John

The stones around the ring glowed faintly, as though heat had soaked into them.

The air above the pit shimmered in thick waves.

He stepped out barefoot down to the cold ground.

Sparks spiraled upward into the black sky, but didn't fall back down.

They seemed to hover briefly, suspended, before vanishing into nothing.

Then he noticed the figure.

It sat on the far side of the fire, just beyond the brightest light.

At first it looked like a trick of shadows and flames, but as his eyes adjusted, he saw the outline clearly.

Something was crouched low near the pit, hands extended toward the blaze as if warming them.

It didn't look up at him.

In time, the uncle's eyes adjusted, and he saw what he thought might be an unhoused man crouched near the fire.

But there was something strange about the way he was dressed.

The strange man wore what looked like furs.

Not just a fur coat, but literally fur hides draped over his shoulders and wrapped around him.

He wore a thick beard, but still the uncle could see what looked like cracks on his skin.

Skin that appeared almost blue, even in the firelight.

The bearded man simply squatted there, patient and still, palms open toward the flames.

The uncle said he felt no immediate terror, only confusion.

He took a step closer.

When he reached the near edge of the fire pit, the bearded man moved.