"You can feel it. can you not? A presence, swirling within these primeval woods. Eyes, watching from between quivering conifers. Footsteps, bringing with them absolute, unnatural silence. An incessant sensation creeping along the back of the neck, that you heard a breath, or saw something move just out of the corner of your eye. For most, these encounters are little more than tales passed around a crackling campfire, fun ghost stories to spook kids in the dead of night. All the while unaware of familiar eyes peering out from the depths of the darkness, between green moss and old rainwatered ferns, as they tell of the time they found something, in the woods somewhere."
- Journal of an unknown man, found in Red Ridge National Park, Blake County.

- - -

Rain doesn't know when he was born, nor why, why or how. He's existed as long as the Appalachian mountains that he inhabits. Until very recently, he didn't even have a name. His kind, referred to only as Shadowbeasts, are as ancient as time, thought to be the avatars of very forests they inhabit, encapsulating the primordial darkness that lives within the heart of nature itself. They are often harsh, vengeful judges, handing out vicious punishment to the disrespectful, unwelcome, and unnatural. The gentler sides of nature were given to other, kinder beings, as these dark manifestations are clearly meant to be protect the sanctity of their home, and act the very rare repercussions of angry the spirit of the ancient woods.

Of course, this is all theoretical. Most see them as nothing more than myth, one of countless pagan creatures meant to keep children from wandering out into those labyrinths of trees and getting lost. They have not been properly studied, and even in the rare instances they have shown themselves to mortals and did NOT kill them, they were naturally not believed. The few who do know of their existence were always convinced that not all Shadowbeasts were such violent entities, or moreso, had the capacity to be reasoned with, or possess unique personalities. If they'd ever managed to meet Rain before the events that would come to pass, they'd have been proven correct in their theory.

Rain himself spent his many, many years alone. He watched humanity from the shadows of the woods, deep within the Appalachians, watching them with growing curiosity, but never choosing to interact with them. He wasn't sure what he was or what his purpose was meant to be, but some part of his nature told him to keep the shadows, to not be discovered. His burning fascination would not be hindered, however, and he would burn the hours watching those strange mortal creatures live. He saw the best and worst of their kind. Their strange customs as well, such as strapping boards to their feet and careening with incredible speed down snowbound slopes, or leaving the safety of their hometowns to spend days in the woods under little more than a fancy tarp for seeming no benefit or reason other than to just... do it. Rain watched and witnessed, always out of reach or sight, but willing to accept his role of mere observation.

That was, until, the Quiet End. That mist-laden day when the world went silent. The sounds of machine and man ceased in an instant. All their monuments left abandoned, untouched. Rain suddenly found himself truly alone yet again, a prospect that terrified him. He searched boldly for any humans that could have been left, going closer to their towns and settlements than he'd ever dared before. Just as all seemed lost, he'd lay his eyes on Simon, a single, very lost looking lad who woke up in a campsite at the Red Ridge National Park, his old haunt. He'd follow the sole human almost religiously for days, until he was finally called out directly by Simon, he had become aware of something following him.

Their interaction that night would change Rain's life forever. He'd finally be given a purpose, a companion he could actually touch and interact with, and a name. A simple name, taken from the fact that whenever Rain was close to Simon, it would begin to rain softly in the area, a gentle drizzle that let the human know his newfound, rather intriguing protector and friend was near. However, many never even realize he's there, as he has taken to disguising himself as a large, black scarf Simon can wear around his neck. Any who'd wish his human harm, will face his wrath, and learn what a true Shadowbeast is capable of when angered. Beware.

- - -

A new lad that goes along with Simon, basically his edritch forest creature surrogate father, Rain!~ I love this lad and everything about him, and you can expect to see more of him, with Simon, quite soon ;3

Art by  Johnithanial! <3

NSFW Version: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/51.....oad-successful