Tree Shuck

Description

Tall and thin this bear like creature is capable of hiding behind virtually any tree or post. Baring shaggy fur, long claws, and a disturbing carnivorous grin these entities are considered to be high dangerous. Though they do not often assault mortal humans their presence if often enough to send a person mad.  

Morphology

Tree Shucks are large quadrupedal creatures with thick black fur that stand around 2.1 metres tall. Tress Shucks are often compared to bears, their faces a contorted snout with viscous canines. Their eyes are a piercing red, yellow, or orange and their four fingered hands are tipped with long claws. Often the Tree Shuck will hold itself up right with these claws behind a tree or post. Tree Shucks are capable of contorting their form and body to hide behind a space less than 2 metres tall and 5 inches wide. This allows Tree Shucks to follow their prey with ease, hiding behind even the thinnest of trees. Tree shucks are extremely fast, being able to move at speeds near unrecordable by modern means. It is common for one to lose sight of a tree shuck, only catching a glimpse of it for a split second.   Though when hunting they will often appear bipedal, holding themselves upright using whatever cover they hide behind. Tree Shucks are in fact quadrupeds, this gives tree shucks the ability to climb and move with extreme efficiency. The fur of Tree Shucks is often long, dangling from their forelimbs and face as they lurch themselves into a standing position.  

Growth and Creation

It is unkown from what realm tree shucks originate, or in fact how they reproduce. It is presumed that Tree Shucks are either naturally occurring or expats form a foreign realm. It is presumed that Tree Shucks reproduce similarly to non anomalous mammalian creatures.  

Abilities

Tree Shucks are first and foremost extremely fast, their speed is unparalleled even within the anomalous world. This speed is used almost exclusively for avoiding prey and remaining out of sight. Along with speed Tree Shucks are also capable of contorting their form. Most often this is done in an effort to remain hidden behind a tree, post, or small boulder. Tree shucks too possess deadly claws and teeth similar to that of a non anomalous bear. Though one can be certain that a tree shuck would never engage their prey, only using such implements as a last line of defence.  

Tree Shuck Contorition

Tree Shucks are able to bend and contort their bodies in order to considerably reduce their size. This allows Tree Shucks to easily hide behind almost any object, as long as said object is large enough. Tree Shucks are also able to use this contortion to traverse otherwise impassable obstacles. Cracks in walls, windows left ajar, and holes in a door can all allow a Tree Shuck entry to one's home. This contortion is also used to disorientate and confuse prey if spotted. Often a Tree Shuck will bend and weave its shape erratically back behind the safety of cover.  

Tree Shuck Speed

Tree Shucks are able to move at incredible speeds, faster than most people can easily observe. Even with the use of speed measuring devices anomalous researchers have been unable to determine a tree shucks speed. What is known is that these entities move faster than any other physical entity.  

Tree Shuck Hiding

Tree Shucks show amazing proffenciy at remaining out of sight and hidden. With their speed and contortion Tree Shucks are able easily stalk and prey upon unwitting humans. Most people who are victim to a Tree Shuck are none the wiser, simply feeling eyes upon them. Even Tree Shucks in captivity continue to be extremely difficult to observe. Even when trapped within a transparent cell a Tree Shuck instance was easily able to conceal its location. It did this by rapidly moving from corner to corner of the cell, moving whenever researchers or waiting personnel caught sight of the creature. This was only prevented by installing two wide angle cameras that constantly monitored the cell.  

Behaviour and Psychology

Tree Shucks are considered to be threatening though non lethal, this is mainly due to their own cowardice. Tree Shucks refuse to enter any engagement unless absolutely necessary and will always flee. This is true too for when Tree Shucks are spotted. If observed without consent the Tree Shuck will often rapidly retreat out of sight to find other prey.   Not much is known about Tree Shuck interactions, no two instances have ever been observed together in the wild. Captured instances have proved to be extremely territorial however, with two instances fighting to the death over the course of a second. Tree Shucks take pride in not being seen whilst observing their prey, getting a good look at a Tree Shuck could send the entity into a violent rage. Some instances have been known to relentlessly stalk victims after being seen.   Tree Shucks do not possess much intelligence, many have compared Tree Shucks to dogs in intelligence. This however is not certain, some Tree Shucks have shown understanding enough to open doors, windows, and even damage critical systems. This seems to be rare for Tree Shucks however and only present in extremely persistent instances. Tree Shucks consider operational video cameras to be a witnessing pair of eyes and will do all in their power to avoid being caught on film. The ever watching nature of video cameras seems to make Tree Shucks uncomfortable, with some instances caught in video traps becoming uncharacteristically hostile.    

Habitat & Diet

Tree Shucks can be found across the world and are considered by many Anomalous Security Organisations to be invasive entities. Most commonly Tree Shucks can be found in thick woodlands and forests. Though with the wide spread urbanisation of the modern world instances have more regularly been encountered within urban areas. Tree Shucks primarily feast upon the anxiety produced by the feeling of being watched. Tree Shucks absorb this energy psychically from a distance by making eye contact with their prey. This leads to Tree Shucks needing to peer around from wherever they hide to feed. Most commonly Tree Shucks will feed whilst their prey looks in another direction in order to remain un-observed. Some Tree Shucks however have been known to purposely expose themselves to prey in order to generate a more substantial meal. Humans are not the only prey for Tree Shucks, they are able to feed off of this primordial fear from any living mammalian.    

Combat & Containment

Tree Shucks are incredibly difficult to combat and contain, their speed along with their ability to hide makes tracking such entities near impossible. Fortunately Tree Shucks prove to be little violent threat to humanity and in effect self contained in their hunting behaviour. Some Tree Shuck instances however have been known to be more aggressive in their feeding habits leading to a need for efficient combat and containment procedures. It is recommended that field agents first alert their Overwatch in order to gain rapid reinforcements. Field Agents are able to do little with commonly assigned equipment. They can however draw a Tree Shuck into a location and attempt to trap it. This would require first moving to a wide open space, preferably one of flat land with no posts, rocks, bushes, or other obstructions within 300 kilometres. By placing poles that are roughly 5 inches in diameter and at least 3 metres tall Agents can effectively trap a Tree Shuck. By placing the posts in a close circle the Agents can provide a good place to hide for a Tree Shuck.   Tree Shucks will refuse to move from a hiding place if the area is being constantly monitored. By luring a Tree Shuck into the circle of posts and then keeping a constant watch of its interior, Agents can effectively trap a Tree Shuck. Unfortunately this can prove to be far more difficult in action as there is little to no way of truly telling if a Tree Shuck is hidden nearby. Often all Agents will be able to gleam only a flashing glimpse of the Tree Shuck. Mirrors can also be used to guard against a Tree Shuck or at least keep one at a distance. By lining mirrors in patterns in order to create looping sight lines Agents are able to create a cordon in which the Tree Shuck cannot hide. If enough mirrors are present this can be used to once more force a Tree Shuck into a specific location from which it won't be able to escape. Unfortunately Response Agents have little more in the way of effectively combating a Tree Shuck. Conventional fire arms are more than effective in taking down a Tree Shuck though locating one is near impossible.   If the Tree Shuck is fixed on stalking one individual, Agents are able to effectively counter the entity. Given that they have a sufficient lure Agents have in the past been able to lure Tree Shucks to carefully designed kill zones. More pervasive Tree Shucks however are often best caught using a makeshift lure. By employing Pychic-Mirrors response agents are able to generate a good source of food for a Tree Shuck. Using these Psychic-Mirrors as bait allows response Agents to lute some Tree Shucks into areas for termination or capture. Video cameras can also be used to lock down certain areas and prevent Tree Shuck movement. Tree Shucks often treat operational cameras as witnessing eyes and do what they can to avoid being caught on film. Response and Field Agents can use video cameras to keep more than one set of eyes on certain locations. Once more this can be used to trap or herd Tree Shuck instances into easily controlled zones.   The biggest threat posed by Tree Shucks is accidental exposure to civilian elements. Often Tree Shucks will only target an individual once, unfortunately if they prove to be a good meal they may be pursued. This has been known to send some individuals into a paranoid wreck, all to the glee of the hunting Shuck. Imbedded and digital agents are recommended to often search communication channels for Tree Shuck exposers.  

Subspecies and Variants

There are a variety of Tree Shucks known to exist and undoubtedly hundreds that still to this day remain hidden to us.  

North American Tree Shuck

- The most well known of Tree Shucks and the most common, pervasive across the globe. Thick black fur and lean frame allow these tree shucks to be the prime of their species.  

Europran Tree Shuck

- The Euroshuck is Eurasias resident Tree Shuck species. Smaller that their cousins though with a more stocky build these Shucks are well known for their hiding ability.  

Lamp Shuck

- With the urbanisation of the modern world Tree Shuck species have adapted to hunt in new habitats. The Lamp Shuck is long, slender, and almost entirely hairless. Preferring to haunt its way through city streets behind lampposts and in alleyways.  

Wood Shuck

- Wood Shuck are the largest of the Tree Shuck species, standing at around 11 meters tall. Wood Shuck are almost only ever found in dense and tall woodland and often stalk through the trees. Though immensely tall Wood Shucks are one of the rarest sights of the anomalous world.  

Fairy Shuck

- Anwwns resident Tree Shuck that are a lot more colourful and bold than their cousins. Fairy Shucks often sport bright and coloured fur and happily roam around the fairy realm. Fairy Shucks are known to be far more bold than their cousins, and will on occasion even expose their whole form to intimidate their prey.  

Snow Shuck

- Snow Shucks live and hunt beneath deep arctic snow and ice. Thick with stark white fur the Snow Shuck lurks underneath fresh snow, peering out from a den at its prey.  

Myths, Legends and Incidents

Most commonly Tree Shucks appear in tales of North America’s wild creatures encountered by the first pioneers. Tales of The Hide Behind tell of lumberjacks stalked by a Tree Shuck. Tree Shucks appear in other North American folklore, being referenced by indigenous tribes and forgotten empires. Too in Europe throughout folklore tales tell of hidden creatures that follow hunters in the woods.  

Verified Incidents

There are currently no available incidents involving this entity.  

Legendary & Famous Instances

Tree Shucks are known to make a name for themselves in certain areas after being witnessed by multiple people. This has led to various tree shucks gaining colloquial names.  

The Hide Behind - Legendary Tree Shuck of North American Folklore this creature was known to stalk lumberjacks, hunters, and travellers through America's backwoods.