#sceadugenga

thanks @featherynutcase​ for the request!! This is way longer that it was supposed to be. ^^; I hope you enjoy it though!

Word Count: 1250 words (hopefully it isn’t too dry!!)

Next Monster Match: @nightrainn2​

{Psst...here are some links if you don’t know what a Scaedugenga is: http://www.mythicalcreaturesguide.com/page/Sceadugenga + https://slendernation.forumotion.com/t3056-sceadugenga }

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Perhaps you’d meet in the forest, your love for exploration taking you down an old forgotten trail. 

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You had been planning to check out an old hiking trail with one of your friends. In fact, you both had planned to meet up and explore it together. Unfortunately, your friend had a small emergency that needed to be attended to and abandoned you last minute. Now you were stuck with a choice. You were already at the trail. You could go ahead and explore it. Although, you were a bit hesitant to explore an unfamiliar place alone. You were confident you could find your way back, but you weren’t sure where the trail went, or if it was even safe to begin with. Still, the prospect of adventure encouraged you further. The trail itself was merely a narrow dirt path that only seemed to become more and more engulfed by shrubbery the further down it you peered. The lack of any evidence that another person had walked down it anytime recently only enticed you. Yet, you still paused for a moment to collect your thoughts.  

Pulling out your phone, you noticed it was almost completely charged and you were able to get reception. After pondering for another moment, you decided heading back home without even stepping foot on the trail would be a waste of your time and gas. With an excited anticipation you shot your friend a message letting them know what you were doing and stuffed the phone back into your pocket. You locked your car and shoved your keys into your jacket pocket taking one last glance around you, before you started down the trail. The further you walked the narrower and more unkempt the path got, and you began to wonder if this trail even led anywhere at all. The semi-worn dirt path had transformed into the undergrowth of a forest after a couple of minutes of walking, yet the path was still easy to tell apart from the surrounding undergrowth. As you rounded a bend around a tree your drive and excitement completely replenished itself. There was a small stone bench, clearly not a natural structure off to the side. It seemed that this path did lead somewhere at some point. After a couple more minutes of walking, the undergrowth once again became a dirt path. For a moment you worried that the path was just a big loop but then you caught sight of it.

Now directly in front of you was a cottage. At first you started walking up to it, thinking it was abandoned but you froze when you saw smoke escaping the chimney and a dim light underneath the front door. You stood stock still for a moment. How far had you walked? This entire forest wasn’t supposed to have any private lots so what was this house doing in the middle of it? Thinking better of intruding, you begin to walk away but found yourself hesitating. Something about the place drew you in. You weren’t sure what it was. The cottage itself was tidy and looked well-cared for. You knew it was a horrendously awful idea but you also knew the curiosity would eat you alive if you didn’t at least try to figure out the mystery behind the house. Surely, your mind would be flooded by what-if’s and why-didn’t-I’s if you didn’t. Before you could lose your nerve, you strode over to the door and knocked quietly, part of you hoping no one would answer.

You weren’t sure what you were expecting but it certainly wasn’t the person that opened the door. At the sight of the person in front of you, your stomach dropped. You had imagined some little old woman answering the door, not a young man. The man narrowed his dark brown orbs at you, tension evident in his demeanor. Immediately, you took a step back and felt a bit sick. What were you even thinking knocking on some sketchy door on a sketchy cottage in the middle of the woods? You were prepared to hightail it when the man’s eyes widened and he grimaced.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. My eyesight isn’t the best,” he admitted with a small laugh. You didn’t respond and were still on edge. This definitely was not a good idea. Sure, the man didn’t seem very threatening, but you never could be certain. From further away he looked less intimidating, floppy dark hair cupped his face and he wore an apron which, along with the rest of him, was splattered with flour. He shrunk back a bit under your gaze.

“Flour…?” you muttered aloud, not meaning to let the word slip from your mouth. The man scratched the back of his neck, seemingly a bit embarrassed.

“It seems like there’s more of it on me than there is in the dough,” he joked still a bit timid. Somehow you found yourself laughing. Whether from the joke, your nerves, the absurdity of the situation, or a mix of all three you honestly couldn’t tell. The tension between the two of you slowly began to dissolve as you chatted idly about baking and the like. He explained that his family had built this house generations ago and thus was permitted to live on it by the local government. As you were talking idly on his porch the sound of your ringtone blared over top of your conversation, startling him back into the house. You apologized and answered your phone. You must have been closer to civilization than you thought if you still had signal.

The voice of the friend supposed to be exploring with you sounded out of the phone. Apparently, they had been trying to contact you for hours with no luck and were seconds away from calling the authorities. You looked up at the sky, only to notice the sun was starting to set. How long had you been talking to the man for? Your attention once again focused back on your friend as they proceeded to go off about you being irresponsible. Sighing, you listened and threw in apologies wherever you could fit one.

It took a while, but you finally managed to convince them that you were alright. Unfortunately, by then the sun had set. With a groan you shut off your phone and shoved it back into your pocket. Walking back along that path in the dark was going to be a nightmare. It would be a miracle if you didn’t get lost. You quickly said your goodbyes to the man and were preparing to take off back the way you came when he stopped you.

“W-wait! The forest around this area is not exactly the safest at night, hold on! I’ll be right back,” he announced, retreating into his house. He came back moments later holding a heavy-looking flashlight.

“You should take this so you can at least find your way back,” he said, handing the flashlight to you. You smiled and thanked him. You had turned around and turned the flashlight on. It illuminated the path in front of you perfectly. Once again, you started to leave but again he shouted at you.

“You can call me Ran!” he shouted. You whipped around to face him, accidentally shining the flashlight directly at him. He physically recoiled with an audible hiss. You swore, for the split second the light was on him, he wasn’t illuminated at all rather, he darkened. You froze momentarily but regained your composure. You hurriedly told him your name before darting off and back down the trail to your car.

Late is when I prowl,

moving with the dark,

listening to the owls

until I hear the lark.

Moon is on my left

shadow on my right,

of fear I am bereft

staying out of sight.

Others fear to tread,

hiding in the light—

I am with the dead,

A Sceadugenga, or shadow goer, is a shape-shifting creature from English folklore. Neither living nor dead, they dwell in forests, but are known to take on the forms of children and wander into villages. Sometimes, they will join families, and even forget their true nature.

Even in human form, a Sceadugenga can be identified by its black irises. Grendel, from the legend of Beowulf, has been described as a Sceadugenga.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Sceadugenga - Belliciste (Scotland)

Sureanem, the Eerie Witness

I’ve tried some new stuff with this drawing and I must say I’m quite pleased with the results, especially the hands and the eyes.. Maybe I’ll continue to draw in this way, who can tell?