Orestis shifted uncomfortably, leaning against the great hooded carriage that was the centerpiece of the caravan entourage. He would dare raise his chin from time to time, offering fleeting glances at the moon above – full and boasting a ghostly nimbus. Tylemachos stood in front of his friend, his gaze nailed onto Orestis’ unnerved features and sporting a sly glint of its own; the man’s back pointed towards the village of Orios. Lost within the sky-reaching mountain range that trailed across the middle of the City States Peninsula, Orios was an unremarkable settlement; small and meek, its only value was offering a resting place to those that travelled through the alpine passes. 

“You’re afraid, aren’t you?” said Tylemachos with a hearty chuckle, moving in closer and slapping Orestis’ shoulder. “A grown man, terrified of some old tale used to scare the village children into proper behavior!” 

Orestis offered a deep-set scowl, slapping the man’s hand away. “I’m not afraid. I’m concerned, tis all. The full moon is out tonight…” 

Tylemachos cocked a bushy eyebrow, his tone dripping with playful curiosity. “Oh, and why is that so terrible? Go on; we’ve some time to spare before the boss comes back from the inn. Spill it out.” 

Orestis swiveled his head, glancing at the rest of the caravan attendees who huddled around a roaring fire some distance away from the pair. “Fine,” he gave in with a sigh. “But you best not take this lightly. There’s a reason the myth of the Moonlight Thief has persisted for this long…” Swallowing audibly, Orestis assumed a grim and serious tone. “The locals here speak of a great magpie – not just any bird, but a spirit made from otherworldly stuff – that emerges every full moon. It is said that it steals from the villagers, hoarding away treasures to its hidden nest—”

“A thieving ghost of a magpie. You can’t be serious, my friend…” interrupted Tylemachos, patting his forehead with an open palm. 

“I am serious!” protested Orestis. “The villagers here, they lay out offerings to the spirit every full moon outside their homes – the few meager valuables they possess – so that it can plunder freely and take whatever its heart desires.” The man paused, looking once more nervously at the moonlit heavens above. “To deny such spoils to the spirit is said to bring about bad luck and dread. Foul harvests, soured milk coming straight from the udder, house fires, children getting lost in the woods – take your pick!” Narrowing his gaze, the man shot a serious look straight at Tylemachos. “Travelers passing through here are said to be in great danger during nights such as these. For they often carry far more tantalizing valuables than the meager offerings of the locals…”

Before Tylemachos could respond, a booming voice called out from the edge of the village, the caravan leader approaching from the darkness. “Look lively, everyone. I want the provisions loaded onto the carts as soon as possible and make sure the horses are well fed. We’re to get started within the hour. The moon shines upon us well enough; we need to make up for that broken wheel that had us anchored down all day yesterday!” 

The men scrambled to their feet, and soon the caravan was on the move, forming a ponderous line as it moved through the pass. Torches made up for what the sky-bound silvery effulgence lacked, and a tired silence soon took hold of everyone. Tylemachos scooted closer towards Orestis, with both of them seated at the head of one of the horse-drawn wagons, his buttery yellow teeth showing through a wide grin. “Anyhow, no need to soil your tunic just yet. If this thing exists, the so-called Moonlight Thief, it won’t stand a chance against all of us. We’ve faced proper thieves and brigands in the past – not to mention that damnable wolf pack that one time… I’m sure a kleptomaniac bird-spirit won’t be too much of an issue!” The man giggled loudly, only to be silenced abruptly when the caravan leader’s voice came rolling in from the front of the line. “Quiet you two!” 

Orestis sighed, making to speak before pressing his lips in resignation. 

For a good while, an hour or two, the caravan made its way forward, the creaking and rumbling of the wheels being the only notable sounds that cut through the darkened surroundings. Moving deeper into a dense, sloped forest, Orestis began to grow increasingly nervous, his heart thumping within his chest. 

Then came a noise. A shrill, unnatural caw chopping through the air like a butcher’s jagged cleaver. The caravan came to a halt, and the men looked around questioningly, beads of sweat forming across Orestis’ brow. “See, it’s here! The Moonlight Thief! I told you it’s real!” 

“Calm down,” whispered Tylemachos with a wave of his hand, looking over to the other men that glanced at the pair with annoyance. “We’re bound to get a thrashing from the lead man himself if you don’t halt with your superstitious ravings—” 

The cawing came once more, louder this time. Other voices joined in the grating cacophony, the sound surrounding the caravan – emanating from the forest edges that pressed against the road. 

A few of the travelers waved the torches around, trying to peer through the darkened thickets to no avail. After a while, the sound stopped, and everything seemed to calm down. Before the men could carry on with their journey, however, Orestis called out with a half-formed scream accompanying his words. “There! In the shadows!” 

“I told you to calm do—” hissed Tylemachos, only for the words to stagger in his throat. Eyes, like glittering gems, pierced the ebon veil of the forest; there were many of them, peering out in a multitude of pairs. A voice, hoarse and breathy, followed before anyone could react, addressing the caravan as a whole. 

“The road ahead is treacherous and marred by mud,” sneered the darkness, loose feathers – too large to be of any ordinary bird – blowing past the men with the wind. 

“Yes! So very dangerous! You better lighten your load if you want to get through… So many baubles and trinkets that you carry. We can help. Give them to us!” 

Others called out in agreement, repeating the words. “Yes! We can help! Lighten your load! We’ll take your treasures!” 

As the full moon shone bright across an inky black sky, mortal men stood paralyzed by fear, the darkness encroaching upon them in a multitude of otherworldly figures.