CDR Halloween RP Week 1: Swamp Monster

FoxChimer42: 650 words
Emi2yam2: 1303 words

A think fog curled around the gnarled old trees as the sun began to slip below the horizon. Conrad had been walking for a while now, and was completely and utterly lost. The ground was quickly turning into a muddy marsh, making it even more difficult for Conrad to walk. If he didn't find his way back to the cirque soon, he would have to spend the night in the swamp.
Suddenly, there was the sharp crack of someone- or something - stepping on a branch. There was something in the bushes.
"Wh- Who's there?" He called, stammering nervously.

Ever since her arrival in the cirque she was exposed to so many new things; people of different nationality and culture.....and people- that weren't exactly people. While it was still taking time for her to get used to being surrounded with so many different races, it wasn't completely unwelcomed for her. In fact now she was always excited to learn about a new race whether elf, centaur or the like. So when they had arrived in the new location and heard rumors about a certain creature roaming around, she immediately became interested. She read up on a few books on it and was determined to see it at least once.

So here she was butterfly net in hand, in the swamp, looking for the (dreaded) swamp monster. She had been going around for a while now and hadn't caught sight of a single soul. But she hadn't really been caring where she was going so she was surprised to here another voice. "Eh?" Ava blinked. Immediately becoming excited at the prospect of finding something (or someone) she popped out from where she was and swung her net at Conrad. It didn't take her long to realize he wasn't what she was looking for- "H-huh...? Excuse me who are you?" she asked while still holding the net right over his head.

Conrad screeched, making a noise that sounded a lot like a dying animal. He flinched, holding his hands over his head and squeezing his eyes shut.
"DON'T HURT ME!!!!"
When he heard the polite young voice, he half opened one of his eyes. "Uh... " he relaxed a bit, blushing in embarassment.
"My uh... My name's Conrad Buchannan... I work at the cirque...are... Are you from there?"

Ava blinked her eyes as she examined him before smiling, "Yes, yes I am. Hello!" This was truly unexpected, she hadn't really thought another cirque member would explore the swamp as well. She did give him an odd look and asked, "Mm? I wasn't really planning on hurting you, why would you assume that.....?" but then she looked at her butterfly net that was still trapping his head and she gasped. "O-Oh I'm sorry!" she immediately lifted it away from him and bowed, "I didn't realize, I'm sorry I thought you were something else."

Lifting her head she smiled apologetically, "I'm Ava Lancaster...I...Hmm that wasn't the best first impression I could give you, was it?"

"Not really no..." He chuckled nervously. This girl seemed sweet, but spending time in a magic circus had taught him that looks can be deceiving. Besides, she was wandering a swamp at dusk.
Conrad cocked his head to the side curiously. "What exactly is a little girl doing out in a swamp with a butterfly net when it's almost dark??? And you're all by yourself?"

"Oh this?" she raised the butterfly net slightly, "I'm trying to catch something!-- Or well...catch wouldn't be the right word since I don't intend to keep it...but it might be helpful just in case in tried something funny right?" she smiled and continued, "They say it only appears though during evening...and leads off into the swamp, that's why I'm here."
Ava looked at the man curiously, "Hmm what about you Mr. Buchannan? Are you here for an evening stroll? Seems to be an odd place to stroll in."

Straightening his vest, Conrad cleared his throat. "I was... But now I appear to be lost."
Suddenly what Ava had said registered in his face. With a look of apprehension, he said "That uh... Sounds like some kind of... Beast! Why would you be out here looking for it? It might be dangerous!" He couldn't just let her stay out here by herself and get hurt. If Conrad had known how to get back to the cirque, he would have taken her.

Ava tilted her head to the side, "Oh that's unfortunate...Eh?" she straightened her posture as she repeated his question, "Why would I be looking for it? I'm.....interested to see it that's all, I haven't really seen a Swamp Monster before, I don't think there's anyone in the cirque that's like that." she smiled sheepishly.

"So when the rumors started that their might be one here, I just couldn't pass up the chance to try and see it!" Suddenly she clapped her hands as if being struck with a good idea, "I know! Maybe you can join me? Then we can go back together! I'd take you back now...but I worry by the time I come back here it'll be much too late into the dark."

Conrad shook his head vigorously. "This is much too dangerous. We should both go back now and just forget about the-"
Suddenly there was another loud crack, and the sound of foots. "Ah.... You are alone, aren't you?" He could feels his legs shaking beneath him.

Her ears perked at the sound and looked at the direction it was coming from, "No...I came here alone. Ah! Maybe it's the creature- Hmmm...I hadn't really expected it to show up so suddenly...." The bushes where the sound came from started rustling and she started approaching it curiously, with net at hand.
Just as she reached it however, out jumped a raccoon and it looked at the two curiously, "O-Oh...it was just a raccoon."

With an audible sigh, Conrad released the breath he didn't know he was holding. He rubbed his forehead. "Well I think that's enough excitememt for tonight, don't you think Ava?"
By now it was completely dark, and Conrad was not staying out here all night, monster or no monster.
She looked a bit disappointed but then realized something. The raccoon was holding a biscuit- and it looked like something that came from the cirque. "Oooh I get it," she looked and Conrad, "The rumors initially started because every morning most of every house hold's trash bins outside would be toppled over and the garbage would be all over the area...It looks like it was this raccoon's fault." Ava was staring at the fury creature. Ah well, maybe it was too good to be true after all.

She smiled sheepishly at the older man, "Mmmmm maybe you're right. Mystery solved, and it is somewhat late already. Lets go back!" As she turned to the direction she just came from, there was a sound of large footsteps nearby.
Conrad's eyes widened, and he turned to Ava. "That doesn't sound like a raccoon..."
He shuffled a bit, wondering how quickly he'd be able to run if a monster did attack. "Ava... I-I think it's getting closer." The footsteps were growing louder.

Ava stared at where the sound was coming from and inched a little bit closer to Conrad, "I....think you maybe right." She normally wasn't easily scared of things, hence why she ventured into the swamp area in the first place- but a part of her hadn't really expected to come across anything too significant. Plus...was it just her, or did the temperature just drop? "Uhmm.....maybe we should go, yes we should! I'll lead us back-" she said with a chip smile. As she turned to walk however, something in the bush where the raccoon had popped out snapped, and out popped out tall figure--- covered in leaves and moss.

It was breathing heavily and gruffly until let out a loud bellow, "....FOOOOD." The girl let out a squeak and turned to Conrad, "L-Lets go!" and with that she grabbed his hand and ran off. Hopefully the monster wouldn't give chase

He screeched, stumbling after Ava, adrenaline making his legs stronger than they had been in years.
The monster chased after them.
"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!!!!" Conrad shrieked, just as he tripped over a log.
"M-Mr. Buchannan!" Ava yelled frantically as she stopped and scurried back to him. The monster- or whatever it was, was giving chase but was stumbling around as well, it looked like he was having a bit of trouble running, but that didn't change the fact he was closing in on them. " GIVE ... ME BACK...MY FOOD!"
She started pulling him to stand up and once she did she started running again, "C-Come on! We can't die here, we still have a show soon!"
He screeched, stumbling after Ava, adrenaline making his legs stronger than they had been in years.
The monster chased after them.
"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!!!!" Conrad shrieked, just as he tripped over a log. He screeched, stumbling after Ava, adrenaline making his legs stronger than they had been in years.
They were still bit a ways away from the clearing but at Conrad's suggestion Ava's eyes widened in understanding, "M-Maybe...! B-But it was with the raccoon....!" It was only then did she notice the furry rodent running with them as well, obviously terrified at the strange creature, and it was still holding the cookie in it's mouth.

Luckily she still had her butterfly net, she didn't know how she did it- but she managed to scoop up the terrified animal and took the cookie from him. It didn't even bother about the sweets seeing, he was just happy that he was being carried. Looking back the creature was still fumbling after them with heavy footsteps. Ava threw the cookie as far as she could at a different direction. It was much to her relief that the 'swamp' monster followed it, ''MY...FOOOD!" Despite that fact, however, she didn't stop running until they reached the clearing
When they finally reached the clearing, Conrad stopped, panting heavily, bent over with his hands on his knees. "We....we survived..." He mumbled, happy that they hadn't become the monster's next snack. He flopped down on the grass and let out a relieved laugh. "Well you saw your monster..." Conrad chuckled, "Was that what you expected?"
She herself wasn't breathing heavily but she did feel tired from the experience, smiling a little sheepishly, Ava lowered herself to a sitting position, "Mmm I didn't imagine to be as scary- but I'm happy I got to see the swamp monster at least once." The raccoon was still in the net, obviously still shaken from the whole experience. Gently pulling him out, the doll started patting it to calm it down.
"So you were the reason the monster was so upset." she stared at the creature curiously, "And you must also be the reason as to why the trash was always spread out and a mess come morning."
"What are we going to do with him?" Conrad question, "Do you know of any raccoon tamers at the cirque? Make him work to pay us back." He laughed light heartedly. Getting his breath back, he stood, readjusting his jacket and trying to recompose himself after that rather frightening experience. "We should head back. They'll be wondering where we are."
Giggling softly as well, Ava patted the raccoon's head once it looked like it calmed down- "Mmmm....I don't think this little guy is meant to perform." she said, "So we can let him go. But don't don this again okay? Stealing and littering is bad after all." The raccoon gave her an odd luck before running off.
She stood up and dusted her skirt before nodding to Conrad, "Lets!" and so started heading back to the cirque. Little did they know the so called swamp 'monster' was just a crazy old man with makeshift costume