Day 1 – Mist
Now that the days are getting colder, fog and mist are now becoming a daily staple. However, not many people know about where the mist goes or what direction it seems to be going. Well, that is where the Mistguides come in. Their burling bodies help catch the wind and mist and gently guide it from place to place so that it doesn’t get lost. Most guides are pretty on the ball but this one seems to get a little bit distracted by all the bright lights that come on at night. Something tells me they’re new and will probably only get day shifts once all the festive lighting starts making appearances.
Day 2 – Gate
When it comes to guardians of the gate, a lot of them can be foreboding and dangerous to encounter. Others can be sneaky and trick you into forfeiting something you hold dear. However, there are gates that need to be crossed in order to start an adventure so naturally you have to have a guardian that is easy to encounter. Take Fakof here for example. This troublesome bird guards the gate that helps new adventurers venture forth into the unknown plains outside the city limits, taking pride in the stool throne as they screech their name at anyone who dares to cross their border. As terrifying as Fakof believes himself to be, they’re also not the best guard since simple bribes of seed and corn make them docile and easy to step around in order to go through the gate. Oh well, they try their best and that is all we really want for a gate guardian.
Day 3 – Blight
When people think about bogs and marshes, they tend to get upset over the thought of deep, stinky puddles and having the stench of rotten flowers fill their noses as that murky water seeps into their socks. Although they sound awful to most people, it doesn’t mean that they are dreadful for everyone. Take the Glamorgan Toadstool Boggarts for instance. These little creatures love it when the heavy rain fills their mud with puddles cause that means hours spent jumping in the water and having a blast. The smells and sounds only bring joy and laughter to their faces as nothing gets better than spending a day outside enjoying their home. So the next time you see a deep puddle and get sad over the thought of wet socks, ignore it. Jump in the puddle and just enjoy the moment since you never know when you’ll be reminiscing about those little moments and regret not hopping in enough puddles.
Day 4 – Trail
Have you ever wondered why people stopped leaving pies and baked goods on windowsills to cool? Most people will tell you that it was because randomers or raccoons would sweep them up and get away with a whole basket of goodies. Clearly, those people have never heard about the pesky antics and thefts conducted by Snack Gnats.
These puffy little critters follow the trails of sweet and savoury smells as soon as they hit their little noses, chasing after treats until they find their prize to devour. With an impressive set of sharp teeth, they are able to chew away at anything they want until their heart is content. So if you ever spot one for yourself, it’s best to just shoo them away but don’t ever wiggle your fingers around them! That’s how you lose something in a case of mistaking your wagging appendages for delicious hot dog sausages.
Day 5 – Depth
On cold, rainy days, it is always crucial to watch your step as you never really know the depths of puddles and may end up with soggy socks. However, in some places, it’s better to keep a watchful eye when taking steps on a trail as you don’t know what a step could do. Many parks and forests are home to creatures and beings that aren’t entirely visible at first glace but some have said that they’ve seen things if they focus enough
These creatures are nameless as they’ve been here longer than we ever have but they just go about their lives, living day to day and enjoying the time that they have. So next time you’re on a walk and you’ve got your head in the clouds, be sure to be mindful as to where you step since a trod in a puddle could end up making waves you didn’t want to create.
Day 6 – Bone
When it comes to crypts, you don’t really get many visitors due to people finding them creepy or unsettling. This leads to the inhabitants getting rather lonely and wanting to find new ways to fit in and help put people at ease.
An example of this is what Crypt Snails like to do. These translucent, slimy creatures like to crawl inside skulls and use them as a shell in order to seem more human. They believe that if they do this, people will find them more approachable and they’ll get more visitors to speak to and get snacks from. Unfortunately, they don’t have a handle on what horror is and seeing slime-filled eyeballs dragging about a skull would probably make someone jump out of their skin. It’s a shame, all they want is a little bit of company.
Day 7 – Blossom
Meet the Floral Fae! They are dainty beings who use various kinds of flora and fungi to camouflage themselves to the outside world. Although they love their quiet lives and staying hidden from society, they find that it is best to seek trust in a few select human beings in order to have a great community as well as trade for trinkets. You don’t get many shiny things in the fairy world so they much appreciate anything that has a shine on it, no matter how much it is actually worth. So next time you’ve got some junk you’re not sure what to do with, maybe set it aside since you never know when a trade will fall into your lap.
Samuel Mathias 