Mom and I went for a night hike down to the river. It wasn't cloudy enough for reflected city light this time, so we used a flashlight. But I kept watching the dark forest and starry sky. Occasionally I seemed to glimpse points of light between the trees, but I wasn't sure. They were in the corner of my vision, particularly when I moved my head quickly, and only occasionally. Mom was skeptical of fireflies in this season, and I agreed.
We got to the river, and admired the ruined dam a bit. I even walked along the crumbled remnant, which was probably foolish in the dark. That was pretty scary, as it's a pretty brutal drop, but I've been doing that since I was 8. I know the gaps between the stones.
Walking along the river itself, I nearly stepped on a large frog. It didn't try to escape, just stared at the flashlight. We admired it for a few seconds, then looked away for a second. As soon as the light was off it, it hopped away. Kinda like a deer, heh.
Then I saw a tiny light on some roots just off the bank. I called mom over, as more appeared. We watched as they blinked on and off, much slower than fireflies. They formed a sort of circle, there in the roots which extended off the bank. I called it a fairy circle, lack of mushrooms aside. I do, after all, believe in fairies.
But I assumed these were bugs, of course. But they didn't behave like fireflies. I took the flashlight and stepped to the edge of the bank, leaning down to get a better look at one. It was hard to make out. It was... too long, and scaley. Almost like an elongated pillbug. And its head looked... strange...
I heard grass rustle next to me, and a hint of motion. I turned the light and saw a snake slithering past me from behind. I'm not afraid of snakes, I grew up seeing black snakes pretty often. But this one was orange. Orange with... diamonds. Mom urgently told me to back away, and I did, barely processing. It was a copperhead, quite venomous.
They say that will'o'wisps are lights in the marsh which lure travelers to their doom. The simplest explanation is that I saw some new type of bioluminescent bugs neither of us could identify after 30-some years in that area, and almost got bit by a snake which is known to be nocturnal. But I do respect fairy tales, and believe there's truth in them. Let's just say I'm glad I dodged that frog, and I won't chase fascinating lights by the water.
Also I really need health insurance
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Topic: Things that made you absolutely terrified today (Read 1976753 times)