#hairy-tailed bat

[jadafitch]

Eastern Red Bat with Pups

[sitting-on-me-bum]

A dwarf dog-faced bat (Molossops temminckii) from Paraguay.

Sweet Bat Portraits Dispel Stereotypes of These Incredibly Important Mammals

Photographer: Dr. Merlin Tuttle

Hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata) from Mexico. This species does not cause problems for people or for livestock. It feeds almost exclusively on the blood of birds.

A minor epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus labiatus minor) in Kenya.

An African sheath-tailed bat (Coeura afra) from a cave on the Mombasa Coast of Kenya.

[fascinationstreetmp3]

random thought i had. if iwtv/vc vamps could turn into bats these are what i think they'd turn into

louis: little brown bat (myotis lucifugus)

lestat: pallid bat (antrozous pallidus)

claudia: hairy-legged vampire bat (diphylla ecaudata)

armand: painted bat (kerivoula picta)

daniel: velvety free-tailed bat (molossus molossus)

[the-mortuary-witch]

SATAN

WHO IS HE?

In the Middle Ages, Satan played a minimal role in christian theology and was used as a comic relief figure in mystery plays. During the early modern period, Satan's significance greatly increased as beliefs such as demonic possession and witchcraft became more prevalent. 

Although Satan is generally viewed as evil, some groups have very different beliefs. In theistic Satanism, Satan is considered a deity who is either worshipped or revered. In atheistic Satanism, Satan is a symbol of virtuous characteristics and liberty. 

BASIC INFO: 

Appearance: Satan's appearance is never described in the bible, but, since the ninth century, he has often been shown in christian art with horns, cloven hooves, unusually hairy legs, and a tail, often naked and holding a pitchfork. These are an amalgam of traits derived from various pagan deities, including Pan, Poseidon, and Bes. 

Personality: he is known to be cunning, straight forward, and strict. He is not seen as a malevolent force, but rather as an entity who challenges individuals to  overcome challenges and fears.

Symbols: pentagram, wings, fire, goat’s head, and upside down cross

Entity of: temptation, hell, misfortune, and hard ship

Culture: Demonic

Plants and trees: deadly nightshade, wolfsbane, holly, pothos, datura, blackberry, nettle, briar rose, apple tree, thistle, and poisonous plants in general 

Crystals: ruby, black obsidian, red jasper, black tourmaline, smoky quartz, and amethyst

Animals: black animals in general, serpent, bats, dragon, goat, black cats, ravens, crows, spiders, wolves, and vultures

Incense: dragon’s blood, apple, copal, and myrrh

Colours: red and black

Numbers: 6 and 1

Zodiacs: Taurus and Libra

Tarot: The Devil

Planet: Venus

Days: Friday, Devil’s Night, and Lupercalia

Parent: N/A

Siblings: N/A

Partner: Lilith (not confirmed)

Children: N/A

MISC:

Goats: the association between Satan and goats has deep roots in mythology and religious symbolism. The image of a goat-like being with horns and hooves has been used for millennia to represent power, sexuality, and the wild or untamed aspects of nature.

Pentagram: in Western occult and mystical traditions, the pentagram can be associated with Satan due to its connection with the material and the earthly, as well as its association with the forces of darkness and chaos. In some traditions, the downward-pointing pentagram – also known as the "upside-down" or "inverted" pentagram – has been used as a symbol of anti-religious or Satanic beliefs. It's important to note, however, that interpretations of the pentagram's meaning can vary and there is no one definitive "Satanic" interpretation of this symbol.

Wings: Satan is often depicted as a fallen angel who was cast out of heaven for his rebellion against god. In many depictions, Satan is represented with wings as a symbol of his former status as an angel, or alternatively a mark of his fall from grace. Satan's portrayal with wings can be seen as a visual representation of his freedom, his ability to soar above the constraints of mortal life, and his role as a symbol of rebellion and opposition to religious authority.

Fire: in the context of Satan, fire is often associated with destruction, chaos, and the dark side of human nature. The image of Satan as a being surrounded by flames or depicted as a fiery being can symbolize both his destructive potential and his role as a symbol of defiance and rebellion.

Serpent: the association of Satan with the serpent comes from the story of the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis. In this story, the serpent tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to Adam and Eve's fall from grace and god's subsequent expulsion from the garden. The serpent in this story is often identified as Satan, or a representative of Satan, and the serpent has become a powerful symbol of temptation, cunning, and deception. It represents Satan's power of temptation and his role as a tempter of humanity.

FACTS ABOUT SATAN:

Many theistic Satanist’s view Lord Satan as a fatherly figure or brotherly figure.

Satan represents pride, liberty, and individualism.

He is often depicted as the embodiment of rebellion, defiance, and opposition to authority.

In some traditions, Satan is associated with the concept of the carnal or sensuous, representing the earthly pleasures of the body and the physical realm.

Satan is sometimes portrayed as a figure of chaos and destruction, but also seen as a liberator and a symbol of individual freedom.

He is often associated with the number 666.

HOW TO INVOKE SATAN:

Invoking Satan or any deity or spirit is a personal and often private spiritual practice. There is no one "right" way to invoke Satan, but here is a basic method you can begin by cleansing and consecrating a sacred space. You can do this using sage, salt, or other purifying methods. Set up an altar for the invocation, and place symbols of Satan on it. This could include black candles, pentagrams, serpent imagery, etc.

Prepare an invocation or prayer that you can use to call upon Satan. You can find examples online or create your own. Light the black candles and the incense and begin to recite the invocation.

PRAYER FOR SATAN:

Hail Lord Satan, Lord of the Underworld, I call upon thee in this hour.

Please come to me and be present in this place.

I honour your strength, power, and wisdom.

Guide me on the path of knowledge and darkness.

Grant me your blessings and protection, and help me achieve my goals.

Hail Lord Satan, Lord of darkness and light, ruler of the night.

I welcome you into this space, and I am forever your disciple. Hail Lord Satan.

SIGNS THAT SATAN IS CALLING YOU:

A sudden increase in synchronicities or unusual coincidences related to occult or dark themes

Repeated dreams or visions involving Satanic symbols or figures

Being drawn to occult, pagan, or Satanic practices and beliefs

Feeling of power or energy coursing through your body that seems to come from an external source

An urge to explore forbidden or taboo subjects

A sense of being "chosen" or "special" and having a unique spiritual path.

Feeling a connection to nature, animals, and the natural world, as well as a distaste for artificiality or mainstream culture.

Having a deep interest in the darker aspects of life, such as death, suffering, and the mysteries of the universe.

Experiencing a powerful attraction to dark, gothic, or rebellious aesthetics

Observing sudden changes in behaviour, such as increased energy and confidence.

OFFERINGS:

Chocolate.

Red wine.

Whiskey.

Animal bones.

Poetry.

Black roses.

Incense.

Black tea.

Music.

Drawings and painting of him.

Imagery of animals he is associated with: goats, serpents, dragons, etc.

Cinnamon.

Blackberries.

Grapes.

Coffee beans.

Pentagrams.

Liquor.

Black or red candles.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS:

Taking time for yourself, such as self care.

Meditating on his energy.

Practicing yoga or other physical disciplines to cultivate focus and strength.

Reading or studying texts related to Satanism or the occult.

Listening to dark or heavy music to invoke a certain atmosphere.

Keeping a spiritual journal to document experiences and insights.

Practicing solitary rituals or ceremonies to strengthen your connection with him.

Creating and maintaining a private altar for Satan, with appropriate symbols and offerings.

Performing candle magick or other spells to invoke Satan's presence and influence.

Participating in online communities or in-person groups of Satanists or occult practitioners.

Visiting places of dark or forbidden beauty, like graveyards, forests, or caves.

Exploring symbolism associated with Satan, such as the pentagram, the black goat, or the serpent.

Practicing divination techniques, such as tarot or scrying, to gain insight from Satan.

Studying the writings or teachings of influential Satanists such as Anton Szandor LaVey.

[lynaferns]

Hi, hello. Did you say big bat vampire dca au? As in, they’re big bats? 👀

That sounds really cool!

Yeah, although I don't have a clear image of them yet.

I made a doodle of the three half(?) transformed

They are mixed species but each resemble one more than the others. (I messed up eclipses ears, drew the wrong shape)

(whoops little ramble about bats)

Sun is an Indian Flying Fox, a fructivore bat. They are one of the bigguest (1 to 2 ft tall and 4ft wingspan (great for hugs/j)) and helps with the forest pollinization. They can fly 40km in one night. They lack echolocation but has a better eyesight than other bats. It's endangered due to humans haunting them for their meat.

Moon it's a Common Vampire bat (and a bit of White Winged bat for the colors), they eat mammal blood. There are 3 vampire species: the common, White-winged and Hairy-legged, the common can eat blood from any mammal while the other two eat mainly from birds and humans. The common vampire is a good crawler, so they'll prefer to get close to their prey from the ground. The white-winged has these glands in its mouth that uses to spit a really nauseating smell when its being molested (like skunks but these spit on you), there is sulfur in the spit.

Eclipse has the more clear mixes to see and it's the smallest of the three, its a Welwitch bat (it has freckles!!), a big eared and has part of canyon bat (because of the colors too). It's insectivorous, they help with plagues. They pretty much just vibe, just leave them be eating half their weigh in bugs and both of you'll be happy.

Nor the vampire or fruit bat has tails.

And they all can give you

Rabiessssss ✨

I didn't look into every especie there is of bats, first of because there are like 1,000, most of them insetivorous, and second because there is varely any info about any especie that aren't the common ones.

[gremlinmodetweeker]

I've been roused seeing CatTac stuff. Horangi and König coming home late and hearing you scream. Not realizing you got jump scared from watching something on your phone/TV. What do, gimme the goods!! Respectfully 💖

Okay so this is where things get hairy, no pun intended. I'm telling you now that the guys go haywire. It also nearly blows their cover...

After a long day, you're ready to kick up your feet and relax. Your cats are back in your bedroom, snuggled together and napping on your pillow. You make sure they were all comfy before you walk out to the living room and decide to watch a good horror movie.

When a scream rips through the apartment, König and Horangi are up like a shot. Little do you know, they immediately shift into their human forms. König is about to thunder out into the apartment when Horangi grabs his shoulder. Horangi sniffs the air and tells König to do the same.

"Nobody's here," Horangi whispers to König.

König takes a sniff and nods back, "She might be hurt out there! We need to go!"

"But what about-"

"The more we wait the worse it'll be!" König whispers back harshly and lunges into action.

The two charge into the living room, thunderous footsteps accompanying them as they made their way down the hall. The moment they come into the living room König immediately drops down into cat form. Horangi, tailing behind him, follows suit and hurries over to König's side.

"False alarm," König meows to Horangi as Owner jumps to her feet.

"What the fuck!?" you yell as you scramble to your feet.

Horangi looks up onto the big screen. It's... It's a horror movie. It's just a horror movie. He glares at König.

"König you're fat, but you're not that fat are you?" you mutter as you walk over to the kitties.

König gives out an irritated mew as you scoop him up in your arms with a scowl.

"I... Okay, I thought I heard people running in my apartment," you mutter as you bury your face in his belly, "and now I'm talking to my cats? I think I need to call the doctor tomorrow..."

You turn off the tv and slink back to bed with a grumble, spooking at every tiny noise and flinching at every movement in the corner of your eye. You nearly dropkick Horangi when he tries to bat at you from under your bed. When you finally lie down in bed, you drift off to sleep pretty quickly. The adrenaline of the day finally hit in hard.

When Horangi and König are sure that you're asleep, they curl around opposite sides of your head in their cat forms.

"You stupid idiot," Horangi hisses, "you nearly got us busted!"

"You heard her scream!" König yowls back.

"Yeah, but you ran in there as a human," Horangi growls as he licks your temple, "what were you thinking?"

"Well, if she was getting attacked-"

"Nobody was there!!! We could've gone and checked it out as cats," Horangi huffs before nipping your temple. You swat him in your sleep and he hisses.

König nuzzles into your ear and sighs. He picks his head up to look at his best friend and lover.

"We need to tell her," he says sadly, "it's not fair to her."

Horangi folds his ears back, but he nods solemnly.

"Soon," he promises, "soon. But not tomorrow. She's giving us the fish patties tomorrow."

König swishes his tail irritably but nods in agreement, "Fish patties first, then we tell her."

"Whatever you say big guy," Horangi rolls his eyes and nuzzles back into your side.

They enjoy the silence and peace together, soaking in your warm scent as they slowly give in to sleep.

König raises his head one final time, "Is she even into polyamory? How are we gonna convince her to try a threesome with us?"

"König," Horangi growls, "go the fuck to sleep."

[yoga-onion]

[Image above: Qilin, a legendary hoofed chimeric creature of Chinese mythology that is have been born from Yinglong]

Legends of the humanoids

Reptilian humanoids (7)

Yinglong - Winged Dragon, God of Rain in Chinese mythology

Yinglong (lit. 'responsive dragon') is a dragon that belonged directly to the Yellow Emperor (reign dates: 2697–2597 or 2698–2598 BCE), with four legs, bat- or falcon-like wings and three claws on each foot. It is allowed to access between heaven and earth. It also has the ability to store water and make it rain.

Yinglong is the chief of of the four dragons are the Azure, Red, White and Black dragons, and is said to give birth to the Heavenly Horse (Qilin), and become Yellow Dragon in old age. The Yellow Dragon is located in the middle of the Five Dragon King (Ref), is a part of Wuxing & the Four Symbols (Ref2) as the embodiment of the element of earth.

The (2nd century BCE) Huainanzi uses Yinglong in three chapters. "Forms of Earth" (Chapter 4) explains how animal evolution originated through dragons, with Yinglong as the progenitor of quadrupeds.

“All creatures, winged, hairy, scaly and mailed, find their origin in the dragon. The yu-kia (founder of birds) produced the flying dragon, the flying dragon gave birth to the phoenixes, and after them the luan-niao and all birds, in general the winged beings, were born successively. The mao-tuh ("hairy calf") produced the ying-lung the ying-lung (yinglong) gave birth to the kien-ma (heavenly horse), and afterwards the qilin and all quadrupeds, in general the hairy beings, were born successively. …”

Qilin are a type of legendary animal in Chinese mythology. They resemble deer in appearance, are large, standing 5 m ( approx. 16 ft) tall, and are unicorns with a face resembling a dragon, a bull's tail and horse's hooves, and qilin horns. Its back is five-coloured, its fur is yellow and it has scales on its body.

伝説のヒューマノイドたち

ヒト型爬虫類 (7)

応龍 〜 中国神話に登場する雨の神、翼のある龍

応龍 (ｲﾝﾛﾝ: “反応するドラゴン“の意) は、帝王である黄帝 (在位: 紀元前2697〜2597年または2698〜2598年) に直属する龍で、4���足で蝙蝠ないし鷹のような翼、足に3本の爪を持つ。天と地の間を行き来することができる。また、水を貯めて雨を降らせる能力もある。

応龍は、四龍の長あり、天馬 (麒麟) を生み、老いて黄龍になると言われている。

黄龍とは五方龍王（参照）の中央に位置しており、尚且つ四神 (四獣) の中心的存在、四神が東西南北の守護獣なのに対し、中央を守るとされる。土の要素を体現するものとして、五行思想と四神（参照2）の一部である。

紀元前2世紀の『淮南子』は、3つの章で応龍が使われている。 “地の形” (巻四地形訓) では、動物の進化が龍を通じてどのように起こったかを説明し、四足歩行の始祖は応龍であるとしている。

“翼のあるもの、毛のあるもの、鱗のあるもの、甲殻のあるもの、すべての生き物は龍に起源を持つ。羽嘉(うか: 鳥類の始祖) は飛竜を生み、飛竜は鳳凰を生み、その後に鸞鳥とすべての鳥類、一般的には翼を持つ生き物が次々と生まれた。毛犢 (もうとく: 獣類の始祖)は応龍を生み、応龍は天馬を生み、その後、麒麟とすべての四足動物、一般的には毛の生えた生き物が次々と生まれた。...“

麒麟とは、中国神話に現れる伝説上の動物の一種である。形は鹿に似て大きく背丈は5m あり、顔は龍に似て、牛の尾と馬の蹄をもち、麒角の一角生獣。背毛は五色に彩られ、毛は黄色く、身体には鱗がある。

[qibilette]

the seven tribes of pyrrhia, as accurate to my rewrite! i hope you guys like these, they took a long time & im quite proud of them :]

more design info under the cut!

icewings- inspo from wolverines, arctic wolves, and reindeer

some of the spikes in their ruff & tail are hollow quills that detach when driven into something (usually skin). they produce a rattling sound when shaken, which is part of the icewing threat display!

horns are sexually dimorphic- tiercels' are more elaborate. tiercels are also slightly smaller than hens.

an ancient animus spell gave icewings their icebreath and cold affinity; their bodies require cold weather to function normally.

sandwings- inspo from sand cats, fennec foxes, and camels

they have several adaptations for surviving in the desert - their big ears, sail, and wing membranes help release excess heat. their hairy ears & long eyelashes keep out sand.

the tail barb has two parts: the sting and the sheath. the sheath pierces in and then the sting emerges to deliver a burst of venom. the sting is usually kept inside the barb, but may flick out if a sandwing is agitated.

tiercels are a bit smaller than hens. they are the least sexually dimorphic tribe.

the second-smallest tribe.

nightwings- inspo from bats

facial whiskers help them navigate dark spaces - they grow from the brows, beak, and chin.

tiercels are notably smaller than hens.

they can echolocate!

skywings- inspo from snow leopards and birds of prey (esp. golden eagles)

their beak is made for severing spinal cords, which is their traditional method of killing prey.

tiercels are notably smaller than hens, and all skywings are relatively small dragons.

they can hover! they use the same mechanism as american kestrels.

mudwings- inspo from river otters, hippos, alligators, and kaprosuchus

all mudwings grow tusks that jut forwards from the face. these continue growing with age, but do have a maximum size.

tiercels and hens are the same size, but tiercels have several dimorphic traits: horns that grow in an arc, larger tusks, and an inflatable vocal sac.

rainwings- inspo from lemurs

the smallest tribe. their talons are uniquely built for climbing around in trees, and they have the most developed hind thumb; they can grip with their hind talons just as well as their front.

they can't hang by their tails, but the tail is utilized as another limb when climbing around.

tiercels and hens are the same size, but tiercels do have larger fins and small spikes under the chin.

seawings- inspo from sea otters and seals

facial barbels function like whiskers and are highly sensitive.

paddle-like tail is used for propulsion while swimming, alongside the wings and talons.

glowscales typically blend in with the body, but seawings may rarely hatch with red glowscales - this is merely a pigment condition and has no other health effects. it hurts one's ability to camouflage, but this isn't a big problem among modern seawings.

tiercels and hens are the same size, but tiercels have an extra barbel coming off the nostril.

you may use these as bases, but they must be credited to me & they cannot be used for nsfw or hateful purposes!

[chilirasbora]

White-winged vampire bat | Diaemus youngi

The third and final bat to round out Halloween just happens to be the third of the three extant species of vampire bat, the white-winged vampire bat! They're another Central and South American species, and just like their hairy-legged relatives, they prefer bird blood as their primary food source. This, of course, does not mean that larger mammals like livestock are off the menue.

They're quite comfortable roosting with a variety of other bats, including the common vampire bat and the Seba's short-tailed bat. They are quite social, though, and enjoy their own species' company.

🦇

[3scapethevoid]

★ LASiURUS ★

[PT; “Lasiurus” in the quote format with a star symbol on either side. End PT]

“ DEF;; A presentation term for trans men who mostly fit the bat label, but have some typically masculine physical features which would make the bat label not quite right for them. The body type of a lasiurus might be something like this: skinny and average height, big hands and feet, medium shoulder size, hairy, feminine facial features, etc. A lasiurus may try to appear more twink-like, hunk-like, bear-like, etc. ”

Etymology;; a lasiurus is a type of bat with a hairy tail.

[PT: Etymology;; a lasiurus is a type of bat with a hairy tail. End PT]

Tags: @rabidbatboy @presentationflag-archive

[poorly-drawn-cryptids-homestuck]

Bestiary

John Egbert -> Púca or pooka, is a creature of Celtic folklore, are Fae tricksters and shapeshifters, who take the appearances of horses, goats, cats, dogs, and hares. They can also take a human form, which includes various animal features, such as ears or a tail.

Rose Lalonde -> Eldritch / Warlock, A being that is strange or unnatural especially in a way that inspires fear : weird, eerie. As well as a warlock, one who also practices magic, power fulled by an outside source.

Dave Strider -> Harpy In Greek and Roman mythology, is a half-human and half-bird. Often sirens look harpies and are conflated. So for this au, this harpy is able to sing songs to lure prey.

Jade Harley -> Werewolf or lycanthrope, in folklore, can shape-shift into a wolf (or wolf-like creature), on the night of a full moon. Jade is also a Witch, a woman who practices magic.

Jane Crocker -> Faerie, Fae, or sprite in Celtic Folklore, is a creature with metaphysical, supernatural, or preternatural qualities. and a penchant for trickery

Roxy Lalonde -> Wizard Tressym is a cat-like Monstrosity and a practitioner of magic.

Dirk Strider -> Dullahan in Irish folklore, is depicted as a headless rider on a black horse, who carries his own head. often seen as a symbol of death.

Jake English -> Bigfoot or Sasquatch, in American and Canadian folklore, is a large and hairy human-like mythical cryptid alleged to inhabit forests in North America.

Aradia Megido -> Mothra, a Japanese based Kaiju depicted as a large moth. To be conflated with Mothman, a West Virginian cryptid, for the sake of this au. Currently a Ghost, a spirit of the dead that can appear to the living.

Tavros Nitram -> Minotaur, in Greek mythology, is a creature portrayed with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man.

Sollux Captor -> Cross roads Demon, found in several folklore, religion, and literature, are often malevolent supernatural entities, who collect souls.

Karkat Vantas -> Cherub Angel, in religion, is an unearthly being. For this au they are similar to cupid. Winged beings who match make. please note that this au will NOT be referencing christianity heavily for this.

Nepeta Leijon -> Nekomata, in Japanese folklore, are a type of yokai, depicted as a shapeshifting cat with two tails. while they can take any form, they will always have the tails.

Kanaya Maryam -> Vampire, in European folklore, are undead humanoid creatures that subsists by feeding on the blood of the living. often able to shapeshift into a bat. and unable to go out in the sun.

Terezi Pyrope -> Dragon is a magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. This one is a western dragon, often depicted as winged, horned, and capable of breathing fire.

Vriska Serket -> Arachne / Jorōgumo. In Greek myth, Arachne is a woman turned into a spider by Athena. In Japanese myth, Jorōgumo are often yokai of a half woman half spider. please note Vriska is not a yokai nor is she Arachne... she is simply a half woman have spider creature, likened to these two examples.

Equius Zahhak -> Centaur, in Greek mythology, is a creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse

Gamzee Makara -> The bogeyman is a creature used by adults to frighten children into good behavior. Bogeymen have no specific appearances but they are most commonly depicted as masculine or androgynous monsters. In this case, they look like a clown.

Eridan Ampora -> Selkie, in Celtic and Norse mythologies, are creatures that can shapeshift between seal and human forms. For this au, Eridan is part seahorse instead, and often takes the form of a elf instead.

Feferi Peixes -> Leviathan. A very large sea serpent noted in theology and mythology. Feferi is also likened to a mermaid / siren, when not the size of 10 whales.

[milksuu]

'Maid' in Heaven | Hiccup x Reader | Part 6

Pairings: Hiccup 'Horrendous’ Haddock III x fem!servant!reader

Chapter Content/Warnings: minor angst and fluff

Summary: After a hostile raid from The Hairy Hooligan Tribe, you were captured and forced into indentured servitude at a young age. Luckily, the God’s had blessed you to be the household thrall of the Haddock family; to serve your kind young Lord, Hiccup ‘Horrendous’ Haddock III. Oh Thor, what to do?

an: thank you for waiting! unfortunately, due to linking my ao3 on my master post, tumblr has hid all the linked parts before this + my masterlist (sad face). please click on the 'maid in heaven' tag for previous chapters, or view the pinned masterlist post on my blog. again, thank you to anyone whose taken the time to read, comment, like, and reblog! they make me so happy and motivated. any love is much appreciated.

There was a great discussion had within the Haddock residence later that evening. Supper was served at the single table, near to the crackling fire, and blazing with conversation about various topics. The first one attended to was the matter related to the unmissed trial of your questionable innocence. From the guilt that hung like a grey cloud above your head, Stoick sought to investigate the actual truth of the matter.

Hiccup spoke on your behalf. There were some truths, possible half-truths, and perhaps a frilly white lie in between. Whether Stoick believed the lipped wit of his son or not made no difference. The Chief’s admonishing response showed a mind already made. And the folk lesson long prevailed: it paid very little to argue with stone.

“I can’t have any more mishaps, regardless of whose fault,” Stoick said with a fistful of torn meat. “Our people are on edge, and for well enough reasons. And I’m not about to let one loose sheep, or another, cause further unrest. Do you both understand?” 

From your standing spot at the end of the table, a cinch of fault tightened your waistline. You bobbed your head and, with fingers coiled around the handle of a water pitcher, mouthed the word with a strained breath. Your attention crossed the table, catching your young Lord’s pinched features of rebellious reluctance. When your gaze met, you angled a chin and spoke through batted lashes for him to oblige. The request sent his eyes rolling backwards. Luckily, you didn’t need to pray for his life. To your relief, his father was too preoccupied with his plate to notice.

“Understood,” he said, and took a reproachful sip of his drink. You assumed he’d done so to keep him from taking back the word. 

“Good,” Stoick said with a satisfied grumble. “Tomorrow you’ll join me to pay a visit to the farmsteads. We’ll be needing a count of all the livestock and expected yield of crops before Winter. Consider the numbers for rationing. Always best to prepare for the worst.”

“Sure, doomsday prepping sounds like fun,” he said with a lop-sided pin of his lips. “But I was thinking, after we’re done counting with our fingers and toes, you’d talk with me and Gobber. We have some ideas to export new saddles.”

Stoick nodded and spoke in a tone of allowance rather than agreement. “Time will be made tomorrow, then.” 

The table quieted to small-talk, clinking tableware, and requests for another pour from your pitcher. When Stoick finished, he wiped his mouth clean with his fingers, and announced his retirement for the night. When the mass of his form disappeared beyond the aching stairs, you fetched yourself to attend the mess.

“Let me help you,” he said, taking a few hurried bites and tossing the cooked tail end of his fish to Toothless. He barely swallowed when he stood. “I just finished.”

“Although I’m grateful for your offer, I must decline you,” you said and seized his plate before he could. “You’ve done enough for me today, Lord Haddock. I’m sure the least I can do in return is my own job.” 

“I don’t think there should be a limit for helping anyone,” he said rationally, “unless you think I’m wrong?” 

“I think you’ll end up causing more trouble for yourself,�� you punctuated your words with the lift of your nose. “Make no mistake. The road to Hel is paved with good-intentions. I don’t wish for you to end up there, of all people.”

He chuckled with a shake of his head. “Does that mean I’ll be in trouble with you?” 

“Not me.” You wiggled a finger in front of your nose. “But your father—no, worse yet—an entire village. I'm afraid your father's right. The scorn of a single man is enough to give courage to his like-minded neighbors.”

“If anything else happens, I’ll take care of it,” he said indulgently.

“That is exactly my point. I don’t want for something else to happen, and for you to have to do anything about it. You’ve worked too hard for your good reputation to be ruined. How could I ever sleep at night, knowing I should be the reason to have it questioned?”

“You like to worry more about my reputation than I do. At the end of the day, I just do what I think is right. Even if that means upsetting a few people who probably don't agree with me. Besides,” he fought to dismiss the quarrel with a boyish grin. “I’ve heard Hel has nice warm weather all year round. Wouldn’t mind paying a visit sometime. And who knows? Maybe I’ll be Chief there instead.”

“There you go again with your jests,” you muttered, digging your nails into the dish. “Ignoring every bit of my concerns for you. But what does what I think matter? I suppose it doesn’t. I’m only a servant, after all. Nothing about me deserves a second thought of consideration.”

“Come on, it’s not like that,” his eyes softened, cupping your tense hands.

The agonizing brush of his touch loosened your hold on the clay dish. It collided with the wood below, breaking into unmendable parts at your feet. You paled, bending to clean up your recklessness. Your Lord motioned to join and you thrusted a curt hand to stop him. “Don’t—” you choked on the shame. “Please, my Lord. This… this is all I have. If you respect me at all, then you’ll let me do it myself.”

“I’m sorry.” With pained regard, he placed a single broken chip in your palm and rose to take his leave. “I won’t bother you anymore.” 

He swept up the stairs, beckoning Toothless to follow. When the door of his bedchamber closed, you shut your eyes against a wave of remorse. Gods, you wished it would drown you. Perhaps then, the regret would no longer be tangible. You drew in a quivered breath, wishing to pick up more than the shattered fragments of a mere plate.

When morning came, you stood beside yourself, looking solemnly at the same dress and apron spread out on your cot. The same dull white smock, same plain brown kirtle, and the same serviceable apron. Stiff and ugly, you thought. All these same things punctuated how perfectly unpleasant you were on the inside. The display of your behavior the prior evening brought a taste of black licorice, which not even lye soap could rinse from your mouth. For your Lord’s sake, it would’ve served him to cut out your tongue with one of the sharper pieces of platter.

Even if deserved, there was never a sliver of imagination to conjure this—his kindness made no room for unbearable thoughts. 

  ⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ✿ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹

When the morning chores were completed without a word and, without complaint, you set off to the docks. With your new piece in tow, you trailed down the trodden path to a landscape filled with thatched roofs, until the hill steeped with long fisherman houses laden with crates of tackle and bait. 

“My, my, little miss! Seems fate and fortune have brought us to trade once again.” Johann raised his hands to indulge the sky, descending the boat ramp. “I take it you’re faring well, even after yesterday’s dire tribulations. Oh, you should have been there to witness it—Master Hiccup was positively vexed when he landed on my ship and requested for my immediate aid. Why, I had never seen him in such a state! Made me believe ‘twas a matter of life and death. Thank the stars it was not the latter of the two.”

This information did you no favors. It further troubled your features, tense and painted with dismal lines of fault. When strings of thankfulness for his help sprang from your lips, they resonated more as apologies. “I’m sorry—truly, I am. I hate to be more trouble than I’m worth.”

“Now, now, my dear. Let’s not sit idle in the past and wallow in it like a cold bath,” he dismissed it, beckoning you closer with his hands. “Let’s get on with business, shall we?”

“Of course.” You swallowed the hot lump in your throat, extending your tapestry.

“Absolutely remarkable,” Johann yammered on when he took the fabric. He twiddled with the coins in his hands before giving them to you. “This reminds me! Oh, you must listen to this. Whilst journeying from one trading dock to another, I came upon the most curious and wealthy buyer. So enraptured by your work, they were compelled for me to have a good word with you. They have offered quite an exuberant amount of coin for a commissioned piece, should you accept.”

“May I ask who this person is?” 

“The buyer has chosen to remain anonymous for the time being. I’m a respectable tradesman, and not inclined to give out customer details should it be personally requested of me not to do so. I assure you, I have a keen eye for scoundrels. This buyer is anything but.”

“It sounds like a gracious opportunity,” you trailed off, fiddling with the scant coins in your apron pocket. With someone of your luck, or rather misfortune, certain things were too good to be true. “May I think it over?”

“By all means,” Johann said. “We’ll remain in touch. I shall send a letter by mail tomorrow and eagerly wait for your response.”

A response would have to wait. Your mind wandered to the more pressing matters of keeping yourself in your young master’s good graces. How could you think of anything else when your conscience pricked at you insistently? There was only one remedy for this, and it was a whimsied gesture from childhood—surely, he would remember the meaning.

Picking up your feet, you scampered upward from the spindly dirt paths to pebbled roads. With allowance in hand, you passed through the open market, pinching your way to purchase the sweetest apple from a cart. You paid no mind to a flock of young women whispering curiously about you. The business of gossip would exist whether or not you gave credit to it. There wasn’t a need to give the webs spinning from their mouths any attention. You imagined being a curious fly was very tiresome. 

You came up to the Blacksmith, clanking with sounds of clashing metal, and pluming with smoke from the forge. From the open stall window, you rapped against the wood. When nothing but hammer to iron responded, you insisted with more egregious thumping. “Get outta the way, Grump!” A guttural curse or two struck the air. After a stumbling moment, Gobber’s rotund frame hobbled to view.

“Quit ye’r knockin’, I’ll be right there.” Gobber poked his eyebrows up at your small face peeking through the window. He cleared the indignation from his throat. “Sorry, lass. Didn’t expect ye’w of all people to stop by. What can I do for ya’h?” 

With a woeful face, you placed the apple on the counter. 

“The ol’ apology apple, eh?” He said with a scratch of his furrowed brow. “Can’t say I understand it myself, but the two of ye’w always had a way of managing. I’ll be sure ta’h give it to the lad when I see ‘em.” 

“Thank you ever so much.” You dipped your chin, turning to take leave.

“Hiccup’ll forgive ya’h,” he called out with sympathy. “Always does.”

Hope fluttered your heart, and you thanked the man twice over. 

Whisking back to the Haddock Residence, you took out your nerves in the form of extra sweeping and dusting. You did so until you were choking on the splinters raised from the floorboards. With your habit of carrying on with meaningless distractions, you hadn’t noticed the afternoon light spilling from the open window. You lamented on the time and hurried to simmer a pot of stew over the kindling hearth. 

A wind danced inside, grazing the back of your neck. A delicate reminder to shut the window before the cool of night waltzed in unannounced. 

You turned and spotted a sheen of red gleaming by sunset hue on the sill. When you went to greet it, you picked up the plump portion of a half eaten apple. You pressed a smile to the remaining flesh of it. Taking your own bite, you sighed against the burst of sweetness. The taste of licorice no longer soured your lips.

You leaned into the cheerful air, enriched with slopes of green and spiced with a dusky glow.  And as if the breeze could carry words, you spoke:

“I’m glad we’re still friends.” 

Reconciliation was a word you hadn’t thought of tasting so sweet.

[mammalidentifier]

You have said that the common vampire bat is the only bat species capable of running and jumping like it does on the ground. However there are a couple other species of vampire bat right? Can they not do this? I don’t think they’re as well studied so maybe we’ve never seen it

There are two other vampire bat species, yes! The hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata) and the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi):

I don’t think quadrupedal locomotion has been observed on the hairy-legged vampire bat, but it has been observed on the white-winged vampire bat! They’re not as agile at it as their common vampire bat cousins, though, and they mostly stick to climbing trees. A reason for that might be that both of these vampire bats vastly prefer preying on birds rather than terrestrial mammals, unlike common vampire bats! In fact, they were thought to only ever feed on birds until very recently: the white-winged vampire bat has first been documented preying on mammals in 1996 and the hairy-legged vampire bat in 2016.

While it’s not a vampire bat, however, there’s another bat species that’s almost as agile on land as the common vampire bat: the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata)! While they can’t run like common vampire bats do, they can climb and walk at surprisingly high speeds:

[chiiroptereh]

The bats of Pokémon through the eyes of a bat nerd (who also used no references so they're a tiny bit iffy)

Forgot to bring my tablet so I'm playing with dad's rainbow markers and pens. I kinda dig it actually but my phone cannot take proper photos of them lol

Nerdy stuff about design choices and lots of bat facts under the cut if you're interested in that!

Zubat is mainly modelled after Vespertillionidae and Natalidae species, inheriting both families' pointy faces and dense fur that often covers their eyes, making them appear blind (except zubat actually is blind). Their wings are broad, more akin to a Megadermatidae species, which was just a choice based off of the original design. Broader wings allow for increased manoeuvrability at the cost of speed in real species. Their legs are long and spindly, another trait borrowed from Natalidae.

Golbat still has zubat's woolly fur to keep its rounded appearance but has narrower wings as well as stumpy ears and a large mouth, all traits gleaned from free-tailed bats, the latter a trait specifically of the genus Otomops. They really do look like that sometimes yes. Its large feet are borrowed from the fish-eating myotis (Myotis vivesi) who frankly has even bigger feet than this guy. Bats are wacky lol

Crobat has a mostly furred face similar to Pteropid, Rhinolophid or Phyllostomid bats. Its ears are more fantasy and not modelled after any existing species. I had hairy-tailed bats of the genus Lasiurus on the mind while interpreting the little tufts on its bum, here they're meant to be fluff hanging off the uropatagium. It has very narrow wings similar to Molossid bats, and it fits for such a speedy Pkmn! (Fun fact: a Molossid bat was the fastest recorded vertical flight of any animal)

Woobat is inspired by Desmodus species, more commonly known as vampire bats. While their cousins the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla albus) is more commonly the interpretation, I chose Desmodus instead for its flat, heart-shaped noses and similar dental structure. The excess in fur is more attributed to the same families as in zubat, but with some more Lasiurine influence.

Swoobat's choice in inspiration was pretty obvious to me at first: the heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor)! The furred face and ears joined at the base is indeed inspired by Megadermatid bats but otherwise it has probably the most mixed influences of all these designs. I once again took the flat, heart-shaped nose from Desmodus species like I did with its pre-evo, and then its tail was adapted from Rhinopoma species (fittingly known as mouse-tailed bats!) as well as Molossid (free-tailed) bats. From an entirely nerdy perspective swoobat is easily my favorite, it really highlights a lot of chiropteran diversity whether intentional or not.

Noibat has joined ears like swoobat, inherited from Megadermatid bats (and sometimes Molossids) and is the first to have an actual nose-leaf, partially influenced by trident bats of the genus Asellia. I was kind of imagining that the bare patch between the tufts of black fur were present because they housed scent glands like in Emballonurid (sac-winged) bats who have similar bald patches. (I don't know a ton about Emballonurid bats unfortunately, so I'm not sure whether this is a family-wide occurrence or attributed to certain genii, lol. If anybody knows feel free to tell! I think some Molossids have scent glands too so heck throw them in as well)

Noivern is easily the most fantastical of the bunch, more dragon than bat, but it wouldn't feel right not to include him. He's got the same design choices on the face that its pre-evolution has (joined ears and nose-leaf) but otherwise doesn't have any more specific influences in batty terms. However, I turned the tragus into that little protrusion under the ear of the original design which I thought was kind of clever ;)

[heepthecheep]

I was thinking about Redwall, and how it's kind of a shame that (iirc) they're sort of locked into being animals from Europe, when there's interesting little animals all over the world, when I had an idea

Au where Redwall is set in South America. Imo it would work surprisingly well...?

Anyways, rambles on species and such below

Badgers- while maybe not as aggressive as badgers, size wise they'd have to be Capybaras. I can't remember if their digging is as important as that of other species, but if so then a species of armadillo, maybe the Screaming Hairy Armadillo. Or...maybe a porcupine? Maybe a Grison?

Bats- multiple species in South America of course, but Vampire bats are extra fun

Dormice- are not native to South America, so I propose that a type of opossum could take their place, maybe the bushy tailed opossum. They're more closely related to squirrels though, so maybe the Neotropical Pygmy Squirrel, or another species of dwarf squirrel.

Hares- sadly no hares in South America, but there are a few species of rabbit. Rather than that, what would be more fitting of the boisterous personality would be some sort of monkey honestly? And they form troops, so that's neat . Maybe a Mara? They're somewhat hare-like

Hedgehogs- again, old-world exclusive. Closest relative would be some shrew species. Personality wise I'd go with a Caenolestid, idk they just have the same vibe

Mice- there are so many different species of mice in that every mouse character could probably be a different species from one another, lol

Moles- no moles in South America, so...there is one species of pocket Gopher, Thaeler's Gopher, and I think they'd be a suitable replacement

Otters- Giant otters easily.

Rabbits- see hare section.

Seals- I completely forgot they showed up in the series at all. I'd go with South American Fur seals probably

Shrews- plenty in South America, even marsupial shrews if you'd like

Squirrels- lots in South America as mentioned previously. Maybe focus on climbing and they could also become some sort of primate

Voles- seem to not be present in South America? Maybe replace them with a coypu because of their water habits, or Guinea Pigs just because

Cats- since in the books they're wildcats rather than domestic ones, they'd be some of the many smaller wild cats in South America, maybe Pampas cats or Geoffroy's cat.

Ermines- appear so rarely I'd just have them be actual ermines from up north

Ferrets- maybe replace them with Crab-eating Raccoons? Or one of the native species of skunks?

Foxes- already in South America , pick any species you want

Pine Martens- another one you could fold into weasels, or go with a Coati or something

Rats- lots already, go wild

Sable- again, make 'em weasels or go crazy...maybe these guys are actually Tayras.

Stoats- yet another weasely guy.

Weasels- finally. They're just weasels. There are multiple weasel species in South America

Wolverines- same with the ermines, have them be actual wolverines

[mask131]

Vampires before they were cool... (3)

A last post for now – maybe more shall follow.

I talked of how the vampire myth was born, and of the vampire craze that overtook Europe. But I only vaguely hinted at what the vampires were back then. So here’s a question: what was a “vampire” in the 18th century, and how did it differ from the creature literature and cinema built? This is not a complete or extensive answer, but here are some things to think about (that I am lifting from Jean Marigny’s works):

The 18th century solidified the three main traits of a vampire. 1) It is an “undead in body”: it is not a disembodied spirit, an ethereal wraith or a spiritual demon. It has a body, it is a physical entity on the material plane. 2) It leaves its grave at night, in order to suck the blood of the living, which in turn extends his unnatural life. 3) His victims become vampires too, after they die.

The idea that vampire lacks a reflection and cannot be seen in mirror was greatly exaggerated by fiction. It was not an universal trait of vampires: it was mostly present in areas where a Germanic culture dominated. There, vampires were said to lack both shadows and reflections in mirror – which was meant to symbolize how they had lost their soul.

The idea of vampires having very huge, big and pointy teeth was greatly exaggerated by the cinema – while indeed the confusion with werewolves led to the idea of vampires having fangs, not all the vampires actually had to bite their victim to drink their blood. Many vampires simply sucked or absorbed the blood directly through the skin, without using their teeth. And in many other cases, such as the “Nachzehrer”, the vampire doesn’t even touch the victim, he just absorbs its life-force from a long distance.

While the bat became THE iconic vampire-animal (especially thanks to Buffon, who named the blood-sucking Southern American bats “vampires” in 1761), traditional vampires are said to turn into all sorts of animals: they can be spiders, or even butterflies, just as they can turn themselves into straw or mist.

Garlic is not an universal remedy against vampire: the belief that garlic repels vampire comes mostly from Romania. However, the vampire of folklore was known to only be able to leave his grave at night, as he was forced to return to his tomb before the singing of the rooster. The vampire also fears holy water and running water (because water is the source and symbol of life), and other religious symbols of Christianity (like the crucifix). A wooden stake through the heart is the best way to put an end to a vampire, but sometimes it is not enough and requires additional rituals. In Russia, the stake must be carved out of aspen wood, because it was the wood in which the cross of the Christ was built; in other countries, people rather use hawthorn, supposed to be the origin of the Christ’s crown of thorns. In Dalmatia and Albania, a dagger blessed by a priest is used rather than a wooden stake. In Romania, the “execution” of a vampire is called “the great reparation” and must be performed at the first lights of dawn, and the stake must be plunged in one hit – else the vampire can resurrect. If the body doesn’t crumble into dust after having its heart pierced, one must decapitate the corpse (usually with a gravedigger’s spade) and burn it. The ashes then have to be either buried under the crossing of two roads, or scattered to the four winds.

Alright, but how do you recognize a vampire, huh? Things are even more complicated here because its region has its own variations. The most generic and recognized trait is that, when in his grave, the corpse that is the vampire doesn’t have either a rigor mortis, or any trace of rot, even several weeks after being buried. Another common trait of vampires is how hairy they are: they have bushy eyebrows, that often join together above the nose, and they have hair in the palm of their hands. Romanian vampires even have a short tail covered with fur, which grows with the heat, and which is supposed to be giving them magical powers. When there is a vampire epidemic, a ritual to know which grave is the one of the vampire went as such: a virgin teenager had to ride a horse who also had never known sex, either entirely black or entirely white. The horse had to enter the cemetery, and supposedly reacted to the grave where the vampire was to be found: a vampire tomb was also identified by how you could find little holes on the ground near it – because it was through these holes that the vampires escaped each night, turning himself into mist. It was also believed that the people born of the sexual union of a male vampire and a female human had the gift of immediately sensing and recognizing vampires: they were called in Serbia “vampiritch” or “vampirovitch”, while in Bohemia and Hungary they were called “dhampirs”.

Finally: how do you become a vampire? Good question! Technically speaking, every human being can become a vampire after death. Nobody is prevented from the risk. But some people are more likely than others to turn into blood-sucking monsters. As I said before, all those that did not received proper Christian funerals or were not buried in holy ground were more likely to become vampires. People who died by suicide or by violent death were more at risks, just like excommunicated people, witches/warlocks, and stillborn infants. Other individuals are predisposed to become a vampire rather because of traits they had when they were born: people born with one or several teeth in their mouth, people born with a “caul” (a piece of the placenta or of the amniotic membrane stuck on the face or head of the baby), people born with either very dark eyes or very bright-blue eyes ; as well as people born with red hair (which were thought to be the “hair of Judas”) or with red spots over their body. When these people came to pass away, extra-precautions were taken to make sure they did not return as a vampire: in Romania, a nail could be plunged in the corpse’s forehead, or the body was pricked with many needles ; or the body was covered with the fat of a pig killed on Saint Ignace’s Day.

It was also very common to place an item in the mouth of the defunct, to prevent the chewing of the shroud or to prevent the soul from returning inside the body: in Romania it was garlic, in Greece it was a Christian host, in Saxony it was a lemon. Sudetenland had the tradition of wrapping the dead in a sort of large stocking: the vampire could only break one stitch of it per year. In Russia, poppy seeds were rather placed in a vampire’s grave, cursing them to counting the seeds each night instead of going out into the world.

People who died excommunicated or of suicide were constantly buried at a crossroad formed by two paths. In Serbia, to protect a house from a vampire attack, a cross made of tar was painted on the doors and the windows ; while in Romania, garlic was hanged in every room, and rubbed onto the doors, windows, chimneys and keyholes. Finally, in Russia, all the roads leading to the cemetery had to be covered in either poppy seeds or briar thorns: the vampire would be forced to pick them up one by one on its way.