#chickcharney

[cryptid-quest]

Cryptid of the Day: Chickcharney

Description: Chickcharneys are 3ft birds or elf-like creatures that resemble birds seen on the island of Andro. Those who treat Chickcharney well will be given good luck, and those who don’t will be cursed. One legend claims Neville Chamberlain was cursed due to deforestation by his father.

[lilystargazerwhite]

Touhou style myths, both being from the Caribbean because I have been meaning to make some from that area for a while.

First is a Moongazer/Phantome, from Trinidad. They walk at night on roads during full moons, so tall their legs long they appear to be street lights. They gaze at the moon, having no real other goals. But, to walk between their scissor like legs will cause them to snap shut, killing whatever was walking instantly. The only real way to avoid them is to just not go out at night of full moons, or listen for their whistling when walking.

Second is Chickcharney, from the Bahamas. Described as a 3 foot tall owl like creature, the way you treat it is how they treat you, either rewarding behavior or attacking and cursing the person. They build their nests by pulling the tops of pine trees together. It’s theorized these are really ancient barn owls who went extinct about 20,000 years ago.

[briefbestiary]

An owl-like species of creatures capable of changing the course of a person's fate.

[octahedral-chaos]

Chickcharneys my BELOVED

[lookslikethatsallthetimewehave]

Some cryptids that were mentioned in the Cryptids Island book.

Chickcharney

Dingonek

Bukit Timah Monkey Man

I was gonna draw the Goat Man mentioned on page 63, but I figured it was just some satyr from Mythology Island visiting!

[rn-zane]

Well, now you know and can try to be careful!

Oh, man... this one lady came in with a gnarly bite on her shoulder and said it was a bird. Like, those were 100% human teeth marks. I think she just didn't want to tell us what happened. Or was protecting a spouse or something, which is more depressing than odd... But seriously, a bird?

I guess I've been preoccupied.

Well now I'm intrigued...what's the oddest thing someone's used as an excuse in the last say...week? And what was the injury?

[wickedsrest-rp]

NAME: Chickcharney

RARITY: ★☆☆☆☆

THREAT LEVEL: ★★☆☆☆ | Their curses can cause distress and injury. Commonplace and found in groups, but physically weak and not known to kill.

HABITAT: Most often in populated areas, but some flocks are more comfortable in the woods where they aren’t as much of a pest. Can be found flying through the sky in large flocks, like starlings.

DESCRIPTION: These small, round, fluffy bird-like creatures were originally described in the folklore of Andros Island in the Bahamas, where they were said to have influence over a person’s luck. They may look like unassuming, mundane birds until you notice that in place of a beak, they have an eerily human-like set of chompers. These critters are sometimes solitary – nesting alone or in a bonded breeding pair – but can also be found in large flocks in areas where there is adequate coverage. In the past, chickcharnies were usually found roosting in trees or other heavily forested areas. Today, they can also be found nesting on man-made structures where they can be even more of a nuisance. Chickcharnies become emotionally attached to wherever they roost, and react with unbridled aggression toward anyone who comes too close. However, their true ire is reserved for anyone who attempts to destroy their home, and they will respond with magic.  

ABILITIES: Capable of casting a wide variety of curses, the fluffball appearance of the chickcharney belies its malice. Someone who tries to destroy the roosting site of a chickcharney may be cursed with bad luck, an altered emotional state (they like making people feel persistently guilty about everything), or may suddenly believe themselves to be a chickcharney meant to help guard the roost from other invaders. One favorite curse is twisting the head of an intruder backwards. Those who are kind to chickcharnies may indeed find themselves having exceptional luck. As birdlike animals, chickcharnies are quick and capable of flight. Their humanlike set of teeth can bite a finger off if you stick it too close to them. 

WEAKNESS: The curses of chickcharnies can usually only be reversed with more magic, and countercurses aren’t usually too hard. Though any spellcaster you get to help might laugh at your misfortune since they know better than to bother these creatures. Chickcharnies have strong teeth and readily bite flesh and fingers, but are otherwise not especially strong (though they can make up for it in spirit). They’re able to be killed by most normal means. For whatever reason, they leave sirens well alone – perhaps they’re distant relatives.

(Art credit: Arb Paninken)

[zofiawithaz]

adkfjsomeone helP pleasethere's a bird st u ck in my hair it flew at me and got stuckandit BIT ME the bird has teeth and it is stuck in my hair and it can't get out help

[ofdarklands]

28 - Chickcharney

The chickcharney is a legendary creature in the folklore of Andros Island in the Bahama Islands. It is said to have an appearance very much like an owl, and is typically described as being around 3 feet tall and covered with fine feathers that resemble fur. The creature is said to have three fingers, three toes, and large, piercing red eyes situated on a head that allegedly has the ability to turn around nearly 360 degrees. There is also often mention of a prehensile tail that helps the arboreal birds to climb in the trees where they make their homes. chickcharney nests are reportedly composed of the tops of two pine trees tied together.

The creatures are known to be very mischievous and on occasion quite aggressive. It is said that if a traveler happens to come across a chickcharney, it would be wise to treat it kindly. Those who treat the chickcharney well and show respect are said to be rewarded with good luck, while those who don’t, or even worse those who laugh at the creature, will meet with bad luck and hard times. If the chickcharney is especially offended, it is said that the creature will violently and forcibly twist the persons neck all the way around. Andros islanders who are wary of chickcharnies often carry brightly colored flowers or pieces of cloth in order to charm the creatures and dissuade them from attacking or causing trouble.

[captain-mj]

Hi just came from the clock app could I please request a kelpie soap ghost ficlet/HC’s, maybe even a creature 141 and friends (the concept is popular so if you don’t feel comfortable doing it fine). I also saw on tic tok you got a book of folklore for Christmas what creatures do you think everyone is from it?

I really love folk lore

I hope you all had a great holiday season!

So you see... Morally I cannot do anything romantic with Kelpies. I also have done a few creature things before. However, I can do a creature match up! There's tons of creatures in the book that, while not human, they would make cool ass companions/pets

Also you may be interested in my Vampire au or the Creature Fic I did!

What creatures I think they'd have as a companion

Soap: Will-O'-The-Wisp

Ghost: Hippogriff

Roach: Kitsune

Gaz: Bake-Danuki

Alex: Mishepishu

Alejandro: Alicanto

Rodolfo: Chickcharney

Price: Ceryneian Deer

Graves: Wampus Cat

Laswell: Griffin

Farah: Phoenix

Chuy: Thunderbird (Hoop snake was a close second)

Reyes: Cockatrice

Valeria: Feathered serpent

[amerwitchmagics]

Cards of the Day:  Reversed 7 of Cups, Chickcharney, and Fawn.

Keep yourself grounded in this world today. There are things afloat and you need to keep your eyes open.

[chasseurdeloup]

Lovely Night for a Walk || Sofie and Kaden

TIMING: Before The Sound of Silence LOCATION: Mistwood Park PARTIES: @sofiedupont and @chasseurdeloup SUMMARY: Kaden runs into Sofie while definitely not out hunting.

Usually, Sofie hated silence. But sometimes she simply needed to get as far away from everything as she possibly could. She couldn’t explain why, but the answer for her had always been cemeteries. 

She supposed it was the peace that they promised. The eternal resting place for those who had slipped off their mortal coil. There was usually nothing to disturb her other than the occasional song of a nightingale. Sofie sat beneath a tree near someone’s headstone who was only a few years younger than she was. She supposed that was also part of it- the irony of it. She belonged in a place like this. It was easier to remember that now that the grand party that had been the Fleur de Sang was over. She belonged beneath a tree thousands of miles away from this town. But she had thumbed her nose at death, and had been running from it for centuries now.

Sofie sighed, letting the night air fill her lungs. Then a scent caught the breeze. Someone was there. She plucked a rock from the ground and placed it atop the headstone as she stood up. Goodbye for now, friend. She forced herself to jump when she heard a twig snap nearby. “You startled me, I didn’t think anyone else was here.”

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Kaden didn’t typically frequent cemeteries, at least not if he didn't have to. The perks of not being a slayer. Most of them were dark and old and musty, not a place he really enjoyed. Still, he helped out with a few necrophages now and then. More hellhounds and gwyllgi had died by his hand than he could count at this point. On his way home from a “walk” (hunt) in the woods, he had every intention of passing right by the cemetery and ignoring it.

Instead, he turned and walked inside the gates. He sensed something in the area, though he couldn’t say what. Then again, in this town it felt like the hairs on the back of his arms were permanently standing on edge. There were so many monsters and shapeshifters, his hunter sense all got muddled and blurred. Not to mention living with a werewolf sure threw him off balance. So in all likelihood, there was no supernatural beast waiting for him in the cemetery, but it didn’t hurt to check. 

The place was huge, definitely not some old rundown graveyard that he was used to seeing. This almost felt like a park built around the memorials and tombstones lining the paths. A sensation shot down his spine and Kaden pivoted towards it. Knowing his luck, it was only going to be an agropelter. Even so, he tried to be as quiet as possible. Turning the corner, he took a sharp breath when he saw he wasn’t alone. Merde. Kaden started to back away – go finish his hunt elsewhere – when a twig snapped beneath his shoe. Shit. 

So much for walking away. “Uh, yeah, sorry,” he said, stumbling over his words. “I didn’t think anyone else was here, either. Kind of late and all.” He still had half a mind to walk away then, but what if the monster he sensed was something much more dangerous than a little chickcharney? Putain. He couldn’t just leave her here to fend for herself. Guess the hunt was over before it started. “What brings you out here this time of night?”

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“I suppose I just lost track of the time.” A shrug of the shoulders and she all but dismissed how late it was. Sofie had to imagine there were people doing stranger things than hanging out in cemeteries after hours. After all, this one was practically a park that had a dual purpose as people’s final resting place. 

“It’s quiet.” She explained simply with a smile. It was a rare thing, for Sofie to crave a moment of solitude. She almost always preferred the company of others. It was easy to get lost in the stories and lives of others and let any of her own worries slip away. But sometimes the noise didn’t help. On those rare occasions, she’d slip off someplace quiet, and she had found cemeteries offered the peace she needed. “It’s easier to think out here. They’re not going to judge me.” She said, waving to the headstone she’d been sat next to. “What are you doing out here so late?” She asked, turning the question back on the stranger. 

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Her voice sounded like she had money, or at least grew up around people who did. Or maybe she just had manners, Kaden couldn’t say one way or the other beyond the fact that it sounded proper. “Guess that can happen,” he said, trying to feel if whatever set off his hunter senses was still around. It was about the same as it was when he’d stepped into this part of the cemetery. Good. Granted, he’d lost the trail a little, hard to say what direction it was going in. By all accounts, he should go follow it, leave this whole weird interaction behind. Right, how was he going to explain that? And keep her from following and out of the cemetery? Putain.

“I can’t argue with that,” Kaden said with a nod. He was turning his head, trying to look for any sign of any supernatural creatures or necrophages lurking around in addition to trying to spot the fastest way out of there. “Huh?” her question caught him off guard. Merde. How was he going to explain running around a cemetery at night with knives, a pistol, and a machete hanging from his belt. “Oh, uh, I’m… out for a walk. Here. Because…” Putain, he should have stopped talking while he was ahead. “Fastest way home. Cutting through here just saves some time.” He had no idea if that was even remotely true but it sounded like it could be, right?

___________________

He was a bit rough around the edges, wasn’t he? Sofie supposed that it might also just be that she’d startled him by being in a cemetery in the evening. She supposed there were a great number of scary stories that began in such a fashion. He smelled normal enough- probably just some human out late in the evening. Nothing really to worry about. Except for the veritable artillery he had strapped about his waist. Now that could present a problem. But given the fact that he hadn’t simply attacked her and politely attempted to remove her head so she would become a very old pile of dust, she had to assume she was safe from that sharp looking machete. For now. 

She glanced over her shoulder further into the cemetery. It might not be a lie, she supposed. It wasn’t as though she’d scoped every inch of the cemetery, so she wasn’t sure if there were homes surrounding the property. It was a strange enough town that Sofie supposed it was possible- probably, even. She let the thought go as she nodded. “Fair enough. The shortest distance between two points being a straight line, and all that.” Except it probably wouldn’t be a straight line if he had to move around headstones and mausoleums. “That for cutting your way through the bushes?” She teased, nodding to the machete. She knew she shouldn’t bring attention to it, but she figured any sane person would. Or anyone who would be voted most likely to die first in one of those horror films today's youth seemed so keen on watching in the cinemas.

___________________

“What?” Kaden had to look down to follow the path of her eye line, straight to the machete. “Putain de merde,” he mumbled under his breath. “Right, that. I…” He reached up to rub the nape of his neck, trying to pull some sort of excuse out of thin air. “I mentioned I was animal control, right? Sometimes I need to get to some pretty strange places. Gotta cut through. Branches and bushes. And things.” Kaden wasn’t too sure how plausible that was considering that, in his experience, the weapon was a lot handier with monsters than animals. 

“Not to mention, you never know when you’re going to run into trouble in this town,” he added, “Doesn’t hurt to be prepared.” He watched her, wondering if she was aware of all the strange going-ons in town and to what extent. Most people seemed to handwave it all easily enough. If he hadn’t grown up seeing the same reactions time and time again, it’d be nearly unbelievable the sheer amount of denial one place could harbor. A familiar chill ran down his spine again and his hand went to the handle of his weapon as he glanced around them, looking for the source. Merde. He’d forgotten he wasn’t alone, instincts had taken over. He managed to redirect his hand to his front pocket, trying to make it look natural enough. “So, uh, anyway, which way are you headed?”

___________________

Sofie’s eyebrows shot up at the expression, and she failed to conceal an amused snort. “Manners, Monsieur.” The vampire chided, amusement still hanging in her voice. “The dead will roll over in their graves with talk like that.” She shook her head at his explanation. “No, you neglected to mention that part.” She supposed that made sense. Some people let their property get turned into tangles of vines and thorns, and something that sharp would probably be the easiest way to get past. 

And then of course there was the fact that this was Wicked’s Rest. Sofie shuddered to think of what sort of creature might require a knife that large. At least she was armed with Cassius’s knife now. It was a comfort to know she wouldn’t be relying solely on running any longer. So long as she followed through on taking lessons from Metzli. Her eyebrow raised a quarter of an inch as she watched his hand float onto the handle of the blade. She didn’t smell anything off. Perhaps he was just skittish? She hoped as much. While she did have a knife tucked safely away in the pocket of her skirt, she did not want to use it. She looked around at his question, and the corners of her mouth were towed downward as if by tiny anchors. “That is a marvelous question. The exit? I don’t quite remember the way I came in, and I’m a bit turned around in the dark.” It was a half truth- she could see just fine in the darkness, but she truly couldn’t remember which direction she’d come from. “Do you know which direction the nearest way out is?”

___________________

Kaden’s face scrunched in confusion as she scolded him. “Right, uh, je suis désolé, mademoiselle.” Did that just really happen? Did he just get scolded like a child? “I think they’ll recover. Probably not the worst they heard.” He had to wonder where she learned French swear words. He’d only been in town for so long, they couldn’t have caught on that fast. “I’m actually a little shocked you knew what I was saying. Most around here don’t.” Which was fine by him. As strange as it was to not speak his native language as often as he used to, he didn’t mind when people had no idea he was cursing (and sometimes insulting them) under his breath. At least most people had no idea he was swearing. 

His focus fell from his lingering hunter senses as she spoke. “I guess that’s what happens when you wander into cemeteries at night.” Whatever it was that was out there, he wasn’t about to leave her here to find out by herself. Kaden had to wonder if this was how a lot of residents of Wicked’s Rest died – lost in the cemeteries at night. It was hard to see at times, even for him and seeing in darkness wasn’t a huge issue for him. “It should be this way,” he said pointing towards the left. “I can pretend I have some manners and walk you out. If you want.” 

___________________

A delighted laugh left her at another sound of the place she called home for so long. “Ne t'inquiète pas mon ami, ne t'inquiète pas.” She chirped, happy to speak the language once again. “I lived in France for many years. You pick up a thing or two after a while.” Sofie explained. And after a few centuries, you picked up even more. 

Her smile grew sheepish and she shrugged as if to say what can you do?  “You may have a point there.” She wasn’t scared to be alone in the night, but she supposed someone with a beating heart would be, so she made sure to play the part. Her mind wandered back to previous evenings, and that was enough to make her shiver. “Yes please,” Sofie said gratefully. If that slayer came back, he likely wouldn’t finish the job if it looked as though he were attacking an innocent young woman. “And I was only teasing.” She grinned. “My brother had a far worse mouth on him than you- nearly every other word out of him was a swear.”

___________________

“That explains it,” Kaden replied in French. “I’m from Lyon, just moved here pretty recently. It’s definitely been an adjustment.” He hadn’t let himself think much about home or change or let himself miss anything, at least as much as he could. It wasn’t worth dwelling on, it would only dredge up too many other things with it. He didn’t have time for that. 

“Ladies first,” he said, holding his hand out in a gesture allowing her to take the lead, exaggerating his movements. If she was going to tease, he could follow suit. “That so?” he asked as they walked along the path towards the– well, one of the exits. He didn’t actually know if where they were headed was actually closer to the cabin or farther away. Guess he’d have to figure that out later. “See I try to make a good impression when I can. Have to keep the cursing to every other sentence at first, you know?” Thankfully his hunter senses weren’t getting any stronger. They weren’t letting up exactly, either. Putain. The wind whistled through the trees, the only break in the lingering silence. “So, where’s your brother now? He in town?” That was how small talk worked, right? 

___________________

The location clicked in her mind. Hadn’t she recently chatted with someone online from Lyon? “I lived in the Val de Loire. Near Amboise.” It had been like something out of a fairytale, and it lived on as such in her memory. The name of the town brought a wistful smile to Sofie’s face. “It is lovely here, but it’s definitely a change of pace.” 

She laughed, tilting in a half-curtsy before continuing on the path. “Merci,” Sofie walked along, hopefully in the direction of an exit. She didn’t particularly care which. The wistfulness left her smile at the question, but she managed to keep it from dissolving entirely. “Ah,” she cleared her throat and shook her head. “No. No, it is just me here. I almost miss all his swearing. ” I miss it constantly. She didn’t offer an explanation, but didn’t close off the line of questioning  either. “And what about you? Any family in town?”

___________________

Val de Loire? Wait a minute, someone else mentioned there. And Amboise. Kaden narrowed his eyes, working to piece the puzzle together. “Wait, are you the one with the crabs?” Huh, maybe that wasn’t the best way to phrase it. “I mean, in your vase. I think we talked earlier. About those. And coffee.” Putain, he didn’t need to make himself look like more of an idiot than he was. “Anyway, yeah, pretty different here than France. Some parts are nicer.” Like the distance from his sister. “Some parts, less so.” Like the cheese.

Kaden nodded. “I know the feeling.” Sort of. As much as he hated Keira, he missed her. Or at least the version of her that would make silly masks for them both every Purim. He wasn’t sure she existed anymore. “My sister, she’s still in France. But, uh, my cousins are here. That’s why I came.” Not that he knew them as well as he felt like he should to be the guy crashing on their couch. Even so, something was still there, something shared that he couldn’t name that bound them together. It was enough. “You been here long?”

___________________

Sofie blinked a minute, before it clicked into place in her mind. “Yes! That is me!” She exclaimed. Every day that passed over the years had taught her the world was an incredibly small place. She had figured it would be only a matter of time until she came across the person she’d spoken to online. “That can be said of anywhere I believe. I do miss it from time to time. Especially the coffee.”

It must have been nice, she thought, to have people nearby. Even cousins. To have familiar people. She supposed she was slowly collecting something akin to it. The more undead she came across and befriended, the more she felt less alone. And that was they key, she’d found, to making immortality worthwhile. Companionship. Sofie shook her head. “In town? No, not terribly long. I only arrived a little under a month ago. I’ve been in the country for a few years though.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. A little under a century wasn’t a terribly long time in the grand scheme of things. 

___________________

“The coffee and pastries are on top of the list of things I miss,” Kaden agreed with a small smile. Maybe he would get used to the absurd amount of sugar used on this side of the pond. Yeah, probably not. Still, there was something a little comforting about having someone else in town who was also new and had lived in the same part of the world, even if there was a gap in time there. 

They turned a corner and Kaden could see the pathway that led to the exit just ahead but as soon as they faced it, a chill swept down his spine. It was here, whatever monster he had been tracking. Had to be. He paused and held his hand out to let her know to slow down. “I think we might not be al–” 

The hunter barely got the sentence out when a black flash of fur launched itself at his head, screeching on the way down. “Putain! Fucking hell, merde!” he shouted while flailing to get the creature, whatever it was off of him. He felt tiny teeth on his ear and smacked at the source, missing as it slinked away and slapped his head instead. Kaden was about to grab hold of the thing when it leapt off him and towards his current companion. Shit. 

___________________

She slowed, confused as he held a hand out. The sentence hadn’t finished before a squirrel from hell flew onto his head. Sofie yelped in surprise. Wide eyed surprise allowed her to take in the situation. Her initial instinct upon seeing the flying ball of black fuzz had been that it was a squirrel. Watching as it scrambled around the man’s head, it was evident that it was no such thing. “Merde-“ 

Sofie bent to snatch a stray stick off the ground, hoping she could use it to poke the little beast off. This had been the wrong decision apparently, as her fingers had just closed around the stick when the screeching and chittering got closer, and she felt fur and little paws on her head, moving down onto her back.

The vampire shrieked, a string of swears leaving her mouth as the not-squirrel crawled around to her front. Sofie tried to whack it off with the stick, but it’s little hands grabbed it with a strength that didn’t match its small stature, yanking the improvised weapon from her hands. “What the hell?!”

___________________

Fucking agropelter. This little piece of shit wasn’t even what set off his senses. He could still feel them ringing out but he sure as shit couldn’t focus on them while the fucking fae squirrel was fucking there. “Putain de merde!” Kaden turned to his current companion to see if she was okay and saw the stick she’d been using flying to the side. She was lucky that wasn’t her entire hand. 

What a fucking time to be without any iron weapons. Sure, he should be prepared for anything, but he still wasn’t a fucking warden and an iron knife took space away from carrying something else that was usually more useful. Kaden grabbed a plain-old knife from his belt and reached out with his free hand to try and yank the creature away from her. Piece of shit was fast and leapt away from the hunter’s grip onto his arm. He tried to shake it away and it only crawled onto his other shoulder. “Goddamnit!” He couldn’t stab it like this, all he’d do was stab himself. Kaden looked to his left and tried to shrug the argopelter to his other shoulder before slamming it into the tree next to him. 

That was going to fucking hurt in the morning. Hell, it hurt now. ���Did I get it?” 

___________________

Sofie didn’t like that a creature a fraction of her size could wrench something from her hands like it was nothing. The fact that it was scrabbling all over her companion was worse. If it could do that to a stick, what would it do to a limb?

She looked around for something to throw at the little bastard when the man pulled out a knife. But how was he going to stab something that was on his back? Her question was answered quickly enough as the man launched himself into a tree. There was a little squeak from the creature, but silence followed. “I think so,” Sofie said softly, creeping her way around to catch a glimpse. “It looks like you knocked it out… Are you alright?”

___________________

Kaden rubbed his shoulder as he looked down at the limp body of the agropelter sprawled on the ground. The hunter crouched down, leaning over to try and listen, check if he could hear a heartbeat. He had learned to filter sound and was usually able to ignore most things his enhanced hearing picked up, but now he was concentrating. He could hear the wind through the branches, crickets chirping, and a small, faint heartbeat coming from the small creature. Alive. But knocked out, like she said.

That wasn’t what made his brows knit together. It was what he didn’t hear that surprised him. Kaden wanted to shoot a glance up at the woman standing next to him, but he refrained, keeping his eyes on the monster on the ground. He wasn’t listening for its pulse anymore. He was hoping that he was mistaken. He was hoping that if he listened a little harder, he would hear a thumping sound coming from her chest.

Only, there was nothing. 

Putain de merde.

Kaden stood up and nodded. “Yeah, I’m alright. I’ve had worse. At least nothing dislocated.” He didn’t know what to do now. He didn’t even know what sort of undead he was dealing with, if he was even correct in his assumption. There was no point in making any move. Not now. He just had to keep acting normal. Like nothing had changed. He could do that. He could definitely do that. “Uh, what about you? Did it, uh, bite you or anything?”

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Sofie watched and waited as the man stooped over the creature that was decidedly not a squirrel. She didn’t quite know what he was waiting for. Perhaps he was looking for the tiny rise and fall of the little thing’s chest to verify it still lived. 

“Oh good,” she was relieved to hear it. If only so the scent of blood wouldn’t catch her nose. She wasn’t particularly hungry, but she didn’t want to have to explain a sudden inhuman hue in her eyes. She paused at his question, frowning a little. She inspected her arms quickly, but nothing seemed wrong. And she’d felt no teeth carve into her flesh. She’d managed to emerge unscathed from the little beast’s ambush. “I’m alright… I think it just crawled around and… grabbed that stick- what is that little thing?” Sofie peered at it curiously. It was far too small to be as strong as it was. 

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“Good. That’s good,” Kaden said, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. He could feel his pulse picking up. Putain, he had to get it together. Nothing had changed, nothing had happened. Only everything had changed about the situation. She was dead. Well, undead. But they were in a cemetery and he was escorting a dead woman home. It was hard to push aside the instincts that had been drilled into him for years, the ones that told him not to trust a monster, to not let them live. Kaden wasn’t sure if he was more afraid of Sofie or the thoughts that had invaded his mind.

Wait. Merde, she’d asked him a question. “Oh, uh, that?” Putain, what was he going to say? It sure as hell wasn’t going to be the truth. “Uh, looks like a kind of squirrel. Aggressive variant. They show up in town sometimes. I’ve had to deal with them often enough.” Kaden took a deep breath and looked around to get his bearings. “Exit should be right over there. Almost out of here,” he said offering a small smile as he gestured towards the path out. 

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She could smell it, when his pulse picked up. Thankfully, she wasn’t particularly hungry. Brown eyes remained brown, no hint of the inhuman red to be seen. It made sense, of course. The poor man had just been fighting off a-… well Sofie didn’t really buy the line that it was a squirrel. Squirrels didn’t look like that. She had seen hundreds of thousands of squirrels in her lifetime. That was not a squirrel. 

“That is the ugliest squirrel I have ever seen.” She muttered. Better to let him think she believed his lie than to raise more questions. She looked over to where he gestured and smiled. She could just barely see the exit from where she stood. “Ah! Lovely! Thank you so much again.” She said as she resumed walking. 

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Kaden huffed out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, well, genetics can do weird shit.” That was the best he had as far as an explanation. He followed behind her as they both walked towards the exit. Every branch or twig that they walked past on the short walk to the open gate was like walking past a knife on the ground, moonlight glinting off the metal, calling out to him to pick one up. If for no other reason than for safety. 

Not that he knew for sure that she was a vampire, fair enough. She could just as easily be a zombie. But she looked too pretty, too put together to be a zombie, even if he knew that they could look just like normal people. Something about zombies, he just always assumed they were a little more dead somehow then the rest. Couldn’t explain it. 

His hand hovered near the hilt of his machete all the same. Regardless of what she was, beheading killed most things. He was still on edge with every step towards the exit. Sure, she had been nice and cordial and if she was going to drain his blood or eat his organs or anything else terrible, she’d had plenty of chances to do it before. And she hadn’t. But he was a hunter, he knew that things weren’t always as they seemed. 

Before he could finish debating himself in his own mind, they were at the gates. “Well, here we are,” he said, gesturing towards the entrance, acting like he hadn’t been ready to pull a knife out on her at any moment just then. “I take it you can make it the rest of the way home all by yourself.” The smile he flashed her was shallower than any of his earlier had been. “Kaden, by the way,” he added. “In case you were wondering.” Stupid, he shouldn’t have given her his name. There was no fucking reason beyond being polite. Putain. ��Nice to meet you. Get home safe.”

___________________

Sofie happily walked along toward the exit, blissfully unaware of any further danger that could befall her that evening. And from the looks of it, they were almost to the exit. She’d be on her way home and curled up with a pot of tea in no time at all. 

She smiled and looked back to the kind young man who’d shown her the way to the exit. A kindness that not many people would extend in this town, for fear of what might happen in the shadows. “So we are.” Sofie sighed, looking back down the path. She’d have to remember the way if she came back to this particular cemetery. 

“I know the way from here.” Sofie nodded, pointing at a street sign. “I have my bearings now.” Kaden. That was a nice name. It suited him. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Kaden. I’m Sofie. Sofie DuPont.” With a little wave, she started on her way down the street. “Have a nice evening, Kaden.” She called over her shoulder before disappearing into the night. 

[gunnerkriggcritical]

"Catalyst" is such a charming standalone chapter. The art is so good here, and I love how the forest animals are drawn, especially the chickcharney!

[seewetter]

Mythic Creatures by Culture & Region

Part 2: Settler (Colonial) & Diasporic Tales of Australia & the Americas

Overview here.

• Australian Settler Folktales Drop Bear; Easter Bilby; Oozlum Bird (oozlum bird also in Britain)

Canadian Settler Folktales

Cadborosaurus B.C.; Cressie; Igopogo Barrie; Manipogo; Memphre; Mussie; Red Lady; Thetis Lake Monster; Turtle Lake Monster

USAmerican Settler folktales including African diaspora

Agropelter, Maine & Ohio; Alfred Bulltop Stormalong Massachussets; Altamaha-ha in Georgia, U.S.A, see Muskogee; Anansi is Akan (which includes the Agona, Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Anyi, Ashanti, Baoulé, Bono, Chakosi, Fante, Kwahu, Sefwi, Wassa, Ahanta, and Nzema) also found in African American lore; Red Ghost (Arizona camel with skeleton on its back); Augerino western USA, including Colorado; Axehandle hound Minnesota and Wisconsin; Ball-tailed cat; Beaman Monster; Bear Lake Monster; Beast of Bladenboro; Beast of Busco; Bell Witch; Belled buzzard American South; Bessie northeast Ohio and Michigan; Bigfoot; Black Dog; Blafard; Bloody Bones; Bloody Mary; Boo hag; Br'er Rabbit; Brown Mountain Lights; Cactus cat American Southwest; Calafia Amazon Queen (Caliph) that California is named after; Champ; Chessie; Dark Watchers; Demon Cat Washington D.C.; Dewey Lake Monster; Dover Demon; Dungavenhooter Maine, Michigan; Emperor Norton; Enfield Monster (NOT Enfield); Flathead Lake Monster; Flatwoods Monster; Flying Africans; Fouke Monster Arkansas; Fur-bearing trout; Gallinipper; Gillygaloo; Glawackus; Gloucester sea serpent; Golden Bear; Goofus Bird; Gumberoo; Hidebehind; Hillbilly Beast of Kentucky; Hodag; Honey Island Swamp Monster; Hoop Snake; Hudson River Monster; Hugag; Jackalope; Jersey Devil; Joint Snake; Jonathan Moulton; Lady Featherflight; Lagahoo; Lake Worth Monster; Lava bear Oregon, appear to have been real animals but not a unique species; Letiche (Cajun folktale, from descendants of the Acadian expulsion) Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp; Loveland Frog; Ludwig the Bloodsucker; Mãe-do-Ouro; Mami Wata also African; Maryland Goatman; Melon-heads; Michigan Dogman; Milton lizard; Mogollon Monster; Momo the Monster; Mothman; Nain Rouge Detroit, Michigan; New Jersey folktales; North Shore Monster; Onza; Ozark Howler; Pope Lick Monster; Proctor Valley Monster; Railroad Bill; Red Ghost; Red Lady; Reptilian; Resurrection Mary; Sharlie; Sidehill Gouger; Signifying monkey; Skunk Ape; Snallygaster; Snipe Hunt; Snow Snake; Splintercat; Squonk; Tahoe Tessie; Tailypo; Teakettler; The Witch of Saratoga; Tuttle Bottoms Monster; Two-Toed Tom; Walgren Lake Monster; Wampus Cat; White River Monster; Wild Man of the Navidad

Latin American Folklore

Aido Hwedo, Haiti & also in Benin; Alebrije (born from a dream, Mexican paper mache folk art); Baccoo could be based off Abiku of Yoruba lore; Bestial Beast bestial centaur; Boiuna; Boto and Boto_and_Dolphin_Spirits; Bruja; Bumba Meu Boi; Burrokeet; Cadejo; Camahueto; Capelobo; Carbuncle; Carranco; Chasca El Salvador; Chickcharney; Ciguapa Dominica; Cipitio; Damballa; Day of the Dead; Death; Douen; Duende; Duppy; El Sombrerón Guatemala; Folktales of Mexico; Headless Mule; Hombre Gato; Honduran Creatures; Huay Chivo; Ibo loa (also Igbo in West Africa); Jumbee; Kasogonagá (Toba in Argentina); La Bolefuego; La Diablesse; La Llorona; La mula herrada; La Sayona; Lang Bobi Suzi; Madre de aguas; Mama D'Leau; Minhocão; Mono Grande; Monster of Lake Fagua; Monster of Lake Tota; Muan; Muelona; Nahuelito; Obia also a word for a West African mythological creature (see article); Papa Bois; Patagon aka Patagonian Giant; Patasola; Phantome (Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana); Pishtaco; Princess Eréndira; Quimbanda; Romãozinho; Saci; Sayona ; Sihuanaba; Sisimoto; Soucouyant; Succarath; Tapire-iauara; Tata Duende; The Cu Bird; The Silbón; Tulevieja; Tunda; Zombie Bolivia; Abchanchu; Acalica; El Tío Colombia; Colombian Creatures; El Hombre Caimán; Tunda

Please note that some of these beings (those from Latin America or from diasporic African religions like Santeria, Vodun and Candomble) are sacred and be responsible about their use in art (writing etc.).

Notify me of any mistakes or to add disclaimers when something is considered sacred and off-limits.

[octahedral-chaos]

I keep forgetting to post this so uh...

Tripodero, Sakura pen and white brush pen on sketchpad paper, 2024

Kinda like how this guy looks... might do a black shuck, chickcharney or something else next...

[wickedsrest-rp]

NAME: 13W34 Sycamore Drive

LOCATION: Harborside (World’s End Isle)

Tucked away in World’s End Isle is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom house complete with a basement and large in-ground pool in the back. While the place doesn’t have an exact style, it’s clear there was a battle between styles between Charlie and Finn. The exterior is a mix of olive green stucco and grey stone and boasts a large in-ground pool around the back. The house is situated within a gated community, which gives the pair peace of mind.

You’d be hard-pressed to find any actual markings or information as to who actually lives there - privacy is important. 

In the large, grand living room is a beautiful grand piano covered in incomplete sheet music. 

One of the four bedrooms has been converted into a cozy gaming room with the newest PlayStation, old-school consoles, and a giant beanbag chair.

There’s a chickcharney nest along the right side of the house that neither of the owners wants to deal with, instead leaving it up as a sort of extra layer of security.