Griever

Among the largest predators that stalk the vast salt plains of Garmiwala is a night hunter known simply as….

The Griever

The name stems from a semi-mythical story associated with the animal. Centuries ago, one of the first expeditions to the planet ended in disaster. Contact was lost with the ship and a rescue mission was subsequently formed up.

Among the volunteer crew was the wife of a man lost in the first mission.

Yet, despite their tireless efforts, signs of any survivors remained lost in the sand.

The mission was called off and the crew asked to return. She, however, chose to stay behind, determined to search every inch of the salt plains until she found him. He would have done the same, she believed.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, yet still, there was no sign of her beloved. Alone in the wilderness, her spirit broken and her vitals failing, she prayed to whoever could hear her plea…that she doesn’t fail.

And so, she was transformed into a creature of the sand. Now, she wanders in eternal mourning, forever in search of the one that fate took from her; her cries echoing through the desert.

The real animal, of course, is not to be pitied but, if anything, kept a good distance from.

A creature of very comprehending patience, it will lie in wait for its quarry for days and even weeks, staying still and never expanding even an ounce of energy; a bioluminescent glow adorning its face and tail.

Finally, the prey item would come close, and with almost unnatural speed, it would strike, releasing a special toxin inside the victim.

It does not kill it immediately. The unfortunate victim may initially believe it has escaped, only to find its insides gradually liquefying, consumed by the potent toxin.

Now, drawn by the scent of disintegrating flesh, the Griever will follow its prey, never stopping, never relenting. As the prey weakens, paralyzed by the toxin’s grasp, the Griever closes in for its feast.

The Griever is known for its deep, doleful sound that resembles the voice of a woman lost in sorrow, hence how the tale may have first surfaced. Rather than a search call, though, it is one of marking territory and warding off potential rivals.

Parts of the animal’s sound may come as a squeal due to it overshooting the frequency limit of the recording instrument. 

This entry was made by Artnoob100.

Author’s Note: This alien concept was inspired by the works of Wayne Barlowe and Jeff VanderMeer’s novel series, Southern Reach Trilogy.