Shrugging, Josephine answered,

"I'll be honest with you, once I got my entire body shattered by some magical devil demon thing, my entire world changed. I don't even know what to expect anymore." she said, having no idea,

"A few potential suitors at the Bar, maybe? That's about all I could think of..." she thought, shrugging. Her Ma usually handled herself just fine, and Jo didn't know of anything her Ma kept hidden.

Ah...that still haunts you does it? she looks strangely guilty. We should have protected you better. You're still new to all this. You're very brave to keep with it Jo. I'm impressed.

A few minutes later your train stops for dinner at a comfort stop, a building along the tracks with outhouses and a simple but large restaurant. As frustrating as it is to have to delay your journey home, both food and a chance to relieve yourself are badly needed. No wonder Lily hates trains so with so few accommodations.

Soon you find yourself seated at a booth with Lily, looking over a simple menu and muttering over the prices. Considering there are no other options they can afford to gouge you. I could go out and shoot a deer for free if we had the time she grumbles. At last you order, a simple fare of potato soup, white rolls and trout, when you notice a couple of men sitting in the corner of the restaurant, talking animatedly.

I swear I saw it myself! one of them thumps his hand on the table in anger. I'm not making it up!
Right...you think I'm going to believe something that crazy? You been hittin the bottle even more than usual? he sneers back.
No I'm not! I was sober as your Quaker grandmother I tell ya! It drug ol Neil into the field, he was hollerin somethin awful too! Why do you think he's been missing you idiot?

Laughing softly under her breath as the food came, Josephine turned her thumb towards the men,

"Drunks, am I right?" she teased, baiting Lily into the obvious 'they might be on to something!'.

Glancing back down at her meal to sell the bluff, she nearly grinned, waiting for Lily to smack her. She avoided talking about the entire body shattering experience, so she would avoid becoming resentful. Their companion had CAUSED her to be shattered, through a horrific mistake of arrogance, and hadn't even done anything to take care of her afterwards. Jo still held resentment, but no reason to bring it up.

Lily smirks at your comment but leans forward to listen better. As the pair continue their talk she grows more intrigued. We may have something on our hands here but with your mother's note I worry about distractions. Hm...we should at least try to get more information though. Maybe I can send a message to headquarters, have them coordinate something. Do you care to work your magic? I can give it a try but men react better to white girls most of the time she makes a face.

ooc: If you do, feel free to roll diplomacy and approach them.

Nodding her head, and setting her jaw, Josephine took a breath, and headed over. On her walk over, her gaze became a bright smile, and she laughed softly, approaching,

"Did I hear you boys mentioning drinks to be had? Well what's a lady to do, other than join you?" she asked, purposefully mis-hearing what they were saying.

After their response, she asked,

"And who is Neil?" she asked, glancing around, "Another friend of yours here somewhere?" she asked, subtly baiting the man into talking about what had happened to his friend.





Diplomacy 29

The pair look surprised at your intrusion. A flash of appreciation crosses their eyes, but the one who was carrying on about what he saw seems too preoccupied with his tale to dwell on your appearance too much. Ignore my friend here the skeptical one (a bearded fellow in his twenties) apologizes. He was tellin tall tales. I for one would be happy to have a drink with you though. Perhaps we'd better let Ned here rest a bit though he looks like he wants to put some distance between them. Ned though, is insistent. I'm not crazy Tom! There's something out there, something dangerous! Look miss, I don't know you and you'll probably think I'm as crazy as he does, but...stay close to the train tonight alright? There's something out there. Something that didn't look human. Even if it was just a man, you don't want a pretty thing like yourself snatched away never to be seen again do you?

Looking surprised at the information, even though she knew what he was getting at, Josephine glanced nervously between the two, feigning worry about his health,

"Well, I mean, but can't a big strong set of boys like you two keep me safe?" she baited, to keep the skeptical one involved in the conversation for perspective, "I don't think you're crazy, Ned, but I don't know what you're talking about. What, exactly, do you mean? What did you see?" she finally put the questions to him, dragging the information out.

Tom looks exasperated, clearly not wanting to discuss the subject further but Ned takes the opportunity since he's obviously intent on warning others about it. I-I don't know. I couldn't exactly see well but it was big, like the size of a tall man. It stood on hind legs too and had arms with claws and its face...was almost like a dog's! But still...human somehow. Its eyes though, I'll never forget those eyes... he shudders and takes a long drink. Meanwhile Lily is still sitting at your previous table. She looks down at her meal but you can tell she's listening in. When he mentions the description she looks up sharply and to your surprise, pales.

Nodding, Josephine needed Lily's input, so she waved her over,

"Gentlemen, this is a friend of mine, and I would hate to leave her alone over there. Would you mind if she joined us?" she asked, knowing they wouldn't say no to her,

"So this creature... it was human AND with a dog face? Could it have been a man with a mask or something?" she was covering the bases.

Not like any mask I've seen. And he wasn't entirely human either. Kind of like a long, stretched out dog on hind legs... he looks self conscious saying it aloud. I-I don't know, I thought that's what I saw... Lily gives him an intense look. Where and when?

A few hours ago, just by the town well about two miles east he points. You two seem awfully interested in one man's drunken fantasy Tom shakes his head. Though I for one wouldn't mind if you stayed on. We don't often get such pretty women visiting, especially you blondie he grins at you. Lily, surprisingly, seems too distracted to react to his comment.

Smiling, Josephine knew the best time to separate the two men was now, so Lily could wrangle the story out of the other guy. Taking her cue as 'wing-woman', she smiled and turned towards the man that was flirting with her, and she blushed slightly, turning her eyes downward, like she knew a proper lady would have,

"Well what a nice compliment!" she said with a smile, lifting her eyes slightly, wanting to keep him focused on her, "It makes a girl wonder what other nice things you do..." she said with slight innuendo, allowing the man's mind to take over and imagine all sorts of things.

You'd better hurry up, Lily. I'm taking bullets for you over here! she thought to herself, keeping a smile plastered on her face.

Lily looks surprised at your words for a moment but you can see the recognition dawn on her face and she quickly turns to Ned to quietly grill him further. Tom, meanwhile, is completely oblivious to the rest of the room. He looks so shocked and pleased at your response that a big goofy grin spreads across his face. He's decent looking, in a simple farmer kind of way, though his ears do stick out slightly more than you'd like. You've flirted with worse.

U-Uh...I'm up for any nice things! he stammers, suddenly blushing. You have a feeling he's all talk and this is the farthest he's gotten with many a woman. Anything at all! You...wouldn't want to go on a walk with me would you? It's a nice night... he swallows hard.

Smiling demurely, Josephine averted her gaze, as if SHE were the insecure one, to let him gather some confidence,

"A walk? On a train?" she questioned him, nearly laughing inwardly at his stuttering. He really was in trouble, and had no idea that he'd just wandered into the spider's web, "Alright, but its difficult to see the night from in here you know..." she teased slightly, subtly, wanting to keep him focused on her.

ooc: Oops! Sorry, you guys are stopped at a train stop that is a restaurant and small shop for travelers before their train continues. Some of the smaller trains of the time didn't have dining cars and this was their method. Sorry if I didn't do a good job making that clear! :/

Looking extremely pleased and half terrified he quickly gets up, offering his arm for you to take. Well we'll just have to go out and see how nice it is then! he looks pleased with his words, likely thinking himself clever.

Soon you are outside and he's not wrong about the night being pleasant, though it is bordering on chilly this time of year. He proceeds to make small talk with you as you wander around the restaurant a ways. The area is surrounded by forest but there is a road leading into town and a few houses dot the land. For the most part though, there is no one about save you two. Suddenly the moment is interrupted by a man rushing down the street, waving his arms and shouting.

Get your guns folks! Old Neil is dead! We must have wolves about, he's been ripped to shreds!

"Oh, ok!" Josephine said, playing the perfect foolish and naive woman.

When the running man came down the street, however, she raised an eyebrow, and asked,

"Who is Old Neil? Is that man ALSO drunk, like your friend?"

Tom pales at the man's words, looking like he wants to be sick. N-No. Neil is the man Ned saw...he said a creature pulled him into the woods. It must have been a wolf! At least that explains what Ned saw, but it's still dangerous. If the wolf is gutsy enough to come into town like this...hey we'd better get you someplace safe! he turns to you with worry, grabbing your arm. Come on, my house is not far. You can hole up there while I go help the rest of them track the beast down. I'll send your friend after you if you want

Tugging her arm loose with a soft smile, Josephine would get her friend herself,

"I've got her, thank you. she said, turning to run and get Lily asap.

He starts to protest but you're too fast and you slip away at a run. Meanwhile you see women and children rushing indoors and men are busy loading their rifles, yelling at you to get safe when they see you. You ignore them, hurrying to the restaurant to find Lily and Ned, both looking grim. Are you alright? she demands, looking concerned. We heard the ruckus about the supposed wolf she exchanges glances with Ned to show they both know better. The poor man looks pale and terrified. Where's Tom? Is he alright? he asks you in worry.

As much as I'd like to get on that train and never look back, I think you and I must go on a little hunt of our own Jo she sighs, looking surprisingly reluctant. We could use help Ned. If you think you're any good with a gun. He looks shocked at the offer but after hesitating, nods. I'm a decent shot. Someone has to avenge poor Neil.

Lily turns to you then. Now Jo, this thing is probably a skinwalker. Not like the kind most hunters think of, but something worse. Fortunately it has similar weaknesses we can exploit but...it's going to be tough. Really tough. You up for it?

"Have I ever NOT been up for it?" she asked rhetorically, laughing at her friend's question with a smile. She would follow Lily into the pits of hell, given the chance, and her face showed it.

Lily beams at you, her dimpled radiant smile that completely transforms her usually gruff expression. Then she turns to Ned and pats his shoulder. I hate to drag you into this man, but even if you do nothing but distract it, that will be enough. Come, show me where Neil was taken.

An hour later you're in the forest on the edge of town. The moon is high overhead and the breeze ruffles the branches eerily. Not a sound is heard. No crickets, no owls, no sounds of life anywhere. Lily is very on edge, more so than you've seen her for some time. If I tell you to shoot something, you shoot it. No matter what. Understand? she looks to both of you. Ned hesitates then nods firmly. Good. Follow me and stay sharp. She turns to you. Now, this isn't the kind of thing you can sweet talk I'm afraid. You're going to have to brute force this. What you can do for me though, is keep an eye on him. Skinwalkers have a way about them they can be almost as persuasive as you she smirks. Keep him in check.

You push deeper into the forest and she walks, almost as though she knows where she's going, though when Ned asks how she chose the direction she shrugs and says, I'm just going where it feels the most wrong. Indeed as you walk the way gets increasingly tense. You feel the hair on your arms and back of your neck stand up, your skin prickles, your heart pounds. Poor Ned looks like he wants to run already.

Suddenly you hear a voice calling in the distance. It's familiar. It sounds like Tom and he's calling for help!

Hearing Tom, Josephine widened her eyes,

"Oh it's Tom! We have to help him!" she said, feeling guilty.

Running off after Tom, Josephine kept her eyes peeled and tried to be the hero!

Ned likewise rushes to aid his friend but Lily hesitates, eyes wide for a moment and then uncertain. She runs after you both, hissing vehemently, Wait! Wait you fools, it could be the skin walker!

Skin-what? Ned looks confused. Look, you do what you want but I'm going to save my friend! he runs off again and Lily, growling with pure irritation turns to you and barks, Alright, after him. Before he gets himself killed

The three of you race to the scene and to your surprise you see Tom on his back in a clearing through the trees. He lays there, unnaturally stiff but still calling with that desperate voice. Ned immediately rushes to him but Lily tries to call him back. Unfortunately though, Ned's long legs carry him faster than either of you can keep up and though the Indian is desperately ordering him not to move, he is kneeling by his friend a moment later. Come on! she snarls to you, readying a tomahawk to your surprise. It's then that you understand, for Tom suddenly sits up unnaturally fast and grabs Ned by the head, bringing his mouth to the man's neck and to your absolute horror, ripping his throat out with his teeth.

Seeing the apparent skin walker rip into Ned, Josephine levels her shotgun and unloads shells at its face!

Your shot misses his face but it does hit squarely nonetheless and Tom drops the still twitching Ned, turning to bare his bloody teeth at you in an inhuman grin. Lily shouts at you something unintelligible and hurls a tomahawk at the thing which unfortunately careens wildly. Seeing its opportunity though, the skinwalker moves to the Indian woman with alarming speed and slashes her across the chest with a clawed hand. Meanwhile, as you stare at him in horror, a feeling of intense fear threatens to paralyze you...

Seeing everything go so poorly, Josephine froze on the spot, feeling her heart seize up, and her breath slow... She felt horrific, but like she couldn't do anything to help Lily, so she fumbled in place, unable to move...