We call them Herne's Children - weird antlery people that follow you around the forests if they think you're a hunter. Calling them people is a tad generous when some of the better known Children are mentioned in old newspapers and diaries dating back about seven hundred years. That mixed with their deerlike faces, joints, hoof-hand things and antler-like jagged ridges all along their spines are a definite giveaway that whatever they are is people-adjacent at best.
If you're lucky enough you'll only hear branches breaking in the distance and maybe catch a glimpse of a big deer out the corner of your eyes. Happens often enough that we just tell visitors that there's a few herds of deer in the woods and that keeps them happily ignorant.
The unlucky ones get followed. Closely. As in you hear heavy breathing and see one of Herne's Children crouched down about five feet away from you and no matter how far or fast you run they always seem to be within eyesight until you break away from the trees and back out into the carpark. Even then, you'd still see them all lined up and waiting just within the treeshade.
They don't seem to be killing as many people as the old sources say they once did. Somewhere along the years, alleged monthly sacrifices became twice yearly "deer accidents" which all involve illegal hunting. I suppose calling them accidents instead of Herne's revenge means they'll keep coming back with their guns and traps and the killings will continue.
Just remember, they can't leave the woods but you can so you'd better hope you can outrun them.
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