Tag: fantasy creature

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CREATURES OF THE AUSTRALIAN REALM?

Hello Readers,

I hope you are ready for another animal from my creature files. Everyone knows Australia is home to a host of dangerous creatures, but few know of the Marrin-Gul (Shadow that Hunts). More commonly known as the Bush Bastard by those at the local outback pub. This ancient monstrosity is a seasoned hunter; it covers ground quickly with its fast bounds and tears its prey apart with sharp claws and pointed teeth. I certainly would not want to meet one, if I was all alone, in the vast expanse of the Australian Outback.

MARRIN‑GUL

A rabid looking kangaroo hunches over the remains of its dead prey in the Australian Outback.

Procyon ferox umbravallis — “The Shadow That Hunts” (Common name: “Bush Bastard”)

Origin

Said to predate the oldest outback settlements, the Marrin‑Gul emerged from a lineage of nocturnal scavengers twisted by drought, starvation, and something older lurking beneath the red earth. When the first frontier cabins were raised, these creatures were already watching from the treeline. Folklore claims they learned to hunt humans by studying the patterns of campfires and the weaknesses of those who wandered too far into the dark.

Physiology

  • Thick, soot‑black fur that masks movement in low light
  • Elongated limbs built for bounding pursuit
  • Oversized claws curved like hooked knives
  • Needle‑point dentition designed for puncture and tearing
  • Blood‑rimmed eyes adapted for extreme nocturnal vision
  • Muscular hindquarters enabling explosive leaps
  • A tail used for balance during rapid directional shifts
  • Saliva laced with bacteria that accelerates rot in wounds

Behaviour

  • Hunts with sudden, silent bursts of speed
  • Displays territorial aggression toward anything entering its hunting grounds
  • Emits low, guttural growls that mimic distant wind through the gums
  • Rarely travels alone; where one is seen, others are circling unseen

Habitat

Remote outback scrub, abandoned homesteads, hollowed creek beds, and regions where human presence has thinned to whispers.

Abilities

  • Shadow Bound: Covers ground in rapid, loping strides that seem unnaturally fast
  • Rend‑Strike: A flurry of claw swipes capable of shredding flesh and hide
  • Night Veil Vision: Sees clearly in near‑total darkness
  • Pack Echo: Communicates with others through sub‑audible clicks and growls
  • Fear Break: Its presence induces panic in livestock and unease in seasoned bushmen

Weaknesses

  • Bright firelight disrupts its depth perception.
  • High, metallic noises cause it to recoil.
  • Its endurance is limited — prolonged chases exhaust it quickly, forcing it to rely on ambush tactics.

Cultural Lore

Bushmen say the Marrin‑Gul only hunts those who walk alone after sundown. Old-timers at the pub swear that if you hear claws on corrugated iron at night, you’re already marked. And if you see its eyes glowing red between the trees, you’re not looking at one — you’re looking at the one that wants you to notice it.

Would you survive if this critter sprang at you from the Outback plains? I wouldn’t fancy your chances.

If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.

Happy Reading!

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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CREATURES OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Hello Readers,

Welcome to the next post from my creature files. You may recall the Rib-back, a Canadian terror from a previous post. Well while I was searching for this beast I came across another frightful being. It’s the kind of thing the locals whispered about around campfires when the wind cut through the pines. Known as the Shadow-tail Cabin Creeper, this is no ordinary Raccoon. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more vicious creature of its size. And a scary thing about them is, where you find one, there are usually a few more in tow.

SHADOW‑TAIL CABIN CREEPER

A vicious looking raccoon bares its teeth, its eyes glowing red, and the skeletal remains of a person lay at its clawed paws.

Procyon umbracaudus tenebris — “Shadow-Tail Cabin Creeper”

(Also Known As “The Pine‑Hollow Butcher”)

Origin

Born from generations of raccoons forced to scavenge in cursed logging grounds, the species adapted to the dark resonance of abandoned cabins and blood-soaked soil. Over time, their bodies twisted to match the predatory hunger that seeped into the land. Locals claim the first Creeper emerged after a winter famine drove a raccoon pack to cannibalism beneath a moonless sky.

Physiology

  • Matted charcoal fur that absorbs light
  • Elongated muzzle with serrated, needle‑like teeth
  • Eyes glowing red from hyper‑vascularised night vision
  • Hooked claws capable of rending bark, bone, and flesh
  • Prehensile “shadow-tail” used for balance, strangling, or anchoring during ambush
  • Musculature far denser than a normal raccoon, granting unnatural strength
  • Carrion‑tainted saliva that accelerates decay in prey

Behaviour

  • Hunts in loose packs of three to six, though scouts often appear alone
  • Displays eerie stillness before striking, as if listening to something beneath the soil
  • Known to toy with prey, dragging bodies into dens to rot
  • Highly territorial around abandoned cabins, root cellars, and logging shacks
  • Communicates through low, rattling chittering that echoes unnaturally far in the pines

Habitat

Dense pine forests, derelict cabins, forgotten hunting trails, and regions where human habitation has decayed into silence.

Abilities

  • Shadow Pounce: Launches from darkness with near‑silent acceleration
  • Rot‑Claw Rend: Claws coated in necrotic saliva cause rapid tissue breakdown
  • Pack Convergence: Nearby Creepers are drawn to the kill-site within minutes
  • Fear Scent: Releases a musk that induces panic in small animals and unease in humans
  • Corpse Burrow: Hides within carcasses or debris piles to ambush intruders

Weaknesses

  • Bright, sustained light disorients them.
  • Fire drives them back.
  • Their heightened senses make them vulnerable to high‑pitched metallic sounds.
  • Lone Creepers are far less bold without pack support.

Cultural Lore

Campfire tales warn that if you see one Creeper watching from the treeline, two more are already circling behind you. Old trappers insist the faint cabin window glow seen deep in the woods isn’t a lantern — it’s the reflection of their eyes, waiting for you to step closer.

Would you survive if a group of these creatures visited your cabin at night? You better not leave any food scraps in your garbage can, just to be on the safe side.

If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.

Happy Reading!

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

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CREATURES OF THE AUSTRALIAN REALMS

Hello Readers,

Here is another post from my creature files. This terrifying animal was once extinct, but scientists meddling with the cloning of genes tried to bring it back to life and re-introduce it to the world. They partially succeeded, though you can’t really say this Thylacine is alive. Meet the Bone-Striped Tiger, an undead devil sometimes referred to as a Rot Runner by the locals.

BONE‑STRIPED TIGER

A zombie like Tasmanian Tiger stands before a lake with mountains in the background. Its eyes glow red and rotten flesh oozes from its open ribcage.

Thylacinus ossifera revenant — “The Rot Runner”

Origin In an ill‑fated attempt to resurrect the extinct Thylacine, geneticists spliced preserved Tasmanian tiger DNA with experimental regenerative sequences designed to repair cellular collapse. The process reanimated the body but failed to restore true life. What emerged was neither clone nor animal, but an undead predator driven by instinct, hunger, and a strange, lingering echo of its former species.

Physiology

• Emaciated, wolf‑like frame with exposed ribs and necrotic musculature

• Bone‑pale striping along the flanks, glowing faintly in low light

• Elongated jaws with desiccated lips pulled back from permanent snarl

• Eyes burning with unnatural red luminescence

• Limbs reinforced by partial ossification, granting unnatural speed

• Thickened tail vertebrae forming a whip‑like, skeletal lash

Behaviour

• Hunts in erratic bursts, alternating between stillness and explosive pursuit

• Drawn to heat, movement, and the scent of decay

• Displays territorial pacing patterns reminiscent of living thylacines

• Emits a rasping, breathless bark‑snarl that carries across wetlands

• Shows uncanny persistence, tracking prey long after a normal predator would give up

Habitat

Swamp margins, dead forests, abandoned research sites, mist‑choked valleys, and any region where rot, stagnant water, and shadow converge.

Abilities

• Gravebound Sprint: Accelerates with terrifying speed despite its decayed frame

• Rot Aura: Proximity induces nausea, weakness, and rapid spoilage of organic matter

• Bone‑Howl: A resonant, corpse‑dry cry that disorients prey and attracts others of its kind

• Death‑Scent Tracking: Follows the faintest trace of blood or decomposition across vast distances

Weaknesses

• Fire disrupts its necrotic tissues;

• Prolonged exposure to sunlight slows its movements;

• Cannot cross running water;

• Becomes disoriented by strong chemical disinfectants.

Cultural Lore

Locals claim the first Rot Runner rose from a vat that cracked open during a storm, lightning illuminating the creature as it staggered into the marsh. Some say the Bone‑Striped Tiger is not merely undead but angry — a spirit wronged by humanity’s meddling, doomed to wander until its lineage is restored or its remains are finally laid to rest.

Would you survive if you saw this beast, just as it spotted you from the tree line? Just how fast can you run?

If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.

Happy Reading!

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

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CREATURES OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Hello Readers,

This is the second post from my creature files. This week we have crossed the timeline to the Northern Hemisphere in search of strange beasts and find ourselves in Canada. And what dark creature could be more appropriate than this Ribbed-back Revenant, more commonly referred to as a Rib-back. This monster evolved from the grizzly bear and dons a partial exoskeleton of ribs, coupled with a row of defensive bone spikes, that run down either side of its back.

RIBBED‑BACK REVENANT

A fierce creature akin to a grizzly bear, it has red eyes and exposed ribs running down its back that are coupled with protruding bone spikes. The creature is snarling from the bank of a lake in a mountainous setting, with a tattered Canadian flag flying from a flagpole behind it.

Ursus horrendum redivivus — “The Rib‑back”

Origin

Born from the grizzly bear’s relentless survival instinct, the Ribbed‑back Revenant represents a grotesque evolutionary divergence. In regions where famine, radiation, and predation pressure converged, the species adapted by externalising portions of its own skeletal structure. What began as hardened scar‑bone plates eventually became a full partial exoskeleton — a macabre armour forged from its own ribs.

Physiology

  • Towering ursine frame with elongated limbs and hypertrophied musculature
  • Exposed rib‑plates forming a natural exoskeleton along the flanks
  • A double row of jagged bone spikes running down either side of the spine
  • Patchy, blood‑matted fur revealing necrotic hide beneath
  • Skull elongated into a predatory wedge with protruding fangs
  • Eyes glowing with bioluminescent red tissue, adapted for low‑light hunting
  • Internal organs partially shielded by fused rib‑growths, granting unnatural resilience

Behaviour

  • Apex scavenger‑predator hybrid; attacks opportunistically but with calculated brutality
  • Known to stalk wounded prey for hours, letting fear weaken them
  • Displays territorial aggression toward anything entering its kill‑zone
  • Emits low, rattling growls caused by air vibrating through its exposed rib structures
  • Shows an eerie fixation on human remains, often dragging bones back to its den

Habitat

Boreal forests, alpine foothills, and abandoned frontier settlements. Prefers regions scarred by conflict or ecological collapse, where carrion is plentiful and cover is dense.

Abilities

  • Rib Shield Carapace: Externalised ribs deflect blades, claws, and small‑calibre rounds.
  • Bone Spike Charge: A devastating shoulder‑rush that impales prey on its lateral spines.
  • Gravehowl: A resonant roar amplified by its hollow rib structures, capable of stunning prey.
  • Revenant Endurance: Can continue fighting long after sustaining wounds that would kill other megafauna.

Weaknesses

  • Limited flexibility due to ossified rib‑plates; struggles in tight spaces
  • Bright light disrupts its low‑light vision, causing momentary disorientation
  • Bone spikes can fracture under extreme blunt force, leaving it vulnerable

Cultural Lore

Frontier survivors whisper that Rib‑backs are the restless spirits of the wilderness itself — guardians twisted by humanity’s encroachment. Some claim the creatures are drawn to battlefields, as if feeding on the echoes of violence. Others insist that when the forest falls silent and the wind carries a hollow rattle, a Revenant is already watching from the treeline.

Would you survive if this Ursidae nightmare crawled out from the bushes before you? Thankfully they are rare creatures that tend to inhabit the wilds, rather than our cities.

If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.

Happy Reading!

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.

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THE SERPENT‑ASCENDED: DRAGONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN REALMS

Hello Readers,

I’ve been playing around with AI recently and thought I would have a go at creating some images of Australian specific dragons to add to my bestiary. I considered what this should look like to give them a distinctive Australian feel and how it would have come about. This got me thinking about the wildlife, which in turn sparked the idea “what would it look like if our snakes had evolved into dragons”. Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it, I had created my own version of 10 dragons from the Australian realms.

Here is a list of the 10 taken from my newly created ‘Bestiary of Post‑Serpentine Apex Species‘:

  1. The Eastern Brown Drake
  2. The Coastal Taipan Serpent-Wyrm
  3. The Inland Taipan Dread Wyrm
  4. The Mulga Earth-Dragon
  5. The Red-Bellied Ember Drake
  6. The Tiger Stripe Chimera Drake
  7. The Death Adder Ambush Drake
  8. The Carpet Python Forest Guardian
  9. The Olive Python River Serpent
  10. The Woma Sand-Sense Drake

The first is detailed below, with the others to follow over the coming weeks:

EASTERN BROWN DRAKE

A golden-brown dragon standing proud in an outback desert environment.

Draco textilis fulguris — “The Lightning Wyrm”

Origin

Evolved from the Eastern Brown Snake, these drakes adapted to open plains and sun‑scorched grasslands, developing speed‑enhancing musculature and heat‑diffusing wing‑membranes.

Physiology

  • Lean, aerodynamic body with bronze‑to‑sand gradient scales
  • Long, narrow wings that shimmer like heat haze
  • Eyes adapted to detect micro‑movement at extreme distances
  • Venom glands modified into vapourised neurotoxin breath

Behaviour

  • Hyper‑territorial and reactive
  • Hunts by explosive sprinting takeoff, striking before prey perceives movement
  • Known to “strobe” its wings to disorient attackers

Habitat

Dry grasslands, outback plains, abandoned farmlands

Abilities

  • Lightning Burst: A short‑range teleport‑like dash
  • Neuro‑Mist Breath: Causes paralysis and hallucinations
  • Heat Mirage Cloak: Bends light around its body

Weaknesses

Poor endurance; relies on ambush and speed

Cultural Lore Farmers claim the Lightning Wyrm is the “anger of the sun,” punishing those who disrespect the land.

The below image illustrates the Draco textilis fulguris strobing its wings for an attack.

A bronze-coloured dragon posed to attack in an outback environment, its wings shimmer with motion.

Come back next week for the next dragon in this series.

Until then,

Happy Reading!

If you’re interested in seeing more of my creature posts, you can find them in my Bestiary.

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. His titles are also available in libraries.

If you liked this post please share it with your friends on social media.