Playing with Ai

I asked Bing's AI to write me a story; the results were amazing! As a 'hobbyist' writer, it made me concerned about the capabilities of AI. I made a few changes to the format and added some personal touches to make it sound more like me. The title was not provided, so I named it 'The Long Night'.

In the heart of the Arizona desert, under a moonless night, a man named John set out on a backpacking trip with his loyal bird dog, Max. The vast expanse of the desert was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of the wind against the Joshua Trees and their tortured course trunks, and spikesd leaves.

As they ventured deeper into the desert, Max began to grow restless. His ears perked up, and he started growling at the darkness. John, feeling a chill run down his spine, decided to set up camp for the night. As the fire crackled and danced, casting long, monstrous shadows, John noticed Max's continuous unease. Suddenly, a bone-chilling howl echoed through the desert, causing Max to whimper and retreat behind John.

The howl was followed by an unnatural silence. Relaxing a bit, John had convinced himself that the howls and uneasiness of Max were from cayotes. He left the comfort of the fire and walked to the edge of the light, straining to see into the darkness beyond. Not seeing any movement John returned to the fire.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, John saw them - figures, barely visible, circling their camp. Their eyes glowed in the firelight, and they moved with an uncanny grace. Skinwalkers, John realized, his blood turning to ice.

The Skinwalkers, beings of Navajo legend, were said to be witches who could take the form of animals. They were known to terrorize those who crossed their path, and John knew he was in their territory now.

With his heart pounding, John grabbed a burning branch from the fire. He swung it around, the bright flames illuminating the grotesque faces of the skinwalkers. They hissed and retreated, but did not leave. They were toying with him, he realized, a predator playing with its prey.

Max, sensing his master's fear, sprang into action. He barked and growled, lunging at the skinwalkers. His bravery seemed to startle them, and for a moment, they backed away.

Seizing the opportunity, John picked up his backpack, took Max's leash, and ran. He ran until his lungs burned and his legs felt like lead. When he finally dared to look back, he saw nothing but the vast, empty desert.

John and Max spent the rest of the night huddled together, hidden in a small cave they found. As dawn broke, they emerged, weary but alive. The desert, once a place of beauty and solitude for John, now held a terrifying memory.

From that day forward, John never ventured into the desert at night, always remembering the glowing eyes of the skinwalkers in the firelight. And Max, his brave bird dog, remained his loyal companion, a beacon of courage in the face of terror.