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Chapter 2: Locals

Half asleep, I felt the train lurch and then shudder as it came to a rest at the Acadia Train Station. My heavy eyelids parted to a fuzzy world. I felt a gentle but probing tap on my shoulder and I turned my head to face them.

"Miss, um the train stopped, are you, maybe, getting off at this station?" A timid pink sparrow stood before me, her fawn colored eyes round with innocence and shyness. She moved in closer, and nudged me again. She wasn't one of the train hostesses, I could tell that. She wasn't in their uniform and instead was clothed with a white tank top, a salmon cardigan on top and dusky rosebud leggings. Whoever she was, she was absolutely adorable. "Where did you get your clothes?" I asked nonchalantly, eyeing her leggings with envy.

She looked taken aback "J-just from the local shop; why, is something wrong with them?" a small flicker of offence trailed in the last part. I yawned and put my paws up, "No not at all. I was just wondering because I want a pair of those leggings..." Her expression relaxed into a calm smile. I looked around the train car and noticed that we were the only two here. "Wow, it's really empty... Are we the only two on this whole train?" "Yep, It's always like this" she answered back, "Well, it's usually just me" Nodding, I coughed, "Excuse my manners, my name is Kryn. And yours?" The sparrow was about to reply but a train master called up, "Now or never ladies! Are you getting off?" In unison, we called back an affirmative and quickly gathered our luggage. I almost tripped down the metal steps, but the train master steadied me with his arm, "Careful miss. And good luck" He lead me down carefully, I thanked him but then wondered about that "good luck"; what does he mean by that? Before I could turn around and ask him, the little sparrow came up to me. "I never got to introduce myself back, I'm Midge Beckonwood" I smiled down at her, she was at least 4"9.

We both left the train station together chatting away. It was so strange, I knew I've always been able to make friends. I was just a social butterfly, but this fast? That had to be a new record.

Around me, I saw that this train station was particularly old, with it's old red bricks, caked with dirt and age. I admired it's rustic beauty and then Midge snapped me out of my trance.

"You do that an awful lot" she commented as I focused on her.

"Do what?" I questioned, biting my lip.

"That too" she remarked again.

"What?" I asked again growing irrate.

"Biting your lip and day dreaming. I swear everytime I turn around you're either doing one or the other"

"Sorry...?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Don't be sorry" She sighed, smiling, "Do you have a lot on your mind, or something?"

I paused, it didn't feel like it, but I guess the move was taking it's toll on me so I nodded. She nodded back and an uncomfortable silence followed. We continued to walk down the street, until I cleared my throat. We both stopped and I gestured at my backpack, "Hey, could you be a pal and get my map? I think my new flat is coming up soon, but I can't remember which" Her eyebrows went up as her eyes widened, "You're a new resident?" I nodded, my smile returning. "I thought you were just visiting! I guess that explains why I haven't seen you before" She quickly burrowed to my in my backpack and snatched up a map. Before I could take it from her feathery grasp, she ripped it up. "Hey! What'd you do that for?!" She grinned at me, "Consider me, your personal tour guide. I've lived here my whole life" I gazed at her in amazement, "Really? So we'll be like, neighbors and stuff?" She giggled, "Yeah, "and stuff" mocking my dubious voice. I pulled on one of her low ponytails and laughed, "Well then "tourguide," march onward and take me to 4818 Minnow Lane, yeah?" She nodded and we continued down the side walk.

We passed by a tiny book store and I stopped, pulling her with me. "What is it?" she asked. "That. Over there. Is that a book store?" I questioned curiously, then peering down at her. She nodded, "And you're looking at the owner of it, kind of" she chuckled, "It's my family's livelihood. While I was away for a bit, my brother took over my shift" Then she added facetiously, "Poor guy probably has been working like a dog" I looked back down at her, confused. From here it looked like a soul didn't even inhabit the place. "Is it a holiday today?" She peered back up, "I was joking. This town is always like this. Empty" Feeling like a naive child, I shut up and let Midge continue to explain the town.

"... say it's cursed" Midge finished, now looking up at me.

"Sorry, spaced off there. What's cursed?" I love horror movies and mystery, so when she said cursed, it really got my attention.

She sighed, "Oh never mind. Oh hey look! We're at your apartment building" We stopped and I gazed up at the building. It looked like it was from another time era. "Sweet!" I gushed over it. Midge waited at the bottom of the steps and waved, "I have to get back to the book store. Just back track from the way we came and you'll see it. Bye Kryn!" I waved and said goodbye. Climbing the old stairwell, I finally made it to the second floor. "Flat 3..." I murmered to myself looking around. I noticed it and scurried to the door, my claws making little patting noises on the mahogony floor. I fumbled for my key and unlocked the door. A wave of old book smell hit my nostrils as I took a big inhale. "Wonderful!" I cheered, clasping my paws together. I was presented a small open square room with one window, facing the town and sun. On both the left and right walls, were doors. I checked the left room, kitchen and dining room, and then manuervered to the right. I was still carrying my luggage and saw the right room was my bedroom. I squealed and dumped my things on my bed, making a loud thud. It smelled so musty and old in my room, that I felt a little dizzy. I unpacked my clothes and started puttign them away in my closet. Noticing the time, I realized that the movers weren't going to be here for another 2 hours. Great! More time to check out the town. I thought to myself, dashing once again, out the door.

I was outside my apartment builidng and drew a blank. 'Back track where again...?" said, growing nervous. "Blast this stupid forgetful memory!" I cried out, grabbing my head. I couldn't remeber which way I went to get here. Looking back up, I saw an elderly wolf glaring at me from across the street. Feeling like an idiot for the second time that day, I shyly waved. He snorted and turned his back to stride on inside what looked to be a small cafe. "Well isn't he delightful" I muttered. "How am I going to get to the book store...?" I wondered. I decided to just wing it, and explore on my own, after all Acadia isn't that big. I traversed the streets and saw a couple of cars roll on by. Other than that, the town was ghostly empty. I passed by the high school and saw two grey coyote's eating icecream. One had a bar and the other, a cone. They both heard me walk up to them and had polar oppisite reactions however, as one passively sneered and the other grinned. The grumpy coytote was swallowed in an over sized sweatshirt with jeans and piercings decorated his up right ears. His brother was adorned in a muscle shirt and basketball shorts, and a sweet smile accesorizing his face. They waited for me to speak. "Um, could you perhaps give me directions to the book store?" I questioned, feeling small as they both got up and were about a foot taller than me. Before the smiling one could speak, his rude brother barked, "Are you daft? How could you honestly get lost in Acadia?" The smiling one looked embarrassed by his brother's behavior and placed a paw on his shoulder, "Caleb, don't be rude. She's new, can't you see?" Caleb rolled his eyes and jerked away from his brother, "So? Only stupid people are able to get lost here" Before the kind one could grab him, Caleb snickered and leaned down to me, "I don't like stupid people" I gulped, feeling overwhelmed and my face grow hot. "Caleb, leave her alone, you're scaring her" The nice brother said, attempting to pull Caleb back. Turning to me, the kind one quickly apologized, "So sorry, um, what was it?" he said, anxiously trying to smooth over things.

"Kryn" I replied, back feeling a bit more power stir within me. I stood up straighter, and eyed Caleb. He stepped back and went back to his brother's side. I wasn't about to let some jerk push me around.

"Right," the nice one continued, glancing between us, noticing the tension, "I'm Casey. This is my brother Caleb. He and I are twins. Now, would you like me to take you to the book store?" Tearing my glare away from Caleb and settling a nice smile on Casey, I nodded enthusiastically.

Caleb snorted in disbelief, "Well then, I'll see you at home then, Casey" and stormed away.

Casey sighed turning to me as we began to walk away,

"He's ususally not this mad, I swear"

"What do you mean this mad?" I rolled my eyes.

Casey chuckled, "Today has just been rough that's all" and then he grinned, "And now he's probably jealous of you too"

I questioned him, "What do you mean, jealous?"

Casey sighed, "Just that. Caleb and I used to be homeschooled because my mom had a spat with the principal of the elementary, so we were always really close. The other kids would tease us because we both preferred each others company rather than theres. Eventually, I had convinced my mom to let us go to the high school, even though Caleb was against it. We went, and I met a girl I fell in love with at first sight. Her name was Cindy and she was the prettiest squirrel I had ever seen. She was well liked by everyone, except my brother. I had told him that I had a huge crush on her and he resented it. He resented everyone. I was making friends but he was pushing people away. And when he learnt about Cindy, he couldn't stand it. He thought I was going to get taken away from him. Lucky for him, Cindy moved away before junior year. Caleb is jelaous and over protective of me. I try to help him make friends, but he already turned hismelf off to the whole student body... wait, are you actually new?"

I was intently listening to Casey's story, wonder filling me at how open he was with that whole situation. I answered, "Yeah, I just moved here. Um, you're okay with telling me your whole personal life, just like that?" Casey nodded, "Yeah, I mean it's not like it's all secretive anyways; everyone knows. I might as well fill you in since you're new. Don't want you to get lost again, right?" I blushed feeling flattered and nodded, "Thanks for cluing me in, Casey". We arrived at the book store, and I saw a dark blue sparrow working the counter with a magazine in hand through the large front window. "Thanks again Casey," I said smiling. He returned the smile, "No problem, Kryn. So, you'll be going to the highschool right?" I nodded. He continued warily, "Well then, since your new and all... Maybe you could Caleb a second chance? He's usually not this impatient, I swear. Like I said, just a rough day..." I thought to myself, I don't think Caleb and I will ever be friends, but I can see how hard Casey is trying to help him, so I guess I can try too. "Yes, of course. I'd like to see him on a good day" I replied. Casey lit up, "Awesome. So, see you at school on Monday?"

"Right"