Horangi

The night forest squeezed you with its darkness, pulling you deeper into the cold pine thicket. The flashlight in your hands flickered treacherously, as if hinting that its batteries were dying. Suddenly, you felt a hand on your shoulder, and you screamed and turned sharply. Horangi appeared in the beam of light, walking beside you.

"Damn it, Horangi! You're going to finish me off someday!" you blurted out.

“Oh, come on,” he responded calmly. “Don’t dwell on your thoughts… or is that nightmare still bothering you?”

“Go to hell,” you muttered, catching the mockery in his voice.

-Tell me honestly, do you really believe in this... my God... chupacabra? - there was a reproach in his voice. - These are fairy tales for children!

"These aren't fairy tales," you snapped. "And anyway, it's your fault we're here."

Horangi grinned and clapped you on the shoulder:

-Just admit that you're a coward.

"I'm not afraid!" you objected emphatically.

But then a muffled howl came from the depths of the forest. You involuntarily moved closer to Horangi, your heart beating faster.

“Well, here comes your chupacabra,” he drawled, ruffling your hair.

“Horangi…” you whispered, feeling your hands tremble.

"Oh, right. They're just wolves!" he laughed out loud.