In Search of a Pony, a Devils Paw Story

Chapter Two

Aletha had been an Engineer at the time, one of the companies best, maybe THE best. As such she had been chosen by someone high up in the W&ARR to search for kidnappers on the Furry Flyer, her cover being that of an employee who had made a serious mistake and had chosen this punishment over being demoted or fired. It had supposed to have been a secure job, with Linda and the trains supervisor watching over her. Then she had discovered to her horror that not only were the servants aboard the Flyer bought out, so was the Supervisor herself. They waited until Linda was busy with another customer, this being Penny herself, before closing their trap.

Aletha had followed the siamese couple to their assigned cabin fully expecting the Supervisor to be watching out for her. Linda had warned her that she had certain business she was required to handle but would take over from the Supervisor once she finished. Both had believed that the Supervisor at least was dependable. This though hadn’t been the truth so bound, drugged and wrapped in an old rug the she-wolf had exited the Flyer through a window at a point the train had to slow.

She learned later from her captors that one girl had broken her neck when tossed out at too high a speed, they had simply tossed her naked, unbound body into a nearby ravine for the animals to feast upon and changed the way that they threw their prizes out. She had been kept in a barn with horses until a certain night when she was again drugged, this time in her food. Everything else was a haze, even the lightning bolts that slammed through her brain leaving her open for suggestion.

Aletha though was not only a strong woman, she was mentally and emotionally strong as well. So though the treatment given her had left her docile until her selling, in fact for months later she slowly but finally woke up. Woke to remember little but to find that she was again in a barn. A smaller barn, one with only two stalls. The other had been empty, her’s though was filled with brand new tack, her tack. Then her training had continued.