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whelp, based on personal experience if you hear someone/something walking through the darkness don't go wandering about looking for it or trying to spook it. just sit tight at your little fire or whatever and nothing will happen to you. being insecure and wandering in the dark does you no favors whatsoever, regarding people or wild animals.
don't get too hammered. make sure you have plenty of comforts and things to occupy your mind - headphones, whittling, arts & crafts, night photography, etc. expend a reasonable amount of energy and time during daylight to collect firewood - don't put it off until after dark because it's a massive pain in the ass to be constantly wanding in circles in the dark looking for wood. firewood collection is one of those things that's 10x more important and time-consuming when you're alone. depending on your fire it might dominate 50% of your time if you put it off until late. don't get spoop'd. the forest is actually rather comfy and safe at night, just the darkness makes it seem foreboding. remember that you're pretty much hidden from everything. As a New Englander I assume you may hear/see coyotes, maybe a skunk, or possibly even hear a largr animal (bear, deer, moose) wandering about. Ain't no thing. Have bear spray with you for peace of mind, sleep with it handy in the 0.1% chance a curious bear sniffs through your camp after you're asleep. It won't happen but don't be a dolt about that sorta thing. Feel free to sleep-in. The silence and solitude of camping alone means it's your personal vacation, make it cumpfy and make it last.
Pic related, my first Vision Quest* in 2010
*it's not a Vision Quest it's just what I call my solo campings
