Sheepsquatch

Dec. 4, 1916 Milton One afternoon, on their way to school, two boys encountered something bizarre－a large, horned creature. Bent on attacking them, the monster rushed out from the treeline, charging at them and emitting ferocious snarls and bleats. Alerted by cries of pain, shouts, and guttural, beastly noises, townsfolk were drawn to action. After much gunfire and yelling, the animal backtracked, disappearing into the forest. None were fatally harmed during the attack. The next day, a party was formed to hunt down the beast. Deep in the woodlands, they saw it resting on a hilltop. Shots were fired at its still form, yet seemed to cause it no harm; it stood－howling with a mixture of a sheep’s call and bear’s warning. The animal, clearly enraged, turned and delved deeper into the forest, never to be seen again. Often misidentified, the Sheepsquatch is a quadruped creature with the legs of a man, the long, pointed face of a sheep, horns of a goat, teeth of a bear, paws of a raccoon, and a body covered in white or dirty, brownishyellow, wooly hair. Aggressive, territorial, and bear-like in nature, Sheepsquatches can be seen lumbering about in forests, plains, and in rural locations near domesticated stores of livestock. With nimble hands and a clever mind, fences and doors do not always keep these menaces at bay; they can manipulate objects and problem solve when food is an incentive - similar to the antics of hungry bears and raccoons. As they grow to reach 7 - 8 ft tall, screech like a woman, and stand/walk on two legs, they are often misidentified as a bigfoot; unlike bigfeet, however, these animals run quickly on all fours. Large, lumbering beasts, their sulfuric stench gives away their nearness before their bumbling strides, causing prey nearby to flee wildly, if downwind. Historically, these beasts have been mistaken for albino bear species－though older individuals sport large horns, clearly distinguishing them even at great distances. Historic Encounters In 1990, in the TNT area near Point Pleasant, a hunter was stalking several deer through some brush; on the other side of the debris lay a creek, and from the water drank a Sheepsquatch. Grumbling to itself, it rose and turned its back to the man, noisily breaking through the treeline, never taking notice of its viewer. Less than a month later, a family reported the same creature in the area, fleeing from it in terror while camping. Four years later, a group of women were driving near Point Pleasant on icy roads, crawling along cautiously; around the next curve, a haggard Sheepsquatch exploded from the forest, running across the road; it paused in front of their headlights before running off into the opposing woodland. Farther south, during 1994 and after, the beasts were reported on the roadside, running across the street on all fours, and surveying from ditches. One summer, a Sheepsquatch was spotted following a little girl riding her horse home; the next morning, she discovered a skeleton stripped of all flesh where her mare was once kept. Over the next decade, Sheepsquatch was seen by numerous hikers, campers, motorists, and children playing in the woods or their yards 3 － from the TNT area to Rivesville and the former Monongalia Coal Co. Most noted that the animal was aggressive and sounded like a bear, while a few more daring groups established that it was afraid of fire, backing away and even running from its presence; reports were also numerous on the nights of 4th of July celebrations, leading many to hypothesize that noises attract it. Daily Routine, Life Cycle, and Development Hypothesized to be a surviving prehistoric or Ice Age mammal, Sheepsquatch has a strange, though lengthy life dependent upon an initial state of dormancy, periodic hibernation, and marked by only one successful reproductive cycle. Solitary creatures for the majority of their lives－as many Ursoidea are－Sheepsquatches only meet to mate or travel in groups with their own or others’ offspring. Within their territory, the beasts hunt game of any size and consume a variety of berries, roots, bark, herbs, fish, amphibians, and insects. Boundaries are marked by scent and fought over between trespassing individuals－usually in the spring, immediately after hibernation. Females usually permit other females to traverse their own territory as long as they submit; submission includes laying prostate, horns pointed downwards until the territory-owning female walks out of view, which denotes her acceptance of the infringement. Males may submit to cross territory, though they are less likely to be granted access any time outside of mating season. Males never permit males to trespass, though they may allow a female safe passage during the summer. Individuals usually attempt to cross boundaries when their area’s resources are scarce, they have been fought out of their territory, or when they are looking to reproduce. Mating typically takes place in the summer between juveniles, who have short, thin, uncurled horns; as females and males only raise one brood, there are few fully mature, adult individuals that participate in mating rituals. In Sheepsquatch culture, females are the dominant sex, as well as physically larger. Apt males seek out female territory during the summer, looking to engage in a violent, yet nonlethal battle; if the suitor puts up a good fight, the female will take the male as a mate. This male may be challenged by other opponents throughout the season, victors finding themselves in an altercation with the female, who then decides whether or not she will take on the new beast as a partner. Sheepsquatches stay paired together for the duration of mating season; however, if the female becomes pregnant, the two remain together longer. When sharing territory, the couple takes turns hunting while the other sleeps, little social interaction taking place. Gestation for Sheepsquatches is quick, taking only three months between conception and birth. A few weeks before cubs are birthed, the animals find a safe, dark, and hidden place, where they dig a deep tunnel that opens to a spacious room. These dens are most often found under cliff edges, near caves, or rock walls. Near their offspring’s arrival, the male brings game to his mate, some of which is stored away for later consumption. One to three cubs are produced, each encased in a doubled layered, fleshy material; the first of these layers are torn off and eaten by the creatures quickly, allowing the youths to take their first breath of air. They are about the size of a domesticated cat, blind, and unable to move on their own. Offerings of food are continuously brought to the female for two weeks－which slowly tapers off to none. Mothers nurse their cubs every two hours, quickly losing any extra body weight they own; once males have returned to their own territory, females are in a state of near starvation. Offspring are left in the nest, or, if there is only one cub, carried in its mother’s mouth; the youths are encased in a strange, pink, hide-like sac that leaves only its head and hindquarters exposed. When prey is spotted while a cub is present, the Sheepsquatch leaves its offspring in a safe place. After eating a large meal, the mother returns to her cub and den, being gone no longer than six hours; she leaves to hunt again in 2 - 4 days. Though other Sheepsquatches hibernate during the winter, mothers raising young survive predominantly on deer or other wild game, keeping a trim physique. Before the beginning of spring, cubs cease nursing and begin to grow less active; their bodily processes and metabolisms slow, the strange casing on their body covering more of their form and darkening in color. Though they have developed in no other way, young Sheepsquatches double in size by this time. When the youths have been fully enveloped in the dark tissue, they are left alone for upwards of eighty years in a state of dormancy. Offspring are periodically checked upon by both parents, the female’s former mate permitted to enter her territory at all times for this reason alone. Any member of the species that passes by one of these dens feels compelled to check in on the young, adding their own scent to the tunnel’s entrance, clearing it of debris, and ensuring its safety; when danger is perceived to be near, Sheepsquatches may move the dormant beasts elsewhere into a new nest or former den. As dens are marked with each visit, they are easily discovered and maintained. Their wakening triggered by an unknown variable, young Sheepsquatches’ encasings gradually dry and crumble, those within slowly returning to an awakened state. The youths cry out, pulling themselves blindly around the room. After a few days, they are able to see and move around somewhat competently. A passing Sheepsquatch of either sex will take the cubs under their care, hearing their calls. As the beasts live anywhere from 90 - 120 years old, a biological parent may raise them － though more often than not, they are adopted by other members of the species. Young Sheepsquatches follow their parental figure for 6 - 8 months, learning how to hunt, keep territory, hibernate, nest, and socialize; they then leave, seeking territory and mates. Adolescents begin growing horns a year after their wakening; the bony growths elongate and thicken each year－slowly curling to resemble that of a goat’s. Horns are used to defend or fight for territory, batter prey, and compete for mates. Each summer and autumn, they pack on additional weight to withstand hibernation (aside from pairs actively raising a brood before their wakening); their hair also grows thicker and more fluffy, taking on a whiter color. The creatures exude a natural, sulfuric musk that causes the fur on their body to harden; the layer acts as a natural defense against attacks and is strongest during the cold season. During the spring, their hair is noticeably dirtier and yellower; their winter coats shed in large clumps, preparing for the coming heat. Though their summer coat provides far less security, the large deposits of fat they develop protect their vital organs from harm, as does their thick, wide skeletal structures. Sheepsquatches usually die of old age or illness. They are most active during the early morning or late evening hours, though they may hunt or travel during any part of the day. They do not build nests or homes for themselves, only their young, preferring to sleep in quiet clearings or under forest canopies. Though they are aggressive creatures, Sheepsquatches are a cryptid that is safer to hunt than others－as long as fire is on hand. Making a lot of noise in secluded areas near ample game will likely draw Sheepsquatches near if they are in the area; additionally, tracking them in late spring is the easiest, as they lose the most fur at this time, leaving easier to follow trails.