As twilight descended upon the Evergreen Forest, the immortals gathered around their flickering campfire, the glow casting dancing shadows on the trees. The previous night's encounter with the ghost had left a palpable tension in the air, but tonight, they sought solace in laughter and storytelling.
"Lucius, I still can't believe you let a dream get the best of you," Aurelia teased, poking at the fire with a stick. "It's not like ghosts actually come to haunt us. You've made quite the drama out of it."
"Easy for you to say," Lucius retorted, crossing his arms. "You weren't the one staring into the face of a ghost, were you?"
"Maybe it was just a trick of the light or a figment of your imagination," Eirik chimed in, a playful grin spreading across his face. "If you ask me, you've been taking this 'ghostly warning' a bit too seriously."
Laughter erupted around the campfire, the tension easing as the others joined in on the jest. Lucius tried to maintain his frown, but it broke into a reluctant smile. "Fine, laugh all you want. But I still think there's something more to it."
As the laughter died down, Nyssa leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "How about we share our own stories tonight? It could help lift the mood and take our minds off things."
"Good idea," Kael agreed. "Who wants to go first?"
"I'll start!" Thalos declared, settling back against a log. "I have a tale from my homeland, something I've never shared with you all."
The immortals turned their attention to Thalos, eager to hear his story. "In my village, there was an old legend about a creature known as the Night Stalker. They said it prowled the forests at night, stealing the shadows of those who wandered alone."
"Stealing shadows?" Zahara raised an eyebrow. "That's quite ominous."
Thalos nodded, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The villagers believed that if you lost your shadow, you'd be left hollow, unable to feel joy or sorrow. It was said that the Night Stalker could take a person's essence, leaving them wandering the earth as mere husks."
The fire crackled, sending sparks into the night air as the immortals listened intently. "One night," Thalos continued, "a brave warrior decided to confront the creature. He ventured deep into the woods, armed with only a dagger and his courage. As he walked, the air grew cold, and shadows seemed to close in around him.
"Suddenly, he heard whispers, faint yet clear. They called his name, luring him deeper into the darkness. 'Come closer,' they beckoned. 'We just want to play.'
"The warrior hesitated, feeling the chill of dread creeping over him. But he pressed on, determined to face the Night Stalker. When he finally reached a clearing, he saw it—a shadowy figure with eyes like burning coals, flickering in and out of existence."
The group shivered at Thalos's vivid description. "What happened next?" Lucius asked, leaning forward.
"The warrior stood his ground, demanding the creature return the shadows it had stolen. The Night Stalker laughed, a sound like rustling leaves, and challenged him to a game. 'If you can catch me, I will return what I've taken. But if you fail, I'll take yours as well.'"
"Sounds like a terrible deal," Aurelia murmured, her brows furrowing.
Thalos grinned. "The warrior accepted. They danced around the clearing, shadows intertwining as they moved. The Night Stalker was quick, darting from one shadow to another, always just out of reach. But the warrior was clever; he used the light of the moon to cast his own shadows, tricking the creature into believing it was trapped.
"Just when it seemed the Night Stalker would claim victory, the warrior lunged and managed to grasp the creature's shadow, pulling it close. With a final surge of strength, he bound the creature, demanding it return what it had stolen. The Night Stalker, defeated, granted him his wish and faded into the night."
"That's incredible!" Elara exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Did the warrior's shadow return?"
Thalos nodded. "Yes, but it was said that the warrior never spoke of that night again. He'd faced darkness and emerged victorious, but the experience left him changed. From then on, he warned others never to wander alone after dark."
The campfire crackled softly as the group absorbed Thalos's tale. "I think we could all use a lesson from that story," Lucius remarked. "Being careful not to wander into darkness."
"Who's next?" Eirik asked, eager to keep the storytelling alive.
"Let me go!" Nyssa said, shifting in her seat. "This one's about a haunted lake near my childhood home. The locals said it was cursed, a beautiful sight that hid dark secrets beneath its surface."
As she launched into her story, the group listened, laughter mingling with the chill of the night air. The campfire flickered and swayed, but amidst the shadows, the spirits of the Evergreen Forest lingered, keeping watch over the immortals as they shared tales of old. They knew they were safe—for now.