A train from each way had passed through the station before the flood of people offering thanks finally abated. While the Sacred Sisters entertained the crowd with a gospel ballad, Kim suggested,

“Since we’re here already, we might as well take the L down to Garfield.”

“Sounds good to me,” Bri agreed. “Here comes another southbound now.”

Just as they were stepping up to the blue boarding area, something tingled in the back of Amy’s mind.

Not this one.

Amy tugged at her friends’ shoulders.

“Hey, do you mind if we wait for the next train?”

Kim raised her glasses to observe the approaching train thoughtfully with glowing, silver eyes.

“I’m not sensing any bad fate with this one. But if they need help, we shouldn’t avoid them.”

Amy tried to get a better grasp on what she’d felt earlier.

“No, it’s nothing wrong. It’s … I’m feeling something good about the next train, honestly.”

“Hmm”

“Three of cups, remember?” Bri reminded them cheerfully.

Kim lowered her glasses with a smile. “Three of cups, indeed. The next train it is.”

Moments after the train had loaded and left the station, the Sisters finished their song. After accepting the crowd’s applause, one of them made her way over to the Gals.

“Thank you so much for helping us out back there. You three were totally an answer to our prayers.”

“Of course,” Amy accepted her outstretched hand with a hearty shake. “Glad we could help.”

“Glad we got paid, too,” Kim added smugly under her breath.

The Sister gave a sideways glance before continuing,

“Weren’t the three of you at the wedding of Hibiscus Longstrider and Snarl Redclaw?”

“Uhh,” Amy paused, “I don’t remember any Sisters of Saint Martina being at the claiming ceremony …”

“We sang at the reception as a favor to the bride. I’m Sister Sofia, that’s Julia and Bella.”

“Oh!” Amy felt her face heating up. “Sorry, I usually picture you all with … um, clothes.”

Sofia averted her eyes as she murmured, “We were dressed.”

“Barely.”

Bri was enjoying the poor woman’s embarrassment far too much.

Amy hadn’t realized the bikini clad trio of short, curvy Latina women with their perfect harmonies and backup spirits had been the real deal. She’d figured they were a cover group with the same sound.

Kim gave Bri a nudge to the shoulder as she reminded everyone,

“More than we were.”

Bri’s only response was a wicked grin.

“Anyway,” Sister Sofia recomposed herself. “We’d like to dedicate the next song to the three of you, if you don’t mind. Feel free to sing along like you did back then. You have great voices.”

Kim and Bri smiled far too sweetly, “We’d be glad to!”

“Uh …”

“Thank you so much!” Sofia said with a brilliant smile.

Before Amy could object, the priestess was heading back to her companions and calling out,

“This next song is in honor of Hunter Lox and her friends, the Wise Gals. Let’s all give them another round of applause for helping out with that runaway spell.”

While Kim and Bri accepted the enthusiastic clapping with smiles and waves, Amy’s stomach tightened in knots. It was one thing to do magic in front of a crowd. It was another entirely to perform like this.

“Doooo dot, n doo dot – daaa (da doo dot dee da dee da),”

The slow, jazzy tune with its rich chords backed up by the cherubs was decidedly familiar.

“Please, not the theme to Hunter Gold …”

“Doooo dot, n doo dot – daaaaaa!”

“No, even better!” Bri was ecstatic, “It’s Brighter Moon!”

That was worse!

“When the sun goes down, and the stars come out …”

As the love ballad began, the whole station filled with rhythmic clapping.

“And the Hunter’s call makes my spirit shout …”

Bri had grabbed Amy by the lower arm, “C’mon Aim, I know you know the words!”

“I just want to be with youuuuu …”

As Bri pulled her into a growing line that was already singing along and swaying to the beat, Amy tried to focus on the unknown promise held by the approaching train.

“Our love brings out a Brighter Moooon!”

Surely she could survive one more public embarrassment …

Amy’s ears still burned red as she followed her laughing friends through the open train doors.

“I can’t believe I let you two pull me into that.”

“Admit it Aim, that was fun! Everyone loved it!”

Kim put a reassuring arm around Amy’s back.

“You know we’d never force you to do something you truly hated.”

“Yeah, but you have no problem making me squirm, don’t you?”

The doors closed, and Amy had to readjust her weight to maintain her stance as the train shot off. Bri gave off a squealing little ‘hee!’ as she clung to Amy’s arm and let her do the balancing work.

“So,” Kim adjusted the red flight cap clipped to her dreadlocks. “Which way?”

“Which way?”

“Didn’t you have a good feeling about this train?”

Now that she thought about it, she definitely felt a tug.

“Yeah, it’s pulling me to the back of the train.”

With each car they traversed, the feeling grew stronger. It felt warm and familiar, like cozying up in a favorite, sunny spot.

There was a hint of melancholy as well.

“Only one car left. This better be it.”

They entered the last car right as the train began slowing down on its approach to the next station. As Amy held the pair of poles to steady herself in the center of the aisle, both Bri and Kim grabbed her from behind. After a few seconds of being pulled backwards, a sudden change in motion sent Amy’s friends lunging against her. The push of her friends was almost as strong as the forward tug at her heart.

“We’re here. This is definitely it.”