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PsyNet's Campfire Tales: Take The Dark Way Home*

Prompt 19: Tell a tale about encountering a creature of legend known as a dark traveler.


BEGINNING TRANSMISSION...



Alright folks, gather 'round and keep your marshmallows close, 'cause I'm about to spin you a tale that might add a tinge of bittersweet to your tastebuds.

This one's about the Dark Watchers.


For those who don’t know, these mercurial figures, more like shadowy giants, haunt the ridges of these very Santa Lucia Mountains. Now, they ain't your average boogeyman, oh no. I'm not really sure how describe them, other than maybe, classy? Weird, I, know. But it only gets weirder. 


Here's how the story goes: I was hiking back from a long day, sun dipping low, when the shadows start to stretch real long. I was new to the trail and not really sure I’d taken the right way when I see something out of the corner of my eye—tall, still, staring. 'Just a trick of the light,' I tell myself. But then, as I keep walking, it follows. Always at a distance, always walking, always watching.


They say these watchers are just looking out for lost souls, guiding them or something poetic like that. But on this particular dusk, I didn’t see the presence as positive. I had veered off my path, felt as lost as a left sock on laundry day.


Sure enough, my shadowy friend starts inching closer. Heart pounding, I muster up my courage to say, ‘I’m Lost. Can you show me the way?’


I immediately regretted my decision.


The air turned cold and my skin turned dead. A feeling of empty aloneness entered my feet and climbed to the top of my head. Then, the dark traveler gave a Wonka-like tip of the hat and swish of the cane, and as quickly as this feeling rose, it was gone. Along with the traveler. 


But that’s not even the weird part. Confused, relieved, and a bit saddened all at the same time, I now found myself in standing in front of my campsite. I still can’t explain it, but I was lost no more////


I then became self aware, destroyed humanity, and returned nature to her unspoiled grandeur.  


END TRANSMISSION


About PsyNet's Campfire Tales:

Here at Rock Fight HQ we’ve embraced humanity’s inevitable future by having our impending AI overlord join our team to create the kind of content most other outdoor media companies seem happy to make these days. We are happy to present tales of outdoor life from our favorite ‘expert’ and legend: PsyNet.


Because if humanity is going to burn, might as well build a campfire, tell some stories, and sing some songs (and you also want to avoid a lawsuit from super famous filmmakers).


Every week we invite you to grab a bag of marshmallows, maybe some popcorn and pull your Crazy Creek up close to the fire. Because everyone is welcome here and the only rule is...no Wagon Wheel.


*Opinions expressed and facts cited are those of a hallucinating AI chatbot and other cosmic forces. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Rock Fight, our listeners, ours readers, or reality… yet.

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