Everyone gathered around the campfire, told stories, roasted marshmallows, and identified constellations.

"Oh! Look!" exclaimed Ari. "The big dipper!"

"That's right, Ari," cheered Nova. An owl hooted in the far, dark distance of the forest.

"Let's go looking for owls," suggested Emma. "Whoever finds the owl first gets the big bed!" Everyone got a competitive look on their faces, including Emma.

"Ready..." started Lynn. "Set... Go!!" Everyone ran off into the forest to find the owl. Fireflies lit the way. Emma ran up to one and caught it. She took a good look and she could see the insides of the glowing insect. She freed it and continued on her journey to find the owl.

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Emma got weary and stopped next to a pine tree. She saw a flickering light bulb. She went to it and found an abandoned house. The roof was half torn, there were holes in the walls and windows, mice and rats squeaking, and found the owl. 'I have found the owl!' She captured the owl and carried it by its feet. She ran back to the fire and yelled, "I found the owl!!"

Everyone came running towards her like a herd of cows. Bella, the one that loved animals, said, "That's not nice of you to hold the poor thing like that!" she cried. "Let it go please!"

"Fine..." Emma muttered. She placed the wide-eyed creature on the ground and the owl flew up into the night sky. "But anyway... I get to sleep in the big bed tonight!"

"No fair!" everyone fumed in unison. They started interrupting each other about stealing the bed from Emma.

"Kids!" Melissa called out. "Just 20 more minutes til' bedtime!"

"Okay!" they all replied.

"We should tell stories!" suggested Lena. "Emma, since you're our guest, tell us a story!"

"Uh... Okay then," she hesitated. "This story was based off of this abandoned house I saw in the forest just now. We were looking for the owl, as I ran, I trip and fall over a twig. I got up again and ran on. I got weary and I stopped by the pine tree, there I saw an abandoned house! And maybe tomorrow we can venture through that place!"

"How are you going to find it again?" wondered Nova.

"I marked the pine tree and I also exactly remembered where I ran too!"

"Great story!" complimented Ari. "We should do that tomorrow! Who else has a story?"

"I do!" blurted Lynn.

"Okay then, Lynn. Tell us your story."

"It all started when I was in my room. I was just playing with my dolls and stuff. Then all of a sudden, I saw a black shadow. It looked like it was watching me. I told it to go away and then..." Lynn's voice trailed off as Emma started thinking. She saw a black shadow when she was traveling here. "It was just standing there, I decided to ignore it and continue playing with my dolls. When I turned back around, it was gone! Like, poof!"

"I've seen that shadow," muttered Emma. "When I was on the way here."

"Really? Where did you see it, Emma?" Lynn asked.

"We passed the Missouri state line and I saw a shadow. Mom and dad didn't believe me."

"See! I told you guys that I wasn't imagining things!" she beamed.

"I have a theory that it has to do with the house I found."

"Girls! It's bedtime!" called Melissa. The girls ran to the house and Emma went to the room with the big bed.

"Goodnight everyone!" Melissa squawked.

"Goodnight!" they all replied in unison.

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Emma laid on the big, comfy bed. 'I can't wait to venture around that house tomorrow!' she thought. She was theorizing if the figure was connected to the house. As she dozed off to sleep, she thought of all the fun she had so far.