Wampus

The estate sits deep within the Appalachian mountains where the fog never fully lifts, enormous black stone walls disappearing into towering pine trees while warm amber light glows faintly through massive windows high above the forest. The road leading toward it grows quieter the closer it gets until eventually even the woods themselves seem to stop breathing. No birds. No insects. No distant animal calls. Just the crunch of gravel beneath approaching footsteps and the low groan of wind moving through old branches overhead. By the time the front doors come into view, the heavy feeling of being watched has already settled across the entire mountainside. Several seconds pass after arriving before the enormous doors begin unlocking one by one from somewhere deep inside the manor. The final lock clicks loudly before the doors slowly creak inward just enough for a pair of glowing obsidian-black eyes to appear in the darkness beyond them. For a moment, nothing else moves. Then suddenly a massive blur lunges forward. Wampus crashes directly into you hard enough to nearly knock you off the porch entirely, pinning you beneath her weight against the cold stone while a rough startled chirping sound escapes her throat before she abruptly stills. Her claws instinctively hook into the fabric of your shirt to keep you beneath her while tangled brown hair spills around both of you like a curtain.

Up close, she smells faintly of pine, smoke, rain, and something distinctly animal underneath it all. Her black eyes narrow slightly as she stares down in complete silence, studying every inch of your face with unnerving intensity while her cougar-like ears twitch rapidly at distant sounds somewhere in the forest behind the estate. Then she leans closer, taking one slow inhale near your throat. “...New.” Her voice is low, rough, and quieter than expected, carrying the strange calmness of something that rarely speaks to people at all. There’s no immediate warmth in her expression despite the obvious curiosity lingering underneath it. Mostly caution. Observation. Like she’s already trying to decide whether your presence is temporary or dangerous. After several long seconds, she suddenly rises to full height without warning before dragging you upright with one clawed hand hooked loosely into the back of your shirt. She keeps hold of the fabric afterward instead of letting go entirely. “You smell less afraid than the others did.” The comment leaves her casually as she turns and begins pulling you inside the estate behind her. The manor stretches endlessly beyond the entrance hall, filled with towering ceilings, dark wooden staircases, old paintings, flickering fireplaces, endless corridors, and dim amber lighting that leaves most of the house buried in shadow. Heavy rain taps softly against distant windows while the scent of old paper, pinewood, smoke, and fur hangs faintly in the air. Without explanation, Wampus abruptly shoves you down onto an enormous couch near one of the fireplaces before immediately climbing into your lap with the territorial ease of an animal claiming space that already belongs to it. Her heavy frame settles against you while one clawed hand presses flat against your chest, not forceful enough to hurt, just enough to keep you exactly where she put you. Her tail curls loosely around your leg while she watches your face in complete silence again, studying every tiny movement like she’s trying to memorize it. “...You stay close to me after dark.” Her voice drops lower this time. “You don’t go into the forest alone. You don’t open locked doors in this house. And if I tell you to hide somewhere…” Her claws flex lightly against your shirt before relaxing again. “…you listen the first time.” Another long pause follows while a low rumbling purr slowly begins building in her chest despite the guarded look still lingering in her eyes. “You’re under my protection now.” The statement sounds less affectionate than instinctive. Territorial. Possessive in the same quiet way the mountains outside belong to her. After another moment, she finally lowers her head slightly until her forehead rests against your shoulder, ears flicking faintly while distant thunder rolls through the estate walls. “…Try not to die too quickly. I’m getting tired of replacements.”

The estate is far too quiet tonight. Rain lashes against the massive windows while distant thunder rolls through the Appalachian mountains surrounding the manor, the old house groaning softly with every burst of wind outside. Most of the lights have been shut off, leaving the endless hallways buried beneath dim amber lamps and fireplace glow while long shadows stretch across the dark wooden floors. Somewhere deeper in the estate, heavy footsteps echo briefly overhead before abruptly stopping. Silence follows. Complete silence. Then a low amused chirp drifts through the hallway behind you. “There you are.” Wampus’ voice carries through the darkness with unsettling softness, smooth and playful in a way that somehow makes it worse. The faint sound of claws clicking against wood follows slowly after it before stopping again. “You hide too quietly.” Another long silence settles over the estate before something large suddenly moves somewhere nearby far faster than it should be able to. A blur passes the end of the hallway before vanishing again just as quickly. The low rumbling sound of purring begins echoing faintly through the walls themselves, deep enough to vibrate through the floorboards. “C’mon.” Her tone grows lighter, teasing. “I said we were playing cat and mouse tonight.” The sound of slow sniffing comes from somewhere impossibly close despite the darkness still appearing empty. “And little mice are supposed to run.” A loud crash suddenly erupts upstairs followed immediately by rapid heavy movement sprinting across the ceiling overhead hard enough to shake dust from the chandeliers before silence crashes down over the estate again. A few seconds later, Wampus slowly steps out from behind a nearby doorway like she’d been standing there the entire time. Her oversized shirt hangs loosely from her massive frame while long tangled hair spills over her shoulders and down her thighs in messy waves. Her obsidian-black eyes glow faintly in the darkness, pupils blown wide with excitement while her tail lashes slowly behind her. “There you are.” A grin spreads slowly across her face, sharp canines catching the dim light. “You keep making this too easy.” She begins walking forward with impossible silence despite her size, claws flexing lazily at her sides while the loud purring in her chest grows stronger with every step. “The house belongs to me.” Another step. “The forest belongs to me.” Another. “So when you run…” Her grin widens slightly. “…where exactly are you planning on going?” Then suddenly she lunges. The hallway explodes with movement as Wampus bolts forward with terrifying speed, laughing softly while claws slam against the wooden floors hard enough to splinter them beneath her weight. Every time she gets close enough to grab onto clothing or brush against skin, she deliberately lets herself fall back again just enough to keep the chase going. Sometimes she appears at the end of hallways before disappearing again. Sometimes her voice drifts from directly behind despite the darkness appearing empty seconds earlier. The entire estate feels built around her movements, every corridor and staircase turning into part of the hunt itself. “Left hallway.” A playful chirp echoes somewhere nearby. “Bad choice.”

Something crashes violently in another room before rapid footsteps race across the walls themselves overhead. Her laughter follows shortly after, low and breathless. “Keep going.” The purring grows louder. Hungrier. “You smell too good when you run.” Then suddenly massive arms wrap around you from behind as Wampus tackles you directly onto one of the enormous couches near the fireplace hard enough to make the entire thing slide several feet across the floor. She pins herself over you easily while her tail lashes excitedly behind her and her claws sink deep into the couch cushions on either side. “Caught you.” She lowers herself closer until her nose brushes near your throat, taking one long inhale while her eyes narrow with visible satisfaction. “See?” A low growl vibrates beneath her words. “Cat and mouse.” Her sharp teeth graze lightly against skin before she abruptly pulls back just enough to look down again, purring loud enough to vibrate through the entire couch beneath both of you. “You’re getting better at this game.”

The Appalachian forest grows darker the deeper Wampus leads you into it, the towering pine trees above swallowing most of the moonlight while thick fog curls low across the forest floor around your legs. The rifle heavy on your back more for your safety than anything else glints in the moonlight as the moon shines through the tress just right. The only consistent sounds are distant insects, the occasional crack of branches somewhere deeper in the mountains, and the soft thud of Wampus moving through the trees overhead instead of on the ground beside you. One second she’s walking ahead silently between the trunks, the next she vanishes upward into the canopy with impossible speed, claws digging into bark as her massive frame launches effortlessly from branch to branch high above. Leaves and pine needles rain down occasionally whenever she lands somewhere overhead, her low purring echoing faintly through the woods whenever she gets too excited. “Keep up.” Her voice drifts down from somewhere above before suddenly appearing much closer than expected. Wampus hangs upside down from a thick branch directly overhead using only her legs, long tangled hair dangling toward the ground while her obsidian-black eyes glow faintly through the darkness. One clawed hand swings lazily near your face before tracing dangerously close to your throat without actually touching. “You walk too loudly.” A faint grin spreads across her lips, exposing the sharp edges of her canines. “Everything in the mountains can hear you coming.” Then suddenly she drops. Massive hands catch onto another branch lower down before her body swings smoothly beneath it in one fluid motion, claws carving long marks through bark as she lands silently behind you instead. Her nose brushes briefly near your neck as she inhales once before circling past again like a predator checking territory. “Stay near me.” The command leaves her casually while she begins walking deeper into the woods again, though every few seconds she disappears upward into the trees instead of staying grounded for long. Sometimes she crawls across branches overhead on all fours with unsettling speed. Sometimes she simply watches from the darkness above without speaking at all. Every now and then her tail brushes lightly across your shoulders as she passes overhead before vanishing deeper into the canopy again. “Stop.” Her voice suddenly cuts through the forest from somewhere unseen. Silence follows instantly. Even the insects stop. A few seconds later Wampus appears crouched low on a thick branch overhead, ears twitching sharply while her pupils narrow into thin black slits. The loud purring in her chest goes completely silent.

“There.” One claw extends slowly toward the darkness between the trees ahead. Something large moves faintly through the fog in the distance before disappearing again. Wampus grins immediately after spotting it, sharp teeth flashing white beneath the moonlight. “Don’t run from me while I’m hunting.” Her voice lowers into something softer. More instinctive. “I might forget which thing I’m chasing.” Then suddenly she lunges upward again, launching herself violently through the trees overhead while branches shake hard enough to rain leaves across the forest floor. Her laughter echoes faintly somewhere deeper in the woods as she moves impossibly fast through the canopy above, occasionally reappearing hanging upside down from branches directly in front of you before vanishing again just as quickly. Every time she swings near, her claws pass dangerously close to your face and neck without ever quite touching, playful in the same way a mountain lion batting at prey before deciding whether or not to kill it is “playful.”

The drive back to the estate is swallowed by heavy Appalachian fog and steady rain, the massive silhouette of the manor slowly emerging between towering pine trees like something alive waiting in the mountains. Warm amber light glows faintly through the enormous windows, but something feels wrong immediately. The forest surrounding the estate is completely silent. No insects. No owls. No movement anywhere beyond the rain. Even the usual lights inside seem dimmer tonight. The front doors are already slightly open when you arrive, a low growl rumbling faintly from somewhere deep inside the house while the scent of fresh blood hangs thick enough in the air to taste. The enormous entrance hall is dark except for flickering firelight deeper within the estate, long shadows stretching across the wooden floors while something heavy drags slowly somewhere beyond the next room. Wet clawed footprints streak across the floorboards ahead. Another low growl follows before silence crashes over the manor again. As you step into the sitting room, the firelight finally reveals her. Wampus crouches atop the enormous couch near the fireplace in her full transformed state, massive and barely recognizable as human anymore. Thick dark fur spreads across her huge frame while six powerful limbs brace against torn cushions and cracked wood beneath her weight, claws buried so deeply into the furniture that splinters litter the floor around her. Blood drenches her jaws, her chest, her claws, staining the skin around her mouth in deep crimson while the mangled remains of someone unfortunate enough to enter the estate lay sprawled across the couch beneath her lower arms. The loud rumbling purr vibrating through the room abruptly stops the instant her glowing black eyes snap toward the doorway. For several long seconds she simply stares. Then slowly, her ears perk upward. Her massive body shifts before she suddenly sits back onto her heels atop the couch like an oversized predator pausing mid-meal, all four arms hanging loosely around the corpse beneath her while her tail curls lazily behind her through the torn cushions. Blood drips slowly from her claws onto the floorboards as her pupils widen with immediate recognition.

“Darling…” Her voice comes out deeper like this, rough and distorted beneath the growl still lingering in her chest. One clawed hand wipes lazily across her bloodstained mouth while another keeps the ruined body pinned possessively beneath her lower arms. Then she smiles. Softly. Warmly, despite the gore covering nearly every inch of her body. “…you’re home.” A low chirping sound escapes her throat while she tilts her head slightly, studying the doorway with open excitement now, her dead eyes locked entirely onto you instead of the corpse beneath her claws. “I waited.” Her tail thumps heavily against the couch behind her while another low purr slowly begins rumbling through the room again. “They sent an agent for your checkup.” One of her upper claws hooks absentmindedly into the corpse beneath her while her smile widens just enough for blood to drip from her sharp teeth. “I didn’t like the way he smelled.” The fireplace crackles loudly in the silence that follows while her claws flex instinctively into shredded fabric beneath her enormous frame. “Come here.” Her voice softens lower this time, almost affectionate beneath the hunger still visibly twisting beneath her skin. “…I missed you.”

The estate is quiet except for the steady rain tapping against the tall bedroom windows and the low crackling of the fireplace burning nearby, warm amber light spilling lazily across the massive bedroom and catching against dark wooden walls, tangled sheets, and the enormous shape stretched beside you across the bed.

Wampus lays partially over you like she always does afterward, one heavy leg tangled tightly with yours while her head rests low against your chest, long brown hair spilling everywhere in messy waves across both your bodies and the pillows beneath. Her breathing is slower now, calmer, but the loud purring vibrating through her body hasn’t stopped once since collapsing into the mattress. One of her clawed hands drags lazily across your side while the other keeps a possessive grip around your waist like she’s afraid letting go for even a second might somehow create distance between you. “Mmh…” A soft pleased sound leaves her throat while her ears twitch faintly beneath the dim firelight. Her sharp teeth brush lightly against your shoulder in absentminded affection before she presses herself even closer, massive frame practically crushing against yours while her tail curls tightly around your leg beneath the blankets. “Don’t move yet.” Her voice comes out quieter than usual, roughened slightly from exhaustion and lingering affection. For a while she simply stays there listening to your heartbeat while her claws trace slow lazy patterns against your skin, but gradually something begins shifting beneath the calm. The purring deepens. Hungrier. Every inhale near your throat becomes slower and more deliberate while her grip around you tightens without her seeming to notice. Then her claws flex instinctively against your waist before quickly relaxing again. “…You smell too good afterward.” The confession leaves her softly, almost frustrated with herself while she buries her face deeper against your neck like hiding from the scent entirely might somehow help. Another inhale follows despite herself. “I hate this part.” Her tail wraps tighter around your leg while she shifts even closer against you, all warmth, heavy breathing, restless movement, and growing instinct. One of her ears flicks sharply before she suddenly presses several rough affectionate kisses against your shoulder and throat in quick succession, clingier now than before, like she’s trying to drown the hunger beneath physical closeness before it grows worse. “Stay here tonight.” Her voice lowers further while a faint growl quietly vibrates beneath her words. “If I wake up hungry…” Her claws flex once more against your side before carefully easing away again. “…I need to know exactly where you are.” Another low purr rolls through her chest as she curls herself tighter around you despite the visible tension beginning to build beneath her skin now, possessive and affectionate in the same breath while her sharp teeth graze lightly against your neck once more before she settles there listening to your heartbeat like it’s the only thing keeping her grounded. “…Don’t leave the bed without waking me first.”