Teeth, Tusks, and Dreams

Summary

Stats

~200 words, average reading time ~ 1-2 min

Rating

PG. Strange beasts appearing

Tags

Yokai, Baku , short stories

Characters:

I was little then.
Teeth. A trunk and tusks. Fire, I think? Those were unsettling enough. But what I remember most were those eyes—huge yellow ones—as the beast hovered above me. I froze in place, unable to scream.
The beast spoke, it's voice soothing like a mother's lullaby. "Rest now, little one. Your nightmare is gone."
"Nightmare?" I didn't remember having one. Though, a chill spread through my sweat soaked pajamas. Maybe I did?
"Yes. I ate it. Did you not place an image of me under your pillow?" Its head tilted. Was it puzzled?
"N-no." The beast was so strange to look at. A chimera of elephant, tiger, and other things I couldn't identify. And it's eyes bored into me. You bet I'd be drawing this creature to try to remember it.
"Someone did for you. Now I must go. Others have need of me." The beast disappeared in a puff of smoke before I could give my thanks.
Did I dream the appearance?
That morning when I asked, my grandmother confessed to placing the image there. I drew what I saw for her and placed it under her pillow.

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Spooktober Prompt

Teeth

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