Winnipeg, unmoving, waited for them to trudge the whole damn way to her. She was a short girl, younger than either of them, with the pugnacious stance of a pubescent who owed the world nothing. Her short, boyish hair and bilious profusion of freckles only made ridiculous the intense glare she levied at Sloan and Delaney as they approached. She already wore Magical Girl garb, a no-nonsense long-necked lavender vest with miniskirt and matching stockings which went so high up her twiglike legs they might as well have been pants.

She held a gleaming katana that was as tall as she was.

(Chapter 2)