THE CHOSEN ONES ( PART TWENTY FOUR )

The morning was nice and sunny, not a cloud in the
sky. Nathen and Ben were still asleep, even though
the bird song was quite loud, it didn't seem to wake them.

A blackbird landed in the tree, where Nathen and
Ben were sleeping, it flew away when they moved.

"Oh dear," sighed Nathen, I think we've over slept.
Come on Ben we had better get down out of this tree." The blackbird began chirping loudly with surprise.

As Ben and Nathen climbed down out of the tree, they heard the sound of a horse through the clearing, they could make out the figure of a woman
sat driving a horse and cart, she was quite elderly, or so Ben thought.

She pulled up the horse and cart as she approached
Nathen and Ben.

She had two young girls and a young boy in the back
of the cart. "Who be you two young scruffians? you
looks like you been sleeping in the mud." She looked at them and smiled.

Nathen smiled back, "well actually I have been sleeping in a pit," he said.

"Why you been sleeping in a pit young man?" said the old woman.

"I was pushed in by a hunter, do you know about the
hunters?"

"I been travelling a long way, I'm not from around
these here parts."

"Where do you come from?" said Ben.

"Oh a long way, far to far away to explain to you
young lad."

The two young girls started to climb out of the cart, but the old lady was not having any of that.
"Daisy, Teela you stay in the cart, you hear me?"

"Why have you travelled so far?" said Nathen.

"Are people are travellers in search of crystals,"
said the old woman.

"Really," said Nathen, "that sounds interesting,
why do you search for crystals?"

"Don't you know crystals have powers?" said the old
woman.

"What kind of powers?" enquired Nathen.

The old woman looked puzzled, "why healing powers,
don't you ever get told about crystals by your ancestors?"

"No," said Nathen, "we just get taught to hunt and
survive. Can I ask what your name is?"

"Well ofcourse, me name is Martha and these are me
grandchildren, Daisy, Teela and young Alfie."

"My names Nathen, this is Ben. You know you want to
be careful travelling these parts, there's hunters
who are not so friendly."

"Oh don't you go worrying yourselves. So where are
you both going?"

"Well it's a long story," said Nathen.

"Well why don't you both hop aboard and come back to our camp, you can tell us all about it." Martha
said joyfully.

Nathen looked at Ben, Ben seemed nervous.
"Why you be looking so suspicious young lad? I ain't about to eat you."
Nathen laughed, "yes okay, we haven't got anywhere
else to go, but you need to head back the way you
came. How far is your camp?"

"Oh I'd say we'll be back at camp in time for lunch. We should get a feast ready for our young
guests, what do you think young Teela and Daisy?"
Teela and Daisy looked at each other and giggled
shyly.

"Well come on then, jump up on the cart if yer
coming!" Martha smiled.

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