Three hours later, Anwyn sat down in an out of the way corner and just shook for a few moments. She was nowhere near where she was supposed to be! Somehow, she had been hustled onto a ship bound for Cottman IV and not the next stage to Coronis. It also didn't help that the drugs that enabled people to travel on the Big Ships made her more than half sick and only vaguely aware of her surroundings during space travel. Still� why put her on a ship bound for Cottman IV when her tickets specifically said she was going to Coronis? It just didn't make sense! Sighing, Anwyn made her way over to another counter to see about temporary lodging. Good thing she had made sure that she carried more than her share of the funds. Knowing her parents, they wouldn't realize that she wasn't with them until they'd been settled at their latest post for about three weeks � if then.
It took her another two hours just to find a tiny closet-sized space to stow her gear. She would have to share sanitary facilities, but it was affordable. It would do until she could (a) contact her bank for more funds, (b) send a message to her parents, reminding them that their youngest child had been shuttled elsewhere and (c) would they please make arrangements for her transfer. There was a different clerk at the counter, so Anwyn made arrangements for a transfer of funds and sent messages both to her sister on Coronis and her father's Commanding Officer at his new post, letting them know what had happened. Now� food.
Anwyn left the building and followed her nose, shivering all the while. Warm clothing was the next thing on her agenda, definitely. Still� food. Hmmmm� Anwyn shyly asked one of the folks scurrying back and forth where would be a good, and reasonable, place for her to eat in the Zone.
Kay was on her way to way to meet Melissa at the gate, when she noticed a stranger coming along the path, and realized that the girl was addressing her. *This girl must be fresh off one of the Big Ships*, she thought to herself, *most people wouldn't talk to a stranger like this*. "You could try the Silver Swan, It's a very family-oriented sort of place, and it's not too far away either", she suggested, naming one of the only two decent eateries she knew, then described how to find it.
Hoping she hadn't kept Melissa waiting too long, Kay then hurried off after wishing the girl well (and resisting the urge to add a comment about the wisdom of wearing a warm jacket and/or cloak).
Following the directions the kindly person had given her, Anywyn soon found herself standing and shivering outside what looked like those pictures of old Irish pubs that her grandfather had taken when he had last traveled to Ireland. Anwyn stood and watched people entering and leaving for a few minutes, shivering, and then quietly slipped inside. Moving quickly to the side of the doorway, she studied the occupants for a few quick moments then slipped over to a small table and sat down, sighing. It was warm here. She ordered tea and stew and ate slowly, savoring every bite.