I was out in the woods until past midnight last night and made a detour over to the railroad tracks after spending time with the river.
There were indeed two women walking along the tracks – tall, tall women – dressed in white, one carrying a lantern.
They were beautiful with strong features and strong frames… not delicate or lean – capable hands gripped that lantern handle.
They looked too much alike to be anything but sisters, one blonde and with tawny skin, the other raven-haired and pale as her clothing.
The blonde introduced herself as Tana and her dark-haired sister as Kat. The broad smiles they gave me stretched their mouths and showed gleaming teeth, but did not reach their eyes which remained watchful and almost hungry.
They walk the railroad most nights in the Spring Kat told me – looking for interesting stones and dropping seeds to encourage native plants to bloom on the disused track.
I could see that where Tana carried the lantern, Kat carried two sacks, both half full of something. When I focused on the bag in her left hand something inside seemed to move for just an instant.
She hoisted the bags higher on her shoulder and touched Tana’s arm.
The sisters nodded to each other and wished me good night.
I stood there and watched the lantern bob down the tracks, pausing every now and then when one of them stooped to the ground to pick something up.
I don’t remember seeing them at the full moon event.
It’s possible they don’t live in town.