The World of Myth Magazine

Jen had walked along the spur of a rocky outcropping and was about a hundred yards away. As they watched, she turned and shouted. "Hey, you guys. Come here. Come quick. I think I see something."

Instead of waiting, she jogged back as the three others hurried to meet her. Quinn was carrying Matt on his back.

They met halfway. "What is it?" he asked.

"I see rocks piled up out there. Like a symbol or signal of some sort." She motioned and began walking. "Come on."

Quinn and Karen followed her to the first pile. "Look," she pointed. "See what I mean? I wonder what they are?" She was showing them a two&45;foot&45;tall stack of flat rocks set one on top of the other with the larger ones, about two feet across, at the bottom, and smaller ones placed on top of each other.

Karen said, "I've read about these." She bent down and studied the pyramid shaped structure. "It's called a cairn. They're used to mark a path over rocky ground."

"So, you don't get lost?" Matt asked. He'd been following the conversation closely.

"That's right," his mom said.

"So, someone put them there?"

Quinn, Karen, and Jen all looked at the five&45;year&45;old. They could see it in his eyes. The dull stare of exhaustion was replaced by a bright, almost a lively glimmer; a glimmer of what they all suddenly felt. Something they hadn't felt for a few days. Hope.

"Yes," his mother said, "Someone put them there."

"Wow," Matt exclaimed.

Jen had another thought. "On the other hand, we don't know anything about whoever built them. They might be friendly, they might not."

"She's right," Karen said. "We should be careful."

"But we should follow them, right?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah, we should," Karen answered him.

Jen added. "We really don't have any other choice, do we?"

"No, we don't," Quinn nodded grimly. "Let's go." He set Matt on his shoulders and off they went.

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