Coreopsis

first insert, part 2

     They played for hours. Napped on the floor. Picked at the snacks and talked. 

     Sarah changed from her pj’s and decided to take a walk. While the game was fun, she needed to move. Looking out the window, she learned Orion had been right in his assumption, it was snowing. She watched the snow covered landscape creep by as the train chugged and groaned up the mountain. 

     In the accumulating snow, she thought she saw a person. The body was covered with animal hides from the head to the ankles. Then the ankles seemed to be wrapped in leather, she speculated. This figure was holding a staff of some kind in its right hand. She couldn’t see the feet. She watched it as long as she could. Just as the train was pushing the figure out of sight, it seemed to raise its head. This motion caused her to jump. The sudden animation of the character shook her. She wrapped her arms around her now shaking body. Looking down, she saw that her arms were covered with chicken skin. 

     Upon raising her eyes back outside, there appeared another figure, just like the last one. The snow seemed to be getting harder. Again, as the train pulled out of sight, the figure raised its head. 

     A man rushed into the car, “get back to your room and lock the door?”

     “Why?” She barked right back. 

     “These savages mean trouble.” 

     “They have done nothing wrong.”

     “Just you wait and see.” 

     “There you are,” Orion smiled walking into the car. 

     “Don’t let them get hurt. They haven’t done anything wrong.” She pointed out the window. 

     Orion looked at her. Then at the angry man; before looking out the window. “Who?”

     “Watch.” She encouraged. 

     A few minutes passed with nothing but a snow covered landscape before another figure appeared. 

     “Kill them all.” The guard murmured under his breath. 

     “Not one,” Sarah screamed.

     The guard slightly jumped. Not because he was embarrassed that she overheard him. She was loud. 

     “Not one,” Orion echoed her with his most authoritative tone. 

     Through gritted teeth, he announced, “as you wish.” As he walked away, he spoke into a hand held object, “you’ve been over ruled.”

     Orion called after him, “overruled by whom?”

     The guard lowered his head, “follow me.”