THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART TWENTY THREE )

Ivan awoke in the morning very stiff, from sleeping
in such a confined space, but he'd had a good nights sleep and was wide awake and raring to go.

Shadow was eager to get going aswell, so after releaving himself, Ivan had the last of the corn
bread, then he packed the blankets up.

It wasn't long before Ivan and Shadow were on their
way. It took him about half a day to get back to
Nathen's and Evelyne's old camp, there was black
ash everywhere.

"Well Shadow, there's nothing for us here," he said, Shadow nodded his head and nuzzled Ivan.

Ivan desperately needed a drink, so did Shadow, so
he walked down to the stream with Shadow following.

Ivan lay on his stomach and let the cooling water
run over his face. Suddenly the birds flew from the
trees, Ivan jumped up quick, then sensing danger, he leapt up onto Shadow.

He could see many men coming, he told Shadow, "Come
on boy, we need to get going and fast." he quickly
pulled on the reins then turned and they were gone.

Shadow rode like the wind, winding through the forest, Ivan glanced behind to see how much distance he had put between him and the hunters.

All of a sudden, Shadow came to a stop, "come on boy ride on," said Ivan, but the horse would not
move.

Ivan couldn't see any danger up ahead, again he told Shadow to ride on, but still the horse would
not move.

Ivan dismounted, "what is it boy?"
Shadow neighed and scraped the ground with his hoof. Ivan couldn't believe it, there before him
was a deep pit, Shadow had saved them both from
falling in.

As Ivan was looking at the pit, Shadow turned and
started to wander towards the river.
"No Shadow," called Ivan, but the horse continued.

'Perhaps Shadow is thirsty,' thought Ivan. "Here boy, I have some water here," but still the horse
trotted off towards the river, then he suddenly
stopped at the waters edge and looked down.

Ivan crept towards Shadow, he was worried about being out in the open, he felt there were eyes watching him from all around.

He whispered, "Shadow come here," but still the horse just stood there.

As Ivan approached Shadow, he saw a figure lying on
the river bank, it was the wet bedraggled figure of
a man.

Ivan listened to hear if he was still breathing, there was life in the man, but Ivan was nervous.

The man was unconscious and for some unknown reason
Ivan took pity on him, he also knew that he trusted
Shadow. If this man was dangerous then Shadow would
not have ventured towards the body.

To be continued .........THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART TWENTY FOUR ) | ABCtales