Kiyokuzen

Will-o’-the-wisps enter the story as a suspected danger rather than a confirmed sighting: when unexplained lights appear near Birchwater Pond, Camille considers whether they might be there, then abandons the theory on hearing music from the grotto.

The Suspected Presence

At dusk, Camille approaches the opening to the shores of Birchwater Pond and sees lights flickering from the grotto. The lights seem out of place: although the family has built picnic tables, benches, and a shelter nearby for rituals and holidays, Camille has no reason to expect anyone there at that time of year. The setting gives her an uncanny sign without identifying its source.

Reputation and Danger

Camille considers several explanations, including eye catchers and will-o’-the-wisps. She wonders if there has been another invasion of the latter, describing them as pests that can range from mischievous to highly dangerous. This supplies a practical reason for caution, but it remains her speculation; the passage does not establish that the lights are produced by supernatural creatures.

The Theory Displaced

As Camille edges toward the lights, she hears music by Tamaryn, one of her favorite softer bands. The sound changes how she reads the scene: she reasons that will-o’-the-wisps would not lure her with an MP3 player. She steps into the clearing to see what is happening, but the moment leaves the creatures’ presence unconfirmed. Their brief mention instead heightens the suspense by making an unfamiliar light seem potentially hazardous before the music points toward another explanation.