She scoffed at the BEWARE sign, swinging from its chain with more rust than menace. “Nothing to fear here,” she said with a grin, holding the lantern high as golden leaves fluttered down around her. The only stir of movement came from a small field mouse peeking shyly from behind the pumpkins, twitching its whiskers as if it had written the warning itself. She laughed and bent lower, whispering, “Well, I suppose you’re the guardian of this place, then.”