The woods stare back

The woods stare back - "The sounds of merriment inside the cabin became silent as the door closed. Going to the outhouse in during kaamos* in the dead of winter was never comfortable. The auroras were high up, no need for a candle, it'll be quick.

Old berry beer and soup does not mix well. Dirty business.

The cracking of wood in the freezing cold almost sounds like something moving about, breaking branches.

Once out of the outhouse there sometimes is a particular sensation, especially with your back facing towards the forest. In front of you, you see the cabin and the door and inside comfort and safety, but now your back is exposed to the forest. A desire to run to the door as quickly as possible, but you know that if you run, you let fear take control. So you walk. It's silent apart from the crunch of your feet on the diamond snow. In your head you can swear there is something behind you, something that has moved in from the forest, is nearing towards you, but you don't run, since if you do, you can't hear it if it comes. Soft steady steps, the snow rolls away before your feet, it almost sounds like something is mimicking your footfalls.

At the steps of the door, you take them in doubles, but you still don't run, and still do not look behind you, not until you pull the door open and are covered in light. You are pretty sure there was nothing there, but you feel ashamed that you even had to look. Cabin fever makes people think of all sorts of things during the kaamos. But then again, there are terrible beings that wander south from Glacialisia, and they aren't unheard of here during the deepest winter.

*Kaamos = The deepest winter when the sun doesn't rise for a period of several days/weeks