History Recap / AreYouAfraidOfTheDarkSeason5TheTaleOfTheManaha

Stig, in an apparent state of shock, warns of a large, strange animal in the vicinity. The others are dubious. Suddenly, into the clearing, runs a bipedal, grey-faced figure, covered with black fur. It roars fiercely. Gary approaches the beast, and pulls its head off, revealing the face of Tucker. Beasts in the wilderness, says Tucker, have always scared people - not just known predators, but creatures who defy certainty - such as the Abominable Snowman of Tibet, the Loch Ness Monster of Scotland, or the flesh eating Giants of Mandalay. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, he calls this story “The Tale of the Manaha.”

Several young boys prepare for a camping hike through the woods. On inspection, Lonnie, their troop leader, fiercely admonishes each of them: Alex for rolling the tents wrongly, Eddy for bringing a jar of spaghetti for dinner, Steve for bringing a comic, and Carl for requesting excusal for poison ivy.

Jonah arrives to join them. Initially dismissed for his relatively lesser height, he reports having been given permission by Mr Ostrowski.

On Lonnie’s presentation of the troop, Mr Ostrowksi sends them off with a motivational word of encouragement.

In the woods, Lonnie barks at Jonah to keep up, lest he be eaten by a grizzly. Eddy fearfully receives word of bears.

According to Oscar Butz’s ''How to Survive in the Bush'', Jonah reports, grizzlies are found in northwestern forests.

Lonnie barks a reprimand for insolence, and has Jonah carry his pack. Alex warns him not to antagonise the troop leader.

While Lonnie angrily fumbles with a tin, Jonah offers him a tin opener. Humiliated, Lonnie pushes the boy over, causing him to drop the pack over a sheer ledge. Furious, he tells Jonah to go and get it.

At the bottom of the ledge, Jonah hears a strange, hissing rattle. In the wall of the ledge, behind a growth of bushes, is a hole. He has a look inside.

On a wall of the spacious cave is a painting of some looming humanoid beast. On a rock sits a stone figurine. Jonah lifts it. From a hole beneath the seated effigy issues a jet of illuminated smoke. In the cave before Jonah steps a bare-chested man in animal skins, whose upper and lower face is respectively painted black and red.

-->'''Shaman:''' Beware - the Manaha have returned! They have once again smelled the scent of human flesh. And they hunger. You must leave this place - forever!\

From behind Jonah calls Lonnie. He leads the other boys into the cave. Jonah warns them of the Manaha. He looks to the Shaman for support - but the man has mysteriously vanished.

Lonnie inspects the cave artwork, and, for discovering it, catches a scent of fame and fortune. He takes the stone figurine, and stores it away for profit.

Back atop the ledge, Eddy and Steve scoff at Jonah’s warning of the Manaha.

Beneath some leaves by a tree, Lonnie buries the Manaha statue. As Lonnie leads the troop onward, Jonah lingers thoughtfully.

''Through the distant trees, an unknown presence watches him. It gives a low, guttural growl.''

They arrive at the open hut of the ranger station. Lonnie wonders where the ranger is. Jonah, believing the Manaha to have eaten the ranger, starts to panic. Approached from behind, he screams.

The ranger looks down bemusedly. The other boys laugh. The ranger chuckles.

Outside, they pitch their tents. Lonnie orders Jonah to get some firewood - unless he’s scared.

Everyone laughs. Eddy pats Lonnie on the back in a share of mirth - but is stopped with a stern look.

''As Jonah gathers dead branches, an unseen presence watches.''

Jonah hears what might be a low, distant growl. He looks around, and cautiously hurries away.

By the tents, Lonnie berates Jonah for bringing too little wood. He goes to get some more himself.

The other boys wonder why Jonah is so spooked.

-->'''Jonah:''' I’m not! Chapter twelve: Oscar Butz says fear is only an emotion. If you conquer fear, your conquer the forest.\

Lonnie grumpily gathers wood. He trips over onto his back. ‘’Behind him, a huge, black, human-shaped silhouette strides between the trees.’’ Lonnie catches a glimpse of the unfamiliar figure. A deep, lowing roar quakes the air.

Lonnie cautiously flees, hides behind a tree, and blows his whistle. With a deep, bellowing growl, something approaches him from behind. He cries out in terror.

Alex fears that doing so by night may be unmanageable. Jonah quotes Oscar Butz, and counsels use of the stars and a compass. Roused, they set off.

Between two trees, they all inspect two huge crossed branches, distantly lit by a shaft of soft white light. The others suppose themselves to have taken the wrong path, and flee. Jonah calls after them.

He turns, and finds himself once more face to face with the Shaman, who gloatingly laughs.

The others run in the direction of Eddy’s scream. Beneath a tree, they find the Manaha statue, previously buried by Lonnie, to be unearthed. From within, its eyes, nose and mouth glow brilliant yellow.

-->'''Alex:''' I don’t believe this.
-->'''Jonah:''' Yes we ''do'' believe it. We all believe it. Oscar Butz says fear is only an emotion. If you believe there are monsters in the woods...then there are. But if you don’t…

He picks up the statue, whose glow instantly fades.

He suggests there may be a way to save Lonnie and Eddy.

-->'''Jonah:''' Chapter four: What happens when you run from a wild animal? It chases you. You guys do what you want. I’m tired of running.\

Alone, Jonah walks cautiously through the trees. By the cave, he returns to the clearing, now lit by mounted burning torches. Strung from a high branch, each wrapped in and gagged with animal skins, are Lonnie, Eddy and the ranger.

-->'''Jonah:''' Don’t be scared - they’ll only get you if you believe in them. And I don’t believe in them.\

He steps back, and stares defiantly into the trees. A distant, hairy hulk flits between them, followed by another. As they stalk ever closer, Jonah challenges them.

-->'''Jonah:''' You hear that? I’m not afraid! I don’t think you’re real! And if you’re not real, you can’t hurt me!

As Jonah starts to cut the others free, a third figure arrives.

-->'''Shaman:''' But I am no illusion.\

The power-hungry sorcerer, once sealed in a cave by his people, his free to reclaim the forest. With a torch, he sets fire to a mound of twigs beneath Eddy’s dangling feet.

Jonah takes the Manaha statue, and summons the Manaha. The hulking beasts once more emerge between the distant trees. In vain, the Shaman commands them to retreat.

-->'''Jonah:''' I just used a little Manaha magic.\

* BadAssBookworm: Despite mockery of his relatively lesser height, Jonah’s devotion to Oscar Butz’s ''How to Survive in the Bush'' teaches skill which he uses competently and bravely.

* OffscreenTeleportation: The Shaman instantaneously vanishes. Later, instant restoration of the ransacked hut makes Jonah wonder what kind of force is at work here...

* YourMindMakesItReal: Jonah realises that the tangible effects of the fabled Manaha depend on the fear thereof instilled by the Shaman.
* TheMutiny: The boys eventually overrule Lonnie, and put Jonah in charge.

''Through the distant trees, an unknown presence watches him. It gives a low, guttural.''

* BadAssBookworm: Despite mockery of his relatively lesser height, Jonah’s devotion to Oscar Butz’s ‘’How to Survive in the Bush’’ teaches skill which he uses competently and bravely.

* SorecerousOverlord: The Shaman’s past tyrannical tendencies are hinted.