#glaistig

Faebruary day six!! Glaistig 👻

@tockthegnome context: Glaistigs who manifest in this realm tend to be those who have been grievously offended by mortals in other places, and have come further into Faerie in order to get literal space from the insults they've endured. They appear here with cow's hooves instead of goat's hooves as an echo of the herds they used to watch over, and live mostly solitary lives until they feel ready to help others again and (usually) move on.

They do sometimes break this solitude if a child tries to befriend them, or if there are families of faerie cattle or faerie deer nearby that need assistance, temporarily taking them into their care. If necessary, they may turn those charges into stone to protect them from extreme threats, as seen here.

Sometimes, if treated unkindly by anyone who comes across them in this new space, they return to the punishing ways they would have taken up against their former harassers, playing tricks, ruining food by way of poisoning it with ashes, cursing the person with rapid age or other misfortune, etc.

(As such, the Taefelnes and the Fox Spirits greatly appreciate them, and being aware of one who is nearby and in bad spirits, but take pains not to draw their attention themselves.)

Other than the change of hoof type, they appear as they do on Earth - tall, with grey skin and long blonde hair, usually feminine-presenting in form and dress. And in this case, surly, but their demeanor returns to happy and welcoming the more time they take to heal in the quiet afforded them.

(Sidenote: My perception of them has absolutely been impacted by the malicious Glaistig at the beginning of Holly Black's "The Stolen Heir" Duology, and now I wonder SO MUCH what happened to her to make her Like That.)

(Sidenote two: It being a Friday, this is usually Gnomish Devotional Day, aka "Thank Gnome it's Friday," but I drew forward for this challenge due to the busy-ness of my week and didn't realize what day-of-the-week was what. Expect some Gnome+Selkie friendship vibes tomorrow, thusly!)

Prompt list from Brett Manning 🧚

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Born of unholy congress between a vampiress seeking power and an unknown otherworldly being, Mosquito was abandoned by his mother early in his childhood for his inhuman appearance. Left to die in the woodlands of the blueridge mountains, a young Mo was found and taken in by a coven of witches who saw him as a conduit to the world beyond the veil.

Now an adult, he wanders the wide range of the Appalacian region, leading hunters astray with his song so he can feed upon their blood.

He has never forgotten the woman who abandoned him- and as he grows stronger, so too does his desire for vengeance...

A last minute AF ref of my oc Mosquito, who desperately needed an update. He's the maternal half-brother of Felix, sharing the same vampiric mother.