“Jane where in the world are you taking us? We have been walking for hours. I mean Levi is barely keeping up.”

“I’m fine!”

He wasn’t really though, huffing and puffing as the walked deeper into the trees, Levi the younger of the three friends had fallen behind more and more. His short frame was made for long slow walks, like a Hobbit but not these high paced waltz into nowhere.

“How are you holding up Levi? We are almost there!”

Jane who was leading the group was a slender brunette with the style of Jane Godall and the athleticism of Lebron James.

“I’m okay, I promise but if you don’t mind me asking we are almost where?”

“Yeah Jane you never told us where you were taking us, and I think that we have walked far enough to know now.”

Always the cautious one, Gillian had surprised her friends when she agreed to leave her tv screen and follow them into adventure.

“Okay listen. Yesterday I came upon a clearing, weird right?”

Gillian looked bemused

“Not really weird. People cut down trees what’s new about that Jane?”

“People cut down trees, but these people left some of the branches in a circular pattern. I think it might have been for a ritual or a festival or something.”

“Let’s hope for a something. I don’t think I have the energy to join a festival.” Levi had finally caught up, his favourite Ninja Turtles shirt was drenched in sweat.

“Well we will see In a second, the clearing is just on the other side of this brush.”

The children found themselves in the clearing as expected but what they hadn’t expected was finding a circle of hooded figures chanting in unison, until they noticed the children and silence fell.

Gillian was the first to speak.

“So sorry we didn’t meant to interrupt, we will just turn around and head home now.”

Speaking with one voice the hooded figures responded.

“Don’t be scared, we have been expecting you. Besides it is too late for you to leave now. We are the coven and we invite you to join us for some food and sleep. Tomorrow morning if you choose to leave you are more than welcome to. But tonight we have something special for you.