This was a vague idea for a story that I had late one night as I was at a friend's house several months ago. Perhaps someday I'll get around to refining it and writing the actual history of the Ghostlings.
Long ago a star flashed in the sky and those who were outside lifted up their eyes in awe, watching its bright fiery trail as it streaked across the heavens before vanishing into the cold deadness of space. Not sure what the event they had just witnessed meant, the people of Datar huddled together in groups talking quietly. Months had gone by, rumors of ghostly beings far off in the unpopulated Southern Wood sometimes fell on the ears of curious listeners. But, these stories were neglected as fit only for children, or the mentally weak. Naughty young people would slip away from the eyes of their ever-watchful mothers to explore the forbidden forests. When they returned home excited childrens' voices told of seeing strange people floating gracefully among the trees, spinning in merry dances through the dark woods.
"Mamma, I saw one! Those stories Fehren told us...they're true. They glow and--they looked like stars," the eager four year old's voice sank into a hushed whisper. Her mother shushed her as she put her daughter to bed, telling her to be a good girl, lest the darkness come for her.
So, unknown to the Datarrans, the Ghostlings grew...a fairytale...or so we were told.
