Stolas

Firsts. We all have them , first sleepovers , first dances, first kisses, first loves. Well this was my first , of many. My first camping trip , better yet my first unsupervised camping trip WITH friends . Not just any camping trip though, the seniors trip. Not a place I ever imagined myself being. Then again I never expected Mai Westerly to approach me in the middle of the school lunchroom to invite me either. I still hadn't decided if they just wanted more people to here party or if this wwas some sick joke, but it got me out of the house and away from my abusive step-father so I wasn't complaining. Gripping my bag I reached up grabbing Jason the schools start quarterback outstretched hand. The sun had set nearly a hour ago , going off our dying flashlights and moonlight it was a relief to finally reach the top of the mountain so we could pitch tents, eat around the fire and have a good night. The forest was full of life even at night, frogs croaked from nearby streams of mountain run off water while crickets happily chirped and claws scrurried up trees either in search of food or refuge from the warm yet crisp night air. The dark swallowed everything nearby and while a fire had been built it wasn't enough to light up past the tents edges. The stars stretched infinitely joining the moon in eliminating our campsite and the landscape below in the canyon we had just treked through.

Setting my bag down I took a drink. I couldn't remember how long it had been since both my parents said I could go out. Maybe it was because I never did. Laughter brought me from my thoughts as I watched Lacy and Lance,twins who compeated competively on our schools cheer team play foght their way through unpacking their bags which shockingly had a great amount of drinks stashed in it from soda to liquor.

"Damn Laci what'd you do clear out your parents liquor cabinent?"

"Close" She snorted laughing "Their store had a accidental overage of bottles this week" She grinned offering me a bottle from my place near a tree

"Oh no thank you I probably won't drink tonight "

"Whatever " she said putting the bottle down after taking a drink herself.

"Lacy don't be rude" Lance said scolding her

"It's okay" I shrugged

"Max I'm so glad you came!" Mai said happily emerging from the tent she had just set up

"Yeah , thanks for inviting me"

"Bro isn't your stepdad like a real piece of work" Clark another football player asked as he pulled snack after snack out of his bag.

"You could say that , lucky he let me come tonight"

"Well you are the valedvictorian we couldn't leave you out" Lance chimed into the conversation

"Hey is John and Elizabeth coming?" Mai asked turning back to me

I froze, how would I know if they were coming? I hadn't spoken to anyone here except a few words here and then since middle school. I rubbed the back of my neck looking around.

"Uh "

" Yeah they are coming Lacy said bringing over marshmellows, crackers & chocolate for everyone to make a S'more"

"Sorry we got such a late start on the hike guys, I wasn't planning on my jeep to do that, he offered his tenth apology since his tire blew out on the freeway leaving us to wait for roadside assitance.

"Bro we told you its alright , things happen" I said , saying something to someone without being asked a question for the first time since my stepdad started dating my mom.

"Exactly what Max said, stop apolgizing" Mai laughed stabbing a marshmellow onto her stick.

I looked at her , her strawberry blonde hair and green eyes were always so distracting and even more so with the light of the moon reflecting off her hair and the fire's flames sending red and orange reflection's to dance on her creamy peach colored skin.

"Ladies and Gentlemen I introduce the one, the only, Elizabeth ,Queen of Northdale High" A deep voice came from behind me, turning I seen John the director of the yearbook , class president and leader of theater club. On cue Elizabeth crawled up behind him, she was covered in fuzzy pink pjs with a black robe and as always carrying her tiny dog Jarvis.

"Ew. I didn't know we were using tents, John! Honey you told me there'd be a bed. " She said stomping over to a log but not sitting before laying a blanket out.

"Babe , have no despair there is a bed my princess, see." He sounded proud as he pulled out a auto inflating queen size mattress and set it down inside a tent that Lance had pitched. Pulling the tab to let it expand, Elizabeth looked underwhelmed with his solution but satisfied. I wondered if maybe after high school I might have that with someone, I had wanted to ask Mai out for years but after my father died I got depressed and withdrew from really anyone and anything and after my mom started dating Chad I decided I didn't want anyone to know of the thing's that went on behind our closed doors and there's certainly no way he would ever let me have a healthy relationship with anyone. Just something else for him to hold over my head.

So scary stories? Who's down? The group took turns between snacks, shots and smores the sticky , messy, slurred stories got less and less scary as the night went on. Mai told a pretty good one about how all the mermaids in the ocean are women that were thrown overboard and sirens are women that hurt in some way , betrayed or injured by men swearing to avenge their wrongful death. "Okay Max, it's your turn" Lacy giggled then went into a fit of hiccups.

"I don't really have any scary stories" I started pausing only to remember a book my father and I had read years ago, it gave me nightmares but now I find it childish and with how drunk everyone here is I doubt they'll even remember. " Actually I do" I watched as the flames danced in the dying fire and the embers beneath it crackled. Noticing Mai perk up I started

Everyone here probably has heard of things like Krampus , the Boogeyman or Babayaga. Well this tale is similar but slightly more disturbing. See over a century ago , on a night similar to this kids gathered in secret. They had one goal, Summon Stolas.

"Who?"

"Well that is what Owls say Elizabeth " I laughed, nobody around me understanding my joke.

"Sorry, Stolas is a night owl , but not just any night owl. No , he a fallen angel and commands 26 legions of demons. He is depicted as either being a crowned owl with long legs, or a man with owl features."

"An owl demon?"

"That actually sounds kind of terrifying what does he?"

"Well the night those kids went into the woods they summoned Stolas and all but one kid came out of the forest in the morning the rest were dead. All the kid could say was Stolas told me to do it. For Stolas. Over and over again. The most terrifying part? The bodies were never found and every family member continues to see a owl in their yard every night. "

"Hold up, so this owl demon dude swoops down and tells this kid to murder all his friends and leave and he does it ? " Lance said bewildered

"He'd be a very luxiourious feather pillow" Elizabeth said dreamy as she fell into Mai falling asleep.

"Thats how the legend goes but who knows-"

'screeeech, hoo hoo' a owl swooped into the clearing the fire and embers went out leaving nothing but black sky and darkness around us with only a small sliver of the moon still visibile.

"I'd like to contest the retellings of this story as you call it you fucking nimwit. Yes I am the almighty Stolas but I do and did not tell that child to kill his friends. In fact all I ever ask for is a soul in return for my educational knowledge"

I sat shocked wondering if anyone else was witnessing what I was with the owl sitting less than a foot away from me on the same long that I sat.

Screams quickly emitted from Mai and Laci as they ran to their tents, Clark sat entranced not moving and Lance was slowly approaching the large leggy owl that had a black crown fixated to his head. Reaching a finger out he poked the owl in the stomach.

"Bro did you just talk" He asked in shock

"Do Not Poke My Feathers ! "The owl bellowed out

"Wow man that's that's real!" Shouted logan who quickly shoved stuff in his backpack and took off down the hill leaving me alone

"I'm , I'm sorry, they wanted a scary story."

Cocking his head to the side the owl looked at me.

"Well you couldn't of thought of a ghost story, seriously man, I just want to teach people astronomy and herbs and cool shit. " The owl said as he cleaned his feathers no doubt waiting for my response.

"So you're, you're really Stolas"

"No Max, I'm another talking owl with freakish long legs and a hell crown" he sat perched on the log big eye looking around as he blinked.

"So what do you say kid, herbery knoweldge in exchange for your soul" he offered

"No thanks "

"I'll take care of your stepdad and you spread the honest word of my doings, my teachings, and as a bonus I'll even teach you still"

"I don't know"

"Poppycock you want to go back to your stepdad, do you like being punched and jabbed at? Stolas asked hopping on me and poking me with his talons after each question.

"I don't but I also don't know what you can do about it"

"Boy I am Stolas, Prince of hell, I reign with 26 legions of demons behind me, I can do more than you think."

"Okay then , like what"

"One word kids Wolfsbanes "

"What about it? My mom grows it"

"Indeed she does"

Stolas looked up and hooted several times

"Time is short child, rest & when you awaken you will be releived to know that you will have new knowledge, new beginnings, and many less worries."

"I didn't agree to give you my soul for your educational teachings Stolas"

Stolas grinned

"I never said it had to be your soul kid, but you did ask what about wolfsbane, that's all I needed. Have a good night , and smart job on not drinking tonight, your the only one that's going remember any of this." Stolas hooted as he took off into the night sky flying in front of the remaining bright light of the moon before disapearing into the darkness.

When I woke up the next day everyone was awake and packing.

"Ah rise and shine sleeping beauty" Lance said

As I sat up I realized I never got to my tent last night, I had fallen asleep next to the fire. The incounter with Stolas fresh and vivid in my mind.

"So that bird swooping down was something else ,huh?" Mai asked sitting beside me

"Yeah crazy"

When I returned home my stepfather had mysteriously packed his things and left , leaving my mom and I in peace. As I closed the door that night after getting home from our last football game I smiled when I heard a faint soothing hoo hoo from our neighborhood night owl. I soaked up the darkness and smell of the night. Thank you Stolas I whispered as I clicked the door shut.