Elderly and Ancient

In this issue there are two stories about old creatures. Three wise and one just looking for a good time.

The Geri-Bat-rics

The Home for Retired Bats located is in the bell tower of the Abbey of the Forlorn Sisters of Holy Weeping. The abbey itself is abandoned. The nuns eventually grew tired of constantly crying over the state of the world and decided to go out into the community to help improve the situation. While they left the abbey devoid of anything remotely useful, they did leave behind the orchards, groves, and gardens. The abbey was so isolated that the food grown there wouldn’t be useful to anyone. Well, any human.

It was one fateful night in late spring a year after the Sisters had left that three enterprising bats found the abbey. The land was in a state to say the least, but these bats saw potential. The names of these flying creatures are not pronounceable in human language but roughly translate to Leaf, Twig, and Starlight. The three siblings, each born one year after the other, were reaching the twilight years of their lives. Their families were grown, having families of their own. Flying long distances each night in search of fruit was becoming strenuous. However, here, in the abbey, they found a veritable bounty. Yes, the orchards and groves and gardens would take some maintenance, but the belltower was sturdy and would keep them safe from the elements. It was only a short flight to the other side of the chapel to reach the fruit bearing fields.

Leaf, Twig, and Starlight debated the move. Leaving their colony was a difficult decision. None of them, though, wanted to become a burden to their families. This arrangement allowed for them to keep their independence even if there was some risk. After tearful goodbyes and some protests from their children and nieces and nephews, and their grandchildren, and grandnieces and nephews, the three elderly bats settled into the bell tower of the former abbey.

That first summer, it took some trial and error before the siblings figured out how they would prosper here. The first winter was precarious, and a little frightening, but they managed.

The next spring, something peculiar happened. Two more aging bats arrived, having heard of the bell tower bats and their gardens. Their story had made its rounds through the colony, and the newcomers were both surprised and delighted the trio were still alive. Leaf, Twig, and Starlight welcomed them happily.

Soon more bats of various species came. All in need of a little assistance, a shorter flight for food, and company of other bats of a certain age. So, the Home for Retired Bats was established. Now, at the end of every night, the three founding bats gather to recount the night, talk through any issues and generally just enjoy these final years together. They watch the stars fade into the blooming dawn before telling each other ‘good morning’ and heading in to roost.

This illustration and story were inspired by the work of Bat World Sanctuary, particularly their care of elderly bats, or geri-Bat-ric bats.

Modern Monster

Behold, Krɛg! An ancient creature from the deepest trenches of the sea. Much of his life was spent in that inky, cold darkness. All was quiet in the depths for a long, long time. Only the soft hum of life teeming in the brighter levels of the world’s oceans echoed down into the trench. Honestly, it was quite boring. The utter peace of it all. Krɛg would sometimes venture up into the blue, but his presence was always met with such derision. Eventually it wasn’t worth it. So he lingered in the doldrums of the dark.

Then, not long ago, maybe only a century, other sounds began to appear. Strange sounds. Loud, whirring, angry sounds. Sudden, violent crashes. Low, droning bleeps. Something else was causing chaos in the sea. Curious, Krɛg headed up into the shallows, or what he considered shallow, and fairly quickly discovered what impish creatures were making such a racket.

Humans.

Messy, rowdy, delightful humans.

Krɛg absolutely adored everything about them.

Oh, their motor boats and oil rigs and bottom trawlers and cargo barges. The cable lines, and underwater mines, and sunken military vessels! The toxic waste, and oil spills, and plastic! Actually, no, Krɛg could do without all the plastic, seriously.

So in love with these noxious little creatures he was that Krɛg traveled not just to the surface, but onto land. As expected, his arrival was not well received. However, after tanks and missiles subsided, Krɛg found himself with some strange allies. Nature conservationists. Animal activists. UFO enthusiasts. Monster lovers.

Krɛg has since found sanctuary in a glittering city on the coast. He spends his days doing what any other denizen of the metropolis would do: drink good wine, droomscroll, work out. Some people are still wary of him, but Krɛg pays them no mind. He’s after all an eldritch being who was here long before people crawled out of the ocean, and will be here long after the ocean swallows us back up.

Stickers and magnets of Krɛg can be found in the Shop.

Thanks for visiting,
Jessi, the Curator