The Grafton Monster the skulking, hairless, upright-walking humanoid A cross between bigfoot and troll, the Grafton Monster is a hairless, aggressive mammal that fears loud noises and consumes only meat. Habitat
Concentrated in Grafton, West Virginia: population spreading to nearby, dense woodlands Sandwiched between the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Tygart Valley River, the small town of Grafton boasts a population of a little over five-thousand people, bountiful farmland, a dense woodland, and elusive creatures known as Grafton Monsters. Graftons can live in any densely wooded, temperate habitat, but (either by choice or forces of nature/humanity) live in concentrated populations near Grafton, West Virginia. These creatures have been spotted as far north as Michigan and as far south as Virginia. Size, Population, & Other Physical Traits Fully grown Grafton Monsters have hulking, muscular bodies that are lean in the spring and grow pudgier until winter. At their thinnest, males weigh around six-hundred pounds and females seven-hundred pounds; at their heaviest, males weigh about eight-hundred pounds and females nine-hundred pounds. They can be anywhere from seven to nine foot tall even with their strange posture; the creatures always keep their head tucked close to chest, even while sleeping. This may be due to the neck’s vulnerability: Grafton’s hide is thick and rough, except around the neck, where it is thin, stretchy, and smooth (this is where offspring hang onto their mothers). Graftons have a hairless, stark white hide that darkens to a chestnut brown mid-summer and pales again after mating season (early fall). Their skin is also compared to that of a seal because of its slick appearance, which is caused by a thin layer of sweat and musk. All Graftons live in pits dug after the winter thaw or recycled from a previous year. The pits are large to comfortably house the creatures, and are supported by beamlike branches. It is important to note that females’ dens are lined with stones and colorful objects, unlike males’. The Grafton population is less than fifty, but more than thirty. Life Cycle, Lifespan, and Reproduction The Grafton lifecycle can be divided into four sections: infantile, youth, juvenile, and adult. Infants are born blind, deaf, and unable to walk; mothers remain with offspring for three months, only briefly leaving the nest to discard of refuse. At three months of age, the creatures are left alone for the first time; uneasy without the presence of their caretaker, they crawl around the dark tunnel and yelp. A large boulder is placed at the pit’s entrance, blocking their escape and keeping them from harm. Sight and sound are fully developed in the creatures by five months of age, though they are still unable to stand until eight months. At six months, mothers will begin carrying offspring on their neck while hunting. Meat is introduced into their diet at about one year (when all forty-three teeth have grown into place), though their mother’s milk is still their dominant source of nourishment. At fourteen months, Grafton Monsters learn to hunt and are allowed out of the nest without supervision, marking the beginning of their youth. Though out of sight, the creatures never venture outside of their mother’s marked territory. Grafton Monsters leave the nest on their second summer and never return. At the age of two, they are juveniles. Males wander the woodlands, hunting for food and a mate (that is, if an acceptable candidate is happened upon). Females begin looking for a suitable nest location, but are not fully mature until age three. Grafton Monsters gather in pairs once every summer to mate. This is one of few non-violent meetings between the beasts. When a female has reached maturity, she will claim a section of land near water that is secluded by trees and other foliage. Due to the small population, there are rarely fights over breeding territory; disputes that do occur are settled by displays of strength that may include rock throwing, terrain destruction, or physical violence- which sometimes results in death. Once a nest has been secured, females will mark its boundaries with their scent and gashes on trees; they will live here for life unless challenged or evicted by natural or human activity. After Graftons feel their territory is secure, they will begin digging a deep pit (about five feet deep and four feet wide; the tunnel is also at an angle). Thick stumps and branches are placed inside the tunnel for support; these areas are often wider for the creature to maneuver around without hindrance. The pit’s entrance is lined with riverbed stones and camouflaged with dried bushes, dead leaves, and branches. Additionally, brightly colored flowers and objects (like toys or soda cans) are collected and arranged in and around the nest. Females decorate their residences with these items and stones to attract the attention of males. Pairs will bond if males find the nest and its arrangement pleasing, signaling their answer by placing a colorful item they have found into the nest. If they are not impressed with the nest, they will take one of the arranged items and leave. Males will return to an expecting nest three times a week with gifts of meat. The food is left at the tunnel’s entrance and the two creatures do not interact. Once the offspring is three months old, the male will cease to visit the nest. Females may have one to three children per pregnancy. Grafton Monsters do not reach old age. Instead, every Grafton that reaches year seven leaves its nest/home and goes to the river. A deep pit is then dug about one foot away from the water’s edge. The creature will lay down in the hole, pulling as much dirt on top of themselves as possible, and remain still. This is the natural end of a Grafton life, though no one knows exactly why. Diet Carnivorous, Solitary Hunters Unlike other bigfoot-esque creatures, the Grafton Monster hunts alone. While hunting, the Grafton Monster emits a low, rumbling whistle that could be mistaken for distant thunder. This sound alerts other Graftons of their presence, warning them to keep away. The creature hunts both at night and during the day, though more often after dusk. It avoids noisy areas, and is seemingly scared of particularly loud sounds. During the winter, Grafton Monsters survive predominantly on fish like Walleye or trout, non-migratory birds, and the occasional whitetail deer or unattended pet. The creatures eat less during the cold season, consuming a large meal only once a month. However, the fat stored from numerous, previous meals provide the beast with much needed energy and insulates it from the cold. For the rest of the year, Graftons will hunt larger prey- like deer or coyote- more frequently and smaller prey- like snakes, squirrels, birds, lizards, turtles, and fish- less frequently. Historic Sighting and Documentation At 11 pm, on June 16th, 1965, Robert Cockrell, a young reporter at the Grafton Sentinel, was heading home on Riverside Drive. Wanting to get there soon, he sped down the curvy, dark roads. Suddenly, his headlights illuminated a huge, stark white creature on the right side of the road, standing on a cleared off section of grass. It was much larger than a man (over seven feet tall and four feet wide), appeared to be headless, had a hide with a sheen to it, and displayed no concern- remaining motionless as he drove by. Fearing what he saw, Robert drove faster and tried to calm down. He and two friends returned to the grassy roadside that night to investigate for over an hour. They found nothing but trampled grass. However, as they searched, they heard a low, eerie whistling sound that seemed to follow them down the riverbank; they never discovered its origin. When Robert returned to work the next day, he was reluctant to share his story, but decided to inform his editor. An article was published on June 18th, sparking a monster hunt. Over one hundred citizens scoured the woods armed with flashlights, bats, and crowbars in hopes of meeting the headless horror. More than twenty claimed to have encountered it. Soon after, the local police department searched the area, but found nothing. The newspapers played down the incident, though word of mouth generated even more interest, clogging Riverside Drive nightly with bumper-to-bumper traffic. On June 19th, the Grafton Sentinel dismissed the creature as a wildly imaginative story caused by a lack of recreational facilities and spring fever. Yet, reports of the beast popped up and down the Tygart River, even as far north as Morgantown. Eventually, the monster huntings died down, though no one forgot about the strange beast by the river.
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AuthorKristen Puckett Archives
August 2018
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