The Shadows

The tavern that Cato had entered were dimly lit, the bare stone walls flickering with the soft glow of the few lanterns lit. To Cato there were surprisingly few visitors as he had expected. He had just come from the eastern road and seeking shelter for the night as the weather were turning bad, he had wandered to the nearest village and entered the tavern.
Inside he saw the few patrons nervously glancing around exchanging whispered stories, walking up to the bar, Cato sat down and ordered a drink and something to eat.
"There you go sir" The barkeep said, placing a pint of what smelled like mead and a plate with some dark bread and cheese.
"Thanks" Cato answered and began to eat.
Some time later, the barkeep having noticed Catos glancing around.
"You see that shadow over there?" the barkeep asked, his voice low, his eyes indicating the direction for Cato to look, right next to one of the lanterns, Cato could not see anything out of the ordinary, a dark siluette, likely cast by the lantern, wavering with the flame.
"It ain't the light making it move lad. Around here, the shadows dont follow no flame or man, they have a life of their own." 
Cato laughed nervously, despite this, the barkeeps faced remained serious as he continued.
"People that live near the old temple say those shadows, those twisted things, ain't just in the corners of rooms no more. They have begun spreading. First, they crawl up the walls, flickering, growing... then they come for you" 
Cato could see the other people at the tavern shifting uncomfortable as the barkeep spoke, each of them casting a wary glance toward the flickering shadow.
"Whats with the old temple?" Cato asked
"Some of the druids around here say that it all started once the temple fell into ruin. That place, full of old magic, was never meant to be touched again. When the roof caved in, those shadows crawled out, twisted, mutated by whatever was buried beneath the stone, now they are not just shadows, they are hunters"
"Hunters? what can shaodows hunt?" Catos voice trembled.
"The fuck if I know, Light... life?? It doesn't matter lad, once they latch onto you, they get inside. You dont just lose your shadow, you become one of them" The barkeep said, dead serious.
Cato glanced down at the floor, noticing how his shadow seemed to ripple unnaturally, not sure if his mind were just playing a trick on him or something else, he quickly drew his chair back from the wall, pulling himself further into the dim light, hoping it could protect him, the barkeep just grunted and poured him another drink, this time something stronger.
"“Best keep an eye on your shadow, lad. Or, before you know it, you might find it keeping an eye on you."