Chapter Two

The sun was rising fast as she packed up her few belongings and threw dirt on the last smoldering embers of the fire.

The wind was rising and the leaves blowing across the forest floor broke the silence making her wish she were already well on her way this morning. Finished with her pack, she slung it over her shoulder as she set her foot back on the trail knowing she had long way to go before she reached her destination by nightfall.

She let her mind drift and thought back to the day many weeks ago when she left what was left of her family and her village and her dreams behind. "I don't want you to go bridget, why can't you stay here and let one of the men travel in your place?" Abigail her youngest and now only sister was still a child, although the recent events had caused her to grow up swiftly she still couldn't understand the legend that placed her in charge of speaking for her people. "Abby, you know why I have to go, we've gone over this too many times for you to not realize that i'm the only one destined to take on this responsibility. Should I send one of our men, go against what's been written many years past, it would be on my head if we fail and lose even more of our people. Could you ask that of me?" Head tucked down she could hear her sisters soft sniffles as tears fell against her skirt.

Even that was a reminder of how they'd suffered, weeks ago her sisters skirt would never be covered in dirt and animal leavings. When her mother was alive she and abigail would never have had to tend to their own clothing. Now their dresses were marked with stains and neither had the left over energy to beat the spots out. Taking her out of her thoughts Abigail once implored "Then let me travel with you, I promise i'll listen to what you tell me, and I'm as strong as you are, I can help you on this journey, please don't leave me behind." Holding her sisters hands in her own once again Bridget softly chided her sister "Abby, I would love to have you along with me, but the legend says.." Cutting her off her sister wailed, "Who CARES what the legend says, we can't possibly find the village it speaks of, it's HOPELESS. Nobody has ever heard of or seen these people it speaks about. And who would want to their monsters, they're demons, they're probably worse than what's slaughtered our parents."

Tired of arguing, and knowing she'd never sleep tonight and be able to travel in the morning if she continued allowing her sister to fight her on this she stood up and looking down on her sister said "I know it seems hopeless, but I could not live with myself if I broke the legend and let our people die. If the people the legend speaks of exist, then they are destined to help us fight those monsters and save our village. Now run to Emilys house, she will care for you while I am gone..no do not argue with me any further, i've been more tolerant than momma would allow and I want you to think about the changes losing momma and da will cause when I get back. Now run along, and Abigail, remember, I love you."

In the silence following her sister leaving she finished packing and looking around the room she'd grown up in, and shared with her older sister Muriel she gave into the urge she'd been holding back and threw herself on the bed and weeped for all she'd lost.

Shaking the memories from her head she looked around and recognizing the mountains the legends spoke of turned her course towards them and prayed that she hadn't lied to Abigail, and that these men animals would truly be destined to help her, or by the gods she might be dinner for these beasts.