You feel pretty comfortable walking around town at night. The streets are well lit, you know the shortcuts, and you know where the shady deals go down.

You go down a familiar and comfortable shortcut: a quiet narrow alley nestled between two well-travelled streets. Only a couple meters into the alley, you hear an unusual and disturbing noise.

CRRRK SQRRRK CRRREAAAK

The noise comes from behind. You spin around, expecting to see a creepy clown blowing up balloons right behind you. What you see instead freezes you in place. On four legs, without a face, and shiny red and cream in color, a large rubbery stares down at you. In the dim light of the alley, you determine the source of the noise. The thing's hide, shiny and rubbery in appearance, has been wedged against both sides of the alley as it followed you. You don't even know how long it had been following you.

You consider sprinting away, until you remember the urban legend of "Gellarard," the mysterious Guarian. A few locals have reported seeing a red and cream quadruped within close proximity following them when they are alone. The creature, if it even can be called that, does not communicate, nor does it act aggressive. It has a soft and rather lightweight girth, which has been noted as appearing rubbery, in vinyl, or even short fur.

Despite being downplayed as urban myth, the proof was literally staring you down.

You decide not to run. Instead, you approach Gellarard. You suddenly feel peaceful, and an urge to snuggle with the giant entity brews within your mind.


Art: Kyburz
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Little exercise in lighting. I'm satisfied with the result. I have an urge to draw more of the Guarian. And I ought to draw him in his alternate "skins" that I keep mentioning.