'I know a story about a stone circle like this!' Mark suddenly announced. 'I didn't make it up, I read it to my kids from a book. Does that matter?'.
'No go ahead.'
'Ok, so in these mountains, a long time ago, there lived a pack of Wolves. They lived wild and free, hunting deer and wild sheep and the occasional yak. They were feared by every other animal including men.
'The only person that didn't fear them, was a witch who also lived in the mountains. She was a wizened and evil old crone, who would cast spells on people she didn't like that would turn them to stone.
'The King of the Woves was called Warg. He was the bravest, strongest, fiercest, and quickest of all the Wolves in the mountains, but he was not King for that reason. He was King because he was the most cunning of all the wolves. He could outwit every single one of them every time.
'The Wolves in the pack though started to grumble about the witch. 'If our King is so brave and fierce, he should go and fight her', said one.' If he is so strong then he should go and crush her in his jaws', muttered a second. 'If he is so quick, then she will never catch him', said a fourth.
'Warg heard their mutterings, and wondered what to do. Every other Wolf who had gone to face the Stone Witch
had been turned into a stone rock. However, he would not be much of a King if he would not face his packs enemies.
'He called a meeting of the Pack and spoke to hem all. 'Wolves of the Mountains, here me! There is a Witch in these mountains, who turns our brothers and sisters into Stone. We cannot tolerate this. I, will go and face this Witch, and defeat her so we can leave untroubled by her'.
'The pack bayed and barked its support for Warg, and so off he set. He travelled high into the mountains to where there were no animals, no trees, not even any vegetation.
'The stones underfood came very sharp, and the rocks around very jagged. Warg came to a stone circle and stopped.
'Stone Withch, come out and face me!' he roared.
'Stone witch, stone witch, stone witch' the echo came back across the other side of the stone circle. Warg ran round to the other side to where he thought the sound came from, but she was not there.
'Stone Witch!' he roared again. The echo came back 'stone witch, stone witch, stone witch'. Warg ran back round, but she was not there.
'He began calling more, 'Stone Witch, Stone Witch', the echoes seemed to come from every side. Confused and maddened by the sound, Warg ran round and round the circle, cutting his paws on the pebbles beneath his feet, and tearing his coat on the jagged rocks on the circle.
'Eventually he collapsed exhausted at the bast of a large rock. It was only then that a shape detached itself from one of the rocks and hobbled over.
'Ha ha ha ha' the Stone Witch cackled. 'The Mighty Warg, King of the Wolves has come to try and fight me. But he is so tired now, and his paws so cut and his coat torn that he will not be a match, I will turn him to stone in an instant'.
'Warg watched her with his yellow eyes. He may not have his strength or his fierceness now, but he still had his cunning.
'Stone Witch, you are right, you are the victor. You have defeated me. I cannot battle you. Turn me into stone, you have earned this victory'.
'Yes! She cackled again, 'I have! Prepare to be petrified'. SHe pointed her wand at the wold.
'But wait!' Said Warg. I am just curled up almost asleep. I will make a terrible rock. Surely if I was to stand, perhaps pose a little, then I would be a much better rock to add to your collection'.
'Hmmmm, well, Im not sure', the Witch said. 'But yes, you are probably right, Get up and look like the Wold you once were'.
'So Warg forced himself up and struck a pose in front of the large rock. "look Stone Witch, I am poised as if I am about to spring. I will make the best rock in your collection!'
'Yes you will. Ok, prepare to be turned'. She pointed her wand and Warg poised in his best springing position.
'Petrifonicus!' The witch cried, but as she did so, Warg sprang as high and as far as he had ever jumped. The spell hit the rock just behind where he had been standing, and just like the Wargs voice earlier, echoed back. It hit the Witch full in the chest and turned her immediately into stone.
'Warg crept back to his pack with his bloody paws and his torn coat. He was no longer the strongest wolf in the pack, but he was still the most cunning and led the pack for many many years.'
Mark pointed to the stone in the centre of the stone circle. "This was where the witch stood, when she cast her spell. If you listen very carefully, you still might hear 'Stone Witch, Stone Witch, Stone Witch... echoing round the circle'.
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