not sure how much information I want to give about myself. But this can't hurt, can it?

"Cool. I'm fraternal. My brother's name is Jaxson, and we're pretty close. We were way closer when we were pups. Now we've pulled a little apart, but that usually happens with teenagers. Other than that, I trust him with pretty much everything. I feel like that's the best part of being a twin; having a built-in-best-friend. Are you close with your twin?"

I hold back a sigh, getting the feeling she doesn't stop talking. But — I think to myself — maybe she could be a distraction for me! I feel the train lurch forward and I know we've started along the tracks. I desperately wish I could look out the window and wave to the nice family one last time, for I'd probably never come across them again in my life.

Turning my attention back to Brynlee, I answer her question, my voice sharp and hiding any emotion, "no. I'm not." We're basically enemies. I add in my head.

"Oh," she sounds sorry for me, and I'm tired of pity. So I decide to cut our conversation short and pretend to sleep. I slouch down in the seat and cross my arms over my chest, trying to relax as much as the train car seat will let me. Thankfully, Brynlee seems to get the hint and I don't hear a peep out of her for a long time.

"So, we've already established we're wolves, but what pack are you from?" She asks suddenly, seeming to catch on that I'm not actually asleep. It's been several hours, though, so I'll give her that. And I did sleep for a lot of it.

I sit up and turn slightly to face her. I don't think she's realized I'm blind yet. "The Snow Crest Pack," I answer.

"Hmm. I don't think I've heard of that pack."

"Not surprised," I tell her. "Most people don't. We're super small up in the Rockies."

"Ah." She says softly, and even though I don't ask, she proceeds to tell me where she's from. "Well my pack is pretty well known I think. My dad's the Beta of the Red Moon Pack. My mom is human though, but both her kids turned out wolf. Weird, huh? To think I had a chance of being born without the ability to shift? My life would be a lot better."

I grind my teeth together. How about the ability to see? I think bitterly, or shift! I hope one day I'll be able to shift, but so far it hasn't happened. Colton is the one that's supposed to help me! Great, now I'll be a stunted wolf forever.

"You seem awfully quiet." Yes, and you seem awfully loud. "I'm sorry if I'm talking too much. I haven't really had a decent conversation with anyone for a while. Maybe we can play cards or something, keep our minds off of things for a little bit."

I sigh, and decide to not let up on the blind thing just yet. So I shake my head and for once ask her a question. "Why are you on this train then, anyway? If you were enjoying California so much?" It had clicked in my brain suddenly as I spoke: the Red Moon Pack was located in the northern forests of California.

"Um, well it's a long story, and I can already tell you'll get bored if I tell you the whole thing." Brynlee sighed. It sounded more like a sad sigh, like she lost something. "But long story short, I'm heading to the Blood Moon Pack. I happen to be somewhat close to a few of the pack members. How about you, where are you heading?"

I don't answer for a little bit, and she seems okay with that, thankfully. Blood Moon, Blood Moon. I think, trying to make it click what pack that is. It's on the top of my tongue, and I feel like not knowing makes me unaware of the werewolf kingdom for some reason.

Kingdom! That's it! The Blood Moon Pack is the home of the royals! They could keep me safe. The thought comes unexpectedly. Brynlee was going to the Royal Pack, and suddenly, I'm wanting to follow her there.