Name: The Avarishus

Age: Ageless

Legend: The Avarishus is often thought to be just an urban legend used by parents to scare their children into behaving.

The Avarishus spends most of its time hidden away in the deep, dark woods. But on Halloween night, it creeps into the shadows of our neighborhoods, watching as children play dress-up and go door to door, squealing "Trick-Or-Treat!" It watches with its single glowing eye, keeping its leathery wings and long, spindly limbs curled close to its body. It waits until it sees a greedy, ungrateful child. A child who takes too many candies from a "Take One" bowl. A child who cries when they don't get the candy they want. A child who doesn't thank the residents of a home for giving out free candy. That's all it takes. When it spots its victim, it shows itself to them, unfurling its long limbs and bat-like wings, grinning from ear to ear, while clutching a small, stone bowl with its unnervingly long fingers. It holds the bowl out to the child. The bowl is dark inside. The contents can't be seen, but it is alluring. Hypnotizing. The child can't resist, and reaches for the gift the Avarishus is offering. By then, it's too late. The creature SNATCHES THE CHILD UP! And takes flight, back to the woods from whence it came. Nobody ever hears from the victim again. Many have tried to follow the Avarishus. To save the child. But none have successfully found its lair.

If you go wandering in the woods, you may stumble upon a gaunt form with its head down and limbs curled around itself. But if it wakes. If it sees you, and offers you a gift from its bowl, then you may find out what happened to all of its victims. But it won't matter.

(The character and legend are for a Halloween contest on another site. I tried to write it like a campfire ghost story. What do you think?)