The secret camp in the forest

When I was around ten years old, my cousins and I spent almost every summer weekend at our grandparents’ house in the countryside. Their house stood near a forest and a small river, so there was always something to explore. One evening, we decided to build a secret camp in the forest behind the house. We carried blankets, flashlights, snacks, and old chairs into a small clearing between the trees. Everything felt exciting and mysterious. After sunset, the forest became very dark and quiet. We started telling scary stories and trying to scare each other. Suddenly, we heard branches breaking somewhere nearby. Everyone became silent immediately. My younger cousin became so frightened that he accidentally dropped the flashlight. For a few seconds, nobody moved or spoke. Then a large deer slowly walked out from behind the trees and looked at us before disappearing back into the forest. We laughed for almost an hour afterward, but for a moment we were absolutely convinced that something terrifying was watching us.