Prompt: "H is for Haunted. There's some mysterious force at work behind the scenes. Is it actually a ghost, or is the character's imagination acting up?" (300 words)
Total: 473
Haunted
-Adventure 01: Digital World-
It was getting late one evening, and Yamato was having a hard time taking it easy. Other than the campfire crackling next to him, not a peep was heard from Gabumon, who left to gather more kindle. Everyone else with their respective partners had split up from each other for the day, and he and Gabumon were the first to return to the meeting point. A few days passed since they ran into any other Digimon, much less any that seemed unfriendly.
Yet, Yamato felt uneasy being alone. It must have been the stories he overheard the Digimon talking about the day before.
"Isn't there a haunted hill nearby?" Palmon asked loudly.
"Sure, if you count all the Bakemon that live there," replied Gomamon.
"No," said Biyomon. "I know what you're talking about, Palmon! Something horrible happened on that hill, digi-eons ago! There's a legend that-"
"Can we talk about something else?" Yamato asked suddenly.
"Are you okay, Yamato?" Sora asked. "You seem tense."
"Don't worry about it," he muttered, and he remained quiet during the rest of their trek.
At the snap of a twig, Yamato nearly jumped out of his own skin.
"What happened?" Gabumon asked, watching as he sat next to him.
"I-it's nothing," Yamato stammered.
"You look tense, Yamato. Didn't Taichi tell you that you needed to take time to relax?"
"Not like he has a clue what goes on in my head…"
Yamato heard the leaves rustling, and he grabbed Gabumon's fur at the side.
"Did you hear that, Gabumon?" Yamato said.
"I…did…"
Gabumon turned his head slowly to Yamato. "I didn't think I was being followed."
"Stop fooling around, Gabumon!"
"I'm… I'm sorry."
Gabumon burst into giggles, holding his paws over his snout. Yamato scowled as more giggles from Takeru and Patamon came into earshot.
"That wasn't funny at all!" Yamato yelled angrily.
"Maybe not to you!" Takeru retorted, running to Yamato, with Patamon flying behind him.
"You should have seen your face!" Patamon said.
"Come on, Yamato. Don't be mad at me. I just wanted to play."
Yamato groaned at Takeru's pout. "Fine. Just don't do that again."
Just then, another twig snapped, causing Yamato to freeze.
"What did I just say?" Yamato asked, but he noticed that Takeru was frozen in his spot. He looked to see a silhouette of an odd bushy shape appear by the fire. Patamon quickly flew into Takeru's arms. Even Gabumon didn't seem to be pretending to tremble beside him.
The strange moaning brought a chill down Yamato's spine.
Until he saw who it was coming from. Agumon had come into view, devouring a handful of food in his hands, with Taichi right beside him. The bushy silhouette was Taichi's hair.
"What's with you guys?" Taichi asked as Takeru, Patamon, and Gabumon sighed in relief, with Yamato glaring at him.
