"I wanna light the campfire!"

"You got to light it last time, it's her turn now. 'Sides, you take too long."

"I do not!" Bram sulked, crossing his arms. His two best friends, Lizabeth and Harry rolled their eyes.

"Go for it, Liza." Harry instructed. Liza nodded as Harry quickly took a couple of steps backwards.

FFFOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!! The campfire burst into a large blaze.

"Watch it!" Bram snapped, jumping back. "You could've burnt me! Along with half the forest!"

"Could not." Liza retorted, sitting back down.

"Could too!"

"Could not."

"Could too!"

"Not."

"Too!"

"Guys!" Harry snapped, getting their attention. The two froze, staring at their friend. "Thank you. Now do you think we could get on with tonight's contest?"

"What contest?" Bram asked suspiciously.

"Duh, Bram." Liza made a face at her pale friend. "The same thing we do every weekend."

"Ditch the folks and try to see who can come up with the best story." Harry finished.

"I knew that." Bram said, straightening his dark jacket. "I was just seeing if you did."

Liza snorted and whispered to Harry; "This is what you get for making friends with a Goth."

"I heard that, lizard breath!" Bram shot back.

"Oh, very original, fang face!"

"Guys!" Harry cut them off before they could start up again. "I'll tell the first story, okay?"

"How come you get to?" Bram demanded.

"Cuz I'm not the one bickering with someone bigger than me. Now shut up, sit down and lissen!"

Liza snickered as Bram took his usual seat away from the fire. Bram shot her a glare, but remained quiet for once. Harry shook his head as he pulled out a bag of white fluffy things to roast as he told his tale.

* * * * *

"Oh, shoot!" Jessi growled, glancing at the clock. "I'm not going to have time to drop the cookies off at the nursing home."

"I'll do it." Her cousin immediately volunteered. She'd been visiting from the country for the week and had been itching to get out and explore alone. This was the perfect opportunity.

"I dunno, Red..." Jessi trailed off. The city could be dangerous if you didn't know what you were doing.

"Relax. You worry too much, cos." Red hopped off the sofa. "I can take care of myself."

Jessi sighed. She was in a hurry after all. "All right. The cookies are in a plastic bag on the kitchen counter. They're for Forest Walk Retirement Home. Just go down the street about five blocks to 7th street, turn left and go another three blocks to West street. It's on your right. And wear a jacket. It gets cold fast."

"Got it."

"And try to be home before dark. There's a full moon out and that always brings out the weird ones, as you well know."

"Yes, Jessi." Red sighed, mentally pushing her cousin out the door.

"Thanks, Red. I owe you one." Jessi blew her a kiss and ran out the door.

Red rolled her eyes. Jessie could be so over protective. She grabbed the cookies and slipped on her namesake, a bright red sweatshirt with a hood before heading out, locking the door behind her.

An hour later, she was completely lost. What was worse, she knew she was completely lost. The city was a confusing place. She didn't recognize landmarks and the streets made no sense, going every which way except straight. She was starting to get frustrated.

"Can I help you?" A kind voice asked.

She turned to face a pleasant looking, if not hairy, man not much older than her. "I-uh..."

"You looked lost. I thought maybe I could point you the right way." He said, showing nothing but concern.

She let out a breath she had been holding, relived. Just what she needed. "Could you point me in the direction of Forest Walk Retirement Home?"

"You're on the wrong side of town." Seeing her expression fall, he added, "I'm heading that way myself. If you'd care to accompany me, I'll gladly escort you."

"Thank you." She smiled at him. It was nice to run into a gentleman when you needed one.

He motioned her the other way. "My pleasure, Ms.-?"

"Riding." She self-consciously adjusted her sweatshirt's hood. "But I'm called Red."

"So I see." He smiled. "I'm Mr. Wolfe."

She muffled a curse as she looked at the sky. It was getting dark. Jessi would be expecting her home soon.

"Don't worry, Red." Mr. Wolfe assured her. "We're almost there."

"Sorry." She grinned sheepishly at him. "I had just hoped this short cut of yours would be faster."

Looking around, it didn't look like 'almost there' to her.

"Through here." Mr. Wolfe escorted her into a decrepit looking building. It was kind of hard to tell though, with the light fading. It could have been merely run down. "It's part of the shortcut."

He knew the area, she reminded herself, she didn't. And it was nearly dark. A chill ran down her spine any way. Mr. Wolfe led her into a tiny east facing room in the back of the building. Alarms went off in her head as she entered it. There didn't appear to be any exits aside from the front door and the two windows on the far wall both had security bars over the windows. This did not look like Forest Walk Retirement Home. A click behind her raised the hair on the back of her head. She turned around to see Mr. Wolfe pulling a key out of the doorknob. He leered at her intently as he put the key in a vest pocket and buttoned it. She swallowed, backing up. She didn't think he was after her cookies.

"Wh-why Mr. Wolfe, what big eyes you have..." She stammered, insanely feeling like she was in the middle of some warped fairey tale. She had to buy some time...

"The better to see you with." He replied smoothly, reaching forward. She hastily backed up a few steps, dancing just out of reach.

"And... uh, what big hands you have..." He did too, big fat ugly ones. He probably bit his nails from the looks of it. It was kinda funny the things you notice when under stress...

"The better to hold you with." He purred, a bit of drool fell from his lips, splattering on the floor between them.

"And what a big mouth you have..." She gulped, nearly gagging on his foul breath as he moved closer again. She backed up some more, franticly glancing around for a way out. There was none as far as she could see. She was trapped.

"The better to eat you with!" He said enthusiastically. That really wasn't as re-assuring as he had probably meant it to be. And she didn't want to know what exactly he meant by that first hand.

She was now pressed up against the window ledge, the bag in front of her like a shield. As if sensing his prey was trapped, he closed in for the kill.

His anticipation quickly changed to fear as the light of the rising full moon highlighted Red's suddenly shifting figure. She stood up straighter as her body reformed in front of his eyes, her pale skin rippling and growing dusky as fur started to sprout. As she stepped forward, her feet outgrew her sneakers and ripped free of them, leaving bits and pieces of shredded cloth and rubber. She grinned, sharp fangs glinting at him as she reached toward him with her clawed tipped hands.

Mr. Wolfe's plan had one major flaw in it that he was going to regret for a very long time. He had just locked himself in a room with not a lost helpless girl, but a large, very mad, wolf. More specifically, werwolf.

* * * * *

"Well?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence, watching his friends.

"The ending was kinda predictable." Bram yawned.

Liza growled softly, muttering something about being dropped on his head too many times as a hatchling.

"Whadda ya think, Lizabeth?" Harry asked before Bram could start up again.

She shrugged. "It was a pretty good one, Har. Lot better than last weeks. But I have to agree with Bram-"

Bram cut her off eagerly. "Can I get that in writing?"

She ignored him. "-that the end was a bit predictable, all things considered, fur face."

Harry shrugged, accepting the criticism. "I got it from my aunt. She claims it's a true story. But you know how adults are."

The other two nodded, agreeing.

"I get to go next!" Bram exclaimed, standing up suddenly. Harry glanced at Liza, who motioned for Bram to continue. Evidently some things just weren't arguing over. Harry leaned back against the log, getting comfortable as Bram started his tale.

Bram straighten his jacket again, trying to act like a showman and falling slightly short.

"I can hear them.-"

"Hear who?" Liza asked, ears perking up slightly.

"Not me, the character. It's told from their point of view." Bram growled.

"Oh, okay. Just checking." Liza settled back down with an almost smug air around her. Harry hid a grin as Bram started back up.

* * * * *

I can hear them.

In my dreams, like visions, they haunt me. Not the people who imprisoned me in this tower out of fear and superstion, but their descendents. Ten generations have gone by while I have lain here, alone except for the dreams.

'Sleeping Beauty' they call me, my true name forgotten years ago. I hardly remember it myself, trapped here, waiting. Not that it matters much anymore.

Poor, poor princess, tragically trapped by a magic spell on her 16th birthday, waiting for a prince to wake her up with a kiss. Waiting and waiting and waiting and-

Wait. What's this?

Someone's approaching my domain. This one is new... I haven't seen him before in the dreams before. Oh, this is one is a handsome one! And he radiates such charisma, such charm. Please, please, please! Have him come my way...

Yes! He's moving his horse toward the castle! Now if he can make it through the path way... It's grown so wild, no ones dared to come and clear it. Not since in my father's day least.

Ah, he's got an axe. Much better than a sword for chopping through the gnarled branches. I wonder if I can help...

There. My sway over the land has lessened while I have lain here, but I can still persuade some of them to move out of the pathway. How amusing... He's thanking his god for making his way easier.

He'll be thanking him in person soon enough.

Mmmm... he sure moves quickly though. It seemed like no time has past and he's already at the castle gates. Come to me, my prince. That's right, through the grand hall, past the ballroom...

No! No! No! That's the kitchen! The other way! The other way!!!

That's it. Good. Up the stairs, I'm at the top of the stairs waiting for you. Yes, that's it. Batter down the door. Here I am. Ooh... I can see your blood pumping. How nice. I'll take that as a complement. Now come to me. That's right, I'm waiting for you on the bed. Ooooh, I could just eat you up!

I can see you want to kiss me. I want you to. Just a little further... Yes, that it, next to me on the bed. Mmmm... You've done this before, my princeling, I can tell. You're so close, so warm. Don't startle, that's just my arm. That's it, closer. Closer...

Foolish mortal.

Didn't you hear the warnings of what my curse was, or did they just neglect to tell you? Too late now, as I nip your throat, then sink my teeth into the warm vein at the base of it. Ah, now you gasp, fight and try to fight me. Foolish, foolish man.

For I am no fragile princess meekly waiting for rescue by some handsome dashing prince. They had a right to fear me, fear my curse, those who imprisoned me in this tower all those decades ago.

For I am Nospheru. And you, my dying princeling, are merely the appetizer.

* * * * *

Bram grinned, sitting back down with pleased air. "Well?"

Liza reached over and poked Bram a couple of times. He swatted her hands away, irritated.

"What?"

"I knew it." Liza stated, pulling her limb back. "I knew it all along. You're just a girl who's pretending to be a guy. You're really a transvestite!"

Harry howled with laughter at the stunned expression on Bram's face. He just stood there, mouth opening and closing like a stranded fish.

"I am NOT!" Bram roared when he got some his composure back. "I may be from Transylvaina, but I am not a transvestite!"

"Transvestite, Transylvainian, same diff." Liza shrugged indifferently.

Bram stood there, sputtering incoherently for a minute until Liza couldn't stand it anymore and she started rolling on the ground, laughing.

Bram turned his back to them and stalked back to his seat. "I'm naming my first ulcer after you, scales for brains." He growled, glaring at her. He turned his glare to Harry. "And you're not much better, flea bag."

"Sorry, Bram." Harry aplogised. "But with the way you were telling the story, you got just a tad bit too into it."

"I'll kiss you wake you from your slumber, Bram." Liza added, moving closer to him and batting her eyes. Bram made a face and shoved her head away.

"I'd sooner be burned alive." He muttered.

"That could be arranged, you know." Harry purred, casually grinning from the other side of the fire.

Bram eyed the flash of teeth from his perch and shivered. There was a reason why he didn't mess with Harry much. He changed the subject. "Anyway, it's your turn to tell a story, Lizard bean."

Liza nodded. "Right."

They all shifted around, getting comfortable again as Liza started to spin her tale.

* * * * *

"Once upon a time, there were 4 knights who were protectorates of the realm, Bigapple. Everyday, they would go out and defeat ghosts, goblins, deamons and what ever plagued the humans of the realm. They did this for many years and gained quite a reputation for doing so. Then, one day, all that changed...

The knights had noticed an increase in the activities of those who plagued Bigapple. The leader of the knights realized that this was a sign of a bigger deamon's coming. Thus forewarned, they began to prepare for the battle of their lives.

And a battle it was. The deamon took over the castle where one of their girlfriends lived and prepared to unleash an unspeakable horror upon the land. The knights tried valiantly to defeat the deamon, but found their weapons to be of little use. The deamon, struck by their sheer tenacity, elected them to choose the form of the horror that would destroy their world.

"Quick! Don't think of anything!" The leader shouted.

But alas, the youngest member's stomach growled, the ground shook and the horror appeared!

"Run, run as fast as you can, I'll catch you, I'm the Marshmallow Man!" The tiny creature yelled. It was about a human foot tall, shaped like a humanoid and made completely out of marshmallows. He had the sweetest chocolate drops for a face and gram cracker clothes with more chocolate drops for buttons. The youngest one's pet, a flying obnoxious green thing with an insatiable appetite came out speeding out of hiding and tried to eat it.

"Run, run as fast you can, you can't catch me, I'm the Marshmallow Man!" The tiny white thing screamed in terror, waving its arms and beating a hasty retreat away from the knights as fast as its little white sugar powdered legs could carry it.

The youngest member, being hungry, took off after it, his flying green booger of a pet on his heels. After a moments hesitation, the rest of the knights of Bigapple took off after them, the citizens on their heels.

They chased the Marshmallow Man through town, past the mill pond and into the forest. Every time he'd escape someone's grasp, he'd shout; "Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me, I'm the Marshmallow Man!" Which would only infuriate the citizens and knights even more, making them try all the harder to catch him.

The residents of Bigapple finally lost him as night fell and headed back home convinced that someone had eaten him. Or if he hadn't been eaten already, the animals of the forest would get him.

"Ran, ran as fast as you could, you couldn't me I'm the Marshmallow Man!" He crowed as he saw his pursuers leave. He strutted off deeper into the forest, convinced he was invincible.

That is until he came across a large ogre with an even larger sweet tooth. The ogre took one sniff of his trail and charged off after him like an ogre on a mission.

"Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me, I'm the Marshmallow Man!" The little guy laughed as he caught sight of the bumbling ogre on his trail. The ogre chased after him over hills, down hills and around a pond one or two times before giving up on the chase for some sheep someone had left lying around in a field.

The Marshmallow man laughed and skipped down the path, even more sure that no one could touch him. By and by he came across a griffin who decided that the little sugary man would be the perfect treat for her kits and took off after him.

"Run, run as fast as you can, you can catch me I'm the Marshmallow man!" He cheered taking off running again. The griffin chased him over hills, down hills and into a ravine before he lost her by falling into a crack in the ravine walls.

The crack was deeper than it looked he realized as he explored deeper into the recesses of it. By and by he came into a large cave, bigger than some of the houses in Bigapple. Looking around, he spotted a large scaly thing that appeared to be sleeping. Curious, he climbed closer to get a better look at it. It was a dragon. Assured of his immortality, he poked it a few times until it stirred.

"Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me, I'm the Marshmallow Man!" He boasted as loudly as he could, waking the slumbering dragon. With that, he took off running, certain he could out run the dragon as well.

The dragon, not happy about being woken up by an annoying little insect of a sugary confection, open his mouth and let out a fire ball that heated up the entire cave. The Marshmallow Man was roasted in his tracks, not five feet from where he had been standing. The dragon glanced over at the melting goop.

"Oh, goodie." He said, picking up the Extra Crispy Marshmallow Man. "S'mores!" He tossed the Marshmallow Man into his mouth and swallowed him in one gulp, then turned over and went back to bed. And that was the end of the Marshmallow Man!

* * * * *

Liza curled back up, waiting for their response.

"Not enough dragon slaying." Bram yawned, boredly covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

Liza's nostril's flared as she glared at Bram. If looks could kill, Bram would have been six shades of dead now.

"*NO* dragon slaying in my stories." She growled softly, eyes glowing dangerously. Bram swallowed audibly as the temperature suddenly rose several degrees, but stayed in his seat. He didn't think she'd kill him. Well, at least not again.

Harry whistled, catching their attention. "We gotta vote on the stories." He reminded them. The tension between the two vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

"Alright. Liza's story?" He asked.

Liza raised her hand.

"Bram's story?"

Bram raised his hand.

"My story?"

Harry was the only one to raise his hand.

"Uh. Tie again." He remarked, lowering it again.

"Big surprise." Liza muttered. "The day we actually agree on who has the best story is the day we stop doing this."

Bram looked up at the sky, shielding his eyes. "It's almost dawn, we'd best head back."

"Yeah."

The two guys started to collect their gear as Liza threw some dirt on the fire and smothered it until it was completely out. Within minutes, there was no sign that they had even been there.

"Ready?" Liza asked, stretching. The others nodded and the three friends headed down the path back to their perspective homes.

"Hey, Harry." Bram said after a while. "Do you really think humans actually exist? Out side of the stories, that is."

Harry shrugged. "I dunno. Possibly. Most stories have some basis in reality, no matter how weird they are."

"'Sides, they're fun to come with stories about. They're so silly. Most of them don't even have magic." Liza grinned.

"But just think about it. There could be humans out there, on some other plane of existence, coming up with stories about *us*." Bram remarked dreamily, looking at the stars.

The dragon, werewolf and vampire paused in their tracks looking at each other for a moment, pondering the question for a moment.

"Nah." They agreed in unison, dismissing it from their minds as they continued down the path.

After all, everyone knew humans didn't exist.

Didn't they?

Finis.