Inner Monster

One of the creepiest things to me is an animal body with a human face. I just can't wrap my brain around it being 'ok.' It started off a spider sketch (hence the eyeballs) and turned into something that looks like a demented swan. One set of legs disappeared somewhere, too. Not sure where they went.

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Name: Long-furred Chameleon Shalk (as opposed to the hairless variety: sta.sh/01d9m3e483y9)
Lifespan: unknown
Size: around the size of a pit bull or bulldog; rarely are shalks seen any larger
Coloring: thought to be a muted silver, but most likely seen as a pale green, due to its favorite habitat)
Habitat: the tall grass of an unmowed lawn (hairless shalk live in chimneys, and so are much smaller)

Chameleon Shalk are predators, pure and simple. They prey on mostly small rodents and fowl and are like unto ground spiders. Females spin a web that coats the ground like tar, trapping any prey that ventures into the silky area. Spiders seem attracted to Shalks, though generally ignored by the larger creatures. Its fur (and skin) can quickly take on the texture and coloring of a shalks surroundings, hiding it in plain sight. Due to its small size, shalks generally avoid humans, despite their favorite hunting grounds being back yards, alleys and rooftops.

Female shalks are generally smaller in size, but more aggressive. They can lay eggs without a male, as well, though generally none will hatch unless the conditions are right. Males only need to fertilize them by sprinkling the eggs. After that, the female will often eat her 'mate.'

Surprisingly, shalks are born with wings, though they drop off once they reach adulthood. sta.sh/01lyw3n58e2n Due to its head resembling a human's, the cry of a shalk sounds much like a wailing baby.

Larger shalks may attempt to chase pets out of their territory, thinking them food. If a shalk gets inside your home, it may take up residence in the attic, preying on bats, squirrels and other small rodents up there. An attic shalk's fur eventually bleeds white, though due to its chameleon ability, remains unseen except for its large cobwebs.

Beware, however, of the attic shalks. Once settled into human homes, the "environment" somehow makes them nearly triple in size, becoming a menace to household pets and sometimes small children. They can become quite difficult to catch, being wily and able to see in nearly any light with their multiple eyes.

Extermination
The only sure-fire way to get a shalk out of your home (or chimney) is sugar. They are attracted to the sweet scent, but its taste will cause the shalk to go into a spasm fit, its fur/skin color changing rapidly and becoming quite easy to see. Sugar alone will not kill it, however, as it either must be captured and released outside, or killed permanently. Cutting off its head will only result in it growing back, however, and, like roaches, can live for days without a head, though being blind and deaf, it can be found easier. To kill a shalk, it must be fed to abundance. Overfeeding a shalk will cause it to go into a drunk stupor. Doing this twice, will kill it.

Pets
If one finds a few shalk eggs (and survives the encounter with the mother), they can be raised to learn the touch and voice of a single person. Unfortunately, shalks remain one-person pets and will not tolerate many others nearby unless also raised with it. Males are much easier to raise than females since they do not become eggbound and broody. When aggitated or defensive, shalks will shoot wads of sticky silk at the offender, often enough to stick an average human to something long enough for the shalk (or whatever its protecting) to escape.

Female shalks can, however, be taught to voluntarily give up their silk for various purposes. Humans can use the silk for rope, weave it into clothing, or use the sticky pieces to tack things to walls. Domesticated shalk tend to not create as much webbing, as they instinctively know they do not need to hunt their food.


Shalks are (C) my brain only. really, why would you want these things?