Don't Be Afraid

Do you have your cider, child? Are you cozy in your blanket? Come, scoot a little closer to the hearth. There. You liked the stew for dinner? Good. Because this is a story you must hear, but one that you should only listen to when you're inside, and safe, and warm, and full of good food, and with a warm mug of something good to hold in your hands. Keeps them from shaking, you see. Because this story is true as my arthritis. And they--I'll get to who "they" are later--well, they notice, a little bit, when they're talked about. And they notice a *lot* when somebody's scared near where they're being talked about. So this is not a story you should ever tell around a campfire to scare the children, do you see? I first heard it at just such a campfire, and it was only luck that I had more to travel that night and left early. They found the burned-out campground, and the bodies, the next day. Scared, just a little? Good. Now put that feeling aside. Curl into your blanket. Sip some hot cider. Enjoy the heat from the fire.

Inspiration: Just feeling all Fall-like.
Story Potential: High.
Notes: But it better be a hell of story to live up to this intro. And something that will make a reader look at her surroundings/friends sideways.