Work Text:
The bayou held the presence of something otherworldly. The sun leaked through the cracks between the leaves, the beams of light illuminating the dark undergrowth. The marshy ground squelched with every plod of Alastor’s boots, and the trees seemed to follow his every movement. Still, he carried on, dragging the fat carcass of his latest kill deeper and deeper into the bayou. At long last, the young man reached a large circle of land that was strangely devoid of life. He tossed the body into the centre, and the forest held its breath.
The bayou was suddenly alight with green flames, the ever-present shadows twisting and stretching into a towering form. When they finally settled, standing before Alastor was an eldritch monstrosity, carrying an air of strength and grace. It lowered its head, sniffing the corpse before opening its gaping maw, swallowing it with a single gulp. It drew back to its full height before pressing a hoof to his forehead, bathing him with green light. It bowed its head, stepping back and bursting into flames, leaving without a trace. In its wake, the forest trembled.