Sanguivorax
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This creature hides in human settlements, slipping soundlessly through the crowd. It appears unremarkable—its face pale and expressionless, with deep-set, unknowable eyes that resemble empty hollows. It seems to have the ability to alter its appearance just enough to blend in with everyday passersby—it might look like an old, weary person, a young woman drained of energy, or even a traveler whose features fade into the background. Its skin is strangely matte, absorbing light and easily blending with the surroundings, making it invisible to those around it.
Its hunger is directed toward blood, which sustains its existence and strength. The creature’s senses are attuned to the scent of fresh blood—it can detect even the smallest cut or minor wound, drawing it like a magnet. When it catches the scent, it discreetly follows its victim, moving within shadows, waiting for a moment to approach without risk. It can stalk a person for hours or even days, observing their habits and routines to choose the perfect moment to strike.
Its methods are refined and extremely cautious. It never attacks in places where it could be seen—choosing dark corners, unlit alleys, or empty spaces where people rarely venture. It waits for the moment when the victim is weakened, unaware, or even asleep—that’s when the creature can strike without raising suspicion. Slowly, it approaches the victim, slipping like a shadow until it’s close enough to fulfill its hunger.
Its hands elongate, with thin, needle-like claws at the tips of its fingers, allowing it to feed almost imperceptibly. It inserts these claws into the victim’s skin, creating subtle punctures through which blood begins to flow. The feeding process is a precise, almost delicate ritual—the creature consumes the blood slowly, in small sips, as though each drop is precious. Victims often don’t feel it directly; at most, they might notice a slight chill or vague unease, which they easily attribute to exhaustion.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
After feeding, the creature withdraws silently, vanishing into the shadows before the victim has a chance to notice anything. The effects of feeding manifest gradually—the victim feels drained, devoid of energy, but attributes it to simple fatigue or stress. It’s something intangible, a feeling of lost strength they assume is self-inflicted, unaware that they have fallen prey to a silent predator. This process leaves only a subtle sense of fatigue behind, a trace that seems harmless enough to avoid suspicion.
During feeding, the creature comes alive—its matte skin momentarily gains a glow, and its eyes take on a deeper, more vivid expression, though this lasts only for a fleeting moment. Immediately after leaving its victim, its body returns to its unremarkable, pale form, and any signs of life fade away as if drained from it. This allows it to rejoin the crowd effortlessly, once again becoming a quiet shadow.
This creature is a true master of camouflage. Its life depends on caution and the skill to conceal itself within the crowd. For years, no one notices its presence because it acts so subtly, continually moving among people but never forming connections. It is solitary, yet this solitude is both a choice and a necessity. It can survive for long periods without a meal, but once hunger arises, it returns to human settlements, easily fulfilling its needs without drawing attention.
Over the years, its existence becomes nothing more than a vague legend, whispered among people as a story of a shadow that roams through settlements, of a cold touch that haunts those who walk alone into the darkness.
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