Chapter Four

Disappointment seeped through her, weariness over her long journey wore down her resolve to be strong and the desire to cry caused her eyes to burn.

Coming through a break in the trees upon this village she knew that somehow she'd gone wrong, either the legend was false or she had somehow taken the wrong path. No! She knew she'd followed the map included in the legend perfectly, this had to be the village, but where were the monsters, the men animals the legend spoke of? Looking around the village at the women working, and the children playing she knew these could be none other than humans as was she, no resemblance to any monster or beast could be seen on the faces or bodies of those she could see.

Head sagging in confusion she sat upon a dry spot of grass and letting her pack slide off her shoulder she considered her options. Walk into the village and inquire about the men spoke of in the legend, or turn around and walk back down the mountain through the thick forest and see where she took her misstep. She'd just made her mind up to head back down the mountain when a child of about 4 came running through an outcropping of rocks to her right, the child had yet to notice her sitting there so lost in her game she was. Bridget watched the child play a game with an imaginary friend noticing how intently the puppy at her feet was paying attention to her game.

If she lived to be 90 she didn't believe she could have prepared herself for the sight that unfolded in front of her, the child speaking in a foreign tongue suddenly fell to all fours, arched her back and disappeared into thin air, replaced by a canine identical to the puppy who'd been chasing her. Scrambling away from the fearful sight she tripped over her pack and watched as the two animals instantly changed back into beautiful human children, the girl started to scream, the other child a boy about 3 stared at her and just shook his head, looking straight at Bridget he spoke in the foreign tongue. He tilted his head to the side as if to ask if she was daft, even if she'd understood what he'd just spoken she never would've been able to reply after her scare.

Still in a half sitting half crouch ready to dash for safety she was once again surprised when a woman ran up the mountains in apparent response to hearing the childs screams. "Na' ah tague shoen" Clucking her tongue she swept up the little girl animal in her arms and soothed. "Sho ariu acohl faio" the boy spoke animatedly to the woman while pointing at Bridget. Turning child on hip the woman looked at Bridget, "Kleua ghea' neuch saol ghea' chole rea " she gasped at her, shaking her head she spoke again "welcome to our home, we have been waiting for you" stepping forward she stopped suddenly when she saw the fear in Bridgets eyes, "we have no reason to harm you, please come with me down to the village, we have much to discuss" Picking up her pack Bridget wairily followed the woman, the girl stared at her over her mothers shoulder and the boy ran ahead of them all shouting as he went.