Originally Posted by freddy-finn

After a less than rousing game of cards with a rather bored guy, Audrey was glad to see the train arrive. It had made her stomach clench, though. A new wave of homesickness washed over her and she blinked back tears as she lugged her trunk into the proper compartment for it. "Stop it, you're just fine," she told to herself. Images of her family kept popping up, as if they were shoving themselves into her brain on purpose. They weren't particularly flattering things to remember, but they still hit her hard.

As if on queue, Dorcas, her massive dog that she wasn't technically allowed to have, showed up and nuzzled her torso. She ran her fingers in her dog's thick, black coat for comfort.

The small girl took a moment to admire the train's magnificence. She'd ridden plenty of trains before. All over the country she had, but they were nothing like this scarlet, shiny thing. Audrey walked to a random door quite close to the front and swallowed, a large lump stuck firmly in her throat.

She extended a skinny, shaking arm and opened one of the train's doors. Dorcas followed her with undying loyalty, encouraging the scared girl with gentle nudges in the back. Audrey entered an empty compartment (they were all empty, really, she was one of the first on the train) she slid against the window. She made made herself as compact as possible. Dorcas flopped her large head on Audrey's knobby knees, and in doing so effectively took up the three seats next to Audrey. She scratched the black russian terrier behind the ears. Audrey wasn't one to cry and get upset, but leaving home for so long was hitting her hard. Her lower lip quivered despite her best efforts and she turned away from the window in disgust. She wouldn't be seen like this.

She'd brought her book bag with her on the train. She remembered that her dad had packed her three ham sandwiches and four pieces of bread to hold the packs of cheese and onion crisps he'd also packed for her. There were three twelve ounce bottles of grape juice and a couple packs of crackers as well as several candy bars Audrey had packed both for herself and to enlighten magical people with the brilliance of mint aero. The knot in her stomach suggested none of it would be eaten. She felt like throwing up already.

Without her noticing she'd began to cry a bit, silent tears slowly running down her face. She wiped feverishly at them. Pathetic.