holy cow, that was scary! i love the reveal towards the end that there are more than one Not Deer. and the music pairing is INSANE, the vibes fit so well with the piece itself and really brought forward the chilling elements. I love cryptid horror stories, and this one was absolutely stunning! Gonna have nightmares!!!
I hope the nightmares aren't too bad, haha. So glad you liked it and the music pairing! I was happy when I came up with the idea to use that song for sure.
I loved this! You know when I used to live on TikTok, I once fell down into the hole of Appalachia mountains stories. They are very addictive of course. I love your version. Brilliantly written!
Thank you! I saw a poem on Vocal use italics between stanzas in a similar manner, and it gave me the idea to try it in a story. So glad you enjoyed it!
Having grown up in OK, where we were warned to be careful driving at night, to not open doors in the deep plains country… superstitions are strong. This was delightfully horrific read!
Thanks Sam! Yeah, I can imagine that would add an extra layer to the story from your perspective, haha. I get a lot of deer where I live, and now when I see one at night, I can't look at them the same! 😨
Don’t blame you! If you haven’t yet read The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, it may just be up your alley! It’s more elk-centered, but may give you more to think about with Not Deer, haha.
Appreciate the awesome feedback here, Jonathan! Horror stories are my favorite, but you'll find other genres here as well. Fun fact, the yellow eyes are from actual Not Deer cryptid stories! A big detail is they are supposed to have eyes like a wolf.
Really cool detail about the Not Deer having wolf-like eyes! That definitely adds to the eerie vibe...
If cryptids are shaped by the fears and expectations of those who encounter them... could the Not Deer’s existence be a reflection of something deeper—like a shared subconscious fear manifesting into reality?
Know what? That could be how not deer are created. (I almost said not deers, but then I remembered that's not a word) Anyway, like you consume it and it's like a werewolf curse almost.
I do love me some Not Deer. They feature in my novels and stories. I'd been planning on including them in my Stacking. Absolutely love that they're getting more attention. 😁 Thank you sharing this one!
Going to do more Appalachia folk creatures?
Also liked the music. Nicely chosen. Had some folks tell me I should do that since I make playlists to listen to while writing. You've convinced me that it's a good idea.
I'd love to do more like this! It's really fun researching the legends and then letting the writer's imagination do its thing, haha.
I've had a lot of great feedback on my new musical pairing sections! I would love to see more writers try it, I think it adds to the experience. Thanks for checking it out!
finally trying to get through some of my saved posts. hahaha.
I am a sucker for creatures in stories. (points to almost every one of mine. haha)
I enjoyed the more vague nature of describing the creature. Parts here and there rather than going over every meticulous detail. However I think by naming it, within the story, at least to me kinda takes away some of that mystery. like it is a "known" thing if that makes sense. I think keeping the name to just the title would of been effective and leaving the protagonist to keep trying to decipher what they where seeing.
Like I said though. I love a creature feature type story. So it was a great read!
holy cow, that was scary! i love the reveal towards the end that there are more than one Not Deer. and the music pairing is INSANE, the vibes fit so well with the piece itself and really brought forward the chilling elements. I love cryptid horror stories, and this one was absolutely stunning! Gonna have nightmares!!!
I hope the nightmares aren't too bad, haha. So glad you liked it and the music pairing! I was happy when I came up with the idea to use that song for sure.
It was so effective and really contributed to the piece in a major way. Splendid!
I loved this! You know when I used to live on TikTok, I once fell down into the hole of Appalachia mountains stories. They are very addictive of course. I love your version. Brilliantly written!
Thank you, Wajeeha! I’m so happy with the reception for this one, I’m already planning other cryptid tales! 😁
Looking forward to more!
That was... a wendigo? How wonderfully creepy! Love it!
LOVE the repition of "it all happened so fast"!!
Thank you! I saw a poem on Vocal use italics between stanzas in a similar manner, and it gave me the idea to try it in a story. So glad you enjoyed it!
Having grown up in OK, where we were warned to be careful driving at night, to not open doors in the deep plains country… superstitions are strong. This was delightfully horrific read!
Thanks Sam! Yeah, I can imagine that would add an extra layer to the story from your perspective, haha. I get a lot of deer where I live, and now when I see one at night, I can't look at them the same! 😨
Don’t blame you! If you haven’t yet read The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, it may just be up your alley! It’s more elk-centered, but may give you more to think about with Not Deer, haha.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll check it out for sure.
This was such a gripping read! The way you described the Not Deer was eerie—especially those yellow eyes and twisted antlers.
I could really feel the tension, especially when the main character loaded the shotgun with just one shot left.
That ending hit hard too—were they ever supposed to escape, or was it always inevitable? Looking forward to reading more of your work!
Appreciate the awesome feedback here, Jonathan! Horror stories are my favorite, but you'll find other genres here as well. Fun fact, the yellow eyes are from actual Not Deer cryptid stories! A big detail is they are supposed to have eyes like a wolf.
Thanks for reading!
Really cool detail about the Not Deer having wolf-like eyes! That definitely adds to the eerie vibe...
If cryptids are shaped by the fears and expectations of those who encounter them... could the Not Deer’s existence be a reflection of something deeper—like a shared subconscious fear manifesting into reality?
I wonder what not venison tastes like? I feel like it would be kinda lemony.
I agree, but the horror writer in me says the side effects of eating it would be, shall we say, uncomfortable. 😅
Know what? That could be how not deer are created. (I almost said not deers, but then I remembered that's not a word) Anyway, like you consume it and it's like a werewolf curse almost.
That was my thinking, yeah. I like that theory! Sort of like Wendigos
Wow-that was dark, just how I like!! Awesome.
Haha, I'm glad you liked it! I've got more horror stories on the way that you should enjoy as well!
Wow I love how you turn ordinary experience into horror first uber then this nice job my friend
That's a very good point! I didn't realize I was doing that, but you're right! Thank you for all the support!
I do love me some Not Deer. They feature in my novels and stories. I'd been planning on including them in my Stacking. Absolutely love that they're getting more attention. 😁 Thank you sharing this one!
Going to do more Appalachia folk creatures?
Also liked the music. Nicely chosen. Had some folks tell me I should do that since I make playlists to listen to while writing. You've convinced me that it's a good idea.
I'd love to do more like this! It's really fun researching the legends and then letting the writer's imagination do its thing, haha.
I've had a lot of great feedback on my new musical pairing sections! I would love to see more writers try it, I think it adds to the experience. Thanks for checking it out!
Might I suggest Greeneyes?
Why yes! I appreciate that, I’ll give it a google and when I inevitably do a story on it, I’ll be sure to give you a shout out! 😁
Partygoer: “What the hell is that thing?!” Me, right before it kills me, “I have no I-deer. Hahahah….”
finally trying to get through some of my saved posts. hahaha.
I am a sucker for creatures in stories. (points to almost every one of mine. haha)
I enjoyed the more vague nature of describing the creature. Parts here and there rather than going over every meticulous detail. However I think by naming it, within the story, at least to me kinda takes away some of that mystery. like it is a "known" thing if that makes sense. I think keeping the name to just the title would of been effective and leaving the protagonist to keep trying to decipher what they where seeing.
Like I said though. I love a creature feature type story. So it was a great read!