There are humans on the other side of the lake, too. They were also spooked by the spooky things.

Huh! Did they happen to notice anything about them besides spookiness?

There was a splash? Their faces - they had faces, sort of - changed as they got closer? Then everyone ran away, sorry.

No, no, totally understandable, they waited until broad daylight to come over and investigate for a reason.

Faces, sort of? Can they elaborate on that?

Not really.

Well okay then.

...They didn't do anything harmful except be spooky. They might just be random Maiar who don't mean anyone harm. Orrrr they might not be. She really shouldn't bet that they are. She does not voice these thoughts aloud.

The other humans debate what to call them and settle on 'demons'.

Historically unsurprising!

And no one wants to sleep too near the lake.

Eminently reasonable. Maybe they should also take turns being awake so if something happens the awake person can wake everyone else.

That is a good idea. Imliss and Idaia seem very sure of themselves and people are inclined to do what they say.

Okay. This is probably going to end up increasing the awkwardness of some form of explanation or other down the line but for now they can roll with it.

No spirits over the lake, tonight.

There are wolves howling somewhere.

Wolves don't generally attack humans on purpose! ...This fact was learned in a world where humans had been around for long enough that it's entirely possible it only applies when the wolves have any experience with humans. Is there anywhere more defensible than 'literally random patches of ground' for humans to sleep.

There's a forest thataway.

Cool. Let's check out that forest.

There are rustling and shuffling sounds and gleaming eyes blink at them from the sudden darkness in the forest. Also there is a distant chorus of very pretty voices.

Elves!

Can she greet them by osanwe without it seeming weird--well, she already has a private/public thoughts distinction, that's strange already...

Hello?

Depart from this forest, stranger, someone says, but a bit hurriedly, and vaguely embarrassed, as if they have been caught somewhere they aren't supposed to be.

Am I interrupting something?

Humans are not welcome in the forest.

We were going to scare them off.

Please don't, there's weird mist creatures in the lake and they're all kind of on edge already. Couldn't you just ask?

Most of them do not structure their thoughts for the speech between minds, as you do.

You don't need to maintain private/public thought distinction to receive messages.

Well, here is your message. Stay out.