The Caravan Tales: Shadow Lingers

What would you do if you found yourself stranded in the middle of a dark estranged forest? Your horse broke its leg and now you must hike to the nearest town on foot. The night is cold, and an eerie mist slowly begins to rise from the ground. The forest is dead silent… no crickets… no chirps… no howls in the night… not even a subtle breeze. The trees are tall, and moss covered. The moon is crescent, and the stars provide very little additional light. Your torch flickers and wavers at nothing and your eyes seem to play tricks on you… or do they?
A midst your growing anxiety, you recall the stories of a creature, only known as, “The Beast.” Shadows play and shift from the corners of your eyes… what do you really see…? What rattles your nerves…? The mist rises, and it feels like wading in water. What creature can move in absolute silence? What lies beneath the rising mist? What tells you to run? Why do you fear for your life, when it seems that only your shadow lingers?