The leader didn't need to ask him any questions about how or why, he knew that nobody knew that mountain better than he did, he had been going up and down it for many years. He made sure that he was still breathing okay and went straight to ring the big bell in the middle of the village which would tell everyone to come straight away.
The first person there was the runner - the leader told him quickly what was to happen and he left to tell all those who were away from the village or were sick and unable to leave what was happening so that no-one would be left behind. They were to pack their things, and leave.
They were all ready to go very quickly. A stretcher had been made for those who couldn't walk, including the boy who had warned them all, so that they could be carried. The fastest way to safety was to go to the top of the next mountain which was far enough away from theirs, but in the valley further down from them there were three more villages - the furthest was 2 days away, without rest.
They couldn't just leave them, and so that is the way the village went. They sent their runner ahead to warn the next village so they could get ready - then they would rest there until their village arrived before going on to the next village, until they got to the last one.
By the time they got to the last village there were three villages all walking together, but the last village - they didn't believe them that the volcano was really going to breathe fire again, after all it never had before that they had seen. Never the less, they sent everyone to pack up their things so that they would still have a good relationship with the other villages - they needed them.
When they were ready to go, they still did not want to leave and insisted that they all stay in their village, and then if the volcano did do anything - then they could go, after all the nearest mountain they would all go to for safety was only 2 hours away. The other villages didn't like this at all but they didn't want to leave the last village behind, so they agreed.
As they agreed, they all looked up toward the mountain, and someone noticed something looked a little different about the air surrounding it. That was enough, that was all it took, those who were still not sure were convinced by everyone else to move anyway, just in case, and so all together they made the final journey to the mountain.
They made it, it's okay, but that's not what I want to tell you now. You know the boy from the beginning of the story - he was unconscious this whole time and his village carried him all the way. As they arrived at the top of the mountain there was a big tremor making the ground shake, and the mountain breathe fire. It was at this point that he woke up, and when he looked around do you know what he saw?
He saw not only his village, but three more also. He saw a sky of semi darkness, and red flames leaping from a mountain and racing down a valley below. He saw that what he thought was pointless to begin with was actually a very important job. He didn't feel worthless anymore. And he also realised that it was okay that his leg was broken, because everyone else was safe.
My apologies to my 'dear friend' (Brown Bear) if I've remembered part of this story wrongly!
My apologies to my 'dear friend' (Brown Bear) if I've remembered part of this story wrongly!
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