The Stories we all want to tell but could never tell till now

The wind rushes through the trees on a moon lit night, all is calm. A second light shines through the tree lines, a small fire burn in the middle of a bandit camp. Prisoners of the bandit’s last raid sleep in chains. Three men sit around the fire and drink, a fourth man walks out and join them. Some time passes and the fire begins to dim, one of the men stands and proclaim
“I think we need some fire wood”
He stands and walks to the woods to gather some wood.
~~
The fire is almost out and the three men are still waiting for their compatriot to return.
“Where has he gone off to?” asked one
“I don’t know” replies another
“I think I’ll go check on him make sure he hasn’t fallen asleep that old drunker.”
“He always does this after a good raid” says a voice from behind the three men.
The men look behind them to see a tall man stepping out from his tent
“Better go check on him” he orders
A nods stands and walks towards the woods, only to stop in his tracks. The rest of the men turn and watch him as he stand paralyzed.
“What’s gotten into…” he doesn’t get to finish his sentence, as he is interrupted when the man falls to the ground throat slit.
The remaining 3 men jump back in surprise, they begin to look around to see who kill their friend. One of the men rushes to his tent but fall dead before he can reach the opening. The remaining two stand, back to back looking around. Soon all is quiet again, but in the dimming fire light they watch in horror as shadows move within their comrade’s tents only to break the silence with muffled screams. Within seconds all is quiet and the shadows fade into the black forest. The fire light dims and one of the two men throws a log he was sitting on into the pit, doing so causes the fire to erupt blasting the area with a glow of light. He instantly regrets it, because as the light shines he can see their attackers, shadows illuminated to reveal men, dark men, who’s faces are still shadows even in the light, like ghosts the stand around the two men, watching, stalking them, like pray. Then the light fades again to a dim glow and the shadows vanish back into the black. The man who threw the log in screams and stabs himself in the gut knowing he won’t last much longer. The final man, stands with a sword in his hand ready to fight to the last, he doesn’t get a chance. He two falls to the ground throat cut, bleeding out.
A man steps into the fire light, he surveys the carnage.
“Take the bodies and crucify them along the nearest road” he orders
Upon his command the shadows move to their appointed task.
“Free the prisoners make sure they get home safely, and let them take their goods back with them.”
Again the shadows act upon his command. He stands and watches as the shadows dance to a silent tune, swaying back and forth shifting to and fro. And bit by bit the bandit camp disappears into the black; the prisoners are lead to freedom by the shadows that saved them. One little girl stops and asks:
“Who are you?”
The man looks at her and replies:
“I am Scipio Africanus. That is all you need to know little one. Now go home in peace and rest easy in the knowledge that we are watching over you, and we will protect you”
She smiles and runs after her group leaving the man standing in the dim fire light, the last remaining trace of the bandit camp. He walks off into the dark and a shadow descends unto the fire and the whole area is consumed in blackness.
The wind rushes through the trees on a moon lit night, all is calm