Liam Kincaid (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
firstofitskind) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2020-04-01 10:06 pm
firstofitskind) wrote in fandomhigh2020-04-01 10:06 pm
Entry tags:
The Cryptozoologist's Field Guide, Thursday, Period Two
Welcome once more into the swamp simulation in the Danger Shop, kids! Liam and Verity were getting a lot of mileage out of that particular sim - probably because many cryptids flourished in places where humans didn't like to go. They were standing on a small patch of dry land, one of the very few that could be found and between them was an image of a winged, humanoid figure, roughly Verity's own height.
Which wasn't that tall to begin with, but details.
Pyske americanus," she said, jerking her finger at the static image, "loosely translated means 'the one decent arguments for clear-cutting swamps'." No, it really didn't. "Otherwise known as the North American swamp fairy, what you're looking at is an insect that looks like a mammal. What looks like hair is actually a specialized form of chitin. Why swamp fairies look humanoid is a question that no one can answer; our current working theory is that that helps lure prey into traps. Bodies retrieved from swamp fairies are barely recognizable." She grimaced. "Unlike their evolutionary cousins, the tooth fairies, swamp fairies are omnivorous and less horrifying, if for no other reason than they live mostly out in swamps, marshes, and wetlands, as opposed to tooth fairies, who deliberately settle near humans for ease of feeding."
Tooth fairies were disgusting, terrible creatures and Verity would be okay with never covering them in any class ever, thanks.
"Swamp fairies are intelligent, capable of a form of speech and also understanding several others. This means that they can occasionally be reasoned with and convinced to go away or, at least, to stop attacking. This also means that they understand the concept of weaponry, traps, as Verity mentioned earlier, and also grudges, which they can carry throughout their lifetimes," Liam said, picking up the lecture where Verity left off. "They're also vastly territorial, aggressive, and downright belligerent. This is one species where humans cannot take all the credit for three of their subspecies having gone extinct; when two different species of swamp fairy are introduced to an environment at the same time, they will fight until one side is completely obliterated. They are incapable of tolerating competition and generally don't like tolerating much else."
Verity pressed a button and suddenly the giant fairy next to her started to glow, giving off different patterns of light. "Swamp fairies produce luciferase in a specialized space between the layers of their skins, rendering them capable of bioluminescence. Each species has its own distinct color range and mating pattern, generated by controlled strobing of the luciferase by the courting male. Infant swamp fairies glow continually, making them easy for their parents to keep track of. Swamp fairies have been observed using their light to stun frogs and even small mammals, keeping them frozen until they can be killed by the rest of the hunting party. They do not, however, make for good party decorations because they will steal your snacks, spill your drinks, and terrorize your guests." ASK HER HOW SHE KNEW!
(Better yet, do not ask her)
Another press of the button and the giant fairy image disappeared, leaving behind a five-inch version of the same. "That fairy was enlarged so you could have a clear look at it, especially the aggressive stance it was making. That is a full territorial display. When a swamp fairy poses in this manner, it is best to back away slowly, and demonstrate that you are armed. Only a show of force will be respected. And it really needs to be impressive, because where one swamp fairy is found, there are likely tens to hundreds more nearby." The light in the Danger Shop dimmed slightly, and hundreds of lights winked into being, like fireflies but angry and on steroids. There was also a picnic basket full of food and a butterfly net at each student's feet.
"Today, we're playing a game. You guys versus the fairies. You all have butterfly nets, your own weapons, and whatever you can find or build out here. Your job is to keep the fairies from stealing your food without actually harming any of them, and the fairies' job is, obviously, to steal it from you. You have an hour to defend your food, capture fairies, and figure out a way to keep them contained." Liam wasn't going to point out that the fairies had weapons that could easily cut their way free from a net--or that they had no such restrictions on harming anyone (although the usual Danger Shop protocols were in place, and no serious injuries would occur). He trusted the students to find a way. "Ready...set..." The lights in the air all vanished. "Go!!"
Which was when the swamp fairies divebombed the class. Good luck fighting something that small and quick, everyone.
Which wasn't that tall to begin with, but details.
Pyske americanus," she said, jerking her finger at the static image, "loosely translated means 'the one decent arguments for clear-cutting swamps'." No, it really didn't. "Otherwise known as the North American swamp fairy, what you're looking at is an insect that looks like a mammal. What looks like hair is actually a specialized form of chitin. Why swamp fairies look humanoid is a question that no one can answer; our current working theory is that that helps lure prey into traps. Bodies retrieved from swamp fairies are barely recognizable." She grimaced. "Unlike their evolutionary cousins, the tooth fairies, swamp fairies are omnivorous and less horrifying, if for no other reason than they live mostly out in swamps, marshes, and wetlands, as opposed to tooth fairies, who deliberately settle near humans for ease of feeding."
Tooth fairies were disgusting, terrible creatures and Verity would be okay with never covering them in any class ever, thanks.
"Swamp fairies are intelligent, capable of a form of speech and also understanding several others. This means that they can occasionally be reasoned with and convinced to go away or, at least, to stop attacking. This also means that they understand the concept of weaponry, traps, as Verity mentioned earlier, and also grudges, which they can carry throughout their lifetimes," Liam said, picking up the lecture where Verity left off. "They're also vastly territorial, aggressive, and downright belligerent. This is one species where humans cannot take all the credit for three of their subspecies having gone extinct; when two different species of swamp fairy are introduced to an environment at the same time, they will fight until one side is completely obliterated. They are incapable of tolerating competition and generally don't like tolerating much else."
Verity pressed a button and suddenly the giant fairy next to her started to glow, giving off different patterns of light. "Swamp fairies produce luciferase in a specialized space between the layers of their skins, rendering them capable of bioluminescence. Each species has its own distinct color range and mating pattern, generated by controlled strobing of the luciferase by the courting male. Infant swamp fairies glow continually, making them easy for their parents to keep track of. Swamp fairies have been observed using their light to stun frogs and even small mammals, keeping them frozen until they can be killed by the rest of the hunting party. They do not, however, make for good party decorations because they will steal your snacks, spill your drinks, and terrorize your guests." ASK HER HOW SHE KNEW!
(Better yet, do not ask her)
Another press of the button and the giant fairy image disappeared, leaving behind a five-inch version of the same. "That fairy was enlarged so you could have a clear look at it, especially the aggressive stance it was making. That is a full territorial display. When a swamp fairy poses in this manner, it is best to back away slowly, and demonstrate that you are armed. Only a show of force will be respected. And it really needs to be impressive, because where one swamp fairy is found, there are likely tens to hundreds more nearby." The light in the Danger Shop dimmed slightly, and hundreds of lights winked into being, like fireflies but angry and on steroids. There was also a picnic basket full of food and a butterfly net at each student's feet.
"Today, we're playing a game. You guys versus the fairies. You all have butterfly nets, your own weapons, and whatever you can find or build out here. Your job is to keep the fairies from stealing your food without actually harming any of them, and the fairies' job is, obviously, to steal it from you. You have an hour to defend your food, capture fairies, and figure out a way to keep them contained." Liam wasn't going to point out that the fairies had weapons that could easily cut their way free from a net--or that they had no such restrictions on harming anyone (although the usual Danger Shop protocols were in place, and no serious injuries would occur). He trusted the students to find a way. "Ready...set..." The lights in the air all vanished. "Go!!"
Which was when the swamp fairies divebombed the class. Good luck fighting something that small and quick, everyone.
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