April 25

particle, width, correspond, appearance, watch, disappear, panic, leadership, transparent, drink

Jasmine grabbed my arm and jumped. It wasn’t an easy trip. Every particle of my being vibrated. But I have to admit Jas is good. Jumping two people onto a moving train? Well, that’s more than just skill. It requires a kind of brilliant insanity.

My body didn’t have time to register the shortness of breath and the nausea–shock took over. We’d landed on the train; I could feel the swaying beneath my feet. But the surroundings didn’t correspond to any train car I’d ever seen.

We were in a forest, complete with trees and shrubs, leaves underfoot, and shade-loving flowers like violets and columbine. We’d come down in the midst of a group of small–even to me–beings gathered in a circle, passing around pipes and cups.

“Pukwudgies,” Jasmine whispered, but trying to be quiet didn’t help. Our sudden appearance caused panic among the woods folk and we watched them become transparent and disappear.

I babbled an apology that did no good. Seconds later, a ridiculous number of tiny arrows flew at us from everywhere.

“Muk!” Jas began a litany of curses with her favorite and we dashed behind the closest tree, the width of which barely hid us.

I struggled to remember the heirarchy of the Pukwudgies. Who had leadership? Should I be asking to speak to a chief, a queen, a healer?

Jasmine had a better idea. “Gift,” she yelled and pushed a bottle of porter arm’s length from our hiding place. The bottle tipped and rolled the width of the car before we saw a small hand reach for it. Would the offered drink be enough?