Wolpertinger
Legacy Name: Wolpertinger

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The story of the Wolpertinger dates back to the fables of the ancient Bavarian forest. It has long been rumoured that once the love between a rabbit and a deer gave rise to a small horned rabbit, who was a living example to the other animals of the forest that love has no limits.
Henceforth, as the deer, rabbits, ducks, marten as well as other animals of the forest began to mate, more and more grotesque and quirky forms of Wolpertinger arose.
The Wolpertinger, also named Wolperdinger, is lovingly called 'Woibbadinga' in Bavaria and beyond this free state the Wolpertinger is only known as a mythical creature, a part of a fable.
However it is a fact, that the Wolpertinger, in his currently known form, can be seen in many old paintings and some samples are also exhibited in staid museums – unfortunately only stuffed.
Coming back to the story: The most common appearance of the Wolpertinger is one with the body of a rabbit, wings of a duck and the antlers of a young deer on it's head, between it’s rabbit ears. However, the Wolpertinger takes several forms, even ones that are unknown to mankind.

According to legend the Wolpertinger can only be seen by young, unmarried and beautiful women, who walk at twilight on the night of a full moon and only in company of men who know of secluded spots in the forest, where the Wolpertinger lives.

As an animal of prey, the Wolpertinger hunts smaller animals, but it also consumes roots and herbs. Owing to it's shy nature, the possibilities to hunt a Wolpertinger are rare.
According to some traditions, there are two methods to hunt the Wolpertinger. The first method involves the use of a candle, branch, sack and a spade. The hunt must occur on a full moon night.
For this, the sack is propped upright with the branch of wood. The lit candle is be placed at the entrance of the open sack. The Wolpertinger quickly becomes attracted to the glow of the candle against the dark canvas of the forest. As it approaches the candle, the huntsmen use the spade and with quick movements drive the Wolpertinger into the sack.
Others believe in the second method which implies that the Wolpertinger can only be caught when some salt is scattered on it's tail.
Regardless of which method is used to hunt it, the Wolpertinger is a very passive and shy being, completely harmless to humans.
However, the saliva of this creature should never come into contact with human skin for at the point of contact, bushes of hair immediately sprout out from the human's skin. The secretion that the Wolpertinger sprays for defence is no less shocking.
Even with ample amounts of soap and incessant scrubbing, the beastly smell will not disappear. Not until seven years, when it will vanish – as if by magic.

It was a peaceful night. I was able to sleep, to finally rest, after all those weeks of chasing.
I had been careless and they had found me. Now if I do not manage to distract the hunters from my track, I would soon be dead.

I stretched my limbs, yawning loudly and spread my wings as wide as I could. In this small den it was nearly impossible to move. Suddenly, I heard them, the familiar sounds of huntsmen and their hounds. My heart began to beat faster.

»It must be here!« A deep, manly voice arose, getting closer. »Let the dogs out!«

I crawled forward, my wings flattened back onto my body. My head laid low, so that my antlers would not get tangled up with the low roots around.
That scrabble I heard behind me lead me into a panic. A dog had found the entrance of the den and had begun to dig, scratching and pawing away.

»Gory got it! Quick, find the other entrance!«

Now I needed to save some time. The other entrance was right before me, I just had to reach it, before the hunter could.

I sniffed but I could not catch the scent of the humans. The scent of the dogs lingered.
With some hasty movements I slipped out of the den and began to run as fast as my rabbit feet would take me.
I had to reach the dark forest. All the different scents of the forest would make it hard for the dogs to find me.

»There! There it is! Hurry!« A hunter yelled, as he spotted me.

I turned my head and recognized the three hunters who had been chasing me for days.

The hunger had pulled me too far out of the forest and into the outskirts of a small village at the edge of the forest. The dog had risen alarm among the natives. I was lucky enough that the huntsmen were to slow to recognize me… my species.
But since then I had been on the run. I was weak now, my swiftness ailing.
The dogs pursued, yelping and snarling, right behind me.

I jumped over a tree bole, which gave me some time, but I heard the fast trampling of the huntsmen and the loud barking of the dogs.

The forest became more dense and more dark – but the dogs' sense of smell was excellent.

The dog right behind me smelled like the one that had dug into the cave and found me. It must be the one called Gory. He was gaining on me, barely one or two meters away.

With some skillful side steps, I avoided the trees that grew denser every second.
Then, I felt it. The piercing pain in my left wing. That cur of Gory had grabbed my wing and began to tug it around like a dead piece of meat.

»Thaaaats my dog!« the hunter yelled. »Give me that damn rifle!«

The huntsmen were too far away to aim correctly but I knew he would stoop to anything to kill me. He would also kill is own dog too, if it would serve in getting rid of me.
The huntsmen shot. With a hissing sound the bullet hit the leaves near my head.
As I thought Gory panicked. This was my chance, might even be my only one.
Ignoring the pain, I pulled my wing away from the vice grip of the dog and darted away.

»Nooo! Gory go! Sick'em!«

It took a few seconds for Gory to follow his master's command.
I had managed to keep some distance between myself and the hunters but kept running, knowing I was reaching safety soon. Not far away there was an old gorge, where hundreds of years ago, a river once flowed. Once I reached the gorge, I would be safe.
Now, the other dogs were as excited as Gory. They pushed themselves for the forefront, trying to outrun each other to snap me up. They bounded to the site, close behind me.

Dumb curs.

Although my wing hurt, I needed them to glide over the gorge. In this state my wings could not be used for flying. However, it was my only escape, the only way out and I had to take a chance.
I stretched them fully as the trees vanished before the large abyss. With all my strength, I sprinted to the edge, to take a leap of faith.
I jumped.

»What the-?« I heard the astonishment in the huntsmen's voices.

The folk had always thought that our wings were just wretched limbs, but, well, the folk also thought that we were just fable creatures.
I landed roughly on the other side of the gorge, narrowly missing the edge. The dogs were all the way across the gorge, barking madly. My heart raced even though I knew they could not reach me.

The perplexed huntsmen gave me some time, they still had their rifles in their hands.
I ran straight from the edge of the abyss for several meters before I curved into the woods. They would assume that I would still be headed North into the wide fields up ahead. As soon as the barks of the dogs faded away, I turned and began to run in the opposite direction.

My stomach was growling. I felt tired and my wing was still aching. But soon I would be there. Hours after the tiring hunt I was nearing my home. I recognized the trees, the leaves, the scent of the forest.
Behind a thick area of trees I spotted the first antlers that rose after catching my scent and hearing my relieved wheeze. Soon after that I was surrounded by my family, by my pack. Again we were dozens over dozens.
We had to live deeply burrowed in the forests, but we were alive.

We were the last Wolpertingers.

Amazing overlay by Bartender
Profile by chi
History Informations by wikipedia, focus and
geo
Story by chi
Background by hdbackgroundpoint.com
Wood Frame by Thy-Darkest-Hour

A huge thanks to sonata for helping me with the code and Chii for proof reading and story editing ♥