The campfire crackled softly, sending occasional sparks up
into the star-filled sky.
The woods around it
were quiet, save for
the occasional rustle of leaves as a breeze stirred
the trees. Shadows danced on
the ground, flickering
and shifting
with the fire’s glow. A kettle hung
over the flames, its steam rising lazily
into the cool night air, filling
the clearing
with the comforting scent of coffee.
The group sat in a circle, their faces illuminated by the warm light, talking in hushed tones as if not to disturb
the stillness. Beyond the firelight, the dark forest loomed, vast
and mysterious, as though it held secrets just beyond sight.