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Description

The Flatwoods Phantom is a nocturnal creature, floating through the darkened forest once the sun sets. While its other brethren are used to an aquatic lifestyle, this species has chosen a more terrestrial life. Despite this, they still hold many of the same behaviors, including movement. Though they are not submerged in water, a gas-filled mantle allows them to float through the air, still allowing them to "swim" like they used to. The undulation of its fins and the movements of its webbed tentacles help propel it through the air and keep it properly balanced. When speed is required, they lay their bodies parallel to the ground and use blasts of gas to shoot themselves through the forest. However, when startled or cornered, they go for intimidation, reorienting themselves to "stand tall." With their bodies pointed straight up and their chambers filled with gas, they can appear rather large and terrifying. Add to that the flashing of bioluminescent patterns, and it gives the impression of a tall cloaked figure. If this is not enough to scare away predators, they expel their gas in thick clouds (similar to the shooting of ink in other cephalopods). This gas is known for its horrid smell and irritating nature. People have described it as "blinding" and "stinging" as it gets into the eyes, nose and mouth. Combined with its foul odor, it tends to induce nausea and vomiting, giving the phantom plenty of time to escape.

It comes out at night to feed, going after insects and small animals. They tend to keep their coloration dark, hiding in the night until they are close to prey. Once the time is right, their webbed tendrils open wide and trap the prey within. A tight grip and sharp beak makes short work of those caught in the shroud. When food hides in tighter spaces, they use two feeding tentacles to reach in and pull them out. Sharp hooks on the end are good for spearing, and if the prey remains locked in place, a quick blast of gas can force them to vacate. These same feeding tentacles are also used for grooming and anchoring if the weather gets rough. When the sun begins to rise, they retreat into hollow trees, their squishy bodies collapsing to let them slip into small holes and openings. There they shall wait until the night returns. Due to them occupying these empty trees, it is advised not to probe these cavities in fear of agitating a phantom (or any other resident). If threatened in this way, they will blast out more of their noxious gas, driving the intruders away.

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I swear, sometimes I just got to do everything around here. People get to gabbing about the Flatwoods monster and what it is, and all that comes out is foolishness! It's an alien! A reptilian! A robot! An owl! Bah! Rubbish and nonsense! Has anyone bothered to truly use their brains? No, of course not, so it comes down to the expert to once again to clear things up! Obviously we are dealing with a nocturnal terrestrial squid who has filled their mantle cavity with a gas to help it float, the same gas they can expel to ward off foes! The rest is simple coloration and patterns to scare predators! There! See? Simple explanation to everything! At this rate you folks are going to be saying that the Fresno nightcrawlers aren't giant inchworms that use their highly arched backs to create a tall silhouette for intimidation! Har!

All jokes aside, I was originally going to put this in the ol' fantasy world, but I am not quite sure on adding alien-inspired beasts. I know it is a silly reason, but something just feels off about it. Not sure. May change my mind in the future.

Description

The Flatwoods Phantom is a nocturnal creature, floating through the darkened forest once the sun sets. While its other brethren are used to an aquatic lifestyle, this species has chosen a more terrestrial life. Despite this, they still hold many of the same behaviors, including movement. Though they are not submerged in water, a gas-filled mantle allows them to float through the air, still allowing them to "swim" like they used to. The undulation of its fins and the movements of its webbed tentacles help propel it through the air and keep it properly balanced. When speed is required, they lay their bodies parallel to the ground and use blasts of gas to shoot themselves through the forest. However, when startled or cornered, they go for intimidation, reorienting themselves to "stand tall." With their bodies pointed straight up and their chambers filled with gas, they can appear rather large and terrifying. Add to that the flashing of bioluminescent patterns, and it gives the impression of a tall cloaked figure. If this is not enough to scare away predators, they expel their gas in thick clouds (similar to the shooting of ink in other cephalopods). This gas is known for its horrid smell and irritating nature. People have described it as "blinding" and "stinging" as it gets into the eyes, nose and mouth. Combined with its foul odor, it tends to induce nausea and vomiting, giving the phantom plenty of time to escape.

It comes out at night to feed, going after insects and small animals. They tend to keep their coloration dark, hiding in the night until they are close to prey. Once the time is right, their webbed tendrils open wide and trap the prey within. A tight grip and sharp beak makes short work of those caught in the shroud. When food hides in tighter spaces, they use two feeding tentacles to reach in and pull them out. Sharp hooks on the end are good for spearing, and if the prey remains locked in place, a quick blast of gas can force them to vacate. These same feeding tentacles are also used for grooming and anchoring if the weather gets rough. When the sun begins to rise, they retreat into hollow trees, their squishy bodies collapsing to let them slip into small holes and openings. There they shall wait until the night returns. Due to them occupying these empty trees, it is advised not to probe these cavities in fear of agitating a phantom (or any other resident). If threatened in this way, they will blast out more of their noxious gas, driving the intruders away.

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I swear, sometimes I just got to do everything around here. People get to gabbing about the Flatwoods monster and what it is, and all that comes out is foolishness! It's an alien! A reptilian! A robot! An owl! Bah! Rubbish and nonsense! Has anyone bothered to truly use their brains? No, of course not, so it comes down to the expert to once again to clear things up! Obviously we are dealing with a nocturnal terrestrial squid who has filled their mantle cavity with a gas to help it float, the same gas they can expel to ward off foes! The rest is simple coloration and patterns to scare predators! There! See? Simple explanation to everything! At this rate you folks are going to be saying that the Fresno nightcrawlers aren't giant inchworms that use their highly arched backs to create a tall silhouette for intimidation! Har!

All jokes aside, I was originally going to put this in the ol' fantasy world, but I am not quite sure on adding alien-inspired beasts. I know it is a silly reason, but something just feels off about it. Not sure. May change my mind in the future.