Beginning of a Journey

Several more minutes pass before Wolf looks away from the window. He closes his eyes and rubs his forehead, wincing slightly.

Reena was again toying with her cell phone, looking down at the screen as she tapped away at it with her thumbs. She didn't particularly spot Wolf's apparent discomfort.

Wolf resumes looking out the window, but looks away again only about a minute later.

"Oh... I don't know why, but my head is hurting..." he says.

The Klee Kai looked up from her phone. "Your head?" she asked, "That doesn't sound good. Any idea what's wrong?"

"No..." he says, "I've just been looking out the window..."

He glances over to her.

"I think it's a... headache." he adds.

"Well, yeah, it's a headache," Reena said, smiling slightly, "I wonder what's causing it, though."

He shakes his head slowly.

"All I've done is look out the window and look around here." he replies.

Reena quietly considered this for several moments. It took her a little while, but she looked back over at him thoughtfully.
"Maybe you're carsick. Er... trainsick," the canine suggested.

"Trainsick?" Wolf repeats, "I'm sick of trains?"

"No, like, um... Motion sickness! That's what it's really called," Reena replied, "I don't really know the exact deets, but sometimes when people ride in a car or, in this case, a train, the movement can make them feel kinda sick. And I think a headache or a stomachache are usually part of it."

"Oh... okay." Wolf says, "So... does that mean I'm just gonna be sick the whole time we're on this train?"

"Well, I think if you don't stare out the window, it helps. Laying down can help, too," Reena suggested, "I know there's meds for motion sickness and I bet the attendants can give you something." She offered a smile. "There are different things that can help."

"Ugh... well if I can't stare out the window, I guess I should probably lie down and close my eyes." he says.

"You want some help?" she asked, "I don't have much else to do either."

He glances over at her.

"I might not be feeling well, but I think I can manage to lie down and close my eyes on my own." he replies, smiling at her slightly.

"I mean, having somebody rub your forehead or your back can help," Reena replied, "To help distract you from feeling sick."

"Oh... well... I don't know really..." he replies uncertainly.

"C'mon!" Reena urged, hopping up from her seat. "If it doesn't help, we'll try something else. But you might as well be comfy for this trip I've dragged you on, right?" She stepped across the cabin to join Wolf on the other bench.

"This is gonna be another situation you won't except no as an answer, isn't it?" he asks as he looks at her.

"You catch on quick," Reena replied with a grin. She sat down on the bench beside him. "But it's worth a try, right?"

"Okay... I guess so." he replies, "Where are you going to sit, and where should I?"

"Anywhere is fine," Reena replied, "Want me to just rub your forehead for now?"

"Well... if you think it'll help, we can try it." he says, turning to look at her.

"I've seen it work before," Reena replied, "I have a friend that travels a lot and gets sick all the time and it helps her, at least." She scooted farther down the bench and patted her lap with both paws.
"Just put your head in my lap and relax," she said.

Wolf looks at her a bit skeptically, he then moves further down the bench away from her and then starts to lie back along the bench. He bumps against Reena, then shifts a bit away from her and resumes lowering himself down. Just a short time later, he's stretched out along the bench with his head resting on her lap and staring up towards the ceiling of the cabin.