[FIC CHAPTER]

I wrote a fanifc of The Chosen Series, so I'll share with all of you.

Enjoy!

Tiny bundle

Teen and Up Audiences

Summary: Jesus separates from the disciples and tells them to return to Capernaum, while he spends some time in sollitude. In the way back, they find an abandoned baby bundled in old fabrics inside a cest. Nobody reclaims it so they take it to the town to decide what to do about it

...

“Everyone,” All the teenagers walking in front of him stopped at uneven paces and turned around to listen to the leader of the group. It was safe to say, not all of them were in complete agreement that Peter was picked to guide them whenever their Rabbi went away, but God's will was not to be questioned, so they behaved and obligued. “We still have a long journey back to Capernaum, so we will stay one night nearby and get on the path at first hour in the morning, so we can arrive by the afternoon.” More than half nodded and followed.

The sun was shining a lot more than previous days, which was unusual for the last days of autumn, but there was no denial as the heat caused their bodies to sweat and dehydrate them quicker. That's why, Peter strategically walked them nearby a river and sent them off to cool down and drink as much as their stomachs could handle, that way they could prevent a heat stroke. He had too bathed in the cold water for a few minutes, then proceeded to fill the dozen leathered water flasks each would carry, with the help of Matthew and Mary, whom were not amicable with the idea of wetting their clothes, unlike Tamar and the rest of the boys.

“Peter,” Zea walked closer to them and kneeled down, completely wet. “We must make a fire and cook what's left of our flour, it won't be as easy considering we haven't set a camp but even if we stay for one night, we don't have enough food for everyone.” Peter nodded and asked him and Matthew to collect dry wood or either work on wet branches.

“I'll collect the water and knead the dough in the meanwhile, you go and rest a little bit.” Mary softly smiled at him, and Peter felt a warmth in his chest, like everytime either she or Tamar spoke kindly; it made him long for a real sister, but they were as close as siblings, he supposed it was just as good.

“Thank you Mary, I'll collect the water though.” Thomas and Little James were already drying up by the shore, in comfortable silence. Nathanael, Judas and Thaddeus were still enjoying the water, Phillip had already started setting a sitting place for eating later, and Andrew was nowhere to be seen. On the other side, John and Big James were busy washing figs in the river, to get rid of little bugs and dirt.

“Ripped figs at this time of the year?” Peter was stunned.

“Right? I told my brother it's a miracle from God to me, because I found it.” John was smiling so bright and standing so straight, Peter could swear the kid was almost on his tip-toes, just as innocent as a child, that made him smile and nod in approval. Big James only scoffed, used to his little brother's personality.

“Then we shall pray thrice as hard later before eating, shouldn't we?” John nodded enthusiastically, he would become so excited whenever they all prayed together, as if he was about to meet God in person. Although nobody could blame him, John was still young enough to be freely naive, even after witnessing terrors on the real world and hurt people who'd stone them for preaching the words of the Lord. He always kept a positive mindset.

“Boys!” Tamar called, holding a piece of cloth with nine fresh and warm breads, enough for everyone to eat twice. “Food is ready, come and eat.” Soon, everyone gathered around the fire. Andrew helped serving them warm water and Tamar gave them all two pieces of bread and two figs each. The rest was kept inside a bag for the next morning.

“Where's Andrew?” Thomas asked, looking around. It had been hours since he was seen for the last time, but his belongings were nearby so he couldn't have wandered far, Peter thought feeling worried. “Did he drown in the river?” He joked.

“Well, he is short enough for that.” Zea joked back and everyone laughed, except for the leader, although he did want to share the light moment with his siblings, he couldn't shake off the feeling something was wrong. At that moment, he realized he had been worrying all afternoon but couldn't understand why, and then it all made sense.

“I'll keep watch all night,” He announced, creating silence in the space. “I want to make sure he comes back. If he doesn't, I'll go and seek for him at dawn, then Zea will take my place.” They nodded. Zea was worried for their friend, but he briefly dreaded missing his morning excercise.

“Any news yet?” Matthew asked Peter late at night. Blank papers and scriptures were spread all around him, as he organized them by date. “I've been focusing on this, so I haven't noticed if there's been any sounds nearby.” He looked guilty, and he felt that way too. Peter was keeping guard on the rest but he had trusted the leader blindly.

“Haven't heard anything but you ruffling the sheets,” He sighed. Every passing hour, he felt increasingly sick to his stomach. Not only he cared for his brother dearly, but he couldn't forgive himself if anything happened to him at the absence of their parents, he had made a promise.

“Why don't you go to sleep and I'll keep guard for a while? I'll stop working too.” Peter side-eyed him cautiously, then decided he didn't want to be cautious with Matthew, so he simply scoffed.

“Matthew, I know we're in better terms than a while ago and no offense, but you couldn't defend us or act on spot if any danger approached.” He wasn't being mean, he was being realistic. Maybe a good reality check would lead him to start working on his defense skills with Zea.

“No, you're right. I just wish I could help you somehow,” Peter frowned. “I don't have siblings, but I would worry a lot if any of you went missing.” He couldn't believe what he heard.

“Would you?” An angel passed by. Matthew nodded shyly. “Worry not, I'm sure he'll be back. I'm older than him and I prepared him well to defend himself, I know he'll be alright.” Right? He asked God.

But he received no answer, maybe he was busy with Jesus, he thought in a state of sleep deprivation, as the sky turned lightblue and the first sunrays hit his skin. The boys were all sleeping side by side in a few rugs they had placed on the ground, and the girls were on another big rug, for comfort. Matthew had gone to sleep, sitting with his back against a rock nearby.

“Andrew, you either better be with God already or else I'll send you with him myself for worrying me this much.” He spoke to the air as he munched on a piece of bread, waiting for Zea to wake up and take his place.

But Zea did not wake for another twenty minutes, after which he sat up and looked around to remember where he was in the first place. Peter stared at him and wished him a good morning, before giving him water. Zea gulped down quickly, almost choking and stood up carefully, as to not wake the others.

“He's not back yet,” He stated, Peter nodded. “You stay here and wake the others up. I'll go and search for him. Don't look at me like that Peter, you haven't slept, you have no energy. Now-” He turned around and softly woke Big James. “Keep watch while I go to the river.” The tallest nodded.

Peter kneeled in the same place he was earlier and started praying silently. Big James sat by his side and mimicked. Soon, Matthew woke up and carefully joined them. In pure silence, the three of them gave to God their own morning devotion words, not knowing they were all asking for the safety of their brother at the same time.

“Zea better be back with good news,” Phillip had not wanted to show his nervousness by the sudden disappearance of his closest friend, worrying Peter more than he already was, meant to suffer through pent up energy turned into negative comments and possible bickering. But he worried. He had a night full of nightmares, all ending in Andrew's demise.

“He will, have faith. God will keep him company and make sure nothing bad happens,” Nathanael comforted him, while packing up the rugs.

“But what if someone kidnapped him? We haven't been the people's favorites lately.” Okay, he's panicking, he thought.

“Andrew has an exceptional skill to talk even while he sleeps, he just has to do that and they'll sent him back to us, believe me.” Tamar choked on her water nearby and started coughing as Nathanael laughed out loud. Of course he was also worried, but he was sure things would turn out well.

“Do you think God might send a guardian angel to care for him?” John asked them all, a thick silence downed on the circle looking at each others eyes.

“Remember what our Rabbi said: 'Do not look down on these little ones-” Thaddeus answered, followed by Peter joining him, repeating Jesus' words. “I tell you, their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven'.” They finished in unison. John nodded, mentally repeating every word, in order to memorize them.

As the time passed, they finished packing and preparing for keep on walking to the town, but first, they would all go back to the river and walk nearby, instead of the main road, in case they saw Andrew and Zea. But that wasn't entirely necessary.

As they advanced in the same direction as the water, they saw Zea walking towards them, all alone.

“Zea!” Big James shouted, the ex-warrior jogged faster, holding a expression of stress. “What happened?”

Published by callmevirtus

[FIC CHAPTER]

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