[ExVenor]

Adopted

Username: Mythz
Name: LPK's Adventure is Out There | Caribou
Gender: Male
Height: 22 in
Weight: 47 lbs
Colour: Masked Liver and Red Patterned Agouti Viverrid
Genotype: awas bb Ccch Dd Eme hh ii kviky mm SS tt Uu ll
Breeding Notes: This collie can have a maximum of two pups per litter!
Edits and non-standard size will not pass.
This collie cannot compete in conformation in the title program.

Cryptids Exist
--

This collie is part of the Fall Festival!

[Lex.]

Username: Lex.
Name: Arctos
Name Meaning(s): Part of the Scientific name for grizzly bear.
Gender: Male
Prompt:

The breeze swayed the trees. Leaves danced from the skies, down to the forest floor. Crunch. Crunch Crunch. The leaves crackled under the paws of Arctos and his owner. It was nearing the end of the fall, and the leaves were piling around them as they walked through the forest. Arctos blended in well with his surroundings, his dark brown coat becoming nearly transparent among the trees. It was such s beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky. Along the trail, the eager collie jumped to catch the leaves that fell. Sometimes catching them, sometimes letting them fall so he could pounce on them.

The trail winded and bended with the river. As they approached the water to take a break, the lulling sound of the water was suddenly drowned out by a loud crash behind them. Arctos swiftly turned around to see what had happened, just to see that a tree had fallen. A bit weird, but nothing else made any alarming noises. Arctos and his owner decided it would be best to turn back for now. Maybe a previous rainfall has loosened the roots, and so more were prone to fall in this breezy weather.

As they began making their trek back, suddenly the sky released rain. Tons of it. Dark clouds hovered over the land, engulfing all of the surrounding area, and making it near impossible to see much. Using a flashlight, they were able to to make it a small cave in the side of a rock wall, which they huddled in. Large and powerful storms don't usually last very long in these parts. The cold rain hugged their bones, making it even colder. Lightning crackled above, sending frantic bouts of light throughout the sky.

As the thunder sounded above, a loud roar erupted from the forest. It kept roaring, and it was getting louder and louder. A large shadowy figure appeared, racing towards the cave. In fear of what it might be, they ran as fast as the could.
-

-
Running past the river, nearly slipping on the slick leaves. Covered in mud and water, they entered their cabin and closed the door behind them. Shaking from the cold, they started the fireplace and started to settle in. One of Arctos' owners friend stepped out from a room. "Why are you guys soaking wet?" They stepped over them, and opened the door. It was a clear as day, not a cloud in the sky. Not a cloud around for miles and miles.

Arctos made eye contact with his owner. What had they witnessed?

not me just figuring out i can only win one collie lmao

[LemonBunny]

Username: LemonBunny
Name: Polar North's Man By Day Monster By Night // Lycan
Name Meaning(s): Lycan is derived from the word "lycanthrope", which is a term used to describe someone who is or believes themself to be a werewolf- a person afflicted by a supernatural disease that causes them to transform into a half wolf, half human beast under the full moon. They are said to be weak to silver and plants in the Aconitum family- specifically Wolfsbane, they are said to have super-human strength, speed and heightened senses that neither man nor wolf would typically possess. The term Werewolf was invented to describe these creatures, Were meaning 'man' and wolf meaning just that- a wolf. Werewolves have since then become an icon of pop culture horror and are one of the most common halloween costumes around!
Gender: Male
Prompt:

The moon hung high over the ranch, rising up from the dusky horizon as bats were stretching their wings to flit through the cold sky, the yellow light turning their shapes to black silhouettes as they passed through the trees, casting shadows on the already darkened ground.

The day was long for most of the animals, many of which were becoming excited due to the approaching harvest season, which meant lots of apples as treats and warm, cozy nights in the stables and cabins. However, for some at Polar North, the day was only beginning.

Jack had just let Crimson out into the pastures alongside some of the other horses who were more nocturnal, and the cats were stretching their legs from their naps all day in front of the sunny windows to chase field mice and owls from the barns.

With the moon high in the sky, Lycan found his eyes fluttering open, having been asleep all day long.

The sound of Crimson's bark-like noises often awoke him, but he did not mind, the equine was his friend, as they shared a similar, grumpy disposition. His ears perked up at her calls and he knew that he must have slept until nightfall, but he didn't mind, this was close enough to the time he usually arose from slumber.

His toenails clicked across the dark, hardwood floors as he approached Jack, only stopping once they reached the carpet by his feet, a low rumbling whine emerging from his throat as he tried to politely ask for Jack's attention.

The red-haired trainer turned to look to his leg, where Lycan was now resting his muzzle, looking up at him with shimmering, amber eyes.

"Do you have to go out?" Jack asked, earning a tail wag from the canid by his side, Yes. Lycan thought, though he could not voice this, so he did his best by pawing at Jack's shoelaces.

"Alright," he chuckled, turning to grab something from a bin-- Wait, did he forget Lycan's leash? It was right there, brown leather, his name engraved in it, "We're going to try something a little different tonight, i want to see if this fits. Tomorrow's halloween, bud, gotta see if your costume needs any adjustments."

Costume? Halloween? You've got to be kidding him-- Lycan was a very serious, stoic and sometimes stubborn dog, and he was not about to dress up in some ridiculous get-up to amuse people. He'd be the laughing stock of the collies.

But when Jack pulled out a red cape, it looked cozy, something that Lycan's old bones would appreciate. The fabric was shiny, satin-like and almost glistening in the moonlight, a deep shade of red that while Lycan could not see- he still recognized as the colors of heirloom tomatoes, Jack's hair, Hailey's favorite lipstick and Crimson's bridle.

Lycan's tail did not wag, but he stepped forward for Jack to put it on him anyways, he might as well get this over with.

"Not gonna run from me this time? Hah, good boy. There you go buddy, how's that feel? Too loose? Too tight? No? You good? Thatta' boy!" Jack grinned, scratching Lycan's favorite spot- right behind his shortened ears, "You ready?" he asked, now that made Ly's tail wag. He had been ready since his eyes came open for his nightly walk!

Jack grabbed a lantern from the table, a tealight candle inside of it securely, it would emit the perfect amount of light for their brisk walk without having to be snuffed out when he came back, something Jack disliked because it was easy to accidentally get his fingers too close to the candle.

Lycan was right behind him when he opened the door, nearly bowling the tall man over as he darted into the fields.

"Whoa there, old pal, gotta wait for me."

I am. I'd never leave you behind. Lycan thought.

While he wasn't exactly the friendliest of dogs to most, he was close as could be with Jack. He had experience in working with troubled animals, the more of a challenge the better, and he managed to weasel his way into Lycan's heart after a few months, which was the fastest he had ever warmed up to anyone.

Jack stopped by next to Crim and gave her a loving kiss to the nose, her nostrils flaring in appreciation, she wasn't a very vocal animal, but that was her way of saying 'thanks' to Jack.

As they headed out of the gate and Jack closed it behind him, Lycan's tail went haywire, seemingly having a mind of it's own- He could not wait to see where they were going today! His paws were cold already but he didn't mind, that's what made autumn walks so fun! He got to get his paws all toasty again by the heater.

Jack headed down the trail they usually took the horses, and Lycan could smell all of his friends as he walked, from Charlie to Maya to even hints of the sweet, almost berry-like scent that Dior seemed to give off. This trail was always so fun, because he knew exactly who went out that day and it always comforted him to know he wasn't alone anymore.

But then Jack started going a different route, one that Lycan didn't necessarily recognize. He let out a soft whine to alert Jack that he was headed off into a different area.

"Huh? Oh, sorry buddy, i forgot to tell you, i'm going to adjust the trail cameras around the perimeter, something knocked them down a few nights ago and Sam asked me if i'd fix them, i'd have brought Gabe along, but he's at the pet store. Yeah, i know bud, i miss him too."

Lycan huffed, wishing that they had his trainer's boyfriend with them now, since he mentioned something mysterious knocking the trail cam over. He took a deep breath, trying to get a whiff of what it might've been, but the smell of his friends was so strong that he couldn't pick up anything.

"Huh... That's weird, that... Doesn't look like Basil's hooves, even though he sneaks out back here all the time," Jack muttered to himself.

The hoofprint in question was massive, almost bigger than Jack's feet, which made Lycan shiver at the thought of something so huge wandering around his home.

"Jeez... No wonder we couldn't get a read on this camera, it's been trampled by something," Jack sighed, "I'll have to call Sam and let them know, c'mon, bud."

Jack picked the camera up and placed it in his pocket, going to take it back to HQ to show Sam in the morning to see if it was fixable, but for now, it would find a temporary home in an oversized corduroy jacket.

Lycan shook his head, following Jack, the night air taking away a few of his worries, but he still felt uneasy, all of the images swirled in his head of what it might've been.

Maybe a really big, really angry bull?... But... There were no wild cows here, he had only heard stories like that from the old stallion, Bill, who hung out in the stables.

It couldn't have been some kind of whitetail deer, Lycan knew what they looked like, he would play with their children and scamper around with the does, the stags always close by, watching him.

And there's absolutely no way that it was a horse, not even a shire had hooves like that.

M-Maybe... It was... a mo--mon--monst... He couldn't even finish the thought!

He knew one thing and one thing for sure, whatever it was, it wasn't going to touch his handler!

As they wandered around back towards the trail, something absolutely massive moved between the trees, branches snapping as its hooves trampled them to bits. Lycan's head snapped up from the scent trail he was sniffing and now something new was in his nostrils, and it smelled almost gross.

He scrunched his nose up and let out a low growl, not enjoying the smell or what he thought he saw.

Get back! he barked, the warning sound echoing through the woods, but Jack just patted him and asked him what was wrong.

How did he not see that? Smell that? Hear it?

Him and his human person senses! Dangit! If only he had another dog by his side.

The noise came closer, and Lycan felt his fur stand on ends.

Hey! Shoo! Out of here! Whatever you are, get! He kept barking, making himself sound as intimidating as possible.

"Lyc, calm down, buddy, it's okay it's just a-- Oh. Oh my gosh. Okay, uh-- Buddy, i uh-- Lycan stay behind me, okay?" Jack stuttered, taking a step back as this huge, enormous monster stepped out from the treeline.

It was massive! Bigger than Jack! Than Charlie, the Clydesdale, bigger than Sam's truck!

Lycan felt fear overtake his body at this beast, standing twenty feet tall (or so he thinks), with legs like tree stumps, hooves bigger than any boots he had ever seen, and antlers that would make a deer's look like popsicle sticks!

It stood there, that thing, it had the audacity to make eye contact with Lycan and puff it's chest out.

And then it turned its head towards Jack and made a noise, a foul sound from it's chest.

Lycan knew he had one thing and one thing only to do, he had to chase it away.

He took off running towards the beast, Jack called for him, but luckily this thing was a total chicken. It took off through the woods, jumping gracefully over fallen logs and beaver dams, it would occasionally look behind itself to see if Lycan was still in tow, and he definitely was.

As he chased this beast, his cape caught on branches, one of which completely ripped the red fabric from his body, he left it behind, feeling the now freezing cold wind whip underneath his thick fur, damp from splashing through the creek.

Somewhere, during the chase, he lost sight and smell of the thing. Finally! He was rid of it! It would never bother him or Jack again, right Jack?

Uh... Jack?

Lycan looked around himself... He was lost.

Utterly and completely lost.

He didn't even see where his cape was anymore. He couldn't smell Charlie, Maya, even the tiniest whiff of Anissa, his cat friend.

He couldn't hear the chickens clucking, Hailey's radio or even Jack calling for him anymore. The woods were dead silent except the annoyingly loud hoot of an owl overhead.

Lycan felt that feeling creep up inside of him once again, the one that would make tears threaten to spill from his orange eyes, that feeling that made his heart sink.

He was alone again.

He didn't know what to do, how would he get home from here? What-- How-- Why.

Why.

Why would he do something so rash? So irresponsible?... He knew that when he did come home, Jack would be so mad at him. So disappointed.

He whimpered and laid down in the wet dirt, putting his paws over his face and sniffling. He failed his trainer. What if that thing went back to get him? He couldn't protect Jack now that he was lost! And Jack is so vulnerable! He can't smell or hear like Lycan can, and the only fur he has is shaggy and in his eyes, and worst of all it smelled of the same kind of hair dye Sam uses, and their hair was bright blue, so what if Jack was a beacon to this thing now? Glowing some neon color that Lycan can't even see?

He was miserable.

The only thing he could do was get up and keep walking, surely he'd find another side of the ranch, maybe the other, working trail cams would pick up on his figure, right?

He had to take that risk.

He started trotting, trying to keep a good pace so he didn't lose stamina in those dark woods.

The moon was bright, at least, and he was adjusted to seeing in the dark.

He would occasionally let out a loud bark when he felt afraid, which, though he would never admit, was often.

He hoped he would hear a call back from Crimson, who often returned his barking noises as a greeting, or maybe a soft bleat from Basil, the goat.

He was only met with hoots and the echo of his own bark reflecting back in his ears.

It felt like days had passed, days of eternal night, but he heard a familiar whooshing noise nearby, the sound that he heard when he was riding in the passenger seat of Gabe's van.

Cars!

He could see their headlights in the distance, racing by one another- by him! He had hope! Maybe there was a place nearby, a place where the cars went to sleep! They would take small naps in those things called 'parking lots' and wait for Jack and Gabe to come back, then it would wake up again and take them back home! He had to find the place where the cars slept, maybe he could ask one of them to take him home!

He followed alongside the road, knowing not to get too close because the other animals told him that cars cannot see very well, that's why they wore lights.

He walked and walked and walked for what felt like eternity until he found a small place where there were dozens of cars taking naps- And for some reason- He could smell dog food.

His mouth watered at the scent, bacon flavored treats filled his thoughts, he recalled Jack giving him belly rubs and snacks for being such a good boy... Oh Jack, where are you?

His paws carried him carefully into the car pastures, he had to be careful though, in case one of them woke up and wasn't friendly.

He sniffed around, trying to find the source of such a delicious, bacon-y smell, just a little nibble wouldn't hurt, right? His stomach was growling anyways, he hadn't had breakfast yet, and chasing that monster made him absolutely famished.

But wait-- What's that?

Someone's coming!

Lycan turned around and pulled his lips back, revealing his teeth, not about to be chased away by a nasty stranger, but instead his face dropped and his tail began doing the thing again-- Gabe!

Oh, Gabriel! Gabe, Gabe, Gabe! You absolute angel! Lycan was saved!

He couldn't help but stand on his hind legs, wrapping his paws around Gabe's shoulders and pulling him in for a hug and a ton of face kisses, he was so happy to see him! And with a big bag of treats in hand!

Gabe! I'm so happy to see you! Gabe! Gabe! Gabe! Can you take me home? To Jack? Home to Jack, please?

But of course, all that came out were barks and happy whines.

"Hey, buddy, how'd you get out here? You're pretty far from home. Where's dad? Huh? Where's your papa?.. Hang on, bub, c'mon, up in the truck. Hello?" Gabe answered his glowing rectangle, the same kind that all people seemed to carry.

"Lost him?... A Moose? He chased off a moose?! You're kidding me-- How-- Holy smokes, okay, yeah. Yeah, no, he was all the way down by the-- Yeah, the pet store. Yeah, he's in the car. No, he's okay... Yeah. Okay. Mhm... I Love you too! I'll be home in a few. Okay! Bye."

Gabe spoke to himself in the rectangle, the light going out when he said goodbye.

"That was Jack," he said softly to Lycan, "Why didn't you tell me you chased away a moose? Silly boy, don't go off on your own like that again, okay? Especially after a moose."

Moose? That was what a moose looked like?

Don't worry, Gabe, he'd never go after one again.

He nuzzled up into Gabe's warm hand, enjoying the feeling of it in his cold, wet fur.

When his car woke up to take them home, it was so nice and toasty, it must have known he was so chilly, what a nice pal!

It didn't take them long to get back to the ranch, the car must have been extra sleepy because it calmed down pretty quick when it saw Jack wandering around the parking lot looking for him. It's okay, he was sleepy too.

His paws hit the ground again and he could smell all of his friends, Jack, the bacon, Gabe, Car, everybody. He was so happy to be home.

And Jack! Oh! Jack wasn't mad at all! Or disappointed! He had Lycan's cape and lots of headpats and hugs for him! Lycan was so happy to see his adoptive dad again. He would never run away like that again, especially at night!

There was a small tear in his cape that had to be fixed later, but he didn't mind, he would gladly wear that cape again, surely it helped him scare away that moose!

"C'mon buddy, let's go back inside, you've had a crazy night," Jack said, leading him back inside, "Besides, you haven't even had breakfast yet, old boy."

(2,894 words)


Art Piece

[FadeV]

Username: FadeV Name: Woodrick
Name Meaning(s): the beggining, 'wood' refers to the color of his fur, and the 'rick' at the end makes it so that his name sounds rather human.
Gender: Male
Prompt:

Woodrick is a big, strong dog. His owner was a hunter, and would often take him into the woods for walks. Woodrick would help his owner hunt small birds and animals so that they could eat once they got home. However, there was one journey in particular that stood out to him. He was walking through the woods with his owner one day, trotting at his side. They happened to wander deeper into the woods than usual, due to a shortage of any wildlife. While forcing their way through the underbrush, they happened to come across a cave. Woodrick's owner was curious, as he had never heard of a cave around where they lived. Perhaps they had discovered it for the first time? Woodrick's owner strode confidently into the darkness, with Woodrick following hesitantly behind him. Woodrick had a bad feeling about this place... he pulled at his owner's shirt corner a few times, but his owner simply shook him off, excited by the prospect of finding an undiscovered cave. They soon found that the cave went rather deep- Stalagmites errupted from the rock, and the ground was slippery beneath them. But strangely, there was no sign of life in the cave. Woodrick's owner finally realized that there was something strange about the cave- he turned to leave, but felt something cold wrap around his ankle. Woodrick watched, horrified, as a large slimy creature that resembled a large salamander bit down on his owners leg, and began dragging his owner away. Woodrick whined, rushing forward to bravely save his owner, but the creature was strangely fast. It slivered down into the depths, his owner with it...

To this day Woodrick has no idea what happened. After his owner's dissapearance, he was taken in by a nearby farm, and treated kindly by his new owners. However, he still finds himself wandering into the woods sometimes, looking for that strange cave that seems to have dissapeared...

[arcturus.]

Username:cry.
Name: Wood Chipper
Name Meaning(s):
Gender: male
Prompt:
wip

[sapphirespirit]

Username: sapphirespirit
Name:Talbott
Name Meaning(s):he looks to me like a mini wereolf, so I chose the Wolfman's family name, Talbot.
Gender:male
Prompt:wip!!

[j. bourne]

Username: j. bourne
Name: Carcajou (affectionaly 'Cajou' or 'Cashew')
Name Meaning(s): An alternative name for the North American wolverine.
Gender: Male
Prompt: 3,285 words

xxxxxxxxxxA heavy sigh slipped from the man as he gingerly pulled a blemished beanie down over the tops of his ears. The little mirror in the hallway helped little in the near darkness, the light cast from the kitchen barely illuminating his features. Jensen lifted his chin and ran a thumb along the bottom of his jaw, analyzing the stubble as best he could in the low light. He would need to shave soon. One last look over his tired, shadowed face was spared before walking silently back into the kitchen.
xxxxxxxxxxThe dark mug on the counter was filled with something warm. Steam curled and danced as it rose above the ceramic and toward the harsh lights that shone overhead. It was quite the spectacle, capturing the man’s attention for a few moments to watch the vapor swirl. The cup was soon collected with a small clink against the countertop as Jensen took another grateful, yet wary sip. Despite being the middle of autumn, the weather had taken quite the cold turn, leaving the bedroom as the only refuge from the chill. Of course, it was much warmer in the house than outside, but compared to the warmth of a blanket, Jensen was happy to dress for the outdoors. He would be leaving soon anyways.
xxxxxxxxxxHis eyes drifted toward the clock that adorned the space above the doorway, following the pearly second hand on its journey around the dark face. Tick, tick, tick. The seconds clicked on, barely audible. Minutes passed as Jensen watched the clock, absentmindedly sipping his morning coffee before the cup ran dry. Setting his mug back down on the counter with another soft clink, he decided it was time to move. The mug could be left without much worry. Another cup would be needed when he returned.
xxxxxxxxxxCautiously ascending the stairs, the man was thankful that his ears were greeted with silence. Carcajou had an inconveniencing habit of barking at any noise he heard within the house, even if one of the two occupants had left the room but had not left the residence. It was a relief that it was not a guaranteed occurrence. As he made his way toward the bedroom, Jensen made sure he did not hesitate outside the doorway before slipping inside.
xxxxxxxxxxThe warm glow of a salt lamp cast just enough light about the room to navigate once his eyes had adjusted. It merely added to the suffocating heat that seemed to be trapped in the space. From the foot of the bed, Carcajou lifted his head as Jensen entered and a whined yawn slipped past his jowls. Before the canine could further entertain the idea of barking, the man shushed quietly, causing the collie to drop his head back down with a rather animated huff. It earned a small smile in the dark.
xxxxxxxxxxMaking his way quietly toward the bed, he spared the dog an affectionate pet, passing a hand from his head down his back. Carcajou, despite his rough appearance, was a very soft dog. His deep red coat looked fiery in the ambient glow from the lamp. Jensen passed his hand toward the covers of the bed, careful to pick an empty space before sitting down on the occupied side of the mattress.
xxxxxxxxxx“Hey there, sleepyhead,” he whispered with a loving smile, reaching forward to rouse the sleeping figure as gently as possible, “I’m going to take Cajou on a walk.”
xxxxxxxxxx“A walk?” came a tired and confused inquiry. The bed frame creaked in the warm darkness then fell silent once more. A hand reached from the covers toward the nightstand, haphazardly checking the time on a smartphone. The bed squeaked once more before a dramatic sigh slipped from beneath the blankets, “This early? Cashew and I need our beauty rest. Why don’t you wait until the sun comes up?”
xxxxxxxxxxJensen laughed at the response. He had always been an early riser but Matthew preferred to sleep in as long as he was allowed. With a small grin, he stood back up and walked toward the doorway, “You don’t have to come with us, Matt. Besides, I think Cajou can catch up on his beauty rest when we come back, I’m sure you’ll still be in bed. We won’t be gone very long.”
xxxxxxxxxxMatthew sat up with a small pout, “Wait, come back.”
xxxxxxxxxxTo indulge his husband, he slipped back into the bedroom and stood for a moment, expectantly waiting for the reason he was called back to be revealed. Matthew simply continued to pout before beckoning him forward. Jensen rolled his eyes and scoffed slightly, taking a step toward the bed and sitting on the edge. This earned a loving smirk from Matthew, who leaned forward to give the man a gentle kiss, “I love you, be careful...and make sure Cashew doesn’t run through any beggar’s lice again.”
xxxxxxxxxx“Cajou,” Jensen corrected a final time as he beamed, “I love you too. We’ll be sure to avoid the beggar’s lice this time. I can’t promise that we’ll avoid the burs though. Get some rest, Matt.”
xxxxxxxxxxThe pair laughed together in the dark, causing the collie to stir at the foot of the bed once more. This time it stretched with a lazy tail wag, content to hear his name so many times in such an affectionate tone. Fortunately, the teasing nature seemed to escape the dog. The man returned the kiss with another chuckle before standing up again and slipping out of the bedroom. Jensen hesitated for a moment in the doorway, giving his thigh a quick pat to encourage Carcajou to follow. The collie obliged with another stretch and whiny yawn after jumping down from the bed.
xxxxxxxxxxAfter shaking off the final grasp of sleep, Carcajou barreled down the carpeted stairs, making Jensen thankful that he had woken Matthew beforehand. That sound surely would have done the deed on its own. Following at an equally enthusiastic pace, he grinned down at the red collie. His peculiar half tail gave a shuddering wag as the man reached the bottom of the stairs, cropped ears perked.
xxxxxxxxxx“Okay, Cajou,” he said in a low but excited voice, pulling the long lead from the coat closet. Once it was in his hand, Jensen adjusted his own coat and turned toward the door, “Are you ready?”


⬥⬥⬥

xxxxxxxxxxThe eastern portion of the sky was beginning to lighten as the new duo reached the halfway point of the little homemade trail. It was suffocatingly quiet in the frigid predawn. The only sound that managed to pierce the silence was the steady crunch of the frozen ground underfoot. A thin, ghostlike layer of ice coated everything in sight, sparkling as the sun began to rise. An eerily beautiful sight, Jensen noted as another billow of steam left his parted lips.
xxxxxxxxxxIt was a beautiful trail that wound through the woods along the back portion of their property. Large evergreens, separated by the occasional maple and oak, stretched as far as the eye could see. The occasional openings had once been fields of wildflowers, grass so lush and green it seemed as though it belonged in a fairy tale. Now everything was brown and dead, laid bare to the cold autumn sunlight. It seemed more comparable to winter sunlight with the frost and threat of snow.
xxxxxxxxxxDespite the steadily increasing sunlight, the man was on edge. Usually, the early morning walks through the woods with a collie gently tugging on the lead set him at ease. They were peaceful. Today that was not the case. The usual birdsong that quieted his thoughts was absent...and its absence was enough to drown in. Jensen checked his watch. They should be singing by now.
xxxxxxxxxxAs much as the silence perturbed the man, there wasn’t anything he could do about it. The red form at the end of the lead seemed unbothered by the change. Carcajou had found a particularly interesting patch of undergrowth to smell, his little brown nose snuffling in the frozen leaves. A singular sneeze shook the collie as Jensen passed, invigorating the canine and sending him bounding toward the end of the lead, fur flowing behind him. Once at the end of the lead, Carcajou froze and turned to look off the trail, earning a wary laugh from Jensen, “What is it, Cajou, hmm?”
xxxxxxxxxxHe scarcely made it three more steps before freezing in place as well. A shrill, blood-curdling scream pierced the silent morning. It was a scream that raised the hair on the back of Jensen’s neck. Reverberating among the frozen trees, it lasted a few seconds before the silence resumed, even more suffocating after such a sudden disruption. Those few seconds felt like a lifetime. The icy claws of adrenaline clenched around his heart as it began to hammer in his chest. This was private property...who was it that screamed? Or a more ominous question: why did they scream?
xxxxxxxxxxThe scream had started Carcajou as well. Despite being larger than the breed standard, the male was not as tough as he looked. It sent him into a flurry of deep, alarmed barks, racing back to Jensen and backing into his legs. His tail had gone from raised and proud to nearly tucked between his legs. Carcajou had practically doubled in size with his hackles raised. After his first round of startled woofs, the collie, too, stood in silence. Frozen in fear. Listening. Waiting.
xxxxxxxxxxJensen had heard people scream in the past. Many, many years ago. The hair-raising sounds people made when they thought they were going to die had stuck with him through the years. Many were animal-like, especially when they were wounded. What he had just heard, what had just carried across the frozen woods to freeze him in place...it had dropped his gut. Such a horrifying sound had to have come from a person, as animalistic as it had sounded. There was no other explanation.
xxxxxxxxxx“What do you think that was, Cajou?” he managed after a few moments. Carcajou simply turned his head in response, still looking off the trail. It did not ease the man at the end of the lead.
xxxxxxxxxxBefore he could say another word, that same scream ripped through the stillness again. A long, melancholy shriek that fizzled into a groan-like noise. Despite having heard it moments ago, it still filled Jensen with a flood of dread that caught the breath in his throat. The man could have sworn it sounded closer than it had the first time. Clearer, despite the thunderous pounding of his heart in his ears. His blood felt like it had frozen over like the forest around him.
xxxxxxxxxxCarcajou had a similar reaction, but this time, it was urging Jensen to leave. To run back toward home, to safety with him. With the adrenaline coursing through his body, he was ready to run. He did not know who or what was screaming and he did not intend to stick around and find out. The duo turned tail and ran through the woods, breath coming in fast, short huffs. The clouds dissipated quickly in the cold as man and dog retraced their steps.
xxxxxxxxxxWhatever had been the source of the scream, it had terrified them both. The primal ‘fight or flight’ response had been triggered for both, and rather than face the unknown, they fled. Running down the trail as fast as their legs would carry them, breath and hearts pounding in their ears, praying that they were not caught. They feared with every fiber of their beings what might happen if they were captured.


⬥⬥⬥

xxxxxxxxxxThe front door slamming followed by the frantic yelling of his name snapped Matthew awake from sleep. Sunlight was beginning to filter in through the window and across the mostly empty bed. Both Jensen and Carcajou were still on their walk. What had woken him? Jensen’s voice yelling for him again answered that half-awake question. They were back and something was deeply wrong.
xxxxxxxxxxRacing down the stairs, he met his husband in the kitchen, trying his best to not trip over the collie underfoot. Carcajou was unappreciative of the yelling but couldn’t quite seem to get out of the way with the lead still attached. In a desperate attempt to not let the dog get away, Jensen had wrapped it around his hand, enough he was struggling to get it off as they shook from the cold and panic that were gripping him. Matthew quickly unclipped the collie and went about checking on the man before him.
xxxxxxxxxxAfter the initial surge of adrenaline and taking Jensen’s coat off to check for injuries, he was a little more relieved. Having no visible external injuries was a good thing. It didn’t mean everything was perfect, he could still be hurt, but at least he wasn’t bleeding. The spew of words coming from his mouth was almost indecipherable, Matthew only caught the occasional word and what he was hearing wasn’t making any sense. Perhaps Jensen had slipped on some ice and hit his head. It was cool enough out.
xxxxxxxxxx“Jensen, honey,” Matthew grabbed onto his shoulders, his brow knitting together, “I need you to calm down for me, okay? Deep breaths. What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
xxxxxxxxxxIt took a few more minutes of urging to finally get him calmed down enough to speak clearly and realize how freaked out he had been. Jensen looked embarrassed, bringing his hands up to his face with a sigh, “I’m sorry, I promise I’m not that freaked out about it. The adrenaline from running was just...I’m sorry. Physically? Yes, I am okay. Emotionally? That was terrifying, I don’t know if I want to go back.”
xxxxxxxxxx“What happened?” Matthew bemused, blinking in shock as his own fear began to fade.
xxxxxxxxxxJensen ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, “Okay. Before I tell you, I would just like to say that we are not going back out there to find her, okay? No. The only way either of us are going back out there is if we have the police with us. I’m not about to meet the same fate and I’m not about to let you meet that same fate either. No way.”
xxxxxxxxxxThe theory that his husband had hit his head was looking more and more appealing to Matthew. He furrowed his brow and brought a hand up to his eyes, “Honey, what on Earth are you talking about?
xxxxxxxxxxTurning to toss a hand in the general of the north end of the property, a wild look entered Jensen's eye, “I heard a scream! A scream! Bloody murder, horror-movie type scream. We have to call the police!”
xxxxxxxxxx“You heard...a scream?” he echoed.
xxxxxxxxxx“Yes. A woman’s scream,” repeated Jensen with a frown.
xxxxxxxxxx“A woman’s scream? Nothing else? Just a scream?” a grin slipped onto Matthew’s lips.
xxxxxxxxxx“Yes! A woman’s scream!” Jensen was wide-eyed, “Why are you saying it like it's so hard to believe? And why do you have that ridiculous look on your face? This is serious, Matthew!”
xxxxxxxxxxAs the grin began to grow on his husband’s face, Jensen became increasingly upset. He began to gesture wildly, to describe the scream in as much detail as he could and where on the trail he had heard it. Why Matthew was not believing him and why he wasn’t concerned about what he was being told perplexed and confused Jensen. Why wasn’t he bothered by a scream in the woods behind their house?
xxxxxxxxxxIn spite of his mirth, Matthew turned some of his attention to the red collie at their feet. He was winded and panting from the run back, looking just as tired and stressed as Jensen. With a click of his tongue and a welcoming hand, Carcajou was more than happy to stand up for some love. A gentle touch turned into playful pats as they listened to Jensen rant about what they had heard out in the woods.
xxxxxxxxxxGrinning slowly devolved into laughter. He tried to muffle it at first, seeing how upset with the situation Jensen was...but Matthew couldn’t help it. Soon he was giggling and wheezing, scarcely able to stand while his husband stared in abject horror. There was no way his reaction was laughing! After a couple minutes of laughing and listening to Jensen carry on once more, Matthew wheezed, “What you heard was a bobcat, honey. We have bobcats around here and they scream, they sound like women.”
xxxxxxxxxx“Oh, now you’re just being mean. Bobcats don’t scream like women, Matt! They don’t! How could they? It doesn’t make sense! If you won’t call the police, I will,” he huffed, scrounging around with numb fingers in his pockets. Jensen knew he had to be right and he knew that, even if his husband was not taking the situation seriously, he was going to. The police needed to be called.
xxxxxxxxxxOnce his phone had left his pocket though, Jensen gave a sound of protest when Matthew snatched it from him and unlocked it. Tears in his eyes, he let his laughter die off, “Before we call the police, can I show you a few videos? It will only take a minute or two. Then we can call them, okay?”
xxxxxxxxxxJensen was distraught that Matthew was trying to show him videos. At first, he was almost tempted to childishly try to get his phone back, yelling now about how serious the situation was and how badly he needed his phone. Wiping the tears, Matthew pulled up a handful of videos for his husband to watch, handing back the phone after making sure the volume was up.
xxxxxxxxxxThe videos were of various bobcat noises, including screams. After the first bone-chilling scream, Jensen got quiet. A contemplative look soon settled over his face as he watched and listened to the videos. That was definitely the sound he had heard. Without a doubt. As the realization began to dawn on him, he fell from making the occasional comment about the scream being exactly what he had heard to dead silence. Had he really spent that much time and energy freaking out over a bobcat scream? Ugh.
xxxxxxxxxxCarcajou took a special interest in the sounds coming from the phone. Unlike his initial reaction to hearing the sound in person, this time he tilted his head to the side. Now that the yelling had stopped and the situation had turned into one of amusement, he was at ease. With a wagging tail, Carcajou wedged himself between Matthew and Jensen, taking whatever he could get in his mouth and nipping playfully.
xxxxxxxxxx“Do you still want me to call the police? I can call them if you really want me to,” Matthew asked with an amused expression, searching Jensen’s downturned face with loving eyes. Over the past few minutes, he had gone from defending his theory to falling silent. With each new video, he was realizing that he had, in fact, heard a bobcat. There was no screaming woman in the woods, there was no need to call the police. It was simply a loving tease because he knew now that he was wrong.
xxxxxxxxxxAll he could manage, face flushing with a phantom grin, was a stifled laugh, “Shut up!”
xxxxxxxxxxBoth burst into a fit of laughter, Matthew draping his arms around his husband’s shoulders. His face was windburnt from being out in the cold for so long and, after having such a fright, he looked exhausted. Blankets and a warm drink were in order. Scrunching up his nose as he continued to grin, he pulled Jensen into a loving embrace before planting a kiss on his forehead, “And that’s why I love you.”

[Luxio]

Username: Luxio
Name: Reaper
Name Meaning(s): Relating to the Grim Reaper for Halloween and also a name for a machine used to cut and gather crops for harvest!
Gender: Male
Prompt: The forest was an unavoidable location for Reaper and his owner; they had to walk through it to get back home, he hated the forest with every fiber of his being and would try to stray from it as much as possible but with the night drawing closer; going around the forest was going to be just as daunting given the fact that farms encompassed the walking route which brought by cows, bulls and dangerous livestock that would surely give Reaper and his owner a run for their money. Reaper wasn't alone today he was walking with an Irish wolfhound named Jazz which gave him a much needed confidence boost. Jazz was unfazed by the forest; given that she once worked them for one of the farms close to it. Jazz however, was soon let off of her lead with reaper kept firmly on the line, walking with his owner he observed the canopy of the trees watching for any dangerous creatures lurking around, he knew wolves live in this area and had heard stories of crows in the trees having a 4 pawed accomplice lurking in the undergrowth just below the corvus. He was on high alert watching every stick and leaf he walked past; his nerves were soon heightened by a loud call from Jazz an eerie cry telling her Reaper's owner she found something. Through, this turned out to be nothing; or at least nothing was there when Reaper and his owner got there all that remained were indents and a spot of dark red blood, Jazz continued as normal thinking nothing of the blood or anything amiss in the forest.

Reaper could smell something peculiar; almost a musky smell, almost like that of a deer and dog mixed together; by now Jazz was out of his sight and he could no longer read her calming body signals; they reached a stream, to Reaper's annoyance his owner had tied his lead to the nearest tree to take pictures off the stream and the wolfhound that was coming out from the undergrowth. Little could settle Reaper anymore; he pulled at his collar and almost took down the branch of the tree when his collar slipped off. His owner called desperately to lure him back, jazz the same, but before his owner could take a hold of him he darted out of grasp into the thick bush covering of the floor; the brown and auburn leaves blended him in just so he darted quickly out of sight. Jazz raced after him but the musky smell Reaper could sense earlier covered up his scent, she knew only as much as their owner where he could be.

Reaper stopped running, he was faced by a barrage of trees and rocks littered around the area soon to be faced by the origin of the smell; a crow flew past his head only it's claw to touch the tip of his nose and soon flew up to a branch on the tree vocalising at Reaper which sounded like faint laughing sounds. Reaper turned around on a dime to watch a being emerge behind the crow; he was frozen in fear and could only produce the faintest of whimpers. Large paws silently creeped towards him; but he felt every landing as an electric shock coming towards him rapidly; the collie cowered slightly as the grey-brown being walked towards him with raised heckles and deep yellow eyes; the being snarled at him and circled around him slowly as if he was being scanned. This creature, he knew what it was, it was a wolf! He whimpered again low and quietly the wolf growls louder and higher before coming to sniff Reaper. Reaper lifted his head slightly; only to get pushed lower to the floor by the surprisingly large paws on the wolf. The tension was broken suddenly by the cry of the crow in the tree; and the sudden flapping wings of it too. with this the wolf bit at him; luckily only catching fur and darted after the crow. Reaper laid still on the forest floor unable to move, on the verge of fainting from the encounter when he felt the familiar wet nose of Jazz who must have scared the bird and wolf away. soon followed by the hands of his owner; covered in mud with tears streaming down their face embracing the dog securely; giving Jazz a hug too for finding her boy. Reapers collar was tightened around his neck so he could no longer escape from it; Reaper couldn't move; his owner opting to carry him home instead; however difficult the task may be. Jazz stuck by the owners side; looking up at reaper with concern blooming in her eyes.

It took an hour in all the transverse through the forest and end up at home; Reaper was laid gently on the couch with the fireplace lit; warming the room quickly. Jazz snuggled up the Reaper as he moved for the first time; to curl his head around his friend and share some of his warmth. Reaper daren't leave his owners or jazz's side after that. He never even needed a lead again when he walked with Jazz he followed like a puppy. Jazz never asked him of that day and Reaper never spoke of it; the incident was long forgotten as time went on but reaper would always remember the wolf and the crow; knowledge that he would pass along to his pups and grandpups.

The Seaharara kid is coming home with me hehe

[yeena]

Username: yeena
Name: Memento Mori, "Allegory"

Memento Mori: This is a Latin phrase that translates to "remember you must die" and is actually a nod towards the general somber and spooky theme of Halloween, as well as the vanitas paintings that would include some hint of death or dying within them.
Allegory: In this case, allegory literally means an interpreted hidden symbol or meaning. This is another reference towards vanitas paintings, which had various interpretations within each one.
Gender: Male
Prompt: wip to the most extreme

[ExVenor]

Username: j. bourne
Name: Carcajou (affectionaly 'Cajou' or 'Cashew')
Name Meaning(s): An alternative name for the North American wolverine.
Gender: Male
Prompt: 3,285 words
-snip-

Congrats!