As Darkness Descends

As the sun slowly sets beneath the horizon the world starts to turn to night's darkness the shadows gradually lengthen then fade and a stillness covers the land with mystery This is the time for the creatures of night the badgers sniff the air before leaving their sett then come tumbling out to play in moonlit glade while the adults set of to do their foraging The wise owls sit in tall trees their heads twisting as they filter the sounds of small rustles and squeaks then do, on silent wings glide and hit with deadly strike carrying their offerings back to their hungry fledglings The wolf sets off on his nightly quest hunting for prey if the moon is full he will climb up high and sing to it then just a grey shadow as through the undergrowth he slips, then belly down as he creeps closer and kills Now it is time for other less salubrious creatures the ones that haunt our dreams and disturb our sleep for unmentionable things to walk the night time trails now is their time to catch an unwary soul who lingered Secrets hidden in the dark a grave or two lie unmarked a deadly silence now hangs and people scuttle home tuck themselves up safe indoors to await the sun's return the darkness fades and the sun once more comes out to play